A Room Full of Secrets
1304 Words
The orientation ceremony ended just before sunset.
Students poured out of the Grand Assembly Hall in every direction, laughing excitedly as they searched for their dormitories. Some dragged heavy suitcases behind them, while others were already introducing themselves to their new roommates.
Astera quietly slipped away from the crowd.
She preferred silence over meaningless conversations.
An academy attendant handed her a polished silver key engraved with the crest of the Royal Alpha University.
"Advanced Royal Program Dormitory," he said politely. "Private Room, Third Floor. Only the academy's highest-ranking students receive individual suites."
Astera gave a slight nod.
"Thank you."
With her backpack slung over one shoulder, she followed the stone path leading toward the academy residence.
The dormitory itself looked more like a royal palace than a place for students.
Tall crystal windows reflected the evening sunlight.
Vines covered the white stone walls, blooming with glowing flowers that only opened after sunset.
Small streams of enchanted water flowed around the building, filling the air with a soothing melody.
Astera couldn't help but admire the architecture.
"So this is how the richest academy in the Wolf Realm looks..."
A muffled squeak came from inside her backpack.
She sighed.
"We're almost there."
The backpack shook again.
"I know you're hungry."
Another louder squeak.
"And impatient."
---
A few minutes later...
She unlocked the door to Room 307.
The room was surprisingly spacious.
A large bed stood beside a crystal window overlooking the academy gardens.
A wooden study desk occupied one corner.
Bookshelves lined an entire wall.
There was even a small workshop table.
Astera's eyes immediately lit up.
"A workshop..."
She walked over, running her fingers across the polished surface.
"It's perfect."
For the first time in a long while, genuine excitement flickered across her face.
The tiny dragon chose that exact moment to poke its fluffy red-and-yellow head out of the backpack.
It blinked.
Looked around.
Then leaped straight onto the bed.
Boing.
It bounced twice before disappearing beneath the blankets.
Astera pinched the bridge of her nose.
"You..."
"...are impossible."
The little creature peeked out proudly, as though claiming ownership of the room.
---
Before Astera could stop it...
The dragon jumped onto the bookshelf.
Then the desk.
Then the windowsill.
Then back onto the bed.
It seemed determined to inspect every corner.
"Get down."
It ignored her.
"Now."
It wagged its tiny tail.
Astera folded her arms.
"So that's how it's going to be."
She calmly reached into her bag.
The dragon froze.
It had learned one thing during their journey.
Whenever Astera reached into that bag...
Something strange usually happened.
She pulled out a tiny mechanical bird.
With a click, its wings unfolded.
It flew across the room, chirping loudly.
The dragon's eyes became enormous.
Without hesitation...
It chased after the fake bird.
Left.
Right.
Up.
Down.
The mechanical bird darted around the room while the tiny dragon bounced after it like an overexcited kitten.
Astera couldn't stop the corner of her lips from lifting.
Almost.
Almost.
Finally...
The bird landed neatly inside an empty basket.
The dragon jumped in after it.
Astera gently closed the lid.
"Captured."
From inside the basket came an indignant squeak.
"You'll survive."
---
Just then—
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Astera froze.
The dragon froze.
Another knock echoed.
"Room inspection!"
A student supervisor called from outside.
Astera's eyes widened.
The dragon chose that exact moment to sneeze.
"Pffft!"
A tiny puff of warm smoke escaped through the basket.
Astera stared.
The dragon stared back innocently.
"Seriously?"
She hurriedly threw a blanket over the basket just as the door opened.
A senior student stepped inside holding a clipboard.
"Good evening."
"I'm just checking that everything is in order."
Astera forced a calm smile.
"Of course."
The supervisor looked around.
"Comfortable room."
"It is."
He walked toward the study table.
Astera casually stepped between him and the suspiciously moving basket.
He glanced at her.
"You seem nervous."
"I've had... a long journey."
Reasonable enough.
He nodded.
Then—
"Squeak."
The supervisor frowned.
"Did you hear that?"
Astera answered immediately.
"The floorboards."
"They're old."
He looked down.
"This building was completed last year."
"..."
Astera blinked once.
"Then perhaps..."
"...very new floorboards?"
The supervisor gave her a strange look.
Before he could investigate further—
The mechanical bird hidden beneath the bed suddenly activated.
"Tweet! Tweet! Tweet!"
The supervisor looked toward the sound.
"Oh."
"A bird somehow got inside."
Astera secretly pressed the remote hidden in her sleeve.
The mechanical bird flew out the window.
The supervisor chased after it.
"I'll inform maintenance."
He hurried outside.
The door closed.
Silence.
Astera leaned against it and slowly exhaled.
Inside the basket...
The dragon proudly made another tiny squeak.
She looked at it.
"You almost got us expelled."
The dragon blinked.
Then rolled onto its back as if asking for praise.
"You are unbelievable."
---
After making absolutely certain no one else would interrupt...
Astera finally unpacked her belongings.
The invention journal.
Ancient book.
Potions.
Precision tools.
Metal wires.
Tiny crystals.
Her workshop slowly transformed into an inventor's paradise.
But she wasn't finished.
She had survived betrayal once.
She wouldn't let it happen again.
---
She pulled out several miniature devices.
Within the next two hours...
Room 307 quietly became the safest room in the entire academy.
A nearly invisible alarm thread stretched across the doorway.
Anyone entering without permission would activate a silent warning bracelet on Astera's wrist.
She hid tiny crystal cameras behind decorative carvings.
A false compartment appeared beneath one floorboard where she stored the ancient book.
She installed a lock that could only be opened by her fingerprint.
Even the windows received thin metallic sensors.
If opened from outside...
She would know immediately.
Finally...
She connected everything to a tiny control device disguised as an ordinary academy clock.
The dragon watched the entire process with great fascination.
Every time Astera tightened a screw...
It tightened an imaginary one with its tiny paws.
Every time she hammered something...
It lightly tapped the floor with its tail.
"You think you're helping."
The dragon nodded proudly.
Astera sighed.
"I suppose moral support counts."
---
Night settled over the academy.
Moonlight poured through the crystal window.
Astera sat quietly at her desk, writing today's observations into her journal.
Royal Alpha University.
Security acceptable.
Dormitory improved.
Potential escape routes: three.
Secret storage completed.
She paused before adding another note.
Tiny dragon remains highly unpredictable... and incredibly troublesome.
As if offended...
The little creature climbed onto the desk.
It looked directly at the page.
Then deliberately placed one tiny paw right on the fresh ink.
Leaving a bright little paw print.
Astera stared at the notebook.
The dragon stared back proudly.
"..."
"You did that on purpose."
The creature tilted its head.
She sighed in defeat.
"You know..."
"I was trying to keep this journal professional."
The dragon responded with a cheerful chirp before curling up on top of the notebook itself, refusing to move.
Astera tried gently nudging it aside.
It hugged the journal tighter.
She tried lifting it.
It clung to the notebook with surprising determination.
She raised an eyebrow.
"So we're fighting over my own journal now?"
The dragon gave a tiny triumphant squeak.
For the first time in what felt like forever...
A quiet laugh escaped Astera's lips.
It was soft.
Brief.
Almost unfamiliar.
The little dragon looked up at her in surprise.
As if realizing it had accomplished something extraordinary.
Astera quickly cleared her throat, regaining her usual calm expression.
"Don't get used to it."
The dragon simply closed its eyes and fell asleep on the notebook anyway.
Outside, the academy rested peacefully beneath the moonlight.
Inside Room 307...
An inventor who trusted no one and a mischievous little dragon had unknowingly become the most unusual roommates in the Royal Alpha University.
And this was only their first night.
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