{Elira}
~**^**~
Cambria led through the dormitory building’s quiet corridor, her shoes making soft clicks against the marble floor. We took the stairs to the second floor, then stopped at the elevator.
As we stepped in, I felt the faint hum of its movent beneath my feet, my stomach tightening slightly with nerves.
Only then did I rember my luggage. Zenon had told soone would bring it ahead of . I wondered who, and whether they would know which room to drop it in—after all, even I didn’t know yet.
The elevator chid, the doors sliding open to reveal a nearly empty hallway. Apart from one or two students passing by, it felt oddly still.
"It’s school hours," Cambria explained, glancing at over her shoulder, "so the dorm usually stays quiet and locked. But because it’s the first day for you, supplentary students, the Dorm Mistress made an exception."
We stopped before a wooden door with a brass plaque: 312.
Cambria pulled out her key ring, selected a silver key, and turned the lock. The door swung open, and she stepped aside with a small flourish.
"And this," she said, her voice lifting into a bright note, "is your room. And mine."
Surprise fluttered through . Cambria — my student guide — was also my roommate. Relief slipped through my chest.
Having a familiar face here, even if we had only just t, made everything feel less overwhelming.
I stepped inside.
The room felt warr than I expected — sunlight stread through the window onto five neatly arranged beds.
My gaze caught on the lower bunk with no bedspread yet. Next to it, my two new luggage pieces stood waiting. Neatly placed, as if soone had carefully made sure nothing was scratched or dirtied.
Sohow, that small detail comforted .
"Oh, I see your luggage is here already," Cambria said, smiling as she stepped toward it. "That’s yours, right?"
"Yes," I murmured, my voice small. "It is."
Cambria nodded, then pointed lightly around the room. "So, it’s five of us total. , you, and three other roommates. You will et them after classes today."
I swallowed, my gaze flickering over the three other made-up beds, the matching small wardrobes, the reading desks, and the little bookshelves above each.
I wondered what my three other roommates were like.
Would they be as friendly as Cambria? Or—
’No, don’t get your hopes up too high,’ I warned myself.
Cambria turned toward an inner door. "Co, I will show you the bathroom."
Inside, I took in the clean tiling, two deep tubs by the wall, and three shower stalls with frosted glass partitions. It slled faintly of lavender and cleaning soap.
"Shared bathroom," she explained, "and we take turns cleaning it. It usually stays tidy if everyone does their part."
When we stepped back into the main room, Cambria began telling the dorm rules: lights out by ten p.m. sharp, so every student had to be inside before then; no bringing outside food back to the room; no loud music at night.
Each of us had a safe shelf with a lock for our most important belongings.
She stopped by my luggage, took out a small silver key from her ring, and placed it in my hand. "This is your spare key to the room. Keep it safe."
I thanked her, my thumb running over the cool tal. Instinctively, I thought of the pretty lemon-green keyholder Lennon had picked out for during shopping. I decided to attach this key to it tonight.
Cambria’s gaze softened. "There’s really no ti to unpack now, so make sure everything stays locked. Let’s get going."
I glanced at my suitcases. "They’re locked," I confird.
She nodded, turned toward the door, and I followed.
As we stepped into the hallway, Cambria said, "By the way, there are caras out here in the dorm corridors. Just so you know."
Her tone was casual, but it reminded that this wasn’t entirely my space alone. Soone was always watching.
Next, we walked across the courtyard toward the main academic building. Students, so in groups, so alone, passed us by. Everyone looked so used to being here.
My shoes felt heavier with each step.
Cambria stopped before a row of sleek, numbered tal lockers. "This is yours," she said, gesturing to one with a number tag.
She told to pull out a notebook, a pen, and my phone, and put the rest of my bag away. I hesitated, glancing at her, but she encouraged with a nod.
"Go on."
I opened the locker door. It didn’t yet have a code set.
After placing my black leather backpack inside, I shut the door, heart beating a bit faster.
"Now," Cambria said, "you need to set a passcode."
I looked at her blankly.
She tilted her head, ponytail shifting slightly. "Don’t use your birthday. Or anything sentintal, like an anniversary or special date."
"Why not?" I asked before I could stop myself.
Cambria’s expression turned serious. "Because it makes you easy to read. And your enemies — or just plain bullies—can guess it. Use random numbers. No aning. That way, no one can open it except you."
Her words startled . Enemies?
Why would anyone want to break into a locker here, in such a prestigious school?
But sothing in her tone told she had seen more than she was saying.
"Go on," she urged gently, stepping away so she wouldn’t see.
I glanced around, and only a few students were in the hall, but I turned slightly, shielding the small keypad with my body.
My mind scrambled for numbers. Birthdays, no. Anniversaries, no.
Then it ca to : 1321.
One girl, three brothers. And in that brotherhood, two who adored , and one whose feelings I still couldn’t understand.
I entered the code, and the lock beeped, saving it.
But gods, I prayed that a day when Zenon would ask what numbers I had chosen would never co.
Just the thought of him fixing with that cold, unblinking stare made my stomach twist. He would burn down with silence alone.
"Done," I whispered, stepping back toward Cambria.
She offered a small, approving smile.
"You will rember it?" she asked.
I nodded.
She smiled. "Good. The Orientation hall isn’t far."
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