Draven's eyes fluttered open. He groaned and slowly sat up while stretching, finding himself previously half-lying on the floor.
He looked around in confusion before his memories flooded back. Looking around warily, Draven patted his body to confirm that he was alive.
He quickly sprang to his feet, went to get his phone, and stared at his face in the black screen. What reflected was only his unkempt appearance.
Draven sighed in relief before musing, 'What happened? I just… passed out. No. I need to get to Doctor Annie to test myself. I don't want to experience it again.'
He quickly opened the curtain, allowing sun rays to filter through the window.
"It's morning?"
He went to the bathroom to take a quick bath when he suddenly thought of another problem.
'Although Doctor Annie promised to do the test for free, who knows if she will feel responsible and do it perfectly without money? To avoid mistakes, I better pay for my test, but where do I get money?'
After a brief contemplation, he recalled another piece of information.
'The Council Association gives every new Elite an armor, a weapon, and ten thousand credit units. So, register first, meet Doctor Annie while hoping the fainting is just a one-time thing, then prepare to enter a Rank 1 Plane.'
With that arrangement, he quickly got dressed in casual wear and trekked the long distance to the Council Association. He was sweating when he got to his destination after trekking under the blazing sun.
He cursed under his breath, "The cataclysmic event that made the stars disappear from the night, why couldn't it wipe out the sun? Useless!"
Steadying his breath, he raised his head and read the bold words on the plaque at the top-center of the gate: "COUNCIL ASSOCIATION SOLRIN."
'The school register all the students on the premises after awakening, but going to school...' His heart hitched at the thought. 'Even if I don't want to hide the legacy stuff, what about the girl I killed?'
Draven's hand trembled as he remembered his actions vividly, now that the heated moment had passed. He clenched his fist and exhaled before strolling into the place.
The building was a big duplex with many people entering and leaving. Draven, who had become very observant of buildings after staying in a dilapidated region and cautious after seeing buildings suddenly collapse, could glean their sturdiness from the thick walls and pillars.
He remembered what he came here for and went to find a person, who directed him to the one who registered new Elites. It was a beautiful lady with an oval face, jet-black hair tied in a ponytail, and complementary black-framed glasses. She wore a black suit, sitting behind a computer.
"Morning," Draven greeted with a smile.
"Morning."
"I'm a new Elite, and I want to register."
She studied him for a second. "Aren't you supposed to be in the academy? There's a person doing the registration there."
"I had to leave for an emergency."
"And they let you leave?" She gave him a skeptical look.
"I snuck out. However, I'm not done with the emergency, so I can't go back to register, and I don't want to get arrested for roaming outside without registering," Draven stated his preplanned excuse.
She nodded before operating her computer while muttering, "Unnecessary stress."
"Name?" she asked.
'She didn't even tell me to prove my status?'
"Draven," he responded calmly.
"Last name?"
"None at the moment."
She raised her head from the screen. "Why?"
"Previously, I lived in an orphanage and never had one. I will give myself a good one when I think of it. A cool last name." Draven smiled.
"I assume no parents, right?"
"Right."
"Fingerprint."
Draven placed his thumb on the scanner by the side.
She typed for a few minutes. Finally, she retrieved a shield-shaped silver badge with a star at the top and passed it to him.
"That's your Elite identity card."
Draven pocketed it.
"Your academy should have already done the Elite education." She adjusted her glasses. "I see you're a good boy, so don't wreck your life by committing crimes with your newfound powers, and I can promise you…" Her voice became sharp and cold, "You won't be able to escape."
Draven nodded in silence.
She broke into a refreshing smile. "Apart from that, the Council Association always provides an armor gear, a weapon gear, and 25,000 credit units to assist new Elites. However, all those resources have been sent to the person responsible for the registration in the academy. So, I will send you 225,000 credit units to buy yourself a First Order Transient weapon and armor, while you get by with the remaining 25,000 credit units. You understand?"
"Clean and clear."
It didn't take long for the money to be transferred to his account.
She waved at him. "As for the rest, go learn about it in the academy; I'm not paid to be your tutoring babysitter."
He chuckled and left the place, quickly taking a cab to the hospital. He had been anxious to get himself tested, which was why he kept his conversation with that lady brief. Though he joked a bit to get her comfortable to ask for money.
Bored in the car, he searched about the Blue Plane to see if anything was going on. Surprisingly, all he saw were regular news. If not for the legacy he snatched, he would never have realized that something was off.
'Or is there more than one legacy?' Draven pondered.
He soon got to the hospital. Paying the driver, he strolled into the big building. With the pass Doctor Annie had given him, the receptionist allowed him to go after confirmation. He took the elevator to the top floor and walked to her office.
Draven knocked softly.
"Yes. Come in."
He strolled inside, meeting the gaze of a lady in a white lab coat sitting behind a desk.
She had champagne blonde hair, an oval face, and gray eyes.
Annie smiled at him. "Draven, we meet again. You awakened?"
Draven returned the smile and nodded.
"Oh, good news then. You should be planning on entering a Rank 1 Plane with your classmates, but instead, you ran here. So, what brings you here?" She arched her eyebrows.
"I came for a test," Draven stated.
"Test?"
"I fainted last night, so I came for a test."
Nodding, she led him to a patient bed by the corner. With a syringe, she drew some of his blood and left the office. Fifteen minutes later, she returned, her expression plain.
She walked up to him and stood a few meters away. "Let me ask you a question—did you take anything?"
Draven paused for a moment before shaking his head, but his heart tightened as he knew the truth.
Annie narrowed her eyes. "I knew you would deny it, but prepare your mind for what I'm about to say."
He held his breath.
After seeing Draven had prepared himself, she said with a professional expression, "I found some substance in your blood, and it has done damage to your body. Now, you have approximately thirty days to ascend to the Primal rank."
Draven froze. Even though he had prepared for bad news, it still short-circuited his brain.
'From two hundred to thirty… who can ascend in thirty days? This... is sure death!'