Chapter 331 - Roommates

Trails of light wound through the dormitory grounds beneath the shrouded moons. The buildings were plain by Raelion’s standards: three floors of milky white stone curving through the sparse woodland, divided for males and females.

Even with hundreds of new students looking for their accommodations, the evergreen trees and hanging lanterns created a sense of peaceful seclusion. Wards softened distant noise and warmed the chilly wind.

It’s quite nice.

Kai crossed a bridge arching over a creek. Barely five minutes ago, he was walking between behemoths of marble and enchanted steel in the heart of Raelion; now he stood in a quiet refuge. In the daylight, he might spot the spires of the towers above the trees, though that was hardly a flaw.

Why else go to a magic academy?

From the grumbles of other students, he had expected far more spartan accommodations. Unsurprisingly, kids who wore phoenix feathers in their hats and belts of dragon leather weren’t the most reliable source.

These buildings were only the dormitory for first-year Mana Studies, the lowest it’d get.

I’d ask what they’re used to, but I don’t really want to know. Their closets must be bigger than my house. Now, where is my room…

Kai ran his thumb over the grooves of his bronze token—number 150.

After all the whispering about the Bowl of Fate, the sorting had passed with underwhelming efficiency. Channeling a trickle of mana into the dusty artifact, he caught the token that came rattling out. The lower the number, the farther from the central amphitheater, toward the older dormitories.

The greatest omen was some tingling when his fingers touched the oxidized bronze of the bowl, but that was probably his own suggestion.

Well, let’s see who I’m with.

The number meant little without knowing his roommates. Living with a bunch of teens wasn’t high on his wishlist, but he chose to treat it as part of the experience. From what Valela said, the academy offered enough places to study and practice; in a worst-case scenario, he could visit his room only to sleep.

Spirits willing, he might even be alone if no one had extracted his number. The first-year dormitories could accommodate up to three thousand students, ensuring there was sufficient room at all times.

I didn’t gather ninety-one Favor for nothing. Uhm… This should be it.

At the end of the paved trail, a building rose in a crescent around an ancient oak. Dark-green ivy covered much of the façade and balconies, the milky stone more weathered than the newer buildings, though the difference was only apparent if he squinted.

Fingers crossed, I’m alone.

The door etched with a vine motif slid open as he approached, revealing a lounge lit by glowing crystal chandeliers. Three tables filled the space, their lacquered surface marked by generations of students. His gaze shifted to the small libraries nestled between potted plants and portraits of stern-faced mages. What would they consider a common book here?

“…can’t live in this!” A loud voice came from the doors leading inside, followed by more groans and complaints. A new student found his accommodations and roommates entirely inadequate.

How will we survive living with a private bedroom and a shared space? Servants only come once a day? What next? Do we make our own beds like peasants? My father will hear about this!

The shouts sounded so stereotypical that Kai was chuckling when an irate boy stormed into the lounge, prompting him to clench his jaw and hide his amusement.

With a raised chin and a billowing cloak that looked like molten metal, the first-year stopped shy of crashing into him.

“Simply outrageous.” Kai moved aside with a sympathetic look.

“It is!” The teen regarded with a curt nod and left the building.

Funny guy as long as I’m not with him.

Poking his head into the inner corridors, a group of students joked and snickered at the boy who left. The gold numbers above the doors of the ground floor were blessedly too low.

“Hi,” Kai waved with his token to not seem awkward. “Do you know where—”

“Upstairs.” A teen helpfully pointed, while the others kept laughing. “Last floor.”

“Thanks.”

148, 149… 150. This is it.

Climbing four ramps of stairs, he stopped down a corridor on the third floor. The tapestry of enchantments over the dormitory prevented any peeking inside.

Alright. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Drying his palms on his shirt, Kai took a breath and neared his token to the brass handle. Three locks and an unknown number of runes clicked. No light inside. The door swung open with a light push.

Unable to wait, he spread his senses through the living space and bathroom, stopped by the doors of the four bedrooms. No aura present, though people definitely lived here. Sweeping his gaze from left to right, he spotted a pile of books on the coffee table near the couch, a wrinkled cloak on the table chair, and a plate of half-finished citrus snacks on the counter.

