The foxgirl’s accent was… Quite different. Definitely not from anywhere local, and there were definite signs that English was not her language. Valencia swore that she had heard somewhere about some kind of fox-like race, however she couldn’t really pull any other bits of knowledge from her mind - likely she had either heard of them or read of them in passing; such tended to happen when tutors were trying to pour as much knowledge as they could into your mind in an attempt to please their benefactor. Particularly when that benefactor was known for committing deeds of evil, and they had no clue if they would fall victim to such if they failed in their task.
At the very least, this Selena seemed to be
happy that she had gotten a roommate, based on that cheery expression. Valencia herself was unsure about how she felt - she hadn’t had to room with anyone else before, nor did she have much social experience that wasn’t filled with eloquence and elegance, courtesy of her father. Whether she liked it or not, Valencia knew that it was at the very least going to be an interesting experience. Perhaps she could try and keep her family name a secret, though she doubted it - if anyone put the name
Valencia and
One of the only people, perhaps the only person, to have Gargoyle features together, they’d likely come to a very realistic conclusion.
Still, Valencia believed that it was worth it to try. No harm done if they figured it out in the end, right? By then, she’ll have made a name of herself as a
good person.
“My name is Valencia,” she says, giving a little bow of her head to Selena.
“It’s nice to meet you too. I do believe you’re correct in the assumption that we’re roommates, unless this academy is so magical that the moment I step through the door I’m magically shoved into a different room,” she says.
Selena’s smile strained just slightly, her eyes scrunched up while her head tilted ever so little to this side. Looking quite confused as she seemed to process the saying. After placing a finger on her lips and then asked
“Is that not how doors work? You open door and you are in new room? How is it Magic..al? “ Selena clearly misunderstood.
“That… Was a joke,” Valencia responds, after a half-moment of just staring at Selena. She was just a touch concerned that Selena couldn’t understand it, but she mentally shook her head. She didn’t know if that was just because she was used to joking to the servants back home, and that people outside of the estate’s walls didn’t joke as much within a serious, harsh world. Looking past Selena, Valencia began to examine her room from the doorway.
Selena groaned inwardly when Valencia said it was a joke. Hopefully she didn’t think she was an idiot...she just couldn't decipher the language quickly, even after a year. She nervously smiled again with a sad attempt at a chuckle. Before she realized she was still just standing in the doorway. She quickly moved to the side inside the room and bowed her head a couple times
“Sorry! I still in the way.”“Oh, no problem,” Valencia replies, despite the contrary - she likely would not have been able to fit past the other girl, not because of any personal width but because of the slight bulk that her armour provided her. Any attempt to slip past might have unintentionally turned into a shove just due to the weight of both her
and her armour. It was also due to this fact that once she entered the room, she took a step to the side, just in case Selena still intended to leave even after she had entered. From there, she silently let her eyes wander around the room, though at the end, they flitted between the bathroom door and the towel that Selena was holding.
“Stealing towels?” Valencia tries another joke.
Selena watched her for a moment before deciding that this was the moment to make her escape. She turned to walk out when she heard Valencia suddenly ask a question. Her tail straightened as she tensed. She took a moment and turned around, as if double checking she did take a towel which wasn’t hers...but clearly she didn’t because she took it from her bag.. Darting her eyes out to the hall then back to her new roommate she smiled.
”Ehhh no. I um… was looking for main bath.” she said with a small laugh. Oh Goddess….herself... why was she so bad at making friends.
The result of Selena’s words was another glance down at the towel and then back at the bathroom from Valencia in slight confusion. A main bath? Valencia was more used to private bathrooms, of which there was one right there. A quick trot over to the bathroom door and peeking inside confirmed the present of a shower-bath. Stepping back from the bathroom, she turned to lean against its doorframe, staring at the other girl inquisitively.
“You do know we have a bath here, right?” She asks.
Selena tilted her head to the side as she watched Valencia trot over to a door. After she opened it and looked inside she turned back around confirming there was a bath in their room. Selena blinked multiple times before slowly moving over and peaking around Valencia. Her eyes wide as she noticed a tub and long pole with a flat thing and many holes coming out of it. Was that the waterfall Mrs. Reinheart spoke about.
”Eh?” her eyes darted from the bath to her roommate and back... then towards the hall then back in checking for other doors.
