I Level Up Dragons with My Evolution System-Chapter 40: Chatting

Edward was not a particularly tidy man when he was young. He tended to get scolded frequently when his parents, who were from the countryside, were still alive. Back then, he needed to be in a tidy environment that avoided any kind of situation that could cause stress, so his parents tended to protect him a lot.

It was thanks to those constant scoldings that he learned to be tidy, and now he is grateful for them. Since coming into this world, he has realized that keeping things tidy helps him concentrate on whatever he is doing, so for him, it is the key to success.

Now... that’s not something his roommate shares.

"Bastard, can I know where the hell my books are?" his roommate roared, coming out of his room to insult him. He was fuming.

Edward sighed, exhausted. He looked up to see him.

The room was immaculate. There was a table in the center, a couple of chairs, and some decorations. Although the decor was simple, the choice of colors gave the impression that it was a room in a modern house on Earth.

Edward was sitting, reading a little.

"I’ll ask you a question, Arnold," Edward said.

Arnold roared again, "What the hell do you want?!"

Edward, with the same calmness, said, "Why did you buy a bookshelf if you’re going to forget the next morning that the books go there?" he asked, pointing above them to a bookshelf full of books nailed to the wall.

There were two sections on it: one said Arnold and the other said Edward.

Although Edward hadn’t bought it, as he was the only one who used it and tidied it up every time, he had naturally grabbed a wall to put his books on. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Arnold looked at the bookshelf and his face turned red with embarrassment. He had forgotten.

Under Edward’s penetrating, calm gaze, he grabbed one of the books and threw himself into a comfortable beanbag chair. Who knows where he got it, but it was one of his recent acquisitions.

In fact, some of the things in the room were bought by that guy. Although he had a terrible personality, he knew where to buy good things.

Edward was able to return to his reading in peace after that. But not for long.

"Hey, old Lux," Arnold said suddenly. "Weren’t you supposed to go to the newcomers’ ceremony today?"

"I don’t like participating in ceremonies," Edward replied. "Besides, it’s totally unnecessary. I’d rather prepare for tomorrow’s Star Trials."

Arnold nodded. "I agree. They made me participate a year ago, and it’s the most boring thing ever. It’s just the director talking nonsense," he replied, complaining.

Edward agreed, but instead of continuing the conversation, he changed the subject.

"Can I ask you something?" Edward said, without taking his eyes off the book.

Arnold glanced at him briefly before shrugging and making a sound to let him know he could go ahead.

"What exactly are the Star Trials? I know they’re to awaken your Magical Talent, but isn’t that defined by our invocations?" he asked.

Arnold frowned briefly. "Didn’t you pay attention in class? I heard you were very dedicated."

Edward shrugged. It wasn’t that he hadn’t paid attention, it was that those classes coincided with the times when Robert and company bullied him the most. There are things he doesn’t remember simply because the old Edward wanted to forget them.

Arnold laughed mockingly, though he was still thinking about how to respond.

"The Star Trials are performed by the same Mother Stone that awakens us. It’s nothing new, just like before, you will awaken your talent in front of the Mother Stone," Arnold replied.

Edward looked at him. "Nothing else?"

"Tsk, be patient," Arnold complained, before continuing his explanation. "It doesn’t happen in this world, or maybe it does, but in a very distant place. Maybe it’s in another dimension, it’s a very impressive starry sky."

Edward finally nodded. "I see. Is that why they call it The Night of the Stars?" he asked.

"Partly," Arnold nodded. "But that’s also where the Division of the Stars takes place. It will be your first brush with reality, when you discover how dark it can be."

"What do you mean?" Edward frowned.

"You’ll know when you get there. All I can tell you is that this place is dark. If you’re talented, it will be a wonderful place. If you’re not, you can only bury yourself in the mud, seeking the approval of those who are."

After saying that, Arnold looked at him briefly. "I think that for you, neither option is viable." He laughed softly.

Edward wanted to ask him about it, but Arnold simply went back to his book and paid no attention to him. He was forced to sigh and immerse himself in his own reading.

Anyway, he didn’t think it would be that bad.

--

The next morning.

Edward got up early, cooked something quick, and then left for the academy grounds.

A guidance teacher was already waiting for him at the entrance to the residential complex.

"You’re late," the teacher complained, looking at him with a clear intention to scold him.

Edward was surprised and looked at the time. "Late? The tests will start in an hour," he recalled.

"Late is late! Don’t argue with me," growled the professor, who clearly wasn’t in a good mood today.

In a way, it made sense: although not everyone expresses it, the Lux are not welcome here.

Edward simply sighed. "Shall we go, then?" he asked.

"No. There are still a few missing," he replied simply, before looking away from Edward.

Edward stared at him. He clearly wanted to annoy him. Late, when he was the first to arrive?

The professor didn’t care.

He continued to look at the stairs of the buildings and soon his face lit up.

"Student Brown, over here," he said with a smile and a hint of flattery.

He wasn’t a very prominent guy. Edward knew him from before, and his family barely belonged to the lower-middle class. The only difference was clear: the uniform.

He wore a uniform with a star on his shoulder; he was a 1-star student. Naturally, that increased his rank. Even more so because he wasn’t a Lux.

"Professor, thank you for coming to get me." Brown approached him with elegant but exaggerated movements and frowned as soon as he looked at Edward, although he ignored him completely.

"Are we leaving now, professor?" he asked.

"You’re very early, student Brown," replied the professor. "We still have to wait for two others of the same rank."

The difference in behavior made Edward shake his head. He hoped it wasn’t always like this.

"I’ll go change." he said to the professor.

He wasn’t wearing his uniform right now; he was simply wearing casual clothes. Black pants and a beige shirt that did not enhance his physical attributes, much less demonstrate his current status.

Not wanting to be late, he thought about changing at the venue, but since they had to wait for others, he might as well make use of the time.

Hearing his voice, the teacher reacted with annoyance. He made a sound with his mouth before saying, clearly annoyed, "Don’t be late."

.

Forty-five minutes later, Edward came out of the bathroom.

He was wearing his 2-Star Star Student uniform. Those two stars were on both shoulders, adorning his purple uniform with white stripes.

"Are we leaving now?" Edward asked, coming up from a blind spot.

The teacher turned around abruptly. "Bastard, I told you don’t be late. Did you go and make...?" His words came back to him as they left his mouth, and he was forced to swallow them hard.

Two stars! He was actually seeing two stars on the uniform!