splitmemory | school au nonsense

Muronia Academy was a school known across the world for its rather... varied teachings. Students were sent letters when they were scouted, or they could apply to the school. Only a few people who apply get in every year, however, so it was easier to wait for a letter to slip on by to you. The classes range from Dark Magic to Applied Magic to different styles of fighting courses to... really, anything you can think of. This wasn't one of those STANDARD schools where you focused on one subject, after all.

Students come from all over, and that includes...
Lilia Vanrouge, who had received his own letter around 500 years prior to actually attending the academy. There was no reason to attend, back then, and he would even have scoffed at the idea, if someone tried to push him to go. But...

Only when his ward decided to attend after receiving a letter, did he decide to go. After all, he still needed to look after that boy, even if it meant leaving his son behind. He didn't expect that, two years later, his son and other trainee would be joining them at Muronia!

No one is aware of the exact relationship between Lilia and those two freshman in the same dorm building as him, but it was clear to anyone who spent 5 minutes in the same room as Lilia and Malleus, his ward, that Lilia was some sort of guardian to the Fey Prince.

That never stopped Lilia from meeting new people, from trying to startle them.

This, is what brings them to today. He'd been eyeing a student he didn't completely recognize within one of his Magic courses, curiosity piqued. It's impossible to get out of Lilia's gaze once the mage had set his eyes on you.

At the end of class, Lilia would appear in front of Gai as he got his bag together, floating upside-down in the air in front of him.

"Why, hello there~!"

So far, Muronia hasn't given up its secrets.

That's to be expected--Gai only just transferred in, a new applicant, all reserved smiles and mystery to the students who crowd him and fire off every manner of questions. "What was your old school like? Hey, do you wanna eat with us at lunch? Do you have a girlfriend?" He holds his cards close to the chest, keeps his ear to the ground, puts out feelers and gets ample talk of the place in return. Idle chatterings, mostly. The things that pass between most people his age. Rumors.

Rumors are what got him here in the first place: he has good reason to believe someone here can help him toward his goal, and he fully intends to make use of them. He hasn't sussed out just who that is, yet, but...

He's fairly sure it isn't Lilia.

They haven't spoken until now, but Gai knows of him in broad strokes. Mostly he's heard there's some contention about his age--he's a third year, but he definitely doesn't look it, and some of the comments he makes ring odd to those properly listening. Would it really be so odd if he were older than he seemed? Gai doesn't think so. Muronia is comprised of all sorts.

Lilia may not be the one he's looking for--but for now, it might not hurt to humor him. Especially not if he can determine his true age. Someone long-lived could be invaluable in his search. Call it respecting one's elders.

"Ah. Lilia-senpai, right?" He puts on a small smile, tilts his head slightly for effect.

It's a casual greeting from Lilia, and an all too respectful response from the new kid. It's an easy movement for Lilia to turn right-side-up, his heels clicking gently against the floor as he returns to a standing position. It wasn't easy to keep that little trick up without having blood rush all too quickly to his head.

His own head tilts to the side, a curious gaze evident in the fae man's crimson eyes. He's quite obviously sizing Gai up, without being subtle in the slightest.

"Correct! You... what should I call you, then?" There's the obvious options: his first name, his last name, with the expected honorifics, but what if he wanted to be called something specific? Then, Lilia would be robbing him of that opportunity, to voice that.

Clasping his hands in front of himself, Lilia can't help but beam at Gai. It's just who he was, after all, all smiles and giggles at every moment, even the most inopportune of times.

"I do wish we would've had a chance to introduce ourselves to each other sooner. I believe we share at least three of the same courses -- impressive, for a transfer student, to already be able to keep up with the rigorous courses here at Muronia." There's some of that basic conversation, the more boring parts. With that out of the way, Lilia could begin to dig at what his true reason for approaching was.

Even if that reason was simple curiosity.

Sunshine and rainbows, this one. Gai can't complain--there are worse types to deal with, to try and sidle closer to. "Just 'Gai' is fine," he replies, looking down at Lilia with a smile in his eyes. Quite the height difference between the two of them when the other isn't floating, it seems.

"It's a little cliche, but I've always wanted to attend," Gai tells him, the perfect picture of friendliness, underscored with something lightly bashful. "But you've been here since your first year, haven't you? That's really something."

Aw, how cute!! 'Just Gai,' such a simple response. What wasn't to adore? And, such a simple reason to want to attend the Academy!

"Khee hee hee~ how cute!" Lilia laughs, bringing one hand up to hide that laugh behind it, his eyes half-lidded as he focuses his gaze up at Gai.

"My my, if I wasn't so sure my name floated about the Academy on occasion, I'd almost worry you knew too much about me. That's right-- my ambitions were never as sweet as yours, however. I only decided to actually attend several years after receiving my letter, alongside my-- Malleus. Another third year, in my same dorm."

