Chapter 3

We took rest… for about ten minutes.

I looked around, guilty.

Some of our classmates were dead. Only eight out of thirty-five survived.

The empty desks felt louder than any scream.

"Ha-Yeon… What are we gonna do now…?" Chung-hee asked me, voice small but steady.

Before I could answer, a soft chime rang — private, only in my head.

[Ding]

A

blue window appeared in my vision alone.

[Time for the selection of Eidolons]

[Five Eidolons have voted for the same person]

The names glowed one by one:

[The Azure Fire]

[The Jade Heart]

[The Iron Grip]

[The King of Above]

[Vile Serpent]

[You may choose who you want to be your Eidolon]

[Yes / No]

I didn’t even hesitate.

I tapped No.

The window vanished instantly.

No one else saw a thing.

I stood up, forcing that fake smile I always used at school. Calm.

In control.

Like nothing was wrong.

"Chung-hee… What Eidolon did you choose?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

She brightened a little. "I chose… Healer of All! She sounds like she could heal anybody!"

I just nodded.

"What about you all?"

I looked at the others still nearby.

"Hilyung, Yung-Kung, and Juk-yii?"

Hilyung straightened up, a quiet pride in his voice.

“…I chose ‘The Great Commander.’”

Yung-Kung shifted, voice a little shaky.

“Mi-mines… ‘The Black Dark.’”

Juk-yii grinned, cracking his knuckles.

“Mine’s ‘The Eternal Red Flame.’”

I pondered for a bit, analyzing it first.

"It all fits your personalities," I said quietly.

"Like how Juk-yii chose the Eternal Red Flame — just like how fierce you are."

"Yung-Kung chose The Black Dark, because he’s dark himself."

"And Hilyung… chose The Great Commander because of how you see justice."

They all looked a little surprised I’d read them so easily.

Chung-hee smiled softly, like she was proud of me for noticing.

But inside, the thoughts were louder:

Four people still here.

Chung-hee, Hilyung, Ji-Hoon, Kun-hae.

They won’t leave.

I wanted to be a lone wolf.

I still do.

Across the room, the other three — Juk-yii, Yung-Kung, and Cha-lee — exchanged looks. Juk-yii jerked his chin toward the door.

“We’re… gonna go our own way,” he said.

“No offense. Just feels better.”

Yung-Kung nodded once.

Cha-lee didn’t say anything, just followed them.

They walked off.

Splitting.

Just like that.

I felt nothing.

'Good.'

Fewer people. Less weight.

But Chung-hee’s worried eyes stayed on me. Hilyung shifted closer.

Ji-Hoon crossed his arms. Kun-hae stayed quiet but steady at my side.

Four.

Still four.

Another private chime — invisible to everyone.

[Private transfer: +1,200 Stellar Coins from an anonymous Eidolon.]

[Private transfer: +900 Stellar Coins from an anonymous Eidolon.]

[Private transfer: +700 Stellar Coins from an anonymous Eidolon.]

...

'Are they trying to guilt-trip me?Not a chance. ' I thought

'But money is money. bring em Eidolons, I probably need it later anyway. '

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