After the sorting, the new students went ahead while the rest remained in the amphitheater to avoid creating chaos in the dormitories. His roommates must have been here for five months.

Not alone then.

Kai stamped his boots on the doormat to avoid dirtying the hardwood floor. Stepping inside, he noticed a brown spatial bag beside a round table with four chairs, his own luggage. The academy’s attendants had delivered them in less than half an hour since the sorting.

Truly lousy service.

He had stored anything important in his ring, but still checked the threads tied inside the latches of the bags. No one had touched his clothes and notebooks. As Flynn said, the simplest tricks often worked best.

Hmm… truly dreadful accommodations.

Giving a closer look at the living room, he noted more pieces of clothing and dirty plates in the sink. The kitchen corner housed several enchanted cabinets for preserving food and two stoves. Probably no one expected them to cook. Beside it, a pair of muddy boots leaned on the glass door of the ivy-covered balcony he had seen from outside.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

He couldn’t call the room large—especially if he got three roommates—but he had lived for years in smaller houses.

If this is the worst it’ll get, I can't complain.

The mess was less than he expected from two or three boys living together. No trash on the floor, and someone had even changed the air.

I should check the bedrooms.

It’d feel weird to wait for them in the living room.

A short hallway led to four warded doors. The enchantments were weaker than the ones outside; Kai still couldn’t see any flaw to crack them, but he could figure out how many flatmates he had from the occupied ones.

And I get the first pick of what remains.

That never hurt.

Choosing the closest room on the right, he reached for the handle just as the door opened on its own.

An equally surprised teen blinked at him. He was about the same age and height, with short black hair and purple eyes that narrowed on him. “Who are you?” The aura of suspicion mixed with the tingle of mana stirring and a whisper of warning.

“I…” Kai stepped back, rummaging through his pocket for his numbered token. “I was assigned to this room. I'm a new student.”

Definitely normal. And not awkward.

The stranger studied the enchanted key, slightly relaxing his posture, though he didn’t stop regarding him with suspicion. “Why were you trying to enter my room?”

“I wasn’t,” Kai said. Then slowed his tone not to sound defensive. “I was looking for a room to place my luggage. I didn’t know which ones were occupied.”

He didn’t add that the senior first-years should be at the amphitheatre, which would make it sound like he had truly intended to snoop.

Maybe a quick peek if the door was unlocked. That barely counts.

Checking the rooms was the quickest way to learn about his roommates. Who could blame him for that? They’d be stuck together for the foreseeable future.

“I’m Matthew, by the way.” Kai extended his hand to salvage his botched introduction.

The teen looked at his hand, making no move to shake it, brows creased. His stiff bearing and sculpted scowl made him almost certainly patrician.

With his arm extended, Kai scoured what etiquette he knew in case he made a faux pas.

The silence stretched till another presence sauntered between them. “Meow.”

Hobbes rubbed his head on his legs and preened to observe his roommate.

Huh, back from your explorations?

Disliking crowds and noise, his Royal Fluffiness had toured his new kingdom against any warning of caution. While the furrball had grown into the middle stages of Yellow, every professor at Raelion had reached green.

“This is my familiar. Hobbes.” Kai took the chance to pull back his hand. Picking up his silver cat, he waved his little paw. “You can pet him if you want.”

“Mrow.” Hobbes turned his head aside as if indignant.

I know you love the attention.

His roommate had already stared at the cat. A hand lifted to run his fingers through Hobbes’ fur before he quickly pulled it back as if jolting awake. “I’m Alden. Pick one of those two.” He gestured to the rooms behind him and shut the door.

Uh… alright. That went well? What do you think?

Kai looked at Hobbes, who modestly licked his paw. “Meww.”

Of course, he was in awe of your silky coat. Not much of a talker. Didn’t he need to leave his room?

Kai debated knocking in case Alden forgot, but decided not to push his Luck after Hobbes saved his first impression.

Thanks, buddy. Now then…

About to check the empty rooms, the clicks of a lock in the living room warned him of someone coming. Kai dashed back not to botch another introduction. He was still debating whether to put one or both hands in his pockets when a head of platinum hair appeared in the doorway.

