Orion was excited to go shopping, mostly because he had learned something incredibly interesting during lunch.
According to Teacher Remy, those chosen as Champions didn't need to worry about academy credits. They had unlimited credits. They were also free from certain regulations that other students were forced to follow.
In an instant, Orion had gone from fearing conscription to realizing he now held access to unlimited resources.
They walked to the exit of the Dining Hall. Leile stood near the kitchen door, watching him. As Kalista rose from the dining table, Leile lowered her head quickly.
She didn't look nearly as brave or professional as she had during their first meeting. Orion felt a pang of pity for the girl and walked toward the kitchen.
"Thank you for the food, Leile." He smiled to ease the poor girl's nerves.
"Please don't think I did anything special, Mr. Vale! Serving you is simply my duty."
Orion wasn't sure what someone was supposed to look like when they were staring with such expectation. He had never been in a situation like this before. But even he could see she was waiting for something.
Normally, he wouldn't have said anything to avoid a misunderstanding. But he didn't second-guess himself the way he used to.
"I'll be spending a lot of time in the Hunting Zone or dungeons. After that, there'll be classes and other things. If you're okay with it, you could come upstairs to prepare my meals."
Inside his head, he was shocked by his own words. I actually invited a girl to my dorm room! Wow...
Leile listened with visible excitement, nodding eagerly. She didn't notice Kalista's sharp glare from the side.
"As I mentioned before, I'm responsible for all your meals and your other physical needs. If it's fine with you, I'll prepare everything in your dorm room from now on."
"Sounds good. Then I'll see you in the morning," he said.
Leile smiled widely. She removed the band holding her ponytail and gave Orion a deep, lingering look.
They discussed the time for breakfast and a few other details.
"Actually, if it won't be a problem, may I come now to check the kitchen and the available supplies? I need to make a list, that's why!"
"Sure. Let's go. After that, I was planning to go shopping. My personal teacher says I should walk around today."
Leile recognized the teacher in military fatigues who had just left. "You're very lucky. Mr. Remy is the only one at the school who sits between the new generation of teachers and the old ones. I saw him when I came for my job interview last month."
"Did you just start working here, Leile?"
The trio left the dining hall and began climbing the stairs. Leile looked as if being asked about her private life was a great source of pride. She excitedly tossed her ponytail over her shoulder.
"I studied at a simple culinary school for two years and got my work certificate..."
Orion and Leile walked ahead, while Kalista followed behind with a cold, dull expression.
Leile explored not only the kitchen but the entire floor and the residence with open curiosity. At one point, she quietly prepared tea, remembering that Orion had mentioned wanting to try some.
While the two of them drank tea on the balcony, Kalista watched from a large couch inside.
In reality, Leile hadn't been flirty or tried to seduce Orion the last time they met. Even giving him her number on a paper and winking had been advice from the seniors in the kitchen.
Leile had heard countless times that those who entered Midka Academy as high rankers were carefully chosen by all of humanity, destined to become great leaders.
She had also heard another dark rumor. That every single person who earned the title of "Champion" was insane, psychopathic, or outright unhinged.
Then she looked at the smiling, calm Orion sitting at the table.
He was examining the cutlery with genuine interest. There was no impatience or anger on his face. It was clear that he wasn't some dangerous maniac.
Maybe they were just messing with her with those strange rumors. But even that old dormitory boss had said the same thing, and he didn't look like he was joking.
Two months earlier, she had completed a two-year culinary program at a cooking school near Midka Academy and received her certificate. Then, just two weeks ago, a suited Bearer had appeared at her house and offered her a position at the Royal Dorm.
And now, Leile was designated as the personal chef of this year's Champion during a task assignment.
She didn't know what kind of mess had created this opportunity, only that someone had abused their authority and people like her were filling the gaps.
"They probably decided someone ordinary like me, with no magical training, would be safe," Leile said.
"You are probably right. Someone must have messed up. But you are here thanks to that." Technically, Leile was older than him. But Orion, without realizing it, acted as if he were older.
Only she knew how fast-paced and exciting the last two weeks had been. But looking at the handsome young man watching her with a mesmerizing smile, everything was worth it.
While chatting, Leile continued to reflect on her life lately. She shared some parts with her new boss, while keeping others secret.
