NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1.2 - Blood + Memory
Nick's schedule was structured to give his week balance. Mondays and Wednesdays were for Biology and Calculus, a demanding but logical pairing. Tuesdays and Thursdays were for Statistics and Intro to Business, focusing more on applied skills. This structure gave him enough time to master each subject properly while maintaining his routine.
Today was a Monday, meaning he had Biology first. The class was held in a sleek, modern lab with rows of long black tables. The professor, a middle-aged woman with a sharp gaze, launched straight into a lecture on cellular respiration.
As she described the intricate processes of energy transfer within cells, Nick found himself drawing parallels to the mana-tech systems of Arlize's world. The mitochondria's conversion of chemical energy reminded him of how crystalline mana conductors transformed raw magical energy into usable power.
Same principles, different medium, he thought, scribbling notes with new interest. Energy conversion, pathway optimization, feedback loops—it's all connected.
Nick absorbed every detail, writing down notes meticulously. The old him had never cared much for this subject, but now, every piece of knowledge felt like a weapon.
After Biology, he had a break before Calculus, so he grabbed lunch from the cafeteria. The dining hall was quieter than it had been during breakfast, with students scattered around eating or studying. He opted for grilled chicken, brown rice, and steamed vegetables—fuel that would keep him sharp for the rest of the day.
Once he finished eating, he headed to the campus library to review his notes before Calculus. Settling into a quiet corner, he opened his notebook and focused on cellular respiration, reinforcing what he had learned earlier.
Glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain—the three major steps of how cells generate energy. He sketched out diagrams of mitochondria, tracing the path of glucose as it was broken down, ATP molecules forming in the process.
Beside his notes, he carefully added another diagram—one that wouldn't make sense to anyone else. It showed the parallel structure of a mana circuit, the way Arlize would have designed it to channel and amplify magical energy. The similarities were striking.
The sheer efficiency of cellular respiration fascinated him. He had never given much thought to these details before, just memorizing enough to pass exams. Now, though, he found himself wanting to truly understand it. This knowledge was the foundation of biology, and he refused to be anything less than exceptional.
With Biology reviewed, he checked his email and saw a message from his Calculus professor. The subject line read: 'First Day Quiz – Be Prepared.' Skimming through, he saw that the professor expected them to have a basic understanding of limits and continuity and had attached a set of practice problems.
He turned to Calculus. Since the professor had emailed them in advance about the quiz, Nick wasn't caught off guard. It was meant to gauge where students stood, and he was determined to ace it. He worked through problems on limits and continuity, reinforcing his understanding of derivatives and their applications. He solved practice questions on differentiating functions and understanding rates of change, making sure he grasped the concepts before they were introduced in class.
The old me would have panicked at this quiz, he thought with a thin smile. But now, it's just another step toward dominance.
Heading to class, Nick arrived ten minutes early, finding a comfortable seat in the second row, directly in front of the professor's lectern. Calculus B was held in one of the expansive lecture halls designed to accommodate large groups of students, especially during the bustling first weeks of the semester.
As the clock moved closer to 2:00 PM, students trickled in, filling seats around him—some chatting excitedly, others groggy and barely awake.
At 1:58, Jordan walked into class, eyes half-closed and hair slightly disheveled. Spotting Nick, his expression brightened immediately, and he made his way over.
"Hey man," Jordan greeted, dropping his backpack heavily onto the floor and sliding into the seat beside Nick. "How was your first class?"
"Good. Professor Godrudson is teaching my bio class, so it should be interesting," Nick replied, mentally comparing the chaos of students settling in to the disciplined ranks of mage-engineers at Arlize's academy.
Jordan chuckled. "Lucky you. I'm glad I avoided bio this semester. But anyway, I'm guessing you're pretty organized since you picked a seat right up front."
Nick shrugged. "Just trying to pay attention. How about you? First class of the day?"
"Yeah, I'm not a morning person," Jordan admitted, rubbing his eyes.
Nick smirked. "Yeah, I figured. You look like you just woke up, again. Though to be fair, consciousness is overrated in college. Some people graduate without ever achieving it."
"Haha, hilarious," Jordan retorted with a playful eye-roll.
At exactly 2:00, the professor strode in, commanding attention immediately. He was a wiry man with sharp, alert eyes behind thick-rimmed glasses, giving him an appearance that hinted at a rigorous approach to teaching. Without much introduction, he began handing out quizzes.
"Good afternoon, everyone. I hope you've reviewed the pre-course material," he announced briskly. "We're starting today with a quick diagnostic to gauge your grasp of foundational concepts."
Jordan groaned quietly, casting a worried glance at Nick.
Nick quickly dove into the test, writing methodically. As he worked through complex derivatives, he found himself drawing on Arlize's knowledge of arcane equations. The mathematical principles that governed mana flow had surprising applications to calculus, offering him insights and shortcuts he'd never considered in his previous life. It was kind of weird that even across world, math remained the same.
Halfway through, Jordan leaned over, whispering, "Dude, you actually understand this stuff?"
