Chapter 332 - Moontalks

Rob pushed the door closed with his heel, watching them with a grin. “It’s nice to have a full house again. I wasn’t sure we’d get any newbies from the Winter Intake. You are…?”

“Rain Ryuu. Call me Rain.” In a single step, the siren stood before the stunned newcomer. Looking him over with an inquisitive smile, he accepted an enthusiastic shake.

The new guy doesn’t look that nervous.

Kai waved from the table where he was sitting. “I’m Matthew. Mat is fine.” Searching for his secret weapon, he found Hobbes was snooping in Alden’s room and couldn’t be bothered to come out.

Just don’t steal anything. Yes, yes, everything the light touches is yours. Still, no borrowing, tasting or breaking stuff.

“Nice to meet you both.” Rob flexed the hand he used to shake Rain’s and sauntered inside. He ran a finger on the sparkling counter, whistling appreciatively. “I don’t think I’ve seen the kitchen this clean even on the first day we got here.” His gaze shifted between them. “You must have used magic. Is one of you a Water Summoner?”

“Both of us,” Kai said. It had been a while since he heard the term. “That’s what you call Water mages, right?”

“Yeah, that’s what most people use,” Rob threw his black coat on a chair and sank into the seat. “You know, Water Summoner, Earth Shaper and Wind Weaver, all the bells and whistles. As they say, mages are the only people too proud to just call themselves mages. So they came up with special little titles for each element.” His hand swatted the air with grandiose self-irony.

“Water’s not really my thing. That’s at least half an excuse for not washing the plates. But hey! I can warm the room if you need.” With a fake cough, he blew a stream of flames as if exhaling smoke. The fire flowed almost like a liquid, spiraling into a sphere over his palm.

Once Kai could feel the heat across the table, Rob closed his fist to extinguish it and showed his unscathed palm after a dramatic pause. “I’m a Fire Breather.”

“Ooh!” Rain clapped. “That must have taken a lot of practice.”

“That was smooth,” Kai said with wide eyes. A little flattery couldn’t hurt the first chat with his roommates, and controlling flames with such precision did require considerable skill. Unlike Water and Earth, Fire didn’t like to be shaped and contained, and always tried to spread.

I’d need to reach Green for that level of control without Fire Magic.

“It looks cool, eh?” Rob proudly beamed. “I thought Fire Breather was a stupid name till I learned this trick. And only burned myself eight times to get the timing right.” He showed a burn healing on the other hand. “It was so worth it. An insufferable Light Bender downstairs told me I couldn’t do it, you know. So I had to. He just knows how to shine light through a crystal, as if that’s impressive.” Rob scoffed. “What about you? Any hidden talents besides dish washing?”

“I’m best with Water Magic.” Rain made the understatement of the century with a straight face. “Mat’s good with elemental magic. He can cast quite a few.”

“Really?” Rob leaned on the table with an expectant look at him. “C’mon, you must show me. What can you do?”

Alright…

Kai internally rolled his eyes at Rain’s amused gaze. “You already know Water. I’m not very good with Fire, but I can cast Shadow and Nature spells.”

Knowing they expected a demonstration, he dimmed the crystal illuminating the room, masking a thread of green motes creeping toward the ivy on the balcony outside. The wards of the glass door nearly shredded his mana apart, but their focus must be on blocking threats from the outside since he managed to squeeze through.

He let the light return as a tendril of ivy knocked on the glass.

“Who—” Rob jolted to his feet, looking at the waving leaves and back at him. His eyebrows raised, mouth agape. “You’re really a Shadow Walker and Nature Singer! Three major elements! That’s rare. And how did you cast through the wards?”

“They’re weaker on the glass. I can also use a couple other elements.” Kai brushed it off, a little embarrassed by the awed reaction. “Just got lucky, being born with several affinities. Uhm… so do they really have a name for each element?”

“Yeah… At least for the non-conceptual elements, but there must be titles for those, too. I just don't know them.” Rob sat back. Keen attention replaced his slouched posture. “I know about Metal Forger, Lightning Caller, Darkness Binder and a few others.”

“I see,” Kai hummed, recalling those he had already heard. “What do they call Space mages?”

"Huh, Space mages…? You almost never see those. So people just call them Space Freaks." Rob said with a chuckle. “I mean, who else would study Space Magic? Years of training without reward and a single mistake will reduce you to a mush of flesh inside a wall. Unless you’re born in House Astares, only weirdos or madmen try it.”

“I heard it was quite a hard element to master.” Rain used a hand to scratch his cheek and cover his smile. “It must take a particular kind of stubborn individual to study it.”

Ah. Ah. You’re so funny.

Kai kicked him below the table and muffled a curse when his toes hit his shin. A bar of iron would have been softer. “Space Magic must be really hard.”

