I Tricked a God

The youths of Lasthold moved in a tight group, passing through narrow streets where the roofs of the houses nearly met overhead, casting a heavy shadow. The stone beneath their feet was uneven, broken in places, and their footsteps echoed dully in the confined space. Ahead walked the pale boy, not turning back or slowing his pace, as if it made no difference to him whether they followed or not.

Muted conversations could be heard behind them. Some whispered about what had happened, others tried to speculate about the Academy’s rules, but tension still slipped into their voices.

Kael, meanwhile, was focused on something else.

He walked at the front and, without taking his eyes off him, watched the guide’s back, assessing his gait, the rhythm of his steps, his behavior.

“We didn’t even introduce ourselves…” Kael muttered inwardly.

Raising his hand, he was about to call out to the pale boy, but at that moment the alley ended abruptly.

The pale boy, without slowing, turned the corner.

“Strange guy…” Kael muttered quietly, quickening his pace and following after him.

Stepping out of the alley and turning right, he was about to call out to his new neighbor—but immediately stopped, his gaze fixed on what lay ahead.

Before them stood a rather large two-story building.

The white stone of the facade was stained in places, darkened by time and moisture. Old streaks ran along the walls, as if they hadn’t been cleaned in years. The red tiles of the roof had long lost their color, darkening almost to black, giving the structure a heavy, oppressive look.

Even the air nearby seemed denser.

The building looked neglected and unwelcoming, as if it repelled others by its very presence.

Roselle, walking behind, stopped, staring at it, and exhaled in clear doubt: “Don’t tell me that’s our home…”

But the answer became obvious at once.

The pale boy, without changing his expression, calmly stepped onto the stone stairs and began ascending toward the entrance.

Violet, giving the building another look, grimaced slightly and said quietly, “Looks like you guessed right, Roselle.”

And the more youths emerged from the alley, the clearer the shared reaction became.

“I don’t want to live here…” one of the girls said.

“The building’s big, but will we all even fit?” a boy nearby muttered. “I’m afraid there won’t be enough rooms for everyone…”

At that moment, the door creaked open.

The pale boy was already standing at the entrance. Holding the door slightly ajar, he turned to the group and, without changing his expression, said in a flat, almost emotionless voice:

“We’re here.”

For a moment, he fell silent, and in his eyes—previously devoid of expression—something flickered to life. His gaze grew sharper, slightly more irritated.

“I expect you to keep my home clean.”

The words sounded just as calm, but now carried a clear demand.

Kael translated without pause, simplifying it slightly: “Please keep things clean so we don’t run into any problems.”

A wave of dissatisfaction immediately passed through the group.

Someone snorted quietly, while others exchanged looks, clearly not sharing such an attitude. Aiden stood out in particular. He stepped forward, gave the building a once-over, and said with clear arrogance:

“What nonsense! Won’t there be servants here?”

Kael simply rolled his eyes, not even trying to hide his irritation, and, without reacting to Aiden’s words, quickened his pace.

With slight confusion and dissatisfaction, the others nevertheless began to follow him one by one, making their way toward the entrance.

Kael quickly climbed the stone steps and stopped right in front of the pale boy, who still held the door, showing not the slightest interest in what was happening.

Giving a short nod, Kael said calmly, “I told them what you said.”

The pale boy didn’t even look at him, as if it didn’t matter.

Kael smiled faintly, keeping his tone light, and continued:

“Listen… I’d like to know your name. It’ll be easier to communicate.”

This time, the pale boy did look at Kael and replied indifferently, “Everyone calls me ‘Weirdo.’”

The answer sounded as if he was perfectly fine with it.

Kael held his gaze on him for a moment, then inclined his head slightly and calmly added:

“I’d prefer to know your real name.”

At that, Weirdo simply shrugged, as if the question held no value for him, and answered calmly:

“You can call me Dorian.”

Kael nodded and extended his hand:

“My name is Kael. Nice to meet you.”

Dorian gave the offered hand a brief look and, without changing his expression, shook it in return. The motion was sluggish, almost mechanical, as if the very act of a handshake was an unnecessary waste of effort to him.

During this brief exchange of courtesies, the others had gathered at the entrance. Seeing this, Dorian let out a heavy sigh and, casting a quick glance over the group, said:

“As I understand it, you don’t grasp much of what’s going on… Fine. I’ll help you today.”

