Aurelius stirred from his slumber as a knock echoed through his door. Letting out a groan, he shifted in his cozy bed, slowly blinking his eyes open. For another ten seconds, he lay there motionless, gazing up at the ceiling until a second knock jolted him into action. With a sigh, he swung his feet off the bed, dragging himself upright and making his way drowsily towards the door.

Upon opening it, Aurelius found a middle-aged attendant standing outside his dorm room, holding a neatly folded stack of clothes.

"Yes...?" Aurelius mumbled, still groggy from sleep.

"Here are sets of your academy uniform, sir," the attendant informed, handing over the five pairs of clothes.

Aurelius mumbled a half-hearted thanks and was about to shut the door when a question surfaced in his mind.

"Oh! Where and when is breakfast?" he asked.

The attendant looked at him with a perplexed expression. "Breakfast begins in five minutes at the cafeteria."

Nodding his appreciation, Aurelius closed the door. The information wasn't particularly helpful as he had no clue where the cafeteria was located in the first place. Pondering his options, he examined the set of clothes, unsure where to stow them.

"Perhaps in a closet?" he pondered. Scanning his room, he searched for one.

The room was divided in half, with two beds pushed against opposite walls. A window on the north-facing side overlooked a courtyard, while the door occupied the southern part of the room.

When the Headmaster had shown him the room the previous night, Aurelius had promptly fallen asleep on the right bed, enjoying the best sleep he had ever had. Therefore, it was only logical for Aurelius to claim the right bed while his roommate would be stuck with the one on the left.

At the foot of each bed, Aurelius noticed a desk and a closet adjacent to it. With his belongings consisting solely of clothes in his hands, he decided to place his clothes within the closet.

With that task completed, Aurelius turned his attention to the matter of freshening up. He noticed a closed door on the right side of the room, piquing his curiosity. He opened the door to reveal a sink and a bathtub.

Without hesitation, Aurelius turned on the water for the bathtub, swiftly discarding his old clothes. As he did, his eyes caught sight of some intriguing markings next to the faucet—runes, perhaps? Uncertain but curious, he decided to touch one of the runes to observe its effect. Pressing the left rune, it illuminated with a gentle red glow. At the same time, the water flowing from the faucet grew warmer.

Intrigued by this encounter with runes, Aurelius made a mental note to study them further in the future. But for now, he simply embraced the delightful warmth of the bathtub, relishing the moment of pure bliss.

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Aurelius spent close to thirty minutes before finally emerging from the bathtub. Refusing to don his sweaty and soiled attire, he opted for the academy uniform despite the fact that classes were not set to commence for another week.

After struggling for a minute to put on the academy clothes, he was on the verge of giving up. How could they reasonably expect anyone to wear this? The abundance of straps and buttons was overwhelming. Dejected, Aurelius retreated back into the bathroom, using the mirror to watch his progress.

It took him approximately five minutes, but eventually Aurelius successfully managed to dress himself properly. If everything at this academy was going to be as challenging as this, he knew he was in for a wild ride.

The subsequent task was to locate the cafeteria. He retraced the steps him and the Headmaster had taken to enter the dorm building, and subsequently his dorm room.

Now outside, Aurelius found himself in a relatively quiet courtyard. Only a handful of students roamed the area, engrossed in their own activities or engaged in hushed conversations. It was evident that most students were still on break, enjoying their final moments of leisure before the official start of classes.

Aurelius scanned the courtyard once more, this time looking for any signs or directions that could lead him to the cafeteria. His eyes fell upon a bulletin board situated near the entrance of one of the nearby buildings. Intrigued, he made his way towards it, hoping to find some useful information.

The bulletin board was adorned with colorful flyers and notices, but amidst the array of papers, Aurelius spotted a small sign indicating the location of the cafeteria. It pointed towards a building on the eastern side of the courtyard, labeled "Cafeteria."

Following the direction provided, Aurelius ventured towards the designated building. As he approached, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries grew stronger, guiding him to the entrance. Stepping inside, he found himself in a large space adorned with café-style seating arrangements and a counter displaying an assortment of breakfast items.

There were only a few students scattered across the room, some sipping their beverages while others indulged in a light meal. Aurelius chose an unoccupied table near a window, taking in the tranquil atmosphere.

As Aurelius settled into his seat, he noticed the bustling activity at the self-serve counter. Students lined up, plates in hand, selecting their desired breakfast items.

With a sense of anticipation, Aurelius joined the queue, eagerly waiting his turn. As he approached the counter, his eyes darted across the array of food options available. Some of the dishes were a mystery to him, so he had to rely on the tags to figure out what they were.

He grabbed a plate and carefully selected a balanced combination: a scoop of scrambled eggs, and a side of mixed berries, and a piece of bread. With his plate filled, Aurelius returned to his empty table near the window and settled down to enjoy his meal.

Aurelius savored the last bite of his breakfast, feeling satisfied for the day ahead. As the conversations and activity in the cafeteria continued to buzz around him, he decided it was time to head back to his room.

Leaving his table, he made his way towards the exit, weaving through the small crowd of students who were still arriving to enjoy their morning meal. The aroma of coffee and pastries still lingered in the air.

Aurelius stepped out into the courtyard, the morning sunlight warming his skin. He followed the familiar path that led him back to the dormitory building, his footsteps echoing softly on the cobblestone ground.

Reaching his room, Aurelius decided to read the contents of the papers he had received from the clerk on his day of arrival. He had forgotten about them after falling asleep the previous evening.

On the papers listed his name and some of the classes he was taking. So far, only two classes were listed. Sword Mastery 101 and Global History. Next to the list was a scribbled note in the corner, seemingly added by the clerk. It read, “Orientation and Welcome Ceremony: Friday at 10 AM in the Great Hall. There you can select your electives for this semester.”

With the Orientation a couple of days away, Aurelius resolved to make the most of his remaining time by exploring the academy grounds further. One particular building beckoned him—the library. He wanted to learn more about the Chosen, their history, and the various classes of magic they wielded.

Carefully folding the papers, Aurelius placed them on his desk, ensuring easy access to the information he needed. Just as he was getting ready to leave the room, the door swung open, revealing a young man with tousled brown hair and a friendly smile. He was holding a stack of books and clothes against his chest, his arms struggling to maintain their grip.