As I enter through the door, I was greeted by the sign hanging from the ceiling that read out "Thee who sinned in sloth shall be left in the shadows of men." I assume that those are the school's motto.
I should've asked the guards where the dormitory office was.Now here I am, dragging my luggage across the stone paths of Limelight Dormitory, staring at buildings that all look far too important to be a dorm.
Every direction I turn, there's another tower, another courtyard, another cluster of students walking like they know exactly where they're going. Thinking back, the sign being placed there couldn't be any more intentional.
I keep moving, trying not to look like I'm lost, but my neck probably gives me away.
"You look like you've been walking in circles," a voice calls from my side.
I glance over. A boy about my age, tall, dark hair swept back, wearing the academy uniform like it was tailored just for him. His eyes flick from my bag to my suitcase, then back to me. "New here?"
"Yeah." I said while nodding to his question.
He tilts his head toward one of the paths. "Come on. You're heading the wrong way."
I fall in step beside him.
"I'm Kane," he says after a moment.
"Faulker."
"First year?"
"Yeah."
He smirks slightly, like he was expecting me to say more. "It's unusual for people to transfer here while the end of semester is months away. Where you from?"
"Far."
That gets a short laugh out of him. "Not the talkative type, huh?"
I don't answer, and we walk the rest of the way mostly in silence, the sound of our footsteps echoing against the cobblestones. The dormitory feels even bigger when you're walking through it, with wide open lawns, archways, and tall banners that sway overhead.
After a while, Kane points at a sleek, modern-looking building ahead, its glass doors framed by pale stone. The plaque above reads: Head Warden Office.
Kane stops a few steps away. "That's it. Head inside and you'll get your room key."
I grip my suitcase handle, ready to thank him, but his voice drops a little before I can speak.
"Be careful around here," he says, tone low but deliberate. "Looks could be deceiving."
Before I can ask what he means, he turns and walks back down the corridor, disappearing around the corner.
Inside the office, a man in his late forties sits behind a desk, sorting through paperwork. His nametag read out: McCallister. He looks up when I enter.
"Anz Faulker?"
"Yes, sir."
McCallister picked up a thin stack of papers. "Ordinarily, there's a bit of procedure here, which is paperwork, verification and guardian approvals. But in your case, it's already taken care of. Your father's close associates have settled everything in advance."
"What do you mean my father's close associates?" Faulker asked.
"One of your father's close friends." McCallister replied without looking up. "That's what the records say. For unknown circumstances, your official guardian, based on paper, would be this close associate of his."
Faulker frowned. "Why?"
McCallister didn't answer the question directly. "You'll find your affairs are already in order. Just sign where your name is printed."
The pen felt heavier than it should as Faulker signed each document. No explanations. No choices. Just neat, tidy decisions made for him by people he didn't even know.
Come to think of it, who sent the letter containing cash in their mailbox? Is it just a regular postal workers, or his close associates too?
When the signing was done, McCallister slid a polished brass key across the desk.
"Room 103. First floor. You'll be sharing with three others."
"You'll need to know the facilities here." McCallister went on.
"There's dining hall, which is south end of the main school building. Breakfast, Tea-time at Noon, Afternoon Lunch, Dinner and Midnight snack. Eating there is free and the menu is determined only by the cooks. The food is only served at it's specific time, but you can be at the dining hall anytime of the day, as long as it's before lights out and after 7AM.
Library's at third floor, east wing, also on the main school bulding. The same to Infirmary, Gymnasium and Field. Infirmary is at ground floor, west wing. Gymnasium's attached to the east wing. Equipment room's locked unless a staff member opens it. Walk outside the Gymnasium and you'll see the Field used to play European Football, American Football, Baseball et cetera. The other door leads you to the Swimming Pool.
He tapped the desk with one finger before continuing. "For the dormitory itself, laundry room's in the basement, east side. Recreation lounge's on the first floor, west end. There's a billiard table, cards, chess sets and a few couches. Study hall's upstairs. Don't be loud there. Bathhouse is down the hall from your room."
He leaned back slightly."That's all you need for now. The rest, you'll find on your own."
Faulker hesitated. "And about the papers—"
McCallister's expression shut the door on the question before it was finished."You've got your key. Get settled. Classes start tomorrow."
The head warden turned back to the stack of files on his desk. I forgot about half of the things he said. What an information dump.
I proceeded to walk in pursuit of finding my room. Some people waved at the sight of me, so I simply waved back. I'll be starting my days with nothing but tranquility from today onwards. Minutes later, I found the room with the same number on the dog tag of my key.
The polished brass plate on the door read 103, catching the hallway light like it had been shined that morning. Actually, all the plates looked like that. The whole corridor smelled faintly of wood polish and something clean. Perhaps Linen, maybe. Even the carpet under my shoes was plush enough to swallow the sound of my steps.
I slid the key into the lock, the metal smooth and unblemished. A quiet click. I raised my hand to knock the door. But I stopped, wondering why am I raising my hand to knock the door. Is it perhaps reflex, morals or common sense embedded into my very being? I knocked with my hand raised anyway, before turning the doorknob, easing the door open.
The room looked like something out of a brochure. Warm wood floors, spotless white walls, heavy curtains framing tall windows. Two desks, two wardrobes, and two neatly made beds already filled the space on the far side. My half of the room was empty, waiting.
My eyes lingered towards the girl sitting at her bed. Wait, girl? Wasn't this the dormitory for boys? Her features were petite and soft. Her face, perfectly in the shape of Golden Ratio, a symbol of beauty. Her nose, straight and small. Dark brown colored hair, fringed middle bangs, and side bangs that reached her neck. Overall, her looks screamed soft and fluffy.
