Charlotte was standing in front of the academy gate.
She wasn't in a hurry—but she wasn't at ease either. Her arms were crossed in front of her chest as she glanced every now and then at the stone road stretching beyond the walls, then back at the gate.
"He's late…"
She muttered it softly, with a faint frown she didn't bother to hide.
She didn't usually mind waiting.
But this time was different.
She was the one who had asked.
She was the one who had set the time.
And yet… she felt something close to nervousness.
She lifted her head when she noticed movement at the far end of the road.
A figure walking slowly, unhurried.
Calm footsteps. No rush.
Long white hair swayed lightly with each step, catching the light in a way that made it seem even paler than it was. Clear features. A steady gaze. A quiet presence.
Nyx.
Charlotte realized her eyes had lingered on him without meaning to.
He wasn't wearing anything special—the academy uniform as usual—but on him… it looked different. Not just because he was handsome—and he undeniably was—but because of the way he walked, the calmness he carried, the complete lack of concern for the gazes around him.
He stood out without trying.
She only snapped out of it when he came close enough to speak.
"Did you wait long?"
She stiffened for a moment.
"Ah—no, not really," she answered quickly, then added a second later, "I just arrived myself."
He looked at her for a few seconds, as if reading her expression, then said simply:
"Then… shall we go?"
She nodded.
"Let's."
They left the academy together.
The gates of Arkalion closed behind them with a heavy sound, cutting off the structured isolation imposed by the towering walls. Outside, the world felt more chaotic… and more alive.
They headed toward the center of Mirasel.
The city was lively, but not overwhelming. Wide streets. Shops lining the roads. Open-front restaurants and small cafés filled with students and workers. Training equipment stores, books, mana chips, even virtual combat simulation centers.
People moved quickly—but not anxiously. A city that knew its inhabitants and adapted to them.
They were still wearing the academy uniform.
That alone drew attention.
It wasn't strange—students of Arkalion Academy were recognizable wherever they went. The uniform itself was a symbol.
But Charlotte…
She wasn't just any student.
Her name alone appeared in news reports, forums, city displays. The only daughter of one of the most powerful awakened in the world. Even as a teenager, her mother's reputation preceded her by years.
To an ordinary person, seeing Charlotte walking down the street was like witnessing a legendary figure up close.
And yet—no one gathered around them.
No one dared.
It wasn't just because of her lineage.
It was the uniform.
The red lines tracing the edges of the jacket.
The golden insignia marking elite status.
The meticulously embroidered crest of Arkalion Academy.
They weren't just clothes.
They were a clear warning.
People looked… then looked away. That alone was enough.
A mistake here wouldn't mean embarrassment.
It could mean humiliation—or worse.
And for Nyx, that was… comfortable.
They stopped in front of an upscale tailor shop.
The kind that made you feel like merely standing at the entrance required a budget.
The interior walls were lined with holographic displays of suits and dresses, designs shifting smoothly, showcasing fine embroidery and customizable adjustments.
The door opened automatically.
An elegant assistant stepped forward immediately, wearing a perfectly practiced smile.
"Ah… Lady Charlotte. It is a pleasure to see you again."
"I Have you been here before?" I asked.
She shrugged casually, as though visiting luxury tailors was no different from ordinary people stopping by small shops.
"Of course," she said, stepping forward.
The assistant activated the measurement scanner—a thin red light traced her outline as numbers flowed across the display.
She barely reacted, clearly accustomed to the process.
Nyx, meanwhile, remained where he was, watching as another assistant gestured for him to step into the same scanning frame.
The scanner hummed as it began working.
Charlotte watched him with interest while he resisted the urge to move as laser beams calculated the width of his shoulders.
"You really haven't done this before, have you?" she asked, amusement coloring her voice.
"Not everyone has custom wardrobes made specifically for them like you do," he muttered.
She smiled, taking the comment as a compliment.
After a few minutes, the measurements were complete.
The tailor left them to browse the designs.
Charlotte lifted a holographic dress, slowly turning it as she examined the details.
"Any preferences?" she asked.
Nyx thought for a moment.
"Something that doesn't make me stand out too much."
She looked at him.
"Don't worry," she said with a faint smile. "You'll stand out no matter what."
He didn't reply.
After confirming their orders, they left the shop.
The city felt more alive as evening approached. Students wandering between cafés. Technology shops displaying equipment tailored for awakened individuals. Bookstores specializing in magic and mana engineering.
Charlotte stopped at a small sweets shop.
"Wait here," she said.
She returned a minute later holding a small box.
She then suggested walking around a bit while the orders were prepared. He didn't object. He didn't really mind.
In truth… he was partially looking forward to it.
Since reincarnating into this world, he hadn't had many chances to explore the city so simply. There was always a goal. Training. Combat. Planning.
This… was different.
They walked without haste.
They didn't talk much—but the silence wasn't heavy.
It was the kind that allowed thoughts to settle.
And somewhere between the streets, the lights, and their synchronized steps—
Nyx felt something subtle.
A sense that this day, in all its simplicity, might mark the beginning of a different phase.
Not better.
Just… different.
And for the first time in a while, he wasn't sure whether that was a good thing—or a bad one.
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