Chapter 343 – The Wonders of Cohabitation

Chapter 343 – The Wonders of Cohabitation

The door closed with the click of metal and runes. Kai let the bag slung over his shoulders fall at his feet—he had survived another day.

Just this morning, he felt that he might escape the bounds of gravity by leaping high enough. Then, twelve hours of lectures scrubbed away that delusion.

The classes had picked up pace with the start of the second week. Every professor raced through the textbooks as if competing to finish the syllabus first, with no regard for who fell behind.

His mind and body might be stronger and faster. But that was it. Yellow ★★ hadn’t made him invincible, or even compensated for the rest he’d missed over the weekend, though it had given him the illusion.

The euphoria of his new grade had faded as he left the companion class, coming back to the dorm and realizing how damn tired he was.

I’m not done yet.

He’d need another all-nighter to organize his scribbled notebooks and prepare for the next lectures. His education was patchy at best. If he didn’t study now, he’d fall further behind with each class. His magic skills might be among the top students, but that would make no difference if he didn’t pass the theory courses.

I really need to pick a skill for studying or memorization.

His mind was a wrung-out rag. The changed schedule meant he had to relearn the routes between his classes. He had run from one hall to the next all day, barely managing to shove food into his mouth at lunch.

I could take a little nap—

Kai lightly slapped his face, to little effect. There was no telling when he’d wake up if he fell asleep.

Hmm, a couple minutes can’t hurt…

Dragging his body toward the couch, he threw one of Rob’s abandoned coats over a chair and collapsed into the pillows with a happy groan.

Really, how did I do it before raising my attributes?

The boost from Yellow ★★ had helped, especially for his Mind, though it was the difference between drowning and swimming in a storm. He could manage the second longer than the first, just as long as he was willing to take the bruises.

Okay! I’m going to get up. Just another minute…

Seconds later, he heard the click from the door opening—one of his roommates was back.

Spirits, why such cruelty? Not even thirty seconds.

Kai considered standing up in a more dignified position, though the leather couch was so warm and cozy. Only his legs would be visible from the door.

I hope Alden isn’t mad I ditched him.

A gaggle of voices in the corridor revealed the newcomer’s identity and made Kai relax.

Rain extricated himself from them with brisk politeness, shutting the door and returning the quiet. His steps turned toward the couch.

“Hey, Mat. You look tired,” he cheerily said, moving closer. “How was your day? Do you need a hand?”

“I’m fine,” Kai raised a thumb-up as proof before his arm fell down, his voice muffled by the pillows. “I just need a—” His stomach rumbled, demanding payback on the meals he had skipped.

“Do you need something to eat?”

“Nope.” Kai buried his head deeper into the pillows. Hunger and exhaustion fought a bloody battle for control with no winner in sight.

“Mhmm…” Rain poked his shoulder. “You seem hungry. Let me try that stove-thing again. I’ll make you something.”

“No, I can cook!” Kai jolted upright. A series of horrific memories floated through his head. He was already dashing toward the kitchen corner when he noticed his friend hadn’t moved.

Rain stood beside the couch, arms crossed, looking vaguely offended. “It wasn’t that bad.”

“No, of course not. I’m just quicker at making food. You must also have a ton of stuff to do,” he said. The fact they didn’t need to specify what he meant was telling. At last, he had found something the siren wasn’t good at—paying the price for his blasphemous curiosity. Who knew a dish could be both mushy and burnt at the same time? Its slimy texture still haunted his dreams.

And now with his heightened Perception… Kai hid his cringing by speaking. “Do you want something to eat? I can prepare for you too.”

Rain managed to exude waves of skepticism with a single crooked brow. “Alright. I guess you are faster.” His features smoothed into serene amusement. “Can you make that fried rice from last time? Also, the fruit salad with the crunchy leaves, oranges and…”

The list lengthened. “Give me a moment to see what we have…” Kai narrowed his eyes as he went to check the enchanted cabinets.

“Tell me if you need a hand.” Rain grabbed plates and cutlery, sitting at the kitchen table with an expectant grin that made his ploy obvious. “I’ve got to see Flynn in half an hour. Think you can make it in time?”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll see what I can do.” Kai shook his head. Not that he was some amazing cook, but it didn’t take much to beat his roommates. There isn’t much difference in preparing for one or two.

At least he helped me get up.

“Great!” Rain beamed. “You know, I’m really glad to have you as a roommate. I wouldn’t have managed alone.”

“I’m glad too,” Kai said. He saw the tease behind the pointy smile, though he couldn’t complain after all the times he had taken advantage of Rain.

“You haven’t told me how your day went. Also, congratulations on reaching mid-yellow. I forgot to tell you during the lesson this morning.”

“Uh, thanks.” Kai didn’t bother wondering how the siren knew about his enhancement. “It has been a bit hectic lately. I wanted to ask you about using Perception. You know, how you taste the air and Sherlock, who stole the last snacks from the pantry.”

“You mean distinguishing and tracing smells?” Rain furrowed his brows. “I’m not sure what Sherlocking is.”

“Just an old saying.” Kai brushed him off and lit the stove. He never got tired of those confused glances. “You said you could help with it. And I thought it’d be easier after raising my grade.”

“Yes, that does help,” Rain said, still slightly perplexed. “I can teach you a few exercises. They’re for unlocking Perception skills but are useful either way.”

They continued chatting while he threw together a quick meal. The dining halls only provided lunch for free, and the prices at the Wing Aurea had reignited Kai’s cooking passion. He pieced together ingredients from the cabinets. Rob had taken care of the groceries in exchange for keeping the change. Considering the value of time, Kai would have paid him twice as much.

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

“I didn’t expect we’d be so busy.” Rain leaned beside his empty plate, balancing a knife on his finger. “Flynn told me the academy built some kind of paved indoor lake in Hydralis Tower.”

“You mean like a swimming pool?” It wasn’t surprising Raelion had one, though he’d never heard a student mention it.

“Yes! I thought it was an odd idea, but you people live so far from the sea. And they told me I can’t dive into the lakes. Do you want to check it out with me?” His eyes glimmered with hopefulness. “You told me you had swimming skill, right? I miss the water…”

Kai finished cutting a radish-looking vegetable to add to a bowl, keeping an eye on the stove, away from the sad and mopey siren. “Is the pool open to first-years?”