Chapter 57
Nille walked back to his seat slowly, rolling his shoulder once as he settled the lingering tension from the spar. The classroom had fully returned to its normal structure now, desks, walls, and the faint glow of spiritual inscriptions all back in place, but the atmosphere had changed.
It wasn't loud anymore.
It was careful.
A few students hesitated before speaking, watching him as if unsure how to approach him after what they had just seen.
"Hey… you should probably go to the clinic," one of them said cautiously.
Nille shook his head slightly and reached into his pocket.
From it, he pulled a small sealed container.
A portable healing cream.
"I'm fine," he said simply. "This is enough for minor injuries."
He opened it briefly, applying a thin layer along his bruised knuckles and the side of his ribs. The faint sting of pain softened immediately as the herbal compound activated.
That single action changed the mood in the room again.
Not to excitement, but to quiet respect.
No one laughed.
No one questioned him.
Some students looked away, slightly uncomfortable. Others stared openly, almost in disbelief. The fear that had been present earlier was still there, but now mixed with something else.
Awareness.
He wasn't just another new student.
He was capable.
One student leaned slightly toward another and whispered, just loud enough to be heard.
"If Class A4 hears about this… they'll definitely look for him."
Nille paused at his seat.
He heard it clearly.
He turned slightly.
"…Why would they look for me?" he asked.
The group shifted a little. One student, an Indian male with short dark hair and faint spiritual markings along his forearm, spoke up.
"There are four main class sections in this academy," he explained. "A1 to A4."
He pointed subtly upward, as if organizing the structure in his mind.
"A1 is technically the strongest academically and strategically. But A4… they're different."
He hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully.
"They're the roughest. Violent. Direct. They don't care about rules as much when it comes to combat."
Another student added quietly from the side, "A1 is dangerous in a different way. More controlled… but arrogant. Elite mindset. They look down on anyone below them."
The Indian student continued, "A3 is mixed. Balanced. Some strong, some average."
He glanced toward Nille.
"And A2… that's us. Middle tier. Not weak, but not exceptional either. We're still learning control over our spiritual output."
The room went quiet again after that explanation.
The hierarchy wasn't just academic.
It was behavioral.
Personality-based.
Combat identity shaped into sections.
Nille leaned back slightly, processing it.
"So," he said calmly, "A4 would challenge me because I spar with Instructor Takamura?"
The student nodded slowly.
"…Yeah. That's usually how it starts."
Silence followed.
Nille looked down for a moment, thinking, not about fear, but structure.
Then he spoke again, almost to himself.
"So even here… strength creates attention."
No one responded.
But the meaning was clear.
In this academy, even silence had hierarchy.
A sharp notification tone echoed through the classroom speakers, cutting through the lingering tension.
"Attention Class A2."
The students immediately straightened in their seats.
The automated academy voice continued:
"Your instructor for Energy Control and Core Stabilization, Professor Liang Zhenyu, will be absent today due to personal matters."
A brief pause followed.
"Substitute arrangements will be provided. Continue independent review of Module 3: Core Flow Regulation and Output Compression."
" you may all take this free time to train study or do anything you student wish to do, as the next schedule is your lunch break. please be advise to follow Academy rules and Policy"
Then the announcement ended with a soft chime.
The classroom remained quiet for a moment.
Nille tilted his head slightly.
"Energy Control and Core Stabilization…" he repeated under his breath.
The Indian student beside him nodded.
"That's one of the most important subjects," he said quietly. "It teaches how to regulate spiritual output so you don't burn yourself out or lose control during combat."
Another student added, "Professor Liang Zhenyu is strict. Chinese lineage shaman. Very precise with internal energy theory."
Nille absorbed the information silently.
So far, the academy wasn't just about fighting.
It was about control.
Structure.
Sustainability of power.
The scarf activated softly in his awareness.
"Professor Liang Zhenyu," it analyzed. "Origin: Central China. Specialization: Core stabilization theory and energy compression systems. High-level practitioner."
Nille exhaled slowly.
"…So even control has a specialist," he murmured.
The class began to settle again, some students pulling up digital notes, others reviewing past modules.
But the energy in the room had changed once more.
