The morning sun casts a warm golden glow over the sprawling grounds of Nova Academy. Lucas stood at the entrance, his heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty.
The imposing gates loomed ahead, a gateway to a new chapter of his life—one he was both eager and cautious to embrace.
Taking a deep breath, Lucas stepped forward, his footsteps echoing on the cobblestone path. As he walked, he couldn't help but marvel at the grandeur of the academy.
Towering spires adorned with intricate carvings reached for the sky, a testament to the institution's rich history and prestige. He paused for a moment, gazing up at the towering façade, feeling a sense of awe and determination wash over him.
Passing through the gates, Lucas found himself in a bustling courtyard filled with students from all walks of life.
Some chatted excitedly with friends, while others studied scrolls and textbooks, their determination evident in their focused expressions.
A group of mages practised spells in one corner, colourful lights dancing in the air as they honed their craft.
Lucas's gaze shifted to the central plaza, where a marble fountain stood, its waters sparkling in the sunlight.
At the heart of the courtyard, he spotted a group of individuals standing in a semicircle. Among them, a girl dressed in a white uniform with blue linings stood out.
As Lucas observed from a distance, he couldn't help but feel a pang of familiarity.
There was something about her determined stance and fiery gaze that stirred a memory within him, though he couldn't quite place it. Shaking off the feeling, he continued his exploration of the academy.
The architecture inside was equally impressive, with marble halls adorned with elegant artwork and polished wooden floors that echoed with each step.
Students moved purposefully through the corridors, their energies palpable as they prepared for the challenges that awaited them.
Lucas navigated his way through the maze-like halls, trying to absorb as much as he could about his new environment.
In those little moments, Lucas forgets that it's time for class to begin.
"Oh shit, I hope that I'm not late for the first day," he said as continued to run.
But. 10 minutes later he forgot his direction in those massive halls.
***
Lucas Pov
As I wandered through the labyrinthine halls of Building 1, my frustration grew with each wrong turn I took. It was as if the walls were shifting, conspiring against me to keep me lost within their mazes. My sense of direction was proving to be just as useless in this new world, and I couldn't help but curse my luck.
My inner monologue was interrupted by the sound of cheerful voices nearby. I turned my head to see a group of girls chatting animatedly. They seemed to be talking about finding their classroom. It was a painful reminder of my predicament.
-"Hey, did you find our class?"
-
-"Yeah, it's here!"
-
-"Honestly, I thought it would be trouble finding our class in such a big infrastructure."
-
-"Naah~ Every floor is marked, and each floor has only 20 classrooms. Only an idiot would get lost here. Hahaha!"
The last comment hit a nerve, making my forehead twitch in irritation. Did they have to be so blunt about it? I sighed, feeling defeated as I listened to their conversation.
"Umm, are you lost, perhaps?"
A gentle and melodic voice reached my ears, and I turned to find a Silver-haired girl looking at me with a kind smile. She had a delicate presence, one that seemed to exude warmth and friendliness.
"Uh- I umm… Yeah, I'm a bit lost," I replied, my embarrassment evident in my stuttering words.
She is an elf I know that when I look at her ears they are longer than normal ones.
"Haha, no problem, we can help-"
Before she could finish her sentence, another girl abruptly appeared, practically marching up to us and placing a hand on the silver-haired girl's shoulder. Her expression was fierce, and her gaze was directed at me with a mixture of annoyance and resentment.
"No need. He'll be fine on his own," she declared, her tone curt and unwelcoming.
She was strikingly beautiful, with ebony hair that framed her face and captivating forest-green eyes. Even in her evident annoyance, her charm was hard to ignore.
'She is the same girl. I remember her standing in the courtyard.'
"Ah but, Evelyn, he's lost-"
"L-Lyra, as I said, he'll manage."
I glanced between the two girls, confusion evident on my face. Who were they, and why was there tension between them? I tried to decipher their interaction, but they soon turned and walked away, leaving me behind.
I took a moment to process the encounter before murmuring to myself, "I see. So she's Lyra Morningstar. But who is the girl next to her? I don't remember creating a character named Evelyn."
I frowned, racking my brain for any memory of Evelyn in the story I had written. The truth was, I couldn't recall anything about her. She was a complete mystery to me. But what I did know was that Lyra was one of the main characters, and her presence here meant that I was on the right track.
As the girls walked away, I decided to follow them. After all, I knew I was in the same class as Lyra, and it seemed like Evelyn was part of the story too, even if she was a character I didn't remember creating.
The halls were busy with students, the energy in the air palpable as everyone navigated their way through the building. It was then that I remembered something—the size of the classes. I had mentioned that each floor had only 20 classrooms. So, with 100 students per class, that meant a total of 2000 students occupied each floor.
