Merlin was met with a pleasant surprise once he stepped outside the auditorium.
"Hey! Hey! Merlin!" One of the first years popped up before him, waving her hand. She had black hair so short that it stopped just before it got to her neck, and drew unusually close with every word of hers. "Remember me? It's me, Kim Minji."
"Of course I remember you," said Merlin with a simple smile. "I'm glad to see that you got in."
She chuckled. "Right back at you." Then she furrowed her brows and looked him up from head to toe. "Woah, you got really fit since the last time. That's crazy. How much do you work out?" She leaned in closer again. Merlin shifted back slightly, putting his hands up in between the girl and himself, trying to create some space.
"Haha… A lot, I'd say," he replied stiltedly, then he was drawn to the murmurs around him.
"What's going to be his use here? This is a magical academy; someone who can't cast magic shouldn't be here." They were muttered by some students leaving the auditorium, and it was then that he noticed that there were gazes on him from every corner. At this point, he'd say he had a lot more attention coming his way than even the S-Class Mages in his set.
He sighed. He had been expecting the reception, but it was still hurtful to experience
"Don't mind them," Kim Minji snorted. "They just don't know how smart you are yet. And they aren't stronger than you, you know? I'm a Mage, but I know I'd stand no chance against you if we ever fought."
Merlin chuckled. Not even factoring in the part where she'd said he was smart… "I'm sure that's a lie."
Well, that depended on what sort of Mage she now was. There were a lot of things to consider. How many spells she could cast in quick succession, how long it would take for her mana to settle down after he had deconstructed a spell of hers, and how many spells he could even deconstruct at a go.
So, all things considered, he was nowhere near the powerhouse she thought he was because of their exploits in the Dungeon raid exam.
"Ehhh… You're belittling yourself. Are you that kind of person?" Kim Minji narrowed her eyes at him. "I'd thought you would be more—"
"Minji!" a girl called, putting a stop to their conversation. "What are you doing? We haven't checked in yet!"
"Ah! I'll be right there." Kim Minji turned to Merlin with a smile. "Well, see you later?"
"Sure," Merlin replied, then sighed when she was long gone. "I should have asked for her contact."
He was so strung up on making friends that it was becoming unhealthy. As for Nora… she just kept waving them away when they approached her.
She was not even considering that she was building a bad reputation so early on. Now everyone would think she was so smug because she was an A-Class Mage.
"You know, making even a single friend wouldn't hurt," Merlin said as he walked up to her.
Their luggage was not with them, so they couldn't check in yet. Nora had told Merlin that they should report it already to the auditorium, but he had told her to wait for like a minute more. For some reason he believed Kim Yiseo wasn't so petty that because she and Nora had had a fight she would go back on her words. But that notion of his was faltering now; time was ticking by.
"That's the thing, though, nerd," replied Nora. "They're not trying to be friends. They're trying to leech off of me." Well, when she put it that way. "And I've had enough of waiting. I'm filing that report."
Merlin sighed, unable to stop her any longer. "Go ahead."
However, her fingers were forced to stop when they noticed a familiar figure standing a few steps away with two luggage bags at his side. It was Kim Yiseo's chauffeur.
His gaze met theirs and he bowed.
"Our things," Merlin said, not particularly to anyone.
Nora took in a deep breath and sighed. Her mind had perhaps flown back to her and Kim Yiseo's falling-out earlier, and the fact that the lady had not taken it to heart.
Now that the headmaster had clarified the situation, Merlin knew that his sister was probably no longer annoyed, and was already thinking about making up with Kim Yiseo. However, that was where the problem lay. She could be quite prideful sometimes.
They both made to move towards the chauffeur when they were halted by one of their first year mates suddenly stepping before them. Too casually, in fact. She had black hair tied into twin ponytails, and styled her uniform in a way that would probably make guys take second glances at her. But the manner in which she had approached them was not one bit desirable. It was like she thought that the world was at her beck and call.
Merlin was not someone to see too much into things such as first impressions. His sister, though…
"You're Nora, right?" the girl asked.
And, as expected, Nora frowned in an instant. Her distaste for the girl was palpable.
"Yes," Nora replied, her tone unfriendly. "And you are?"
"Oh Jihye," the girl replied, a conceited smile dancing across her lips. She stretched forth her hand. "We should be friends."
Merlin could only sigh inwardly, because he knew what was coming next.
Nora eyed the girl's outstretched hand for nothing more than a second and said, "No, thanks."
