After my father left, I went about unpacking clothes from my Inventory into my room, reflecting on the bittersweet mix of independence and apprehension I felt in this new chapter of my life. The thrill of finally stepping out on my own was tempered by the weight of uncertainty—new surroundings, unfamiliar faces, and the daunting task of proving myself in a place filled with exceptional talents.

It was not a large room, holding only a bed, a simple dresser, and a small desk. The minimal furnishings gave it a plain but functional atmosphere, leaving me to wonder how much time I would spend here versus exploring the world beyond these walls. The walls were painted a neutral gray, offering little in the way of inspiration, but the sunlight streaming through the small window softened the starkness.

The bathrooms were communal, and there were two to each hall. Their shared nature fostered a sense of camaraderie among the students, forcing us to adapt to each other's schedules and quirks. These spaces would became impromptu meeting points where conversations ranged from light-hearted banter to deep discussions, adding to the unique dynamic of dorm life.

When you entered the building, there was a lobby area where people could hang out and socialize, engaging in animated conversations, playing games, or simply relaxing in the cozy seating areas scattered throughout. Plush chairs and sturdy tables were arranged in small clusters, while soft lighting added a welcoming glow to the space. At the back of the room, a set of stairs led upward from the lobby. Each floor had a hall, and each hall had twenty rooms, ten on each side, with two restrooms strategically placed at either end to minimize inconvenience.

When I was finished unpacking, I decided to take a walk around campus to get a better feel for the layout. Naturally, my first stop was the cafeteria because, let’s be honest, knowing where the food is can make or break your day. The cafeteria was a sensory overload in the best way possible: bustling with students and brimming with energy. The aroma of freshly grilled meats mingled with the tangy zest of vegetarian dishes and the sweetness of baked goods, creating a mouthwatering symphony that made my stomach growl louder than I’d like to admit.

There were probably close to fifty lines, each offering a dizzying variety of options, from sizzling stir-fries to vibrant salads that looked almost too good to eat. It felt more like a high-end food court than a school cafeteria. After a quick glance at the campus map, I realized this wasn’t even the only cafeteria on campus, which only added to the school’s absurd scale. Wanting something portable, I grabbed a sandwich that looked like it could win a food competition and headed on my way, already plotting which lines I’d hit next time.

The first place I decided to explore was the auditorium, where orientation was scheduled for tomorrow. The building was massive, its towering structure an imposing presence on campus. With seating for nearly two thousand people, it seemed designed to handle significant events with ease. Thankfully, from what I’d heard, the auditorium was primarily used for class-specific gatherings, meaning it wouldn’t often be packed to capacity. That was a relief—I’d never been a fan of large crowds. The idea of sitting in a room full of strangers was far less appealing than the prospect of forming a few meaningful connections. Give me a small circle of people over a sea of unfamiliar faces any day.

The next thing that caught my attention was the arena, and it was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Towering even larger than the auditorium, it was a colossal structure that seemed to dominate the campus skyline. The seating alone could probably accommodate every student in the school with room to spare, and the scale of the field inside was staggering—reminiscent of a football stadium, but with a field that stretched to nearly twice the size. Its design hinted at its versatility, with enough space to host not just large-scale events but multiple simultaneous activities.

Walking through the open gates, I could imagine the energy this space must hold during competitions or school tournaments. The smooth stone steps leading to the seating areas gleamed under the sun, and the faint echoes of distant conversations and practice matches lent the arena a constant sense of life. It wasn’t hard to picture multiple classes training here at the same time, the sheer size of the place making it feel like its own bustling ecosystem.

After soaking in the grandeur of the arena, I wandered through several other buildings that I suspected were classrooms. The contrast between the imposing arena and the smaller, more functional buildings made the scale of the school even more apparent. Each space seemed tailored for a specific purpose, reinforcing the idea that this was not just a school but a hub for cultivating greatness.

From the moment I left the cafeteria, my Panoptic Sense alerted me to the subtle presence of someone following me. It wasn’t just a random passerby—there was a quiet precision in their movements, a steady persistence that at once piqued my curiosity and set me on edge. They maintained a deliberate distance, far enough to avoid suspicion but close enough to keep me in sight at all times. Their unwavering focus felt less like a threat and more like an observation, as though they were studying me from the shadows. The tension of their pursuit wasn’t overtly hostile, but it wasn’t entirely benign either, which only deepened my desire to uncover their motives. No matter how I moved, they kept their eyes locked on me, their presence an ever-present ripple in my awareness.

As I wandered around the campus, admiring the buildings and soaking in the atmosphere, my curiosity finally got the better of me. I decided it was time to figure out who this mysterious follower was. Spotting an opportunity, I casually veered around the corner of a building. The moment I was out of sight, I bolted for the nearest hiding spot, a sturdy tree not far from the structure. Sliding behind its broad trunk, I pressed myself against the bark and waited, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and anticipation.

A few seconds after I ducked behind the tree, the person appeared around the corner of the building, glancing around, clearly searching for me. She was slightly taller than average, standing close to five feet, her long golden blonde hair catching the light as it swayed gently with her movements. Her focus was unwavering, and curiosity burned in her eyes. Deciding it was worth the risk, I used Identify on her now that I could clearly make out her feminine form.

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Evelyn Magnalon- Level 6 – Talent: Sovereign Instincts

As soon as I used Identify, her head snapped toward me with unnerving precision. My pulse quickened, a mix of surprise and apprehension coursing through me as I realized her talent must have alerted her to my actions. The sharpness of her response left me momentarily frozen, caught between the thrill of discovery and the sinking feeling that I’d overstepped a line. In that instant, our interaction shifted, the air thick with a tension that suggested this encounter was about to get far more complicated than I had anticipated.