“This is... She looked confused
This is bad place for main bath… others walk through our room to use it? She asked, her eyes wide as she looked up to Valencia.
Valencia wanted to hide her face in her hands at that last comment, though she had to press against the doorway for Selena to have room to peek around the imposing presence of her armour. At this point, it was clear that it wasn’t a class problem, more-so that it was a locality problem. Things were clearly different from where Selena was from, in that she appeared absolved in the belief that there was a primary bath for all to use. Valencia sincerely hoped that she wasn’t going to have to show Selena how to operate a shower, because if that was the case, she’d prefer to send Selena out to find the
Main Bath in the hopes that she was able to shower and dress before Selena got back.
“No, no, this isn’t the main bath,” the silver-haired girl responded, offering a shake of her head.
“This is our bath. There might be a main bath out there, but we do have a bath of our own here. And a shower,” Valencia replies, motioning over to those of which she spoke of.
The confusion in her eyes melted away as she began to understand.
”Ooooh” She was intrigued. All the rooms had their own baths? That was unheard of on her island. There was a bathhouse in every village.
“We do not have private baths where I grew up. Just bathhouses. Very very big baths.” She said, widening her hands to emphasize her statement.
“Do you mind? I use first? “ She asked with her cheeks turning quite red. While she was too nervous to ask how to make the shower work, maybe she could figure it out by the time the water got hot...if not she would ask Finn.
We’re going to be late if she can’t figure out how things work, Valencia thought to herself. Bathhouses would likely always have the water in them, so who knew if Selena even knew how to turn on a tap. It was her first day at the Academy, so Valencia
did not want to be late to the main hall. There was just a touch of hesitation, before Valencia gently took Selena’s arm and tugged her toward the bathroom.
“We’re going to double check you know how this works, alright?” Valencia says. Speed wasn’t the only reason why she wanted to check - she would admittedly feel a little terrible if Selena decided to turned into a boiled fox. Releasing Selena’s arm, Valencia began to point to the knobs of both the shower
and the bath to walk the fox through them.
“You turn those ones for it to get hotter, and those ones for it to get colder. You can move the showerhead so it’s pointed wherever you prefer best, like if you want to stand up close or a little further back. Also, this,” Valencia tugs a little on the shower curtain.
“Need to be closed while you shower, if you decide to shower, so you don’t spill water everywhere. Does that all make sense?” Selena only turned more red when Valencia took her arm. Apparently she wasn’t confident enough looking that she figured out she didn’t know how to use it. She simply nodded as her ears folded down and her tail curled up around her right leg and up against her chest. She nodded and gave confirmation “hmms” As she was shown how it worked. As Valencia finished and looked to her she nodded again with a small smile.
Yes yes… THANK YOU” She said with a warm humm afterwards and bowed her head quickly.
She realized she couldn’t relax if they had to share this bathtub. Her lips pursed and scrunched to the side. That is a sad thing. Perhaps she could draw up another bath after.
“I promise I do quick.” She added as her tail unfurled and swayed slightly at the same time her ears popped straight up.
Valencia gave Selena a look that clearly showed her
confidence in the foxgirl’s last statement. Then, she smiled.
“Alright, Selena. You be quick, then,” Valencia replies. With that, she walked out of the bathroom, shut the bathroom door behind her, and internally groaned. Having a roommate was going to be a challenge, she could only hope that Selena didn’t snore at nights - that would just make things unbearable, but at least now Selena seemed willing to learn how to use modern devices. The shower. With that, Valencia began to take off her armour, piece by piece, placing it on an armour stand that was clearly there for that purpose. Valencia would take off the undersuit once it was time to hop in the shower herself. Her sword, however, she rested beside her bed. Even if she wasn’t going to be wearing her armour when she went to the main hall,
Lazarus was going to be coming with her.
Selena gave a nervous chuckle at the show of
confidence Valencia had on her face. Once she left Selena in the bathroom she began to undress, neatly folding her clothing and placing it on the counter in the room. Once done she went to the bathtub and turned on the hot water, quickly pulling the curtain over just so she didn’t forget. She was surprised at how quickly the water grew hot. As she could feel the heat of the steam already. Was there a hot spring just under the academy? She placed her hand under and involuntarily let out a yip. It was hotter than she expected, but she smiled. She was used to the hot waters of the spring of the mountain. Even though it was always a dance of sorts getting in and getting used to it.
