Zenith University of Magic

“Yes, almost there. T-32 is over the corner.” Marnie carried Minichi’s luggage to her new dorm room. “A University Student Teleported To Study In A University In Another World - should be the title of my web novel” Minichi cracked as she opened the door. The walls were a shade of beige and the windows had earth green curtains pre-installed. A desk near the window, a cot with a mattress, and a few chairs were all there was in the room.

“So you brought it here?” Marnie smiled at a sweater from Minichi’s luggage as she helped her unpack.

“This one? Yes, I was wearing it when I came to this world. ‘Tis very special to me. You see this flower here? It is the symbol of my band, Petal Youth.”

“Uh huh.” Marnie smiled.

“You know what a band is?”

“Yes” She paused. Then her smile suddenly turned to desperation and she explained, “We also have bands here so I know what a band is…”

“Got it, got it. I just miss them, you know. So much. My parents. They must be very worried. It was a car accident. Ms. Telly, Rimi, Hataki. I was with them. I hope they made it out safely. Huh? Marnie, why are you crying?”

“Eh? No. I’m not. I just got… emotional”

“Lady Marnie!” Mobi called her from the garden below. Men can’t enter the women’s dorms.

“Let me check, okay?” She peeked out of the window.

“Oh, there you are! The Great Prez Marnie. I’m Mobi.” Mobi waved at her. “Could you come down here for a sec, miss?”

“Minichi, call for me if you need anything, okay?” Marnie teleported down.

“Oh, teleportation. So the rumours are true indeed.”

“Quite the flirt you are, Mr. Mobi. What’s up?”

“I have something important to discuss regarding your friend. Could you come with me?”

-

Upstairs, Minichi was almost done unpacking. Cicilia and Lilith brought a lot of stuff for her to decorate her room: flower vases, fancy bedsheets, floor rugs, and what not. They also got her the selfie painted and framed to keep in her room. She got a family picture of her painted too. And, not to forget, they gave her a few bath soaps. Minichi had taken a liking to the bath soaps at the emperor’s palace. “Use it for special occasions only, okay?” Lilith had whispered to Minichi. She didn’t quite understand what she meant by that.

“You’re almost done, I see. Looks quite cozy.” Marnie returned.

“You remember, I was telling you about my friends? I have their picture printed. Over there. Come see.” Minichi walked to the frames hung on the wall by the table.

“Oh, yes. You must be hungry right, Minichi? Let’s check out the dining hall.” Marnie abruptly changed the topic. Minichi felt that. But she didn’t question. “She must be hungry. She did carry all these things for me,” she thought. “But still that was a bit rude.”

The dining area was huge. It could easily fit five thousand people eating together. On the left were the food counters. Buffet. Various types of meat, vegetables, milk items, and what not. The menu was so versatile that Minichi thought it could rival the royal dinners.

“Eat all you want, okay?” Marnie reminded her.

They found themselves two empty seats on a table. Across them were seated two boys. They were not so happy to see Minichi.

“Heh, lucky kids!” One of them remarked. He had white hair and sharkteeth.

“Oi, Deiter. Cut it out. That’s not the way you treat your underclassmen” Marnie said.

“Ye ye, underclassmen. How else should we treat an underclassman who gets to join this university on pure privilege. Tell me she had to take a test?”

“Are you jealous that she’s so skilled to get admitted without a test?” Marnie smirked.

“Marnie, it’s okay. I mean, they aren’t wrong.” Minichi put her hand on Marnie’s.

“Huh. Jealous? Even she admits to it.” Deiter snarked.

“Let’s go Deiter, Let’s sit somewhere else.” His friend stood up.

Minichi slightly bowed to the boys as an apology as they left. Deiter noticed that but didn’t bow back.

“Marnie, you shouldn’t mock them like that.” Minichi scolded her,

“It’s alright, they are like that. They won’t mind. You’ll see.”

-

After lunch, the two of them took a walk around the campus. Exploring various statues, departments and important administrative buildings. As they passed through the central courtyard, a guard came running to Marnie and asked her to come with him.

“The Master has called for you, Lady Marnie,” he said.

Marnie had a bad feeling about it. She looked at the window of the office of the Head of Magic, Master Heinrich. “Minichi, go to your room okay? I’ll be back soon.”

“This is the second time you’re saying this to me today,” Minichi laughed. “You’re quite famous! See you later.” She waved at her.

