"What is he doing?"
"Is he really going to eat all of that?"
Whispers came from all directions, all focused on me.
I didn't care and kept grabbing more food until my plate couldn't carry any more...
Then I grabbed another plate.
'The taste is quite exquisite,' The Spirit King spoke in my mind.
'You can taste it too?'
'I am connected to your soul and body, of course, I can taste it as well.'
'That does make sense... by the way, what should I call you?'
'What do you mean?'
'I mean, calling you Spirit King all the time is a bit... eh, you know.'
'...'
'And since we will be spending a lot of time together its best we become more comfortable with each other, right?'
'...Vaelis.'
'Vaelis?'
'Yes, it is the name I was given at birth.'
'Spirits get born?'
This was new information to me.
'Yes, we are mana's children. It's surprising you don't know this.'
'Well, I never encountered many spirits before.'
The novel barely even mentioned them.
'...'
"You seem to be enjoying yourself." A voice came
I raised my head from my plate and smiled.
"Hey, princess, you hungry too?"
"Yeah, no." Nira looked at me with a similar look she gave Bram.
I frowned. "So what brings you to the table of culinary masterpieces?"
"Table of culinary masterpieces?"
"Poetic right?"
"You look like a starved pig."
'She really has no filter.'
I let out a small laugh, "You have no idea."
She pursed her lips at my words and had a pitiable expression as she gazed at me.
'She must feel bad for me.'
I mean, she saw how I'd acted back at the hospital and probably thinks it was some kind of trauma from the rift.
But that wasn't the only reason.
"I believe in you," I spoke with sincerity.
She froze.
It seemed like her mind was having trouble processing my words.
"I'll say it again, I believe in you and I always will, so all you need to do is believe in yourself."
Her cheeks flushed red. "W-what the fuck are you saying?!!"
I smiled at her reaction.
It was cute.
"Y-you're fucking with me."
"No... I'm not." My tone was serious; I meant every word.
Her expression was filled with embarrassment and confusion.
She raised her hand...
-BAMM
She smashed the table of culinary masterpieces.
My face paled as I watched the precious food fly in the air before hitting the cold, cold ground.
"No... what have you done?"
I fell to my knees, staring at the ruined food.
I picked up a smushed piece of red velvet cake I was excited to try, and in the corner of my eye, I spotted it.
"No..."
The once beautiful cinnamon rolls now lay ruined on the ground.
"Not the cinnamon rolls!!" I hit the ground. "Why did it have to be the cinnamon rolls!!"
"Uhh..." Nira stood completely frozen, unsure what to do.
"It's just food, dude." A voice came from another direction.
My head snapped in its direction, and there I saw him.
"Liam... how dare you say cinnamon rolls are 'just food'?" I snapped at him. "Don't you understand the beauty behind the roll?" I shook my head.
"From the second the dough is rolled with the cinnamon filling in the middle, a true marvel of human ingenuity is created." I raised my hand dramatically, grabbing nothing.
"And when you let it rise... it represents humanity's patience and perseverance through tough times."
"And the layers... oh, the layers. They represent the many layers each human has, from sadness to happiness."
I closed my eyes. "It is a true masterpiece."
"..."
"..."
"..."
What can I say, I really like cinnamon rolls.
"Can I have everyone's attention, please?" A calm voice came, grabbing everyone's attention.
Looking toward the voice stood a handsome young man with light brown hair, in a suit, surrounded by a few others who wore similar attire.
He smiled kindly. "Welcome, first years, my name is Adrian Dunmore, you may have heard of me." His voice was nice to the ears.
"Oh my god, is it really him?"
"I-I'm a big fan!!"
"He's so handsome!!"
All the first years seemed to be in awe at his appearance.
"To those who haven't heard of me, I am the student council president of Aethon Academy, and these," He gestured toward the others surrounding him, "are the student council members."
"We set up this ball for you all to enjoy as the new students at Aethon and as a congratulations. So please enjoy yourselves." His smile was kind. "The campus tour will begin soon, but if you wish, you can leave, and you'll be given your dorm placements and keys as soon as you leave."
Everyone seemed to be almost entranced by his voice.
Even Liam smiled toward him, probably remembering him as an old comrade or something.
I almost laughed out loud.
'What a fucking performance.'
"Why is everyone so excited to see this guy? He's not even that handsome," Nira spoke.
My lips curled up slightly.
