Morning reached as the sun began its slow ascent, dispersing the lingering darkness that had swallowed the world throughout the night. The pale golden rays pierced through the horizon like gentle spears, casting warmth over the Academy grounds. As usual, the morning sunlight poured through the large windows of Asher's room, illuminating the interior with a soft radiance as he slept peacefully, almost like a baby without the slightest worry in the world.

[Host, wake up. It's 7:40 AM]

His system chimed within his mind, the voice crisp and emotionless.. Hearing the notification echo gently in his consciousness, Asher's eyes fluttered open, his long lashes lifting slowly as he adjusted to the sudden brightness. With a faint exhale, he pushed himself up from the bed, stretching his limbs in a satisfying manner as his joints gave off a subtle, relieving crack.

After a pleasant stretch that stirred his still-drowsy muscles, he rose fully and stepped directly into the bathroom. The cold floor met his feet, grounding him in the moment as he turned on the tap for a quick bath. Within minutes, he was already out, droplets of water still sliding over his skin before he lazily dried himself with the towel now wrapped securely around his waist. His movements were smooth and unhurried, a quiet routine he had become accustomed to.

Heading toward the wardrobe, which was perfectly fitted against the wall of his bedroom, Asher pulled it open and scanned its contents. Since today's class was the Weapon Training class, he had no intention of wearing anything flashy or fancy that might restrict his movements. Clothing that looked good meant nothing if it hindered him in combat or made him uncomfortable while handling a weapon.

Besides, after the class today, he planned to check out some of the training facilities he had yet to explore. With twelve thousand five hundred points in his account, he was confident it would be more than enough to access at least a few of them. He had earned those points with 'effort,' and he saw no reason to let them sit unused.

With that thought in mind, he changed into a smooth, fitted set of clothing designed for flexibility and movement. The fabric clung comfortably to his frame without restricting him in the slightest. Once dressed, Asher headed toward the small table by the wall, his hand moving toward the button that would summon his meal directly upstairs.

However, just as his fingers hovered above the button, his hand paused mid-air. His expression remained calm, but a thoughtful glint passed through his eyes.

He had never once eaten in the cafeteria. As one of the top ten, he wasn't required to eat with the rest of the students, and meals had always been delivered to him without question. It was simply normal for someone of his ranking. But, after a few seconds of contemplation, Asher decided to change his routine today. He had never actually stepped into the cafeteria since arriving at Star Academy. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to see what it looked like.

With that silent decision reached, he withdrew his hand and turned away from the table, heading toward a basket resting quietly in the corner of the room. The basket was filled with his dirty clothes from the past few days. With a casual wave of his hand, the basket vanished into the space within his ring, stored neatly away for later.

'Am I forgetting anything?' Asher asked himself, pausing briefly.

'I should ask how much a scabbard is,' he thought, the image coming to mind once again.

He had been considering getting a scabbard made specifically for his rapier, Virelass. Of course, he had already consulted her about it, and to his mild surprise, Virelass had been enthusiastic about the idea, almost too enthusiastic. She had seemed strangely excited, as though the thought of being worn at his waist like a proper blade awakened something proud within her sentient nature. Asher could already envision himself walking with his rapier properly sheathed, his presence that of a swordmaster capable of cleaving the very heavens with a single strike.

He shook his head slightly to dismiss the unnecessary fantasy. Daydreams like that held no meaning… at least not yet.

With calm steps, he left his room. The cafeteria was located on the ground floor of the building, and stepping into the hallway, he didn't even bother approaching the stairs properly. Touching the staircase rail lightly with his fingertips, he vaulted over it without hesitation, jumping straight from the tenth floor.

The wind rushed against him briefly as he descended. Several students who were descending the lower staircase caught a glimpse of the Tenth Sun flashing past them like a falling shadow, but none of them reacted dramatically. They had seen him do this more than once. At this point, it had become almost a trademark of his, after all, he was probably the only one who blatantly disliked using the stairs.

But truly, Asher couldn't be blamed. Having originally come from Earth, he couldn't even remember the last time he had willingly used stairs in his past life. Elevators and escalators had been daily conveniences, while stairs were simply… an inconvenience he had long since grown unaccustomed to.

A soft ripple spread through the air as he approached the ground floor. Space itself froze around him for a brief moment, catching him mid-air, instantly dispelling his falling momentum like it had never existed. The world resumed, time unpausing, and Asher's feet touched the ground with a light, controlled step, without making a sound.

Without breaking stride, he made his way toward the cafeteria. The door was already open, and stepping inside, he was immediately greeted by the sight of numerous students moving around. Laughter and conversation filled the air, noise flowing like a river through the room as groups naturally formed their small circles. Many of them had grown close over the past days and had become what could loosely be called 'friends.'

Asher's eyes shifted toward the right side, where he noticed chefs and a few staff members standing behind a service area. His gaze then moved to the left, where a long table lined with chafing dishes stood. At first glance, it looked like Star Academy was serving a buffet, but he knew better. Nothing here was free.

Making his way to the table, Asher picked up a plate stacked neatly beneath the counter and began serving himself. He could already sense several eyes on him, curiosity, acknowledgment, or perhaps simple intrigue, but no one stared for too long. Once they confirmed his presence, they returned to their meals and conversations.

Asher sat alone, calm and unbothered. William was likely eating in his room, and Finch, who might have been here, was nowhere in sight yet.

He ate in silence, observing his classmates laugh and joke among themselves as they enjoyed their food and drinks. Their smiles and easy camaraderie formed an atmosphere he acknowledged but did not feel inclined to join. A few minutes passed, and once he finished his meal, he stood smoothly and left without a word.

This time, he headed toward the laundry building, which was situated just beside his residential hall. Stepping outside, he took a slight turn to the left, the morning air brushing lightly against his skin as he approached the laundry facility. He pushed the door open, and a small bell hanging just above jingled softly as it was nudged by the movement.

A man sat lazily behind a counter, leaning back in his chair with an expression that spoke of long-term routine. Behind him hung rows of clothes that had already been washed and sorted.

"Welcome. Each cloth costs two points. No matter what type of cloth it is or what material it's made from," the man stated in a dull tone, as though he had repeated the same line countless times.

Without responding verbally, Asher raised his hand and brought out the basket, setting it down as he poured out his clothes onto the counter. Once emptied, the basket vanished back into his space ring.

The man glanced over the pile briefly before speaking again. "That will be thirty-four points. They'll be ready twenty-four hours from now. If you want to retrieve them earlier than the arranged time, each cloth will cost three points instead of the usual two. It's also a pay-before-service system."

'Truly the Point Sucker Academy,' Asher thought dryly to himself.

His points card appeared in his hand. He let Astra flow into it before swiping it across the orb embedded into the counter, transferring exactly thirty-four points without hesitation. Transaction complete, he turned and walked away, neither he nor the man saying another word.

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