Dorin stood by the doorway with nothing better to do. He looked around and noticed a window at the end of the hall. He walked towards the window and stared outside.
The leaves in the trees are starting to change color.
Back in Monarch forest, the trees start to change color in October. Isn't it still August? "Well, it will be September next week," thought Dorin, "but still, there's a whole month of difference in the two places." He stretched out his hand to reach a sunbeam. It was starting to get a bit chilly. Or perhaps it never really gets warm here?
He was still pondering about the weather when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"There you are," Said professor Dupont. "I was wondering where you went off to." Behind the professor stood a blond woman who was staring at Dorin with a frown.
"I know you!" She suddenly pointed at Dorin. "You're that kid who was riding on that branch back in the highway!"
Dorin stared back then brightened up. "And you're that lady in the car!" he cried out happily.
"You! We thought you fell off that cliff!" Sam started chattering, "Mom and I really got worried that the truck actually hit you and sent you falling to your death!" she laughed, a sweet childish laugh that made several people look their way. "I see you're bright and dandy!" she added, "So you must be Dorin Silvius, huh?"
"And you are?" Dorin asked.
"Let me introduce you," Jacob piped in, "This is Samantha Revious, the head registrar's secretary."
"Sam for short!" Samantha added, she took Dorin's hand and pumped it enthusiastically.
"Revious?" Dorin asked once more.
"Yup, I'm Sebastian's big sister!" She grinned.
"Oh!" Dorin looked surprised. "Then... that guy riding at the back of the car..."
"You didn't notice?"
"No, he was a holding a book in front of his face..."
"Well, anyway, I've heard a lot about you from my baby bro, and I saw that slate you made for him, you really are quite something, huh, such a young artificer!" Sam kept talking. Dorin smiled, unable to cut in. "Oh, and I hear that you're all staying together in the Special Class rooms with a fire mage?" she continued. "Are you getting along fine? I hope you could look after each other," she went on before Dorin could reply, "especially that Sebbie, he gets quite cranky at times, but that's just the way he is, he's really quite the pussycat once you get to know him better..."
"Ah, Sebastian, how did it go?" Jacob suddenly said, his voice louder than necessary.
Sebastian had his cloak back on, his face covered by the thick hood. He walked towards his companions and raised his slate.
[I got the permit.] it said.
"Well, of course! This is, after all, a monumental point in history! The last time a familiar was registered in campus was way back 43 years ago, when an undine was passed from mother to daughter, and even then, that undine was just a low level elemental and is nothing compared to this – "
[Sam, Lady Chantrell wants you back inside the room ASAP.] Sebastian wrote.
"Oh, she wants to continue working?" Sam asked, taken aback.
[Yes. She said she wishes to finish her duties for the day.]
Sam was suddenly silent. She nodded and simply left.
"So, shall we get on our way, then?" Prof. Dupont said with a smile.
"Hey, it's almost lunch time," Dorin said to Sebastian. "did Margarette say she was going to meet us today?" It took a while for the slate to come out from beneath the cloak.
[No.] It said, then [I'm going back to the dorms.]
"Oh, aren't you going to eat in the canteen?" Dorin asked his friend.
[No.] came the short reply.
"Oh..." Dorin replied. "I'll go bring back some food then.
They went out the main doorway and into the open. Sebastian's hood suddenly started to move erratically, and Azra's head pops out. She gave a series of chirps and started to push away from under the hood.
"I think she wants to fly off for a bit," said Dorin as he watched Sebastian trying to cover Azra.
Finally, Sebastian lets the bird out. Azra flapped her wings and flew up into the sky in a wide circle, making her way towards the sun.
"I think she needs to release Xander's pain into the sun," said Dorin.
"Xander?" Jacob asked as they waited for the tram to arrive.
"Apparently, the 3rd crown prince from the capital is staying below us at the 5th floor," Dorin explained, "Some guy called Alexander Alcione..."
"Oh, royalty huh?" Jacob asked with interest. "and the caladrius healed him?"
"Not really, she just noticed he was sick, I think... said it was a wasting kind in his chest area." Dorin noticed Jacob flinch ever so lightly. "He has a medic with him, and 2 retainers, and he seems to be quite interested in Azra."
"Well, anyone who knows what a caladrius is would feel the same," Jacob said with a little laugh.
They went on their way. Sebastian got off at the Dorm entrance while Dorin and Jacob rode a little ways towards the cafeteria at the back. Once they arrived, Dorin stood up, but Jacob pulled him back down.
"What do you say we eat somewhere else?" He said with a grin, then waved at someone who just got on the tram. "Johan! Over here!"
Johan sat beside them. "I didn't know Dorin was coming with us?" he said.
"Oh, I decided at the last minute, besides, Sebastian needs some time alone," replied Jacob. Dorin looked at the professor, but the other chattered on before he could say anything. "Do you have your class card with you?" he asked the two students.
"Got it right here." said Johan, pulling out his black card and showing it to Jacob.
"Hey, didn't I tell you not to just take it out in public?" Jacob reminded his student.
"I've got mine here too..." Dorin said, stopping himself from taking it out of his satchel. "Where are we going anyway? Why do we need our class cards?"
"Well, you see, Dorin, here in the University city, your class card also acts as your identification, that's why you need to take it with you wherever you go," lectured the professor. "But I guess you already know that," he added with a grin. "What you probably don't know is that it can also act as a debit and credit card when you are short on cash."
"A credit card?" Dorin looked blank.
"You can pay with it," Johan piped in.
"Oh, really?" Dorin suddenly lit up, "So I can buy food using only this card?!"
"Yup, but remember to use your money wisely!" Jacob said sternly. "You get a monthly allowance for being in the Special Class, but you should never spend beyond your limit."
"Of course! I'll keep that in mind!" Dorin said excitedly. "So where are we going?"
"To Town Central," Jacob said with a smile. "I promised Jacob here that I would accompany him to buy some stuff he needs for school."
"Can I tag along?" Dorin asked. Jacob laughed.
"Isn't that what you're doing right now?" replied the professor.
The three went past the university's main gates and into the City proper. They passed several shops and stalls, a theater, several grocery stores, and a hospital. They went off the bus stop where a huge building stood called Town Central.
"Welcome to the Town Central Mall!" Jacob said with a smile as the three of them entered the building through huge double doors made of glass. Inside, the 2 mages' eyes widened as they got their first glimpse of a mega shopping center.
"Look! There's a car inside the building!" Gasped Dorin as he ran towards a car retail shop. "And there are thousands of shoes in that other store!"
Johan was staring at a clothes store. Jacob went to him and handed him some money.
"As promised," he said with a smile. "Congratulations for passing the scholarship!!"
"I-is it really okay to spend this much on just clothes?" the fire mage asked hesitantly.
"Well, it's really up to you," replied Jacob, "You can save some money to buy other stuff too, like a cellphone or a bag or books or food..."
"I can buy books here?!" Dorin showed up holding several flyers.
"Why, yes, there are several bookstores on the second floor, but I suggest you check out the library first, there are more things you might need to spend your money on..."
"Oh, I want to buy some food for Sebastian..." Dorin cuts in, "Hey Johan, we can cook in the dorm if we have the ingredients, right?"
"Of course, what you asking me for?"
Well, Ms. Ermingard just warned me not to touch the oven, remember?"
Jacob Dupont laughed. "Let's just look around first," he said, "There's 5 floors worth of shops you need to see, so don't spend your money on anything just yet."