It was four months since the women’s arrival when it was announced to the ladies that they would attend the Welcoming Ball. Its purpose was to gather outside of the strict Training Center and into a non-learning environment. But that didn’t mean there was nothing to learn. It was a time to keep watchful as the Adasion would want the women to consider joining their clan. Some of the women had already been approached by those approved by their sponsors.

“Well, what did he look like?” Sophia asked Georgie as they and Juliana snacked at a café in the Mi districts. Many Adasions stared as they walked by their window. A few of the pedestrians made multiple laps.

“They’re a Mi with deep Turquoise hair and dark skin. They have the sharpest ears and eyes. Their whole clan are blues and they are in the military. My sponsor said they’d be a good match. They’re so mysterious. A being of few words.” She fanned herself, “They were so romantic.”

Juliana raised her eyebrow, “How so? They don’t have sex.”

“You don’t need sex to be romantic silly. He’s doing the same things as men do in our planet. Apparently, they learned about courting since the Victorian age. I heard that’s when the first women came here.”

“Times have changed a lot since then.” Sophia noted.

“Yes, but the idea is the same. You courted to attract a spouse and create a family. How is this any different? In this case, they are giving you gifts, being courteous, and in their case—kissing my hand. It’s all to attract you to their family. Their clan. They want you to be part of them.”

“You said you saw how they live. He’s not Fa class. How different are the Mi class?” Juliana asked.

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“At home they all assist with chores. It’s like having a bunch of roommates.”

“Hmm. Nue’ant won’t share with me anything about the mana transfers.” Juliana frowned.

“The royal family was also tight-lipped about it,” Sophia spoke in a mocking tone imitating the prince, “Hirote said, ‘when our relationship is officiated, I will be happy to show you’. Show me what‽ They’re such an ass.”

Georgie leaned close to the others, “I’ve already done it!”

“What?” Juliana exclaimed, “We were told not to do that unless we’re officially registered with a clan. Other clans could claim your egg.”

“Nobody’s going to know. It can take years of energy transfer to form an egg,” Georgie scoffed.

Sophia blushed. “How did it feel?”

She scoffed. “Nothing like you’re thinking. It wasn’t sexual. It was warm, peaceful. We touched foreheads and held our hands. It’s kind of like breathing. I felt the energy. It didn’t hurt. It gathered in my chest then released outwards. It made me feel relaxed. Happy.”

Sophia smiled, “That doesn’t sound bad.”

Juliana asked the others if they had picked their outfit for that night’s ball. She’d have to return to Nue’ant and they would arrive at the ball together. She’d been told at the Teaching Center that it was critical that all newly arrived women go. Juliana was a bit skeptical. They’d meet the who’s who in the Asa Dominion society. The women had been told it was their best opportunity to find a good clan match if they networked well. They needed to find a clan they could relate to, whose values matched their own. However, Juliana did not care for the how insular Asan society was. Only those of the same level could be in the same clan. Yes, they would hire servants to be sworn to their clan, but those of a lower mana ranking would never be equals. Asans were also colorist—they’d only be a clan with those of their own color. They would develop and then keep the secrets to their mana magic. Part of it made sense, but society shouldn’t be limited to such self-imposed restrictions. She could see how a clan of many colors could have an advantage outside of magic development. Economically, socially, perhaps a clan of many colors could succeed. This could have been her own self-assurance talking, but she thought it was possible. She hoped her outside view wasn’t born of human arrogance. There was so much she still didn’t know about on this planet.