Each of Revian's steps slammed against the ground, his thoughts dragging him down like weights chained to his heels.
There were little words being spoken between Revian and Veyric. For once, thought Revian, the usual plague of Veyric's chatter wasn't assaulting Revian's ears.
Revian glanced back at Veyric just barely, the quiver in his eyes enough to remind Veyric that Revian was by all means, human.
"Hey, are you really alright with this?" Veyric asked, stepping back and clenching Revian's shoulder to follow his momentum, forcing his attention. "I mean, we both know that even if your magic isn't the best, you're still miles better than those bootlickers like Drayden and Elias. Perhaps if we storm admin and--"
"Veyric, I know things tend to go in one ear and out the other for you, but really, just let this one go... please. Magic is everything in this world, and I was just unfortunate enough to be given the worst one." Revian said, his eyes narrowing and his cheeks raising along with his eyelids.
Revian's typical cool exterior was juxtaposed with the emotion and life in his limbs and face, his hands trembling uncontrollably. He hadn't the desire nor capability to hide it, however, and simply wished to be left alone.
"H-hey, I've heard rare cases where magic detection devices get the wrong reading--"
"Leave it alone!"
Revian's request was now a command, growling back at Veyric while smacking his hand off his shoulder.
Instantly, regret filled Revian's chest as Veyric looked to the side with a resigned expression, his face shaded from the sun because of the far tilt he took to hide his hurt.
"Just... leave it alone..." He quietly grumbled, stepping forward in quick dismissal while reaching for his pocket.
In his right hand was a pack of papers stapled in its top left corner, his name printed large on the front.
He fwipped through its pages, looking past his documented academic performance and the provided documents for his background and nationality.
What he wished to look at again was the final designation for class in the last page, its classification enveloping the entire page.
'F' it read--big, red... final. The glaring red that blared in the face of the setting sun caused repressed emotions to quickly well up again, the pit in his stomach only deepening in gravity and stealing him of breath.
The quick pattering of footsteps could be heard as Veyric quickly caught up to him, tapping him on the shoulder again.
Revian's instant glare caused him to retract just a bit, but he held strong, patting him on the back with even greater firmness.
"Hey, buddy, even if you're in Class F, we're still going to be the best of friends! Plus, given how great you are, I'm sure you'll claw your way right back up in no time at all! Don't be so down, I'll help you move your things."
Revian didn't bother to respond, although Veyric did see the silent yet somber smile that was covering Revian's face. He didn't bother to make mention of it--his understanding of Revian's distant suffering enough to quell his speech.
...
The night sky arched over the two as the moon's brilliance entrapped the trees and concrete to produce a dreary yet beautiful scene.
Yet, despite the cool blue that encapsulated their surroundings, Revian and Veyric could only cut through its beauty with their own disgust.
"Really... this dump?" Veyric said, green in the face, his mouth agape and eyes wide.
Revian and Veyric were standing in front of the Class F dormitories, the front door's hinges creaking wildly and the paint scraping off from the walls in real time.
The windows that revealed the rooms inside were mostly shattered with graffiti painted all over them, crude images of derogatory language and certain professors with X's drawn over their eyes enticing furthered questioning from the two.
The part that most disgusted them, however, was the rancid smell. There were some dead animals and beasts laced across the forest grounds just a few hundred feet from the dormitory, a putrid metal and rot wafting their nostrils.
Revian checked the paper in his hand. 'Dorm #255.' Just great, he thought. He stepped forward, the door buzzing as it scanned his ID."
He closed his eyes and almost decided on taking a deep inhale, deciding to resist the urge out of fear he would pass out from the smell or take in dangerous pathogens.
"Alright... I'm good now." Revian said, the humanity in his voice causing Veyric to sober up a bit to the volatile environment and look over at him with a more straightened facial expression.
"No, not until we get all your things to your room." He said, raising his boxes a bit. "Plus, look at yourself. You're not carrying all these things with those bony arms of yours!"
Revian wanted to refute his comment, but he quietly withheld the moment he understood the true meaning behind Veyric's words.
"Well, alright. If you insist." He responded, looking back for only a second as he held the door open with his foot. "Come on, then."
The two walked down the long aisle containing the first floor of rooms, the last door reading: '199'.
"It looks like your room will be on the second floor." Veyric pointed out, turning towards the staircase to their right.
They made their way up a long flight of stairs while carefully balancing the tower of boxes, its flight ending with an opening that could only be traversed to the right.
Eventually, they met Revian's dorm, its door generally well-kempt in comparison to the state of the other rooms.
"Hahhhh... well Revi, it looks like we've made it to your new home."
Veyric's attention stayed on his ID card, a growing pang of cold, blue chills creeping up from his chest. He could sense that something was amiss, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
The door clicked in response to his authentication, the knob's quiver a cue for him to grab onto it.
Opening the door, Revian's pupils dilated in response to the dark that'd been settled in his room. Despite this, he pushed down any growing fears from within him, stepping inside and searching for the typical flame artifacts that lit up rooms.
"You can lay my things there, Veyric. Wouldn't want you missing your first lecture of the year."
Veyric's face was unmoving, his eyes darting into the darkness. Revian was sure that whatever words he'd wished to give were squelched by the mustiness of his room.
"Alright, man. Just know this isn't goodbye, okay?" He answered, dropping his load of boxes just past the door's range. "Have a good one."
The door slamming behind him, goosebumps roughened Revian's skin as he traced the walls for any signs of light.
Typically, there would be about two of them for every six feet in his old room, but no matter how far he reached, he could only feel the cold and dry embrace of the dry paint.
Revian instantly jumped, small blotches of water splashing onto his face to steal the heat from his skin.
Following its direction of origin, he turned to his right, his fists balled in ready anticipation for whatever lurked in the distance.
Crrkkk, crrrkkkk...
The hard wood below was creaking with even rhythm, the sound of heavy breathing throwing Revian back.
"Whoever you are, don't come any closer!"
The sound didn't approach him, however--its volume stagnant yet still evident.
"Hahaha! To get such a weakling as my roommate, someone will have to smack some sense into you!"