“Alice Crest was a bit similar to you,” Dmitry said casually.

  I swiveled my head toward him as we walked.

  ?He smiled, one hand tucked into his pocket, while the other held his bag over his shoulder. “She also entered the academy mid-year, scouted directly by the dean. That alone made her stand out. There’s rarely ever any transfers or new students, so most of the students on this floor have known each other for five or so years since first entering the academy.”

  ?We passed into the central recreational wing of the fourth floor: a wide, open space carved from pale stone and warmed by a cluster of light-stone table lamps and a singular hanging chandelier in the center. There was an enormous floor-to-ceiling window—one of the only large ones I’d seen in this building—but as it was nighttime, it provided no outside light. Upholstered armchairs in shades of deep blue and forest greens were arranged around low tables; the space was evidently designed for congregation and casual socializing. A few bookcases climbed toward the ceiling, filled with ancient, seemingly decorative books and strange, arcane devices.

  ?Dmitry lifted his right hand and waved toward a pair of students seated at one of the tables, hunched over a board filled with colorful glass orbs. It appeared to be a game of some sort. The boys hesitated before returning the wave, their gazes flicking toward me. Thankfully, their expressions weren’t fearful. Rather, they were merely wary, and perhaps curious.

  ?“Alice was admitted due to her incredible talent,” Dmitry continued as we moved past them, “despite being an orphan… with a troubling lineage.”

  ?“Troubling lineage?” I frowned.

  ?My own background had been fabricated by Professor Sullivan; it was apparently simpler than being admitted with my roots being unknown. Though he didn’t elaborate on why.

  ?Dmitry slowed slightly and leaned closer, lowering his voice. “About a decade back, her family was implicated in an uprising against the crown. Leaders of the rebellion.” He made a sharp slicing motion with his right hand across his neck. “They were beheaded for their crimes.”

  ?He straightened again and returned to his normal walking speed.

  ?“The dean knew all of this when he admitted her,” Dmitry said. “Argued that her parents’ crimes weren’t her own. Which—personally—I agree with.” He shrugged. “But most of us grew up hearing stories about what her family did. Some students even lost parents or siblings in the Great Rebellion.”

  ?His gaze flicked briefly toward the lounging students nearby before returning forward.

  ?“So when she arrived,” he finished, “there was… hostility.”

  ?~And now that girl is to ascend to a Celestial and rule over this realm. Apophis snickered from my shoulder. And these poor souls have no idea.

  ?I felt a chill run across my neck.

  ?“Most of the bedrooms are three people per,” Dmitry explained changing subjects and as we neared the end of the hallway. “The good news, based on your room number being ‘401’, is that you got a corner suite and are sharing your room with only one person.”

  ?He pointed toward a wooden door with the number. Though he didn’t need to. I had long realized we had arrived at my dorm’s room.

  ?“If you’re starting with the good news,” I said, “I assume there’s bad news?”

  ?Dmitry scratched the back of his head and smiled. “Yeah, well—”

  ?But before he could speak, the door of my room opened. And I received my answer.

  ?Aegus Matrinovo stepped out. He was my roommate.

  ?He had a dry white towel draped over his shoulders, and a small basket balanced in the crook of his mechanical arm. He looked mid-stride and froze when he saw me.

  ?“...”

  ?“...”

  ?Apophis hissed in bemusement from my shoulder.

  ?I inclined my head slightly. “Hey.”

  ?Aegus’s eyes narrowed. Not in surprise, but irritation. His gaze dropped to my wrists for a fraction of a second before snapping back up, sharp and assessing my face.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  ?“What are you doing here?” he asked. The door clicked shut behind him.

  ?I met his stare. “I’m your new roommate.”

  ?I spoke lightly, despite the evident tension in the air. No, rather, it was the tension that made me force my voice to relax.

  ?He turned his head slightly, eyes flicking to Dmitry.

  ?“Room four-oh-one,” Dmitry confirmed, nodding his head.

  ?Aegus inhaled sharply through his nose and exhaled, as if restraining himself. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  ?His gaze slid back to the door, then to me again.

  ?Dmitry cleared his throat. “Since it’s your assigned room, your handprint should unlock it. It’s the key. Just place your hand on the doorknob, and it will unlock.”

  ?I didn’t hesitate and stepped forward, placing my palm against the doorknob.

  ?Click.

  ?The door unlocked, swinging inward to reveal the corner room. Two beds stood on opposite sides. The unmade bed was clearly Aegus’ and the opposite side, without any personal articles, was evidently mine. Apart from the beds, each of us had our own table, chair, and dresser. All were made from sturdy dark wood.

  ?While the room wasn’t particularly large, it appeared neat and comfortable. The only real discomfort was having a roommate. And more specifically, having this guy as my roommate.

