The party was far from chaotic; the atmosphere was calm, with a few groups dancing to the DJ's music and most people chatting among themselves.
"So you worked at the Association?"
"That's amazing!"
"You must have met a lot of heroes there!"
"Of course... I have that photo with Ghostblade..."
"This photo... he had his back to you..."
"He's not very expressive..."
"Hey, is it true that you became a streamer?"
"I tried... but the income was too low to support myself..."
"I can't believe you became an actress!?"
"I'm almost there... just a few more auditions and you'll see my beautiful face on the screens."
Lin Ling and Cyan were both standing at the door, taking in the atmosphere. Cyan was expecting something more exciting, and Lin Ling was looking at each group of people in the gym.
Looks like the whole class is here... what's all the commotion about?
Lin Ling was curious when he noticed a group larger than all the others at the back of the gym.
"Is it true that you've fought someone possessed by fear!?"
"Have you met Smile in person!?"
"What's it like to be a hero!?"
The so-called hero laughed proudly amid the avalanche of questions.
"Calm down, beautiful ladies... and gentlemen, I, Lucius, the paladin of light, will satisfy the curiosity that torments your hearts."
The so-called hero Lucius was a tall man with straight blond hair and blue eyes. He wore golden armor that only covered the area from his chest to his fists and from his feet to his knees, and a sword rested in its sheath, attached to his belt at his waist.
Lucius?! I would remember someone like that...
"Hey, who is he?"
Lin Ling's attention was drawn to the conversation between two people standing nearby.
"That show-off? That's Lucius Dawnbringer, a hero who's been steadily climbing the rankings over the past few weeks. I think his current ranking is 234."
"Who is he!? I'd remember a guy like that!"
"Apparently it's Tian Hao, you know? The popular guy at school?"
"Tian Hao, but has he always been blond? And blue-eyed?"
Tian Hao... it makes sense... he was always a guy surrounded by friends, good at everything he set his mind to, and attracted attention like no one else. It's only natural that he would be a hero...
Lin Ling felt a pang of envy. He was happy to see a hero coming from his old class, but at the same time, he also wished he could tell everyone that he was a hero-
"Hey."
Lin Ling's reverie was interrupted when he felt someone nudging him.
Looking to the side, he realized it was Cyan.
"How about we take advantage of this and grab something to eat?" Cyan pointed to the table where the party food was. "Looks like everyone else has already gathered." Cyan flashed a smile at Lin Ling.
Lin Ling smiled back.
"Sure—"
"Hey cutie, what's your name?"
A group of people approached Cyan and started asking questions.
"Are you a model? I love your hair."
"Have you always been in our class!?"
"Huh?" Cyan was surprised by this new situation. Apparently, even with her disguise, she still attracted attention.
"Hey—" Lin Ling tried to stop this from continuing, but more and more people approached, and Lin Ling ended up being pushed away by the crowd.
Damn it.
"Hey!"
While processing everything that had just happened, he ended up bumping into someone who had their back turned to all the commotion going on.
"Sorry," Lin Ling quickly turned around and bowed in apology, not wanting to cause any unnecessary trouble.
"You are..."
Lin Ling's eyes widened slightly when he heard the voice of the person he had bumped into.
Lin Ling raised his head and immediately recognized the person.
"Han Feng!"
Unlike before, Han Feng was now taller and had long hair.
"It's been a long time." Lin Ling had a small smile on his face. He felt no remorse for Han Feng. Even though Han Feng had not remained his friend, he couldn't feel anger towards someone who had at least tried to talk to him once.
"Who are you?" Han Feng looked at Lin Ling curiously.
Lin Ling's smile faltered when he heard these words.
"I-I'm Lin Ling."
Han Feng still didn't seem to remember him.
Lin Ling didn't know why, but his reaction made him feel distressed.
"I'm the guy you refused that comic book to!" Lin Ling ended up saying this sentence louder than necessary, attracting the attention of other people around him.
"Ahh, you're that guy. Sorry, but you're kind of... ordinary." Han Feng didn't seem to mean any harm, but it ended up making the situation worse for Lin Ling.
Ordinary...
Lin Ling's smile faded as he absorbed those words.
"Hey, who is he? Was he in our class?"
"I don't remember him... Was there someone who read comic books in our class?"
"I think it was that weird guy in the corner who said he was going to be a hero."
"Pfffft, him? A hero? Look at him, he doesn't look anything like a hero, at least I would never trust him."
"We'd be lost if someone like him were a hero."
I already knew that...
Lin Ling lowered his head and clenched his fists as he listened to the comments.
But even so...
Lin Ling felt like he was in darkness, the only thing he could hear was people's comments.
I still had hopes of being seen differently...
