The cafeteria of Graymoor University didn’t look like a place students should eat in—it looked like a place royalty might host a banquet. Everything gleamed under soft golden lights. The polished marble floors reflected designer shoes, laughter danced in the air, and chandeliers hung so elegantly, they seemed to judge everyone walking in.
Sky stood at the entrance with a tray in hand. He blinked once, then twice.
“Of course the cafeteria looks like a five-star hotel,” he thought, lips twitching into a smirk. “I feel underdressed… and over-enrolled.”
His eyes swept across the room until they landed on a familiar figure—Emmanuel, waving from the far end beneath an absurdly large chandelier.
[Message from Emmanuel ]
Table at the back. Next to the overpriced chandelier.
Don’t ask how much it costs. Your soul isn’t enough.
[Reply from Sky ]
Too bad. That’s all I was willing to trade.
Sky made his way past tables of sleek uniforms and bored expressions, ignoring the quick glances and hushed whispers that trailed after him. By the time he reached the table, Emmanuel was already standing.
“Sky! You made it,” Emmanuel beamed, gesturing with a little flourish. “Meet my blockmates. They’ve been dying to meet the mysterious Quinn from enrollment day.”
“Dying might be an exaggeration,” said the girl in a crimson blazer, flipping her hair dramatically. “But I was curious.” Her voice was warm, playful. “I’m Venice. Future interior design goddess.”
She gestured beside her. “This is Theo—our coding wizard. And that’s River. Don’t talk to him unless you speak fluent spreadsheet.”
River didn’t look up, fingers moving rapidly over his keyboard.
Sky smiled faintly and nodded. “Pleasure. I’m Sky—aspiring doctor, caffeine enthusiast, and emotional support chaos.”
Venice laughed, eyes shining. “I like him. He’s spicy. I’m claiming him as my café buddy.”
Theo pushed his glasses up. “Does he come with a user manual?”
River, eyes still glued to his screen, muttered, “I’ll design one after my presentation.”
Sky blinked. “You know I have eyes, right? I can see you typing about me.”
That broke the table into laughter. Even River cracked the tiniest grin
Somewhere on campus, inside a quiet office with high windows and the soft rustle of papers, two professors reviewed student files.
“Quinn, Sky Alexander Leigh Demetre,” one of them murmured, fingers tapping the folder. “Excellent recommendations. Top grades. Applying for pre-med.”
The other professor arched a brow. “A Quinn...? Related to that Quinn family?”
A nod. “Yes. But let’s see what he does with his name—not what his name does for him.”
Meanwhile, in the student council office, Cassandra placed a list onto a sleek black desk.
“These are the students with high academic potential. Might be useful for council events,” she said casually.
Archaell Gray, standing near the tall window, didn’t glance up. “Handle the orientation. I don’t have time to entertain legacies unless they bring value.”
Cassandra raised an eyebrow at his cold tone but said nothing.
Outside, wind brushed through the trees and carried the distant hum of laughter.
Back in the courtyard, Sky sat under the shade of a wide acacia tree with his new group—plastic cups of iced coffee and boba drinks in their hands. The air was warm, scented faintly with flowers and expensive perfume. For a moment, things felt almost… normal.
Venice leaned forward, straw between her lips. “So what’s your dream, Sky?”
Sky paused, gaze drifting to the sky through the swaying branches.
“To be a doctor,” he said softly. “Not for the money. Not for the title. I just want to be someone who saves people.”
Silence fell over the group—not heavy, but thoughtful. Even River stopped typing for a moment.
Theo cleared his throat. “…That was unexpectedly sincere.”
Sky blinked, then smirked. “Don’t get used to it. I’m still sarcastic 90% of the time.”
Laughter again, light and real.
High above the courtyard, from the student council wing, Archaell passed by the hallway window. His steps slowed when he caught sight of a group laughing under the tree. His gaze lingered on one of them—silver-brown hair catching the sun, hands expressive even from a distance.
“So that’s the Quinn kid,” he thought.
He didn’t look flashy. Didn’t look like someone who wanted to rule the school. He laughed too easily for that. And yet… something about him felt still. Solid.
“He doesn’t look like someone who cares about power… Interesting.”
Archaell turned away, unreadable as ever, and continued walking down the hall with quiet steps and quiet thoughts.
Graymoor University might have been polished like glass, but cracks always found a way to form.
And Sky?
He wasn’t here to play pretend.
He was here to see who broke first—him or the world around him.
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