Omniphage of Apathy

The newly ranked students of the Fifth to the Seventh Enlightenment were herded into an expansive hall with vaulted ceilings that seemed to touch the heavens.

The hall's grandeur was overwhelming.

Vastarael, his mask still firmly in place, scanned the room with ease. Chainless stayed close to him, her wolf cub nestled in her arms, its wide eyes darting curiously around the room. The other students eyed her with mild confusion, unsure of her presence but unwilling to ask questions.

A sudden pulse of energy rippled through the room, silencing the murmurs. The massive double doors at the front of the hall opened with a resounding boom and a figure stepped forward.

The man was nothing short of extraordinary. Dressed in flowing white robes adorned with shimmering symbols that glowed faintly, his black skin glittered like the night sky, tiny white specks resembling stars scattered across its surface. His striking green irises gleamed with authority and wisdom as he surveyed the room.

It was Natas, the History Omniscient.

Vastarael's eyes narrowed behind his mask. While the rest of the students marveled at the presence of the so-called Primemaster, the principal of Minafallen, he alone recognized Natas's true identity. The power emanating from the man was unmistakable.

"Welcome, students of the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Enlightenment. You stand here today because you have proven yourselves worthy through trials of grit, intellect and strength to join Minafallen Academy. This institution has no need for grand introductions, for its reputation precedes it. You know why you are here and what it means to walk these halls."

He clasped his hands behind his back and began to pace slowly.

"This academy is more than just a place of learning. It is a crucible. Here, you will be forged into something greater. But understand this. Every step you take here is earned, not given. Your rank may dictate where you stand today, but it is not fixed. Prove yourself and you can rise. Fail, and you will fall."

The room was deathly silent, every student hanging onto his words.

"Your journey begins today," he continued. "Fight. Grow. And remember this. The academy does not tolerate mediocrity. Excellence is not a choice. It is a requirement."

With that, he turned and walked back toward the massive doors.

"May the stars guide your paths."

The second the doors closed behind him, a buzz of murmurs erupted in the hall. The students barely had time to process his words before academy staff appeared, efficiently dividing them into groups and guiding them toward their respective dormitories.

One of the staff members approached Vastarael, eyeing Chainless with a quizzical expression.

"Your... maid," he said uncertainly, clearly unsure of her presence. "She will be housed separately with the academy's other assistants. Is that acceptable, Prince of Anqerise?"

Vastarael nodded smoothly, his mask concealing any flicker of emotion.

"It's acceptable."

He turned to Chainless, meeting her gaze directly.

"You'll be fine. Stay with them and I'll find you once things settle. Hang out with Iona and Lais. They understand the Xinoraci rune language so you should be able to talk to them."

Chainless hesitated for a moment, clutching the wolf cub closer to her chest. But when he gave her a subtle nod, she relaxed and nodded in return.

Satisfied, the staff member gestured for Chainless to follow. She glanced back at Vastarael one last time before disappearing with the group.

Now alone, Vastarael was led to the dormitory, a towering structure carved from sleek black stone that seemed to hum faintly with energy.

As he was shown to his quarters, Vastarael allowed himself a rare moment of reflection. The first day at Minafallen Academy had only just begun and already the stakes were rising.

The test took four days but to the present, it was instantaneous.

°°°°°°

Vastarael stood in the center of his dorm, slowly taking in every detail of the space that surrounded him. The faint hum of the academy's energy coursed through the walls, but it was the uncanny familiarity of the room that left him slightly stunned.

"Wow. When the academy asked for details about my room before I came, I didn't think they'd actually replicate everything down to the finest detail."

It was as though he had stepped into a slice of his home back in Anqerise. The dorm consisted of four distinct rooms.

A cozy living room with plush furniture and a low, glass-topped table.

A functional yet elegant kitchen outfitted with sleek, rune-embedded appliances.

A master bedroom adorned with deep blue and sapphire tones reminiscent of his family colors with a bathroom with an attached shower, designed with water-flow patterns etched into the tiles that seemed to shimmer faintly under the light.

A guest bedroom that radiated warmth and hospitality and has a shower and washroom as well.

And a spare washroom for guests.

He let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "I guess when they say this academy spares no expense, they mean it."

His gaze drifted toward the kitchen and a faint smile tugged at his lips. Thanks to his mother, Lysameria, he had picked up the art of cooking delicacies, a skill that had served him well more than once during his moments in the palace kitchen. Curious, he opened one of the cabinets and began inspecting the contents.