“It’s mind-bending for sure. I respect their efforts.” Rob walked up to a cabinet to take out a cup of lemon snacks, throwing one in his mouth and offering them. “Want one? They’re still good. I bought them yesterday.” He gestured a throw one before Kai could refuse.

Wait—

He raised his hand to catch it. The snack had barely left Rob’s fingers when it disappeared into an iridescent light.

What the fuck.

Kai blinked up at his roommate. Then blinked again and closed his mouth—no need to play up his surprise. His senses didn’t lie, and he was too familiar with that iridescent mana to mistake it for anything else. “You can use Space Magic…?”

“I’m a bit of a freak, I guess.” Rob watched their astonishment with a lopsided grin. “But that’s about the peak of my casting, and calling it a Space spell is a little generous. I wouldn’t use it on anything close to my fingers.” He reached toward the sink to pick up the mashed remains of the teleported snack and throw it into his mouth. “Still tastes fine. The House sponsoring me made me keep practicing since I have the affinity, but I doubt anything will come from it.”

Rob leaned back on the counter. “I might cast something useful if I reach green. But it’s more likely that they’ll use me to recharge some spatial artifact or arrays.” His shoulders slouched with a heavy sigh. “Really, man… gathering Space mana is such a pain. You can’t even imagine…” He gave a dry shrug, his gaze wandering over the stoves and sink. His head jolted back when it caught a glimpse of silver—far too late for Hobbes. “Did you see that?”

“What do you mean?” Kai furrowed his brows, seeing no reason to ruin the fun so soon. “The sink?”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“Did we miss a spot?” Rain asked. “Or are you hungry?”

Of course, superior magic is hard to cast, buddy. I’m happy you found another acolyte.

Rob rubbed his eyes. “No… nothing. Using Space mana sometimes jumbles my sight. Tell me about you, Mat. You’re really good at cleaning stuff, huh?”

“Yeah… thanks.” Kai took the tease as a compliment. His mind was still on Space Magic; he hadn’t seen anyone who could cast it since Dora, but it didn’t seem the time to prod Rob into a discussion. “I’m decent with Water Magic.” Scrubbing and drying with Water spells left no residue or limescale—a trick his mom appreciated. Still, he didn’t wish to become his roommates' cleaner. His gaze wandered to the rest of the messy room. “I can help you with the dishes, but not the rest.”

“Uhm… Sorry for the mess.” Scratching his neck with a sheepish look, Rob went to gather his stray clothes in the living room. “You know, I got used to having the whole space to myself in the last month.”

“It’s fine.” Rain waved it off. “I’ve seen worse.”

As long as he doesn’t make it a habit. He’s more easygoing than the other guy.

“You’ve already met Alden?” Rob followed his gaze to the rooms in the hallway. “He’s not the most sociable.”

“I did,” Kai said. “Briefly.”

“Meaning… he shut the door in your face?” Rob chuckled with a knowing look. “Don’t take that personally. He takes a while to warm up to people. If he told you his name, you did fine. We lived here a month before he said more than three words to me. As long as you don't touch his stuff, he’s one of the easiest patricians to get along with.” His eyes widened in panic. “Uh… I didn’t mean to say that highborns are—”

“It’s fine. Relax. We’re also lowly, lowly commoners.” Kai leaned back in his chair. Rain didn’t seem to mind about human status hierarchies anyway. “We won’t tell a soul.”

“Thanks. That would have been embarrassing.” Rob raked a hand through his hair while he bent to pick up a scarf from the pillows of the couch. From the looks of it, the clothes did all belong to him. Hands full with the bundle and a pair of muddy boots, he kicked the door of his bedroom open and dumped them inside. “Hey, have you picked a room already? It’s been a while since they were filled.”

“No. Not yet.” Rain sprang to grab his bags and dashed to the hallway.

On the other side of the table, Kai twisted out of his chair to follow.

Wait! First pick is mine.

“I did clean these ones.” Rob spread open the doors of two identical bedrooms. “Sorry. No windows on this side.”

“Oh, I see.” Rain sulked, eyes flitting between the doors, undecided.

Taking advantage of the indecision, Kai carried his bags into the second room. It was about five paces across, with a bed and wardrobe along one wall, and a long desk, empty bookcase, and several shelves lining the other. The furniture was plain but high quality, engraved with durability enchantments.

“I know it’s not much, but you get used to it. Or you expand to the living room.” Rob laughed. He hung an arm on the threshold to lean inside. “Apparently, it’s some lesson about the humility we need to learn magic. Blah, blah, magic lessons.”

“It looks alright.” Sitting on the bed, Kai sank slightly into the mattress and noticed no lumps. He brushed the soft cotton sheets and the plump pillow.

Really, the picture of poverty.

