Outworld: Awakening

Two hours later.

Adam and Hendrix stood before the year one registration hall. Unlike the other parts of Varidan, students rarely frequented the area. Partly due to the fact that, severe punishment descended on those who loitered in the area.

"Adam, I'll wait for you at the other side. They don't joke with punishments in this place," Hendrix said as he patted Adam on his back.

Saying nothing further, he turned around, walking towards the East of the registration hall.

Adam's gaze followed Hendrix until he could no longer see him, only then did he concentrate on the unique entrance before him.

'How does this work again? Should I touch it?' Adam thought as he stared at the beautiful flowers in front of him.

Just as he was about to stretch his hand, a familiar voice reached him, "New student or Active student?"

"Active student," Adam said.

"What is your purpose for coming?"

"I'm here to register my Blessing," Adam said.

"Records Department. Second floor."

A split second later, a portal opened before Adam's eyes. Wasting no time, he walked into the opening. The moment he stepped into the portal, his vision distorted; however, in the blink of an eye, he found himself in a dimly lit room.

'Why do they have to be so extra in this place? Why can't they use normal doors?'

Before Adam could adjust to his new surrounding, a feminine voice reached him, "Come here. I don't have a lot of time you know."

Titling his head to the side, a large desk came into view. A petite figure sat at the other end of the desk, and due to the poor lightning in the room, Adam couldn't determine the person's facial features.

Wasting no time, he took hurried steps as he approached the table. With less than five feet separating him from the table, Adam's vision distorted for a second time, and he disappeared from the dimly lit room.

'Are they purposely doing this to me? What can't they be direct for f.u.c.k's sake? Where am I this time?'

Slowly opening his eyes, Adam discovered he lay on soft a gray rug. Beside him was a pure white sofa, and beyond it was a bookshelf filled with various books.

Titling his head to the side, the same view came into Adam's eyes. Only this time, he saw a bust on the top of the bookshelf.

'Is this where am I supposed to be? Where—'

"It seems you're not used to portal transfers. I'm sorry, I would have showed you the stairs if you had told me. Please take a seat, Adam. By the way, do you want anything to drink?"

As Adam turned his head towards the source of the voice, his eyes bulged and his breath quickened.

'What is she doing here? I thought she left the flying ship at The Bloodfall Catacombs? How did she get to Varidan Academy before me? This is bad, she saw my eyes in The Omen state,' Adam thought as he stared at Elliana.

Unlike before, she wore a black trenchcoat which covered most of her body. And, she wore pure white gloves which had a black cross design at the palm.

"Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face? Staring at someone is rude. You that, right?"

Her words only fueled Adam's apprehension. His eyes darted around the room, hoping to find a window or anything. He didn't know why, but he felt he had to escape from the room.

"Is something the matter? You keep avoiding my gaze and what are you searching for exactly? Didn't you come here to register your Blessing? Unfortunately, if you came here to fool around, I'm afriad I would have to punish you."

Adam's brows creased as he heard her declaration.

'Wait. Why is she behaving like that? Something feels off.'

With this thought in mind, Adam's wandering gaze finally landed on the young lady before. The more he stared, he believed something wasn't right; however, he couldn't place his finger on it.

"Miss., do you know me?" Adam asked.

"Of course I do. What sort of question is that? I was just browsing through your file. Are you ready to register your Blessing now?"

'Wait. Although they look alike and their voices sound similar, there is a minute difference. Her temperament seems off, too.'

"Yes, I'm here to register my Blessing. By the way, Miss., what is your name?" Adam asked as he rose to his feet.

Silence greeted his words, and he watched as a frown donned the face of the young lady. Before he could speak further, she pointed to a desk plate on her table.

"Arianna von Fitzgerald," Adam muttered.

At that moment, he believed the person who stood before him was not Elliana.

"I'm sorry for any inconvenience, Miss., Arianna. I was raised to always know the identity of those I speak with," Adam said with a slight smile.

Whether Arianna believed him or not, was non of his business.

"Miss., what do I have to do? How do we proceed with the registration?"

Adam stood in front of Arianna's table, apart from her desk plate, he couldn't see anything else.

"It's a simple process. From your trial, we already know your Blessing. Students, however, formally need to register it to account for any possible errors. Take a look at this."

Arianna reached for the open air on her table. Leaving Adam puzzled.

Before he could comprehend what she was doing, his eyes quivered as a ripple formed on the table. Arianna's hand passed though as is she dipped her hand in water.

A spilt second later, she tossed a file towards Adam.

"Is that correct? I'm under obligation to tell you that, if you lie about your Blessing, it would result in immediate explosion," Arianna said.

Without meeting her gaze, Adam perused the file in his hand, and his brows furrowed the more he read.

'Even here too? It states that I fought a Familiar, but I clearly remember the announcer calling it an unranked Demonkin. And, who the hell is Aldo Gibbs? Wasn't Erik Gilmore my sponsor? Does Vicar have an insider on Varidan?'

Different thoughts flashed through Adam's mind as he read his file. Putting the aberration he fought to the side, that Aldo Gibbs was listed as his sponsor surprised him. Especially after the owner of the monotonous voice cleared him after he declared Erik Gilmore's name. Vicar having an underlying in Varidan Academy was the only plausible answer he could think of.

Scanning through the remainder of the data on his trial, Adam's gaze focused on the last sentence written.

"Having completed both trials, Student 009 is determined to possess the Blessing of Weapon Manipulation."

"Is the assessment correct? Are you a weapon manipulator?" Arianna asked.

"Yes. That's my Blessing," Adam said.

Just as he finished his declaration, the file in his hand turned black. Before he could react, it flew out of his hand and returned into the table.

"Don't worry, that's a confidentiality agreement. Your file will never be exposed to anyone as long as you don't betrayed Varidan Academy. That's all Adam. I hope you have a good stay at Varidan Academy," Arianna said.

'Weapon Manipulation? Haha... Was she lying when she said they'd know if I lied?'

"Miss., where can I find the stairs?" Adam asked.

The sides of Arianna's eyes twitched as she heard Adam's words, " Stairs? I thought you were joking when you said that. Even if there was one, it would take you at least twenty hours to return to the surface. Eventually, you'll get used to the portal transfer. Goodbye, Adam."

Just as Arianna finished her statement, she clicked her fingers. At that same moment, a portal swallowed Adam.

The moment Adam left the room, Arianna walked to one sofa, before falling into its embrace.

"Why did he have to stare at me like that? I felt so uncomfortable. Don't they teach boys manners? But, could he have... No. That's not possible. How would a E-level Awakened remember something like that. I'm bored of this place already. I wonder when Lord Reeves will be back."

Saying nothing further, Arianna slowly closed her eyes.