Oh Jihye's smile froze on her lips. She was trying so hard not to frown and Merlin could see how futile that was, because she had no choice. Approaching Nora had rid her of any.
"What did you say?" Oh Jihye questioned like she had not heard clearly. Nora, on the contrary, was more than happy to repeat it as many times as was necessary.
"I said, no, thanks," she repeated. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get to the dorm and settle in." And she took off.
Merlin could only steal a momentary glance at Oh Jihye's tightened expression before following behind his sister. She had perhaps been too harsh. But there was a reason why she had acted in such a manner. Merlin knew his sister better than anyone. She was not unfriendly—Janeth was a good example of that. Oh Jihye simply didn't click with her. And she was never one to force relationships.
"Mr. Merlin. Ms. Nora," the chauffeur greeted, as Merlin and Nora walked up to him. "Here are your luggage bags. Pardon the delay."
Merlin smiled. "Thank you so much, sir…" he trailed off.
"Han," the chauffeur replied.
"Ah. Thank you, Sir Han."
Sir Han nodded. "You are most welcome. But you should be thanking the young miss instead. She was the one who made the call."
Merlin was happy to oblige. "I will. When I come across her."
Sir Han nodded and turned to Nora who was only staring at him, as if waiting for the man to say something.
"You too, Ms. Nora," said Sir Han. "I understand how you feel, but I promise you that you have gotten the young miss all wrong. I hope you both do not drag this out any more than is necessary."
"Thank you, Mr. Han," said Nora. "For the luggage."
The man could only blink, sigh, and nod. He had said what he'd wanted to say; now it was up to those involved to act in whatever way they wished.
"Well, then," he started. "I'll be on my way."
"Have a safe trip back," added Nora.
A bow, and Sir Han was off.
"You know, you could have just said you would make up with her?" Merlin gave his opinion on the matter. One that was obviously not wanted. Because all Nora did was turn around and wave him goodbye.
Following the guide on his leaflet, getting to the boys' dorm was rather smooth sailing for Merlin. The problem was the queue he met when he got to its lounge.
There was such a long line of first years waiting to get their luggage checked and their room numbers handed to them that it baffled Merlin. He counted and there were about forty. How come? For a Mage Academy, shouldn't mundane tasks like this have a spell that could speed things up?
"Next!" the hoarse voice of the man who seemed to be the dorm master rang out, and on his table thumped a suitcase.
"What's this, boy?" the dorm master asked.
"Uhm… My suitcase?" the student before him answered.
"Yeah, I know it's your suitcase," the dorm master scoffed. "Why's it so big? Think you're on vacation?"
Merlin wouldn't lie, he could sympathize with the dorm master; after all, he was right. The boy's bag was actually really huge, because how could he see it so clearly despite being so far back in line.
"When did you get here?" someone said from behind him, and Merlin turned around to see Chima. He smiled.
"When did you?" he asked.
"Just now," Chima shrugged. His breaths were somewhat heavy. "I kinda got lost." He had his luggage in hand.
"I thought you had checked in already," said Merlin.
"I arrived late as well, my bag's just inside the luggage," replied Chima.
"I see…" Merlin nodded.
The line moved, they both shuffled forward.
"So? How's the taste of fame?" Chima asked, his eyes perusing the lounge, taking in the scenery. It was a rather large space after all, and accommodating too. There was a huge TV to a corner where couches and chairs were set in an arc around it. There were vending machines too. And there was a fridge. The air of recreation and relaxation was what made up the lounge's atmosphere.
Merlin, though, felt like a knot had been tied in his belly at Chima's question.
He had already momentarily forgotten about his dilemma, and now he was being reminded. If he was to be honest, he didn't want to talk about it. But he couldn't act that way to Chima now, could he?'
He feigned a smile. "Utter shit, I tell you." Chima chuckled. "I'm so happy it's all stopped now."
Chima shrugged. "That's just because everyone's busy trying to settle in. It'll kick up a notch soon enough. And it's only a matter of time before it skyrockets, even. Now, you're just 'the Deficient Mage', soon you'll be more than that."
"My goodness." Merlin slowly began to have an inkling of the displeasure Kim Yiseo had been feeling when the reporters had stormed the battle scene earlier.
Perhaps it was because they were so engrossed in their conversation, but the line suddenly moved faster. Before they knew it, they were in front.
"Next!"
