Powerless Boy is reborn as Lustful Elf
Chapter 64: Meeting Velenda

Chapter 64: Meeting Velenda

Griesla returned from the kitchen, her gown whispering, a small, faceted crystal clutched in her delicate hand.

It caught the light, fracturing it into prisms that danced across the painted walls, a tiny star in her palm.

Her gray eyes met Alex’s, calm but purposeful, and she nodded toward the door. "Time to go," she said, her singsong voice soft but firm, like a breeze urging him forward.

Alex followed, his new cloak swirling as they stepped outside, the gravel crunching under his boots.

The compound sprawled before them, twinlights dozing in their pens, the glass-leaved tree sparkling in the dawn. Jusin’s voice boomed from the animal sanctuary, his broad frame half-hidden by a fence.

"Yo, Alex! Knock ’em dead, kid!" he called, waving a calloused hand, his grin wide under his beard.

Alex smirked, tossing a mock salute, his confidence flaring at the encouragement, though a flutter of nerves stirred beneath it.

They reached the sliding gate, its metallic hum greeting them as it parted.

Griesla paused, her ruby chain glinting, and turned to Alex, the crystal held between them. "Hold on," she said, her voice steady, her fingers brushing his as she pressed it into his palm.

The crystal nestled in his palm was cool to the touch, smooth as polished riverstone, but alive with an eerie presence.

It pulsed faintly beneath his fingers, a gentle throb that mimicked a heartbeat, soft, rhythmn

"The academy will give you a containment band today," she said, her gaze locking with his. "After that, you’ll be teleporting on your own."

She paused, letting the words sink in, then added, "The band will regulate the crystal’s energy. It’ll keep it stable. And more importantly, it’ll keep you safe."

Alex nodded, his grip tightening on the crystal, its weight grounding him against the unknown.

Griesla raised the crystal, sunlight fracturing through it, and a beam of light enveloped them.

The world blurred, colors swirling, air rushing, until they landed with a soft thud in front of a massive building, its spires piercing the sky like jeweled daggers.

The academy rose before him like something out of a dream, vast, otherworldly, and impossibly grand.

Its towering walls shimmered beneath the midday sun, covered in iridescent panels that shifted color with every step he took.

Emerald, sapphire, and deep amethyst hues rippled across the surface like liquid gemstones, catching the light and scattering it in dazzling patterns that danced across the ground and the watching eyes of new arrivals.

Each panel seemed to move of its own accord, swirling and rearranging in fluid, hypnotic designs, as though the building itself were breathing, alive in some arcane, sentient way.

The effect was mesmerizing, like watching starlight trapped beneath water,

A giant sign arched above the entrance, golden letters spelling "Starhaven Academy" in elegant curls, glowing faintly as if lit from within.

Alex’s jaw dropped, his blonde hair catching the breeze as he took it in, the sheer scale dwarfing him.

Towers twisted upward, windows glinting like eyes, and the air buzzed with the chatter of students streaming past.

"This is it, Alex," Griesla said, her voice cutting through his awe.

She rubbed the back of her head, a rare flicker of discomfort crossing her pale face.

"I’d love to come with you, but... I’d rather avoid public interactions for now." Her gray eyes held his, apologetic but resolute, and Alex nodded, understanding her need for distance despite the pang it stirred.

She handed him the crystal, its prisms flashing. "Don’t teleport without it," she warned, her tone sharp with urgency. "You’ll lose your body, disintegrate. Be careful."

Before he could reply, she raised her own crystal, light flaring, and vanished in a shimmer, leaving only a faint ripple in the air.

Alex stood alone at the entrance, the crystal heavy in his hand, his smirk faltering as he sighed.

The academy loomed, vibrant and daunting, its doors wide like a challenge. He took a step, boots scuffing stone, when a bright voice rang out.

"Alex!" Sylra bounded toward him, her auburn hair bouncing, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

She threw her arms around him in a fierce hug, her elven tunic vibrant with embroidered vines. "Look at you, looking dashing!" she chirped, stepping back to appraise his green tunic and cloak, her grin infectious.

Alex’s confidence surged, his smirk returning as he struck a playful pose. "Told you I clean up nice," he said, winking, though the crest on his chest felt heavier now.

Sylra laughed, grabbing his arm and pulling him inside.

The academy’s halls were a kaleidoscope? marble floors veined with gold, walls pulsing with soft light, chandeliers floating without chains.

Students drifted through the courtyard, some walking with purpose, others just killing time between classes.

Their academy crests caught the sunlight, little flashes of gold, silver, or deep matte black pinned to their uniforms, each one marking rank, house, or some kind of achievement.

Sylra walked like she belonged there, and she did.

Her friends spotted her from across the way, waving her down with bright grins and half-shouted greetings.

Their voices were sharp with energy, all inside jokes and familiar chaos, the kind of chatter that only comes from people who’ve been in each other’s lives for a while.

Then they noticed Alex.

Conversations slowed just enough to feel it. Heads turned.

Eyes landed on him, curious, scanning, low-key trying to figure him out without being obvious about it.

He walked taller, his blonde hair catching the light, aware of the attention and thriving in it.

A girl approached, her stride confident, breaking the crowd’s hesitation.

She greeted Sylra with a warm, "Hey, Syl!" then turned to Alex, her smile bold.

She was striking, lean and tall, her black hair cascading past her shoulders in glossy waves, catching the hall’s glow like polished obsidian.

Her eyes, a deep violet, sparkled with mischief as she extended a hand. "I’m Velenda," she said, her voice smooth, carrying a hint of challenge. "You must be the new guy everyone’s buzzing about."

Alex took her hand, his grip firm, his smirk widening as he met her gaze, ready to match her energy.