Chapter 5: Burnt Access Key

Lila Kane stood in the hallway with two travel bags at her feet and a third one slung over one shoulder. Her red hair was slightly disheveled, golden eyes brightening the moment she saw him.

She looked at the dorm number on the wall, then back at him.

"Well," she said, "Looks like we’re roommates."

Ethan stared at her for a second, the decision he had made only minutes earlier already under direct assault.

Popular girls... He had specifically told himself to stay away from them.

Apparently the academy had not received the memo.

After a few seconds of awkward silence, Lila spoke: "I accidentally burnt my access key," she announced. "Don’t ask me how.... By the time I remembered I needed a replacement, class was starting, so I decided to come after class. Figured if my roommate was already in, I could at least drop my stuff."

She looked past him, then back at his face, and smiled.

"Happy to see you were."

Ethan stepped aside. Of all the possible roommate problems he had considered—snoring, stolen food, lectures about combat, he had not expected that his roommate would be the walking representation of spontaneous combustion.

"You burnt your access key," he said. "With your own ability."

"Yup." Lila dropped her bags near the couch. "Flame affinity is great until it isn’t. I know I’ve said this before but I feel like formal introductions feel necessary when you’re about to share a bathroom. So, I’m Lila. Nice to meet you, properly..."

"Ethan. Nice to meet you too."

"Ethan," she repeated, "The Necromancer. Almost the whole school knows about you at this point."

Ethan deadpanned. "Comforting..."

She shrugged. "Doesn’t matter to me, though. Abilities are abilities. Some people just get dramatic about certain ones, especially if the ability in question involves corpses."

Ethan studied her for a moment before answering.

"Most people ARE dramatic about it," he said. "I’ve noticed they treat necromancy like it’s some kind of disease."

"I guess you’re right." Lila stretched, then eyed the kitchenette. "You cook?"

"I can."

"Good. I’m a hazard near open flames. Want to trade? I’ll talk about my ability while you make something that won’t require an evacuation."

Ethan considered it. Refusing wouldn’t make any sense. Besides, cooking gave him an excuse to keep his hands busy while he decided how much distance he needed to put between him and this girl...

"Fine. But if the pan catches fire, I’m blaming your presence."

She grinned. "Deal."

He moved into the kitchenette and checked the basic supplies, soon he picked up some ingredients and started cooking.

He was a bit surprised that he still remembered how to cook. Must have been his memories from his old world...

Lila leaned against the counter, golden eyes curious.

"So," she said. "Necromancy. Have you actually used it yet?"

"No." Ethan kept his voice even as he set a pan on the stove. "The ceremony ended a few hours ago, and we had class right after. Plus, I’m being ’monitored’ because of it. Decided testing it in the middle of a crowded auditorium might send the wrong message."

"I see... Makes sense." She tilted her head. "My ability is quite simple. Flame generation and control. At rank A, I can heat things, throw fire, make barriers and whatnot. Higher rank means better control. Clearly, I’m still working on that part. Exhibit A: one melted access key."

"Sounds useful.... And expensive for the administration office."

Lila laughed. "You’re actually fun to talk to, you know that?"

Ethan paused, spatula in hand, and gave her a flat look.

"I’m cooking you food and you’re already assigning me a personality. That’s dangerous..."

"It’s a compliment."

"Sure. Sure... I appreciate the compliment."

They ate at the small table, and the conversation stayed light; academy layout, which professors to avoid, how quickly students were already forming cliques— typical awakened human bullshit.

Lila spoke without filters.... Ethan answered when necessary, occasionally saying something that made her snort. She did not push when his replies stayed short.

That was even more of a reason Ethan needed to avoid her. Girls like her were very accommodating. Made you feel comfortable to the point where you’d start feeling something for them....

And Ethan knew more than anyone how dangerous that could be...

When the food was gone, Lila stood and stretched.

"I’m heading to the administration office before it’s late. Need a new key or I’ll be sleeping in the hallway. Don’t wait up."

She grabbed a lighter bag and headed for the door, then paused.

"Thanks for the food. And for not being weird about the roommate situation. I won’t lie, I was worried it would be wierd if I got a guy as a roommate. But I think this might work out."

"You’re welcome. Try not to incinerate the replacement."

She smiled. "No promises."

She left, the door closing behind her.

Ethan waited for a while, then when he was certain she had actually left, he pulled on a darker jacket and stepped out of the dorm.

The academy grounds were quieter in the early evening. Most students clustered near the dining halls or training fields, busy comparing ranks and abilities like they were trading cards.

Ethan kept to the less-used paths, hands in his pockets and hood pulled over his head as he looked for a secluded spot...

He was not looking for a fight.

He was simply looking for something small, dead, and preferably not the kind of corpse that would get him reported before dinner tomorrow.

It was time for him to find out whether a Necromancy ability was as underwhelming as everyone had hoped...