Auren stirred awake to a still and silent world. The infirmary ward was dark, the silver glow of the moon's outside painted faint shadows across the floor.
He blinked, the haze of sleep clearing and realized the infirmary was empty save for one curled figure at his side.
Eiran.
The fox was wrapped up in himself, limbs folded at impossible angles, six tails draped over like a cocoon. His violet hair spilled across the pillow, ears twitching faintly with every dream breath.
Auren frowned, tilting his head, "..... He sleeps like Rai'en," he muttered under his breath. Memories tugged at him, a shadow of his brother sleeping at odd angles and comfortable in postures that would break anyone else's spine.
Auren shook the thought away. [No sense in waking him up. I should take a look around]
Sliding from the bed with silent movements, Auren wore his shoes and walked to the maintainer courtyard outside. The air was crisp with pre-dawn chill and fait mist clung to the stones.
[I've spent less than 2 days in this school and I already fought an Upper Classman. Made an enemy and..... Made a friend.]
As Auren thought this, a small strange feeling filled his heart. He dismissed it quickly turning his mind back to the duel.
Closing his eyes, he replayed it all. Hanul's strikes, his speed. The way Eiran's illusions had bought them openings . The way his own defenses has nearly cracked.
Auren's body moved in it's own. He shifted into stances, fists slicing through the cold air. He was shadow fighting against his for within his mind. Step, block, parry. Strike, parry, strike again.
Hours slipped by, sweat dampened his hair and clung to his loose shirt. His breath sharp but steady. Every mistake replayed, every weakness cut away.
"Auren..." The voice was quiet, almost hesitant.
He turned. Eiran stood at the edge of the courtyard, hair messy, tails swaying sluggishly in the morning light. His onyx eyes softened in surprise at the sight of Auren drenched in sweat, still moving like a machine sharpen it's own edges.
Eiran crossed his arms, face faintly red. "You're ridiculous."
Auren arched a brow, "You're awake early."
"I wasn't. I woke up and you weren't there. I..." Eiran cut himself short, shaking his head. His ears flicked back, embarrassment crossing his face.
".... Look, I'll admit it. I'm wean in combat. Yesterday I would have lost without you."
Auren stayed silent, his fists lowering.
"..... So," Eiran glanced away, tails curling nervously. "Train me. Be my training partner. I'll teach you something in return."
"What?" Auren asked as he wiped his sweat with a cloth from his storage ring.
"How to control your volatile bloodlines." Eiran's eyes gleamed, a little snug despite his blush. " I sensed when we fought together yesterday. You're strong but unbalanced. I can fix that."
For the first time since he arrived at this academy, Auren's lips curved faintly upward. Not a smirk or a cold mask but a genuine, fleeting smile. Eiran froze. His breath caught.
*Snap*
The sound of a terminal camera echoed in Auren's ears. Auren blinked, realizing too late.
".... Delete it." Auren growled.
Eiran's smug grin returned in full force. "Not a chance. This is a treasure, I can sell it for a lot of money."
The fox darted away as Auren lunged for him, their chase echoing laughter across the empty courtyard. Tails swished, claws reached, footsteps slapped stone until the bells of dawn rang across the academy.
Both stopped, panting lightly. The morning was bright and didn't feel heavy.
The dormitories were nothing short of lavish. Tall buildings stretching skywa9, marble floors polished to gleam and interiors modeled after the best apartments. The academy valued it's reputation and it's students.
Eiran split off on the third floor, waving his tails dramatically as he vanished down the hallway. "I'll see you later! Don't miss me too much!"
Auren rolled his eyes and pressed 8 on the elevator. His own room was much higher than Eiran, room 804.
When he pushed the door open, he immediately met another gaze. It was not Gray his roommate.
"Who are you?" Auren asked eyes trained on the short boy. He had a fluffy tail , red in colour and rounded ears a top his head. The boys amber eyes filled with shimmering tears at Auren's presence.
"My... My name is Latif. I'm a red panda bloodline. House Hong of Veydra Dominion."
