"You are my fragment of brilliant light."
The words kept echoing in my mind even now after I first heard them earlier in the morning. I kept asking myself what exactly I had seen, what the voice meant, and what any of it was supposed to signify. I needed clarity about everything that had been happening recently, yet every time I tried to think about it, the answers felt just out of reach. Those thoughts stayed with me as I prepared to leave my room in preparation for the final exam. Compared to the others, this particular exam was simply on the history of the university, nothing too difficult. Still, my mind was not completely on it. Before heading to the exam hall, I decided I needed something to eat since the exam started by noon.
While on my way to the cafeteria, I noticed a group of girls gathered together in what looked like a heated discussion. Their voices carried an unusual level of passion, as if the topic they were arguing about was something extremely important to them. "Shouldn't Elias be above him? To me I think he ticks all the boxes," one of them said confidently, sounding as if she was trying to force her opinion on the rest of the group. "No, it should be Haven, or maybe even Christian," another girl replied immediately. The tallest among them folded her arms thoughtfully before speaking. "I agree with Kate. Both Haven and Christian tick all my boxes," she said with a dreamy expression. The others groaned in playful disagreement.
The conversation kept going.
One girl insisted that Haven had the best presence on campus, saying that whenever he walked into a room people immediately noticed him. Another girl argued that Christian had a colder kind of charm, the type that made people curious and slightly intimidated at the same time. The first girl stubbornly defended Elias, saying he had the most genuine personality and that he treated people far better than the others did. Soon they were comparing everything from appearance to family influence, academic performance, and rumors they had heard from other students. One of them even claimed she had seen Christian helping a first year student find their class, which she said proved he had a hidden soft side. Another dismissed that completely and insisted Haven would still rank higher in any category that mattered.
Haven, Christian, and Elias were all well known names on campus, sons of powerful men whose decisions could influence the lives of many people. I did not know any of them personally. I had spoken with Elias once before during an event, and he had seemed like a decent person. Friendly, warm, and with an honest smile that made him appear approachable despite his background.
I kept walking toward the cafeteria, trying to ignore the discussion behind me. To me it sounded like a group of fangirls wasting time obsessing over people who were far above them on the ladder of the world. I had always considered myself a realist, someone who preferred to deal with reality instead of escaping into fantasies. As I moved closer to them, their voices suddenly dropped to a lower tone, almost as if they had switched to whispering. Normally that would have ended my curiosity right there, but the moment my name was mentioned my attention shifted.
I instinctively raised my head slightly and looked in their direction.
My gaze fell on one particular girl who immediately caught my attention. She had brown hair, wore glasses, and was of medium height with a slightly petite build. She was doing her best not to stare directly at me, but it was obvious she had been the one who mentioned my name. Under normal circumstances their quiet conversation would have been impossible to hear clearly. However, ever since my senses had changed, my hearing had become far sharper than before. Because of that, I could hear every word they were saying even though they were trying to keep their voices low.
The girl spoke again, her cheeks turning red as she said, "Of all the guys here, I think Orion is the best looking. Not only is he handsome, he is nice, kind, and cute." Saying those words only made her blush even more.
"Awwn, she likes him," the tallest girl teased immediately.
"I also agree," another girl added.
"Same here," one of the others said, laughing softly.
The entire situation felt strange to witness, but I would be lying if I said it was unpleasant. A small smile appeared on my face before I could stop it. I had never really associated with many people around campus. I greeted others when necessary and waved back when someone I knew greeted me first, but aside from that I usually avoided unnecessary interaction with most people.
When I reached the cafeteria, I chose something light to eat and moved toward a secluded part of the outer section. The area was surrounded by trees and decorated with small fountains that flowed quietly in the background. Benches were scattered across the open space, giving the entire place a calm and almost peaceful atmosphere. Sitting there alone with my food made it feel less like a university cafeteria and more like I was quietly having a small picnic by myself.
