Jelo was shocked—genuinely, completely shocked—that Atlas could guess his intention so accurately. The surprise hit him like a physical blow, and in that moment of vulnerability, the truth slipped out before he could stop it.
"Yes," Jelo admitted, the word coming out almost as a whisper. "Yes, I’m going after Garin."
Atlas’s expression didn’t change, as if he’d already known the answer and had just been waiting for confirmation. But his next question caught Jelo off guard.
"Why can’t you just let it go?" Atlas asked, his tone genuinely curious rather than judgmental. "Garin got humiliated in front of the entire class when you threw him into a wall. His arm is in a sling. He’s already been punished, in a way. Why do you need to take it further?"
Jelo opened his mouth, then closed it again. How could he explain the system? How could he explain that there was something inside him—something that had been implanted by the dragon transformation—that was driving him toward revenge with an intensity he couldn’t control even if he wanted to?
"I can’t explain," Jelo said finally, his voice strained. "But I can’t just let it go. Even if I wanted to—and part of me does want to—I couldn’t. There’s something... something that won’t let me walk away from this."
The words sounded inadequate even to his own ears, but they were the closest he could come to the truth without revealing everything.
Ken, who had been listening to this exchange with growing interest, suddenly leaned forward with an expression of genuine admiration. "That’s actually really inspirational, man," he said, his voice filled with respect. "That you feel so strongly about standing up against injustice that you can’t just walk away. That you’re willing to put yourself at risk to make things right, to protect people who can’t protect themselves. That’s the kind of hero mentality that this academy should be promoting instead of all that hierarchy bullshit."
Jelo blinked, caught completely off guard by Ken’s interpretation. He hadn’t meant it that way at all—he was literally being driven by a system quest that rewarded him for revenge—but Ken had somehow twisted his words into something noble and selfless.
"I... that’s not exactly..." Jelo started, but he couldn’t finish the sentence without admitting the truth he was trying to hide.
Atlas was still watching him with that unnervingly perceptive expression. "How did you figure it out?" Jelo asked, deflecting from Ken’s misguided praise. "How did you know I was planning to go after Garin?"
Atlas’s expression shifted slightly, something like concern mixed with understanding crossing his features. "You did the same thing before you went after Xino," he said quietly. "You asked for his name first. Just like you asked for Garin’s name just now. When you did it with Xino, I thought maybe it was just curiosity or you wanted to know who to avoid in the future. But then you disappeared that same evening, and we found you beaten up in that empty classroom."
He paused, his eyes never leaving Jelo’s face. "When you asked for Garin’s name just now, with that same intense look in your eyes, the bell clicked. I realized it wasn’t curiosity last time. It was targeting. You were marking him."
Jelo felt a chill run down his spine. Atlas had connected dots that Jelo hadn’t even realized were visible. His roommate was far more observant than he’d given him credit for.
"So," Atlas continued, his voice becoming more firm, more resolved, "we’ll go get revenge together. All three of us."
"What?" Jelo said, his shock evident. "No. Absolutely not. I’m not putting you guys in danger—"
"You saved me," Atlas interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Back in weapons class. When Garin was attacking me even after I’d surrendered, even after I’d yielded, you didn’t hesitate. You rushed in and protected me. You threw him across the room and put yourself at risk with the teachers to defend me."
Atlas’s eyes were intense now, burning with conviction. "So now it’s my turn. You protected me when I needed it. Now I’m going to stand beside you when you need it. That’s what friends do."
Jelo wanted to argue. He wanted to tell Atlas that things were different now, that he was stronger than he’d been before. The truth was, when Atlas had helped him against Xino’s group, Jelo had still been level one—weak, barely able to fight, desperately in need of backup. But now he was level two. He’d eaten a Dabba heart. His stats had increased. He was faster, stronger, more capable.
But he couldn’t say any of that without revealing the system, without explaining the transformation happening inside him.
Before Jelo could formulate a response that wouldn’t expose his secrets, Ken jumped in.
"And I’ll be there too," Ken said firmly, his usual easygoing smile replaced by something more serious, more determined. "With me involved, I guarantee you won’t get into any real trouble. My family has... influence. If things go wrong, if teachers get involved, I can make sure the consequences aren’t too severe. I can’t make them disappear entirely, but I can soften them significantly."
He leaned back in his chair, his expression confident. "Besides, three against one—or three against however many friends Garin brings—is much better odds than you going alone. Even if you’re stronger than you were before."
That last comment made Jelo’s eyes widen slightly. Had Ken noticed something too? Could he tell that Jelo had gotten stronger?
But Ken didn’t elaborate, just kept looking at him with that determined expression.
Jelo looked between his two friends—Atlas with his bandaged arms and fierce loyalty, Ken with his easy confidence and family connections that could keep them safe. They were both willing to put themselves on the line for him. Both willing to face consequences to stand by his side.
He’d been alone for so long. Weak and isolated and constantly afraid. Having friends who would stand with him like this... it meant more than he knew how to express.
"Alright," Jelo finally agreed, his voice quiet but firm. "Together."
"Excellent!" Ken said, his enthusiasm returning. "So what’s the plan? Are we jumping him in a hallway? Cornering him somewhere private? Challenging him to an official duel?"
"We follow him first," Jelo said, his mind already shifting into planning mode. "See where he goes, who he’s with, find the right moment. We can’t do this in a crowded corridor where people might see. We need somewhere isolated."
Then they began to follow, keeping their distance, staying just out of sight as they tracked Garin through the winding corridors of the academy.
The hunt had begun.