"Wait, you can talk? And you're a prince? What makes you a prince?" Michael asked, excited.
"Naturally, I am gifted with the ability of speech. I was born a prince. My father was a king and my mother was a queen. I was trained in the valley of the sun and have eaten multiple fruits that have awoken my affinities for 4 of the 6 elements. Given more time, I likely would have been able to grow stronger. Alas, you challenged and defeated me. What's more, you saved my life thereafter and offered me a fair contract. Thus, I serve you."
"So you're actually a prince? That's incredible! Also, which elements have you awoken? I know about your light affinity, but not the others."
"I am gifted with the light, it is true. I am also able to use air magic. My affinities for water and fire are awoken but untrained. Alas, I have yet to awaken my dormant affinities for earth and darkness."
"And if you just so happened to gain another fruit, are you sure you'd awaken a new affinity?" This was important, for Michael could already see the benefits of giving it to Orthus. If his familiar had more affinities, then Michael's magic would increase more too.
"I am quite certain another fruit would enable me to awaken either earth or darkness magic. With luck, I might even awaken both, as I did with fire and water."
Surely giving Orthus more elements would be better for Michael than using it himself. However, it was his master who knew the most about it. It'd be better to wait and ask his opinion. For now, Michael was eager to show off his new Rank 4 familiar.
He led Orthus out into the hall and requested that he not hide himself with light magic. Though it was super cool, he wanted his new friends to see his chimera. It wasn't particularly humble, but he was okay with that. He had to show everyone that he deserved his special status or else the school might take away his room (and he really liked his room).
They began by visiting Adam, Jake and James. The three triplets were bored, having more free time than they were used to and nothing to do. When they saw Orthus, their jaws dropped. They were hesitant to approach such a powerful creature until Michael invited them to say hello. When they saw Michael scratching the chimera behind the ears, they became less reserved and came over to admire him.
They asked a multitude of questions about how he'd found a chimera and, more importantly, if he was really the one that beat it. Michael didn't go into detail, but he admitted that he had found the chimera in the breeding grounds and gained its respect in combat. He kept the exact location to himself, figuring that he could tell them later if they needed it.
Once they'd had their fill, the triplets insisted that Michael take Orthus to meet the rest of the floor residents. They called their familiars and worked their way down the corridor. There were ten rooms with occupants. Some were doubles while others were singles. In total, there were about 20 people on the floor, including Michael and the triplets.
Kayn and Malachi were brothers that had chosen to start the year together. Kayn was 9. He had jet black hair, a sharp nose, and piercing green eyes. He wasn't particularly muscular, but he was fit for his age. Malachi was a year younger with a similar build. Unlike his brother, one of his eyes was blue and the other was green. Their familiars were both Rank 2, a raven and a crow respectively. They both had an affinity for darkness magic and air magic, but Malachi also had an affinity for water magic.
Scott lived across the hall from the brothers. He was bookish and freckled, and a pair of square glasses sat firmly on his face. Even when meeting Michael and his chimera, he was half-immersed in a book. He was enrolled for earth and water magic with an expected Rolling Stones discipline, a rarer choice limited to those with both affinities. Scott's familiar was a young stone golem, Rank 3.
The next two rooms belonged to Julia and Jackson. Both were 8, but unrelated. Julia was a sweet girl, about the same height as Michael. She had gorgeous blonde curls that went just past her shoulders and a determined look on her face. A small fairy darted around her, leaving a trail of magical fairy dust as she went. She had awoken light and darkness magic, but hoped her fairy would help her learn air magic, too.
Jackson was almost as tall as the triplets and surprisingly muscular. He had learned fire and light magic and made a Rank 3 fire elemental his familiar. Like Michael, he had captured it in the breeding grounds. He carried an elaborate spear on his back that was enchanted to change sizes as he willed it wherever he went.
Max and Fergus were both age 10, the oldest an entering student could be. They had fair skin and lightly-colored hair. They looked as though they had never worked a day in their lives and both carried staves with rare magestones. It was clear they had come from money and were more interested in their Rank 3 ice gargoyles than their new neighbors.
Lara lived across the hall with her sister Sara. Both of them were Michael's age and had grown up surrounded by magic. Their parents, they explained, were magic professors at a local school back home and had frequently told them about when they met at Ilkhorn. Lara could cast basic darkness and fire spells, while Sara specialized in water and air. Both had an affinity for air and darkness magic, but had each chosen to stick to two elements until they got to school. Their familiars were in the room resting, so nobody got to meet them yet.
Jeremy, Mason and Miles were all friends from the capital and had asked to be roomed together. All three seemed prone to trouble-making and were the same age as Michael. All three were talented darkness magicians, which was how they got in. Their familiars- a Rank 1 Fire Fox, a Rank 2 Silverwolf, and a rank 1 Earthbadger- were all chosen in the hopes of awakening new affinities. Mason claimed to also be able to use basic sound magic, but wasn't willing to demonstrate in front of everyone.
At the end of the hall, Leo and Nathan shared a room. Both were short for their 9 years, shorter than even Michael or the girls. Their hair was a mix of silver and gold and they supposedly could communicate with each other telepathically. They both held affinities in Earth, Fire, and Water magic and could cast spells with perfect coordination. Their familiars were Rank 2 Steel Bulls, which were known for their strength and intelligence.
Connie lived across from Leo and Nathan. She was 8 years old, and wickedly smart. She answered the door by hanging upside-down like a bat, a book hovering in the air on either side of her. She had short, brown hair and deep hazel eyes that shifted with the light. A genuine Rank 4 phoenix rested on a perch by her bed, gazing at their guests. She told everyone she could cast air, fire, sound and healing magic already, and she planned to learn water magic during her time there. If not for Michael, she'd have been the most talented person in their year. After introducing herself, Connie shut the door and resumed reading.