Outworld: Awakening

"You're going to love it, Adam. I have never eaten something so good in my life. Especially their meat sauce. Trust me, it's fantastic..."

Adam watched as Hendrix made exaggerated gestures with his fingers while l.i.c.k.i.n.g his lips.

'I guess you can't judge a book by its cover. Who would have thought someone like him was so mellow?' Adam thought as he stared at Hendrix.

As they walked under the moonlight, he could see different students going about their business. Some stared at him in passing, but none paid any special attention to him.

Although they had only walked for twenty minutes, he had passed five dungeons, and a sixth towered a few meters from where he stood.

"Oi? Adam? Are you listening to me pal? You keep staring at the dungeons, doesn't it give you the chills? I know that we are Awakened, but I don't look forward to entering one. Thankfully, the ones in Varidan are only subset dungeons. I can't imagine going into a grand dungeon like The Labyrinth of the Nameless," Hendrix said as his arm dr.a.p.ed over Adam's shoulder.

"Did you have a bad experience or something?"

"Nah. Nothing like that. I hate Demons as much as the other guy, but I love myself more. Yeah, some may call me a coward, but I'm a coward who will live long. I'm more interested in raiding the dungeons. To me, being an Awakened is a gateway to a life of prosperity. Do you know the number of benefits attached to being one? Not to talk of one who graduated from Varidan. Hahaha.."

Hendrix's gawked at some female students while his cheerful laughter echoed. Although to some, Hendrix's words did portray him as a coward, but Adam didn't think this way. If he had gotten to Outworld in a different circ.u.mstance, then he too would have thought of living a leisure life.

Unlike Hendrix, however, Adam couldn't dream about that kind of life, at least not until he accomplished his goals. He had no right to tell anyone how to live their life, and the same applied to him.

A few minutes later, Adam and Hendrix stood before an elegantly designed building painted in white. They couldn't count the number of students entering the building, however, every student who left had a contended smile.

'It seems he wasn't kidding. What kind of food are they serving in there? Saliva is already filling my mouth. If this goes on any longer, I might actually drool.'

Adam felt as if the tantalizing waft from the building slowly c.a.r.e.s.sed his body, while dragging him into its interior.

"Adam, I can't hold on anymore. Let's go in," Hendrix said.

Without waiting for Adam's consent, Hendrix dragged him into the magnificent cafeteria.

As they entered the building, Adam's mouth dropped slightly. The luminescence of dazzling chandeliers reflected of the marble floors. He could see statues made of solid gold, moulded in different forms. Some belonged to humans, but a vast majority he couldn't determine.

On the reflective walls of the cafeteria, hundreds of paintings came into view. Some depicted dungeons and various creatures, while others had images of weapons and varying landscape.

The most eye catching feature of the cafeteria was the towering founding in the form of a swan. Made from a transparent material, Adam could see a blue liquid circulating.

Adam could also see students of varying ages eating, laughing and talking with each other. Some lingered on the ground floor, others climbed a spiral, but flamboyant staircase to the first, second, third and fourth floor.

"You love it already, right? There is no point staring my friend. Let's go stuff our faces. Maybe we'll talk to some beauties when we're done?" Hendrix winked as he patted Adam on his back.

Wasting no time, he hurried to a stall with a small line.

'Pick up girls? I have so much to do than worry that right now.'

Although this thought filled Adam's mind, he maintained a smile as he walked towards Hendrix.

Twenty minutes later, Adam and Hendrix had contended smiles on their faces. They couldn't stop themselves from laughing as they stared at the empty dishes which lay on the table between them.

"Didn't it tell you it was out of this world. Can you believe we get to eat something this good everyday until we graduate?"

Hendrix could not stop burping as he rubbed his bulging stomach.

Adam could not disprove of his words, in his two lives; he had never eaten something as good. After eating dry rations for seven years, eating such a meal sent him to cloud nine.

"So, Adam... those girls have been staring at us. Why don't we go say hello to them? You—"

"Hendrix, who gets to go to the first floor and the floors above it?" Adam interjected.

The corner of Hendrix's eyes twitched as he heard Adam's words, and his gaze shifted from the beauties, "Remember what I told you back in the room?"

Adam nodded.

"Well, the cafeteria is an extension of that. Although we are all Awakened, our value is not the same. From the rumors I've heard, what we ate is nothing compared to what they serve on the first floor. Only those with a D-level connection can eat there. The second floor is reserved for those with C-level connection. The third and fourth floors are for the B and A-level connection.

"Adam, it is forbidden for someone with a lower level to climb those stairs. No matter how tempted you may be, don't even think about. Those from higher floors, however, can dinning on any floor of their choice. As long as they don't go above their assigned floor," Hendrix explained.

