Reincarnation Of The Legendary Sword Saint-Chapter 82: Dormitory Omen

As they entered the huge dorm, they walked through the long hall, floor by floor, with Elian right by his side. Eventually, Rowan spotted his room, a door with his full name. He opened it and stepped inside.

"Wow... it’s actually spacious," he said, pausing to take it in.

"Indeed, but it’s not tidy enough," Elian replied, stepping forward slowly, lunchbox in hand. She also had a scarf tied around her head and a broom in her hand.

Rowan blinked, staring at her. "Wait... what did you pick up that broom for?"

"Don’t worry about that, master. I just want to clean your room," Elian said. In a flash, she swept and dusted, and the room sparkled.

Rowan smiled, walking toward his bed. A bag sat there with a pile of books stacked neatly on it. He packed the books into his bag and placed it beside the bed.

"Master, eat. Take and eat," Elian said, holding out the lunchbox.

Rowan slowly accepted it. "Thank you," he said, beginning to eat while Elian watched him.

"Well... have you eaten?" Elian asked.

"Not really, but I’m not starving," Rowan replied.

"Why is that?" she asked.

"Nothing," he said.

"I’m full. You can eat the rest," Rowan offered, holding the lunchbox toward her.

"Are you sure, master?" Elian asked, taking it slowly as her eyes flicked to him. Rowan noticed her face turning red.

"Is... is something wrong?" he asked, puzzled. "Does she have a fever or something?"

Elian raised both hands to her cheeks and tilted her face downward, her thoughts hidden. "No... it’s just a bit embarrassing if I eat here. Let me eat it in my own room," she mumbled.

"Well... that’s probably best," Rowan said, nodding.

Elian carefully covered the lunchbox, bent slightly toward the door, and walked out. Rowan bowed slightly to her. "Good... she’s already gone. She must be back in her own dorm," he thought, smiling quietly to himself.

Finally... I’m here already.

And it looks like I didn’t even make a single friend.

Or maybe I did one, at least. Neville.

Still... it’s annoying. Being hated on the very first day. I feel like almost everyone in the class hates me already.

As Rowan lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, he suddenly felt it.

A stare.

His eyes narrowed. He immediately sat up, got off the bed, and walked to the window. Pulling the curtain slightly aside, he looked outside.

There it was.

A presence.

Not human.

It wasn’t clear enough to confirm whether it was a demon or a monster, but it was there, very faint. It wasn’t staring at just him. It felt like it was watching everyone in the dorm... the entire domain.

And then

It vanished.

"...Must’ve been my imagination," Rowan thought.

He closed the window, pulled the curtain shut, and sat back down on the bed.

Then a loud voice echoed through the dorm via a massive wind-amplifier speaker.

"Attention, all male students. It is time to proceed to the communal bath. Prepare yourselves and head downstairs." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Rowan ignored everything else and walked to his wardrobe. He pulled out a towel, fresh clothes, and a robe, then stepped out of his room.

All the boys were doing the same, walking out and heading toward the bath area.

When they arrived, lockers with their names were already prepared. Only the male students from their class were present, it was their assigned time.

They changed, wearing only towels around their waists, and moved toward the bath entrance.

An old man stood there, arms crossed.

"Hey! You go back. No one enters without washing first," the giant spat.

The boys quickly sat on the stools and began scrubbing themselves.

"Hey, Neville," Rowan said while washing his arms. "You stink. You’re way too close."

"I was just wondering if you’d let me wash your back," Neville said casually.

"...That sounded a bit weird," Rowan thought.

"Fine," Rowan replied.

Some of the boys helped each other wash their backs. Once done, they scooped water from nearby buckets and poured it over themselves. Rowan did the same, rinsing thoroughly.

Then Rowan and Neville stepped into the bath.

"Ahhh..." Rowan sighed. "This is warm. Is this spring water or something? This is really relaxing."

"For sure," Neville replied, sinking into the water.

