Drewells976
patreon
Chapter 343 - The Wonders of Cohabitation
🕑 Added 2025-07-21 21:31:29 +0000 UTCA/N: Greetings! Hope y'all have been doing well. I made some progress editing, though there is still a lot to do. Why can't I write shorter
A/N: Greetings! Hope y'all have been doing well. I made some progress editing, though there is still a lot to do. Why can't I write shorter books... XD
Enjoy the 2.7k chappy. I'll see you on Friday
https://c10.patreonusercontent.com/4/patreon-media/p/post/134649176/a47da5fc1c1f477ea4744db97b577d5e/eyJhIjoxLCJwIjoxfQ%3D%3D/1.pdf?token-hash=zofziOI5rAPkGowywTL-3p2pAW_9qD578K4Jew3VC6w%3D&token-time=1753228800
-----------------
The door closed with the click of metal and runes. Kai let the bag slung over his shoulders fall at his feet—he had survived another day.
Just this morning, he felt that he might escape the bounds of gravity by leaping high enough. Then, twelve hours of lectures scrubbed away that delusion.
The classes had picked up pace with the start of the second week. Every professor raced through the textbooks as if competing to finish the syllabus first with no regard for who fell behind.
His mind and body might be stronger and faster. But that was it. Yellow ★★ hadn't made him invincible, or even compensated for the rest he’d missed over the weekend, though it had given him the illusion.
The euphoria of his new grade had faded as he left the companion class, coming back to the dorm and realizing how damn tired he was.
I’m not done yet.
He’d need another all-nighter to organize his scribbled notebooks and prepare for the next lectures. His education was patchy at best. If he didn’t study now, he’d fall further behind with each class. His magic skills might be among the top students, but that would make no difference if he didn’t pass the theory courses.
I really need to pick a skill for studying or memorization.
His mind was a wrung-out rag. The changed schedule meant he had to relearn the routes between his classes. He had run from one hall to the next all day, barely managing to shove food into his mouth at lunch.
I could take a little nap—
Kai lightly slapped his face, to little effect. There was no telling when he’d wake up if he fell asleep.
Hmm, a couple minutes can’t hurt…
Dragging his body toward the couch, he threw one of Rob’s abandoned coats over a chair and collapsed into the pillows with a happy groan.
Really, how did I do it before raising my attributes?
The boost from Yellow ★★ had helped, especially for his Mind, though it was the difference between drowning and swimming in a storm. He could manage the second longer than the first, just as long as he was willing to take the bruises.
Okay! I’m going to get up. Just another minute…
Seconds later, he heard the click from the door opening—one of his roommates was back.
Spirits, why such cruelty? Not even thirty seconds.
Kai considered standing up in a more dignified position, though the leather couch was so warm and cozy. Only his legs would be visible from the door.
I hope Alden isn’t mad I ditched him.
A gaggle of voices in the corridor revealed the newcomer’s identity and made Kai relax.
Rain extricated himself from them with brisk politeness, shutting the door and returning the quiet. His steps turned toward the couch.
“Hey, Mat. You look tired,” he cheerily said, moving closer. “How was your day? Do you need a hand?”
“I’m fine,” Kai raised a thumb-up as proof before his arm fell down, his voice muffled by the pillows. “I just need a—” His stomach rumbled, demanding payback on the meals he had skipped.
“Do you need something to eat?”
“Nope.” Kai buried his head deeper into the pillows. Hunger and exhaustion fought a bloody battle for control with no winner in sight.
“Mhmm…” Rain poked his shoulder. “You seem hungry. Let me try that stove-thing again. I’ll make you something.”
“No, I can cook!” Kai jolted upright. A series of horrific memories floated through his head. He was already dashing toward the kitchen corner when he noticed his friend hadn’t moved.
Rain stood beside the couch, arms crossed, looking vaguely offended. “It wasn’t that bad.”
