Chapter 52: Ch52 – What are You doing here!

Ryan and Eleanor stood in the entrance hall, staring at a map that was very similar, but larger, than the one that Helena had vaguely gestured to during her very coherent explanation of the academy.

“Building six,” Eleanor said. “Room twenty seven.”

Ryan nodded. “Right. Building six.”

They both looked at the doors leading outside.

“Do you remember which one was Building Six?” Ryan asked.

Eleanor paused. “One of the newer ones?”

“That narrows it down to two.”

They stepped outside into the afternoon light. Students were still moving between buildings, some heading toward the dining hall, others toward the training grounds. The sound of distant combat echoed from somewhere beyond the main building.

Ryan scanned the dormitories. Six massive stone structures, scattered across the grounds. Two of them had cleaner stonework, sharper edges. Newer construction.

“Let’s try that one,” Eleanor said, pointing to the closer of the two newer buildings.

They walked across the grass, weaving between clusters of students. A few glanced at their military uniforms with mild curiosity, but most ignored them entirely.

The dormitory loomed ahead. Four storeys tall, dark grey stone, arched windows lining each floor. A large brass number six was mounted above the entrance. A wooden door stood open, propped by a bronze doorstop shaped like a lion.

Ryan and Eleanor stepped inside.

The interior was practical. Stone floors, wooden beams supporting the ceiling, and a wide staircase leading upward. Doors lined the hallway on either side, each one marked with a brass number plate.

“Ground floor,” Eleanor said, reading the nearest door. “Room Three.”

Ryan checked another. “Room Fifteen.”

“So first floor is zero to twenty,” Eleanor said. “We need to go to the second floor.”

They climbed the stairs. The second floor corridor stretched before them, doors numbered from twenty to forty.

“There,” Eleanor said, pointing.

Room twenty seven sat near the middle of the corridor, its brass plate slightly tarnished but still legible.

Ryan reached for the handle and it turned smoothly. The door opened.

The room was simple but functional.

Four beds, two on each side of the room, all with plain grey blankets folded neatly at the foot. Two wooden desks sat beneath tall windows that overlooked the academy grounds. A wardrobe stood against the far wall, its doors slightly ajar. A single lantern hung from the ceiling, unlit.

Three bags sat on the floor near the beds on the right side. Two large leather rucksacks, worn and travel-stained, and one smaller canvas bag. Beside them rested what looked like a leather satchel with brass clasps. None of them had been unpacked.

It smelled faintly of wood polish and old stone.

“Looks like we’re not alone,” Eleanor said, eyeing the bags.

Ryan stepped further inside, dropping his coin pouch onto the desk nearest the door. The leather thudded softly against the wood. He moved to the window beside Eleanor and looked out at the academy grounds sprawling before them.

The training courtyards. The library tower. Students moving between buildings, some in robes, others in armour.

“This is going to be good,” Ryan said, feeling the excitement building in his chest. No more running. No more hiding. Just training, growing stronger, learning actual magic.

“Finally,” Eleanor said, a small smile crossing her face. “A proper place to train.”

Eleanor grinned. “And more room than the hideout and fortresses.”

They stood at the window for a moment longer, watching the academy move around them. The sun was beginning to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the grounds.

Then, a knock.

Heavy. Loud. The knock rattled the door in its frame.

Ryan turned toward the door. Eleanor raised an eyebrow.

Another knock. Even louder this time.

Ryan crossed the room and reached for the handle. He pulled the door open.

A golem stood in the corridor.

Six feet tall, maybe taller. Its body was made entirely of stone, thick slabs of grey rock fitted together with visible seams. Its arms were massive, each one wider than Ryan’s torso. Its head was blocky, featureless except for two glowing blue eyes that stared down at him without expression.

In one hand, it held two pieces of paper.

Ryan froze for a heartbeat.

The golem extended its arm, offering the papers.

Ryan blinked. Then, slowly, he reached out and took them.

The golem waved goodbye.

Its glowing eyes dimmed slightly and then it turned without a word and walked away, its footsteps echoing heavily down the corridor.

Ryan stood in the doorway, watching it go.

Eleanor appeared beside him. “What was that?”

“Just the postman,” Ryan said.

He stepped back into the room and shut the door.

Eleanor moved closer, looking at the papers in his hands. “What do they say?”

Ryan glanced down at the pages.

They sat on the edges of their respective beds about to read the notes.

But a few seconds later, voices echoed from the corridor outside, distracting them. Distant at first, then growing louder. Two male voices, one deeper than the other, talking rapidly.

“—don’t care what you think, I’m telling you the training grounds looked insane—”

“You always think everything looks insane—”

“But they actually are! Did you see the size of those—”

The voices stopped directly outside the door.

A key scraped into the lock. The handle turned.

The door swung open.

Two young men stepped inside.

The first one was built like he’d spent his life training for combat. Black hair cut short, strong jawline, a nose that looked like it had been broken at least once and healed slightly crooked. He was maybe nineteen, broad-shouldered and solid, wearing simple travel clothes that looked worn from the road. His eyes swept the room and landed on Ryan.

The second was leaner, taller, with the same black hair but a thinner face and a longer nose. He moved with a wiry energy, his eyes sharp and quick as they took in the room. He looked around the same age, maybe slightly younger.

Ryan and the first young man locked eyes.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then, at exactly the same time:

“You?!” Ryan said.

“Ryan, and Eleanor?!” the young man said.

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