"Oh, you're already here! I thought I'd be the first one," a cheerful voice exclaimed.
Kenneth instantly recognized her roommate as the extroverted type. The girl, about the same age as Kenneth, stood tall with a great physique, long lavender hair, and matching eyes that complemented her warm smile, enhancing her radiant demeanour.
Returning the smile politely, Kenneth greeted her, "I took the stairs. Hi, I'm Kenneth Greywater."
Extending her hand, the girl replied, "Hi, I'm Fletcher Addams. It's nice to meet you, Kenneth."
As an Empath, Kenneth could sense Fletcher's emotions swirling around her. Holding her hand, she felt both nervousness and excitement emanating from her.
With her ability to read people, Kenneth discerned that Fletcher was naturally honest; her emotions were transparent, and Kenneth typically gravitated toward such sincerity. Kenneth disliked dealing with people who could easily mask their feelings.
Such individuals often had the capacity to manipulate and deceive, a lesson she had learned through experience. While she acknowledged the utility of maintaining a poker face when necessary, she preferred not having to rely on her abilities to discern malicious intent.
Having empathetic abilities had its advantages, but it also had drawbacks. For instance, what if she discovered that someone she loved didn't reciprocate her feelings? The thought of such a revelation was daunting enough without empathetic abilities; with them on, it would be even more gut-wrenching.
Luckily Empaths could turn off their abilities at will or else life would be a living nightmare.
"Did you already have your pick of a room?" Fletcher asked her, bringing her out of her thoughts.
"Yes I did. I picked the one by the door." She said pointing to her room.
"That's great, I usually like my room to be away from the door. I can't stand being able to hear people coming in and out of their rooms."
Kenneth acknowledged the potential annoyance.
"Luckily, I don't mind," she admitted honestly. Her decision to choose a room near the door wasn't arbitrary; it mirrored a habit she'd acquired from her military days. Being close to an exit offered a tactical advantage in case of danger, and the ability to monitor comings and goings was an added benefit that she obviously kept to herself.
Fletcher nodded in understanding. "These rooms are actually quite nice," she remarked, awestruck as she surveyed her surroundings.
"My last school had dorms too, but they were nothing like this. And having a built-in kitchen? That's a luxury."
Kenneth raised an eyebrow. Reflecting on Fletcher's comment, she realized that kitchens in dorms back home were a rare privilege, typically reserved for officers. It wasn't until she became a platoon leader herself that she could enjoy such accommodations.
Seeing Fletcher's excitement about the kitchen, Kenneth couldn't help but stare. "Do you know how to cook?" she asked.
Surprised by the question, Fletcher turned to her. She had already noted Kenneth's reserved demeanour and ability to blend into the background when not needed—a skill Fletcher found impressive.
She had been keeping an eye on Kenneth for a while and was pleased they would be roommates, seeing it as an opportunity to forge a closer connection. Fletcher smiled.
"I'm no five-star chef, but I can manage."
Kenneth was relieved. Cooking wasn't her forte either, but she knew enough to get by. "I'm not too bad myself. We could take turns cooking, if you'd like."
"Sounds good. We can make a schedule," Fletcher agreed, setting her belongings down on the sofa.
"By the way, check your mail. They've sent instructions for orientation. We need to change into our uniforms," Fletcher informed her.
"So soon?" Kenneth remarked, nodding in understanding. "I guess they want us to get used to it early, especially for those who haven't been to academies or boarding schools."
"It took me a while to adjust to uniforms when I first started boarding school," Fletcher added.
"That makes sense," Kenneth agreed.
"We still have a couple of hours before we need to head back, so I'll start settling in and take a shower," Fletcher said, heading towards her room.
Kenneth waited until Fletcher had closed her door before beginning her own inspection of the room. Normally, she would have done this sooner, but the unfamiliar surroundings had distracted her.
Back in her world, she always checked her rooms for bugs and cameras, a habit formed after discovering enemy surveillance in a colleague's room. After ensuring everything was secure, Kenneth moved to the kitchen and opened the fridge.
She was pleasantly surprised to find it stocked with neatly arranged items—bottled water, various kinds of milk, fruits, vegetables, eggs, and non perishable meats. Thirsty, she grabbed an unopened bottle of water and took a sip.
The cold beverage went down her throat with ease, immediately quenching her thirst. The water was crisp and smooth, unlike any water she'd ever drank. It was refreshing and just the tiniest bit sweet, giving her a sudden burst of energy.
She started to wonder if what she picked up was actually water but looking at the clear liquid, she knew that she picked up the right bottle. "How could water taste so good?" She mumbled to herself.
This was the best thing she'd put in her mouth since coming here.