Standing in front of the large mirror in my dorm room, I adjusted my blazer and shirt, then admired my stunningly beautiful reflection. With my long, black, fur-collared overcoat over a tailored dark suit, I really did look like a proper aristocrat.
Smiling sheepishly at how handsome I thought I looked, I turned to Aika, who sat lounged lazily on the couch not too far from me, and asked, "How do I look?"
Aika made a perfectly flat, unimpressed expression, then replied, "You look like a Cornish hen."
Suddenly, my confidence plummeted. I scowled, then turned around. "Well, this Cornish hen is leaving. Are you coming?"
Aika shook her head. "Absolutely not. I don't like those sort of gatherings with too many people."
She relaxed deeper onto the couch and then continued reading the romance novel she held in her hand, which she had stolen from the library.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, then sighed and turned around. "Catch you later."
Then I walked out of the room and began making my way toward the hall where the party was currently taking place.
It took me a fair bit of time to get to the large venue, which sat at the academy's outskirts amidst a cluster of villas.
As soon as I reached the entrance, a man with neat black hair, who acted as a butler, greeted me and proceeded to guide me into the large hall, after which an announcement immediately rang out:
"The first son of the Martini Barony and a first-year cadet: Cedric Anele Martini!"
I didn't have time to study the large room because right after that announcement, many people turned to look at me.
"Please have a pleasant night."
I turned back to the butler who spoke, then as he left, I turned back to face the crowd looking at me.
All the cadets from all the different classes were here, and I could even see most of the instructors in their noble outfits.
Ignoring the attention, I began threading my way through the crowd toward a secluded section. Even over the music, I could clearly hear the quiet, speculative murmuring of the older cadets as I passed them:
"Is that the first-year cadet who is bondless?"
"Didn't you hear? The news going around now is that he has a Bond. Some of his classmates say he manifested late, some say he's always had it."
"I hear he's got a few screws loose in the head. Word is, he cut off his fellow cadet's arm in a duel."
"Gosh, that's so badass."
"I know. And he looks handsome. He's definitely my type."
It took a lot of willpower to control the urge to grin and maintain composure after hearing that last comment.
I took a peek through the corner of my eye to see the beauty that had made that comment, but when I saw that she was not that visually stunning, I quickly averted my gaze in disappointment and shrugged inwardly.
As I reached the corner, a waiter approached me with a glass of champagne that I politely took and began drinking.
Now that I was properly settled, I scanned the hall. Some people danced under the large crystal chandeliers, which cast an elegant glow over the polished marble floor and the ornate, vaulted ceiling. Others stood in groups, chatting away with their fellow nobles, while a few, just like me, stood sequestered in corners, observing the rest of the gathering.
My gaze settled on a beautiful lady chatting with another noble a fair distance across from me. It was the Dean, dressed in a flowing black dress, holding a large lollipop in her hand.
Looking at her, I couldn't help but shudder.
The last time we had met, her Bond had somehow managed to find out that I was trying to read her information using my Gamer Privileges.
I couldn't help but wonder how that was possible because I knew for a fact that except my bond, no one else could see my UI screen.
So, did she have an intuition?
Did she possess a unique ability to detect my probing?
Or was this something people just noticed when they reached a higher Tier of power?
I couldn't be sure…
But while I was still lost in my thoughts, a slender hand reached out to me and a timid voice accompanied it.
"Would you like to dance with me?"
I looked up to see Audrey in a beautiful green dress.
'She wants to dance with me? Why? I don't know how to dance.'
No, more like, I'm just awkward with this sort of stuff.
I hesitated for a moment, but then she added in her soft, pleading voice, "It's our first dance. But it might also be our last. So I'd like to at least have this moment."
Looking at her, I could tell that she was trying so hard to be confident. I finally reached out and took her hand, and we walked to join those dancing.
She rested her hand on my shoulder, while I gingerly placed my hand on the small of her back, and in a few seconds, we were awkwardly swaying to the soft waltz music, trying to find a rhythm.
Throughout this time, her eyes never looked at me once, and I noticed that she was tense, like someone who had a lot of worries on her mind.
'Should I ask? Would it be considered inappropriate?'
After a brief moment of silence, I sighed and decided to ask.
"Are you okay? You look like you've got a lot on your mind."
Audrey finally looked to me, and then she replied in a low voice. "I'm scared."
'Huh?'
She swallowed hard. "What if we don't make it back? What if..." Her gaze dropped again. "What if we end up dead?"
'Oh… so that's what's been bothering her?'
Well, truth be told I was scared too.
Would I make it back?
Would we make it back?
I didn't know.
So I just decided to comfort her by lying and gain Karma points.
"Don't worry too much about that," I said, meeting her eyes with a confident look I didn't feel. "We won't die. We'll all make it back… alive."
[You have acquired 5 Karma points.]
[Available Karma points: 2,345]