The cafeteria was alive, buzzing like a hive. Steam rose from enchanted trays, the scent of roasted mana beast meat mixing with sharp herbs and sweet fruits that glowed faintly on porcelain plates. Students crowded every corner, voices overlapping in waves of laughter, gossip, and clashing ambitions.
I sat by the wide window, sunlight painting lazy patterns across my tray. It was piled with food, but I poked at it more than I ate. Extras didn't belong in the center of things; extras stayed out of sight and got through the day without trouble.
Eyes, of course, drifted toward the brightest flame in the room Doldrin Vanns. He laughed with his girls, every move smooth, natural, as if the world had chosen him to be the focus.
Around him sat the heroines.
Aleah Rex, the spark of the group, had golden blonde curls that caught the light whenever she turned her head. Her amber eyes were bright, playful, alive in a way that pulled people in. Freckles dusted her cheeks, softening her beauty with warmth. She was the kind of girl who could make trouble look like fun.
Jane Denver was her opposite quiet, composed, hair sleek and black, tied neatly into a ponytail. A few loose strands framed her pale face, and behind silver-rimmed glasses, her blue eyes carried a sharp, calm focus. She looked like she could dismantle the world piece by piece and write it down in her notebook.
Hannah Caleson leaned back in her chair, short red curls brushing her ears. Her brown eyes held a relaxed sort of strength, and small scars ran along her arms earned, not inherited. Practical, unpolished, but there was a comfort in the way she carried herself.
And then there was Grace Navier. She sat straight, every movement precise. Ash-blonde hair fell smoothly to her mid-back, her clothes crisp, her shoes polished. Pale grey eyes observed everything without hurry. She didn't need to speak to draw attention her presence alone commanded it.
I glanced at them all, then at Doldrin in the middle, golden boy shining brighter than the sun.
"Lucky bastard… all of his girls are damn hot and beautiful. Shall I steal them or what?" I thought, smirking faintly before shaking my head. Just a stupid thought. Extras didn't steal heroines. Extras didn't even get noticed.
That's when the whispers started.
"Wait, is that Nox?" someone murmured from the next table. "No way… he used to look like a broomstick with eyes. "Look at him now. Shoulders… face… is that really him?"
I blinked, glancing toward the glass window beside me. My reflection caught me off guard. The face staring back wasn't the awkward one I remembered. My jaw looked sharper, my shoulders broader, my frame no longer frail but steady, strong. And then there was the hair white, almost silver, spilling messily across my forehead, catching the sunlight like frost. But what stopped me cold were the eyes. One burned deep indigo, steady and weighty, while the other shimmered sky-blue, restless and bright. They didn't look like they belonged to me.
"…Huh." I leaned closer, squinting at the reflection. "That's me?"
It felt strange, almost like seeing a better-drawn version of myself. An upgraded version. I didn't really understand it. I didn't feel different inside still the same bumpkin, still the extra who shouldn't be noticed.
I let out a small laugh at the absurdity of it. Maybe too loud. The sound carried through the cafeteria, and suddenly everything went still.
Aleah's mouth parted slightly. Jane's pen slipped from her hand. Hannah paused mid-bite, eyes narrowing but curious. Grace's cup stopped halfway to her lips, her calm grey eyes fixed on me.
Dozens of other students stared too.
"…?" I tilted my head, confused. "What's with them?"
I didn't get it. I hadn't done anything. Maybe my laugh sounded weird? I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly, then muttered to myself, "Better not cause a scene."
Sliding my tray aside, I stood. Every step I took through the tables felt heavier than it should've. Heads turned. Eyes followed. I thought it was my imagination extras didn't draw attention. Still, whispers chased me all the way to the door.
"Oh man… they really are staring." I sighed under my breath. "Maybe I spilled sauce on my shirt or something."
The cafeteria doors opened with a soft creak, and I slipped out into the quieter hallways of Universitix. The noise dimmed behind me, replaced by the steady hum of enchanted lanterns. I leaned against the wall, exhaling.
"…Still starving though. Great job, Nox, you forgot to finish your food."
Shaking my head at myself, I pushed off the wall and started toward the dorms, pretending nothing had happened.
The halls were mostly empty this time of day, the air carrying only the faint echo of boots and laughter from somewhere far off. My own steps seemed too loud. I shoved my hands into my pockets and kept my head low, just another student heading back to his dorm. Nothing special.
By the time I reached my door, the noise of the academy had dulled into silence. I slipped inside and let the door click shut behind me. The room greeted me with the faint smell of parchment and the soft lavender of the cleaning wards. My bed was a mess, blankets half-hanging, and the enchanted cushion floated patiently in the corner like it had been waiting for me.
I dropped onto it with a long sigh, stretching out my legs. "Alright… so today was weird," I muttered, staring up at the ceiling. "First I scare the cafeteria with a laugh, then people keep staring like I've got horns on my head."
