The Academy

Chapter 3: KIKI

When I awoke the next morning, I was shivering.

How was I supposed to know I was supposed to bring sheets? At the very least they could've given me a pillowcase! I envied Siamese, because he had a cat, and cats are like mini ovens.

It was dawn, though. Time to rise and shine.

I stretched and debated whether to brush my teeth first or to do exercises. I decided to do the former and set out to find the nearest bathroom. When I asked the first girl I saw, she told me, amused, "You have your own, you know. You just need to find it."

So I returned to my room and set about to find the hidden door. It turns out it wasn't hidden. The Academy custodian staff had kindly pushed the wardrobe against it. I managed to drag it to the other wall and enter.

My own bathroom! What a luxury.

Inside it was plain; a small shower, a sink, and a toilet. There were two rolls of toilet paper. I made a mental note to ask where I could find more. Then I did my business.

Once refreshed, with raven hair pulled back into a tight ponytail and contacts in—I'm farsighted—I made sure I had enough room to start. Once I was certain, I took out my double swords and commenced my exercises.

My swordsmanship was strongly based off the Japanese style kendo. Likewise, my swords resembled the traditional weapon, the shinai. And similarly, I tend to strike at the wrists, head or body, and to thrust at the neck. When I was learning from my senior, I was told that you never thrust at the neck, because if done incorrectly you can do serious damage. I took this to my advantage—a broken collarbone means once less enemy for me.

After my flurry of strikes and finishing with a flourishing thrust, I clipped the two scabbards on my back and neatly sheathed the pair of blades. I exited and locked the door out of habit.

I meandered around a bit until I decided that I was hungry. By process of elimination, I determined that food would be at the cafeteria (I'm always a little dazed in the morning after exercises. I do them so often I could—and have—done them in my sleep). So I followed the signs, found a long line, and stepped at the end of it.

Naturally, when I looked back to see who was behind me, it had to be the Mylfast.

"Why are you always in places where I am?" we demanded of each other at the same time. Then, embarrassed, we both looked away before turning back around. I snapped "You frivolous idiot!" while he snapped back, "You bloody louse!"

For a while we just stood there, glaring. No one had paid us the slightest attention.

Then, to my complete surprise, he cracked a grin. "You know, Soren's right. We really are alike." His eyes, which I took care not to look at for too long, took on a faraway look. "Maybe Mother was right, all these years."

"About what?"

He regained focus. "Well, my mum always talks about how I must look like somebody else right now. But I have no siblings. I don't even know who my dad is."

"I don't know my parents."

He winced. "Sorry to hear that."

For once, we were off to a good start. It must be that discussion at Soren's. I must've made a good impression for once.

But still… he trusted me too quickly. This Mylfast has no experience... he's too naïve to be an asset on the field.

Yet, I added.

Once we were done fetching our food, there was an uneasy silence. Where would we sit? If we sat together, they'd be awkward silence. And me… I was a halfblood. No good family member from any family should be even talking to me. Siamese was insane.