The smell of roasted beans hung warmly in the air, blending with the faint sweetness of buttered croissants and fresh bread.

Outside, the morning rush painted the streets with energy—car horns blared, vendors shouted, and uniformed students hurried past, their nerves written across their faces.

Tom, however, looked perfectly at ease. He stirred his coffee slowly, the silver spoon clinking lazily against porcelain.

For most, this was an ordinary morning.
For him, it was bliss.

He had once seen civilizations rise and fall, fought wars that scarred galaxies, and tasted power that mortals could not imagine.
Yet here he was, savoring the bitter warmth of coffee in a quiet corner café.

It was, in its own way, the greatest luxury.

Just as he took another sip, a shadow fell across his table.

“Excuse me… is this seat taken?”

Tom raised his eyes. Standing before him was a girl holding a tray, her voice polite yet carrying a hint of nervous energy. Her long hair caught the sunlight streaming through the window, and her eyes—sharp yet bright—hesitated on him for a moment.

She wore the same uniform as him, the crest of the academy embroidered neatly on her jacket.

Tom shook his head lightly. “No. Go ahead.”

“Thanks,” she said, offering a small smile as she slid into the seat opposite him.

For a while, silence stretched between them, filled only by the clinking of cutlery and the faint hum of background chatter.

Tom enjoyed it—silence was, after all, a rare gift.

But the girl finally spoke first.

“You’re from the academy too, right? The uniform.”

Tom glanced at his jacket as though he had nearly forgotten it was there. He nodded. “Yeah. Registration’s today.”

She exhaled, relieved to find common ground. “I thought so. I’m Jenny, by the way.”

“Tom.”

Their introduction was simple, almost blunt. Yet somehow, it wasn’t awkward. Jenny found herself oddly comfortable—like speaking to someone who carried no sharp edges, just calm waters.

Still, curiosity nagged at her. Most students she had seen rushing toward the academy earlier had been buzzing with nervous chatter. But this boy… he sat there as though he had all the time in the world. Almost too calm.

She tilted her head slightly, trying to read him. Is he confident? Or just careless?

“So… are you excited? About starting at the academy?” she asked.

Tom gave a faint chuckle. “Excited? Not really. Curious, maybe.”

Jenny blinked. That wasn’t the answer she expected. Everyone she knew had spent weeks, if not months, obsessing over their academy placement—the tests, the rankings, the future opportunities.

“You’re… strangely relaxed for someone about to enter the country’s most prestigious school,” she said, half teasing, half serious.

“Maybe,” Tom replied, taking another sip of his coffee. “But a good breakfast seems more important right now, don’t you think?”

Jenny couldn’t help but laugh softly. “You’re weird.”

She didn’t mean it unkindly. In fact, there was something refreshing about his attitude. Her family had been talking her ear off about expectations, glory, and the burden of carrying their lineage. Sitting across from someone who treated this all like… well, breakfast, was almost comforting.

Weird… but maybe not in a bad way, she thought.

When they finished eating, Jenny checked the clock on the wall. Her eyes widened. “We should get going. If we’re late, they might make us redo the registration.”

Tom set his cup down and stood without hurry. “Lead the way.”

And so, by chance—or perhaps something more—they left the café together, their footsteps carrying them toward the academy gates.

The sky wasn’t blue on Gaelion—it shimmered between green and gold, like glass catching sunlight.

The academy gates loomed tall, gleaming under the morning light. Dozens of buses and private cars lined the entrance road. Students from all backgrounds streamed toward the registration halls—some wearing designer uniforms, others simple hand-me-downs.

But all of them carried the same mixture of nerves and pride.

The academy grounds were overwhelming, even for Jenny, who had heard about them since childhood. Wide marble paths led up to towering gates, banners bearing the academy crest fluttered in the morning breeze, and hundreds of students gathered in neatly pressed uniforms.

Jenny’s lips parted slightly as she took it all in. “This place is… amazing.”

Tom glanced around, his expression unreadable. “It’s big, I’ll give it that.”

“Big? That’s all you have to say?” Jenny shot him a look, amused and exasperated. “This is the most prestigious academy in the capital! Look at them—half of these students are probably from hero lineages. Descendants of the people who built this country’s future.”

