The first light of dawn crept slowly into the room, slipping through enchanted curtains that shifted their shade as the sun rose.
Pale golden beams stretched across polished marble, scattering faint reflections from the crystal inlays carved into the walls as a soft chime of Alfred's AI voice broke through the quiet serene silence.
{ Wake up Adam it's morning approximately 7 AM, you have your first class at approximately 10 AM. }
A small groan was heard when the AI voice chimed in.
"Thanks Alfred."
{ No problem }
Adam stirred.
The soft sheets rustled as Adam blinked against the light, his lashes trembling. When his eyes opened fully, the glow of the morning caught them, silver irises tinged faintly with violet, like starlight bound inside.
He lay still for a moment, the weight of silence pressing around him. His breathing was steady, his chest rising and falling with the unhurried rhythm.
"It's finally time for my first class at the academy" Adam soft making a slight yawn.
"Let's get to it then."
Adam finally sat up, his hair spilled down in silvery waves, it was streaked with strands of violet that were shimmering faintly on their own, even while surrounded in shadow.
He lifted his hand to push them aside, the movement was languid but yet precise, it was like the world around him was never rushing him.
The room he was in was vast, and it was larger than any chamber he had been in before coming to the academy.
Shelved were lined with untouched times that filled another, their glided spined were glowing faintly. The very furniture was carved in oak, polished to perfection, embroidered with the fabrics that were imported from distant kingdoms.
Even the very air felt different, purified by wards made by runes and magic that created technology that was powered by mana, carrying only the faint scent of lavender and parchment.
"I could get used to this, being an Apex has its perks"
It was luxury. comfort. Power.
But for Adam, it was merely a place for him to feel comfortable while he grew stronger in the academy.
He then swung his legs over the side of his bed, the world marble greeting his bare feet.
He closed his eyes and then inhaled deeply, letting his mana circulate.
It was an instinct now, probably thanks to his new physique that passively absorbed mana.
A quiet pulse that flowed from his core outward, steady and serene. The threads of energy brushed against the edges of his senses, brushed against the edges of his very senses, reminding him if their weight. Of what he was.
"Let's get this day started" he muttered to himself, his voice was low, almost lost in the very hush of the suite.
The events that occured last night flickered through his mind: The entrance ceremony, his speech, Kael's confrontation, and the endless faces of his peers, nobles and teachers. And the very whispers that always followed him everywhere.
"That silver hair..."
"Those violet strands..."
"Isn't he the...?"
He has heard them all, but he ignored them since it was going to be this way from now on. Their speculation meant nothing. His path wasn't even there's to define.
Rising to his feet, he then crossed to the wardrobe. The academy uniform of the apex waited and was neatly pressed.
He pulled it in, fastening the buttons. The crest rested on his chest, having the emblem of the Silford Academy, a sun entwined with a crescent moon.
He adjusted his cuffs, the faint shimmer of his hair caught again in the mirror.
A soft knock came at the door, breaking the stillness. He didn't move immediately, he just only glanced at the sound. Then another knock following, this one was more hesitant.
"Are you awake yet?" A muffed voice called. It was urgent, just curious, almost playful.
He just sighed faintly, pulling on the last piece of the uniform.
The hallway beyond him was quiet, filled with the faint hum of morning mana wards.
There was no one who stood there now, just the fading echo of retreating footsteps. Whoever it was at the door hadn't waited for him.
He the just decided to step out anyway, letting the door automatically close behind him.
The academy stretched endlessly around him, and it's halls were lined with glowing runes that kit the corridors in soft azure light.
The floors were carved if granite that streaked with silver veins, that were polished so smooth they reflected his image faintly.
There were portraits of ancient heroes hung between the tall windows, their painted gazes following as he walked.
Some of them bore weapons, the others had books or scrolls, their eyes were sharp, their stances were resolute. The legacy of the awakened who had once carved history itself.
Adam moved quietly, his hands were in his coat pockets, his pace was unhurried.
Around him, the was the murmur of the other first-years grew as more spilled into the halls.
Groups were clustered together, chatting nervously or laughing too loudly to mask their tension.
Some glanced at him, the whispers sparking once more.
"Is that him?"
"Look at that hair, there's no mistaking it"
"Do you think he's—?"
He just ignored them, as he always did.
The academy of the inner courtyard opened ahead, bathed in golden light.
Gardens stretched in ordered patterns, hedges trimmed into spirals and flowers were blooming in unnatural brilliance, sustained by the mana rich soil.
Fountains carved in dragon shapes poured endless streams of crystal water into wide pools that shimmered faintly with enhancements.
He then passed briefly at the edge, his gaze rising to the spires that dominated the skyline.
Silford Academy crowned with towers of marble and gold, it's roofs tiled in shimmering blue that caught the morning sun.
From every arch balcony, banners hung proudly, bearing the Academy's crest.
The sound of bells rang through the air, deep and resonant, signaling the beginning of the first true day.
Adam the exhaled slowly, the faintest trace of a smile ghosting his lips
So it begins
With just a turn, he continued in towards the academic wing, the faint hum of mana that was in the air growing stronger with every step.
The path ahead was lined with runes carved deep into the stone, each one of them humming faintly, a reminder that even here, safety was just a luxury, one that was built up in layers of magic
The Class S room waited, along with the others. And perhaps, answers that have always clouded his mind ever since he came to this world.