Hhhhnnngh…!
Ryker groaned as he sat up in his dorm room, his body stiff and his head pounding with a dull, throbbing ache. Every nerve screamed with fatigue. The stat penalty from the system had taken its toll. It's harsh and unforgiving.
His thoughts felt sluggish. Foggy. Stray memories and dreams bled together in a chaotic, sleepless blur.
Tch…!!
"Wisdom stat at ten. It feels like I got hit by a train."
Ryker rubbed his temples and dragged himself to his feet. The mana lamp hovering in the corner of the room glowed faintly, casting sterile white light across the polished obsidian floor. The room itself was spacious and its too clean, too organized. Like a polished coffin trying to mask what was festering inside.
Stumbling toward the bathroom, he turned on the shower.
Hssshhh…!!
Steam filled the glass enclosure instantly. Hot water poured over Ryker, grounding him. Slowly, the fog in his mind began to lift.
'Focus. Vael is expecting me.'
