Eventually I was able to produce a little puff of that multicoloured mana. It was just like what you saw from the starter circle. It was strange to manipulate something from within your body. It was less the fantasy trope of feeling a pool of liquid inside of you and more like learning to breath with a set of lungs you didn't know you had. Which reminds me of the scene you see every time you arrive at the Academy. They don't shy away from manipulating flesh, do they?

But I had succeeded. So reaching into my robe I pull out the notebook I was given. Still a marvel of skill. The book had no sins. Even if I had complicated feelings for... about the creator. Grumble grumble, not attracted.

Rise perks up to see what I'm doing but she holds the question on the tip of her tongue to herself. I admire the mess of pipes on the back. Four feet stop the note book from resting on the glass-work itself as I set it down.

All the attention to detail reminded me how much I must owe Black now... Ugh, I don't like being in debt...

I raise my hand and concentrate on the muscle in my chest. Squeezing down I push mana out of it and down my arm. Relaxing a series of muscles down my arm allows the mana to freely flow until it seeps through my pores on my palm. Such a strange feeling.

I watch the mana slowly sink into the circle, lighting it up splotch by splotch. My amateur control makes the process take longer than what the starter circle could do. But there is a sense of accomplishment as it fills up. The book said you'd do something similar with your mouth for incantation... kinda makes me curious to try.

Eventually the main circle was lit. The subsidiary circles start to light in sequence on their own. I remove my hand with much relief. Success. A smile forms on my lips as I began to feel a strange sense of belonging to the book. It was no longer just a set of pages bound with a strange occult cover. It was mine in every sense of the word.

The circle fades away, job done. Only a couple of circles at the edge continue to work to fill the infused essence into the pages. I pick it up and with a natural motion I slot it into my soul. Whoa, that was easy. The book slips right between my cleavage and into my chest without resistance. Ehm, perhaps I shouldn't do that around guys...

"What was that..." Rise breathes. Eyes a little wide from the unexpected display.

"Ah! Well, how to say this." Feeling a little 'caught red handed,' I try to think of an excuse. "I-I went to the shop?" Who am I questioning exactly?

"Oh, and you got this? What does it do?" She asks full of curiosity.

I take it back out of my chest. It easily slips out. Plonking it back on the desk I turn to the back where Black had told me a list of features should be written.

"It's a Grimoire. In other words a book that uses magic in some fashion." I begin to explain what had been explained to me by Scribe and Black. She nods along but half way through my descriptions she begins to frown.

"So how much did this cost?" She asks.

"Eh, ah... well, I don't know..." Lame, uncool! Come on Mel.

"So how did you get it? Did you pinch it?" She asks like it was the most natural conclusion.

"No! Of course not! It was a gift..."

"Ooh..." Her eyes take on a sharp edge. "I'd be careful Gentle."

"Wait it isn't like that!" I try to pour water over her accusations. We just met, we don't know each other. There was no way his gift was meant as anything other than a helping hand to a like minded junior. I think...

"Gentle..." she continues with a tone that suggests, you poor naive girl. Her eyes remain sharp, like a cat ready to pounce on its prey. "He probably wants something from you."

"He just wanted me to test it out, it's a prototype. I don't have anything else to offer."

Rise raises an eyebrow. She gives me an exaggerated look up and down. "Right."

Gah, you weren't there! He was just a geeky guy, much too interested in his craftsmanship. But I was... am guy. And Rise's look made me think she firmly placed me in the category of attractive. I knew her comment had merit. I don't know how to feel about that. It made my heart quiver.

On the one hand it was such an alien complement to me. Something I'd distanced my self from for the majority of my life. Your body is a vessel that gets you through life. Was almost a motto for me.

On the other hand it gave me a little thrill to think he may be attracted to me. Oh god no, not this again. I felt another blush come on. I forced my attention back on the notebook. Rise just shakes her head and turns back to her own reading. I still catch the occasional concerned looks she sends my way however.

So, new functions for this prototype. I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth through. All puns intended. The book had no sins. Copy mode? With the right essence you can copy an image or page of text by overlaying an empty page over it.

I turn the book over and low and behold a third vial is completely filled. It gave me a rather fun idea. If I could copy that it would be a good party trick, of sorts. I had the perfect target for my first copy. It wouldn't help my magic but I needed a bit of fun at this point.

It's arguably a waste to store that sort of thing in my notebook. But those tables will be fun to learn using my Academy memory. Better to have a little fun with the Academy while I have it right?

------

The day has finally come for my last two classes to start. My day starts with a playful smirk from Scribe as she stamps my hand. I'm too distracted studying the architecture of the ceiling to notice. Yep, I'm sticking with that excuse.

Once I'm out of sight I take out my notebook and begin to study my side project as I walk. I've grown used to navigating the halls of the Academy at this point. I'm hardly the only one using the lengthy walk as an opportunity to do something productive.

