30 30 Pool Party
According to the guidebook in his room, the pool had changing rooms and towels provided, with access to the gym through a side door.
Like the room doors, the lockers were biometric locks, so you didn’t need to carry a key with you, but Wolfe could see that being an issue after too long in the pool.
If it did become an issue, he could always hit the gym after swimming. The Academy didn’t seem to plan on stopping him from doing anything but leaving before his trial.
For the second time in one night, someone was knocking at his door, making Wolfe wonder if the pursuit of a quiet day at the Academy was just a dream.
“Wolfe, get up. The pool is open. Just wear your gym clothes over. We like to go for a workout before lunch. It helps the digestion.” Asia, one of the girls from the Sports minded group who had joined them for lunch the other day, called through the door, then Wolfe heard her leave at an energetic jog.
Time had passed faster than he had thought, and it was no longer night, as he had thought it was, so Wolfe got dressed and headed out. Unexpectedly he found the Student Council President and her Assistant grabbing a very early breakfast when he stopped at the staff cafeteria, the only one that had a full meal set up this early in the morning.
“Early morning pool days already? You’ll be the best-toned Familiar in no time. And two, count them two Witches for our lucky Rookie.” Murk laughed as Wolfe grabbed a muffin, then reconsidered and grabbed a whole tray of them.
“My Witches are high energy for sure, but you don’t look like you’re getting fat and lazy either. Perhaps you will be joining us?” Wolfe asked Murk while the President shook her head.
“We’re too busy these days. Maybe once everyone is settled in, and all the usual beginning-of-the-year type conflicts are all sorted out. Student Council also deals with roommate issues.” She explained.
Hundreds of Witches who had never shared or been denied anything in their lives were suddenly told that they couldn’t bring their personal effects and that they were sharing a room with a stranger. What could possibly go wrong in that scenario? Other than everything.
Wolfe didn’t envy the President even a little bit at that moment.
He wasn’t the only one among the pool attendees that thought of breakfast, and there was an assortment of foods and drinks on the tables at the edge of the room when Wolfe arrived.
Everyone was still in their gym clothes, having a morning meet and greet along with the athletic upperclassmen and the freshly summoned Familiars. Most of the Second and Third Year Witches had brought their roommates as well, and Cassie waved happily from her spot among some senior classmen as she saw Wolfe come in with muffins.
“Oh, the guest of honour, my beloved blueberry muffin, long time no see.” One of the Witches cheered, grabbing one off of the tray.
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They were a bit nervous, but most of the crowd wasn’t from Class A, so it helped them relax a little and not feel too inferior or intimidated.
The energetic girl known as Kandi also helped. Seeing the girls who had come prepared for a competitive swim, she became the Witchy equivalent of a shark in the waters. It was almost guaranteed that she would drag one or more off for “Compatibility Testing” of their own sort today. The woman was an unstoppable force of nature.
With a light snack in them and a lot of conversation, the talk inevitably turned competitive. Kandi had challenged a pair of girls to a race, and the upperclassmen had their own plans for a competition.
“Alright, everyone who is swimming, go get changed and be back here in five minutes.” Risa, the unofficial leader of the group, announced.
It didn’t take long until everyone got changed and tossed their clothes in a locker, then gathered up by Risa for the competition plans.
“Alright, first up, there has been a challenge from Kandi to a pair of her fellow first years to prove that they are actually fit enough to compete. I think we will all enjoy this one. Kandi was a competitive swimmer all through grade school. After that, We have a challenge among the fourth years, and finally a challenge from myself to Wolfe Noxus.” Risa declared.
“I knew he wouldn’t get away with that joke.” One of the older girls laughed, earning a glare from Risa.
Wolfe had expected a lot of slender athletic bodies in this group, but some of them were hiding surprising assets under their uniforms.
Kandi, for one, but also Risa, who must bind her chest at school, and surprisingly Cassie, who had looked rather formless under her loose civilian clothing when he met her.
Cassie and Ella came to sit with Wolfe while Kandi and the girls that she had challenged took their places.
“How was your first full day at the academy?” Wolfe asked Cassie as she settled into a chair.
“Don’t remind me. It’s a nightmare. I scored too high on the test, so the High Nobles felt insulted, and they’re really mean people, except Reiko. Then there was the whole Summoning incident, and now the Familiar link isn’t working correctly.” Cassie sighed.
Wolfe gave her a soft hug. “At least you can make friends here. But what do you mean the Familiar Link is not working correctly?”
Cassie shook her head. “Bullying isn’t going to be the major issue. I’m sure I can make even more friends. But the link is concerning. A Witch should be able to Summon their Familiar from anywhere in the vicinity, but Ella and I tried this morning, and you didn’t even wake up. We will have to ask the teachers about it on Monday.”
Wolfe had no idea how to apologize to someone for becoming a defective Familiar if that was even what he was. His Inheritance didn’t call him their Familiar. It just said they were bonded.
It wasn’t something that you could just fix with words, and he didn’t know enough to even suggest a solution. He did have a few ideas about how they could strengthen the bond, though, each one better than the last.
“At least Professor Ashcroft likes you. Spending half the day in potions would suck if she didn’t like you.” Ella tried to console her.
“That makes it worse. She threatened to put me alone at a table by her desk because I’m already ahead of the others.”
“Elder Maria?” Wolfe asked quietly, and Cassie nodded.
As a cripple and non-Witch, Elder Maria wasn’t supposed to be able to create potions successfully. But she clearly still had the skills, or at least the knowledge, to teach Cassie.
“We will think of something. You can’t force people to stop being jealous, but since we share a Familiar, I think Professor Ashcroft will let me switch tables even if she wanted to put you in the front.” Ella assured her.
Wolfe would also be there all day at the start because the newest students weren’t expected to be able to successfully use enough mana to create the potions without their Familiar, so she wouldn’t be completely alone at the table either way.
“I just need to follow Grandma’s advice and get far enough ahead to crush the others so badly on the exams that their opinion doesn’t matter,” Cassie replied with a nostalgic smile.
“Then the first things you need are defensive spells and someone helping you build power outside class. Wolfe can help you with both of those, can’t he?” Risa asked, joining them to watch the races.