After browsing through most of the catalog, Nero selected a mid-range smartphone that was extrely durable and waterproof, featuring a 6.5-inch screen. It was automatically linked to the school’s system, allowing users to check the cadet’s forum for recent news, gossip, and information sharing.
"Let’s link our phones," Adam suggested as soon as Nero finished purchasing and configuring his new device.
"Sure!" Nero replied, tapping on the linking app. Lux and Blake followed suit, already having each other’s contacts but wanting to include Nero as well. The four of them were successfully linked.
"Thank you, Adam. I’ll make good use of this phone," Nero expressed his gratitude for Adam’s generosity.
"You’re welco, Lil Nero. Friends should help each other," Adam responded with a smile, while Lux nodded in agreent.
"Indeed, if he hadn’t done it, I or Blake would have; you are our friend," Lux added.
Even Blake, who rarely showed any emotions beyond laziness, nodded in confirmation of the others’ words.
Nero smiled back, but his grin caught the attention of the clerk, who seed montarily frozen, smitten by his expression. Adam noticed and imdiately stopped smiling, realizing his worst fear had been confird.
"Do a favor, little Nero, will you?" Adam said.
Nero tilted his head, sensing that whatever Adam was about to say would be ridiculous, and indeed, the following words confird his suspicion.
"Stop smiling, at least when we’re together. You’ll get all the girls and leave us with nothing."
Despite expecting sothing absurd, Adam’s words still caught Nero off guard, prompting a chuckle from him.
Lux and Blake rolled their eyes at Adam. "Speak for yourself," Lux muttered.
In the spirit of the mont, Nero decided to crack a joke. "Sure, I promise I’ll smile more often."
"Noooooo! My romantic life!" Adam exclaid dramatically, dropping to his knees in despair. His over-the-top reaction sent everyone present into fits of laughter, finding Nero’s group amusing with its unusual combination.
’Maybe hanging out with them won’t be so bad. I’ll observe and decide later,’ Nero thought as he left the store with the others.
It was nearing evening when the group left the store.
As the city lights of the academy twinkled in the soft glow of twilight, the dreams of the night began to weave through the air, filling it with a sense of anticipation and possibility.
"Before we part ways, let’s visit a nearby pub to commorate today. What do you say?" Adam suddenly suggested. Their imdiate reaction was to refuse, but after a mont of consideration, they changed their minds.
"Sure, but we won’t drink too much," Nero replied, a sentint echoed by both Lux and Blake.
"Sure, sure!" Adam exclaid, thrilled that his suggestion was accepted.
Nestled in the heart of the comrcial district, the bar was a lively establishnt popular among both school staff and cadets. The atmosphere inside was warm and inviting, with rustic wooden beams overhead and soft amber lighting casting a cozy glow. Laughter and chatter filled the air, mingling with the clinking of glasses and the faint strains of music playing in the background. The walls were adorned with morabilia from the academy’s history, creating a sense of camaraderie and nostalgia. It was the perfect place to unwind and celebrate their day together.
The group settled into a cozy spot and ordered whisky. To their surprise, Blake turned out to be quite the whisky enthusiast, savoring the rich flavors. Lux, on the other hand, leaned more toward wine, appreciating its subtleties, while Adam had a passion for all types of alcohol, with a particular preference for the stronger varieties.
"Back ho, we have a special type of alcohol called Spirit, with more than 70% alcohol content," Adam explained as he sipped his whisky.
Nero and the others exchanged skeptical glances, disbelief evident on their faces. Blake even chid in sarcastically, "You dwarves are a bunch of drunkards."
Adam rolled his eyes at Blake’s comnt, unfazed.
"I think tomorrow, in our respective special class, we’ll have a mock battle to gauge our strength," Lux interjected.
"I believe you’re right," Nero agreed, nodding along with Adam, who stroked his little beard in affirmation.
"Absolutely," Lux confird, he was certain that it would happen.
