As the girls stepped down from their hired carriage into the bustling downtown market, they were met with an unexpected stillness. Many of the shops had their shutters downclosed for the afternoon as shopkeepers returned home for lunch and rest. Only a handful of stores remained open, and even those had no shopkeepers in sight.
"We really should've thought this through," Maylyn said, arms crossed and face expressionless.
"Yeah… I forgot the market closes around this time," Elise added, staring blankly at the shuttered storefronts.
Withney remained silent, though her disappointment was written clearly on her face.
The four exchanged a few more glances before deciding to return later in the evening. They made their way back to the carriage station to hire a private ride to the academy. As they strolled toward their dorm building, they passed other students returning from nearby restaurants or exploring the campus, some chatting, some laughing, others lost in thought.
Upon entering their shared dormitory, they were surprised to see two sets of luggage placed beside the two beds no one had claimed.
"Looks like our last two roommates arrived," Elise said cheerfully.
"Yeah… I guess we just missed them," Withney replied with a sigh, a little disheartened.
"Cheer up, Withney. We'll go back to the market later," Maylyn said, patting her back.
"Yeah! Maybe we can even invite our new roommates," added Cynthia with a grin.
Withney nodded. "Yeah… no point sulking over what didn't happen. Let's rest up for now."
The afternoon sun was gentle—spring warmth filled the air, and the sweet scent of blooming flowers drifted through the windows. The dorm felt peaceful, almost idyllic.
Before they entered, Maylyn and Cynthia stopped Withney quietly and handed her some money—their share and Elise's share of their earlier food costs.
"Don't mention it," Maylyn said softly.
Withney, caught off guard, simply nodded, a little blank-faced.
Inside, Elise pulled out a novel from her backpack. Cynthia opened her diary and began writing. Maylyn and Withney, now more relaxed, started whispering.
"Withney," Maylyn asked, "why did you ask me about 'artifacts' and that hand motion earlier?"
"It just caught my attention. When I was going to the restroom, I heard talking about an "artifact" present somewhere in the Hiddleston wilderness. And one the men did that gesture before leaving the restaurant."
".... The Hiddleston wilderness. Interesting. "
After some time, the doorknob clicked letting the people inside know someone had unlocked the door.
All four of them stopped their activity and turned to look at the door. Two figures popped up. A girl with red hair and another girl who was a brunette popped up in view of the four girls who were sitting in their respective beds.
The two girls entering were momentarily caught by surprise before coming back to their senses. The red-haired girl spoke up.
"Hello, you must be our roommates. I am Solaria and this is Candice. I am part of the practical magic department, and she is in the spear combat department."
"Hello, nice to meet you guys. I hope we can be friends."
"Nice to meet you, Candice and Solaria. I am Withney this is Maylyn. And they are...."
"Elise and Cynthia. Nice to meet you girls." Elise finished.
"Come sit with us. We were just talking." Maylyn gestured for them to sit.
As Maylyn invited them the two new girls sat in their respective beds. Elise and Cynthia both stopped their activities, and the 4 girls directed their attention towards the two new girls that had just entered the dorm.
"Are you only part of the Practical Magic department, Solaria?"
"Yes, for now. I am thinking of joining another Department, tho. I have still not decided on what. You?"
"Oh, I am also just part of the Practical Magic Department for now. I will see whether I choose something else or not. Maylyn is also only part of the Magical Studies Department. And Elise is also only part of the Magical Tools Department. I only know Cynthia who is part of two departments. She is part of the Practical Magic Department and the Marine Biology Department."
"Really? You already chose a Secondary Department? We still have till the end of the week to decide. You must love Marine life."
"Haha...Yeah I guess you could say that. I always loved them since I was young."
The six of them chatted for a while. Soon it was around four in the evening.
"Do you want to go explore Hansforth with us?" Asked Withney bright eyed.
"Hmm, we don't have any plans so sure why not."