Rolling over, I caught my reflection again in the small mirror propped against the wall. My brow furrowed. It was still me, but sharper like someone had taken a rough sketch and gone over it with careful strokes, filling in all the parts I thought didn't matter. I didn't feel different, but I couldn't deny the change.
"Don't know what happened to me, but… I'll just take it as a blessing. Thanks, goddess, I guess," I said under my breath, half-joking, half-serious.
I reached for the small notebook I'd started keeping since enrollment. The cover was worn already, pages full of scribbled names, notes, and half-thoughts. I flipped through them, eyes landing on the same names again Doldrin Vanns, Aleah Rex, Jane Denver, Hannah Caleson, Grace Navier.
"Top of the story, huh?" I whispered. "The hero and his heroines."
Doldrin was easy to figure out. Too kind for his own good, the type who'd help strangers carry their bags or stand up for someone weaker. That was why the girls were drawn to him not just looks, but the way he acted without hesitation.
I rubbed the back of my neck, frowning. "Lucky guy. Though honestly… clueless as hell."
My pen hovered above the page. A thought crossed my mind.Could I take his edge away? The hidden weapons, the special equipment that's supposed to help him later…
For a second, I pictured it. Stealing those legendary items, slipping them into my possession without anyone knowing. It would be easy if I wanted to.
But then I shook my head. "No. No point. I don't even understand what I'm capable of yet. Stealing his stuff would just make me the villain."
Closing the noteX, I leaned back into the cushion, letting it cradle me. The dorm was quiet, the academy outside shifting into evening. My hands rested over my chest, faintly glowing with that strange energy again.
"What am I even supposed to do here?" I asked the empty room. "I'm not the hero. I'm not meant to be famous. I'm just… me. An extra."
The word lingered in the air, heavy but not crushing.
Still, the thought returned if the world really was heading toward disaster, if monsters, wars, or gods themselves showed up, could I really just sit back and do nothing?
"…No," I admitted quietly. "If it comes down to it, I'll help. Even if they never know it was me."
I smiled faintly, pulling the blanket toward me. "Until then, I'll just live however I want. Watch. Learn. Survive. That's enough."
For now, I was just another ordinary student at Universitix. And that was exactly how I wanted it.
The cushion sighed beneath my weight, warm and soft. My eyelids grew heavy, thoughts slowing as if the world itself urged me to rest. For the first time since arriving here, I let go.
Sleep came an instant.
Shadows drifted across my mind, vague shapes laughter, battle cries, the shimmer of steel. A voice whispered, too faint to understand, like a thread of music carried by the wind.
When I reached for it, the dream dissolved.
Light stabbed at my eyes. I groaned, rolling over like a corpse that hadn't agreed to wake up. The sun was merciless, slipping through the enchanted curtains no matter how tightly they'd been drawn.
"Morning is cruel," I muttered, dragging myself up. My reflection in the mirror didn't help either hair sticking up in every possible direction, eyes half-closed, mouth dry like I'd been chewing sand in my sleep. Godlike face or not, mornings didn't care.
I slapped my cheeks lightly. "Wake up, Nox. You're not a hero, but at least try to look like one."
The dorm corridors buzzed faintly with footsteps and chatter students already on their way to breakfast, some carrying tomes, others yawning like me. Universitix didn't wait for anyone.
I tugged on my uniform and stumbled out, muttering to myself as I walked."If I don't get food in me soon, I'm gonna start eating textbooks. Maybe they taste like chicken."
By the time I reached the cafeteria, the place was already filling. The smell of mana beast stew hit me in the face and nearly made me cry tears of joy.
But then the stares came back.
Whispers and Glances. Some students even straight-up froze with spoons halfway to their mouths. I frowned, rubbing my chin. "…Do I have something on my face? No, wait… did I forget pants?"
I glanced down. Nope, pants were on. Good.
I scratched my head, forcing a laugh. "What's wrong with people in the morning? Did they all drink expired mana milk or something?"
I grabbed a tray, stacked it with food like a man preparing for war, and made my way to a corner table. If they wanted to stare, fine. I just wanted breakfast.
I dropped my tray on the corner table like it was treasure. Bread, stew, roasted meat, a mountain of fruit that glowed faintly enough to feed a small army. I clasped my hands together, whispered a quick, "Thank you, goddess, for not letting me starve," and dug in.
The first spoonful of stew hit my tongue and I nearly wept."Sweet heavens above… this isn't food. This is salvation."
I chewed like a man possessed, not caring about anything else. Somewhere behind me, chairs scraped, laughter rang out, whispers floated but none of it mattered. My stomach ruled my world now.
At least, until a spoon clattered near the next table.
"Did you see him yesterday?" a girl hissed in a whisper that wasn't much of a whisper. "Nox, I swear he—he doesn't even look human anymore."
Another voice chimed in, doubtful. "Come on, he's still Nox. That guy once tripped over his own pants in combat class. People don't just… turn into gods overnight."