Lucius attention was drawn to this new commotion, and narrowing his eyes, he watched Lin Ling with a small smile.
These types of people are the most pathetic that exist, using their dreams as a means of illusion in their own world and ignoring reality. They should accept who they are and their own limitations, thus causing less discomfort to themselves and others...
Lucius let out a silent chuckle.
But in the end, I'm grateful that he exists. It's thanks to people like him that I'm seen as someone special. People's eyes light up when they see me... You know, he would be very useful if fear consumed him now, so I could save everyone here as the hero that I am—
Lucius's eyes suddenly widened at the new sight he encountered when he looked at Lin Ling.
"I found you!"
Lin Ling felt someone grab his hand, and looking to the side, he found Cyan smiling at him.
"Who is she!? Was there such a beautiful girl in our class!?"
"I would remember if there was someone like that... don't tell me she's his girlfriend!?"
"What did she see in him anyway!?"
Lin Ling felt himself emerging from the darkness as he looked at Cyan. He could no longer hear the comments of others; he felt calm in her presence.
"I've changed my mind, let's go. This place is really boring." Cyan said cheerfully as she pulled Lin Ling towards the exit.
Lin Ling allowed herself to smile at this new situation.
"Let's go—"
"WAIT."
Lucius approached them both, and now the entire gym was focused on them, even the DJ stopped the music.
Lucius knelt on one knee, bowed his head, and placed a hand on his chest.
"Fair lady, would you grant this paladin the honor of knowing your name?"
Lin Ling's eyes widened at the hero's gesture.
Could he have realized who Cyan is?!
Cyan let go of Lin Ling's hand and approached Lucius. Lin Ling couldn't see the expression on Cyan's face.
"Of course, but I think it's more polite for the one asking to introduce themselves first." Cyan flashed a small smile at Lucius.
Lucius smiled in response.
"Of course, forgive me. I still forget that not everyone knows me."
Lucius stood up, placing his hand on his chest.
"I am Lucius Dawnbringer, paladin of light. I am the hero who, next year, you will witness performing brilliantly in the heroes' tournament. I will show the top 10 what a hero should do. I will deliver the light that the people long for."
Lucius spoke with a serene tone in his voice.
"Wow, you're aiming high..."
"When I become the X, I will teach these heroes how immature they are. For example, the heroine Queen, it seems she has not yet learned, immature and weak in the face of defeat, she is not fit to dictate rules to the world, she needs to understand once and for all that her goal is foolish in the face of the voice of the people, I am the voice of the people and that is why..." Lucius leaned over and extended his hand to Cyan in a gesture of handshake. "I am the hope that will shine in the darkness, I will guide the heroes to their rightful place."
Cyan had her head down, so it was impossible to tell what expression she was making.
A few seconds passed before Cyan reached out her hand, accepting Lucius's handshake.
Lucio's smile widened even more.
"Now you could let me know your name—"
Lucius suddenly shuddered, the grip on his hand was getting stronger.
Cyan raised her head, her smile was wide and her eyes were closed.
"I have to admit that I admire your conviction, and you have the courage to express such a goal, but..."
Lin Ling felt a chill when he heard Cyan's tone of voice, it was sharp.
"I'm sure that every hero who has ever reached the top 10 was no less determined than you. Everyone in the top 10 has a goal that guided them there. What sets each one apart is whether they are able to overcome the pressure that comes with that position, and I can say that Queen is one of the best examples of overcoming, so before you judge..." Cyan opened her eyes, a dangerous gleam visible in them as she stared intently at Lucius. "Remember that you are not the only one with dreams."
Cyan released her grip, Lucius had a slight grimace on his face, apparently his hand was broken.
"I'll be rooting for you to become a hero worthy of that title." Cyan gave one last smile before turning back toward the exit.
Lin Ling followed Cyan's footsteps, her eyes slightly wide after the whole scene.
With both of them gone, the gym remained in a stifling silence, no one daring to say a word.
Lucius suddenly let out a loud laugh for everyone to hear.
"...What's with this atmosphere? Tonight is a night to remember the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to the future. Please, DJ, start playing music again so we can enjoy this moment."
The DJ nodded before resuming the music, and the gym gradually returned to its festive mood.
Lucius quietly moved away from the eyes of the crowd and grabbed the wrist of his now broken hand.
There's no doubt about it, it's her!
A laugh escaped him without him realizing it.
It's my lucky day.
Lin Ling and Cyan walked through the dark streets, only the light from the streetlights illuminating the darkness. They had already walked a few blocks away from the school.
That was something... different.
Lin Ling was still processing the scene from earlier.
Cyan stopped walking, and Lin Ling stopped right behind her, a short distance away.
