Sophia moved gracefully through her personal training room, each swing of her dual daggers precise and controlled. The sharp, metallic sound of the blades slicing through the air echoed in the spacious room, reflecting her intense focus. As the 13th-ranked student among the first years, she was one of the elite, a distinction that afforded her certain privileges at Gaia Academy. Among these was a private dorm room, complete with a personal training center. It was a luxury that she made full use of, especially after a day as taxing as today.
She completed her final sequence, the daggers humming with the energy of her controlled mana. Sophia held her stance for a moment, catching her breath before sheathing the blades. Her muscles ached from the relentless training, a testament to the rigorous day she'd endured, but the ache was familiar and welcomed. It was proof of her dedication.
After finishing her training, she walked to the bathroom adjacent to her room. The cool water from the shower cascaded over her, washing away the sweat and tension from her body. The coldness was a stark contrast to the heat she had felt in the simulation earlier, and it helped clear her mind.
She lingered in the water for a few minutes, allowing herself to relax. The events of the day replayed in her mind—fierce battles, intense moments of survival, and the strategic thinking required to come out on top. She thought about the students she had encountered and the challenges she had overcome. But there was one person who kept surfacing in her thoughts, no matter how hard she tried to push him away: Alex.
Sophia sighed as she dried herself off and slipped into comfortable nightwear. She lay down on her bed, pulling the soft covers over her. Her body was exhausted, and she knew she needed rest, but her mind refused to quiet.
Alex's face seemed to hover at the edges of her consciousness, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she had seen him somewhere before. It was frustrating, this nagging sense of familiarity without any clear memory to anchor it. She recalled the first time she noticed him, at the entrance of the physical training room. Lila, the timid human girl, had been harassed by some random guy. Sophia had been about to intervene, her protective instincts kicking in, but something stopped her.
Her instincts, sharp and honed by her demonic heritage, screamed at her to stay back. For a demon, those instincts were rarely wrong. She remembered watching as Leon stepped in to confront the harasser, thinking for a moment that it was Leon's presence that had triggered her instincts. But then Alex appeared.
The moment Alex released his killing intent, Sophia understood. It wasn't Leon who had caused her to pause—it was Alex. Others might not have sensed it, but to Sophia, it was as if a wave of raw, deadly energy had washed over the area. The sheer volume of his intent was overwhelming, far beyond what she would expect from someone his age. In her mind, she could see it clearly: a throne made of dead bodies, with Alex sitting upon it like the king of death itself. It was a vision that had burned itself into her memory.
That day, his face became etched into her mind. Even as she saw him later in the VR world, fighting Ethan with a cruelty that was almost inhuman, she couldn't help but feel a mixture of fear and fascination. Who was Alex Reinhart? And why did he seem so familiar, like a shadow from her past that she couldn't quite grasp?
Sophia turned over in bed, trying to shake off the thoughts. Her mind wandered to Lila, the girl she had befriended during the survival run. Lila was so different from her—soft-spoken, gentle, and kind-hearted. It was strange how they had bonded so quickly, but Sophia found herself genuinely happy to have made a friend. Friendships were rare for her, partly because of her cold nature. But Lila didn't seem to care about any of that. She had accepted Sophia without hesitation, and for that, Sophia was grateful.
As sleep finally began to claim her, Sophia's last thoughts were of the day's battles, of Alex, and of the new friend she had made. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new mysteries to unravel, and perhaps more answers about the boy who haunted her thoughts. But for now, she allowed herself to rest, her body sinking into the mattress as her mind drifted into the realm of dreams.
The morning sun filtered through the curtains of Sophia's dorm room, casting a warm, golden glow across the room. She blinked her eyes open, her body still feeling the remnants of fatigue from the previous day. The intense battles and the mental strain had taken their toll, but Sophia was no stranger to pushing through exhaustion. She lay there for a moment, gathering her thoughts before she finally swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up.
After a quick stretch to shake off the stiffness in her muscles, she made her way to the bathroom. The cold water splashing against her face helped clear the fog of sleep from her mind. She brushed her teeth, washed up, and then dressed in her academy uniform, the dark fabric fitting her perfectly. The uniform was tailored to allow freedom of movement, something she appreciated given her fighting style. She secured her dual daggers in their sheaths, a comforting weight against her hips, and gave herself one last look in the mirror.
As she exited her dorm room, the crisp morning air greeted her, refreshing and invigorating. The academy grounds were quiet at this early hour, with only a few students making their way to their classes. The path leading from the dorms to the main buildings was lined with trees, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze.
As Sophia walked, she suddenly noticed someone standing off to the side, near the entrance of the dormitory. It was Lila. Her eyes scanning the area until they landed on Sophia. For a brief moment, Lila seemed to hesitate, her face lighting up with a mix of excitement and nervousness. Then, she waved her hand enthusiastically, a bright smile spreading across her face.
Sophia felt a small smile tug at the corners of her own lips—a rare expression for her. Lila's genuine warmth was infectious, and despite her usual stoic demeanor, Sophia couldn't help but respond in kind. She paused for a moment, taking in the sight of Lila's cheerful wave, before she started walking toward her.
"Good morning, Sophia!" Lila greeted her, her voice filled with a cheerful energy that contrasted sharply with the stillness of the morning.
"Good morning," Sophia replied, her tone soft but warm.
Lila beamed at her, clearly pleased to see her. "I thought we could walk to class together," she said, her tone slightly shy, as if unsure whether Sophia would agree.
Sophia nodded, her expression relaxing as she fell into step beside Lila. "That sounds good."
As they walked together, Lila started chatting about the previous day's events—the survival run, the results, and how impressed she was with everyone's performance. Sophia listened quietly, adding a few comments here and there, but mostly content to let Lila's cheerful voice fill the silence. The conversation flowed easily, with Lila's enthusiasm balancing Sophia's more reserved nature.
Despite the exhaustion that still lingered in her bones, Sophia found herself enjoying the simple act of walking with a friend. It was a rare feeling for her, one she wasn't quite used to, but it was a welcome change from the usual solitude she preferred. And as they continued toward the main academy building, she couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, having someone like Lila by her side wasn't such a bad thing after all.