THE FOLLOWING MORNING DUNCAN PERSONALLY SHOWED AL AND ADRIA AROUND THE AVAILABLE PROPERTIES. LUCKILY HE WAS FOND OF THE MODEL GOLEM THE CART CAME WITH SO THEIR TOTAL PROFITS WERE NEAR FIFTY GOLD, PERSONALLY I THINK HE WAS BEING A LITTLE NICE. NONETHELESS, ADDED TO WHAT THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM, IT WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR MOST OF THE PROPERTIES FOR SALE IN THE LOWER WESTERN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT.

"THIS ONE IS NICE." ADRIA SAYS GLANCING AROUND THE WIDE WAREHOUSE AREA. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF A THICK WALL WAS A SMALL SITTING AREA AND SEVERAL DESKS. IT WOULD NEED FURNITURE TO BE USED AS A LIVING SPACE BUT IT WASN’T FAR OFF.

MUCH BETTER THAN THE RATTY WOOD BUILDING THEY HAD SEEN EARLIER. ALTHOUGH A STEAL, ADRIA COULDN’T SEE HERSELF LIVING THERE. THIS ON THE OTHER HAND WAS DOABLE.

"AS YOU CAN SEE IT'S PLUMBED INTO THE DISTRICTS SEWER SYSTEM. WHICH AS YOU MAY KNOW…"

"IT’S A GOOD AND BAD THING." ADRIA FINISHES WITH A NOD. "I UNDERSTAND."

"RIGHT. WELL THERE IS ONE OTHER PROPERTY WITHIN YOUR PRICE RANGE TO SEE IF YOU WOULD LIKE. IT’S ONLY A SHORT DISTANCE FROM HERE. IT’S BY THE RIVER, AND A BIT MORE LABORATORY FOCUSED, ONLY AROUND SEVENTY PERCENT OF THE BUILDING IS WAREHOUSE. IT WAS DESIGNED FOR POTION PRODUCTION BUT THE DEAL FELL THROUGH."

"LET’S SEE IT." ADRIA SAYS GLANCING TO AL. "RIGHT?"

AL NODS WITH A GRIN. HE SIMPLY ENJOYED SEEING SO MANY BUILDINGS IN ONE DAY. HE FELT LIKE HE COULDN’T MEMORIZE ALL OF THEM IN A LIFETIME. FINALLY HE FELT LIKE HE HAD A PURPOSE AGAIN. HE EVEN PASSED SEVERAL BUILDINGS THAT RESEMBLED THE LIBRARY IN JINX, ONLY LARGER.

ADRIA AS ALWAYS GRABS AL’S WRIST AND LEAD IN FOLLOWING DUNCAN. AS HE HAD SAID, THE OTHER PROPERTY WAS CLOSE. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES ON THE SMOOTH, MUSKY SMELLING, ROAD THEY FOUND THE SECOND BUILDING. IT WAS OBVIOUSLY NEWER THAN THE PREVIOUS. AND ALTHOUGH SLIGHTLY SMALLER THE AREA THAT LOOKED LIVABLE WAS MUCH LARGER THAN EVEN THEIR APARTMENT IN KNOBBER’S HILL.

THE FLOOR WAS A PRISTINE PALE-GRAY WOOD. EACH TIMBER WAS WIDE AND COVERED LARGE SWATHES OF THE ROOM. CURRENTLY THERE WERE THREE ROOMS WITH DIFFERENT ARRANGEMENTS OF LONG TABLES. THERE WAS ALSO A SINK THAT DRAINED INTO WHAT DUNCAN SAID WAS ITS OWN HOLDING TANK.

HE CLEARLY BROUGHT UP THE SEWER PROBLEM ON PURPOSE IN ORDER TO STRONG ARM THIS PROPERTY. WHICH LEAD TO ITS PRICE. IT WAS THE HIGHEST ONE SO FAR, REACHING THE PEAK OF THEIR BUDGET. IT STILL LEFT MONEY FOR EXPENSES BUT IT WAS SOMETHING ADRIA WAS NERVOUS PAYING.

