Aftermath

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[QUEST COMPLETED]

Quest: Guide the First Episode

Status: COMPLETED

Calculating appropriate reward...

Reward: +1 Free Status Point

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A small smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it, finally something went right.

I immediately pulled up my status window.

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[STATUS WINDOW]

Name: Aria Fenrir

Level: 2

Talent: SSS (Displayed as S)

Class: Frost Blade (Rare)

Stats:

Strength: 101

Agility: 107

Endurance: 91

Mana: 120

Mana Control: 35

Available Points: 1

Skills:

[Absolute Zero] - SEALED

[Swordmanship] - B-

[Fenrir Style Swordplay] - D+

[Ice Manipulation] - D-

[Frost Step] - E+

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One free stat point. Although it didn't seem like much, it was way too generous. Who knows what training I would have to do to get a single stat increase? Now it was just handed to me like charity.

Now I just need a few hundred more to reach level 10.

My face darkened. Is it even possible to reach level 10 and unlock my second skill? Doubt crept in. I had extreme anger toward my old self who made such an insane power system.

Just then, another notification appeared.

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[DEVIATION ANALYSIS]

Multiple plot points altered from original timeline:

Belle Ignis challenged Aria publicly (Original: private classroom confrontation)

Near's first fight intervention altered significantly (Original: minimal involvement)

Mass rank introduction ceremony (Original: no such event occurred)

Current Deviation Level: MODERATE

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Deviation level: Moderate. Hmm. It seems despite all the changes, nothing irreparable has happened. Which was a good thing. As long as the overall events aren't a mess, I could prepare for them ahead of time.

Although it doesn't mean I should stay fixed on canon. In this episode alone, it's been displayed multiple times that there's a lot going on that I don't know about, so there's no way of knowing what would happen next. I shouldn't be bound by worrying about deviation and should just do what I think is best.

And besides, chapter 40, the ending of the novel, wasn't a happy ending anyway.

Rather, it's a huge problem that needs to be solved.

I tried not to think about it. But it was something that seemed unchangeable, no matter the deviation.

Dismissing the notification, I made my way back to the main hall.

The moment I stepped through the entrance, I noticed something off. The hall was nearly empty, maybe a dozen students scattered around where there had been hundreds before.

I raised an eyebrow. Where did everyone go?

"Aria!"

I turned to see Luna waving at me from near the refreshment table, a pastry in her hand.

I walked over to her. "What happened here? Where is everyone?"

Luna swallowed her bite quickly. "Oh! The seniors came by while you were gone. They're giving tours of the academy grounds." She gestured vaguely toward the exit. "Most people left with them."

Was there anything like that in the original novel? Doesn't seem like it. I'd cut the arc short and continued with Near the next day.

I grabbed a pastry from the table and took a bite. Finally. Food.

Luna watched me with amusement. "I thought you'd never eat. You looked like you were starving earlier.”

Tilting my head, I asked, "You could tell?"

Wasn't Aria's mask supposed to be flawless?

"Hmm." Luna tapped her chin thoughtfully. "When you're anxious or something's troubling you, there's this little thing you do with your eyes. They shift just slightly to the left. Other people might not notice, but I can tell."

Oh.

I guess the Ice Princess's perfect mask wasn't so perfect after all. At least not to someone who'd been with her for years.

That was... both comforting and concerning.

"I see," I said simply, taking another bite of pastry.

Luna smiled softly. "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me."

Is it even a secret if you've already told someone? Thinking idle thoughts, I had an idea.

"Hey, Luna."

"Mm?"

"Do you want to explore the academy by ourselves?"

Her eyes lit up immediately, practically shining. She nodded her head enthusiastically. "Yes! I've been wanting to look around properly!"

What followed was the whole day of exploring the academy with Luna. We went through many places, starting with the training grounds.

And by training grounds, I mean an absolutely massive facility that put Olympic stadiums to shame. Multiple arenas stood at the center, each one designed for different combat styles. A runway track circled around them, a few sections filled with large obstacles. There were a few groups of students scattered about, likely exploring, and some seniors jogging along the perimeter track.

Now, I know I'm responsible for this since I wrote it. But seeing it with my own eyes was on a whole different level.

Luna's eyes were wide. "I knew Hive Academy was prestigious, but this is on whole different level.”

"Heh. This isn't even the real thing. It's more for both the combat and support classes to practice. Wait till you see the real deal.”

Luna turned to me, confused. "Real deal? There's more?"

"The dungeon facilities. They're in a separate building." I gestured vaguely in what I hoped was the right direction. "That's where actual combat training happens. But I don't think we could access it right now."

"Is it restricted?"

"Something like that."

More importantly, it was dangerous. Real monsters from dungeons were stored in there, and it required full-on personnel to ensure nothing broke loose and everything kept working. Which obviously fails in future chapters.

But I didn't explain all that to Luna. She'd just worry.

"Come on," I said, turning away from the training grounds. "Let's check out the library next."

Luna perked up immediately. "Oh! I've been wanting to see it. I heard it has many restricted books on monsters, written by people who went into the dungeons themselves. There are records on monsters people haven't even heard about."

Right. If you don't know already, Luna's rank was Support Class A-4, and her specialty is monsters. Monster identification, behavior patterns, weaknesses, she's basically a walking encyclopedia when it comes to them.

Which made sense why she'd be excited about the library.
 

We made our way across campus, following the signs. The academy grounds were massive, carefully maintained gardens, wide pathways, modern buildings mixed with older architecture. It felt more like a small city than a school.

The library came into view, and even I had to admit it was impressive. A massive structure of glass and stone, five stories tall, with students flowing in and out of the entrance.

Luna grabbed my arm excitedly. "Let's go!”

We stepped inside, and…

"Well, well. If it isn't Aria?."

I turned to see Adrian's group standing near the entrance. Adrian himself smiled behind those black glasses, flanked by Lucian, Belle, Rui, and Felix, along with a senior I couldn't recognize.

Luna stiffened at the sight of them.

I sighed internally. We had to run into them, huh?

Adrian stepped forward, that perpetual smile still on his face. "Fancy meeting you here, Miss Fenrir. Exploring the campus as well?"

I kept my expression flat. "Obviously."

"How cold." He chuckled, not seeming bothered in the slightest. "I didn't see you have any senior with you, though. If you'd like, you could join us."

I looked to the side where Luna was giving me a "go ahead" look. I was about to decline when Felix spoke up.

"Your friend Luna, I take it? She could also join us if you'd like."

Everyone in their group looked at Felix as he spoke, but he just shrugged.

Then there was no need to decline. Luna wanted to make connections with higher guilds what could be better chance then having a tour with them, and we could also access places with a senior that we couldn't on our own.

"Fine," I said simply.

After joining their group, we went through many other areas. At first, Luna was awkward, but after having simple conversations with Felix and Adrian, she seemed to fit in well. Fortunately, neither Belle nor Rui tried to pick a fight with me. But Belle's constant glaring throughout was a burden.

All in all, it was an exhausting first day.