They both stood still for a few seconds. Lin Ling didn't know what to say.
He heard Cyan take a deep breath until—
"WHAT A BUNCH OF IDIOTS!"
Cyan shouted at the sky. Lin Ling stood still, surprised.
She turned and looked directly into Lin Ling's eyes.
"How can they act judgmental and put themselves above others without even knowing who the person really is? Damn, they are... exactly the kind of people you would expect..." Cyan's loud tone softened at the end of the sentence.
"I'm sorry..." Cyan bowed her head to Lin Ling in apology. "You already knew they acted like this, and I ignored it. I was selfish, and you ended up going through something you didn't deserve... I think I still underestimate how mean people can be because of their own egos—"
"Pffft..."
Cyan's apology was interrupted when she heard the person in front of her stifling a laugh. Lifting her head, she could see that Lin Ling was laughing quietly.
"I understand... I understand..." Lin Ling breathed after a brief laugh. "The issue isn't really how stupid they are, it's actually that you're a really nice person."
Now Cyan was surprised by his attitude.
"And don't worry, I was actually stupid too, even after what you said to me before, I let myself be shaken by their words... but in the end I have to thank you, now I have good memories to remember school by." Lin Ling smiled happily.
Cyan smiled when she heard his answer.
He really is...
"But what about Lucius, did you really hate him at that moment?"
Cyan let out a tired sigh as she remembered the so-called paladin hero.
"Not exactly, I don't think anyone deserves hatred for bad actions or decisions like that, I just think someone like him still has a chance to improve, but of course that depends on him, whether I hate him or not."
"You're very mature... I'm definitely the lucky one here." Lin Ling looked up at the sky after that statement, enjoying the stars of the night.
Cyan followed his gaze and began to enjoy the stars as well. It was a beautiful night above all else.
The moment was interrupted when suddenly a familiar sound that Lin Ling hadn't heard in a long time reappeared. Lin Ling looked at the source of the sound and found Cyan with his hands on her stomach and a slight blush on his face.
Oh, that's right, we left without eating anything...
Lin Ling thoughtfully put a hand to his chin.
You know... it's still early, and there's a restaurant nearby that I've always wanted to go to. Are you up for it?"
"Well, I don't look like someone who would refuse..." Cyan nervously scratched her cheek.
"Oh! Welcome." An elderly-looking lady greeted the two new customers. "Table for two, I presume?"
"Yes," Lin Ling confirmed as he and Cyan entered the restaurant. Cyan looked around curiously.
It was a small establishment, with a few tables inside, while the kitchen, with an old man in it, was in the back, and a small TV was in the corner of the place.
"Here," the lady showed them a table in the center.
"Thank you."
"So... have you always wanted to come here?" Cyan asked as she sat down.
"Well... I always heard people in my class talking about coming here after school, and for reasons you already know, I never ended up coming here."
Cyan nodded with a small smile.
"And now you had the courage to come here because of me?" Cyan gave Lin Ling a small smile.
Lin Ling let out a nervous laugh at that.
"Can you blame me for that?"
"No."
"Have you decided what you want?" The elderly lady appeared beside their table with a smile.
"Oh?! Yes—I'll have..." Lin Ling awkwardly picked up the menu. "The Chāo Shǒu (spicy wonton)."
"I'll have that too," Cyan confirmed with a smile.
"Okay." The lady left, leaving the two alone.
Cyan noticed the curious look Lin Ling was giving her.
"What?"
"Nothing... I just didn't expect you to like that kind of thing..." Lin Ling was just surprised.
"Oh..." a different sparkle appeared in Cyan's eyes.
"You think I can't handle it?" Cyan frowned slightly and used a fake tone of anger towards Lin Ling.
"No! It's just that you don't seem like that kind of person."
"How about a friendly competition then?" Cyan flashed him a new smile, a smug smile. "Whoever can eat the longest without giving up wins."
Finally, Lin Ling understood what she was trying to do.
"Are you sure? What are we betting?"
"You tell me, after all, you're the one who's going to lose." Cyan leaned back in her chair confidently.
"Okay... how about the loser does all the dishes for the rest of the month?" Lin Ling asked, unsure if that was the best idea.
"Deal closed."
Now let's take a look at what the heroine Loli has to say about today's incident...
Both of their attention was stolen when they heard the TV in the corner of the restaurant; the old lady had turned up the volume.
The TV showed Loli in front of the Fomo agency building, with Zac, CEO of Fomo, absentmindedly fiddling with his cell phone beside her.
A crowd of reporters surrounded her.
"Heroine Loli! What do you have to say about the Spotlight terrorist attack?"
Loli removed the helmet from her armor, revealing that her current hairstyle was a ponytail.
