Chapter 12 – A New Home

The moment the Headmaster's office fell silent, the mysterious man slowly withdrew his hand from the black crystal floating before him. The image of Noctis Academy dissolved into countless fragments of light before disappearing completely, leaving only the dim glow of ancient runes carved into the walls of the underground chamber. Behind him, the Void Alpha remained kneeling, its enormous body covered in wounds that had yet to heal. "Should we retrieve her now?" it asked in a rough voice. The man remained quiet for several seconds before shaking his head. "No. The Crown Dormitory is the safest place in the academy. Ironically, it is also where fate will move the fastest." He turned slightly toward the creature, though his face remained hidden beneath the hood. "The Crown has accepted its fifth piece. Let them believe they are protecting her. Every move they make only brings the prophecy closer to awakening." Without another word, he disappeared into the darkness, leaving the Void Alpha alone in the silent chamber.

Meanwhile, back at the academy, a young maid dressed in the silver-and-white uniform of the Crown Dormitory politely guided me through the enormous mansion. Every hallway looked more luxurious than the last. Crystal chandeliers reflected warm golden light across polished marble floors, while portraits of former Crown Kings lined the walls, each carrying an imposing presence that made me instinctively lower my gaze whenever I passed one. I couldn't help comparing it to the small stone cottage where Aunt Mira and I had lived. There, every piece of furniture had a story behind it, every crack in the walls reminded us of another harsh winter we had survived together. This place, however, looked untouched by hardship, as though life itself had never dared disturb its elegance. The maid finally stopped before a pair of large oak doors decorated with silver vines. "Lady Aurelia, this will be your room. If you require anything, simply ring the bell beside your bed. The Crown Dormitory staff is available at all times." She bowed gracefully before quietly excusing herself, leaving me standing alone.

I slowly pushed the door open, unsure what to expect, and froze almost immediately. The room was larger than Aunt Mira's entire house. A wide window overlooked the academy gardens, where countless glowing flowers bloomed beneath the afternoon sun. A bookshelf filled with introductory textbooks, historical records, and magical research journals occupied one side of the room, while a neatly made bed rested beneath elegant blue curtains embroidered with silver thread. Even the wardrobe looked expensive enough to buy several houses back home. For several moments, I simply stood there in silence before letting out a quiet laugh. "I suppose this is home now." Setting my luggage beside the bed, I began unpacking. One by one, I folded my clothes and arranged them neatly inside the wardrobe before placing my favorite books on the shelf. Finally, I carefully removed a small wooden picture frame from the bottom of my suitcase. It held the only photograph I had of Aunt Mira and me, taken years ago during the Harvest Festival. I gently wiped away an invisible speck of dust before placing it on the bedside table. Looking at her smiling face somehow made the unfamiliar room feel a little less lonely.

As I finished arranging the last of my belongings, a thought suddenly crossed my mind. "System," I called softly, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "Earlier you mentioned Crown Synchronization. What exactly is my current level?" A familiar blue screen immediately materialized before my eyes.

【CROWN SYNCHRONIZATION】

Lucian Frostheart — 5%

Kael Ignis — 5%

Azriel Noctis — 5%

Orion Solis — 5%

Average Synchronization: 5%

Current Relationship Status: Strangers

Next Milestone Reward: 10% Synchronization

I blinked several times before reading the numbers again. "Only five percent?" The screen shimmered once before another line appeared beneath it.

Every destined connection begins at 5%.

Synchronization increases through trust, shared experiences, emotional bonds, and mutual understanding.

I frowned thoughtfully. "So... you're telling me I need to become friends with the Crown Kings?" The system remained silent for a brief moment before finally answering.

Friendship is the recommended method.

The wording immediately made me suspicious. "Recommended?" I repeated slowly. "Meaning... there are other methods?" As expected, no response came. I crossed my arms and sighed. "You're definitely hiding something." The blue screen quietly disappeared as though pretending it hadn't heard my question.

