Kiefer unlocked the sizeable mahogany door and rolled his luggage into the room.
He had received his slip a couple of minutes after his arrival at Qichi Lake Academy.
Earlier he had to wait in line as the people before him were handed an envelope
Finally reaching the line, he found out it wasn't an ordinary envelope.
The envelope Kiefer was given was one made of thick, high-quality paper with a smooth, luxurious texture.
It was elegantly designed with intricate patterns of delicate floral motifs, embellished with delicate embossing.
The envelope's color palette was soft to the touch of his palm and felt indubiously sophisticated, with hues of pastel pink, mint green, and champagne gold accents, made to curve the entirety of the envelope's surface area.
Its flap was sealed with a shimmering wax seal, adding a touch of old-world charm and refinement.
Kiefer bathed in its luxury.
As he stepped further away from the queue, Kiefer opened up his envelope and removed a thin and rectangular shaped slip of card.
On it was writing in cursive that said;
--------------------------------------------------------
Dear chosen,
Welcome to our noble institution, Qichi Lake Academy, QLA.
Trust you had an eventful ride here.
Young Edward Kiefer, your flat is located in the Loreque Male Hostel, just by the lake.
Your rooming details are
Room CDR17, top floor.
We do not have the right to disclose the identity of your roommate, do have a nice day and welcome once again to Qichi Lake Academy.
--------------------------------------------------------
Kiefer scowled and re-read the fourth line on the text.
How could he have experienced an eventful ride when he was drugged against his consent?
Taking a mental note of his assigned room number, he walked out of the Student Affairs Block and picked up a map on his way out.
Walking down the stairs of the colossal building, he noticed the people around him.
He saw old students of the school.
They wore corporate clothes in studies centre and Kiefer was sure there were more than one centre in this academy.
Even though he couldn't see these centers.
Clutching his bags and luggage, Kiefer Edmund wheeled them with the trolley he was given in the Student Affairs Block.
The day was fleeting as fast as a sprinting hare having encountered imminent danger.
As the evening rolled in, the air became crispier and fresher, a smooth brush against his skin.
Kiefer wondered if there were rivers of water surrounding Qichi Lake Academy.
That would be very logical, he thought, only an island could have such cold, smooth and raw air, he thought.
Stopping for a while on the expanse farther away from the main block of QLA, Kiefer consulted the map yet again.
The map described that he had to walk a few metres away from the grand, colossal structure of the institution that was overlooked by the vast expanse of thriving greenery with his luggage and approach the QLA Transport Facility.
Besides the map, there was something else Kiefer noticed.
The words 'Transport Facility' was written in Czech;
Dopravní zařízení, and was translated in English.
Now the usage of an alternate language is a very patriotic thing to do, especially when there are no obvious native English speakers around, but it felt unsettling.
It felt unsettling because of the language itself.
One would think that if there were international students, most of them would come from a francophone or Spanish speaking country.
Czech isn't usually first to come to mind.
And even then, why Czech? Did QLA have Czech roots?
Why not French? Or even, Spanish?
Hard to tell, he decided.
Kiefer decided to pay not much attention to the academy's use of languages and marched on in search of his hidden lodge.
********
A few moments after he started his journey in search of the Loreque Male Hostel, Kiefer was standing in front of a colossal building towering above him with a mix of emotions plastered on his face.
He had made the decision of searching for his hostel instead of the transport facility as he felt too exhausted and desired to retire to bed.
Kiefer decided he had made the right choice as he not only had a tour by himself, he could also fathom a guess on the path to take whenever he intended to go back to the Students Affairs Block.
The Loreque Male Hostel stood breathtakingingly, standing tall and towering as though its sharp edges were about to cut the skies.
It had a magnificent facade that caught one's attention even from a distance.
Kiefer gazed on, taking in the immense sight, basking in it.
It was sweet and thick as molasses.
The exterior of the Loreque MH was a striking blend of both modern architecture and traditional design elements, creating a truly unique and captivating aesthetic.
It was constructed of sturdy stone and wood, giving it a sense of permanence and strength.
The walls were adorned with intricate carvings and colorful murals that told stories of the surrounding culture and history of the most revered Qichi Lake Academy, adding to the hostel's charm and character.
Towering pillars flanked the entrance, their tops adorned with intricate carvings and ornate details.
The massive wooden doors were intricately carved with patterns and designs, inviting students and guests alike to step inside and explore the wonders within.