Nimstrings, dual graphs, the mex function, Kayles-vines. I feel truly at home. A hug grin is plastered on my face as I absorb the information with the unfairness of my magically tweaked mental faculties.

A little of the depression from the day before lifts. I could really use this to learn some of my uni class curriculum. But nothing in my courses is as rote learning as these tables and diagrams. I turn the page, but notice the corridor has grown more crowded again. Feeling a little self conscious I plop the book back inside when no one is around to see the action.

The target class room isn't far off and I spot a few other students enter the room. I quickly follow after.

The room is the most mundane yet. No eldritch darkness. No non-euclidean teaching spaces. Just a scattering of round tables. A magic circle does exist in the centre of each of the tables. But that's par for course at this point.

I look around for a good space to settle. There doesn't seem to be a chalkboard or anything though. So I have no way to orientate myself. So I just observe the students milling about. Wouldn't want a repeat of the UG class.

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My eyes catch a couple talking animatedly. A tall golem like student chats to a petite plant girl. The girl seems so energetic bouncing on the balls of her feet as she seems to compete with the tall golem for height. This is the first time I've seen another plant like student. They seem rare.

No sooner had I thought that than she turns in my direction. Our eyes meet. Her eyes go wide with recognition.

She Squeals with delight. What?! What did I do this time? Waving her arms in the air excitedly she hops up and down, forgetting her original talking partner. Who for their part simply face palms in resignation. The girl dashes towards me.

I take a couple of steps back, not having expected that reaction. She weaves around surprised students. Almost tripping one poor guy who crossed her path. She makes it to me in a couple of seconds flat, before coming to a swift halt. Her eyes sparkle as she looks at my horns and tail. "Your plantae right! You are right!"

I study her figure back. She's a petite girl, about half a head shorter than me. Verdant green hair flows from her head like lush soft grass. Two rose like flowers bloom on top of her head as she stands their in front of me. Each a different gradient of colour, deep blue to white tips and crimson red with smokey tips. Her skin is peach like in quality, like exactly peach like. Flecks of red, pink and orange like the succulent flesh of a fruit. In a word, pretty.

"Will you be my friend!" She blurts out with little forethought.

"Eh. What's going on?" I look around for help. We seem to have drawn an audience.

Most of the students make a point of ignoring us. But a couple give a warm smile at the scene. The golem from before is slowly making their way over. Each step slow and deliberate.

"I mean, it's like, the first time since I've met another student who's a Plantae!" She erupts, unable to contain her glee. "And your so pretty, and like, your the same as me and I've been waiting so long to see another..."

"Oh, OK, OK. I'll be your friend. Please take a breathe!" I feel sorry for her lungs. Being staved of oxygen as she forgets to use them. When I give her a positive response the flowers on her head pop fully open in bloom.

"Yes!! Thank you!" She dives into my bosom head butting my chin as she latches on.

"Oof!" A sweat scent envelopes me, my nose less than an inch from her flowers. The scent stirs my heart making it hammer. I hope she can't hear that! It's a flora scent but at the same time seems so personal and unique. Her small body sinks into mine giving me a rather different thrill than Black did. I'm a shameful girl, oh god, how does this keep happening. At least it's another girl this time. It's much easier to deal with attraction to girls... that is if she wasn't clinging onto me...

I look behind her for help. Her friend has just arrived but simply gives me a dismissive wave. "Just let it happen." A rather gravely but androgynous voice tells me. "There's no stopping her when she's like that."

The girl mumbles something into my chest. "Sorry I can't hear you."

She leans her head back. Puppy dog eyes peer into my own. "Would you be my lover? Can I have you? Keep you?" She asks innocently.

I splutter. Direct! Wait we're both girls! Thankfully the golem saves me, peeling her off of me by pulling her back by the collar. "Behave Spring, your causing your new friend trouble if you act so fast."

The golem turns to me while holding up the glum Spring, as I learn her name is. The golem is a strange one. Made of stone, soil and wood. All their joints are solid stone or wood. But regions of their body have lush patches of soil where a garden of various mosses grow. Small little flowers dot the surface leaving an elegant and beautiful display. Their face is a static featureless mask however. Which leaves me guessing where their voice comes from.

"I'm sorry my friend has caused you trouble. She can be a tad impulsive. My name is Garden and this little monster is Spring." She bows slightly, forcing Springs head down along with her. Afterwards she proceeds to take out a small metal can to spritz the little patches of moss, keeping them hydrated.

"Ehm, nice to meet you two. I'm Mel." I respond to her polite introduction with a little nod of my own. How do I deal with these two. I feel a little dizzy from Springs onslaught...

"So..." Spring asks hopefully. "Will you..." Earning a whap on the back of her head. But she ignores it to implore me with her eyes, which grow a little teary. Is that from pain or...

