The next morning, Hastora rose from bed.
He stretched his weary body, then stepped out of the room.
He descended the stairs one by one, making his way to the lower floor.
Upon reaching the bottom, he walked towards one of the tables that stood there.
Once he arrived, he sat down on a chair and leaned back against it.
He glanced at the wall clock hanging in the shop; it read 8:30 AM.
The Velmora Grand Academy entrance exam was scheduled to begin at 9:30 AM.
He had one hour left to prepare himself.
Ggrruuk...
Hastora's stomach rumbled softly, like a wild beast impatient for its meal.
The burger he had ordered at Whispered Odds the night before was never delivered to him. Whether the worker had forgotten or was unaware of its whereabouts, he couldn't tell.
He hadn't eaten anything since yesterday, it was time to fill his belly.
"Excuse me... I'd like to order"
One of the workers who seemed to be wiping down a table turned his head.
"What would you like to order?" she asked.
"I'd like to order a sandwich and a cup of coffee."
"Alright, just a moment."
The worker walked towards the kitchen and immediately prepared Hastora's order.
Once it was ready, the worker brought Hastora's order using a tray.
"Here's your order, sir" she said, handing over the order.
"Alright... Thank you."
The worker walked back to the kitchen after delivering the order.
Without hesitation, Hastora immediately devoured the food with gusto.
After eating, he immediately walked away, leaving the inn.
Thump!
"Ughhh..."
A pink-haired girl accidentally bumped into Hastora who was walking out of the inn.
"I—I'm so sorry..." the girl said.
Hastora got up and extended his hand.
"It's alright. And... Are you okay?"
The girl grabbed Hastora's arm.
"Yes... I'm fine. Thank you..."
"You're welcome. I'll be going now."
Hastora walked away, leaving the girl behind.
"Wait..."
The girl grabbed Hastora's clothes, stopping him from leaving.
Hastora turned around.
"What is it?"
"You're going to Velmora Grand Academy to take the entrance exam, right...?" the girl asked.
Hastora replied in a flat voice.
"That's right."
"W—What if we go together?" the girl suggested.
Hastora had nothing else to do at the moment.
Accepting the girl's invitation wasn't a problem, after all, they had the same destination.
"I don't mind."
The girl smiled widely, happy that her invitation was accepted.
"Thank you. Then let's go."
"Yes."
The two of them walked together towards Velmora Grand Academy to take the entrance exam.
...
Both of them felt very awkward throughout the journey.
That's because they didn't speak a single word.
Hastora wasn't used to being alone with a girl he had just met.
He didn't know what to say.
20,000 years ago, he had never been alone with a girl like this.
It made him lack experience in interacting with women.
"So... What's your name...?" the girl tried to start a conversation.
"Hastora Vallois" Hastora replied calmly. His calm demeanor made him not look like someone who was feeling awkward.
The girl smiled, "Oh, I see... My name is Gisella von Elarion. Nice to meet you."
"... Yes."
'Apparently a noblewoman' thought Hastora.
The girl named Gisella wore clothes that were very different from those worn by ordinary people.
Plus, her name sounded like the name of a noblewoman.
Although Hastora hated nobles very much, he didn't show that attitude at all at this moment.
It was because Gisella's nature and attitude were not like a cruel noblewoman.
Instead, she looked like a gentle and kind-hearted noblewoman.
Hastora was very sure of it, he had been observing and reading Gisella's behavior since earlier.
Gisella's nature and behavior also didn't change after hearing Hastora's name.
Hastora's name didn't have a middle name.
Everyone would immediately know that he was a commoner after hearing his name.
Gisella didn't show the slightest bit of disgust, arrogance, or condescension.
It showed that Gisella was a girl with a good, gentle, and humble nature.
"Are you new? I mean, did you just move to the capital?" Gisella asked.
Hastora replied with a flat expression. "That's right... I just moved in yesterday."
"That explains it..." Gisella replied.
"What do you mean by that?" Hastora asked curiously.
"Nothing. It's just that I've never seen your face before... So I thought you were someone who just moved here."
"Why is that?... Do you walk around the capital every day?"
"Not really. My father once held a grand party and invited everyone in the capital.
"But I didn't see your face at that time. And I'm only seeing your face for the first time today" Gisella replied at length.
"Ehhh... Your way of thinking is unique too" Hastora replied with a flat expression. As if not showing the slightest bit of interest in Gisella's words just now.
