I wish only the best for whoever designed this dorm. The decision to put together two beds by their foot was bloody brilliant. I love touching paws with my roommate every time one of us moves in their sleep. There's just something really energising about it. Another great decision was installing only one socket for an Arcano Emitter in a two person room. So only one of us can have secure access to Arcano Spheres, unless we connect our crystals to the public Sphere. With one look at its runic address, I decided not to take any chances. The last thing I want is to get my soul trapped by a demon while browsing the Arcano Sphere.

— Alright Noodle, I'm heading out. — I nearly drop the crystal on my face as Levi speaks up.

— Ah, have fun, dude. What class? — It would be easy to look it up; he has his schedule printed on his desk. But that would mean I care enough about it. Besides, asking Levi makes him think I actually care. That's the first step in a positive relationship, isn't it?

— Metallurgy 2. Ever had that? 

— Oh no, thank gods I didn't. I'm an Arcano Scientist, not an Arcano Engineer. Never had classes that weren't pure Arcane or Numerology. — I chuckle, shaking my head vigorously.

— I'll be damned.

— My head would explode. Have fun with your metals, Levi.

I'm having fun with my metal blasting through the earpiece while reading through my curriculum. There is something really soothing about the religious and blasphemous tones of Prowler Stork that makes my fur stand up. The flow is interrupted by a ping on my crystal. It's Mia.

“Supnoodlem ovedin yet"

Her messages never fail to amaze me. She is the same age as me, yet my grandmother types better on her crystal. 

“hey Mia! I did. still have a few hours until classes start. wanna meet up?"

It doesn't take long for her to respond.

“Seyoi in 10"

“k. where?"

… There is no response. Typical. In exactly 9 minutes and 47 seconds, there is a knock on my door. With a quick wave of my fingers, I make my fur look wet (I have a vivid image of that in my mind from yesterday) without anything on but a towel around my waist. Knowing Mia, she will appreciate the joke.

However, to my surprise, the door opens before I can get to it. I should not feel ashamed, since I am actually decent, plus I didn't make a multi-layered illusion, but as the sands of control quickly slip through my paw, so does my confidence. A whirlwind of rust and energy bursts in. Mia Vuk is a fox. A short, quick, frighteningly sharp and deeply rusted (not sure how much of it is her natural fur and where the actual rust starts) one.

— O-oh, uhm… Hey Mia! — she doesn't even stop, her eyes locked on me while marching forward.

— Well hello, Noodle! — her alto resonating cheerfully, but for the trained ear, there is a deep, devouring void underneath it. She reaches forward and snaps her fingers right in my face.

— What if I was actually naked? — I grumble as she syphons away all the mana used to conceal my true form.

— You are too much of a coward for that. And in the past 2 minutes, you didn't open the bathroom door.

— You've been standing outside for 2 minutes.

— Yep.

— … why?

— There was so much residual mana outside. Your lion, Leviathan, is pretty wasteful with it.

Mia is what we call a Spellbreaker. Some of us are lucky enough to be born with the ability to crystallise our will through mana, the lifeblood of any mage. Some, however, are cursed (or blessed, depending on culture, time, and politics) with a condition where their body cannot produce mana the way “normal bodies" do, but they can absorb the magic that's been set free. Also known as breaking spells. I need not say that in a place where mages run most of everything, being a Spellbreaker doesn't make you well liked.

— Wait a minute, how do you know his name? And that he is a lion? — I hold up a paw to stop her from draining any more mana. — How did you know which room is ours, while we are at it?

— Oh come now, Noodle, don't you think an Archbishop couldn't look into the database?

— Since when are you an Archbishop?

— A few months now~

— What the hell, Mia? — Last time she was bragging about being a Deacon, that's a giant leap forward! She's among the most important administrators now.

— Arrabona isn't as grand as your beloved Arcanum Aquincum. There's about 20 Administrators for the whole institution. Now that I got my degree, I can handle the extra workload of an Archbishop, or so Pope Dominic said.

— Congrats! So if I get in trouble, I know who to bother with erasing my track record, your 'Excellency' — I grin at her 'Excellency' and take a deep bow. A blown raspberry is the response I earn.

— Jasper can help you with that, but you aren't planning to get in trouble, are you?

— We'll see~

We go for a walk around campus and a little off campus to meet up with Jasper. Jasper Steinberg, the friendly badger, holder of great arcane power and knowledge, the Cardinal Administrator of the University of Arrabona, and most importantly: Mia's boyfriend. I have to crane my neck to look in his eyes as we shake paws. Not something unusual, but still. Tall fellas, amirite?

While we stroll on the riverside, I get briefed about what to expect at this prestigious institution. I learn and immediately forget a lot of names I should look out for, a few neat places for practising less desirable forms of magic, and, of course, where and which booze to get. At some point, I bring up my problem with having only one Emitter in the room.

— Ah, worry about it not, my friend. Are you available tomorrow morning? — Jasper looks down at me.

— Yeah, I suppose I am?

— Wunderbar, Mia and I recently tinkered with one such device. I'll come by and install it tomorrow. — Both of them seem excited about it a little too much.

— But there's only one socket…

— Don't worry your little head about it, Noodle — Mia chimes in — A measly wall won't stop a Steinberg.

— I don't think I follow…

However, I get no further explanation, just conspiratory glances. What did I get myself into??