A cold chill crawled down Merlin's spine as he stepped out of the auditorium. And that was not because it was winter. Definitely not. Because the last time he recalled, it was spring. Which meant that the small cluster that had immediately surrounded him and Nora was the culprit.
"Hey. Hey." One of his fellow first years popped up before him. It was a girl with hair so short that it stopped just before it got to her neck. And she was drawing unusually close with every word of hers. "My name's Kim Minji. Nice to meet you, Merlin. Do you mind if we could be friends? You don't mind, right?"
Honestly? No. He didn't. In fact, he wanted to rack up friends like he was collecting Lego toys, as that would make sure his Academy life was as fun as possible. The problem lay in the reason she wanted to be friends with him. After all, he was not actually an A-Class Mage now, was he?
Merlin shifted back slightly, putting his hands up in between the girl and himself, trying to create some space.
"I guess," he replied with a chuckle, obviously not being truthful, but hoping that his stilted answer would get her to back off.
He was wrong.
"Great!" She pulled out her phone. "Then I'll give you my contact."
Uhm… I'd prefer it if you didn't.
Anyone could see that the sort of friendship Minji was seeking from him was purely symbiotic. And Merlin was not keen on having relationships he would have painstakingly nurtured, collapsing later on. All because he'd, apparently, lied about his Class, too.
There was a different feel between friends who had once been close to you sneering at you, than complete strangers doing the same.
"Do you mind giving me a minute?" Merlin raised a finger, hurrying away from Minji and the rest of the little gathering that was building up behind her. "Hey, Nora," he called as he came up to his twin, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her away from those who had surrounded her.
She'd had her hands full—fuller than his, in fact, and he was sure she was glad for his interference.
"What is it?" Nora asked after they had moved a considerable distance away from the following gazes of the hovering first years.
"Nothing," Merlin sighed. "It was just beginning to overwhelm me and I needed an excuse to leave there."
"What? I thought you craved the celebrity life?" Nora teased, a smirk on her lips. "Not anymore, huh, geek?"
"Shut up." Merlin scratched the back of his neck. "You know why I'm uncomfortable. I'm literally lying to them. What will happen when they find out?" He was animated with every word he spoke. "I don't have a Grimoire, I can't cast spells. Sooner or later they'll all find out."
"So, what do you want to do?" Nora folded her arms. Merlin fell silent. "The way I see it, you have two options." She raised a finger. "Play along and enjoy yourself; not like you have anything to lose." And then a second finger. "Or just walk up to them now and announce that you are not actually who they think you are. Let's be honest, you know what that would do to you for the rest of the year. Of course, I won't just stand by and watch it happen. But you get what I mean."
Yes, he did. She did not need to tell him. He'd already had that train of thought already. He didn't want a wreck of a life in the Academy; divulging that he was a Deficient Mage would make him an outcast. But keeping it a secret was just as bad. The instructors definitely knew what he was. Wouldn't that expose him during classes?
"You're worried about the instructors, aren't you?" Nora asked.
"Well, yeah?" Merlin rolled his eyes. "Obviously."
She clicked her tongue. "Just be you. And besides, you never even claimed to be anything special. So you can just blame it all on speculation later on."
That was a nasty way to think. But, she was right. If he wanted to enjoy his life in the Academy, then he was already on the right track.
"I'll think about it," he said.
Nora just shrugged. "Like I said, you do you."
At that moment they noticed a familiar figure standing a few steps away with two luggages at his side. It was Kim Yiseo's chauffeur.
His gaze met theirs and he bowed.
"Our things," Merlin said, not particularly to anyone.
Nora took in a deep breath and sighed. Her mind had perhaps flown back to her and Kim Yiseo's earlier falling-out.
Now that the headmaster had clarified the situation, though, she was probably no longer annoyed, and was already thinking about making up with Kim Yiseo. However, that was where the problem lay. Ladies were quite prideful.