-

The guard led Marnie to Master Heinrich’s office. “Master Heinrich, Lady Marnie is here.”

“Oh Marnie. Come in, come on in. Have a seat. Sindy, get two cups of tea for us, will ya? Seat here, Marnie.” He pointed to the sofa.

Marnie sat down. Heinrich sat across from her.

“If you’re here to talk about what Mobi told, then yes, I am not following the Emperor’s orders,” Marnie said.

“Is that so? But I would also like to know the reason.” Heinrich insisted.

“Because, I think it’s cruel. Suppressing someone’s natural emotions without them even knowing. Also, isn’t it against the rules of our university? To use psychic spells? Adding to the fact that her emotions were suppressed till this very day. It’s so criminal. I hope you'll understand Master Heinrich, but, I cannot suppress Minichi’s emotions. I just can’t.”

Heinrich stood up and walked towards the window. The silence was daunting. One could hear footsteps of students, chirping of birds or the rustling of leaves.

“I have to admit that, I cannot side with the orders myself. But as you may already know, not obeying royal orders ensures a beheading.”

“I did plan for that.” Marnie said. As Heinrich too was not in complete favour of the orders, she felt a bit relieved. Mobi told her that they had been suppressing Minichi’s emotions with Mizarou, a psychic spell to keep someone’s emotions under control. They did that to ensure Minichi didn’t feel homesick, scared or traumatised. The King of Bordeous, Mobi and Emperor Gabe, all of them took turns to control her emotions. While they were coming to the City of Zenith, Mobi had to conceal his mana, which resulted in Minichi’s mental breakdown. Now, they’re ordering Marnie to use it. But, Marnie is opposed to this idea. She tried explaining to Mobi that it was against university rules but Mobi insisted he had arranged things with Master Heinrich. She was unsure of Heinrich’s opinion until now.

“Do you know if Mobi can see spells? Like you can?” She asked.

“Probably not, but we can’t be sure of that. He’s a researcher, after all.”

“What if I use Mizarou only when a high ranking mage is around?”

Master Heinrich didn’t reply. But Marnie could feel his agreement. “Well, if that’s all then I would like the permission to leave.”

“Your tea isn’t here yet.”

“That remains for another day. So, if you please excuse me.” Marnie left the office.

-

“I was waiting for you, Marnie. What was it?” Minichi asked Marnie when she returned from the office. But to her surprise, Marnie dodged the question again.

“Minichi, I would have loved to spend some more time with you now but I think I need some rest. Can we catch up later, after dinner maybe?”

“Okay. Sure. But you’ll have to tell me then. Take care.”

At dinner, Minichi was again surprised by the diversity of food that had been prepared. “Hooo, this is subertasty! What’s this called? They never made this in the palace.” Her eyes were shining like a diamond. Marnie, seated beside her, tried to calm her down lest she’d choke on the food.

Then, those two boys came and sat down across from them.

“Oh look, who came and sat down with us.” Marnie mocked them.

“It’s not like we wanted to, there was no other empty spot. And, you should be proud that we are sitting on the same table as you.” Deiter said.

“Yo, what’s this bluff? Want me to introduce you guys to her?” Marnie smirked.

“That’s not what I meant.” Deiter blushed. “But I guess… it won’t be bad to know people, I suppose?”

Marnie laughed. “Minichi! Look who's sitting with us.”

Minichi was so busy clearing her plate that she lost track of what’s around her. She was startled when Marnie called her.

Marnie couldn’t help but laugh. ”You haven’t changed a bit.”

“I haven’t? What do you mean?”

“I mean, since this lunch. Anyway, these are the snarky boys we met this afternoon. They say they want to be friends with you.”

“That’s not what we meant, you stupid” the boys revolted. “Don’t you dare change our sentences.”

“What will you do if I do? Huh?” Marnie can’t stop laughing.

“Hey hey, let’s stop it already. I’m Minichi. Nice to meet you.” Minichi said, but she didn’t stop eating.

“I’m Deiter.”

“I’m Reynfrid”

“Oh, lovely names.”

“They are famously known as the Tsun-De-Re, you get it?” Marnie kept mocking them.

“It’s not too incorrect as well. Didn’t know you guys had this term as well.” Now, Minichi couldn’t stop laughing as well.

“Both of you, shut up.”