“I’m homeee”

“Brother! How was it? Are you okay?” [Ember]

“Lan! How’d it go?” [Mama Venick]

“Mmmmmm” [Papa Venick]

As I put up the suspense, my family’s gazes are piercing daggers through me-

“I….” [Lan]

“”“…..”””

“I got in” [Lan]

“That’s my bro! Congratulations!” [Ember]

“Our son never fails to meet expectations huh, dear?” [Mama Venick]

“He sure does. Congrats son” [Papa Venick]

“Thanks dad…mom…sis… this is for all of you” [Lan]

I let out a smile then they got all teary eyed. Ah, I could get used to this much praise-

“Come on it’s no big deal guys, were y’all doubting me?” [Lan]

“Noooo! We’re all just genuinely happy!” [Ember]

“That so?~ GRRRROOOWWWLLL~… Hmmm?” [Lan]

“Pffft! HAHA what was that? Get your dinner here Lan!” [Mama Venick]

“Will do, I forgot I didn’t eat anything since breakfast” [Lan]

“Huh? Didn’t I pack you lunch brother?” [Ember]

“Sorry about that, seems I… misplaced it somewhere on the trip” [Lan]

“Hmpf! Don’t misplace it again brother. That lunchbox was filled with love ya’know” [Ember]

“I know, I know… sorry, won’t happen again” [Lan]

“Apology accepted, now eat up brother!” [Ember]

“Thank you for the food” [Lan]

And so, I ate the biggest serving I ever had.

When I got home it was already dark. It took me hours to kill all the goblins. Thankfully, no matter the result, I was still accepted.

There are different ranks namely; rock, iron, copper, bronze, silver, gold and gem. These ranks represent the overall status of a vessel. I…was ranked rock bottom; rock rank.

My stigmata has a straight line that’s met with a letter “I” and beside it was a shape of an arrowhead. Normally, the line shouldn’t be straight, power levels alter the lines shapes. The letter “I” after the line was my rank and the arrowhead represents the different floors I could access and would change in color; depending on the floor level. A lower rank means lower pay since monster drops from the easy floors aren’t that pricey, I gotta raise my stats if I want to level up but for now…

…time for some shut eye.

* * * * *

I have a place where I do my training, I go there every morning and that’s where I am right now-

“Oi Lan, you getting sloppy. You’re late!” [Vin]

But I don’t train alone.

“Ah, sorry. I got home late last night and we had a little celebration- “ [Lan]

“Celeb…wha- Ah!” [Vin]

“Hmmm? Ah yea, I got in” [Lan]

Seems like he saw my stigmata, wasn’t really planning on hiding it anyway.

“Motherf-! You should have told me you went there, I couldn’t even give my support!” [Vin]

“Ah sorry, didn’t want to embarrass myself if I couldn’t get in” [Lan]

“Yeah yeah, save your excuses. Anyway, congrats Lan!” [Vin]

“Thanks Vin” [Lan]

“Oiiiiiiii” [Ellie]

“Ah, and I thought she’d sit today out too.” [Vin]

“Huff huff… like hell I would” [Ellie]

“Good morning Ellie” [Lan]

“Lan… Good mor- IS THAT REAL?” [Ellie]

Yeah, I got in yesterday” [Lan]

“WHAT?!” [Ellie]

“Hehe, Sorry for not telling both of you” [Lan]

“Who cares about that! Congratulations Lan!” [Ellie]

And my precious childhood friend wraps me in her arms.

Yes, Vinyl and Elena are my childhood friends. We meet up here every morning to train. They’ve been vessels for quite some time already.

Vinyl is an iron rank who is adept with arcana manipulation while Elena is a bronze rank adept with close combat and swordsmanship. These 2 despite being vessels already, come here to train with me. They probably feel sorry for me that’s why they come here. In any case, I can’t thank them enough-

“!!! Ah! Sorry Lan! I didn’t notice that I hadn’t let go” [Ellie]

Eh? Why is she red and acting all flustered? Hugging is normal isn’t it? Why’s Vin giving a smug look… ah whatever-

“Vin, Ellie…” [Lan]

““Hmmm?””

“From the bottom of my heart… I thank you both” [Lan]

“Ehem… from the bottom of his heart he says ow-!” [Vin]

“Shh Vin” [Ellie]

“If it weren’t for you two helping me, I’d be stuck rock bottom… well, I am at rock bottom right now but it’s thanks to you both that I’m able to go up. I really, really am thankful” [Lan]

“Oi” [Vin]

“…?” [Lan]

“La-: [Ellie]

BONK

“Ow…!” [Lan]

“Don’t hit him Vin!” [Ellie]

“Ah sorry sorry, it’s just that we didn’t do it for you” [Vin]

“Eh?” [Lan]

“I’m speaking for myself though. I didn’t do it for you, I did it because I wanted to. End of discussion. Don’t go rambling stuff about us being the reason you took a step forward because that was all you” [Vin]

“Pfft HAHAHA So even you can say some decent things huh Vin?” [Ellie]

“Ellie…why you…” [Vin]

“Lan, I’m the same. Besides, having someone to spar with really helps me loosen up. If anything, thank you” [Ellie]

“She’s right Lan. Here” [Vin]

Vin raised his fist. Ah, this is something we’ve been doing since childhood; to never forget our bond, where we came from, who we were with, who has our backs, who our family was, albeit, not bound by blood and who we are.

“There” [Lan]

This fist bump that connects us three…

I hope we’ll continue doing this…even until the hair on my head’s all white.