‘We understand that a resident advisor may not always be available to help students who misplace their ward key and find themselves locked out of their room. As such, we have included a spell circuit below for breaching your room’s wards if you find yourself in such a situation. Please note that use of this spell on another student’s rooms is strictly prohibited.’

— Excerpt from the ‘Hollow University Student’s Handbook’

Quinn decided that he needed to break the pattern he had fallen into as he awoke with strangers watching over him for the third time in what had to have been less than twenty-four hours.

”Oh great, you’re awake! Now if you would get out of my common room that would be very much appreciated!” Said one of the figures.

It was taking Quinn’s brain a second to process these words and so, before he could respond, another of the group of four spoke.

”For starters Max, it isn’t your common room— it's communal— hence the word common.”

Max looked ready to argue but the person continued.

”Second, you aren’t in charge here. I am. If you dislike that, you can, as I just said, ask the Registrar to move. Understood? That was a rhetorical question— I couldn’t care less if you understand. But you will listen.”

There was a dangerous glint in his eyes and Quinn could make out the stirring of something foreign in the air as the guy stopped speaking. Max’s arrogant expression disappeared and his face went pale at that.

The presence then faded away so quick Quinn wondered if he hadn’t just imagined it.

”Third—“ The figure whipped around to address Quinn, “Who are you, why are you in our common room, and why did you have to ruin my sleep by making me deal with this?”

Quinn wanted to object that he hadn’t been trying to ruin his sleep, but, upon seeing the glint still lurking in the back of the man’s gaze, thought better of it.

”Well I’m Quinn. I’m here because I was told I live here? I wasn’t really sure which room was mine though and didn’t want to cause any problems, so I just went ahead and slept on the couch.”

“Oh.” Said the man, his demeanor softening. “Welcome to Linton Tower then. I’m Andrew, your residential advisor. That brat-“ he gestured to Max ”is Max. Don’t listen to the orders he will try to give you. He doesn’t have any authority here, even if he likes to pretend he does.”

Max bristled a bit at this.

Andrew didn’t seem to care.

”Those two—“ He gestured at the pair who had been watching this whole affair take place from behind Andrew and Max, “Are Bao and Clint. They both got here a few days ago and haven’t caused any trouble so far, so they’re alright people in my books”

Bao looked like his worst enemy was a windy day— with his sunken cheeks and rail thin limbs. Despite this, he managed a warm smile and nodded in greeting when his name was mentioned.

Clint, in stark contrast to Bao, was built like a freight train. He had broad shoulders, arms as thick as logs, and muscles on his muscles. He would’ve been quite the imposing figure if it weren’t for the bright, gap-toothed grin he gave to Quinn.

“Now this would be the part where I give you a whole spiel about being a good and respectful resident, but honestly it's all pretty much common sense. I’ll toss you a copy of the student handbook when I give you your room key in a minute.”

”Before I do that though, can I see your class schedule? Should’ve gotten one from the Registrar…”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Quinn reached into his pocket and pulled out the once-neatly-folded-now-crumpled document he had been given last night.

Taking it from him, Andrew gave it a quick read. His eyebrows raised slightly towards the end as he read the note about an offer of private tutelage from Elias Whitewood, but he seemed satisfied with what he saw.

He handed it back to Quinn and said, “Just had to check to make sure you really do belong here. I’ll go get your room key set up, it’ll take a second for me to prep the ward, so feel free to sit down here and chat with your new roommates while you wait.”

Andrew then turned, shuffled to the stairwell, and began to ascend.

Max, still bristling with indignance, also walked to the stairs— going down instead of up— while muttering about having a word with the Registrar.

There was a strained silence as Quinn regarded Bao and Clint and they, in turn, looked at him, before Clint broke it.

“Sorry ‘bout that. Max is a bit full of himself from what I’ve seen so far, luckily he mostly keeps to himself.”

”Andrew is pretty good though!” Bao added

”Yeah, Andrew is a decent guy, happy to help as long as you ask nicely.”

“Good to know.” Said Quinn

There was another awkward pause.

”Well, Bao and I were gonna be going into the City in a bit to grab a few things— You’re welcome to come along if you want!” Said Clint

”Uh, sure! That sounds good”

”Great! We can also stop by and pick up your luggage from whatever inn you were staying at— I know it was a nightmare for me hauling it across the city.”