With those words, he pushed the doors inward.

The doors opened with a long creak, revealing a wide hall before them.

The space stretched forward, with several side corridors branching off. Right at the entrance, the floor was laid with massive stone slabs, which further in gave way to wooden flooring. The walls—made of the same light stone—were bare, with only occasional wooden panels and simple holders for magical lamps.

To the left stood long wooden tables and benches, as if the residents sometimes gathered there. To the right was a row of doors leading to small rooms or utility spaces. At the far end of the hall rose a wide stone staircase leading to the second floor, with simple dark wooden railings.

Everything looked simple and unremarkable, yet for some reason the faces of the youths from Lasthold were strangely contorted.

Kael’s lower jaw dropped slightly as well, because there was one striking difference between the building’s facade and its interior.

“Are we really in a dormitory?” Kael muttered. “It looks more like an infirmary…”

The contrast became even stronger as the eye caught more details.

The floors, walls, and steps of the staircase—everything was polished to a shine, without a single stain or trace of dust. The stone looked as if it had just been washed, and the wood as if it had been freshly lacquered. The air inside felt cleaner than outside, and even the damp smell one would expect from such a building was absent.

Dorian stepped inside, onto the stone area by the entrance, and only then did Kael notice neatly arranged shelves lining the walls, divided into square cubbies.

Bending down, Dorian began calmly removing his shoes, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, and without lifting his gaze, said:

“Take off your shoes before you come in.”

Having said that, he added more quietly, almost under his breath:

“Damn… how am I supposed to keep this place clean now? There are too many of them… If they mess everything up… Maybe it’d be easier to build a shack outside…”

Hearing that, Kael immediately turned to him.

“Dorian…” he said, raising his brows in surprise. “Did you really clean this entire place yourself?”

Dorian turned his head toward him for a moment.

There was neither pride nor embarrassment in his gaze—only calm certainty.

“I’m a human, not a filthy beast,” he replied. “My home must be clean.”

Kael gave a crooked smile as he watched him and noted inwardly, “This is something more than just cleanliness…”

For a moment, a thought formed in his mind, and it made Dorian seem even stranger.

Tilting his head slightly, Kael asked cautiously:

“Dorian… You look like you barely sleep. Don’t the other residents help out? Do you clean this entire place yourself?”

Dorian, unhurriedly picking up his shoes, walked toward the shelves and, as if the question held little importance, answered:

“Besides me, there are seven other people living here. And most of the time they only come back to sleep. The rest of the time, they’re either studying or working in the city…”

With those words, he placed his shoes into one of the compartments, then touched the symbol with a number beneath it, channeling a bit of mana.

The rune glowed softly, and in the next moment the compartment was sealed by a thin, translucent barrier, isolating its contents from the outside.

Dorian cast a brief glance at Kael and added, a bit quieter:

“Maybe I don’t get enough sleep… But if this place were dirty, I wouldn’t be able to sleep at all.”

Kael parted his lips slightly, clearly not expecting such an answer, and felt a brief, uncomfortable pang of sympathy.

But Dorian, as if not noticing his reaction, simply nodded toward the compartment and explained calmly:

“You can choose any compartment—they’re shared. The number beneath it records the mana of whoever set the barrier. Only that same person can remove it.”

He held Kael’s gaze for a second and added:

“So there’s no need to worry about your shoes. No one will steal or damage them.”

Kael nodded silently, but his expression grew more serious. In his mind, a picture was already forming: a hundred people, narrow corridors, a constant flow of dust and chaos that would inevitably spread.

He looked at Dorian again, thinking: “Dorian seems like a decent guy… I wouldn’t want to ruin his work…”

But out loud, Kael only straightened his back and said seriously:

“I can’t promise that the cleanliness will be perfect. But I’ll try to make sure you can sleep peacefully.”

Dorian raised his brows slightly. Something like confusion flickered in his gaze, as if he hadn’t immediately grasped the meaning of what was said.

Kael didn’t pursue the topic further.

Turning to the others, he spoke loudly in the language of Lasthold: “Everyone, come inside and line up so that you are all visible.”

The group stirred almost immediately. One by one, they entered the hall, looking around. Gradually, they formed a semicircle on the stone tiles, filling the entrance area, and the doors behind them closed, cutting off the outside noise.

When everyone had taken their places and the noise had fully subsided, Kael swept his gaze over the group and said calmly:

“I see that you’re all confused. So I’ll tell you everything I’ve managed to learn.”

