I shook my head and kept walking. Teon and Elwin wouldn't talk to me even if I tried speaking to them. I sighed and looked at the map again. The map had two layers that could only be seen when it wasn't too bright. Why would they put poor students through that kind of torture?
I followed the invisible line and discovered my room quickly. The moment the door closed behind me, I fell on the floor and closed my eyes.
A smile crept up my face. Though small, it was still a smile. I did it, I got in. And I saw Teon. I did see him again, even though it was brief. I hope I can see him again; it'd be nice.
I stood up after catching my breath to check my dorm room but lost my breath again. It was supposed to be just a room, but I was in a living area. I walked inside and saw that there was a room, a small dining area, and a study with books and Tyler. I stood at the door in shock when I saw Tyler; he just stared back at me.
"Tyler," I called, and he jumped at me, running me over in the process. I just smiled as he licked my face. "Do you know who I met today?" I asked, knowing fully well that he couldn't understand me. "I saw Teon today. I was so surprised and speechless. He grew taller. It was nice to see him even though we couldn't speak to each other," I said, hugging Tyler. "You are the only one still here, the most loyal, and my favorite," I said, and he rubbed his face against mine.
"Your fur is so comfortable," I said, lying down. It was so compelling that I submitted to the sleep that was calling me diligently.
I opened my eyes and looked around. It took me a minute to realize where I was. I stood up and went in search of my things, pushing away the sadness I was feeling.
…
I woke up early and had a bath before going in search of my 'key.' I was focused on getting rest that I didn't care about most of the things the principal said yesterday.
I walked to the study room and looked around for possible places. I noticed the box mother gave me that contained the communication device. I walked to the table, carried the box, opened it, and brought out the pen. I removed the cover and was met with a small glowing gem at the tip.
I dropped it back and searched the table for a potential place the key could be. I checked the drawers but couldn't find it. I moved to the shelves and checked the back of books. I climbed the small ladder and checked the back of shelves and saw a small box. I carried it and climbed down carefully.
Sitting down on the chair, I scanned the box carefully before opening it. There was a key inside. I assumed it was the key that the principal was talking about. It looked like a normal key. I'm sure if anyone sees it, they won't know its use unless they are told. I placed it back in the box and dropped it inside one of the drawers.
I walked out to find out my feeding situation. I walked to the lowest floor of the building, but there was no one in sight. I searched the floor but saw no one. I was about to go back upstairs when someone finally showed up.
"Are you the new student?" I heard and turned to look in the direction of the voice. I smiled internally at the sight.
"Yes," I replied, trying to hide the joy. The short old man in front of me made me feel better about my height.
"What are you looking for?" he asked.
"Umm… I was wondering where I could get breakfast," I said, and he nodded before walking away, and I followed him quietly. He walked upstairs to the first floor and made his way to a room with double doors.
"Dining hall," he pointed and turned around to leave. "Your dorm master will introduce himself to you later, and the other students might be interested in acquainting themselves with you. It depends," he said, and I nodded. "Those rude brats wouldn't care about anything but themselves," he mused.
I hope they won't be interested in me. If I stay out of people's way, I can graduate peacefully.
"Miss Hylin," someone said from behind us. Miss? We both turned and were met with a tattered-looking girl. She reminded me of someone. "I just came back and found out that there was nothing to eat," she complained, approaching us.
"Maybe that's because it's past breakfast time. Wait for lunch," the person I assumed to be Miss Hylin, dismissed. I really thought that she was an old man.
"But…"
"Go away. I'm showing the new student around," she said.
"New student," the girl said, looking at me. "We weren't supposed to have new students until the next two weeks," she said, scanning me. "I'm Sienna Fox, the head of the student council. It's nice to meet you," she said, getting in my space. Student council? Isn't that a really important position? I need to read my student manual.
"Faina Alden, the pleasure is mine," I said, but I couldn't curtsey because she was really in my face. I took a step back, still looking at her.
"Alden? Wow, that's interesting," she said. "No one told me that an Alden would be coming here," she said, turning to leave.
"Since the new student hasn't had anything, I'll spare you," Miss Hylin said, and Sienna beamed.
"This is why you're my favorite person in the whole of Galliel," she said.
"Sienna, you shouldn't be biased," a male voice called our attention. Another unfamiliar face approached us. "Miss Hylin, you shouldn't go easy on her. If you do, she'd keep misbehaving," he said.
"I try," Hylin said.
"Who's this?" he asked, looking at me.
"An Alden," Sienna responded.
"Interesting," he said, scanning me. "She's so short." I know that. I have been told enough times in my life to know that.
"That's rude. Introduce yourself first, then mention her height. It's common manners," Sienna scolded. I don't think that's okay either.
"Oh, pardon my manners. I'm Keith Rune," he said. "And you are really short. Why are you short?" I was born that way.
"Ask her name first," Sienna said.
"Oh, sorry," he said.
"I'm Faina Alden," I said, and he nodded.
"Faina, Faina, Faina," he repeated my name in contemplation. "Never heard of a Faina Alden," he said with a questioning look. Don't answer to anyone. "How come I haven't heard of a Faina Alden?" he asked. I didn't respond, and I couldn't even if I wanted to. I didn't have an answer.
"That's enough from you," Sienna said, turning to walk back to the dining hall. "I'll take Faina off your hands, Hylin," she said, and Hylin nodded, turning to walk away.
"Better," she grumbled as she walked away.
"Faina, this way," she said, and I followed her. "I know you might be curious," she started, and I looked up. "There are only three dorms given to special grade students: Azure, Crimson, and Scarlet. The top being Azure, which is this dorm. All dorms are unisex and only house a small number of people because of the rarity of special grades."
That explains why Keith is here and why Hylin said the dorm master is a man.
"We are only eight students in this dorm. You are going to be our eighth," she explained, and I nodded, mirroring her movements as I took my seat.
"If you include the dorm master and Hylin, we'd be ten," Keith added. If there are only eight students here, how many special grade students are there?
"You forgot chef," Sienna said.
"And Nunny," Keith added.
"So we're just twelve people living in this dorm," she said, and I nodded. The presumed chef walked in quietly and served us before leaving without a word.
"He never says a word," she explained as I stared at the door that the middle-aged man walked through. "We have a bet here that if anyone can get him to say a word, then the person gets whatever they want from all the alumni that met chef and the present students." That sounds like a big deal.
"Everyone has tried different methods, even torture," Keith said, and my blood went dry. "Clove kept tickling him just to get a sound, but she got tossed away and ignored," he explained, and I sighed internally.
"I'll introduce you to everyone later and explain the rules of the dorm to you, but for now, make yourself at home," Sienna said, standing up. I looked at her plate, and it was empty. When did she eat? We were having a conversation here, and I was looking at her.
I hope all the other special grades are not like these two. They are very creepy and a bit scary.
"Where are you going?" Keith asked.
"To see Principal. He said he had something to tell me," she said without looking down.
"Probably more work," Keith mused.
"I hope not," Sienna said as she closed the door behind her.