Chapter 32: A whole day

By the time Kieran returned to his dorm, his mind was buzzing. He had barely processed the overwhelming experiences from the portal dimension—the fights, the level ups, and the strange, sentient energy pulsing within him. Now that he had a moment to breathe, all he wanted was to sit, reflect, and try to piece it all together. His body still ached faintly, but more than anything, he was mentally exhausted. He pushed the door open and slipped into the room, letting out a deep sigh as he closed it behind him.

He took a few slow steps, dropped onto his bed, and stared at the ceiling. So I can now control the abyssal energy… whatever that truly means. I've fought thirteen beasts, killed thirty in total, and somehow I'm still standing. He clenched and unclenched his hand, watching the faint shimmer of the energy flicker around his fingers before vanishing again.

But what now? That portal… the system... if the school finds out— His thoughts were abruptly cut off as the dorm door flew open.

"KIERAN?!"

Jack and Nathan stood at the doorway, jaws slack in disbelief.

Kieran's eyes widened as he jolted upright. "What the hell?"

"You're actually alive?" Nathan exclaimed, stepping in quickly. "Dude, we thought something happened to you!"

Jack shut the door behind them, still staring. "You've been gone all day! You missed every single class! And combat training!"

Kieran blinked. "Wait… all day?"

Jack narrowed his eyes. "Don't play dumb. You weren't even in the building during roll call this morning."

Nathan crossed his arms. "Not in homeroom, not in theory class, not in combat training. You just vanished."

Kieran rubbed the back of his neck, feigning sheepishness. "Yeah, I know. I'm sorry. I went out to clear my head… ended up at some quiet spot near the cliffs behind the academy. Guess I lost track of time."

Jack frowned, unconvinced. "Dude, we live in a hunter academy. People don't just wander off, especially not with portals popping up randomly."

Kieran gave a dry laugh. "Yeah… fair point. But I just needed some time alone. That's all."

Nathan raised a brow. "You didn't get caught by an instructor or anything, right?"

"Nope. No trouble, no lectures. Just a bit of air and a nap." Kieran forced a light chuckle, trying to steer the conversation away. "I know I missed combat training. Was it bad?"

Jack scoffed. "Bad? Nah, more like boring. Some warm-ups and basic weapon drills. The real action starts next week."

Kieran nodded, visibly relieved. "Good. Thought I missed something important."

The three of them sat down, and a more relaxed atmosphere settled over the room. The tension of Kieran's absence faded a little, replaced by the buzz of anticipation that hung over the entire academy.

"So," Nathan said, changing the subject, "next week's going to be wild. They're starting practical dungeon simulations, and the first team trials are coming up too."

"Everyone's preparing," Jack added. "We just came from the weapons plaza. The school opened the exchange system today."

Kieran perked up. "Exchange system?"

"Yeah," Nathan nodded. "It's actually kinda cool. Every student's daily allowance? You can convert it into points. Then use those points to get weapons, armor, tools—whatever you need. The school's got its own stores, and the prices are set low so everyone gets a fair shot."

"They set the prices super low to make it affordable for everyone," Jack chimed in. "Like, an iron-grade short sword? Just 30 points. A basic leather armor set? 50."

"The school doesn't want rich students having too much of an advantage," Nathan continued. "So they made it fair. You can even rent gear instead of buying outright if you're low on points."

Kieran crossed his arms thoughtfully. "That's… actually pretty smart. Makes sure no one's left behind."

"Exactly," Jack said. "There are categories too—melee weapons, ranged gear, light and heavy armor, even a separate section for ability-enhancing tools and consumables."

"Most of it is beginner stuff," Nathan added. "But the quality is solid. And it's a good way to gear up before things start getting dangerous."

Kieran sat in silence for a moment, digesting the information. I wonder how the system's store compares to the school's exchange prices. Which one is cheaper.

"I think I'll tag along," Kieran said, rising from his bed. "Might as well see what they've got."

Nathan grinned. "Nice! We were planning to head back after dinner. Crowds should be thinner by then."

"Don't forget," Jack added, "students are already forming early teams. People are picking gear based on their roles—some going full offense, others stacking defense. It's kind of chaotic, but fun."

Kieran nodded. He hadn't really thought about team dynamics yet, but with the system enhancing his growth, he needed to plan carefully. If I go in too overpowered, people will ask questions. But if I underperform, I might not survive the simulations. Striking a balance would be essential.

"Let's go after dinner, then," Kieran said. "I'll check it out."

As the evening settled in, and the three continued chatting about equipment, roles, and strategy, Kieran found a strange sense of comfort in the ordinary chaos. For now, the portal was behind him. The system was quiet. And despite all the secrets he held, this moment felt… normal.

But he knew it wouldn't last. Not for long.