The wind was crisp against my skin as I stood in front of the old school, the key to my future hanging heavy in my hand. It was everything I had dreamed of: an old, abandoned building on the edge of a small village by the sea. The quiet I had always longed for was just beyond that door.
But even as I marveled at it, I could feel the weight of the past still clinging to me. The memories of the city, the busy streets, the constant noise, and—most of all—the Hunters.
I hated them.
My mind wandered back to that fateful day when I was ten. A monster invasion tore through the city, claiming the lives of my parents. It was the largest outbreak in history, and yet, no Hunters had stepped in. There were reports—complaints, even—that monsters had been escaping a nearby dungeon, but no one had done anything. The Hunters, those powerful beings who were supposed to protect the world from such disasters, turned a blind eye, deeming the dungeon unprofitable.
The result was over ten thousand deaths. My parents' deaths. That's why I vowed to have nothing to do with them. No Hunter, no association with those who stood idly by while people like my parents were killed. No exceptions.
But today, none of that mattered. This was my moment. My chance to start over, to live a quiet, peaceful life. Alone. Away from the world of Hunters.
With a deep breath, I inserted the key into the lock. The door creaked open with an ominous groan, as if the building itself didn't want me here. I paused at the threshold, staring into the dimly lit hallway. Dust motes floated lazily in the air, and the scent of old wood and mold filled my nostrils. The school had been abandoned for years, but to me, it was perfect. It was everything I wanted—no noise, no distractions, just the stillness of a place forgotten by time.
I stepped inside, my footsteps echoing loudly in the silence. The floors creaked beneath me, the weight of years pressing down on the building. It was as if I had crossed a threshold, not just into the building, but into a new life. I could already feel the peace settling over me, the relief of being away from everything I had known.
But as I walked deeper into the school, something strange happened. I reached for the doorknob of what would be my new home—the headmaster's office—and a sudden, sharp sound echoed in my ears. It was like a digital chime, the kind I'd seen in old movies. My heart lurched in my chest, my fingers freezing in place.
[Scanning...]
I froze.
The words hung in the air, a sharp intrusion in the otherwise peaceful moment. My hand jerked back from the doorknob, my breath catching in my throat as I looked around the room. There was nothing in sight. No device. No screen. But that voice—it came from nowhere.
[Scanning complete.]
[Receiving information: complete.]
[Role assigned: School Headmistress.]
I blinked rapidly, as if trying to clear my mind. I had to be imagining things. The voice, the words—it had to be some kind of mistake. I stood still, frozen to the spot, my mind racing. Could it be? Had I accidentally triggered some sort of system in this old building? I hadn't seen any computers or any signs of advanced technology when I toured the place.
"No way..." I whispered under my breath, the words catching in my throat. "Is this what they call the Hunter's choosing process?!"
My pulse quickened. This couldn't be happening. I had never wanted to become a Hunter, never wanted any part of that world. The last thing I wanted was to be thrust into a system that would make me a part of it.
I had bought this school to escape everything—the Hunters, the monsters, the endless violence. But instead, I was thrust right into the middle of it.
I stood in the hallway, my hands shaking as panic swelled in my chest. My dream of peace had just shattered in an instant. There was no way I could run the academy, not with everything I had just experienced.
[Would you like to view your status?]
[Yes/No]
"No!" I shrieked, my voice echoing in the empty halls. "I don't want to view my status. In fact, take back the role! I don't want to be a Hunter!"
[Processing instructions...]
[Error. Instructions cannot be processed.]
Of course. Why would it be that simple? I cursed under my breath, staring at the floating message before me, my mind racing with thoughts of how to escape this nightmare. My fingers hovered over the "No" option, but something held me back. The screen didn't give me a choice. The more I tried to ignore it, the more it seemed to force its presence on me.
I could feel the weight of it, an unseen force, pushing against me as if the system had its own will. It wasn't going to let me go that easily.
I stepped back from the screen, my breath shallow, trying to calm my racing heart. This wasn't real. This wasn't happening. I wasn't going to be caught up in whatever this was.
But deep down, I knew the truth. There was no escaping this. I was the Headmistress now. There was no way out.
I was trapped.
Bzzz… Bzzz…
The sudden vibration in my pocket startled me, breaking my focus. I pulled my phone out, almost desperate for something familiar, anything to ground me. I glanced at the screen. It was my uncle, Rowland.
I had been avoiding his calls all week.
I took a deep breath, wiped my hands on my pants, and answered the call.
"Elaine! Why aren't you answering my texts?!" Rowland's voice cracked through the phone, filled with worry and exasperation.
I swallowed, trying to sound casual. "I'm fine, Uncle Row. I was just busy signing some paperwork, that's all."
"Paperwork? Wait—you were actually serious about moving to that isolated village?!"
I let out a small, forced laugh. "Yes, I already bought a piece of land there. Didn't I tell you this before?"
"W-Well, yes, but I thought—"
"Uncle, I'm 26 now. I have a stable income and enough savings to live comfortably. You don't need to worry about me."
Despite my blunt tone, I knew he meant well. He only wanted what was best for me, and sometimes, that made him a little overbearing.
"But what about—"
"I'll call you twice a week and visit Grandma and Grandpa regularly. Once I settle in, I'll even invite you over."
I could feel the concern in his voice even over the phone. "And your job? What if food prices go up? How will you manage?"
I checked the battery—10%.
"I'll figure it out. My phone's about to die, Uncle. We'll talk later."
"Wait! Where are you staying right n—"
I clicked the call off, feeling both guilty and relieved.
I sighed heavily and leaned back against the wall of the dark hallway. My phone buzzed again, this time with a text from Rowland.
Rowland: Elaine! Where are you? 🥺
I stared at the text for a moment, feeling the familiar tension in my chest. But I didn't reply. I couldn't.
This was the new life I had fought so hard for. The last thing I needed was my family, especially Rowland, pulling me back into a life I had no interest in.
The world outside might be full of danger and noise, but here—here in this school, in this forgotten village—I could start over. I could finally find peace.
I glanced back at the system notification still floating before me, the flashing words "School Headmistress" reminding me that peace was no longer an option. The world had just found its way back into my life, whether I wanted it or not.