Night had fallen over the sprawling campus of Rhodeia College, a cool hush settling over its stone paths and towering spires. The first-year students had long since been ordered back to their dormitories before curfew, their chatter replaced by the distant hum of bugs and the occasional creak of old wood.
In the solitude of his modest room, Caelus sat at the desk by the window, his gaze fixed on the twin moons rising steadily into the black sky. Their pale, silver light cast long shadows across the courtyard below, bathing the world in a mesmerizing glow.
He sighed, leaning his cheek into his hand. It was only his first day on campus, and already, he'd managed to stir the stagnant waters of the college's hierarchy. Not that he was surprised. The glares, the whispers, the pompous nobles. It was the same song he'd known since birth. The only difference now was that the stage was strikingly different.
'Rhodeia does not suffer the fallen kindly,' the registrar woman had told him. She was absolutely right. The moment he crossed through those gates, he'd ceased to be a name and became a stain.
Suddenly, a soft whoosh stirred the air behind him. Caelus turned as a spiraling hole twisted itself open in the center of his room. A moment later, a familiar cat came tumbling out with a little hop.
"Sheesh! This place is huge, Cael!" Alune announced, shaking her body. "Like, super huge. Supposedly, walking from the front gate to the far end would take over two whole days!"
"That's... extravagant without reason," Caelus remarked. "I'd heard about the college's size, but never imagined it was that large. Back then, it would've taken me and my father two days by carriage just to get from the Luvelaine estate to the capital."
"Like I said — huge. But~ they've got these handy teleportation monoliths scattered around campus. Makes getting around way easier."
She perked up with a sly grin.
"Oh! We should totally get Lord Arkus to install some in the palace."
Caelus chuckled.
"I doubt he'd agree. Lord Arkus is... rather particular about what he allows inside his home."
"Ehh, he'll come around. Maybe. Probably. Most likely..."
"Hah. Well, we can try asking. For now, though... what else have you learned about the college?"
Alune eagerly launched into a scattered rundown of everything she'd picked up.
Rhodeia College was a famous institution far grander than even the most magnificent noble estates. The campus stretched for miles, its grounds divided cleanly into three major sectors, each one with its own distinct air.
Closest to the front gates lay the first-year department, a lively quarter where new students hurried between classes and training fields. The buildings here were modest, built from pale stone and crowned with high spires.
Further in, the second-year department occupied a much wider space, interwoven with the college's expansive multi-purpose grounds. The fields hummed with activity. Rune circles igniting in midair, swords clashing against training dummies, and scholars scribbling beneath trees.
And beyond them all, in the misty hills at the far edge of the campus, stood the third-year department. It seemed like it hadn't been well-maintained within the last decade. Part of it was true. For whatever reason, that place had been vacated by even the senior students.
Typically, students from different years kept to their own sectors. Only during grand festivals, inter-department tournaments, or joint lectures did the paths of the different years cross.
There were other bits and pieces, like the hidden garden near the east wing, and a supposedly haunted bathhouse that the upperclassmen avoid.
When she finally finished, Caelus's voice softened.
"And... any word about my mother?"
Alune's ears dropped.
"I'm sorry, Cael. I made it my top priority, but... nothing. Not even a trace."
"...I see."
Noticing her downcast expression, Caelus stood and crossed the room. He rested a hand atop her head and received a pout in return.
"Don't look so crushed, Alune. It's not your fault."
"B-but—"
"Hey."
He knelt down to meet her gaze with a small, tired smile.
"You did your best. That's more than enough. We'll find something eventually, so don't worry too much. For now, though..."
He sat back on the bed and opened his arms.
"Let's get some sleep."
That was all the invitation she needed. With a bright grin, Alune leapt onto his lap.
"Okay!"
Caelus held her carefully, mindful of leaving room for her to wriggle and breathe.
"Good night, Alune."
She let out a long, contented purr.
"Nighty-night, Cael."
And so, the night slipped away, soon followed by the light of dawn.
Resting on the bed was not the same cat who fell asleep in Caelus's arm just last night. Instead, it was a girl. Now sprawled across the bed, her cheek was squished into the pillow, mouth agape, soft little squeaky murmurs escaping with each breath. On her forehead, a note had been lightly stuck in place.
Eventually, a snort startled her awake. After several blinks, she arched her back with an unnatural stretch, her hair sticking out in every direction.
Still half-asleep, she groggily peeled it from her head and squinted at the handwriting.
Going to orientation. Feel free to do whatever you want. Just don't make a mess. And don't get caught. Regards, Caelus.
She sighed, shoulders slumping.
"Aww, man... I was hoping to get breakfast with him. I'm hungry..."
The crisp morning air bit at Caelus's skin as he made his way through the courtyard. The bell atop the central tower tolled, its deep resonance rippling across the campus like a steady heartbeat.
Rhodeia College was already stirring with life. First-year students shuffled between buildings, their voices overlapping in bursts of excitement and anxious speculation.
Today was the official orientation, and though it was meant to be a formality, Caelus could feel the tension buried beneath the surface. Whispers still followed in his wake. It wasn't as loud as yesterday, but the stares lingered, and the murmurs always found their way to his ears.
Caelus paid them no mind. He'd already made peace with the fact that people would talk. It wasn't like he wasn't here for their approval anyway.
He was just about to step through when a sudden shiver crawled up his spine. Instinctively, he glanced to the side, but nothing was there. Still, he felt it.
Mana.
Thick. Heavy. Abnormally condensed within the walls, saturating the air like an invisible mist. At first, he thought it was some lingering trace of the college's magic infrastructure, but this was far too dense.
It seemed like no one else noticed it.
Caelus narrowed his eyes.
"Orientation, huh? My ass. What the hell are they planning?"