SHE INSPECTED EVERY INCH OF THE BUILDING, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE STONE FOUNDATION IN THE BASEMENT.

ONCE SHE WAS FINISHED SHE WANTED IT. AL OF COURSE WOULDN’T SHOW MUCH OPINION. BUT ADRIA COULD HAVE ONE. SHE THOUGHT OF A DOZEN VARIABLES, ITS LOCATION WAS NEAR THE NEWLY OPENED WING OF THE ACADEMY, ITS PRICE WAS CURRENTLY LOW DUE TO THE SEASON, AND IT POSSESSED ITS OWN HOLDING TANK.

THIS COULD VIABLY BE A VERY GOOD PROPERTY WITH SOME WORK. MORE CONNECTIONS COULD BE ADDED TO THE HOLDING TANKS PLUMBING. AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT THE PROPERTY LINE ITSELF LIES FAR AWAY FROM ANY NEARBY BUILDINGS, SO ENCROACHING NEIGHBORS WILL NEVER BE A PROBLEM. NOT TO MENTION THE CONCEPT OF EXPANDING WITH A RENOVATION ISN’T IMPOSSIBLE.

"OK, WE’LL TAKE IT." ADRIA EVENTUALLY DECIDES AFTER CHECKING THAT STUFFY ATTIC FOR SIGNS OF TERMITES OR MICE.

"I FIGURED. ITS THE BEST ONE AROUND." DUNCAN SAYS AS HE TAKES A FEW FORMS FROM HIS SIDE POUCH AND LAYS THEM ON A DUSTY TABLE. "THEN IF YOU PLEASE."

ADRIA AND DUNCAN LOOK TO AL AT THIS POINT. OF COURSE AL REALIZES THIS MEANS HE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING SO HE LOOKS AT THE PAPER.

AGAIN HE SIGNS HIS NAME, AL THIRTEEN.

THIS TIME HE CHOOSES TO EMBRACE THE MISTAKE. AFTER ALL, IT WOULD JUST BE MORE CONFUSING AT THIS POINT.

ADRIA HANDS THE MAN A HANDFUL OF COINS FROM BOTH HER AND AL’S PURSE. IT WAS QUIET A BIT OF THEIR SAVINGS BUT A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT ADRIA THOUGHT.

"THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT WAS A PLEASURE DOING BUSINESS WITH YOU BOTH. I HOPE YOU ARE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS IN THIS LABORATORY." HE SAY TO AL WITH A FIRM BOW.

"THANK YOU." AL RESPONDS WITH A GRIN. "I WILL DO MY BEST."

WITH THAT DUNCAN WALKS OUT AND TAKES A SMALL WOODEN PLAQUE THAT HUNG ON THE DOOR WITH HIM. IN THE PACKAGE OF PAPERWORK ADRIA FOUND TWO THICK IRON KEYS. SHE HANDS ONE TO AL AND HELD THE OTHER CAREFULLY.

"PUT THAT IN YOUR COIN POUCH OR SOMETHING. DON’T LOSE IT."

AL NODS FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS, "UNDERSTOOD."

"SO WHAT DO WE DO FIRST? THERE IS KIND OF A LOT TO DO. WE SHOULD TURN ONE… AH… WE SHOULD CLEAN OUT TWO ROOMS AND MAKE THEM INTO BEDROOMS. AND WE WILL NEED FURNITURE AND STUFF. BUT I'M SURE YOU ARE ANXIOUS TO SEE THE LIBRARY, NOT TO MENTION WE HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE SCHOOL SEMESTER STARTS OR WHAT SUPPLIES YOU’LL NEED."

AL LOOKS AT HER WITH A STARTLED EXPRESSION. HE DOESN’T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR ANY OF THOSE PROMPTS.

ADRIA SMILES WITH A SUDDEN REALIZATION. "AH, SORRY. DON’T WORRY WE CAN GET SOME HELP. PROBABLY."

