Aslan dropped his bag beside the bed and flopped onto the mattress, arms spread like a starfish.
He glanced at the empty bed next to his.
"…No one here yet," he mumbled. "Good."
His eyes lingered on the untouched sheets, the still air, and the silent promise of peace.
"I hope it stays that way. Roommates are noisy. Clingy. Dramatic. I already have enough chaos in my life—Cael the 'rival,' and Alice the walking megaphone."
He closed his eyes.
"One nap. Then dinner."
The room was peaceful.
For now.
Next day—after class.
Aslan walked across the academy grounds, hands in his pockets, lazily making his way back to the dorms.
Then he saw them.
His "gang" — the former bullies who now followed his every command like loyal servants — had cornered someone near the edge of the field.
A frail-looking boy with brown hair, baggy clothes, and glasses slipping down his nose stood trembling beside a few dusty bags. He looked like he didn't even belong on the same planet.
One of the bullies gave him a light shove.
"Aye, fresher. What're you doing here? Admissions are over, y'know."
The boy stammered, "I-I passed the entrance exam. I was just… just late. S-Some family issues…"
Another bully laughed. "Late pass signed by your mommy, huh?"
Then came silence.
A cold wind.
Aslan had arrived.
Alice and Cael quietly walked behind him.
"What's happening here?" Aslan asked, voice flat—yet somehow threatening enough to make the bullies go pale.
They turned.
"B-Boss! We were just… helping the fresher find his way! Honest!"
Aslan narrowed his eyes.
"You guys never help anyone."
Nervous laughter.
"Just… spreading kindness! Heh…"
"You idiots never change," Aslan muttered.
He turned to the boy. The boy was staring directly at him.
"…Do you have a problem?" Aslan asked, brows raised. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
The boy flinched. "N-No! I mean—Yes! I mean—No! I-I'm fine!"
Behind him, Alice started laughing. "Aslan, you're scaring him."
Aslan blinked. Wait... when did these two even get here?
Still confused, he waved a lazy hand toward the bullies.
"Go. Now."
"Y-Yes, Boss!!"
They scattered like rats under light.
The boy clutched his bag tighter, still staring.
Aslan looked him over—narrow shoulders, oversized uniform, nervous eyes.
Bookworm. Definitely not a threat.
"You sure you're okay?" Aslan asked, this time more gently.
The boy nodded too quickly. "Y-Yes. Thank you."
Aslan smiled slightly, placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, and said, "From now on, you're my pet dog."
Silence.
The boy froze… then tears began to roll down his cheek.
Then more tears.
Then he broke down, sobbing.
Aslan panicked. "H-Hey! I didn't mean it like that! I meant—you're my assistant!"
The boy sniffled, "I-I'm not crying because of that…"
Aslan frowned. "Then why are you crying?"
The boy wiped his face. "Because… no one's ever called me their pet dog or their assistant before."
Aslan stared.
What the hell kind of life has this guy lived?
Cael and Alice blinked… then burst into laughter.
"Pet dog!" Cael wheezed.
"Assistant!" Alice cackled.
Aslan groaned. "Great. Another weirdo just joined my life. Why does everyone around me have to be so... strange?"
He turned and walked off. "I'm going to eat."
Meanwhile, Cael and Alice walked over to the boy, standing on either side of him.
Alice placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, ignore Aslan. He acts cold, but he's not a bad guy."
"Yeah," Cael nodded. "You get used to his nonsense. What's your name, kid?"
The boy wiped his tears and gave a shy smile. "George."
Alice smiled. "Nice to meet you, George. I'm Alice, that's Cael."
George looked ahead at Aslan's red hair disappearing into the distance. "That guy… in front. He's... incredible."
Cael laughed. "That's Aslan. You'll see—he acts like he doesn't care about anyone."
Alice smirked. "But somehow, he ends up helping everyone anyway."