Several people nodded at once, while the others straightened slightly, becoming more attentive. Even Aiden and those who had kept to themselves earlier didn’t argue now—it was obvious that without Kael, they wouldn’t understand even a fraction of what was happening.

Making sure he had their attention, Kael continued:

“Right now, we’re in a student quarter. Mages from the provinces who can’t afford proper housing live here. The Academy itself has far more students, and their status is significantly higher.”

He paused briefly, letting the words settle, then added more firmly:

“Most likely, people will be biased against us. And that can work both in our favor and against us.”

His gaze moved across the group, lingering on those who looked especially tense.

“So for now, we stick together and don’t look for trouble.”

After that, he gestured slightly around them:

“This is the Fourteenth Dormitory. Our new home.”

Several people exchanged glances, once again casting looks at the walls and ceiling.

Kael pointed toward the shoe shelves:

“Dorian hasn’t told us all the rules yet, but they definitely exist. And judging by what we’ve seen, they’re enforced strictly.”

At these words, Kael’s expression hardened slightly, and, deliberately emphasizing the threat, he added:

“You saw what Overseer Malzir was like. If you don’t want to fall out of favor with him, one of the strictest rules here is cleanliness.”

Several people immediately tensed, exchanging uneasy looks.

Without losing momentum, Kael began taking off his shoes, continuing calmly:

“When you enter, take off your shoes and leave them in any open compartment.”

He placed his shoes next to Dorian’s, then touched the symbol and activated the barrier.

“Don’t worry about their safety. If you set the barrier, only you can remove it.”

He straightened up, nodded, and added with a light, almost encouraging smile:

“Go ahead, try it yourselves.”

After those words, the group moved without further questions.

One by one, they began removing their shoes, repeating Kael’s actions, choosing compartments and awkwardly activating the runes. Their movements showed less discipline and more a desire not to make a mistake.

They didn’t obey Kael.

They obeyed their fear of the rules of an unfamiliar place. A place where their former status meant nothing.

Dorian, watching this, froze for a moment. His gaze, usually empty, came alive for a second. He turned his gaze to Kael and, narrowing it slightly, asked:

“When I asked others to keep things clean, they just ignored me… How did you make them all obey?”

Kael gave a faint smirk and, not hiding a hint of cunning, replied:

“I lied a little and scared them. Sometimes that works better.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Dorian’s face, though it was quickly suppressed. He glanced over the group once more, then nodded to himself, as if drawing a conclusion.

In that moment, something in his attitude toward Kael clearly changed. He unexpectedly stepped toward the Lasthold group and calmly added:

“When you’re done, follow me. There are a few more important places I need to show you.”

This content has been misappropriated from NovelFire; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Kael gave a short nod in response.

“Glad I wasn’t wrong,” he thought. “Dorian may be strange… but he’s definitely a decent guy.”

✦ ✦ ✦

Taking off their shoes took a bit longer than expected. A few people, having figured out how the compartments worked, began testing them for durability: some tried to feel along the edges of the barrier, others attempted to remove someone else’s by channeling their own mana. The runes flared a couple of times, but without result—the barriers held firm, resisting any outside interference.

Gradually, the interest faded.

A few more minutes later, everyone had finished, and, a bit more composed, they once again formed into a group.

Kael gave them a quick look, made sure no one was left behind, and nodded to Dorian.

Dorian had already turned around and, without waiting for further words, led them deeper down the corridor.

First, he stopped by a wide opening and gestured inside.

“The kitchen.”

The room turned out to be far larger than one would expect from such a building. Along the walls stood massive ovens and metal stoves, and nearby were cauldrons of various sizes, from small ones to those nearly as tall as a person. Some of them were connected to built-in magical circles, softly glowing beneath the surface.

On separate tables stood more complex constructions—glass flasks, tubes, strange artifacts, and in several places semi-transparent spheres filled with liquid floated in midair, slowly rotating and shimmering with light.

This was no longer just a place for cooking. It was more like a mixture of a kitchen and a laboratory.

Dorian calmly began explaining, pointing to different areas, speaking about the rules of use, the order of access, and what was forbidden here.

Kael listened carefully to everything, while the others simply stood, waiting for Kael himself to translate it all into their native tongue…

✦ ✦ ✦

As soon as Dorian finished, Kael stepped forward, positioning himself so everyone could see him, and immediately began:

“I’ll start with the bad news—no one will be cooking for us.”

