Chapter 11

  After the class selection process was finalized, Ren and Leo were directed toward the dormitory halls, where first-year students would be staying. The Academy grounds were vast, but the student housing was concentrated in three massive stone buildings near the western side of the campus, each one towering several stories high.

  A clerk in dark robes handed them small, engraved plates with their room numbers as they approached.

  "Ren Kellan, Leo Varis—Room 317," the clerk announced without looking up. "Your belongings have already been transferred. Next."

  Ren took the plate, running his fingers over the etched numbers.

  Leo peeked over his shoulder. "Guess we're roommates."

  "Not surprising," Ren said. It made sense for commoners to be grouped together, and since they had entered the Academy under the same conditions, the instructors likely saw no reason to separate them.

  A few steps behind them, Davian stepped forward to receive his own room assignment.

  "Room 403," the clerk stated, moving briskly through the list.

  Leo turned. "Different dorm?"

  Davian scoffed. "Obviously. The Academy wouldn't want us getting too comfortable, now would they?" He took his plate and walked past them toward the stairs. "See you tomorrow—assuming you don’t get lost in this mess."

  Leo muttered, "He's really gotta work on his people skills."

  Ren smirked but didn’t comment. Instead, he focused on navigating the halls, following the engraved metal plaques that marked the room numbers. The dormitory was surprisingly well-maintained, with polished wooden floors and softly glowing mana lamps lining the stone walls. The sheer size of the building made it feel more like a fortress than student housing, but the muted noise of footsteps and muffled conversations gave it a strangely lived-in atmosphere.

  As they walked, they passed other students settling in—some unpacking, others already deep in conversation. A few nobles shot them indifferent glances, while the commoners mostly kept to themselves, either cautious or exhausted from the day’s events.

  After turning down a final corridor, they reached their room: 317.

  Ren inserted the engraved plate into a small indentation in the door. A faint glow pulsed, and the lock clicked open.

  Inside, the room was modest but functional. Two neatly made beds sat against opposite walls, with a shared wooden desk in between. A small wardrobe stood against one corner, while a tall window overlooked the courtyard below, the last rays of sunlight casting long shadows across the floor.

  Leo let out a low whistle. "Alright, not bad."

  He immediately flopped onto his bed, bouncing slightly. "I half expected straw mats and stone floors."

  Ren set his bag down and gave the room another quick scan. The Academy wasn’t particularly generous, but there were no restrictive enchantments or surveillance spells—at least, none that were immediately visible. That meant the dorms were meant to be private, which was a rare luxury.

  "Looks like we're on our own here," Ren noted.

  Leo grinned. "Good. Means no one can stop us from smuggling in snacks."

  Ren rolled his eyes but allowed himself a small smile. He moved toward the window, glancing down. The courtyard below was still active, with students milling about, some chatting, others practicing small spells or comparing notes. There was a palpable energy in the air, a mix of excitement and tension.

  Leo sat up. "You think Davian got stuck with some annoying noble as a roommate?"

  "Probably," Ren said. "Maybe that’s why he left so fast."

  Leo snorted. "Poor guy. Almost feel bad for him."

  They spent the next half-hour unpacking, sorting their belongings into their respective wardrobes. Ren’s things were minimal—mostly books, spare clothes, and a few enchanted tools his father had given him. Leo, on the other hand, had already spread out a mess of personal items across his desk, including a set of well-used practice gloves and a half-empty tin of sweets from home.

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  Once they were finished, Ren sat on his bed, glancing at the parchment listing his schedule. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

  Leo yawned. "Alright, I’m calling it. If we don’t sleep now, we’re gonna be useless tomorrow."

  Ren agreed. He lay back, staring at the wooden ceiling, listening to the distant murmurs of students in the halls. It was strange—despite everything, he didn’t feel nervous. If anything, excitement burned just beneath his skin.

  Tomorrow would be the true beginning.

  _________________________________________________________________________

  The sound of distant bells echoed through the dormitory, signaling the start of the first official day.

  Ren opened his eyes immediately, his internal clock already preparing him for the long schedule ahead. Across the room, Leo groaned loudly and pulled a pillow over his face.

  "Nope. Too early."

  Ren sat up and stretched, the cool morning air filtering in from the slightly open window. The Academy was already buzzing with activity, students moving through the courtyard below, preparing for their first classes.

