Chapter 155 - The High Nobles

  Nathan Evenhart:

  We had arrived at a different part of the academy, with a distinct architectural structure. A staff member led us to a set of double doors a us there.

  Chloe seemed a bit shy about talking to me, and holy, I felt the same after what had happened earlier. I g Cyl, who was clearly irritated, bumping into me ‘actally’ a few times. When I asked her about it, she insisted it was just a ce. But then she suddenly jumped up and smacked me on the head three times… Yeah, definitely not actal.

  "The key given to each of you will open the dormitory door," the staff member expined. "Inside, you’ll have access to your rooms. Ea has a e. Uhe other dormitories, this one is exclusively for you." said the staff member before leaving.

  Standing with me were Chloe, Syvis, and a few other students.

  “It seems the high-ranking nobles get their own separate dormitory,” Alice observed.

  I’d been surprised to learn about this arra, but it made sense. In the academy, students lived in different dorm setups: schorship students shared double rooms, while those paying tuition had private rooms. But nobles of high rank were given airely separate wing from the rest of the first-years.

  When we opehe doors aered, the pce looked like a mansion. A rge sofa adorhe ter, with academy-themed cushions and colors. There were study tables and books scattered about. I also noticed a grand firepce, and on closer iion, a spacious kit was avaible for us as well.

  “We should probably introduce ourselves since we’ll be sharing this space,” a blonde boy started. “I’m Edmund Valemont, heir of the Valemont Duchy. I’m a Transmitter mage with Wind ah elements.”

  We exged gnces, unsure who should go .

  “o meet you! I’m Alice Asalon. I’m the daughter of a grand duke, and I’m a mage with a primary category of Summoner and a sedary category of Emitter, specializing ier element,” she said.

  Chloe reacted with surprise, meeting another Summoner, which was rare.

  “I—I’m Princess Melina Asalon,” anirl said shyly. “I’m aer and Transmitter with Wind and Fire elements…”

  Then, all eyes turo us.

  “I’m Princess Syvis Rhiannon, aer and Healer mage with the Pnt element,” said the blonde elf.

  “My name is Viktor Saul. I’m aer mage with Water and Fire elements, and I’m also ao a duchy.”

  That left only me and Chloe.

  “o meet you all. I’m Chloe Evenhart, aer and Summe with Water and Wind elements. I also have the fused element of Ice.”

  They looked impressed.

  “That’s cool! you make is?” Alice asked.

  “I , but I probably ’t summon as many as you since Summoning is your primary category…” Chloe replied, clearly a bit embarrassed by the attention.

  “That’s fantastic. Two Summoners in roup—that’s even rarer than a Healer,” Edmund ented.

  It was finally my turn.

  “I’m Nathan Evenhart, a Transmitter aer with the Thunder element.”

  They seemed surprised, and I heard Viktor Saul click his tongue.

  “So it’s true! I’d heard there was a Thunder element user this year, but I didn’t believe it,” Edmund said with evident i.

  "I think I know you from somewhere…” Alice said, looking at me curiously.

  "Meow!" Cyl chirped from down by my feet, drawing the students' attention downward.

  "Is she your familiar? She’s so cute," Melina said, smiling.

  "This is Cyl, and yes, she’ll be staying with us too," I replied as the gray cat settled herself at my feet. Melina tried to pet her, but Cyl scooted away.

  "She’s a bit shy," I reassured them, hoping to ease any tension.

  The blond boy, Edmund, approached.

  "Unfortunately, the academy separates us from the other students because of her-ranking roles within the kingdom. It also helps to keep other nobles fr to get close to us for their own is. That’s why they put us together. If we have to study here, they at least give us this special treatment," he expined.

  "We should probably check out our rooms now, especially since we still have the st css of the day ing up," Syvis suggested.

  Everyone began heading in the dire of their rooms.

  "Looks like we’re far apart," Chloe noted.

  "Of course, you’re in the girls’ se. Your room is a bit further away from ours," I said, watg as my cousin eagerly went to find her room.

  With Cyl by my side, I unlocked the door to what would be our space for the five years.

  “An apartment!” I excimed as I stepped inside and closed the door behind us. “You’ve got to be kidding…”

  My 'room' turned out to be a fully furnished apartment. I walked through the pce, amazed at how everything I could need was right here. There were three bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, a kit, a dining area, a study room, and even a baly with a view. The rge window in the main bedroom offered a glimpse of the forest within the academy grounds.

  "This pce is spacious," Cyl said, darting around the rooms, expl every er.

  “You’ll even have your own room,” I teased, watg her excitement.

  “Haha, very funny. I’ll be sleeping with my husband,” she decred, hopping onto the bed.

  “You meant ‘soul husband,’ right?” I crified.

  “Of c-course…” she mumbled, turning her face away.

  ***

  The rest of the day ent in our final css, which covered introductory topi architecture usih magiow, I found myself dining with the h-ranking he other students had split into their own groups, and it was uhey’d approach us anytime soon, given that we stayed in a separate dorm and held higher social status.

  My cousin had chosen to dine in her room.

  She’s probably still embarrassed about what happened...

  "This is iional," Edmund said as he sat dowo us. "The divisioween lower and higher nobility is reinforced here at the academy by this separation. It’s essential to build this distance, given our political roles," added Alice.

  I g the extra pieeat on my pte. I’d gotten into the habit of grabbing a little more, anticipating my usual dining panion’s presence. Cyl had decided to stay behind in my room, napping on my bed.

  ving her to sleep in another room might be a bit of a challenge.

  “Uhe others, we don’t seek to climb the noble ranks. her money nor power sway us," Edmund tinued. "That’s why we’re pced in separate dorms, to avoid vultures faking friendships. It makes it harder for them to approach us, but over time, we’ll still form bonds with others in our csses."

  “Thyra thinks it’s all nonsehe wolf girl decred, dev a rge pieeat.

  We watched her eat, with nard for table manners.

  “You’re an exception… you don’t have any ambition to rise in nobility…” Syvis murmured.

  As we tinued our versation and got to know one another, I learhat in years with fewer high-ranking hey were sometimes housed iudent cil dorm. Fortunately, this year, we had enough of our kind to avoid that arra. We would be sharing this space, and it seemed we were beginning to form a sort of camaraderie for the years ahead.

  ***

  I said goodbye to my new group of friends and stepped into my apartment.

  A private kit. I’ll be able to put my cooking skills to use whenever I want to make something different.

  During these past ten years living with my family, I’d learned just about everything, from dang at noble festivities to cooking.

  I walked into my bedroom and saw a familiar sight on my bed: a small cat, fast asleep.

  “Nathan... let me smell you... don’t run from my hug,” Cyl murmured in her sleep.

  Even in her dreams, I’m stu her death grip...