Chapter 333 - Tea, Cats and Pyromaniacs

I’m late!

Throwing aside the cotton sheets and heavier blanket, Kai slipped out of the bed into a crouch, bare feet on the cold hardwood floor. His senses swept the room before his eyes fully opened.

Plain wardrobe, desk, empty shelves, the bags of luggage he had been too lazy to unpack last night—the bedroom at Raelion.

His heartbeat slowed.

Fleeting images of sleep lingered in his mind—a classroom of students whispering and laughing in schadenfreude while Mrs. Jones scolded him for being late.

Naturally, his first dream of Earth in years was about school. Despite his hazy memories, he was fairly certain his middle school teacher hadn’t worn a pink hat, or looked like Dolores Umbridge.

Middle school was when he started spending more time in a hospital bed connected to an IV than in the classroom. His parents had switched him to homeschooling shortly after.

Not my first pick for a dream.

Conjured water splashed over his face. Rubbing his eyes, Kai dispelled the droplets as they trickled down his chest before they pattered on the floor, the remnants of sleep and embarrassment fading.

I’m not late.

From the red hues of the clouds in the skylight, the sun was just rising—one hour earlier than he had intended to wake up.

Better than being late, I guess.

After accompanying Valela to her dormitory, he had chatted with Rob and Rain well into the night. Four hours of sleep was a bit less than he needed at Yellow ★, but he’d survive.

I must get my next enhancement. Just a few thousand XP.

The extra attributes would be useful, especially Mind and Constitution.

Stretching his arms and back, Kai yawned before spending ten minutes unpacking a few pairs of clothes and thirty-six books and journals. He’d gone shopping in preparation for Raelion, yet only filled half the space. Even Rob had called the room tiny.

Did I forget something? How much more stuff do I need?

Most of the study materials would be provided by the academy, so it was probably that. Checking the sheet with his provisional schedule, he had a slew of introductory courses aimed at new students in the morning, and just one class shared with Valela in the afternoon after an appointment to get the first-year attire.

He never thought he’d parade around in a school uniform—not in this life. On the upside, he wouldn’t have to worry about what to wear.

Well, mostly…

The dress code wasn’t strict about accessories and outerwear. He planned to ignore the clothing wars, just as Valela had advised. The patricians would judge him regardless.

Storing a notebook and the abbreviated Academy’s Codex, Kai tiptoed out of his bedroom, mindful that the sound wards only muffled the noise inside. With a bit of Luck, he could grab some leftover snacks before the others woke up.

Two steps later, he paused on the threshold of the living room, blinking at the scene.

I’m not the only early riser.

Alden lifted his gaze from the kitchen counter, freezing with his hands still scrubbing the silver fur. His purple eyes were a shade darker than Hobbes’, widening as a pink flush tinged his pale complexion.

“Good morning.” Kai chuckled, seeing the stark contrast between their gazes—one embarrassed, one glaring at the interruption of his belly rubs. “I thought I’d be the only one up.” He strolled into the kitchen corner, determined to avoid another awkward moment.

“Mew.” Hobbes slumped on the counter, his paws up, protesting the end of the scratches.

"Morning," Alden said, his voice steady. He wore a glossy black robe, woven with an intricate array of runes. His relaxed posture stiffened as he released Hobbes and regarded Kai with a cool gaze. "I didn’t mean to touch your familiar without permission."

"It’s fine," Kai waved him off, as if he were crazy enough to interrupt Hobbes' petting sessions. "You can continue. He seems to like it."

"Mrow," Hobbes adorably pawed the air, sending grumpy waves through their bond.

How is it my fault that he stopped petting you?

Kai rummaged through the cupboard for any morsel that survived last night's snacking. Grabbing a box of stone-dry biscuits, he filled a kettle and fiddled with the stove's enchantments to boil water for a tea.

Alden lasted only seconds before he fell for the furball’s act. “As long as it’s agreeable to you. Some students can be very… particular about their familiars.” His jaw set into a scowl, then turned impassive.

“Are there many of them?” Kai asked. He hadn’t seen any beasts, though he hadn’t been paying close attention with all the new sights and information.

“No. Perhaps three dozen students in our year,” Alden said, focusing on the needy cat. “At least, the ones on campus. Most prefer to wait until after graduation to bind a familiar, if they can make space in their skillsets.”

I’ll pay more attention.

When the Guide had offered him the skill after a year of barely surviving in the Sanctuary, he had been too starved for connection to hesitate. He hadn’t expected any benefits, much less the boost to his spatial spells and affinity. Their bond had continued to strengthen, but he hadn’t found much information on the mainland aside from taming skills.

"Why wait? Isn’t it better to bond early?"

Alden made an ambivalent gesture. "Many Houses see Raelion as a test to see how far we’ll reach. Strong familiars are rare and expensive. It’s worth delaying a few years to find a better fit. No one wants a companion that can’t keep up, or worse, one that surpasses them and escapes their control."