Since she still didn't know what kind of attitude to adopt, Leile found herself smiling at times, posing seriously at others or spacing out while watching Orion talk.
She kept trying different things because her superiors in the Royal Dorm had told her many tricks. But maybe she didn't need to use them at all. It looked like being herself would be enough. No need to act.
..
Half an hour later, Orion left the dorm with Kalista and Leile. They followed the academy roads, crowded with students moving between buildings and markets.
Conversation with Kalista remained strained, her answers brief and measured. Leile, by contrast, spoke freely, her words flowing without hesitation.
"That's why there's no religion in human territories," she said with conviction.
"Twenty million innocent people died last century because of belief conflicts in Tarkan. I support stopping those things from ever happening again. I don't want my family to get eaten by some creepy cannibal just because I'm weak, or different in their eyes."
Leile continued speaking with animated intensity while Orion finished buying underwear, shirts and a pile of daily necessities.
Each time he reached a payment counter, a brief hesitation crept in. The moment a vendor noticed the badge on his shoulder, academy credits were never requested. They simply waited for confirmation.
It wasn't digital, yet it felt close enough. The Champion approval system had only existed for a few years.
From what Orion could tell, the academy's magically regulated credit network had reached a refined stage. Approval through badges or signatures worked much like a payment terminal, invisible yet immediate.
Shops, vendors and merchants received compensation from the academy shortly afterward. The same structure applied even to contracts and slave transactions. Other students accessed the system through personal badges or enchanted tools.
Orion tried it a few times, and it wasn't that bad.
"I can get used to this," Orion muttered.
It was primitive in form, but fast enough to feel modern.
"It's convenient. That's why it became popular, especially among the newest magic generation. They're even discussing expanding it across all Human Territories." Kalista explained when she saw how deep in thought Orion was.
They walked down a street that resembled a marketplace. Shopping with no money limits was a lot of fun, even for a guy like Orion.
"Let's grab fruit too," Orion said. "I'm making smoothies tomorrow morning."
"What's a smoothie?" Leile asked, her eyes lighting up. Every unfamiliar recipe Orion mentioned in the last hour fascinated her.
"Taste it once and you won't be the same person again."
Orion had always loved sweets back on Earth. Cooking never held his interest, but desserts existed in a category of their own.
"I need strawberries, peaches and bananas. Orange juice works. Mango juice too. Packed ice as well." He was more excited about this than magical machines.
Leile took charge of the fruit selection while Orion searched for useful tools. He planned to prepare fruit purée before sleeping, then store it in the cold cabinet layered with ice.
"Excuse me," he said to a nearby shop owner. "I want to buy this magical artifact. It cuts and blends vegetables, right?"
The middle-aged man noticed Orion's badge and smiled instantly. "Yes, sir. Several models exist."
"How does it work?" Orion saw no cables or visible power source.
"For this one, mana stones go here. If your dorm has a mana cable, that model functions perfectly." The man clearly understood what an S-1 badge represented.
"I'll take it. Add six cups, those long spoons, then..." Orion enjoyed spending unlimited credits far more than expected.
Half an hour later, guided by Leile, they left with the sweetest and most popular fruits available. They resembled Earth produce, yet something still felt unfamiliar. Several flavors existed beyond salt or sugar, subtle notes his tongue struggled to categorize.
Then Orion noticed something red.
Tomatoes. They sat among the fruits, glossy and vibrant.
"Now that I think about it," he said, "I've never seen tomatoes in your meals or the other academy cafeterias, Leile."
"Tomatoes?"
Even Kalista leaned closer, despite usually staying in his shadow. Surprise flickered across her eyes.
Orion pointed at the bright red fruit resting between bananas and unfamiliar produce. "Why are you looking at me like that? I meant, you never use tomatoes in meals. Do you hate them?"
Leile stared as if her understanding of food had cracked. "But Orion... tomatoes are fruit. Why would we use something that sweet in food?"
In her mind, using some fruits made sense. Sugar belonged in meals like salt or other spices. But tomatoes crossed a boundary.
Unable to resist, Orion bought one and took a massive bite. It was sweet like honey.
Reality reminded him once again. This wasn't Earth.
Things looked familiar. But they weren't the same.