"He's the first son of the Duke Dunmore and has saved many lives. Once, he even stopped a D-rank rift outbreak by leading his fellow students during his second year, saving hundreds, so to many... he is a hero," Liam said with a solemn-looking smile.
I frowned.
"Oh that's pretty cool," Nira responded, sounding a bit impressed.
My frown deepened.
They both turned back to me, who was sitting coolly on a chair after grieving the great loss of cinnamon rolls.
"You seem fine all of a sudden," Nira spoke.
"I'll just get some more later," I responded.
"..."
"...So what was the point?!" Nira screamed.
"The point of what?"
"..."
"..."
They both looked at me, dumbfounded by my words.
But before they could say anything more...
"You are the first year's rank 1 this year, correct?" A kind voice directed at me came.
Looking toward the source, I saw the so-called student council president smiling at me kindly with a hand out for a handshake.
I stared at him for a moment my gaze shifting between his hand and his face. I didn't shake his hand. "You know it's me. Why are you asking?" My tone was blunt.
"..." His smile froze, but he quickly composed himself and retracted his hand. "Your speech was quite... interesting, so I wanted to greet you. Is that a problem?"
His smile remained unchanged, but I wasn't fooled.
'He's angry.'
"Yes, it is actually a problem, you're the reason this tragedy has taken place." I pointed at the food on the floor.
"...But I wasn't here when that happened."
"And?"
"..."
That fucking smile was still on his face despite my provocation.
"Hey! You fucker! You think you can act like th-!" Another one of the student council screamed at me, but was stopped by Adrian.
"It's fine, Marcus," Adrian spoke with that motherfucking smile.
Marcus, or whatever, was a relatively short guy with a face that resembled a certain dog.
'What was it?'
"Oh yes!" I clapped. "A chihuahua!"
"..."
"..."
"Oh my bad, did I say that out loud?"
"You-!!"
"Marcus." Adrian's tone was commanding, "Relax."
"But he-" Marcus's voice was lower like a puppy being scolded.
"And you're gonna attack a first year?"
"..." Marcus lowered his head.
Adrian turned to me. That fucking smile was beginning to piss me off.
"It seems we've intruded, so I think it's best we leave."
"I think so too." I smiled back at him.
"..." He looked at me for a moment, and then left without another word. The puppy glared at me and followed him closely behind.
I leaned back in my chair.
"Damn, you were hostile," Nira commented.
"Yeah, do you know him or something?" Liam also spoke, but I could see the double meaning behind his words.
"Nope." I smiled. "I never met him before; his smile just pisses me off."
"..."
"..."
"Anyway..." I got up from my chair. "I'm gonna leave."
"What about the tour?" Liam asked.
"I'll just use a map."
I then walked to the exit and left the ballroom.
Opening the door, I stepped into the cool embrace of night. I found myself surrounded by tall buildings, dimly lit by the moonlight that seemed to wrap around in a massive circle.
'So this is Aethon.'
"Cassian Rank 1?" A feminine voice came from my side.
There was a pretty young woman with light blueish hair and brown eyes.
'Probably a student council member.'
Her expression seemed bored.
"Yes, that's me."
"Here you go." She stretched out her hand and handed me a set of golden keys with my name engraved on them.
"Thanks." I took the keys.
She pointed toward a helix-shaped building that resembled an expensive hotel back on Earth.
"That's the dorms for the top 10 of each year."
My eyes widened.
'For 40 people?!'
It was insane to think only forty people took up a building that looked like it was built to house a thousand.
"How big are the rooms?" The words slipped out of my mouth.
"I wouldn't know. I've been stuck at rank 11 since the first year." She let out a small laugh.
I smiled. "That sounds rough."
"You have no idea."
"What year are you?" I asked
"This year's my third at the academy."
"Whoa, only two years left, huh?"
"You're making me feel old, don't say that." She joked.
I let out a small laugh, "What's your name, by the way?" I asked.
"Oh, it's Liora Nyx."
My smile froze.
"...It's nice to meet you, Liora." I tried my best not to reveal my thoughts.
"It's nice to meet you, too, Cassian."
"I'm a bit tired, so I'll be heading to the dorm... let's talk another time."
"Okay." She smiled. "I'll see you then."
"Yeah, see you." I smiled back at her and turned around.
My expression changed in an instant as a wave of disgust flooded within.
'Damn it!' I covered my mouth.
I felt sick.
'Cassian, that girl-' Vaelis spoke in my mind.
'I know...'