Chương 70: Nimran I
The sun had already started to set, leaving behind an orange veil of light that enveloped the sky. Nimran's city lights brightened the surroundings, and despite being a relatively large city, the absence of skyscrapers gave it an almost primitive feel. The only structure dominating the skyline was the massive pyramid that people climbed for enlightenment. Most buildings were five-story apartments or villas, with only the occasional skyscraper in the distance.
Our bus stopped in front of a large mansion. We quickly disembarked and headed toward the entrance. As I stepped off the bus, I stretched my back and legs, feeling the exhaustion settle in. Despite not having trained all day, my mind was foggy from information overload.
Recently, I had been averaging only two hours of sleep per night for the past week, and the accumulated fatigue was starting to crash down on me. I shook my head, trying to stay awake for a bit longer. I just needed to hold out for another five to ten minutes before I could get some proper rest.
"Alright, let's get going," Nero said after a brief conversation with the bus driver. He waved goodbye to the driver and led us into the mansion.
A pleasant fragrance filled the air as we entered, causing my mouth to water uncontrollably. I wasn't alone; everyone seemed to be drawn toward the source of the aroma. Nero, noticing our reaction, spoke up.
"Alright everyone, I know you're hungry, but we need to follow protocol." He pulled out a card and pointed towards the reception. "I'll call each of you by name to collect your room key. Once you have it, come back here and wait until everyone is done before heading to your designated rooms."
Seeing everyone's deflated expressions, Nero smiled. "Don't be so down. Surely you're not planning to eat without getting cleaned up first?" He checked his watch. "At eight on the dot, there will be a buffet where you can eat and drink as much as you want. So hurry up and get changed!"
Holding my rumbling stomach, I quickly collected my room key and made my way to my room with the other boys. The boys and girls were separated, as one might expect.
The mansion's interior was luxurious. Exquisite paintings and statues decorated the halls, and a soft red carpet covered the floors. Red curtains with golden dragon patterns at the hems framed the windows, contrasting sharply with the carpet. The mansion's garden, illuminated by lanterns, was a stunning sight, complete with a tennis court and a football field enclosed by green fences.
After navigating the long corridors, I reached my room and opened the door. I had been informed that I would be staying in a VIP room with a living room, bathroom, and bedroom of the highest quality. Though the decorations inside weren't as opulent as those outside, they still exuded luxury.
Since I stored most of my belongings in my bracelet, I had nothing to unpack. I decided to take a quick shower to wash off the day's grime.
-Pomf!
After showering, I slumped onto the large bed and closed my eyes, trying to sort out my thoughts. The white ceiling, adorned with a gold-plated chandelier, was brightly lit. Covering my eyes with my arm, I mused, 'I need to get my hands on the Ancient-grade artifact.'
'Go to the pyramid,' Luna conveyed to me mentally.
Surprised by her sudden communication, I asked, 'Why?'
'I can tell it's going to be very important. You must go,' she replied vaguely.
Luna, being a qilin, could see people's fates, though she claimed she couldn't see mine. Did she sense something because of the pyramid?
I realized I could probably visit the pyramid if I asked Nero beforehand. Being Rank 2 came with certain privileges, and my high standing in the recent theory exams added weight to my request. This field trip was primarily to observe real-world applications of our theoretical studies, and given my top-five performance on the mid-year exams, I could afford to skip a part of it.
Yes, 80% was the fifth best in the year, with the top score being a perfect 100%. That's the standard in our extremely challenging first-year theory exams.
The pyramid was typically used by those stuck at the bottleneck between <Integration>-rank and <Ascendant>-rank, or at even higher walls. It wasn't designed for someone at my current level, where mana rank could still be increased simply by purifying and coalescing ambient mana.
But Luna seemed to believe it could still be beneficial for me. 'What will I gain?' I wondered. 'A Gift? Reach <White>-rank?' My curiosity was piqued.
Well, I needed to find out. I would talk to Nero about visiting the pyramid tomorrow.
First, I needed to get ready for the buffet. The tedious, long tour of the beast processing factory had left me starving.
I changed into appropriate clothes and left my room. As I headed downstairs, I noticed a student walking ahead of me. Squinting my eyes for a better look, I recognized him.
Luke Orden, Rank 9—the one I had crushed in the mid-term practical exams.
Luke was quite strong, and he was likely to reach the <Immortal>-rank in the future, an impressive feat. It would be advantageous to have someone like him on my side. He hadn't targeted me out of hatred; he had simply seen it as his best chance to reach Class A by the mid-years.
That's how he had replaced Arthur as Rank 8 in the novel.
Seizing the opportunity, I quickened my pace to catch up with him.
"Hey, Luke," I called out, my voice friendly. He turned, surprised to see me, but he quickly masked it with a polite nod.
"Arthur," he replied, his tone neutral.
"Mind if we walk together?" I asked.
He shrugged. "Sure."
We continued down the hallway together, the awkward silence stretching between us. I decided to break it.
But before I could say anything, Luke spoke first.
"You got much stronger, Arthur," he said, his brown eyes scanning me.
"You did too," I replied honestly. His mana rank was the same, but I could instinctively feel his increased strength due to my training in the Amarion Rainforest.
"Not as much as you," Luke said with a downcast gaze. "Well, any hope of me reaching Class A is in tatters, but I suppose I can't complain."
I let out an awkward laugh. "You have serious talent, you know."
"I'm not stupid or oblivious," he responded, "I just know my limits. Anyway, I'd like to be friends with you."
"Of course," I said, extending my hand. "Everything in exams is just for the exams, right?"
He shook my hand, his grip firm but friendly. "Exactly."
We continued walking toward the dining hall together, the awkward tension from before replaced with a newfound camaraderie. The enticing aroma of the buffet hit us as we entered, making my stomach rumble in anticipation.
The dining hall was grand, with long tables covered in a lavish spread of food. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the room. Students were already filling their plates, their chatter filling the air with a lively hum.
Luke and I joined the line, grabbing plates and utensils. I couldn't help but admire the variety of dishes—roast meats, fresh salads, steaming soups, and decadent desserts.
It was a feast fit for royalty, which made sense considering we had a lot of royalty in this place.
"Yo Arthur, you're late!" Ian called out, balancing a plate piled high with meat. "And you, you're Luke, right?"
"Yes, nice to meet you, Prince Ian," Luke said, shaking his hand.
"Just call me Ian," Ian responded with a friendly smile. "Join us at our table if you want. I'm heading there now."
"Sure, we'll catch you later," I replied, smiling back at him.
Luke seemed a bit overwhelmed. "I don't mean to be rude," he said, pursing his lips, "but I never thought the princes and princesses of Class A would be so... kind."
I scooped up some soup, shrugging. "You shouldn't feel that pressure. You are the son of a high noble, after all. I guess we can be a bit reserved in our own group, though."
"Yeah," Luke replied absently.
I followed his gaze to where it lingered on a particular blonde princess, laughing at Ian's table.
'Oh, Luke,' I thought, shaking my head, 'That is a particularly thorny road.'
Luke's attention was fixated on Rachel Creighton, her golden hair catching the light as she laughed at something Ian said. Her presence was captivating, but her past was complicated. Winning her heart was a challenge only Lucifer could manage, given their extensive history.
"Stop staring at the princess and get your food, Luke," I said, nudging him lightly in the stomach with my elbow. His face flushed red as he stammered, "I-I wasn't staring!"
"Don't worry, I won't tell her you were ogling," I teased, grabbing some meat for protein.
"How did it go from staring to ogling?" Luke protested, following me to Class A's table.
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