Merlin walked forward, seeing the dorm master more clearly now. His face was a deep contrast to his voice. He was a young man that looked to be in his early thirties, with a sharp jawline and silver hair—most likely dyed. And, apparently, he was using magic to search the bags brought his way, his dark-brown Grimoire floating at his side. It was not just in a way that one could notice from far back in line.
The dorm master made use of what seemed to be an Air spell to search through Merlin's things, so that they were not scattered. It was all done with a languid twirl of his finger, which meant that it was hardly any work. The man still looked bored, yawning every five seconds.
"No Grimoire?" the dorm master asked suddenly; and not giving Merlin a moment to reply, he continued, "Better not have lost it, boy. You don't want to pay the fine, I tell you."
Merlin sighed. "I'm a Deficient Mage."
The dorm master froze. "You kidding me?"
"No."
Merlin wasn't surprised. He was the first Deficient Mage to be granted admission in the Academy's ten year history. It would be weird if anyone expected him to be here.
The dorm master didn't say anything more, and, thankfully, didn't feed Merlin with the condescending gaze he had been filled with as he'd left the auditorium. The man went ahead to check through something that seemed to be a device underneath his table, instead, saying as he tossed a pouch at Merlin, "First floor. Room fifty. Your student ID is your key pass. Good luck, boy."
"Thank you," Merlin replied, zipped up his luggage, bid Chima farewell, and hurried into the corridor he had seen every other first year before him head through.
An elevator ding later, and he was on the first floor.
"Room fifty. Room fifty," Merlin hummed, his eyes scanning through the numbers on the doors around him. And then, to his surprise, a familiar person was already before the door with the number fifty on it. "You?" he said, frozen. It was four-eyes. And… He was seated on the floor?
"You sound like we've met before," four-eyes replied with a nudge of his glasses. "Anyways, I'd prefer if you called me Hakyun instead. Han Hakyun. You isn't really that nice of a name."
What a weird sense of humor. Merlin almost took a step back.
"I'm Merlin Tyrrell," Merlin introduced himself. "Nice to meet you, Hakyun." He stretched forth a hand.
"Yeah. I know. The Deficient Mage." Merlin's lips twitched as Hakyun shook his hand. "Nice to meet you as well. Guess we're going to end up in the same Cohort."
"I guess so." Merlin nodded. "But why are you seated out here? Our ID's our key pass right?" Merlin gasped. "Don't tell me you've lost yours already?"
Hakyun scoffed, propping the rims of his glasses with his thumb and index finger. "I'm not so careless, Merlin Tyrrell. It would do you good to know that." Merlin only chuckled. "As for why I'm seated out here… Well, I guess I am allowed to divulge that information now that our final roomie is here."
As Hakyun stood up, Merlin turned to his side to see Chima standing there, a confused look on his face.
"Room fifty?" Chima asked, unsure, despite the door bearing the number.
Merlin beamed. "Yes!"
Merlin had never really thought he was lucky, but this was more than enough proof that he maybe had a bit of it. Even though Hakyun had a rather peculiar way with words, he was more than happy to share a room with someone he'd already had something of an interaction with—despite it being one sided. And Chima as well? He was far more than just happy. He was brimming with joy.
Chima nodded, seemingly just as pleased as Merlin. "So why are you guys still outside?" He paused. "Don't tell me! Our room caught fire?!"
"How did you come to that conclusion?" Hakyun narrowed his eyes. Merlin's lips could only twitch.
"Ah, I'm yet to introduce myself." Chima stretched forth a hand at Hakyun. "The name's Ken, but I'd prefer if you just called me Chima. I'm used to that."
"Hakyun," four-eyes took the hand. "Pleasure to meet you. I hope it remains that way."
Chima chuckled stiffly. "Me too." Then he stole a glance at Merlin who could only shrug in response.
"Now that we're all here," Hakyun continued, building anticipation by taking his time with his words… "We can now have the grand opening. Who wants to do the honors?"
Merlin's shoulders dropped. He couldn't be serious. That was why he had been waiting outside?
"Me!" Chima said, quickly rummaging through his bag for his ID.
Merlin, on the side, was taken aback. He had not thought of Chima as that sort of person. It seemed it was true that it only took the right person to bring out the child in another. Chima and Hakyun would get along well.
"You may have it," Hakyun stepped aside. "Now, as we may all know, houses have rules. I will not force us to talk about it now so as to not sour the mood of the grand opening. But once we're in, we will have to iron that matter out. Understood?"
"Understood," said Chima, licking his lips as he put his ID on the door lock and a beep sound notified them of its opening. "We're in."
For some reason, Merlin felt right at home with these two.