Eight o'clock found me trudging back to the dorms, my muscles still aching from the morning's training sessions. The thought of a hot shower was the only thing keeping me moving at this point.
The dorm room had changed since I'd left in the early morning hours. Alex's bed was already empty and neatly made - no surprise there. He was probably out practicing his sword forms, always the dedicated one. Ryn sat cross-legged on his bed, completely absorbed in a thick textbook that looked like it might be about essence theory. Only Toby remained unchanged, sprawled across his bed and snoring softly.
I grabbed my towel and fresh academy uniform clothes, moving quietly to avoid disturbing anyone. Ryn barely glanced up from his book, too engrossed in whatever he was studying to pay attention to my presence.
The hot water was absolute bliss on my tired muscles. I watched as rivulets of sweat and dirt from the mountain climb swirled down the drain, taking some of my exhaustion with them. Steam filled the bathroom, and for a few precious minutes, I let myself forget about training, classes, and the constant need to keep my true nature hidden.
When I emerged, feeling somewhat human again, Toby had finally stirred. He blinked at me sleepily from his bed, managing a mumbled "Morning" that sounded more like a grunt than actual words.
"Morning," I replied, watching as Ryn absently echoed the greeting without lifting his eyes from the thick tome spread across his lap. The cover was worn leather, its title barely visible. "Advanced Essence Theory and Applications." Classic Ryn, always studying.
"I'm heading to breakfast," I announced, though I might as well have been talking to the walls. Toby had already retreated back under his blanket, only a tuft of messy hair visible. His soft snoring suggested he'd fallen right back asleep. Ryn just nodded vaguely, his finger tracing lines of text as he mouthed the words silently.
The cafeteria's warm air hit me as I entered, carrying the mouthwatering scent of fresh bread and sizzling bacon. Students were filtering in steadily now, the morning crowd growing as class time approached. The gentle clatter of dishes and murmur of conversations created a comfortable background hum.
My stomach growled loudly as I approached the serving area.
After the morning's training, my body was demanding serious refueling. I grabbed a tray and began loading it with military precision- a mountain of perfectly scrambled eggs, yellow and fluffy, for protein, three thick slices of freshly baked whole grain bread, still warm to the touch, a generous helping of crispy roasted potatoes seasoned with herbs and spices and a bowl of fresh fruit that looked like it had been picked this morning - bright red strawberries, juicy orange slices, and perfectly ripe bananas.
I paused, then added a small mountain of crispy bacon. The aroma alone was enough to make my mouth water. A large glass of cold milk completed the feast. My depleted essence reserves needed all the nutrients they could get.
Finding a quiet corner with a good view of both exits - old habits die hard - I settled in and began systematically working through my breakfast.
Each bite seemed to restore a fraction of my energy, my body eagerly absorbing the sustenance. The eggs were perfectly seasoned, the potatoes had just the right amount of crunch, and the bacon... well, bacon is always good.
As I ate, I found myself observing the social dynamics playing out around me. The cafeteria was like its own miniature society, complete with unspoken territories and hierarchies.
A flash of vibrant red hair caught my attention - it was the girl from our first team exercise. She sat with a small group of other students but seemed somehow apart from their conversation. I couldn't remember her name, but I remembered her impressive control over fire essence techniques during our practice session.
Our eyes met briefly across the room, and we exchanged small nods of recognition. That was enough interaction for both of us, it seemed.
I was scraping up the last few bites of eggs when the cafeteria's atmosphere shifted subtly. Conversations dimmed, heads turned, and a path seemed to clear itself automatically as Lyssandra entered. Her white hair caught the morning sunlight streaming through the windows, creating an almost ethereal glow around her.
The room fell quiet as they considered this. Paradise exploration was strictly regulated these days - too many incidents with unprepared students had forced the academy to implement a rigid permission system.
"What about the southern quadrant?" Kris suggested, marking a spot with her finger. "It's less popular, but that means more available time slots."
"Less popular for good reason," Sara countered, her red hair catching the afternoon light. "The essence density there is unstable. One wrong move and you could trigger a cascade reaction."
Derek rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "But that's exactly why it's worth exploring. Higher risk means better artifacts and the academy's offering bonus credits for mapping unstable zones."
"Credits won't matter if we're dead," Vyse muttered, but there was a gleam of interest in her eyes.
"What about equipment?" Jin asked, pulling out a checklist. "We need at least two emergency teleport anchors, essence stabilizers, and enough supplies for a three-day expedition in case of emergency."
"The anchors are expensive," Kris noted, "but I've got connections in the Equipment Division. Might be able to get us a discount if we share our mapping data with them."
As they discussed logistics, I noticed Sara staring at a particular point on the map, her expression distant. "What's on your mind?" I asked.
"Nothing important, I was just thinking, if it wouldn't be more intresting if we invite our juniors?"
The room went quiet again, but this time with a different energy.
"You want to bring first-years into Paradise?" Vyse asked skeptically. "The academy would never-"
"Actually," Derek interrupted, sitting up straighter, "they might. The new curriculum emphasizes practical experience. If we frame it as a supervised training expedition..."
Jin was already nodding. "We'd need to adjust the route, of course. Stay closer to the safe zones. But having juniors along could actually help with the permit. Shows we're contributing to the academy's educational mission."
"Plus," Kris added with a grin, "more people means we can carry more supplies. And more hands for artifact retrieval."
Sara rolled her eyes. "I was thinking more about giving them valuable experience, but sure, let's use them as pack mules."
While the seniors were planning to make use of Juniors, they didn't know how much trouble a single junior would cause them in the future!
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