After the class ended, I stepped outside.
Since today was the first day, we only had a single class. The rest of the afternoon was ours to do… well, whatever we wanted.
The courtyard felt like it had been waiting for us all morning. Sunlight spilled over the pale stone tiles, throwing warm reflections off the glass windows of the North Wing.
And the people — Gods, there were so many people.
Groups of first-years swarmed across the space, each one trying to outdo the others in volume. Some stood in tight circles, swapping names, shaking hands, laughing at jokes that probably weren't funny but felt that way in the moment.
Others were already making plans, hitting on girls and going on dates.
The sound was a jumble, like someone had thrown a hundred different conversations into a blender.
"...and then he actually tried to summon"
"So the dorms are split by..."
"I swear, if the cafeteria's bread is stale"
