The academy bell rang once, its deep tone echoing across the campus.
Students poured out of the dormitories, laughing as they headed toward the dining hall.
Ethan looked up from the schedule still resting on his desk.
"Dinner already?"
He hadn't realized how much time had passed.
He carefully folded the timetable and slipped it into the top drawer before standing.
His stomach gave a quiet growl.
"…I guess I skipped lunch."
[Host has not eaten in approximately six hours.]
"I didn't ask..."
[Recommendation: Consume food.]
"…You really state the obvious."
The System didn't respond.
Instead, the familiar blue screen quietly faded away.
Ethan grabbed his room key and headed for the door.
Just as he reached for the handle—
Click.
The doorknob turned from the other side.
"…Hm?"
The door slowly opened.
Standing there was a young man about Ethan's age.
He had soft ash-brown hair that fell just above his eyes and calm green eyes that widened in surprise the moment he saw Ethan.
The two of them froze.
"…Oh."
The young man quickly stepped back.
"I'm sorry."
"I didn't realize someone had already arrived."
Ethan blinked.
Then it clicked.
Room 214 has two beds.
"…You're my roommate?"
The young man nodded.
"I should be."
He looked down at the small wooden tag hanging from his key.
"Two-fourteen."
"…Looks like it."
An awkward silence followed.
The young man was the first to recover.
He offered a small smile.
"My name is Rowan. It's nice to meet you."
Ethan hesitated for only a moment before shaking his hand.
"Lucien Veris. It's nice to meet you too."
Rowan's handshake was firm but brief.
He stepped inside, carrying only one medium-sized suitcase.
Compared to Ethan's three trunks…
It looked almost empty.
"You don't have much luggage."
Rowan laughed softly.
"My family isn't noble."
"Oh…"
"I received a scholarship."
Ethan nodded.
"So you're a commoner?"
"I am."
Rowan smiled.
"Does that bother you?"
The question surprised Ethan.
"…Why would it?"
Rowan seemed relieved.
"I've had a few people look disappointed after finding out."
Ethan immediately understood.
Commoners and nobles sharing dormitories wasn't unheard of…
But some nobles definitely disliked it.
"I'm not one of those people."
"I'm glad."
The room immediately felt less awkward.
Rowan placed his suitcase beside the second bed before looking around.
"This room is nicer than I expected."
"I thought so too."
He noticed the photograph on Ethan's desk.
"Your family?"
"Yeah."
The answer came automatically.
It wasn't technically a lie.
They were Lucien's family but his now.
They were the closest thing Ethan had in this world.
Rowan nodded politely without asking further questions.
Instead, he looked toward the window.
"I heard dinner starts soon."
"It does."
"Would it be alright to walk there together?"
Ethan smiled.
"Sure."
The moment they stepped into the hallway—
"Lucien!"
Oliver waved enthusiastically from outside Room 211.
"I was about to go get you."
Then he noticed Rowan.
"Oh! You've met your roommate."
Rowan smiled politely.
"I have."
Oliver introduced himself with his usual cheerful energy.
"Oliver Hawthorne. Room 211."
Rowan nodded.
"Rowan Ellis."
Oliver grinned. "Looks like we'll be seeing each other a lot."
"I suppose we will."
Within minutes…
Oliver had already started a conversation.
"So, Rowan, what department?"
"Magic."
Oliver pointed dramatically at Ethan.
"See?"
"I told you the Magic Department attracts all the smart people."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Really.."
Rowan chuckled.
The sound caught Ethan slightly off guard.
He seemed quieter than Oliver…
But easy to get along with. The three of them left the dormitory together.
The stone pathways bustled with students heading toward dinner. Orange light from the setting sun painted the academy grounds in warm colors.
Oliver walked ahead, talking almost nonstop.
"I heard tomorrow's practical class is terrifying."
"You've already heard rumors?"
"Of course. My cousin studied here. He said first-years accidentally set classrooms on fire every year."
Ethan looked toward Rowan.
"Is he always like this?"
Rowan smiled.
"Better than him making it awkward."
"…Fair enough."
Oliver pretended to look offended. "I can hear you."
"I know."
The dining hall was already filling with students. Long wooden tables stretched across the enormous room.
The smell of fresh bread, roasted meat, and soup immediately made Ethan realize just how hungry he was.
"This smells amazing…"
Oliver nodded enthusiastically.
"The academy food is famous."
"Really?"
"My cousin said students gain weight during their first semester."
"…That's a strange recommendation."
The three collected trays before joining the serving line. As Ethan accepted a bowl of stew, his eyes wandered across the hall.
Then…
He spotted someone familiar.
Adrian Ashbourne.
Just like during the opening ceremony…
He was alone.
He had chosen one of the smaller tables near the windows. No one sat beside him.
Some students looked in his direction before choosing seats elsewhere.
It wasn't obvious enough to be called bullying.
But…
It was intentional.
Ethan frowned slightly.
Rowan noticed.
"Do you know him?"
Ethan quickly looked away.
"…Not really."
"He's the commoner everyone keeps talking about." Oliver lowered his voice. "My father mentioned him once. They say he's incredibly talented with a sword."
Rowan glanced toward Adrian.
"He looks…quiet."
"He does."
For a moment…
Ethan considered walking over.
Then he remembered what he'd told the System.
A natural reason.
This wasn't one well kind of… it just felt awkward.
So instead, he followed Oliver and Rowan to an empty table.
As they sat down together, Ethan couldn't help stealing one last glance toward Adrian.
The Hero calmly ate his dinner alone, seemingly unaffected by the empty seats surrounding him.
But Ethan knew better.
The novel had described it before.
Adrian noticed everything.
He simply chose not to react.
[Main Target observed.
Recommendation: Continue building opportunities naturally.
Current Affection: 0
Current Trust: 0]
Ethan sighed inwardly.
"I know.."
Tomorrow was another day.
And sooner or later…
Their paths were bound to cross again.