The dining hall was louder than I expected. Laughter bouncing off the high ceiling and the clatter of plates and cutlery mixing with the low hum of conversation.
Alejandro led the way through the crowd, weaving between tables until we stopped around the middle of the room, right under the slow-spinning ceiling fan. The air here was a little cooler, carrying the faint smell of roasted meat and freshly baked bread.
Before we got here, they'd walked me past the main courtyard, the library and the gym while taking brief stops. A few names that I've already forgotten were tossed my way, and more than enough stares from strangers I didn't know how to respond to.
That's Shayne over there." Nayuta said, almost like he was letting me in on a quiet secret. His finger lifted delicately, pointing toward the table across the room.
I followed his gaze. A group sat together, all talking animatedly, as if they had been programmed specifically for conversations. The kind of easy chatter that fills every pause, to the point where any outsider entering said conversation would fill the air with awkwardness.
One of them—tall, broad-shouldered, with the relaxed yet commanding posture of someone used to being listened to. He stood out immediately to me. His hair was a clean, sunlit blonde, neatly parted in a way that seemed effortless. Blue eyes, sharp but not unkind, swept over the room like they had a natural claim to it.
Shayne. I could tell without him declaring it to me.
His glance cut through the noise like a string pulled taut. Not a casual sweep of the eyes, but deliberate. As if he knew exactly who had been looking. Leaving only a faint smile for us to see, he turned back to the group around him.
Nayuta let his hand drop back to the table, leaning in just a little so his voice wouldn't be too loud for the table besides us.
"He's… mm, the type who gets along with everyone." he added, a faint smile softening his expression. "Just one of those people you can't help but like."
There was no envy in his tone. Just quiet acknowledgment. Well, they are roommates after all.
Across the room, as if on cue, Shayne's gaze shifted toward us. His eyes landed on Nayuta, and for a fleeting moment, a warm, easy smile tugged at his lips before he turned back to the people at his table. It wasn't forced. It was the kind of smile that seemed to belong to him naturally.
As I'm monologuing, a shadow passed over the table. Alejandro set down his tray with the soft clink of utensils. He'd been gone barely a few minutes, but now his plate was already loaded with a careful arrangement of food."Alright, you two," he said, glancing between us with that patient but no-nonsense tone. "Hurry along before the main dish is gone. I'll guard the table."
I tilted my head. "Main dish?"
"Roast beef, as you can see on my plate." Alejandro replied, while gesturing towards his tray and later to the serving counter at the far end. "Perfect crust, slow-cooked, melts the second it hits your tongue. This is arguably as rare as lobsters are here, so if you're late…" He made a small cutting motion with his hand. "Gone."
From here, I could already see it. Thick slices of dark, caramelized meat glistening under the warm lights, steam curling upward in lazy tendrils. A line was starting to form, the smell rich enough to make my stomach tighten in anticipation.
Nayuta was already halfway out of his seat before I could stand, his movements light and almost bouncy."Come on, Faulk~" he sang, drawing out my name in a lilting, almost playful tone. "If we wait too long, it'll all be gone." He tug on my shirt, urging me as if the Earth would stop orbiting the Sun had we missed out.
We wove through the crowd, the hum of conversation and clatter of plates swelling around us. The dining hall was brighter here, closer to the food counters, the golden lamps reflecting off polished trays and steaming metal pans. The smell hit me in waves. Garlic, herbs, and the deep, savory richness of roasted meat, all swirling to create an aroma that seduces anyone in its vicinity.
The line wasn't long yet, but it moved with deliberate slowness. Each student seemed to linger, eyes following the smooth, steady motion of the carving knife as it sliced through the roast.
Nayuta leaned closer to me, almost tiptoeing to peek past the person ahead. "It smells sooo good," he whispered, his voice bubbling with anticipation, his saliva drooling on the tip of his mouth. He clasped his hands together in front of him, rocking slightly on his heels like a kid waiting for dessert.
When it was our turn, the server carved two generous slices for each of us. The crust was a deep, mahogany brown, flecked with rosemary and coarse salt, sealing in the pink, tender center. The juices pooled at the edges, soaking into the roasted vegetables nestled beside it.
Nayuta let out a soft, almost musical "Mmm~ yesss…What a huge chunks of meat. " under his breath, barely audible over the dining hall noise, his expression blooming into a smile that could've belonged in a café commercial.
Plates in hand, we made our way back to the table where Alejandro sat with the calm composure of someone who'd already secured the best catch at a market. His fork was poised over his plate, but he waited until we were both seated before taking his next bite.
"Good." he said simply, as if our return had just proven his point. "Now, eat before it's cold."
The dining hall's buzz faded behind us as we stepped back into the cooler air of the corridors. My stomach was pleasantly heavy, and I couldn't help but think back to the roast chicken's tender meat and the rich gravy that clung to every bite. For cafeteria food, it was far better than I expected. Perfectly seasoned with a balance that spoke of actual care in the kitchen. If the meals keep up like this, adjusting to dorm life might be easier than I thought.
