CHAPTER 45: RISING STAR DORMITORY

After leaving the loud, chaotic banquet hall, Nyx and I made our way across the academy grounds.

The night was quiet now. Just the sound of our footsteps and the faint rustle of trees in the wind.

As we walked, I glanced at Nyx and asked, "Where’d you get that mic set from?"

He was still wearing it—the same one he used during the duel. A thin, black headset with a small gem near the mouth.

This world didn’t really have tech like that.

"Oh, I took it off one of the staff," he said casually, strolling a few steps behind me. "They weren’t using it."

I slowed down, raised an eyebrow, and reached for it. "Give me that."

"Eh? Why?"

"Just give it."

He sighed and handed it over.

I turned it in my hand, inspecting the strange design. It was light but solid, with a metallic frame and a tiny, glowing gem near the mouthpiece.

"HELLO? HELLO?"

I spoke into it and to my surprise, my voice echoed through the trees around us, clear and sharp like it had come from hidden speakers in the sky.

"...Huh."

It definitely wasn’t a normal tech. Must have used some kind of sound magic or spirit energy related for sure.

I had to admit, though, it was pretty cool.

"Okay, cool," Nyx said. "You’ve tested it. Now give it back."

I didn’t move.

He pointed at it like a begging dog. "Come on, Loki. It’s mine."

I smirked and tossed it back to him. "Fine. Don’t break it."

He caught it with a grin and slipped it back on, looking far too pleased with himself.

Before long, we arrived at the dormitory grounds.

The air here felt different in this part of the academy. It was quiet and calm.

The noisy academy buildings were far behind us now. Trees lined both sides of the path, swaying gently. The sky above was deep and star-filled, and the stones beneath our feet clicked softly with each step.

The dorms weren’t huge buildings with crowded rooms like one expected. Instead, they looked like small countryside homes—peaceful, wooden houses spread across the area like little pockets of calmness.

Each one had a short stone path leading to it, with trimmed bushes and tiny lanterns glowing beside the doors. A few had bamboo fountains quietly dripping water into small stone bowls.

It reminded me of those cozy Japanese homes I’d seen on TV in my past life. The kind with sliding doors and warm lights, surrounded by nature and silence.

At Imperial Academy, each dorm was shared by a few students, like a small group or family. There was one caretaker—usually an older woman—who cooked for everyone and took care of the basics.

But for everything else? We were on our own.

Cleaning, laundry, and making sure the place didn’t fall apart? That was all our job.

I didn’t mind. It made the place feel more personal. Less like a school, more like a home you helped build.

Our dorm was at the far end, right near the tree line. It looked older than the others, with ivy climbing up one side and wind chimes hanging from the porch.

Warm light shone through the paper-covered windows. Somewhere nearby, I heard the soft splash of water from a garden pond.

I stopped in front of the door and looked at it for a second.

"...Feels kind of peaceful," Nyx said, stepping beside me.

"Yeah," I muttered.

Then I raised my hand and gave the door a knock.

Thud, thud.

For a moment, there was only silence. Then the door opened with a soft creak.

An elderly woman stood there, slightly hunched, her grey hair tucked into a neat bun. Her eyes were small but sharp, like they’d seen generations of troublemakers come and go.

Her gaze drifted down... and landed on Nyx.

He was standing beside me, tail swishing, wearing that usual smug look of his.

Her brows lifted.

"Well," she said, amused, "it’s been a while since I’ve seen a cat."

"Excuse me," Nyx said, sitting down and lifting a paw dramatically. "I’m no ordinary cat. I’m a combat support specialist."

She blinked at Nyx’s word, then laughed. A short, warm laugh that made the lanterns seem to glow brighter.

"You’re a talking cat with overflowing cuteness. That’s more than enough."

"I’ll take it."

I cleared my throat. "I’m Loki. This is Nyx."

"Ah, the North Star, Right?." She stepped aside. "Come in, come in. Shoes off. Paws too."

Nyx huffed. "My paws are always clean."

"Then prove it by not tracking in mud."

He grumbled something under his breath but followed me in.

The interior of the dorm was surprisingly warm and lived-in.

With wooden floors and soft paper lamps that glowed gently on the walls. The air smelled of simmering herbs and something faintly sweet, like cinnamon.

There was a low table in the middle of the room with floor cushions neatly arranged around it. A hand-woven rug stretched across the center. The kind of place where time slowed down.

Nyx jumped up onto one of the cushions like he owned the place, tail flicking lazily.

"This is way better than that banquet hall," he said, already stretching out.

Nanny Mira walked into the kitchen and poured something into two cups.

"Ginger and honey tea," she said, handing one to me. "Warms the body. Calms the spirit."

"And for me?" Nyx asked, expectantly.

She raised an eyebrow. "You want one too? Here."

He looked mildly offended but accepted it without complaint.

We drank in silence for a few moments. The tea was rich and hot—sweet at first, then sharp, like it knew exactly what kind of day we’d had.

Nyx slurped his loudly from the floor. "Tastes like something a grandma would give you after a long day."

"Good," Mira said. "You’ve got taste."

I chuckled quietly and set my cup down.

"So," she continued, settling into a cushion with surprising grace, "you’ll be living here with four others. They’re not in yet. Still at the banquet, most likely. But this dorm’s one of the oldest and sturdiest. And you, Loki..."

She pointed toward the stairs.

"You’re in the attic room. It’s on the top floor with the biggest view and the coldest nights. But you look like the type who likes being alone."

"Accurate," I said.

"Nyx can sleep wherever he wants," she added. "Just don’t shed all over the dining table."

"No promises," he muttered, already curled into a loaf on the cushion.

I gave a small bow. "Thank you, Nanny Mira."

She waved a hand. "Don’t thank me yet. You’ll be on cleaning duty like everyone else. Check the board by the stairs."

I nodded and turned to head up.

The wooden stairs creaked under my feet as I climbed higher and higher.

The air grew cooler. The noises of the common room faded into a comfortable hush.

At the very top were a narrow hallway and a single sliding door.

I pushed it open.

The attic room was quiet and wide.

Sloped wooden ceilings, a soft woven mat beneath my feet. A small bed against the far wall. A desk, a set of drawers, and... a wide rectangular window that stretched almost the entire length of the room.

I crossed the room and opened the window.

Outside, the tree line swayed gently in the wind. The rooftops of the academy buildings glowed in the distance like lanterns floating in a sea of darkness.

I leaned against the windowsill and let out a long breath.

Behind me, Nyx slipped in and hopped up onto the bed.

"Not bad," he said, already starting to knead the blanket. "Not a castle, but it’ll do."

"Don’t drool on the sheets."

"I make no promises," he yawned before curling up and dozing off to sleep.

I smiled faintly.

The room was quiet.

Warm in all the ways that mattered.

Ding!

But just then, in the stillness of the night, a voice echoed.