Now it wasn't fear.
Or awe.
It was anticipation.
Because without a teacher present…
They would have to rely on what they already knew.
And for some of them, that wasn't much.
Nille turned slightly toward the female student who had earlier suggested the clinic.
"…About going to the academy merchant," he said. "You mentioned I should speak to someone?"
The girl hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Yeah. If it's about permissions or access inside the academy system, you should talk to Professor Caelum Verdanis," she explained. "He's not just a theory instructor, he also has direct connection to the affiliated merchant administration."
Nille paused briefly.
"…I see."
That aligned with what the professor had already told him.
He gave a small nod.
"Thank you."
The girl blinked slightly, as if not expecting such a direct response, then quickly waved it off.
"It's nothing."
Nille adjusted his posture and stood up.
"I need to step out for a short time," he said calmly. "Some light tasks."
No one objected.
The class was still digesting the earlier spar anyway.
He turned and walked toward the exit.
The scarf activated quietly.
"Route confirmed," it said. "Teachers' Main office and their designated Lounge, Ground Floor. Estimated arrival: three minutes."
Nille moved out of the classroom without hesitation.
Behind him, the students watched as he left.
Only after the door closed did the room shift back into low conversation.
A few eyes lingered on where he had been sitting.
That was when they noticed something.
No bag.
No personal equipment storage.
And his uniform,
still marked with faint dirt, scratches, and battle wear from earlier.
"…He doesn't even have a proper bag?" one student murmured.
Another leaned back slightly.
"Maybe he's just poor."
"Or he just came straight from that spar."
A third student shrugged. "Yeah, makes sense. Of course his uniform's dirty. He literally just fought Instructor Takamura."
The tone wasn't cruel.
But it was assumption.
They saw lack where there was only circumstance.
Meanwhile, Nille continued down the hallway, unaware of their exact words but aware of their general perception.
He turned the corner toward the ground floor elevators.
Ahead of him lay the Teachers' Main Lounge, and whatever explanation Professor Verdanis was about to give regarding his next steps in the academy system.
Nille knocked once on the doorframe of the teachers' main office and slid the door open.
The room beyond was larger than he expected—organized but lived-in, filled with stacked files, floating data panels, and neatly arranged teaching materials. Several instructors were present, gathered in small clusters of discussion.
Most of them were standing.
And all of them were, for some reason, focused around a single person.
Instructor Kaori Takamura.
She stood at the center of the conversation, arms crossed, speaking in her usual direct tone while the other teachers listened with varying degrees of interest and disbelief. Her expression was unchanged—calm, composed—but there was a faint tension in her posture that didn't match her usual certainty.
"…He blocked and redirected at the last moment," she was saying. "Clean timing. No hesitation. He even adjusted mid-impact."
One of the teachers reacted immediately. "And you're saying he actually pushed you back?"
Kaori clicked her tongue lightly.
"Barely," she replied. "But yes."
Another instructor leaned in slightly. "That's a first-year student?"
"Late entry," Kaori corrected. "Five days behind."
That alone made the group pause.
Meanwhile, slightly apart from the group, Professor Caelum Verdanis sat at a desk near the side of the room. Unlike the others, he wasn't engaged in the discussion. He was calmly writing on a digital tablet, marking structured lesson notes and compiling reference material.
Next to him, neatly organized, was a list.
Books.
Pages.
Modules.
Everything Nille needed to catch up on the past five days of Foundations of Spiritual Theory.
No conversation needed.
Just preparation.
He had already accounted for it.
Nille quietly stepped further inside, closing the door behind him.
For a moment, no one noticed him.
The teachers continued speaking.
Kaori was still mid-explanation when Professor Verdanis finally looked up.
His gaze shifted directly to Nille.
And without hesitation, he spoke clearly,
"Nille."
The room went quiet almost instantly.
Heads turned.
The casual discussion broke.
Kaori stopped speaking.
The surrounding instructors slowly redirected their attention.
Professor Verdanis gestured slightly toward his desk, maintaining his calm tone.
"You've arrived," he said. "Good. I've prepared your required reading materials for the last five days. You will find them structured in order of difficulty and relevance."
