CHAPTER NINE: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
"Little Lord Elvaris"
First impressions, milk tea, and nap-time politics.
Elvaris Estate – 6:15 AM
The uniform stared at him.
Velmir sat on the edge of his bed—still soft enough to trap dreams—eying the navy vest like it might bite. The shoes gleamed too much. The tie mocked him from the nightstand with silk arrogance.
"This looks less like I'm going to kindergarten," he muttered, "and more like I'm attending a royal summit."
He attempted the tie. Tiny fingers. Big ambition.
"…I got this."
"Would you like assistance, Master?" Viera's voice chimed from the mirror.
"Nope."
(He did not got this.)
Thirty seconds later…
"Okay yes. Help."
"Understood."
Dining Room – 6:50 AM
Velmir—now dressed, hair combed, and criminally adorable—munched golden French toast while Viera listed the day's itinerary like a tactician reciting an invasion plan.
"Arrival: 7:45. Orientation and classroom introduction: 8:00. Snack break: 10:30. Lunch at noon. Dismissal at 2:30. Social observations to follow."
Velmir blinked.
"…That sounds terrifying."
"You once ate a fire-breathing mutant eel without flinching."
"Yeah, but eels don't whisper behind your back or invite you to 'birthday zones.'"
"Statistically, this will be harder."
"…Cool. I'm gonna cry in a corner later."
"I'll prepare tissues."
✦ The Ride to School – Phantom Flex
The black Rolls-Royce glided down the coastal road, kissed by morning gold.
In the backseat, Velmir tapped a finger on the armrest and sipped cocoa from a thermal cup.
"…Do you think I'll make friends?"
From the driver's seat, Gabriel didn't miss a beat. "Yes."
Velmir blinked. "No warm pep talk?"
"You look like a child emperor crossed with a storybook fox."
"…So that's a yes."
✦ Arrival – All Eyes on Him
When the Phantom door opened, Velmir stepped out like royalty.
Back straight. Tie perfect. Designer backpack slung casually over one shoulder.
He stared up at the school gates—shiny, wide, and aggressively optimistic.
Kids ran everywhere—laughing, crying, clinging to parents, or speedrunning escape attempts.
"…Yup. Definitely underdressed."
Malibu Hills Private Academy – Courtyard
The whispers started immediately.
"Who's that?"
"He looks rich."
"Why does his hair sparkle?"
"Is that a sword bag?"
Velmir smiled politely and nodded to no one in particular. Inside?
Full panic.
They're staring. Yep, all of them. Breathe. You're fine. This is fine. You are calm. You are a collected ancient soul disguised as a kid. Smile. Not too smug. Not too flat. Neutral charisma setting: ON—
He climbed the marble steps.
Head high. Heart sprinting. Smile measured.
✦ Classroom 1-A – Homeroom Mayhem
Inside, the classroom was a colorful battlefield—alphabet banners, kindness corners, beanbags, finger-paint landmines.
Velmir found his seat: front row, window side.
He swung his legs lightly.
"Hi," whispered a girl next to him with curly hair and sparkly unicorn clips. "Are you new?"
"Yeah. I'm Velmir."
She squinted. "You sound like a grown-up. Are you secretly forty?"
Velmir smiled. "Only on the inside."
✦ Introduction Time
Ms. Lynn, chipper and chaos-proof, clapped her hands.
"Class! We have a new friend joining us today!"
Velmir stood smoothly, bowed with precise grace, and spoke like he was addressing Parliament.
"Good morning. My name is Velmir Elvaris. I look forward to learning and playing with you all."
Dead silence.
Half the class blinked in reverence.
The other half immediately assumed he was either a foreign prince or a talking android.
From the back: "He's like… if Google had a baby with royalty."
Velmir sat down, cheeks cool. Not a bad first impression.
✦ Snack Time Shenanigans
At 10:30, lunchboxes emerged.
Juice boxes. Crackers. Animal-shaped gummies.
Velmir?
A meticulously arranged bento box with carved fruit flowers, bite-sized dragon dumplings, and a thermos of perfectly steeped warm milk tea.
A kid nearby—Elliot, round-cheeked and wide-eyed—gawked.
"Did a restaurant make that?"
"Nope," Velmir replied. "Viera did. She's… kind of my butler?"
"Woah. Can I try a dumpling?"
A pause. The tension of five-year-old diplomacy mounted.
"…Sure."
And thus, the Treaty of Dumpling Diplomacy was signed.
✦ Mini Chaos – Free Play
During playtime, Velmir joined a group stacking foam blocks.
Most kids built castles. Some made spaceships.
Velmir built a scale-accurate Roman aqueduct.
The group stared at him.
"…Did you just use ancient engineering?" someone whispered.
Velmir blinked innocently. "I saw it in a documentary."
Suspicion lingered.
He offered cookies.
Suspicion neutralized.
✦ Ms. Lynn's Notes – After Class
Sitting at her desk, Ms. Lynn reviewed her notes with mild concern.
Student: Velmir Elvaris
• Polite, composed
• Advanced vocabulary
• Reads 2–3 years ahead
• Exceptional focus
• Possibly raised by a library
• Bento rating: 10/10
She looked down at the drawing he'd left on the corner of his assignment—two koi swimming beneath a sakura tree, delicately shaded.
She circled a word in her notes.
"Old soul?"
She exhaled.
"…Who is this kid?"
✦ Back in the Car – Homebound
Velmir flopped into the backseat of the Phantom with the weight of a man who'd fought ten battles before noon.
"I survived."
Gabriel raised an eyebrow. "Astounding."
"I didn't eat anyone. Didn't fly. Didn't transmute the water fountain into a holy relic. That's restraint."
He sipped from his juice box like a war veteran.
"Report from Viera: Three acquaintances made. No conflicts. Social gestures extended. Aqueduct constructed."
Velmir smiled as the mansion came into view over the hill.
"…I think I like school."
[END OF CHAPTER NINE]