A vacillating, booted gait echoed softly against the polished wooden floor, each uneven step commensurate with the mellow glow of the enchanted lanterns. This glimmer painted the frigid stone corridors of the Academy dormitory in auroral amber.
On some days, it was hard for him to distinguish which he felt, but at this moment, he was certain that he has crossed the fine line of excitement and anxiety, filling his heavy chest with the quiet weight of expectations. Adjusting the strap of his travel bag, he took comfort in the reassuring weight of its contents, suppressing the anxiety that threatened to surface.
"Hhhhrrrhhh... ffffffhhhhhhh..." When he finally reached the door of his assigned room, he took a deep breath and paused for a moment. His sweaty hand rested on the polished brass handle as he stared at the number on the door. Nine.
The dormitories for freshmen were an odd mix of camaraderie and controlled chaos. Unlike the upper years, who earned private or semi-private rooms based on their merits from the previous year, first-years were grouped together in rooms of ten. This was a deliberate design by the Academy, intended to foster teamwork and test how students adapted to living closely despite their unknown differences.
This is it, his first step into a new life. He missed the peaceful lifestyle of the forest, but he knew he had no other choice but to find the courage to face this contrasting environment. His first goal is to stay as calm as possible.
He pushed the door open.
Smack!
"Ghhk-gghhkk."
The first thing he heard was a sharp crack, followed by a choked gasp. The scene before him shattered whatever calm he'd walked in with.
A boy stood with his arm raised and a smug on his face, while another boy with pale hair cradled his cheek, fresh bruises blooming on his alabaster skin.
"Ah, a new face!" The aggressor turned, lowering his hand.
"..."
"Welcome to the party. I'm Aidan von Brandt. Future Wizard Extraordinaire." He gestured grandly, as though expecting applause. "And you must be?"
"Austin."
"Hello–I-I'm Lucian," the pale-haired boy introduced timidly.
"Tsk!" Aidan clicked his tongue as he glared at Lucian who then flinched.
Austin's eyes flicked to Lucian.
Despite his trembling frame, there's a glint of determination in his gaze. Even as his cheek reddened from the slap, the defiance, though faint, was present.
"Austin—ah! You were the top scorer in the entrance exams! Come on, tell me—what's your secret?"
Austin blinked nonchalantly as he swept his gaze over the room, taking in the arrangement.
The room was divided into six sections. One was a common area with a table and a few couches dominating the center. The other five alcoves branched off, each holding two beds with accompanying pair of desks and chests. Despite the stone walls, the space felt oddly inviting, warmed by soft lighting and decorative touches.
Austin turned away from Aidan without a word and walked toward an unoccupied bed, setting his bag down.
"Hey!" Aidan's annoyed voice followed him. "I'm talking to you. What, too good to answer?"
Austin didn't even look back. "I'm tired. Go bother someone else."
Aidan clicked his tongue, but his irritation quickly turned toward Lucian who is still standing frozen near the door.
"Lucian," he spat, stalking toward him. "You just had to embarrass me, didn't you? Can't even get through one day without making a fool of yourself."
Lucian's trembling body flinched as Aidan shoved him against the wall. "I—I didn't mean to…" he stammered with a cracking voice. His gaze darted toward Austin, a silent plea for help flashing in his eyes.
But Austin didn't bat an eye.
Aidan's hand shot out, gripping Lucian's chin and forcing him to look up. "Don't mean to? Don't lie to me. You think I didn't see the way he looked at you?"
"..."
"It's your fault, with that stupid 'White Curse' of yours!" He shoved Lucian again, hard enough to make him stumble.
Austin gritted his teeth, his back still turned as he slowly opened his bag. He told himself to stay out of it. He didn't know these people, didn't owe them anything, and didn't know their story. But the sound of Lucian's muffled sobs grated against his conscience.
"Stop," Austin said with a low but firm voice.
The room fell silent.
Aidan turned, his smirk returning as he crossed his arms. "What did you say?"
"I said stop," Austin's tone is calm, turning to face Aidan. "You're making too much noise." His almond eyes were steady.
Aidan stepped closer while barking a laugh, "You think you can tell me what to do?"
Austin didn't flinch. "If you're done playing tough, maybe you could leave me in peace."
Aidan's grin faltered for a moment, his hand twitching at his side. But then he scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. "Whatever. Stay out of my business, top scorer." He turned on his heel, walking to his bed.
Lucian remained where he was, slumped against the wall, his aqua blue eyes glistening.
Austin glanced past him without a word, returning to his bed to sit down.
"Th-thank you," Lucian whispered with a trembling voice after walking closer.
Austin glanced at him. "I didn't do it for you. I just need a bit of silence."
Lucian nodded, wiping his face as he slowly made his way to his own corner of the room.
As silence settled over the room, Austin dragged his bag to sit in an edge, leaned back against the cool stone wall, stared at the ceiling, and sighed inwardly.
Alright—let's start with organizing our things because a clear space is a clear mind.
While Austin began to quietly organize his belongings in the chest near his bed, the once-quiet dormitory began to fill with voices as more students arrived.
Each creak of the door announced another newcomer, and with every entrance, Aidan's charisma flared to life.
"Welcome, fellow students, to the illustrious dorm of Aidan von Brandt!" he exclaimed, flicking his blonde hair theatrically. He radiated overconfidence, punctuating his greetings with dramatic flourishes.