The words were calm, but the effect was immediate.

Several people exchanged glances; some slightly opened their mouths, clearly not expecting this, but no one dared to protest out loud.

Not giving the murmuring a chance to build, Kael continued:

“The good news is—each resident gets a weekly food allotment.”

With that, he turned his head and pointed toward one of the walls. There, in a recessed section, a semi-transparent white barrier could be seen, behind which the outline of a staircase leading downward was visible.

“As I understand it, when we’re assigned our rooms, we’ll be given resident tokens. With them, we’ll be able to pass through that barrier and go down to the storage.”

He paused for a moment, recalling Dorian’s words, and added:

“When you come back up, the barrier will automatically determine how much food you’ve taken.”

Several people immediately tensed, exchanging looks with a different expression now.

Kael lifted his gaze and, more firmly, emphasized:

“Be careful. If you take more than your share, it’ll be deducted from your next allotment. And if violations become regular, you’ll be fined.”

He swept his gaze across the group, making it clear this wasn’t a formality, then slightly softened his tone:

“So it’s better to get used to managing this yourselves right away. No one will think for you here.”

At those words, another wave of murmuring spread through the group. Some muttered curses under their breath, others began quietly discussing with their neighbors, trying to figure out how to divide the food and what exactly counted as a “norm.”

Kael didn’t stop them. He only gave Dorian a short nod, signaling he was done, and the latter immediately turned toward the exit, heading into the next corridor.

Kael followed and, already on the move, said:

“Now we’ll go get our resident tokens and sort out room assignments.”

He cleared his throat slightly, as if already anticipating the reaction, and added with a faint smile:

“And yes… there’s one more small problem waiting for us.”

Feeling dozens of eyes on him, he continued calmly:

“There are four people to a room. So think about who you want to room with.”

The reaction came instantly.

“What?! That’s insane!”

“Four to a room?!”

“How is that even…?”

Voices overlapped, the discontent no longer hidden.

Without slowing his pace, Kael only shrugged:

“Unfortunately, we don’t have a choice. If you want better conditions—you’ll have to learn the language faster and find work.”

He glanced back at them for a moment:

“As I understand it, this is standard here. If you have money, you can rent a place in the city. And if you have a lot of money, you can even get a whole mansion.”

“Will they let us work?” someone called out from the group.

Kael nodded.

“Apparently, yes. But I don’t understand much yet myself.”

He exhaled slightly and added more calmly, “But don’t worry. Tomorrow is our first day of classes. I think we’ll be able to ask all our questions there.”

And, casting a glance ahead, following Dorian, he finished:

“And today we’ll just sort out the housing… and rest.”

With those words, they turned into a narrow side corridor and stopped by an inconspicuous door. Dorian, without unnecessary comments, opened it and stepped aside, allowing the others to look inside.

The room turned out to be a small storage space, but it was maintained with the same almost obsessive cleanliness as the rest of the house. Shelves lined the walls, and on them rows of tokens were laid out—neatly arranged in stacks of four.

Kael cast a quick glance at them, immediately understanding the principle, and, turning to the group, said calmly:

“Alright, split into groups of four. We’ll sort out the room assignments now.”

The words had an immediate effect.

A lively bustle broke out in the room. During the journey through the mountains, many had already formed bonds, and now it became especially clear—some called out to acquaintances with smiles, others quickly gathered into small circles, quickly coming to an agreement.

Even Aiden, without losing his usual confidence, almost immediately found himself beside Arnervir, and together they quickly picked two others, forming their group without hesitation.

Kael watched this in silence, assessing how quickly connections formed, and noted inwardly:

“Me, Girren, and Gilmesh…”

He paused for a moment, letting his gaze slide over the others.

“Who should be the fourth?”

And almost immediately, his gaze settled on Dorian, who stood slightly aside, as if he wasn’t part of what was happening at all.

“It’d be good to keep someone nearby who understands how things work here…”

Clearing his throat slightly, Kael turned his head toward him and asked:

“Dorian, do you already have roommates?”

Dorian lazily shifted his gaze to him and barely shook his head.

“All the residents of the Fourteenth Dormitory have lived alone…” he muttered. “Until today…”

Kael gave a short nod, glancing over the shelves and quickly estimating the number of tokens.

