When Rudy finally managed to calm down his laughter, he placed a hand upon Michael’s shoulder, as if consoling him. "That fiancée of yours is really something," he said, grinning. "Make sure you introduce me to one of her friends, alright?" Michael scoffed inwardly, sure, when she makes a friend. However, he merely nodded in response before turning his attention to his drenched uniform pants. Placing his left hand just a few inches above the surface, mana particles began to amass on his palm as he cast a simple heating spell. In no time, the moisture was removed, leaving him with dry pants. Rudy gawked, his eyes focused fully on Michael’s crotch, "Wow! How did you do that? Can you teach me?" he said, reaching out to touch the area. But Michael was faster, his hand stopping the kid from making an embarrassing move. "You don’t know chore magic?" he asked. Rudy shook his head vehemently. "Ma told me I wasn’t allowed to use magic until they could afford a tutor. Didn’t want me hurting myself by accident." He replied, scratching the back of his head with a laugh. I can understand her... Michael commented inwardly. "Well," he said, casting the same spell on Rudy’s wet uniform, "I’ll teach you some chore magic after classes. We’re roommates after all." "Just roommates?" Rudy asked, wearing a disappointed expression. Michael’s heart pained slightly, "Ah... I mean friends, right?" At his words, the boy’s face lit up. "Mm!" "That dirty commoner bastard, I’ll make them pay!" Down the hall, the ragings of a familiar voice entered their ears, a sign that trouble was on its way towards them. Michael and Rudy both shared a look before wordlessly agreeing it was time to go. They descended the stairs quickly, avoiding another conflict—at least for tonight. When they reached the first floor, a bunch of students came into view down the hallway, waiting in front of a pair of huge double doors. They weren’t as mammoth as the entrance to the castle, but they weren’t far off. Even without the gathering of students, it was clear that was their destination. Michael spotted Melody isolated towards the back, two students speaking to her. Thankfully, these were other girls—so he wouldn’t need to make anymore enemies today. Sure she looked uncomfortable, but the girl would need to learn to interact with peers her own age and make friends. He couldn’t always be there to take care of her. Why do I sound like her father? Michael frowned, realizing something sad, yet humorous. Melody’s gaze met his and her expression lit up, likely thinking that he was going to save her from the awkward girl-talk she was enduring. However, Michael poked his tongue out, sending her out a short wink before moving amongst the crowd. Anger flashed on her face briefly before she was drawn back into the conversation. Hehe, serves you right for wetting my pants, he thought triumphantly. Just as he arrived within the crowd, the unmistakable sound of doors unlocking sounded—bringing with it a clamor of excitement from the students. They parted inwards, slowly revealing what laid behind. Michael felt his jaw drop, his eyes slowly moving to the ceiling of the hall with wonder. He saw a sky full of bright stars shining upon the hall, shimmering as if they were close enough to reach up and touch. But perhaps the most beautiful thing was the aurora that streaked through the sky like a dragon floating upon the clouds. Its light was warm and enchanting, changing through the various colors of the Arcana. The sight was so breathtaking that the entirety of the first-years stopped in place, struck with awe, regardless of their backgrounds. "So pretty..." Rudy exclaimed, his eyes shining. Michael nodded in agreement, it was one of the most beautiful things he’d seen. A forgotten memory floated to the forefront of his mind, leaving a bittersweet taste in his mouth. "My mom used to tell me stories of the skies in the southern part of the continent," he said, eyes still fixed upon the sight. "She said that the place experiences night for six months of the year, lit up by a mystical aurora floating through the sky." Michael wasn’t sure why he was sharing this, but it was a memory that he had forgotten. Perhaps by speaking it aloud, he could remember it better. "Wow, is that what the aurora looks like?" Rudy’s curious voice entered his ears. "I hope so," he replied, staring into the depths of the colorful aurora. Michael felt a warmth in his heart—a part of him wanting to believe that his mother was up in the sky, watching over him. A deep and resonant voice called out from within the great hall, echoing within the enormous room. The first-years were snapped out of their reverie, turning their attention to the source of the voice. The headmaster Bartholomew Arcadius appeared at the end of the hall, his small frame elevated atop the raised platform. There was a large table at the far end, facing the students—likely a spot for the professors in the academy to have their meal. This was when Michael finally noticed, the main floor of the hall was empty—devoid of tables and chairs, as well as any of the other later-year students. But before he could even think about the anomaly, the headmaster continued his address. "To Arcadia Academy!" the guy shouted, his voice thundering, followed swiftly by a loud clap that felt as if they struck the eardrums directly. Michael felt his vision blur, a sensation that he’d experienced quite a number of times since arriving at the castle—not that he’d gotten used to it yet. Fresh chapters posted on novelFirｅ.net Then, he felt as if his feet were pulled out from underneath him. When everything calmed down, he found that he was sitting down at a table with an empty plate and a cutlery placed beside it atop a napkin. Michael looked around in confusion, only to realize that he was not alone. The sounds of fierce chattering entered his ears as he looked around in mystification. He was no longer in an empty great hall—it was now fully packed.