"For now, guide your energy through your meridians on your own," he said. "Follow me. Even in the dormitory area, there are other facilities."
He continued walking.
"Of course, the boys' and girls' dorms are separate," he added casually. "For your information, every year some students try to infiltrate the girls' dorm…"
A faint pause.
"They usually come back charred. And bruised."
Another pause.
"…Don't follow their example."
There was a strange tone in his voice—like he had seen it happen more than once.
As we walked, we passed a public dining hall.
Some students stood in line for food. Others sat in groups, talking casually.
A few… looked exhausted, slumped over books as if they hadn't rested in days.
Eventually, we reached a street lined with rows of modern high-rise buildings.
The contrast was jarring.
"Take out your key," Li Shen said. "Channel a bit of energy into it. It will show you your building and room number."
He glanced at me briefly.
"From here on… you're on your own."
A short pause.
"Good luck."
And just like that—
He disappeared.
-----
Eren looked up at the sky.
Arriving in such a strange, unfamiliar place felt… exciting.
But also unsettling.
He lowered his gaze and focused on the card in his hand.
Channeling a bit of energy into it, information appeared—his building number, his room.
At the same time, his device lit up, displaying the location.
A faint arrow formed in his vision, pointing forward.
Like a game.
…Only I can see this?
It felt different from the shared panels earlier—the transaction window, the invitation screen. Those could be seen by others.
This couldn't.
That makes more sense…
If everyone could see it, it would be distracting. Dangerous, even.
Following the guide, he soon arrived at the building.
The doors opened automatically as he approached.
Inside, several lifts stood in a row.
He stepped into one and pressed the button for the twelfth floor.
A quiet hum.
Then stillness.
Room 21.
The door unlocked as he approached.
Eren stepped inside.
Then stopped.
It was… familiar.
Too familiar.
The layout. The furniture. The details.
It was identical to his home.
Slowly, he walked further in.
He opened one of the doors.
His parents' room.
Empty.
He stood there for a moment.
Then turned and entered his own room.
Everything was the same.
Even the books on the shelf.
After pausing for a moment,
Eren walked to the window and slowly pushed it open.
Cool air drifted in.
He looked up.
The night sky stretched endlessly above—clear, vast, filled with countless stars.
He let out a quiet breath.
"…It's beautiful."
A short pause.
"The sky is so clear… the stars are brighter than I remember."
Another pause.
"…Though I don't know if it's real… or just an illusion."
After standing there for a while, he returned to his bed.
His suitcase sat beside the study desk.
And on the desk—
A package.
He opened it.
Inside were three sets of uniforms, one set of physical training clothes, several books, and a few small vials containing potions and pills.
There was also a smaller package.
He began organizing things quietly.
The vials were placed neatly on the shelf.
The clothes went into the closet.
Once he finished, he picked up the smaller package and opened it.
Inside—
Snacks.
Drinks.
Familiar ones.
There was a note.
A care package for new students.
—From your caring Headmaster
P.S. You can purchase items from your world through the device. Just think about it.
Eren stared at the note for a moment.
He left his room to place the drinks and snacks in the fridge and cupboard before returning.
Eren accessed the device, using the time to learn more about it.
A display panel appeared, showing several icons with labels beneath them.
he access the shop seeing some pills, unique trinkets, and even weird stuff like certain magazine for young man.
He also opened the discussion board.
Some posts offered advice for new students.
After a while, fatigue set in.
Eren lay back on the bed.
His gaze drifted to the pendant.
Li Shen's words surfaced in his mind.
Don't use it… not yet.
After a moment, he exhaled softly and placed it on the desk beside him.
Then, slowly—
He closed his eyes.
His breathing steadied.
His thoughts faded.
And sleep took him.
As his consciousness sank deeper, something within him stirred.
The energy inside his body began to move on its own—circulating through his meridians in a slow, natural rhythm.
Then—
The pendant reacted.
A faint glow emerged.
It lifted silently from the desk, rising into the air before stopping above Eren's body.
The light shifted.
White.
Then black.
Back and forth.
Not in harmony.
But in conflict.