"This attack indicates that it was a test. It's clear that they are expanding their targets." Loli spoke calmly with a serious expression.
"Is your statement based on past incidents caused by fear? The cases where heroes were affected? Like DJ Shindig?"
"The DJ Shinding case and many others still raise suspicion about Spotlight's involvement. Personally, I don't rule out their involvement."
"As an engineer heroine, what do you have to say about the boots found with the person affected by fear?
"It's not an easy technology to obtain. Whoever was behind this type of invention has the means to obtain the material discreetly."
"What do you have to say about the possibility of Spotlight affecting any type of person? How do we avoid fear?"
Cyan, who was watching, was a little distressed by all this news. The orphanage was one of the cataclysms of the arrival of fear at that time.
Loli was thoughtful for a few seconds after that question, looking down with an uncertain look.
"Don't be afraid..." She raised her head and a gleam of determination shone in her eyes. "I know it's a difficult request, but instead of despairing in fear, trust the heroes. I promise we'll be there to help. That's what a hero is."
A silence fell after that response.
Loli turned to enter the agency, having had enough questions for now.
"HEROINE LOLI!"
A reporter further back in the crowd shouted, catching the heroine's attention.
"What do you have to say about the Lucky Cyan heroin case?"
Loli showed slight surprise at this question, and Zac was no longer distracted by his phone.
"Hey, idiot, that question has nothing to do with today's incident." Another reporter complained about the question.
"Please! People are worried. You're her friend, aren't you? You must have something to say."
Loli took on a melancholic look on her face.
"Honestly, I'm not the best person to answer that, I only met her recently... but as someone who admires her, I can say that she is a strong person and above all someone with a lot of compassion. The best we can do is trust, trust in her recovery. After everything she has done, I hope can give something back in some way... So I don't know if she's watching and this is just the beginning, but... thank you, Cyan." Loli smiled slightly at the cameras at the end of her response, and Zac also smiled, satisfied with her answer.
Loli turned around again to enter the Fomo building, while reporters desperately asked for more answers.
"Okay... that's it for today." Zac appeared in front of the cameras waving with a smile before the broadcast ended.
Cyan had a slight smile on her face; she would surely thank Loli when she had the chance.
"I have to admit..." Lin Ling commented with a smile to Cyan. "Loli is also a really nice person. I'm glad she's a hero."
Now it was Cyan who looked curiously at Lin Ling.
"What?"
"Nothing... it's just curious to see you talking like that about another heroine, since you seem to be very devoted to Moon." Cyan spoke in an amused tone, she just wanted to tease him a little.
Lin Ling brought his hand to his face, trying to hide the slight blush on his cheeks.
"...even you?!"
"What? You're the one who shows your love for her the most, just look at all the things you have of hers at home."
"It's not that much..."
"Are you sure? I can name all the things I've found—"
"OKAY... Moon is my favorite, my heroine." Lin Ling's voice had a nervous tone to it.
Cyan nodded amusedly at his confession.
"I don't know when it started... she gave me strength, gave me hope, that I could be someone special, believing in myself, believing in my dream. I'm willing to support her as best I can." Lin Ling said with a sincere smile on his face.
"That must sound a little strange, doesn't it?" Lin Ling laughed awkwardly after confessing his feelings for his Goddess.
"No..." Cyan slowly shook her head in denial. "And honestly..."
Cyan rested her arm on the table and propped her head on her hand, a small smile on her face.
"I think your love for her is cute..."
He lowered his head slightly, Cyan knew how to look cute.
"We've already talked about me..." Lin Ling raised his head, wanting a little revenge. "What about you and Luo? Your story seems full of love."
Cyan jumped and felt her face flush with this new direction of the conversation.
"N-no, that's not it! Luo and I are great friends." Cyan waved her hands in front of her face in embarrassment, but her answer was not convincing to Lin Ling.
"I don't know... I'm sure you two would make a cute couple..." Lin Ling had a smug smile on his face, while Cyan had both hands on her face, trying her best to hide her embarrassment.
"Here."
Lin Ling's moment of amusement was interrupted by the old lady arriving with the food.
"Okay." Cyan picked up her chopsticks and looked at Lin Ling with the most serious look she could muster at the moment, a slight blush still on her face. "Enough talk! Don't cry when you lose."
"I could say the same to you." Lin Ling picked up his chopsticks, determined to go through with the little competition.
The old lady laughed happily beside her husband; this was always an amusing sight for her.
"Aren't they cute together, dear?"
"Just like you and me in our youth..."
At a certain distance from the restaurant, a hooded figure watched Lin Ling and Cyan from the top of a building, and then suddenly the figure disappeared.