Chapter 61
Knock, knock
Early in the morning, I knocked on Silveryn's door.
"Come in."
Inside, Silveryn greeted me while brushing her hair in front of the mirror.
"Teacher, today—"
Before I could finish speaking, she cut me off.
"I know, I know. Today, right?"
"...Yes."
It was move-in day for the Eternia dormitory.
"The luggage was loaded into the carriage yesterday... it's not much work, so I can go alone."
It wasn't a long journey, and I wouldn't be staying in the dormitory right away. Just a quick trip alone would be enough.
However, Silveryn seemed willing to accompany me and bear the trouble. I wasn't sure why.
"Hmm, no. I want to go too."
I worried that having Silveryn along might draw too much attention.
Though being together was nice, I didn't want to make my future classmates uncomfortable by flaunting her reputation.
...Well, she must have her reasons.
"Then are you all ready?"
"Yes, we just need to take the carriage."
"Want to wait outside while I change clothes?"
"Alright."
I went out and stood by the carriage, waiting for Silveryn.
A few minutes later, she came out wearing a light dress.
I got into the carriage with her.
We arrived at Eternia less than an hour after leaving the mansion.
The carriage entered through the main gate.
This was my second time at Eternia. About two weeks had passed since the entrance exam.
Unlike during the entrance exam, it was eerily quiet with no one around.
Silveryn quietly looked out the window.
"There are surprisingly few people for move-in day."
I thought I'd see at least a few of my future classmates moving in too.
"Not everyone received early notice like you. Dormitory assignments are notified in order of grades."
"Is there really a need to do move-ins by grade order...?"
"Of course. Though everyone becomes equal students upon entering Eternia, every year there are some who can't accept these rules at face value. Among the new students, some aren't used to being on equal footing with commoners. We need to show them a clear message."
"What message?"
"That here, regardless of birth or status, we prioritize those who prove their worth."
"..."
"It's not just move-in. Your dormitory building assignment and available facilities will also differ based on grades."
"Is such discrimination necessary?"
"Of course. Though competition between students might heat up due to grades, if we don't create these distinctions, they'll make their own class society and cause bigger problems."
"Make a class society...?"
"Exactly. Some students are so steeped in classism that they can't stand being treated equally. If we leave them be, they'll create factions based on status and disrupt the academy atmosphere."
Silveryn's tone suggested she had experienced such cases several times.
"They usually get properly trained after a year or two, but as a new student, you won't be free from classism yet. There will be quite a few troubles."
"I understand."
I had expected as much. There would be nobles who couldn't accept suddenly being reduced to the same level as commoners after receiving special treatment their whole lives. Even I felt somewhat uncomfortable receiving equal treatment.
I'd face occasional contempt and provocations.
"Of course, you were called early for reasons beyond grades."
I could easily guess the other reason without it being mentioned. It must be because of the Masters Class.
"Let's get off here."
Shortly after passing through Eternia's main gate, Silveryn stopped the carriage.
Silveryn got out first, and I followed.
She sent the carriage ahead to the dormitory area.
Silveryn stretched and said, "I'm sick of carriages. Let's walk."
When the weather was good and she had time, Silveryn would take walks or go on outings. Though I wasn't particularly fond of such things, I found myself gradually being influenced by her.
"Alright."
Silveryn walked gracefully with her hands behind her back.
Previously, I had been too focused on the entrance exam and there were too many people to properly look around the Eternia campus.
Only now did I realize how truly vast it was. Just what was visible to the naked eye included three or four castle-like buildings and over ten auxiliary buildings.
Eternia's campus had nothing superfluous. The garden trees, walkways, fences, and buildings were all intricately crafted and classical as if each piece had been carefully carved by master craftsmen.
Though magnificent and beautiful, it felt somewhat surreal and alien due to its extravagance.
Silveryn suddenly turned around as if remembering something.
"Ah, by the way, you need to choose your art specialty in advance."
"...Art specialty?"
"Besides your main major, you must complete one mandatory art subject."
Just hearing about it gave me a headache. I knew almost nothing about art. The most I'd done was learn a bit of chanting at the Akates Temple.
"What subjects are there...?"
"Hmm... Fine arts, music, dance, theater, writing, and... crafts too. There are even more when you get into specifics."
I didn't need long to think about it.
