The Reborn Magus and His Prince

Chapter 5.2: Meeting Him Again

The crowd above parted revealing a boy with bright lustrous hair and sharp eyes behind a pair of glasses. He steps down from the staircase with ease, his right hand inside his pocket.

He stopped short from the mohawk guy. "You've had two warnings, another one and you'll be suspended, Clayton."

The mohawk named Clayton released his hand and the metallic liquid instantly receded into his skin. He tsked and gave Yulian a vicious look. "You got lucky, better watch your back. People like you don't belong here."

He veered around and walked up the stairs. He even roughly brushed his shoulders to the new guy as he walked past him. The new guy did not much react, seemingly used to the mohawk's rude manner.

The excitement among the youths died down with the disappearance of Clayton. Some had retreated, probably to their rooms while few stayed back either to watch them or have other business to do at the main hall.

The new guy adjusted his glasses and said to the two of them, "Though the academy prohibits fighting among students, we still have combat class. One can request a duel for an opponent of his choice. Hope you'll keep this in mind."

A subtle warning and Yulian already the rules like the back of his hand. He had not meant to incite trouble. That guy's face was too close and he acted on instincts. He bet mohawk was already playing the scenes on how to humiliate him at the combat class.

"I'm Luke McAlister, the dorm president. Any questions I'll take for later, for now, I'll show you to your room."

Somehow the eyes of McAlister stayed a little longer on his face compared to how he looked at Tim. Or was it just his imagination because he quickly retracted his gaze and began ascending the stairs without waiting for their response.

A shivering Tim went followed, apparently shaken from the mohawk's display of power earlier.

The line between his brows creased and thought what this guy's shivering for? He's the one cold from being wet and he could feel the mocking eyes and hear the snickers directed at him. He squared his shoulders and nonchalantly followed the two.

McAlister took them up to the second floor at the west wing of the dormitory. They turned into a hallway where the lights were dimmer compared to the other hallways. Yulian had a vague memory of this place, this part of the building was once used as storage.

Typical of the academy not unlike his original alma mater. He couldn't help but criticize the Academy whenever he had the chance. Now that he's back here, memories flooded from long ago. Every corner reminded him of his time when he was here.

Unpleasant and nice memories ceased to flashback when they halt at a weary-looking wooden door, there are even cobwebs on its corner.

"This will be your accommodation while you study here, it's *ahem* just needs a little cleaning since it has been a long time for specially admitted students like you."

McAlister had a straight face while saying that, almost on the borderline of shamelessness. He knows how the academy treats students like them but had long turned a blind eye. In any way as long as it does not concern him or the people close to him, he won't bat an eye on how they ran things here.

Out of coincidence, Yulian and Tim's eyes met. Both reflected in their gazes the dawning looks of their situation. McAlister saw the exchange between them and impatiently said. "You have to bear with this, in exchange the amount of honor and glory the Academy can give you is immense."

This guy despite his cold looks was too green and had not seen the whole world yet, honor and glory can not be given that easily. Either someone was a saint to not expect a return or merely acting out of pure madness. In this world, those two words are people to be at the top but one must earn with his blood and tears. This person was truly born and bred for the Caereus Academy.

Yulian schooled his expression and had no care to refute the other guy's beliefs. He said with the same amount of homelessness. "Can we request a broom?"

*****

The interior of the room was pretty decent. If not for the cobwebs hanging on the corners and visible specks of dust accumulated with the passage of time covering any spaces the eyes could see. The floor creaked as they walked and he already prepared mentally for his foot to pass through on these old floors one day.

McAlister momentarily left speechless at his more shameless words earlier and left with muttered words of "I'll see what I can do."

He shook his head remembering it. Too green, too green.

The room had two separate beds parallel to each other with two study tables in between.

He put down his wet luggage and saw a book and a pair of uniforms on the top of the bed.

He picked up the book that had the cover that read 'Rules and Guidelines'. Yulian scoffed and throw it back on the bed.

"Um, I-I think you should bath lest you'll catch a cold."

With a weak voice, Tim said to him. At present, he was standing next to his bed, luggage down and appears to be distracted on where to sit before deciding to stand still.

"Was planning to." Yulian took off his wet upper clothes, not caring about the visible discomfort of his new roommate. He went opened a door positioned near the entrance of their room, assuming it was their bathroom.

Thankfully it had the same state as their room, just dust and cobwebs with occasional creepers that flitted on his peripheral view. There was a small bathtub and a shower room. He opened the water tap and water mixed with rusts flowed out.

Thanks for the small mercy or else he would have to force Tim to conjure water for his bath. He opened every water tap and let it flow to rid of the dirt from the pipes.

He explored the small space while waiting. A mirror was hanging on a wall with a small c***k at the corner, it was hanged high so he could only see half of his face from the head to the middle of his nose. One of the trivial problems a short person faces in this cruel world.

