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[sub][@datadogie][@Aerandir][@Omni5876][@LuckyBlackCat][@Tae][@Heartfillia][@StOpossum][@ChaoticLaw][@Inertia][/sub]
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[color=gray][indent][b][color=0054a6]“Greetings, I am Arn Second son of Thur HammerStone and Vassals to the BattlerHammer clan. A pleasure to make your acquaintance. Yes, I have heard of the Librarium.”[/color][/b]

...the conversation with the dwarf ended as abruptly as it began. In the next several seconds, The boy's unsettled heart showed on his face, and the blue in his eyes dimmed as he watched Arn turn away. A sense of unease washed over him. For a moment he sat very still - hoping the sudden weightlessness in his head would pass, and the buzzing in his ears would quiet down. Smiling was Calven's forte, but through this encounter, he found that he could just as easily lose it. Most of his childhood was spent with his magical instructor, books, and food, to keep him company. This boy was the furthest thing from picky when it came to choosing friends... and then, a thought occurred to him.

Just because it was easy for him to welcome people in, didn't necessarily mean people would want to come around.

[color=76c429][b]"Hey!"[/b][/color] With a jolt he sat up straight, the voice pulling Calven out of his own head. [color=76c429][b]"Mind if I sit here?"[/b][/color] Life flooded back into his eyes, the deep blues reinvigorated with more people; more chances. Cal perched himself on the edge of his seat and began to observe his surroundings with a heart wide open. That voice just now was mellow, and it came from a girl who was... dripping wet? She wore delicate flowers in her hair, carelessly strewn about but no less whimsical. She looked very much like what he'd seen in storybooks when he was younger. The boy used to call them fairies, but his teacher explained that wood nymphs were capable of much more than flying around and misleading peoples' fates.

Even though the soaked wood sprite sat far, it didn't keep Ixius from growing annoyed. Calven chuckled, letting his roommate move his things further from the exaggerated splash zone. A loud smack sounded from beside him.

[color=crimson][b]"If you want to watch, purchase a ticket from the local theater instead and piss off."[/b][/color] the chef shot a concerned glance at Ixius. He rested a hand on his fellow mage's shoulder and kneaded it lightly, silently urging him to calm down. [b][color=crimson]”Fallard,”[/color][/b] Ixius said 'calmly', [b][color=crimson]”You like that hand right? Get it off my shoulder and you'll keep it.”[/color][/b] Calven felt like he'd already spent years with Ixius and was not taken aback in the slightest. Instead, he lit up a toothy grin at his roommate and curled a hand paw at him. [b][color=#BEE3FF]"Reawr."[/color][/b] This guy reminded him too much of a cat. An extremely grumpy and irritable one.


[b][color=0E7609]"Ack... SELENA!"[/color][/b] he looked just in time to witness the fox girl’s tail kindly remove itself from the white-haired adventurer's face. Cal blinked in confusion. [color=#BEE3FF][i]Did her tail--- is he okay? ...and why does it smell like fresh flowers right now?[/i][/color] he wondered at the same time: what did a real fox tail to the face feel like?

Just then, a thud shook their dining table. Curious, the blond leaned forward and caught sight of the silver-haired girl from earlier, arms resting leisurely on the table. A question mark resounded in Cal's head. He proceeded to lift his own arms up and set them on the table; it made no noise and shook absolutely nothing. The boy soon accepted that he was but a delicate flower in the face of that silver-haired lady, whose strength was currently unmatched. Calven continued to peek at her from over the two students' heads, and watched her address the rest of the table:

[b][color=white]"To those I haven't introduced myself to, my name is Valencia. It is nice to meet you,"[/color][/b]

The boy wanted to be the first one to reply to her and give the extremely quiet, yet dashing character a warm welcome to the academy. He opened his mouth to speak but halted after he noticed two new figures approach the seats across from him. The sight of them made Calven blink twice to confirm his vision was not faulty. The same feeling from earlier rose up from the pit of his stomach... so this was the case, he could not help but feel surprised every time somebody new - somebody [i]different[/i] showed up. All these things he didn't know before piled upon him gradually. He felt his chest warm suddenly and lightly patted it to try to ease the discomfort. [i][color=#BEE3FF]Stop... can you please stop?[/color][/i] Calven pleaded with his heart. What was this feeling? Excitement? Anticipation? Dread? So many new people, new experiences, and new feelings. Everything he'd only seen through books and heard through his teacher. It only proved to him that the world outside had grown immensely large while he stayed so small. For a moment, he wanted to betray his outward character and run far, far away. The boy came to this school eager to rush forward and advance in pursuit of his new life... and yet, an unknown fear inched closer and closer to him no matter how fast the boy sprinted.

What seemed like forever passed before one of the pair spoke, urging Calven to once again sit up and listen attentively. [b][color=F08080]"Forgive me, but I hope you all don't mind if we sit here."[/color][/b] The man's voice was gentle and reminded Calven of his instructor. He felt his heart begin to slow down, and thanked the Gods as it returned to a normal pace. After he quickly put a smile back on his face, he looked towards the duo. There were many things to notice - Cal wondered if humans were truly the most boring race on the planet. Because this man who spoke had vibrant red skin... and ram horns on his head! Adding to this, the calmness of his demeanor only highlighted the smile of the girl who stood next to him. She had hair that seemed to glow; it was a brilliant color that perfectly contrasted her partner. They were such an eye-catching couple that Cal couldn't help but genuinely smile. They even had matching eye colours! He swooned inwardly and wished for a fairytale romance for himself - forgetting the pained feeling in his chest that came and went for the second time in his life that day.

