Ezren swung open the door to Dorm 3B with a dramatic flourish.
"Finally. A place where I can lie down, heal in peace, and…"
He froze.
Kaguro was already sitting on the lower bunk across the room, unpacking his bag like he lived there.
Enjin stood at the shared desk, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold.
Ezren blinked. "...You have got to be kidding me."
Kagetsu stepped in behind him, her eyes narrowing. "Didn't we literally say goodbye to you two less than an hour ago?"
Kaguro looked up. "Guess fate has a sense of humor."
"I don't like it," Ezren muttered.
Enjin simply grunted. "Room was assigned randomly. Blame Master Qiu."
Ezren raised a finger. "I will. First thing tomorrow."
The room wasn't big, but it wasn't cramped either. Two bunk beds, one on each side. A shared desk. Four lockers. A window with a decent view of the training fields. And, unfortunately, one awkward silence.
Kaguro tossed a rolled-up pair of socks into his locker. "Well, it's not like we hate each other, right?"
Ezren narrowed his eyes. "Give me five days."
One Week Before School Starts
As it turned out, living together wasn't as terrible as Ezren expected.
Sure, Enjin was quiet and vaguely terrifying at night. Kaguro snored like a dying engine when he fell asleep too fast. But overall... It was manageable.
Especially because Ezren and Kagetsu spent most of their free time outside the room.
Training.
Sweat and Sarcasm
Kagetsu struck first, fast and clean. Ezren dodged, just barely, and countered with a sweeping strike
he blocked it with a grin. "Faster."
"I'm still recovering," Ezren complained.
"You've been saying that all week."
"And I meant it all week!"
They circled again. It had been five days since they started training daily in the open field behind the dorms, and Ezren had to admit, he was improving. His form was tighter. His reaction time, faster. His whining? Just as consistent.
"You're starting to move like someone who knows what they're doing," Kagetsu said after their latest round.
Ezren fell onto the grass, panting. "Stop. You'll make me emotional."
"You mean useful," he corrected.
He looked up at the sky. "Is this what growth feels like? Because it's sweaty and painful."
Uniform Delivery
Later that afternoon, a knock sounded at their dorm door. Kaguro opened it, revealing a bored delivery mage holding four neatly folded school uniforms.
"For Dorm 3B," the mage mumbled.
Ezren took his and held it up dramatically. "Look at this! I'm finally going to look like I belong here."
Kagetsu inspected his. "Everything's in order. Tailored. Clean."
Kaguro held his against his chest. "Fits my vibe."
Enjin didn't say a word, just took his and began changing silently behind the locker.
Ezren leaned toward Kagetsu. "I'm 83% sure he sleeps standing up."
Back in the Room
Everyone stood in front of the mirror, uniforms on. Black coats with silver trim, golden crest on the chest. Polished boots. Custom belts for weapons.
Kaguro smirked. "Not bad."
Kagetsu straightened his collar. "Professional."
Ezren admired himself in the mirror. "Okay. I look so sharp, I might cut someone just by walking past."
"Try cutting your training time in half," Kagetsu said without looking at him.
"Cold," Ezren replied. "Accurate. But cold."
Bonding at Midnight
That night, after the lights were out, Ezren lay awake staring at the ceiling from his lower bunk.
"You awake?" he whispered.
Above him, Kagetsu's voice answered, "Yes."
"Weird week."
"A little."
"I didn't think I'd survive the exam. Or get this far. Or end up living in a room with guys who roasted a wyvern from the inside."
"You did fine," he said. "Better than expected."
Ezren paused. "Thanks."
There was a short silence before he added, "You're still dramatic, though."
"I call it 'charismatic.'"
"You cried when we ran out of bread rolls."
"That roll was fluffy and I was tired, okay?"
Across the room, Kaguro groaned. "Go to sleep, idiots."
Enjin muttered, "Please."
Ezren grinned in the dark. "Roommate bonding."