Novel Full Chapter 814: First Day Jitters (3)
Chapter 814: Chapter 814: First Day Jitters (3)
Gabriel’s fingers tightened around Cherry’s arm as they stepped through the academy’s towering gates, the morning sun glinting off polished steel filigree that framed the entrance like a cathedral’s arch.
Her face flushed a deeper shade of red than usual, though she quickly turned her head, muttering something about the chilly air to mask it.
The grounds sprawled before them, a pristine world of wealth and power that felt galaxies away from the cramped, lonely home in Brightstar City where Gabriel had lived off his uncle’s meager monthly stipends.
Smooth cobblestone paths wound through manicured hedges, their leaves shimmering with a faint spiritual glow, as if infused with starlight. Beds of spiritual flowers—petals pulsing in hues of violet and gold—released calming scents that did little to ease Gabriel’s churning stomach.
Students in navy-blue uniforms, tailored to perfection, hurried along, their enchanted gear on full display: rings that hummed with protective auras, amulets etched with offensive runes, and brooches that shimmered with contained spiritual power.
Gabriel’s hand drifted to Kain’s necklace, its tortoise-shaped pendant warm against his chest. H
Cherry tugged him forward, her red curls bouncing, a mischievous grin on her face despite the lingering flush on her cheeks. “You’ll love history class! Mr. Eldridge tells stories about the Empire’s founding and the epic battles against all kinds of powerful spiritual creatures that the Founders needed to defeat!” Her enthusiasm clashed with Gabriel’s dread.
She’d adjusted to this world faster, her extroverted nature smoothing out the rough edges of their poor upbringing, but Gabriel felt like he was walking into a lion’s den.
A group of students passed, their uniforms adorned with glittering pins and chains, their accents clipped and polished.
One girl glanced at Gabriel’s newly bought shoes that were not from any brand that they recognized and whispered, “New money, probably.” Gabriel’s face twitched but didn’t care enough to defend the shoe choice. These shoes had been provided by Kain as and he also didn’t know if they were expensive or not…unbeknownst to all of them those shoes were actually custom shoes designed by a prestigious designer who loved Kain’s elemental silk and had gifted these shoes to him. They were probably worth more than the entire wardrobes of some of the lower-ranked nobles looking down on Gabriel. Fortunately for Gabriel, the designer had gotten Kain’s size wrong, but they happened to be a perfect fit for Gabriel, and so were passed on to him.
Soon, much to Gabriel’s dismay, a crowd swarmed Cherry, their voices buzzing. “Cherry! Did Kain really take down Isolde’s Phoenix-Harpy fusion in the tournament?” a girl asked, her eyes wide. Kain’s fame as Dark Moon’s second-year (soon to be third-year) prodigy, dismantling elite tamers like Isolde, had spread like wildfire.
A boy with a gilded cufflink chimed in, “Impressive for a commoner, honestly. How’d he do it? It didn’t show clearly on the screen” His tone carried a hint of condescension, but another noble student nudged him out of the way and leaned closer, eager. “My family’s hoping to commission him for a contract evolution. Think he’d meet us?”
A short-haired girl decorated with all kinds of jewellery buzzing with spiritual power, nudged Cherry playfully, smirking. “And who’s this guy? Your boyfriend or what?”
Cherry scoffed, shoving the girl’s shoulder with a tense laugh and bright red face. “Pfft, him? Gabriel’s basically family at this point—don’t start rumors!” She glanced at Gabriel, her grin faltering for a split second as she checked his reaction, but he was staring at the ground, too anxious to notice.
Cherry deflected, “I get that you want to commission Kain, but I’m not his secretary!” The crowd laughed, some eyeing Gabriel. “Another Newman?” a girl asked, her tone warmer once she made the connection between the similar construction of his enchanted jewellery and Cherry: Gabriel’s a turtle and hers a tiger that clearly were made by the same blacksmith—though nobody suspected it was Exalted Grandmaster Halreth (Kain’s chosen reward for providing Source Energy periodically and additional metals from Pangea was naturally to increase the defenses of his family). “Lucky you.”
Gabriel forced a smile, his heart pounding. Kain’s wealth and status—surpassing some lower nobles—gave his siblings a shield, but not a perfect one. A boy in the back muttered, “Commoners climbing too fast,” his voice low but sharp. Cherry shot him a look, then leaned close to Gabriel, whispering, “Ignore them. Some nobles hate that Kain’s richer than their families now. Oh, and don’t stare at their gear—it’s rude, like gawking at their bank account.” She punctuated it with a playful elbow to his side, her grin wide but her cheeks still faintly pink. Gabriel nodded, his fingers brushing the necklace. He’d caught himself eyeing a girl’s glowing ring, its runes pulsing with power his uncle’s funds could never have bought.
Cherry nudged him toward the main hall, her voice low. “Another thing—when you talk to nobles, keep it casual but don’t interrupt. They get touchy if you cut them off, like you’re challenging their status.” She smirked, tossing her hair. “Learned that when I accidentally talked over Lord Varen’s kid last year. He broke out into a hysterical screaming and crying fit.”
Gabriel swallowed, his imposter syndrome flaring. Back in Brightstar, he’d never thought about status; survival was enough. Now, every word, every glance felt like a test. The hallway was a marvel—marble floors polished to a mirror sheen, walls lined with portraits of famous tamers who were also alumni of the school, their eyes seeming to judge him. Chandeliers of crystal and spiritual orbs cast a soft glow, and the air hummed with latent energy, as if the building itself were alive.
Their first class, cultivation theory, was held in a grand hall with tiered seats of polished oak circling a central platform. The ceiling was a dome of stained glass, depicting constellations that shimmered with faint spiritual light.
Ms. Vesper, a stern woman with silver-streaked hair and a probing gaze, stood at the platform, her navy robes embroidered with subtle runes. “Today, since it’s the first day of classes, I will be assessing your cultivation progress over the summer. None of you had better slacked off!” she announced, her voice echoing. Her eyes swept the class, lingering on Gabriel before beckoning him and two others to the front. “Let’s start with the new students.”