SYSTEM ASCENSION

The gates alone were enough to silence most conversations. Simply breathtaking.

They rose high carved from a polished stone that reflected the morning light. Inscription patterns ran along their surface, untouched by centuries, marking as something far older and significant.

The structure had stood for over a century.

Beyond them, the campus stretched wide.

Students moved in small clusters along the paths, their uniforms tailored perfect, their voices low and mannered.

Until he walked in.

The difference was immediate, even if no one spoke of it.

The uniform was the same. That much had been required from every student, but where others wore theirs open and noble, his was drawn differently. A hood resting over his head, casting a faint shadow over his eyes.

It wasn’t against the rules, but it wasn’t common among the students. And in a place like this, anything uncommon stood out always.

Conversations slowed as he passed.

They looked up. Strained their necks.

"...New intake?"

"Doesn’t look like a transfer."

"What’s up with his height?"

"What family is he from?"

"How tall is he?"

He didn’t slow down, nor react to their comments.

The path ahead led straight toward the administration building, its structure even more imposing up close. Tall pillars framing the entrance, the academy’s crest etched above the doors.

He stepped inside.

Behind the long reception desk, a woman glanced up as he approached. Her gaze lingered briefly on the small tag attached near his collar.

"Name," she said, her tone professional.

"Elias."

Her fingers moved across the panel before her, pulling up his file. The faint glow reflected in her eyes as she read, and for the briefest moment, her expression shifted.

"Elias Morail. Eighteen years old...You’re the scholarship candidate."

A pause followed.

Then:

"And a C-rank Raider."

That part carried weight.

She wasn’t saying it in admiration, nor quite disdain, but something that sat uncomfortably in between.

On a normal occasion, a C rank raider is regarded as a capable middle class, but before the light of Ringoff prestigious academy, they were nothing.

The academy only recognised B rank and above.

Behind him, the faint sound of footsteps slowed.

People were listening now.

"Is there a problem?" Elias asked. His hands stayed tucked away in his pockets, gaze blank.

Her gaze lifted to meet him for the first time. Then, just as quickly, the expression was gone, replaced with neutrality.

"No."

A card slid across the desk toward him.

"Your registration is already approved. Dormitory assignment and class schedule are encoded here."

Another pause.

"Orientation begins in thirty minutes."

He took the card without a word. As he turned, the doors opened again, students outside the hall stared at him.

One of them tilted his head slightly.

"...Scholarship? When did we start giving that out?"

The others followed his gaze, their expressions ranging from mild curiosity to faint amusement.

"C-rank," another added after a brief glance. "We actually allowed a C rank. Ringoff’s reputation is on the line."

A line had been drawn. Nobility and the common ones. Elias walked past them without stopping.

Behind him, the whispers resumed.

"They’re letting anyone in now?"

"Let’s see how long he lasts."

The card felt lighter than it should have.

A thin piece of material holding everything he was supposed to become here.

He glanced down at the card.

A faint projection flickered to life above its surface.

> **Dormitory Block: C–17**

> **Room Assignment: 3**

> **Orientation Hall: Central Assembly Wing**

> **Orientation time Remaining: 00:21:34**

Twenty-one minutes more.

The dormitories were positioned toward the eastern end of the campus, separated from the main academic structures by a series of tree-lined paths. The walk there was quieter, the clusters of students thinner.

A few glanced his way.

The building marked *C–17* stood taller than the rest nearby, its structure simple but clean.

Room 3 was on the second floor.

The door slid open at his approach, responding to the card in his hand with a soft click.

The space inside was modest, but far from lacking.

Two beds. Two desks. Storage built seamlessly into the walls. Everything was arranged.

One side was already occupied.

A bag rested neatly beside the bed, its contents partially unpacked. A jacket with the school crest draped over the chair. No one inside.

Elias stepped in, letting the door close quietly behind him.

For a moment, he simply stood there and stared.

Not the room itself, but the quiet atmosphere. It was like a luxury.

No screams. No countdown. No sand burning through his skin. No bounty. No invasion. No death.

His grip tightened slightly around the card.

A second went by. Then two seconds.

His eyes snapped sharply towards the door.

A faint footstep broke the silence immediately after, and the door slid open. A boy stepped in, pausing briefly as his gaze landed on Elias.

There was a moment, short, but still noticeable, where he took in the hood, the posture, the absurd tallness.

"...So you’re the other one."

His tone wasn’t hostile, but it wasn’t warm either.

Elias gave a small nod.

The boy stepped further inside, letting the door close behind him. His gaze flicked briefly to the card in Elias’s hand, then back to his face.

"The registration area was talking."

Not even an hour in. Rumors travelled too fast in Ringoff academy.

"Scholarship," he continued, setting his small bag down on the opposite side. "C-rank Raider."

A pause and raised a brow.

"They don’t usually mix those. A student getting a scholarship is five out of hundred yearly."

Elias said nothing.

The boy watched him for another second, as if expecting a reaction. When none came, he gave a small shrug.

"Name’s Kael."

The hooded young man replied.

"Elias."

Kael nodded once, as though confirming something.

"Orientation’s in a bit," he added, moving toward his side of the room. "You’ll want to be there early. They like making examples out of late arrivals."

A faint hint of amusement touched his tone.

"First impressions matter here."

Elias glanced toward the door.

"Do they?"

Kael paused, then looked back at him. "More than anything."

He turned his head towards the table and pointed. "Student tools are in that box. Wristwatches, communication orbs and sorts. You’re not allowed to use your cell phone unless you’re in the student council."

He walked towards the washroom.

"Freshen up Elias! We’ll move in a bit."

Elias’ gaze followed his roommate till he was out of sight. The door closed softly behind Kael, before his eyes returned.

"Screen."

A dark screen came up immediately, shimmering in the morning light.

"Basic information."

[Name: Elias Morail]

[Age: 18]

[Height: 6’10"]

[Weight: 100kg]

[Species: Halfling][Description: A Qud and a human]

[Occupation: S rank raider]

[Status: Upholder/Sector seven sole survivor]

He looked down.

’Upholder huh?’

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