While my sister may have referred to it as 'room,' 'floor' was the correct term for this place.
From above, soft starlight spilled, revealing star motifs everywhere, but they weren't overwhelming. Constellations etched faintly into the walls glowed softly, illuminating her enormous living space.
It looked cozy and comfortable, unfitting for the fierce image of the top ranking cadet. Light and pastel colors dominated the theme of the interior, giving it an unmistakable girly look.
This contrasted with her room back home, which looked closer to your typical interpretation of a high noble's room—imposing, lavish, designed to impress, not comfort.
After showing me around the various rooms and facilities, I was left in the magic practice chamber, taking a deep breath as I prepared myself.
From my storage ring, a simple band of dull metal appeared, its surface etched with runes so fine they were easy to miss at a glance.
Their purpose was to suppress cultivation, similar to the one Quinn and I wore during our very epic duel. But unlike those Ascendant ones, these were at the Exalted realm.
Because of my physique fiercely fighting the suppression effect of the relic, an Ascendant one would expose noticeable cracks.
In the duel, it wasn't an issue as there wasn't anyone to look closely enough.
Here though, I would very likely be found out. So, my family splurged heavily to get the relic made, costing us over 5% of our networth.
50,000 gold, just to make me weaker…
…Or does it?
You see, while my Aether Reaving Vessel is completely overpowered by the Exalted suppression relic, that doesn't mean it just submits. It continues fighting the effect with everything it has, granting me massive amounts of mana and vigor every second.
Okay yeah, it definitely makes me weaker.
Even with all that mana and stamina, it can't help me defeat someone a realm higher like Hawks.
The worst part is that I can't even really make use of the mana. My Arcanum isn't mana hungry—I can keep the phantom form of my Abyssal Hand indefinitely and remain mana neutral.
They can be destroyed up to ten times in a battle before I need to be worried, and keep in mind, they can only be destroyed when I want them to.
With their ability to turn phantom in a blink, nearly all attacks become ineffective. So, unless I'm using them to directly tank something—like the arrow in that battle against Ciel Winterforge—they'll never be destroyed.
Meaning, I will have an endless pool of mana that can only really be used on relics, which, while useful, can't compete in potency with an Arcanum.
Not to mention, people can estimate the mana cost of relics very well. If I'm spamming windblades out of my mind, it will become suspicious as to how my mana capacity is so vast.
In comparison, extensive Arcanum use can typically just be brushed off as either low cost or high efficiency.
Aggghhh… This blows…
Stopping my wallows and complaints, I put the relic on and it felt like shit.
***
"Well, are you prepared?" Evelyn asked as we made our way down the tall spire. I had used most of last night thinking of ways to troll in the entrance exam before taking a short power nap.
"For you? Absolutely," I replied, giving her a teasing smile. She let out a slight chuckle as she gazed at me lovingly in response, squeezing my hand tighter.
We turned to each other, distance closing in between our faces as she got on her tip toes when, "heyy…" my sister cut in, giving us a look.
"I left you guys alone for 20 seconds and look what happens! Thank god I didn't let you sleep on the same floor together yesterday, that would've been a disaster," Anastasia huffed.
Evelyn's face flushed. "N-nothing like that was g-going to happen!!"
"Hmm? What wasn't going to happen?" She pressed, knowing full well what Evelyn was referring to. I watched with amusement as she squirmed.
Then, I received a text message I'd been expecting from Miyaura. We had been planning to meet up before the entrance examination. It was going to be a pain finding each other in the sea of people later after all.
[Miyaura]: where r u
Been here for 5m
(months)
[Me]: always gotta show up a bit late to the first date
Of course you wouldn't know
[Miyaura]: the hell?
My time is rly valuable, y'know
[Me]: is that why you use all those abbreviations?
What are you using all that saved time for
[Miyaura]: ur mom
[Me]: 🖕🖕🖕
As you can see, we're like best friends now. Gaming is definitely the way to build friendships.
Seeing me typing on my phone while walking, my sister called me out. "Who're you messaging? Gimme that," she said as she playfully tried to snatch my phone.
I swatted her hand away, casually replying "a friend."
Once my words sank in, they both stopped in their tracks, looking at me deadpanned.
"What?"
They looked at each other before nodding, seemingly deciding to let my sister take the lead. "Now… Do you know what a friend is? What is your definition of a friend?" Anastasia asked with hints of… concern?
"The fuck typa question is that? I have a friend," I replied baffledly as they looked at me skeptically.
What did they think of me as?
Before I could express more of my bewilderment, a loud thud sounded in front of me.
A pretty big rock had been thrown by someone in the distance. Miyaura had made his presence known. We all turned to look at the man, his gallant figure turning timid in a flash.
An awkward silence filled the surrounding as the three of us just looked at him. He wasn't sure of how to act with my sister and fiancee around.
Evelyn and Anastasia shifted their gaze, now looking among us with an expression that said 'uhhhh, do you know that weirdo?'
Eventually, I decided to save the day and give a casual "yo" with a wave, motioning him to come closer.
"N-no way…" My sister was shocked. "Did my little bro actually make a friend?"
"What the fuck."
A/N: I just gave my own novel a power stone, I'm so shameless.
Also sorry this chapter kinda a nothingburger, I wanted to keep my daily writing streak.