By the time I left Instructor Seraphina's office, the sun was already beginning to descend beyond the distant mountains surrounding Ero.
Golden light bathed the academy grounds, turning the white stone pathways and towering buildings into rivers of amber and gold.
For a few moments, I simply stood there.
Watching.
Observing.
Thinking.
My first day at Galia Military Academy had somehow resulted in a student being launched through a wall, a lecture from an instructor, and the realization that I would likely become a source of headaches for academy staff.
A productive day, all things considered.
With nowhere particular to be, I began walking.
The academy was enormous.
Back when I had written it, I had described it as a city disguised as a school.
Now that I was standing inside it, I realized I had somehow undersold it.
Students filled every corner of the grounds.
Some hurried between classes.
Others trained on open fields.
Groups of mages sat beneath trees discussing theories while swordsmen practiced forms in courtyards.
Everywhere I looked, people were improving themselves.
It was refreshing.
Unlike many noble academies I had written in the past, Galia wasn't designed to create aristocrats.
It was designed to create weapons.
The difference was significant.
One produced politicians.
The other produced elite combat units.
As I continued walking, I eventually found myself entering one of the academy's central plazas.
And there, standing proudly at its center, was something I knew very well.
The Academy Crystal.
A massive pillar of translucent blue crystal nearly twenty meters tall.
Streams of light flowed endlessly through its core.
Students constantly gathered around it.
Some checking rankings.
Others reviewing records.
A few simply staring at the various boards displayed across its surface.
The moment I saw it, several forgotten memories returned.
Right.
That thing existed.
I had completely forgotten.
To be fair, when one spent years creating an entire world, certain details occasionally slipped through the cracks.
Secret realms?
I remembered those.
Ancient dragons?
Those too.
Legendary artifacts capable of destroying nations?
Absolutely.
A giant crystal responsible for managing academy records?
Apparently not.
Memory was a strange thing.
As I approached, a familiar sensation washed over me.
The crystal recognized registered students automatically.
A pulse of light swept over my body.
Then a small crystal separated from the pillar and flew slowly to me.
A palm-sized version of the Academy Crystal floated above my hand.
The Student Crystal.
Every student received one upon enrollment.
A linked artifact connected directly to the main crystal.
Communication.
Rankings.
Duel records.
Announcements.
Combat data.
The thing practically ran half the academy.
I tapped its surface.
Immediately information appeared before me.
Name: Benjamin
Year: First
Rank: Unranked
Official Duels: 0
Win Streak: 0
Combat Record: 0-0
I stared at it.
Then nodded.
After all, throwing someone through a wall didn't count as an official duel.
Apparently.
Another section displayed the academy rankings.
I opened it.
Thousands of names appeared instantly.
First Years.
Second Years.
Third Years.
Fourth Years.
Overall Rankings.
Freshman Rankings.
Achievement Boards.
The amount of information was absurd.
I spent nearly twenty minutes looking through it.
Not because I cared about rankings.
I absolutely cared about rankings.
But admitting that would damage my dignity.
The number one freshman immediately caught my attention.
Not because of his rank.
Because of his class.
vampire.
I remembered writing that.
A rare class.
A powerful class.
And attached to a very annoying individual if memory served correctly.
I closed the screen.
That problem belonged to future me.
Present me was hungry.
The dining hall was somehow even larger than the one back at the Ashford estate.
Thousands of students occupied the enormous structure.
The smell alone was enough to start a civil war.
Roasted meats.
Fresh bread.
Soup.
Stew.
Grilled fish.
Pastries.
Enough food to feed a small kingdom.
Considering the amount of training students did here, perhaps it was necessary.
Dinner itself was relatively peaceful.
Mostly because people were staring.
Apparently word had spread.
Fast.
Very fast.
Several students whispered when I passed.
Others simply avoided eye contact.
One poor boy accidentally met my gaze and nearly dropped his tray.
I wasn't sure whether to be offended or amused.
I chose amused.
Night eventually settled over the academy.
And to my surprise—
Nothing changed.
The academy remained just as active as before.
Training grounds illuminated by mana lamps remained full.
Libraries remained open.
Research facilities continued operating.
Combat arenas hosted duels well into the night.
Some students even appeared to be starting their day.
Monsters.
The entire academy was filled with monsters.
And for the first time since arriving, I felt strangely at home.
Eventually I made my way toward the freshman dormitories.
The buildings themselves resembled luxury apartments more than student housing.
Apparently the academy understood that future military officers performed better when they weren't sleeping in wooden boxes.
A revolutionary concept.
My room was simple.
One bed.
One desk.
One wardrobe.
A small training area.
A bathroom.
And most importantly—
Silence.
Glorious silence.
I collapsed onto the bed.
For several moments I simply stared at the ceiling.
My mind was tired.
My body was not.
There was too much to think about.
The academy.
The rankings.
The changes this world had undergone.
And most importantly—
How much stronger I needed to become.
My Student Crystal suddenly vibrated.
I picked it up.
A notification appeared.
Academy Notice
Introduction to Combat
Attendance Mandatory
Time: 8:00 AM
Location: Combat Grounds Three
Right.
Actual classes.
I had almost forgotten those existed.
A second notification appeared.
This one surprised me.
New Contact Added
Adrian
I stared at it.
Then laughed.
Apparently the prince had decided we were acquaintances now.
A message appeared moments later.
Adrian:Try not to throw anyone through a wall tomorrow.
I considered the request carefully.
For nearly three seconds.
Then replied.
Benjamin:No promises.
The response came almost instantly.
Adrian:That's exactly what I was afraid you'd say.
I found myself smiling.
Then placed the crystal on the bedside table.
Outside my window, the lights of the academy continued to shine beneath the night sky.
Students trained.
Studied.
Fought.
Improved.
The Academy never slept.
And tomorrow—
i would think about when i wake