  ?I turned back to Aegus.

  ?He didn’t move and just stared into the room for a long moment, shoulders tense, as if the space itself had betrayed him.

  ?“We’ll be fine,” I said casually and patted his left shoulder. “Let’s get along. Yeah?”

  ?I meant that. My time in this realm depended on cohabiting with him without issues. And having figured out his personality type, I needed to maintain a certain level of light arrogance if I hoped to succeed.

  ?Aegus’s mouth twitched.

  ?“Yeah,” Aegus replied after debating with himself for a moment, glancing inside the room and back at me.

  ?He shifted the basket in his mechanical arm. “Don’t touch my stuff. I’ll be back.”

  ?Then he turned and headed for the communal bathroom, conveniently next door to us. He hurried away, quickly, like someone who wanted to distance themselves from me.

  ?I watched him go, then stepped fully into my room.

  ?Dmitry let out a low whistle as he followed me inside, but kept whatever other thoughts he had regarding the exchange to himself.

  ?Meanwhile, from my left shoulder, Apophis’s amusement hissed into my mind.

  ?~You’re not concerned?

  ?I set my bag down beside the empty bed, already finished weighing the risks.

  ?[[ I'll manage. I doubt he'd try to stab me in my sleep or something. ]]

  ?“Well,” Dmitry said, clearing his throat, “it’s late. I’ll leave you to it. See you around.”

  ?He slipped out, closing the door behind him.

  ?Silence settled in.

  ?I walked across the room toward the long, narrow windows, again too small for anyone to fit through, and took in the view of the far-off academy, above the dark canopy of trees. A nearly full moon, larger than the one in my realm, hung above in the night sky.

  ?Not bad.

  I sat down and let myself fall back onto the bed, the day finally catching up with me. I must have drifted off, if only for a moment, because when I opened my eyes again, the room was unchanged. Aegus still hadn’t returned.

  I exhaled quietly, and my hand moved up to the Chromatic Pendant atop my chest.

  Right. Can’t forget about this.

  There was only one use per day, after all.

  So far, the pendant had produced nothing but useless, inconsequential items—things I’d tossed straight into the Game Store without a second thought.

  Still, free items were free items.

  I pushed myself upright and closed my fingers around the pendant.

  Whatever it spits out this time, hopefully it’d be worth more than ten Nexus Coins.

  I activated the artifact.

  ?

  * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

  ?

  Aegus stepped out into the hallway, hair still slightly damp. He had taken his time to clear his mind and prepare himself.

  He glanced around.

  The corridor was quiet. It was late enough that most students had already settled into their rooms, and, being midweek, no one lingered in the communal living space further ahead. His footsteps echoed softly as he walked back toward his room, the small basket tucked beneath his mechanical arm shifting with each step.

  As he neared the door, he slowed.

  Luca Frey was clearly dangerous. Even with the Black Mana Cuffs.

  Aegus clicked his tongue.

  His initial exchange with Luca was intended to merely intimidate him slightly and take the infamous new student down a peg, to maintain the social hierarchy. But it had backfired horribly.

  Not only can he potentially heal me… but he’s also evidently slightly unhinged.

  His mind replayed the memory of Luca speaking to himself in that strange, unrecognizable tongue.

  Aegus had two rules he lived by.

  The first was one his father had drilled into him since he was seven: always stay on the good side of those who can open doors for you.

  That rule alone was why Aegus maintained exceptional relationships with his professors—and how he’d wriggled out of more than a few troublesome situations.

  The second rule was one he’d come up with after the storm called Alice Crest swept through the school: avoid getting involved with the insane.

  It might have been unfair to call Alice insane. But she was certainly within a stone’s throw of the definition.

  And now, with Luca Frey as my roommate, both rules are broken.

  Aegus lowered his head and pressed his forehead lightly against the door.

  He swore under his breath.

  I need to fix this. I need to get along with him. No more provoking. No more underestimating.

  Having pumped himself up, he reached out and swung the door inward.

  Aegus froze.

  The door locked behind him with a soft click.

  “…What,” he said hoarsely, “is that?”

  The question was rhetorical. He had eyes, after all.

  Luca, seated cross-legged on his bed, glanced over.

  “Oh. This?” He squinted, then casually tossed the pink mana-hand grenade into the air like it was an inconsequential toy.

  Aegus’s heart nearly stopped.

  “Yeah,” Luca continued, catching it easily. “I just got it. I don’t really have a use for it, though.”

  He glanced toward Aegus and smiled, shrugging.

  Then the grenade disappeared into thin air. And a bigger smile emerged across Luca’s face.

  Where did it go?

  Aegus took another step back, straight into the door. Every hair on his body stood on end.

  Crazy. A real psycho.

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