As I ate, my thoughts returned to the person who had been occupying my mind recently. "When I see her again, I should confront her and finally get the truth. Does she know what is really going on?" I asked myself quietly even though part of me already suspected the answer. Ever since I met her for the first time, the mysterious green haired woman, I had been filled with questions. I had asked her why she said she had been waiting for me, what she meant when she spoke about CONVERGENCE, who she really was, and why she seemed to know so much about things I did not understand. The only response she ever gave me was that it was not the right time. She would simply say that I was not ready yet. At the time I had thought she was strange, maybe even a little crazy, but I could not deny that she had taught me things that had changed my understanding of the world. Thinking about it now, I felt that the time had finally come to demand the truth. I needed to understand what was really happening around me and why I seemed to be connected to it.
I had been so lost in my thoughts that I did not notice how much time had passed. By the time I looked at the clock again, it was almost time for the exam. Finishing the rest of my meal quickly, I stood up and began walking toward the examination hall.
I was only a few minutes away when I encountered someone I would have preferred to avoid.
"Orion, it's been a while."
Max stood in the corridor with a casual smile on his face as if we were old friends who had not spoken in years. I stared at him silently for several seconds, long enough for the smile on his face to become slightly strained even though he tried his best not to show it. Trying to save himself from further embarrassment, he cleared his throat and continued speaking. "I see that you're doing well. I hope the past few days have been kind to you." His voice carried a strange tone, and the smirk on his face suggested that he believed he knew something I did not. It was the kind of expression someone wore when they believed they had the upper hand. I simply looked at him with an emotionless expression, making it clear that whatever game he was trying to play was not working.
The atmosphere quickly became uncomfortable for him, and just as the tension reached an awkward point, another voice entered the conversation.
"Long time no see Orion Blackwood."
The voice was magnetic and filled with authority. It carried the kind of confidence that came from growing up in a position of power. I turned my gaze away from Max and looked at the person who had spoken.
Adam.
I recognized him immediately. He was about an inch taller than me, with broad shoulders and a straight posture that made him appear imposing. His eyebrows were sharp and his eyes carried a sense of pride that bordered on arrogance. He wore a white shirt and black pants, his hands resting casually in his pockets. I had never liked him, but I could not deny that he looked like someone who had been born to command.
"What do you want Adam?" I asked with a slightly annoyed tone.
"Oh," he replied before continuing calmly. "I just wanted to speak with you. I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time."
"You didn't," I said evenly. "But that still doesn't explain why you're here."
Adam studied my face carefully before speaking again. "I've been hearing that you've been spending time with Katherine."
"Sometimes," I replied.
Max let out a small scoff beside him, but Adam ignored it.
"You're aware of the engagement," Adam said calmly.
Of course I was aware. News like that traveled quickly when two powerful families decided to tie themselves together.
"Congratulations," I said flatly.
"That means things are different now," Adam continued. "You should stop associating with her."
I looked at him quietly for a moment before answering. "My friendships are not something you get to manage."
Max shifted slightly beside him. "You might want to rethink that.
I did not even bother looking in his direction.
"Katherine is friends with Chloe," I said calmly. "And Chloe is a friend of mine. That's all there is to it."
Adam's expression remained calm, though something colder flickered behind his eyes.
"I'm giving you advice, Orion."
I allowed a faint smile to appear. "My family didn't build its name by taking advice we didn't ask for."
For a moment the three of us stood there in silence as the tension between us grew heavier.
Finally Adam stepped past me. "Do what you want," he said quietly. "Just remember that some choices come with consequences."
Max followed him, casting one last glance in my direction before the two of them walked away down the corridor.
I watched them leave without moving. Then I exhaled slowly.
"Good to see you too, Adam."
The encounter left a bad taste in my mouth. I could understand why Katherine never liked him. He carried himself as if the world owed him something simply for existing.
Soon after, I approached the examination hall. Before entering, every student had to pass through a quick check. Our identification cards were scanned and we were briefly checked to ensure that no one brought any illicit materials into the hall. Once inside, the room was silent except for the quiet movements of students finding their assigned seats.
The exam itself was straightforward.
Most of the questions focused on the history of the university. We were asked about the year it was founded, the circumstances surrounding its establishment, and the influential figures who helped build it into the institution it had become today. One section focused on the university's core motto and what it represented. Another required us to explain how the institution had influenced political, scientific, and social developments across the world through the achievements of its graduates.
There were also questions about important historical moments within the university itself. Major reforms, famous alumni, and the expansion of the different faculties over the decades. Nothing particularly difficult, but it required attention to detail.
By the time I finished writing my answers, I felt confident that I had done well.
