Chapter 377 – Welcome to Space Class

Chapter 377 – Welcome to Space Class

Kai descended the steps three at a time. His strides echoed on the marble. Two floors underground, he strode down a hallway for his next lecture. Ridged bones of stone crisscrossed over the vaulted ceiling. Dim crystals cast shadows through the reliefs of hawks, dragons, lions and gargoyles.

Shadow veiled his features. Power over subtly. The students skilled enough to spot him appeared the least likely to care or, at least, too prideful to approach him.

Crossing a corner, he flattened to the wall when a trio of second years in burnt orange brushed past him, voices thick in discussion.

“…stepped on his unconscious opponent, and demanded his next challenger, blood still dripping on his chin. Pat. Pat. Pat,” a boy said with a storyteller’s flair. “Thank the Moons, they had already called a healer on site. Or the poor guy might not have survived. That freshie was completely battle-crazed, I tell you. Valdibal had to stun him to make him calm down.”

A girl snorted. “You’re spewing dragonshit.”

“Word over my heart, that’s what happened. My lil cousin saw it.”

“Yeah… right.” An eye roll laced her tone.

“I don’t know, Mari…” A second boy interjected. “Did you hear what they say about House Blackwood? What if he’s a death-sworn guard?”

“Don’t be a hollow brain, Nil. Rumors of those programs always circulate. Each year, it’s a different Great House. Nothing has ever been proven. Not in the last three generations.” Their voices faded down the corridor. “Think. Would they parade him around if that were true…”

Sometimes plans worked a little too well.

Kai rubbed his face and hurried on. Stories of his showing in Combat Magic swelled with each retelling—for better and worse. Most people seemed satisfied with gossiping, no longer hunting him, at least.

Where am I? It should be around here…

The fractal runes on the corner walls and plaques on the shut doors offered no clue. Each building in Raelion seemed to compete on inventing the most obtuse system for directions, sometimes varying them by floor.

Are arrows and words too hard?

Kai reached for the mnemonic thread etched into his mind by anxious repetition.

Lecture: Fundamentals of Spatial Magic with Professor Astarelle.

Time: 10th to 12th hour.

Location: Arcanum Tower, -2nd underground floor, Onyx Hall (west side).

Right building and level. No idea where west was. Hallways twisted into a knot. The Arcanum Tower expanded wider underground. Had he passed Onyx Hall without realizing?

I can’t be late.

His steps quickened. His neck craned to peek at each intersection. Empty. The one time he needed, there were no students to ask for directions.

Seconds to the bell, he spotted a black, gleaming plaque.

Onyx?

Trusting his Luck, he took the carved handle. The metal froze his finger, but turned smoothly open. Apologies and courtesy ready on his tongue, he entered.

The brightness inside the hall made him squint. Tables arrayed in semi-circles, sloping toward the professor’s desk at the bottom. A common hundred seats, though less than a third were filled. Heads turned at his entrance, most losing interest after a glance. Stranger were the students’ colors: a scattering of burgundy spots, several in burnt orange and tarnished yellow, and even a couple forest green.

Fourth years.

Mingling across colors was rarer than across paths of study. Since enrolling at Raelion, Kai hadn’t exchanged a word with a fourth-year. Never before now.

“Are you lost, freshie?” The young woman stood up. She spoke in a clipped, patrician tone, offering a polite, reassuring smile. Her dark hair, falling to her shoulders, reflected shades of blue. “Need directions?”

“I’m…” Kai broke his stare. “Is this the Onyx Hall?”

Sharp brows furrowed. “Yes.”

“I’m in the right place.” His hand thrust into his satchel and grabbed his schedule to show awkwardly. Eager to find a quiet spot, he scooted toward the free seats. One step from safety, a familiar figure barred his path.

Whoops!

“Hi, roommate. Funny meeting you here.” Rob scowled and hooked an arm around his neck, pulling him in to scruff his hair. “You never told me you had an interest in Space Magic. What are you doing here?”

“Hey— sorry. I’m sorry! Let go.” Kai weakly fended off the tousle, knowing he deserved it. “It just never came up.”

“Sure…” Rob gave him a skeptical snort and released him. “You’re forgiven, but you owe me a round of chores for this.”

“Okay, that’s fair.” Kai used his fingers to comb his hair. “That means you’re only four in debt now.”

He opened his mouth as his brain ran the math. “Wait! No, no. That’s not fair at all! Keeping this secret is worth at least four chores.”

“You cannot negotiate a done deal.”

“Then I take it back. You are not forgiven.”

“Huh? You can’t take that back.”

“I just did. I showed you my Space trick on the very first day. We’ve been roommates for almost three months, and you told me nothing. That’s a total violation of the code.” He sank into a chair with a harrumph, arms folded. “Do Rain and Alden know yet?”

Shit…

Kai slid into the seat beside him. Between Elijah’s visit and his unwanted fame, informing his roommate escaped his mind. The silvery chime of the bell provided a fleeting distraction from his churning guilt, but no professor came in. He had to answer. “Rain knew already. Alden found out during the Trials.”

“So… I was the only one left in the dark?” Rob blinked, looking actually surprised and a bit hurt. “The only one with a Space affinity and the last to know.”

“I’m sorry. If it helps, it wasn’t intentional.” He bit his cheek. “Hey, what about two rounds of chores as an apology?”

“Four.”

“Three. And I don’t want to see your clothes around for a month.”

Rob’s scowl lost to his encroaching smile. “You got a deal, mate.” His legs stretched below the desk as he laced his fingers behind his head. “Just relax. Professor Astarelle always runs late. At least, you’ll help with the freshie representation in here. Truly, I can’t believe you hid it for me. What’s your Space Magic at? Whereabouts. Uh, wait… does this make your fifth major element? Blessed Moons, no fairness at all. How did you even get into this class?” His eyes narrowed. “Are the rumors about your sponsor true?”

“No. Those are utter nonsense. My advisor sponsored me.”

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

“Say that again? You already got snatched? How? Most professors don’t even take candidates before the second year. I guess it’s not too crazy… Given your score in the Trials, fame and all.”

“You’re famous?” The dark-haired fourth-year came to sit astride in the row below theirs. “Few first-years join us this late in the year. Introduce me to your friend, Robbie.”