They both made to move towards the chauffeur when they were halted by a lady suddenly stepping before them. Quite casually, in fact. One would think they were childhood friends with her.
She was a first year just like them, with black hair tied into twin ponytails and a very stylized casual dressing that would probably make guys take second glances at her. But the manner in which she had approached them was not one bit desirable. It was like she thought that the world was at her beck and call.
Merlin was not someone to see too much into things such as first impressions. His sister, though…
"You're Nora, right?" the girl asked.
And, as expected, Nora frowned in an instant. Her distaste for the girl was palpable.
"Yes," Nora replied, her tone unfriendly. "And you are?"
"Oh Jihye," the girl replied, a conceited smile dancing across her lips. She stretched forth her hand. "We should be friends."
Merlin could only sigh inwardly, because he knew what was coming next.
Nora eyed the girl's outstretched hand for nothing more than a second before saying, "No, thanks."
Oh Jihye's smile froze on her lips. She was trying so hard not to frown and Merlin could see how futile that was, because she had no choice. Approaching Nora had rid her of any.
"What did you say?" Oh Jihye questioned like she had not heard clearly. Nora, on the contrary, was more than happy to repeat it as many times as was necessary.
"I said, no, thanks," she repeated. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get to the dorm and settle in." And she took off.
Merlin could only steal a momentary glance at Oh Jihye's tightened expression before following behind his sister. She had perhaps been too harsh. After all, unlike him, she really had nothing to fear about making friends. But that was not the reason why she had acted in such a manner. Merlin knew his sister better than anyone. She was not unfriendly. Oh Jihye simply didn't click with her. And she was never one to force relationships.
"Mr. Merlin. Ms. Nora," the chauffeur greeted, as Merlin and Nora walked up to him. "Here are your luggages. Pardon the delay."
Merlin smiled. "Thank you so much, sir…" he trailed off.
"Han," the chauffeur replied.
"Ah. Thank you, Sir Han."
Sir Han nodded. "You are most welcome. But you should be thanking the young miss instead. She was the one who made the call."
Merlin was happy to oblige. "I will. When I come across her."
Sir Han nodded and turned to Nora who was only staring at him, as if waiting for the man to say something.
"You too, Ms. Nora," said Sir Han. "I understand how you feel, but I promise you that you have gotten the young miss all wrong. I hope you both do not drag this out anymore than is necessary."
"Thank you, Mr. Han," said Nora. "For the luggages."
The man could only blink, sigh, and nod. He had said what he'd wanted to say; now it was up to those involved to act in whatever way they wished.
"Well, then," he started. "I'll be on my way."
"Have a safe trip back," added Nora.
A bow, and Sir Han was off.
"You know, you could have just said you would make up with her?" Merlin gave his opinion on the matter. One that was obviously not wanted. Because all Nora did was turn around and wave him goodbye.
With his pamphlet now in his possession, getting to the boys' dorm was rather smooth sailing. The problem was the queue he met when he got to the lounge.
There was such a long line of first years waiting to get their luggages checked and their room numbers handed to them that it baffled Merlin. He counted and there were about forty. That was half of the admitted boys in the first year. How come? For a Mage Academy, shouldn't mundane tasks like this have a spell that could speed things up?
"Next!" the hoarse voice of the man who seemed to be the dorm master rang out, and on his table thumped a luggage.
"What's this boy?" the dorm master asked.
"Uhm… My luggage?" the student before him answered.
"Yeah, I know it's your luggage," the dorm master scoffed. "Why's it so big? Think you're on vacation?"
Merlin wouldn't lie, he could sympathize with the dorm master; after all, he was right. The boy's luggage was actually really huge, because how could he see it so clearly despite being so far back in line.
"When did you get here?" someone said from behind him, and Merlin turned around to see Chima. He smiled.
"When did you?" he asked.
"Just now," Chima shrugged. His breaths were somewhat heavy. "I kinda got lost." He still had his school bag over his chest, but now with a luggage in hand.
