Lucian found himself in a completely different place—a luxurious room, much larger than anything he had ever known. The ceiling was high, painted a pristine white, and the floor was made of polished marble that gleamed under the soft lights. A large bed with elegant sheets sat in the middle of the room, alongside various other necessities: a desk, a comfortable-looking chair, and shelves neatly arranged with blank books and tools. There was even an attached bathroom, the door slightly ajar, revealing sleek tiles and gold accents.
His mind raced, trying to comprehend the sudden change of surroundings. He had never experienced such comfort before.
"Where am I?" Lucian asked, his voice barely above a whisper as he looked around, still in awe.
"This will be your room from now on," Arthur said casually, strolling over to the large window that took up nearly an entire wall. He pulled back the curtains, revealing a breathtaking view of mountains in the distance. The peaks were capped with snow, and the sky above them was turning a deep shade of orange as the sun set. "It's one of the most luxurious rooms in the entire academy for students to live in. Of course, there are normal dorms if you prefer. You know, roommates and all that. But I thought you'd like this one better."
Lucian blinked, unsure of how to respond. The sheer scale of luxury in front of him was overwhelming. He had never had a room to himself before, let alone something as extravagant as this. For most of his life, he had been forced to sleep on the streets, under bridges, or wherever he could find shelter. This… this was a palace compared to that.
"What do you say? Do you like it?" Arthur asked, turning back to Lucian with a smirk.
"Oh, yeah... I'm okay with it," Lucian replied, trying to sound indifferent. But inside, his heart was racing with excitement. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt this happy, this comfortable. It was strange. It felt too good to be true, like he was waiting for the other shoe to drop. But for now, he'd enjoy it.
"Good. I figured you'd appreciate it," Arthur said with a nod before returning his gaze to the mountains outside. "So, do you want to make any preparations before heading to your first class tomorrow? I'm thinking of putting you in with the first-year students. You're quite late in joining, but don't worry, no one's going to complain. Just enjoy the academy life, make some friends… you know, the usual stuff."
Lucian hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. He had never been to an academy, never had the opportunity to make friends, let alone live in a place like this. "No need," he replied, his voice quiet but firm. "I just want to get stronger. That's all."
Arthur raised an eyebrow, turning his head slightly to glance at Lucian. "Well, if strength is what you're after, you'll need to study hard. This place isn't just about power; you need knowledge too." He waved his hand dismissively before continuing, "Oh, right. Here, take these."
With a flick of his wrist, a large bag appeared on the bed. Lucian stared at it, his eyes widening slightly. Arthur continued, "Books, your uniform, all the basics you'll need. The academy's standard issue."
Lucian walked over to the bag and opened it. Inside were neatly stacked books—brand new, their covers still shining. There was also a set of clothing: black pants, a white shirt, and a short black blazer. The blazer had a peculiar logo on it, a glowing black eye that shimmered faintly on the dark fabric. It was subtle but unsettling. Lucian's fingers brushed against the uniform, feeling the expensive material between his fingers. He had never worn anything like this before.
"Do I have to read the books?" Lucian thought to himself. His heart sank a little. He could barely read, having never attended any formal schooling. He had picked up bits and pieces of language from the streets, enough to survive, but this… this was different.
His thoughts were interrupted by a flood of self-doubt. What if he embarrassed himself? What if he couldn't keep up? Regret gnawed at him. Was it really a good idea to come to the academy? He sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly.
"Don't overthink it, kiddo," Arthur said, glancing at him with a slight smirk. "You'll figure it out. It's almost night now, so you should get some rest. Tomorrow's a big day. You'll need to be ready by eight in the morning. I'll personally guide you to your classroom, so don't be nervous. Everything will be taken care of."
Lucian nodded, his head buzzing with uncertainty. "Okay… sir," he muttered.
Arthur gave him a reassuring nod before turning to leave the room. Aria and Endever followed closely behind him, but just as they were about to exit, Aria turned around. Her cold gaze met Lucian's for a moment before she spoke.
"Take care, kid," she said, her voice surprisingly soft compared to her usual detached tone. "If you ever have any… problems, psychological or otherwise, you can come to me."
Her words were brief, and she quickly turned back around, walking out without another word. Lucian was left standing there, blinking in confusion.
"Huh?" He thought. That's the longest sentence I've heard her say since we met.
As the door closed, Lucian sat down on the bed, overwhelmed by everything that had happened. This was all so foreign to him. The luxury, the academy, the people… it felt like a dream. His mind raced as he tried to process it all. He felt a flicker of excitement at the thought of starting at the academy, though it was quickly overshadowed by his anxiety about fitting in.
He glanced down at the uniform again, picking it up with both hands. The fabric was smooth and the craftsmanship perfect, far beyond anything he had ever owned. He could only imagine how much it cost. What kind of place is this? he wondered.
His gaze drifted over to the bag of books Arthur had given him. Lucian frowned, opening the bag and pulling out the top book. He flipped through the pages, but the words were a blur to him. He couldn't understand any of it. A cold knot formed in his stomach. How am I going to do this if I can't even read?
He sighed heavily, putting the book down before leaning back on the bed. His mind flashed back to the streets, to the nights he spent huddled in dark alleyways, hiding from the cold. Those were the days he had learned to survive. No one had taught him anything. Now, he was expected to read, to study like everyone else. It felt… impossible.
Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind. "Hey, system," he said, mentally calling out. "Can you help me with learning how to read and write?"
[Of course, Host. I suggest you check the system shop for any knowledge you might need.]