[: Daniel's POV :]

Most of the day was spent with Mika as she once again walked me through the structure of the academy and shared countless details I'd need to avoid embarrassing myself later.

She was surprisingly diligent as a guide, like a cosmic mother hen doing her best to ensure her newest troublemaking child didn't accidentally raze the school on his first day.

After that, she sent me off to familiarise myself with the academy grounds.

And honestly? The place was gigantic.

Massive courtyards, towering buildings, training arenas that looked like they could host a war between Gods.

The air here felt thicker with mana, like the entire landscape thrummed with life and potential.

No wonder this academy produced the continent's most powerful future pillars.

But priorities.

If I didn't want to wander like a lost puppy later, the first place I needed to find was the male dormitory.

So I set my course there first.

As I walked, I couldn't help but marvel again at how enormous this place really was.

Mika hadn't exaggerated; this wasn't just an academy, it was practically its own city.

Every time I turned a corner, there was some new colossal structure staring at me like, 'Welcome to the reminder that you're tiny compared to the future elites here'

And then there was the matter of the rooming system.

Apparently, every room had two occupants.

Which meant… roommate.

I could only pray to whatever cosmic beings might be listening that my roommate would not turn out to be a complete dickhead.

Because I really didn't want to deal with dorm drama on top of world-threatening invasions and intergalactic politics.

Minutes later, I finally reached the dormitory building that Mika assigned to me.

It was built like a fortress, with thick walls, reinforced magic barriers, and runic inscriptions everywhere.

If an explosion went off inside, the academy would probably just shrug.

Stepping inside, I noticed that despite the academy's grandeur, the dorm interior was surprisingly modest.

It was clean, organised, but not flashy. Mika had explained the reason for that earlier:

In this academy, all students were equal.

Regardless of whether you were a commoner or a blue-blooded noble who grew up bathing in rare elixirs, the academy demanded the same treatment from everyone.

Titles and statuses meant nothing inside the walls.

At least… officially.

Mika did warn me there were limits to what she could enforce.

She could ensure that rules were applied equally and punish those who abused power.

But she couldn't force how commoners felt about nobles.

If they bowed their heads, did favours, or tried to curry their approval?

That was their choice.

If they allowed themselves to be stepped on out of fear for their future after graduation?

She couldn't physically change that mindset.

And even bullying… while she would intervene if teachers were informed, most commoners stayed silent.

Because once they left these protective walls, the reality outside was unforgiving.

If a commoner offended the wrong noble, their entire family could be ruined.

And in this world, power dictated everything.

Unless a commoner awakened with a power so absurd it shattered expectations, something universally acknowledged by the continent, nobles would remain on top.

And the number of commoners who reached that kind of greatness?

Rare.

Very rare.

I understood their fear.

The academy was a temporary shelter… not salvation.

If they lived comfortably for a few years here, only to starve or be hunted later?

They'd rather endure humiliation now…if it meant they might stand a chance later.

Because for some, bending the knee was the only way to survive.

I clenched my fist slightly at the thought.

Not because I pitied them, though I did, but because I hated how people accepted chains as if they were normal.

If you bow too much… one day you forget how to stand.

But I wasn't here to lecture them.

I wasn't their saviour. And I didn't plan to create a revolution on day one.

Still… perhaps in time, I could do something.

With Mika evolving, with the system, with what I planned to build…

Maybe one day, this academy wouldn't have to divide people into those who bow and those who step.

For now, though?

I had enough on my plate.

Like figuring out whether that number on the door ahead meant I'd found my room, or if I was about to walk into someone else's and trigger a duel to the death.

I double-checked the slip Mika gave me.

Yup.

Right room.

Well… time to meet my mystery roommate and find out whether my college life would be peaceful or the beginning of a long, exhausting comedy-horror arc.

I took a breath.

Then knocked lightly.

"Here goes nothing," I muttered.

I turned the handle and pushed the door open.

And the very first thing I heard wasn't a greeting.

It was.

"Who the fuck are you?"

A sixteen-year-old boy stood in the middle of the room, arms crossed, glare sharp enough to skin a dragon.

He had messy black hair, eyes like storm clouds ready to strike, and by the look on his face, zero interest in making friends.

Ah. Wonderful.

