Eric took a mont to properly survey his new living quarters.
He looked around the room. It was surprisingly small almost spartan in its simplicity.
Just inside the door to the left was a small functional bathroom.
Straight ahead on the right wall was a simple wooden desk with a matching chair.
A magical lamp that was currently unlit was fixed to the wall above the desk.
Directly opposite the desk was a single narrow bed. A small wooden wardrobe stood against the far wall. That was it. There was nothing else.
After the opulence of the royal palace where he had grown up and even the grandeur of the Imperial Palace dormitory he had briefly stayed in Eric was quite surprised by the sheer simplicity of this room.
It was functional but it was nothing more. It was a very basic place to live.
He let out a long weary sigh. The events of the day had been overwhelming.
They were emotionally and ntally draining for him.
He felt a bone-deep exhaustion settle over him. He walked over to the narrow bed. Without even bothering to fully unpack his bags he collapsed onto it.
He fell into a deep dreamless sleep almost instantly. His body and his mind finally succumbed to the need for rest.
When Eric’s eyes finally opened he sat up with a jolt. A montary sense of disorientation washed over him.
For a second he didn’t know where he was. He looked around recognizing the small simple room from the previous night.
His luggage his bags were still mostly packed. He saw the few items he had taken out before falling asleep lying on the desk.
What ti is it? he wondered. A sense of grogginess a feeling of still being half-asleep clung to him.
He got out of bed stretched his arms and legs and walked over to the window.
It was set in the wall opposite his desk. He looked outside but the sky was a neutral indeterminate shade of gray.
The sun’s position was unclear. He couldn’t tell if it was early morning dawn or late evening dusk.
Frustrated he called out ntally to the System. System Window what ti is it?
The familiar transparent interface the blue screen imdiately appeared before him.
"[You have been asleep for ten full hours Host Eric]" the [System Window] inford him. "[You should prepare yourself quickly. A new day at the Academy is about to begin.]"
Eric was stunned. He had slept for ten straight hours. That was a testant to his utter exhaustion from the day before. The realization that so much ti had passed spurred him into action.
He quickly changed his clothes from what he had slept in. He splashed so cold water on his face to wake himself up fully.
He then opened the door to his room.
He intended to figure out what he was supposed to do next where he was supposed to go.
The mont he stepped into the hallway outside his room he saw two familiar figures standing there. They seed to be in the middle of a heated argunt. It was Void and Kado.
The [System Window] imdiately displayed their nas for Eric in his vision. And beneath each na a new line of text appeared for him to see.
[New Ally: Academy]
A small unexpected warmth spread through Eric’s chest when he saw that word ’ally’. He thought to himself So... I have friends in the Academy now. I have allies. The thought was a comforting one. It made him feel a little less alone.
Void and Kado who had been engrossed in their debate both stopped talking.
They looked over as they heard Eric’s door open.
"You’re late," Void said a teasing smirk on his face.
"I thought that as our ’leader’ you would be the first one up and ready."
Eric felt a flush of embarrassnt. He scratched the back of his head a nervous habit he had when he felt awkward.
"I’m sorry," he said sheepishly. "I was... very exhausted from yesterday."
"You can apologize later," Void replied his expression turning more serious. "Everyone is getting restless. All the mbers of our new group they’re waiting for you. You need to lead them today. You’re the leader after all."
The mont Eric heard Void’s words the mory of the [System Window]’s summary ca flooding back. He rembered reading about his supposed declaration about creating
The New Warriors. A fresh wave of anxiety washed over him. How can I lead them? he thought a sense of panic rising in his chest. I don’t know what to do! I’m not a leader! But he couldn’t show this fear not in front of Void and Kado. They expected him to be strong.
Void however was looking at Eric with a strange analytical expression. He was sensing sothing... different about Eric today.
The overwhelming almost suffocating power he had felt from "Eric" the day before the power that Adam had shown was... gone.
That’s strange, Void thought. Usually when a powerful Spirit contracts with a human host a constant stream of energy leaks from them. You can always feel it. But with Eric that’s not the case.
One mont he feels like a host for a powerful contract Spirit. And the next mont... he just seems like a normal albeit slightly stronger than average boy. Was it all just my imagination yesterday?
Pushing the confusing thought aside for now Void gestured down the hallway.
"Hurry up Eric," he said. "We have to go."
Kado with a grunt also started walking. He was still scowling. Eric closed and locked his door. He then fell into step beside them. The three of them walked together.
When they descended the stairs to the main common area of the dormitory on the ground floor Eric saw that all forty of the students who had joined The New Warriors were already there.
They were all gathered together waiting. As they waited more first-year students began to erge from their own rooms. The entire dormitory was now buzzing with activity.
Eric turned to Void feeling completely out of his depth. He didn’t know what to do. "What... what should we do now?" he asked his voice a little uncertain.
Void looked at Eric a hint of surprise in his eyes at the question. "Well," he replied "it’s just as you said yesterday. We need to go and get official approval from the teachers for our new group."
A new wave of despair washed over Eric. "But where do we find the teachers?" he asked feeling a bit helpless and lost. "This is our first ti here. We don’t know where to go."
Kado who had been overhearing their conversation looked at Eric. He then pointed towards the main entrance of the dormitory compound. "Don’t worry," he said gruffly. "Look over there."
At the main gate several Academy staff mbers were already waiting. They were clearly tasked with guiding the new students for their first official day at the Academy.
A profound sense of relief washed over Eric. They wouldn’t have to wander around lost. "Let’s go then," he said to Void and Kado a new if fragile confidence in his voice.
He started walking towards the gate.
Void and Kado fell into step beside him one on each side. And behind them the forty mbers of The New Warriors seeing their ’leader’ on the move began to follow.
They ford a new uncertain but unified group. They were ready to face their first real day at the United Academy together.
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