Roommate? I wasn't told anything about that... I feel a bulge build up in my throat and my hands begin to sweat. I'm completely capable of holding a conversation with people who I've just met. But how can I sleep in the same room as someone I've never met, and I don't even know their name? I'm sure it's a girl in there, but what happens if she sees me as some kind of challenge? Someone to compete with the rest of the time we are here at the school? I don't want a rival on my first day. All my anxiety begins to course through my body, and I can feel myself becoming short of breath. As I reach for the handle, a part of myself wants to turn around and go back home. Back home where I am safe and behind closed doors I'm familiar with. But the other part of me wants this adventure, this trial. I want it, no I need it. Right. I straighten up and inhale a deep breath, then cup my hand into a fist, and knock three times.
"Coming!" A sunny voice says from inside the room. Rustling around comes, and I take a step back before the door can be opened. Upon opening the door, a girl, taller than me, stands with a bright smile and poofy hair. When I say poofy, I mean wow. Her hair is a sunset orange, and obviously naturally curly; With emerald green eyes, and many freckles on her cheeks. She's tan, and obviously very fit and athletic. She's wearing a tank top and small shorts.
"Hi! You must be Freya! I was afraid you weren't coming. I am so looking forward to having you as my roommate!" Her cheery voice breaks the silence of the hallway, and echoes in every direction. So she's Scottish. That's definitely a change of pace for sure. She pulls me towards her in a rush and hugs me as tight as she can. "And you are?" I manage to say as I can feel all the air escape my body.
"Oh! I'm so sorry." She pulls away and looks at me in the eyes, her hands still resting on my shoulders. "I'm Amelia Nyle, second year witch. Welcome to the academy!" Her gleeful attitude feels quite poisonous, and I feel my lips curve into a smile back at her. "Come in and I'll show you where to put your stuff!" In one hand, I pull my suitcase behind me. My other hand however is being held tightly as it gets pulled into the room.
It's a nice little set up. Very evenly spaced apart, with mute color tones. Nothing too extravagant. One side is decorated with posters, and livery. While the other is blank and vacant. I'm guessing that's my side. Off on the side, next to the doorway is the bathroom. I'm glad I don't have to go wandering at night if I need to pee. I put my suitcase next to the end of the bed and take a seat on the plush mattress. Amelia, as perky as she seems, gives me a small glare as she takes a seat across from me. "You know, you don't look much like a witch. Are you sure you were accepted here? You aren't an imposter posing as my roommate to learn all the inside secrets of the school?" Her sudden interrogation makes me speechless, and I can't help but let out a choking noise in the base of my throat.
"No no. I promise I'm Freya Bell. I was even handed this map, but it's useless. I can't even read it." Amelia, still keeping a watchful eye on me, snatches the map from between my fingertips. She overlooks the parchment, then lightly giggles to herself. "Well this is why. Your attendance letter forgot to undo the enchantment spell on it. Just so outsiders can't read it." She pulls out her wand from her thick hair, and waves it over the paper. Without saying any words, buildings begin to show up, and pathways and street names.
"Wow! This is amazing! I can see exactly where everything is now!" Even though the map was upside down, it was still impossible to read before. So when Jin tried to help me, she should've explained it more, and even undone the spell. One small red dot glows on a building that reads girls dorm. "What is this red dot?" I ask Amelia as I turn the map to face her.
"Oh that. Well the red dot is you. This tells you where you are at all times." I nervously swallow at her response. Does that mean that the teachers, or even the headmaster know where every student is at all times? "See, look at mine." Amelia says as she takes hers out of her backpack by the side of her bed. But as I look at hers, the dot on the page is an orange yellow color. Not solid red like mine. "What's wrong with the color?" I put my finger directly over her dot.
"I'm a second year student. So my color is different. The first years are red, the second is yellow, the third is green, and the fourth year is blue. But anyone who's here longer than that, I have no idea." My mind is overwhelmed with all this new magic in front of me, and I take a huge sigh. Amelia looks at me with concern, so she puts her map away. "Go ahead and unpack everything. There is a chest drawer, nightstand, closet, and a workstation. Go ahead and make your side of the room yours." I beam with gratitude, and immediately unpack.
For the majority of the night while I clear out my bags, and set up my clothes in order, Amelia talks about everything so far she's experienced while being enrolled here. Boy how fun it all sounds. I sit down after everything is put away, and look at her directly. "I have a question. Do you know a girl named Jin?" Amelia starts to choke and cough and it takes her a moment to catch her breath again. She whips her head in my exact direction, making her hair bounce. "Jin? As in Jin Richardson from Will Investment?!" Her voice becomes raised and I can see small beads of sweat come down the sides of her cheeks.
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