Nick kept his eyes on the paper but smiled slightly. "Doing my best."
Jordan sighed in defeat. "Alright, well, if you don't mind explaining some of this later, I'd owe you big-time."
"No problem," Nick whispered back reassuringly, returning his focus to the test.
The quiz took the entire two-hour class period. At the end, the professor gathered the quizzes, reminding students to review their syllabus and brush up on the basics for the next class.
Exiting the lecture hall, Jordan looked at Nick with relief. "Seriously, thanks for agreeing to help. That quiz was rough."
"No worries, we'll get through it," Nick said confidently.
As they walked toward the exit, Nick noticed familiar faces waiting outside: Matt and Sarah, talking quietly together, standing near the entrance.
Nick's jaw tightened slightly, his heart seizing painfully at the sight of them. Sarah's smile once brought warmth; now it twisted his gut with quiet rage. He could almost admire its perfect deceit. Matt's easy confidence, once admirable, now read as arrogance.
A complicated storm of emotions surged through him. Beneath his anger lay a deeper, more insidious pain. Despite everything, a part of him still remembered loving her. Remembered trusting him. Phantom feelings from a timeline he was determined to erase.
For a brief, disorienting moment, Nick felt his resolve waver. Would it be so terrible to try again and forge a different path together?
But then the memory of his own blood pooling on concrete flashed vividly in his mind. The searing pain of the knife. The cold realization in his dying moments that he'd wasted his life chasing people who never truly cared for him. Whatever had happened between Sarah and Matt hadn't been just a one-time incident—something in his gut told him there was more to it, connections he hadn't seen before.
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No, he thought, his resolve hardening. There will be no reconciliation. Only justice. Calculated, methodical justice.
He forced his expression into a neutral mask, burying the conflict beneath a carefully constructed facade, staying focused on his conversation with Jordan.
As they walked out, Sarah noticed him first, her face lighting up. "Nick!"
Matt grinned. "Damn, man, you disappeared after the ceremony. What's up?"
Nick kept his expression neutral. "Busy getting ahead."
Sarah tilted her head. "That's new. Since when does Nick Valiente care about academics?"
He shrugged. "Figured I'd try something different. Amazing what a brush with death will do for your motivation." The words slipped out before he could stop them, a cryptic reference to a future they couldn't possibly understand.
Matt laughed, clearly missing the implication. "Are we still on for Friday? Couple of the guys are throwing a thing at the Alpha Phi frat house. You want to come?"
Nick already knew how that would play out. He'd go, get drunk, let his guard down, and everything would slowly unravel. The first step toward his eventual demise.
"Not really my scene anymore," he said smoothly.
Matt blinked. "For real? Who are you and what have you done with Nick Valiente?"
If you only knew, Nick thought darkly. Out loud, he just smiled. "Just focused. Catch you later."
He turned, walking away before they could probe further. Jordan caught up to him, eyebrows raised. "Dude, you okay?"
Nick nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine."
Jordan frowned but didn't press. "Well, come on, man. Let's get out of here."
Nick exhaled, pushing away old ghosts.
Two classes down. A lifetime of change to go.
Nick pushed open the door to the campus café, holding it open for Jordan, who sauntered in behind him, hands stuffed deep in his pockets. The tantalizing aroma of fresh pizza and grilling burgers filled their senses, mingling with laughter and chatter from other students unwinding after the day's classes.
"So, Matt and Sarah, huh?" Jordan said with a raised eyebrow as they lined up to order. "What's their deal?"
Nick gave a dry laugh, bitterness touching the edges of his tone. "Long story. Let's just say I've seen enough déjà vu for a lifetime. Some people show you who they really are when they think you're not looking."
Jordan shrugged lightly. "Fair enough. You good, though?"
"Never better," Nick replied, glancing at Jordan briefly. Still wary, but Jordan hadn't yet given him reason to act.
They ordered their meals—two fully loaded burgers with sweet potato fries—and found a quiet table by the window. Nick's mind raced as he picked at his fries, thinking about Matt and Sarah. Anger simmered beneath his calm facade, sharpening into a cold calculation. He was done being played by them, but revenge required patience and careful planning.
Across the table, Jordan flipped through his tablet, pulling up notes from the calculus quiz they'd taken earlier in the day. "Professor Ellis definitely didn't go easy on us. Those derivatives were brutal."
"Yeah," Nick replied absently, eyes skimming through the notes. "Chain rule caught me off guard."
Jordan nodded thoughtfully. "Same here. Should we review the first couple chapters from the book tonight?"
Nick hesitated briefly, sizing Jordan up once more before finally giving a reluctant nod. "Makes sense."
Their review session was tense yet productive, each absorbed in their own work, occasionally exchanging insights on tricky problems. Despite his initial wariness, Nick grudgingly acknowledged Jordan's genuine focus and determination. Yet he reminded himself sternly—trust was a luxury he couldn't afford.
As they were going over a particularly tricky equation, Jordan's eyes grew wide and he had to speak up.