"There's an order to these things Spring. Give her some space."

"Wha! That's a fleshy habit. Why should I follow the order of things a fleshy would take. We're plantae! Right Gentle?"

"Ah, em, but we're both girls..." As if that's an excuse! I'm clearly attracted to girls and it seems she is too... But the question seems to confuse her for another reason.

She laughs. "Girls? But we're plantae, why would that matter to us?" I tilt my head, it was my turn to be confused. "What are you saying? Plantae don't have different sexes." She finishes

"OK you two, lets find a desk. Seems like this could take a while. Want to join us Gentle?" Garden asks. I nod. Although a little intense, these two are rather friendly, I can't say I dislike them. If only I could control the blush trying to creep onto my face.

Garden finds a nice cosy desk big enough to fit the three of us around. Since it's circular we sit in a sort of triangle. But Spring begins to shuffle her seat around the desk. I try to ignore the limpet as I consider whether to ask what should be common sense for a plantae, apparently.

But surprisingly Spring seems to come to a conclusion on her own. She stops within arms reach of my seat. "Ah, I think I get it. Your not plantae on your home world right? At least not fully." Her eyes are sparkling again.

Those words hit the mark and I find myself stiffening. How do I answer this! She didn't sound accusatory though, just as if she'd figured out a puzzle that was bugging her.

"Oh, ho, now you've done it. You seem to have flipped a switch Gentle. I think I'll get on with a project while she gives you this lecture." Garden chuckles to themselves before pulling out a sketch book from their robes. They begin working on a circle that was half finished in the book.

Turning to my new neighbour. I find that she's invaded my personal space once again. "You see Plantae are the plant like students of the Academy. And as such we follow after our plant forms in our home worlds. But I know of no plantae that don't have both parts. In other words we're both boys and girls. And we're neither. It may not be in the way you'd expect but it's always the case." She proudly gestures her blooming flowers on her head.

Wait really? But I don't have flowers... Then something clicks. Not in the way I expect, she says. I have a suspicion. Oh god, that's why! I cover my mouth. Vowing to never open it again in the Academy.

"Is there something wrong?" Spring asks with a tilt of her head.

"Nuh-uh!" I muffle.

She nods. "But you're not plantae on your home world?" And continues her line of thought. "You must have switch reincarnation cycle lately. Your soul found the most compatible form to incarnate as but no plantae forms were present on your home world! This does happen from time to time."

Her eyes scan back and forth as she thinks. Happy with her reasoning she smiles satisfied. But before long the smile turns into a frown. "Must be difficult feeling so out of sorts with your body." Wait does she mean... ah no, I think she means my Earth body should feel off somehow... but it doesn't really. If anything I just feel detached from it. "If I remember my Soul Studies class correctly you should have grown up quite different from everyone else. Both the soul effects the body and the body effects the soul. So you should eventually reach equilibrium. But isn't this great!! You should have the perfect form for yourself now thanks to the Academy!"

I don't know. I really don't know. Some of what she says slots into place, fills in some details. Like how my body could be different. But was she suggesting that I should feel dysphoric in my current form on Earth? Or was she suggesting that I should be turning into some plant creature on Earth if I had a Plantae soul? Of course that hasn't happened. But is that because Earth is strange or my old theory is correct? That I was a body usurper. I just don't know. I still feel like an impostor waiting to be spotted.

"Aww, don't worry, don't fret! I'll look after you. Let this senior help you! Let me take you under my wing!" Her grin is anything but innocent.

"You just want to date her. Your ulterior motives are plain to see Spring." Garden pitches in from the side. Having obviously been listening in.

I giggle seeing the interplay between these two. They seem to have been friends for a while. "So I'm guessing this isn't your first class. Have you two been at the Academy long?"

Spring beams. Our chat continues. She tells me about her previous classes, having spent three Terms at the Academy already. Garden has been here a shorter time. It's their second Term.

Apparently Mystic Poetry is considered essential learning, and you either take it first or second Term. Spring being the odd one out, as she was two hyped with the more theoretical courses to take it earlier. Ehm, Spring? I think MP is considered a very theoretical course though? I learn of her passion for ex-biology.

She's just as geeky as Black but in a different manner. She wants to explore the Cosmos. See every world. Catalogue every plant and animal. But lately she's found her limit. If she didn't take some of the practical topics the trials were likely to overwhelm her. Hence MP. Like I said, this is also theory Spring!

Garden mainly stays quiet. But I'm sure I'll find plenty of time to get to know them later. Spring seems too excited to interrupt now. I'm sure I'll be seeing plenty more of these two. This is also quite nice.

It's a few minutes later when the doors open and the teacher for the class enters. A large humanoid mollusc floats above the floor and towards the centre of the class. Carrying a bunch of books in her arms?