Four more lessons and the day would have been over, but after the fight broke out, the headmaster decided to end the day early. From what I had gathered, we usually had six lessons per day, which wasn’t bad at all. I had already learned quite a bit, more than I expected. There was also a library I could check out later, and it seemed like the academy stayed open even after classes ended. Still, I couldn’t do that right now. I had to meet Mio.

I waited just outside the gates, leaning slightly against the stone wall. Mio would be impossible to miss with her red hair and the scars across her face.

That reminded me...

It was strange. My shoulder had been pierced clean through, yet after using the healing spell, it hadn’t left a single mark. But Mio’s scars were still there, old and visible. If magic could heal something like my wound without a trace, then how did she end up with those?

I thought about asking her, but decided against it.

A few moments later, I saw her step out of the building. She glanced around, likely searching for me near the entrance. I raised my hand slightly to catch her attention. It took her a second, but she noticed and made her way down the stairs, crossing the courtyard before stepping outside the gates.

"Hey," I said. "Shall we go?"

"Yep. This way."

I fell into step beside her.

"That was some fight back there, huh?" I said.

She nodded. "An elf supporter. In this academy. That’s unusual."

"Why is that?"

We continued walking straight, the noise of the academy fading behind us.

"Do you know the history behind the elder tree inside the main hallway?" she asked.

"N-no?"

"It was planted after the war with the elves ended," she said. "To honor the lives that were lost."

"Oh... I didn’t know that."

"Mhm. We’ll go left here."

We turned and walked between two stone buildings, the path narrowing for a short stretch before opening up.

It led into a wide clearing.

The space was almost perfectly circular, with packed dirt forming the center and paved paths branching around it. The area felt quieter than the rest of the academy, more residential than academic.

To the left stood a large structure with a sign near its entrance.

Northwood Boys’ Dormitory.

The building was massive, stretching several stories high. Its exterior was made of pale stone, similar to the academy itself, but less ornate and more practical in design. Rows of evenly spaced windows lined each floor, some open, some closed, with curtains barely visible behind them. A set of wide stone steps led up to the main entrance, where a pair of heavy wooden doors stood slightly ajar. The structure felt sturdy, built to house dozens, maybe hundreds of students. Above the entrance, carved cleanly into a rectangular stone plaque, were the words Northwood Boys’ Dormitory, the letters worn slightly by time but still clear enough to read at a glance.

On the right, a little farther down the same street, stood the girls’ dormitory.

It was slightly smaller in width but taller, with a more refined design. The stonework was smoother, and the windows were framed with subtle decorative carvings. Flower boxes rested beneath some of them, adding small touches of color.

The street itself was calm. A few students walked in and out of the dormitories, some talking, others heading off on their own. A couple of benches were placed along the path, and a small water fountain stood near the center of the clearing, its steady trickle adding a soft background sound. Lantern posts lined the edges of the path, unlit for now but ready for when night fell.

"There it is," Mio said, pointing toward the boys’ dormitory.

"Woah... it’s massive, huh?"

"It is," she replied. "You still have your keys, right? Room 217 should be on the second floor."

"Right. Thank you, Mio. I appreciate it," I said with a nod.

"Mhm. I should go now," she said. "See you tomorrow."

"Yeah. See you."

I exhaled and climbed the steps, my boots thudding softly against the stone. The double doors stood tall in front of me, thick oak reinforced with dark iron bands. I pushed them open and stepped inside.

The first floor opened into a quiet reception area.

On my immediate right stood a long wooden counter that stretched from one wall to the other, completely covering that side of the room. The surface was worn smooth, with faint scratches and dents scattered across it.

Behind the counter, a middle-aged man sat slouched on a tall stool, dozing off. His head dipped forward every few seconds before jerking back up, a low snore slipping out like he didn’t care who heard it.

The wall behind him was lined with rows of small wooden compartments, stacked neatly from waist height to near the ceiling. Each one had a number carved above it. Some held keys dangling from small hooks, others had folded notes or small packages tucked inside.

It looked like some kind of storage system. Messages, deliveries, maybe personal items left behind for students who weren’t around to collect them.

To my left, the space opened into a small hangout corner.

A square wooden table sat near a tall window that stretched from the floor almost to the ceiling, letting in a pale wash of daylight. Beneath the table was a small crimson rug, slightly faded at the edges.

On the table sat a chessboard, the pieces already set up mid-game.

"Huh..." I muttered. "So this world has chess too... too bad I suck at it."

I tilted my head up.

The ceiling rose high above, and through the open space I could see part of the second floor. A balcony-like walkway ran along the upper level, lined with wooden railings. Two staircases curved upward from either side of the room, meeting that level above.

Between the two staircases, placed on a raised platform, stood a glass display case. Inside were polished trophies, metal cups, and small engraved plaques, all neatly arranged and catching the lantern light.

"Huh. Impressive."

Just beside the chess table, a set of double doors stood wide open. Beyond them stretched a hallway lined with doors on both sides. Above the door, a small sign read, ROOMS 100–150.

My room was 217. Guess I was going up.

I turned and headed for the left staircase, placing my hand on the railing as I started climbing. The wood felt smooth under my palm, worn down by years of use. My steps echoed lightly against the stone as I made my way up.

When I reached the second floor, I stepped onto the landing and paused for a moment.

To my left was a dining hall.

It was large but mostly empty at this hour. Long wooden tables were arranged in rows, each paired with benches. A few students sat scattered around, eating quietly or talking in low voices. At the far end, a serving counter stood beneath a row of shelves stacked with plates and mugs. Large metal pots rested behind it, though no one seemed to be actively serving food right now.

To my right, a wooden sign was mounted on the wall.

ROOMS 200–250→

I turned that way and started walking.