'So this is what he meant by a class based society? Won't this method breed animosity among students? Or is this what the leaders of the academy want?' It seems those with S-level and The Blessed have a different place they eat,' Adam thought.

"Adam, do you understand? You got a strange look on your face. I hope you're not planning something stupid?"

Adam snapped out of his pondering demeanor as he heard Hendrix's words.

"Of course not. I'm not the troublemaking type. You don't have to worry," Adam said.

Hendrix's smile brightened as he rubbed his palms together, "So what do you say? Want to talk with them?"

Slowly turning his head, two beauties came into Adam's view. Just as he turned his head, the ladies giggled and waved at him and Hendrix.

"Come on, Adam. They are certainly feeling us. I don't want to leave you behind... wow, they're actually coming over."

Just as Hendrix finished his statement, Adam felt a subtle touch on his left shoulder.

"Hello. Do you mind if we join you?"

Raising his head, Adam stared at a young lady with amber hair packed into a pony tail. She wore the female version of the Varidan uniform, which came with a skirt instead of pants.

Adam could see three piercings on her face, one on her nose, one on the right side of lower lip, and one on her left eyebrow. As he stared into her limpid amber eyes, she wore a sweet smile on her plump lips.

Meanwhile, the second young lady had long black locks woven into a single braid. Unlike her friend, she had almond shaped eyes which complemented her small nose. The dazzling lights in the cafeteria bounced of her numerous jewelries. Adam couldn't count the number of rings on her hand alone.

"I hope we are not interrupting—"

"Of course not. Please sit. My friend and I, were just planning on going over to meet you gals. I am Hendrix, his name is Adam, nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Madeline, and this is my friend Isabel. You guys are new students, right?" The amber haired beauty asked as she and her friend took their seat.

Madeline sat next to Adam while Isabel sat next to Hendrix.

"Oh? What makes you say that? Do we get a reward for being new students?" Hendrix teased.

Madeline and Isabel giggled as they heard his words.

"Well, it depends. What did you guys have in mind?" Isabel asked as her fingers drummed on the surface of the table.

Hendrix's smile brightened while thousands of thoughts flooded his mind. He didn't expect something like this would happen.

'F.u.c.k yeah! This is what I'm talking about. Good food and beautiful woman, is there a better combination? It seems they're in the same level as us. If my guess is correct, they are new students, too. We have to play this right. We might just get lucky,' Hendrix thought.

"What do you guys actually want?" Adam asked.

'Bro, what the hell are you doing? Are you trying to drive them away?' Hendrix's eyes twitched as he heard Adam's words.

Meanwhile, Madeline and Isabel giggled, but said nothing.

"Well, if you guys aren't interested in talking. I'll take—"

"Hahaha... That was a good one, Adam," Hendrix interjected.

He subtly winked at Adam while kicking him under the table.

"You guys are so funny. Are you from around here?" Madeline asked.

"I am—"

Before Hendrix could finish his statement, Adam's loud laugh interrupted him.

"Ladies, what's the point of beating around the bush? Tell us what you really came here for? Or, did you think nobody could hear your previous conversation?" Adam said.

Hendrix's brows creased as he heard Adam's words. Initially, he thought Adam behaved unpleasantly for no reason. However, with Adam's declaration, he wanted to know what he meant.

"Oh. So you were eavesdropping on us? Is that your Blessing?" Isabel said.

A frown donned Hendrix's face as he heard Isabel's sarcastic comment. Just as he was about to speak, Adam kicked him under the table.

"Well, since you were already listening. I don't—"

"You girls don't have to waste your time anymore. I am not from beyond the walls," Adam interjected.

Without saying anything further, Madeline and Isabel rose to their feet. Before Hendrix could comprehend the situation, the two ladies walked away still maintaining their smiles.

"Adam, what was that all about?" Hendrix asked. He could no longer hold his curiosity.

"They have been gossiping about my birth place. That's the reason they sat close to us. They were looking for an opportunity to talk with us," Adam explained.

"Those bitches. Here I thought they were actually interested in us. Damn it. Now I don't feel like hanging out here anymore. Come on, Adam. I'll escort you to the records department and Pyren's valley."

Saying nothing further, Adam and Hendrix rose to their feet, before leaving the hall.

Unbeknownst to them, four individuals watched them from the second floor.

"Isabel, is he from the—"

"No. I told you someone with only a E-level connection can't come from beyond the Walls. I'll give him props though. He didn't seem to be affected by Madeline's Blessing of attraction. I don't know why you are so concerned about him."

Isabel spoke to a lean man who looked as if he was in his early twenties.

"Haven't you heard? He is the 40th ranked student in our year. How can a someone with a mere E-level connection do that? I also looked into his background, he was sponsored by someone name Aldo Gibbs. And I've never heard of someone like that. At least not in the Eastern countries. Classes start soon, we'll soon know what he's made of then."