Raviel slumped down in the hallway, outside his room, back pressed against the soft cushion of the couch. But his body and mind were strangely clear. He looked at the morning light outside his room through the window for a bit.
He lifted his Arctic and flipped through some tabs, with a few taps he transferred 150,000 Zen to an alternate account named Max_69.
He smiled as he watched the amount disappear from his account.
"That bastard is really behaving like a black market broker for once."
Ding-!
[ 150,000 Zen transferred. Balance remaining: 346,789 Zen ]
Raviel then opened a notification which had came yesterday from his sister.
『Alyssia Thanarion』: Wait at your residence tommorow, your transportion has been fixed.
He looked at the glowing screen faintly for few seconds before closing it.
______
Raviel stepped out of the car feeling a bit stiff from the hour long ride.
The moment his eyes caught the structure infront of him.
His mind was blown away, as the building in front of him was not only massive but way bigger than anything he had ever seen.
Before he could walk.
The driver quickly circled around and opened the door for him.
"Mr, Raviel," the man said with a polite nod,
"Your father has arranged for a faster travel through the teleportion gates. Everything is prepared for you inside".
Raviel blinked.
Teleportion Gates.
Right, from the memories of previous Raviel he knew that his father was a man of few words and that his family were wealthy and aside from that, he knew nothing about their relationships. Well he could do nothing at this point.
He walked towards the entrance, hands in the pocket, trying to match the pace of other people entering through other doors.
The moment he stepped inside.
His brain.... froze.
The interior was huge. Like an airport had been remodeled with ten times its original capacity. Long glass corridors, shimmering platforms, rows of glowing stations, and in the center of it all: a massive circular chamber kept humming with energy.
"Holy....shit!" he breathed out.
He'd read this in the novel about how humanity had cracked the most effective and efficient method of traveling: Transportion Gates without people losing their limbs or comming out with an extra set of hands or legs.
But reading it, and witnessing it in real life were two different things and something else entirely.
He remembered the driver's words and made his way toward the labeled hallway.
Gate No. 2 – Private Access
The second he started walking near his designated gate, a few people nearby looked at his way and their reactions said everything.
Raised brows.
Quiet muttering.
A couple even clicked their tongues.
Because the gate, Raviel was walking towards wasn't for normal people. It was for the wealthy, the influential... the ones with money to spend in the name of luxury.
Raviel felt a slow, amused grin stretch across his face as he watched their reactions.
"…I like privileges," he whispered to himself.
Raviel headed towards the receptionist desk beside Gate-2, where a woman with crisp navy blue uniform was sorting something on the holographic screens.
The moment he stopped infront of her desk, she gave him a polite but professional smile.
"Good morning. Name, please?".
"Raviel Thanarion"
Her fingers moved quickly across the transparent keyboard. A second later, her eyes flickered up in recognition.
"Ahh..— pre-determined coordinates to N.O.V.A Academy, correct?"
"Yeah," he replied, nodding his head.
"The gate is already calibrated for you, Mr. Thanarion. Just proceed straight into the chamber."
She gestured toward the circular pod, its surface faintly vibrating with energy. "You'll be transported automatically once the system stabilizes."
"Thanks," Raviel said before turning away.
He stepped into the chamber. The doors slid shut with a soft hiss.
A moment later, his entire body started shimmering as if reality itself was flickering and a thick black-greyish fog curled up, starting from his feet as it rose upward the device, swallowing the chamber in seconds.
Raviel found himself float for few seconds in the fog, weightless between one place and next. Honestly? It barely even bothered him. He'd gone through far worse sensations in this life since transmigrating, so this was nothing new for him now.
A soft chime rang.
Zwooshh—!!
The chamber hissed open.
Raviel stepped out.
....And blinked thrice.
This wasn't the same building anymore.
Above him, the ceiling was a living screen of flowing water, shimmering like an upside-down river. Light refracted across the hall in slight ripples, painting the marble floor in soft flowing shades of blues. The teleportation facility here looked nothing like the one in the city, this one screamed elite.
Massive pillars, carved with arcane symbols, supported the hall. Floating signs guided students to various checkpoints.
He wasn't alone either.
Groups of students in black N.O.V.A Academy uniforms. The second years moved through the terminals with ease in groups. Their uniforms had dark silver linings and the academy crest stamped over their chests.
And then there were others, those like him who had came for the enrollment exams.
Some walked out of the public gates at the far end. The difference was obvious as their gate was overloaded with crowds of people and rattled slightly after each activation.
A few people noticed the gate Raviel came out of.
Their eyes widened with disbelief.
That gate was restricted to students from wealthy guilds or individuals with connections high enough to secure personal coordinates.
Jealousy hit some of them immediately.
"Which guild is he from…?"
"Private gate access? Must be loaded…"
"Damn, some people are born fucki'n lucky."
Raviel caught several lingering stares.
He smiled back at them, slow and sharp, just passive-aggressive enough to send a message:
I don't like people questioning what I was born with.
Then he adjusted his clothes, took a look at the luxurious facility once more and started walking down the path displayed on the holographic screens overhead.