Rain strolled inside with two large bags—more for the experience than utility, since his spatial bracelet had enough space. He tilted his head with a smile. “Long time no see. I wasn’t sure they had given me the right room.”

Forgetting about his hands, Kai numbly stared at him. “You’re here,” he stated the obvious. Did he mistake how the room assignment worked? “I didn’t see you at the sorting.”

“I was late.” The siren looked over the room, putting down his luggage with a rattle from the knick-knacks he had stuffed inside. His brows furrowed when he noticed his stupor. “I thought we’d both prefer staying with someone we know. I hope you don’t mind.”

“No… I mean, I’m happy to see you,” Kai said. “Just… how are you here?”

The worry smoothed into his usual faint smile. “I heard you could pick another roommate for a hundred credits,” Rain said. “I had enough. And the dormitories are separated by the courses of study, so I chose you.”

So much for Raelion’s traditions and adapting. Everything has a price…

Kai snorted, recalling the Head Examiner’s speech, though a hundred credits was a lot—half what he got from ranking fourth in the Winter Intake.

Most students earned about ten credits a month, from what he had heard at lunch. He didn’t yet have the list of services and resources on sale for credits, but he wouldn’t have spent a hundred to choose one roommate. Still, watching Rain peruse the kitchen, he couldn’t tell him it was a waste either.

What could the academy offer that the siren didn’t already have? Rain rarely talked about himself, but tutors and resources weren’t something he missed growing up. He probably saw Raelion as a theme park…

Now I’m being stupid.

Kai ripped the envy from his thoughts. If he started whining about people born richer or with a higher grade, he would just dig his own grave. There would always be someone with more, especially at Raelion.

“What do you think our two roommates will be like?” Rain mused as he finished his inspection of the kitchen, washing and drying plates in the sink.

He spent credits to be with me. Spirits, I’m such an asshole.

“How do you know there are two?” Kai went to help him clean.

Rain booped his own nose. “There are two scents. Actually, more than that, but two are stronger. You didn’t notice?”

“No… That’s not something I usually pay attention to.” Least of all, the smell of a bunch of teenagers.

“Well, I know us… humans don’t have the highest Perception, but you can learn a lot from your nose. Like where someone went, if it will rain or thunder, or just people’s emotions.” Rain sniffed the air around him. “Mhmm, you were nervous a few minutes ago?”

“I… Maybe a little.” Kai gave himself a self-conscious sniff, focusing on aligning the clean plates in the cabinet before he sweated more. The enchantments in his clothes should hide any scent—clearly not well enough. “That’s a useful skill,” He said to fill the silence.

“You don’t need a skill. I got used to the difference on shore when I went adventuring with Flynn. Then it’s just practice. It’s easy once you can tell the most common smells.” Rain opened the glass door to the balcony without noticing his embarrassment—or more likely, ignoring it.

Dammit, he can smell it.

Kai focused on wiping the counter, distracting himself with the potential applications.

Most people suppressed their senses for comfort, only focusing on their sight and hearing when needed. Even if human Perception and noses weren’t the keenest, by now, he could probably match a dog, or close.

Maybe he shouldn’t discount the idea so easily…

Well, I don’t have to start tonight.

Looking at the clothes on the couch and chairs, Kai didn’t want to know how his roommates smelled just yet.

“It’ll snow tonight,” Rain came back from the balcony. “How was the roommate you met?”

“We didn’t speak much… His name is Alden,” he said, then frowned. “But how do you know I met—”

Rain proudly wrinkled his nose. “The trace is fresher. He smells like pinecones on a frozen tree and… irritation. Or maybe wariness.” He shrugged. “It’s easier with people you’re familiar with.”

“How do I—” Kai closed his mouth. He didn’t want to know how he smelled that much.

“Speaking of nervous people.” Rain threw a glance at the door.

A second later, the locks clicked again as if on cue. The teen who opened wore a black hooded coat over the burgundy first-year uniform, missing a button on the cuff.

“Oh, hey. Two newbies.” He pulled back his hood on a mess of hazel hair and a grin. His pale yellow eyes moved between them, then glanced at the sparkling counter. “Sorry for the mess. I thought I’d have time to clean. I’m Robert. Rob’s fine too.”