He tapped the tablet once.
A set of projected files appeared briefly in the air above the desk before locking into a downloadable format.
"Additionally," he added, "your attendance has been formally updated."
Only then did he glance toward the others in the room.
A subtle shift, intentional.
Not just acknowledging Nille.
But redirecting attention away from awkward speculation.
"This is Nille," he said evenly. "The late-entry student assigned to Class A2."
A few instructors nodded slightly, now observing him with clearer context rather than fragmented rumors.
Kaori Takamura's eyes narrowed just slightly as she looked at Nille again, remembering the spar more precisely now that she saw him in this setting.
But she said nothing.
Professor Verdanis then returned his focus to Nille.
"You may proceed with your studies or used your free time, sadly I can only provide you this moment as you can already heard Professor Liang Zhenyu could not attend her class i A2 because she was called by the Admin to investigate something ,"
"If you have further concerns, I can address them now before I continue my scheduled meeting elsewhere," Professor Caelum Verdanis added, closing his tablet with a calm motion.
Nille gave a respectful nod.
"Understood, Professor. I just wanted to ask if you can help me with the affiliated merchant system. I'm planning to conduct a small transaction."
A brief silence followed.
Then Professor Verdanis stood up.
"Perfect timing," he said. "I'm actually heading to the merchant head office now. It's just across the academy building."
The surrounding teachers exchanged quiet glances but said nothing, returning to their own discussions.
Kaori Takamura watched briefly, then turned away, still processing the earlier spar but no longer commenting on it.
Professor Verdanis motioned for Nille to follow.
"Come with me," he said simply.
Nille nodded and stepped beside him as they left the office together.
The corridor outside the teachers' lounge was quieter, more structured than the student halls. Light inscriptions along the walls guided movement automatically, subtly adjusting direction depending on rank clearance.
As they walked, the professor spoke in a steady tone.
"The affiliated merchant system operates under academy oversight," he explained. "It is designed to regulate exchange of core beads, materials, and controlled resources."
Nille listened carefully.
Scarf quietly processed the information alongside him.
"Merchant system classification detected," it added. "Transaction legality tied to academy authority and spiritual resource regulation."
Professor Verdanis continued.
"Since you are a new entry with no established merchant access profile, any transaction must be initialized through an instructor authorization node."
He glanced briefly at Nille.
"That is what we will correct today."
They reached the exit leading toward the academy's outer administrative section.
Beyond the glass doors, the merchant headquarters stood just across a connected walkway, an integrated structure built seamlessly into the academy complex, heavily secured but open to registered personnel.
Professor Verdanis paused for a moment.
"You mentioned a small transaction," he said. "What exactly are you planning to acquire or exchange?"
Nille didn't hesitate.
"Basic supplies," he replied. "And medicinal materials for field use. and sell some items "
The professor nodded once.
"Reasonable."
He stepped forward.
"Then let us proceed. I will handle your entry authorization personally."
And together, they walked toward the affiliated merchant office, where Nille's access to the academy's economy, and everything inside it, was about to begin.
Professor Caelum Verdanis was greeted immediately upon entering the affiliated merchant building. The staff at the reception desk stood with practiced professionalism, bowing slightly as he approached.
He gave a calm nod in return, then gestured toward Nille.
"This is Nille," he said simply. "A new registered student. He will be processing his initial merchant access profile today."
The receptionist—a female elf with features strikingly similar to Professor Verdanis, stepped forward. Her silver-blonde hair was neatly tied into a low braid, and her pointed ears carried small engraved earrings that glowed faintly with data runes. Her eyes were a soft emerald green, sharp but welcoming, like someone accustomed to handling both nobles and newcomers alike.
"Understood, Professor Verdanis," she said politely. "We will assist him with full registration."
Around them, the building felt less like an administrative office and more like a controlled marketplace. Displays of materials, rune-inscribed kiosks, and vendor counters lined the interior. Despite its structured layout, it carried the atmosphere of a modern shopping center, clean, open, and active. Various beings moved through the space: elves, humans, beast-kin, and other mythological races, all operating under the same regulated system.
Nille was guided by staff toward a registration terminal where his documents would be processed.
