Chapter 8 – Thunder for Thunder

"Sebastian! You cracked the bell!" Dorin called as he went to his friend's side. He was obviously feeling much better. "You're a rank higher now!"

[Yeah, 3 more ranks to go] he looked at Dorin and gave a thumb's up sign. [And now that you're a full scholar, you won't have trouble with the dorm rent anymore.]

"That's right, and I can help you out to pay for your share too, that way we can still stay together!"

"Actually, full scholars stay in single rooms," said Prof. Dupont who was suddenly behind them. "And what is this I hear about rent trouble?" he asked the two.

[It's nothing]

"Sebastian's got some money troubles, he lost his budget for his school fees," Dorin blurted out, missing the words written in Sebastian's slate.

"What?!" asked Prof. Althea and Gen. Muller in unison "That Sebastian?!"

"He kept buying stuff and partying out late for the past few days," Johan explained. "Now he still owes the canteen about 1,000 Almas."

"Oh..." Prof. Althea suddenly realized, "a couple of days ago, huh..."

"But the dorm is free for scholars, right?" Gen. Muller asked, "At least, I know they are in my division!"

"Sebastian lost his full scholar status last year," Prof. Dupont said. "It's a miracle he wasn't expelled..."

"Oh... right..." replied the general.

"Wait, what happen last year?" Asked Johan.

"Yeah, you never told me exactly what happened, Sebastian," asked Dorin.

"He turned his whole Charms class into lizards!" Prof. Dupont said with a guffaw that made the examination panel look at him annoyingly. Particularly Professor Raevers.

[Proud of it and not regretting a single thing] wrote Sebastian. [Serves them right for stealing my spells.]

Professor Raevers approached their group and handed Sebastian a silver card. "Here's your new class card," she said coldly. "Now, don't let us keep you."

[Thank you Professor Raevers] wrote Sebastian, but the other had already turned away. Sebastian looked at the silver card and placed it into one of the secret pockets in his coat.

"Well, if you guys are having trouble with the dorms, I could always give some assistance," Prof. Dupont said, "I know the room you're renting right now is a semi-suite so it might cost you a bit, but perhaps if more of you chip in..."

"Why don't you just move?" Prof. Althea suggested.

[I need my privacy] wrote Sebastian, [and my silence spells] he added in a smaller note.

"Oh, that's right..." Prof. Althea thought for a while, "But, if you stay in a double with people you know, then wouldn't that be okay?"

"Can't we stay in our old room?" Dorin piped in.

"Dorin, you would have to move to a single..." Prof. Dupont started, but Dorin interrupted once again.

"I want to stay with Sebastian." He stubbornly took his friend's arm and looked at the grown-ups defiantly.

[I'd much prefer a single room] wrote Sebastian.

Dorin looked shocked.

[You should be glad you're getting your own room. Privacy is important you know] he added, [Stop acting spoiled.]

"But... I've always been alone..." Dorin mumbled under his breath. He looked at Sebastian like an abandoned puppy.

"I got no idea what you've been through," Johan suddenly spoke up, "but don't think that you could always get what you want," he looked condescendingly at Dorin. "I've never even had a room before. Having one for myself is about the most luxurious thing I will ever get."

Dorin fell silent.

He felt ashamed of himself.

"Dorin, it's okay," his aunt reassured him, "you will be staying in the same dorm, anyway, and Sebastian is only one floor below you..."

"Yes... I'm sorry. I guess I should have taken the half scholarship instead..." mumbled Dorin, "then I could have at least stayed with Sebastian..." he scowled like a little kid. "How am I supposed to look after you now?"

[Where did that come from?] the other wrote.

"Well when you wouldn't wake up for 3 whole days, I told myself that I would need to take better care of you," Dorin pointed out, "besides, didn't you tell my mom you'll be responsible for me from now on?"

[I NEVER SAID THAT!] Sebastian's writing were big and bold. [And it was your aunt and Gen. Muller she was referring to!]

"Nope, you were there too!" Dorin insisted.

[I refuse!] the writings on the slate were fast and pointed. [That's too much trouble! Besides, it's me who always end up in the hospital!]

"Good luck telling my mom that..."

"Okay, okay, settle down, you two," Gen. Muller gets between them, hushing them both. "Dorin, you should be thankful you got into the scholarship program..."

"You turned your whole class into lizards and lost your full scholarship, right?" Dorin quietly asked Sebastian.

"Don't even think about it!" Prof. Althea was suddenly by his side. "Come on, it's time to leave."

"We'll talk about the room assignment later," Gen. Muller appeared at his other side. "Perhaps we can still have you both stay in the same room..."

