Roman led Neopolitan to the dining hall, a long room filled with straight tables lined together, similar to a certain dining hall in a certain wizarding world. Long curtains were strung upon the windows and twisting along the walls, starting at a yellow, and then fading into an orange, red, and auburn to match the turning season outside. Neo felt the need to brush her fingers along the fabric, knowing it would be a soft silky texture, beautiful in every aspect. Nevertheless, Roman pulled her along and sat down next to a girl with long, flowing black hair, a few other students gathered around her.
"Long time, no see, guys," Roman said, a large smile displayed upon his face.
The students at the table turned to him, and they all exclaimed, yelling and asking where he had been and what he was doing. The girl with the black hair leapt on him, embracing him. Neo felt a clutch in her chest, but she ignored it. These were Roman's friends; they hadn't seen him for a long time, and she had no right to be jealous.
"It's nice to see you again, Roman," the girl said.
Neo now noticed the girl's startling eyes, a shifting silver that was never the same. Her eyes almost seemed to flow, never halting on a particular shade of gray. Neo nearly felt intimidated by the girl.
"You too, Erë," Roman replied. "And you guys!" He gestured to the three others sitting at the table, another girl and two boys. The other girl possessed bright red hair, her eyes holding a light brown hint, nearly a caramel brown, but they held a bright twinkle to them, and she had the biggest smile at the table. The boy sitting across from Erë was a scrawny boy, his shoulders leaning forward, and had jet black hair and matching eyes, making him look menacing in his own way, yet he seemed friendly enough with a beam upon his face. The other boy contained shaggy blond hair and lilac-colored eyes. Neo was somewhat drawn to his eyes, but she was much more drawn to the silver-eyed girl, Erë, her eyes continuously shifting.
"Guys, this is Neopolitan, but she goes by Neo," Roman said, gesturing at his young companion. He squeezed her hand underneath the table, knowing the amount of pressure he had just put on her and knowing she didn't like that. She smiled and gave them a slight wave.
"Neopolitan, huh?" the blond asked. "That's ironic." His face held a sloppy smirk.
"Neo, this is Erë, the silver eyes, Ross, the redhead, Pitch, the creepy one, and Mele, the blonde." Roman gestured to each in turn, and they all chorused their hello's.
"Neo, you look a bit young for Signal," Erë remarked. Neo could barely focus on the words she was speaking as her eyes were distracting.
"She's only ten, but Headmaster Lyon is allowing her to attend. We met when I was on the streets, and we've lived together ever since. I didn't want her to stay there when I came back, so I brought her along."
"Roman, you're so nice!" Ross squealed.
Roman rubbed the back of his head with his hand, a telltale sign to Neo of his nervousness. She couldn't quite tell why he would be nervous, but she figured she was sure to find out soon.
"You lived on the streets this whole time?" Mele asked, his lilac eyes widening.
"Yeah, Neo actually saved me," Roman remarked.
"What? You've trained. How?" Pitch finally spoke up, his shoulders straightening slightly.
Roman shot Neo a glance before he said, "She's a lot tougher than she looks."
Heat crept up Neo's cheeks, and she looked down to avoid everyone's eyes.
"Well, you'll most likely be rooming with us, Neo," Erë started. "We're the only girls' dorm that I know of that has an opening."
Neo gave her a slight nod, wondering who 'us' was. Roman pushed a plate of food in her direction, but she was too anxious to eat in front of the crowd of students at the table.
"Quiet one, aren't you?" Mele questioned, scrunching up slightly to look her in the face. "You and Pitch will get along just fine then."
"She's mute." Roman's concise remark earned near gasps, and Neo was almost waiting for the chorus of condolences, but they didn't come this time. She glanced to each student in turn, noticing how each face was slightly shocked, but nobody said anything. Roman decided to break the silence after taking a bite out of a chicken leg.
"So," he started, his voice muffled as he talked through the meat in his mouth, "how are classes coming along?"
This seemed to break at least one of them out of their shock, and Ross burst out in quick banter. "Oh, it's wonderful, although classes are getting tougher since we have that increased load on us for the extra year we didn't attend the academy. I think it'll be okay though since we're totally going to become huntsmen and huntresses-in-training in a couple years and go to Beacon Academy."
Roman smiled at his friend's spunk; he had nearly forgotten the endless amount of energy she seemed to have. It was a nice refreshment from the darkness he had experienced living on the streets.
"How about the rest of you guys?"
They all answered with 'good's, and Roman was happy that they were doing okay. He didn't want to hold anyone back.
"Pitch, how's the home?"
Pitch didn't look up from his food.
"Still the only one with black hair and eyes," he answered.
"Your parents still having the angel babies?"
"Yeah, all white hair and white eyes. Six siblings now."
Roman whistled. Pitch was the first born child, yet the rest of his siblings contained white hair and white eyes, straight from the womb. They were all almost too similar.
"And Mele, did your sister start here yet?" Roman asked.
"Yeah, since they lowered the age, she just started," the lilac-eyed boy answered.
"Can't wait to see is she's as fiery in real fighting as in video games."
A figure plopped down across from Roman, and Neo recognized it as Loden. She had been able to nibble on some food as Roman kept the others occupied with questions, but she stopped now as Loden glanced at her.
