The quiet unfamiliar hallway gave Ardiel a sense of homesickness as he began to realize that from this day on, he would stay and live in this dorm building for a long time.
Most of the students were still in class, leaving Ardiel alone with Lucas, the dorm captain. Lucas walked with a confident stride, his white hair almost glowing under the dim lights. Ardiel couldn't help but steal glances at him, his eyes drawn to Lucas's striking features—especially those crimson eyes.
Whenever Lucas glanced back at him, Ardiel felt as though those eyes were reading him like an open book, exposing every hidden thought.
Lucas suddenly turned his head, catching Ardiel in the act. Their eyes met, and Ardiel felt a jolt of unease. There was something unsettling about the way Lucas looked at him, as if he could see straight through him, peeling back layers of thought and feeling that Ardiel preferred to keep hidden.
"Is everything okay?" Lucas asked, his voice smooth but with an undertone that suggested he already knew the answer.
Ardiel quickly averted his gaze, trying to mask his discomfort with a nod. "Yeah, just... taking it all in."
Lucas's lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "It's a lot to adjust to, I'm sure. But you'll get used to it." He paused, then added with a hint of amusement, "Everyone does, eventually."
As they continued down the hallway, Ardiel found himself keenly aware of how different he looked beside Lucas. His own yellow-blonde hair and blue eyes felt like a stark contrast to the guy beside him. He knew the reason, of course. Even without an introduction, Ardiel could tell that Lucas was a member of the Schneider family, the lords of the North, whose lands bordered his own.
"The white hair... it's unique to the Schneiders, isn't it?" Ardiel ventured, trying to fill the silence with something other than his racing thoughts.
Lucas glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "That's right. It's a family trait." He touched a lock of his hair absentmindedly. The red eyes signified the purity of their bloodline, tracing back to their patron guardian, the Fenrir. Lucas, with his eerie crimson irises, was clearly a pureblood.
"This is where the male first to third years stays throughout their time here. Fourth years were rarely on the campus so there were only a few rooms reserved for them." Lucas said as they were going upstairs.
As they ascended the stairs, the building seemed to grow quieter, the distant sounds of the outside world fading away. "The dorm has four floors, each floor designated to each year," Lucas continued, his voice echoing slightly in the narrow stairwell.
"Rooms are assigned as students are admitted, usually shared by two or three. They're furnished with just the basics—bunk beds, a study table for each of you, and a bathroom."
Ardiel nodded, his mind trying to process the sudden change in his life. He glanced at Lucas, who was already watching him with those unsettling eyes. "I guess it's going to take some time getting used to it," he admitted, trying to keep his voice steady.
Lucas's smile was brief but genuine. "You'll manage. And if you ever need anything, just ask. I'm here to help."
Ardiel wasn't sure if that made him feel better or more nervous. But he forced a smile of his own, grateful for the offer, even if he wasn't quite ready to trust it. "Thanks, Senior Lucas. I appreciate it."
Lucas gave a nod, then turned to lead the way to the next part of the dormitory
"Oh, we're here, Room 213" Lucas abruptly stopped as soon as he saw the door number.
"This is your dorm. You have your schedule already, right? Be sure to read the handbook before anything else—it'll help you a lot," Lucas said, stepping aside to let Ardiel enter before leaving him to himself.
Ardiel hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath before pushing the door open. The room was exactly as Lucas had described—plain, with a bunk bed, two tables, and a few basic pieces of furniture. The air was cool and carried the faint scent of polished acacia wood.
It was clear someone else was already living here—the neatly organized items on one of the study tables made that evident. The bottom bunk was occupied, the sheets slightly crumpled, and a few personal belongings were tucked into the corner. Ardiel glanced around, feeling a mix of relief and trepidation.
Though he wasn't exactly spoiled, despite growing up in luxury, this was his first time living in such a modest setting. The simplicity of it all felt foreign, leaving him with a strange, unsettled feeling.
On top of his bed were neatly stacked uniforms in different colors. "These must be the uniforms," he murmured as he checked them without unfolding them. There were four sets, each with a different purpose.
The first was the standard uniform for magisters—a deep blue, tailored coat with gold accents, fitted with a high collar and epaulets on the shoulders. The coat was adorned with intricate golden buttons, each bearing the emblem of the Magister department. Beneath the coat, there was a white dress shirt, complemented by a blue tie, matching trousers, and polished black boots. Beside it was a similar set in maroon, meant for auror students.
