After Ethan finally settled in his new room and checked all the small facilities — the automatic curtains, the glowing desk lamp, and the clean, soft bed — he sat down for a while.
The room was quiet. Only the faint sound of the wind brushing against the window could be heard.
He looked outside. The sun was slowly setting, painting the academy buildings in shades of gold and orange. For a moment, he just watched, lost in thought.
Then he remembered Elara.
"She must be alone," he murmured. "I should go see her."
He opened one of his bags and took out a few packed food boxes he had brought from home. Simple but still warm.
Holding them carefully, he stepped out of the room and walked toward the elevator.
The corridor lights glowed a calm blue. The air smelled faintly of fresh paint and flowers — the scent the academy used in all new dorms.
As the elevator door opened, he stepped in and pressed the button for the third floor.
"Her room number was… 320, right?" he said to himself, thinking. "I hope I remember it correctly."
The elevator moved down with a soft hum, and when the doors opened again, he stepped out. The hallway here was quieter than his floor. Some students were still arranging their rooms, some talking softly near the stairs.
Ethan walked slowly until he saw a small glowing number on the wall: 320.
He smiled lightly and knocked.
Knock. Knock.
"Elara, it's me," he called gently.
The door opened a moment later. Elara stood there, looking surprised and happy. "Brother! You came."
"Yeah," he said with a small smile, lifting the food box. "Brought something to eat. Thought you might be hungry."
But as soon as he stepped inside, his eyes caught the sight of three girls sitting on the couch in Elara's room. Their laughter stopped when they saw him.
And Ethan froze for half a second.
He knew those faces , how could he ever forget ,
Clara Whitmore. Sophie Langford. Evelyn Hartwell.
The same girls who had, in his last life, made Elara's days miserable. The same people whose words had broken her heart until she could no longer bear it.
Ethan's smile didn't fade, but something dark flickered in his eyes for a second. A quiet, invisible killing intent.
"Elara, who's this?" Clara asked, tilting her head slightly, her tone curious but sharp.
"Oh! This is my brother," Elara said brightly, not noticing Ethan's change. "He also got the Sky Wing dorm — just his room's a bit far."
Ethan smiled politely and gave a small nod. "Nice to meet you all. I'm Ethan. Sorry if I disturbed anything."
"Hi," Sophie said softly.
"Hello," Evelyn added.
Clara just gave a short smile. "Oh, no problem."
For a few seconds, silence filled the room. The air felt a little awkward. Even Elara felt it.
"So, um… would you like something to eat?" she asked, trying to sound cheerful.
All three of them waved their hands quickly. "No, no, it's fine! We were just about to leave." All three of them stood up simoultaneously.
"What? But you didn't even tell me the dorm rules yet," Elara said, standing up. "Wasn't that why you came?"
Clara laughed lightly. "We'll tell you later! We've got five years here, right? There's no rush."
"Okay then… see you later," Elara said, smiling softly.
"Bye, Elara," the three girls said together as they walked out, their perfume leaving a faint sweet scent behind.
The door closed with a soft click.
The light in Elara's room was soft and warm. Ethan set the food down on the small table and sat on the chair. Elara was sitting on the bed, smoothing her skirt. She looked calm and happy, the same bright girl he had always known.
"So," Ethan said slowly, "what did they mean by 'rules'?"
Elara looked up and smiled like she had made a new friend. "Oh, they were nice," she said. "They came to tell me some small rules. Little things — who to sit with, where not to go late at night, who to be polite to. They said it is just to help me. They were very kind." She folded a napkin and handed Ethan a piece of bread. "Don't worry. They were sweet."
Ethan watched her face. She believed them. She liked them. He felt a tight cold inside him, but he kept his voice soft. He would not frighten her or tell her his plans.
"That's good," he said and smiled in a quiet way. "If they want to help, that is fine. But if anything ever feels wrong, tell me first. Okay?"
Elara nodded and smiled wider. "Of course, brother. I will tell you."
........
Room 150 was quiet and cool. The three girls sat close on the couch, each with a small cup of tea. Light from the window made soft shapes on the floor. They spoke in low voices, careful and slow.
"She has a brother now," Sophie said, turning the cup in her hands. "That could make things… tricky."
Clara smiled a little, not warm. "We are nobles here," she said simply, like it was fact. "They are commoners. People like the headmaster and some teachers listen to us more. That helps."
Evelyn nodded. "If the brother is strong, we will not fight him with force. We will use the pity. We will make everyone think he is the one who hurts Elara. Then people will feel sorry for them — and help them. They will protect Elara, and we ask favors in return. That is better than a fight."
Sophie looked unsure. "But what if he is weak? Then we can make him small. Push him a bit. Make him look foolish. Then Elara will have less help."
Clara leaned forward, eyes sharp. "Either way, we win. If he is strong, we play the victim card and gather help. If he is weak, we break him quietly." She tapped the table. "No loud scenes. Little moves. Smart moves."
Evelyn smiled soft. "Also, did you notice Elara's fragment? It is rare. I saw the mark on her arm. She is talented. That is useful for us. We must keep her close for now."