As I followed the two girls, I couldn't shake off the lingering feeling of confusion and curiosity that their interaction had left behind. Evelyn's abrupt appearance and her sharp attitude towards me had caught me off guard. I didn't understand why she seemed to resent my presence so much.
Nevertheless, my determination to uncover the mysteries of this world and the characters within it propelled me to keep walking. I knew that following them would lead me to my class.
After a few moments of trailing behind them, I found myself at a comfortable distance. I was close enough to overhear their conversation, but not so close that I would intrude upon their privacy. The tension between the two was palpable as Evelyn's voice carried over to my ears.
"I told him not to follow me," Evelyn's voice was icy, her tone laced with annoyance.
"I'll think he is not following you," Lyra's voice responded calmly. "We just happen to be walking in the same direction."
I quietly observed their exchange, trying to make sense of their relationship. I still had no clue why Evelyn was so hostile towards me. As they continued their conversation, I caught fragments of their words.
"I don't trust him, Lyra. There's something off about him," Evelyn's voice was tense, almost accusatory.
"Off? What do you mean?" Lyra's curiosity was evident in her voice.
"He just... he shouldn't even be here," Evelyn's tone was bitter, her words cutting through the air.
I felt a knot of unease forming in my stomach as I realized that Evelyn was talking about me. But how could she know? I had only recently arrived in this world, and as far as I knew, I had no previous interactions with her.
"And how did he get into Nova Academy, Lyra? How did he manage that?" Evelyn's voice was sharp, her suspicion evident.
Lyra hesitated before responding, her voice lowered. "I don't know, Evelyn. Maybe he's just talented or lucky?"
"Lucky? In this world? Don't be naive," Evelyn's retort was dripping with cynicism.
I continued to listen, a mix of confusion and frustration building within me. It seemed that Evelyn was convinced I didn't belong here, that there was something unnatural about my presence at Nova Academy. But how could she be so sure?
My thoughts were interrupted when Evelyn's gaze turned in my direction, her eyes narrowing as if she sensed my presence.
Panic surged through me, and I instinctively averted my gaze, pretending to be engrossed in something else.
I was about to distance myself further when Evelyn suddenly halted and turned around, her eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that caught me off guard.
"Are you following me?" Her words were laced with a mixture of annoyance and suspicion.
Taken aback by her direct question, I stumbled over my words. "N-no, I'm not. I mean, I'm not intentionally following you. I'm just... headed in the same direction."
Evelyn's gaze was unwavering, and her lips curved into a cold, sardonic smile. "Coincidence, huh? Well, you're certainly full of surprises."
I could sense her scepticism and hostility, and it only deepened my confusion. Did I do something to offend her? I wracked my brain for any possible interactions or connections, but I came up empty-handed.
"You know, I don't appreciate being lied to," Evelyn's voice was sharp as she continued to scrutinize me.
"I'm not lying," I insisted, my frustration beginning to rise. "I honestly didn't intend to follow you."
Evelyn's eyes narrowed further, and her tone turned to cut. "You're not making a very good first impression, you know."
Before I could respond, she turned on her heel and started walking away with Lyra.
I hesitated for a moment before deciding to follow her. If she thought I was tailing her, I might as well make it clear that I was just heading in the same direction.
As I caught up to her, I cleared my throat awkwardly. "Look, I understand that you might be wary of me for some reason, but I genuinely have no idea why. I just got here.
Evelyn glanced at me sceptically, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You expect me to believe that?"
"I don't expect you to believe anything," I admitted, frustration seeping into my voice. "I'm just trying to figure out what's going on."
Evelyn stopped walking and turned to face me, her arms crossed over her chest. "You're not very good at this, are you? You don't remember me, do you?"
Her words sent a jolt of surprise through me.
I stared at her, my mind racing to make sense of her statement. Remember her? Did I know her from somewhere? But as I searched my memories, I came up empty.
I had no recollection of her whatsoever.
"I... I'm sorry, but I don't remember you," I admitted, feeling a mix of guilt and confusion.
Evelyn's gaze hardened, and her lips curled into a bitter smile. "Of course, you don't. You wouldn't remember the girl you hurt."
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Hurt? What had I done to her? Why did she seem to despise me so vehemently? I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out.
I was at a loss for how to respond.
Evelyn turned away, her voice tinged with bitterness. "Just stay away from me, Lucas. We have nothing to say to each other."
With those final words, she walked away, leaving me standing there, my mind spinning with a whirlwind of emotions and questions.
Who was Evelyn to me? What had I done to her in the past? And how was I going to navigate this complicated and unexpected encounter in a world that was supposed to be a mere creation of my imagination?