CHAPTER 23: CH 23: FACULTY BUILDING.

Aegon walked back to his dorm, stood before his door and just before he pulled, thought to himself.

’What is actually going on in this novel?’

He let go of the handle, buried his face in hands and thought about everything that had just happened.

Ignoring the events of the the rooftop, he focused on the scale of priorities at hand.

Tomorrow was the first day of school so he had to talk to a mentor or teacher that could maybe help him with his Aether Control.

Which was also one of the main reasons he chose not have sex with her— even know he wanted to, it would be better when he’d be able to cultivate with her.

Also he was a virgin.

"..."

Moving past that, the Adept Trial was only like two weeks away, something told him that Micheal wasn’t done with them yet and worse the unshakable gnawing feeling at the back of his neck.

But he was too exhausted to worry about all that right now, he pushed the door open.

Eli stood immediately the door slid open, his eyes wide with excitement.

Quinn gave him a suspicious grin as they both whipped their heads in his direction.

"So, how was it?"

Eli started, voice giddy.

"Eli," Aegon rolled his eyes, "nothing happened."

"That’s not what we saw."

Quinn interjected.

Aegon turned to her.

"What did you see?"

Eli brought the phone back to Aegon’s face.

"This is nothing?"

The picture in the screen decipeted an image of Aegon with a small figure who wrapped her legs round his waist — a figure could unmistakenly be Mira.

"Oh my God."

He pushed the phone away from his face as he sat on the edge of his bed.

Quinn, asked sarcastically, "So you’re just kissing random girls on rooftops now?"

"No," Aegon defended himself, "I’m not kidding random girls— I just..."

He had no idea how to finish that sentence.

"Did you at least fuck her?"

Eli said bluntly.

"What? No!"

"No? Or not that we know of yet."

Quinn narrowed her gaze at him.

"I’m sorry Quinn, why are you so interested in this?"

Aegon scowled.

"Nothing! Absolutely nothing."

She said but for the first time avoided eye contact with him.

She turned her back on them.

Aegon ignored her and faced Eli.

"How did that picture even get on Aethera?"

"You really have idea how big this app is, do you?

The Mechania awakened who enters the school network doesn’t just get access to files... They have access to everything, which includes cameras—

Like the camera across the street which caught your midnight rundeveous."

’That app and it’s inventor might actually be more helpful than I initially thought.’

He nodded lightly.

"What do the comments say?"

Eli hoped for anything positive.

• · ─ ·✶· ─ · •

[Damn, guess she really did find herself a zaddy.]

[Is it just me or is that Aegon guy getting a lot cuter?]

[Sorry, but I wouldn’t be caught dead with Number 2,235... Have some shame girl. #Ewww.]

[Stop hating. They’re are low-key perfect.]

• · ─ ·✶· ─ · •

He’d seen enough to assume what the rest were going to say.

He furiously rubbed his temple, turned back to Eli.

"I need to know who build that app?"

Eli tilted his head back, shocked by his directness.

"I have no idea man. Just the rumour that it’s a Mechania."

’Whoever has the ability to get into an awakened academy’s network is far more capable of just rumours and highschool gossip.’

"Alright, just leave it for now. Just hope Mira doesn’t get backlash from this."

Aegon said.

"Ohhhh..."

Eli said mockingly.

Too exhausted to deal with him, Aegon just waved him off and slumped onto the bed— today was over for him.

---

The next day came in a haze and before he realised it— it was morning.

Eli woke Aegon up as he got up and ready for his official first day of classes as a registered awakened.

He put on his uniform and stepped in front of his check himself.

He hated it.

The academy’s Novus uniform was first a neatly iron white undershirt with golden bullets, a blue black blazer with golden inlays running along its seams and tailored black slacks.

It just didn’t feel right. He took off the blazer, ruffled his hair— folded up his sleeves and did away with the tie.

He traded the polished shoes for a pair of black sneakers with white soles.

Looked back in the mirror and gave himself a nod.

’much better.’

He moved with Eli by his side out of the dorm as most awakened dressed like squares and proceeded to the main Faculty building.

Quinn had waited behind, either she needed a few more minutes or she didn’t care to walk with them.

Regardless, they treaded on— even with the lingering stares and murmurs in Aegon’s direction.

So evident that Eli shifted closer to ask, "Dude, are you sure you can dress like that?"

All he gave was a light nod.

From his interaction with the principal he’d found out more than one thing like that the Adept Trial was only a few weeks away so in turn they couldn’t expel anyone.

Disciplinary actions— yes, but never expulsion, expelling someone this close to the next trail was basically associated murder.

And he’d gladly adhere to any disciplinary action than come out dressed like a square.

"Fuck!"

He stopped before the Faculty building that practically crawled into the sky.

White coloured, ceiling to floor glass running along its side, big enough to be a city and it made the library seem like a rusty old shack.

Awakened and teachers could be seen walking past the windows like it was any other Monday morning.

"Welcome to the Faculty building."

Eli said as he watched Aegon’s mouth fall open.

"This is fucking crazy, How big is this thing?"

"Big enough to contain any amount of students that get awakened per year."

Eli said by lightly shoved Aegon to draw him out of mesmerisation.

They proceeded up the front steps—

Just before the building, there it stood— a golden statue like a representation of a god.

It shimmered in the sun and would blind anyone who stared for too long— just like the real thing.

It knelt in the iconic superhero landing position— fist to the ground, face tilted forward and Cape perfectly melted to drape over his golden figure.

It was a statue of Nightwalker.