Tom’s gaze drifted across the students. Many carried themselves with practiced pride, the kind that came from family names heavy with history. But he also noticed the ones fidgeting nervously—the ones trying to shrink under the weight of the atmosphere.

It reminded him that even here, balance never changed—powerful and powerless, arrogant and humble, all mixed together.

He shrugged lightly. “Doesn’t matter where they come from. Everyone’s just a student here.”

Jenny tilted her head at him, studying his face. He said it so simply, but there was a strange weight in his words—like someone speaking from experience too vast to imagine.

Before she could ask, a commanding voice broke across the field.

“Attention, everyone!”

The head of registration stood tall, his voice booming as students quickly fell into lines.

“Please queue up at the building according to your registration number! Have your identification card and acceptance letter ready for inspection!”

Jenny glanced at her slip of paper. “I’m in Building 13. You?”

“Building 7.”

She gave a small smile. “Guess we split here. Let’s meet again later if we can.”

Tom nodded, his tone calm. “Sure.”

As Jenny walked toward her line, she found herself glancing back once. Tom was already blending into the crowd, his unhurried steps so different from the frantic energy of the others.

Strange guy… but I wouldn’t mind running into him again.

Registration was quick, and soon Tom was directed toward Zone C—the academy’s massive sports district.

The walk took fifteen minutes, but Tom didn’t rush. The chatter of other students passed him by like background noise.

When he arrived, Zone C spread before him like a city within a city. Stadiums gleamed under the sun, running tracks wound around fields, swimming pools shimmered with crystal water. The facilities screamed wealth and prestige.

Around five hundred students had already gathered, filling the air with nervous chatter.

A man in sports attire climbed the podium, his presence enough to silence the noise. His voice carried sharp and clear.

“I am Ben Hawker, and you all may call me Instructor Ben. Welcome, and congratulations on your acceptance into the most prestigious academy in the country!”

Excited murmurs rippled through the crowd.

“Today, we begin the physical tests. Tomorrow, you’ll face the written examination. Together, these will determine your ranking. Listen well—the Top 10 students will receive the academy’s greatest resources.”

Whispers broke out again, some filled with determination, others with fear.

Tom remained silent, his face unchanged. Tests, rankings—it all seemed so small compared to the weight of universes he had once carried.
Still, he didn’t dismiss it. For those around him, this was everything.

“Further details will be explained by your homeroom teachers,” Instructor Ben continued. “For now, head to the changing rooms. Once you’ve changed, follow Instructor Jeremy to the test area.”

Students rushed toward the changing rooms in a flurry of excitement.

Tom walked at his usual unhurried pace. For him, this was nothing more than a light stretch in the morning.

But as he passed through the crowd, a faint smile touched his lips.

Somewhere in this academy was Jenny.
And though their meeting had been by chance, Tom couldn’t help but feel… he had found what he was looking for.

The locker room was spotless—rows of metallic lockers lined under white lighting.

Tom tapped his student ID on the digital lock; the door clicked open.

As he changed, a sudden commotion echoed nearby.

“Who do you think you are? Kneel down and apologize, or I’ll make you regret it!”

A deep voice thundered through the room.

Tom glanced toward the noise. A large, muscular boy towered over a much smaller student—a skinny kid clutching his chest.

“I already said I’m sorry! Why should I kneel for something so trivial? You bumped into me!” the smaller boy protested.

Bang!

The larger boy’s fist sank into his stomach, sending him sprawling across the floor.

Students gathered, whispering, but none intervened.

“Do you know who I am?” the bully sneered. “My father is the Division Chief of Police. Remember this—you’ll regret it every time I see you.”

He kicked the boy again before walking off with his group of cronies.

The crowd dispersed uneasily.

Tom, standing a few meters away, quietly shut his locker and left without a word.

Bullying… It exists everywhere.

In this world, those with power, status, and wealth sit on top of the food chain.
The weak can only survive by becoming strong.

☕ Author’s Note:
Thank you for reading Chapter 1 of The Sealed Player of the Eight Worlds!
If you enjoyed this beginning, please tap the ❤️ and leave a comment—it really helps the series grow.
What did you think of Tom and Jenny’s first meeting? 🌙