He froze for a moment, then let out a quiet laugh of amazement. The ingredients stored within were both familiar and utterly alien. The staples were all there—vegetables, meats, grains—but their appearances were bizarrely different.

A vegetable resembling a carrot was twice the size. A fruit that looked suspiciously like an apple was pitch black with tiny flecks of silver, its surface cold to the touch. The grains, neatly stored in jars, ranged from deep crimson to gold. It was a contrast to the plain browns he was used to on Earth.

"Same function," he muttered to himself, holding up a bundle of leafy greens that radiated a faint golden glow, "but completely different in color, size, and even... texture?"

The realization made him grin. Cooking here might be even more enjoyable than back home.

Home...

Yes, he had already integrated with his life as Vastarael Richinaria, not Veneri, a weak human on Earth.

He placed the greens back on the counter and ran his fingers along the smooth surface of the rune-inscribed cutting board.

As he explored the kitchen further, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. Despite everything that happened for four days, this room grounded him. It reminded him of simpler times, of home, of his family, of the rare moments when the burdens of divinity and fate had felt distant.

With a deep breath, he closed the cabinet and made his way to the living room. He explored it for a while, admiring the couches and the holographic television too, which he never knew existed.

[This place is pretty good.]

"I know right?"

In his bedroom, he saw his suitcases on top of his massive bed. Even a lovely study desk was stationed close to the window overlooking Minafallen City. The academy was a city after all.

Vastarael leaned against the wide glass window of his dormitory, gazing at the sprawling academy grounds far below. From this vantage point, he could see the lush greenery of the training fields, the glimmering rooftops of other dormitories, and the grand spires of Minafallen's main halls piercing the sky.

It was clear now. He was on the highest floor of the dormitory, a section reserved exclusively for the Seventh Enlightenment students. Every inch of the space screamed luxury and exclusivity, from the engraved doors to patterns glowing softly on the walls. For someone who had spent the last four days trudging through mud, fighting monsters and humans, and facing existential tests, this supreme lifestyle was almost surreal.

He stretched lazily, allowing himself a moment to relish in the comfort.

"So this is what it feels like to live the academy high life."

But the brief respite couldn't mask the itchiness of his skin. Four days without a proper bath, drenched in blood, sweat, and rain, it was starting to weigh on him. He wrinkled his nose and headed toward the bathroom. The sound of running water was a promise he couldn't resist.

"Phaenora, turn away or something. I need to shower. It's been four days and while the rain masked some of it, I reek. My Boon is really helpful. Everything about me looked good."

A pause.

[Huh? Turn away? I'm inside you!]

He froze mid-step, his mind tripping over the implications of her words. His face contorted, first in confusion, then in embarrassment.

"Phaenora... I—what do you mean, inside me? That... That sounds wrong. Extremely wrong. Choice of words please."

[Oh, please. Don't make this awkward. I'm part of your being, Veneri. You're carrying me. I'm not watching you or anything.]

Still, Vastarael wasn't convinced. He pinched the bridge of his nose, the heat rising to his cheeks.

"Just... shut off or deactivate or... I don't know, go dormant or something. You can do that, right?"

[Dormant? What do you think I am, a machine? I'm a living entity—]

She began, only to stop herself mid-sentence. She seemed to realize how far down the conversational rabbit hole they had gone.

[Fine. Let me rephrase. I'll sever the telepathic link temporarily. But I'm doing this for my own peace of mind, not yours.]

Vastarael rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smirk tugging at his lips.

"Yeah, sure. Let's go with that."

After some light grumbling from Phaenora's end, the telepathic link quieted and for the first time in what felt like days, there was complete silence in his mind. Vastarael let out a relieved breath.

He stepped into the bathroom, the soft glow of enchanted tiles lighting the space. As he tapped the knob twice, a stream of warm water cascaded down from a rune-etched showerhead, releasing a light mist into the air.

The first drops hit his skin and he sighed deeply, feeling the grime of his recent trials wash away. Even if Phaenora's presence could occasionally be exasperating, moments like these reminded him of the few luxuries his unpredictable life afforded.

As he leaned against the cool tile, his thoughts began to wander. Phaenora might not have meant her earlier comment in the way he interpreted it, but the sheer awkwardness of it was going to stick with him for days.

"Inside me. Seriously, let's just hope that people in this world never understand what it means..."