Another set was a mess uniform intended for formal events—a white double-breasted coat with golden trim along the edges, adorned with intricate silver embroidery in the shape of a book and a sword. A high-collared white shirt and matching white trousers completed the look.
The last set was for physical training—just a plain white t-shirt and brown trousers.
"Well, let's get settled," he murmured to himself, dropping his backpack onto the top bunk. He opened it and began unpacking his personal belongings—a picture frame of him and Reno, a journal where he recorded his realizations on Gravity Magic, and a logbook for reflections on his training sessions with Simon and Alentor. It was his personal bible.
He checked on the bathroom, which he felt relieved after seeing it being clean and even fragrant. The student who was occupying this room alone for the past weeks must have been very particular with cleanliness, which is a very good thing.
He then went through the documents he had received earlier when he got his test results. The first paper indicating a summary of his results:
Physical Test:
Innate Stage - Tier 5
Assisted Stage - Tier 5
Aptitude Test:
Theoretical Knowledge - Tier 4
Practical Application - Tier 4
Sorting Test:
Mana Ring - Tier 5
Mana Core - Tier 5
Final Grade: Tier 5
Admission Standing: 1st Place of Batch 63
As he scanned the results, a deep sense of satisfaction washed over him. The grades, predominantly Tier 5, he thought that this was the fruits of his perseverance and desperation. A quiet gratitude stirred within him, a silent acknowledgment to the Dragon Mark etched into his back and the gift from Exzhen, which had now opened him to doors of opportunities.
He took a moment to let these emotions settle before moving on to the next papers: his admission certificate, the academic calendar for the upcoming eight months, and the first-year curriculum.
The early years now emphasized a balance between magic theory and basic combat training. In earlier times, magisters were known solely for their knowledge, while aurors relied on sheer strength. But times had changed. Now, magisters were expected to have the strength to defend themselves when mana was unavailable, leading the academy to integrate combat training for both first and second-year students. Similarly, aurors were now required to study magic theory alongside their rigorous physical training.
Over the next few months, Ardiel would be diving into Mana Theory, Combat Tactics, Magical Beasts, Herbalism, Potions, and Physical Combat, each subject offering both theoretical knowledge and practical experience.
Setting the papers aside, Ardiel tried to shake off the lingering sense of homesickness as he placed a photo of him and Reno on the small table by the window. The glass pane framed a view of the academy's lush courtyard, where trees swayed gently in the breeze, a serene contrast to the unease twisting in his stomach.
Classes had already been in session for two weeks, leaving him no choice but to dive into the current schedule headfirst.
"Reno's probably joined the auror department by now," he mused aloud, knowing it was an easy guess. They'd practically grown up together and could almost pass as twins—except for the difference in height."
Lost in thought, he was jolted back to reality when the doorknob clicked, and the door slowly creaked open.
"Oh!" the student reacted, surprised that someone was inside the room. His maroon uniform marked him as an auror student.
"Hello, I'm Ardiel Dragonheart, a new student. I was told this is my dorm room, and we'll be sharing it," Ardiel quickly stood up, trying to sound polite and approachable.
"Nice to meet you Ardiel, I'm Kristan Evans," the boy greeted back, even slightly bowing, "I'm surprised to share a room with someone like you, I hope you're not like Reno, which I think is your brother? Or not?" he nervously laughed.
Ardiel immediately understood what Kristan was hinting at. Reno's boundless energy and extroverted nature could easily exhaust anyone around him. Kristan seemed like someone with a quieter personality, one that probably wouldn't mesh well with Reno's antics.
"Oh, don't worry," Ardiel reassured him with a small smile. "I'm the opposite of my brother. I can't keep up with his energy too. And I'm neat with my things, plus, I'm not much of a talker."
"That's a relief," Kristan said with a smile, setting his things down on the table. "No offense meant, but I think you got what I was trying to say."
"So, you're newly admitted, right? I'm guessing you're the reason for all the fuss outside at the bulletin board," Kristan added as he settled into his chair, eyeing Ardiel with a curious expression.
"Bulletin board?" Ardiel echoed, clearly puzzled.
"There's an announcement about a new student breaking the record for the admission test," Kristan replied with a smirk.
"They really put that out there?" Ardiel asked, his expression shifting to one of mild alarm. The academy was known for its competitive atmosphere, and now, he wasn't sure how to feel about the student body knowing his results.
"You might find yourself becoming a regular at the Duel Arena," Kristan chuckled, clearly amused by Ardiel's impending reality.