As Bill open a door, he sees a grey wolf standing by a window looking over the school ground.

The wolf already notices Bill arrival before Bill even touch a doorknob. He turns to look at Bill as he opens a door, his eyes pass over Bill analyzes a possible threat that he could pose. Then as he determines that this man is but a weak human which does not pose a threat, he turns his head and go back to watch over school ground.

Bill seeing his roommate looking at him before turn his head away stands awkward at a door for quite some time, expected a replied or a question from his roommate but no sound ever comes.

Bill cough before spoke “Hello my name is Bill nice to meet you” he tries his best to give an unintimidated smile.

The wolf utters “Calamity”

“What?”

Calamity sigh and explain “My name is Calamity. We have 2 beds left you pick one by the door or window...and don’t touch my stuff”

Starting to look around Bill see that this room is just the right size for 3 persons not too big or too small. The wall is made of plain metal with no decoration but it does have a fade soot stains and a claw mark, possible that these room once have a decoration and a good furniture but after many “accidents” they change to use a regular one instead.

Bill put his back down and walk to window trying to look at whatever his roommate finds so interesting, outside his room below is a playground and a road with many groups of people and a horse pulling wagon passing by.

“Pretty crowded for a school” said Bill.

“The school set in the center of course everyone must pass through here. Not to mention all the building they share for public use.” Calamity speaks while not looking at Bill.

“It has such a nice view!” Bill expresses thinking of his old home where their window must be close at all time or else be chocked by a smog “I guess I'll be taking this bed by the window then.”

“Suit yourself” Calamity said without care then his nose starts to make a sniff sound “Why do you have a coal smell on you”

The factory works! Bill starts to panic “what do you mean?”

‘A coal factory work is a mark of third-class citizen I don’t know how much Calamity know about human life but I can’t risk this detail getting out’

“You reek of coal did you work in a factory before or something?” Calamity moves his nose closer to inspect Bill

Seeing a jaw coming close Bill back away “What no no! I would never work in a place like that but my house in New Terra was close to the factory may be that why you smell some coal on me?”

Calamity narrows his eye and decide to stop pursued this pointless topic “Just make sure to shower more, I would hate to throw something foul out of window tonight”

“Of course,” Bill relief and determine that tonight is going to be a cleanest shower in his life.

As Bill start to unpack his bag, he stares his roommate at the corner of his eyes from time to time, he has been seeing a lot of other races for the first time today and still can’t take his eyes of any of them as they walk past him. He knows it must be rude to stare but for a boy from poor family who only see an old machinery all day and night these new people of other races sure make a very new exciting experience for him.

Calamity himself is a grey wolf with tall body, he is taller and bigger than Bill but act very reserved, from Bill experience on the street he knows that Calamity is in the category of people that should not be mess with when you walk pass by. He gives off a danger presence but at the same time it is as if he is not there at all.

He is in a school uniform, a dark blue long sleeve shirt with the school sigil. The same one of Princess Alana foundation.

“It’s seemed our last roommate is here” Calamity step back from the window.

Bill turns his head to the door but to his surprise a gust of wind come from the window instead and standing there is a crow as tall as Bill.

“Sorry is this room 306?” a friendly crow asked.

“Yes”

“Oh great, I was worry I might count the window wrong but I got the right one this time.” a crow put down his bag and introduce himself.

“My name is Josh, nice to meet you guy. Please don’t eat me” Josh said half joking half serious.

Bill smile at Josh’s joke which is clearly directed to Calamity “I’m Bill nice to meet you”

Calamity not smiling “Calamity”

He sure is sun shine, isn’t he. Bill wonder if all wolfs are like this.

“I guess that is my bed” Josh points his wing to the last bed by the door but his eyes caught Bill’s MAM “Woah, is that your MAM?”

Bill taken by surprise unsure of what to do “Yeah, it's mine”

“Can I see it” Josh walks closer to Bill with his shiny big beak and black sharp talon.

Bill who feels very intimidated by Josh give a relucted answer “Sure, but please be careful with it”

Holding MAM in his hand Bill wonder if Josh will grab it with his beak and damage it. Instead, Josh just flaps his wing a little “Evenio espiro” and a wind blow his MAM up into the air in front of Josh eyes.

A wind magic!

“I never see a MAM like this before, well I actually never see a MAM before in my life just saw many designs from the book”

Bill’s MAM is a metal glove with a rust color with many modify part on finger and a palm that can be open to switch rune inside.

“My father made this one himself and I modify it afterward”

“You can make MAM?” Calamity seems to come alive for the first time. Or perhaps he just accepted Bill existence into his reality.

“Well, I try my best but it properly not as good as the one that school sell though”

“Can you explain to me how does it work?” Calamity asked while Josh turn his head to Bill with interest.

Hearing a question Bill think for a moment of how to explain it to someone who never see one before.

