The all-knowing Player (Solo Leveling)

The Underground of Reminiscences (2)

A/N: This is Skadi. 

Since we're staying in the Underground of Reminiscences, same font rules as last chapter! I'm sorry if the weird font makes it hard to read, I try not to use it as much as possible but sometimes, it's inevitable. 

That being said, I hope you still like this chapter!

I run on track-and-field lanes. The large school building rises in the shape of a U around them, projecting a welcome shadow over the sports field. A few heads of bored students lean towards the large windows to observe our small silhouettes racing on the lanes. The warm summer breeze barely chases away the heaviness of the air, filled with our panting and the coach's encouraging shouts. A few wild strands have escaped my ponytail and cling to my sweat-covered forehead and nape, yet I don't brush them away.

After running 10 km every day, I thought that it would be less difficult, but I was wrong. My legs ache from the effort, my lungs burn, and my sports clothes are wet from my sweat. But I won't stop running. I need to get past my limit. Next to me, Hae-In encourages me, running at my pace without seeming to put much effort into it. Even at only 14 years old, she's always been an amazing runner.

I know this place. I remember. It's my middle school. The one where I met Hae-In, the one where I integrated the track-and-field club because she begged me to. And today is the day I-

Panting, focused on a point in front of me, I feel my foot slip away and I tumble down. My arms shoot forward to cushion the fall, but my ankle twists in a weird angle. Neither the rapid beating of my heart echoing in my ears nor Hae-In's surprised gasp can cover up the awful crack that follows. And the ache previously burning in my legs and lungs fades under the raw pain that spreads through my ankle. I bite my lip, preventing myself from screaming out loud. Tears swell up in my eyes, but I don't allow them to flow down. I've lived through worse. But then, why does it hurt so much?

"Hee-Jin! Are you okay? Your ankle..." Hae-In halts in front of me to offer me a helping hand.

"I'm fine," I lie with a shaky voice.

I grip her hand and lean on her to get up. Pain shoots through my ankle at every movement. I ignore my body's protest and turn around with gritted teeth, ready to resume running. I need to continue going. Otherwise, I won't ever be able to make it to the championship with Hae-In.

"Hee-Jin, please take a break."

The insisting and worried tone in Hae-In's voice sparks warmth in my chest, yet I shake my head and repeat, "I'm fine, really. I have to keep going."

With those words, I let go of her hand and start running again. But I don't make it very far: each step causes me such raw suffering that tears pool in my eyes, until my ankle gives away once more. I crash so roughly against the floor that the collision with the ground pushes the air out of my lungs, forbidding me to scream my pain out. The pain increases, taking over my thoughts and leaving me gasping out for air with my voice stuck in my throat, trying to focus on my labored breathing rather than my ankle.

"Hee-Jin! Stop running!" the coach orders.

I can barely hear him over the blood rushing in my ears like an alarm. This time, I am forced to obey.

[*]

"Why did you continue to run if you knew you broke your ankle?" Jin-Woo asks.

I am sitting on the edge of my hospital bed, my ankle stuck in plaster. The rooms here are rather cool, despite the hot sunbeams filtering through the windows. It's the only comfort I found after being sent to the hospital, my ankle's condition being deemed too grave for the school nurse to handle.