Chapter 11

"Now, it's time we show you to your rooms. I'm sure you're tired of walking around all day. And I'm sure your arms are tired of dragging your bags everywhere." We nodded. 

The three of us went back to the elevator and took it to the third floor.

The hallways were covered in soft blue carpet. 200 rooms filled the main hall. There was a short hall at the end of the hall that ran from left to right. 

"This is short hall. Both the girls and the boys get one of these, so none of the floors get more privileges."

"Privileges?" Quake asked. "What do you mean?"

"Short hall is reserved for the top players in the dorm. There's a total of ten rooms in each short hall. They have their own bathrooms, better beds and a larger tv. Short hallers, or students in short hall, also get better privileges. Short hall is emptied once a semester so new people can get a shot at getting one of these rooms."

"I'm assuming we get into short hall through a tourney?"

Brew nodded. "Yup." he reached into his pocket and handed each of us a key. The base of the key looked like a book with the room number drawn on its "cover." "These are your room keys. Try not to lose them. You will find a spare one in your rooms, in case you lose this one. If you have to get a new key made, you lose access to the main game room- the one upstairs- for a week. Got it?" We nodded. "Good. Well, this is where I leave you. I'm afraid my coffee has run out. But if you need anything from me, I'll be in the RA office on the first floor. Welcome to Wizard dorm, and of course Runeg Skil."

Quake and I were neighbors. His room was to the left of mine and we were near short hall. "We should probably head to the cafe." Quake said.

I checked the time. "Yeah. I guess lunch is starting soon." I placed my stuff in my room, not really taking it in. When I came out, Quake asked:

"Brew didn't tell us where the cafe was, did he?"

I shook my head. "We'll just follow the line wherever one is going." other people were coming out of their dorm rooms. They looked like upperclassmen. They didn't pay us much attention. We followed them to the elevator, which filled up very quickly. After what felt like eons, we finally got on to the elevator.

It was just Quake and I at first. My stomach growled embarrassingly loud.

Quake chuckled. From his backpack, which he refused to put in his room, he handed me a granola bar. 

"Thanks." I said between bites. "I missed breakfast."

"Really? Why?"

"I slept in." I confessed. "I barely made it to the pick up location."

Before Quake could ask more questions, the elevator doors opened. We almost stepped off when we saw that we weren't on the first floor. A girl stood in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest. She appeared to be tapping ehr foot impatiently.

"Finally!" she exclaimed. "I thought I was gonna have to take the stairs!" She entered the elevator.

The three of us sat in silence until Quake introduced himself. "I'm Quake." Then he pointed to me. "This is Aegon. We're both first years."

She didn't take his hand when he offered it but said, "I'm Alia. I'm also a first year student. I got here on the early bus. It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise." I said.

Quake just beamed.