Frey Wing, Number 120 (Lux's room)

((Following this entry by Dark on 4/8/09))

Lux said nothing until he was back in the water dorm. The warm, misty air touched his cheek and his arm whipped out.

"Don't touch me!" he snapped, turning for the stairs. He didn't consider for a moment that his room assignment might have changed; he'd had the same room all four years. The second year had taken some convincing of the staff, but none of the students liked that room, being tucked into an indirect corner far removed from everything; but that was precisely why Lux liked it.

"Stupid sylphs," he muttered. They never remembered, term to term, that he cared neither for them nor their games.

The expected (and despised) new roommate looked up, startled, when Lux threw open the door, his face slowly draining of all color when he recognized the sorcerer.

"You!" snarled Lux. "Out!"

"But --"

"Out!" He slammed the door (which resulted in a soft, dull thud) on the retreating student and pinned his shadow to the wall with his glare. "As for you. Explain yourself! What is the meaning of this racket?"

'My apologies, Master,' Darcy wept. 'I don't know.'

A word and the cool, gentle lighting flared to dazzling brilliance. Crying out, Darcy shrank to a small outline, scrambling for the security of dark shadows between one of the water beds and the wall.

'I'm sorry!' he wailed, curling as small as he could and sobbing uncontrollably. 'I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!'

Lux kicked the open suitcase his roommate had been emptying. The first few days were always rough ones, acclimating to the busy, crowded life here, and dealing with his shadow's fits. Every year they seemed to get worse.

"Shut up!" he shouted. Normally, he had to deal with his shadow's practical jokes and pranks, his giggling and hauntings, but this! The constant wailing reverberated in Lux's head and set his teeth on edge.

"Just shut up and tell me what's got you in this abominable state!"

The shadow's voice held real emotion as he said, 'I -- Master, I want to live!' He crept to the edge of the shadows and darted across the open space to his master's feet. 'There's a world, here, and I want to see it! I want to live, Master. Or let me know nothing! Nothing at all!'

Something odd happened to Lux at that moment, gazing down dispassionately at his creation. There was a funny feeling, like corned beef and cabbage just slightly too old souring in his stomach, leading to a tinge of heart-burn. His brow furrowed in a frown, and then he struck out in a quick, sudden step, striding to the door.

"Stay here," he said, and left.

Brow creased in thought, he ignored his hovering roommate and made for the tunnels, navigating on auto-pilot to the grand library.

<<Darcy>>

The hurt, the constant ache was too much for Darcy to bear alone. He needed something, though he didn't know what.

He gave Lux's roommate a wide berth, no interest in engaging in any of his usual antics and pranks. Nor was the something to be found in the seniors' common room, the pools upstairs, or with the sylphs. They followed him, asking him questions in their dainty, chiming voices, showing their concern as best they could, but they could not help him.

He searched further abroad, returning to the dining hall where the start of term banquet continued unabated.

(coming from the main pool)

<<Lux>>

When he reached his room, Lux slammed the door, though the effect was rather muffled by the architecture of the dorm. He locked the door with a spell and leaned there for a moment before stripping out of his sodden clothes and tumbling into bed.

<<Darcy>>

Lux's shadow hovered uncertainly on the edge of his master's awareness, not wanting to draw attention to himself. Settling in the corner with the thickest shadows, Darcy contemplated his master's mood and eventually decided that enough was enough and he'd stay put for the rest of the night.

End of 1st Day

Split. (2nd Day)
Lux here.
Darcy here.