“Judging by the number of tokens… looks like you’ll have roommates now too,” he said casually.

Dorian nodded reluctantly, as if it didn’t please him much, but Kael had already moved on:

“Listen, since you’ll have to share a room anyway… maybe it’s better to share with someone you already know?”

Dorian looked at him more attentively than before. He caught the hint immediately and, after a brief pause, replied:

“That’s reasonable. But on one condition.”

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

“If you agree to keep the room clean with me.”

Kael didn’t hesitate. He immediately extended his hand, answering with a smile:

“Deal. Then we’ll be roommates.”

Dorian froze for a moment, then gave a tired smile—barely noticeable, but no longer as detached—and shook his hand in return.

Kael immediately nodded toward Girren and Gilmesh, who were standing nearby:

“You don’t mind if my friends join us? Gilmesh is a bit noisy, but he listens to me.”

He smirked slightly and added more calmly:

“If there are any problems—leave them to me.”

Dorian shifted his gaze to the two, silently assessing them, then shrugged and replied:

“If noise doesn’t turn into a mess… that’s fine with me.”

At that moment, the first group of four approached them, lining up somewhat awkwardly and exchanging glances, as if not entirely sure they were doing it right. Dorian, without asking any questions, immediately reached for the tokens, taking four from the top of the stack and handing them out one by one, barely pausing on their faces.

Then the second group stepped forward, then the third, and the space in front of them quickly filled with movement. People drew closer, forming an uneven line, the tokens clinked softly against each other, and the hum of conversations gradually grew in the air.

Kael, watching this, shifted slightly to the side, making room, and for a moment turned his gaze to Violet. She, standing beside Roselle and Lissandra, caught his look and smiled softly.

Noting this, Kael narrowed his eyes slightly, assembling the picture in his mind.

“There are three of them… and Violet already understands the Empire’s language a little.”

He rested his fingers against the edge of the shelf, watching as Dorian continued handing out tokens without pause, and continued the thought, “If I pair them with someone from the Empire… it’ll help them adapt faster.”

Leaning slightly closer so as not to raise his voice over the general noise, he addressed Dorian, who was just handing out another token:

“Listen, are there any girls among the old residents? Ideally—someone trustworthy.”

Dorian slowed for a moment, as if running through the few options in his head, then nodded without stopping the distribution:

“There’s one girl…”

He grimaced slightly as he pulled out the next token.

“But she’s strange. Always disappearing into the city… obsessed with the idea of getting out of here and living there.”

Kael gave a faint smirk, following another group with his gaze.

“I have suitable roommates for her,” he said calmly. “Will you help?”

Dorian didn’t even think about it. He gave a short nod toward one of the stacks where three tokens lay and said indifferently:

“Do as you like.”

Shrugging slightly, he added, as if stating the obvious:

“You’re a resident here just like me. If you think I have any authority here—you’re wrong.”

Kael let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head, and replied without a trace of embarrassment:

“Then I’ll be a little bold.”

Without waiting for a response, he deftly took three tokens from the shelf, briefly checking them by touch, and, stepping around a couple of nearby youths, quickly headed toward the girls.

Coming closer, he handed the tokens to Violet, Roselle, and Lissandra, lowering his voice slightly but ensuring all three heard him clearly:

“You’ll be sharing with someone from here. Try to get along with her. It’s a good chance to learn more about the Empire… and pick up the language faster.”

Violet took the token, turned it between her fingers, feeling the fine lines of the runes faintly respond to her mana, and, raising a brow, smirked:

“You’ve barely moved in, and you’re already back to your old habits?”

She shot him a sideways glance, a hint of teasing in her eyes:

“I’d almost forgotten how sly you are.”

Kael only smiled innocently in response, spreading his hands slightly:

“What are you talking about, Violet? I’m not sly; I’m just looking out for you.”

Lissandra, standing nearby, let out a quiet laugh, covering her lips with her fingers. “I wish I could lie with such a straight face…”

Roselle, unable to hold back, smiled as well, adjusting the fold of her sleeve:

“You used to be so quiet and shy, Kael…” she tilted her head slightly, studying him more closely. “Growing up really changes boys beyond recognition.”

Kael only shook his head, saying jokingly, “That never happened. Must be false memories.”

