ROOM 1313

6

The journey to the dormitories began in complete silence.

Professor Eleanor walked at the front with measured steps while Liam, Lily, Karl, and Lucas followed behind.

Surprisingly, none of them spoke.

Even Karl, who had wanted to tear Liam apart moments ago, remained quiet. The academy itself was enough to steal everyone's attention.

Wide stone roads stretched endlessly beneath their feet, lined with towering silver trees whose glowing leaves drifted through the air like tiny stars. Students from every race wandered across the grounds while enormous winged beasts soared between floating islands suspended high above the academy.

In the distance, waterfalls poured from the sky before disappearing into rivers that flowed throughout the campus.

"This place is bigger than I imagined," Liam sighed in amazement.

Professor Eleanor smiled without turning around.

"It should be. This isn't simply a school."

"It's an independent nation."

Her words caused all four of them to look toward her.

"Blackthorn Academy occupies nearly eight hundred square kilometers. Within these walls are cities, forests, mountains, lakes, training grounds, research facilities, hospitals, markets, and homes for over two hundred thousand students and staff."

"It was built over three thousand years ago after what history now calls the War of the Six Crowns."

Liam nodded.

Almost everyone had heard that story.

No one interrupted as Professor Eleanor continued, noticing that even Karl and Lily were listening with interest despite likely knowing the history already.

"For centuries, the Six Great Races fought one another over land, resources, and power. Every generation believed they could end the conflict by destroying the others."

"But they all failed and by the end of the war…" she paused slightly and then continued.

"Entire kingdoms had vanished, and the number of dead could no longer be counted."

As she spoke, she looked up at the towering academy buildings.

"So the leaders of every race agreed on something unprecedented."

"They agreed that they would stop raising children to hate one another and instead raise them together."

"And thus..." She paused briefly.

"Blackthorn Academy was born."

Listening quietly, Liam finally understood why the academy was considered sacred throughout the continent.

It wasn't merely a place to become stronger.

It was a symbol of peace.

They continued walking until an enormous black tower appeared ahead.

It pierced the clouds, and golden runes spiraled around its surface, glowing like stars.

"What's that?" Liam asked curiously.

Professor Eleanor followed his gaze.

"The Ascension Tower."

"It is one of the most important buildings in the academy, and every student enters it countless times during their years here."

"It contains cultivation chambers, illusion trials, gravity rooms, elemental training halls, and combat arenas."

As they passed the tower, she continued,

"Your strength is constantly recorded, and as it rises, so does your academy rank."

"So rankings aren't decided by combat alone?" Karl raised an eyebrow.

"No."Professor Eleanor nodded.

"Power is only one measure."

"Your class performance, mission results, leadership, teamwork, and contribution to the academy all affect your standing."

"So there's hope for people who aren't extremely talented monsters." Liam smiled as he glanced at his soon to be roommates.

They were afterall, all royal and extremely talented monsters.

Professor Eleanor glanced at him before nodding.

"There is." Her answer was simple.

"But only if they work harder than everyone else."

After nearly twenty minutes of walking, the scenery gradually changed and the enormous lecture halls disappeared behind them.

Instead, elegant residential buildings stretched across the hills.

Some looked like luxurious villas while others resembled castles.

Every residence was surrounded by beautiful gardens and shimmering barriers that pulsed gently with magic.

"This is the First-Year Residential District," Professor Eleanor explained.

"Students are grouped according to their assigned rooms."

She stopped before a beautiful three-story residence built from white stone and dark oak.

Its large windows reflected the afternoon sun while vines covered in glowing blue flowers climbed along the walls.

Mounted beside the polished black entrance was a silver plaque.

ROOM 1313

Professor Eleanor raised her right hand, and a delicate magic circle spread beneath her fingertips.

Soft blue light flowed across the door before several intricate locks clicked open one after another and then the heavy doors slowly swung inward.

"Welcome home." She said as she led them inside.

The first thing they saw was an enormous living room.

Warm sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating polished wooden floors and elegant furniture.

A massive curved sofa surrounded a low crystal table, while an enchanted fireplace flickered gently despite having no wood to burn.

Beyond the living room sat a spacious dining area with a single round table set for four.

"There is only one dining room," Professor Eleanor said.

"All residents are expected to maintain it together."

To the left was a modern kitchen equipped with enchanted utensils that cleaned themselves after every meal.

A nearby storage room held enough supplies to last for weeks.

Two shared bathrooms were located at opposite ends of the first floor.

"This house cleans itself," she continued.

"However, it does not cook for you." She said.

"The problem I have is that we're sharing most things." Karl snorted as he looked around the dining area and the kitchen.

"You can always drop out." Lucas replied coolly.

