The Ancient Genes
Chapter 10 - Dorm Mates

After entering the dorm, he found a total of five small bedrooms, a hall, two bathrooms, and a balcony.

Looked like the Academy got money to spend.

After getting settled, Max opened the system's window and found the notification which he was looking for.

«Compulsory Quest: Get into Magic Academy»

«Reward: 1000 FP»

«Status: Complete»

With the completion of the quest, he had 1025 FP.

For then, his aim was to get to Lv 2. After that, he would go out to conduct the investigation.

He just hoped nothing would go wrong. After all, at a place like Arcane, there should not be any Boss level characters running amok.

As he was busy in his thoughts, he heard a knock on the door.

He walked up to the door and opened it to replace a tall and handsome boy with a sharp jawline who was standing there with a smile on his face.

"Yo! So you are the newbie."

Before Max could open his mouth, he walked right by him, into his room.

"Huh? Ain't your room a bit too dull? You should decorate it a bit more. Want me to help you, I have a lot of decorative stuff in my room."

Seeing that stranger who seemed to be his dorm mate blabber non stop, he frowned and asked for his identity.

"Hey, don't you think you should introduce yourself first?"

"Ah! My bad, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Axle Rim, 16 year old from the Formation Department." He spoke with a smile while scratching his head.

"I am Max Edwinson, 16 year old from the Blacksmith department." Max introduced himself while stretching his hand out for a handshake.

"Woah! You could become a blacksmith with such a physique?" He asked as his eyes widened in surprise.

What the hell is wrong with the people of this Academy? Do the students really need to have a strong build in order to get admitted to the Blacksmith Department?

Hearing no reply, he spoke with a smile, "If you have any questions, you can just ask me."

Though that guy talked a lot, he could still be considered to be a normal person. He felt relieved knowing that at least he was better than the fatty.

Then, he just hoped that the others are normal like him too.

But he forgot one thing, his luck.

"Axle, what evil are you up to now? You better behave this time." Max heard a voice coming from the main door and found a guy with a strong build and heroic face walking towards them.

"Here comes the Jailer. I will see you later Max. If you are free later, join me for some fun." With that, he walked away to his room.

Seeing him walk away, he turned towards the new face.

"Hi, I am August Von of the Mage Department. I am in charge of this Dorm's first year students." He offered his hand for him to shake.

"I am Max Edwinson of Blacksmith Department. It's nice meeting you." Max shook his hand while replying.

"I didn't see you in the Academy during High School. Are you by any chance new here?" He asked in an inquiring tone as his eyes glinted.

"Yes," Max replied, feeling weird due to his gaze.

"Good, you are not a part of this bunch." He spoke with visible joy on his face but he gave a warning with a stern face, "Max, you should maintain your distance from the students in this dorm."

Seeing a confused expression on Max's face, he continued, "I don't know, why are you even in this dorm of troublemakers? You had better apply for a dorm change soon."

"What do you mean by troublemakers?" Max asked him in confusion.

"So you didn't know after all. This Dorm is also known as the Dorm of troublemakers. The boy you just met is the biggest creep in the academy. He has been caught several times in high school days, using invisibility formations to peep on the girls' bathroom. While there is also that fatty, He has offended many people and got beaten up several times in the last few years of high school. These guys are still considered cute compared to the last one, he is a totally messed u-"

Before he could finish, they heard the main door being flung open.

"Ha...ha.... August, I knew it. You could be the only one to bad mouth someone behind their back."

Max saw a guy with red haired and an average build walked towards them.

"Speak of the devil, Wilson, you better behave yourself this year, I am not the type of guy who would take anything lying down." August spoke with a fierce glint in his eyes.

"Ha...ha.... I like it. That person in charge of the Dorm last year, didn't even bark in front of me. I wonder if the dog this year would only bark or would bite too." The red haired guy spoke while sizing August up.

Feeling the tensed atmosphere, Max took a step back.

"What are you looking at? If you won't bite then get lost." With that, the red haired guy stretched out his hand and beckoned August to come on him.

