Nox adjusted his belongings in the luxurious dorm room. It was the next day, and morning sunlight poured through the towering windows, casting a warm radiance in the room.
In the large bed, Fluffington, Thirteen, Solora, and Astralux were fast asleep with peaceful expressions on their faces.
'They really liked the real world. I should probably leave them here for a bit,' Nox thought. Today was the first day of his academic journey.
Nox hadn't attended a school in his previous life; as such, he was very excited to attend class today. Though he was certain that the classes would look more combat-related than the teaching on Earth, he was still looking forward to it nevertheless.
Besides, he would choose a combat class over a long boring lecture any day.
Just as he was in his thoughts, a series of knocks sounded on his door.
"I'm not expecting anyone. Who could it be? Maybe it's the instructors," Nox mumbled to himself as he went to open the door.
However, upon opening the door, he didn't find any instructor. Instead, who he saw was a student, but not just any student.
It was a student with a mask covering his upper face. He was leaning casually against the hallway wall, arms crossed. Black leather gloves. A simple dark mask that covered half his face. His demeanor was relaxed... perhaps too relaxed.
Nox frowned. He didn't have any appointments with this person.
"Who are you?" Nox raised a brow, his tone flat.
Sensing the slight sharpness in Nox's voice, the figure said, "Hi, I'm your neighbor, room 201. I thought as neighbors that would be staying here for some time, it's only logical for us to know each other."
"The name is Blake." The masked boy straightened up and strolled toward him, hand extended. "I have this nagging feeling that we would make a great pair of friends here."
Nox didn't shake his hand. "Friend? I don't even know you."
Blake chuckled, unbothered. "Not yet, but you will."
Suspicious. Who approaches like that? And why the mask? Most importantly, this confidence and chill attitude?
Nox stared at him for a moment and asked straightforwardly, "What do you want?"
"To attend classes together," Blake replied, breezy as ever. "It's boring alone, don't you think?"
"...We're not friends."
"Not yet." Blake grinned behind the mask. "But we could be."
Nox frowned. Something about this guy was off. Too familiar, too confident. But there wasn't any malice. Just… strangeness.
'There is only one person I know that liked talking too much, confident, and easy to get along with. But that person, according to him, stays in the furthest human kingdom.'
Nox had a pretty good impression of this person. Not only was it because he had helped break him out of the ice block caused by the yeti, but it was also because he knew that that person didn't hold any intent against him and just wanted to be his friend.
Nox sighed. 'What's the harm? Besides, I need allies too, not just beasts. The best place for me to get these allies would be the special class... I shall as well start with him.'
"Fine," Nox muttered. "But don't bother me during class."
Blake clapped his hands once, as if celebrating. "Deal!"
After that, the two proceeded to walk towards the class.
On the way, Nox noticed that several students had formed some sort of cliques and were heading to class together. The only people he had seen walking alone were Zara, Theo, Kali, and Glen, the full-bodied sword woman who had never taken off her mask.
Naturally, as soon as Nox hit the cobblestone streets of the academy, he drew a couple of glances and loud whispers. Nox ignored these whispers and soon arrived at the building that acted as the special classroom.
The special classroom was nothing short of extravagant.
Gold-trimmed windows. Velvet chairs arranged in neat rows. The polished mahogany floor gleamed under the sunlight filtering through stained glass.
There were already some students sitting down, waiting for the homeroom teacher to come.
And as soon as Nox walked in, all eyes turned to him.
"This is how it feels to be rank 1, huh? Must be amazing," Blake whispered. "You're like a celebrity at this point."
"Yeah, it must feel good with all the eyes on you," Nox said sarcastically and thought cruelly in his heart, 'But I don't mind. With great reputation and power, I'll swindle them all to become my pawns...'
Nox heard someone wave their hands. He glanced in that direction and saw Nyx. He quickly went and sat down beside her.
Nox had thought Blake would find somewhere else to sit down, but surprisingly, the thick-skinned masked boy came up to them to introduce himself to Nyx.
"Hi, my name's Blake. From your looks, I take it you're Nox's sister."
Nyx glanced at Nox with the "Who the fuck is this one?" look.
"It's a long story," was all Nox could say.
Nyx was usually rude and indifferent to strangers. If it was any other time, she would've outright ignored this stranger, but since this was a new environment, she decided to give him some face by introducing herself to him.
If only he knew that the unreachable goddess of the western region, who barely gave anyone a second glance, looked at him, he would have fainted.
At the other side of the classroom, Jared felt his heart squeeze as he saw this scene and looked away.
In another part of the room, Ainsworth was staring daggers at Nox, Nyx, and Blake. His fists were balled.
"The second time. She humiliated me for the second time." He mumbled these words like a broken tape as he seethed with rage, his eyes turning bloodshot with each passing moment.
"Should I ask uncle for a little help?" Ainsworth thought about his doting uncle, who happened to be the vice principal of this academy, and a wicked plan started to circulate in his head.
At that moment, the door flung open, and the instructor stepped inside the academy.
"Huh? What is she doing here? Don't tell me she's the instructor?" Nox's eyes immediately widened as he saw this person.