Reality's Beholder

They finished lunch in a somewhat chatty yet awkward atmosphere—awkward, mainly because Owen was the one doing most of the talking. Adam occasionally chimed in, but Levi remained conspicuously silent.

"Welp, let's get going. It's almost time for class," Owen announced, stretching before rising from his seat.

The last period of the day was the profession class. Among the major professions, Alchemy, Artificing, and Exploration stood out. Other paths, such as Art, Hunting, and Research, were also available, but fewer students pursued them.

Owen mentioned he was in the Alchemy class, the same as Adam, while Levi was part of the Research department. Adam's choice of Alchemy was simple—he had seen firsthand the miracles of healing potions and wanted to learn how to create them himself, just in case.

"See you later, bud," Owen said, tapping Levi's shoulder. The redhead stiffened at the contact, his frown barely concealed. Adam caught the reaction and inwardly noted it. "Guess he really doesn't like nobles, huh?" he mused, recalling their first encounter.

"I'll see you later," Adam said to Levi before following Owen out of the cafeteria.

Navigating the vast academy was made easier by the map feature, and before long, they arrived at the Alchemy department. The hall was massive, rivaling the size of the combat grounds, though instead of sparring rings, it was filled with rows of seats. Hundreds of cadets were gathered inside, a mix of both elite and normal students.

Among the familiar faces, Adam recognized fewer than ten from the special class, and the only one whose name he knew was Ashley. As he finally took a proper look at her, he couldn't help but think, "Damn, she's gorgeous." He hadn't had the chance to observe her before—he was usually early to class, always sitting at the back, and at that time, Aurora had his attention.

Owen offered to take a seat at the front, but Adam declined. He preferred the back.

Meanwhile, Owen strode up to Ashley and casually took the seat beside her. "Hello there, gorgeous," he smirked.

Ashley sighed. "Just my luck."

Owen's sharp hearing caught it. "Hey, I can hear you! And what do you mean by 'just your luck'?"

"It was meant to be heard," she replied flatly. "I meant, of all the profession courses, I just had to be stuck in the same one as you."

"What's wrong with me?" he asked, feigning innocence.

"Nothing. Just you being you—trouble."

"Touché, Ashley." Owen clutched his chest in mock pain.

But Ashley wasn't done. "You do realize you're going to get that new friend of yours in trouble, right?"

Owen's usual playfulness dimmed slightly. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that the others won't like it. They'll see it as a disgrace—a noble of your caliber associating with a weak commoner." She spoke plainly, without malice, just facts.

Owen frowned. "And what about you?"

"What about me?" Ashley tilted her head.

"Do you think it's a disgrace? Honestly, I just don't get the noble mentality."

Ashley chuckled. "Me? I couldn't care less. After all, I'm not the one sitting on the furnace."

"Tsk, you heartless witch."

"Ever the foul mouth, I see. Moron."

"I'm starting to remember why I don't like you."

"Likewise."

Before their banter could escalate, the instructor arrived. A woman in her mid-twenties with black hair and piercing brown eyes, her beauty was only rivaled by the air of authority she exuded.

"I'm Sarah Connor, but you can call me Instructor Connor. I'll be your Alchemy instructor for the year," she introduced herself with nonchalance. "Now that introductions are out of the way, today's topic is 'Introduction to Alchemy.'"

She pointed at Owen. "You there, at the front—give us the history of alchemy."

"Wait, me!?" Owen gawked, pointing at himself.

"No, the guy in front of you."

"But… there's no one in front of me."

"Exactly. Now, stand up."

Owen hesitated before stammering something about the year 516… or was it 425? His mumbled attempt was painful to hear.

"Stop. Just… take your seat," Instructor Connor sighed, shaking her head. "Anyone else?"

Ashley stood and delivered a flawless explanation. "Alchemy was first discovered in the year 56 A.E(After emergence) after a researcher studied a unique plant and managed to make a potion out of it, a potion never seen before, the healing potion. It was due to that researcher that many others started researching, and also mixing different kind of plants hoping to achieve a desired effect. That was how alchemy was born, but it was made into a course in the year 92 A.E".

"Great. Fifty points for the golden-haired girl. Let's continue."

