CHAPTER 185: UNIVERSITY DAYS

The disguises worked better than Hermes expected. Somner had insisted on handling everything, from the makeup to the fake IDs to the fashion choices.

And, against all odds, the team actually looked like they belonged on campus.

Hermes adjusted his glasses and tugged at the strap of his backpack. He looked every bit the typical nerd who carried too many books. Somner strutted ahead, chic in his carefully curated outfit, hair perfectly styled to scream confidence.

Magni wore a varsity jacket and joggers, his booming presence selling the ’university jock’ look effortlessly. Aphrodite was wrapped in flowing fabrics and beads, a quiet artsy hippie wandering through academia. And Ymir, naturally, wore a pressed suit and tie, giving off the sharpness of a law student who had no patience for nonsense.

"You can thank me later," Somner said smugly as they walked through the campus gates. "Sirentone for the guards, flawless makeup for the rest. You’re all welcome."

"Thanks, Somner. I’ll give you a reward later for this." Hermes muttered.

"Please do, Master...." Somner swooned, his whole body turning pink again.

They passed through the gates without issue. But just as they were about to enter the main courtyard, Hermes slowed. His chest tightened. Something tugged at him.

"Hold on." Hermes said. "We need to wait for one more."

The four turned to him, confused.

"One more?" Ymir arched his brow. "Who could you possibly—"

Their words cut short. All of them turned to see Raphael walking toward them.

He was dressed like the campus darling prep boy: crisp polo, sweater over his shoulders, clean shoes, and the kind of smile that turned heads.

The sight made Somner’s jaw tighten instantly. Ymir’s eyes narrowed. Aphrodite’s gaze lingered, quiet but cautious. Magni, of course, grinned like he had just spotted a long-lost brother.

"Brother Raphael!" Magni bellowed, clapping his massive hands. "My brother in flames has joined our quest to the halls of knowledge!"

"Unbelievable," Somner muttered, folding his arms. "Of course you invited him. Of course you did, Master."

Hermes gave a small shrug. "If there’s someone here who knows about Pleroma or its plants, we might need Raphael as proof. An actual Pleroman could convince them to talk."

"That is... not entirely illogical," Ymir admitted reluctantly, though his eyes remained fixed on Raphael as if expecting him to combust.

"I still don’t like it," Somner hissed.

"I understand." Aphrodite said quietly, though his gaze never left Raphael. He also kept hold of his water bottle as if it was pepper spray.

Raphael, oblivious to the tension, gave them all an easy smile. "I look forward to learning what a university is like. I’ve never seen one before."

"Then let us show you, brother!" Magni declared, throwing an arm over his shoulder.

As the group moved deeper into campus, the noise of university life surrounded them. Students laughed on the steps, clubs waved flyers, musicians strummed guitars, athletes jogged in packs. The smell of coffee and ink drifted from the library’s open windows. Magni’s eyes widened, drinking it all in.

"Such life!" Magni shouted. "Such joy! Truly this is a warrior’s feast of knowledge. No one fights, yet all are sharpened here. Remarkable! In the Void, we simply learn the laws of life by fighting tooth and nail to survive!"

"Try not to get us expelled within the hour." Ymir muttered.

They reached the main hallway when Raphael suddenly turned to Hermes. "What were your university days like?"

Hermes blinked. "What?"

Raphael smiled softly. "I’m curious. You studied here, didn’t you? I think all of us would like to know what you were like as a student."

The others looked at Hermes. Even Somner’s scowl softened into curiosity.

Hermes rubbed the back of his neck. "Honestly, it was nothing special. I wasn’t from the city. I only got in through a scholarship. It took me forever to adjust. Everyone else seemed to know how to act, how to live. I didn’t. The gap between rich kids and poor kids was... impossible to ignore."

He looked down as the memory returned clearer than he expected.

"I ate alone most days. I would sit at the edge of the cafeteria with a tray of food that was usually the cheapest option. I couldn’t relate to the conversations around me. They talked about cars their parents bought, about summer homes, about parties that cost more than my family made in a year. I never knew what to say. So I stayed quiet."

Everyone had a look of pity on their face.

Hermes’s voice softened, almost embarrassed by their stares and their quietness.

"I spent a lot of time in the library. At first because I had no one else to spend time with, but later because I found a kind of peace there. I liked sitting in the corner with a stack of books taller than my head, pretending I was too busy to notice how alone I was. The librarians started recognizing me. They’d leave me tea sometimes. But it was still just me, the shelves, and silence."

He gave a faint smile. "I even kept notes on people. I would write in my journals how they walked, what they laughed at, how they dressed, because I thought if I studied them the way I studied the stars, maybe I could eventually blend in. But I never really managed. City life always felt like a stage play and I was missing my script."

The group walked in silence for a moment, the weight of his words hanging in the air.

"But," Hermes said, a small smile forming, "in my third year I met someone. Not in my course. He was studying law. He was from another Danger Zone village, Village MX93. The first time I met him, he caught me eating in the library because I was too nervous to sit in the cafeteria. Instead of laughing at me, he just sat down, shared his sandwich, and started talking like we’d known each other for years."

Hermes’s eyes softened when he talked about this boy. "He made this place less lonely."

"What’s his name?" Aphrodite asked what everyone else was thinking.

Hermes opened his mouth to say it...

When right on time, a voice rang out across the courtyard.

"Hey! Are you Hermes Potentia?"

Hermes’s head snapped up. A tall, lean figure approached, dark brown skin glowing in the sunlight, long curls bouncing as he strode forward. His smile was as radiant as the North Star.

"Shani Nakshatra!" Hermes shouted, rushing forward.

They embraced tightly, and laughed with such mirth and closeness.

Behind them, the team froze. Ymir’s eyes sharpened, calculating. Somner’s lips pursed, venom brewing. Aphrodite tilted his head, watching with quiet intensity. Even Raphael’s smile faltered ever so slightly.

Magni, however, roared with joy. "Another friend of Brother Modi! Then we are truly blessed, for the fellowship grows stronger by the hour!"

Somner muttered under his breath. "Perfect. Another rival. Just what we needed."

Shani clapped Hermes’s back, holding him at arm’s length. "Look at you. After all these years, you still find trouble. I watched and read every news coverage about you, you know. But despite all the controversies, you bounce back. I’m proud! You really grew out from that loner shell you had back then!"

Hermes laughed. "Thanks. And you’re still sharp as ever. What are you doing here, Shani?"

The others stayed silent, eyes locked on the newcomer. Hermes could feel their intense gazes, and could only sigh.

This reunion was bound to get interesting.