After a few hours of being awake, he couldn't stand his roommate's snoring any longer and decided to leave. It was still dark outside, with not a single sliver of morning sunlight as he made his way through the academy halls.
He was tired. His human body had its limitations he needed to sleep, eat, use the bathroom, and perform other mundane necessities. In his previous life, he had no such restrictions as he roamed through the dark void of the cosmos, destroying, reaping, and manipulating for his own amusement. But now, these mortal constraints pressed upon him, forcing him to adapt to this life.
Despite his stubbornness and below-average intelligence, he was truly living in this world.
As he walked, lost in thought, his mind wandered to the other eldritch monsters present in the academy. Hopefully, they'll behave. I'm not too sure if they're all there in the head...
The sound of his footsteps echoed through the lonely, dark halls. He wore only the clothing given to him back at the palace. Though he had the academy uniform, he didn't see a need for it at the moment.
"I could go for a snack," he muttered, breaking the silence. He paused, looking up at the starry sky through an open window. He wondered what lay beyond this world. Were there others? Civilizations? Glorious creatures from another veil? An elder god watching. Waiting. Hungry.
"No matter. I'll be the one watching above," he said with a quiet confidence.
"Do you talk to yourself often?"
The cold, unfamiliar voice startled him.
He turned around, his gaze settling on a girl around his age. She was a bit smaller than him but exuded a deadly and domineering presence. Unease washed over him before recognition set in.
"Are you... that nun girl?"
Her eyebrows furrowed into a tight scowl. "Executioner."
"... You're going to execute me?" A sly grin spread across his face.
"In training, so no," she replied, crossing her arms.
"... But you would have?" he asked curiously.
"Yes."
"Do executioners get to do that without reason or punishment?"
"Yes. If the individual is deemed suspicious enough, they are executed on sight. That is the Executioner's right and code."
He shook his head. "And I thought I was crazy."
She smirked. If not for her blindfold, he would have thought she was glaring at him. "You are crazy."
"So..." He raised his hands in a sarcastic gesture he'd picked up from observing others. "What am I guilty of, then?"
"I don't know. I just have a gut feeling whenever I see you... that you're bad news."
"Oh?"
She didn't respond, her hands gripping her sleeve tightly.
"Am I the only one at this academy who gives you that bad feeling?" he questioned. What about those four? A thought stirred in his mind.
"No. Just you."
He smiled faintly. "Guess I really am different." At least now he knew the others had some secret method to conceal their presence.
Swatting the air in another casual gesture, he asked, "Never mind that. Why are you up so early?"
"I could ask you the same thing," she replied flatly.
Irritated, he countered, "You first."
"No. You."
"Tch. Nah. I insist you go first."
She shook her head, her deadpan expression adding to his growing disdain for her. "I insist you go first."
Their back-and-forth continued for several minutes.
"Ugh..." he muttered, crossing his arms in frustration. They both fell silent, glaring at each other in the dim corridor.
"Bitch."
"Fuckface."
The insults were exchanged casually, neither of them moving.
"Fine. Since I'm so generous, I'll go first. I couldn't sleep."
She smirked, leaning forward slightly. "Why? Evil plans?"
"No! I just..." He stepped back, flustered. "Never mind! Why are you following me around this early?"
"Why not?" She leaned back, arms still crossed. "An Executioner needs to be vigilant at all times. I hear everything—from cannon fire miles away to the quietest footsteps." She tapped her blindfold. "When one sense is taken, the others sharpen."
"So, you've just been stalking me this whole time?" he asked incredulously.
"Yes."
"Weirdo."
"Says the one who isn't from a noble family... or any family, for that matter," she shot back.
"Who said that? How did you—"
"I didn't. You just confirmed it for me."
He paused, realizing his blunder.
"That's a good one," he admitted, nodding.
"I don't need your praise," she replied coolly. She placed a sharp finger on his chest, pressing into him. He winced slightly but looked down as she continued, "How does someone with no family or connections get into this academy?"
He slapped her finger away, regaining his composure.
"Ain't telling." A smug grin spread across his face. "Besides, you'd have to be a full-fledged Executioner to find out."
A flicker of surprise crossed her face, followed by embarrassment, then anger. Finally, her expression settled into quiet annoyance.
"Hmph. Fine." She turned on her heel. "I'll be watching you," she said sternly before walking away, the sound of her footsteps fading into the distance.
He continued his stroll through the academy, using the time to familiarize himself with its various locations.
There were eight buildings in total, each dedicated to a specific field of study.
The forge, or blacksmithing workshop, was a sprawling building with countless chimneys spewing thick smoke. During the day, the rhythmic clang of hammers could be heard, and the molten glow of steel was visible through enchanted windows.