"I honestly thought you had checked in already," said Merlin. "You weren't with your luggage back at the auditorium."
"Well I couldn't take it into the auditorium now, could I?" That was true. "I arrived late, so I left it here and hurried to the auditorium. If I knew that they would delay, I would have just checked in."
"I see…" Merlin nodded.
The line moved, they both shuffled forward.
"So? How's the taste of fame?" Chima asked, his eyes perusing the lounge, taking in the scenery. It was a rather large space after all, and accommodating too. There was a huge TV to a corner where couches and chairs were set in an arc around it. There were vending machines too. And there was a fridge. The air of recreation and relaxation was what made up the lounge's atmosphere.
Merlin, though, felt like a knot had been tied in his belly at Chima's question.
He had already momentarily forgotten about his dilemma, and now he was being reminded. If he was to be honest, he didn't want to talk about it. But he couldn't act that way to Chima now, could he?'
He feigned a smile. "Utter shit, I tell you." Chima chuckled. "I'm so happy it's all stopped now."
Chima shrugged. "That's just because everyone's busy trying to settle in. It'll kick up a notch soon enough."
"My goodness, I hope not."
Perhaps it was because they were so engrossed in their conversation, but the line suddenly moved faster. Before they knew it, they were in front.
"Next!"
Merlin shuffled forward, seeing the dorm master more clearly now. His face was a deep contrast to his voice. He was a young man that looked to be in his early thirties, with a sharp jawline and silver hair—most likely dyed. And, apparently, he was using magic to search the luggages, his dark-brown Grimoire floating at his side. It was not just in a way that one could notice from far back in line.
Then what had caused the delay?
The dorm master made use of what seemed to be an Air spell to search through Merlin's things, so that they were not scattered. It was all done with a languid twirl of his finger, which meant that it was hardly any work. But the man still looked bored regardless, yawning between every five seconds.
"No Grimoire?" the dorm master asked suddenly, causing Merlin to subconsciously jolt.
Merlin didn't know what to say and could only stutter inaudibly, inciting the dorm master to just click his tongue.
"Better not have lost it, boy," he said. "You don't want to pay the fine." He then checked through something that seemed to be a device underneath his table, saying as he tossed a pouch at Merlin, "First floor. Room 50. Your student ID is your key pass. That's your Grimoire pouch."
"Thank you," Merlin replied halfheartedly. After all, what was the point in him receiving a Grimoire pouch?
Regardless, he did not spend even one more second before the man. He zipped up his luggage, bid Chima farewell, and hurried into the corridor he had seen every other first year before him head through.
An elevator ding later, and he was on the first floor.
"Room 50. Room 50," Merlin hummed, his eyes scanning through the numbers on the doors around him. And then, to his surprise, a familiar person was already before the door with the number fifty on it. "You?" he said, frozen. It was four-eyes, the boy who had led him and Nora to the auditorium. And… He was seated on the floor?
"Yes, me," four-eyes replied with a nudge of his glasses. "I'd prefer if you called me Hakyun instead, though. You isn't really that nice of a name."
What a weird sense of humor. Merlin almost took a step back.
"I'm Merlin," he introduced himself. "Nice to meet you, Hakyun. Wouldn't have guessed that we would end up being roommates." He stretched forth a hand.
"Me neither," Hakyun shook it. "Guess we're going to end up in the same Cohort as well."
"I guess so." Merlin nodded. "But why are you seated out here? Our ID's our key pass right?" Merlin gasped. "Don't tell me you've lost yours already?"
Hakyun scoffed, propping the rims of his glasses with his thumb and index finger. "I'm not so careless, Merlin Tyrrell. It would do you good to know that." Merlin only chuckled. "As for why I'm seated out here… Well, I guess I am allowed to divulge that information now that our final roomie is here."
As Hakyun stood up, Merlin turned to his side to see Chima standing there, a confused look on his face.
