"Grab that end. Lift with your legs on three. Yeah, One... two... three Heave!"[Neidr] Neidr and Liam stand at opposite sides of a chest that is half was long as Neidr is tall.

"What the hell is in this box anyway?"[Liam]

"Knives."[Neidr]

"Knives?"[Liam]

"Knives."[Neidr]

"Neidr, this chest is really heavy." [Liam]

"Yep." [Neidr]

"Why?" [Liam]

"Knives."[Neidr] Liam resisted the urge to facepalm and said,

"No shit. why do you have so many?" [Liam]

"Why do you have so many magic rings?"[Neidr]

"I would answer, 'for safety', but I only have one since someone stole the rest."[Liam]

"That sucks man, I hope you find the culprit."[Neidr]

"Neidr, give me my rings."[Liam]

"Or what?" [Neidr]

"Or I won't help you carry your ridiculous box of knives." [Liam] Neidr deadpanned and said,

"To be honest with you, I forgot I had them. If I had remembered, I would have taken them for a spin."[Neidr] Neidr turned around and searched through his drawers. He grabbed the rings, and muttered,

"Missed Opportunity."[Neidr] and handed them to Liam. Liam didn't say anything and slid the rings onto his fingers. They worked together and dragged Neidr's items one by one to his new room. The room was actually empty, even though it was previously lived in. When students die, Rotham does its best to put their abandoned items to good use. How do they know who dies? They have a man on the inside pretending to be a student.

Neidr populated the room with his things and bid Liam goodbye. Liam jumped into the bed, relaxed, and started to play with and manipulate his mana. The days passed, and he got more and more used to the routine of working out, learning medicine, and practicing mana control. One day the halls become noisy once again. The students were back from their pre-test. From the rumors he heard, not a one of them died. A satisfied smile crossed Neidr's lips. Then a knocking rung at his door. Neidr frowned, he couldn't think of any reason for someone to come visit him, unless it was a new roommate...

'Dammit' The negative side of saving countless lives had reared its ugly head. Now there were enough people that we couldn't have a room to himself. Neidr took in a breath and just hoped that this new roommate, if it was one, would not be nearly as annoying as the last two. Neidr opened the door with a grimace and saw,

a pink haired young lad with sparkling green eyes. Their stature was short and they wore shorts and a tee-shirt...

'Wait a fuckin minute...' Neidr closed his eyes, and prayed.

'Don't be Amber Don't be Amber Don't be Amber Don't be Amber' The young lad's high-pitched voice sounded out as he uneasily said,

"Sir, I'm uh, your new roommate." [For the love of God don't be Amber]

'Why the hell did that chick pretend to be a dude anyway? it's not like there aren't any female initiates. Hell, I know two.

Neidr shut his eyes tightly and spoke softly,

"What's your name?" [Neidr]

"John!"[Christ, its definitely fucking Amber]

"Make yourself at home, I'm going out for a walk."[Neidr]

"Ah, uh, ok... Oh, um I didn't get your, Oh he's gone."[Amber]

Neidr walked through the crowded walkways of Rotham, trying to drown out his thoughts with the noisy discussions of the young initiates, to no avail.

'Wasn't she supposed to room with Liam? What the fuck happened to that? This chick is an assassin magnet, I don't want to deal with that shit! I can't let her just die either! ugh!' Suddenly, Neidr came to a stop as he brain started to work.

'Didn't the novel say that she snuck into the academy through the pre-test? Just how did she?'

...

...

...

"She's the fucking Guard!" [Neidr] Everyone in the hallway become silent at the same time and stared at Neidr. Noticing this, Neidr sniffed and walked away. Neidr went straight to Arrieta's room and knocked in a familiar pattern. She didn't like to open the door unless he spoke, and he didn't want to speak. So, this knocking pattern was a compromise. Arrieta opened the door and cocked her head,

"It ain't time to teach ya yet."[Arrieta] Neidr smiled helplessly and said,

"Can you make an exception?" [Neidr] Arrieta nodded and said,

"I don't see why not."[Arrieta] She let him in and pointed to a mortar and pestle saying,

"Actually you came at a good time. Go ahead and grind those herbs for me."[Arrieta] Neidr nodded and got to work. A small smile crossed his lips. There was just something about crushing herbs into smithereens that calmed his heart. Other than the instruction from Arrieta and the affirmation from Neidr not a word was spoken. They worked silently together on whatever new brew Arrieta was cooking up. After several hours passed, Arriets spoke up and said,

"Classes are starting tomorrow. Are you excited?"[Arrieta]

'Classes haven't started yet?' Neidr thought of the tortures he endured under Laszlo's tutelage and frowned. Then, he smiled once again as he said,

"Yes, I'm excited. Are you?" [Neidr] Arrieta nodded her head and spoke quietly,

"I'm excited, but I'm also scared. My head is filled with all these what ifs. What if I'm no good at magic. What if I can't understand a word the teacher says? What if I 'm worthless and end up disappointing everyone back home. What if I waste all the money they put towards this? What If I waste all their time? I no there's no point worrying about it, I just can't help but to."[Arrieta]

'This woman is getting into her own head. I can't have her ass dropping out for such silly shit. Although I don't remember her in the novel, I bet she will be a good healer.' Neidr let out a long sigh and, said,"As you may know. I'm pretty stupid. " [Neidr] Hearing this, Arrieta started to laugh, but held it in. In the end, she started to cough. Before she could reprimand him for saying something like that about himself, he continued.

"I'm a noble with miniscule mana, you heard what Azalea said. Even I have been practicing mana and making it work. If you can't do it then, the sky isn't blue, alright?"[Neidr] Arrieta leaped up and hugged Neidr from behind. Neidr froze solid.

"Thank you Neidr, for everything."[Arrieta] She pinched his ear and twisted it before saying,

"But you aren't stupid and you better not say that again." [Arrieta] Neidr's eyes shot wide open. Feeling the pain in his ear lobe he thought,

'Woman, this is war!' He jumped up and picked her up with ease. Arrieta squealed, and he body slammed her into the bed.