Although I didn’t think she could see me, I decided to step out from behind the tree, curiosity outweighing caution. I walked toward her slowly, deliberately, stopping about ten feet away to avoid coming across as intimidating. My posture was relaxed, hands slightly raised to signal that I wasn’t upset or angry—just genuinely curious about why she had been following me.

“Why have you been following—” I began, but she cut me off sharply.

“What did you just do?” she demanded, her tone sharp and accusing, like she had just caught me red-handed in some elaborate scheme.

“I think you’re the one who owes me an explanation, princess,” I replied, emphasizing the title with a smirk. "I’m not the one who’s been trailing someone around for hours." Her eyes widened in shock, the comical expression making it hard not to laugh.

“How do you know who I am?” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly, though her gaze remained locked on me, unwavering.

"Tell you what," I said, folding my arms. "You explain why you were following me, and no matter what your reason is, I’ll tell you how I know you’re the princess."

She stared at me for a long moment before saying, “My talent said you were strong, and I would rather not collaborate with my brother. He is a very strong, and a great frontline fighter; however, due to politics, it is better for both of us if I do not work with him. Now answer before I choose to have a guard come and take you in for questioning. I have never been in public before, and it was never announced that there was a princess.”

It was my turn to stare at her, my mind racing as I weighed my options. I had made a promise, and while I wasn’t planning to reveal the full truth, I didn’t want to risk upsetting her. She had been honest with me, offering an explanation that she could have easily sugarcoated or lied about. Instead, she chose sincerity—a choice that left me feeling both impressed and obligated to tread carefully.

Not only that, but my father from Earth instilled in me a belief that I’ve carried ever since: a man’s word is the only thing that is truly his. If you can’t keep your word, then what good are you to anyone else? It was a simple philosophy, but one that carried a weight I couldn’t ignore.

“Can you keep a secret? I’m not talking about something like a ten-year-old normally asks, but I want something more binding,” I spoke.

“Being the princess isn’t just a birthright; it’s a responsibility—a burden to protect those who depend on me. Because of this, there exists an ancient talent passed down through royalty, one that allows us to give a vow of silence. It’s a powerful bond, ensuring that anything you choose to share with me, depending on the wording, can never be revealed to anyone else.”

“Promise that you will not tell another person or creature knowingly or unknowingly, willingly or unwillingly, without my consent anything I tell you about myself, and I’ll tell you,” I said, keeping my tone calm but firm. My father had made sure I understood the weight of such a vow, when a member of royalty offers it, it’s not something to take lightly. He had drilled into me that their word, bound by this ancient talent, could be trusted beyond doubt.

He also made it abundantly clear that lying to royalty was a terrible idea. Apparently, another talent granted members of the royal family the ability to discern truth from lies. I assumed it wasn’t foolproof—more reliant on the speaker’s belief than on objective reality. Otherwise, you could just ask any random person and uncover every secret of the universe. Still, the idea that she might sense even the slightest deception added a layer of tension to the moment, making me choose my words carefully.

“There are more loopholes to your statement than you realize, but I will accept it in the spirit it was intended instead of word for word. My talent is telling me that if I do that, I will gain more. I am also only telling you this as my talent says to be honest with you.” As she spoke, a golden light seemed to descend on her, but it did not radiate any light. It was as though only I could see it.

“If what my father said is true, you royals have the ability to tell truth from lie, correct? Well, here is the truth. I have a skill that allows me to know things,” I said, leaving it short and sweet without telling her more. I would let her guess as to anything more about it.

“That’s it? You have a skill that lets you know things? How does it even work? Is it part of your talent or just something you were born with? Do you have some kind of secret bloodline? How much can you actually find out with it?” she rattled off at a speed that made my head spin. I didn’t even get the chance to answer her first question before she kept piling on more, her curiosity spilling out in a relentless stream of inquiries.

“If I decide to throw a rock at you, will you know that? Is it a fate perception skill? Can you change fates? Are you a Fate Bender?”

“WOAH, WOAH, woah, slow down there. Let’s start with it has nothing to do with fate, and I am not a Fate Bender. As for the rest of the information, I’m not going to tell you that. Earn my trust, and maybe later I will tell you more. Who knows, if we become close enough, I’ll even show you how it works,” I said with a wink before turning around and walking toward my dorm.

Through my Panoptic Sense, I noticed her open her mouth as if to say something more, but then she hesitated. Perhaps her talent told her she wouldn’t get anything else out of me that night. Instead, she stood there, staring at me for a moment longer, her expression a mixture of frustration and curiosity. Finally, with a slight shake of her head, she turned and walked off toward what I assumed was her own dorm, leaving the air between us heavy with unspoken thoughts and lingering tension.

Once back at my dorm, I noticed a group of boys gathered in the lounge, their laughter and playful banter filling the space. For a moment, I considered joining them, but the weight of the day pressed heavily on my thoughts. Instead, I retreated to my room, my mind spinning with the implications of sharing personal information with the princess of my nation. My father had always spoken with certainty about the honor and trustworthiness of the royal family, yet even he had not recommended to add the royal family to the system right away.

I suspect my father’s unwavering trust in the royal family had rubbed off on me. As a ten-year-old, I believed in his judgment so deeply that it gave me the courage to take a calculated risk in telling her. He had always spoken with reverence about the honor and reliability of the royals, painting them as paragons of integrity. That belief became my foundation in this pivotal moment.

Still, I couldn’t shake the lingering doubt. I would know soon enough if she intended to keep her word, her brother’s presence would be the first clue if she didn’t. With his talent and unshakable belief in his invulnerability, I doubted he’d hesitate to confront me, no matter the circumstances. The thought was sobering but also clarified the stakes of the trust I had placed in her.