“No, of course not. I’m just quicker at making food. You must also have a ton of stuff to do,” he said. The fact they didn’t need to specify what he meant was telling. At last, he had found something the siren wasn't good at—paying the price for his blasphemous curiosity. Who knew a dish could be both mushy and burnt at the same time? Its slimy texture still haunted his dreams.
And now with his heightened Perception… Kai hid his cringing by speaking. “Do you want something to eat? I can prepare for you too.”
Rain managed to exude waves of skepticism with a single crooked brow. “Alright. I guess you are faster.” His features smoothed into serene amusement. “Can you make that fried rice from last time? Also, the fruit salad with the crunchy leaves, oranges and…”
The list lengthened. “Give me a moment to see what we have…” Kai narrowed his eyes as he went to check the enchanted cabinets.
“Tell me if you need a hand.” Rain grabbed plates and cutlery, sitting at the kitchen table with an expectant grin that made his ploy obvious. “I’ve got to see Flynn in half an hour. Think you can make it in time?”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll see what I can do.” Kai shook his head. Not that he was some amazing cook, but it didn’t take much to beat his roommates. There isn’t much difference in preparing for one or two.
At least he helped me get up.
“Great!” Rain beamed. “You know, I’m really glad to have you as a roommate. I wouldn’t have managed alone.”
“I’m glad too,” Kai said. He saw the tease behind the pointy smile, though he couldn’t complain after all the times he had taken advantage of Rain.
“You haven’t told me how your day went. Also, congratulations on reaching mid-yellow. I forgot to tell you during the lesson this morning."
“Uh, thanks.” Kai didn’t bother wondering how the siren knew about his enhancement. “It has been a bit hectic lately. I wanted to ask you about using Perception. You know, how you taste the air and Sherlock who stole the last snacks from the pantry.”
“You mean distinguishing and tracing smells?” Rain furrowed his brows. “I’m not sure what Sherlocking is.”
“Just an old saying.” Kai brushed him off and lit the stove. He never got tired of those confused glances. “You said you could help with it. And I thought it’d be easier after raising my grade.”
“Yes, that does help,” Rain said, still slightly perplexed. “I can teach you a few exercises. They’re for unlocking Perception skills but are useful either way.”
They continued chatting while he threw together a quick meal. The dining halls only provided lunch for free, and the prices at the Wing Aurea had reignited Kai’s cooking passion. He pieced together ingredients from the cabinets. Rob had taken care of the groceries in exchange for keeping the change. Considering the value of time, Kai would have paid him twice as much.
“I didn’t expect we’d be so busy.” Rain leaned beside his empty plate, balancing a knife on his finger. “Flynn told me the academy built some kind of paved indoor lake in Hydralis Tower.”
“You mean like a swimming pool?” It wasn’t surprising Raelion had one, though he’d never heard a student mention it.
“Yes! I thought it was an odd idea, but you people live so far from the sea. And they told me I can’t dive into the lakes. Do you want to check it out with me?” His eyes glimmered with hopefulness. “You told me you had swimming skill, right? I miss the water…”
Kai finished cutting a radish-looking vegetable to add to a bowl, keeping an eye on the stove, away from the sad and mopey siren. “Is the pool open to first-years?”
“As long as you have permission from a professor,” Rain grinned. “I already got that. She said I could also bring a friend to practice our skills. I only have to warn her and pick a time when there are no classes.”
When did he— no, why am I even surprised?
They had been at Raelion for a week. Of course, Rain had sweet-talked a professor to bend the rules. “Alright. I’ll come with you.” Perhaps it wasn’t a terrible idea. Blessed Swimmer was close to a specialization; he should train it if he wanted to keep it. “But I don’t have time during my classes. Maybe on the weekend?”
“That’s perfect. I’ll find a spot that works for your schedule.” Rain gleefully accepted the bowl of fruit salad with a wistful look at the food sizzling on the stove.
"Still needs a minute.” Kai warded him off with a wooden spoon.
The sound of hungry munching soon substituted their voices as he threw together the last ingredients. Hardly his best creation, but it cost a fourth of the academy's dining halls and a tenth of the cheapest restaurant.
