David arrived at the supposed meeting place in the middle of the courtyard by the fountain. Talim tried to engage in conversations with him along the way, but he was not up for any. He kept sulking while they were both waiting for his chaperone to exhibit the place. 

The gentle splashing of water did not help to relax his mind. He needed to find a way out of here. Dangerous or not, he had to take his chances with the emperor. Could he do that, alone? What would the emperor say about him? Would he take requests?

According to Talim and the Magus, the emperor was the bad guy. He ruled this place like a maniac. He sent people cowering behind a place protected by an illusion and distracting spells. Of course, the allegations could just be part of propaganda. It also made sense to think that they might be the terrorists.

“You are not thinking about going to the emperor, are you?” Talim asked, staying close beside him. 

“That's not your business anymore.”

“You've heard the Magus. You will perish.”

“I heard a stranger.”

“What's that supposed to mean?”

David turned to face him.

“I have only heard your own version of the story. It doesn't mean you're telling the truth.”

“Well to begin, we never harmed you.”

“Neither did they.”

“If you still have doubts, you're free to investigate. Give this place a chance and see it yourself. You will see that we do not mean any harm."

“That's right. You are supposed to send me to the dungeon.”

“People here are very protective. Just so you know, I was given punishments too.”

“Like what? Chopping firewoods? Help clean the toilet room?”

“Then go on,” Talim said, angry now. “Take your chances outside. Wander blindly. Let's see how long you can take a second last.”

David almost said something once, twice, then kept his mouth shut. 

“What?” Talim asked.

That was it. The last thing he wanted to do now was to journey alone. Anything that could make him feel less lonely would be better.

David folded his arms and exhaled sharply. He had no choice but to stay here while figuring out how he could find a way out.

“Hi,” a voice greeted.

David failed to notice a person coming toward him. The youthful sound came from a lovely young girl in her teens, smiling at them. 

She wore a simple dress, but her fresh young beauty definitely deserved a spot in a magazine. She was tall with a slender build. Her skin was flawless and fair. The smooth auburn hair, tumbling down her shoulders matched her thick eyelashes. 

She reminded David when he developed a serious crush on his classmate during fifth grade. He sometimes used to daydream about older jerks picking on her. In his imagination, he would come along and save the day with a burst of bravery and action-movie karate skills. 

Was this the same feeling he had? Sure, David liked to hang out with cute girls, but he never had any serious relationship with them because he knew how to prioritize. Nevertheless, it was impossible for him to develop a strong feeling at first sight. Yet, at this moment, it seemed like he did.

The beautiful young lady gave a little wave to Talim. “Hi, Tal.”

“Hello, Elen,” Talim replied.

She looked at David and extended her arm. Looking directly at her eyes, made him feel charmed. 

“I'm David,” he said, shaking her hand.

“My name is Elenita, but I prefer Elen for short.”

He considered that it could be a secret way of encouragement set by the Magus to make him stay. There was no way for his heart to pound just because she was so pretty with her white dress.

“Does the Magus send you to all the new boys?”

Elen's face looked puzzled. “Huh?”

“Don't mind him. He was not having his day.” Talim answered.

She chuckled. “But I'm your buddy for now.”

“Well that's exciting,” he sounded sarcastic. How was it possible for someone to look so pretty effortlessly?

“Now, don't write me off just yet. I haven't shown you around.”

“I think this is where I left you both. I need to do some chores.” Talim bobbled his eyebrows to David before he turned and walked away. 

“Come on.” She started to walk, and David followed closely. He felt so conscious that he was going to hang out with a very attractive lady. Was hanging out the right term? She was supposed to be his tour guide, not a date. 

David had never felt embarrassed when he was around nice-looking girls. He always played it cool and smooth, but what was the difference about this one?

“The Magus told me that I should show you the school and get you acquainted,” Elen said as she led him to a diagonal corridor. David began to notice that the place they were heading was mostly dominated by minors in dark robes. They came in three or two and went in and out the pathway.

“You look athletic. Do you play swords?” she asked as they continued to weave the endless passageway.

David released a weak chuckle. The compliment made him feel aware of blood rushing in his face. “No. I do basketball.”