Once he saw the water flow clear, he turned everything off except the shower. Then he discarded the remaining of his clothes.

Yulian finished his shower in a matter of minutes as there was no shampoo nor soap provided. Then realizes there's no towel also and forgot to bring a change of clothes. Strutting butt naked in front of his newly met roommate seems to be awkward.

With no left to choose, he heaved a sigh. His whole body began to emit small steam and water droplets began to evaporate. He took his underwear and pants, he hovered his burning palm over and in a matter of minutes he slip them on again went it was dry enough to wear.

A loud clanging noise echoed throughout the room when he went out of the bath, a broom, brush, and a rag in a bucket rolled at his feet. He realized with the dull pain on his right foot that he had walked right onto the bucket

"Th-those were sent by Luke McAlister when you were in the bath."

Tim with a guilty voice explained.

Stuck with an enigma kind of roommate in this friggin' stinky academy. He heaved another breath and the steam got denser making Tim jump out of fright.

*****

Throughout the rest of the day, they busied their selves in cleaning the whole room. With Yulian doing all the hard work, Tim was not much of a help. With his clumsy hands, he doubles the number of chores needed to be done. Eventually, Yulian had to order him to stand still just like he always does and never move from that spot.

The sun was setting with its orange light mixed with red and purple filled the sky, slowly blanketing the sky with darkness.

Yulian observed the changes through the squeaky clean window of their room. He lied on the newly changed sheets of his bed that he had found next door where the supplies room was. Cobwebs and clouds of dust are all gone and the room finally smells of fresh air. He had hung his wet clothes at a small terrace by the end of the hallway. He had not opted to use his ability on them as it will be too energy draining.

The sun had completely disappeared replaced by the half-visible moon, darkness filled the room. Yulian softly flicked his two fingers and light flooded the room. That's when he heard a rumble. Tim sitting on the study table who had a full concentration on the guide book looked at him. By the light t of the candle, a visible tint can be seen on his cheeks.

"Um, sorry..."

"What are you being sorry for? I could also feel the horses in my stomach." Yulian stood up."Let's go down and see what we can eat."

"But, won't they-"

"Ey! What can they do, you heard the McAlister, we're safe until combat class. And besides, you can't possibly hole yourself here in starvation. Let's go."

With much persuasion and hunger, Tim followed him downstairs. They did not meet anyone along the way, presumably, the rest of the students were at the cafeteria for dinner.

Yulian led the way, he knew where the cafeteria was through his memory, and within the guide book, a map had been inserted. So Tim did not suspect anything.

They went out of the dormitory and once outside, they bumped into some students but they only glanced briefly at them, indifferent to their presence. The two opted to walk in silence behind the others. On the other side of the path, a few girls can be seen walking also.

The cafeteria was a separate building built to accommodate both boys and girls, located not far away from the two dormitories.

Upon entering the facility, he saw some familiar faces already sitting for their meal. One was Professor Orphys at the center table joined by other adults which he presumed were professors too. The surrounding table there had a deathly silence. Each student eating in a monotonous manner, when earlier they had been a rowdy bunch but had been taken surprise when a group of professors decided to sit down at the center table. They usually take their meals either in their rooms or at their dining room. All were baffled and rendered silent when they appeared and decided to eat there.

On the other hand, no one paid attention to the new students. And Yulian and Tim had taken their steps after getting their food towards a corner table where only one student was sitting. Frost.

"Hello," Yulian greeted her. "Can we sit here?" 

Frost looked up at him and she gave them a stiff nod as a sign of acknowledgment.

"Help yourself." She answered and continued her meal.

"Thanks!"

The two sat down. Throughout their dinner, Yulian tried to keep a conversation with the shy Tim and stoic Frost. Tim was more at ease with him now with their episode in the afternoon. Frost on the other, though, stiff as her answers were, she had still tried to respond to his question. Then they learned her name, Emilia Frost. From there, everything went smoothly among the three, there's awkwardness but they made progress in their relationship.

After the meal, the three went back to their respective dormitory and there was an awkward goodbye between one girl and two boys.

Tim went ahead to their room while Yulian went straight to the terrace to fetch his clothes.

The terrace faces the vast forest and this side of the dormitory was also at a very secluded part and rare students can be seen there, well maybe except for its two new residents. So he had no trouble with anyone stealing his clothes for a prank.

He had trouble pulling his clothes from the make-shift racks he made with assorted woods he found in the storage this afternoon. Finally, he was down with one article of clothing but as he reach out for it, the wind blew strong. The small piece of cloth escape his grasp and was blown away below.

He did not panic and calmly put the clothes in his hand on the basket. Since no one's here, he decided to directly retrieve it from below. He heaved himself up on the railings and jumped down with ease.

His feet landed on even ground and conjured a small flame to look for his lost thing. But what he found when he glanced up was one golden eye staring at him. The other eye was covered with his white trunks.