Their schedule had diverged further in the second week, letting them share just a third of their lectures. To no one’s surprise, Rain had already passed three courses and attended a couple advanced classes that shouldn’t be open for Winter Intake. Kai wasn’t sure of the details, though he’d find it weirder if the siren conformed to the norms.
“Sorry, I have to rush. Thank you for the meal.” Rain cleaned the last crumbs of his plate and left it in the sink. “Lemme know if the Perception exercises work. You’re my favorite roommate, byeee!” He took two scarves and a coat from his spatial storage, hopping toward the door as he put them on and waved.
“Bye…” Kai waved from the chair, cleaning the plates with a snap of Water Magic. Everything felt better on a full stomach.
Maybe Yellow ★★★ is the threshold for infinite energy? Or is it some siren nonsense?
Either way, he had papers to write and skills to learn. The library had offered too many options. After a painful process of elimination, he had reduced the potential skill paths to twenty-two. His eagerness for a way to help deal with the classes was swiftly surpassing his dread of committing to a choice, though he wasn’t quite there yet.
I should cut at least half of them tonight.
Tomorrow, he’d planned to meet with Valela to discuss their status and what to do with his skills.
Kai was wrapping up the kitchen when the door swung open again. He threw a glance over his shoulder, expecting Rain to have forgotten something. Instead of a jolly siren, he was faced with a brooding teen.
“You!” Alden glowered at him, his mouth pressed into a thin line. A hand rose before he sharply pulled it down.
“Hey,” Kai gave him an oblivious look. His hopes of a friendly relationship might be short-lived. “Everything alright? I forgot to thank you for the help with Professor Morgrave.”
His words didn’t dent Alden’s glare. His roommate strode up to the kitchen table, though he didn’t sit; just took a breath. “I’m late because you dragged me to Professor Morgrave and left me to deal with it. He kept ignoring my hints to get a dismissal. Then his crow cawed that someone had stolen his shinies and I had to stay to search the hall and recall the students who approached the desk."
Uh… oops?
Kai scrubbed the plate in the sink to hide his interest. “Sorry, that sounds messy. Did you find the missing bauble?” He had made Hobbes dump the brooch to throw off any tracking skill. From his familiar’s smugness, nobody would find the loot anytime soon.
“No.” Alden let out a huff. “There were no traces on the perch, though Professor Morgrave continued talking for another twenty-six minutes.” His dark purple gaze bore into him. “You don’t know anything about the theft, do you?”
Kai snorted a laugh before noticing the serious expression. “I didn’t steal the crow’s trinket, if that’s what you’re asking. I was beside you the whole time. Who would even be crazy enough to steal from that green beast?” He hadn’t touched the brooch—any truth skill could confirm his innocence.
I just told Hobbes how to hide the incriminating evidence. They can’t expect me to tell a cat what he can and can’t do.
Seeing his roommate lose his surly edge, he continued. “Are you sure it wasn’t an excuse to keep you there?” He didn’t know why Professor Morgrave was so interested in Alden, but the man seemed to care more about cozying up to him than the theft.
“The professors at Raelion wouldn’t stoop to such means,” Alden said, though his brows knitted into a crease. “You should mind making these insinuations. Some people might take offense.”
Kai shrugged. “I’ll keep that in mind.” A seed of doubt would neatly wrap up the story. Guilt was starting to prickle him, but it wasn’t like he could admit what Hobbes did and pray for understanding. “I’m sorry for leaving you there. I didn’t think it was that serious. I should have asked.”
“It’s… fine,” Alden said in a tone that implied the opposite, and sank into a chair.
“Couldn't you leave when he ignored your hints?”
Alden looked at him as if waiting for the punchline to a joke. “A student needs a professor’s dismissal to leave. Especially a first year. And once my House was mentioned, my manners would reflect on them too.” His attention remained on him, clearly expecting him to say something.
Kai scratched his chin. “Are you hungry? I can cook you something?”
