"Once your core begins to form, you only have so long until it's complete and you get forcefully sent into the Second Realm," Alicia explained, her tone shifting to something more serious. "Too many Chosen were getting sent to their deaths due to their ignorance about Realm Cores and the other realms themselves."
She folded her hands in her lap, her expression earnest as she continued. "So in order to combat this and preserve as many Chosen as possible, each major district on the planet has opened Realm Schools. These academies are where developing Chosen are taught everything possible to ready themselves for the Second Realm."
A pamphlet materialized from her pocket, which she placed on the edge of Arthur's bed. The glossy paper featured an imposing stone building with "District 3 Realm Academy" emblazoned across the top.
"The government sponsors you completely—free admission along with room, board, and meals included, provided you attend the classes," she finished with a reassuring smile. "The survival rate of academy-trained Chosen is significantly higher than those who enter the Second Realm unprepared."
Her explanation was a lot for Arthur to process. The weight of this new reality pressed down on him, making the hospital bed feel like it was slowly swallowing him whole. He sat there for a long moment, staring down at his hands, still trying to comprehend everything that was happening.
'I'm a Chosen? That means in two months or so, I'll get sent into the next realm, and most likely—knowing my luck—I'll die there.'
Arthur let out a small sigh at these thoughts and looked back up at Alicia. "Th-this is a lot. Do you mind if I have a moment to think?"
Her smile grew wider as she stood up, smoothing her scrubs. "Of course. You're set to leave for the academy tomorrow morning, so take as much time as you need before then." She gestured to a small red button on the wall near his bed. "If you need me, press the red button next to your bed, and I'll come running."
She turned around and made her way across the room, her footsteps nearly silent on the polished floor. With a soft click, the door closed behind her, leaving Arthur alone with his thoughts.
Arthur lay back down and rested his eyes, finally allowing his mind to wander freely. The ceiling above him blurred as his thoughts spiraled.
'Chosen, huh? Does that mean I'll get some sort of magical powers soon? …Will they make me strong? …Will they make me brave?'
A bitter smile crossed his lips as a painful realization struck him.
'This world really is cruel. It gives me the powers I needed to protect my family right after their deaths... Is this some kind of cosmic joke?'
These thoughts painfully lingered, each one a knife twisting in old wounds. Eventually, Arthur's exhaustion caught up with him, and he drifted off into an uneasy sleep.
Like clockwork, he woke up in a panic, drenched in cold sweat from the same nightmare that had haunted him almost every night as of recent. He was breathing heavily, eyes darting around the unfamiliar room before reality set in, reminding him he was safe in the hospital. With a heavy sigh, he let his head fall back onto the pillow.
He spent a moment calming himself, focusing on his breathing until his heart rate returned to normal. Then he turned to look at the digital clock by his bed, the red numbers cutting through the dim morning light.
'It's morning already. I must have slept all day and night... That means soon it will be time to leave.'
Arthur stared at the ceiling, contemplating his next move.
'Academy, huh? I guess if I'm most likely gonna die in two months, I might as well make the most out of what little time I have. Sleep in an actual bed, wear clean clothes, and fill my stomach with something other than garbage scraps.'
As Arthur was lost in thought, a gentle knock sounded through the room. The door slowly creaked open, revealing Alicia behind it as she walked in with a grace that seemed misplaced in the sterile hospital environment.
"It's time, Arthur!" Her voice carried an enthusiasm that contrasted sharply with Arthur's grim outlook. "I'll bring you the academy uniform. Get dressed and call for me when you're done, okay?"
Arthur let out a small sigh, thinking about his decision one last time before meeting her eyes. "Yeah, alright."
She nodded and left the room, returning moments later with an outfit neatly folded in her hands: a pair of crisp black slacks and a short-sleeved white button-down shirt. The academy's emblem—a stylized gate with a shield before it—was embroidered on the breast pocket in silver and blue thread.
She set the clothes on his bed with care and swiftly left the room to give him privacy.
Arthur didn't waste much time slipping into the uniform, relieved to be wearing something besides the hospital gown and the tattered scraps he had called clothes before. The fabric was smooth against his skin, clearly of better quality than anything he'd worn in years. Looking at his reflection in the small bathroom mirror, he hardly recognized himself—the uniform gave him a sense of belonging he hadn't felt recently.
Soon he was finished, and Alicia escorted him outside where a sleek black car with tinted windows waited for him. The government emblem was subtly displayed on the door, alongside the now-familiar academy logo.
They said their goodbyes at the hospital entrance, and Arthur gave her a heartfelt thank you. Her kindness had been unexpected but deeply appreciated in the chaos of his new circumstances.
'I guess not all humans are scum... There are exceptions, I guess,' he thought after waving goodbye and making his way into the black car.
As the vehicle pulled away from the curb, Arthur watched the hospital grow smaller in the rear window. Ahead lay the academy and the beginning of his real journey—one that would either prepare him for survival or lead him to his doom in the Second Realm.
Either way, there was no turning back now.