Velvet Crowe swiped the sweat off her brow, finishing her morning jog. The streets Telliesin gathered in small crowds, even in the early hours. This was something off a morning ritual for her before the rest of the day began. Only a day since she moved back in to her dorm-room at the University of Telliesin and her dorm-mate hasn't arrived.
Hopefully, her dormmate wouldn't be too freaked out by her love of hockey.
In fact, she was the top-scorer for the Upper Glenwood Women's Club Hockey League.
Sure, it was a non-varsity women's league, and sure, there wasn't much at stake for the champion cup, but it was all a part of the game. The strife, the hardships, the victories, and the game.
At least her buddy, Rokurou Rangetsu wasn't complaining that she came along.
Her senior and best-friend, he was the captain of the Men's Club Team. A bit of a goofball, if sometimes unflappable, but the most ferocious right winger on the team. Maybe it was the passion they held for the game that brought them together.
"What? Are the women's practices not tough enough for you?" Rokurou chuckled, brushing his hair aside. It constantly covered the right side of his face.
"Love of the game, Rokurou, for the love of the game."
The far-continent man smirked, "Oh, I have a feeling what your trying to do."
"Know me that well, do you?"
"It's because of that one girl from Meirchio Academy. The redhead."
Velvet ground her teeth, doing her best smile back.
"Yes, that girl. The Defensemen."
Rokurou laughed. "I dunno, that catfight for the semi-finals was fun. Got it saved on my phone."
Her brow furrowed. "Delete that."
"Never."
Holding his phone above his head, Rokurou held Velvet away. Weaving back and forward, they ran down the streets of Talliesin, brushing passed the businessmen and women walking down the street. Smiles exchanged for smiles, laughing all the way back to the dorm rooms.
Drenched with sweat, they leaned against the walls, taking deep breathes. A few of the students walked by, eyeing the two of them. Some even assumed they were a couple.
But it wasn't true at all. Shared passions, shared experiences, shared lives. All by the end of a hockey stick.
"Classes in an hour, guess I'll see you when the season begins." Rokurou held his hand up for a high-five.
"Better save some tickets for the girls." Velvet returned the high-five.
"Heh. Just rile up the crowd."
-.-.-
Day two of classes and Velvet found herself sinking work. A few word problems due next week, and reading assignments due the next class. Freshman year flew by so easily, but this year felt like it'll slog along.
But enough of unpleasantries. Time for lunch.
The Bran Cafeteria, the ground force of the Elffin Towers dorms, was packed as usual. Students walking up and down the files, booth seats for everybody, and simple chairs for anybody needing them.
As Velvet entered, she immediately heard a voice. An all-too familiar voice, with waving hands and obnoxious attention grabbing.
The Goalie of the Women's Hockey Team, and resident troublemaker, Magillanica Lou Mayvin.
Or just 'Magilou' for short.
The petite platinum blonde finally settled down, seeing Velvet take notice. "And so the crow returns to her witch, scouting what the lines of her – Ow, ow, ow! Don't pull!"
Fingers yanking her ears, Velvet shook her head. "There are better ways to grab a hold of me."
"And what? Ruin the fun?"
She let her go, sighing. "Come on, let's get lunch."
They looked around the venue, seeing the usual lunch food they've grown accustomed to. The food wasn't particularly bad, if just bland. Giving up, they filed into the salad bar line.
"Season's coming up and you're already training? Take a break, it's the second day!" Magilou cupped her forehead.
"And tryouts are in a week time."
"You were league leading goals scored, and you're worried about tryouts? You were there for the first-year signups! Not many people coming up."
"Telliesin's known more for the Men's team anyways." Velvet shrugged.
"Still, you'd think we'd get some more women too…" She grabbed a plate, adding to her salad. "Especially to back you up, Miss Always-in-the-Box."
The dark-haired woman growled. "So I have an aggression issue."
