Dorm life wasn't exactly loud, but it wasn't quiet either.
The hallway outside my room carried a constant mix of footsteps, voices, slamming doors, and the occasional argument about stolen food. Nothing dramatic—just normal student noise. Annoying, sure, but nothing compared to the chaos of the slums.
My room became my retreat long before the day was over.
Not because I hated people.
I just didn't see a reason to waste energy on unnecessary conversation.
I dropped onto the chair by the window, pulled out the tablet the Academy issued, and started reviewing the material from earlier classes. Even the basic stuff was useful. Half the students didn't care about the history, but I did. The more I understood the world, the better I could navigate it.
Besides… studying was easier than talking.
Across the hall, a group shouted while playing some kind of mana-based board game. Someone won, someone lost, and someone loudly complained about cheating. I ignored them and kept reading.
A soft knock hit my door.
I didn't move at first.
Maybe they were knocking on the wrong room.
Another knock.
I opened it a crack.
A tall guy from earlier stood outside holding a stack of papers.
"Oh. Uh… C-11, right? The instructor said some students forgot the assignment sheet."
I took the paper. "Thanks."
He hesitated, like he expected more conversation. I didn't give him any.
"Alright, uh… see you tomorrow," he said.
"Yeah."
I closed the door.
Not rude. Just efficient.
People always seemed to expect a certain reaction—small talk, friendliness, shared excitement. I didn't have the energy for that. Not after everything I'd been through.
I didn't dislike them.
I just didn't trust easily.
Not yet.
I read the assignment. Basic theory questions. Easy.
My stomach growled.
Right—dinner.
The cafeteria was still open, so I grabbed something simple: rice, vegetables, and some kind of mana-infused meat that tasted way better than it should for school food.
I sat at an empty table again. A few people looked for open seats but chose other places. Perfect.
Afterward, I walked the perimeter of the dorm building out of habit. Not training—just observing. Studying the layout. Emergency exits. Blind corners. Patterns in guard rotations.
Old habits stick, even when I'm supposed to be safe.
When I finally went back to my room, the hallway was quieter. Lights dimmed automatically to a cool blue glow. Some students were still awake, laughing under their breath. Others were already asleep.
I stretched out on the bed.
Tomorrow was the Mana Capacity Test.
Finally something practical. Something that mattered.
I wasn't expecting to rank high.
I wasn't expecting to impress anyone.
I just needed to see where I stood.
The Academy didn't feel threatening, but it didn't feel harmless either. This place judged everything—strength, potential, discipline.
And I didn't intend to fall behind.
I exhaled and closed my eyes.
No grand purpose.
No destiny.
Just the next step.
Survival, but cleaner.
Progress, but slow.
For once, I was living a life that didn't require watching my back every second.
Even if I didn't trust it completely…
I could get used to this.