More students entered the bath, their voices echoing softly against the stone walls. Rowan glanced at them, then closed his eyes. He placed a small folded cloth on top of his head and leaned back, sinking deeper into the warm water.

After a moment, Neville spoke.

"Hey... can I ask you something?"

Rowan slowly opened his eyes and turned his head slightly toward him.

"Well... this might sound lame," Neville continued, hesitant, "but when did you become like this in the first place? I’ve been thinking about it. I was shocked when I found out your father is one of the greatest adventurers, someone with incredible achievements. Even though he’s only a viscount... unlike mine."

Neville paused.

"And people are saying your grandfather is a duke. Yet you don’t show any pride at all. You talk to me like we’re equals... even though we’re not. That’s what Will said."

Rowan stared at him for a moment.

Then he straightened slightly.

"To be honest," Rowan said calmly, "I don’t really understand how things work here. All these status rules."

He looked up at the ceiling.

"But I’ll tell you this we are all equals."

Neville blinked.

"No matter how strong, powerful, or rich someone is, we’re all the same. We all have skin. We all bleed the same. We all need food to survive."

Rowan turned to look directly at him.

"I need food. You need food. Even the king needs food. We’re born the same way.

He exhaled slowly.

"But as humans? We’re the same."

Rowan’s voice softened, but his words were firm.

"So when you talk like that, putting yourself below others, it’s honestly pathetic. And I don’t mean that to insult you. It’s bad for you. Bad for your mind."

Neville went quiet.

"Even though we haven’t known each other long," Rowan continued, "I can tell how you think. And you deserve better than that."

Silence followed.

The warm water rippled gently between them.

"Thank you for saying that," Neville said quietly. "Hearing it... it actually makes me feel a lot better. I just wanted to hear your thoughts."

Rowan looked at him for a moment, then spoke calmly.

"If you want my advice," Rowan said, "then listen carefully. Get rid of your low self-esteem. Always think highly of yourself, not in an arrogant way, but with self-respect. Learn to stand on your own. And when you must... learn to fight back."

A faint smile appeared on Rowan’s face.

"Never let anyone trample on you."

Neville smiled as well. "Thank you."

That was when it happened again.

Rowan stiffened.

This time, the stare was deeper. He felt it clearly, a massive presence. A huge aura.

Something was watching.

Not just him.

All of them.

Rowan didn’t hesitate. He immediately stood up, water splashing slightly.

"Hey excuse me," he said. "I need to check something. I think I’m done here."

"Wait" Neville started, looking at him.

Rowan didn’t answer.

He stepped out of the bath, grabbed his towel, and walked toward his locker. He dried himself quickly, dressed, and tied his robe.

Still there.

I can still feel it, he thought. What the hell is this? This isn’t normal.

He left the bath area and headed straight for his room. Once inside, he went to the window and opened it, scanning the surroundings.

The presence was faint but real.

Rowan narrowed his eyes.

Then, without hesitation, he moved, slipping out through the window, following the direction the aura was coming from.

Then from above something fired.

Fire burst through the air.

Rowan felt it instantly.

He twisted aside.

VROOOM!

The fire slammed into the ground, melting stone and soil on impact. The scorched earth hissed, bubbling where it landed.

Rowan looked up.

A hawk hovered in the sky.

But it wasn’t normal.

Its eyes glowed faintly red, its wings edged with dark runes, and heat rippled around its body.

"Well, well, well..." Rowan muttered.

He didn’t bother wasting time.

Just another obstruction.

"I don’t have time for this."

Rowan snapped his fingers.

The air shifted.

Gravity inverted.

The hawk screeched as an overwhelming force dragged it downward. Its wings failed instantly.

BOOM!

The creature smashed into the ground at terrifying speed. Bones shattered. Blood splattered across the scorched earth.

The hawk twitched once then went still.

Dead.

Rowan didn’t look back.

He shot forward, flying low, following the source of the aura he’d been tracking.