Chapter 30: Typhoon Pendant

I carefully extracted the pendant from its hiding place among the other artifacts, feeling its weight settle into my palm. The metal was warm to the touch, though it showed no outward signs of the incredible power contained within. Making my way back through the floating weapon display, I emerged from the treasury with the unremarkable-looking pendant clutched in my hand. The guide barely glanced at my selection before making his assessment. "Enhanced grade," he said dismissively, his tone completely different from the warm congratulations he'd offered Seraphina. "Low quality, but functional. It should serve you adequately during your studies. Although, I don't believe anyone would get a lower quality than yours." The nobles around me wanted to snicker and laugh but they didn't dare to. I was the heir of the blackwood family after all. Their emotions were hidden well, and had I been a normal human, I would have probably failed to catch it, but I wasn't. The guide's casual dismissal was exactly what I'd expected and hoped for. The pendant's true nature remained completely hidden, appearing as nothing more than a weathered piece of Enhanced-grade jewellery to anyone who examined it. But I knew what they didn't. This item was indeed currently operating at the level of the weakest Enhanced-grade equipment, but that weakness was actually part of an elaborate protective mechanism designed to conceal its true potential from unworthy users. To unlock the Typhoon Pendant's real power, I would need to perform a specific activation ritual - dropping my blood onto its surface while channelling mana through the dormant enchantments. The previous student who had claimed this pendant in the original timeline had also dismissed it as worthless trash, until a lucky accident during combat had revealed its devastating capabilities. The pendant wasn't just any Rare-ranked item. It was something far more valuable, a growth-type artifact that would become increasingly powerful as my own abilities developed, it had the potential to become a superior ranked item If I took care of it well and advanced it properly. But the academy staff didn't need to know that, and I had no intention of enlightening them. As I stepped aside to allow the next student their turn in the treasury, I noticed Seraphina's gaze had shifted away from me entirely. Where she had previously shown at least mild curiosity about my changed behaviour, now she seemed to have written me off completely. It was as if this specific encounter had determined whether she wanted to give me any further attention, and apparently the answer was a definitive no. My selection of what appeared to be inferior equipment had clearly confirmed whatever low opinion she'd formed about my potential. I didn't care in the slightest. In fact, her disinterest was better for my long-term plans. The less attention I received from major characters, the lower my chances of getting dragged into dangerous plot developments. There were plenty of fish in the sea, and I didn't need to dwell on Seraphina or worry about impressing anyone with flashy displays of power. My goals were survival and steady growth, not winning popularity contests or romantic attention from future heroines. The pendant felt reassuring in my pocket as I watched the remaining students complete their weapon selections. Soon enough, I would activate its true capabilities and add another powerful tool to my growing arsenal. For now, though, I was content to let everyone believe I'd made a poor choice. Underestimation was often the greatest advantage an intelligent person could possess. The next phase of academy life was about to begin, and I intended to navigate it with all the cunning and preparation I could muster. ... After the tour had ended, the guide informed us that the academy year would officially start tomorrow and we are free to do what we please. Then he simply left us standing there. The nobles looked around confused, clearly expecting more guidance or instruction about what to do next. Seraphina simply turned and walked away without a word, her new battle axe secured across her back. I didn't bother waiting around with the confused crowd either. I headed toward the dormitories in Section E, finally checking the room assignment on my access card. The dormitory building was impressive even by academy standards. Each floor was dedicated to different year levels, with first-year Elite class students housed on the third floor. My room number indicated a corner unit, which typically meant more space and better amenities. I inserted my access card into the door's enchanted lock, watching as magical runes flared to life before the mechanism clicked open. The room that greeted me was far more spacious and well-appointed than I'd expected. This wasn't just student housing, it was practically a luxury apartment designed for serious academic and combat training. The main living area featured comfortable seating arranged around a magical fireplace that could be controlled with simple voice commands. The kitchen was fully equipped with the items I would need for self-cooking except for the food. The bedroom contained a large, comfortable bed with linens that adjusted temperature automatically based on the occupant's preferences. A spacious wardrobe provided ample storage for uniforms, casual clothing, and formal wear. A study desk was positioned near the window, complete with magical lighting that adapted to reading requirements. But the most impressive feature was the dedicated training room. The space was larger than some entire student apartments I'd seen elsewhere. Enchanted walls and flooring could absorb and dissipate magical energy safely, while protective barriers prevented damage to the rest of the room during intense practice sessions. A combat dummy occupied one corner, its construction clearly designed to withstand Elite-rank attacks without sustaining damage. The target's surface showed no signs of scratches or marks from previous occupants. Weight training equipment lined another wall, featuring dumbbells ranging from thirty kilograms up to one hundred kilograms. For most students, this would represent a comprehensive strength training setup capable of challenging them throughout their entire academy career. I decided to test the equipment immediately, curious about how my enhanced vampire physiology would compare to standard student expectations. Starting with the fifty-kilogram dumbbells, I found them too light. My enhanced strength made the weight feel almost negligible, like lifting empty containers rather than serious training equipment. Moving up to the seventy-kilogram weights produced similar results. I could curl them easily with one hand, feeling no resistance. Even the maximum one-hundred-kilogram dumbbells felt disappointingly light. I performed several sets of various exercises, but none provided the challenging resistance I needed for effective strength training. Unlike other students who relied on normal human physiology, my Supreme Vampire bloodline had improved my physical capabilities immensely. What represented serious training equipment for Elite-rank awakeners was essentially too light for my enhanced body. I would need to train in the training facilities in section G. For now, though, the combat dummy would serve my needs better than the weight equipment. Testing my sword techniques and magical abilities against a target that could withstand Elite-rank punishment would provide good experience that would help me increase the level of my traits.