I don't think I am in the girls dormitory. Maybe, the girls can visit the boys dormitory at a specific time and vice versa. Anyway, I am convinced that I am not at the wrong place, as the both of us aren't the only ones in the room.
Across the room by the window sat a boy who, at first glance, seemed almost flawless. Uniform crisp, posture straight, dark hair neatly kept.
But then my eyes caught the details most would miss. Faint shadows beneath his eyes, the kind you only saw if you really looked. A slight dryness in the corners of his lips and stillness in his hands that felt deliberate, like he was making sure they didn't shake.
Someone meeting him for the first time would probably call him brilliant without a second thought, never realizing how much he'd worked to earn it. I was almost fooled myself.
"He-hello…" Her voice was light, almost hesitant, but carried a warmth that made it hard not to respond.
I blinked, realizing I'd been staring a little too long. "Hi," I replied, setting my bag down beside the empty desk.
The one at the desk placed his pen down and closed his notebook with a neat tap. He turned toward me, eyes assessing. "New guy, right?"
"Yeah. Just got my key," I said.
He gave a small nod. "Well...guess that makes you part of our little squad."
I smiled faintly. "And the both of you are…?"
"I'm Alejandro," he said, then gestured toward the bed. "That's Nayuta."
Nayuta offered a small, almost shy smile. "Nice to meet you. We were just doing our own thing before you came in." he said softly, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear. "Did you just move in today?"
"Yes. Name's Faulker." I said.
Alejandro leaned back slightly in his chair. "So… what brings you here in the middle of the semester? Not exactly the usual transfer timing."
I shrugged. "Just needed a change of environment, I guess."
He raised an eyebrow but didn't press. "Fair enough. This place grows on you."
Nayuta rested a pillow on her lap. "You'll get used to it fast. We're… not bad company. It's not so bad once you settle in." he added, his voice light and reassuring, as if to make me feel less out of place.
And just like that, the tension of walking into a stranger's room started to fade.
"Are you two dating, perhaps?" I asked, as curiosity gets the best of me.
"What? No. What made you think that?" Alejandro looked at me, dumbfounded. It took him a second to understand what I was hinting at.
"Oh, I see. Despite his appearance, Nayuta here is actually a bonafide male. Members of different sex aren't allowed at the other dormitory.
That answer got me look dumbfounded. That is indeed a possibility. One that I haven't conceived of. I turned to look at Nayuta. She-....He returned the gaze with a light smile while covering his mouth.
Meanwhile, Alejandro picked up his pen again but didn't write, letting it roll between his fingers.
"So, Faulker," he said casually, "what did you leave behind at your last place? Friends? Clubs?"
It wasn't a sharp question, but I could feel him watching for the edges of my answer.
"Some friends," I said after a moment. "And a family. But I figured I'd find new things here."
"Mm." He nodded slowly, like he was filing that away. "Adaptable type, then. Based on your way of answering."
Nayuta tilted his head. "Or someone who doesn't mind starting over."
I gave a small smile. "Maybe both."
Alejandro leaned back in his chair, still studying me with those precise, deliberate eyes. "This dorm can be… busy sometimes. You okay with people coming and going? Loud conversations at weird hours?"
"I've shared worse," I replied, which earned the faintest curve of his lips—almost like a smirk.
Nayuta glanced between us, a little spark of amusement in his eyes. "I think you'll survive."
Survive?
It wasn't much, but I could tell they were measuring me. Not just by my answers, but by the way I gave them. And for now, I seemed to be passing.
Alejandro finally closed his notebook for real this time, sliding it aside."Well, since you've just landed here mid-semester, you might as well get the quick tour before you get lost in the hallways."
I leaned back slightly. "I'll figure it out."
Alejandro gave me a knowing look, one eyebrow raised. "Sure you will. And in the meantime, you'll wander into the staff storage room thinking it's the laundry."
Nayuta stood up, brushing an invisible speck from his skirt-like pajama pants. "I'll come too. I need to stretch my legs. "He glanced at me briefly before adding, "It's… better to see the place for yourself, rather than figuring it out alone."
I glanced toward the far side of the room, where another bed sat neatly made but clearly lived-in. Clothes folded on the desk, a jacket tossed over the chair, and a pair of sneakers half-tucked under the frame.
"Where's the other guy?" I asked.
"Oh, you mean Shayne." Alejandro replied easily. "He's probably at the dining hall right now, busy chatting with his fan club."
"Fan club?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow.
Nayuta's tone was dry but not unkind. "Popular type. Knows everyone, talks to everyone, eats with everyone. Don't expect him to stay in here for long."
I gave a small nod, filing the information away.
"…Fine," I said finally. "Lead the way."
Alejandro smirked faintly as he grabbed his key. "Dining hall's not far, and you'll want to see the showers and laundry. There's also the lounge. Best place if you actually want to talk to people. Just…don't sit in the corner by the window."
"Why not?" I asked flatly.
Nayuta's lips curled into a faint, almost secretive smile. "You'll see."
The hallway beyond was bright and spotless, polished wood floors reflecting the warm light. For a prestigious dorm, it didn't feel sterile. It felt… quietly alive. Still, I kept my steps even, careful not to look too eager.
If they wanted to show me their world, I'd follow. But I wasn't planning to lower my guard just yet.
After all, Kane's words still lingered in my mind. "Be careful around here, looks could be deceiving."
What was that supposed to mean? Was he giving me genuine advice, or planting a seed of caution? Was he an ally trying to help me settle in…a friendly neighbor testing the waters…or the kind of person who smiles while measuring the distance to your back?
I glanced at Alejandro, then Nayuta.
Both seemed harmless enough. One buried in books. The other's softer than a strand of noodle, but Kane's words made me wonder.First impressions were easy to fake. And if I was going to be living with them, I needed to know which faces were masks… and which weren't.