Nekreos and Vera entered the academy together.
Vera looked around, stunned. Her eyes darted between the towering columns, the gleaming marble floor, the ornate ceiling… Everything captured her attention — everything except the person walking beside her.
She suddenly stopped, staring at him in disbelief.
Vera:
"You actually study here?! Since when?!"
Nekreos turned to her calmly, wondering whether or not he should hit her with the truth.
He glanced at Spine No. 3 protruding from his back. It nodded in approval.
He sighed and raised his head to meet her gaze — she was slightly taller than him.
Nekreos (coldly):
"Just two days."
Vera's eyebrows shot up. She lowered her head slightly and said:
Vera:
"Wait, what?! Two days?! Seriously?!
But… how?!"
Nekreos crossed his arms confidently.
Nekreos:
"Didn't you hear me when I said I'm not from this world?"
Vera:
"Yeah, but what does that have to do with how short your time here is? I mean… You look like someone who's trained for a hundred years in magic and combat!"
Nekreos scratched the back of his head as if what he was saying was the most normal thing in the world.
Nekreos:
"Well, that's because I'm a Thanalith… a race that went extinct centuries ago.
And also, when I said I wasn't from this world… I meant it.
I used to be just a powerless human, tortured to death.
Then I woke up… in this body, in this world.
Lord Arclemos brought me here — he introduced me to the academy… and he's also the one who gave me the gold I used to buy you.
Hehe… Hehe..."
Vera froze in place, then collapsed to the ground in shock. She raised her hand weakly and muttered:
Vera (stunned):
"You are… literally the strangest master I've ever had since I was first sold… when I was six."
Nekreos's six bone tendrils suddenly shot up from his back, as if struck by her words.
They exchanged glances, then looked down at Vera — each one seemed to be imagining what she'd been through.
Nekreos (trying to retract the tendrils):
"Wait… six?
Seriously?
What were you even doing? And how did you even… get sold that young?"
Vera hugged her arm, staring at the ground, eyes downcast. She answered with a low, broken voice:
Vera:
"I don't like talking about it..."
Nekreos looked at her with understanding and replied gently:
Nekreos:
"Alright, got it.
Everyone has their secrets."
As the two continued walking and chatting, they were suddenly stopped by Lethia, who spoke in a tone hard to place — was it kind? Or strict?
Lethia:
"Who's this?"
Nekreos stammered briefly before blurting out:
Nekreos:
"Oh… th-this is V–Vera… my personal assistant. I bought her two hours ago!"
Lethia raised her left eyebrow and gave them a skeptical look.
Lethia:
"Assistant?
Or something else? Huh?"
Vera leaned toward Nekreos and whispered cautiously:
Vera:
"Who is this lady?"
He whispered back:
Nekreos:
"She's the seer… and my elemental magic instructor.
I think she suspects something because I bought you…
which probably makes her think I'm going to do whatever I want."
Vera:
"That explains… a lot."
Lethia (with a sharp look):
"You're whispering too loudly."
Nekreos (raising his eyebrows):
"Alright, don't worry…
I'm not going to do anything you're imagining.
We're tired now, so we're heading to the dorms.
I'll introduce her to Kaeron and Raven."
Vera (nervous laugh):
"Haha… Yes, master.
I'm really tired, let's go now..."
Lethia crossed her arms and said sternly:
Lethia:
"Fine… Good night.
If I hear either of you screaming… you'll both be punished."
Nekreos (smiling quickly):
"Yep, no worries…
You won't hear a single complaint from our building.
Bye!"
Nekreos grabbed Vera's hand and the two hurried toward the dorms.
...
After a few minutes of fast walking, they stopped in front of apartment number (72).
Nekreos raised the key like it was some kind of legendary weapon.
Nekreos:
"This is our apartment…
Remember the number so you don't get lost and blame me later."
Vera (rolling her eyes):
"Apartment 72… Got it. I won't forget."
Nekreos smiled and unlocked the door.
Nekreos:
"Perfect… that's the spirit."
...
Just as he opened the door with a half-smile, Kaeron's voice boomed from inside.
He was chasing Raven and screaming — apparently because Raven had mocked his girlfriend again.
Kaeron (yelling, sword drawn):
"COME BACK! YOU SON OF BTH!!**"
Nekreos calmly closed the door again, his face still blank.
Nekreos:
"I guess… we should wait a bit until that massacre ends."
Vera (sighs and leans back):
"So… those are your roommates?"
Nekreos:
"Yep."
Vera:
"Soooooooo…
Are we going in or sleeping outside?
Because I didn't sign up for that."
Nekreos (inserting the key again):
"You didn't sign up for anything in the first place."