WHEN THEY ARRIVED at their dormitory, the interior wasn't any different from Livia's dormitory. They expected to see at least one senior, however…only their classmates where chilling by the lobby. There were no seniors to be found, not even the dorm mother was here.
"And I thought we were early. Since when have you arrived?" Hades asked the motionless bunch who were all sitting together in the couches. Silver, William, Cornelius, Curtin, Alonso , and Jarrett were busy playing cards by themselves, and for some reason… they look utterly serious about it.
"I got here at eight, His Highness Silver was already here when I arrived. The others just followed," Jarrett responds, not taking his eyes off his cards.
"The only available rooms are 009 and 012," Tevin stepped up and threw Hades the remaining two keys. Hades glanced at Rufus.
"Rock, paper, scissors. Winner chooses his room." Rufus immediately says, and Hades rolled his eyes as he brought out his fist.
"Rock, paper, scissors!" The two chanted naturally, and Rufus was scissors… and Hades was rock. "Ahh! I lost!" Rufus exclaimed.
However, Hades sighs and throws him the key to room 009. "I wanted mine at the end of the hallway anyway," he says, completely guessed that Rufus wanted the nearest one.
"Kyah! Thank you, Hades!" Rufus cheers in falsetto, and before he could tackle him in a hug, Hades strides to the rooms with his few luggage in his hands. Rufus pouted. "How stingy."
"Do you have other luggage, aside from those two?" Lorenzo asks as he approached his cousin, Rufus. Griffith, and Brandon were following from behind, probably since they were bored. At the back, Hollis was seen following after Hades.
"Yes, I got about three more at the carriage. You're going to get it for me? Thanks, love you, Enzo." Rufus says, and soon walked to the hallways. Lorenzo rolled his eyes, while the other two were in disbelief. They know that he was a jolly guy, but to think that he was thick-faced as well.
While they leave for Rufus' luggage, Hades opened the door to his room, room 012. As he initially expected, it was just like Livia's room. It had the needed furniture, clean cloths and carpets, and a wide bed for one person. Hades placed his things by the table, and he soon sensed another presence entering his range.
"Hades, we're going to drop by the academy shop. Do you have anything you want to buy? My treat, don't worry," He heard Hollis' voice from the doorway, he then glanced back at her. Hades was silent for a moment, thinking of her offer.
"Are they open today?" He was interested, making Hollis relieved. She first thought of Hades as unapproachable, but when she saw more of his character as a person, it seems she had thought wrong.
'He might just be a normal lad', she thought.
"Apparently, seniors from the Business Department are said to open the shop every moving just for the incoming first years," she replies. "Do you want to go with us instead? Curtin and Alonso are coming to buy some things too," she asks, Hades nods.
"I'll join you after I deal with my luggage. I won't take long," he informs, and she nods.
"Take your time," she says before closing the door, and finally leaving.
Hades spent a few minutes to hang everything(daily clothes and uniforms, and place his shoes next to the closet. He didn't bother hiding the black clothes given by Cloris, and hanged them along his clothes and uniforms. It had great quality, but it looks outdated. A good excuse should be enough.
"This should be okay," he mumbles to himself, staring at what he just did. He turns to his bag, then takes his pocket watch, wallet, and room keys. Thankfully, each room has a different doorknob and key.
Leaving and locking his room, Hades headed back to the lobby only to see the other four (Silver, Jarrett William, and Cornelius) still playing cards.
'They're more competitive than I am, in many ways. Although, it is a good thing they're getting along with the emotionless imperial prince quite nicely', Hades thought with a hopeless smile.
"Oh, Hades. You good to go?" Curtin asks him, behind him were Alonso and Hollis. Hades nodded naturally, and left with them to the academy shops.
As stated, the academy shop is managed by Business Department official students. His brother, Hunter was the one to propose this when he was still in his first year. The reason is clear, it's to test their abilities to judge, and how they sell. It was an excellent idea, thus it was approved by the Headmaster.
'I'm finally seeing this in person, huh', Hades thought to himself .
It was a small building compared to their dormitories but, it's actually as big as three story house. It also had simple architecture with only two floors, which he heard Cloris had designed himself. Hades walked inside with the three and saw the interior. As Hollis said, they sell a lot of things in this shop, and this was only the first to the fifth years' products.
"Oh, welcome, first years! Don't be shy and take a look at everything. Enjoy your stay~" There was a female senior who greeted them warmly, and naturally, they bowed in respect at the presence of their senior. It was basic etiquette here at the academy, however, it's only to be performed when a senior approached you. It would have been unbearable to see your juniors bow to you every single minute.
"Hollis," Hades called for the lady, and did not bother calling her by her title as it seemed she wouldn't like it. "Thank you for this," he continued, and Hollis simply smiled.
