The night was shrouded in a dense fog, blurring the edges of the world and muting the glow of roadside gas lamps. Even passersby appeared only as vague silhouettes drifting through the haze. Nyxir and Ivarin remained on the spot watching Kreal approach them from the side.
"Chris asked me to tell you to be present for tomorrow's icebreaker. It is taking place in the dungeon evening. It is just an informal introduction among the several recruits that joined the guild." Kreal explained and immediately turned around to leave.
"How did he even recognize us in this thick fog? I could not even see my hand properly." Nyxir mumbled after Kreal has gone out of sight.
"You shouldn't take their group lightly, like I'm no longer surprised at anything they do; otherwise, why do you think they are the strongest in our ascendance?" Ivarin just shrugged and continued moving forward.
"I don't think I recall a strong person like them during the awakening ceremony." Nyxir thought for a few seconds and replied.
"That was because they didn't attend. They were already able to use some form of abilities before awakening, and they were later taken in by the guild even before the awakening ceremony."
"My guess is they did a private awakening and assessment for them," Ivarin concluded.
"Are they from a big clan or something?" Nyxir couldn't resist gleaning more information on the trio, particularly Kreal, and since Ivarin had some information on them, he didn't want to waste time looking around blindly. He decided it was best to get some information from Ivarin.
"Well, I don't know much, just that they are from a place called Scourge." Ivarin raised his eyebrow, trying to recall the details.
"What is a scourge?" Nyxir could no longer hold his curiosity.
"The scourge isn't a well-known place, but it recently became the hottest topic when they showed up in our ascendance. It is supposedly outside the barricade or something."
"Outside, as in the wasteland? I thought only monsters were in the wasteland. How are they from there?" Nyxir probed further; he was suddenly interested in the background of the three boys.
"The details were not clear, but there seem to be some people who lived very close to the wasteland who may have been forgotten by the districts. But there is evidence that some people are out there just waiting to be rescued." Ivarin shook his head, hinting at his shallow information.
'People forgotten in the wasteland, and they did not find their way into the district?'
'I doubt it is that simple.'
They continued walking the foggy street until they got to the field where they met Chris and the rest. It was already deserted, unlike the previous bustle of several activities.
"I guess this is where we say goodnight. I'm heading in that direction," Ivarin pointed towards a small path away from the field adjacent to the one they had just arrived from.
"Okay, good night," Nyxir replied and watched the enthusiastic young man walk briskly into the foggy night.
He remained in the same spot for a while longer, staring in a direction before shrugging and heading for his assigned room. He still hasn't eaten, and he needs to train more to make up for the essence orb he lost to the dark world.
He entered his room and did a cursory glance before settling down on the chair, placed the packaged food on the table, and started unraveling the mystery he bought with 5 coppets.
The sweet fragrance contained in the plate quickly suffused the room, wetting his appetite. The red stew contained well-cooked beef broth mixed with peas and boiled potatoes.
'This is worth the price, but I can't afford such expensive meals for now, so I will just take this as my welcome meal.'
Nyxir forked a piece of beef and put it in his mouth. The tender meat melted under his chew and filled his mouth with its sweet fragrance.
After he was done with eating and had returned to his optimal state, he lay on the bed and immediately dived into his soul sea.
Nyxir stood in a world covered in endless darkness, only this time, there was a glowing orb right at his front. Without wasting much time, he started gathering spirituality, driving it towards his soul sea, trying to expand his reserve before the next day's training.
A distant bell tolled, echoing through the still air, forcing Nyxir to bury his head deeper into the pillow. He was already slipping into a dreamlike haze when the bell chimed again- louder this time, more insistent. With a groan, he rolled to his side and glanced out the narrow window. The sky remained dark, but the heavy fog had begun to lift, thinning like breath fading from a mirror.
"Is it training time already?' he murmured, stretching lazily as he pushed himself upright. His gaze landed on the mirror across the room.
"When did I get so lazy?"
He squinted.
"Hmm?"
As he moved to stand, he froze.
The reflection staring back at him wasn't the one he expected.
He saw but not quite. His reflection lay in bed, unmoving, one half of his face veiled in a slow swirling darkness. A chill crept over his skin, seizing him in a shiver that crawled down his spine. Panic clawed overcame him as he turned swiftly to check the bed, only to find himself lying in it, looking at the dark sky as the distant chime continued its incessant echoes.
He directed his gaze at the mirror across the room and stared fixedly at it while replaying the scene he had just seen in his head.
He slowly got up and walked to the small bathroom attached to his room. He hasn't been to it since his arrival yesterday, but he knew for certain that it would not be bad. At least he won't have to fetch water himself.
Nyxir stepped into the bathroom for the first time. It was barely larger than a closet – built for efficiency, not comfort.
The walls were a dull, clean grey, smooth with synthetic plating that resisted moisture and heat. A narrow mirror hung above a compact sink, its reflection slightly warped around the edges. Beneath the sink, a cabinet with one stiff drawer held a few tightly folded towels and a bar of unused soap.
To the right, a short sliding door led into a standing shower – a boxed corner with a steel drain and translucent divider, barely wide enough to move in.
There was no window. The only light came from a recessed strip running along the ceiling, humming faintly. The air was dry, filtered, and faintly tinged with the sterile scent of purifiers.
"Not too shabby." He nodded slightly and breathed in the faint smell of purifiers lingering in the air.
"I see they cleanse the guild daily," Nyxir murmured as he traced iron pipes running along the wall, with several holes punctured into them.
He bathed quickly, the cold water grounding him. Dressed in a fitted grey shirt and tight-fitting long trousers. He tugged a low-brimmed hat over his brow, shading his face. He doesn't like hats, but he decided to use one as it made him feel unseen.
After taking a cursory glance at the mirror, he stepped out of the room and headed towards the small hall where they met Alfred. He was still troubled by his earlier encounter, but as someone who reincarnated into loads of trouble, he only thought of it as another pressing matter that could be resolved over time. What he has to do now is to ensure that he remains as inconspicuous as possible due to the many secrets he holds.
He walked up towards the door and pushed it open. There were five people already inside, one lone girl seated at the end, and three boys clustered around another white haired boy, who seemed to be telling them something.
All heads turned in his direction the moment he opened the door and stepped into the class, and he instinctively lowered his head a bit to conceal with the rim of his hat.
"Hey Nyx, what's with the hat? Are you going to a circus?" Ivarin called out, and the other three boys around him laughed.
"Watch it, trouble magnet." Nyxir glared at Ivarin before settling behind him. The other three boys also took their seats while casting subtle glances at Nyxir, making him suspect that Ivarin was at it again.
"You must be a heavy sleeper, coming at this time. What if we have already started?" Ivarin cut off his thought, turning to face him.
"I would enter quietly and sit quietly without drawing much attention." Nyxir eyed Ivarin, who had started grinning.
'I wish I were. The dark space would not let me sleep until I'm exhausted.'
Just as Nyxir was about to ask what his grin was all about, the door opened again, and Alfred walked in, donning his usual black formal suit, only this time, he wasn't carrying a suitcase. He walked to the front, adjusted his suit, and faced his five trainees.
"This morning, what we will be learning is weaving."