I entered my dorm, and as soon as I was alone—
FWAP!
I flopped down on the bed. I didn’t even bother looking around, organizing my things, or even changing clothes.
I sank straight into the soft mattress, staring up blankly at the high ceiling while my heavy arms lay completely limp by my sides.
I was exhausted.
The day was still far from over, but I was already spent.
The constant mental strain of navigating through the crowd, staying composed around Zion, and pretending that I wasn’t carrying a world of secrets on my shoulders had drained every last bit of my energy.
The pressure and the gravity of my situation earlier finally settled in to me. The moment the man from the Frostguard family met my eyes and grabbed me—
’I almost died right there and then.’
The sheer memory of his cold, tight grip on my arm sent an icy shiver straight down my spine, making my breath hitch in my chest.
Not a game over that I can just return to checkpoint—I would’ve really died if the elders caught me.
There were no extra lives, no load-game buttons, and no second chances in this reality. If that man had dragged me away into an alley, my journey would have ended before I even set foot inside the academy.
My heart started beating, even though I already survived and avoided it—just the fact that I came into a close call made me anxious. All these time, I’ve been protected by the Blackthorne family.
I sat up slowly, clutching my chest as my pulse raced against my ribs, the lingering phantom terror refusing to fade away so easily.
Ahri and Cindy hid me from danger until now.
They had shielded me under their roof, using their own connections and efforts to make sure the pursuers sent by the elders couldn’t pinpoint my exact location for months.
But from now on, I need to defend myself—I can’t depend on them any longer and make the elders target them too.
I couldn’t keep hiding behind their skirts like a helpless child while they risked their own lives to keep my existence a secret from the Frostguard Family.
"I need to get stronger and protect myself."
I mumbled.
My voice sounded small in the quiet, empty room, but the vow carried a resolute weight that grounded my chaotic thoughts.
"Fuhhh~"
I let out a sigh as I sat back up on the bed. I looked around my room for the first time, it was bigger than the room I have back at the Blackthorne residence, but it was empty.
The walls were made of clean, polished white stone, devoid of any decorations or personal touches, and the wide window showed a view of the academy grounds below.
I stood up and started fixing my items, placing some of my clothes to the cabinet and cleaning myself. I tried to calm myself by doing random stuff.
I unpacked my travel bag with slow, deliberate movements, neatly folding my shirts, hanging my spare uniforms inside the tall wooden wardrobe, and washing the dirt off my face at the bathroom sink.
And when I was done doing so—I decided to go out of my room to look around the academy. I was curious because I only know this place in the game.
I had no time to look around earlier as well because the time didn’t allow me to.
Between the tense arrival at the front gate, the homeroom introduction with Professor Ulfar, and the chaos at the subterranean armory, I hadn’t had a single chance to explore the campus properly.
Creaak—
I pulled my door open, stepping out into the carpeted hallway.
"Hmm?"
But as soon as I got out of my room; someone greeted me. A familiar face.
A tall figure was standing right outside my door with his hand raised, looking as if he had been just about to rap his knuckles against the wood.
"Ohh, I was just about to knock."
It was Zion, he had a big smile on his face.
He lowered his hand and adjusted his shirt, his dark eyes sparkling with boundless energy despite everything we had gone through today.
"Where are you headed?"
He asked me. He leaned slightly against the wall, looking genuinely curious as he gestured toward the elevator down the hall.
"Umm, I was just about to look around the academy."
I replied.
I paused for a second, casually adjusting my collar as I gave him a straight answer.
"Me too, let’s go together!"
He then invited me.
His face lit up with instant enthusiasm, not waiting a single second before offering to join me on my little walk.
I was honestly surprised that he went directly to me just to invite me, we barely know each other and just met today; just a few hours ago.
In most stories, protagonists usually stuck to themselves or took time to warm up to side characters, but Zion seemed completely devoid of any hesitation or suspicion.
But at the same time, I was happy.
Having a reliable, naturally strong companion who didn’t harbor any hidden malice toward me was a rare luxury in this brutal world.