ADRIA TAKES OUT A NOTEPAD FROM ONE OF HER BAGS AND BEGINS JOTTING DOWN A LIST OF NEEDED ITEMS. "ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF?"

"APPLES."

"RIGHT, RIGHT WE WILL GET FOOD FOR SURE, DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT. WELL WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT ON THE WAY." ADRIA SAYS GIVING UP ON THE LIST AND INSTEAD TURNING TOWARDS THE DOOR. "COME ON, LETS GO EXPLORE."

"OKAY." AL SAYS WITH A NOD, WALKING TOWARDS THE DOOR TO CATCH UP WITH ADRIA.

AGAIN THEY ENTER THE WIDE STREET. THE WIND HAD SHIFTED SO A WHOLE NEW SMELL DOMINATES THE AIR NOW. IT WASN’T NECESSARILY UNPLEASANT SMELLING, LIKELY FROM A PERFUMER OR HERBARY. EXTREMELY TOXIC OR PUNGENT CHEMICALS HAVE TO BE BE TAKEN SPECIAL CARE OF SO IT’S UNLIKELY THAT FUMES WILL EVER BE DANGEROUS. AND WHEN INSIDE BUILDINGS IT'S TOTALLY UNNOTICEABLE.

"WE HAVE TO HEAD TOWARDS THE INNER CAPITAL. WE WILL DO SOME WINDOW SHOPPING ON THE WAY BUT LETS DO THE REAL SHOPPING ON THE WAY BACK ONCE WE HAVE DIANNA’S HELP."

THEY MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE GRID OF ROADS BACK INTO WHAT WAS CONSIDERED ‘DOWNTOWN’. HERE THE BUILDINGS WERE SMALLER AND PRESSED MUCH CLOSER TOGETHER. EACH HAD A PANE OR TWO OF GLASS ON ITS WALL ALLOWING PASSERBY'S TO SEE THE GOODS THEY STOCKED.

AL FOUND IT CURIOUS SINCE THE SAME BUILDINGS OFTEN SAY PRECISELY WHAT THEY SELL RIGHT ABOVE THOSE PANES OF GLASS. ‘PERHAPS PEOPLE DON’T LIKE TO LOOK UP’ HE THOUGHT.

AL SAW COUNTLESS ITEMS HE HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE. MACHINES THAT PRESS LETTERS ONTO PAPER WITH THE CLICK OF A KEY. LARGE HUMAN SHAPED GOLEMS ARMED WITH SHIELDS OR SERVING TRAYS. RACKS AND RACKS OF STAFFS, CANES, AND WANDS TIPPED WITH A GEM OR JEWEL. HE EVEN SPOTTED A SMALL CHILD-LOOKING WOMAN HAMMERING ON A SHOE, RAPIDLY MENDING IT. HE WOULD HAVE CONTINUED WATCHING BUT ADRIA WARNED HIM ABOUT STARING.

THEIR MISSION IS THE TWO LARGE FURNITURE STORES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE ROAD. THEIR PRICES INDICATED A FIERCE RIVALRY. WHERE ONE SHOP SOLD A BED FOR FIFTY SILVER THE OTHER SOLD ONE FOR FORTY NINE, WHERE ONE SOLD A BOOKSHELF FOR TWENTY FIVE THE OTHER SOLD IT FOR TWENTY FOUR.

"SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THE BEST DEAL FROM EITHER ONE." ADRIA SAYS LOOKING BACK AND FORTH AT THE TWO STORES.

AL ON THE OTHER HAND JUST SCANS THE PRICES IN EACH STORE AND BEGINS CREATING A SPREADSHEET IN HIS HEAD.

ADRIA POINTS OUT A FEW PIECES OF FURNITURE SHE WANTS BUT OVERALL THEY DON’T SLOW DOWN THEIR PACE MUCH. IT WAS ONLY WHEN PASSING A CART FILLED WITH SWEET SMELLING BREAD ROLLS DID THEY STOP. AL GOT AN APPLE STUFFED TART AND ADRIA, PEAR. OF COURSE AFTER A BIT OF CURIOUS GLANCES ADRIA SHARES A BITE WITH AL.

