Sayaka sat motionless.
The digital screen had vanished.
The glowing letters—YES / NO—were gone, as if they had never existed.
Nothing had changed.
Her cheek still throbbed. Her ribs still screamed. Her blood still tasted metallic.
She blinked, half-expecting something to happen—a pulse of light, a burst of magic, a healing warmth, something. But…
Nothing.
"...Tch."
Her head drooped forward, hair falling over her face. She bit her lower lip, frustrated at her own foolish hope.
So much for that 'system' thing. Was it... my imagination?
A weak laugh escaped her lips, but it sounded more like a sob.
Her fingers curled into fists on her torn uniform pants.
The weight of defeat, not just from the bullies—but from herself—pressed heavily on her chest. She had wanted something—anything—to lift her from this. A miracle. A sign. A hand outstretched from the sky.
But there was nothing.
Only the cold, uncaring wind brushing past her.
Suddenly, a sharp whistle cut through the silence.
A pair of footsteps hurried closer.
"Over here! We found the injured student!"
Sayaka blinked through her swollen eyes.
Two figures in white coats rushed toward her—academy medics. One knelt beside her, while the other immediately activated a scanning crystal.
"Fractured ribs… minor internal bleeding… multiple contusions…"
"She needs immediate treatment. Let's stabilize and take her to the infirmary."
Sayaka didn't resist. Her body couldn't even if she wanted to. As the medic gently wrapped a glowing band around her midsection, she felt the searing pain begin to dull.
The other one pulled out a vial of pale green liquid and helped her drink it. It burned her throat going down but cooled the pain inside.
She finally spoke. "Am… I going to be okay?"
The medic nodded with a reassuring smile. "You'll live. You're tougher than you look."
Tougher than I look?
Even after I got beaten half to death?
You're just saying that.
As they carefully lifted her onto a hover-stretcher, Sayaka's eyes glanced back at the empty corner of the training field.
No trace of the bullies.
No trace of the floating system screen.
Was I just desperate? Am I losing my mind?
The ride to the infirmary felt like a blur. The medic's voices were distant. Her eyelids were heavy, but her mind was louder than ever.
She thought of Elara.
Would she be disappointed in me? She trusted me. Believed I had something... something worth fighting for.
But I can't even protect myself. I couldn't even stop them from trying to take my sword.
And the sword...
Dragon's Breath.
It had burned one of them—defended itself. Not her.
Even it seemed to reject her as its wielder.
I couldn't even get it to respond during the trial.
Sayaka curled slightly on the stretcher as the ceiling lights of the infirmary passed overhead.
So what if I touched "YES"? Nothing changed. Nothing unlocked. Nothing saved me.
The medic placed a hand gently on her shoulder. "You're stable now. Rest. Your body needs time."
She nodded weakly.
As they tucked a thermal sheet around her and connected a gentle healing pulse to her arm, Sayaka let out a quiet sigh.
Was I wrong to come here?
Was it all just… an illusion? This world, this academy, this sword, this system?
She stared at the ceiling, tears slipping down again—but silently this time.
But somewhere inside, past the doubt, the fear, the bruises—something remained.
Faint. Almost imperceptible.
A warmth. Deep in her chest.
Like a tiny spark beneath ashes.
Maybe the system hadn't activated in the way she expected.
Maybe its choice to respond had just begun.