“I’m so sorry.” The voice came from next to me.
I rolled on my back to gaze at a soft-spoken human man with an odd green tinge to his blond hair. He extended a hand.
“It’s fine. Been one of those days.” I let him pull me to my feet. “Actually, it’s been several of those days in a row.”
“I’m Dion, by the way. I remember you from orientation. We’re in the mage specialization together.”
“Theodore.”
The man was slim, fit, and maybe a little taller than I. “I’m usually not like this. At home people call me the tailless neko. I just know where everything and everyone is, and I… I suppose I was distracted by all the excitement. Let me help you with your—oh, no, did the handle break off?”
Damn. And I was so proud of that suitcase.
“As long as the contents survived, it’s fine.”
Dion helped me to my door. “All the mage students seem to be clustered in one area of the dormitory.” He dropped his already soft voice even lower. “I think they were afraid we were going to practice casting fireballs in the halls and wanted to confine any chaos we might cause.”
I snorked.
Chaos swirled around me with no need for spellcasting.
“Thanks for your help.” I waved goodbye to him and fished for my keys.
The dark walnut door swung open, revealing a rectangular room twice as deep as it was wide. Parquet floor in a warm golden tone, eggshell plaster walls with seashell-patterned crown molding. A multi-paned window on the far wall extended from knee high to well above my head, with a potted monstera sitting on the sill.
“Hope you don’t mind the plant.” A gnome man lounging atop a corner half-sofa peered from behind a book. “I thought the place looked kind of… oooh!You’rethe one who knows the Blade Baroness!” Apparently finding this tidbit interesting enough to set the book on his lap, he gazed at me with cursory interest. Maybe chest high to me, with the typical elongated nose and oversized ears of a gnome, his elaborate suit stood in curious contrast to his slumped posture. The purple velvet vest with oversized brass buttons flopped open, forest-green silk shirt was hopelessly wrinkled, while pleated indigo slacks completed the look.
I wasn’t sure what said look was, but it was certainly a look.
“You mean Lady Az…” uugh, I’d befriend her just to not have to pronounce her last name anymore. “Yes, I suppose I do.” I closed the door with my foot and dropped my luggage.
“I took the left side bunk. You were late, and I had to sleep somewhere.”
“Yeah, it’s fine.” I gazed at the furniture. Dark wood, probably walnut, with maroon fabric, lots of detailing, and decades of wear. The arms and legs of most were carved into stylized sea serpents with seashells here and there. Wardrobes taller than I was, compact writing desks and oak swivel chairs, and a pair of bunks, mine with linens stacked atop it.
I undid the belts around my suitcases and began unpacking.
“Uuugh, I didn’t think to ask if they supplied hangers.” I gazed into the empty wardrobe.
“There’s a bunch of old junk in the attic storeroom.” The gnome had gone back to his book. “Might find something there.”
“Thanks. By the way, my name’s Theodore.”
“Good for you. That’s a solid name.”
I turned to him and blinked.
He turned a page in ‘Thagnor’s Hottest Night Spots in Halamar,’ which, judging from the cover illustration, I suspected had little to do with thermodynamics.
Well, as long as he didn’t snore.
I unpacked into the wardrobe, pausing to consider if I put armor and weapons, or socks and underwear in the single drawer at the bottom. I decided on weapons and armor, mostly to keep it separate from the rest of my clothes. Back in my hometown, you’d wear your armor most of the time, but this was the big city. We were only supposed to need it for field trips outside thecity.
“So where are you from?” I asked.
“Hazelhearth. Don’t feel bad if you haven’t heard of it.”
“I’m from Thorncove. Small coastal town to the south.”