"GOOD RIGHT?" ADRIA ASKS EXCHANGING THE ROLLS THEY TRADED.

"YEAH." AL AGREES WITH A NOD.

"TRUTHFULLY PEARS WERE MY ACTUAL GO-TO WHEN VISITING LIBRARIES BACK WHEN I LIVED HERE. UNFORTUNATELY THEY CAN’T GROW BACK IN KNOBBER AND NO ONE SEEMED INTERESTED IN IMPORTING THEM." ADRIA RELENTS BITING INTO HER TART AGAIN AND CATCHING THE CRUMBS WITH HER OTHER HAND. "ALTHOUGH PEARS ARE MORE DANGEROUS TO EAT IN LIBRARIES. SEE A PEAR IS A HUNDRED TIMES JUICIER THAN AN APPLE."

ADRIA MUMBLES THE WORDS TO AL WITH A MOUTHFUL OF FLAKY BREAD AND ROAST PEAR.

AL NODS IN UNDERSTANDING AND TAKES A LARGE BITE OF HIS OWN TART. THE APPLE TART CONTAINED CINNAMON, A FLAVOR AL COULDN’T PLACE. HE WAS FOND OF IT BUT IT CONFUSED HIM. HE EXPECTED BREAD AND APPLE, ALL OF WHICH HE COULD SEE. HE FOUND THIS NEW FLAVOR BIZARRE AND DELICIOUS.

AL AND ADRIA QUIETLY STUFF THE REST OF THEIR MEALS INTO THEIR FACES WITH WIDE GRINS. THEY RECEIVE A FEW GLANCES FROM OTHER SHOPPING TOWNSPEOPLE AND MERCHANTS BUT MOSTLY IT WAS ENVY ABOUT THEIR AGE OR THEIR CAREFREE EXPRESSIONS.

THE TWO CONTINUEING THEIR WALK, ATTEMPT TO RESTRAIN THEMSELVES FROM PURCHASING SIMILAR SWEETS AT THE FEW OTHER CARTS AND STANDS THAT STOOD BETWEEN THEM AND THE INNER CAPITAL. AL WAS STRONG WILLED, BUT ADRIA WAS WEAK AND NOODLE-LIKE IN HER CONVICTION.

"LAST ONE." ADRIA SAYS, EATING A THIRD TART IN A SINGLE LARGE BITE. "DON’T GIVE ME THAT LOOK AL."

"SORRY." AL SAYS WITH A GRIN.

"HEY. STOP THAT!" ADRIA AGAIN GROANS TO AL, ATTEMPTING TO STEP ON HIS BOOT. AL QUICKLY MOVES HIS FOOT AWAY AVOIDING THE STOMP EASILY. "QUIT MOVING, I'M TRYING TO STEP ON… …YOU."

AGAIN THE TWO GOT ENVIOUS GAZES FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER. MEN WERE JEALOUS OF AL’S POSITION, WOMEN WERE JEALOUS OF ADRIA’S SMILE. AND SEVERAL WERE JUST JEALOUS OF THE PEAR TART.

"THERE YOU ARE!" A VOICE UNFAMILIAR TO AL RINGS OUT IN THE LARGE COURTYARD. QUICKLY TOWNSPEOPLE WHO LOOK IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SOURCE DASH AWAY, LOWERING THEIR HEADS.

AL UNDERSTOOD THE REASON WHEN HE GLANCES IN THE DIRECTION THE VOICE CAME FROM. DOZENS OF GUARDS STOOD AROUND A SINGLE PERSON. IT WAS AN INTIMIDATING ENTOURAGE EVEN FOR AL. THE CHILL UP ADRIA’S SPINE INSTANTLY WARMS WHEN SHE RECOGNIZES THE VOICE’S OWNER.

"DIANNA! WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE! I WAS PLANNING ON SURPRISING YOU." ADRIA SAYS SMILING TOWARDS THE GIRL AT THE CENTER OF THE LARGE GROUP OF GUARDS.