"Crafts would be right for me, wouldn't it?"
Silveryn shook her head disapprovingly.
"You don't have to choose what you're good at. This isn't related to grades. Since you just need to complete it, you can choose freely."
"What do you think would suit me, Professor?"
"Well. Above all else, choose something you can enjoy. If you grit your teeth through art specialty time too, academy life will become very tough."
"...This is difficult."
Something I could enjoy? It would have felt easier if she'd told me to choose something profitable or helpful for networking.
"..."
Silveryn stared at me for a moment before turning away with a light sigh.
"You find it hardest to enjoy things... I'm really worried."
Then she walked ahead.
***
The dormitory area of Eternia was divided into two zones centered around the main garden.
The northern section where first and second years lived was called Northern Village, while the southern section for third and fourth years was called Southern Village.
Northern Village consisted of four dormitories: Marigold Hall, Calluna Hall, Betony Hall, and Witdruff Special Hall, though people usually just called them Halls 1, 2, 3, and 4 for convenience.
By grade ranking, Marigold Hall housed top students, Calluna Hall middle-ranking students, and Betony Hall lower-ranking students.
The final Witdruff Special Hall housed students needing special care, regardless of grades.
And among these four dormitories, my assigned place was...
Silveryn finished explaining the dormitories and looked at my assignment notice.
"Hall 4. Witdruff Special Hall."
"..."
Seeing my reaction, Silveryn asked, "Why that reaction?"
Since Hall 1 Marigold was for top students, Hall 4 Special Hall, being after Hall 3, felt like a facility for problem students or those at the bottom.
"It's nothing."
She tilted her head as if my reaction was strange.
"Students with recommendations are typically assigned to Witdruff Hall. The facilities and living support are better than Marigold Hall. I don't know what you're thinking, but you don't need to worry."
"What does 'needing special care' mean?"
"It refers to truly special cases. Royalty or those of equivalent status, relatives of people who've made great contributions to Eternia, and... those needing separate nursing care also stay in Witdruff Hall."
Witdruff Special Hall housed those with value or qualities that couldn't be simply classified by grades.
It was the opposite of what I'd thought. Though on the other hand, having to live in the same building as royalty or their equivalents could be its own problem.
Just then, Silveryn, who had been sitting on the garden fountain, tapped her legs with her fists and said,
"My legs hurt. Let's go to the dormitory."
"You can rest here, Professor. I'll go by myself."
The luggage only consisted of moving three or four boxes, so there was no need for Silveryn to come and go.
"No, I'm coming too."
***
The lounge of Witdruff Hall had a comfortable atmosphere.
Warm-colored carpets and sofas. Wooden tables. In one corner, a fireplace and yellow magic stone lamps softly illuminated the lounge.
A maid walked up to us. She gave a slight bow to me and Silveryn.
Then, as if we were the only expected visitors at this hour, she guided us without any identity verification or check-in procedures.
"This way."
We followed the maid up the spiral staircase.
The dormitory interior was deathly quiet. We didn't see anyone as we passed through the stairs and corridors.
The maid stopped in the corridor and handed me a key in front of a door.
Room 31F
My assigned room was at the end of the left corridor on the third floor.
The highest floor, the most secluded spot.
Without any additional explanation, the maid left.
We opened the door and entered the room.
A large bay window and bed. A gray rug is in the center, along with a desk and wardrobe. The space seemed somewhat large for one person.
Without looking around, Silveryn immediately went to the bed and threw herself on it.
"Mine."
"..."
Then she wriggled and slowly burrowed into the thick blankets. She didn't seem tired.
She looked like an invader forcibly occupying territory while its owner was away.
"Teacher...?"
She covered herself completely and only poked her head out of the white bedding. This made her dark red hair, which was spread out like a fan, stand out even more.
"What."
Anyone would think this was Silveryn's room.
"Um... ah... I'll go get the rest of the luggage."
Silveryn covered herself up to her head with the blanket and stuck out just one arm, waving as if to say. “Go ahead.”
"Yes. Go finish what you need to do."
"..."
"I'm busy too."
Then, she kept fidgeting slightly under the blankets, doing who knows what.
Words rose to the tip of my tongue, but after brief consideration, I kept quiet.
By the way, for someone who said she runs hot, I wondered if she wasn't feeling too warm.