Fawn's Magic Academy (2)

"So," Seth's voice filled the room. "I guess we are roommates."

Aether nodded, taking care to keep his expression neutral. "You can pick whichever side of the room you want." He offered, in an attempt to keep the guy as happy and as quiet as possible.

"Thanks, man." Seth grinned, then glanced around the room.

It was a single room divided in two with a large, wooden divider. Each side had a bed, a desk, a chair, and a wardrobe, as well as a window. "I'll pick the left side if you don't mind." He finally spoke. Aether shrugged. "Sure, I'll take the right side then." He stepped to the right.

Both of their luggage was already placed inside the room. He got to work, putting his clothes into the wardrobe and his studying materials on his desk.

"Man, you're diligent." Seth mumbled. Aether glanced at the young, blonde man. "I'd hardly call putting my clothes into a wardrobe 'being diligent'." He mumbled.

Seth laughed. "Whatever you say." He disappeared behind the divider. Aether closed his eyes and breathed out a sigh. He disliked the idea of sharing a room with someone, though there was little that could be done about that now.

"I'm heading over to the cafeteria to grab some food. Coming along?" Seth's voice sounded not long after. Aether shook his head. "Maybe next time, I'm not done here yet."

Seth hesitated, then shrugged. "Sure, next time it is." He waved, then headed outside.

Aether waited for him to leave, the took the stat bracelet off his wrist, and placed it on the desk, then lowered himself onto the bed and touched the silver chain around his right wrist.

He poured some of his mana into it, then raised his eyes as a mist formed before him, at his eye level. It grew larger, then formed a clear, mirror like surface.

"Aether," A bewitching voice sounded. "I did not expect you to contact me so soon. Does her ladyship regret her choice already?"

Aether first bowed his head, then replied. "Her only regret is my presence, Madam."

The woman's face appeared among the mist. She chuckled, then spoke again. "You may raise your head, young man."

Aether slowly lifted his gaze. It was a challenge to keep his expression neutral. Obedient.

The woman was beautiful – her hair was dark as the night and wavy, like the surface of the oceans. Her eyes, bright golden. Her lips curled upwards as she looked Aether in the eye.

"Oh, Aether…" She chuckled. "What was it that you wished to tell me?" Her voice was gentle and kind. Almost loving. Almost.

Aether flinched. He had almost fallen prey to her spell again. He blinked a couple of times and reached for the stat bracelet.

"This," He said, showing it to her. "This device is capable of measure one's mana, both at its fullest and the amount that is missing. The numerical values it shows are quite accurate. It can also detect when a spell is cast, and what that spell does."

The Madam's beautiful brows furrowed. Her lips formed a thin line as she raised her chin. "What about you? How much can it show about you?"

Aether smiled. "Your spells have proven superior once more, Madam. You don't need to worry about that." His smile was a bitter one as he fiddled with the chain on his wrist.

Madam smiled once more. "That is quite good to hear. Especially coming from you." Her gaze turned away for a moment and her expression grew colder. When she looked at Aether again, none of that kindness remained. "Is there anything else?"

Aether shook his head. "No, Madam Yotsura."

She showed him one last smile before the spell ended.

Aether threw himself on his back and pulled the pillow over his head. He couldn't get her face or voice out of his mind. Her spell – aura was a better word, actually – was capable of breaking even his willpower.

It took him a moment to recompose himself. When he felt better, he put on the stat bracelet again and headed out of the room, towards the cafeteria.

"Look who it is," The robust, confidant voice from before sounded.

"Erika," Aether showed a faint smile and held the door to the cafeteria open.

"Ooh, such a gentleman." Erika chuckled. "So, what, are you going to buy me lunch too?" She grinned.

Aether laughed out loud. "And risk getting punched in the face? No, I won't mess with the girl who can create icicles." He walked towards the counter and asked for a sandwich. Erika grinned in response and ordered a full meal.

"I think I can say this for sure; we'll get along just fine." Erika grinned, then took the plate she was given and headed off to find a table. Aether smiled and shook his head – it was refreshing to be around someone who wasn't constantly scheming, someone he didn't need to constantly be wary of.

Yet, old habits die hard. He took his sandwich and headed to a secluded spot in the cafeteria – somewhere he could watch his classmates. He wanted to see the power dynamics between them. Learn who he needed to be wary of.

Yet perhaps half a minute after he sat down, Erika popped into his view.

"Why are you sitting so far away from everyone else?" She asked as she placed her plate on the table. She pulled a chair and sat across from him. "I mean, you did say you were the resident lonely guy, but no need to take it to such lengths." She gestured across the cafeteria, where a rather large group of his classmates sat.

"I'm not eating much anyways," Aether said, tapping on his sandwich. "And it's way too crowded there."

Erika chuckled. "So, your loneliness is by choice then?" She asked as she nibbled on a piece of meat. Aether shrugged. "Yeah, you could say that. What about you? Why are you here with me and not there?"

As he spoke, his lips formed a faint smile.

"Hmm, I don't know." Erika grinned. "It seemed a lot more… relaxed, here." She took a piece of bread and soaked it in the meaty soup. "I like these kinds of environments a lot more. Seth and the others seem rather…" She hesitated, like she was searching for a word.

"Formal?" Aether tried to help her.

"Nah," She shook her head. "Stuck up?" She asked, then nodded. "Yeah, stuck up. That's it." She laughed, then ate that piece of meaty bread. "The food's really good too!" She said after swallowing it up.

Aether couldn't help but laugh at her. She was the exact opposite of Iris. Robust, relaxed, and honest. His laugh turned into a look of horror as she ate her entire plate in an impossibly short amount of time.

"What?" She asked after swallowing the last piece of her meal and drinking some water to top it all off. "Why are you looking at me like you're looking at a ghost?"

Aether just shook his head and laughed. "Nothing, no reason."

"Well, eat up, then. We've got a summoning class next, and I don't want to be late." Her eyes sparkled with joy as she spoke.