CHAPTER 149: LOBBY

"Listen very attentively, for I will not repeat what I am about to say, not even once," Jane’s voice sliced through the air, cutting short the tour as though a blade had severed the calm.

The gentle murmur of awe that had filled the lobby moments earlier faded instantly. Every student halted mid-step, eyes darting towards her, their ears sharpening to catch every syllable. Even the sound of their breathing seemed to soften in the sudden stillness.

"This," Jane continued, gesturing lightly to their surroundings, "is where you will be sleeping for tonight. Each of you will proceed upstairs and claim a room for the day. Food will be delivered to your rooms at exactly eight o’clock this evening. Anyone who is not in their room at that precise time will forfeit their supper." She paused, giving the words time to settle and sink deep into their thoughts, before resuming.

"There is to be no fighting between students, none whatsoever. Should a fight break out, the instigator and the one who dares to throw the first punch will be expelled from the Academy immediately, without exception. You are free to explore as much as you wish, but be warned, your coins will only be valid here for a short time before becoming utterly useless. And, of course, I trust I do not need to tell you this, if anyone so much as blinks the wrong way at any of the residents here, the Principal will have your head... noble or not." Her voice lowered into a slow, almost chilling tone as she delivered that last line.

Many noble children had, in years past, sought to flaunt their status before the residents of the Separate Dimension, forgetting entirely that their rank and heritage meant absolutely nothing here. They had all paid the same price, the Principal had personally executed every single one of them, without so much as a moment’s hesitation.

The noble children present now swallowed hard. Their families had already warned them before they arrived: abandon your pride, set aside your ego, and learn to survive, or perish swiftly.

"Now, to the most important matter," Jane’s voice rose slightly, reclaiming their focus. "The examinations begin tomorrow at exactly 7:30 a.m. You are required to be standing in this very lobby no later than seven o’clock. If you are even a second late, you will be left behind, automatically disqualified. Remember this clearly, you must be within this lobby, not anywhere else." Her tone carried the sharpness of a warning carved into stone.

"Your rooms are equipped with sponges, soap, and all basic necessities, in case some of you arrived without any. That is all." Jane’s delivery softened only slightly, regaining its calm.

"Any questions?" Her gaze swept across the gathered group. "And I dislike stupid ones," she added, her tone firm.

The silence was heavy. No one dared to speak, until Asher raised his hand. Jane’s eyes shifted to him, and with a small nod, she granted him permission.

"Does the reality of Crymora reflect upon this place?" Asher asked plainly.

At his question, Jane’s brow furrowed slightly, as though weighing the reason behind it. Murmurs of confusion spread among the others; many tilted their heads, clearly not understanding what he meant.

After a few moments, Jane responded simply, "Yes."

With no further elaboration, she turned on her heel and walked away. No one else had anything to ask.

Asher’s gaze drifted downward toward the floor beneath the lobby. Beneath the polished surface, he could sense it, a powerful, concealed Astra radiating from below. Though hidden from ordinary perception, Astra could never be concealed from his Star Energy or his perfected Astra energy.

His eyes swept slowly across the entire lobby, memorizing every detail, the light fixtures, the high archways, the subtle carvings in the wood, before turning and making his way up the grand staircase, following the stream of students heading to claim their rooms.

Opening the door to his assigned room, Asher was greeted by a well-furnished interior, a neatly made bed, a small couch, a table and chair, with lamp holders hanging on the walls casting a soft glow. Stepping into the bathroom, he gave the place a brief inspection before returning to the bed and collapsing face-first with a deep sigh.

Rolling onto his back, he stared at the ceiling, not in contemplation, but in a kind of quiet emptiness, his mind still and detached.

Eventually, his eyes shifted toward the alarm clock on the table beside him. It was clearly placed there so students could wake up in time for the exam, though he knew full well that some would oversleep, forget to set it, or simply ignore it.

He didn’t bother with it. He already had his own way.

’System, set an alarm for 6:30 a.m.,’ he commanded mentally.

[Ding]

[Affirmative, Host]

With that settled, Asher rose from the bed and headed for the door. He intended to at least get a look at the outer areas of the Academy before returning to rest.

He had no real concern for the food that was supposed to arrive at eight o’clock. Lyra had already filled his space ring to the brim with dishes, fruits, and drinks, fussing over him like an overprotective mother sending her only child away to a boarding school notorious for serving bare, tasteless rations.

Of course, Asher had transferred all of it into his system inventory, better hidden there than sitting in his ring for others to see and assume he was some kind of obsessive foodie.

Stepping out of the building, he pushed open a side door and found himself inside a quaint restaurant. Without hesitation, he took a seat with an air of calm composure.

Almost immediately, a waiter approached with a menu. Asher flipped through it, scanning the selections before placing an order for several items. Even though Lyra’s preparations had given him more food than he could possibly eat in a day, he still wanted to sample the local offerings.

Within minutes, his order arrived. He ate slowly, with the kind of unhurried ease befitting his status, savoring each bite.

His earlier question to Jane, about whether the reality of Crymora reflected here, had not been a random curiosity. What he truly wanted to know was whether Emovirae, the monsters and beasts of Crymora, still existed within this Separate Dimension.

If the Principal was the undisputed sovereign here, a god-like force within her own domain, could she simply will such creatures out of existence? Could she dictate that no emotion could give birth to Emovirae?

If that were possible, this Separate Dimension would have easily become one of the safest places in all Crymora.

When he finished his meal, Asher placed a single gold coin on the table and left. Outside, he saw many of the other students wandering about, exploring shops, streets, and the edges of the Academy’s expansive grounds.

He spent the remainder of the evening doing much the same, strolling along stone pathways, observing hidden corners, noting exits and routes. The sky gradually darkened, and by the time he returned to his room, it was already 10 p.m.

A quick night bath left him feeling refreshed. Dressed in his pajamas, he sank into the bed, closing his eyes and letting the quiet consume him. Whatever exam awaited tomorrow, he would be ready.