Leaning forward, up towards Gai, but not too close, he then asks: "I was curious: you must be getting so many requests and questions from continuing students similar to this, but... would you like to study together sometime? Which classes are you a part of?"

Cute, huh? He'll take that. That's more or less what he was trying for, anyway--and seemingly a good place to land, given the mention of Malleus. Are the two of them close? Interest piqued, Gai turns the sentence over in his mind, tries to feel out where the two of them might stand. If indeed Lilia is on good terms with a mage of that calibre...then it goes without saying there's merit in getting close to Lilia.

It's true, he's gotten no shortage of studying requests, but this is among the first he'll be saying yes to. Most have fallen to the wayside, sent off on excuses and apologies. "Really? You're sure, senpai?" He palms at the bag that hangs at his side, a mock show of looking for his schedule. He knows damn well which classes he has by now, but it never hurts to be disarming. He fishes the paper from an outer pocket, holding it out to Lilia. "Sorry--I haven't quite memorized everything yet, but my courses should all be here."

If Lilia suspected anything was running through Gai's head, such as plans to use him to get close to Malleus, there was no indication of that on Lilia's face. After all, there was no hint, no change in Gai's expression when the Fae Prince was brought up. That, Lilia is honestly thankful for. Poor Malleus seemed to scare away most people, with how 'unapproachable' he was, with his status.

"I never say something I'm not sure of. Aside from when I do, of course, but it's usually very clear when I'm doing that." Reaching out, Lilia takes the schedule into both of his hands, looking over it carefully.

"Aside from this class, it appears we have a Practical Fighting Skills class together, as well as Poison Refining. I'm surprised to see the same listing here for this specific Practical Fighting course. Usually transfers are unable to start with this one. You must be a really impressive fighter. I'd love to spar with you sometime."

The schedule is offered back, then.

"You shouldn't worry about memorizing your courses. As it stands, I find myself having to look back at my own schedule on a day-to-day basis."

Never saying something you're unsure of, except when you do--there's something Gai can relate to, tucked among the cheer and good nature. There's more to Lilia than it seems. Such is the case with most people, though.

Gai takes back the schedule, slips it back into the pocket it sat previously. He's yet to find a capable sparring partner here, and if Lilia should rise to the occasion, he'll only be too happy to meet him in the middle. They're different in stature, but Gai knows better than to underestimate shorter guys--they're agile, motivated, where people like him can get complacent. "I'd be honored," he replies, and for the first time since they've started talking, he means it.

The first ever study session between the two is easily set up over messages... which Gai would probably regret, as for the first few hours they'd been in each other's contacts, Lilia sent the most random things - pictures of random things he found around campus, a few jokes floating around online, questions about Gai's favorite food or snack, a note about a spell Lilia was trying to master.

It doesn't matter if Gai responded or not, more things came through. Surprisingly, nothing popped through during the classes that Gai had, almost as if Lilia had memorized his schedule from the quick glance.

Regardless, a study session is set up, and Lilia's dorm was the location.

Hearing the knock on the door, the fae opens the door right up, beaming up at Gai. "So early, so punctual~!" He grins, shifting to step back, opening his door further to allow Gai in. "Malleus could learn a thing or two about punctuality from you."

By the time they're set to meet one another, Gai finds himself firmly on the more unpopular side of the rumors: Lilia is absolutely older than he looks. By how much, he can't say, but if any doubt existed on that front, it's gone with the flurry of images Lilia sends his way.

Again, it's nothing he minds--the longer-lived Lilia is, the more he may know about Gai's goal. And so he shows up at Lilia's quarters with five minutes to spare, knocking lightly, then offering a small bow before entering. Another mention of Malleus. He notes that for later--the two are definitely close.

The first thing he notes are the instruments. "Ah. You're a musician, senpai?" He's fairly sure that's a bagpipe, which is comical, but he tucks the laughter behind a curious glance, setting his bag down on Lilia's bed.

The room was clean, for a dorm room on campus inhabited by someone who looked as young as Lilia did. It's clear he has a hard time throwing out objects, whether he knew what they were for or not. His hand pushes the door closed as Gai moves into the room.

"Yes, actually! Over the years I've come to master plenty of instruments, although my favorite is definitely that bass of mine," A small motion towards the bed, where the red instrument lay, "I could play for you sometime. Whichever instrument you choose!"

With that, he steps over towards his bed, actually picking up the instrument and setting it carefully to the side. He then grabs his own bag, bringing it to his bed.

"I hope you don't mind studying in my bed, Gai. I would move things off my desk, but, well..." He spares a single glance over there. A game was updating, clear as day on the monitor.

school au nonsense

heyy you~

HAAAAY

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gayest study sesh ever

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