In the bathroom, standing in front of a frameless mirror with built-in LED lighting for better visibility, Skyer wrapped a towel around his waist and wiped the fog off the mirror to see his reflection.
Water droplets trickled down his freshly washed hair, clinging to his forehead and rolling down his lean yet toned body.
"505?"
He called out, but there was no response. Just as the system indicated, he couldn’t communicate with it in the outside world.
He called out his status, and it appeared before him. His gaze stopped at the words, ’Enter 1st level of Battle Royale (Available)’.
"Not now, but soon."
Humming faintly, Skyler stared into the mirror and started drying his hair with a hairdryer. His crystal-like blue eyes looked back at him, but he noticed a hint of white flashing in his gaze, causing him to blink.
"What was that?"
He leaned in closer to the mirror but jumped back in surprise when he saw his reflection tilt its head on its own.
"???"
His heart nearly leaped out of his chest. However, when he looked again, he couldn’t detect any movement. He chuckled dryly.
"Nope... that was not my imagination. Don’t tell me there is a ghost in my bathroom??"
He had never heard of ghosts. However, multiple temples dedicated to the goddess of mercy were scattered across Eldoria. Unlike the royalty and government, these temples lacked significant influence, yet righteous individuals who could wield the light element often joined them. These individuals were called virtuous lights. So, perhaps ghosts could be real as well?
Skyler swiftly dressed, hung up the towel, and rushed out of the bathroom. He would ask his mother to contact someone from a nearby temple to have his room inspected. Eldoria has Dark Lights—people referred to as villains—who can control dead bodies, so he shouldn’t take anything lightly.
What he did not know was that his self, who had climbed the Throne of Spirits, had stirred the moment he recalled some of his past related to it. It was confused, as it had no memories and was merely part of Skyler without true existence, since its existence was wiped out when time was reversed.
However, it could manifest if Skyler experienced extreme emotions, just like a ticking bomb that could explode at any moment. This was Skyler’s good self. There was still another self, one that was darker, which he had yet to remember.
***
Skyler quickly walked out of his room, straightening his collar, and settled at the dining table with his phone, which had remained unused for an entire month.
His mother was working in the kitchen while his father helped her.
He smiled at the scene. Skyler wanted a loving partner as well. Unfortunately, his first crush had to be someone from a race he didn’t even know the name of, so he couldn’t pursue that red-eyed lady.
"Perhaps I can meet her in the future."
He whispered and unlocked the screen of his phone. His smile faded as he noticed a flurry of messages. Many were from people he had lost touch with after awakening his potential and affinity.
They all mentioned the news of his disappearance and how they had heard or seen him in the preliminary test when Max and Jenny’s performances on the battle stages were broadcast on every channel.
In the end, they said that if he came back, he should let them know if he was alright and how he had increased his potential.
"A bunch of jerks."
Skyler tsked and blocked all of them without hesitation. They did not even know if he had survived the preliminary test, yet they wanted to know why he, a waste, had become stronger than his potential.
He was a fool to ever consider them his friends—those selfish opportunists.
Johnson looked at him from behind the high kitchen counter as he tossed his phone onto the dining table.
"What happened?"
Skyler shook his head.
"Nothing. I am just hungry. How much longer until dinner? Like, I haven’t eaten real food in a month... All I have had is bland roasted meat! Ugh, it was so tasteless."
He wrinkled his brows, and Johnson laughed at his antics, a bit surprised that his son’s usual lively side had returned.
It had been two years since he had seen Skyler so talkative. It was good progress, and he liked this version of his son more than the silent and gloomy one.
Skyler stood up to help his mother set the cutlery, and she asked in a joking manner.
"You know the basics, but how about your mom teaches you how to cook and packs some spices for you? It would be useful if you have no other choice but to cook for yourself in the future."
He paused and gave it careful thought.
"Not a bad idea. I like it."
Riya burst into laughter, and the three of them settled down to eat once dinner was served. Skyler took a bowl of rice, and the couple was amused when he, who loved meat dishes the most, didn’t touch them and chose stir-fried vegetables instead. It seemed he had really developed a distaste for meat after eating tasteless meat.
Out of nowhere, Johnson asked Skyler whether he had bought anything from the system shop at the end of the preliminary test with the points he earned.
Skyler set his spoon down with a dry ’haha,’ fully aware that his parents were definitely not going to like what he had purchased.
"It’s a secret..."
Noticing his behavior, which was very similar to when he had done something wrong, both Riya and Johnson exchanged glances, fearing that he had either wasted his points or hadn’t bought anything at all.
Johnson narrowed his gray eyes. System points were crucial since they were the only currency used in the Battle Royal.
"Skyler Ironhart!"
That’s how ten gems and ten beautiful, sparkling crystals were laid out on the table one by one, leaving the couple speechless, as what their son had done was worse than just wasting the points on the wrong items.
With a twitching brow, Johnson touched one of the crystals, once again confirming that they had no Evol in them and served no purpose other than their beauty. They were expensive in the real world, as they could be sold to jewelers, but that was all.
He stared at his son, unsure of what to feel anymore, since he and Riya already knew of Skyler’s obsession with sparkling things.
Yet, they never imagined he would waste his precious points on gems.
Johnson rubbed his forehead.
"You... Why did you even get these?"
Skyler scratched his chin.
"Because they are beautiful!"
He stood up and quickly started to massage Johnson’s shoulders before his parents could reprimand him.
"Also, my dear dad can get me other things like weapons and treasures, right?"