Finishing the last bite of my meal, I caught the attention of a maid bustling past, her arms full of fresh linens.
"Excuse me," I said, raising my hand slightly. "Whereabouts can I have a shower or bath?"
She paused, giving me a questioning look before responding politely. "Your quarters should have a fully equipped bathroom, sir," she said with a slight tilt of her head, as if curious about why I hadn't noticed before.
'Ah, I guess I never really looked around the place,' I realized, chuckling awkwardly.
"Thank you, I forgot to check," I replied with a sheepish grin.
The maid gave a small bow and hurried off to her duties as I stood, stretching to shake off the lingering fullness from the feast.
Almost immediately, several maids swooped in to clean up after me, though there wasn't much left to tidy up.
Returning to my room, I decided it was finally time to explore the rest of the space. After a quick scan, my eyes landed on a door tucked neatly to the side of the large wardrobe.
Curious, I opened it to reveal a bathroom that could only be described as luxurious. The room was bright and pristine, with polished marble floors and walls that gleamed under the soft glow of enchanted lights.
On one side, there was a spacious shower enclosed by glass, fitted with multiple nozzles and an overhead fixture that looked like it would rain down a waterfall.
Beside it stood a large, sunken bathtub with clawed feet, its polished surface inviting me to soak away the fatigue of the morning.
"Nice," I said aloud, nodding appreciatively. "A private bath too. This place really has everything."
Closing the door behind me, I decided this was exactly what I needed to unwind after the long morning of training and indulging in a royal feast.
----------------
The aroma of freshly baked bread and sizzling meats hit me the moment I stepped into the dining hall, my stomach growling in response.
The sheer amount of food on the massive table was overwhelming—bowls of glistening fruit, steaming platters of eggs and roasted vegetables, and stacks of pastries that looked almost too perfect to eat.
I glanced around the room, my eyes scanning for Drey, but he was nowhere to be found.
Most of the class had filed in behind me, their chatter filling the space as they moved to take their seats.
Alex walked past, clapping me lightly on the shoulder as he headed toward the table.
"What's wrong? Food not good enough for you?" he teased, already eyeing the spread with approval.
I shook my head. "No, I was just looking for Drey. Have you seen him?"
Alex grabbed a plate and started piling it with food, his movements easy and unhurried.
"Oh, Drey? Yeah, I heard he ate hours ago. One of the staff mentioned he was up before dawn, or something, not to sure though."
I sighed, rolling my eyes. "Of course he did. Couldn't even wait for the rest of us."
Alex smirked, shaking his head. "You know how he is. Lone wolf vibes. Probably thought he'd be polite and not eat half the table before we got here."
I followed him to the table, grabbing a seat near the middle. "Well, he missed out. Eating alone doesn't sound like much fun."
Alex sat across from me, loading his plate with bread and eggs. "Don't worry about him. I was told last night they'll gather all of us later for some kind of orientation. They're splitting us into training groups based on our powers."
That caught my attention, and I paused mid-reach for a pastry. "Orientation? Training groups?"
"Yeah," Alex said between bites of food.
"Apparently, it's supposed to help us figure out how to work with what we've got—and with each other." He shrugged. "Guess Drey'll have to join us for that. No running off on his own then."
I leaned back, mulling that over. It made sense. Throwing all of us into this world without direction would've been a disaster. Still, Drey's tendency to isolate himself nagged at me.
"Good," I said finally. "He can't do everything on his own, and someone's got to make sure he doesn't get himself killed trying."
Alex chuckled, pointing his fork at me. "That's you, huh? Lily, the hero of keeping Drey in line."
"Someone has to," I shot back, smirking despite myself.
As I turned my attention back to the food in front of me, the conversation at the table shifted, my classmates chattering about how surreal everything still felt.
But my thoughts kept drifting to Drey. I'd have to make sure he didn't overdo it—and maybe figure out what was going through his head while I was at it.
Alex cleared his throat, pulling me from my thoughts. "You know," he said, lowering his voice slightly, "Drey didn't seem all that confident about the powers he got from the goddess."
I blinked, surprised by the comment. "What do you mean?"
Alex set his fork down and leaned forward, his expression more serious.
"He wasn't really bragging or even talking much about it when the goddess handed them out. From what he told me his skills and class weren't that great. Like, he didn't think he'd be much help."
"Drey said that?" I asked, frowning. That didn't sound like him—or maybe it did.
