School Day

The warm, gentle morning light slipped through the curtains, slowly rousing Eryon from his deep sleep.

He glanced at the clock on his bedside table and murmured, "7:25. Time for school."

A warm shower washed away the last traces of drowsiness, refreshing his body and mind. Once done, he slipped into a crisp white shirt and black trousers—simple, neat, and effortless.

In the kitchen, he made himself a quick breakfast—toast with peanut butter. Simple, yet satisfying. "Perfect," he muttered before taking a bite.

Grabbing his bag and keys, he stepped outside and headed toward his Mercedes-Benz—a gift from his older brother for his 18th birthday. Every time he started the engine, a quiet sense of gratitude filled him.

Yesterday had been a full day of rest, doing absolutely nothing. Now, he felt recharged. Coincidentally, school had been canceled due to the aftermath of yesterday's raid attack, giving him even more time to relax.

...

Fifteen minutes later, Eryon arrived at the school grounds. A towering monument with the words Adenville High School engraved on it welcomed him at the entrance. Without wasting time, he steered into the parking lot.

Only a handful of other cars were parked there. This lot was reserved for private vehicles, and only a select few students drove their own—mostly those from wealthy families.

Turning off the engine, Eryon stepped out, casually making his way toward his classroom.

Adenville High School was a private institution, but unlike other elite schools, it didn't focus on training students to become Awakeners. It was a general school meant for those without talent in that field.

Why the previous owner of this body had chosen to enroll here was a mystery to him, especially considering he had decent potential as an Awakener.

There were several high schools specifically designed to nurture future Awakeners, many of them affiliated with academies or guilds.

Speaking of guilds, they were Awakener organizations with their own rankings, usually led by powerful corporations or individuals. Their hierarchy ranged from D to S.

Some of the most well-known guilds in England included Eclipse Legion, Celestial Hunters, Scavenger, and a few others.

As he walked, a soft voice drifted through the air, light as a summer breeze.

"Eryon."

He turned toward the familiar voice—and there she was.

The memories surfaced instantly. Candice Evergreen. His girlfriend.

She was stunning—her short black hair framing a beautiful face, her figure effortlessly elegant.

"Hey, good morning," Candice greeted him, a warm smile lighting up her features.

"Good morning, Candice," he replied, mirroring her smile.

Candice studied him for a moment before saying, "You've seemed… different lately, Eryon."

Eryon, now wrapping an arm around her waist, responded casually, "Really? I hadn't noticed."

Candice chuckled softly. "Eryon, people are staring. Aren't you embarrassed?"

Eryon smirked, leaning in just enough for his breath to brush against her ear. "Why would I be? We could even kiss right here if you want."

Candice's cheeks immediately flushed, the crimson tint stark against her dark hair. She lowered her gaze, her heartbeat quickening, her lips curling into an unreadable smile.

"Eryon… I wanted to ask you something," she murmured.

His gaze softened. "What is it?"

Candice took a deep breath, then finally said, "After school… would you go on a date with me?"

Eryon hesitated. He'd actually planned to go monster hunting after school. But seeing the quiet hope in Candice's eyes, he knew he couldn't say no.

"Of course. I'd love to."

Her smile deepened. "Thank you, Eryon."

In the middle of the bustling schoolyard, the world seemed to shrink until it was just the two of them.

Eryon enjoyed the warmth of her embrace, his fingers instinctively threading through her hair.

But their moment was cut short by the presence of someone approaching.

A tall, poised girl strode toward them. Her uniform bore the emblem of the student council, and the name tag on her chest read Veronica.

"This doesn't seem like the best place for that," Veronica remarked, crossing her arms, her tone firm.

Eryon let go of Candice, turning to meet Veronica's gaze with an easy, unreadable expression.

"We were just saying goodbye before class," he said, then glanced at the insignia on her uniform. "Veronica," he added, flashing a charming smile.

Veronica's expression remained unreadable. "Did the hug really need to be that long?"

Eryon chuckled. "We were just enjoying ourselves. No harm done."

Veronica's brows knitted slightly. "I'm not sure breaking the rules counts as 'enjoying yourselves.'"

Eryon stepped closer, lowering his voice just enough to be playful. "Maybe you need to loosen up a little, Veronica. Life's too short to be so serious."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, but after a moment, she exhaled. "Just get to class."

"Of course, Miss Veronica," Eryon said smoothly, taking Candice's hand again and leading her away—ignoring the sharp gaze following them.

As they disappeared down the hall, Veronica simply shook her head. This wasn't the first time she'd dealt with him.

...

Eryon and Candice made their way up to the third floor before parting ways for their separate classrooms, which were right next to each other.

The moment Eryon stepped inside, the hum of students chatting filled the air. The scent of pencil shavings and crisp textbook pages lingered in the background.

He made his way to his usual seat—by the window at the back—where he could see the schoolyard from above.

"Yo, Eryon."

He turned to see a lanky teenager his age with sharp features—William Blake, his closest friend. William walked over and plopped into the seat in front of him.

"William, you look way too happy today. Did you finally get back with your girlfriend?" Eryon teased.

William's face immediately darkened. "Come on, man, don't bring that up. I have an extra ticket for a concert tonight. You in?"

"Who's performing?"

"Billy Stylish. The lead singer's supposed to be hot as hell. Interested?"

Eryon considered it for a second before shaking his head. "Thanks, but I already have plans with Candice."

William sighed dramatically. "If it's Candice, I guess I don't stand a chance. Have fun, man."

Eryon smirked and nodded.

Not long after, their teacher walked in, signaling the start of class.

"Alright, everyone, turn to page 69. Today, we're diving into quantum mechanics..."

....

By noon, school was over.

Eryon and Candice strolled toward the parking lot, slipping into his Mercedes-Benz.

As the school faded in the rearview mirror, the long day gave way to an evening that promised something far more interesting.