Only Blake found the conversation botherso, lazily resting his head on the table. "So annoying," he muttered, prompting the other three to shake their heads in response. Despite their short ti together, Nero had co to the conclusion that while Blake appeared lazy, it was more about his disdain for wasting ti on unproductive matters.
’Each of us has different personalities. I must understand and embrace them; this will help in my goals,’ Nero inwardly concluded.
Suddenly, Lux raised a question that piqued the curiosity of the other two.
"Nero, is it true that you can’t sense the primordial energy? You can’t use it?"
All eyes turned to Nero, who chuckled softly as he responded, "Yes, it’s true."
Although they had expected this answer, they couldn’t hide their surprise. It was understandable, as it was unheard of for a native of this world to be unable to sense or use Prana.
While it was true that not everyone could embark on the path of cultivation, which could render them unable to harness this energy, being completely unable to sense primordial energy was completely unprecedented. Hence, their astonishnt. Previously, they had entertained the possibility that the rumors about Nero were exaggerated—that perhaps he could sense Prana but simply couldn’t use it at the mont.
Now, however, they were completely convinced; the individual in question had just confird it. How could they doubt his claim after hearing him say it? The revelation left the group utterly stunned.
"Don’t worry; I believe you’ll soon be able to sense it and maybe even harness the Law to receive an unexpected blessing," Lux offered, trying to encourage him. While Nero’s situation was distinct from the unique cases at the academy in the past, it wasn’t entirely different. Lux held a deep-seated belief that Nero’s circumstances were ultimately hopeless, even if they were sowhat unique.
Nero simply nodded in response. Adam and the others exchanged glances, disbelief written across their faces. If they were in Nero’s shoes, they knew they would struggle to hide their despair in the face of such an unheard-of situation, despite the encouraging words. Yet, Nero remained emotionless, almost as if he was confident that his situation wasn’t hopeless. This left them questioning themselves; once again, they were reminded that this new friend was truly mysterious, as if he had everything under control.
"I’m looking forward to the surprises you’ll bring us," Adam remarked, his tone light yet filled with expectation. Lux and Blake nodded in agreent, sensing that they were in for sothing remarkable.
Nero chuckled, thinking Adam’s intuition was truly sharp.
As they settled into their seats, the group ordered another round of drinks, their spirits lifted. The atmosphere in the bar was lively, filled with the rich sounds of a jazz band performing in the corner. The smooth lodies intertwined with the laughter and chatter of patrons, creating an inviting ambiance. The warm glow of the dim lighting cast a cozy feel over the room, and the aroma of food wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of aged whisky. It was a perfect setting for the group to unwind and enjoy each other’s company, their earlier worries montarily forgotten as they imrsed themselves in the lively energy around them.
This went on for a while before they decided to call it a night. After all, they had morning drills to prepare for, and everyone needed their rest to be ready for the following day. Nobody wanted to perform poorly, especially with Balrog pressuring his students during morning drills, and linda from the special Mage class exerting similar expectations. It felt as if their teachers had coordinated this pressure in advance.
"Let’s et tomorrow morning," Nero said as he prepared to leave, heading toward his dormitory. Although they all resided in the sa male dormitory, the vastness of the place ant they were not situated in the sa area. As he walked away, the sounds of laughter and the city’s music faded behind him.
Nero soon arrived at his dormitory, unlocking the door and stepping inside. He quickly discarded his shoes and uniform, ensuring they were clean before heading into the bathroom. The warm light welcod him as he filled the tub with steaming water, the scent of lavender filling the air. As he sank into the soothing embrace of the water, he felt the tension of the day lt away, replaced by a refreshing sense of calm and rejuvenation.
After taking a good and refreshing bath, Nero unwrapping dinner he had bought on their way back, rice and roasted chicken, he silently enjoyed it, his mind drifting back to the events of the day, he reconfird his goals as he ate, his original goals didn’t change, he simply added few side goals.
’’Let’s accomplish tonight goal, finally unseal the first star.’’
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