I WAS Humanity's HOPE-Chapter 24: Need to Level Up

Richard let out a groan as he woke up.

His head throbbed faintly, and the dim light filtering through the curtains did little to ease the dull ache behind his eyes. He shifted, the unfamiliar weight of the blanket and the faint scent of lavender on the pillow grounding him in the present moment. Memories of the previous night began to surface, causing a small, wry smile to tug at the corners of his lips.

When he turned over, he found himself face to face with Nadia, her hair tousled and her features softened by sleep. The sight stirred a mix of emotions—amusement, fondness, and a flicker of uncertainty he couldn’t quite place.

"Hello, pretty girl," he murmured, brushing a gentle caress across her cheek.

Nadia stirred slightly, her lips curving into a faint smile before she mumbled something unintelligible and nestled closer to him.

"Good morning," she murmured against his chest before her eyes fluttered open, still heavy with sleep. She gazed up at him, her expression soft and unguarded.

"Thanks for yesterday. I enjoyed it a lot," she added with a small, shy smile, her fingers idly tracing patterns on his chest. "It’s been a while since I’ve felt this relaxed."

"I’m glad to be of service," Richard joked. His gaze lingered on Nadia for a moment longer, taking in the gentle curve of her features and the warmth she radiated against him.

Then he glanced past her, squinting at the silver clock on the bedside table. A wave of mild alarm coursed through him when he realised the time.

"We’ve got class in an hour," he announced, his voice still husky from sleep. Carefully disentangling himself from the blankets, he slid to the edge of the bed and raked a hand through his tousled hair. "We should probably get moving."

Nadia sighed, sitting up in a languid stretch. "Already?" she asked, though her tone held little complaint. Sensing the urgency in his voice, she rose to her feet and slipped out of the sheets with brisk efficiency.

Despite the lingering drowsiness, they dressed quickly—Nadia pulling her hair into a loose ponytail, while Richard reached for a rumpled shirt and jacket. An hour wasn’t much time, yet the soft hush of morning made their movements feel oddly unhurried, as if they were reluctant to let the moment go.

"Ready?" Richard asked once he’d slung his satchel over his shoulder.

Nadia nodded, gathering her own notes and texts. "Let’s go. We’ll have time to grab coffee on the way."

The cobblestone streets outside were already teeming with people when they left the comfort of Nadia’s flat. A cool morning breeze brushed past them, and they fell into step side by side. Every so often, Richard’s hand would brush Nadia’s in a wordless gesture of closeness.

They made a brief stop at Nadia’s usual coffee shop, abuzz with the hum of conversation and the inviting aroma of roasted beans. Richard ordered a simple black filter coffee, his preferred pick-me-up, while Nadia, with a playful grin, requested a latte sweetened with a single spoonful of sugar.

"Latte for you, black for him," the barista said, passing the steaming paper cups across the counter. Richard paid, and they stepped back outside into the brisk morning air.

"Thanks," Nadia said softly, sipping from her cup. A smile tugged at her lips as she savoured the warmth. "This is perfect."

Richard took a tentative sip of his own coffee and nodded in satisfaction. "Just strong enough to keep me awake during Meredith’s droning lectures," he remarked, tapping the side of his cup. Despite the rushing minutes, he felt a faint sense of contentment.

"Oh, I just remembered. She’s your sister!" Nadia teased with a playful smirk.

Richard chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Yeah, and she’ll never let me hear the end of it if I’m late."

They wove through the growing crowd, navigating the winding streets that led to the Mage Guild.

Nadia glanced at Richard, the corner of her mouth quirking upwards. "How’s that headache?" she asked, recalling his earlier complaint.

He shrugged, taking another sip of coffee. "Fading," he replied, offering a small, grateful smile. "Thanks for asking—and for last night. I mean it."

Nadia ducked her head, a slight flush colouring her cheeks, but she met his gaze with a warm look. "No need to thank me. If anything, I should be the one thanking you."

She paused, as though searching for the right words, before speaking softly. "It’s nice to have someone to share moments like this with."

Richard simply nodded in agreement before turning his gaze ahead, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Yes, it is."

They took a left down a narrow side street and spotted the sign reading "M. Guild – No Entry."

"Let’s get to class, shall we?" Richard said with a sigh.

They descended a flight of stairs leading underground and stopped at a rune-inscribed door. Richard knocked thrice, prompting a panel to slide open.

"State your business," demanded a clear voice.

"Oh, come on, Daphne. You know why we’re here," Nadia said, her tone laced with exasperation.

"Standard protocol," Daphne replied with a raised brow, though a faint smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "You know the drill."

Nadia rolled her eyes but leaned closer to the panel. "Two students reporting for class. Now, can we come in?"

Daphne’s frosty façade melted at once. With the faintest roll of her eyes, she slid the narrow panel shut and unlatched the door.

"Just get inside," she muttered, stepping aside to let them pass. "I’ve got better things to do than play doorkeeper all day."

