The Academy's Time Looper

As the doors slid open, Athen jumped from his seat and immediately exited the train, hoping to get to his dorm as fast as possible.

If the same punishment as last time activated now, Athen wouldn't be dealing with a couple of merchant spirits but hundreds of student spirits who would attempt to merge with him.

Jumping off the train and onto the new platform, Athen took out his invitation diamond before clicking the switch.

And just as the small figure of the principal appeared on the diamond, Athen immediately shoved it back into his pocket.

Keeping his ears peeled for the announcement of his dorm number, Athen sprinted out from under the overhang.

And, there in front of him lay Aetherhelm Academy.

However, that wasn't what attracted Athen's attention.

"...another DAMN HILL!?"

As more people began to flood out of the train station, Athen sighed before speed-walking ahead.

Similar to the hangar, the academy lay above the rest of the city; however, it wasn't on a hill; it was more like a mountain, considering its size.

"Dorm #34"

Panting, Athen scurried to the sidewalk as a couple of carriages suddenly began climbing up the road.

Increasing his pace, Athen sprinted up the slope, letting his tie fall off and be blown down to the train station below.

"t-too many people..."

At that moment, just as the open gold gates that led into the academy came into view, Athen's legs started to shake.

Trembling, Athen forced his legs forward again...and again.

Above him, countless figures began to flood out of the carriages and walk through the open gold gates.

"One more step...one more."

Unable to lift up his head anymore, Athen's gaze was locked on the ground below.

Illuminated by the bright half-crescent moon above, Athen raised his right leg, moved it forward, and swiftly planted it on the ground.

"..."

However, when the bottom of his right shoe hit the pavement of the sidewalk below, there was no sound.

Silent.

Everything was silent.

Touching the diamond in his pocket, Athen gathered the last of his strength and immediately hurled it right over the open golden gate of the academy.

Even though Athen knew from his glance earlier that there should be crowds of students behind, not a single voice could be heard.

Even though Athen knew that there was a carriage to his right, there was no sound being generated.

The only thing he was able to see was the ground below him.

The clean and concrete pavement of the sidewalk below him alongside the dress shoes that he had received from Kai.

But that was enough for him to know.

To know what was happening.

Even if his eyes were closed, he would know.

After all, the last time he had experienced something like this, nightmares had haunted him for months.

As his left leg lifted in the air and surged forward, Athen felt an overwhelming sense of dread take over him.

His eyes were wide open as if he had just seen the Grim Reaper, and his skin was pale like a dead body.

Feeling a weird sensation overtake him, Athen glanced at his legs, watching as a light blue slowly moved downward from his head to his legs.

After a couple of seconds, both of his legs and shoes were highlighted in a familiar light-blue hue.

Accepting his circumstances, Athen tried to close his eyes...and this time, it actually worked.

For the first time in a while, Athen couldn't see anything but pure darkness.

However, that serene and peaceful moment was short-lived.

A second later, Athen reopened his eyes, feeling re-energized and not as exhausted.

Gathering up his strength, Athen slowly lifted his head up towards the golden academy gates.

And... everything was frozen.

The security guard by the gate, the students leaving their carriages, and the familiar professors walking up the hill.

Not a single figure moved.

Taking a deep breath in, Athen readied himself for the worst-case scenario.

All the spirits of these frozen people would attack him in a matter of seconds.

Floating above the sidewalk, Athen ran forward, phasing right through the students and various merchant shops in front of him.

As Athen took one last glance behind him at the floating bronze coin in the air, a reminiscent smile appeared on his face.

Taking a detour off the crowded path, Athen phased right through the walls of one of the buildings on his right.

At the same time, the frozen merchant inside the store suddenly came alive as his body was surrounded by a light blue hue.

Seeing this, Athen didn't hesitate to run forward, phasing right through the wall of this store and entering the next store.

Not looking back, Athen phased through countless more store walls until he was met with a silver fence that surrounded the academy.

Behind the fence lay what seemed like a forest where trees and bushes were visible everywhere.

Glancing backward, Athen spotted an unfamiliar floating head peeking out of the wall he had just phased through.

"...damn...they're here."

Going right through the fence, Athen was about to continue forward when a light-blue figure with a hose suddenly stepped out of a bush, blocking Athen's path.

Sighing, Athen looked up, spotting his diamond levitating in the air right above a tree, having managed to get there before the punishment went into full effect and time was stopped.

He couldn't just leave the diamond here and run.

After the punishment and during orientation, the security would eventually find him and demand proof, so he needed it.

But...there was no way for Athen to gain height.

If he attempted to climb, his hands would just go straight through the tree, so that wouldn't work.

All he could do was jump, and that didn't even get him close to half of the tree's height.

And even if he managed to get up that high, how was he supposed to take the diamond in this state?

His hands would just pass right through it.

As Athen contemplated what to do next, the light-blue gardner suddenly rushed at Athen.

Simaltenousy, multiple spiritual figures behind Athen phased through the academy's fence and darted towards his figure.

He was surrounded.