Seeing Rain in the hallway without his luggage, Kai followed his roommates back to the living room.

“If you’re hungry, you can take anything that’s not labeled Alden. There should still be a few snacks.” Rob motioned to the enchanted cabinets. “We don’t have much to drink aside from water. The academy forbids alcohol in the dorms. Or any other fun potion, for that matter.”

Rain moved to the cabinets with a blur of steps. “If you really don’t mind.”

“Anything of mine is yours. For tonight, at least.” Rob generously waved to go ahead. “If you have questions on Raelion, ask away. I was also lost during my first weeks here.”

Don’t mind if I do.

Trying any snack that Rain passed to him, Kai recalled his ever-growing list of questions. They had been chatting for an hour when someone knocked on the door.

I’m pretty sure there are only four beds per apartment.

His senses pushed past the wards, immediately recognizing the presence outside. “It’s for me.” He went to open the door.

Valela stood there, her eyes snapping up to him. “Hi… I didn’t see you at the welcome ceremony, so I wanted to check if you needed anything.” She peered over his shoulders at Rob and Rain. “You got a roommate.”

“Three actually.”

Craning his neck back, Rain whispered something that made Rob laugh and give Kai a thumbs up.

Can’t leave them a second alone.

“Sorry, I should have known you'd be busy. We can talk tomorrow, it’s late.” Valela turned to leave.

“Is that your friend, Mat?” Rob cheerily waved from the table; Rain rested his chin on his hands, hiding his lower face. “You should accompany her to her dorm. And take your time. We can keep chatting later.”

Kai moved his head between them before shaking his head and turning to face Valela. “Would you like some company back to your dorm? I wanted to stretch my legs before going to bed.” They still needed to clear a few things, and things would only get busier once the classes started tomorrow.

“I… I’m fine. You don’t need to accompany me.”

“It’s no trouble. C’mon, let’s go.” Kai closed the door and walked down the corridor and waited for her to follow. “Can you enter the male dorms? I thought there was some rule against it.”

Valela averted her eyes, cheeks blushing. “They don’t mind if the girls stop by. As long as we stay out of the rooms.”

“I see… Good to know.” Kai held the door for her as they walked into the lounge downstairs. Ignoring the snickers of a group of boys that occupied the tables, they proceeded outside. He paused a few steps where the paved trail split and scratched his head. “Uhm… Which way are we going?”

Her emerald eyes gleamed with amusement. “My dorm is this way.” Valela took the lead, strolling down the lit paths and gesturing ahead.

“You know, that’s the exact direction I would have picked.”

“Of course you would. You always know where to go.”

“How do you know me so well?” Kai raised his hands in feigned shock. “But you still need to tell me how you knew where my room was?”

“I have secrets too,” Valela replied with a mysterious smile.

“Rain told you, didn’t he? You didn’t seem surprised to see him there.”

“Spirits!” Valela huffed, crossing her arms. “Maybe he did. Maybe my reaction was all a ploy.”

“Nah,” Kai shook his head. “You’re just messing with me.”

“Well, if you’re sure…” She strolled ahead with a laugh.

The paths between the dorms were mostly empty. Most of the senior students looked to have already returned, leaving few stragglers on the trails of hanging lanterns.

“I’m sorry about lunch,” Valela said after another round of teasing. “I didn’t mean for Lys and Rena to ambush you. They’re not usually so… mischievous.”

“It’s okay. I can take a joke,” Kai shrugged. “I’m glad at least they had a good time.”

“They sure did. And I know they can be a handful, but they’re trustworthy.” She took a trail around a pond, glancing at him. “I mean, I truly trust them. Despite their act, Lys knows how to keep important secrets, and Renaria is quieter than a fish. I didn’t tell them anything about you, but they probably suspect we met earlier than six months ago. It’s my fault. I must have slipped a few hints when I thought you’d never meet. Or enroll here...”

“It’s fine.” Kai smiled to assuage her nerves. Even if those giggling girls suspected something, they’d have no proof. As for trusting them, that would take a while longer.

They walked in comfortable silence before Valela spoke again. “You never told me how the testing went? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“No, I don’t mind. I got fourth,” Kai said, looking back when Valela stopped on the trail.

She searched his face for signs of a joke and found none. “You’re serious?”

“Yes, it wasn’t that hard.” Kai tried to keep the swell of smugness from showing in his grin. “My status was good enough. Then I did well in the practical exams.”

“You did well?”

“Uhm… Maybe more than well?” He should maybe add that Rain got first, but at the moment, it didn’t feel vital to tell her that. “This should be your dorm.” Kai looked up at a three-story building—the stones looked closer to ivory than milky white. “I’m sorry I can’t accompany you inside.”

“I… It’s fine.” Valela bobbed her head, still looking dazed.

Kai smiled. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”