  "Come on," Ren said. "You don’t want to be late on the first day."

  Leo made a grumbling noise but eventually dragged himself out of bed.

  A few minutes later, a sharp knock came at the door.

  Ren opened it to find an Academy attendant standing there, holding two sealed envelopes.

  "Schedules for the day. Breakfast is served in the dining hall. Don’t be late."

  He handed them the envelopes and left without another word.

  Leo tore his open immediately. "Alright, let’s see—yep, Magic Theory first, then we split up.You got and i got Body Enhancement Looks like we meet again for Elemental Magic. After that, I’ve got Combat Tactics, and you’re off to…" He squinted. "Alchemy? Really?"

  Ren sighed. "It’s important."

  Leo smirked. "You say that now, but wait till your hands start smelling like burnt herbs."

  Ren shook his head, but he couldn’t deny he was looking forward to the day ahead

  _________________________________________________________________________

  The Academy dining hall was a sprawling, high-ceilinged chamber filled with the hum of conversation and the clatter of plates. Long tables stretched from one end to the other, already packed with students enjoying their first meal of the day. Overhead, enchanted chandeliers bathed the hall in warm light, while large arched windows let in the early morning sun.

  Ren and Leo stepped inside, trays in hand, scanning the room for a familiar face.

  “There,” Leo said, nodding toward one of the side tables.

  Davian sat alone near the far wall, absently cutting into a piece of bread while reading over a crumpled parchment—his schedule, most likely.

  They made their way over, setting their trays down across from him.

  Davian barely looked up. “Took you long enough.”

  Leo smirked. “And here I thought you’d be stuck with some pompous noble as a roommate.”

  Davian snorted. “No such luck. I’m in one of the overflow dorms for ‘unaffiliated students,’ as they so kindly put it.”

  Ren raised an eyebrow. “Unaffiliated?”

  Davian gave him a flat look. “Commoners.”

  Leo frowned. “Of course. They wouldn’t want to mix you in with their precious noble heirs.”

  Davian simply shrugged, returning to his food. “Doesn’t matter. I’m here, aren’t I?”

  Ren took his schedule out and placed it on the table. “Might as well compare what we’ve got.”

  Leo did the same, and after a brief moment, Davian sighed and pulled his own parchment closer.

  Ren ran his eyes over their schedules, scanning for overlaps.

  “Looks like Magic Theory is mandatory for all of us,” he said, tapping his parchment. “So we’ll be together for that.”

  Leo nodded. “And we’re in the same Elemental Magic class.” He turned to Davian. “What about you?”

  “Different instructor,” Davian replied, glancing at his list. “I’ve got Force Magic and Combat Tactics after that.”

  Ren noted that down mentally. “I have Alchemy and Runic Theory in the afternoon.”

  Leo chuckled. “Can’t believe you’re actually doing alchemy.”

  Ren shrugged, taking a bite of his breakfast before replying. “It’s useful. Potions, elixirs, magical reagents—you’d be surprised how much of magic relies on alchemical principles.”

  Leo made a face. “Yeah, yeah, but it just sounds… slow. Mixing herbs and waiting for stuff to boil?”

  Davian snorted. “That’s because you’re an idiot. Alchemy is one of the most profitable disciplines out there. You think nobles want to get their hands dirty in dungeons? No, they pay alchemists to make them stronger.” He glanced at Ren. “Not a bad choice.”

  Leo huffed. “Yeah, well, I’ll stick to hitting things really hard.” He tapped his schedule again. “After that, I’ve got Magical Beasts & Ecology, then a free period.”

  Ren checked his own list. “I’ve got Runic Theory & Application after Alchemy, then a free period too.”

  Davian raised a brow. “Runic Theory, huh? Ambitious. You’re going to be dealing with a lot of nobles in that class.”

  Ren smirked. “I know.”

  Leo stretched. “Alright, so we’ve got Magic Theory and Elemental Magic together, but everything else is separate.”

  Davian leaned back, crossing his arms. “Means we’ll have to compare notes. Some of these classes are bound to be stacked against us.”

  Leo grinned. “Then we just prove we belong here.”

  Ren glanced at his schedule once more, feeling a mix of excitement and anticipation. Their real journey was about to begin.

  End of Chapter