Same Beginning, Different Ending

"I am sorry," Miles said with embarrassment. He shouldn't have delved into Alex's privacy, but he was really curious if he was wearing the armor to be like Marooner or if there was another reason.

"My friend, Raul, was a fan of the Marooner. He too at first thought it was me, but then Marooner and I appeared in different places at the same time, so I was able to convince him that it wasn't me." Alex started to talk about his friend, with a smile.

"Raul had a great heart. He always tried to help others. That is actually how we met. He stood up for me when there were people harassing me in the school. At the time I was timid and powerless. Raul, had the courage to walk in front of so many people to take a beating just to save me. I at first thought he was strong and was going to save me. But I later learned that he was an Oafish. Yet, he walked out to save me.

After that, we became best friends. But slowly, I learned how to control my powers, and got stronger. At some point, our roles changed. It was Raul getting bullied this time because he was an Oafish, and me protecting him. I once thought he would be mad at me for protecting him with my powers as if I am pitying him. I decided to talk to him.

But he got mad at me for thinking like this. He said, 'Why do I have my powers if I cannot even protect those who need me? Why would he feel pitied for being protected by someone stronger?'

Those words touched my heart. I always thought that pride was the most important thing a person should possess. A man without pride is not a man at all. I thought he would rather get hurt than be protected by me. But he wasn't giving a crap about pride. He only considered if I was using my power in good use or not.

That is why he was a fan of the Marooner, and that is why he hated Starve Cleric. After he watched the Marooner protecting a hospital and beating those Starve Cleric men, he thought it was me. Because at the time I was in the capital too. Well having similar power and height as Marooner didn't help either. It was only when Marooner appeared in the testing center that I was able to convince Raul it wasn't me.

A week later, he came with this armor and said, what if I am not the Marooner. As long as I put my powers to good use and protect the weak I am a hero." Alex said as he looked at Miles. Miles was having an inner conflict the more he listened to Alex's story. Raul and Alex were just like he and Carl. When Carl first got in a fight and was bullied by older students, it was Miles who saved him and beat those guys. Later, Carl learned how to use his superpower and become stronger, while Miles was getting weaker compared to others. It was Carl who was protecting him.

But unlike Raul, Miles couldn't stomach being saved by Carl. He thought Carl was pitying him although he knew it wasn't true, so he left the school.

"And, what do you think?" Miles asked.

"I think it is all bullshit. I wasn't putting my powers to good use, neither was I a hero. I helped Raul because he could stand up for himself and others. I also only help those who fight for themselves. But if I ever saw a person crying instead of fighting, I would abandon them in a heartbeat. I know I am not the person Raul wished me to be. But this is my justice. The world is not kind, so only those who fight to deserve to live.

That is why I admire you Miles Cross. Despite being an Oafish, you fought and used cursed serum to get stronger. You never gave up, and prevailed!" Alex said with a serious expression.

"Even if I put my pride over anything?" Miles asked, self-mockingly smiling.

"Especially then. Pride is what makes us human. Pride is what makes us stand up once again. That is why I am in this academy, and that is why I take that test!

This school kicks out anyone lazing in its safety. It isolates anyone thinking about how to hide instead of contributing. It is fine to be weak, but not hide behind a weakness. This school is protecting the weak, as long as they contribute to their causes.

And it is their pride allowing them to wake up every day and come work for us, strong. Raul was the most prideful motherfucker I knew. Although he said he wasn't, he was still supporting me because of his pride. His pride was so strong he could self-belittle himself just to save another person." Alex looked at Miles and smiled.

"Yeah. To Raul then." Miles raised his drink and finished it in one gulp.

"To Raul," Alex said and did the same.

"I am not a bad smith myself. If you ever need help, you know where to find me." Miles said with a smile as he stood up to leave.

"Sure, I will do that. Before you go, Miles." Alex said and looked at Miles. "That day, when I saved you, I felt a massive amount of lightning forming in the air. I can feel it because of my superpower."

"What do you want to say?" Miles asked in surprise.

"Maybe you can still awaken your superpowers, and it is lightning-based." Alex looked at Miles's eyes and saw surprise in there. Then hope, then despair.

"That is impossible," Miles said with a smile. "When I used the fourth Serum, my ancient gene got destroyed," Miles said and left.

'Maybe it was Coin's electricity, maybe one of the monsters. I wonder what was the reason for that lightning. And what caused the hallucination. Alex was fine, so why have I been hallucinating?

Maybe I should ask one of the tutors. They should know the valley better than me.' Miles thought as he entered his house. He freshened up and went to bed.

When he woke up, it was early in the morning. The first mandatory class would be today, so Miles was intended to participate before starting the hunt.

He went to the canteen and had a simple breakfast. There was only a piece of bread, with a slice of cheese, tomato, and a couple of olives with a glass of milk. Miles looked at Number 3 and realized he was eating too. There was a girl sitting with him.

'If I am not wrong that girl was one of the low ranked. She must have made a deal with Number 3 to stay in his hut in exchange to share her food. Not a bad idea indeed. I wonder why no one asked me or Alex. Is it because we have too many points?'

After finishing his food, Miles went to the classroom designated for the first 100 students and looked at the virtual screen floating in the air. On it was written, 'What is Ancient Gene?'

******

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