Professor Verdanis remained nearby, observing quietly.
As they proceeded, a distinct set of footsteps echoed from the side corridor.
Heavy.
Grounded.
A short figure emerged.
He was a dwarf.
Broad-shouldered and sturdy, standing noticeably shorter than most around him but carrying an undeniable presence of authority. His beard was thick and braided into multiple sections, each secured with small metallic rings engraved with forge symbols. His hair was dark brown, streaked with iron-gray, and tied back beneath a reinforced leather cap. His arms were muscular, covered in faint burn scars that spoke of long years spent near forging heat and enchanted metalwork.
He wore a reinforced merchant-forge coat layered over steel-threaded fabric, designed for both trade and craftsmanship.
As he approached, his boots struck the floor with deliberate weight.
"Verdanis," the dwarf called out in a deep, rough voice.
Professor Caelum Verdanis turned slightly.
"Head Merchant Rume," he replied calmly.
The dwarf grinned slightly beneath his beard.
Standing firm, he extended a hand.
"Didn't expect you will come with a guest here today."
Then his eyes shifted briefly toward Nille.
Curious.
Measuring.
Professor Verdanis followed the glance and introduced him properly.
"This is Nille. He is my student, and i accompanied him here today to get processed under initial academy merchant authorization."
The dwarf raised one thick eyebrow.
"Hm."
Then he let out a short approving hum.
"I see."
The dwarf's full presence now became clearer as he stepped closer.
Appearance: A short, heavily built dwarf with deep bronze skin, braided iron-streak beard, rune-carved goggles resting on his forehead, and a forge-marked merchant coat reinforced with enchanted steel stitching. His hands were rough and scarred, but precise, hands that had built and evaluated countless enchanted trade goods.
His voice softened slightly, though still carried weight.
"New blood, huh?" Rume said, looking at Nille again. "Hope he's better at handling value than most of the fresh ones we get."
Nille remained calm.
Observing.
Listening.
Already aware that this wasn't just a marketplace.
It was a system.
And he had just taken his first step into it.
The merchant staff guided Nille deeper into the facility, moving away from the open marketplace-like hall and into a more restricted section of the building.
As they walked, the environment gradually changed.
The open, shopping-center feel faded into something more controlled and structured.
The corridor they entered was wide but quiet, lined with arched stone frameworks reinforced with sleek metallic beams. Ancient architectural design was visible everywhere, arched ceilings, carved stone pillars, and rune-etched wall segments, but seamlessly fused with modern elements like glowing interface panels, automated security glyphs, and smooth sliding doors embedded within medieval-style stone frames.
It felt like stepping into two eras at once.
Medieval craftsmanship layered over futuristic regulation.
The female elf staff member walking beside Nille noticed his observation and spoke calmly.
"To ensure security and prevent unauthorized trading," she explained, "all transactions within the academy-affiliated merchant system are conducted in private rooms like this."
She gestured ahead toward a reinforced door marked with faint glowing sigils.
"Each room is sealed during use. Only registered participants may enter."
The soft glow of the seals pulsed gently as they passed.
"However," she continued, "all transactions are still monitored and recorded by the Rune Forge system. This is for documentation, taxation regulation, and security oversight only."
Nille nodded slightly as he listened.
"So privacy is maintained," he said quietly, "but nothing is truly hidden."
The staff gave a small approving nod.
"Correct."
As they approached the designated room, Nille slowed slightly.
Ahead, Professor Caelum Verdanis and Head Merchant Rume Ironbark were already waiting near the entrance, continuing their brief exchange.
Nille stopped a short distance away.
Then he turned around bowed respectfully.
Not overly deep, but precise, acknowledging both authority and guidance.
"Professor. Head Merchant," he said calmly.
Rume grunted slightly in acknowledgment, while Verdanis gave a simple nod in return.
"Proceed," the professor said.
The staff member opened the sealed door, and it slid apart with a soft mechanical hum mixed with faint rune activation sounds.
Inside was a controlled transaction chamber.
Circular in design, with a central projection table surrounded by layered seating. The walls were reinforced stone fused with transparent rune-glass panels displaying fluctuating market data streams and secure exchange codes. The lighting was soft, neutral, and steady, designed to eliminate distraction and ensure focus during evaluation.
