By the time he woke up, the wound on his forehead had long lost its dampness.
"Hello," a soft voice was heard.
Lui had slept for so long, he couldn't even tell where the voice came from.
[Hello! You must continue from where you left off. Please choose one of the following tasks:]
– Obtain a Frequency Crafting certificate (I will take the exam / I won't take the exam)
– Mastery of electrical weapons (Currently passive at 0.01%)
– Meet at least one member of the Resonance Group (One of them is Xera Raun)
Already?! I-I just woke up, and simultaneously, an insanely beautiful girl is looking at me.
"Hello," Lui replied. Only milliseconds had passed between the system prompt and the woman's voice. The conversation felt surprisingly normal.
"Where am I?" Lui asked the infamous question.
The girl replied, "I... I found you collapsed outside." She looked a little shy. Her thin arms peeked out from beneath a burgundy dress—like branches.
"Then I reached your card. You're Member 28. But there was another card in your pocket—I thought it might belong to the Lightning Council. Perhaps you were injured fighting them. The blood on your forehead confirmed it. So I brought you to the Shadow Council's Resonance Recovery Unit."
"Resonance Recovery Unit? I-I... I showed my card to the door, but it didn't read it."
"Doors can only be opened by authorized personnel. Your level is 'Basic Card.' To unlock the door, you need a 'High-Level Card.'"
So that's why it didn't open, no matter how many times I tried...
"One more thing!" said Lui, gazing into the vast blue of the girl's eyes.
"Please," she replied.
"What's your name?"
There was a short pause. "Xera. Xera Raun."
[One task completed. You've earned the Conversation Crown.][New Attribute: Nobility]
One of the missions had already been fulfilled.
Xera turned around, fetched a mirror from the opposite drawer, and brought it to Lui.
"My forehead hurt so much, but the cut isn't that big!"
"It's good you didn't suffer a serious injury," Xera said as she took the mirror back from his hand.
A doctor entered the room.
Xera stepped aside to make room for him.
The doctor had a white beard. "Our patient is awake. How do you feel?"
"I... I hope this question doesn't sound silly, but... am I inside that witchcraft-looking castle?"
Xera nodded obediently.
Lui was surprised it had been so easy to get in.
The doctor responded with a simple nod. Then he pulled a device from his pocket, tapped into an app, and retrieved Lui's card—number 28.
A static voice rang out: "You are being directed to a health scan!"
The sound faded. A blue holographic human figure appeared before them, certain points marked.
Heartbeat, pulse, health, logic, and psychology metrics were displayed. All indicators read "Good."
The doctor said, "Alright then."
"Now we'll treat your forehead wound." He unwrapped a bandage.
Xera moved behind him and waited attentively.
The doctor took out a pen-shaped device and hovered it over the cut. Under the light, Lui's capillaries became more visible.
[Your wound has been healed! You've learned the effects of one Frequency Crafting tool. If you're ready for the certification program, try using the frequency pen.]
[Active Scenario: (Lui asks the doctor for the pen and begins frequency crafting), Sample Models: Healing frequency, eye strain relief, headache suppression, energy gain. Tangible Goals: Weave a protective vest using mental focus.]
Lui was observing the doctor's face carefully. "Is something wrong, doctor?"
Lui Ran reached out for the frequency pen.
"This one?" the doctor asked.
"Yes," Lui said. He had made up his mind: From now on, he would complete missions at the first opportunity.
Otherwise, I'll endanger my people! My poor people who have no one but me!
The doctor hesitated. "Do you have a certificate?"
Xera shook her head. "No."
"Then you cannot use this," said the doctor and turned away.
Disheartened, Lui asked, "What can I do to get certified?"
"Those with a certificate have no business here. Only those who can't heal themselves come—like you."
Lui blushed. He didn't know what to say.
"I request to join the certification program!" His voice echoed sharply.
Xera and the doctor exchanged glances.
Xera stepped in. "The hardest tests are conducted in the hospital. The ones done in the field or testing centers are easier. Do you really want to go through with this, Lui?"
Did this beautiful girl just say my name? He blushed again.
"Yes!"
I will get that certificate.
"Then I'll consult the chief physician first," said the doctor. Tests weren't usually held on the spot. Lui was requesting one of those rare moments. The doctor exited with swift and determined steps.
Lui and Xera were left alone.
"You seem determined," Xera said, playing with the white tips of her hair.
"I am," Lui replied confidently.
"What gives you that determination?" Xera asked, glancing at Lui's princely attire.
"My people," said Lui.
"Your people?"
"I am a prince. I was brought here right after my coronation ceremony." His voice instinctively rose with pride.
"I figured," said Xera, as if to soften the gravity of his words. "What brought you here?"
"My determination," Lui replied with a smile. "Do you know Kaji Sezar?"
"Kaji Sezar founded the Shadow Council. Who doesn't know him?" Xera replied with a faint smile.
But does she know the system? Lui felt the words catch in his throat. Should he say it?
He asked himself honestly: Why would I hide it?
Answer: To feel safe. People's intentions are uncertain.
But this girl... Can't I trust her? Her smile is so warm, her gaze so genuine...
Lui felt his decision loop glitching. "Then who are you?" he asked Xera.
Xera pulled a card from her pocket and raised it into the air.
"High-Level Card Holder. Nurse of the Resonance Unit. While you were asleep, I gave you a few injections. You could say I fed your resonance abilities with electricity parallel to your brainwaves."
"Whoa!" said Lui. "Has technology advanced that much?"
"Since when?" Xera asked.
Their conversation was interrupted by the doctor opening the door.
"Member 28. You'll be taken to the room across the hall." The doctor spoke firmly, lifting the papers resting on his lap.
"This is the contract. You get a maximum of 3 attempts. Fail the fourth time, and you're disqualified."
"What happens if I get disqualified?"
"You won't be allowed to practice Frequency Crafting. You'll be banned from official institutions in this field. And any system tasks related to Frequency Crafting will be denied."
System? Do they know about the system?
Xera quickly tuned to his frequency. "Correct, we're all governed by that system," she said.
Lui held his breath as he looked at Xera's pink lips.
How naïve I was... thinking I was the only one who could see the system?
"BUT!"
The doctor placed the contract on Lui's lap and handed him a pen. "Sign it!"
With trembling hands, Lui scrawled a crooked signature on the paper.
Then let's face whatever comes with that signature!