“A MAM is a tool that made of copper, gold or steel with rune engraved inside to allow human to draw magic from object of power or summon element according to rune design. If one has good enough core and know how to utilize MAM function, he can pass magic on to the machine that compatible with magic and make that machine function without electricity.”

“Really? That it? From the book I read I thought human can summon a fire storm and lightning from the sky with just a wave of hand” Josh spread his wings and completely block all light from the window

“Haha I don't know any human that can do that though, even Major Howitzers use artillery canon that power by magic to fire all that fire bomb in the war. Maybe it’s a machine that generate a electricity? If it broke it might look like a lightning storm”

“Yeah, I guess the book exaggerate it a bit.” Josh seem disappoint. “Even we Corvidae only able to use magic that related to wind...Not that a wolf is any worse you know” Josh clarify his word when he remember that wolf can’t use magic at all, they only have strength of their own muscle and yet they survive the great cleansing and become super power in the new world.

Calamity did not answer Josh nor show any reaction which seem to worry him even more.

“So what did your book say about MAM” Bill try to help

Josh see that Calamity interest in MAM so he give his best answer “They said that MAM designs were date back to the time of old world, a complicate mechanism which allow for a harvest of magic from a core and execute action according to its design. The only way to make a core is to use a Mercury which can be found in the north mountain range then ask an Ameil to transform it into a core with magic inside... or you can also use a pieces of lady Estellia” Josh say the last part with contempt but it a fact that everyone who learn about MAM will know eventually.

“You mean the meteorite that give birth to magic?”

“Yes, for us she is the goddess who lift us up to consciousness. So it’s very disrespectful to us who worship her to see some human use her like that”

“Well you don’t have to worry about me” Bill tap his chest, usually MAM is a device which a boy from slum should never hope to acquire if not for his father, an engineer whom made one himself. ‘A piece of star? Ha! I would be lucky if I can even afford a broken core now.’

In New Terra, only government agent and military are allowed to carry a core, all other were confiscate after the war have ended and to this day the government seek to gather the pieces of star that destroy their world but Bill isn’t going to tell his new friend that.

“So you choose to come study here because you want to learn from the major right?” Josh conclude.

‘What? does he mean Major Howitzers?’

“Oh yeah, he is a legend among MAM mechanic” Bill doesn’t want to tell them that he is here because he got a scholarship which can imply about his financial status.

“Make sense, I’m here because this place is like a center of the world, all nation trade rout pass through here at some point so I thought the library must have all kind of book that I never see before”

‘So, Josh is a bookworm. Maybe I should check the library sometime they properly have a book about MAM I can read that is not MAM theory of magic.’

“What about you Calamity?” Josh turns his head to our lonely wolf and Bill feel an uneasiness that this might provoke him.

“To study” he answers...poorly.

The conversation did not continue much after this because Calamity keep answer briefly so the three of them went out of their room to tour the school area, suggested by Josh.

“Are you sure you want to walk with us?” Bill asks Josh who have a wing that can fly him anywhere faster than walking.

“It’s ok I like to sit all day reading so walking once in a while is good for leg” Josh head move forth and back as he walk and talk which make his sound go up and down, it is quite amusing to Bill.

“Can I ask you a question?” Calamity speaks up which surprise both Bill and Josh.

“Anything!” Josh answer with enthusiasm. This would be great opportunity to get closer with his new friends.

“Why do you bird move your head like that when you walk?” Calamity asks without ill intent but Bill can see that some bird might take this as an offence.

‘But Josh properly don’t mind’

“Oh yeah it a bird thing” he smiles “It not that we intent to bob our head though it is actually about our visual” Josh blink one of his eyes.

“Visual?”

“That right, vision doesn't mix well with movement even you guy for example swing your arm when you walk right.”

“Oh yeah”

“We do the same somewhat, but we don’t have arm and our wings are for flap up and down not forward-backward. As we move, our heads and eyes lock in place while our body catches up. Then the head darts forward again, locks onto something new, and our body keeps moving forward with our head, it help stabilize the world that we see. In a way the bobbing is an illusion”

“Huh” both Bill and Calamity surprise with this revelation.

“What about you Calamity?”

“Me?” Calamity point at himself.

“I talk about myself now it your turn to talk about you.”

Calamity thinking for a moment then nod in agreement “What do you want to know?”

“Do you eat crow meat before?”

“Yes”

Bill who was already shock with the question, stunt when Calamity answer without remorse.

“What about human?” Josh continues clearly enjoying Bill reaction.

“That too”

‘What!’

“Who taste better?”

“Human”

‘Nooooooooo!’

“Haha at least I can sleep at night without worry of getting taken off menu first”

Bill who seems to have lost all hope look at Calamity “You are not going to eat me right?”

“Of course, not” Calamity answer with a smile for the first time.