"Do you really think you are that strong? Just because you haven't met your match until now, let me open your eyes today." With that, August released a terrifying aura which made all the hairs on Max's body stand.

He felt his body sink into the ground. He took a short breath and struggled for another. But before it could get any more serious, he saw some runes glow on the walls of the room and the pressure on him vanished. Letting out a breath, he felt his clothes sticking on his back, drenched in sweat.

Seeing the runes connecting to form a formation, the red haired guy spoke, "Tsk...Axle, don't interfere in my business, and release the formation. I know you are hiding there."

With that, Max turned to see the door of the room next to him opened with a creaking sound and Axle walked out with a smile. Scratching his head, he said with a disgusting smile and squinting eyes, "I didn't think you would replace me that easily, don't tell me you have been keeping an eye on me."

"You pervert!! You are the one stalking girls and peeping on them. I am not like you, creep. Stay away from me, and get this damn formation off," the red haired guy replied as a vein popped out on his neck.

"No way, I don't want you two to fight here and destroy all my Mio - chan action figures." Axle's eyes blaze as he spoke firmly. And refused to budge.

"You all can continue your banter, I have important work to do and Wilson you better behave yourself." After saying that, August walks out of the room, leaving us behind.

It looked like he really was busy. But Max was really thankful to that person in his heart who gave him his task.

Seeing him leave, the red haired guy gave him a look before he walked towards the last room in the corner.

He let out a sigh of relief, seeing the trouble gone. He turned towards Axle to ask "Who is he?"

"He is Wilson Scarlet, you don't need to be scared of him, he is a good guy inside … probably."

Good guy inside, what does that even mean? What's with that 'probably'?

'I will have to change my dorm, or I might get into trouble because of these guys. And if that happens, I would have difficulty trying to hide my secret. After all, what would people think when I am getting the crap beaten out of me and I don't even use my powers to fight back?'

Making his decision, Max asked Axle, "I feel hungry, I am going to the cafeteria. Would you like to come?" Hoping that he would refuse him, he waited for him to reply.

"Nah, it's almost time for Mahou Shojou Mio - chan to air." Telling him that, he returned to his rooms.

Max left the dorm and walked towards the administrative office. Reaching the administrative office, he took a form for changing dorms and submitted it on the counter.

Looking at the form, the old man at the counter speaks, "Dorm No. 7, it will be difficult for you to change your dorm. There are already a huge number of new students from Dorm 7 who have applied for a change. Anyway, we will inform you if there is any news." With that, he opened a drawer and put the form in with many other similar forms.

Seeing the large number of forms, Max started losing hope. He walked back towards his dorm dejected.

Entering the room, he remembered Axle's invitation and walked towards his room. Although he heard August's warning, he really had a hard time believing that. At least Axle looked like a nice guy, to him. So, he walked towards his room in order to see that guy's character with his own two eyes.

Max gave a knock on his door and waited for a response.

A while later, Axle opened the door, "You are here, come in, have a seat."

Max entered the room, he saw some beautiful anime action figure dolls on the shelves, and anime posters on the walls.

"So, is this the decoration you were talking about?" he asked in a daze.

"Yes, let me introduce you. This is Mio - chan," He said while pointing towards the action figure.

He continued and his tone became deeper and serious, "Max , I also wanted to talk to you about something. Actually, I like you."

Hearing this, the hairs on his body started rising and he stood up. Taking a defensive posture, he thought of the earlier events. If that guy had set up some formation in that room, he would be doomed. He started thinking of ways to save his purity.

"Whoa! Calm down, Max, don't get any weird ideas, what I meant is, I like you but not that type of 'like', you understand right?"

Looking at him, he sat down on the chair, still keeping his senses on, ready to retaliate at any moment.

He continued speaking "When I was in my high school years in this Academy, I had a friend like you. But he offended someone and things changed. I don't know if you have a strong backing or not, but I am warning you because I like you as a 'friend,' there are some Big Shots in this Academy, whom you should not get involved with even if you have a strong backing." He spoke giving a special emphasis on 'friend'.

"Big Shots," Max muttered with curiosity.