Drake ambled towards the dorm, mumbling to himself, a gentle murmur of thoughts milling in his brain. "How could Xena get a direct scholarship? When trials for induction were so merciless?"
His eyes strayed ahead to the towering edifice in sight, its multi-tiered form etching long, meandering shadows under the evening light. "Later during the academic engagements, I will ask her," he vowed, quickening his pace.
He came up before the multifunction apartment complex building, its façade a dark blue canvas with an overlay of intricate, white patterns that shimmered in the weak sunlight.
Inside, the dormitory was filled with commotion. Students dodged each other, much like bees filling the inside of a beehive, their voices a cacophony of excitement and nerves.
Drake maneuvered his way through the maze-like corridors until he came before a room with "27-J" boldly inscribed on it. Relieved, he stepped inside.
While the interior was painted in a light blue colour and hence exuded a serene charm amidst the sombre exterior that presented a direct contrast, the right corner boasted a proud, tall black wardrobe with its polished surface reflecting the faint glimmers from the lanterns.
There was an expansive, inviting bed lying right in the middle of the room, appearing to beckon him with promises of rest. Lamps with inlaid white crystals cast a soft glow; the light dances along the surfaces of the room, creating an ambiance of quiet elegance.
Draking went about unpacking his stuff, each in its due place. His clothes and essentials flew into the wardrobe, while one heavy tent backpack settled into the corner, as if standing guard.
Thirty minutes later, he exhaled contentedly, a faint trace of exertion tugging at his features. "A shower," he whispered, "that's exactly what I need now."
The bathroom was a vision of pristine luxury: gleaming white marble on walls and floors, smooth surfaces radiating an almost ethereal purity. The tub, topped by its gleaming showerhead, was the centerpiece, promising wordlessly the solace of relaxation. Opposite it, a water closet and a sleek washing basin lined the walls, completing the room's symmetrical elegance.
Drake's mind wandered as he got ready to clean up. "This world," he muttered to himself, running water almost drowning him out, "is full of secrets. Will have to dig deeper when semester starts."
By now, the principal's office was thick with tension. Principal Logan sat with authority, his steel eyes fixed unblinkingly upon Professor Leo, who stood with frustration and unease etched in every feature.
"Sir, if I may say so," Leo started, the strain of controlled emotion tightened within his voice. "Did not granting that red-haired lady a free ticket into the academy seem. excessive?" His words hung in the air like a challenged gauntlet.
Principal Logan leaned forward, his chin propped against his steepled hands as his eyes drilled into Leo's. "Let me tell you something, Leo," he said, the words smooth and deadly as an unsheathing knife. "That young lady is a person we cannot afford to offend. What you saw out there today. that was her jolly side."
Confusion etched on Leo's face as the weight of Logan's words sank in. "You mean her attitude today had something to do with that boy, Drake?" His voice finally faltered. "Who is she?"
Logan straightened, his movements slow and deliberate, and laid a heavy hand on Leo's shoulder. "Knowing who she is," he said, his voice dropping almost to a whisper, "would only put you further in harm's way. Trust me, Leo-this isn't a lion whose tail you want to tug."
Leo's face blanched white. He took a step backward and bowed deeply. "Understood," he said, his voice trembling a bit.
*****
Drake stepped out of the bathroom, his skin glowing with a fresh energy. A light show of mana shimmered around him, the faintest aura of stars that seemed to compose his very presence. His hair stuck to his forehead, and his hands ran a towel through the strands with practiced ease.
An unexpected voice now laced with mischief cut through the silence. "Geez, what a great body, just what I expect from my Crux, one I will be holding a ritual with."
Drakes head snapped up, his eyes narrowing as they landed on Xena, who sat on the edge of his bed, her hands propping her up as she kicked her legs playfully. Her eyes danced with unrestrained glee, but behind them-a glint of something Drake couldn't quite place.
"What? How'd you get in here?" he demanded, his voice raising slightly as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"I climbed through the window," Xena responded with careless elegance, her tone as light as her demeanor.
Drake's eyes went wide. "This is the boys' dormitory!"
"And that's why I didn't use the door," she returned quicksilver, gesturing first at the door and then to the window as though explaining something to a child.
Drake hastily grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the door. "I'm not going anywhere!" Xena exclaimed, her tone rising in growing indignation.
He yanked the door open, and coming through it was a semicircle of boys, ranging from merely curious to outright scandalized. Whispers ran in the circle of people, like the wind.
"Hey, is he forcing her?
"But isn't she his fiancée? Shouldn't he give her more time?"
"Wow, drama already? This academy's turning out to be more entertaining than I thought."
At this, Drake's expression darkened, and he whirled to face them. "You're misunderstanding! She broke into my room, and I'm just trying to..."
But his words were overwhelmed by murmurs, each theory wilder than the last.
Mark popped up, swinging a casual arm over Drake's shoulder. "Hey, dude, no need to explain. We all know how it is," he said with a knowing grin.
Drake shook him off with a huff and stepped back into his room,only to find it empty. The window was open, the curtains fluttering in the breeze.
Xena burst into the office of Principal Logan, her entrance about as dramatic as it was disruptive. "The room you put me in is unacceptable!" she exclaimed, her voice resounding within the chamber as Logan looked up, startled.
As the words tumbled out, even before he could utter a word, she pounded her hands onto his desk, rattling everything that sat upon it. "From now on, I am sharing Drake's room."
Logan's face whitened. "Do you even hear yourself?" he snarled, rising to his feet. "I gave you a scholarship because of our history, but this-this is insanity!"
Xena's eyes flashed dangerously. "Fine. I'll just burn everything down, then."
Logan slumped back into his chair, defeated by the fight. "Fine," he granted, "but this has to be done carefully. We'll have an announcement during class activities. Till then, keep it quiet."
Xena grinned, raising two fingers in a mock salute. "Deal." And with that, she was off, like a gust of wind, leaping out the window once more.