That sounded like a mercenary view of familiars—not that it surprised Kai. He just couldn’t imagine thinking of Hobbes that way.

Each bit of information filled his head with more questions, though he had the distinct impression that prodding his roommate would make him curl up like a hedgehog.

Well, he’s chattier than Rob said.

"Want a cup of tea?" Kai pulled out the fanciest sky-blue teabox that Reishi had gifted him. When Alden gave him a terse shake, Kai poured the boiling water into a mug and scratched his spoiled cat to let the leaves brew. "It worked out fine for me and Hobbes."

"It’s different." Alden gave a curt huff. "Most people who bind a familiar aren’t doing it for the company. Mages, especially. They don’t want to settle for a weak beast willing to bond early." His back stiffened again. "Not that there's anything inherently wrong with that."

Huh?

Kai stirred his tea with a strand of mana, frowning—until Hobbes’ smugness cleared up the misunderstanding.

Did you hide your grade again? What? Does he think you’re an emotional support cat?

The ephemeral distortion around Hobbes had only grown stronger with his grade. Kai’s own senses brushed past the furball, dismissing him as a low-orange beast unless he specifically focused on him.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Weighing what would be funnier—and less harmful—Kai sighed. If they lived together, his roommates were bound to find out anyway. "Have you checked his grade?"

"I didn’t mean to offend you," Alden said, biting his lip. "Of course, I’ve—" His hands, deep in the silver fluff, froze.

Yup, you’re both at mid-yellow. Surprise!

If his skin weren’t pasty white, Kai was sure his roommate would have paled. "He likes to go unnoticed, but he’s harmless." Kai blew steam off his tea, using casualness to diffuse the situation. "Well… unless you’re a tasty fish or a crunchy treat. In that case, you’d better run."

"Meew." Hobbes licked his paw, his larger violet eyes filled with innocence, wondering why the pets had stopped.

You truly have no shame.

After the initial shock, instead of recoiling, Alden gave Hobbes a look of fascination. "How can it be… What kind of breed is he? I’ve never seen such a cat with this type of cloak."

Does he think his only power is hiding?

"Your guess is as good as mine." Kai shrugged. "I found him sneaking to steal my food when he was a kitten. And I couldn’t bear to send him away."

The bond rang with Hobbes’ disgruntled protest, disputing who had adopted whom.

Love you too, buddy.

The talk about the cost of a familiar strengthened his resolve to keep Hobbes’ abilities from becoming common knowledge. If Space mages were rare, it couldn’t be much different for beasts.

"Meew," Hobbes arched his back, his claws flexing as he stretched and enjoyed a second round of scratching on his back.

Truly shameless. Uhm… Is that why you like Flynn? Two peas in a pod?

"Do you have any tips for the first day?" Kai asked, hoping for more insights.

Alden gave him a sidelong glance. "Don’t be late. Front row seats fill up fast. In Fall, we had a week before lessons started, but for Winter Intake, the professors won’t wait or slow down if you get behind."

Swim or drown, eh?

That confirmed what he had suspected. Despite his curt manners, Alden showed the insight of someone well-versed in Raelion’s world.

Kai suppressed his bubbling questions once more.

The light crystals dimmed as the rays of dawn filtered through the window. Kai quietly sipped his tea till Hobbes slinked off the counter, content with his massage. The fussy cat seemed to prefer the antisocial boy, despite Rob’s spatial affinity.

“You were really lucky…” Alden watched the fleeing fluffball. His lips pursed into a brief sulk before he stood up and turned to the living room, as if just noticing it. “You made Rob clean up.” Faint surprise tinged his statement.

“Really, he did most of it on his own after I washed the dishes,” Kai said. “He was very helpful last night. You could join us next time if you want.”

And maaaybe let me pick your brain?

“I will consider it.” Alden’s brows furrowed, studying him. He looked about to say more when a shuffle of steps in the hallway caught their attention.

Rob strode into the living room, his shirt wrinkled and a sleepy grin on his face. “Good morning! Got anything good for breakfast?”

“Just dust and water. You and Rain ate everything last night.”

“What! Reality can’t be so cruel. And what’s that scent? I’m not a tea guy, but your mug smells like a crisp breeze.”

“Promising Sea blend,” Alden said, shrugging under their gazes. “My uncle also likes it.” He gave Kai an unreadable look before turning to leave. “I’ll see you later, Mat.”

“Uh, see you…”

The dark-haired boy disappeared back into his room. Every third word and glance, Alden seemed to imply something Kai couldn’t quite figure out.

"Hope that wasn’t too awkward," Rob lightly elbowed him and whispered. "You woke up at the crack of dawn."

"It was fine. He was polite. And he knows a lot of stuff." Kai downed the last tea in his mug. "Is he, like… from some important family?"

Rob paused, stuffing his mouth with a honey bun he must have hidden. “‘Omking ‘ike thhat.” He swallowed before standing on his toes and sticking his head into a cabinet.

"And…?" Kai leaned forward. "You can’t leave me hanging like that. Tell me more."

