"The library is split into two sections: the historic archives and the modern stacks,"
Harvey explained, slipping back into his tour guide persona.
"Does the modern side hold all the new books, and the historic side hold all the old ones?"
Elara asked innocently.
"I doubt it's that literal; they're categorized by subject. I was on a tight schedule yesterday, so I didn't actually go inside to read. I just admired the architecture.
The historic building is steeped in centuries of academic tradition, so it has this incredible, vintage aesthetic.
The modern wing is entirely digitized, featuring massive glass study pods and an endless collection of global research. They complement each other perfectly to give the students the best of both worlds."
They decided to browse the historic section first. Even though classes had barely begun, the reading rooms were already packed with focused students.
Mira led the group down the aisles, trailing a hand along the oak shelves as she examined the intricately bound volumes.
"Harvey!"
Just as they exited the modern wing and were heading toward the bike racks, two guys suddenly sprinted over to intercept them.
"Look at you! It's day one, and you're already hoarding all the girls,"
One of them whispered loudly, throwing an arm around Harvey's shoulders and dragging him a few steps away.
The other guy covered his mouth, snickering. "Hanging out with a group of gorgeous girls and not inviting your boys? That's just cold, man."
Harvey shoved them off, glaring. "Enough out of you two. Classes haven't even started yet, why are you so desperate?"
"Are you kidding? The computer science program has a disastrous gender ratio. If we don't lock down girlfriends now, we'll be single until graduation!"
"Is it really going to kill you if you don't date?"
Harvey was genuinely baffled by their desperation.
Given his own elite background and striking looks, he had rejected more advances than he could count, so their panic was completely foreign to him.
"Man, you just don't get it. College is about living it up! If you don't have an epic, unforgettable romance, you've totally wasted the experience."
The other guy squinted at him suspiciously. "Wait, if you don't care about dating, what are you doing trailing after three girls?"
Harvey let out an exhausted sigh. "They're my friends from high school."
"Oh, please. You're telling me four kids from the same high school all got accepted into Aethelgard?"
"Believe what you want."
"She's a famous singer, an elite songwriter, and she got the highest score on the entrance exams,"
Leah eagerly volunteered the information.
"Oh man, today is our lucky day. We're in the presence of an absolute goddess,"
The two boys stared at Mira, thoroughly starstruck.
While neither of them possessed Harvey's striking aristocratic features, they were both over six feet tall, athletic, and conventionally attractive.
"Great, now that you realize she's entirely out of your league, stay away from her," Harvey snapped defensively.
"What is your problem, man? Why are you cockblocking us from even saying hello?"
Mira completely ignored Harvey's territorial behavior. "I'm definitely no goddess. Just a girl with a few expensive hobbies."
There was no reason to be rude to her classmates. Building a powerful network was half the reason she chose Aethelgard in the first place.
Anyone who managed to get accepted into this institution possessed exceptional intelligence and drive. These were exactly the kind of people she wanted as future allies and employees.
"If your 'hobbies' make you more successful than industry professionals, you're a goddess in my book,"
Wyatt laughed easily.

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