“What's that?”

“It's a game usually played five on five inside a court. The goal is to shoot the ball inside a loop that hangs on the ring.”

“I have not heard of that.”

“It's a popular sport on Earth.”

Elen abruptly paused midway, allowing people to swerve around them. “You're from the outside?”

A familiar sensation of being x-rayed froze David as two large eyes of the deepest brown gazed at him. Her expression turned between muddled and perturbed. 

“You are cocooned in... it's  bewildering.”

“What?”

Elen looked away and started to stroll again. “We must hurry. I have things to do later.”

Another couple of turns led them to a wide covered walkway with an arched ceiling. At the far end of the hall, an open yard covered with turfs came into view. Two colossal towers, made of colored cream bricks, stood at the corner of the castle walls. Their sky-high cathedral roofs made David feel he was looking up in the perspective of an ant. He counted at least seven sky bridges linking the twin towers. 

Elen pointed at the left side tower. “This is for the classrooms and home for the masters. This one is the dormitories for the students.”

“You call your teachers 'masters'?”

“That's how we address them here.”

She started to cross the yard, so he quickened his pace. There were benches near the foot of both towers filled with students chatting with their friends. Some were enjoying their vacant time to read. He also noticed a group of students in a circle brainstorming. Or were they an assemblage of gossipmongers? So far, David felt relaxed that none of them paid special attention to him.

“Why are you not wearing a robe?" he asked.

“The Magus requested that I should wear normal clothes, so you will feel less of a newcomer.”

“I appreciate that. So the Magus wants me to know where I'll be staying? Does it mean I'm going to learn magic too?”

“I supposed that is the idea. He could instruct me to get you to the garden or the main building of the castle, instead, he wanted you here. But he can be subtle sometimes.”

They entered through the oak front door. The smell of distinct mint filled his nostrils as the cold breeze washed over his face. The inside of the tower was more impressive than its exterior appearance. David was surprised that the internal space looked bigger than it was outside.

The first stage of the building was presented like a hotel lobby. Couches, chairs, and tables were arranged neatly at either side of the room, forming an aisle that led toward the staircase. Its low ceiling was lit by a candle chandelier. Everything looked clean and presentable. 

“This place is amazing,” David said. “Why would students choose the benches outside?”

“You forgot that this is the building for the masters. Students have a similar place inside their tower.”

Before David could reach the stairs, Elen paused and looked at him. “These stairs lead to all the corridors and rooms of this building. I'm only showing you the second to the fifth floor and afterward, we will head to the students' building.”

They both ascended to the L-shaped staircase covered with thin red carpet. The classrooms turned out to be typical ones back on Earth, only a little bit old fashioned and plain. The rectangular desks made of thick wood were lined in three rows. 

Small blackboards hung on every wall, and the teacher's desk sat on the front. The half-covered glass windows added characters to every room. Unlike what David expected, there were no magical items as decoration.

When David asked why all the rooms were empty, Elen told him that all students were obviously having a break time. She also explained how a single room could at least occupy thirty pupils per lesson. 

When they passed a sky bridge to the students' tower, Elen began to introduce him to a few people on the way. He was glad that everyone seemed generally cordial. 

The tower for students was equally impressive to the masters' but less sterile and furnished. Every floor in the building contained two rooms: one for the girls and the other was for the boys. Every room could be occupied by six people.

The tour ended when Elen finally indicated a door to one of the rooms on the seventh floor. “This is your room. Talim is one of your roommates. If you need anything, I'll be up on the ninth floor.”

“Well, thanks for the tour. I've enjoyed it.”

“Less angry now?”

David's face made an embarrassed smile. “Probably.”

She nodded. “I guess I'll see you around.” He watched her as she walked toward the stairs.

David shoved the door open. Three sets of double-deck beds took up much of the space. At least everything looked tidy. A dark robe was laid down on one of the upper bunks with his name written on a piece of paper. 

He climbed on it and lied flat on his back. Staring at the ceiling, David felt relieved to be left alone in peace, but deep down, he knew—a crazy part of him wanted Elen to stay a little longer.