When the sun sets on the port side, and night falls over the ship, so does the temperature falls. Despite the mechanism that made the ship still retain its climate and doesn't freeze up the passengers are still working, the night still feels cold for everyone, making most of the people stay indoors. For the students of the Magi Academia, the place of refuge they choose is the large Dining Hall between the boys' and girls' dormitories. It is, after all, dinner time for them.

It's a two-story building, with the upper floor being a mezzanine to give it a connection and a better view of the lower floor. The hall has dozens of Moonlamps that brighten it up with warm light during the night. During the day, the many tall window panels on the wall let in the sunlight inside, but during the night the glasses transform into crystal-like panels that reflect the light of the Moonlamps.

On both floors, are lined up long tables and long tables where students can have their meals together. For the meals, of course, everything is free for the students since the Academy provided free breakfast and dinner to all students in the dormitories.

When Kayrus sees the meals they serve in the hall, he can’t believe his eyes. On the far corner of the hall is a section dedicated to preparing and serving the foods cooked by a squad of IDs, for the meals are served in buffet style. It is for that reason there are virtually endless lines of food served on a long table, free for any students to take. The former thief is in disbelief, for he has never seen that much food in his life before.

“It’s impressive, isn't it?” comments Ilias beside him.

The boy turns out to live in the room beside Kayrus’, so he invited him to have dinner with the others at Bea Year 1 Class, though Kayrus’ roommate Jin declines the offer when asked if he wants to go together as well.

“Yeah, it sure is impressive,” says Kayrus, nodding his head in amazement.

“What are you two doing just standing there like statues? Hurry up before they run out of food.” scolds Yan who is clearly impatient, almost practically jumping up and down.

“Relax Yan, there’s enough food for everyone, and much more,” says Marcus.

“Yeah, it’s not like they can run anyway.” Jean laughs at his own joke.

“Ah, you boys are still here? What a perfect coincidence.” says a familiar girl’s voice from behind them. It’s Diana and the other girls from their class, like Rebecca, Elizabeth, and a few others.

One of the girls in that group is Kara, who upon seeing Kayrus gives him a small wave and smiles, her cheeks red. Kayrus, obviously, smiles and waves back at her.

“It’s nice that everyone can get together for dinner,” says Diana with her seemingly perpetual smile.

“Dinner is always better when eaten together with someone else.” comments a girl with the name Enna Falstaff, she’s one who used a ladle as her Conduit in their first class.

“Should we eat on the first floor or the second floor?” asks Jean.

"Hmm…either is good, but-”

"Are you all just going to yap all day over there? Hurry up, I’m starving here!” yells the tall Redoran girl, Joanna Kesling, who is already halfway to the food table behind Yan and Yui. “Hey you two, mind your manners, don’t run around like that!”

“Well, you heard her. Shall we?” says Kayrus to the group, hand pointing to the merry three that are already making a bit of commotion at the table.

The Bea students then walk over to the food table, and after queueing up for a while, they finally can get some food. Surprisingly, there are almost all kinds of food on the food table, with ingredients and spices from all four corners of the world. Perhaps it is the perk of Zennardi being a flying city, to gather all kinds of things as it travels around the world.

Being uncomfortable facing this many foods on the table, Kayrus only put a modest amount on his tray: some slices of roasted beef, a large scoopful of rice fried with vegetables and spices, and a cup of tea.

The Bea Year 1 Students, considering their number of twelve people, then move to the nearest table that’s available for their large group, which is on the lower floor not far from the food table itself.

“Okay, let’s eat everyone,” says Ilias to the group, though most of them have already started eating their meals.

“Hey, this is nice.”

“Yeah, better than I expected.”

“...delicious.”

“Hm, what’s that you’re whispering Joanna?”

“N-Nothing! Don’t mind me!”

“Yan! Stop stealing my food!”

“You’re the one doing it first!”

“Now, now, calm down you two.”

“Marcus, why are you eating nothing but meat there?”

“Protein, want some Jean?”

“Nah, I’m good.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“Can someone please pass the salt?”

“Wow, you really eat a lot huh, Enna?”

“Hehe, they all look so good, so I have to try some.”

“Salt, please?”

“I wonder if I can ask for the recipes.”

“...So that’s why you need protein to build your muscles.”

“Hmmm, I guess I can go for seconds.”

“Wait, you’re already done with yours?”

“Yan! Yui! I told you to mind your manners!”

""He/She started it first!""

“Salt…”

“Here, here. Here’s your El.”

“...shut up, Rebecca.”

“What’s that El? You said thank you?”

“...”

The only word that can describe their table is chaotic, that’s what is happening on their table. And yet, at the same time, there’s already a sense of closeness and warmth these students share with each other, despite only meeting each other for the first time this morning. That thing doesn’t get unnoticed by Karyus, who can’t help but smile while observing the interactions between his friends. It all reminds him of his family back in the city.

