First day

Zoser left the central hall, heading towards the academy's wide corridors. The cold air brushed against his face, reminding him that this was not the end of the road but merely the beginning of a long journey.

He looked around and saw groups of students scattered throughout the place. Some were excitedly discussing the test, while others sat in silence, lost in thought. Amid this noise, Zoser felt a slight loneliness—he knew no one here.

Taking a deep breath, he walked slowly, observing the engravings carved into the academy's walls. They depicted warriors and heroes from past ages, those who had passed these same tests and become part of the academy's history. The details were so precise that the carved eyes seemed to watch him, silently evaluating his resolve.

He didn't notice the passage of time until the voice of Instructor Seth interrupted him, calling everyone to gather again. Zoser stood among the students, attentive to what was about to be said.

"You have all passed, but know that this is only the beginning," Seth announced. "You will now be divided into groups, each consisting of twenty students, and each group will have a supervisor. Their role is to assist you, handle your complaints, and investigate any issues you encounter."

He paused for a moment before continuing, holding small cards in his hand. "I will now distribute your identity cards. These are extremely important, so take care of them. You will understand their value when you begin your journey outside the academy."

The students stepped forward one by one to receive their cards. When Zoser received his, he looked at it and saw the number engraved on it: 37. This meant he was part of the second group, along with students numbered 21 to 40.

Some students raised their cards excitedly as if they had received the key to their future, while others looked at theirs hesitantly, unsure of what these numbers meant for their fate. Some immediately started searching for their groupmates, trying to form early friendships, while others chose to remain silent—just as Zoser did.

Instructor Seth's voice interrupted their thoughts again: "This concludes your first day at the Royal Academy. Head to your accommodations; tomorrow, your real journey begins."

The students moved towards the dormitories, each group having its own wing. The academy felt like an independent city, with vast training grounds, massive libraries filled with scrolls, and well-organized dormitories for the new students.

When Zoser reached the second group's building, he stood before the supervisor in charge of room assignments. The supervisor held a list of names, scanning it for number 37 before looking up and saying:

"Zoser, your room is Room 17. You can unlock it with your identity card. If you need anything, don't hesitate to contact me. Oh, one more thing—the dining hall is on the first floor. You can have dinner there. And don't forget to wake up early for the orientation session tomorrow."

Zoser thanked the supervisor and headed to the dining hall. As he entered, he noticed several eyes watching him. Some looked at him with curiosity, others with surprise, and some with clear disdain, while many didn't seem to care about his presence at all.

He moved to collect his meal, which was better than he had expected. As he searched for a place to sit, a boy with a broad frame and a cheerful voice called out to him:

"Come sit with us, little brother!"

There was an empty seat next to the boy. Seated at the same table were a young man and a girl. The girl didn't acknowledge Zoser's presence, completely focused on her food as if she hadn't eaten in days. Meanwhile, the young man gave him a friendly smile.

Zoser sat down, and the large boy extended his hand for a handshake, saying enthusiastically, "Nice to meet you! My name is Jibran."

Zoser smiled and shook his hand. "Pleasure to meet you all. I'm Zoser."

Jibran gestured toward his companions and said, "This is Yuro, and that's Hanji."

Yuro, a young man with sharp gray eyes and neatly combed silver hair, nodded in greeting. His posture was relaxed but carried an air of quiet confidence, as if he were always in control of any situation. His presence was neither imposing nor dismissive—just observant.

Hanji, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. With messy auburn hair that barely stayed in place and eyes filled with an insatiable hunger—both for food and, perhaps, for life itself—she barely acknowledged Zoser's introduction. She simply continued devouring her meal with unwavering focus, pausing only when her plate was completely empty.

As they ate, the group exchanged conversations, getting to know one another. They even swapped identity cards to see their group numbers. After dinner, they left the dining hall together before parting ways to their respective rooms.

Zoser climbed to the fifth floor, where his room was located. The building had six floors, with four rooms per floor, making space for twenty students in total. The first floor housed the supervisor's office and the dining hall, while the rest were dedicated to student accommodations.

When he entered his room, he found it better than he had expected. It had a comfortable bed, a private bathroom, a small kitchenette, a storage area for his belongings, and a window overlooking the neighboring group's building.

After arranging his things, he sat on his bed, reflecting on everything that had happened that day. He felt exhausted, but deep inside, there was also a spark of excitement for what lay ahead.

Finally, he lay down, closed his eyes, and prepared himself for a new day at the Royal Academy.