Sam finished unpacking his things into the wardrobes and claimed the top bunk for himself. Now, Sven and Sam were sitting on the lower bunk playing cards by the light of a small lamp.
"And you just up and told your mother she should become your maid?" Sam asked, exchanging a tense look with Sven.
"Yeah. Found her on the street, fed her some pancakes at the mall," Sven said, laying down a nine of hearts.
"Sure, I believe you," Sam said, his expression darkening as he added, "But where is this sudden kindness coming from?"
"Well, you know, she was so small my heart couldn't take it, so I decided to take her in-Miya, I mean," Sven said, looking at Sam.
"Hmm, yeah, I'd believe you... if I didn't know you too well. You've got your own goals," Sam said, playing a trump card over Sven's: the Queen of Spades.
"Pass," Sven said, unable to suppress a smile at Sam's words.
"What are you up to, Sven?" Sam asked, pushing the cards aside and placing a new card on the clean playing surface: a 10 of Trophies.
"Well, think about it," Sven said. Having nothing to beat it with, he drew a card from the deck. He looked at the card he pulled-the Ace of Diamonds-and then said, "I'll take both."
"You took in a girl with no relatives and no home so that nothing would weigh her down, so she would belong entirely to you," Sam said, looking Sven straight in the eyes as he played a 7 of Trophies.
"Yes," Sven said with a slight smile.
"Just to use her sexually," Sam said, frowning slightly.
Hearing this, Sven scowled and threw the cards in his hand right into Sam's face.
"I object, you idiot!" Sven shouted.
"Oh, like it's not true!" Sam retorted, lunging at Sven.
Sven grabbed Sam by his limbs, and their foreheads crashed against each other.
"No, that's a lie," Sven said.
"Oh, really?" Sam replied sarcastically.
Suddenly, the door was opened by a guy whose silhouette was large, like an orc's, though his skin tone showed he was human. The guy standing in the doorway looked a bit embarrassed to see two guys grappling with each other.
Sven and Sam caught his gaze and, also embarrassed, scrambled away from each other.
"Umm, I just came to say that curfew is at 11:00 PM every day, and you're forbidden from leaving the university grounds," the silhouette said, then left, closing the door behind him.
"Probably should get some sleep," Sam said.
"Yeah, probably," Sven agreed, and then they both went quiet.
"But let's talk while lying down together first," Sam suggested.
"Alright," Sven said, yawning.
Sven and Sam lay on Sven's bottom bunk and talked.
"Why did you choose the Faculty of Military Magic?" Sam asked.
"I didn't really think about it. I just have to become the head of my clan," Sven said.
"But what about your older brother?" Sam asked.
"He was kicked out of the house because he's gay," Sven said.
"My mom pressured me to be a soldier. They say if you haven't served, you're not a man," Sam said.
"That's rough, brother," Sven said sleepily, patting the back of Sam's head.
"Yeah. Even Terra, my maid, says I'm not a man. It makes me feel like crap. They don't even know I want to be a musician," Sam said.
"Once you grow up, you can tell them all to go to hell," Sven said.
"I want to sing to share my emotions with others, to introduce everyone to my stories. You know, it calms me down..." Sam said. Realizing Sven hadn't responded, Sam looked over and saw he was fast asleep.
"I guess you're tired of hearing me whine. I vent to him almost every day anyway," Sam whispered, falling asleep while hugging Sven.
In the morning, the room was bright with sunlight. The rays fell on Sven's face, waking him up. When Sven opened his eyes a few seconds later, the first thing he saw was Sam lying on top of him, hugging him.
Sven gently tried to pull away from Sam to escape the embrace without waking him. Once he got out of bed, however, Sven jumped sideways back onto Sam. As soon as Sven landed on him, Sam jolted awake and cried out in pain.
"Aaaaaah! Sven!" Sam yelled.
"You need to wake up earlier," Sven said.
"You didn't have to jump on me!" Sam complained, clutching his side.
Sven got up and went to the wardrobe to change into his university uniform, checking himself in the mirror.
God, I need to bring my creams from home, or my skin is going to get totally dry, Sven thought.
While Sven examined himself in the mirror, Sam got out of bed, pulled on his trousers, and started putting on his shirt. When it came to the tie, he couldn't figure it out.
"Sven, do you know how to tie a tie?" Sam asked, rubbing his eyes.
"Yeah, I know how," Sven said while massaging his face.
"Then can you put it on me?" Sam asked, still yawning.
Sven gestured for him to come over. Sam stepped over on his bare feet and approached Sven, leaning slightly against the wardrobe. Sven took the red tie from his hands and quickly tied it, adjusting his collar.
Sven waited another ten minutes for Sam to finish getting ready. Once they were both dressed, they headed out behind the dorm for the initiation ceremony.