[hr][color=white][sub]The Feast[/sub][/color]

The Feast Hall's hustle and bustle died down just then. 5 figures took their places seated in the front, but it was the one who slithered to the middle of the hall that made Calven's jaw drop. On this day alone, he witnessed so many different races that he could barely count them on his fingers - disregarding the fact that he was always horrible at maths. Half-serpent lady, who called herself the vice dean, spoke to the students in a clear voice, urging the blond mage to listen attentively. Rules were stated, and mental notes were taken. The floor was passed on to a man whose last name matched the academy.

[color=00FF7F][b]"Well, you heard the woman. EAT!"[/b][/color] [i][color=#BEE3FF]Say no more,[/color][/i] Calven picked one thing off from each plate: a chicken leg, a fruit tart, a muffin, salmon fillet, and a glass of water to wash it all down. His plate looked like a confusing mess, but it was a mess he put together for science and the betterment of his own cooking. Before he left home, he promised his mentor that he'd be the absolute best at anything that had to do with cooking. It was truly an ambitious goal for a very simple reason: in the future, he wanted to share it with the people he loved. So carefully, he took a bite of the chicken leg. [i][color=#BEE3FF]The breading is alright, even if it is on the saltier side. If they soaked this in milk the flesh would be a lot more tender.[/color][/i] Next, a piece of the fruit tart, balancing all the components on a dainty fork. [i][color=#BEE3FF]!!! The flavors work well together; the sweet and sourness balanced each other out - as they should, as they should. [/color][/i] Easily, he wolfed down another forkful of the tart. Next came the muffin, and the salmon fillet in respective order. None of the food on the table went through Calven's mouth without a word of criticism or praise. Everything he would taste would be a learning experience.

The mage's state of bliss grew as he tasted more of the food, taking calculated bites so as to not overeat and end his day with bloating. To enhance his immersion, he had his eyes closed for most of his meal to fully taste and savor each new flavor. With the world shut out and his mouth busy chewing, he almost hadn't heard the newcomer arrive. [b][color=a187be]"Soooooo~ We should introduce ourselves. I am Anise! You may ask me anything!"[/color][/b] he opened his eyes to a new face across the table, with familiar ram horns and a pair of monocles. Much like the ram-horned man with golden eyes he'd seen earlier, but minus the monocles. Calven smiled at her, not expecting her to see it, and resumed his focus back to the tasting platter. That was a nice name, he'd remember it for sure.

As he mindfully ate, an unexpected voice came from his right. [b][color=crimson]"I'm from the Magus Librarium, Ixius Delthrane."[/color][/b] [i][color=#BEE3FF]!!![/color][/i] Calven looked up from his food in delight and glanced at Ixius with eyes that held a replenished blue glow. Never did he expect this angry feline to voluntarily introduce himself! He nudged the grumpy mage with a laugh, [b][color=#BEE3FF]"Welcome to Hoseforn, Ixius Delthrane!"[/color][/b] raising a glass of water to toast his friend.

[b][color=crimson]”No need for overreactions, Calven.”[/color][/b] Ixius replied as he shot the blond a frown, [b][color=crimson]”It's basic etiquette, no?”[/color][/b]

[b][color=#BEE3FF]"I can't help but feel proud, basic or not."[/color][/b] Cal whispered excitedly back to him. The warm feeling that grew in his chest this time felt good.

A response to Ixius' introduction soon came, resulting in Cal nudging him for the nth time today. [b][color=F08080]"It's nice to meet you all, my name’s Rodrick."[/color][/b] As time went on, the feast hall grew busier and busier. Things were happening all at once and it was hard to keep track of it all. Calven sat next to Ixius and continued his meal until the wood sprite asked their group a question that sparked a rather entertaining conversation between Ixius and the newcomer, Anise. The boy was still tasting his food, but his eyes darted back and forth across the dining table as if watching a game of table tennis. Words laced with venom spat back and forth, keeping the boy thoroughly entertained as the two bickered. [i][color=#BEE3FF]A good show while eating is a must.[/color][/i] A second or two passed when the topic turned into one that made the food in his stomach churn a little.

Eventually, the conversation ended on what looked like a good note in Calven's eyes. He lifted his elbow to give Ixius another nudge before realizing that he had been sitting there for a good thirty minutes, and he hadn't introduced himself to any of the other students besides Arnn yet.

He waited for the table to reach a pause and then decided to put down his fork. The blond then eagerly stood up and cleared his throat. [color=#BEE3FF][b]"Hello, everyone! My name is Calven Fallard, of the Magus Librarium. We're the coolest table yet, so let's get along well!"[/b][/color] he sat back down quickly, grasping his hands tightly as they shook beneath the table.[/indent][/color]