I stare through a red-tinged haze while Antoine sheathes his daggers. “Bad luck,” he says, apology in his tone. “You were doing alright. Shame your exam became such a disaster.”

“I’m dying here, and it’s a ‘shame’?” I force a dry chuckle. My throat burns from the day’s yelling, panting, and other embarrassing noises. “I’m joking. Everything hurts, though. Like… lots.”

“Come now. You’re tougher than that. Besides, people die during the exam all the time -- albeit under less bizarre circumstances.” Antoine calls his Inventory and retrieves a small vial of liquid. He presses it into my hand. “Greater Healing Potion. Don’t stand right after taking it; you’ll get dizzy.”

“Dizzier, you mean...”

I glug down the sweet concoction and close my eyes, savouring the sensation of rising HP. Several surreal seconds pass, body and mind repairing until I’m good as respawned. Any wounds I suffered disappear. My clothes don’t enjoy the same treatment, though.

“...Hm? Test’s over. No need to re-arm.”

For the third time today, Antoine pulls me upright. I mumble my half-hearted gratitude. I interpreted the gesture as kindness first, practicality second, but now it’s just awkward.

“We’re overtime by four minutes thanks to the ‘technical difficulties’ witnessed here.” He makes a ‘tsk’ sound, looking aside. “Also, if you want to retake the exam, you may be waiting awhile. We’ll have to close down while Valeria reverses the mods--”

“Retake the exam? Antoine, no!”

We startle when a video call window springs into being between us. A distraught Valeria glares at him through the screen.

“Mr. Quinn can’t have failed. You said it yourself: I’m the one at fault. Mr. Quinn handled himself beautifully today in an awful situation! Don’t you think that’s worth anything? You should.”

Really? Really, really!? I’m touched! I wibble at her impassioned tone. Thanks for having faith in me, Valeria! How can I hold anything against you?

“I wouldn’t call his performance ‘beautiful’.” Antoine folds his arms. “That said, your persistence is impressive, Quinn. Most people would’ve forfeited. How’s it feel, being pixels from death’s door?”

A weak laugh. “1/10, would not recommend.”

“Mr. Quinn, I’m sorry.” Valeria’s window flips to face me. “My mods have never malfunctioned like this before! If I’d known there was a chance that would happen, I wouldn’t have...”

“Please, Val. You did and you would.”

Antoine interrupts with a frown, and something tells me they need time alone. I glance at the warp portal which appeared nearby. The arena walls vanished with the golem’s death, too.

I give my sleeve an uncomfortable tug.

“So…”

“Congratulations. You passed the exam, but only by a hairsbreadth.”

I wince at his assessment. Still, I can’t expect more than blunt honesty from Antoine.

“Thank you, and I mean it. I wasn’t sure I would.”

“Hmm. For whatever reason, I expected a more enthused response from you. Too tired to celebrate?”

I open my mouth to protest before realizing he’s right. Technically, I’m a Drifter now. Eight weeks have passed since the Awakening swept through Generika, and I’m an honest-to-goodness, bonafide Drifter, just like I longed for.

So, what’s with this half-assed reaction?

“...Yeah, I’m exhausted.” Or something like that.

“I’m just relieved you’re alright,” Valeria cuts in. “I’ve never seen anyone die at a glitched mob’s hands... or paws, or fangs... before. It bothers me to think you might’ve come back wrong.”

“Eh? You mean I could’ve glitched too--!?”

The Valeria in the call window performs a hurried, dismissive wave.

“That’s all speculation, of course!” Her singsong tone returns, a heart emoji flashing overhead. “Don’t mind me, just thinking aloud~”

“R-right…”

Wearing a bored expression, Antoine jerks his thumb towards the portal rotating nearby.

“Hate to interrupt, but we need to go, Val. We have a long evening ahead. I doubt the newbies in the waiting room will be glad to hear the dungeon’s closed.”

Antoine forks me off on a generic junior clerk once we teleport to the main building.

“This woman will officiate your Promotion,” he says. We exchange a firm handshake before he steps back into the warp portal. From the tension in his face, I imagine Antoine’s upcoming announcement to the newbies is weighing on his mind. “I hate to vanish like this, but--”

“I get it. Better take care of the crowd, huh?”

Antoine blinks when I interject. He chuckles as a column of light blooms from the sigils underneath him.

“Valeria will be in contact, I’m sure. Good luck, Quinn.”

“Thanks. Appreciated.”

With a whoosh and a flash, Antoine warps away. I stare for a minute, underwhelmed by the abrupt parting. I never got a ‘review your performance?’ prompt before leaving the trial dungeon. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but some part of me looked forward to discussing the exam with him instead.

Ahh, this is frustrating. I wonder if Valeria can give me his notes…

“NPC-RND-4394? Hello?”

The clerk jerks me from my reverie.

“Huh? Oh, yeah. That’s me.”

“Congratulations on passing your exam. Since you’ve received your Attribute and Skill bonuses, there’s nothing to do but sign a couple forms and get your starter kit.” She whisks a clipboard from the wall and hands me a pen. “You know the drill.”

Once we’ve taken care of the paperwork -- an unexpected relic of the Heroes’ world, now that I think about it -- the clerk hauls a shimmering gift box from behind the desk.

“Here’s your prize.” She gives the top an emphatic pat. “I recommend putting it in your Inventory for later.”

“Oh, wow.”

The box dwarfs my unimpressive torso as I pack it away. Before the STR boost, I wouldn’t have been able to lift it, would I?

1st CLASS TRIAL DUNGEON GIFT BOX

(Unique)

A starter kit for new Drifters lovingly devised by Choboja Village’s 1st Class Trial Dungeon staff. Contains equipment, consumables, and a surprise from Valeria Fullbright. Cannot be sold, traded, dropped, or destroyed. Bound to recipient upon storage.

I inspect the box’s details with a thoughtful hum, and my disappointment over leaving without a proper review fades. Is it childish of me to get excited over a mystery box? The description warms my insides.

“Well, you’re done, NPC-RND-4394.” The clerk echoes my smile with a sparkle, though it nowhere near rivals Valeria. “Enjoy your newfound Class! The gift box comes with an informative pamphlet for the freshly-promoted. It’s a wonderful resource if you’re wondering what to do with your life.”

“I’ll save the existential crises for later.”

We share a polite laugh, and I head for the exit. Better sneak away before a riot breaks out from Valeria and Antoine’s big reveal.

I live by my old ‘workplace’ near the entrance of Choboja Village.

After the Awakening, most people assumed the small house some ten feet away ‘belonged’ to me, and of course I accepted their reasoning.

I sell the Crystallized Sour Jelly Fluid from the dungeon and spend the GP on a ride home atop some courier’s mount. It’s only about 16:00, but I’m ready to crawl my way upstairs and rest. The modest cottage I call ‘home’ never looked more inviting than it does today.

I push past the wooden gate, open the front door. A brief notification flashes in my mind’s eye:

YOU HAVE RECEIVED A NEW MESSAGE!

You have [3] unread messages waiting.

Ergh, not right now. I dismiss the alert and haul my way to the second floor, where my attic bedroom is. Whoever messaged me can wait. My few friends already knew I’d be challenging the Drifter exam today.

Although the contents of my Inventory don’t weigh anything, I can never sleep without emptying it first. I place my Makeshift Spear and Gift Box atop the desk against the wall. My ruined newbie outfit lies abandoned on the floor.

Stifling a yawn against my forearm, I fall into bed.

Maybe I’ll feel more inclined to celebrate my Promotion after a good, long, well-deserved nap.

Night!