Dorm

Rune followed the woman in silence as she led him through the sprawling campus. They passed the dormitories, a cluster of stone buildings that looked as if they were built to last for centuries. After a brief walk, she finally stopped in front of a small door on the far end of the hallway. The air was cooler here, and there was an odd silence, as if this part of the building was forgotten by everyone else.

She opened the door with a sigh and gestured for Rune to enter. "This is your room for now," she said, not even trying to sugarcoat it. "Sorry, but the Headmaster's an idiot, and we're always scrambling because he never plans anything properly." She paused and gave a slight shake of her head, clearly irritated. "He couldn't even tell us in advance that you'd be coming. It's honestly ridiculous."

Rune stepped inside, his eyes immediately scanning the room. The walls were bare, with only a single wooden bed and a small dresser. The stone floors were cold, and the room, though far from luxurious, wasn't the worst thing he had seen. He'd lived in much worse. Still, the loneliness of the place hit him hard—this was supposed to be his new life, and he didn't quite feel ready for it.

The woman continued, "If you're hungry, the cafeteria's to the right of the dorms. The Headmaster will cover your food. And try not to make enemies with the other kids; they can be real trouble." She paused before leaving, giving him one last look. "You'll be fine. Just... make yourself at home. But don't expect too much."

Rune nodded absently, still staring at the room. She left, and the door clicked shut behind her.

Rune stood in the small room, feeling the weight of his new reality. He looked around at the bare walls and the simple bed, taking it all in. The stillness of the room felt stark compared to the busy noise of the academy outside.

This is my life now.

He shook his head as the thought echoed in his mind. It was surreal—he had lived through so much, and now here he was, in an academy far from the only home he'd known.

He stared at the bathroom for a moment before stepping inside, the warm water a comfort against his tired body. After quickly showering, he pulled on the fresh pajamas provided by the academy and lay down on the bed, his body sinking into the softness. It was a strange luxury.

Rune let out a deep breath as he sank further into the bed, the softness surprising him. It was as if the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders, even if just for a moment. His body felt at ease for the first time in what felt like forever. He couldn't remember the last time he had slept in a bed like this—one that wasn't cold or hard, one that actually felt comfortable.

He hugged the pillows tightly, his face pressing into them as he shuffled around, twisting and turning in pure joy. The softness of the sheets, the warmth surrounding him, it was all so foreign and yet so… perfect. He buried his face deeper into the pillows, letting out a small, contented laugh. For once, there was no danger, no stress, just the pure pleasure of being in a bed that felt like it was made for comfort.

This is the life.

He rolled over to his back, stretching his arms wide, grinning like an idiot. His feet kicked up in the air, as if he couldn't believe how amazing it felt to simply rest. He'd never thought he'd get to experience this kind of comfort, and now that he had it, he couldn't help but revel in it.

"It's so soft..." he muttered to himself, eyes wide with joy as he sank back into the pillows

I never wanted to go to school back then.

The thought lingered in his mind as he stared at the ceiling. He couldn't help but think of his parents, how they pushed for him to have a better future, a future he didn't really want. They were gone now. And he was alone in a place he didn't quite know how to handle.

For a second, his mouth faltered, a frown tugging at the corner of his lips as the weight of it all hit him. But just as quickly, he smiled again, the familiar defiance rising within him.

"Don't worry," he thought, a small but firm smile on his face. "I'm at school now. I promise I'll become someone respectable."

Rune sat up on the bed, his legs tucked underneath him, his fingers tracing the fabric of the pillows as his mind buzzed with thoughts. The questions about his veil signature—the ability that had awakened within him—twisted around in his mind like a knot he couldn't untangle. He was so curious about it, yet no one had explained what it truly was, or why it seemed to make him different.

He thought back to when the headmaster had used his veil signature in the forest, the way it had manipulated the ground like it was nothing more than clay in the hands of a child. Rune couldn't even begin to understand how it worked. And yet, he felt a growing excitement inside of him, a feeling that this was only the beginning of something huge. Something that could change everything.

"Could mine be something similar?" he wondered, his heart racing at the thought. Was he capable of doing something like that? Or was his veil signature

completely different—something unique to him?

He closed his eyes, letting his hands rest on his lap, trying to feel his veil signature, but nothing happened. His expression grew more intense, focusing on the sensation, the stillness of his body and mind. But nothing came.

"Maybe it takes time," he muttered to himself, his lips curving into a small smile. He was eager, but he knew there was no use rushing it. Just the thought of unlocking his power, of discovering what he could do with his veil signature, filled him with a strange joy.

"I'm gonna find out what I can do with it... and maybe... I'll be able to help myself and others."

His thoughts drifted to his sister, and a quiet determination bubbled inside him. He'd find her.

He sighed and placed his arms over his eyes, drifting into sleep, the weight of his new life settling into his bones.