"Haha, sure, let’s go."
I accepted his invitation with a smile on my face. I chuckled lightly, stepping out into the hallway completely and pulling my door shut behind me until the magic lock clicked softly.
"I’ll invite Cindy too, the one I introduced to you earlier."
I added.
I tapped on my phone screen as we walked toward the elevator, opening our message chat to send her a quick text.
Zion smiled and gave me a thumbs up.
"The more the merrier, let’s try finding some of our classmates as well."
He said. He grinned widely, crossing his arms behind his head as we stepped into the elevator cab.
"Sure sure."
And with that, we both left the dormitory.
*****
The dormitories are separated based gender and grade level; it was a strict separation. So we had to walk for a while to reach where Cindy is currently staying. I messaged her already beforehand and told her we would pass by her.
The female freshmen towers were located on the western side of the residential area, separated from the male towers by a wide central courtyard and a stone security gate.
Zion and I tried looking around for our classmates as well, but they’re nowhere to be seen.
We checked the common lounge areas, the outdoor benches, and the walking paths along the way, but Class 1-F seemed to have scattered completely after the dismissal.
And so; it was just the three of us in the end.
Cindy was already standing outside the lobby entrance of her building when we arrived, leaning against a lamp post while twirling her two golden sai casually around her fingers.
... ... ...
... ... ...
... ... ...
We wandered the academy curiously—the canteen, the shops, the facilities. There are a lot of students from different classes and grade level.
The main cafeteria was a massive, multi-tiered hall serving dishes from across different continents, while the commercial strip boasted fully stocked alchemy shops, rune blacksmiths, and general stores catering exclusively to hero trainees.
Workers and professors are everywhere as well.
Staff members wearing official academy badges were moving about, maintaining magical arrays and ensuring order among the bustling crowds of upperclassmen.
The academy is just like a walled-up city, isolated and protected from the outside.
High stone towers and automated defense turrets were positioned at regular intervals along the perimeter, creating an impenetrable sanctuary for everyone inside.
’You’ll really be safe here.’
Cindy whispered to me as we saw the massive metal walls protecting the academy; aside from the walls—artifacts and professional heroes are also guarding the place.
She leaned in close to my shoulder as we walked along the outer pathway, looking up at the colossal barrier pillars that hummed with dense, high-grade security mana.
This is basically one of the safest place in this planet.
’No wonder the original Vael thought of hiding here.’
I thought to myself.
Entering [The Star Academy] was literally the only move that could guarantee my survival against the elders’ pursuers for the next few years.
Anyway, we walked a bit more and got to the facilities accessible to the freshmen. And there—we saw the training ground.
It was situated on the edge of the athletic grounds, standing out from the surrounding scenery with its sheer architectural scale.
It was a huge dome-like facility; like a stadium.
Reinforced mana barriers covered the metallic curved roof, designed specifically to withstand high-level blasts and heavy physical impacts without collapsing.
The three of us entered out of curiosity, and there—we saw a lot of students—seniors as well; training.
The interior was divided into dozens of individual sparring rings and target-practice zones. We stood on the upper spectator walkway, watching high-tier upperclassmen trade explosive spells, clash heavy weapons, and execute complex footwork routines with unbelievable speed.
We were amazed by their move and training that we became stupefied for a bit.
The sheer difference in mana control, martial mastery, and sheer physical power between us and the seniors was breathtaking, serving as a stark reminder of how far we still had to go.
"Did you bring [Frost]?"
Then out of nowhere—Zion looked at me and asked that.
He turned his head toward me, his dark eyes shining with an eager light.
"Huh? Ah... yeah."
I told him instinctively.
I reached down to tap the dark wooden stick tucked securely into my belt loop, nodding slowly as I wondered what he was driving at.
Then with a shine in his eyes—
"Let’s spar!"
He suggested me that.
He pointed a energetic thumb toward an open, unallocated concrete sparring ring down on the main floor, a broad, confident grin spreading across his face.
"Huh...?"
I let out a confused noise, staring at him in complete disbelief as his sudden proposal caught me totally off guard.