“Hyro, are you level five yet?” Enris asked in an unusually quiet voice once they got alone. Hyro checked and saw that he was still fifteen experience shy of level five and replied, “No, not yet. I am really close though, why?” Enris gave a deep sigh before starting to tear up, “I am going on a trip for a few days and was hoping that you would start your independent study tomorrow so that you could come with me.” Hyro was not sure how to react to Enris starting to cry, He has barely ever had a friend before let alone had to console one. “Enris what is wrong? I am here for you if you want to talk.” Hyro put his hand on Enris’s shoulder and saw in Enris’s eyes that he would not be able to talk, as he started to break down in tears. Enris handed Hyro a letter that was addressed to Enris, Hyro opened it and read it quietly.

  Sweet Enris,

  I am sorry that I have to tell you this in a letter. I tried to come in person, but you know the academy rules are strict… Buck should be talking with you soon. Please sit down when reading this.

  Hyro paused reading and when seeing tears on the paper and hearing his friend still sobbing he moved closer and put an arm around him as he continued reading.

  Your father was in an accident, while finishing a job in the Ira Forest a group of feral Barbarians were hunting down a Hogtork, your father and his guards got caught in the mix, I am so Sorry Enris, he didn’t make it. We will be holding a ceremony in a few days but please come home, we need you, I need you. Please travel safe,

  Love,

  Mom

  Hyro was in disbelief, the world had its dangers, but that is why there were adventurers, that is why they were in school, for something bad to happen while they were training to be the ones to protect, it seemed cruel. “Enris, I am so sorry.” He gave his friend a hug and let him cry into his shoulder until he was able to speak again. When Enris was calmer Hyro simply said, “Get some rest, I will be ready to go with you in the morning.” With new determination Hyro gave his friend another hug and left to go see Buck.

  Hyro was shaking as he knocked on Buck’s door, “Come in,” Was heard from the other side as Hyro opened the door and spoke. “Sorry for coming right before Dinner but I need to ask a question. If I get to level five by tomorrow can I be excused to join Enris to attend his fathers Ceremony?” Buck sat and thought for a moment, “Yes Hyro, I do not see anything wrong with that, due to his current state we were going to send an Instructor with him as well so you will even be able to continue your training while away if you wish, I think it will be good for you and for Enris to have you there.” Hyro thanked Buck and left, just saying, “I have some work to do, thank you.”

  For the first night since arriving, Hyro did not go to dinner with his friends, instead he went to the meditation room. He had a few ideas, and fifteen experience would not be hard to get but he wanted to make sure he was prepared to go too. Hyro opened the hidden door to the bell and rang it, then, against all advice he sat in the center of the room and entered his Sanctuary alone.

  “Hello, welcome back, I have been expecting you.” Hyro opened his eyes, but he only saw one person around his campfire this time, every other time there have been two, and this one was different from any he has seen before. This version of him was dressed with a black mask, tight fighting black clothing that showed a slender frame, not a single area of him was exposed, everything was covered in black. Hyro was shocked to see only one but did not have time to question it. “I need help.”

  “I know you do, that is why I am finally here, the others can be helpful in their own way, I only come out when I am needed, I am the version of you that lost everything and learned to use that loss to fuel our Chaos.” The Hyro dressed in black responded. “My friend has lost someone, I do not know how to help him, I need to gain a small amount of experience but I also want to power to protect him, not just rely on the teacher that is coming along.” Hyro stated what the version of him should already know, but Hyro found it was earlier to get answers here if you were direct. “I was hoping that you would say that, to get experience, confront James, it will push you over the limit that you need. For the extra power, you know the only chance you have at getting that, give in to your chaos. Enris will take one of two paths, he will break from this or become stronger, help him do the ladder.” Hyro was shocked at hearing this version be so direct with his words, usually they only gave vague advice and this place was more of a place that Hyro could bounce ideas around, he actually got real guidance.

  “How can you tell me so much? You seem different from the others.” Hyro asked and the other version of him replied quickly, “That is because I am different, I am not just another possible version of you, I am a version of you that traverses the multiverse.” Hyro was in shock, he had so many questions, but the all black version simply waved his hand and everything went black, before Hyro could open his eyes back in the real world he heard one last sentence from the other version, “I am in the Order.”

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  Hyro’s eyes popped wide open. A version of me was in the Order of Chaos once? How was that possible? What was going on? Hyro had so many thoughts running in his head, but right now he had some things to take care of before tomorrow came. First he had to find James. Hyro knew everyone else would be in the cafeteria, but he needed to find the staff cafeteria. Hyro pulled his mini-map in the center of his vision and enlarged it. This was something he learned to do not long after he unlocked the maps, it was a nuisance to his vision, but let him look around the area. He read the names of the different rooms looking for a teacher or faculty lounge or cafeteria. It did not take him long to find it, their cafeteria was not far from the main one, just the door to it seemed to be glowing on the map. Hyro selected it as a destination and it showed his path on the map, something he learned from Himel in traveling the land, and then he made the map smaller again, stopped the bell sound and headed out.

