Chapter 331 – Roommates

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.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

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.”