[Why?] Sebastian wrote, [I would gladly stay in the single, I don't get it, what's so good about bunking with me anyway?!]

Johan tried to suppress his laughter from behind them. The four of them looked back and seemed to remember that he and Prof. Dupont were still there.

"Oh, don't mind us, we're just eavesdropping!" Prof. Dupont shamelessly admitted with a big smile.

Gen. Muller gave a deep sigh. "Come on, let's continue this talk elsewhere..."

But Dorin was already walking towards the long table where the examination panel were busy checking notes with each other.

"Excuse me," he asked the panel, "but what would I need to do to get a half scholarship instead?"

"I beg your pardon?" Professor Raevers asked coldly.

"Sorry, my nephew is just a little tired," Prof. Althea quickly pulled him aside, "he exerted himself with all that magic..."

"Actually, I feel quite refreshed after that charge – "

"We'll be going our way now..." his aunt hurriedly pulled Dorin away.

"Wait, Prof. Althea," called Professor Morell. "We would like to have a word with you."

Prof. Althea stopped at mid pull.

"Prof. Althea," Professor Dimitrio stood up from the table. "We have been discussing about your nephew..." Dorin looked back at the table, "and about young Johan Ignacius as well."

"What about me?" Johan called from near the entrance since he and Prof. Dupont were about to leave the room.

"We have concerns regarding these two young mages," replied Professor Dimitrio. "It has been quite some time since such strong, talented new mages have joined this university," she began to explain, "also, it is no secret that our magic division is getting less and less mages each year..."

"What we're getting at is that, with the recent incident with the imperial mages and all, we would need to take counter measures to ensure the safety of our students," Professor Morell spoke up, "and I'm beginning to see what those mages saw in this young mage in particular," he added, eyeing Dorin from head to foot.

"What do you suggest then?" asked Prof. Dupont with Johan frowning by his side.

"We were thinking of how to ensure that our students stay safe inside our University." said Professor Dimitrio.

"Oh, that's okay, I'm under my mother's geis anyway," Dorin just blurted out before his aunt could stop him, "I can't get out of university even if I wanted to."

"Is this true?" Professor Morell looked at Althea questioningly.

"Yes." Althea gave a deep sigh and rubbed her temples. "He can't step outside the University City walls. That's one of the conditions his mother gave to allow him to study here."

"You said here that his mother is his only parent..." Professor Raevers read from Dorin's file, "And that she is a small time artificer, is that true?"

"Yes, she is – " Professor Raevers raised a hand to stop Prof. Althea.

"Let the boy speak," said the head of charms.

"Yes, ma'am," replied Dorin. "She goes from village to village to sell her charms, and usually stays away for weeks until all the charms are sold."

"And you have lived in a small village in Monarch forest all your life?" asked Professor Dimitrio.

"Yes, ma'am," replied Dorin.

"You have never been properly trained then?" Professor Morell asked with interest.

Dorin slightly looked at Gen. Muller. "I used to have lessons at hand-to-hand combat."

"His mother asked me to train him before," Gen. Muller volunteered. "He's trained well."

"Well?" asked Professor Morell. "How 'well'?"

"Very well," the general replied, looking seriously at Professor Morell.

"How about in the magic arts?" Professor Dimitrio inquired.

"My mother gives me books when she returns from work," replied Dorin.

"Aside from that, doesn't your mother teach you herself?" Professor Dimitrio asked again.

"Not really," Dorin answered thoughtfully, "she never did have the patience, and she's always leaving..."

"So basically, you are self taught?" asked Professor Raevers.

"And so is Johan here," Gen. Muller placed a hand on the young fire mage who visibly flinched.

"Two strong, young mages with hardly any official training," Pan Phineas was suddenly between the 2 students. Johan quickly stepped back while Dorin looked at him curiously. "Sounds to me like another incident waiting to happen."

"Well, we do have Dorin's lightning under control with my ward, so there's not much danger there," said Prof. Althea, "he's just a rank 2 after all..."

"I wonder what rank he is without all those wards, though," Professor Morell said thoughtfully.

Althea did not reply.

"Now, regarding Johan's rank 4 status..." Professor Dimitrio held a sheet of paper with Johan's picture on top. "I'm a little worried about his temper."

"What about my temper?" Johan asked defensively.

"Perhaps Prof. Althea could do the same for him?"

"Wait a minute, who said anything about my temper?!" Johan insisted.

"Can I have this pleasure instead?" said Professor Raevers.

"Be my guest," said Prof. Althea.