The second-year dormitory for boys was separated by a small park with a large pond in the middle. Eric dragged his suitcase while looking at the pond, where several small animals were drinking from it.
He could see the large multi-story building, which wasn't much different from the first-year dormitory except that it was slightly larger. Around the building were several tables and chairs, as well as a small recreational area for the students.
"And then—huh?"
"It's him, the disgraceful son of the Ostheno family..."
"Quiet! He's still from a Marquis family!"
A few second-year boys sitting in the chairs were whispering about Eric. Although he could hear them as he walked by, he chose to do nothing, avoiding unnecessary conflict.
"As long as they stay the hell out of my business..." Eric muttered to himself, drawing a line for the boys. Eric entered the building and approached the dorm supervisor, who was sitting and reading a book.
Eric lightly tapped his finger on the counter, causing the supervisor to lift his head. "Hm? Oh, my bad..." the middle-aged man's voice trailed off after seeing who had approached him.
Eric watched the man furrow his brow before quickly switching his expression to professional mode. "Ahem. Pardon me, mister Eric Ostheno. I didn't realize you were here."
"No matter. Give me my keys," Eric said flatly. The man quickly retrieved the room key previously assigned by the Academy. Eric could see the middle-aged man was slightly nervous while speaking to him.
"L-let me explain the rules of the second-year dormitory, Mister Eric…"
"No sneaking out in the middle of the night after curfew, treat the servants with respect, don't break the Academy's rules, and most importantly: no magic above Bronze-rank. Anything else I missed?"
The supervisor looked taken aback. "N-no, mister Eric. You explained the dorm rules perfectly well…"
"Hm." Eric didn't linger any longer and chose to head to his new room. Engraved on his room key were the numbers 3-10, indicating that his room was on the third floor, room number 10.
As he climbed the stairs to the third floor, he saw several second-year students gathered and chatting outside their respective rooms, while others were talking inside their rooms, and some were even laughing loudly.
Finally, he arrived at room 3-10. As he was about to insert the key, he sensed someone's presence inside the room. He shrugged, thinking it might be his new roommate.
Opening the door, he found a room that was quite spacious compared to his previous one. The room's furnishings were the same as before: a desk, a bed, a wardrobe, and a small oval mirror placed next to the wardrobe.
Not only that, but he also found a glasses man sitting at the desk. The sound of writing on paper could be heard coming from the man's desk. The man remained focused on his writing as if he hadn't noticed Eric entering and closing the door. He only looked up after Eric had closed the door.
"Huh… Eric Ostheno. I didn't expect to be sharing a room with you," the man said, adjusting his glasses. Eric set down his suitcase. "And you are?"
"Wayne Oswald. Second-year, Theoretical Magic and Runes. Also a bit interested in Alchemy." The man named Wayne briefly introduced himself and mentioned a little about his specialization and interests.
Eric nodded and fell silent. He didn't need to introduce himself because this Wayne already knew who he was. The two of them stared at each other for a few seconds, a silence broken by Wayne.
"I want to clear up a few things. But I think you should unpack your clothes first."
"Right."
Eric opened his suitcase and took out the clothes and belongings he'd brought from home. He quickly organized everything in his wardrobe. Once finished, he turned his gaze back to Wayne, who had finished writing.
"Take a seat, and read this." Wayne stood up and handed the paper to Eric, who was sitting at his own desk. After glancing at it, he raised his eyebrows when he saw what was written on the paper.
No snacks with strong odors are allowed in the room. No dangerous magic is allowed in the room (except for self-defense). No loud noises may be produced by room occupants, artifacts, or any other means. Do not bring strangers inside. Remind one another and communicate if something important arises. Keep the room clean, even if there is a servant. If something makes you uncomfortable, discuss it courteously and politely as fellow respected students.
"I want you and I to agree on the rules I've carefully thought through. I understand there are still some loopholes there, but broadly speaking, that's what I want to convey."
Eric squinted his eyes, feeling a bit confused by his new roommate. He felt as though he wasn't speaking to a teenager, but to a businessman—judging by his rather stiff language and demeanor.
"Oswald... Oswald... ah, I just remembered. A Count family renowned for their theories on spells and runes." Eric recalled a fact about the Oswald family, no wonder this young man exuded the aura of a scholar.
"These rules... kind of weird... but decent..." Eric muttered to himself.
"Hey, four-eyes brat. What if I accidentally break one of these rules?"
"It's Wayne, mind you. We're the same age, no need to address me like that. And as for your question earlier, I haven't decided what the penalty is yet... so we can save that or discuss it later."
Wayne crossed his arms as he thought. Eric handed the paper back and voiced his opinion. "Honestly, those rules of yours are ridiculously strict and unnecessary, but I can tolerate that. In exchange, you don't meddle in my business or pry into my affairs."
Wayne pondered deeply, "Is that all? I thought you'd ask for something outrageous. Apparently, the rumor that you're starting to change is true."
Eric scoffed at that. "Rumors and rumors, they keep evolving like a goddamn Pokémon."
"A what-mon?"
"Nothing. Anyway, with this, we're cool, right?" Eric asked, looking straight at Wayne. The glasses man nodded firmly, "Deal."
The two chatted briefly, and Eric left Wayne, who was once again buried in his desk, this time reading several books on magic and runes.