"YOU THINK YOU COULD SURPRISE ME? PSHA!" THE GIRL SMILES WITH HAUGHTY EXPRESSION. "MY INTELLIGENCE AGENTS WOULD BE FLAYED ALIVE IF YOU SNUCK UP ON ME."

"DIANNA YOU SHOULDN’T JOKE LIKE THAT. YOU’RE SCARING AL." ADRIA CHASTISES WITH A GLANCE TOWARDS AL.

"RIGHT, RIGHT." DIANNA SAYS STEPPING THROUGH THE COURTYARD CLOSER TO AL. "SO YOU ARE AL. STRANGE, VERY STRANGE."

SHE BEGINS LOOKING UP AND DOWN HIS BODY CAREFULLY. FOR WHAT FEELS LIKE THE HUNDREDTH TIME AL HAS A HAND PRODDING THE TOP OF HIS HEAD LOOKING FOR BUMPS OR BRUISES.

"STOP IT. THEY WOULD BE GONE BY NOW ANYWAY." ADRIA REASONS, KNOCKING DIANNA’S HAND AWAY FROM AL’S HEAD.

"OH?" DIANNA SAYS IN SURPRISE OF ADRIA’S QUICK ACTION. "WELL, YOU ARE PROBABLY RIGHT."

DIANNA SMIRKS AT ADRIA AFTER GLANCING BETWEEN THE TWO. SHE THEN SETTLES HER FACE AND NODS TO HERSELF WITH UNDERSTANDING.

"WELL LET’S SEE WHAT KIND OF PLACE YOU CHOSE. AND YOU NEED HELP WITH AL’S SCHOOL ENROLLMENT RIGHT?"

"HOW DID YOU…?" ADRIA BEGINS TO ASK, SUSPICIOUS OF HOW DIANNA KNEW SO MUCH ABOUT THEIR SITUATION.

"A NEW COURT RESEARCHER IS A PRETTY BIG DEAL IN MY COMMUNITY. I DID THE MATH AND FIGURED HE MUST HAVE BEEN THE SAME AL YOU TALKED ABOUT IN YOUR LETTER."

THIS EXPLANATION SEEMS TO BE ACCEPTABLE TO ADRIA SO SHE DROPS THE QUESTIONING, OPTING INSTEAD TO SHOW DIANNA BACK TOWARDS THE PROPERTY THEY HAVE JUST BOUGHT.

"AH, ADRIA. HOW ABOUT YOU STICK WITH THE GUARDS IN THE FORMATION WHILE I CHAT WITH AL." DIANNA SAYS WITH A WIDE SMILE. "IT WILL JUST BE BORING RESEARCHER/MAGICIAN TALK."

"WHA… BU…" ADRIA BEGINS TO COMPLAIN BUT SHE REALIZES QUICKLY SHE DOESN’T HAVE MUCH ROOM TO COMPLAIN.

"AL IS YOUR BOSS RIGHT? HE CAN LEAD ME BACK TO HIS LAB. YOU JUST FOCUS ON PROTECTING US WITH THE REST OF THE GUARDS." DIANNA IS SHINING WITH A GRIN AT THIS POINT. IT’S CLEAR SHE IS ENJOYING THIS FAR TOO MUCH.

"…HATE YOU…" ADRIA LIGHTLY MUMBLES STEPPING BACK TOWARDS THE GUARDS SHADOWING DIANNA.

FEW OF THE GUARDS WHO RECOGNIZE ADRIA LIGHTLY BOW THEIR HEADS AT HER. THE REST SIMPLY MAINTAIN THEIR WATCH. ADRIA NOTICES THAT THE SAME ONES WHO RECOGNIZE HER SMIRKED THE MOST AT DIANNA’S ACTIONS. OF COURSE THE OTHERS JUST THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL IN THE SITUATION.

MAYBE I AM LOOKING INTO IT TO DEEPLY BUT TO ME IT SEEMS LIKE DIANNA NOT ONLY DID THIS TO SEPARATE THE TWO BUT ALSO TO PUT WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS A MUCH STRONGER SECURITY FORCE AROUND ADRIA. IT’S VERY MUCH LIKE HER. SHE REALLY HASN’T CHANGED MUCH.

