As we walked down the corridor, we were intercepted by the royal elf duo, Nyra and her cousin Alan.
"Hey, Arthur and Alicia, nice to see you again,"Nyra greeted warmly, her usual radiant smile lighting up her face.
"Well, you'll be seeing us quite often from now on, since we are in same class" I quipped, returning her smile.
"Were you guys heading somewhere?" she asked curiously.
"Yeah, we're checking out some of the other courses before making a decision," I explained.
"Nice. Mind if I tag along?" Nyra asked, her golden eyes gleaming with interest.
"Why not? The more, the merrier!" Alicia chimed in enthusiastically.
"Alright then, I'll catch you later," Alan said, excusing himself as a group of elves from other classes called him over. "Looks like my friends need me."
"Okay," Nyra replied with a small wave before falling in step with us.
Experience more on empire
The classrooms and facilities were nothing short of awe-inspiring. The alchemy rooms shimmered with intricate apparatuses, bubbling potions, and glowing inscriptions. The training grounds echoed with the clash of weapons as students practiced under the watchful eyes of instructors. The magic engineering labs, filled with complex machinery and runic blueprints, exuded an air of innovation and discovery.
We took demo classes here and there, testing the waters in courses like alchemy, magic engineering, and even beast taming. Alicia, being the ever-curious one, asked countless questions, earning a few amused chuckles from the instructors.
Meanwhile, I couldn't help but notice the stares. Dozens of students watched us, their gazes brimming with envy and curiosity. The sight of a lone man surrounded by four breathtaking women was bound to draw attention.
Among our group, Nyra and Alicia hit it off immediately, chatting animatedly as they explored. Nadia, however, remained stiff and distant, though her gaze occasionally lingered on the conversations, as if she wanted to join but didn't know how.
"Why are you falling behind, Arthur?" Nyra called, looking over her shoulder.
"Just catching my breath," I replied, waving her off as I grabbed Luna's wrist, pulling her aside for a moment.
"What's going on with you?" I asked quietly. "You've been acting strange around Nadia since the start."
Luna stiffened, her eyes darting away from mine. "I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm acting completely normal. If anything, it's you who's acting weird."
"What's weird about me?" I pressed, my tone serious.
Luna sighed deeply, rubbing her temples. "Are you really clueless about her identity? Aren't you supposed to be a noble?"
"Well, I am," I admitted, "but my family rarely deals with the politics of the capital. We're isolated up north."
"That explains it," she muttered before lowering her voice. "She's Nadia Mystic. It's said she's a cursed child. The day she was born, the skies above the capital were covered in dark, ominous clouds. Some even claimed to have seen the shadow of death among them."
She paused, glancing ahead to ensure Nadia couldn't hear. "The Mystic family tried to bury the rumors, but they spread like wildfire. Everyone in the capital either fears or avoids her. And yet, you act like it's no big deal being around her."
"Hah." I chuckled lightly, shaking my head. "They're just rumors, Luna. Have you seen her? She's a lonely girl struggling to connect with anyone, not some cursed monster. Look at how she sits quietly, afraid to speak. She's just someone who needs friends."
Luna hesitated, her gaze softening. "You might be right. I guess I shouldn't judge someone based on rumors. She does seem... lost."
After our conversation, we rejoined the group and made our way toward the cafeteria to grab lunch. However, my mind was elsewhere. While I'd reassured Luna that the rumors were just that—rumors—I couldn't help but realize they might not be as baseless as I initially thought.
In the game, Nadia didn't make many appearances, but when she did, it was usually to deliver a one-sided massacre. Her enemies had no chance against her.
The skill that stood out the most was Reaper's Dominion. It allowed her to create a domain where all living beings within it would gradually lose vitality, while Nadia absorbed that energy to heal and strengthen herself. I'd seen the aftermath of her powers firsthand in the game: her enemies decimated, her power growing with each passing second.
Thinking about it now, the rumors of her being favored by death didn't seem like an exaggeration at all. Her presence alone was enough to send shivers down the spines of even the most experienced warriors.
For a moment, I contemplated whether I should distance myself from her—if I should treat her like everyone else seemed to. But as I thought about it more, I realized that was the last thing I wanted to do.
She wasn't some monster, and I wasn't going to treat her like one.
As I mulled over these thoughts, my musings were interrupted by the soft sound of Sol's voice, suddenly appearing beside me in a light, ethereal form. Her tiny figure comfortably perched atop my head.
"What are you straining your mind so much for? You could just use Observer's Gaze on her. Now that I've been upgraded, you can even delve deeper into her secrets."
I blinked, almost embarrassed by my oversight. "Oh, why didn't I think of that?"
Sol's voice was tinged with a hint of sarcasm. "You could just speak to me in your mind like before. No need to whisper like some paranoid fool."
"Right." I sighed, mentally shaking my head at myself. "By the way, where were you this morning? I didn't see you around."
"I was always with you, just not in my physical form. Maintaining this form costs energy, you know. I needed to recharge."
"Oh, that explains it."
With a decisive thought, I activated Observer's Gaze, directing my focus toward Nadia. The information began to flow into my mind, unveiling everything I needed to know about her, as though a hidden veil had been lifted.