The dormitory halls were quieter by the time Elora returned later that evening.
Soft golden mana lamps glowed along the walls, casting faint reflections across the polished floors as students drifted through the corridors in small groups.
Some carried stacks of books, while others spoke quietly about classes, rankings, and upcoming evaluations.
Lyra walked beside Elora, balancing several snacks in her arms.
“I still think practical lessons should come with medical compensation,” she complained.
“Or emotional compensation.
Preferably both.” “Medical compensation?” Elora repeated.
“We were almost killed today.
Or burned alive because of Kael.
I think we deserve more than that.” Elora laughed.
Lyra could be incredibly dramatic sometimes—almost as dramatic as she was.
That was probably one of the reasons they got along so well.
As they entered the main dormitory hall, Elora noticed it was much more crowded than when she had first arrived or when she had left that morning.
The lower floors were crowded and lively, filled with students moving between shared lounges and study areas.
Voices echoed from open doors while mana-powered lanterns flickered warmly throughout the halls.
But the upper levels felt quieter.
Elora’s gaze drifted toward the higher staircases winding deeper into the tower.
The upper floors looked noticeably more elaborate, with silver-lined walls, enchanted chandeliers, and private corridors guarded by subtle barrier runes.
Even the students there carried themselves differently.
“Well,” Lyra said casually after noticing where she was looking, “that’s where the important people stay.” Elora glanced toward her.
“Looks like someone did her research, huh?
I’m impressed.” “First Floor is mostly commoners and students with lower resonance scores.” Lyra pointed lazily toward the lower halls behind them.
Then slightly upward.
“Second Floor is for average students, minor nobles, and people with decent evaluations.
That’s us.” Lyra pointed toward the upper stairways winding deeper into the tower.
“The Third Floor is where they place students with exceptional evaluations or high rankings.” Her gaze drifted briefly toward the higher corridors lined with silver mana lights.
“Fourth Floor is reserved for elite students and special disciples directly supported by professors or influential factions inside the academy.” “And the Fifth Floor?” Elora asked quietly.
Lyra lowered her voice this time.
“And then there’s the Restricted Upper Wing.
Council heirs.
Academy authority connections.
The kind of place normal students avoid.
You really don’t want to go there.” Elora folded her arms.
“Okay, so the academy treats the upper floors like an entirely different world.” Even the place students slept reflected their status.
As they continued walking, Elora noticed how naturally students separated themselves throughout the dormitory.
Wealthy noble heirs gathered comfortably in the larger lounges while other students remained near the lower floors, avoiding unnecessary attention.
No one openly talked about status.
Yet somehow, the divide remained obvious everywhere.
Near the central staircase, a group of students suddenly lowered their voices as several upper-year nobles passed through the hall.
One name quietly drifted through the conversation.
“Arkhavel.” Elora lowered her voice slightly.
“Wait…
I’ve heard about that before.
Is it true the upper tower near the eastern wing is restricted because of students like him?” Lyra nodded once.
“Most people avoid that area entirely.” Outside the tall dormitory windows, the academy towers glowed faintly beneath the night sky while distant mana lights flickered across the campus grounds.
The academy looked peaceful from a distance.
But now that she was inside it, Elora was starting to realize something unsettling.
Beneath all the elegance, prestige, and quiet beauty—everyone here seemed to be hiding something.
Eventually, they reached the second floor where both of their rooms were located.
Elora stopped in front of her room.
She glanced back at Lyra.
“Guess this is goodbye.” Elora placed a hand over her heart.
“I’ll never recover.” “Well,” Lyra said while stretching lazily, “try not to accidentally destroy the dormitory tonight.” Elora shook her head.
“Try not to dream about Kael instead.” That made Lyra laugh so hard that a few students glanced over at them with unfriendly expressions, but Lyra couldn’t have cared less.
Her voice faded moments later as she disappeared into her room.
Elora stepped into her room.
Compared to the upper floors, the room itself was simple but comfortable.
After organizing her things and freshening up, she practically collapsed onto her bed.
The dormitory halls outside were silent, interrupted only occasionally by distant footsteps or the faint ringing of mana bells echoing somewhere deeper within the academy.
Eventually, exhaustion caught up with her.
Before she realized it, sleep slowly claimed her.
At first, the dream felt peaceful.
Elora stood beneath warm sunlight while soft wind moved through the trees around her.
Somewhere nearby, she could hear gentle laughter she hadn’t heard in years.
It was her parents.
The memory felt distant and blurred, but she still recognized them immediately.
Her mother’s hand rested gently against her hair while her father smiled beside them beneath the fading golden light.
“You’ll be safe.
Now you’re in the right place,” a soft voice whispered.
For a moment, Elora felt something she hadn’t realized she missed so deeply.
Then the dream changed.
The sunlight dimmed slowly, and the wind stopped.
Darkness spread across the ground beneath her feet while distant whispers echoed somewhere beyond the trees.
The figures of her parents slowly faded into the shadows.
Elora stepped forward desperately.
“Wait—” The world around her twisted as black cracks spread across the ground beneath her feet.
And she fell into the endless hole, landing hard in the empty void.
She looked around, but there was no light to be found.
Only darkness.
“Welcome back to the Abyss, Elora Veyne.” The voice broke the silence as a crimson screen appeared before her.
────────────────────── [ABYSS KING SYSTEM] The Host Has Passed the Abyss Trial.
[The System has recognized the Host.] Quest and reward functions are now available.
────────────────────── Elora’s eyes widened as she stared at the screen.
A second later, she quickly looked around, worried that another creature might appear like the one from the other day.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then a deep rumble echoed through the void.
Elora quickly took a step back, squeezing her eyes shut as she clamped both hands over her ears.
The rumbling grew louder as the darkness around her began to distort.
Then the entire world shattered.