Reis woke with difficulty, his head heavy and the dizziness refusing to leave.
He remained lying down for a few moments, staring at the ceiling as he tried to remember where he was, then slowly turned toward the window.
A gray sky hung outside, the light filtering through faintly, and the clock showed eight thirty in the morning.
He had thirty minutes before classes began at the academy.
He rose slowly and sat at the edge of the bed.
His hand ran through his hair before he stood and walked to the bathroom.
Cold water splashed across his face. He picked up his toothbrush and began to brush slowly.
When he lifted his head toward the mirror, he noticed the dark circles beneath his eyes and the exhaustion that had not faded. His gaze was tired, detached.
Reis thought: "Am I still this exhausted from fighting the guardian?", He was not sure, but he felt the fatigue had never truly left his body since that battle.
He lingered for a moment in front of the mirror, then stepped back into his room.
He dressed fully in the academy's black uniform. The fabric was snug and precisely tailored, giving him a sharp, clean look, and the polished black shoes added a certain weight to his presence.
Around his wrist was a black watch with golden hands and numbers, gleaming faintly, looking far more expensive than what his rank at the academy should allow.
He stood still, studying his reflection for a moment. His features were unchanged. His black hair fell neatly over his eyes, cut with precision. His gaze was empty, dark, and cold.
In his memory, he recalled he was a student of Class E in the first year.
The academy divided its students by performance and ability, from Class S at the top to Class F at the bottom.
The evaluation depended on theoretical results, field training, and each student's ability to face the challenges of the Black Tower.
Reis opened the drawer beside his bed, grabbed his phone and a small candy, and bit into it quickly.
He picked up his bag, slung it over his right shoulder, and stepped out of the room with slow, quiet steps.
The hallway stretched long before him. His footsteps echoed against the walls as other students began emerging from their rooms.
Some chatted. Others laughed. The air was alive with movement.
Reis spoke to no one. His eyes were fixed ahead, his left hand buried in his pocket.
As he walked, he noticed a few girls exchanging glances and soft smiles when he passed by, but he neither stopped nor turned to acknowledge them.
His calm expression and lack of interest made him seem as though he saw no one at all.
His face remained still. His voice remained silent. The only thing he truly felt was the headache that would not fade and the faint dizziness that had followed him since waking.
He stepped out into the wide courtyard reserved for first year students.
The place was buzzing with noise. Voices overlapped. Movements blurred. New faces crowded every corner.
Reis walked in a straight line without glancing around. All he wanted was to reach his classroom building without delay.
He passed by a group of students in golden and white uniforms, the colors of the upper classes. Among them was a girl who drew attention with every word she spoke.
Reis did not care. He continued on, murmuring to himself: "Clothes alone don't mean anything".
He reached the main building for the first year students and climbed the stairs to the second floor, where Class E was located.
The hallways were filled with movement.
Some students were laughing. Others carried papers and books. The air was loud and restless.
When he entered the classroom, most of the seats were already taken. Students were engaged in scattered conversations.
He chose a seat near the window in the second to last row. He placed his bag on the desk and sat quietly.
The classroom was arranged in a gentle slope like a small lecture hall. Desks were lined up neatly in descending rows facing the board.
Reis leaned back in his chair, his hands tucked in his pockets, his gaze drifting out the window.
Outside, the sky remained gray. The same dull light he had seen since morning hung over everything.
Inside him, there was no trace of excitement.
The academy had long ceased to mean anything more than a daily routine.
Everyone around him was chasing advancement, fighting to climb, striving to stand out. He alone questioned whether any of it held meaning.
He remembered what some students had said about the first year classes.
The upper classes received special treatment, intensive training, and the attention of skilled instructors. The lower classes had to prove their worth on their own or remain where they were until they withered away.
He also remembered that the academy cared nothing for the students' feelings. It cared only for results. Those who failed were cast aside.
Those who succeeded rose. The rest were forgotten.
Reis remained silent, his gaze lost beyond the glass. The noise around him meant nothing.
For a brief moment, he thought about leaving the academy, about walking away from all of this rigid system.
But he did not move. He whispered softly: "I don't know if staying here will help, but there's nowhere else to go".
He raised his head slightly and looked at the rows of filled seats ahead. Students talked and laughed. They discussed exams, clan wars, and the rewards that awaited them.
He was the only one not part of any conversation. He pulled his old, worn phone from his pocket.
The screen showed no notifications. No messages. Nothing.
He slid it back into his pocket and leaned his head farther against the backrest, his eyes half closed.
The minutes passed slowly. He was not waiting for anything. He was only waiting for time itself.
When the bell finally rang, he did not move.
He let out a quiet breath, opened his eyes briefly, and whispered in a voice no one could hear: "Another day.. just like yesterday".