In the school library, most students were studying, trying to shore up any loose ends in their knowledge.
Some, however, were there simply because they loved books.
One such student was Alexandria Xott.
She was trying to enjoy the small mystery novel she held in her hands.
How does a blind girl read, you might ask?
Alexandria possessed the skill [Information Digest]. The skill was immensely helpful, allowing her to 'digest' any information as long as she could hold it. Said information would slowly unfold directly in her mind.
She was in the middle of this very process—until hushed whispers reached her ears, picked up only because of her enhanced senses skill.
It was a gift from her father to help with her blindness. And while her innate skill granted her a bootleg version of sight, this helped immensely too. Thanks to it, she picked up on a conversation between two girls seated three tables away.
"Did you hear? That lazy bastard Amit Neant is back from suspension!"
Alexandria's ear twitched. She tuned in more intently.
Amit Neant?The one from her dream.The maniac with a smile on his face as the whole city burned around him… as he fought a Zelk captain.
"Yes, I did! Do you believe the rumors running around?"
"What rumors?"
"You haven't heard?! The whole freshman class is talking about it! Apparently, Amit was in Tintor!"
"Tintor? Wasn't that the town that got completely destroyed by a surprise Zelk invasion? I heard nearly every single civilian was wiped out. Only a few adventurers and some mages from the guild survived."
"Exactly. But just recently, an interview from someone who was there made it into the school newspaper, so it's not surprising you haven't heard yet. According to the witness, a huge group of adventurers were hired as bodyguards for Amit. And then—boom. The invasion started not even seconds after they left the guild."
"Wait—what?"
"Yeah. During the invasion, the witness said they saw Amit battling a Squire-rank Zelk. Every time they looked over, that lazy bastard we all know had this devilish grin while fighting. And the biggest shock? He won. He decapitated the Zelk leader."
"That lazy bastard overcame a rank difference?! Can't a Squire-rank usually defeat over 40 Soldier-ranks? How did a Soldier-rank take on a Squire one-on-one and win? It has to be an inflated rumor."
"It's not just gossip. I didn't hear this from anyone—I read it in the official Eden Academy newspaper. You know that club doesn't mess around when it comes to verifying facts. If it's a lie, then the witness is the one lying."
Alexandria wasn't surprised by the information.But every time her dreams came true, it left her with an eerie feeling—like knowing about a surprise birthday party but being forced to act surprised… except darker. Much darker. Because her dreams were always about death, disaster, and destruction.
Still, this time was different. She was close. Maybe, just maybe, she could do something about it.
She didn't like violence, but if she could prevent a disaster for once…
She would kill Amit Neant to do so.
She only prayed to Sephia that, for once, her dream was wrong.
After all, who would want to kill a classmate?
***
Valentina was relaxing in her usual spot in the school park.
Eden Academy was so vast it could practically be called a mini-city, with how massive it was and the sheer number of accommodations it held.
She read a new five-star sword art novel titled The Bewitching Blade.
She'd gotten it by tricking some commoner boy into stealing it from his own family for her—by pretending to be interested in him for a few days, then saying it was the only thing she needed before they could begin their "courtship."
She giggled, remembering the idiot who believed her.What was his name again? Lester? Fester? She couldn't be bothered to remember.
A blonde girl with green eyes—eyes that reminded her of a snake—approached and sat down next to her.
Clare Helheim.
Valentina considered her a very useful tool. She tolerated Clare's bad jokes in exchange for information. And Clare… Clare was friendly, but never forgot a thing you told her. If you weren't close with her, everything you said would somehow be known to half the school within three days.
"Hello, Val."
"Hello, Clare."
"Your lazy ex-fiancé is back," said Clare, voice laced with mischief.
"Why are you bringing up that useless mage?"
Valentina had been thrilled to be rid of him. She'd thought he might at least be somewhat useful, but the idiot hadn't even been able to complete the one task she gave him.
"People are saying his suspension ended early because he killed a Squire-rank Zelk while still a Soldier-rank."
"Is it true?"
"I looked into it. Hard to believe, but… the official academy newspaper ran it. That makes it at least true enough."
Valentina's ears perked up.
Amit Neant?
The lazy, useless fiancé she had discarded… had done something impressive?
Even if it was only half-true, that made him interesting.
She decided then and there—she would go see Amit.
He had always been head-over-heels for her. He never dared lie to her, not even to make himself look better. She knew things about him. He was vulnerable around her.
If it was true…She might just be able to make use of him again.
***
Hamon Adams stood in the training grounds, gathering aether from the air—a quiet form of rest after intense sword practice.
Ever since unlocking his [Devour] skill, he had been training constantly, chasing strength with a single-minded obsession.
But today, something gnawed at his thoughts.
Amit Neant.
That lazy, bratty noble son who'd tried to ambush him—and failed miserably—then got suspended.
And now?
Now he was back.
Rumors were flying about how Amit had supposedly killed a Squire-ranked Zelk.
Hamon frowned.
Amit Neant? That spoiled coward? The one who got into Eden Academy just to appease his noble father?
No way!
He probably just stood back and let someone else do the work, then paid the witness to lie and say he was the one who did it. That sounded exactly like something he'd do.
Still…
His mind wandered to their confrontation in the courtyard.
Something about that bastard had felt… off.
"He didn't even flinch when I pressured him with my Squire-rank aura."
And now this?
Now he was hearing rumors about him defeating a Zelk captain?
Hamon didn't believe the story. But just in case…He trained harder.
There was no way he'd let some spoiled noble brat surpass him.