The sun was starting to set by the time we came back to our room.
Pim was fun, prim and tactful, overall a very enjoyable company to have. He also knew much more about the campus than I did, although that wasn't hard.
I found out that he was from an ancient family called Sunder, but he assured me that it wasn't a big deal nowadays, as it was in decadence. Nonetheless, he was highly educated, including in magical matters: I had told him about my average affinities and despite his slight surprise, he assured me it was not a problem at all and I just had to pick the one I liked the most.
Our visit to the park had also been fruitful, and we got to know some of the several extracurricular activities one could do, as well as the students groups we could join.
As we approached the recruiting desks, I asked Pim how there could be enough time to do extracurriculars when our schedules would be so busy, but his reply convinced me.
"Even if our schedule will be tight, we will still have to take enough breaks. Otherwise, our bodies won't be able to keep up with our minds. You heard the Course Coordinator, right? Taking care of our mental health is of 'utmost importance', and the extracurriculars should help with that."
Although I was convinced, I wondered how seriously the students would take the groups, since our magic career was on the line and all. That was, of course, before I actually got to meet the recruiters.
"Hey! First years! Yes! You, right there! You look like you would be a good setter, interested in joining the Volleyball Club? Your friend is also welcome!"
"Oh... this one looks smart. Come here, let this big sister touch your arms... Have you heard of the Magic Chess Club? It's where big and smart boys like you come to... play around..."
"H-h-he-hello there! A- I'm from the Greco-Roman Historical Reading Club. W-we are in n-need of members! We w-will pay one Contribution Point to-to whoever appears at our opening event. You should have received our email!"
"Get ahead of your peers by training even during your free time. Spots to the number one student club, the Battle Simulation Club, are now open!"
"We're recruiting members for the Geopolitics Studies Student Group, come see us at C Street, number 47."
"Open spots for the Renaissance Painting Club everyone!"
"Martial Club has open spots, everyone! Come show them the power of your fists!"
...And many more. Fencing, Conjuration, Particle Physics Studies, Entrepreneurship, Investments, Nutrition... Sports clubs, gaming clubs, studying clubs, entertainment clubs... The variety was immense.
"Ugh, I'm dizzy from all the shouting of those seniors. Have you decided what you're going to join?" I asked Pim on the elevator.
"Hmm. I think the Magic Chess Club, the Football Club, and maybe try to get into the Student Council?"
"Can you really be part of 3 student groups at the same time?"
"There are no rules against it. And besides, we have 3 days free every week, so it should be fine to dedicate on for each club."
"What about your family? Aren't you..."
"Well... We are not really that close..."
I couldn't see his face but his tone was quite dark. The clock on the elevator said 1801.
Stopping in front of room 405, we heard sounds coming from inside.
Pim looked at me, I shrugged, and he swiped his PScreen at the door. As soon as it opened, silence descended on the room.
There was a 15 year-old boy at the top bunker on the left, and another below him. The one at the top had a round face with a friendly, open expression, and very short blonde hair. He wore comfortable hoodies and cargo shorts, which gave him a relaxed, approachable appearance.
The on at the bottom had short, tousled black hair that looked unkempt, and he wore small, square glasses that magnified his curious eyes. His clothing consisted of a simple black t-shirt and worn-out blue jeans, accessorized with a collection of pins and patches. His frame was thin and of average height.
"Oh, hello there!" Who broke the silence was, of course, Pim. "I'm Pim Matthias Sunder, and this is Leaf. Nice to meet you!"
With a noble greeting and a handshake, the boy quickly destroyed the other's barriers.
"Hmm. Nice to meet you. I'm Samdervaal." The black-haired boy answered as the his roommate adjusted for a better position up in the bunker.
Barely reaching his hand out, he grabbed Pim's hand and said:
"Nice to meet you, I'm Fred Dotson. *Yawns*"
"Nice to meet you, Samdervaal, Fred." I repeated Pim's actions, though with lesser grace.
"You can just call me Sam." The boy mumbled. My first impression was that he was a little depressed.
"Alright, we have all finally met! I'm glad there's no one strange. So you guys have already chosen your places right? Who got here first?"
"Oh, I've been here for a couple of hours already. Sam here just arrived ten minutes ago." Said Fred, with a sleepy face.
Sam just nodded and sat back down on his bed.
"I see. That reminds me, Fred, you said your surname was Dotson?"
"Yep."
"That Dotson?"
"Uhum."
"It seems we'll be living with a celebrity guys."
"For real? Is that a famous magic family or something?" I asked.
Pim responded, "Hell yeah. The Dotsons are as old as our country. They were one of the main supporters of the royal family back then."
"The royal family?" I had suddenly heard something amazing.
I would have never thought that a vestige of those times had remained to this day. It seems even the silent Sam had his attention hooked at Pim's story.
"They helped to shape this country after the Petunian Wars. After the royal family disappeared, the Dotsons became a pillar of the country, especially military-wise. They control a large portion of the army and of the mining industry. They even own an asteroid mining company based in the Proxima Gateway and-"
Before we could react to that, Fred interrupted.
"Hey, hey, you're scaring our roommates. Why don't you just leave it as is, huh?"
"Err... my bad. Anyways, the Dotson family is indeed something of a celebrity family, that's something you should know."
I found his story to be very interesting, so I'll try asking him more about it later when Fred isn't around.
We chatted some more, and eventually decided to go to Misiones together to have dinner. For the first time since I had gotten my allowance from the Academy, I would be able to spend it.
...