She turned the knob for the ‘shower’... honestly...why shower...waterfall sounds better. She pulled back quickly as she got sprayed with her head sticking in. Giggling at the surprise. She hopped in, and after the same dance of getting her feet then hands wet, fully went under the hot water. Letting out a satisfied sigh. She could get used to this. Normally they would just use buckets to dump water over them to get the soap off. The thought of this jolted her in remembering she was to be quick. She turned to look for the soap quickly. Valencia who would have been hearing all of this surely would have heard a startled yelp and deep thud.
“Ooooowwwww” She moaned as she slowly pulled herself up. Rubbing her hip. Thankfully she didn’t hit her head...but her arm and side were sore from the slip. After getting used to it for a moment she then turned the water off, lathering herself up before turning it on again.
Once done she shook her hair and tail, getting as much water as she could out. Then she got out and dried off. She could barely see with all the steam but she managed to get her clothes and opened the door. True to her word she was quick. She let out a warm hum and smiled. Her skin red from the heat of the hot water. It appeared she enjoyed being boiled.
“Done! Thank you Valencia!.” She only hoped she didn’t hear the fall. As she moved around her towards her bed and placed her clothes neatly next to her swords that she had laid out on them.
By the time that Selena came out of the shower, Valencia had unpacked her bag, and placed the bag itself into an empty chest so that it wasn’t sitting around. Valencia herself was laying on top of her bed, having just been listening and waiting for Selena to finish up in the bathroom; That being said, she had
definitely heard the thud, and her gaze turned to the fox as she exited the bathroom.
“Thank me? Thank you for being speedy,” Valencia replies. As she got up and walked to the bathroom, she asked,
“Didn’t bump yourself too badly, did you?”Selena froze as she was untying her own bag. Her ears fell and tail tucked between her legs. Her fear came true. She turned around and gave a nervous smile with her head slightly down.
“N-no… I fine.” she tried to chuckle softly.
“I did not...Realize? That tub slippery when wet.” She finished while brushing her hair from her face. Her skin somehow was even more red than before.
“Indeed, tubs do tend to be a bit slippery,” Valencia says, taking note to check how much soap there was in the tub. Shutting the bathroom door behind herself, Valencia slipped off her remaining apparel, and took a moment to stretch her wings a little, having had them trapped under her shirt for a while. It wasn’t painful, and she could go for as long as she wanted without needing to stretch them, but
boy did it feel good to flex them a little bit.
With that having been done, Valencia reached over and turned on the water with the curtain somewhat closed, in order to test the water and make sure it got to a temperature that she liked
before she entered the shower; she didn’t want to boil herself as much as Selena clearly had with her reddened skin. Once the water was good enough, Valencia climbed into the tub. She took a few minutes to wash herself, including using the soap, rinsed herself off, and then climbed out to dry herself off. Wrapping herself in a towel, Valencia came out of the bathroom. “All done,” she says cheerfully, making her way over to the closet in order to get her uniform.
Now completely embarrassed, Selena covered her face as soon as the door closed. Letting out a groan. She didn’t focus on it too long though, She started to get really cold. She first pulled a rune stone out and applied some mana to it, hot air started to emit from it and she used this to dry her hair, as well as her tail. Once dry enough she brushed them thoroughly.
She moved over to her wardrobe and opened to see the same uniform she saw on other students. She loved how it looked honestly. Though
completely different from her style she was used too. As she started putting it on she was surprised at how soft it was. It was not nearly as soft as her silk clothing. But it was still comfortable. It was heavy, but it was also a bit comforting in a way. She finished putting on the armor pads on her shoulders when she started to feel a bit choked. Not that the uniform was too small, she just wasn’t used to it being all the way to her neck. So she unbuckled just the top buckle. She sighed with relief.
It was at this moment Valencia came out, saying she was done. With a bit of cheer on her voice. It would seem they both enjoyed a hot shower. Though she saw her skin was not red at all compared to Selena’s. Odd… But what made her pause and stare for a moment were the wings on Valencia’s back. So… she wasn’t a human. At least, like Finn. She couldn’t pry her eyes off them, as she was so fascinated. They were beautiful, maybe a little scary looking kinda like a bat, but nevertheless, beautiful.. But She never heard of any humanoid species that had wings.
She looked away before Valencia would see her staring. She wanted to ask what she was, but she didn’t want to seem rude. She didn’t know how to even ask that. She almost felt like she was looking at something she wasn’t supposed to see, which made her cheeks warm.
