I WAS The Rank–1 Hero

"Raise your head, my child."

'Her' voice was a melody in itself, each words bringing warmth to my ears.

I raised my head, my gaze scanned 'her'.

Standing before me clad in a full white robe, was 'her'—a being beyond mortal sense.

The thin fabric clung to her frame, outlining every delicate features of her figure, despite that it didn't disgrace her divine presence.

I felt completely obeying her.

Without hesitation I stood up.

The moment my eyes met 'her', a strange warmth spread across my whole body. An overwhelming comfort took my breath away.

'What is this feeling?'

I don't know.

'Was this a relief?'

I don't know.

'Or maybe, it's a connection?'

I don't know.

But something deeper within my mind tells me—

We may have some history.

'Have we met before?'

...

...

...Probably.

That's what it felt like.

Call it a connection—

Maybe because I was 'her' Apostle.

Or maybe because I possessed her Authority.

Subconsciously, my gaze lingered on 'her', taking in every flawless details, as if memorizing every parts of her.

'Her' beauty was absolute, as if the heaven themselves crafted 'her' with diving care. Nobody had I met, who could come close to 'her' beauty.

But then, a sudden realization struck me.

I was staring at 'her'.

I averted my eyes, heat flooded to my face, my heart hammering against my ribs.

"Hee hee..."

A light chuckle filled the air, softly resonating reaching my ears.

I swallowed.

For a second, silenced stretched between us.

Then, 'she' tilted her head slightly, observing me with quiet amusement before speaking again.

"You have many questions clouding your mind." 'Her' voice was patient. "Ask them."

I flinched.

'How did she know?!'

I do have questions—a lot of them.

Everything that had happened up until now—

Those dreams.

Those skills.

The Authority.

Even about 'her'.

There's just so much to understand.

How should I ask?

What should I ask?

From where should I start?

I was at lost of words now.

Taking a deep breath, looking at 'her', I finally asked.

"What am I?"

***

Skylark Café, Honeyford

The town of honey ford was alive that night.

Busy street, people walking, laughing. The atmosphere was good.

The shops bustling with customers. The merchants called out to passersby, eager to sell their items.

But amidst this lively chaos, a two-story building stood alone.

Silent

No lights.

No activity.

A sign hung on the wall—

"Skylark Café"

On its glass door, another sign pasted.

"Closed."

It was an odd sight.

This café was renowned for its best coffee and bakery services, it should have been breaming with customers.

It was strange.

A figure approached the entrance.

It was a girl—her steps were silent her hands trembling as they reached for the doorknob.

Stopping.

She inhaled sharply, then finally inserted the key.

Click.

The faint reflection of the glass door revealed her face.

Jet-black hair. Black eyes, smooth skin, yet had dark circles beneath her lashes. She wore a black trench coat, her left pocket had with an emblem—

'Nova'

The symbol of the greatest hero academy across all five continents.

It was none other than, Elise Skylark.

She swallowed hard. 'It'll be fine', she told herself. 'Everything will be fine.'

But as she stepped inside, the breath stuck in her throat.

The café was dark, no customers. The tables still had abandoned dishes.

Half-filled coffee cups, forgotten plates.

Faint scent of coffee mixed with something lingered in the air.

Elise's stomach twisted.

The only sounds in this place was coming from the wall, a holographic display, its blue light casting flickering shadows beneath Elise's boot. It had a news channel open, an advertisement was playing on it.

Elise took a step further.

Crack!

Suddenly a sharp crunch echoed below her boot.

"!"

She flinched.

Glancing down, her foot had struck a broken tray, the floor is still wet with the spilled coffee.

Her hear pounded.

'Mother...' she thought.

Then she realized something, connecting the dots.

Her mother must have seen the news.

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Panic surged through her veins.

Without a thought, Elise bolted towards the stairs.

Her feet stumbled.

She fell.

But she didn't stop. She pushed herself up, panting, she ran again.

She reached upstairs.

A dimly lit dining hall came into her view.

And there—at the table—sat two figures.

Ellinor and William Skylark.

Her mother and father.

They were motion less, rested against the wooden chair.

Their eyes dull. Their lips dry.

It was suffocating for her.

Elise's chest tightened.

She knew that look.

She had seen it before—years ago, when they had lost Zane the first time.

Her mother had cried for a year straight. Every morning, she would sit by the café door, waiting. Hoping, that one day her son will come back.

She was basically praying for a miracle.

But then—

It had happened.

Zane came back.

Alive.

Unharmed.

I was truly a miracle.

They never questioned it. Never asked where he had been or why he hadn't reached out to them.

None of it mattered.

Because their son was home now.

Ellinor their mother, had smiled again.

And when she smiled, so did William.

They were happy once more.

But now—

That happiness had shattered.

History was repeating itself.

Elise was frozen, her vision now blurring with unshed tears.

Her chest felt heavy, so heavy that she collapsed to the floor.

Stump.

Her hands covered her face, her fingers digging into her temples. A choked sob escaped her lips.

"Why...?"

Why couldn't they just be happy?

Why was this happening again?

Why her brother?

He had done nothing wrong.

He was just a child.

Why must the gods be so unfair to him?

The silence continued.

Then finally, noticing her, her mother spoke.

"Elise... dear... you came home."

Ellinor's voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.

"You must be hungry. Let me set up the plates."

She moved to stand, but she stumble.

Her knees buckled. She caught herself against the chair, her eyes widening as she remembered something.

She turned to Elise, her expression crumbling.

"I'm sorry..." Her voice trembled. "I forgot to make dinner...haaha..."

A hollow chuckle left her lips.

"I'm sorry.... I'm such a bad mother.... I'm sorry.... I'm sorry.... I'm sorry.... I'm sorry—"

She broke down.

Ellinor collapsed into William's arms, sobbing.

William was still silent as ever, he held her tightly—his own grief was heavy into every wrinkle of his face.

And Elise... Elise just sat there, on the cold floor.

Minutes passed.

The three of them still on the dining hall.

The only sound that filled the air was the news from downstairs.

"Updates on the Nova student disappearance—"

Elise's breath hitched.

"!"

Her parents looked at each other.

The voice from the projection downstairs continued—

"The Hero Association has determined their locations, and formed a rescue team."

Their eyes widened.

Ellinor clutched William's arm.

"Please... please... let my son be safe."

The news anchor continued.

"The Hero Association has dispatched five Single-Rankers—Pride, Envy, Greed, Justice... and... hmm?"

A pause.

Their hearts pounded.

Who's the last one?

"And the last one..."

The anchor's voice wavered slightly before declaring proudly.

"Hope."

Silence.

Then—

Screhhh!

Ellinor stood up so fast her chair scraped against the floor.

"H-Hope?"

William's hands clenched into fist.

Elise's breath caught in her throat.

A ray of light.

If Hope was with them—

If he was leading the rescue—

Then they could be certain.

Certain that Zane would come back home.

Because Hope was humanity's strongest.

Because he was the only one the demons feared.

Elise's lips quivered.

"Mom, Dad—" she whispered. "If... if it's Hope, then... nothing will happen to them. He'll bring them back."

Her voice cracked, but beneath it was something unshakable—

Belief.

Blinded trust.

Because that was the image Zane had built for himself when he was Hope.

End of Chapter.