Reactions varied—some nodded politely, others forced smiles, and a few nobles even mirrored his enthusiasm, eager to align with his apparent authority.
Austin leaned back on his bed after tidying his space up and scanned the growing group. he room's dynamics were already taking shape, and he observed it all with detachment.
The Academy had segregated dormitories by gender, so he expected the shared space to be bustling, but the masculine energy already rasped on him.
Mama.
Nearby, Lucian, hovered awkwardly in one corner. Inch by inch, he edged near Austin, moving with a hesitancy that made his intentions obvious. When he finally settled in the other bed in the back right corner's alcove, hunching into himself as if trying to disappear, Austin's eyes snapped toward him briefly.
The sight of Lucian's nervous frame stirred a faint irritation—not out of malice but because the boy's anxious presence felt intrusive. Yet, Austin said nothing. He wasn't here to comfort anyone, and if his corner provided Lucian with solace, so be it.
Just get through the year quietly, and avoid unnecessary attention, Austin thought and sighed as he laid in his bed, his mind wandering to his goal.
His attention shifted back to the room, taking in its details with a fresh perspective. Sharing spaces is exhausting.
Solitude meant focus, freedom, and no distractions which is in complete contrast with a crowded room.
The top merit... Before entering the room, his sole goal had been to become a 'Scholar.' However, after witnessing the violence, he became determined to secure the top merit in this school year, earn a private room for the following year, and graduate peacefully.
"So that's your plan now, huh?" The relative calm broke when Aidan's sharp voice cut through Austin's thoughts. His eyes locked onto Lucian like a predator. With heavy steps, he closed the distance. "Hiding behind him?"
Lucian stiffened, curling in on himself. "I—I wasn't…"
"Don't lie to me," Aidan snarled, grabbing Lucian by the collar and yanking him to his feet. The boy winced, his earlier bruises standing out starkly against his pale skin.
Aidan's fist hovered midair, ready to strike, when a voice rang out from across the room.
"Stop it!" The words hung in the air, freezing the room's occupants. All eyes turned to the source—a dark-haired boy standing defiantly in the center of the room. His clothes, though clean, lacked the embroidery and fine fabric of noble tailoring.
"A commoner," a low murmur rippled through the room, punctuated by scoffs and sneers.
"Who let a commoner in here?" someone muttered.
"Does he even know who Aidan von Brandt is?" another snickered.
The boy's shoulders stiffened, but he didn't back down. "Leave him alone. You're nothing but a bully."
Aidan's grin widened as he released Lucian, stepping toward the boy with a swagger. "Oh, how noble of you." His tone dripped with sarcasm. "And who are you to give orders, peasant?"
The commoner faltered under the nobles' ridicule. He glanced at the other two commoners in the room, seeking support, but they quickly averted their eyes.
Emboldened by their silence, Aidan shoved the boy backward, causing him to stumble. "Where's that strong sense of justice you had earlier, hmm?" Aidan grabbed him by the collar, the sharp sound of flesh meeting flesh echoing through the room.
"..."
"Where did it go?" he demanded, delivering another stinging slap. "Huh?!" Slap after slap followed, Aidan's laughter growing louder even as the boy's cheeks turned red and bruised.
"..."
Finally, Aidan shoved him beside Lucian, sending him crumpling to the ground in a heap.
The commoner moaned in pain, clutching his face.
"You're in my turf now," Aidan said, his voice laced with mockery. "And if you want to play hero, you can join the loser club with Lucian here."
The room erupted into laughter.
From his bed, Austin let out a quiet sigh, his patience wearing thin.
Lucian and the commoner stood against the suffocating ridicules in the center.
"Do you ever shut up?" Austin's calm voice sliced through the chaos.
The laughter stopped.
Aidan turned to him, his grin faltering. "What did you say?"
Austin's expression remained neutral. "You're loud. All of you. I came here for some peace, not to listen to this circus."
A ripple of amusement swept through the nobles, and one of them sneered. "Oh, look. The 'top scorer' has something to say."
Another chimed in, "The descendant of a washed-up sword saint? What's a relic like him doing in the Magian's Academy?"
The words struck deeper than Austin anticipated. Not for himself, but for his father—the man whose honor these spoiled brats so carelessly mocked. He clenched his fists, suppressing the urge to respond, knowing escalation would only bring more conflict.
Sensing weakness, Aidan seized the moment. "Exactly! A relic from the Todesfall Forest. Tell me, Austin, how does it feel to be one of a dying breed?"
Austin's dark eyes sharpened. His voice, steady and cold, cut through the taunts. "Better than being remembered as someone who can't win without picking on the weak."
The room fell silent, the weight of his words hanging heavy.
Aidan's smirk twisted into a scowl, his pride stung. "You think you're clever?" he growled, taking a step closer. "Let's see how clever you are in a duel."
Excitement rippled through the room. A duel—the day before the welcome ceremony. All eyes were on Austin, waiting to see how he would respond.
Austin chuckled softly, rising from his bed. His movements were unhurried, almost lazy, as he met Aidan's glare. "Are you sure about that?" he asked, his tone laced with quiet confidence.
"Too scared to get embarrassed?" Aidan provoked.
Austin let out a soft sigh of disbelief before speaking, "Alright, but don't cry when it's over."
Aidan's fists clenched, his ego too bruised to back down. "You are going to regret this."
Austin shrugged, his expression unbothered. "We'll see."