"Says the girl in twenty-some games, with penalties for hooking, slashing, interference, and one ejection."
"That was one girl that got on my nerves, and you know it."
"Uh huh. All the tension between you two. I could feel it from the other side of the rink."
"You want me to give you a clapper to the gut?"
"Like you already give me that all the damn time?" Magilou groaned, finishing up her salad with some dressing. Velvet did the same. Fresh greens. She needed at some meat. Her eyes traced to the side, spotting small strips of prickleboar meat. Placing a handful, Magilou rolled her eyes.
"Meat-lovers velvet cake."
"I know what you're trying to say, and it's not gonna work."
"Oh deary me, what could I possibly be on about?" She gasped in mock shock.
They took their seat, finally getting to lunch. Velvet stabbed her fork into the salad, crunching its fresh taste.
"How's your classes going?" Velvet decided to change the topic.
"Same shit, different day." Magilou stuffed lettuce in her mouth, swallowed and continued. "I heard you haven't gotten your dormmate yet?"
"No, not yet. Still an empty room."
"That sucks."
"I like the quiet."
"And the lone-wolf act comes again."
Velvet ignored her comment. "How's your apartment coming along? You've moved off-campus, right?"
"Yup, yup! A small rent here and there, and magikazam, it's all mine."
"You and that word…"
"What? I like it."
-.-.-
"And that's enough for today. Your homework is online."
The last class of the day ended and Velvet packed her things. Just need to head back, leave her backpack behind and head off to dinner. The walk back felt refreshing, breathing in the calm city air. Classrooms were spread across the city roads, intersecting through roads and subway trains. In a city that never sleeps, people walked on by, mostly college students wanting the day to end.
A world's difference from the country Velvet grew up in.
It was a refreshing and different look.
Passing the Elffin Tower doors, she watched fellow students walk on by. Some heading to their own rooms, other's just lounging around, other's heading off to dinner. Up the elevators, she headed off the third floor.
"Oh, Velvet. There you are." A woman called over. It was Kayle Kyner, the resident leader of the women's third floor.
"Kayle, something up?" She stopped.
"Your dormmate is here. Just moving in. Go and meet her. She's pretty nice."
Velvet blinked. So the person finally showed up, huh?
"Alright, will do."
Down the hall, Velvet pulled her keychain from her belt, unlocking the door.
Boxes. Lots of boxes and paper and clothes all piled on the other bed. Whoever she was, she stepped out for now. Leaving the door open, Velvet took a quick glance of her dormmate's items.
Whatever she was doing, it was organized. Printer, pencil sharper, lights; she had everything she needed. Clothes neatly stacked between shorts, pants and… skintight leggings? But these leggings weren't for casual wearing. Familiar words drew her eyes across the top. Caliburn.
Of Caliburn Hockey, one of the leading manufactures for equipment.
A smile grew on Velvet's face. A prospect? A fellow line-mate?
Looking around further, she spotted a beat-up hat. For somebody so organized and neat, it seemed so out of place. But it dawned upon her seeing that all too familiar knight helmet.
The Loegres Silver Knights, the National Team of Midgand.
Velvet felt her arms involuntary flinch. She turned her eyes away, shaken. A linger thought of the past. Mistakes she thought were buried, resurfaced again. How long has it been since that incident?
"Oh, you must be my..!" A woman's voice called behind her.
She turned around, eyes widening. The same reddish hair. The same green eyes behind the grated cage.
"… Y-you!"
Her reaction was the same. Her face paled, pointing at her.
"… No way…"
"Why the hell are you here?"
"Why are you in my room?"
"Your room? I was here first!"
The girl turned, heading out. Velvet followed right behind.
The redhead knocked on Kayle's already open door.
"Yeah, what's up Eleanor?"
"I want to change rooms."
The floor Resident Advisor raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"
"She's that bitch from the last years game, that's what." Velvet scowled, shoving her way in.