Not long afterward, a loud rumble echoed through the room. I lowered my head to look at my stomach before smiling helplessly. "I guess unpacking worked up an appetite." Glancing outside, I noticed the afternoon was beginning to fade. Rather than bothering anyone, I decided I'd simply head into town and buy a few ingredients. Cooking for myself had become a habit after living with Aunt Mira for so many years, and I doubted that would change just because I was staying in a luxurious dormitory. Locking my room behind me, I quietly made my way downstairs.

The spacious living room was surprisingly peaceful. Sunlight poured through tall windows, bathing the furniture in a warm golden glow. Orion sat comfortably on one of the sofas with a book resting on his lap and a cup of tea in his hand, while Kael lay stretched across another sofa with one leg hanging over the armrest as he lazily flipped through a comic book. They looked so relaxed that I almost turned around, not wanting to interrupt. Unfortunately, Kael noticed me first. "Well, look who finally decided to come downstairs," he said with a grin, snapping his book shut. Orion looked up from his reading and smiled warmly. "Good afternoon, Aurelia. Have you settled into your room?" I nodded with a small smile. "Yes. Thank you. It's... much nicer than I expected." Kael laughed. "That's the polite version. The honest version is probably, 'Why is my bedroom bigger than my old house?'" My cheeks warmed slightly because that was embarrassingly accurate. Orion chuckled softly. "He's not wrong."

"I'll be back in a little while," I said, heading toward the entrance. Orion tilted his head curiously. "Going somewhere?" "I was thinking of buying something to eat." Both boys stared at me for a second before Orion looked genuinely confused. "Buying food?" I nodded. "I'm a little hungry." "Aurelia," he said gently, "you know there are chefs living here, don't you?" I stopped mid-step. "There are?" Kael looked equally surprised. "Wait... nobody told her?" Orion sighed with an amused smile. "The Crown Dormitory has its own kitchen and full-time chefs. If you're hungry, you only need to ask." Embarrassment quickly spread across my face. "I... didn't know." After a brief pause, I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. "Honestly... I'm not really used to asking other people to cook for me. Aunt Mira and I always prepared our own meals. I suppose I'm just more comfortable doing it myself."

Rather than laughing, Orion's expression softened with understanding. "That makes sense." He closed his book before standing. "If you'd rather cook, the kitchen is always available. You don't need anyone's permission." Relief immediately spread across my face. "Really?" "Of course." Before I could thank him, he continued, "Although, if you're planning to cook, you'll probably need ingredients. I was about to head into town anyway. If you don't mind the company, I can show you around the academy market." Before I could answer, Kael suddenly jumped off the sofa. "Perfect! I'll come too." Orion looked at him with complete seriousness. "No." Kael blinked. "Why not?" "Because last time you went shopping, you somehow came back with a baby wyvern." Kael folded his arms. "It followed me home." "You challenged its mother to a race." "She accepted." "She was trying to eat you." "Details." I couldn't stop myself from laughing. Kael pointed triumphantly toward Orion. "See? I made her laugh." Orion sighed dramatically. "Unfortunately, you did."

The academy market was far livelier than I had imagined. Students from every race wandered through colorful streets lined with magical shops and lively stalls. Beastkin merchants proudly displayed baskets overflowing with glowing fruits, dwarven craftsmen argued cheerfully while forging enchanted cookware, and elven florists sold blossoms that gently floated above their tables instead of sitting in vases. Everything felt alive, vibrant, and wonderfully unfamiliar. I found myself slowing my pace simply to admire the scenery. Orion noticed my curiosity and smiled. "It's overwhelming the first time." "A little," I admitted. "But it's beautiful."

They accompanied me from stall to stall as I selected vegetables, herbs, eggs, fresh bread, and a few pieces of meat. Orion reached for the first basket of apples he saw, but I stopped him with a laugh. "Not those." He looked confused. "Why?" "They're overpriced." "You can tell just by looking?" "Of course." I walked to the neighboring stall where the apples looked almost identical but cost nearly half as much. Orion blinked in surprise while Kael burst into laughter. "Based on your reaction just now, I guess you have been duped on many without even realizing it." Orion smiled sheepishly. "I suppose I never really paid attention to prices." "I noticed," I teased. "Don't worry." I held up the basket with a smile. "I'll teach you how to shop properly."