System, please just shut up

Kael pushed himself up from the bed, the luxurious mattress still a bit foreign beneath him.

The dampness of his sweat-soaked clothes was uncomfortable, a tangible link to the bizarre golden void dream.

He took a moment to stretch, his muscles still a little stiff, but surprisingly free of the debilitating pain he'd expected after the beating he had received.

He moved towards the large window, the morning light filtering gently through the gaps in the drapes.

The view outside was nothing short of monumental.

Below, an academy unfolded like a sprawling, meticulously designed city carved from dark, gleaming stone.

Massive, towering spires of black obsidian pierced the sky, their surfaces catching the light like polished glass.

Between these giants, a network of elegant, arched bridges connected various buildings, some adorned with intricate carvings, others sleek and modern.

Below, a vibrant tapestry of manicured courtyards and lush, emerald-green gardens offered splashes of color against the dark architecture.

The grounds were alive with activity.

A sea of students moved with purpose along wide, paved pathways, their black and blue uniforms creating a striking contrast.

Some walked in groups, chatting animatedly, while others hurried alone, scrolls tucked under their arms.

Overhead, streaks of magic occasionally zipped across the sky as students practiced aerial maneuvers or quick transport spells.

In the distance, he could vaguely make out training arenas, glowing faintly, and what looked like a massive, open-air library carved into the side of a cliff.

The air thrummed with a low hum of ambient magic, a constant, palpable energy that spoke of immense power and ancient knowledge.

This didn't just look like a school, it looked more like a self-contained world.

Kael pulled away from the window, the sheer scale of the place a little overwhelming, and he hadn't even seen everything yet.

He needed a shower, but first, a mirror caught his eye across the room.

He immediately became intrigued.

He had seen how he looked from that damned second guardian, the mimic, but he was still curious.

He walked over, his bare feet sinking slightly into the plush rug.

The mirror was full-length, set into a dark wooden frame, and it showed him a reflection he only vaguely recognized.

The boy staring back was seventeen, but looked older, perhaps due to his knight's build.

His hair was a messy cascade of short, raven-black strands, falling just above his eyes, which were a startling shade of stormy grey, currently wide with a mix of surprise and mild curiosity.

A faint scar, thin and white, angled subtly across his left eyebrow—probably gotten by the previous owner of the body.

His nose was straight, his jawline defined, and his lips held their usual slight, almost indifferent curve. He was unmistakably good-looking, though not in an overtly charming way, more in the way of someone who didn't particularly care about his own appearance, which only added to his appeal.

Not that he knew that, of course.

His body, however, was what truly caught his attention.

He was well-built, his frame lean but clearly packed with hard-earned muscle.

His shoulders were broad, his arms corded, and his chest was defined, suggesting years of physical training.

Even with a shirt, the numerous fading bruises and cuts from the Elderbeast fight were visible, stark against his otherwise clear skin.

He ran a hand over his bicep, feeling the solid mass there.

'Hmm, not bad.'

The sound of a door opening immediately pulled him out of his thoughts.

Turning around, he was met with the sight of Theo, with his signature blank look, leaning against the doorframe.

"Finally awake," Theo stated, his voice calm.

"Finally? How long have I been out?" Kael asked back.

"A week."

'A week?' Kael thought, dumbfounded. "I slept for a week?"

"Yes, and you missed the first days of school." Theo lifted himself from the doorframe and entered the room. "Nice room."

Kael, still processing what he had just heard, mumbled, "Acting as if you didn't get something similar."

"I did," Theo replied, his eyes scanning the luxurious space. He then continued, "But not everyone did. This level of privilege is gifted only to students with a distinction."

Kael just raised his brows, indicating he wasn't following.

Theo sighed and sat on the desk, crossing his arms. "Before I continue, what exactly do you remember....before passing out?"

Kael, not understanding where this was going, shrugged and said, "Well, I tried to fight the guardian, then got my ass kicked so much that my body shut down."

Theo raised a brow, a flicker of something in his usually unreadable eyes. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

Kael raised a brow of his own and replied, "Uhm, no."

Theo leaned in closer, his voice dropping slightly. "Even the fact that you killed the guardian?"

"…"

1 second.

5 seconds.

10 seconds.

Kael's mind took a couple of seconds before he was finally able to process what he just heard. "I did what now?"

"You killed the guardian. And because of that, every member of our team passed with a distinction."

"But I didn't."

"Yes, you did."

"No, I didn't."

"Yes, you did, I saw it myself."

"..."