  When getting to where the door should be Hyro could not find any door, but it was clearly glowing and marked on the map, Hyro knew from class that this meant it was hidden, now to figure out how the hidden door functioned. He feared it would be complex as every student past level two would know that it was there after installing the map. After a few minutes of not finding a single clue, Hyro was left with three options that he could see. He could bang on the wall, just wait and hope someone came out of the door soon, or get help. Hyro thought back to what Valda said in Welcome to the system one day, “While with enough training, everyone can be decent at everything, the reason Adventurer’s form teams is to spread the responsibilities so every area can be done great, not just decently.” Hyro then resolved to go find some help, and who better than one of the best rogues that he knew.

  Luckily the main cafeteria was close, Hyro ran in and went right to their usual table, Dreeva, Cynthia and Paul were the only ones there, Hyro looked at Dreeva, “I need your help.” She looked up at him, “Is it about Enris?” Hyro simply nodded and Dreeva got up to follow him, excusing herself from the table. Cynthia and Paul had confusing looks on their faces but Hyro did not feel like he had time to explain everything, it also was not his place to explain. As Dreeva followed Hyro she expressed how much she wished that she could go with Enris but she was being sent out on her final test tomorrow morning with her team, if they passed and cleared a nearby monster horde they would become full adventurers. Hyro was excited for her but barely showed it as he dived right into his current situation. “I need to level to level five so that I can join Enris. I was in my sanctuary and my guidance from there told me seeking out someone who should be in the Faculty cafeteria is my best chance to be ready.”

  “Dreeva stopped walking, “Hyro, that is not a good idea, we can get in a lot of trouble.” She expressed concern, “I know you want to go with Hyro but there are other ways to Level.” Hyro responded with slight anger in his tone, “I do not just want to level, I want power, I want to protect my friends and make sure they don't need to feel pain.” Hyro was resolute while speaking and it was clear his mind would not be changed. Dreeva gave in, “Fine, I will help, but we have to be careful.” As they approached the area with the hidden door she traced a line on her palm, “Invisiblis Maxima.” She almost whispered the words, but as she did she disappeared from Hyro’s sight, Hyro also noticed from his peripheral vision that he was invisible too. The Maxima qualifier to Invisiblis must make whoever she chooses invisible, helpful. After a few moments she whispered, “If we talk quietly my spell also barricades some sound, I will open it then I am heading back to the Cafeteria, the invisibility will wear off in two minutes, or you can yell and it will cancel out.” Hyro knew she was in a rush not to get caught so he simply whispered back, “Thank you.”

  Moments later he heard a click and an outline of a door was now visible. Hyro assumed that Dreeva did as she said she would and that she was now on her way to the Cafeteria, but he still gave her a few extra seconds. Hyro grabbed an area that would let him open the door and pulled, the door was slightly heavy, but nothing that Hyro couldn’t handle. Hyro did not open it fully, just enough to look in, most heads turned towards the door. Hyro peered in and saw a bunch of people that he did not know, but two people stood out and they were sharing a table, It was Calepe and James. He knew he was invisible but it looked like Calepe was staring right in his eyes.

  Hyro was not sure what his plan was at this point, I only have less than two minutes, well here goes nothing. Hyro thought to himself as he first found something to prop the door open just a hair. After he propped the door, Hyro walked over to James’s table, still thinking on what to do. I have a few options, no real good ones. What would Enris or Dreeva or Cynthia do in this situation? Well they probably would not be in the situation and they have spells to help… Spells that’s it! Hyro quickly took out a piece of parchment and a writing implement. He hoped that all of this would stay invisible but was running out of time as it was, he was going to pretend like he copied a simple message spell. Nuntius, send a short message on parchment to a non-hostile target. Perfect for me, get the message to him, get out, easy. Hyro finished writing the note and secretly placed it right next to James’s tray of food, hidden in a way that he should be the only one who could see it. The message was short, but Hyro thought it relayed what he needed.

  James,

  Meet me in the arena, alone, asap.

  -H

  Just as Hyro was walking towards the door he could feel the magic fading Oh no, has it been two minutes already! Hyro started to rush towards the door, almost in the clear, when Hyro’s foot made contact with a chair, and Hyro fell on the floor, being revealed to everyone eating in the Faculty Cafeteria.