"Room 50?" Chima asked, unsure, despite the door bearing the number.
Merlin beamed. "Yes!"
Merlin had never really thought he was lucky, but this was more than enough proof that he maybe had a bit of it. Even though Hakyun had a rather peculiar way with words, he was more than happy to share a room with someone he'd already had something of an interaction with than a total stranger. And, Chima now too? No. He was far more than just happy. He was brimming with joy.
Chima nodded, seemingly just as pleased as Merlin. "So why are you guys still outside?" He paused. "Don't tell me! Our room caught fire?!"
"How did you come to that conclusion?" Hakyun narrowed his eyes. Merlin's lips could only twitch.
"Ah, I'm yet to introduce myself." Chima stretched forth a hand at four-eyes. "The name's Ken, but I'd prefer it if you called me Chima. I'm used to that."
"Hakyun," four-eyes took the hand. "Pleasure to meet you. I hope it remains that way."
Chima chuckled stiffly. "Me too." Then he stole a glance at Merlin who could only shrug in response.
"Now that we're all here," Hakyun continued, building anticipation by taking his time with his words… "We can now have the grand opening. Who wants to do the honors?"
Merlin's shoulders dropped.
He couldn't be serious. That was why he had been waiting outside?
"Me!" Chima yelped and quickly rummaged through his bag for his ID. Merlin, on the side, was taken aback. It seemed Chima and Hakyun would get along well.
"You may have it," Hakyun stepped aside. "Now as we all may know, houses have rules. I will not force us to talk about it now so as to not sour the mood of the grand opening. But once we're in, we will have to iron that matter out. Understood?"
"Understood!" said Chima, excitedly, as he put his ID on the door lock and a beep sound notified them of its opening.
Merlin found his roommates somewhat odd, but for some reason, he felt right at home. And that was why his expression turned gloomy all of a sudden, considering the fact that they too were probably well in on the lie that he was anything but a Deficient Mage.
He clenched his fist.
He wouldn't be able to do it. At the very least, his roommates had the right to know what sort of Mage he really was. And that was why he strengthened his resolve to do the right thing.
But just as he was about to open his mouth, his phone beeped. Wondering what exactly it was, Merlin pulled it out of his pocket, and his eyes widened a second later. He had received a notification from the System.
He quickly clicked on it, his heart pounding as he did. And as soon as the booting icon of the System finished loading, pop-ups that questioned his resolve appeared on his screen:
[Conditions for creating a quest has been met]
[Quest: Lying Mage has been created]
[Quest Description: Keep your real Mage Class a secret for a week. Option for extension is available]
[Quest Timeframe: 168:60:59]
[Quest Reward: Random Loot Box]
[Note: Rewards differ if timeframe is extended]
[Accept quest?]
[Yes]/[No]
Merlin paled. This was cruel. Because why was he being given this sort of quest?
He bit his lower lip, wondering if he should reject it, however, his thumb could not move.
The reward… He was curious what the reward could be, and how it could help him progress as a Mage.
But what will happen when they find out I lied? Really? Why do you care? Do you think friendship is greater than personal power? Have you forgotten how you felt after the evaluation? I thought you wanted to never feel like a deadweight again? This is it. This is the path you have to take.
Merlin tightened his grip on his phone, his head a mess, and his heart pounding so hard within his chest that the conversations of those moving through the corridor were muffled to his ears.
He really had not been given a choice here, had he?
"Merlin?" A voice pulled him out of his drowning thoughts. He looked up from his phone to see Chima and Hakyun waiting for him at the door. "Something wrong?"
Merlin forced a smile he didn't feel onto his face. "No. Nothing's wrong. I was just checking my notifications."
"Don't you know notifications are best checked over a plate of kimchi?" Hakyun tutted, shaking his head. "Well, come on in already. Don't go messing up the grand opening."
"Alright. Alright." Merlin tucked his phone away, walking into the room with his roommates, his shoulders heavy and his choice made.