The class progressed smoothly, filled with fascinating insights into alchemical herbs. When it finally ended, Adam quietly slipped out, taking his leave before Owen could rope him into another conversation. Back in his dorm, after a shower, he sat down to meditate. His star was close to being completed—he could feel it. In five days at most, he would have his breakthrough.

The next day, Instructor Cornwell stood at the front of the classroom, her gaze sweeping across the students before delivering an unexpected announcement. "Tomorrow, the special class is scheduled for an outing."

A collective groan echoed throughout the room. The timing couldn't have been worse. The students had just finished a rigorous morning class, and instead of departing with relief, they were now burdened with news that threatened their well-earned break. Tomorrow was Saturday, a weekend, meant to be a sanctuary from the past week's demanding schedule.

"Our destination will be a newly discovered planet in the Bon system," she continued.

A flicker of unease crossed Adam's mind. Newly discovered planets were unpredictable. Their ecosystems were uncharted, their inhabitants unknown, and their flora could very well be toxic. The very thought unsettled him.

"It was found about three years ago. It's a dwarf planet, and the military has already established a base after deeming it safe for human habitation," Cornwell reassured, her tone measured. "The outing will be an extension of our Geography and Space Exploration class, particularly beneficial for those in the Exploration profession. Be at the combat grounds by 8 AM tomorrow."

As soon as she left, Owen trudged over to Adam's seat, slumping beside him with a theatrical groan. "Man, who would have thought we'd lose our weekend to more training?"

Adam shrugged at his dramatics. "You can rest the day after."

Owen scoffed. "And how do you know another surprise won't come up?"

Adam shrugged. "I don't. Just being hopeful."

Oddly enough, the awkwardness Adam once felt around Owen had begun to dissipate. It was the same with Levi. Slowly but surely, his social circle was expanding.

Before he could dwell on that thought, the instructor for the next class arrived. "Welcome to Piloting class," the man announced, adjusting his glasses. He had a wiry frame, his demeanor radiating an almost obsessive enthusiasm.

"I'm Instructor Zhang, and the first thing I want to know is—what does piloting mean to you?" His sharp eyes scanned the class, but before anyone could answer, he continued. "Well, it doesn't matter what you think. What matters is what I think. And I think piloting is a passion. My passion."

 'Alright, we've got a zealot here.' Adam thought bemusedly. He was genuinely amused by the instructor's enthusiasm, mainly because the only thing he himself was enthusiastic about was a nice relaxing hot bath.

"What's wrong with this guy?" Owen whispered.

"I don't know," Adam murmured back.

"I can hear you boys," Zhang snapped, his glare effectively silencing them. The weight of the entire class's stares settled on their shoulders.

Adam sighed. "I apologize."

"Good. But understand that belittling someone's passion is neither wise nor respectful," Zhang lectured.

Adam nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."

The instructor continued with the lesson, surprising Adam when he announced that their next class would be conducted in a piloting simulation. The idea thrilled Adam—an opportunity to experience the mechanics of piloting firsthand.

By contrast, Owen groaned throughout the entire theory portion. As soon as the class ended, he stretched exaggeratedly. "Any longer, and I would've fallen asleep."

"It wasn't that bad," Adam replied, amused.

Owen shot him a skeptical look. "So, you're a nerd, huh?"

"Not exactly. I just find theories intriguing."

"That's what a nerd would say."

Adam had no comeback. Instead, he deflected. "Let's head to the cafeteria."

"Nice topic change."

"I'm just really hungry."

The cafeteria's food was, as always, high quality. After lunch, Owen excused himself, leaving Adam alone. With no classes left for the day, he expected a peaceful afternoon.

That hope was short-lived. Three boys approached his table, their leader flashing an arrogant smirk. "Come with us. Our boss has some business with you."

Adam assessed them. The speaker's aura was that of a two-starred Rank 3—noble, but a lower one. Running was an option, but it would only make things worse. He reluctantly complied.

Their destination became clear as they entered the combat grounds. At the center stood Victor Crimson, rank five in the academy, his crimson eyes holding a quiet menace. A near-identical figure stood beside him—a cousin, most likely.

"We brought him, boss," one of the escorts said.

Victor barely acknowledged them. "Good. You can go."

A/N:

*********************************************************

#Your gift is the motivation for my creation.

IF YOU'RE ENJOYING THIS NOVEL,

PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW 🙏🙏🙏🙏.