When we reached Room 103, the familiar polished wooden door and soft carpeted floor welcomed us back. We slipped inside, each drifting toward our own corners without needing to say anything.
Alejandro set his books back on the desk, his chair creaking softly as he sat. Without missing a beat, he reopened one of his thick textbooks, pen already in hand, eyes narrowing as if the half-eaten page of notes from earlier had been waiting impatiently for him to return. His wrist moved in a steady rhythm, underlining key points and occasionally scribbling formulas in the margins.
Nayuta, meanwhile, curled up on his bed with his phone in hand, the soft glow lighting up his face. His thumbs danced lightly over the screen, and every now and then, a small smile tugged at his lips. The kind that made you wonder what sort of conversation was happening on the other end. Sometimes he'd pause, tilt his head as if debating what to type, then tap out something quick before pressing send. A faint giggle escaped him once, airy and unguarded.
I turned to my suitcase, still parked beside the foot of my bed like an unspoken task. Piece by piece, I began unpacking: shirts folded into the wardrobe, books stacked on the shelf, toiletries lined up in the cabinet. The faint scent of laundry detergent drifted up from my clothes, mixing with the subtle paper-and-ink smell from Alejandro's side and the faint graphite scent from Nayuta's sketching.
It was a quiet, strangely comfortable kind of evening. The kind where everyone's presence was felt without anyone saying a word. A sense of calm and tranquility. I wish my school days here would be like this until I graduate.
The evening calm was broken by the crisp chime of the dorm's intercom system, followed by a voice that carried a certain weight that is formal, clear, and resonant.
"Attention all First Years," the voice announced. "By order of The High Council, your presence is required at the central courtyard immediately following the midnight snacks period. Attendance is mandatory. Further instructions will be given upon assembly."
The message repeated once, then faded away, leaving a strange hush in the room.
I set down the shirt I was folding, glancing toward Alejandro and Nayuta. "The High Council…?" I asked, keeping my tone even, though the name carried a certain gravitas that made my curiosity itch.
Both of them turned to look at me. Not just look. They outright gave me that kind of stare you'd give someone who just asked what water was. Alejandro raised an eyebrow, and Nayuta tilted his head slightly, lips parting in a small "oh."
"You seriously don't know?" Alejandro said, leaning back in his chair. His tone wasn't mocking, but there was a note of disbelief threaded through it.
Nayuta blinked, then let out a soft, airy laugh. "Ohhh, Faulk~." he said, voice lilting with playful disbelief. "You really enrolled here without knowing anything, huh?" He tilted his head toward Alejandro with a teasing grin. "Alejandro, you tell him~. You're way better at this serious stuff than me."
Alejandro set his pen down with deliberate care, folding his hands atop his desk. When he spoke, his tone carried the unhurried precision of someone delivering an undeniable truth—tinged with a faint incredulity that such a question even needed asking.
Alejandro: "The High Council is the academy's highest governing body. Even childrens around the provinces know of them. Seven chosen students who hold the authority to guide, discipline, and represent all within these walls. Each occupies a distinct seat, ranked in influence and responsibility.
7th Seat, The Dorm Keeper, who deals with small dormitory issues like noise complaints.
6th Seat, The Envoy, who maintains harmony between divisions and upholds relations with institutions beyond our gates.
5th Seat, The Treasurer, who ensures both academic and social endeavors are properly funded.
4th Seat, The Memokeeper, whose task is to safeguard our archives, administer examinations, and uphold procedural integrity.
3rd Seat, The Mastermind, typically the strategist in dealing with businesses.
2nd Seat, The Adjudicator, who enforces our rules and resolves disputes with impartial authority.
And the 1st Seat, highest authority between them. The Chancellor, voice of the Council and face of the academy itself.
Alejandro's precise explanation lingered in my head long after he'd finished. All those titles, duties, and politics… it was too official. Too tangled for my taste. I leaned back a little, deciding then and there, "Yeah… think I'll just steer clear of all that."
Alejandro gave me a brief glance, one brow arched. "A wise decision," he said, as if confirming my thought. "The less you involve yourself with the Council's inner dealings, the fewer complications you invite."
Nayuta's soft, lilting voice chimed in right after, carrying that playful sing-song tone he seemed to always have. "Mmhm~ Trust me, Faulk, it's way easier to enjoy life here if you don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong." He gave a small shrug and a sly smile. "The Council's world is… complicated."
Alejandro nodded at that. "Exactly. Focus on your studies, and let those seats handle their own burdens."
I gave them both a slow nod. Yeah… I could live with that. Watching the storm from a distance sounded a whole lot safer than standing in the middle of it.
"Even after all that I've said, I still advise you to listen carefully tonight." Alejandro added. Hint of worry can be spotted in his eyes, while Nayuta just nod in confirmation. I, on the other hand, doesn't understand how much different is the High Council and my old school's Student Council.
I guess I'll find out soon enough.