Quinn’s cheeks flushed.

”Actually, I don’t have any luggage… what you see on me is all I’ve got.”

Bao and Clint exchanged a look.

”Ran into trouble on the road?” Asked Bao

Quinn was about to answer truthfully about why he didn’t have anything, but thought better of it. He remembered Peter’s reaction to learning he was an Outworlder and his advice about keeping that information hidden.

”Something like that, but I’ve got this stipend of fifty gold from the University, so hopefully I can get some new stuff with that.” Said Quinn

Bao’s eyes widened when Quinn said ‘fifty gold’ and Clint let out a whistle.

”Must’ve really impressed the admissions council to get a stipend like that!” Clint exclaimed

”Eh, I guess you could say that.” Quinn shrugged, doing his best to seem nonchalant.

’Fifty gold must be a lot more than I realized.’ he thought to himself, ‘Oops.’

”Well Mr. Moneybags, come grab us when you’ve got your room key and you’re ready to head into the city, we’ll wait for you here.”

Quinn thanked them and left the common room.

—

When Quinn got to the top of the stairs he felt that same presence as before coming from Andrew who was standing in front of the door to room five.

He stayed a few steps back and watched Andrew, who was looking back and forth between some writing in the book he held in one hand and an object about the size and shape of a playing card held in his other, careful not to disturb him.

It wasn’t long before Quinn felt that something in the air fade away again and saw Andrew close the book.

Turning to face Quinn, Andrew held out the card and said, “Here is your room key, as long as you have it on your person you will be able to open your door. Try not to lose it— if you do you’ll find that your door might as well be a brick wall until the ward runs out of Aether to keep it running.”

Quinn took it from him and turned it over in his hands inspecting it more closely.

It was a polished wooden rectangle that felt, for lack of a better word, heavier than something of its size should. One side was covered in strange symbols that Quinn found it hard to focus on directly. Flipping it over he saw a stylized H set over an image of a book and quill.

Quinn had seen this symbol in various locations throughout the University in his short time there, as well as on the pamphlet that had appeared when he first arrived in Hollow. He assumed it must be the University’s crest.

”And here’s your student handbook.”

Quinn looked up from the ‘key’ he had be and saw Andrew now holding out the book he had been reading from as he placed the ward. He put the key in his pocket and took the book.

”It has instructions for maintaining the ward on your door— should be good for a week or two, but it’ll need to be recharged. They’ll go over it in your first class on Aether Control so don’t worry about figuring it out on your own. Infact, you should avoid messing with Aether outside classwork for now until you read the handbook. It’ll give you good information on what you are allowed to do and what can get you in trouble.”

”Thanks.” Said Quinn

”Don’t mention it— wouldn’t be a very good RA if I didn’t give you advice. Now I am going back to bed, please don’t wake me unless someone is being murdered by a summon that escaped the Block.”

As he finished speaking Andrew, who had been creeping further and further away from Quinn, opened the door to room one, slipped inside, and shut it behind him.

Quinn had several questions about Andrew’s last remark but resigned himself to the fact that he wasn’t going to be able to get any answers right now and decided instead that it was time to see where he would be living for the foreseeable future.

He stepped forward, placed his hand on the door handle, gave it a gentle turn, and pulled the door open with ease.

The walls, spaced around 8 feet apart, were made of the same dark grey blocks of stone as the rest of the tower, and the flooring was a rich dark wood that it seemed most of the rooms furniture was like was made of. Both the walls and floor had that polished smoothness that came from many years of wear.

Against the wall and to the immediate left of the entrance was an empty wardrobe which was mirrored by a bookshelf of similar dimensions on the right side of the room. Slotted right next to the bookshelf was a finely carved desk complete with a padded chair. A brass candle holder sat at one of its corners.

The desk, in turn, gave way to the final piece of furniture in the room, a bed fit for a king. It’s length stretched the entire width of the room and it was easily large enough that even someone of Clint’s size could sleep in it comfortably. The bedding was a deep maroon that blended well with the room’s furniture.

A cushioned bay window, with curtains that matched the bedding, sat flush with the bed and filled the room with the light of the morning sun.

Quinn smiled as he took it all in.

He could certainly get used to this.