"SO AL." DIANNA EVENTUALLY SAYS AS AL BACKTRACKS ALONG THE PATH. "TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF."

"ABOUT MYSELF?"

"RIGHT. I HEARD ABOUT YOU A BIT IN THE LETTER ADRIA SENT. BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT'S HAPPENED SINCE THEN. SO, HOW WITH NO MEMORY WERE YOU ABLE TO BECOME A COURT RESEARCHER? YOU EVEN CURED SOMEONE THAT EVEN I PERSONALLY WASN’T ABLE TO HELP. THAT’S EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE." DIANNA SAYS WITH A EXTREMELY CURIOUS EXPRESSION "PLEASE DO TELL. AND DON’T LEAVE A SINGLE DETAIL OUT."

"I USED WHAT WAS TAUGHT TO ME." AL EXPLAINS WITH A SHRUG. "IT WAS EASY."

"WERE YOU TAUGHT TO SEE FREE MANA?" DIANNA ASKS WITH NARROWING EYES.

"YES." AL REPLIES WITH A NOD.

DIANNA LOOKS SHOCKED AT THE RESPONSE. "WHAT? HOW? BY WHO?"

"THE PRIEST SHOWED ME MAGIC. IN THAT MOMENT I SAW THE EDGES OF FREE MANA."

"SURE. THAT'S HOW YOU CHECK MANA HUE. BUT THAT DOESN’T…" DIANNA BEGINS TO REASON BUT SHE STOPS HERSELF AND TAKES A NOTEPAD FROM HER POCKET. SHE BEGINS QUICKLY WRITING NOTES ABOUT HER THEORY. "TELL ME AS MUCH DETAIL ABOUT IT AS POSSIBLE."

WITH THAT AL RECOUNTS AS SIMPLY AS HE CAN WHAT HE HAD DONE. IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE, MOST OF IT WAS DONE SUBCONSCIOUSLY. ALL THE WHILE ADRIA FROM BEHIND WAS STRAINING HER EARS TO HEAR THE CONVERSATION BUT ODDLY THEIR TALK DIDN’T EMIT EVEN THE FAINTEST SOUND.

"HEY AL…" DIANNA ASKS WITH A HINT OF HESITATION. "HAS ADRIA… IT’S PROBABLY RUDE TO TALK ABOUT IF SHE HASN’T MENTIONED IT. BUT… WELL HAS SHE HAD ANY PANIC ATTACKS FROM WHAT YOU CAN REMEMBER?"

"PANIC ATTACK?" AL QUERIES WITH A TILT OF HIS HEAD. HE HAD AN ENTRY FOR THE WORD BUT HE COULDN’T CONNECT IT TO ADRIA.

"ANY PARANOIA?" DIANNA AGAIN PROMPTS. "THAT’S HOW IT NORMALLY STARTS."

AL COULDN’T DENY THAT BUT HE FELT IT WAS ALL WARRANTED PARANOIA ON HER PART. HE REMAINS SILENT, ANSWERING DIANNA’S QUESTION IN HIS OWN WAY.

"WELL IN ANY CASE SHE SEEMS TO BE DOING WELL. SO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK." WITH THAT SHE PATS AL ON THE BACK WITH A GRIN.

"I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU TOO." AL EVENTUALLY SAYS AFTER TURNING DOWN A FAMILIAR ALLEYWAY.

"OH? I WONDER IF ITS SOMETHING I CAN ANSWER." DIANNA LAUGHS FULL OF EXPECTATIONS.

"THE BIG BANG, MANA. IT WAS ALL YOU."

DIANNA LOOKS SURPRISED BY THE QUESTION FOR A MOMENT BEFORE SMIRKING. "AL YOU ASK SOME STRANGE QUESTIONS. THAT DOESN’T EVEN MAKE SENSE. HOW COULD A SINGLE PERSON BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THAT? YOU MEAN WAS IT ME WHO TAUGHT ADRIA? IF THATS THE QUESTION THEN YES, THATS TRUE."