Kiefer decided that he had had his full dosage of luxury and exquisiteness for a day.
He exhaled and a few seconds of unconsciously holding his breath.
Drawing his luggage closer to the paved path that led to the environment of the Loreque MH, he couldn't help but notice how large and expansive the windows appeared.
Balconies and terraces dotted the exterior, offering guests a peaceful retreat to enjoy the fresh forest air and breathtaking vistas.
Lush greenery and vibrant flowers adorned the exterior, adding a touch of color and life to the majestic building.
Almost immediately through with his observation of the colossal, ancient structure, Kiefer heard a sound behind him.
Turning backwards, he saw a girl of above average height, dragging her boxes along the paved, rocky path.
It appeared she was headed to a hostel, possibly the Loreque Female Hostel, as he remembered it had two names for two genders and were located not too far from each other.
She was a Black like himself and wore her her in a low cut style, meaning she had her hair cut low to the tip, with multiple stubbles.
She was dressed in a black button up cropped cashmere top and black bell bottom trousers.
She wore dark boots and pushed a trolley loaded with a few boxes and bags on them.
Kiefer looked on.
Her aura could be felt from so far away.
Turning around, Kiefer started by pushing the trolley containing his stuff towards the entrance of the Loreque MH.
It was undoubtedly, tiring, but he was done in a while.
Nearing the hostel, Kiefer wheeled his things through the main door and walked into the entrance.
He walked into the lobby of the hostel after stepping through a set of doors that rotated.
The first thing Kiefer noticed was the ambience.
The ceilings were carved out of stone, with curving, swirling chunks of protruding masses of stone.
The lobby was a sophisticated blend of modern elegance and timeless charm, with stone ceilings and sparkling chandeliers illuminating the space.
The carvings added an extra touch of delicay to it's overall look.
Kiefer noticed lush velvet armchairs were arranged around marble coffee tables, creating cozy vignettes for students and guests alike to relax and socialize.
A grand piano sat in the in a far end, played by a man that brought to life classic tunes that filled the air with music.
A large, intricately designed Persian rug covered the polished hardwood floors, adding warmth and texture to the lobby.
To his left, Kiefer noticed a check-in desk, lined by fresh bouquets of flowers in crystal vases that adorned the sleek check-in desk, completing the tasteful and inviting atmosphere of the lobby.
A lady dressed smartly stood behind this counter.
Kiefer walked very briskly, pulling his luggage behind him towards the check-in desk.
A sweat broke loose in his scalp and trickled down his face.
It was soon followed by more balls of sweats that trickled down his face.
He grabbed a handkerchief and dabbed his face and neck thoroughly.
'Hello, how are you?' Kiefer began. 'I'm about to check-in to the room I was assigned to.'
The young lady behind the counter flashed a brilliant smile at him, baring a set of white dentition.
'Hello, welcome to the Loreque Male Hostel, please what is your room number?
'Oh, that.'
Kiefer reached into his pockets and pulled out the slip and read out the digits.
Soon, he was issued a key and an air purifier.
The young lady said;
'Please place your luggage into the conveyor belt without the trolley and input the floor number as command to get these boxes sent straight to your room.'
The young lady put on a smile.
'Thank you very much,' Kiefer said.
He grabbed his trolley and did as he was told.
Walking towards the lift, Kiefer was transported upwards to his floor.
Soon he heard a chime and the lift stopped.
Stepping out, he retrieved his luggage from the conveyor belt and soon walked into a winding hallway that had various doors.
He guessed this was where his room was.
Advancing, he brought out his slip and began looking for a room door that said;
CDR17.
********
Kiefer collapsed on his bed tiringly.
Grabbing a bottle of water he saw on the desk beside him, he began by gulping it in torrents.
Its contents were exhausted a few seconds after he begun.
Crumbling the bottle and tossing it aside, he heard the plastic container clank on the marbled floors of the room.
Kiefer had arrived into the room and found out there was no one in already.
Which meant he was the only one assigned to that room or his roommate hadn't arrived yet.
He found two beds on cabinets and two desks spaced apart.
There were other two mahogany desks that were also placed far from each other.
Kiefer opted for the one next to the window sill at the far end of the room.
He had unpacked his belongings and filled them up into one of the cupboards and his papers into the drawers of the desks.
Now, the young man was slumped on the bed, reminiscing his day.
How very unpredictable, he thought gravely.
Kiefer felt a sudden easing in his muscles and soon he could feel his eyes close and his body drift into a well deserved nap.