Aaron splashed water onto his face, letting the coolness wake him fully. The basin in the corner of the room wasn't much, just a stone bowl filled with water Clara had brought earlier, but it did the job.
He stared at his reflection in the small, slightly warped mirror above it. His glasses had slid down his nose again, so he pushed them up with a sigh.
"You look like a mess," he muttered. His brown hair stuck up in random directions, and the dark circles under his eyes didn't help.
After a moment, he grabbed the towel hanging nearby and dried his face. The water didn't wash away the strange feeling in his chest, though.
Clara had left a set of clothes for him — a simple white shirt, dark trousers, and a lightweight jacket in deep gray.
They weren't fancy, but they fit well enough and felt far more comfortable than his school uniform had.
Aaron ran a hand over the jacket's fabric. It was soft, almost velvety, and smelled faintly of something herbal. Probably whatever detergent they used here — if they even had detergent… it was a medieval world, he wasn't too sure about that.
He slipped on the outfit, adjusting the jacket until it felt right. Then, with one last glance at the mirror, he stepped out of the room.
Clara was waiting in the hallway, her hands folded neatly in front of her. She smiled when she saw him. "Good morning, Sir Aaron. You look presentable."
"Uh, thanks," Aaron said, scratching the back of his neck.
"Breakfast is ready," Clara continued, gesturing down the corridor. "Shall we?"
Aaron nodded, falling into step behind her.
The dining hall was larger than he expected, with high ceilings and long wooden tables that stretched across the room.
The smell of freshly baked bread and something savory filled the air, making his stomach growl.
Most of the others were already seated, their voices blending into a low hum of conversation.
Aaron spotted Darius at the far end, laughing loudly at something Ethan had said. Mira and Naomi sat closer to the middle, their heads bent together in quiet discussion.
Aaron hesitated in the doorway, but Clara gave him a gentle nudge. "Go ahead," she said softly.
He nodded and made his way to an empty seat near the edge of the table, trying not to draw attention to himself.
"Hey, look who finally decided to join us!"
Aaron flinched at the voice. Darius.
The taller boy leaned back in his chair, smirking. "Nice jacket, four-eyes. Trying to impress someone?"
Ethan snickered from beside him. "Yeah, maybe Clara? You better watch out, Darius, he might steal your spot as the ladies' man."
Aaron felt his cheeks heat up. He adjusted his glasses, keeping his eyes on the plate in front of him.
"Leave him alone," Naomi said, her tone sharp. She shot Darius a glare.
"What? I'm just messing around," Darius said, holding up his hands. "Right, Aaron?"
Aaron didn't answer, focusing instead on the bread and fruit on his plate. His appetite had soured, but he forced himself to eat anyway.
As the meal went on, the conversations around him grew louder. Some of the students were already speculating about their classes and the challenges ahead.
"I bet I'll get some kind of knight class," Ethan was saying, his voice carrying over the table. "You know, sword-wielding, armor, the whole deal."
"Sure, if knights eat as much as you do," Mira shot back, earning a laugh from Naomi.
Aaron stayed quiet, only half-listening.
His mind kept drifting back to the status screen from last night. Arcane Devourer. It sounded ominous, and he wasn't sure how the others would react if they found out.
Would they treat him differently? Worse?
"Hey," someone said, nudging his arm.
Aaron looked up to see Naomi sitting beside him. He hadn't even noticed when she moved over.
"You okay?" she asked quietly, her brows furrowed.
"Yeah," Aaron lied.
Naomi didn't look convinced, but she didn't press him. Instead, she grabbed a piece of fruit from his plate and popped it into her mouth.
"You should speak up more," she said after a moment.
"Why?"
"Because letting people like Darius walk all over you isn't going to help."
Aaron frowned, but before he could respond, Darius called out again from across the table.
"Hey, Naomi! Stop babysitting him and come sit over here."
Naomi rolled her eyes, muttering, "Idiot," under her breath.
Aaron glanced at her, unsure of what to say. For a moment, he thought she might stay, but then she gave him a small, encouraging smile and stood up, walking back to her seat without another word.
Breakfast eventually wound down, and the group began to disperse. Clara appeared at Aaron's side again, her expression unreadable.
"Sir Aaron," she said, her voice polite but firm. "The next phase of your training will begin shortly. Please be prepared."
Aaron nodded, the weight of her words settling heavily on his shoulders.
Back in the hallway, as the others drifted toward their rooms or lingered in small groups, Aaron found himself walking alone. His mind was a jumble of thoughts — his class, his skills, the way the others looked at him.
Naomi's words echoed in his mind: "Speak up more."
He sighed, adjusting his glasses yet again.
"Yeah right, easier said than done." He muttered under his breath.