“Yeah, I guess this is nice..” he mutters, smiling.

While his eyes and mind are still busy observing his classmates, his hand reaches for his cup of tea. However…

“Ow! Sorry, my bad!”

His hand touches someone's hand. And that person is Kara, who sits to his right.

“No, no, it was my fault. I wasn’t looking.” Kayrus apologizes to her.

Kara nods her head and smiles, finally taking the pepper shaker that she’s reaching for before.

“It’s nice, isn’t it?” she says.

“Hm?”

“Everyone.”

She looks over to the group at that table, where now Joanna is angrily scolding Yand and Yui for fighting, while Diana and Ilias try to calm her down.

“I was kind of worried, about what kind of people I would meet in this school. But it seems like all my worry was for nothing.’ the girl looks down. “ You see, when I was younger, I didn't have anyone else as a friend besides my brother Max. But after he went to this school and became a Magus, he’s rarely at home, leaving me alone. That’s why I…”

“You were afraid of what kind of people you would meet here, and whether or not you would fit in?”

Kayrus’ words surprise Kara.

“How do you know?”

The former thief first smiled at her faintly, his eyes nostalgic. “Let’s just say I used to be in the same position as you.”

“Really? You don’t seem to be…that kind of person. You know what I mean.”

“Well, sometimes you can’t judge someone from their looks alone. All of us have our own secrets, aren’t we?”

“I guess you’re right..”

“My advice is, sometimes it’s better not to think too much about the past and the future, and just enjoy the present.”

Kara’s face indicates that she’s still trying to process Kayrus’ words. Before long, however, she brightens up and her lips turn into a wide smile.

“I think you’re right, yeah, I think that’s the best thing to do right now,” she says, smiling. “Thank you, Kayrus, it was nice talking to you.”

“Yeah, you’re welcome.”

Both smile at each other, before continuing to enjoy their dinner while watching their classmates finally quiet down with their antics.

However, Kayrus himself can’t stop thinking about what he just said to Kara. He wonders if he should follow his own advice to just enjoy the moment he currently has as a student here on Zennardi. He feels like he already found his place here in this new world of the Magus Society, and trying to enjoy it as much as he can. And yet, a small part of his heart and mind always reminds him of who he actually is, or was: a thief who left his family behind in the city.

Every time he finds a shred of happiness in this flying city, he always finds himself comparing it to his past life, for better or worse. And he can't stop himself from doing it.

"You okay Kayrus?" Asks Ilias with a worried look in his eyes, interrupting Kayrus' train of thought.

"Hm? Oh, nothing, it's nothing."

"You sure? You've been kind of very silent for a while there."

"Yeah yeah, it's nothing, don't worry about it."

"Okay then, if you say so." Ilias accepts the excuse. "Come on then, everyone is already finished with their meals, let's clean up."

"Yeah, sure thing."

Under the direction of Diana, the group clean up both their trays and the table they just used very neatly. The used trays are then given to an ID that stands by near the tables to be collected and cleaned up.

"Say, there's still some time before the curfew. Any of you have a plan after this?" Ask Jean resting his hands behind his head. The group is now leaving the tables behind and walking back to their dormitories through the hall's crowded floor and doors.

"Sleep." Answers Joanna, who seems to be exhausted dealing with the Fei twins.

"I have some books I have to finish."

"When did you ever not read a book, El?"

"...shut up."

"Hmm, I kind of want to buy some candies right now." Enna pouts.

"Going for a quick shopping sounds like a good idea, I still have some items I forgot to buy." Diana puts her hand under her chin, going through a mental shopping list.

"Well, we already went shopping this afternoon, but tagging along sounds nice." Says Jean, "anyone wanna come as well?"

"Pass."

"Yeah, pass."

"We kinda want to go to bed right now."

"No."

"Yeah, sorry guys, but I also have to pass this time."

"Yeah, I'll go with you."

Joanna, the twins, Rebecca, Elizabeth, and Marcus decline the invitation. Only Ilias agrees with the plan.

"Kara, Kayrus, what about you two?" Asks Jean.

The girl thinks for a second.

"Yeah, I have some free time. I'll join in for a while."

"Nice…and you Kayrus?"

"Well, in that case, I'll-"

"Kayrus Neumann!" Calls a girl's voice interrupting the young man.

The group finds a female student with blonde hair standing in front of them, blocking their path to exit the dining hall. Although to be exact, she is blocking Kayrus' path.

"I need to speak with you, in private." She says almost as an order to him.

But Kayrus doesn't know who the girl is, although he kind of recognizes her somewhat.

"And who is asking right now?" He steps up in front of the group.

The blonde girl takes one step closer to Kayrus.

"My name is Helena Augustus." She says with a voice that unmistakably has a fire of anger fueling it. "I want to talk to you about my uncle Charleone."