The gates of the Royal Academy rose like a kingdom by themselves 🏰.
Iron walls stretched into the sky.Arcane seals floated like glowing scars ✨.Power hummed in the air.
Students streamed in.
Humans.Elves 🌲.Beastkin 🐾.Dwarves.Masked nobles no one dared look at for too long.
Aren stepped through.
Small bag 🎒.Calm steps.No hesitation.
A woman in a blue uniform stopped him.
"New arrival?"
Aren nodded.
She handed him a black card edged in gold.
"This is your Identification Card."
• Wallet 💰• Meal tracker 🍖• Combat record ⚔️• Dorm access 🏢• Kill log ☠️
Aren stared at it.
"…Credit card."
She smiled.
"Exactly. Don't lose it. If you kill someone, it logs that too."
Aren pocketed it.
Like she'd mentioned the weather.
"All done. Welcome to the Academy."
🌳 Under the Giant Tree
The campus stretched endlessly.
Training arenas ⚔️.Dorm towers 🏢.Floating platforms.Lakes reflecting the sky.
And at the center—
A colossal ancient tree 🌳.
Roots like roads.Branches piercing clouds.
Aren looked at it once.
Walked forward.
Sat down.
Leaned back.
And fell asleep instantly 😴.
Students froze.
"He's sleeping…?""That's the Sacred Elder Tree!""Is he insane?""Or fearless?"
No answer.
Aren slept.
Like the place belonged to him.
🍖 Cafeteria Chaos
Hunger woke him.
He followed the noise.
The cafeteria was enormous.
Like a battlefield disguised as a dining hall.
Food from every culture 🍖🍜.Weapons resting beside plates ⚔️.Students arguing, laughing, threatening—
Normal.
Aren picked his meal carefully:
• Meat• More meat• Even more meat• Milk 🥛
He found a quiet corner.
Sat down.
Started eating.
Peace.
For thirty seconds.
Footsteps approached.
Light.
Controlled.
Familiar.
Aren looked up.
Paused.
Two figures stood before him.
Lyris Vael'Thora 😡
Still burning.Still sharp.Still remembering everything.
And—
Rias Emberheart 🔥
Crimson hair.Golden ribbon.Eyes steady and bright.A presence that quieted half the room.
They walked straight to his table.
Lyris spoke first.
"You."
Aren continued eating.
"Yes."
Rias smiled.
"So you're Aren."
"The boy who humiliated an elf…"
"…and made a hero retire."
She extended her hand.
"I'm Rias Emberheart. First Princess of the Ember Kingdom."
The cafeteria froze.
"THE PRINCESS?!""She came to HIM?!" 😳
Lyris leaned forward.
"We are NOT done."
Rias tilted her head.
"But first… may we join you?"
Aren finished chewing.
Wiped his mouth.
Looked at the empty seat.
"No."
The cafeteria exploded 😂🔥.
🥩 Aren vs. Social Interaction
Aren kept eating.
Calm.Silent.Unbothered.
Spoons froze mid-air.
Lyris slammed the table.
"You've got some nerve!"
Aren cut another piece of meat.
"…Hmm."
Lyris shook.
"HMM?! THAT'S IT?!" 😡
Rias placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Relax. He's not worth it."
Aren raised an eyebrow.
"I'm eating."
Lyris pointed at him.
"You ignore people confronting you?!"
"Yes."
"WHY?!"
"You're loud."
Half the cafeteria choked 😂.
Rias covered her mouth, laughing softly 😆.
Lyris trembled.
"I trained for a week! My father trained me personally! I swore I'd defeat you!"
Aren drank milk.
"That's nice."
"ARE YOU MOCKING ME?!"
"No."
Rias leaned forward.
"Your name is spreading. No noble backing. No sponsor. Yet every division is watching you."
Aren shrugged.
"I didn't ask them to."
Lyris groaned.
"You unbelievable rock!"
"I'm eating."
Rias studied him.
"You're strange."
"Yes."
"You admit it?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Aren finally looked up.
Eyes calm.
"Because I don't waste energy."
Rias smiled slightly.
"On what?"
Aren pointed at his plate.
"Anything that interrupts my food."
The cafeteria erupted again 😂🔥.
⚔️ A Warning Without Words
A student stood up.
Angry.
Jealous.
"HEY! You two don't need to waste time on him!"
Aren glanced once.
Cold.
Sharp.
Empty.
The boy sat down instantly 😨.
Rias watched closely.
"Fascinating…"
Lyris crossed her arms.
"This isn't over."
"You're in my way," Aren said.
Rias laughed softly.
"He doesn't fear anything."
She smiled at him.
"Next time… you won't say no."
Aren shrugged.
"We'll see."
Lyris pulled her away.
Both looked back.
One curious 😏.One furious 😡.
Aren kept eating.
Calm.
Silent.
And the Academy learned something important.
This boy wasn't trying to stand out.
He simply didn't care—
who stood in front of him 🌑.