Nille stepped forward.
The door sealed behind him with a quiet thud.
And just like that, he entered the regulated heart of the academy's economy, where every item, every core bead, and every transaction carried weight beyond simple currency.
As they entered the room, the interior opened into a carefully designed circular chamber.
At the center stood a long glass counter table, smooth and reflective, running horizontally like a transaction axis dividing both sides of the room. Behind it, mounted on the curved back wall, was a large monitoring screen displaying layered interfaces, merchant listings, core bead valuations, inventory records, and live security authentication logs.
The rest of the room wrapped around them in a full arc.
Along the circular walls were embedded display alcoves showcasing regulated goods: enchanted weapons resting on magnetic stands, reinforced armor sets with rune stitching, folded combat garments, and sealed artifact containers emitting faint controlled energy pulses. Everything was organized, labeled, and separated by classification tier.
It didn't feel like a shop.
It felt like a controlled ecosystem of value.
The female staff member guided Nille toward the registration station beside the glass counter.
"Before we proceed," she said politely, "you will need your artifact."
Nille blinked slightly.
"…Artifact?"
She gestured toward his pocket.
"Your phone. All academy-issued devices function as your primary access artifact."
Nille pulled it out without hesitation.
The device looked ordinary at first glance, but now that he was paying attention, faint engraved markings along its frame became visible, subtle rune circuits embedded beneath the surface.
He held it up.
The staff pointed to a small upright slot embedded into the counter.
"Please place it here," she instructed. "We will begin your client application and merchant access registration."
Nille stepped forward and slid the device into the slot.
A soft pulse of light spread outward across the counter surface.
He paused for a moment, genuinely impressed.
"…This is more advanced than I expected," he said quietly.
In his mind, the only "applications" he knew before coming here were basic social platforms like Phase-book and video services like U-TUBE. But this system was something else entirely, integrated, layered, and directly connected to identity and authority.
As the system began processing, Nille looked back at the staff member.
"Excuse me," he asked. "If there's a chance I lose my phone… or someone steals it… can I still access the facilities?"
The staff member smiled slightly, as if she had heard this question before.
"Yes," she replied calmly. "All academy-issued artifacts are bound to your lineage signature, in simple terms, your biological identity."
She tapped lightly on the counter interface.
"If the device is lost or destroyed, your data remains intact. Financial records, access permissions, achievements, grades, and ranking data are all securely stored in the island's central system."
Nille nodded slowly, absorbing that.
She continued, her tone still professional but informative.
"There are only about three thousand inhabitants on this island," she added. "It is relatively small, but heavily controlled and fully monitored."
She paused briefly.
"Which is why data integrity here is extremely high."
Nille exhaled softly.
"…So nothing is truly lost," he murmured.
"Correct," she said.
The system interface in front of them shifted again, beginning the next stage of registration.
And for Nille, it was becoming clear,
This wasn't just a school.
It was a fully integrated system of identity, power, and controlled survival.
As the staff scanned Nille's details, the monitoring screen shifted into a deeper verification layer.
Lines of data unfolded across the display—identity markers, academy entry records, spiritual compatibility readings, and transaction eligibility fields.
When his family name appeared, there was a subtle change in the female staff member's aura.
Just for a moment.
A faint pause in her expression.
Nille noticed it immediately.
But he didn't react.
He simply observed.
The staff quickly composed herself, maintaining professional tone as she continued the process.
She looked up at him.
"Please confirm your transaction alias," she asked. "This will be your public identifier for all buying and selling operations within the merchant system."
Nille thought for a moment.
"I will use my student number," he said calmly. "It keeps my identity secure regardless of transactions."
The staff nodded slightly, inputting the selection into the system.
"Understood. Simplicity and privacy-based choice."
The monitor confirmed the entry with a soft chime.
CLIENT REGISTERED: 72119770MERCHANT ALIAS LINKED: STUDENT ID MODEACCESS LEVEL: BASIC AFFILIATED TRADER
She looked at him again.
"So, Client 72119770," she said, now fully in procedural mode, "your registration has been recorded. You may proceed with transactions."
