On the bed, a body lay sprawled messily. His white hair was disheveled and untrimmed. But still captivating enough to draw the breath of most people.
The rays of the sunlight poured into his hazel eyes.
"Is it morning already?" The words forced their way through his mouth as he raised his hand to cover his eyes.
He got up from his bed groggily, turning his eyes to the small table beside the bed.
On it, several papers containing several sketches.
He packed them together and put them into a folder.
"We are having the assessment today," he muttered, rising from the bed.
He only wore boxers. His chest was bare, but it showed his well-defined features.
Abs that seemed forged from flesh itself.
He walked towards the bathroom after selecting clothes from the wardrobe.
The soft sound of water clashing against tiles echoed, breaking the silence of the room.
After a few moments, the sound vanished, replaced by profound silence.
The boy did not leave.
Another thirty or so minutes passed.
The clicks of water beating the tiles came again, but only lasted a few minutes before they stopped again.
The boy came out again, smoke trailing behind him, covering his frame in a fog.
He slipped into his clothes immediately, not even waiting.
The haze had died down, and he was now visible. Walking to the mirror, he knotted his tie.
His attire, to say the least, was breathtaking.
It was the uniform of one of the most prestigious academies in the world, and such a thing was expected.
A white shirt, with deep black blazers that had crimson linens along their edges.
His tie was stripes of black and red.
His trousers were black. Ash socks. The shoe he wore was a deep matte black.
Paired with his peerless beauty, he felt more like a god than a human.
His white hair, once messy, had been trimmed carefully, stopping at his neck.
He picked the file from the table and stepped out of the room.
The hallway was lit dimly with white lights. Bright enough to make people see the way, but still not enough for people to see the entire hallway.
But he was still able to make out doors, similar to the one he had come out of, lining the entire hallway.
He was in the school's dorm. The academy required all students to stay in till they passed the assessment.
He stepped out of the entire dorm, descending the stairs with calm footwork.
The dormitory area was beautifully designed.
A single path that led straight to the main area.
The rest of the side was lined by flowers of different types.
Different colors and fragrance, but instead of conflicting, they blended, making the sight more serene.
Other students, wearing the same uniform as him, also walked towards the teaching area.
One thing was common among them: they each carried themselves with an aura of pride.
After walking for 5 minutes, the sight of the teaching area came into view. An entire acre of land, dedicated to teaching them.
Several buildings, each one labelled with different tags.
[Physical Training]
[Combat Class]
The names spread as far as the buildings went. But only one thing was common among them: they all had names that differed from the normal academy ones.
It was because Nexus Academy was only for players, people who have awakened their sigil but have not gone through the assessment yet.
It had only one aim: to create the best Players in the world. But it was not without cost.
They offered free training to all their cadets for a year of partnership with them if they passed the assessment.
But it was not the same for people who could afford the tuition.
Although they also stayed on campus, they owed the academy nothing after leaving.
He stopped before a classroom labelled Theory.
The door swung open with a soft click.
The classroom was big with over a hundred chairs. A projector was at the front, with a much bigger chair, clearly used by the teacher.
Some students were already seated in the class, each one talking about the game.
He ignored all of them and walked to a seat close to the window at the back. It was his usual seat.
"Eldrin, let me see your mark," the voice suddenly came from behind, sweet and carrying a tinge of flirt.
Eldrin sighed, turning to his left with a tired expression.
Beside him was a girl with silver hair tied in ponytails and large emerald eyes that accentuated her face. Her face was spotless and beautiful, like she was the incarnation of beauty itself.
"We've been through this countless time, what do you think I would say?" Eldrin asked, unbothered by the pretty face.
She puffed up, standing upright.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone you did not awaken a mark," She said, flinging her hair with a calm wave of her hand.
Before Eldrin could reply, another voice came from behind.
"Divina, leave him," the voice said, thick but playful.
"Sebastian, since when did you care about Eldrin?" Divina asked with raised brows.
Even Eldrin furrowed his brows.
Walking forward was a boy of slim build with silver curly hair that hung neatly atop his head. Blue, icy eyes that seemed to pierce through people's souls.
"Why can't I? We would be players soon, shouldn't we get acquainted?" The boy asked, a smile still plastered on his face.
"Or you are just looking for someone to carry you in the game," another voice came, this one smoother and more graceful.
The girl reached them, with emerald eyes that radiated knowledge and silver, untamed hair that reached her waist.
"Even Celeste?" Divina pouted as she did not like what was happening.
Neither did Eldrin. Although he was Friends with Divina before now, his only engagement with the other two was nods, one of acknowledgement rather than friendship.
At some point, the noise in the class stopped, and everyone focused on Eldrin's seat where the drama was unfolding.
The Lancaster triplets, all gathered because of one person.
Although it was Eldrin, the smartest in their class and the heir to the Thornwood corporation, it did not warrant the attention of the Lancasters.