Yoshirata waved his friends goodbye one last time. Eiko and Taro waved back, grinning with excitement as they followed the glowing orbs leading them to their respective hostels.
"I guess it's my turn to go too," Yoshirata muttered, turning to look at the golden orb floating beside him. He waited, expecting the orb to move like it did for his friends. But it just hovered there, not moving an inch. Yoshirata's smile faded into a confused frown.
"What's wrong with you?" he whispered to the orb, tilting his head. "Are you broken or something?"
He glanced around, noticing the other students moving along, following their own orbs. Eiko and Taro had already disappeared around the corner, but here he was, standing awkwardly in the middle of the hall with an unresponsive orb. He started pacing back and forth, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Come on, don't make me look like a fool," Yoshirata muttered. Then, an idea popped into his head. He grinned and took a deep breath.
"Alright," he said, striking a silly pose with one hand pointed dramatically at the orb. "Open sesame! Lead me to my dorm!" he declared loudly.
A few students nearby stopped and stared at him. Some of them burst out laughing, while others whispered to each other. Yoshirata could hear bits of their conversation.
"Is he serious?" one girl giggled.
"Did he just use a fairytale spell?" a boy whispered, barely holding back his laughter. "He must be from the countryside or something."
"I bet his family's too poor to even afford proper spellbooks," another student scoffed, rolling his eyes.
Yoshirata's face turned bright red. He clenched his fists and spun around to face them. "Hey! Don't make fun of my family!" he shouted. He could feel his temper rising, his voice almost shaking with anger.
Before he could say anything else, a bright, golden light shone behind him. The laughter stopped, replaced by gasps and murmurs of surprise. Yoshirata turned back around, eyes wide.
The orb was glowing brighter than ever before, pulsing with a golden light that filled the entire hallway. It was almost blinding. Everyone nearby was staring at it now, their jaws dropped in shock.
"Has this ever happened before?" one student whispered to her friend.
"No, never," the other replied, shaking his head. "This is new."
Students started crowding around, pointing at the orb and talking among themselves.
"Why is it shining like that?"
"Is it some kind of rare magic?"
"What's going on?"
Yoshirata's shock quickly turned into a wide, triumphant grin. He puffed out his chest and raised his hands high, like he was a hero who had just performed an incredible feat. "You see? The spell worked!" he shouted, beaming with pride.
The students looked at each other, confused and amazed. Was Yoshirata really that powerful, or was this just a strange coincidence?
But before anyone could say more, the orb suddenly shot forward like a streak of lightning. It zoomed down the hall, faster than any of the others. Yoshirata's victory pose quickly turned into a sprint as he ran after it, shouting, "Hey, wait up! Slow down!"
The students burst into laughter again, but this time it wasn't mocking. It was genuine, surprised laughter. They watched as Yoshirata chased the orb, his footsteps echoing down the hall until he was out of sight.
"Did you see that?" one boy asked, his eyes still wide.
"Yeah," his friend nodded. "I've never seen anything like it. Maybe he's more special than we thought."
As the buzz of conversation filled the hallway, Eiko and Taro peeked out from around the corner, having heard the commotion. Eiko grinned, nudging Taro with her elbow.
"Looks like Yoshirata is already making a name for himself," she said with a laugh.
Taro chuckled, shaking his head. "That guy... He never fails to surprise us."
The two friends shared a smile before heading off, following their own orbs to the dorms.
________
Yoshirata followed the glowing orb through the academy's winding halls and across a small stone bridge. He could feel his excitement building as the orb guided him towards his new home: the dormitory. When he arrived in front of the building, he stopped, his eyes widening in awe.
The dorm looked like it had sprung up from the very earth itself. Tall trees wrapped their branches around the stone walls, their leaves rustling softly in the breeze. Vines covered the ancient stonework, weaving in and out of small cracks, dotted with delicate white flowers that glowed faintly in the twilight. It felt less like a building and more like a living part of the forest. The roof was a thatched blend of wood and moss, making it seem as if the dorm was hidden beneath a canopy of greenery.
The air smelled fresh and earthy, mixed with the faint, sweet scent of the flowers. Small magical lanterns floated around the entrance, casting a soft golden glow that blended perfectly with the fading daylight.
"Wow," Yoshirata whispered to himself, stepping closer. He could hear the gentle buzz of nature magic all around him, like the dorm itself was humming with life. "This place is amazing. It's like something out of a fairy tale."
Just as he was lost in the beauty of the surroundings, the orb zipped forward once more, pulling him out of his thoughts. Yoshirata blinked and quickly ran after it, laughing to himself. "Alright, alright, I'm coming! Don't leave me behind again!"
He followed the orb up a narrow wooden staircase that creaked under his feet and down a quiet hallway lined with doors. The scent of fresh pine filled the air, and Yoshirata could hear the muffled laughter of other students settling into their rooms. Finally, the orb came to a stop in front of a door with a number engraved in silver: "Room 104". The orb glowed brightly for a moment, then vanished with a soft, chiming sound.