The king of everything

Chapter four- A new routine

The early morning sun streamed through the narrow dorm window, casting a soft glow across the room. I woke up to the faint sounds of campus life stirring outside—people chatting, the distant hum of traffic, and the occasional shout from some early riser hurrying to class. I blinked against the light, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. The room felt both familiar and foreign, like I was still adjusting to the idea that this was home now.

I rolled over, glancing at Sam's bed. It was already empty. He must have left for class, which didn't surprise me. Sam seemed like the type to hit the ground running, always one step ahead. I sat up, stretching my stiff muscles, and reached for my phone to check the time. I had an hour before my first class—just enough time to grab breakfast and make it across campus.

I swung my legs out of bed and padded over to my desk, where I had laid out my schedule the night before. Today was the first real day of classes, and the nerves that had been simmering beneath the surface began to rise again. Business 101 was my first class, followed by a couple of general education courses in the afternoon. I stared at the names of the courses for a moment, trying to picture what they'd be like. Would the professors be strict? Would I be able to keep up?

Shaking off the doubts, I quickly got dressed and grabbed my bag. My stomach growled as I headed out the door, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since the night before. The cafeteria wasn't far from the dorms, and as I stepped outside, the cool morning air hit my face, waking me up fully. The campus was alive now—students rushing to class, some walking in groups, others on their own, just like me. I blended into the crowd, feeling the energy of the place pulse around me.

I found the cafeteria easily enough, following the smell of coffee and freshly baked pastries. Inside, the long tables were crowded with students chatting over their breakfast, but I managed to find a seat by the window after grabbing a tray of food. I glanced around, trying to gauge the atmosphere. Everyone seemed so at ease, so confident. I wondered if they were feeling the same mix of excitement and nervousness that I was, or if they'd already settled into this new life.

I ate quickly, not wanting to be late for my first class, and soon I was back outside, heading toward the main academic building. As I walked, I pulled out my phone to check the campus map again. The building was only a short distance away, but the labyrinth of paths crisscrossing the grounds made it easy to get turned around.

By the time I reached the lecture hall, a few minutes early, a group of students had already gathered outside, waiting for the doors to open. I hovered near the back, feeling the familiar tug of uncertainty. Should I introduce myself to someone? What if they weren't interested in talking? Before I could decide, the doors swung open, and we all shuffled inside, finding our seats.

The room was larger than I expected, with rows of desks sloping downward toward a large chalkboard at the front. I found a spot near the middle, not too far in the back but not up front either, and took a deep breath as I settled in. Around me, other students were chatting quietly or scrolling through their phones, waiting for the professor to arrive.

A few minutes later, the door opened again, and a tall man with graying hair strode in, setting his briefcase on the desk at the front. He glanced up at the class, his expression serious but not unfriendly.

"Good morning, everyone. I'm Professor Thompson, and this is Business 101."

His voice carried easily through the room, and as he began introducing the course, I felt myself relax a little. He wasn't intimidating like I'd imagined, and as he outlined the semester's goals, I realized that maybe I could handle this after all. The material seemed straightforward, and the way he explained it made everything feel manageable, even for someone like me who was still figuring things out.

As the lecture continued, I took notes, trying to absorb as much as I could. Every now and then, I glanced around at my classmates, wondering if they felt as out of place as I did. But as the minutes ticked by, the feeling of unfamiliarity started to fade, replaced by a growing sense of focus.

By the time class ended, I was feeling more confident, even excited. The nervous energy I'd carried with me all morning had settled into something calmer, and I realized that this wasn't so different from high school—just bigger, with more people and a more demanding schedule. But I could do this. I wanted to do this.

The rest of the day followed a similar pattern—navigating new buildings, meeting new professors, and getting used to the rhythm of campus life. Between classes, I found myself wandering the grounds, taking in the sights and sounds of this strange, yet increasingly familiar, place. There were students everywhere—studying on the grass, laughing with friends, or rushing to their next lecture. I found a bench under a tree and sat for a while, watching it all unfold.

As the afternoon sun dipped lower in the sky, I made my way back to the dorm, feeling a sense of accomplishment. I'd made it through the first day. It wasn't perfect, and I knew there were challenges ahead, but I'd survived the hardest part—the beginning.

When I walked into my room, Sam was already there, lounging on his bed with a book in hand. He looked up and grinned.

"How was the first day?"

"Not too bad," I said, dropping my bag onto the floor. "How about you?"

"Pretty good. Professors seem cool. You meet anyone interesting?"

I shrugged, sitting down on my bed. "Not yet. Still kind of getting used to everything."

"Yeah, it takes time," Sam said, stretching. "But don't worry, you'll find your people."

His words stuck with me as I lay back on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. I hadn't thought much about making friends or finding my place here yet, but I knew it was coming. The campus was vast, full of possibilities, and while I didn't know what the future held, I felt a growing sense of optimism. This was only the beginning. There would be more—more challenges, more victories, more moments of growth.

And as I drifted off to sleep that night, I knew I was ready for whatever came next.