Both froze for a moment, their heavy breathing filling the silence in the room. Luther slowly lowered his fist, casting one last warning glance at Ithan before standing up and opening the door.
He yanked it open to reveal a tall figure standing in the dimly lit hallway.
It was Darius.
"Good evening, gentlemen," greeted Darius, his tone laced with feigned cheerfulness. His sharp eyes quickly scanned the scene: the disheveled furniture, Ithan's ruffled appearance, and Luther's clenched fists. "Did I arrive at a… bad time?"
Luther stepped aside to let him in, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe. "Just getting settled," he replied curtly, offering no further explanation.
Darius walked into the room with his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes carefully inspecting the aftermath of the scuffle. He turned to Kay, who simply shrugged and gestured toward the other two.
"I didn't see anything," Kay commented, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Just a little bonding between new roommates."
Darius raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed, before turning his attention to Ithan, who was brushing off his clothes and feigning indifference.
"Ithan," said Darius with a pointed look, "I don't care what grudge you have or what trouble you're looking for. Whatever happened outside this academy stays there. Do you understand?"
Ithan's grin faltered briefly but quickly returned as he nodded with exaggerated casualness. "Crystal clear," he muttered.
"And you, Luther," Darius continued, turning toward him. "I'd advise you to avoid situations like this in the future. You wouldn't want the headmistress hearing about your… disruptions."
Luther met his gaze with a steady expression. "Maybe tell Ithan to keep his knife to himself next time," he replied calmly but firmly.
Darius regarded him for a moment before nodding. "Fair enough. But let this be the first and last time I have to step in. Understood?"
A tense silence lingered before both Luther and Ithan reluctantly nodded. Satisfied, Darius turned and began heading toward the door. As he reached it, he paused and glanced back over his shoulder.
"Oh, one more thing," he added with a smirk. "Lights out in an hour. Don't keep your neighbors awake with your… bonding."
With that, he disappeared down the hallway, leaving the three of them in silence.
Kay was the first to speak. "Well, that was entertaining," he said, standing and stretching lazily. "I'm calling the top bunk."
Ithan shot him a glare but said nothing, rubbing his jaw as he returned to his bed. Luther remained by the door, still simmering with anger but reined in by Darius's warning.
"Sweet dreams, boys," Kay said with a smirk as he climbed into the top bunk.
The room settled into a brief silence after Darius's departure. Ithan flopped heavily onto his bed, muttering under his breath, while Kay remained perched on the top bunk, engrossed in a book he'd retrieved from his bag. Luther stayed by the wall, his mind processing the recent confrontation.
The quiet was soon interrupted by another knock on the door.
"Who the hell is it now?" Ithan grumbled, clearly irritated. He got up from his bed with a huff and stomped to the door, yanking it open. "What do you want?" he barked.
Standing on the other side was a rather peculiar-looking boy. His face was delicate and strikingly beautiful, almost angelic, with soft features that seemed sculpted by an artist. His shiny black hair was tied into an elegant ponytail that fell down his back, and his gray eyes glimmered with an unusual intensity. He was short in stature but carried himself with an air of confidence that felt out of place in this setting. Ithan blinked, momentarily confused.
"Wrong room," Ithan finally said, beginning to shut the door.
The boy raised a hand quickly, stopping the door from closing entirely. His expression remained calm, but his eyes held an unexpected firmness.
"I'm not mistaken," he said in a soft yet assured voice. "This is my room."
Ithan stared at him incredulously, his irritation mounting with every passing second. "Your room?" he repeated, nearly laughing. "Listen, kid, I don't know who sent you here, but—"
"I'm Kael Éveris," the boy interrupted, his voice unwavering but without raising its volume, making it clear he would not tolerate being interrupted again. "And according to the room assignments, this is my room. So, if you don't mind, may I come in?"
The sarcasm in Kael's voice did not go unnoticed, and Ithan's jaw tightened as he glared at him. Before things could escalate further, Luther stepped forward, gently pushing Ithan aside.
"Kael, is it?" Luther asked, scrutinizing the boy. "Got anything to prove it?"
Kael nodded calmly, retrieving a rolled-up parchment from his pocket. He unrolled it with care, revealing an official document from the academy confirming his assignment to the room.
Luther took the parchment, scanned it briefly, and handed it back. "Looks like he's right. He's one of us."
Kael offered a small smile and nodded in thanks before stepping gracefully into the room. His polished demeanor was a stark contrast to the earlier chaos. He walked to the remaining empty bunk, placed his bag down with precision, and surveyed the room with an almost analytical air.
"Well, it seems we'll be roommates," he said with a faint smile, addressing all three. "I hope we can get along."
Ithan snorted, slamming the door harder than necessary before retreating to his bed, clearly annoyed. Kay, meanwhile, lowered his book slightly, observing Kael with mild curiosity.
Luther crossed his arms and watched the scene unfold. Despite Kael's calm and courteous demeanor, there was something about his posture that hinted he was not someone to be underestimated. Ithan, however, deliberately ignored him, making it obvious he had no interest in socializing.
"Well, Kael," Luther finally said, breaking the silence. "Don't mind Ithan. He's just a bitter guy. As you can see, you've arrived at a… tense moment."
Kael nodded, a hint of amusement in his expression. "No problem, thanks."
The room fell back into an awkward silence as everyone resumed their activities. Luther lay on his bed, Kay returned to his book, and Ithan stared at the ceiling, still clearly frustrated by the new addition.
But one thing was clear: with Kael now in the mix, things in this room were bound to be anything but boring.
As the uncomfortable quiet settled, one thought crossed Luther's mind: This semester is going to be long.