Gisella smiled, "hehehe... Thank you."
"No need to thank me. Just consider it a normal compliment."
"You're a little strange" Gisella said.
Hastora asked, "Why is that?"
"I mean, your nature and behavior are very strange.
"You act very calm and cold. And you've only been showing a flat and cold expression since earlier.
"You look like you don't have any emotions at all, like a doll" Gisella replied, telling all her reasons.
"That's not strange, it's special. That's just how I am."
"Hahaha... You're so funny."
Not long after, suddenly the sound of a girl calling Gisella from behind could be heard.
"Gisella!"
Gisella turned around.
"Eh? So it's you guys. What's up?"
They walked towards Gisella. There were four of them, and they were all girls who looked about her age.
Their faces were as beautiful as angels.
Among them were girls with green, blonde, and white hair.
The white-haired girl was the most charming and beautiful of them all.
Her long white hair that flowed down, and her beautiful blue eyes made her appearance perfect.
"Where have you been?" the white-haired girl asked.
"Of course to the academy, where else would I be going?" Gisella replied.
"Why didn't you wait for us?" the white-haired girl asked.
"I went to your mansion earlier, but your mother said you weren't home and had already left for the academy.
"I thought you three had already left first by carriage, so I left too" Gisella replied, explaining everything.
"Since when did I leave first? I just went to Renia and Geriya's mansion to call them.
"I didn't go to your mansion first. That's because you usually wake up very late, so I thought you were still asleep" Valeska replied at length.
Gisella laughed, "So, that's how it is... It seems I misunderstood. Sorry Valeska."
"It's okay... I apologize too, I should have called you first."
"Call? I left my manaphone in the closet last night. So even if you called me, it still wouldn't be heard."
Valeska sighed, "I guess leaving you earlier was the right choice."
"Eh... You're so mean. You're going to get it, you know."
Valeska chuckled, "Just kidding."
Valeska realized the presence of Hastora who was standing next to Gisella.
She glanced at him, "Who's that guy? Is he your boyfriend?"
"He's—" Gisella's words were immediately cut off by Hastora.
"He invited me to go with him. Nothing else."
Valeska was silent for a moment, slightly surprised to hear that.
"Gisella... Are you?... "
Gisella realized there was a misunderstanding here. She immediately told them everything.
"Earlier I was running towards the academy, but I accidentally bumped into Hastora.
"I apologized to him because I was so panicked. But instead of me helping him get up, he was the one who helped me get up.
"I felt bad. So I invited him to go together, besides, we both have the same destination."
"Why didn't you ask your mother to take you? You shouldn't have run to the academy" Valeska said, her voice calm.
"Hehehe... I just wanted to run, that's all."
Valeska leaned forward, "So, your name is Hastora, right?"
"That's right" Hastora replied briefly.
Valeska extended her hand.
"My name is Valeska von Asterea, nice to meet you."
Hastora shook her arm, "yes."
"How about we go together?" Valeska suggested.
Hastora didn't show any change in reaction at all, as if he wasn't interested in them.
"No" he replied briefly, then walked away from all of them.
Valeska stopped Hastora's actions just now, she grabbed his arm.
"Why are you acting like that? Let's go together. Consider this as a thank you for helping our friend."
Hastora turned slightly, then looked coldly.
"No, I want to go alone. Consider yourselves indebted to me for helping your friend."
Hastora released his arm from Valeska's grip, then walked away from the four of them.
One of them felt annoyed by Hastora's actions, she was the green-haired girl.
"You bastard! You're so arrogant, who do you think you are to dare act like that to the emperor's child?"
Hearing that, Hastora stopped for a moment—but didn't turn back.
"I'm just an ordinary man. Nothing special" he replied, his voice calm—but sounded like a threat.
"How dare you, you lowly commoner!" the girl shouted.
One of them, the blonde-haired girl—felt that the green-haired girl's words were too much.
She pulled the girl's arm, trying to calm her down.
Hastora didn't pay any attention to the girl's words just now. He walked forward while replying to the green-haired girl's words earlier.
"Your behavior is like garbage. You're a damn noble."
The green-haired girl became even more annoyed, she gritted her teeth, then clenched her arm very tightly.
"You lowly commoner who doesn't know your place. Realize your position as a lowly creature."
To be continued in the next chapter...