"No, thank you for letting me spoil you a little. We're basically family now, it's the least I could do," She says, and Alonso soon appeared, then placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'll spoil you next, okay?" He asks, and his eyes were shinning for some reason
"I'll be the third," they heard Curtin say, not taking his eyes off the products. Hades was stupefied. He honestly doesn't have a clue what is going on with them, he simply nods back at them. 'Of course, I'm a mere churl who worked with my blood, sweat, and tears just to enter the academy, but I don't think they'd be so open about knowing about it… then why?'
"Thank you, everyone," Hades says as he smile. 'Ah… we're merely dorm mates, batch mates, and classmates, but I guess… this kind of friendship is what made my siblings love the academy most', he thought, slightly feeling bitter. As a child, he used to think that the academy was more important than him.
He was such an ignorant child.
"WE'RE BACK, FOOLS!" Hollis greeted as soon as she entered the lobby. There were only five men in the lobby. Tevin was the one watching the four in their unnecessarily competitive card game. "Oh, Tevin, I bought what you asked," Hollis takes something from the bag, and throws it to Tevin. It seems to be a new pen.
"Thanks," he says, and just after that they heard a loud noise from the four.
"Ugh, fuck cards! Cornelius! Let's take this outside!" William exploded as he slammed his cards on the table. Cornelius looked at him, visibly confused at what in the world is going on inside William's head.
"… why me?" Cornelius asks, apathetically. He seemed to be someone who can't properly shows his emotions, but everyone can say that he's also an open book. William arched a brow at that obvious question.
"Why else?! I need to vent out my frustration because His Highness and Jarrett keeps beating me at this shitty game!" He grunts, and began to walk away, but noticing that Cornelius hadn't put his cards down, he glares at him. "What are you waiting for? You're a shield course student, no? I'm sure you can take my attacks."
"But I haven't lost yet," Cornelius reasoned. William once again raised a brow in confusion. Before he could say anything, they heard another voice.
"William, stop being impolite. Cornelius, hasn't lost yet." Curtin interjected, he was glaring at him for being rude just because he keeps losing. 'Being rude might've been his second nature, considering that his aunt is our department dean', Curtin thought to himself, and everyone else thought the same.
They saw how ruthless was the department dean to their professor yesterday.
"Hah? How would you know that? I know he'll lose because he's shit at this game, or are you saying that because you'll take his place? You're a shield course student too, right?" William asks, and Curtin rolled his eyes, infuriating William more.
"Now, William, don't vent your frustration out on a person. Why don't you just head out, and calm yourself for a bit?" Alonso decided to butt in and tries to reason with William's temper, but Tevin sighs.
"Calming him down is no use, Alonso," he says, and even Jarrett nods at that, still not taking his eyes off his cards.
"Tevin's right. Just let him act like that, and he'll cool down on his own," he says, as he draws another card from the bunch, he seems to be losing this time. Hades watched them quietly at the side, and he is genuinely dumbfounded at the situation right now.
Hades had thought that there'd be at least a tad bit tension among them, they are children of famous figures across the empire. He expected that there would be this fierce mood among them, that it would be hard for them to get along… however the opposite is happening. In fact, they get along too well, as if they've known each other for a long time.
… is this how children of noble birth normally act?
"Everyone!" They heard a loud voice coming from the staircases, "Enzo and I cooked a light meal! Come up here in the kitchen!" It was Rufus' loud voice.
"You heard him, boys. Drop your little game, and let's eat first," Hollis says as she placed down the paper bags full of things she brought from the academy shop. "You head up, and eat too, William," with just those words, William's expression completely changed.
"As you wish, milady," he mutters like a gentleman… as if he wasn't that insane man shouting, and bossing his new classmates around a second ago. As his other classmates walk to the staircases, only then did Hades put down the things he bought with Hollis' money from the academy shop.
"Your silence tells me you're a little perplexed at what you just saw," Hades looks up, hearing Silver's voice close to him. Nodding, he confirmed Silver's words, and just because he did, Silver chuckles. Hades was in disbelief. 'Did he just… laugh… at me?' He thought for a moment, but Silver changed his expression after a split second.
"I guess there are times that you can be confused too, Hades," he says, and walks with Hades. "The reason is simple… it's because we're in Golden Crown Academy. Background, ranks, your family's political standing, or wealth don't matter here. Everyone will treat you only according to the results you produce, and how you act as well," he explains in a simplified matter.
'Although, from what I heard, these only did not matter when the first Winchester child, Morado Winchester, had entered, and changed everything himself', Silver thought, and glanced at Hades. "Just act as your usual self, no one would dare oppose to you being yourself here. We know you won't cross the line, since you're our representative," he continued.
Hades found himself grinning at that. 'So… making your family's lives a living hell isn't crossing the line…?' He wanted to laugh, but that would make him look crazier on their eyes.
'Ah… I'm so glad to have you all as my classmates.' In contrast to his seemingly genuine thought, his eyes seemed to be filled with something malicious other than excitement.