Day 2 - Preparations & Shopping Morning
Gaia's Package Arrival
The morning of Day 17 started with a spatial distortion in the Cross family living room.
Reality shimmered, and a delivery portal opened—not a normal courier service, but a direct spatial gate bearing Gaia's official seal. This was government-level infrastructure being used for personal delivery. Damn.
A floating platform emerged, laden with packages that gleamed with runic arrays and technological sophistication.
"Delivery for Runar Cross and Celestia Stormwind," announced an AI voice. "Prime Origin Academy preparation package. Authorization: Gaia-Direct. Please confirm receipt."
Runar and Celestia, who'd just finished breakfast with their families, approached the platform.
"We confirm," Runar said.
The packages floated down, arranging themselves neatly on the floor. The platform retracted, and the portal closed.
"Let's see what the academy sent," Celestia said, opening the first container.
Item 1: Dimensional Storage Bags (Two - Peak Primordial Grade)
These weren't ordinary spatial storage. Each bag had internal dimensions vastly larger than even the expensive ring Runar had bought yesterday.
"These are for your personal belongings," read the accompanying note. "All students receive Primordial-grade storage to accommodate cultivation resources, techniques, and personal items acquired during academy tenure. Internal time dilation: 1:100. Items inside experience time 100x slower than outside."
Lirien picked up one of the bags, marveling at the craftsmanship. "This alone is worth... I don't even know. Hundreds of billions?"
"At least," Jake agreed. "And they just give two to each student?"
Item 2: Academy Uniforms (Multiple Sets)
The uniforms were stunning—black as void with silver trim that seemed to shimmer with starlight. The Cross family crest was embroidered on the left chest, while the Prime Origin Academy seal (a stylized representation of Earth-Prime surrounded by eight stars) adorned the right.
But what made them special wasn't the appearance.
"These are adaptive," Celestia observed, examining the material. "The fabric adjusts to the wearer's size, self-repairs damage, regulates temperature, and..." She channeled a bit of qi into it. The uniform shimmered, changing style slightly. "Can be customized?"
"There's a manual," Runar said, picking up a jade slip. He scanned it quickly. "The uniforms are woven with Primordial-grade nanobots. They grow with you, clean themselves, repair themselves, and can shift between multiple preset styles. Also, they're combat-rated—can withstand attacks up to Supernova realm before degrading."
"And they block divine sense," Seraphina added, reading over his shoulder. "Standard privacy feature. Otherwise cultivators could just scan through people's clothes."
That was actually a universal feature in this world. All clothing—from the cheapest to the most expensive—was embedded with divine-sense-blocking material. Without it, anyone with spiritual perception could effectively see everyone naked, which would make civilization rather awkward.
The academy uniforms just had a much stronger version, capable of blocking even Black Hole realm divine sense.
Item 3: Orientation Materials
Jade slips containing:
Complete academy map (it was enormous—the campus covered area equivalent to a small galaxy approximately 100 light years.)
Student handbook (thousands of pages of rules, resources, and information)
Course catalog (overwhelming array of options)
Dormitory assignments (Runar: Tower of Stars, Floor 47, Room 4701)
Dormitory assignments (Celestia: Tower of Moon, Floor 39, Room 3905)
Introduction to academy facilities
Emergency protocols
Contact information for student services
"This is going to take days to read through," Celestia said, looking at the sheer volume of information.
"We have seven days on the ship," Runar pointed out. "Plenty of time."
Item 4: Communication Tokens
Academy-specific communication devices that worked anywhere on campus and could connect to Federation networks. More advanced than standard terminals.
Item 5: Contribution Point Cards
Each started with 10,000 contribution points—the academy's internal currency.
"Points can be earned through missions, competitions, research contributions, or purchased with spirit stones," read the note. "Points can be spent on resources, techniques, private training time, or special privileges. Manage wisely—everything at the academy costs points."
Item 6: Medical Emergency Talismans
One-time-use teleportation talismans that would instantly transport the user to the academy medical facility if activated. Could only be used three times per semester.
"For genuine emergencies only," warned the note. "False alarms result in point penalties."
Item 7: Welcome Letter from the Headmaster
A formal letter welcoming them to Prime Origin Academy, signed by Headmaster Solarion Emperor Shen (Quasar realm cultivator).
The letter was encouraging but firm: "You have been invited because we see potential. Whether you fulfill that potential depends entirely on your effort, wisdom, and character. The academy provides opportunities. You must seize them."
After reviewing some of the materials, Lirien made an announcement.
"We're going shopping."
Runar blinked. "Mom, the academy just gave us everything we need. Dimensional storage, uniforms, even emergency items—"
"I don't care," Lirien said firmly. "You're my son, leaving for the most safest academy in human civilization, and I'm buying you things. It's what mothers do."
Seraphina nodded vigorously. "Agreed. We're shopping. Both families."