"Hold on," Jordan said, frowning at Nick's solution to a particularly complex derivative. "How did you know to solve it this way? That wasn't on the quiz answer key Professor Ellis sent us."
Nick froze, realizing his mistake. He'd worked through these problems in his previous life—struggled through them for weeks with a tutor. Now the solutions came naturally, muscle memory from a future that hadn't happened yet.
Careful, he warned himself. Don't give away too much.
"I... studied ahead," he said, choosing his words carefully. "Did some research online about calc methods."
Jordan's eyebrows raised. "Pretty advanced stuff to just 'research online.' Where'd you learn to think like this?"
Nick shrugged, trying to appear casual. "I've always been good with patterns, just never applied myself before. Being a jock was easier—less expected of you academically."
"Well, it's impressive," Jordan said, though his expression remained thoughtful. "You sure you haven't taken this class before?"
The question hit uncomfortably close to the truth. Nick forced a laugh. "First time. Promise."
Jordan nodded, but Nick noticed him watching more carefully as they continued working. He needed to be more cautious—intelligence was an asset, but drawing too much attention too quickly could become a liability.
Still, he couldn't help feeling a dark satisfaction. The professors and students who had dismissed him as just another athlete would soon discover just how wrong they had been.
After finishing their food and notes, they stepped out into the cool evening air. Campus lights illuminated their path, casting soft shadows across the pavement.
"Gym?" Jordan asked, stretching his arms overhead.
Nick matched his stride cautiously, giving a short nod. "Yeah."
Inside the gym, familiar sounds of weights clanging and machinery humming filled the air. Nick dove into his workout routine methodically, his body moving through each exercise while his mind raced ahead, strategizing. He glanced periodically at Jordan, who seemed genuinely engrossed in his own workout. Nick reminded himself firmly—everyone had their secrets, and he wasn't about to blindly trust another stranger.
When he finished his last set of bench presses, Nick sat up, wiping sweat from his brow. Alone in his corner, he stared at a dumbbell lying nearby, concentrating intensely. Drawing on Arlize's memories, he tried to sense the metal's structure, its composition. For a brief moment, faint lines appeared, tracing the contours of the weight, revealing quantum pathways that only he could see.
It's getting stronger, he realized with a surge of excitement. Whatever connection I have to Arlize's abilities, it's growing.
Wiping his forehead, Nick glancing over to Jordan, who was eyeing the pull-up bar. "I'm done for tonight. You staying?"
Jordan nodded, already positioning himself under the bar. "Yeah, got some more left. I'll see you later."
"Sure," Nick responded quietly, grabbing his towel and heading out.
The walk back to his dorm was silent and filled with thoughts of revenge and suspicion. Matt's smug expression lingered in his mind, fueling a growing determination. Sarah's false smile irritated him further, igniting a cold fury he carefully controlled.
As he passed the science building, his attention was caught by a strange flicker in the air—a brief flicker of blue-white energy around the building's electronic security panel. Nick stopped, staring at it. For a moment, he could see delicate lines of power flowing through the circuitry, just as he'd once seen mana flow through the enchanted weapons of Arlize's world.
The Arcadian System, he thought suddenly, the name appearing in his mind unbidden. That's what Arlize had called the network of mana-tech that had powered his civilization. But why would he see traces of it here, in this world?
Curious, Nick approached the panel cautiously, glancing around to ensure no one was watching. He extended his hand toward it, not quite touching, and concentrated. The blue lines brightened slightly, responding to his presence. When he traced a simple rune in the air—one of the first circuit designs Arlize had learned—the security panel beeped softly, its status light flickering from red to green momentarily before cycling back.
Nick withdrew his hand quickly, stunned. He wasn't just remembering Arlize's abilities—he was actually accessing them. And they weren't just magical fantasies; they appeared to have real, tangible effects on technology in this world.
This changes everything, he thought, his mind racing with possibilities. If he could harness this connection fully, develop this strange fusion of mana and modern tech, what couldn't he accomplish?
Back in his room, Nick showered quickly and slipped into bed, checking his phone. A new message from an unknown number appeared: Hey, great seeing you again today! We should catch up properly soon. - Sarah
Nick's jaw tightened, anger flaring through him sharply. His mind shifted immediately into calculation, considering how best to use this interaction to his advantage. After a moment, he deliberately set the phone aside without replying.
Sarah and Matt had underestimated him once—he wouldn't let it happen again.
Before sleep, he practiced one more time, focusing intensely on his palm. A perfect sphere of pale blue light formed above his hand, hovering for nearly ten seconds before dissolving. It was small—no bigger than a marble—but stable, controlled.
Progress, he thought with grim satisfaction. The Arcadian System exists here, somehow. And I'm going to master it.
As he lay in darkness, revisiting the day's calculus problems in his mind, he felt a grim satisfaction settle over him. Trust was dangerous, but strategy was key. And now, he had an advantage no one else could possibly understand.
Nick drifted into an uneasy sleep, his thoughts filled with careful plans, cold revenge, and a future he was determined to control—a future where mana and technology would combine in ways this world had never seen.