Richard and Nadia exchanged amused glances before hurrying through the rune-inscribed entrance. Once inside the winding corridor, they heard faint echoes of distant conversation and the clatter of weapons training. Neither spoke, but Richard felt a pleasant warmth lingering from the morning they’d shared.

They followed a series of turns until they reached the Mage Guild’s main lecture hall. The thick, oak door stood ajar, inviting them in with the hum of voices from within. Nadia nudged Richard’s shoulder as they stepped closer, her expression a mixture of nerves and a hint of mischievous delight.

"Ready?" she whispered.

"As I’ll ever be," Richard replied. He pushed open the door, and they both slipped into the bustling room.

It was immediately apparent that their classmates noticed something different—Nadia’s tousled hair, despite her efforts to tidy it, and the fact that they’d walked in together. A wave of soft chatter rippled across the students, punctuated by knowing smirks and playful nudges.

At the front of the class stood Meredith, tapping a piece of chalk against the board. As soon as her eyes landed on them, a conspiratorial grin curved her lips. She acknowledged Richard with a slow, exaggerated wink, then shifted her attention back to the rest of the class.

A couple of students exchanged glances and whistled under their breath. James, perched in the middle row, drawled, "Well, well—look who decided to turn up together." A ripple of sniggers followed, though free of malice.

Richard sighed inwardly. James’s hungry look when he saw them walk in together made him uneasy. Meanwhile, Meredith’s sly wink told him he’d hear about this later—probably over dinner, along with a side of merciless teasing. He gave Nadia an apologetic smile, but she just pressed her lips together, pretending not to notice the commotion.

"All right, settle down," Meredith called out, rapping the chalk on the wooden podium for emphasis. "Some of you are still level three, and some have managed to get up to level four. Each group will go over two Dungeons tomorrow, and you must all reach level six, so eyes up front."

She paused, letting the tension in the room thicken. Students shifted uneasily, their murmurs growing into a low hum that ricocheted off the stone walls. She held her chalk aloft, tapping it lightly against the board.

"Quiet," she commanded, her voice slicing through the chatter. The group settled almost at once, all eyes turning to the front.

"As I’ve stated," she continued, looking over each row in turn, "this next practical will determine who remains in the programme. I will not mince words: at least five of you are at risk of immediate dismissal if you fail to meet the standard. The Mage Guild expects tangible progress from its acolytes, especially at this point in your training."

A ripple of alarm ran through the class—several students exchanged anxious glances, and a few whispered frantic reassurances to one another.

Richard looked around. Dismissal, huh? He wondered if his sister would stand by her word.

"Now," Meredith went on, chalk scraping against the blackboard as she sketched a rough diagram of level thresholds, "to help the rest of you—the ones willing to make the cut—there is an advanced spell on offer. A variant on Fireball, if you will."

That single sentence captured everyone’s attention. A hush fell over the hall, broken only by the occasional creak of a desk and the shuffle of parchment.

"I will say this but once, so pay attention." Her gaze swept across the rows again, lingering on certain students just long enough to make them shift uncomfortably. "You’ll only have access to this improved Fireball if—and only if—you reach level six and invest all available attribute points in Wisdom. Otherwise, you will not be allowed to use the spell by the system."

She turned back to the board, underlining the word ’WIS’ for emphasis. "We’ve provided the required training regimen. You are expected to climb from level three or four, whichever you currently stand at, to six before the upcoming exam. Those who do not meet that requirement"—her voice dropped with finality—"are, quite simply, out." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Several gasps punctuated the silence. Richard cast a glance at Nadia, who wore a determined expression. She clutched her quill tightly, her knuckles whitening in silent resolve.

A trembling voice from the third row rose timidly: "Professor Meredith... we only have a week until the exam. Isn’t that—"

"Difficult?" Meredith supplied, lifting a brow. "Indeed it is. The question, however, is whether you can prove yourselves worthy of the Guild. There’s no time to coddle half-baked mages. If you can’t attain the bare minimum, you’ll just have to leave."

Richard exhaled slowly. The mood in the hall was thick with apprehension, but beneath the fear, he sensed sparks of determination flickering amongst his peers—no one wanted to be among the five who might be cut.

Meredith set down the chalk and faced them fully, folding her arms. "If you truly wish to stay, you’ll find a way to push through. Our next session covers tactical spell usage in small Dungeon forays. Each of you is assigned two Dungeons tomorrow morning—two in one day. Consider it a crash course. And bear in mind, these Dungeons are no stroll in the park, so do not come unprepared."

Richard looked at Nadia, who brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Her eyes were bright, filled with equal parts nerves and fierce resolve.

"Guess we’d better level up," she said quietly, forcing a small smile.

Richard nodded. "No other choice, right?" he murmured, keeping his voice low.

Of course, he already met the level criteria Meredith had mentioned... but that didn’t mean things were about to get any easier.