A Silent Scar

Chapter 2

On a Sunday at Sage Island, the seven house wardens of Night Raven College gathered in the Mirror Chamber, as per the orders of the headmaster, to welcome the arrival of a transferring student.

Just a week prior, the headmaster, Crowley, had received a letter from a noble family requesting the registration of their son at the prestigious Night Raven College. After reviewing the results and achievements of the said transferring freshman, Crowley approved the registration and granted them a week's time to pack their luggage.

At the present time, Kalim was the most excited to welcome the transferring freshman, regardless of whether they would be selected into Scarabia or not, indicating his kind-hearted nature. The other house wardens shared the same excitement as Kalim, except for Leona and Idia. Leona had grown weary of taking care of freshmen while Idia was anxious since he attended the meeting in public and not remotely from his room. This time, he went to the meeting in public because Ortho was excited to know if the said transfered freshman were selected into their dorm or another out of the seven dorms and encouraged his elder brother to greet the freshman face-to-face.

Crowley was present to instruct the Magic Mirror to transport the freshmen to their respective locations.

Shortly after, the Dark Mirror unleashed its teleportation magic, transporting someone from a distant place to the Mirror Chamber. Suddenly, a student emerged from the mirror's glass, pulling a piece of luggage in their hand.

The student was wearing the ceremonial robe of Night Raven College. They had short silver hair with a right-side shaved undercut, white skin, a long, and a silver-pierced earring on their right ear. Their ebony eyes were revealed as they fluttered open after being exposed to the flashes.

Once the freshman's eyes had adjusted, they focused their gaze on the assembled house wardens.

Crowley gathered the house wardens and introduced them to the new freshman. "Everyone, let me introduce you to our newest student, Silen," he said.

Hearing the name, Leona's emerald green eyes widened in surprise. "Silen..." he breathed, his voice trailing off.

The said freshman bowed respectfully to the house wardens. Soon after, Crowley told her to step in front of the Magic Mirror to select her dormitory. Silen did as the headmaster instructed, standing still in front of the Dark Mirror. Using its powerful magic, the Mirror analyzed Silen's soul.

"Thou sense a spirit of diligence, a mind of a physician, and a heart of cold brimstone from this very soul," the Mirror intoned. "They shall fit in the dorm of the diligent Lord of the Underworld. Ignihyde shall be their sure dorm."

The other house wardens murmured in agreement as the Mirror's verdict was announced. Silen's placement in the Ignihyde dormitory, home to the diligent and studious, seemed a fitting match for her qualities.

Leona in particular watched Silen intently, his emerald green eyes betraying a flicker of recognition or perhaps unease at the new student's arrival. The bond between them, it seemed, ran deeper than a simple introduction.

Idia, the Ignihyde house warden, was shy and anxious since the beginning of the house warden meeting. He slowly approached Silen and introduced himself, stuttering nervously. "N-nice to meet you, Silen," Idia greeted him at the end, to which Silen replied with hand gestures. Idia was taken aback when Silen replied to him using sign language. "A-are you a disabled student?" He asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Silen nodded in response, her expression calm and patient.

Then, Crowley interrupted to explain Silen's situation. "Like Shroud said, Silen is a disabled student. He was diagnosed mute when he was a child. I heard from his parents, informing me that he can communicate using sign language and type on his phone, letting people read what he was saying. I hope you can explain his special condition to your residents, Shroud." The information about Silen was a disabled student with a mute condition caught the house wardens' attention.