A large spire dedicated to arcane studies stood proudly among the buildings. Magical runes inscribed its surface, and a shimmering barrier distorted the atmosphere around it.
The adventurers' hall mimicked the adventurers' guild, even being sponsored by them. Its training grounds featured obstacle courses and various terrains to prepare students for quests.
The barracks housed those training for knighthood, offering courses in jousting, fencing, and battlefield strategy.
Alchemy students studied in a modest building with a large greenhouse for growing plants and brewing potions.
Diplomacy students gathered in a circular hall with debate chambers, banners of various nations, and magical translators for language learning.
The artisan guildhall contained galleries, music rooms, and studios for painting, crafting, and performance arts.
The chapel, modeled after the Church of the Sun, offered prayer halls and training rooms for those aspiring to roles like Executioner or Sun Knight.
Yet, none of these interested him—except for the adventurers' course. He had seen adventurers back in the capital and envied their freedom, strength, and gear.
After eating at the cafeteria, he returned to his room, changed into his academy uniform, and glanced at his schedule. Today was the adventurers' course, likely an introductory session.
Passing his still-sleeping roommate—whose name he neither knew nor cared to know—he examined the uniform: a bright blue jacket with a white dress shirt underneath, black pants with golden chains, and gold accents on the jacket.
Reluctantly, he put it on. His roommate mumbled, "Looking good, dude," as he left.
Walking through the academy, he tugged at his collar, visibly uncomfortable in the tight-fitting uniform. It felt too restrictive, and the discomfort showed plainly on his face as he made his way to class.
According to his schedule, his first class was Adventuring Basics. Leaving the dormitory, he waded through the ocean of students crowding the halls and pathways until he finally reached the adventurers' hall.
Standing before the heavy wooden doors, his hands gripped the handles tightly. For some reason, he hesitated.
Scared? No. That wasn't the right word. He chuckled nervously to himself, unsure of why he felt so on edge.
"You good, dude?" a random student asked from behind him, clearly annoyed that he was blocking the entrance.
"Sorry," he muttered quickly, stepping aside to let the student pass.
With a deep sigh, he pushed the doors open and rushed inside, hoping to avoid further embarrassment.
The interior of the hall was breathtaking, filled with adventuring aesthetics. A massive gold chandelier hung in the center of the room, its light casting a warm glow over the space. Large, sturdy wooden tables filled the lobby, surrounded by paintings, relics, and sculptures—each telling a story of daring adventures and brave adventurers.
He stood there, momentarily in awe, before snapping back to reality. Glancing at his schedule, he tried to navigate the labyrinthine hallways. Spiraling staircases wound upwards, hidden pathways beckoned to him, and doors led to who-knew-where. He spun in circles, clutching his schedule tightly, the confusion on his face unmistakable.
"Hey... are you alright?"
A soft, melodic voice interrupted his growing panic.
Turning to look, he saw a girl he'd never seen before. She had neck-length chestnut hair, light freckles scattered across her face, and bright yellow eyes that seemed to glow with warmth. But what truly caught his attention were the cat-like ears twitching atop her head and the tail swaying behind her.
"Tail?" he blurted out, unable to hide his surprise.
Her eyes widened as her tail stiffened. "Oh! Yes," she said, a small laugh escaping her lips. "I'm a demi-human."
He blinked, rubbing his eyes. "S-sorry. Haven't gotten much sleep."
"It's fine." She smiled brightly. "Not every day you meet one of us here."
"Pretty much," he admitted, managing a small smile in return. "It's kind of my first time seeing so many different cultures."
Her head tilted slightly, curiosity lighting up her features. "Hmm... you're not one of those Otherworlders, are you?"
"Other-what-ers?"
"Never mind," she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Just some folktale we used to hear as kids."
She stepped closer, peeking over his shoulder at the crumpled schedule in his hands. Her shoulder brushed against his as she leaned in. "Oh, looks like we share the same class," she said cheerfully.
"We do?" he asked, surprised.
"Seems to be the case!" Her ears perked up suddenly. "Oh no, we're running late!"
Before he could react, she grabbed his hand and took off, pulling him along at a breakneck pace. They reached a staircase, and she began skipping two steps at a time. He struggled to keep up, nearly tripping over his own feet as she yanked him forward.
By the time they reached the top, she grabbed his wrist and continued pulling him through the crowded hallway. They brushed past students and weaved around lockers until, finally, they arrived at their classroom.
"W-wait!" he stammered, trying to catch his breath. "Your name? I didn't get your name!"
She turned, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as a playful smile spread across her face.
"Vel," she said simply before stepping into the classroom.