Of course, my first interaction had to be with someone who radiated "problem."

I let out a silent sigh before speaking.

"I'm Daniel. Your roommate, apparently."

His scowl deepened as if the universe had just dealt him the worst possible hand.

"Great," he muttered with a dramatic roll of his eyes. "Just when I thought I'd finally have the room to myself… another noble shows up."

A noble?

I hadn't even said anything about my background yet.

I raised a brow.

"You're very perceptive."

"It's obvious," he snorted, gesturing at me with disgust.

"You walk stiff, your posture screams 'I've had etiquette lessons shoved into my spine,' and that tone, yeah, you're definitely one of those pampered, holier-than-thou nobles."

He spoke of "nobles" as if they were a disease.

It hasn't been even that long since I became the prince, had the postures I learned from Maiya changed that fast...?

Or was it his eyes that were just that keen?

Maybe it's the latter.

I held back a groan.

This guy wasn't just rude; he despised nobles on principle.

"I am technically a noble," I admitted, already regretting it. "But I'm not"

"Save it," he cut me off, waving his hand in dismissal.

"You nobles always think you're different. But in the end? You're all the same."

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"And you? What's your name?"

"Frendrick."

He turned his back on me immediately and continued unpacking, aggressively tossing shirts into a drawer like they had personally offended him.

Honestly, for a rude brat, he had quite the dramatic flair.

I stepped inside and closed the door behind me, observing the room layout.

Two beds, two desks, one window, simple and efficient.

My side was bare.

It looked like a hurricane had just passed through.

"Nice to meet you, too, Frendrick," I muttered.

"I didn't say I was happy to meet you," he shot back without turning.

Yep.

This was going to be a long year.

I dropped my bag on my bed and started unpacking.

The silence between us lingered, thick and uncomfortable, until Frendrick scoffed again.

"So? Which prestigious family vomited you into this academy?"

I glanced at him.

"Is that really how you talk to people?"

"It's how I talk to nobles."

The venom in that word again.

His head snapped toward me, annoyed that I didn't defend the pride of nobility like he expected.

"You're a weird noble," he said suspiciously.

"Aren't nobles supposed to brag? Flaunt wealth? Demand people kneel or whatever?"

"I left my kneeling slaves at home," I deadpanned.

Frendrick blinked.

Then frowned harder.

"I can't tell if you're joking or just a prick."

"Why not both?" I shrugged.

He stared at me for a moment longer, searching for something in my expression, maybe arrogance, superiority, or a hidden insult.

But he must've found nothing, because his gaze faltered slightly before he looked away with a silent scoff.

"…Still a noble," he muttered.

I continued unpacking as he grumbled under his breath.

Despite all the attitude he threw at me, I realised something important:

Frendrick wasn't a bad person.

He was just angry.

Angry at the world that pushed him down.

Angry at nobles who stepped on him.

Angry that someone like me now shared the same space as him.

So instead of firing back, I simply nodded.

"Fair enough."

He glanced at me, confused that I didn't push.

Again, expectations subverted.

"You're weird," he muttered. "Weird and annoying."

"Glad to hear we're bonding," I smiled.

He groaned loudly and flopped onto his bed.

"I already hate this year…"

"Don't worry," I said sweetly. "The feeling is mutual."

Silence again.

But this time, it wasn't as heavy.

I finished arranging my things and sat down on my bed.

Frendrick was staring at the ceiling, jaw clenched as if wrestling with his own thoughts.

After a moment, he spoke with his voice quieter, almost reluctant.

"…Look. I don't care what noble house you're from. Just don't get in my way. Don't give orders. And don't expect me to follow you around like some dog."

"Wasn't planning on it."

"And don't talk to me like you're better than me."

"I don't think that," I replied truthfully.

He peeked at me again.

Suspicion still lingered in his eyes, but there was something else too, the slightest hint of relief.

"…Good."

He rolled over, facing the wall.

"But if you turn out to be like the rest… I'll make you regret it."

I leaned back, hands behind my head.

"You can try," I replied, a small smirk forming.

Frendrick stiffened, then huffed.

"Cocky noble."

"Dickhead."

"Tch."

A long pause.

"…Welcome to hell, Daniel."

I chuckled softly.

"Looking forward to it, Frendrick."

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