She looked at the skirt. She wasn’t a fan of the criss cross pattern. But she sighed and slipped it on, as well as the long black stockings that went up to her thighs and knee high boots. There were shorter shoes in the wardrobe...but they looked silly. She then took her red obi and wrapped it around her waist, then her belt for her two swords, then her thick knotted belt that covered the sword belt.. She did not put on the cape, she was thankful Mrs. Reinheart told her they were not too strict on the uniforms. Deciding this was enough,
After placing her things in a neat pile she moved to the door. She paused and turned around and asked softly.
“I...um… do you want to… go together to feast?”Valencia was just finished with dressing as Selena asked her the question on going to the feast together - she didn’t truly know that Selena had been staring at her back, though she had a bit of a suspicion; After all, Gargoyle wings were not exactly the most common of things, and admiring what parts strayed from a typical human was the best way to work out what race someone was without asking. For her part, Valencia was wearing the standard black shirt and red scarf, as well as the armoured plates on the shoulders and plaid-like skirt, and like Selena was wearing stockings that went up to her thighs however had opted for shoes instead of boots. Finishing the slipping on of her last shoe, she stood up, and picked up her sword and it’s sheath before turning to Selena.
“Of course,” Valencia replies with a smile, primarily because refusing would have been quite rude, but also because she was going to have to be nice to her roommate and it would be good to learn some more about her and the obviously-quite-strange place that she came from. Valencia leaned over a little, fitting the sheath and sword to her belt, and once that was complete, made her way over to the door. It was then she realised she didn’t actually have a key for the dorm’s door.
“No keys?” She asks rhetorically.
“I suppose the dorm locks itself if it doesn’t detect either of us or something.”Selena raised her hands together up and against her chest, a smile on her face when Valencia accepted. She was clearly holding back more excitement than she was showing. Selena feeling that despite her mess ups she was possibly actually making a friend. She turned and opened the door when she heard her ask about the keys and then the door. She nodded as she exited the room
“I walked up to door, heard big click and door was open. My hands full of stuff at moment.” She said as if it was such a wonderful thing. Almost like a child.
She stopped and quickly turned around.
“Oh sorry, before we go. I must also stop by Finns room so we all go together..” She realized she didnt explain who Finn was. And quickly added.
“Finn is close friend, he come to school with me! Is.. Is this ok?” She said with a big smile.
A nod was offered to Selena as a response from Valencia.
“Of course, we can go and meet up with Finn,” she replies. She had a feeling she knew who Finn was already - probably the student that Selena had been talking about smells with when Valencia had originally passed her heading towards the crystal with Athena.
“Do you know what room he’s in?”Selena looked extremely pleased.
”Yes! Room…...” She paused for a long moment suddenly looking confused. Then as if a bolt of lighting struck her and she quickly said
“Six..four...Five.” She then pointed down the way she came from before. Then started walking towards his room. Valencia was quick to follow Selena, closing the door behind both of them.
They rounded the corner and there Finn was, standing in front of his door. While he wore all of his uniform, he also had the top buckle unfastened on his shirt. His leather bandolier/ Chest protector over his shirt, his bow over his back and quiver of arrows on his right hip. Selena Smiled and ran over to him, whilst Valencia just watched as she walked over.
“ Finn! Finn! Did you know there are baths in our rooms? Pr...rivate baths? I made sure I dont smell like Athena lied about!.” She said quite loudly and matter of factly.
Finn looked over when he heard Selena calling him. Only to close his eyes with a small smile as she loudly proclaimed she didn’t smell. He did answer though with a chuckle.
“Yes, I know about the bathrooms. Sorry I should have told you. I told you before I am sure she just says that to everyone. ” He looked over to the silvered hair girl that was walking up to them. The fact they were walking together, he figured she must have been the roommate. He smiled at her and gave a polite bow.
“As, you may have heard, my name is Finn. Finn Reinheart. It is a pleasure to meet you.” If his mother taught him anything, it was how to be polite to a lady.
Valencia gave a bow of her head toward Finn in response, giving him a smile. At least he seemed to be pleasant and knowledgeable about the modern world and it’s utilities.
“I have indeed heard a little about you. My name is Valencia, it’s nice to meet you, Finn,” she says.She swore his surname was familiar, though she waited for the pair to finish talking before she asked anything about it, if she decided to.
