(A/N Big thanks to everyone for the Power stones and Golden tickets, they mean a lot. As usual, please don't hesitate to comment or drop a review. ENJOY)

Power stones people, Gimme it.

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Warm light filtered in through the tall glass panels of the dormitory corridor as Orion stepped out of his room, hair still damp, uniform loose around the collar. The faint scent of soap lingered around him. The earlier encounter with Jessica had faded into a quiet corner of his mind — curious, but not urgent.

He rolled his shoulders once, loosening the stiffness that hadn't quite left his body. A long bath had helped, but the fatigue still clung stubbornly.

He took the stairs down from the upper floor, following the faint murmur of voices and the smell of food. The dining hall stretched wide and open, sunlight spilling across polished marble tables arranged in neat rows. Students filled most of them — laughing, talking, eating with the kind of hunger that came only after surviving something exhausting.

Orion paused briefly at the entrance. Heads turned almost immediately. A few whispers rippled through the hall, subtle but noticeable. He caught fragments — "that's him," "the first place," "Chronos heir."

He ignored most of it and made his way toward the meal counter. The attendants handed him a tray with quiet deference, bowing slightly. He nodded back and scanned the room for a free spot.

"Over here!" a familiar voice called.

Erevan.

Orion spotted him near the far end of the hall, seated with a small group of boys. They were laughing, the table half-filled with plates and remnants. Erevan looked as composed as ever — silver hair neatly brushed back, uniform slightly unbuttoned, his easy grin completely at odds with the formal aura he carried during the trial.

Orion approached. A few of the boys noticed him and immediately stiffened. The laughter dimmed a little.

Erevan didn't seem to notice — or pretended not to. He just leaned back in his chair with a grin. "Relax, all of you. He doesn't bite."

One of the boys, dark-haired with sharp features, muttered under his breath, "Easy for you to say. You're not that far off from him."

Erevan chuckled, tapping his spoon against his plate. "Exactly why I know he doesn't bite."

That broke the tension. A few of them laughed awkwardly. Orion pulled out a chair beside Erevan and sat down, setting his tray quietly.

"Didn't think you'd be this social after four hours of chaos," Erevan said, smirking.

"I was getting bored," Orion replied casually. "Figured I'd see if you were still alive."

"Barely," Erevan said, then grinned wider. "But I suppose second place isn't bad for someone who got ragdolled by you."

"You say that like it was one-sided."

"Oh, it was," Erevan said easily, "just not in your favour at the start."

Orion smirked faintly. "Fair."

The boys around them laughed again, the earlier tension fading. The one across from Orion leaned forward slightly. "Man, it's weird seeing you up close," he said.

"Yeah, you have to get used to it," Orion said lightly, picking up his fork.

That earned a few chuckles. Erevan shook his head, amused.

The group fell into comfortable conversation — casual, open, no titles or hierarchy, just students letting the exhaustion settle. They talked about the zones, the shifting barriers, the constant anxiety of not knowing where the next attack would come from.

Everyone laughed at the jokes and odd situations, including Orion.

He found himself relaxing more than expected. The noise, the warmth — it was grounding. Different from the silence of the trial.

Erevan eventually leaned forward, tapping his cup against the table. "Right, before any of you start acting like strangers — this," he said, motioning to Orion, "is Orion Chronos, son of the Patriarch and winner of this year's trial. The strongest of us all."

The boys froze for a second, unsure whether to cheer or salute. Orion just lifted his cup slightly in mock greeting. "I am the strongest of us all," he said with a smile.

Erevan clicked his tongue. "Oh shut it, I was just hyping you up."

"Well," Orion said with a smirk, "you weren't wrong."

Laughter erupted again. Even the tense ones from earlier relaxed, shaking their heads.

"Arrogant much?" the brown-eyed boy teased.

"Confident," Orion corrected calmly.

"Same thing where I come from."

"Then you must come from the wrong place."

Erevan nearly choked on his drink. "You two sound like cousins."

The laughter grew louder this time. The boy grinned and extended his hand. "Galen," he said. "One of the unlucky ones who barely made it into the top hundred."

"Barely still counts," Orion said, shaking his hand.

Another boy with short blonde hair sighed heavily. "Can't say the same for me," he admitted. "Didn't even make top hundred. I'll be gone tomorrow — transferred to Magnum 2. Still," he added with a weak grin, "I'll be back next year, stronger. You'll see."

"You'd better," Erevan said, raising his cup. "Otherwise who am I supposed to beat to warm up?"

The boy laughed, shaking his head. "I'll make sure you regret that."

Everyone joined in the toast. The sound of clinking cups echoed faintly through the hall — easy laughter, friendly teasing, the kind of camaraderie only exhaustion could cause.

Midway through, Orion felt a nudge at his side. Caelum had appeared silently, tray in hand, settling beside him. He ate in quiet concentration, seemingly uninterested in the noise around him.

Orion eyed him for a moment, a small grin forming. Then, without warning, he grabbed Caelum's wrist and raised it high. "Everyone, this is Caelum — also too serious for his own good."

Caelum froze mid-bite, eyes wide. His face flushed red instantly, trying to pry his hands out.

Too late. The table had already erupted in laughter.

Erevan nearly fell off his chair. "Finally, someone managed to fluster him!"

"You know Caelum," Orion asked.

"Of course, he always has that serious expression on his face," Erevan said with a chuckle.

Orion laughed back.

The laughter continued for a while, light and genuine. Even Caelum's irritation faded into a reluctant smile.

They talked until the lights dimmed slightly, signaling the late hour. Slowly, plates emptied, and one by one, they began to rise.

"Tomorrow's orientation," Erevan said, stretching. "We'd better not show up half-dead."

He stood, brushing off his uniform. "You're right. We'll continue this tomorrow."

Erevan clapped him lightly on the shoulder. "Try not to outshine us again tomorrow."

"No promises," Orion replied, amused.

They parted ways at the staircase, laughter still lingering faintly behind him. The corridors were quieter now, the dorm settling into its nighttime rhythm.

Orion made his way up the stairs, fatigue finally catching up. For the first time since the trial began, he felt at peace. The future, for now, could wait until morning.

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