"Then explain that," the first one said, and I heard a finger point.
I froze with half a piece of glowing melon hanging out of my mouth. Slowly, I turned my head. Sure enough, a cluster of students were staring at me like I'd sprouted angel wings.
I swallowed, forced a grin, and raised my spoon in greeting. "Morning."
They blinked. A few blushed. One actually dropped her fork.
"…What?" I muttered under my breath. "Do I have stew on my face again?" I wiped my mouth furiously, but no, clean. Perfectly clean.
I shook my head and went back to eating. "Weirdos."
But then, a too-familiar laugh drifted over from the central table.
Doldrin Vanns. Of course. Surrounded by his heroines, golden boy shining like the sun itself.
I tried not to look. I really did. But my ears had a mind of their own.
"Doldrin, you didn't have to stay after class yesterday," Aleah Rex was saying, her curls bouncing as she leaned closer. "Those first-years were fine."
"Of course I did," Doldrin replied warmly. "Everyone deserves a fair chance to learn. Besides, their mana control was all over the place. Someone had to help them."
I stuffed a whole piece of bread in my mouth before I gagged on the sweetness of his voice.
"Lucky bastard," I thought, glaring down at my stew. "Surrounded by beautiful girls, helping children, probably cures diseases with his smile. Meanwhile, I can't even eat breakfast without looking like I stole someone's crown."
Jane Denver's calm voice cut through. "Still, it's unusual. The cafeteria yesterday… everyone froze. Because of him."
My ears perked. Wait. Were they talking about… me?
Hannah Caleson snorted. "You're imagining things. Nox? Please. The guy's about as threatening as a loaf of bread."
Ouch. True, but ouch.
Then Grace Navier's voice, low and steady: "No. Something about him has changed. I saw it too."
I almost choked on my stew.
"Wait, wait, wait," I thought, gripping my spoon. "They noticed? All of them? No, no, no. Bad. Very bad. Extras don't get noticed. Extras don't become topics at the protagonist's table!"
I ducked my head lower, shoving food into my mouth as if invisibility could be achieved through chewing fast enough.
I hunched over my tray like a starving raccoon guarding trash. If I just ate fast enough, maybe everyone would forget I existed.
My spoon clinked against the bowl too loud. A few heads turned. I coughed. Pretended it wasn't me. Then my fork slipped and stabbed the table instead of the meat.
Now the whole row of students was staring.
"…Great," I muttered, face burning. "This is how legends are born. The guy who killed a table with a fork."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aleah leaning close to Doldrin, whispering behind her hand. But her eyes her eyes weren't on him. They were on me.
Jane adjusted her glasses, calm but obvious, stealing glances between bites. Hannah, ever blunt, just stared outright, one brow raised like I was a puzzle she wanted to solve. And Grace… Grace didn't even bother hiding it. Her grey eyes followed me, steady as if waiting for me to slip up again.
My brain short-circuited.
"Oh hell nah they're looking right at me nope nope nope."
I shoved an entire piece of glowing fruit in my mouth. Bad idea. It burst like lightning, mana surging down my throat. My eyes watered, my ears rang, and the next thing I knew—
"Hhkk—pffft!"
I spat half of it into my tissue, coughing so hard the whole cafeteria went dead silent. Dozens of stares. Forks frozen midair. A spoon clattering to the floor. And me? Red-faced, choking on fruit like it was my natural predator. I raised a hand weakly, forcing out a hoarse laugh. "Hah… wrong pipe." Silence. Then murmurs.
"…Even choking looks good on him?"
"Is that really Nox?"
"Since when was he—"
I couldn't take it anymore. I grabbed my tray, bolted upright, and muttered, "Excuse me, gotta… uh… urgent thing, yeah."
The doors banged open as I fled, whispers chasing after me.
By the time I reached my dorm, I collapsed face-first onto the bed. My heart was still racing.
"…What the hell was that?" I groaned into the sheets. "Can't even eat breakfast without turning into a spectacle. What's next, tripping over my own shadow?"
I flipped onto my back, staring at the ceiling. My reflection from yesterday still burned in my head that sharper, godlike version of me I didn't understand.
"I don't know what happened to me, but I just became like this after I fell asleep," I muttered. "Maybe it's a blessing from the goddess or some cosmic prank. Whatever."
I laughed to myself, shaking my head while I thought. I think I'm slowly becoming a lunatic f*ck those gazes!
The laugh echoed louder than I meant, and for a moment, I remembered the stunned faces in the cafeteria. Everyone staring like I was some crap.
"…Hah. Idiots," I said, covering my face with an arm. "I'm just Nox. a human like you. Nothing special."
But deep down, a traitorous thought whispered. Then why are they looking at you like you're more than that? I shut my eyes and groaned. "Ugh. Whatever. I'll just live however I want. Watch and Learn then Survive. I guess That's enough for me."
And for the rest of the morning, I pretended I wasn't the most talked-about guy at Universitix.