[Host, it is 6 am.]

The system’s chime echoed through Azrael’s head like a gong.

"Yes, thank you," Azrael groaned.

As much as he did not want to wake up, he could not deal with the sound.

"Why are you using such an annoying alarm?" He asked as he pushed himself upright.

For a moment he rested his back against the headboard, choosing to enjoy the comfort for a little while before facing the day ahead.

[I needed something that would wake you while also reminding you not to blame me for your lateness again. This felt like the right choice.]

Azrael sighed.

"You are just petty."

[Thank you.]

Azrael was not in the mood to argue with it.

He climbed out of bed and his feet met the cold tiles.

The cold did nothing to him.

"Something casual, same as yesterday," he muttered, searching through his wardrobe.

He found it quickly.

A white top and blue jeans.

He tossed them onto the bed without a second glance and walked into the bathroom.

The sound of water hitting tiles filled the room for a while before going quiet.

Azrael stepped out with a towel around his waist, water still tracing lines down his chest.

He dressed quickly.

"System, time?"

[6:21 am.]

Azrael nodded.

The door opened with a soft click as his palm pressed against the knob.

Clara was standing right outside.

"Good morning, Lord Azrael," she greeted with a deep bow.

Azrael nodded.

"How are you doing?" He asked.

After these past few days he had grown used to finding her right beside his door no matter the hour. He had even started wondering whether she ate at all.

He knew that certain needs diminished at higher cultivation stages, but Clara was not at a stage where she could eliminate them entirely.

He chose not to press the matter.

"Do not follow me to class today," Azrael said.

Clara’s frame stiffened.

Before Azrael could add anything, a thud came from the floor beneath him.

"You really do like the floor," Azrael said, shaking his head.

He extended his arm toward her.

"I am not upset about anything. I only need you to get some books from the library for me."

Clara looked at his outstretched hand with something close to fear.

"You have no reason to be scared. Let me help you up."

Reluctantly, she accepted.

Azrael pulled her to her feet.

"Thank you, Lord Azrael," she said with a bow.

Azrael nodded.

"Here is my library tag. Show it to one of the maids in charge there and ask them to give you..."

He listed out the books he needed one by one.

[Someone has grown tired of paying for information they can get for free.]

The system remarked in his mind.

"Thank you," Azrael said to Clara as she turned and headed toward the library wing.

"Time?" He asked.

[6:42.]

Azrael began walking toward the castle exit with calm strides.

The twin crimson suns had just begun to rise above the horizon.

He looked at them briefly.

"They are at least ten times the size of the sun from my world," he muttered, more to himself than anyone.

It was not shocking compared to everything else he had encountered in these past few days.

A coin the size of a table formed in front of him.

He looked at it for a moment, then dissolved it.

His chest glowed with a soft golden light as Surfer was summoned.

Surfer planted one knee on the ground immediately.

"Master Azrael."

"What is it with everyone and that?" Azrael muttered aloud.

Surfer stared up at him with a genuinely confused expression.

"Take me to the academy," Azrael said.

Surfer did not hesitate.

The board expanded until it was large enough for both of them to stand on comfortably.

Azrael stepped on.

Surfer followed.

Then the world blurred entirely.

Previously, pushing as much essence as he could into a coin had gotten him to the academy in under ten minutes. With Surfer’s board, they covered the same distance in under two.

"How fast is this thing?" He wondered as the academy rose into view ahead of him.

"Thanks for the ride," Azrael said, stepping down from the board.

"Yes, my Lord," Surfer bowed before Azrael returned him to his core.

"Good morning, Watcher," Azrael greeted the gatekeeper.

"Young master Azrael, good morning," the Watcher replied.

Despite the harsh first impression, the Watcher turned out to be someone who simply held the rules firmly. Strict with latecomers and violators, but perfectly civil otherwise. In a way he felt like both the gatekeeper and the principal of the academy rolled into one.

The doors swung open and Azrael passed through.

"Good morning," he greeted the figure behind the reception desk.

"Good morning," came the reply.

After signing in, he was told to wait until seven o’clock.

He nodded and walked toward the entrance to the first classroom, shaping a chair from essence and settling into it.

Zuriel entered shortly after.

He glanced at Azrael sitting in the essence chair for a moment before walking to the reception desk without a word.

’Too proud for his own good,’ Azrael thought, shaking his head.

Zuriel did not come anywhere near where Azrael sat. He shaped his own chair right where he stood, beside the desk.

Sirris entered next, greeting Zuriel with a nod that he returned in equal measure.

A few minutes later Zephyr arrived, the last to sign in.

Right on cue, the clock ticked over to seven.

"You may all enter," the receptionist said.

He was too late.

The students had already filed through the classroom door before the clock’s chime could finish ringing.

The receptionist looked after them with mild surprise.

"Eager to learn today," he murmured with a faint smile.

If only he knew it was because most of them simply could not stand being in each other’s company any longer.

Sylvester was already standing at the front of the class as they entered.

"Good morning," he greeted.