Behind them, the hum of activity still lingered—the line wasn’t getting any shorter, the tokens were gradually disappearing from the shelves, and Dorian, without interfering in conversations, continued methodically handing them out to the next groups, occasionally casting quick glances at those who lingered too long.

✦ ✦ ✦

The distribution of tokens dragged on for nearly twenty minutes. Toward the end, the line stopped moving smoothly—the last groups couldn’t decide who would live with whom, pulling people back and forth, arguing in low voices, and periodically returning to the shelves. Some had already switched places two or three times, causing mild confusion, and Dorian paused several times, looking wearily at the same faces that kept appearing in front of him again.

At one point, he even clicked his tongue quietly, but didn’t interfere, only going through the remaining tokens faster, as if hoping the process would resolve itself.

Eventually, after a few more minutes, the bustle gradually died down. The last tokens found their owners, the conversations grew quieter, and the group once again began to gather into a more or less organized formation in the hall.

Dorian, making sure the shelves were empty, let out a short breath and, leaning his shoulder against the wall, began going over the remaining rules—no longer as detached as before, but still in the same even tone. He mentioned the schedule, the restrictions on noise at night, the ban on damaging the building’s structure, and a few other details that, judging by his tone, seemed obvious to him.

Kael listened carefully and translated as he went.

And just then, Dorian finally finished his explanations.

“Being late to the Academy is strongly discouraged,” Kael said, sweeping his gaze over everyone present. “So be ready from early morning. I think someone will meet us, so there shouldn’t be any problems.”

Several people nodded, some spoke quietly among themselves, but overall they listened attentively.

Kael continued, shifting slightly so everyone could see him:

“I forgot to mention—there are separate bathing rooms on the underground floor. Good for brushing your teeth and freshening up. Dorian says you can also wash there using wooden tubs. But the problem is—there’s only cold water.”

A light reaction immediately passed through the group—some grimaced, others chuckled quietly.

“If you want to wash properly,” he added, “there are separate bathhouses near the temple in the center of the student town.”

“Are you going, Kael?” a voice immediately called out from the group.

“I’d go with you, if that’s okay,” another added.

“Me too…” several more joined in. “I don’t feel comfortable going alone yet.”

The murmur grew slightly louder, and at that moment Violet stepped forward. She straightened, neatly brushing her hair back, and said calmly but firmly:

“Tomorrow is our first day at the Imperial Academy. We should make a good impression.”

She looked at Kael and added:

“I heard some people calling us savages. We shouldn’t give them a reason to think that’s true. Cleanliness and neatness are part of status too.”

Her words were soft, but confident, and several people nodded immediately.

Kael, assessing the reaction, let out a slight, tired sigh and nodded:

“Alright. Then here’s what we’ll do.”

He paused briefly so everyone could hear him.

“Those who want to go to the bathhouses—meet at the entrance in three hours. Use that time to settle into your rooms and look around.”

Then, more calmly, he added, looking over the group, “Don’t wander off. And try to keep an eye on each other, at least for now.”

With those words, the tension seemed to ease on its own, and the group began to disperse with noticeable energy. Some moved cautiously, looking around and checking their tokens, while others rushed ahead almost immediately, eager to claim better beds.

Roselle, throwing a quick glance at Violet, suddenly laughed and, unable to hold back, dashed forward, lightly lifting the hem of her robe:

“First to come gets to choose the bed!”

Her footsteps echoed loudly on the stone stairs as she hurried upward at nearly a run.

Lissandra hesitated for a moment, blinking in confusion, but quickly caught herself and hurried after her, trying not to fall behind.

Violet watched them go with a soft smile, then turned to Kael and the others, giving them a slight nod. Then, taking a small step forward, she looked at Dorian and, in careful, if imperfect, Imperial speech, said:

“Thank you for your help.”

Dorian gave a faint shrug, accepting it without much reaction, but his gaze lingered on her for a second longer than usual.

Kael, watching this, lightly patted his shoulder, drawing his attention back:

“Will you show us our room, Dorian?”

Dorian let out a tired breath, rubbing the bridge of his nose, and replied without much enthusiasm:

“Sure… But that’s the last favor for today. You’ve drained all my energy.”

Kael chuckled quietly and, already moving after him, added with light irony:

“What would it take for you to do me one more favor?”

He tilted his head slightly, not losing his smile:

“I’d be very grateful if you could guide us to the bathhouses this evening.”

Dorian cast him a short, heavy look and immediately turned away, continuing to walk.

