Chapter 2 - The Haves and Have-Nots

The dorm was situated on the outskirts of the main buildings; it was a large, luxurious residence hall that had an impressive building with a grand entrance featuring beautifully crafted marble staircases and towering columns.

Inside, the dorm was filled with modern amenities, ranging from the comfortable common rooms, to the fully-equipped kitchens and spacious study and recreational areas.

Seeing this, Cagnus couldn't help but smile as he thought of his bright future prospects.

"At least I will spend a comfortable three to four years in this place."

Cagnus pulled out his identification badge and caressed the number inscribing on the back.

"Room 23-51…"

There was a marble slab that had the dorm's map on it. By following it, Cagnus slowly made his way down the staircase to his designated room. The area down here was not as extravagant as the dorm's upper floors, but Cagnus didn't pay it any heed.

On top of the wooden door, a plaque made of a stone slab indicated his room number: "23-51"

Cagnus turned on the doorknob and entered his room; immediately after stepping in, his expression turned upside down as he couldn't help but smile wryly.

"Now, this is something worthy of my status as a commoner.", he lampooned inwardly as he studied his room in depth.

It was a small, confined space with barely enough room to fit a twin-sized bed, a desk and a dresser. Everything is crammed together, and Cagnus finds it challenging to move around.

The walls were bare, and the furniture was basic and utilitarian.

The scent of stale air and mildew lingers in the air.

On top of the worn-out desk, there was a candle that cast a dull and depressing shadow.

"This is a fire hazard!", darkness enveloped the room as Cagnus sniffed out the single source of light in his room, "Plus, there aren't any windows.."

Because it was situated underground in the dorm building, there weren't any windows to bring in the fresh air, making the room feel even more cramped and stifling.

"Even the ventilation here does not work properly!", Cagnus complained silently as he threw his luggage on top of the desk.

Creaaak.

The desk shook violently as it threatened to collapse; Cagnus hurried to remove his luggage as he inspected the wooden legs and iron screws carefully. After making sure that everything was alright, he heaved a sigh of relief as he tossed the luggage under the bed.

"It's not even five kilograms, and yet this wooden desk almost collapsed on me."

He wiped the big beads of sweat that trickled down his forehead, he shuddered as he thought of the huge fine he had to pay if he broke any of the dormitory's properties.

"What about the toilet?"

Cagnus exited his room and gently closed the door behind him, then he made his way to the end of the hallway and turned right into the public bathroom.

The moment he stepped foot inside, his nostrils were assaulted by the nauseating smell that lingered inside. The odour was pungent and unpleasant; it left him extremely uneasy.

Mould and fungus grew and spread in the damp areas of the bathroom. Cockroaches and other small insects moved frantically in and out of holes in the walls.

A stone pit latrine stood in the middle of the bathroom, covered in filth and faeces.

With a single glance, anyone can tell this place hasn't been cleaned for ages.

Without studying any further, Cagnus closed the door as he made his way back to this room, his expression dark.

"Truly befitting of my status.", he mocked self-deprecatingly as he grabbed his identification badge from his room and made his way upstairs.

"Room 3 - Lobby.", seeing the extravagant plaque made of gold and other precious gems, Cagnus couldn't help but enter.

What welcomed him was a spacious lobby that was bright and welcoming, it had large windows that flooded the room with natural light.

The walls were painted with a cheerful shade of yellow, several paintings and photographs were hung up depicting the various important figures of the Fide Empire.

Perhaps the most splendid painting was that of the Founding Emperor, Maul Purphy the Great. He was a slim, handsome man with a fair complexion and bright blue eyes.

He had a strong jawline and a kind, heart-warming smile. His hair was dark and wavy, kept neatly styled. He wore wire-rimmed glasses and often sported a light stubble around his chin.

His muscular physique inspired imperial authority and majesty, yet his casual attire gave a very contrasting feeling.

No one would think this ordinary-looking man was the hero who freed humanity thousands of years ago, Cagnus bowed his head in respect towards the man in the painting then he made his way towards the lounge.

Many nobles and aristocrats were discussing their enrollment in the Imperial Chess Academy enthusiastically. They occasionally sipped wine from their fancy glasses and chortled with laughter and emotions.

However, when Cagnus, with his commoner attire, stepped in. The entire lounge went silent as literally every noble looked at him with contempt and disgust.

Cagnus scratched the top of his head in confusion as he smiled ignorantly, showing his yellowed teeth to the higher echelon of society.

"PTOOH-", one man couldn't take it anymore as he spat the wine he had just drank on the floor, and then he made his way out of the building.

Seeing this, Cagnus couldn't help but complain to himself: "Hey, hey, I know I'm just a commoner, but you don't have to overreact!"

"Screw this! I'm just gonna head straight to class."

When Cagnus turned his back, he heard the young men and women snickering and mocking him.

"Look at this poor man!", one man exclaimed, "He looks like he's seen better days!"

"Maybe he should take a bath.", a woman chimed, causing the others to roar with laughter.

"He looks so naive, he probably doesn't even know what a book is.", another one sneered, his face full of contempt.

Cagnus just shrugged his shoulders and acted as though he hadn't heard anything, little did he know that someone else was silently looking at him.

In the second floor of the lounge, an area solely exclusive to VIPs, dukes and high ranking officers. A girl with black hair and hazel eyes was observing him, she was Lady Seraphine, Duke Llye's daughter.

"Tsk. A bunch of pampered kids.", Cagnus complained silently as he looked at his attire.

He had linen trousers, a cotton shirt and a lightweight leather jacket. As for the footwear, he wore socks and leather sandals.

Although it was a bit worn-out, this was the best attire at his disposal. His parents are ordinary farmers who only had one or two pieces they could change to, affording expensive or even moderate clothes is a challenge.

"Sigh… I shouldn't ask for too much, I should be thankful for getting an opportunity to pursue education.", Cagnus sighed, "I'm studying in such a prestigious college with a bunch of nobles so the degree should be quite good."

"Perhaps I'll land a job as a low-ranking officer in the future."

After exiting the dormitory quarters, Cagnus headed for the biggest and largest building in the entire campus.

There, he will officially start his studies as a pupil of the Imperial Chess Academy.

He grabbed a folded piece of paper from his pockets, opened it and read the contents:

"Student Cagnus Marlsen,

We thank you for your enrollement in the Imperial Chess Academy and…

…

First Year, Section A, Class 1-A.

Please head to the following area… seat Z-01… exactly at 10AM to start the class.

…

Sincerely, the Principal.

"

This was the letter he received after his grandfather pulled the strings to get him enrolled, he still couldn't forget the joyous expressions of his parents when that happened.

"I'll work hard, I promise I won't disappoint!", Cagnus silently made an oath to himself as he entered the majestic main building.

He made his way to the designated area, it was a grand and fancy indoor amphitheatre with magic-powered lanterns illuminating the area.

Its walls were lined with intricately carved wooden panels, and the floor was tiled with luxurious marble. The seating was plush and comfortable, with the best views in the house naturally being the front seats.

The stage was well-lit and featured a wide variety of literacy instruments. The acoustics were excellent, allowing for a perfect sound experience.

What surprised Cagnus was the array of refreshments available to students, ranging from snacks to full meals.

The atmosphere here was one of elegance and sophistication, making it perfect for pursuing academic dreams.

Cagnus pulled the piece of paper again and confirmed his seat number: Z-01.

In this amphitheatre, there were around 26 rows of seats, each row had around 32 chairs.

Because of his status, Cagnus was assigned the most remote seat possible: seat Z-01.

"I can't complain.", Cagnus shrugged his shoulders as he took his seat and kept his head low.