Michael took a few monts to get his bearings, his eyes roaming around the now packed great hall, filled with students. Long tables spanned the length of the room, each with a different color banner atop it—but all bearing the sa Arcadia crest.
The aurora was still present, its ethereal flitting through the air between the banners, changing colors with each movent.
Taking a look above his own table, Michael saw the purple banner, matching the emblem upon the back of his hand.
"Ugh, I really hate that feeling." Rudy’s pained voice sounded beside him, getting his attention.
Only now did Michael check out the people who were seated at the sa table as himself. lody was on his left, and Rudy his right—but there were six others seated around the round table.
He could feel their eyes focused on the new arrivals, so surprise mixed in with their gazes.
"Three first-years? I thought only two were assigned to the violet dorms per year group?" A boy with large blue eyes and a crooked nose exclaid with confusion. Though he looked a little unconventional, he seed mysterious.
"It’s not unheard of," an older teen replied nonchalantly, moving a strand of hair behind her ear—revealing a hint of violet inside her robe. "When I first enrolled, there were three in the year above .
She’s a fourth year, Michael ascertained. The guy who spoke before her was a second year student, judging by the blue on the inside of his robe.
The violet table was closest to the front of the great hall, nearest to the raised platform where the professors sat. Just based on the proximity to the front and the fact there were only nine people seated there showed its prestige.
Michael felt slightly awkward surrounded by these new people, especially since they began to openly speak about them—without formally introducing themselves. It was like they were new specins being discussed.
"That blue hair... Are you perhaps related to—"
"I am lody Winterborne," the girl spoke up, cutting him off, "The man beside is Michael Ellis, my fiancé." She announced matter-of-factly. It was so abrupt that Michael had not been prepared—instead only able to mutter a small greeting.
"And this is..." lody’s face scrunched up slightly, as if she was trying to rember sothing.
"Rudy Graves, pleased to et ya!" Rudy popped in, unoffended by the fact that lody had forgotten his na. He stood up from the table and perford a rigid bow, almost hitting his head upon the table in front of him.
His exaggerated actions drew a few chuckles from the table.
"Looks like we got another commoner at the violet table hey Ren?" The second-year student nudged the guy beside him—also a second year.
The one called Ren was a tough-looking youth with a square jaw. He had a prominent brow, covered by his red fringe, his green eyes beneath it evaluating Rudy coldly.
Michael’s eyes moved to the guys wrist, seeing a deep red glow slightly exposed beneath the cuff. He felt a certain danger from this guy, as if he was an untad wild beast, ready to pounce without a monts notice.
"Stop scaring the first-years." A cool voice called from the opposite end of the table, causing the second-year student to freeze.
"B-big sis, I wasn’t!" Ren stamred, his deanor shifting to that of a panicked child in a split second.
The one he called big sis scoffed, reaching out and flicking the air with her left hand. Despite being on opposite ends of the table, Ren’s head was struck backwards, causing him to let out a small yelp of pain.
He rubbed it painfully, grumbling so words under his breath that no one else could hear.
Michael’s eyes widened in shock at the intricate mana control that he’d just witnessed. It had been too quick for him to fully catch, but he was sure that he’d seen the air condense and get fired by her casual action.
He turned to the girl, surprised to see that she had a blue streak in her hair—similar in color to lody’s. It contrasted with her natural red hair, giving her an almost dual fire and ice like aesthetic.
"Sorry for my little brother’s rudeness," she said, flashing a smile. Her skin was fair, with rosy red lips and similar green eyes to Ren. "I’m Rose Lyon—and that stone-faced rascal over there is my brother Ren."
At her words, Ren lowered his head, clearly embarrassed.
"Nice to et you," Michael replied respectfully.
Then, as if she were the host of the dinner, Rose went around introducing the others present at the table. The big blue-eyed second-year next to Ren was Mason Hays, and the older teen who’d spoken first was introduced as Michelle Watts—a 4th year.
"This one beside is Blake Child, also a 3rd-year. Don’t let his glasses fool you, he’s actually an idiot," Rose said, letting out a small laugh.
"Rose... Please don’t fill the first-years’ heads with nonsense." Blake replied, letting out a long and exaggerated sigh.
Rose poked her tongue out playfully, turning to the final person she’d yet to introduce. Michael noticed her expression shift quietly, all signs of her playfulness disappearing.
"And this is Magnus Prichard," she said, not adding on any additional comntary.
Prichard? The sa family na as the royal family? Michael tensed, his eyes moving to the last remaining student.
The guy was handso—almost enviably so. He was like a younger version of Brian Winterborne, but with blond hair and an almost effortless charm. His calm deanor and poise basically scread royalty.
However, Michael felt uncomfortable as he saw the older teen staring directly at lody—uncaring of how he might be perceived. While the gaze might not have looked malicious, having experienced the cockfight-like culture from her many potential suitors since arriving in Arcadia, he was imdiately on guard.
Don’t tell , even soone from the royal family is interested in lody?
This only raised the question.
Just what kind of background did the Winterborne family have?
Magnus’s lips pulled into a smile, revealing two rows of pristine white teeth, increasing his charm tenfold. "It’s good to see you again cousin," he said, his eyes never leaving lody.
EH? COUSIN!?
Michael’s neck almost snapped off his shoulders as he turned to lody, his eyes full of shock and confusion. However, lody ignored him, uncaring of the gigantic bombshell that had just gone off in his mind.
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