The bou introduced himself, standing from the couch giving Auren the respect every royal is given. Gray's room opened at that instant, hair wet and a towel around his neck.
"Yoh Boss. Welcome back." Gray said cheerfully, his sharp teeth in display from his wife grin.
Auren nodded and headed to his room. Before he closed the door he heard Gray explaining to the red panda that he wasn't bad just silent and territorial.
Auren shook his head and headed straight for the shower. He loves how the dorm is divided like an apartment. Two separate bedrooms, a shared living space in the middle and a compact kitchen.
Feeling the water flowing down his back, Auren remembered that he hadn't finished unpacking his luggage. He finished up and dried his hair using the heat of his flames.
Auren took a set of casual clothes from his drawer, sweatpants and a t-shirt. His weapons were stored in the bottom drawer and as he was busy removing his books from the suitcase be noticed a book.
It was worn out at the edges, the title scrawled in bold strokes,
The art of politics & foundation of an SS body.
Auren flipped I open and immediately felt like throwing it away. Page one: 100 push ups. 100 sit ups. 100 squats. 10km run every day.
His face darkened, ".. Father, really?" Auren stared at his refection in the mirror.
He stood at 5'6ft, lean but honed frame. Back-length silver hair falling in loose curls, cerulean eyes. Handsome, almost too handsome.
He narrowed his eyes, "If this training turns me bald, I'll haunt him."
After arranging the rest of his stuff and putting the suitcases away. He took up his terminal and checked the timetable. First class was at 11am meaning he had plenty of time.
Just as he was about to sit back and watch a series, his terminal buzzed as a call came through.
"Eiran," he answered flatly,
On the other end the Fox's voice was groffy but cheerful. "I'll be a bit late. Turns out I still had about 4 more bags to unpack. You'd understand if you had style."
Auren pictured the flamboyant mess of clothes and accessories that must be spilling from Eiran's suitcases and sighed. "Ridiculous."
Auren's lips twiched faintly, almost into a smile, as Eiran abruptly cut the call. He settled into his bed and put on his series.
Halfway through his watching he heard a knock on his door. The knock was soft and because of the noise cancellation quality of the door he couldn't hear anything.
Auren stood up and went to open the door. There he found a nervous Gray and Eiran. Auren immediately understood what was going on.
Eiran probably threatened the poor shark into letting him before he was burnt into crisp and Eiran being royalty didn't help a bit.
"It's almost 11 let's go. Also change your roommate." Eiran commented as he entered Auren's room.
Gray waited for Auren too blow, the wolf had warned him of trespassing into his room not with words but actions. Gray just watched as the fox sat on Auren's bed and nothing happened.
"It's fine Gray. Anytime he comes just let him in." Auren stated as he closed his door.
"Yes Boss." Gray was left outside puzzled.
Inside the room, Auren held Eiran down by his arms and tickled the fox till he was in tears.
"Stop.. stop. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Eiran pleaded half laughing, half crying.
"What are you sorry for?"Auren asked coldly.
"I didn't call before hand?" Eiran asked because even he didn't know what he was sorry for.
Auren just sighed and stood up. Placing his books and stationary within his storage ring as he left. Eiran quickly caught up closing the door behind him.
As they walked to the lift, Auren observed his friends clothes. A silk shirt and a pair of loose khakis. He had a sapphire necklace to match the bracelets he wore and his hair was styled neatly.
"You're too flamboyant." Auren said flatly as he entered the elevator.
"You just don't have style." Eiran retorted as he pressed ground floor. They left the dorm area and headed to their first class of the day in their designated class hall, 1-N.
When they arrived class filled with students and the learning began. Time smoothed itself into rhythm.
Classes filled the day like relentless tides. The lectures were demanding, full of equations on Primis flow and bloodline resonance. Theories of battle that spun into philosophy and through all this classes, Auren absorbed it all.
He did so not as a student eager to impress the teachers but as someone who had lived before, as someone who sought strength not for grades but for freedom.