After The Fall: Awakening

As the teacher announced that there would be a long break, the classroom buzzed with excitement. Students eagerly packed their bags, chatting about their upcoming plans. 

Hermes, however, had only one thing in mind. 

"I need to find Rhea and apologize."

His eyes darted around, searching for her, but she was already gone. With a sigh, he made his way to her homeroom, hoping she was still there. 

But as he stepped inside, he found the room empty. The desks were neatly arranged, and the silence confirmed it—she had already left. 

"She probably went home... Damn, she must be really mad."

Scratching the back of his head, he muttered,

"I'll talk to her tomorrow and properly apologize."

With that decision made, he walked toward the hallway, but his steps faltered as he spotted a familiar group ahead. 

Oliver and his gang. 

His chest tightened. 

"Just my luck... Maybe if I keep my head down, they won't notice me."

He lowered his head and kept walking, hoping to slip past unnoticed. 

One of Oliver's lackeys snickered.

"Hey, Oliver, look at that! Hahaha! He thinks we can't see him." 

Oliver smirked. "Oi, Hermes! Hahahaha! Where are you going?" 

Hermes stiffened but kept walking. 

"What? Are you running away?" 

He forced himself to respond, "Ah... no, I just didn't notice you guys." 

Oliver's smirk widened. "Oh? Is that so?" 

Before Hermes could take another step, Oliver's lackeys moved, blocking his path. 

"Didn't you act all tough last time? Why are you trying to run now?" 

Hermes clenched his fists. "Look, I'm sorry for what happened. I didn't mean to do that... My body just moved on its own." 

The group burst into laughter. 

Oliver sneered. "Hahaha! Is that what you're going with? After you humiliated me in front of everyone?" 

His expression darkened. "You're gonna pay for that." 

He reeled back his fist, ready to punch Hermes. 

But in that moment— 

Hermes's body reacted on its own again. 

Before he could even process it, his body sidestepped Oliver's punch, and his fist shot forward, slamming into Oliver's stomach. 

THUD!

Oliver's eyes widened. 

"Wha—?" 

A choked gasp escaped his lips. A sharp pain exploded in his abdomen as the force of the punch sent shockwaves through his body. His legs buckled, and before he could catch his breath, blood spurted from his mouth. 

His lackeys looked on in shock. 

"O-Oliver?!" 

Oliver staggered back, pressing a hand to his stomach. His breathing was ragged, his face twisted in disbelief and fury. 

"You... You bastard!" he snarled. 

Rage flared in his eyes as he wiped the blood from his lips. 

"You idiots!" he snapped at his gang.

"What are you standing around for?! Hold him down!" 

His lackeys rushed forward, grabbing Hermes by the arms and pinning him in place. 

Panic surged through Hermes as he struggled, but their grip was too strong. 

Then the punches started. 

A fist slammed into his stomach. Another struck his face. His vision blurred as he felt himself getting overwhelmed. His body screamed in pain, but the worst part wasn't the physical damage—it was the helplessness. 

"I thought I had gotten stronger... but I'm still just as weak."

Just as he was about to lose consciousness— 

Thud!

A heavy impact echoed through the hallway. The hands restraining him suddenly loosened. 

Thud!

Another body hit the ground. 

Oliver barely had time to react before a blur moved in front of him— 

Then everything went black. 

A Rooftop Awakening

Hermes's eyes fluttered open. A cool breeze brushed against his skin as he stared up at the sky. 

Where... am I?

Slowly, he sat up and realized he was on the school rooftop. His body ached, but something felt... different. 

A figure stood near the edge of the rooftop, the wind rustling his short brown hair. His stance was calm, yet there was an undeniable presence about him. 

"You're awake," the man said, his voice casual yet firm. 

Hermes blinked in confusion. "Huh? How do you know?" 

The man chuckled before turning to face him. 

"I saw you fight," he said simply. "You have potential." 

Hermes let out a dry laugh. "Me? Potential? You saw how I got beaten up just now." 

The man shook his head.

"That's not what defines a person's strength. Never let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." 

Hermes lowered his gaze, ashamed. 

The man studied him for a moment before speaking again. 

"My name is Azrael." 

Hermes's head snapped up. His eyes widened in shock. 

Azrael. 

A name known across the country. The Awaken-ranked Predator who had cleared three high-level Hollows. A living legend. 

Hermes swallowed hard. "W-What are you doing here?" 

Azrael smirked.

"Just checking out the Hollow that was recently cleared. I happened to be nearby when I saw your little... situation." 

Hermes clenched his fists. "I don't get it... Why help me?" 

Azrael stepped closer. "Because I can see it—the fire in you. You just need guidance." 

Hermes hesitated before admitting,

"What if I fail? What if I'm just like everyone says? What if you end up laughing at me, too?" 

Azrael's gaze remained steady.

"The golden opportunity you seek is within yourself. It's not in your environment, not in luck, not in the help of others. It's in you alone." 

Hermes felt something stir deep inside him. 

For the first time, someone was telling him that he had power. That he *could* be something more. 

Taking a deep breath, he looked up and met Azrael's gaze. 

"…Alright. I want to learn. I want to improve. Please, be my mentor!" 

Azrael smirked. "Good. Then start by looking up." 

Hermes blinked in confusion. 

"Stop lowering your head all the time," Azrael said. "Never let anyone look down on you again." 

As Hermes slowly lifted his head, the golden light of the setting sun shone behind Azrael, casting a radiant glow around him. 

For a brief moment, Hermes could only stare. 

"Is this guy… an angel?"

Azrael turned away. "Your long break starts tomorrow, right?" 

Hermes nodded. 

"Good. Meet me here at 4 AM. Training starts then." 

"4 AM? That's so early—" 

"Don't be late." 

And with that, Azrael walked off, leaving Hermes alone on the rooftop. 

Hermes clenched his fists, a new sense of determination filling his heart. 

"I can do this. I will get stronger. No more running away."

Elsewhere…

Oliver groaned as he regained consciousness, his entire body aching. 

As he looked around, he saw his lackeys still knocked out on the ground. His breath quickened as flashes of what happened before he blacked out flooded his mind. 

A single figure. 

Long brown hair. 

Glowing eyes. 

And then—darkness. 

Oliver shivered, his face pale. 

"Shit… am I being punished for my sins? Did God send someone to take me out?" 

Panic surged through him as he scrambled to wake his friends. 

"Wake up! Get up, damn it!"