Professor Eleanor ignored them and led the group upstairs into a long hallway.

Four identical doors stood evenly spaced along the corridor.

"Each bedroom will recognize its assigned owner, and no one else may enter without permission."

"The rooms are enchanted. Over time, they will gradually reshape themselves according to your race, cultivation, habits, and preferences."

At the end of the hallway was another staircase leading upward.

"The third floor contains your shared facilities."

"More shared facilities?" This time, it was Lily who spoke with a slight pout appearing on her face.

Professor Eleanor opened the first door and within were shelves filled with ancient books lined one wall, while a quiet study occupied another corner.

Beyond that lay a strategy room containing a large round table and an enchanted map capable of displaying the academy grounds and approved mission zones.

"The final room," she said as she opened a pair of reinforced doors, "is your private training hall."

The spacious chamber was reinforced with glowing runes carved into every wall.

"No matter how many times you fight inside this room, it will repair itself."

"You may train here at any hour, but battles to the death remain forbidden."

Professor Eleanor looked at the four students standing before her.

"This residence has everything you need to study, train, rest, and grow stronger." Her gaze lingered on each of them.

"I only have one piece of advice." A faint smile appeared on her face.

"Try not to destroy it before the end of your first week."

"...That will be all."

Professor Eleanor gave the four of them one last glance before turning toward the entrance.

"If you have any questions, contact the academy through your wristwatch, which is in your rooms."

She took a few steps before pausing.

"Oh, one more thing." Her gaze swept across the residence.

"Try not to destroy the house."

With that, she walked toward the door.

The moment she stepped outside, the atmosphere changed and became silent, a tense, uncomfortable silence.

"I'll be taking this room." Lily's calm voice suddenly broke it.

She walked toward the bedroom at the end of the hallway as though the matter had already been decided.

Karl looked up, and a grin slowly spread across his face.

"Oh?"

"I think I like that room too."

The moment the words left his mouth, he dashed toward the room.

Seeing this, Lily seemed to vanish.

Bang!

The wooden floor cracked beneath their feet as both of them exploded forward.

"So fast..." Liam's eyes widened.

Lily moved like a crimson blur and her speed was so incredible that she appeared to glide across the hallway.

Karl wasn't far behind

His powerful legs propelled him forward with explosive force, closing the distance almost instantly.

Just as Lily's fingers were about to touch the doorknob, Karl surged ahead.

A grin spread across his face, then his claws lashed toward Lily's jade-like hand.

His razor-sharp nails scraped across the back of it, leaving behind a thin crimson line.

Lily immediately froze in shock and slowly, she lowered her gaze to the tiny cut before looking back at Karl.

Then her crimson eyes became frighteningly cold.

"You actually dared."

Her voice was cold enough to freeze the air and the temperature in the hallway seemed to drop.

As her voice fell, the tiny droplets of blood rose from the cut on her hand and floated into the air.

They stretched into dozens of razor-thin crimson needles that hovered around her like deadly petals.

Blood Art — Crimson Needles.

She had already activated one of her signature skills.

Everyone knew Lily because of this technique.

Wounding her was almost like signing your own death warrant as the very blood drawn from her body became a weapon against her enemies.

Every needle pointed directly at Karl.

But Karl only laughed.

"So that's your famous Blood Art?" He cracked his neck.

"I've been wanting to see it."

At the same time, he released his aura.

His muscles immediately expanded as gray fur spread rapidly across his forearms.

His claws lengthened into vicious talons, and a translucent spectral wolf appeared behind him, releasing a deafening roar.

Beast Art — Wolf King's Claws.

A violent pressure filled the hallway, making the walls tremble while even the lights overhead flickered.

Liam instinctively took several steps backward to avoid getting caught in the fight.

Alex had been right.

Living with these people was going to be a nightmare.

The blood needles shot forward and Karl lunged at the same instant.

But just before the two attacks collided,

"STOP!"

Professor Eleanor's voice exploded throughout the residence as a powerful wave of mana erupted from her body.

BOOM!

The pressure slammed into both nobles like an invisible wall.

The blood needles shattered into crimson mist, while, Karl's claws stopped less than an inch from Lily's face.

Neither of them could move.

Professor Eleanor stood at the entrance, her expression colder than ever before.

"I warned you." Her voice echoed through the silent residence.

"You have been roommates for less than..." She glanced at the clock on the wall.

"...one minute."

"And you're already trying to tear the house apart."

Her eyes narrowed.

"I suggest both of you remember where you are."

"This is Blackthorn Academy."

"Not your kingdoms."

Neither Lily nor Karl replied.

But judging by the way they glared at each other, It was definitely far from over.