"Headmaster Lyon says he's ready for Neo now," Loden said.
"That was quick," Roman said, throwing down the chicken leg and moving to get up. Loden held up a hand to stop Roman.
"He wants me to take her there; he said you should catch up with friends."
Roman shot Neo a look, his eyebrows pulled together.
'You gonna be okay?' he mouthed to her.
Neo nodded in response and climbed off the bench. Loden followed her before leading her once again to the headmaster's office. The butterflies in her stomach settled slightly as she was finally away from the crowd of the table, although she still felt some being away from Roman.
"I'm excited to see you fight," Loden said, making conversation. He glanced at her for a response, but his eyes widened as he realized his mistake. "Oh, shit, I forgot. Sorry about that."
She touched his arm slightly in an it's okay gesture, hoping he would understand it. It seemed satisfactory enough as he turned to look forward again.
As they reached the headmaster's office again, Loden walked inside with Neo once more.
"Thanks again for coming back, Miss Neo," the headmaster started. "Loden would you please wait outside? I'll need you to escort this young girl to her dorm when she has everything."
Loden nodded, gave a small bow, and left the room.
"Neo, do you know what combat school entails?" Headmaster Lyon asked.
She shook her head, only knowing that she was to fight.
"Well, you will learn many valuable life lessons at Signal Academy. Yes, of course you will learn how to fight. You will forge your own weapon. You will study the Grimm. However, you will also learn about the kingdom of Remnant, its history, its terrain. You will learn how to live on your own, how to survive, how to heal. You will learn how to grow."
Neo bowed her head at the headmaster, hoping this was enough for him. To Neo, her lack of speech didn't make up for the dominance the headmaster liked to convey. It was the best she could do though.
"Here is your class schedule." He held out a piece of paper, and Neo hurried forward to take it from him. She backed up slightly, glancing at it but not wanting to direct all of her attention on it for it would disrespect the headmaster. She knew how to deal with dominating people after all.
"Since you started after the school year began, there are no longer any dorms available for you to room in that are of your year. You will room with two older girls. I hope that will be okay for you. They are quite lovely."
Neo nodded once more, grasping the paper in her hand.
"Loden will lead you there when we are done here. Now, as I understand, you are mute?" Another nod. "I have arranged for you to have a scroll that will speak whatever you type into it. I know it will be a big difference, and you would probably much prefer the silence. However, it will be easier to cooperate with your professors and other students. I hope this will be a good accomodation."
Neo signed 'thank you', not knowing if the headmaster actually knew that sign, but he seemed to take it. In reality, Neo wasn't sure how she felt about the talking scroll. Yes, it would be easier for everyone else, but she also didn't want to ruin the special bond between her and Roman, the one where he knew all of her mannerisms without speaking. He could understand whatever she was saying after their extensive time together, but she didn't want that to diminish. Nevertheless, she couldn't reject a gift from the headmaster, so she must take it.
"You're welcome, Neo," Headmaster Lyon replied. "And thank you for accommodating. It will help all of us. I will have the scroll sent to your dorm when it is ready. I am hoping for tomorrow as it will be easier for your first day of classes, but alas, not everything goes the way we want. It shall be in soon."
Neo once again signed the two words, keeping her head lowered to look at the ground.
"That's all for now, Miss Neo. Good luck on your classes."
Neo bowed at the pudgy man before exiting the office. Loden was leaning against the wall, one leg propped against it, his arms crossed in front of him. Neo could see the attraction she guessed Roman possessed for the growing boy: the precise forest green hair, the slight outline of muscles through his matching shirt, even the way he carried himself.
"Ready?" he asked, pushing himself off the wall. Neo nodded, and he led her away.
"The Headmaster told me you were rooming with Erë and Ross, the girls from the dining hall," Loden started. "Roman and the other boys room with me, and we all hang out together, so you should be able to join us. Of course, classes first, but then fun."
He shot her a smile, and she returned it, grateful for his invitation. He must have understood her anxiety, the lingering doubt that she would spend much time with Roman. However, even with their slight headbutting, Loden was helping her, making her feel better. She slipped that thought into her mind, saving it for later.
They reached an open door, and Neo could hear laughing from the inside. The group that sat at the table in the dining hall was now sitting in a dorm, one that Neo figured was hers. When they saw the pair enter, Erë was the first to speak.
"See, I told you that you'd be rooming with us." A smile spread across her face, shifting the color in her eyes even more.
"Welcome, roomie!" Ross exclaimed, jumping off the bed and throwing up her hands.
Neo glanced at Roman, and just from the smile held upon his face, she could tell she would be okay here.
Author's Note:
Hey, guys! I just wanted to say thanks for sticking with me even after that hiatus. It's really appreciated, and I hope you guys will continue to read. I also just want to give a heads up for the next few chapters. Seeing as how Roman and Neo are now at Signal Academy, the next few chapters may not be as interesting or fast-paced. I want to get the real feel of the school right, so bear with me for a while please! I'll try to keep updating every week, but seeing as how a lot of things like to pop up (especially writers block), I'm not sure if that will continue. Anyway, thanks again for reading!