AL NODS A SILENT REPLY BUT LEAVES THE QUESTION IN HIS MIND MARKED AS UNANSWERED.

"SAY AL," DIANNA SAYS AS THEY NEAR THE NEIGHBORHOOD ADRIA CHOSE. "WHAT’S YOUR GOAL IN LIFE?"

"GOAL?"

"MHM." DIANNA NODS WITH A SERIOUS EXPRESSION.

AL COULDN’T HELP BUT ANSWER, HE HAD NO REASON TO FILTER THE THOUGHTS.

EVENTUALLY THEY REACH THE BUILDING, AL, EVEN WHILE DISTRACTED BY THE CONVERSATION, DIDN’T GET TURNED AROUND AT ALL. EVEN ADRIA SUSPECTED SHE WOULD HAVE TROUBLE FINDING THE BUILDING IMMEDIATELY, BUT FOR AL THERE WAS NO SUCH WORRY.

"THIS IS IT?" DIANNA ASKS LOOKING THROUGH DOORWAY CAREFULLY BEFORE SHE FOLLOWS AL INSIDE. "IS IT SAFE?"

"IT’S SAFE." ADRIA CONFIRMS AFTER SHOVING PAST DIANNA IN THE DOOR-FRAME. "NOW WHAT DID YOU TWO TALK ABOUT? WHAT WAS IT?!"

"NOTHING, NOTHING. ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS AL HAS VERY LITTLE UNDERSTANDING OF REPRODUCTION. IT’S AMAZING THAT HE COULDN’T FIND THAT IN ANY OF THE BOOKS HE READ. I SUPPOSE I WILL LEAVE THAT ONE FOR YOU TO EXPLAIN." DIANNA SMIRKS FOLLOWING ADRIA INTO THE SMALL ENTRY ROOM.

ADRIA TURNS A SHADE OF RED AT THE TOPIC, A FEW OF THE OLDER GUARDS ATTEMPT TO STIFLE LAUGHTER. "THAT’S… I DON’T THINK THAT’S SOMETHING I SHOULD HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO…"

"I CAN TEACH HIM IF YOU DON’T WANT TO." DIANNA SAYS WITH ANOTHER GRIN.

"NO!" ADRIA HALF SHOUTS GRIPPING AL’S WRIST AND PULLING HIM AWAY FROM DIANNA’S CLUTCHES. "CAN YOU JUST BE NORMAL. WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP."

"I AM HELPING," DIANNA SAYS WITH AN INSULTED LOOK. "AH, FINE. YOU WANT TO APPLY AT THE ACADEMY RIGHT? WELL HE WILL NEED TO FILL OUT SOME PAPERWORK SO I’LL HAVE A GUARD RUN DOWN AND GET IT. WE ALSO NEED BASIC SUPPLIES. BASIC TOOLS, NOTEBOOKS AND WRITING UTENSILS, ILUIN CAN YOU HANDLE THAT?"

"YES MA’AM." A WOMAN SAYS WITH A SALUTE. THEN, HER ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHERS, DASH TOWARDS THE DOOR TO PURCHASE THE SUPPLIES.

"NOW, IS THE LUGGAGE ALMOST HERE?" DIANNA ASKS CASUALLY SITTING DOWN IN A NEARBY CHAIR.

ADRIA LOOKS AT THE TWO BAGS THEY HAD BROUGHT WITH THEM AND BEGINS TO ANSWER. "WELL THAT’S ALL WE HA…"

"NOT YOU." DIANNA SAYS TURNING TO ADRIA AND RETURNING HER GAZE TOWARDS THE GUARDS.

"YES. THE CARTS SHOULD ARRIVE IN A FEW MINUTES." AN OLDER GUARD SAYS GLANCING AT THE DOOR.

"GOOD." DIANNA SAYS WITH A NOD. "THIS PLACE SHOULD BE GOOD."