"Yeah," Alex said, nodding.
"It's not like he's moping or anything. He was just... quieter than I expected. Like he's worried about how he'll measure up." He sighed, giving me a small smile.
"I appreciate you looking out for him, Lily, I really do. But from what I heard about your display of powers last night, they're not exactly... suited for keeping him out of trouble."
That made me bristle a bit, but I kept my tone even. "I can still make sure he's okay,"
"I know," Alex replied quickly, his voice calm.
"And I know you'll try. Just... don't forget, we all need to figure this out together. We're going to be split into training groups for a reason, and that's not just about him. It's about all of us learning where we stand."
I bit my lip, glancing down at my plate. He had a point, but it didn't sit right with me to just sit back and let Drey figure it out on his own.
"I'll still keep an eye on him," I said firmly.
Alex smiled faintly. "I wouldn't expect anything less." He leaned back in his chair, picking up his fork again.
"Just remember—Drey's tougher than he thinks. He'll figure it out. But until then, yeah, give him a little nudge.
That's what you're good at. Id also like to speak to you and Drey later on if you find some time let him know and come see me later today."
I tilted my head, considering Alex's words. "I'll let him know," I said after a moment. "And sure, we'll come find you later. What's this about?"
Alex smirked faintly but didn't elaborate. "Just something I want to talk through with the two of you. Nothing bad, I promise."
Before I could press him further, the grand doors to the dining hall opened with a stately creak, drawing everyone's attention.
Archibald, the head butler, stepped in with the kind of quiet authority that made the bustling maids and the chatter of the class fall silent.
His polished monocle gleamed in the sunlight spilling through the high windows, and he walked with measured steps to the head of the table, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Good morning, heroes," he began, his rich, gruff voice carrying effortlessly through the room.
"I trust you all had a fulfilling breakfast?"
There were murmurs of agreement and a few nods, though most of us were still watching him with a mix of curiosity and respect.
A His gaze swept the room, pausing briefly on a few individuals as if silently appraising us.
"I have been asked to inform you," he continued, "that you are to gather in the grand hall precisely one hour from now. There, you will receive your orientation and be organized into your respective training groups once an assesment is done in the training grounds."
His tone softened slightly as he added, "It is strongly recommended that you arrive on time, as tardiness will reflect poorly on you in the eyes of the kingdom. Oh and id recomend wearing sports attire."
He gave a slight bow, a gesture that seemed both formal and genuine. "Until then, you are free to prepare yourselves however you see fit. If any of you require assistance, please do not hesitate to ask the staff."
With that, he straightened, his monocle catching the light as he glanced over the group one last time. "Enjoy the rest of your morning," he concluded, turning and exiting the hall with the same composed grace he had entered.
As the doors closed behind him, the low hum of chatter returned, everyone buzzing about the orientation.
I turned back to Alex, who was finishing his food with unbothered ease. "Looks like we'll be busy soon," I said, pushing my plate aside.
"Busy's better than sitting around," he replied with a grin. "Now go find Drey and let him know. And don't forget—later today."
I nodded, standing up and brushing off crumbs from my hands. My thoughts were already racing. Whatever Alex wanted to talk about, it could wait. Right now, I needed to find Drey and make sure he was ready.
After leaving the dining hall, I wandered through the marble-lined corridors of the castle, the soft morning light streaming through tall windows.
My footsteps echoed faintly as I passed identical doors, each adorned with an engraved nameplate. It didn't take long to find the one I was looking for: Drey Edwards. The script was clean and elegant, a formal contrast to the laid-back guy it belonged to.
I knocked on the door, listening for a response. Almost immediately, I heard the faint sound of water running and the creak of a faucet being turned off.
"Yeah?" came Drey's voice, clear and alert.
"Hey, Drey, it's Lily," I said, leaning slightly closer to the door. "We've got an hour before we're expected in the grand hall..... You good in there?"
There was a pause before I heard shuffling and what sounded like the rustle of fabric. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. " he replied, his tone a mix of mild irritation and amusement. "I heard you the first time."
I rolled my eyes. "Well, I wasn't going to take chances. Just making sure you're ready."
The door didn't open, but his voice came again, closer this time. "I'm not exactly clueless, Lily. I'll be down there. Don't worry."
Smirking, I stepped back from the door. "Good. See you down there, then." As I turned and walked away, I caught the faint sound of him muttering something under his breath, though I couldn't quite make it out.