Suddenly there was a knock in the door. Solaria who was the closest to the door got up and opened it.
Two workers with a bunch of suitcases as well as a cart with also quite a lot of suitcases.
"We are here to deliver your luggage, misses."
There were two men who looked to be in there mid 20s. Solaria moved to give the two men space to move in the three girls' luggage in. After getting the luggage in the men swiftly left to deliver the next door's luggage.
The girls decided to organize everything and then leave to explore the area.
At 5:30 when everyone was done organizing everything, the six of them left for the downtown market.
The six of them left their hired carriage and got down to the smell of freshly fried food, noise of the hawkers trying to sell and people discussing and asking. The smell was delightful, and the noise was a little overwhelming.
Withney was shocked but Solaria, Candice and Elise who were used to such markets were a little amused looking at the reaction of Withney and both Maylyn and Cynthia didn't show much change in their demeanor. The six of them looked around in the different stalls and stores that were present.
"Let's split up and meet back here in an hour and a half to show off our hauls," Withney suggested with a playful grin.
"Ooh, I like that idea," Maylyn agreed.
So, they separated from each other. Withney, Maylyn went off on their own in different directions. Cynthia and Elise decided to explore the market together, Solaria and Candice came to the same conclusion.
Withney who was observing every stall with interest and bought some goods from the stalls suddenly came across an old rundown store.
.....
She went inside. It felt as if she was being compelled by something to enter the store.
The store was quite empty there wasn't much there except certain symbols she couldn't help but notice, they were of an eye being pierced by an arrow.
Suddenly, she noticed a man sitting at a table in the center of the room, reading a book. She didn't notice him when she entered the store.
The man suddenly closed the book and lifted is head to look at Withney and spoke:
"Come and sit." and pointed to a chair in the opposite side of the table Infront of him.
She once again didn't notice the chair and table. Was she Narrow-visioning? Or did they appear out of nowhere?
She heisted for a moment but decided to sit in the chair.
The man who looked to be in his late 20s spoke once again:
"We have a lot to talk about miss."
Withney couldn't understand the look on his face and then couldn't help but ask.
"...Who are you?"
"I am a remanent of something you will soon be a key part of. What is your name?"
"...Withney. And What do you mean by key part?"
"You will soon understand, and I hope I can meet you once again then."
A Solem smile suddenly appeared in the mysterious man's face.
Withney then suddenly opened her eyes to see the run-down shop once again. But now its doors were nailed shut with boards.
She then went in the nearby store to look at the time still dazed after the encounter. After factoring the time, she took to get to the store she concluded that no time had passed.
Withney who was still spooked and in thought about the encounter decided to cut her trip short.
She went to the carriage stop in deep thought and waited there for her friends to come.
After the while all of them had came back and they all decided to return to their dorm.
All of them had bought food from the market so they did not need to stop at a restaurant and decided to eat at their dorm.
Their shared space had six beds, six nightstands, drawers beneath each bed, six desks, and a small living area with a table, a large couch, and three smaller ones.
The whole group took their food and placed it on the living area table and took all the other stuff they bought and put it on their bed.
Maylyn, who knew Withney since she was a child noticed she was unusually quiet and unusually deep in thought. While the others were chatting, Maylyn pulled Withney aside and asked in a worried manner.
"Did something happen?"
Withney who was still deep in thought about the encounter answered in a daze
"Huh...? Oh yeah, I am fine. You don't need to worry about me Maylyn."
"I feel like I do. You were the first one at the carriage stop. That's… not like the usual you."
"I just go there a little before you. I didn't feel like doing much shopping today."
Something deep within Withney told her to keep this a secret from everyone.
".... Alright." Maylyn who understood Withney wasn't in the mood, dropped the matter.
The group of girls ate the food they brought and showed of their items and discussed about them and then went to sleep after changing into their nightwear.
And just like that, Withney's first day at Hermandry came to an end—with more questions than answers, and a growing sense that something had already begun.