After getting harshly scolded by the detention professor, I found my way back to my dorm and I could finally spend some time analyzing what I had gained from this strange night.
I crossed my legs and sat on the floor. I began circulating Mana all over my body. I tried to send more Mana inside of the "new" Mana Core I had received. However, every time I tried to do so, it would push it away as if it didn't need Mana.
'What is that energy...?'
It was denser than Mana and seemed extremely potent, maybe twice or thrice as powerful as Mana. However, it seemed to be extremely slow to produce.
I clicked my tongue and stood up from the ground. At the current pace at which the Dormant Mana Core was being filled, it would only regain consciousness in a month.
Still, I had obtained something else, which deserved observation.
The ring on my right hand.
'I'll go test out its ability tomorrow.'
However, the next day, when I tried to head out to the Academy's forest, there were dozens of guards before it. They would deny access to anyone who might try to enter it.
I could have potentially tried to go past them. But I didn't want to risk getting found by one of the guards. I had already gotten in trouble on my first day. The last thing I wanted was for me to be expelled from the Royal Academy, having nowhere to go.
Instead, I decided to wait for the weekend.
I needed to make money anyway. The Royal Academy tuition wasn't free, even if I was a special student. On top of that, I needed to continue getting stronger. I might have faked my death, but the higher-ups back at the camp were bound to find out the truth soon enough.
'Once they realize that I'm still alive, they'll stop at nothing to find me again.'
I needed to get money so I could buy Skill Books, especially those related to Space Affinity. Back in the camp, they had very little research around the Space Affinity because of how rare it was. The only reason I managed to make it reach D-Rank was because of how stubborn I was, testing out things.
I also wanted to buy Elixirs, but that would be in the future. The money required to buy those things was way too far out of reach. A single Darkness or Wind Elixir would cost well over 1 million Gold Coins (GC). As for Space Affinity, the price could rise well above 10 million GC.
***
"Oh, Yike~!" A cheerful voice called out to me as I was on the way back to the Top 5 Student Dorms.
I turned around and immediately recognized her with her long, red hair flowing as she ran in my direction. She was smiling brightly, clearly happy to see me.
"There you are..." Amelia shook her head, panting. "To think that we wouldn't even have crossed paths for the whole week." She hit my arm playfully. "You even placed second in your year. That's awesome~!"
I frowned at her behavior.
I had expected her to avoid me because of my status. Even if I was the second First Year Student, most people would still avoid me. They knew that I had already made an enemy of the Loge Family, and they weren't planning on becoming one too.
In fact, during the simple act of greeting me, I could already hear whispers all around us coming from all kinds of students.
"Do they know each other?"
"To think that a commoner would have a connection with the Lix Family..."
"Maybe that's why he got second in the rankings. They might have used their influence."
Amelia also heard those whispers as she wrapped her arm around mine and pulled me away, forcefully walking as far as possible from them.
"Don't listen to them. They're just jealous of you. They have no idea what you even went through to get here."
I barely nodded, annoyed by how nice she was acting again.
"Are you sure you want to associate yourself with me?" I asked her plainly.
I knew she'd understand the underlying meaning of my question. However, she didn't even hesitate before speaking up.
"Why wouldn't I? Aren't we friends?"
I just nodded in silence as we continued to walk together. It was a little awkward because she kept holding my arm, but I didn't say anything.
"So, what are you doing this weekend? You didn't answer me."
I shrugged as I lied through my teeth. "I'm not too sure."
I didn't want anyone to accompany me since I wasn't sure how the ring would react when I killed my first monster. I knew Amelia was trustworthy, but anyone could become greedy at the sight of such an artifact.
"You haven't registered at the Mercenary Center, right?" Amelia said with a smile. "How about we go there together?"
I had already planned on going and registering. But I couldn't tell her that. I didn't want to refuse her offer. I could always end up leaving her behind and going off on my own. Still, I had planned on using a different identity. I couldn't have her coming along with me.
However, just as I was about to refuse, she pulled me even closer.
"Come on! We only have two days, we need all the time we can get!"
"But—"
"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be just fine. The Mercenary Exam isn't even that hard, you'll pass it right away."
I shook my head. That wasn't what I had been worried about at all.
Still, I couldn't help but have a faint smile when I saw just how differently Amelia was acting around me compared to others.
In the end, I decided to head to the Mercenary Center along with her.
'Should I trust her with my fake identity?' I thought to myself, glancing at her.
I didn't think she would betray me. But it wouldn't have been the first time it happened.