Rob threw a wary glance toward Alden’s room. "Alden doesn’t like people gossiping about his family. And he knows how to hold a grudge. Trust me. You should ask him if you really wanna know."

"Didn’t you just tell me he doesn’t like to talk about it?"

"Yeah, but then he’d be pissed at you and not me," Rob grinned. "Anyway…

you’re gonna let me try your tea? If Alden knows it, it must be some really fancy stuff." He cupped his hands like a bright-eyed kid. "You wouldn’t say no after I shared my food, would you?"

"Uh… fine." Kai pulled out the sky-blue box. "But I’ll make it."

Reishi hadn’t mentioned the price since it was a gift, but Kai was sure it was ridiculous, like usual. No way he’d let his roommate burn the leaves.

"The kettle is yours, master brewer." Rob stepped aside with a bow. "Do you need help boiling the water?" A flame crackled on his palm as he eagerly approached the stove.

"Stay away from my tea, you pyromaniac." Kai doused the flame with a generous spray of water, guiding the droplets away from himself.

"Hey!" Rob held out his dripping arm and sleeve. He tried to splash Kai, but the drops flew back in his face. "Stop cheating!"

"Better element wins." Kai dried him off with a nonchalant snap. "Now let me brew your tea. Unless you’ve changed your mind?"

"Not a chance." Rob plopped into a chair, arms crossed. "This is because I didn’t tell you about Alden, isn’t it?"

"I’ve no idea what you’re talking about." Kai tapped the runes on the stove to heat the kettle, while Rob sent sparks at the teabox, trying to dodge the intercepting droplets.

It felt strange to fling spells over the kitchen, but not in a way Kai minded. He enjoyed the casual approach to magic—no tiptoeing around, afraid to panic people or look like he was showing off.

The elemental feud continued until the tea was ready, and they turned their focus to the upcoming lessons. Rob made the conversation effortless.

Half an hour later, Rain finally roused, wandering into the living room with spiky hair that somehow still looked great. Despite his grade, he’d never been a morning person. "Hi, guys. What’s that smell?"

"Some fancy tea. It’ll wake you up." Rob beamed. "He should try it too, right Mat?"

"Yes..." Kai reached for his teabox, already noticeably lighter.

Why did I take it out?

***

"Let me see…" Rob flipped through their class schedules as they left the dormitory. "You both have Status Fundamentals as your first class… Should all be mostly stuff you already know. Skill paths, profession trees, and such. Professor Lysander is a bit of a hardass. If he looks at you, just nod like he’s enlightened your entire world."

Rain bobbed his head in acknowledgment.

They emerged from the sparse woodland. The paved paths branched through the showy fields toward the cluster of soaring buildings. Their carved facades gleamed in the morning light. Streams of early students moved between the buildings, already hurrying to class.

"This way is faster." Rob led them on a trail of frosted cobbles. "Better to get to Caelum Tower before the hallways get packed. My first day was a mess."

"We can find it on our own." Kai pulled his gaze from the building to keep pace. "Don’t you have classes too?"

"It’s fine." Rob shrugged. "I have enough time to accompany you before my first lecture. The buildings are easy enough to find, but inside they’re like a maze of stairs and corridors. They expect you to know where the Celestial and Astral Halls are, even if their names aren’t shown anywhere."

"Thanks then," Kai said.

"No need to thank me." Rob winked back over his shoulder. "The academy pays me to show you newbies around the first week. Just say I was the model guide if anyone asks, ‘kay?"

"Wait…" Kai narrowed his eyes at his back. "Is that why you answered all our questions?"

Rob opened his mouth in mock shock. "How could you assume something so brutally accurate of me?" He laughed. "To be fair, it was only true for the first minute, until I saw you weren’t insufferable punks. You have no idea how many students think the Moons revolve around them. Still, the academy only expects me to answer a couple of questions and get you to your first class. I’ll accept your gratitude for the rest."

Thanks for the honesty, I guess?

Kai rolled his eyes, though he noticed that, beside him, Rain looked more bemused than surprised.

Was I the naive one, or did he tell him?

The cold air stung his face as they reached the wide roads cutting through the heart of Raelion. Rob led them through the Aula Ordinis—the administrative office—and exited on the other side, arriving at a massive, dusky turquoise tower, nearly as wide as it was tall.

As they stepped inside the arching portal, the vaulted atrium unfolded with six stairwells and a dozen branching corridors. Even with Rob’s help, they took five minutes to navigate the maze to the Beryl Hall on the second underground floor, leaving Kai a growing sense of appreciation for their guide.

"Alright, this is your place,” Rob said with a grin. “Good luck, and try to keep up. I like having three roommates again." Waving, he strode down the wide hallway. "I'll try to catch you at lunch."

Alright. Same for you.

Turning to the double doors, Kai pushed them open with Rain following behind. Inside the hall, rows of seats led to the podium and desk at the bottom. Hundreds of students already streamed in from various entrances, creating a hum of conversations.

Not my first day at school. How bad could it go?