3. Prince of ice, prince of warmth, and prince of darkness.

Chapter song: Evergreen - Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners

Julius stepped into the house, immediately enveloped by the clamor of students bustling around in preparation. The air was a symphony of shouting voices, the groan of exertion, and the loud crunch of toast being devoured. Despite the chaos, Julius was struck by the house's unpretentious charm; its design emphasized comfort over opulence, which he found pleasantly refreshing. The entrance was wide and concave, adorned with medals, trophies, and photos celebrating the school's teams.

As he took in the surroundings, a sudden voice broke through his reverie.

"Hi, you must be Julius!"

Julius turned to find himself face-to-face with a boy of his own height. The boy's bright red hair and fiery eyes exuded an intense curiosity. Julius, momentarily disoriented, quickly regained his composure and responded.

"Yes, I'm Julius. I was told to come in, but I'm not quite sure…"

"Yeah, the house leaders let us know we'd have another student. I'm Silas Ainslewood, the one in charge when Agares and Epaphras aren't around," Silas said, extending his hand. Julius shook it, still processing the whirlwind of activity around him.

"I have to admit, you're not at all what I was expecting," Silas remarked, scrutinizing him.

Julius felt a pang of unease. What kind of impression had he made that led to such a comment? Did he seem out of place here?

"You're much more handsome than I imagined. Pretty tall too. Do you play any sports?" Silas's compliment took Julius aback. The word "handsome" was a rarity in his life—his mother had always insisted he was, but he dismissed it as a mother's biased view.

Silas's own appearance was striking: sharp bone structure, alluring features that drew attention, and a demeanor that combined charm with a dangerous edge. If Agares was a cold beauty and Epaphras a Prince Charming, Silas was a devil disguised as an angel.

Julius, struggling to reconcile this, answered, "I used to play soccer throughout middle school but stopped once I got into high school."

Silas nodded thoughtfully. "That's cool. We have a soccer club here, and my friend Reese is the captain. I can put in a good word for you." His offer was appreciated, but Julius had no intention of joining.

"Thanks, I'll let you know."

"No worries. I'll show you to your room," Silas said, leading him up a long staircase.

"House Ares has a total of three houses and each house has about ten rooms, including an emergency room for, well, emergencies," Silas began, his tone casual. "We have three bathrooms, excluding the one in the leader's room, which makes mornings easier. I'd suggest you wake up earlier so you're not stuck waiting."

"We're about twenty people in the house so we do have to share a room unfortunately, but a lot of the time we aren't even in our rooms since we spend most of it in class or in our clubs." 

Julius nodded, following Silas as they passed several doors. Students hurriedly prepared for the day, barely glancing at him, which didn't seem to bother Julius.

"Don't worry, we'll give you a proper welcome after class. You'll meet everyone then."

"Sounds good," Julius replied.

Silas led him to a spacious bedroom with a neatly made bed, complete with towels and toiletries. With a playful grin, Silas said, "Lucky for you, you'll be sharing this room with me."

Julius was taken aback. The thought of his guide also being his roommate was unexpected, though Silas seemed amiable.

"No need to hide your excitement," Silas teased, observing Julius's shock. 

"W-what? No, sorry, this is just a lot to process," Julius stammered, eliciting a hearty laugh from Silas.

"Chill out, dude. I was just messing with you. Drop off your stuff and look around. It's 7:30 now, and class starts in thirty minutes. I usually head out around 7:50, so if you want to go to class together, meet me downstairs."

"I have history first," Julius said.

Silas's eyebrows rose. "Who's your history teacher?"

"Mr. Hendrickson."

"Wow, what a coincidence. I'm in the same class. Let's meet up in twenty," Silas said before leaving.

Left alone, Julius surveyed the room. It was spacious enough for three, which he appreciated.

The room featured two double beds, with Silas's side decorated with stickers and posters. Julius unpacked his belongings—pencils, a notebook, and his tablet—arranging them on his bed. The room was well-equipped with two desks, offering ample study space despite sharing the room.

As he settled in, his earlier anxiety began to ease. Yet, a looming challenge remained: introducing himself to the class.