Finn was a little surprised that she mentioned she knew a little about him. He smiled, unsure what to say to that comment so he moved on.
“I’m assuming the shower was quite an experience?” He said looking back to Selena. Only imagining what she would have done upon seeing it. Selena only scratched the skin behind her ear embarrassed at the thought of falling in the bath. She smiled though and nodded, hoping Valencia wouldn’t say anything.
“Yes, Valencia show me how to work bath and mini waterfall… Much nicer than river.” “Indeed,” Valencia replies, quite amused by the way that Selena called the shower a waterfall. She supposed in away that Selena was correct; the shower
was indeed an artificial waterfall of sorts.
“Though I suppose that bathing in a river does have some charm to it, being out in nature and all. But baths and showers are a lot more pleasant.” She notes, nodding. Then, Valencia turned back to Finn.
“Say, have I heard your surname somewhere in the past? Reinheart, correct?” She asks, with some curiosity.
Finn smiled, as many times as his mother tried to tell her it was called a shower, she was adamant to call it a waterfall. He did rub the scars on his cheek as they were talking about showers and baths… his cheeks seemingly warm warm to the touch.. However that quickly went away when Valencia spoke to him again, asking about his Surname. Letting out a sigh, he smiled.
“Yes, I’m sure you have. You most likely have heard of my father Fenros Reinheart the Dauntless. Or perhaps any of my four brothers who made names for themselves as well as Adventurers.” He said softly, as if growing slightly tired of saying that line a thousand times. But still with a smile.
Everyone knew the Reinheart name, many knew of his four brothers. And every time someone heard his last name he would immediately be known as, the son of, or brother of. He pushed the thoughts to the side as Selena popped in with
“Come, we walk to feast and talk.”It was true that Valencia knew of the Reinheart name, and knew of Finn’s father, Fenros Reinheart. She did not, however, push the issue. She knew what a burden a family name could be, it was why she was choosing not to say her own family name in order to avoid that burden herself, and let people see her for who she was and not for her father or his deeds. She was her own person, separate from him, and wanted to keep it that way.
“It appears I was correct in that I’ve heard your name. No matter, you’re your own person, presented by your own efforts, not that of your family,” she says, giving him a sad little nod of the head. Her gaze moved to Selena as the fox suggested they go to feast and talk.
“Hungry, are we?” Valencia jokes, motioning for Selena to lead the way.
Selena turned to Valencia and gave a big nod.
“Always ready for food!” She said happily. Before moving further down the hall, not before grabbing Finn’s real wrist and dragging him along. Finn, who at Valencia’s comment caused him to pull his head back and to the side with a tiny hint of a smile. Finally meeting someone who understood him...was not ready for the sudden jerk that almost caused him to fall over.
“Alright alright! We can go!” He quickly added as he caught himself.
Valencia couldn’t help but raise a hand to her lips to giggle as he almost fell over, and then turned to walk with them towards the Main Hall for the feast. She could not help but feel excited, though all that showed on her face was a simple smile, as she didn’t want to embarrass herself by looking
too girly and excited at everything, even if that was her true expression beneath her exterior. “Onwards, then,” Valencia says, walking with the pair towards the Main Hall.
It didn’t take them long to walk through the main hall doors. Selena still dragging Finn by the wrist, she let go as she spun slowly around, looking up at the architecture. She then looked around to see many of the first years still here, including a dwarf… she had seen one before who fixed up Finns arm when the idiot broke it by ‘accident’ She also noticed two boys wearing robes...one seemly over his student uniform. Coming to a stop at a table near the three, she turned to Finn and asked in her native tongue.
”Why are they wearing robes?” Finn, who had pulled out chair’s for both Selena and Valencia glanced over and said softly
“They are magus’s… Eh…” he thought for a moment before switching to Selena’s tongue.
Magic wielders..” to which Selena nodded in understanding and thanked Finn for the seat as she sat down.
Valencia offered a polite smile of thanks to Finn as he pulled out a chair for her and Selena, sitting herself down and flattening her skirt.
“Thank you,” she says, folding her arms on her lap, though she had to sit and listen to him and Selena speaking in a language that she did not recognise. She shrugged it off, just glancing between the two for a moment, then, jokingly, said
“I agree,” giving them a wink - it was obvious she didn’t have a clue about what either had just said.
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