Zaki's voice faded into the distance, farther as he moved toward the door. In the same vain, the hall which was once filled with students and their bustling activities began to empty. As well, their laughter and whispers diminished with each departing group of students.
'They must be heading to their dorms now.'
Buji thought and looked down at the wooden square in his hand. Carved into its surface was written what according to the instructor, was his room number—406. He tightened his grip on the wooden square as he slowly rose to his feet. His legs trembled as his body was heavy, burdened by the weight of the ridicule he had faced, especially the one he faced some moments earlier.
Buji looked around the hall. It was rapidly becoming empty and he knew he needed to follow the other students to locate his room. He was going to be trailing behind the students from the Zin family row since they were going to lead him to the dorm to find his room. But he still maintained his distance to avoid further jokes.
'No more jokes of anguish. Not today'
Buji continued following them until the students ahead rounded a corner and stopped. He quickened his steps a bit so as to avoid losing sight of them. At the front were the older students, with the new students shuffling behind them like lost sheep.
The new students were especially static at a point, looking and pointing fingers at the dormitory that loomed ahead. Continuing their movement, they passed across the corridors of the dormitory that connected the dormitory all the way from the hall.
Buji supposed it was the same way for other dormitories. Other dormitories were also connected to the hall using a long pathway that served as open corridors.
They finally approached the entrance of the dormitory which was flanked by wooden doors aligned at straight lines along the doorway. Above the arched doorway, a large "Z" encased in a circle was etched into the stone on the wall, signifying the Zin family dormitory.
The dormitory gave the impression that there was life in it. It echoed surreptitiously with the careful steps made by the foot of the students who filed in rows ahead of Buji, marching inside like some new gallant soldiers.
"On the wall immediately above each door you get to, you will find a number carved into a wood. Match it with the one on your wooden squares to locate your room. For now, the old students will be retiring to their rooms."
"You will definitely find your rooms when you make use of the stairs, whether at the top or middle floor. Well, to make it easier, those with the number starting with two should head to the second floor and search for their rooms. Three and four? You are in for a climb. Same with five, if you're unlucky," he chuckled lightled and added.
"And, do well to have a nice day, and once again, welcome to the academy."
A student had said from the crowd. Unlike Buji who was lean, he was a bit plump and tall at the same time. His hair was shady blue in color, flowing down his back.
'He might be the head student or something. Between, if I hear 'welcome' one more time…' Buji thought, rolling his eyes.
He lingered by the staircase behind others. For the sake of protecting his remaining shame, he let them go ahead of him. He watched as different pairs of students, some three in a group but at most four, laughed and jostled each other as they ascended the stairs.
Buji secretly envied their camaraderie, their ease in this foreign place. Or maybe, it was foreign only to him since he felt like an outsider, no friend, no one walking on the same path as him.
"They belong here, but I don't. It is well."
Taking a deep breath, he tightened his grip on the wooden square which was his only guide to his room and began his ascent. The staircase he trudged upon spiraled upwards too wherever it was built to stop, endless as it seemed. For his concern, he was on the fourth floor now and should look for his room. So, he carefully scanned each door he passed by.
"401… 402… 403…" he muttered under his breath with his voice low and steady. "406… finally."
The room numbers were boldly planked with black ink a few centimeters above the well-polished wooden doors.
As he reached for the doorknob, his hands hovered hesitantly over it. The doorknob felt cool under his palm but he was reluctant to open it. At the same time, he could hear the sounds of other students fading behind closed doors.
"Pheew," he sighed in relief and finally opened the door.
The door, now ajar, revealed a small sparsely furnished room. At the end corner of the room against the far wall was a broad bed, neatly dressed. A single window by the left end of the room let in piercing rays of sunlight, illuminating the room's bare walls.
He sighted the rickety desk which stood near the window, with a small thin book resting on it.
Mustering the courage, Buji stepped into the room, closing the door softly behind him. By a hidden corner of the room, he found his bags neatly arranged neatly beside a simple the wardrobe, which was not sighted by merely standing at the door.
Buji nodded mutely as he moved closer to the wardrobe to scrutinize what it contained or if it was empty. It was as good as empty except for the up and down fabric, dyed in red color, neatly folded on the wooden shelves of the wardrobe.
"That must be the school wear," he muttered to himself.
Shifting his attention to the desk beside the window, he made his movement towards it. The thin book on its surface caught his attention. He moved closer, recognizing it immediately. It was the pamphlet Emra used with him a few days earlier. On it was written, "Why be a Hunter."
Buji's eyes widened in excitement seemingly forgetting at the moment why he had been a bit moody. He collected the pamphlet and gestured towards the bed, sitting on its edge and flipping the pamphlet first.
He had longed to know what the pamphlet contained. Emra didn't let him know everything. She had already skimmed parts of it, leaving him yearning for more.
Opening the first page of the pamphlet to start downloading what the book contained, he read aloud. "EVOLUTION—TEN CENTURIES AGO."