He swallowed hard and looked up as his eyes met with an... owl.

The owl looked ordinary with long white feathers and big eyes that seemed to see through everything.

Its body wasn’t large, perhaps only the size of a football, but what put Mikhail on his toes was the feeling he got from it.

’It’s like I am standing against something that has been alive for thousands of years....’

He swallowed lightly and the weird feeling vanished like it was never there.

The owl let out a soft sound before it glided through the air and reached where they were.

Ignoring Mikhail, the owl fluttered its wings and sat on Patrick’s shoulder.

Mikhail shifted his gaze towards Patrick who was gently petting the owl.

"Your pet?" He asked in a soft voice.

"Yes." Patrick replied with some arrogance in his voice. "His name is Veltam."

’What a mighty name for an owl....’

Mikhail remembered the feeling and clicked his tongue.

While he was busy figuring out what was happening, Methew, who was sitting on his shoulder, gathered himself.

His golden eyes stared at the owl like he would jump for the kill at any moment.

The owl, Veltam, noticed it and tilted his head like he was looking at something special.

"Alright! I will lead you to your rooms now!" Just then John, who was done with his work, shouted.

Mikhail picked up his bag and began to walk with the others towards the hostel.

Mikhail quickly began to look around the place while they moved.

He noticed how much space the university covered.

The Imperial University was on the bank of the Reuben River, which was the heart of the city.

Most of the curriculum within the university was related to rifts and mana, along with normal classes.

’The main purpose of the university is to create powerful hunters who can shoulder the kingdom’s responsibilities.’

As he proceeded down a road sheltered by trees, Mikhail stopped at a three-story stone building along with the others.

He entered after successfully registering himself and providing the few details the guard needed.

As Mikhail walked down the hallway of the building, he couldn’t help but notice how luxurious it was.

’Well, most of the people who live here have noble identities....’

Mikhail reached his room with the sinister number of 333.

His room was at the end of the building while Kevin’s was at the start.

’On the bright side, we are on the same floor.’

Mikhail glanced at John who was leading the other students to the upper floor.

He then looked at Kevin and Patrick who were arguing about who should open the door.

Mikhail shook his head, too tired to even make small talk with them.

He opened the lock on his door and walked inside.

The room was big with two bedrooms, a hall and an attached kitchen.

The fishy smell of fresh paint made Mikhail draw in a deep breath. ’They painted it recently.’

He walked inside and Methew jumped down to roam around his new home.

Mikhail looked around as well but found nothing worth noticing.

He walked towards the room adjacent to the hall, which was painted white with a desk, chair, wardrobe and a bed.

Walking inside, he put his bag on the bed which had already been made up.

He looked to the side where an attached bathroom was present.

’Looks like I don’t have a roommate yet...’ Mikhail thought, walking back to the hall. ’Good for me, I can have some free space.’

Mikhail took off his shirt and walked towards the bathroom.

He planned to take a shower and head straight to bed.

’Tomorrow I will begin my plan to get a foothold in the capital city.’

He thought to himself, taking in a deep breath.

’I will steal a noble’s identity soon.’

---

In room 323, the atmosphere was quite awkward.

Kevin, who was in a hurry to use the bathroom, was quick to pick his room.

Patrick on the other hand was busy cleaning the already clean room.

’Why do I have to share a room with a rogue idiot.’

He thought to himself, feeling disgust at the very thought.

Just as he opened the window, the owl who was perched on his shoulder jumped to the edge.

He looked around and then at Patrick who was staring back at him.

The owl opened his mouth and in an awkward voice said. "That young boy is dangerous."

Patrick wasn’t surprised by his pet talking. What surprised him was that the owl found someone dangerous.

"Mikhail?" He asked, tilting his head. "He is dangerous even to you?"

The owl nodded his head and replied. "I tried to look into his soul out of curiosity, but not only was I blocked, I almost felt like my consciousness was being eaten."

Patrick let out an audible gasp as he covered his mouth in fright.

"If he can threaten even you...." His voice died down as he didn’t dare to say it out loud.

The owl nodded his head. "He is either stronger than me or he is some old soul inhabiting a young body."

Patrick nodded his head as he fell into deep thought.

’I should really be careful around him.’ He thought, gently raising his hand around his neck. ’If he gets to know my secret then who knows what he will do...’

His identity was really sensitive. If someone got to know it then Patrick really doubted he could do anything.

He would become a slave who couldn’t even refuse sexual favours.

Patrick bit his lip when suddenly a thought flashed past his mind.

’I can never let anything like this happen to me!’

He drew in a deep breath and suddenly remembered something.

"If he almost consumed you then why were you so nonchalant?" Patrick said, looking at the owl. "It was like you had intimidated him, not the other way around."

The owl looked straight into his eyes and said. "My race would rather die than show any sign of weakness."

Patrick’s lips twitched but in the end he only sighed.

"Whatever." He grumbled and thought of eating something.

’There should be something in the kitchen...’

He thought and walked towards the door, opening it.

But the next instant he froze when he saw Kevin drying his hair in the hall under a fan....naked.

Patrick’s eyes subconsciously lowered between his legs.

"Ahhh."

He let out a scream and shut the door as if he had seen a monster.