"It's been a while. Maybe I should pay Jack a visit." Eric muttered, thinking about the baker he'd met with Jeremy.
***
"... ric. ... ric. ... Eric. Wake up." Lying sprawled on his bed, Eric slowly opened his eyes. He saw Wayne hovering his hand over him, and Wayne moved away once Eric had opened his eyes wide.
"The orientation ceremony starts in an hour. You should get ready," said Wayne as he adjusted his tie in front of the mirror. Eric yawned and tilted his head. "There's still an hour left, right?"
Wayne glanced at Eric and sighed. "It's better to leave early and not be late." Once again, Eric was somewhat intrigued by how his new roommate was such a serious and stiff person.
"I'm leaving first. Don't forget to lock the door." Eric just waved his hand lazily as he watched Wayne walk out and close the bedroom door. He had had too much fun exploring Zeris City yesterday and didn't get home until late afternoon. He even forgot to do his usual morning exercises.
"A quick workout shouldn't make me late." Eric then did some light warm-ups before proceeding with his workout, though this time it was brief due to time constraints. Push-ups, sit-ups, stretching, and shadowboxing.
After finishing, he changed into his Academy uniform and left his room. In the building's hallway, he saw the enthusiasm of the male students, excited to welcome their second year here.
Though he avoided the crowds, he could still enjoy the view of the Academy and the spring air that had arrived. Plum blossoms were in full bloom, painting the pathway to the main stadium where the ceremony was being held.
The festive atmosphere was most palpable among the freshmen or first-year students, they practically bounced their way to the stadium. The second-, third-, and fourth-year students were calmer, but they couldn't hide the joy on their faces.
"First-years! Over here!"
"Second-years, here!"
Members of the student council and disciplinary committee guided the arriving students to their assigned seats. Eric drifted along, following the members' directions.
Unexpectedly, his eyes met Silvia's. A flicker of surprise flashed across her face. But Eric was the first to casually look away, refocusing on the line of second-year students in front of him.
When he entered, he was greeted by a towering dome. Countless seats filled the main stadium of Zeris Academy, in the center of the field, Eric could see rows of professors and lecturers greeting one another and chatting amiably.
Eric finally sat down in an empty seat at the very top, and he could see the seats around him slowly begin to fill up. At first, the second-year students who saw him sitting at the very top hesitated and avoided sitting near him.
The last person to arrive, a bit late, sighed hopelessly upon realizing that the only seat left was the one next to him.
A large amount of Mana washed over the students, instantly silencing them all. An elderly man with an impressive beard walked to the podium in the center of the field, using Wind magic to carry his voice throughout the stadium.
"Attention, attention. The orientation ceremony is about to begin."
After a few moments, the ceremony opened with a welcoming speech from the Academy's Vice Principal. As usual, the vice principal's speech was about youth, urging students of all grades to obey the Academy's rules and uphold sportsmanship.
"And next, a few words from our honorary new student."
Eric's eyes widened when he saw who was stepping up to the podium.
"Connor Videno."
Loud applause rang out from all corners of the stadium. Eric crossed his arms and smiled smugly. "Heh, that brat really did it." He thought Connor had truly exceeded his expectations, because to become an honorary new student, one had to score full marks on both the practical exam and the written exam.
Connor stood on the podium and moved closer to the round artifact that amplified his voice.
"Thank you for this opportunity. We're all here to prove ourselves and challenge ourselves." Connor paused, scanning the entire stadium. "We're declaring to the world that we're ready to bring about change, but sometimes big changes start with small ones—namely, ourselves."
Connor then continued his speech, which contained a message for the new students who were still unsure of themselves. He gently encouraged them not to lose heart and to keep doing their best.
"Thank you to the professors and teachers who have taught our seniors with such care. We must also thank our parents and families who have supported us so we could get here..."
Connor took a breath, "and personally, I'd also like to thank someone for giving me a second chance so I could keep the promise we made as children."
Eric huffed at that and shook his head.
"That's all from me. Thank you, and may we all make our families, our loved ones, and our nation proud!"
Applause erupted from the students' seats. Eric hadn't expected Connor to deliver a speech like that. After he stepped down, the announcer said something.
"Please remain seated. Next, a message from the Principal of our Academy."
The students were buzzing with excitement, and Eric understood why. Even when he first enrolled at the Academy, the Principal hadn't come to give a welcome speech or say a few words, so many students were eagerly awaiting the Principal's appearance because that person rarely appeared in public.
"Is she going to come out?!"
"Wow, I can't wait to see her! I heard she's amazing!"
The second-year students were whispering and gossiping.
"Let's welcome the Principal of Zeris Academy..."
Silence fell over the podium, but then a collective gasp and cheer echoed throughout the stadium.
"...Veronica Maciel."
A tall woman, specifically an elf with pointed ears, graced the podium with graceful movements. The elf woman wore an elegant white blouse and a long, fluffy coat draped over her shoulders. She waved her hands, which were covered in black gloves.
The elf woman was incredibly beautiful, causing all the male students to go wild and even the female students to squeal in admiration. Eric was inwardly amused, because the elf woman—aka the Principal—apparently had explosive popularity in a positive sense...unlike him.
"Wait, I didn't even see that woman standing among the Academy staff earlier...is it magic or something...?" Eric muttered to himself, eager to hear what the elf woman would say.