Kayle looked at both "What is this about?"
"Last year, during the playoffs, I got cheapshotted by this girl." Eleanor explained, glaring at Velvet. "We got into a fight and she got ejected from the game."
"Really? This is what it's all about? A game? Come on, you two can make up."
"Hell no." Velvet immediately refuted. "Do you think I'll let the person that got me tossed out a second go?"
"You bulldozed me."
"You were in the way!"
"Why don't you start learning to play cleanly, leader of the penalty box!"
"Bitch!"
"Enough!" Kayle yelled, quieting both. "So you two have a past, I get it. I'll see what I can do to schedule a separate room for you Eleanor. For now, you two will have to be living together. And I don't want to hear any more shouting matches from both of you. Be considerate to your fellow students, understand?"
"I will try Ms. Kyner." Eleanor nodded.
"Whatever." Velvet crossed her arms.
Eleanor exited first, followed by Velvet. Being this close made her blood shimmer. Once inside, they left the door open as Velvet left her backpack on her bed. She left without a word.
-.-.-
"Wow, so your rival is living in the same room?" Magilou munched on some pizza. "What luck!"
"It's not luck, it's fucking terrible." Velvet slumped back in her seat.
"But we need some defensemen. And she is good."
"That's not the point, Magilou."
"It's not any of us are going pro."
"And that's the whole reason. Everybody that plays wants to play professionally, but since we're here, we know we can't. So why don't we play our hearts out?"
"Words of wisdom coming from you?"
"I have my moments." She defensively added.
Looking around, she spotted a familiar face. Eleanor must've finished her unpacking. She looked so out of place, so lost. Gazing at the lines, looking at the various foods.
Magilou got up from her seat, smirking at Velvet. "Shouldn't you help her?"
"No, she pisses me off that much."
"Come on, if she's as good as she was that game, maybe she'll feed you some more goals."
"Hmph."
The two casually looked on, seeing her take a table by herself. Nobody else seemed to notice her.
"Ok, this is kinda pathetic." Magilou got up, tugging on Velvet's sleeves.
"The hell do you think you're doing?"
"Come on, she'll be trying out come next week, might as well know her."
"I want nothing to do with her."
"Yet you share the same room. Gonna talk with her eventually. Now, come on."
For such a light frame, Magilou dragged Velvet along. Eleanor was too absorbed in her food before they stood just before the table.
"Mind if we talk a seat?" Magilou chuckled. The redhead looked up, seeing Velvet right beside her. As much as she hid her annoyance, she managed to keep calm.
"N-no, no. It's fine."
They grabbed some free chairs and took a seat. Velvet looked the other way.
"Anyways, I'm Mazhihigigika Miludin do Din Nolurun Do."
Eleanor stared, wondering if she was being serious or not. Velvet sighed, ending her confusion.
"Her real name is Magillanica Lou Mayvin. She's the goalie."
"Ooh. Oh! I remember now."
"Glad I made an impression! But please, just 'Magilou' will do."
The goalie leaned forward. "So what made you transfer to Telliesin?"
"Education. Better money. A bigger school."
"Not too fond of the cold are ya?"
"Only somebody like the captain could enjoy something like that."
"Well you'll experience all four seasons here! Cool, cold, wet and warm!"
"I've heard. And I've always wanted to go to Telliesin for college so…"
Velvet leaned back in her seat, listening. The girl sounded so… innocent. Hard to imagine she could play an aggressive game as a defenseman.
An hour later, Magilou headed back to her room. Something about a lab she needed to complete or problems she wanted out of the way. Left alone with Eleanor, they headed back, not speaking a single word.
Even as they were getting ready for bed, they barely looked at one another. Just casual conversation. Sleeping schedules, times they get up, classes they had. It looked like they had a few classes together.
All more the reason to keep themselves away.
Tucking herself into bed, Velvet said, "By no means does this make us friends."
"The same goes to you."