Sector C stood at the far edge of the academy's residential grounds. The buildings were practical — square stone structures reinforced with basic mana insulation, identical windows, identical walkways, identical doors. No decorative runes. No crystal lighting. No prestige.
Just function.
Students with modest potential lived here… trained here… and, more often than not, remained here. Riven walked through the corridor in silence, boots echoing softly against polished stone. His identification plate guided him to the third floor, room 312. He stopped in front of the door. And for a moment… didn't open it. His mind replayed the garden.
Qiyana's voice. Lower-ranked students should learn proper awareness of status differences.
Riven exhaled slowly, pressing his palm against the door.
"…Of course you wouldn't know me."
The latch clicked.
The room was simple.
Two beds. Two desks. A narrow window overlooking the outer wall of the academy. A shared wardrobe. A single mana lamp floating near the ceiling. One side of the room was already occupied. Books stacked neatly. Clothes folded with almost obsessive precision. A small kettle placed carefully beside a row of labeled tea leaves. Someone who liked order. Someone who needed control over small things. The other occupant stood frozen near the window.
He was thin — almost fragile-looking — with soft brown hair that fell messily over nervous eyes. His posture curled inward slightly, like he was trying to make himself take up less space in the world.
When he noticed Riven, he startled so hard he nearly knocked over his chair. "Oh—! You… you must be my roommate…!"His voice was quiet, unsure, words stumbling over themselves.
He quickly bowed his head.
"I—I'm Rin… Rin Vale. D-rank potential… support specialization… um… it's nice to meet you." Riven looked at him. Just looked. A quick assessment — breathing pattern, muscle tension, weight distribution, eye movement.
Untrained.
Physically weak.
Low confidence.
No combat instinct.
"…Riven," he said simply. He walked past him and placed his small pack on the empty bed. Rin stood awkwardly for a moment, hands fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve.
"I, um… cleaned earlier… I hope that's okay… I didn't know which side you'd prefer so I left both desks open and—"
"Doesn't matter."
The words weren't harsh. But they were cold. Rin swallowed.
"…Right. Okay."
Silence settled between them like dust. Riven unpacked slowly. Mechanically. Every movement efficient and minimal. He didn't ask questions. Didn't attempt conversation. Didn't even look at Rin again. His thoughts were elsewhere. In the garden. In another lifetime. In memories that refused to stay buried.
Rin tried speaking twice more that evening. Small things.
"Do you prefer the window open…?"
"Orientation starts early tomorrow…"
Both attempts received short, quiet answers.
Eventually, Rin stopped trying. He retreated to his desk, pretending to read - though his eyes moved across the same page again and again. He kept glancing at Riven when he thought he wouldn't be noticed. There was something strange about him.
Not frightening.
Not threatening.
Just… distant.
Like someone standing far away even when sitting in the same room.