Orith Cafeteria, First-Years
The cafeteria was bustling with students deciding what to eat for breakfast on this particular morning. Chairs and tables of various sizes and styles were scattered around the room, and some students could be seen grabbing vacant chairs to add to their group's table.
At one of the empty tables sat a girl munching on a piece of bread while flipping through a small book that was just slightly larger than her hand. Her gaze was intensely focused, and emotions flitted across her face as she read. Occasionally, a glint of delight sparkled in her eyes; at other times, there was surprise or even sadness. Whatever book she was engrossed in clearly evoked a wide range of human emotions.
"Hey."
A voice interrupted her concentration. The girl furrowed her brow before turning to glance behind her. When she saw who it was, her eyes grew colder, and she quickly turned back to her book, attempting to ignore whatever the person had to say.
Valiance stared at her, speechless. She truly exuded a cold demeanor, but her reactions earlier didn't quite align with the persona she seemed to project. He sat down beside her, casting a quick glance at her food before fixing his attention on her.
"Are you satisfied with yourself?" he asked.
Eira didn't even look at him. She continued flipping through her book. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"You don't know?" Valiance's face darkened. "You literally set me up earlier—drawing the professor's attention to me. Even though it's my first day here, I can already tell that Professor Rombuss despises people who go against the social norms. Especially mage rules."
Eira reached for her bread, but her hand froze mid-air. She turned to him, her expression as calm as ever. "No reason," she replied flatly, without hesitation.
"No reason?" Valiance frowned, leaning forward. "I find that hard to believe."
"Believe whatever you want," she said with a shrug, turning back to her book. "Leave me out of it."
"I can't just leave you out of this because you're the one who tried to fuck with me," Valiance retorted firmly.
"Language."
"Now you're trying to act virtuous?" Valiance shook his head in irritation. He sighed, trying to rein in his frustration. "Just… don't mess with me again, alright? If you don't like being my roommate, you could've just said so."
"Whatever," Eira replied with another shrug. She resumed reading her book and reached for a slice of cheese, munching on it without a care in the world.
Valiance exhaled sharply, pressing his hands against the table as he stood. He cast her a final glance. "Don't try me."
"Maybe," she said softly, almost dismissively. The subtle smirk on her face annoyed him further. She was treating him like a clown—was that her hobby? Or maybe it was just part of her personality.
As Valiance turned to leave, a thought struck him.
"You know what? I'll just talk to Professor Blackrose. Maybe I can get a room to myself."
Without waiting to hear her response, he walked off toward the counter where breakfast was being served. Surprisingly, the food in the cafeteria was sold using points, as indicated by the signs. Even the most expensive dish only cost 25 points. From what he could tell, studying here for just a month could make you feel like a wealthy person, given how low the prices were.
Ring!
He was just about to order breakfast when the bell rang, signaling the end of the meal period. Students hurriedly finished their food and rushed off. Valiance noticed Eira gathering her things and leaving as well. He shrugged, turning back to the staff member at the counter.
"Can I still order?"
The staff member shook their head apologetically. "I'm afraid not."
"Why not?"
"Because breakfast time is over."
"That's alright—I can make it quick."
"I really can't help you. Sorry."
What kind of shitty luck is this?
Valiance grumbled under his breath as he exited the cafeteria, stomach empty and grumbling in protest.
He made his way toward his classroom. After his meeting with Agnes, he had spent time wandering through parts of the academy, mentally mapping its layout. Now, he had a general idea of the school's structure. A few more days of exploring would solidify it in his mind.
Unhurriedly, Valiance moved forward, watching as other students rushed past him to their respective classrooms.
"Hey!"
Steve suddenly popped up beside him, his grin wide. His face practically glimmered with excitement. "You survived?"
Valiance shrugged, glancing at him with faint amusement. "It's nothing to worry about," he said, brushing off the concern like it was nothing.
They continued walking toward their classroom, but Valiance's attention was drawn ahead. The wall that had been destroyed during the earlier chaos was now completely repaired. He stopped for a moment, his eyes widening.
"I guess Orith is renowned for a reason," he muttered, the sight genuinely catching him off guard.
"That's right!" Steve nodded enthusiastically, proud to show off his school's capabilities. "The Earth mages handled it like pros. Honestly, even students could've fixed it, but I think the professors wanted it done quickly and perfectly. Nothing they can't handle."
Valiance studied the wall for another moment, noting how flawless it looked. Not a single crack or trace of damage remained. "Impressive," he admitted under his breath.
Steve leaned in, his voice dropping to a mischievous whisper. "Between you and me, though, Professor Rombuss just acts like a child. He probably made a big deal out of it for nothing."
Valiance didn't respond, though a faint smile played on his lips. Steve's bluntness was oddly refreshing. Without a word, he resumed walking, entering the classroom just as the seats were filling up.
The room was bustling now, with students settling in and chatting with their peers. Valiance made his way to the seat he'd taken earlier, dropping into it with a quiet sigh. Steve quickly followed, sitting beside him.
"Looks like everyone's here," Steve commented, glancing around at the now-packed classroom.
Before Valiance could reply, the door opened again, and a teacher entered. The room instantly quieted as all eyes turned toward her. She carried a stack of books, which she placed neatly on the desk at the front of the class. Her sharp gaze scanned the room with an air of authority.
Valiance immediately recognized her. It was Professor Blackrose, the same person who had handled his enrollment just yesterday.
He leaned slightly toward Steve, lowering his voice. "Didn't you say she got demoted?"
Steve looked equally puzzled, his brow furrowing. "I did," he whispered back. "Maybe the headmaster forgave her or something. I don't know. Blackrose is… different. She doesn't exactly follow the rules, but she always manages to stay in the game."
"Alright, quiet down!"
Professor Blackrose's commanding voice cut through the remaining murmurs in the room. The students immediately straightened in their seats. She placed her hands on her hips, her gaze sweeping over the class with a mix of sharpness and curiosity.
Then her eyes landed on Valiance.
"Well, here you are, Mr. Esteban," she said, her tone carrying a hint of amusement. "How is your first class so far?"
Here we go again, Valiance thought with a sinking feeling.
He sighed inwardly, knowing full well that the attention was now on him. Something he didn't like was about to happen, though he couldn't quite tell what. Whatever it was, he could only hope it wouldn't be anything incredibly stupid.