The interface shifted, opening a dual-panel system—buying on one side, selling on the other.
"What will you be buying?"
Nille shook his head slightly.
"Selling first," he said. "I don't have money yet."
The staff nodded without judgment.
"That is acceptable. Many new clients begin that way."
Nille hesitated briefly, then added, "Can I use this system to pay off my debt?"
That question made the staff pause for a fraction of a second.
Not because it was unusual, but because of how direct it was.
She checked the system input fields again.
"Yes," she answered. "Debt repayment can be processed through merchant transactions, provided your earnings are converted into approved currency or resource value."
She gestured toward the interface.
"All verified income from core beads, materials, or sanctioned missions can be automatically allocated toward outstanding balances if you set it as a priority."
A confirmation prompt appeared on the screen:
LINK DEBT REPAYMENT ACCOUNT?
The staff looked at him.
"Would you like to activate automatic debt deduction from future earnings?"
Nille didn't hesitate.
"…Yes," he said.
The system registered the command immediately.
DEBT LINKED TO MERCHANT INCOME STREAMPRIORITY MODE: ACTIVE
The staff gave a small nod.
"Then your account is now fully operational."
She stepped slightly aside, allowing him clearer access to the transaction interface.
"You are now free to begin selling your items."
The system waited.
And for the first time since arriving at the academy, Nille stood in front of something that wasn't a battlefield, a classroom, or a sparring ring, but an economy that would decide how far he could go from here.
Nille reached into his storage access and placed the items onto the glass counter.
One by one, the core beads appeared.
Not a handful.
Not a pouch.
But hundreds.
All 561 of them.
They rolled softly across the glass surface before the counter's containment field activated, preventing them from scattering further. The faint glow of stored spiritual energy filled the transaction chamber like dim floating embers.
The female staff member's expression shifted instantly.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…This many," she murmured, barely audible.
She quickly recovered her professional posture, but her attention remained fixed on the display.
A student, new entry, five days late, no established merchant history, presenting this volume of cores was not normal under any academy intake profile.
But she said nothing.
Regulations were strict.
Staff were not permitted to question source origin during initial intake transactions.
Only process, verify, and report when necessary.
She began scanning immediately.
"Processing core bead valuation," she said calmly. "Level distribution detected… standard malignant class variants confirmed."
The interface began calculating payout values in real time.
Then,
the system paused.
A second layer of detection activated.
The monitor screen flickered.
Her expression changed again, this time sharper, more serious.
Two additional energy signatures had been identified within Nille's stored items.
She looked up slowly.
"…Excuse me," she said, her tone still controlled but noticeably more cautious now. "These two cores…"
She tapped the screen, isolating the readings.
The visual enlarged.
Two dense energy clusters appeared in projection form, far heavier, far more compressed than the rest.
"Chimera-class and Basilisk-class core signatures confirmed," she continued. "Estimated level… 300 range."
The air in the room subtly shifted.
Even the transaction system's background hum seemed to lower slightly, as if reacting to the density of the energy being displayed.
The staff member's eyes remained on the projection.
The smaller cores were manageable.
Standard.
Common within regulated trade systems.
But these,
These were different.
Large, unstable, and classified as high-tier resource objects.
Baseball-sized condensed cores, still carrying residual pressure from their original entities.
She finally exhaled quietly.
"…These require head merchant authorization," she said.
Her hand moved to the communication interface.
"I need to report this to Head Merchant Rume Ironbark immediately before valuation or approval can proceed."
She paused briefly, then added more carefully:
"The standard cores are not an issue."
Her eyes shifted back to the projection of the two large cores.
"But these two… must be handled under restricted high-tier processing protocol."
The system confirmed her report request.
ALERT SENT: HEAD MERCHANT AUTHORIZATION REQUIREDITEM CLASSIFICATION: HIGH-TIER CORE ENTITY (LEVEL 300+)
She looked back at Nille.
Her tone remained professional, but now slightly more serious.
"Please wait while we process approval."
The chamber grew quiet again.
And for the first time since entering the merchant facility, Nille's transaction had moved beyond simple trade, into restricted-grade academy economic protocol.