After the exam ended and the hall gradually emptied, I left with the other students and headed toward the faculty building. I planned to see Ms. Lang before leaving campus for the break. The faculty building stood quietly at the far side of the academic grounds, a tall structure with long hallways filled with offices belonging to lecturers and professors. As I walked through the corridors, I passed several doors with familiar names on them. Some of the lecturers inside were known for their strict grading while others were famous for their endless lectures that seemed to last forever.
I passed Professor Daniels' office and remembered how he once spent forty minutes explaining a single historical footnote as if it were the most important discovery in human history. A little further down the hallway was Professor Malik's office, a man who always looked half asleep during his own lectures yet somehow expected everyone else to stay fully attentive.
As I walked past another door labeled Ms. Christiana, I slowed down slightly. From inside the office I heard a strange muffled sound, something that sounded oddly suggestive and out of place in such a quiet hallway. I paused for a brief moment, raising an eyebrow in mild curiosity. The sound came again, faint but unmistakable. For a second I considered investigating, but then I simply shook my head slightly and continued walking. Whatever was happening inside that office was none of my business, and I had no intention of getting involved in something that would only lead to unnecessary complications.
A few moments later I reached Ms. Lang's office and knocked gently.
"Come in," her voice called.
When I stepped inside, she immediately looked up from the papers on her desk and smiled warmly.
"Orion," she said. "I was wondering if you would come by before leaving campus."
"I thought I should," I replied.
She studied my face carefully for a moment before speaking again. "How was the exam?"
"It went well," I answered.
"That is good," she said before leaning back slightly in her chair. "You have always been one of my most hardworking students."
She looked at me quietly for a moment before asking the question she always asked. "Are you taking care of yourself? Eating properly? Sleeping well?"
"I'm doing alright," I replied.
Her expression softened but did not completely relax. "And the nightmares?"
I hesitated slightly before answering. "They're not that bad anymore."
We both knew that was not the truth.
She stood up slowly and walked toward me. Over the years she had treated me less like a student and more like family. She once told me that she had lost her own son in an accident years ago, and for reasons she never fully explained she believed that I reminded her of him.
Without saying anything more, she gently pulled me into a brief hug
"You know you can talk to me about anything," she said softly.
"I know," I replied.
After talking for a few more minutes about small things like the upcoming break and some of the ridiculous assignments other lecturers had given, I finally said goodbye and left her office.
As I stepped outside the building, my phone beeped.
It was Chloe calling.
"Hey, are you done with your exam?" she asked immediately. "Lee, Kath, and I are already finished and waiting for you."
A small smile appeared on my face.
"I'm on my way," I told her.
A short time later I arrived at a small warm restaurant near the edge of campus. It was the kind of place that looked simple from the outside but carried the quiet weight of many stories within its walls. The time to explore those stories would come later.
Through the glass window I could see them sitting at a table.
Chloe noticed me first and waved.
"Finally," she said as I sat down. "We thought the exam swallowed you."
Lee leaned back in his chair with a grin. "Knowing Orion, he probably spent half the exam writing philosophical answers to simple questions."
"That would still be better than your answers," Chloe said.
Lee laughed. "My answers were excellent. Very detailed. Especially the part where I explained how the university motto probably inspired half the relationships on campus."
Chloe frowned slightly. "What does that even mean?"
Lee smirked. "Think about it."
Chloe groaned while Katherine tried not to laugh.
"How was yours?" Chloe asked me.
"Not bad," I replied.
Lee leaned forward slightly. "History exams are always funny. Half the questions are about what happened, the other half are about pretending we remember why it mattered."
Chloe shook her head at him, though she was smiling.
As the conversation continued, I noticed that Katherine was quieter than usual.
"Kath, you've barely said anything," Chloe said.
"I'm just tired," Katherine replied at first, but after a moment she sighed.
"I saw Adam earlier today."
The mood at the table shifted immediately.
"That explains it," I said calmly.
They all looked at me.
"I ran into him too."
For a moment no one spoke.
Then Chloe clapped her hands lightly on the table.
"Alright that's enough about that," she said. "We just finished our exams and we have a short break ahead of us. Let's not waste it thinking about negative things."
None of us argued with that.
And for the moment, we let the conversation move on.