The academy's cafeteria was massive, filled with students grabbing their meals.
Wait… how do they even pay for this? I glanced at Tetsu.
"Tetsu, how do we pay for food?" I asked.
"You use your student card," he explained.
"So basically, we can just spend as much as we want?" I asked again. If that were the case, this card would be my new best friend, haha.
"No, we get one gold coin per month, so don't waste it all at once," Tetsu replied as we got in line.
One gold coin = 1,000 silver coins. Maybe the paradise I imagined was just a dream…
I let out a deep sigh.
After grabbing our food, we paid using a system I didn't understand. I just placed my card on the machine, and bam—payment complete. Pretty cool.
Tetsu and I found a seat together. As I looked around at the students, my eyes landed on a blonde-haired, blue-eyed guy who was answering questions with ridiculously sharp arguments.
"You interested in that guy?" Tetsu asked.
"Yeah," I admitted honestly.
"That's Theo Lancaster, one of the top five geniuses in this school. His skills, intelligence, and strength surpass all other first-years. People call him the 'The Strongest Genius.'"
Hearing that made me a little impressed. He had everything? Is he the main character of this story or something?
I chuckled at the thought. I've read too many fantasy stories since I was a kid.
Tetsu looked at me weirdly, but I ignored him and asked, "Are we the only ones who haven't awakened yet?"
"Well…" Tetsu hesitated. "Yeah." He sounded a little disappointed.
I smiled. "Tetsu, you know, this whole 'level' thing is just a concept made by people. We don't need to stress about being weak because strength isn't just about power—it's about intelligence and spirit too."
"If our mentality is weak, then let's strengthen our bodies instead. Build muscle, gain knowledge, and when the time comes for us to awaken, we'll have already surpassed most of them."
Tetsu looked a little more motivated. Good. If I could spark even a little fire in him, that was enough.
"Make way!" A loud voice echoed through the cafeteria, and suddenly, everyone turned toward the source.
A girl with purple hair and matching eyes, wearing glasses, walked in. She wasn't alone. Beside her was a girl with silver-gray hair and blue eyes, exuding the aura of a high-ranking noble.
The students immediately stepped aside, giving them space to get their food.
This was my first time seeing such a noble-like display.
"Who are they?" I asked Tetsu.
He adjusted his glasses before answering. "The one with purple hair is Selene, the assistant to the girl next to her."
"And the girl with silver-gray hair is Elysia Silvercrest—a high-ranking noble. Her strength is almost on par with the top geniuses, but since only five are chosen each year, she ranks at number ten."
I stared at her. She was popular among the guys, but with her noble status, there was no way she'd accept someone beneath her.
I smirked. This school is getting more interesting.
As I continued eating, my mind drifted to the big guy from earlier.
"Who are those 'friends' of yours?" I asked, emphasizing the word 'friends' since I wasn't sure if I was right or not.
"…Them? Valen Fireborne—a noble and one of the strongest in the academy," Tetsu answered cautiously.
"I see…" My conclusion was still incomplete. I needed to see more.
I finished my meal and stood up. If that guy wanted to find me, he'd come on his own.
Ding! Dong!
The bell rang, signaling the end of the break.
"Come on, Tetsu, let's get back to class."
Class ended, and it was now the evening. Most students were heading back to their dorms.
I was tidying up my desk when I heard a voice.
"Tetsu."
It was Valen.
"…Alright," Tetsu responded, following them without hesitation.
I wasn't too concerned. Right now, I was hungry, so I decided to stop by a shop and grab some food.
Walking through the hallways, I enjoyed the evening atmosphere. Students were laughing and chatting.
No wonder Nadja wanted to study here—this place really was lively.
Friends, huh? They're always an uncertainty. Humans are unpredictable. I'd rather not gamble on something I can't trust.
I whistled, enjoying the post-school vibes.
Meanwhile, in a secluded part of the school…
Tetsu was cornered, his back against the wall, surrounded by a group of bullies.
These guys again… Don't they have anything better to do?
"Tetsu… You didn't tell him what happened to you, right?" Valen asked, his tone carrying an unspoken threat.
"No—"
Thud!
A punch to the stomach.
I gasped, my breath knocked out of me.
"Are you going to talk, or not?" Valen asked again, his voice softer this time, but somehow even more terrifying.
"I-I didn't—"
Thud!
Another punch, hitting the same spot. My mouth opened involuntarily, saliva spilling out as I struggled to breathe.
I felt like throwing up.
My hair was grabbed, yanked painfully.
"Tetsu, bring that kid to our usual spot tomorrow." Valen leaned in, his voice a chilling whisper. "If you don't… I'll handle it myself. You know what that means, right?"
Nao. He's weak, too kind. If he goes through this…
This is for my own good. Remember that, Tetsu.
"…Alright, I'll bring him tomorrow."
Valen finally let go.
"Good. Don't forget."
They walked away, leaving me slumped on the ground, trembling.
Damn it… If only I was stronger.
Suddenly, I remembered Nao's words.
I froze for a moment.
No way… He was just trying to motivate me.
Slowly, I got back on my feet.
I'm sorry, Nao, but I have to do this for myself.
The next morning, I arrived at school earlier than usual.
…Too early, actually.
The classroom clock read 7:30 AM. There was still a long time before class started.
I rested my head on the desk and dozed off.
Just as I was getting comfortable in my dream—
"Nao… Nao…"
A voice called my name.
I jolted awake.
8:30 AM.
Shit. My life is a mess.
I adjusted my posture, staring ahead with a deadpan expression.
School is officially my worst enemy.
I sighed and turned to the person who woke me up—Tetsu.
…He looked different. What happened last night?
I had questions, but honestly, I couldn't be bothered to find the answers.
Sir Arsene walked into the classroom.
Time for another boring day.