“Don’t even think about it,” he said as he moved. “I hate hot water.”

After a few more steps, he added more quietly, almost muttering to himself:

“And I hate crowds even more…”

Kael only smiled, understanding it was better not to push Dorian on this.

He let out a quiet sigh and thought, “Looks like I’ll have to figure out the bathhouses myself. Hopefully there won’t be any problems…”

✦ ✦ ✦

Climbing to the second floor, they immediately found themselves in a corridor just as impeccably clean as the one below. The stone slabs underfoot had been washed to a faint sheen, and along the walls stretched even rows of doors, with several side passages branching off, as if the corridor split into separate sections.

The light here was softer—magical lamps built into the walls cast a steady, muted glow, creating no shadows.

Kael slowed his step, letting his gaze glide over the doors, and almost immediately noticed the details. Above each of them, carved directly into the stone, were symbols that faintly glowed, responding to the presence of mana.

“The way numbers are written… is different from those of the ancient empires,” he noted to himself, narrowing his eyes slightly. “That’s the first thing I need to study.”

Dorian, without stopping, pointed to the door closest to the stairs and said shortly:

“This is ours.”

Kael nodded and, glancing down at his token as he walked, quickly matched the symbol. The mark on the token and the one above the door were identical.

Reaching the door, he turned to Girren and Gilmesh.

“Watch closely.”

Running his fingers along the surface, he found a small indentation and, without hesitation, inserted the token into it.

At that same moment, the symbol above the door flared brighter, thin lines spread across the stone as if a hidden pattern briefly revealed itself, and a quiet, dry click sounded.

The door shuddered slightly, and the lock opened.

Girren, watching this, nodded and, glancing at Gilmesh, smirked:

“Big guy, you’d better remember that symbol… or write it down somewhere. Knowing you, you’ll definitely forget where our room is.”

Gilmesh just laughed, scratching the back of his head, and said, “If that happens, I’ll just fall asleep wherever I drop.”

He slapped his palm against the door, clearly not taking it seriously, and added with a wide grin, “Let’s check out our room!”

Kael only shook his head, though a faint trace of a smile flickered at the corners of his lips, after which he pushed the door open and stepped inside first.

As they stepped inside, they immediately found themselves in a small but neatly organized room. The space was divided simply, without excess: in the corners stood corner desks of light wood, polished smooth, and beside them—empty shelves waiting for their owners. Right behind the desks were single beds, neatly made, with covers folded evenly.

In the center of the room lay a round carpet with the image of a red dragon, rendered in a strict, almost symbolic style. And atop it stood a low table, so low that one could only sit at it directly on the floor, legs crossed.

But that wasn’t what drew attention.

The near right-hand corner stood out from the rest. The desk there was occupied—books lay in neat stacks, carefully aligned along the edge, and beside them were scrolls arranged and tied with thin ribbons. Nothing out of place, not a single stray detail.

And near the wall, right above that spot, about a dozen pots floated in the air. From them grew living, richly colored plants—thin stems, broad leaves, and on some, fruit was already forming, resembling unknown fruits.

Raising his brows in surprise, Kael turned his gaze to Dorian and asked, “You’re a herbalist?”

Dorian simply walked to his bed and, without further explanation, replied, “Yes and no. Herbalism is only part of what I plan to do.”

Kael held his gaze for a moment but didn’t press further, sensing that now wasn’t the time.

Instead, he stepped forward, surveying the room from a practical standpoint, and said calmly:

“I’ll take the bed next to Dorian. You two can take the left side of the room.”

Girren nodded immediately, assessing the distance and layout, said, “Then I’ll take the one in the back.”

Gilmesh had already raised his hand as if about to say something, but then waved it off with a grin, “Doesn’t matter to me where I sleep.”

He thumped his chest and added with his usual confidence:

“Kael will sort out a forge soon anyway, and I’ll be living there.”

Kael merely glanced at him without commenting, though a thought still crossed his mind: “Gilmesh has a point… I need to find a way to move to the city as soon as possible…”

And while Kael examined his new place, footsteps and muffled voices echoed in the corridor—others were settling in as well, taking their spots.

The youths of Lasthold, who not long ago had been making their way through the mountains and uncertainty, were now unpacking their things, talking, and arguing over small matters. For the first time in a long while, they allowed themselves to relax, feeling both relief and an uneasy anticipation of what lay ahead.