Caspian and Jake exchanged knowing looks. There was no arguing with mothers on missions.
"Shopping it is," Jake said diplomatically.
Shopping Montage - Velsinor City Elite District
They took both family ships to the city's most exclusive shopping district—a floating commercial zone where only Tier 5+ families could access.
Their Tier 8 credentials granted them immediate entry, much to the surprise of security.
"Tier 8 families? Here? Please, honored guests, enter! All shops are at your disposal!"
The district was spectacular—floating platforms connected by light bridges, shops built from crystallized formations, displays showing items that would bankrupt normal families.
Stop 1: Stellar Cultivation Resources Emporium
"We need to get you some emergency cultivation resources," Lirien insisted, despite Runar trying to explain he had trillions of spirit stones worth of items in his inventory.
They entered a shop that specialized in high-grade cultivation pills and treasures.
The shopkeeper—a Red Giant realm cultivator who managed the store—nearly fainted when he saw their Tier 8 crests.
"Honored guests! How may I serve you?"
Lirien pointed at a display. "Those Supreme-grade breakthrough pills. Ten bottles."
"Mom, I don't need—"
"Hush. You're getting them."
The shopkeeper was already wrapping them up. "Excellent choice! Each bottle contains 100 pills. That's 500 billion spirit stones total—oh." He noticed Runar's casual expression. "I see money is no concern. Very good."
They bought:
Breakthrough pills (probably unnecessary)
Healing pills (redundant with Runar's regeneration)
Qi replenishment pills (Runar's reserves were nearly infinite)
Law comprehension aids (Runar had 1,049 Laws at 100%)
Dozens of other items that Runar and Celestia truly didn't need
But their mothers were happy, and that's what mattered.
Total spent: 2.7 trillion spirit stones.
"That was fun!" Lirien said cheerfully.
Celestia whispered to Runar: "Should we tell them we don't actually need any of this?"
"Absolutely not," Runar whispered back. "Let them feel like they're helping."
Stop 2: Infinite Threads Boutique
"You need proper clothing," Seraphina insisted. "The academy uniforms are fine, but you'll want casual clothes too."
They entered a boutique that specialized in cutting-edge cultivation fashion.
The manager—a fashionable woman with Planetary Core cultivation—approached with professional enthusiasm.
"Welcome! Are you looking for anything specific?"
"Your best items," Caspian said. "Price is no concern."
The manager's eyes gleamed. "I see. Well, we just received a new line—NanoWeave™ clothing. Very exclusive."
She gestured to a display showing clothes that seemed to shimmer with inner light.
"NanoWeave™ is embedded with cultivation-grade nanobots," she explained. "The clothes grow with the wearer—so if you advance realms and your body changes size, the clothes adjust. They self-clean, self-repair, and can change style on demand through mental commands."
She demonstrated with a sample shirt, which shifted from casual to formal to combat-ready in seconds.
"They also have enhanced divine-sense blocking," she continued. "Standard clothes block up to Solar Flare realm perception. NanoWeave™ blocks up to Neutron Star realm. Very important for privacy at advanced cultivation levels."
"We'll take ten sets for each of them," Seraphina said immediately.
"Excellent choice! Each set is 50 billion spirit stones—"
"Wrap them up."
The manager nearly tripped over herself getting the items.
Runar examined one of the shirts. The material felt like silk but was clearly far more sophisticated. He could sense the microscopic nanobots woven into the fabric, ready to respond to his commands.
Interesting technology. The nanobots use a combination of formation arrays and mechanical engineering. Very efficient.
"Try it on!" Lirien urged.
Runar changed into one of the outfits—a casual ensemble that somehow made him look even more striking. The clothes fit perfectly, adjusting to his exact measurements.
"You look so handsome," Lirien said, tearing up again.
Celestia tried on several outfits, each one making her look stunning in different ways. The NanoWeave™ adapted to her perfectly, accentuating her natural beauty without being immodest.
"Beautiful," Seraphina whispered.
They bought:
Ten complete NanoWeave™ outfits each Various accessories (all nanobot-enhanced) Formal wear for special occasions Combat-casual hybrid outfits
Total spent: 1.2 trillion spirit stones.
"At least these are actually useful," Celestia murmured to Runar as they left the shop laden with packages.
Stop 3: Eternal Guardian Talisman Shop
"Emergency protection!" Jake insisted, dragging everyone into a shop specializing in life-saving treasures.
They bought:
Defensive talismans (Primordial grade, one-time shields)
Escape talismans (instant teleportation)
Healing talismans (emergency recovery)
Communication talismans (backup systems)
Backup communication talismans (backup to the backups)
Backup backup communication talismans (just in case)
"Dad," Runar said gently. "We have six different communication systems now."
"Redundancy is important," Jake said seriously. "What if five fail?"
There was no arguing with worried parents.
Total spent: 800 billion spirit stones.