“I’ve already eaten.” Alden continued to stare. A vein pulsed on his forehead as Kai continued cleaning the kitchen in silence. “You can ask about my House. I prefer when people don’t know I’m a Blackwoods, but I’d rather address it now.”
“Uhm… alright. Does your family like… own a famous region or something?”
Alden blinked at him. His expression darkened into a glower, then froze and morphed into a hesitant frown. “We’re one of the Seven Great Houses. The third, to be precise.”
I was ninety percent sure.
Kai whistled. “You’re a really big deal then. You got a whole province.”
The academy had a history course on the Great Houses, but with almost fifteen centuries since the founding of the Republic, the seven families had changed more than once. Dates and names tangled in his head. The Blackwoods must have risen later.
His roommate settled into utter disbelief. “You truly don’t know?”
“Hey, I did hear of your House. I just wasn’t sure of the details. I didn’t grow up on the mainland. I’m sure I’ve told Rob…” Kai was only half-messing with him. Given their long history, each Great House must have hundreds of descendants on the lower end. He’d already met a girl from the Verelune during the intake, and he was bound to run into more at Raelion.
Staying still and impassive, only the churn of Alden’s aura proved he wasn't a wax statue.
Did I break him with my countrybumpkinness?
“If I said something improper, don't take it personally. I’m still going through the etiquette books. I’ve a lot to catch up on.”
“No, we’re both students. You’re fine…” Alden said, his gaze slowly focusing. “I should apologize for assuming. It’s that… It can get bothersome when people find out about my family, like with Professor Morgrave. I’d be grateful if you didn’t spread the information."
“Sure," Kai mimed, zipping his mouth shut. With his own background, he couldn’t ask for better.
They stood in silence for another minute before Alden stood up. “I think Professor Morgrave was wrong about Hobbes’ evaluation.”
“Yeah.”
The teen lingered, one foot angled toward the bedrooms. “Your familiar doesn’t have an affinity for Shadow, does he?”
“Nope,” Kai said. That lie wouldn’t hold before any Shadow mage.
“Don’t wish to learn more about his species?”
“Of course I do. I’m going to keep looking. I just don’t feel the urgency.”
If even an expert professor on familiars couldn’t identify Hobbes, the answer couldn’t be easy to find. He had yet to read of any beast with spatial abilities close to the fluffy troublemaker. A quiet search would attract fewer eyes, too.
“Uh, I understand,” Alden muttered.
Kai watched him disappear into his room, his face still a mix of bafflement and confusion.
Looks like Project Friendly-Roommate isn’t dead yet! Now, I just gotta decide which new skills I pick. Hmm, becoming best buddy with Alden might be easier…
-------------
A/N: No promises, but there is a good chance I'll show Valela's status in the next chapter :)
Comments
Brianna Stormcloud
Thanks for the chapters, at least Alden is talking to him for now.
zombie
I love Alden, he is becoming another one of my favorites.
Peter Smith
Ooh. If i remember correctly the brain processes the memories of the day when you fall asleep so maybe he'll get a skill that increases his memory retention and the resfilness of sleep.
1N7L68E
Maybe Kai should take a rest/sleeping/recovery/ Skill as second take.
JennP
Good point. It really would be like tasting in water
Adurna
He should really just get a memorisation skill so he can get a little extra mental space to do other things like that.
Apep
I felt stressed from reading this chapter. Poor overworked boy. 😂
meh
Couldn't he just ask zervathi?
Martingrant91
A bit of a shame Kai is a bit overwhelmed/overworked. Could have been interesting if he analyzed his family's skills and plotted their potential evolutions for them or find useful skills they could try to learn that wouldn't stagnate as a side project.
Some Guy
TFTC
Stephen Pearson
Thanks for the chapter! :-)
Trevayne
I wonder if he might ask Alden about what study/memory skills he uses or would recommend?
Snooze Bear
Show her status! Really curious and I hope she has some impressive skills!
ThoMiCroN
I wonder how having a sense of smell works in water. Rain should have skills made mostly to live in the ocean.
