Sleep didn't come easily to Mikel. In fact, after the night he had, he didn't get a wink of it. Not out of fear, but because the remnants of adrenaline still surged through his veins.
"Just put this on your bruise. It'll take a while…" As the doctor spoke, Mikel pressed the ice pack against the large bruise on his shoulder.
His hospital gown was pulled aside, revealing the angry blotch of purple and red on his skin. He stared at it blankly.
"But based on your results, there aren't any complications from the surgery…" The doctor's voice began to fade as Mikel's mind drifted. "Does it hurt?"
"No," Mikel answered quickly, even though he hadn't really been listening. He met the doctor's concerned eyes—his gaze steady, unflinching. "It doesn't hurt at all."
The doctor smiled. "I see. Today, we'll run one last round of tests. Hopefully, the final set before we can finally send you off."
"..." Mikel nodded, his eyes drifting to the nurses and junior doctors gathered around.
The nurse from the day before was no longer with them. Everyone acted like nothing unusual had happened the night before. Even the old man sharing his ward was going about his day like always.
It was as if everything that had happened — the Nightbound, the fight, the man named Stefan, the Blood Chain, and Doom — were all figments of his imagination. Just a nightmare, meant to fade over time.
But alas...
He knew it wasn't just in his head. Not with these messages scrolling across his vision, congratulating him for completing his first objective and "leveling up," not with the strange beaded bracelet on his wrist, and definitely not with this faint graduation song still echoing in his head.
Nice choice of song, Doom. Very nice. He thought dryly.
"We're taking you to the lab now, okay?" the doctor's voice cut into his thoughts, earning a distracted nod.
Despite his improving condition, the nurses placed him in a wheelchair and wheeled him toward his first destination of the day. It wasn't like he couldn't walk — his legs were fine — but they seemed determined to treat him like he was more fragile than he felt.
As they rolled him down the hallway, Mikel noticed a child at the far end.
The little boy clung to the wall, peeking around the corner. Though Mikel's vision blurred slightly when he focused on him, the striped red and white t-shirt under the child's jumper gave him a jolt of recognition.
Is that the same kid from yesterday?
[Yes.]
[Wandering Spirit]
[Threat level: 0]
So the gramps in my ward were right. There was no kid at all.
Mikel kept his gaze on the child, who stared back with innocent curiosity. Pulling his eyes away, he couldn't help but wonder,
He's not going to become like that thing from last night, is he?
[Wandering Spirits are generally harmless. They are mostly lost and confused, unaware of their passing.]
Then, as if wrapping up the topic, Doom prompted:
[Master, would you like to see the rewards you earned from last night's battle?]
Not now, Doom. Can't you see I've got tests to pass first?
But Doom showed him anyway.
[Objective: Weaken and purify Nightbound (Achieved!)]
[Rewards:
— Basic Talismans
— Night Vision
— Books of the Dead
— Additional Inventory Slots
— Doom User Interface Upgrade]
[Host: Mikel]
[Status: Active]
[Class: —]
[Level: 3]
[Current Passive Skills: Brute Strength]
[Weapon Equipped: Blood Chain]
[Additional Skill: Recovery]
Mikel furrowed his brows. "UI?"
The moment the word left his mouth, he jolted as a glowing blue screen suddenly projected from his eye. Now, instead of seeing it from a first-person perspective, it floated in front of him like a screen. It blinked like it was thrilled, as if Doom had just been set partially free from its prison behind his retina.
"Heh…" A weak laugh escaped him. "That excites you, huh?"
Suddenly, a gentle tap on the back snapped Mikel back to the current lapse.
"Mikel, I'll be back to check on you after the tests, alright?" the doctor said, nodding at him with reassurance. "Let's hope for the best."
Mikel gave a short smile and nodded. The nurse wheeled him into the next room for a general check-up to make sure he could be discharged without issue.
But as they did, Mikel couldn't help but notice the additional people on the way. It was still the same routine of hospital staff, patients, and visitors. But now, with quite a handful of wandering figures passing through objects and people; some trying to ask for help while others just followed some people around.
And somehow, Mikel couldn't help but feel mixed emotions by this.
---
One of the "perks" of agreeing to be a guinea pig was that Mikel got "priority" access to all his tests. After spending the whole day undergoing exams — from neurological to physical — it was a full package.
It used to exhaust him, especially that first time… when he had gone blind.
How time passed, and how life could change in a heartbeat.
Months ago, Mikel had been adjusting to life without sight. Now, he was adjusting to a life where he could see more than just the living, but also the dead, ghosts, spirits—and Doom.
Two days after that final check-up, he changed out of his standard hospital gown and into a simple white shirt and jeans. Since he'd arrived here in a school uniform, his kind attending doctor and a few thoughtful nurses had given him the clothes and some basic necessities.
Standing beside the bed, he zipped his bag closed.
[Master, are you going to bid your old friend goodbye? Do you need help to squeeze out a tear?]
Mikel looked over at the old man in the next bed, smiling warmly at him.
"Gramps, I'm going home today," he said. "And I'm never coming back here."
The old man, still smiling, nodded. "Young man, I'm glad you've finally recovered. The Heavens are on your side."
"Yeah, I guess they are." Mikel shrugged and slung the bag over his shoulder. But before walking away, he turned back and added, "I might not come back here as a patient, but I'll drop by to check on you when I can."
"The time? You want to know the time?" the old man repeated, tilting his head as if trying to hear better. "My vision's a little blurry, so you'll have to ask the beautiful nurse. Maybe ask for her number too!"
Mikel's face twitched. So much for a heartfelt goodbye.
With a shallow sigh, he looked at the old man a moment longer, then turned on his heel and walked off.
"See ya!" he called without looking back.
The old man watched him go, eyes twinkling.
Once Mikel disappeared around the corner, the old man slowly turned to the window.
"He's a good kid," he murmured with a soft chuckle. "May the Heavens bless him and protect him from harm."
But as he sat there, smiling peacefully, a massive black shadow loomed behind him like a dark fire hovering just above his back.