"Like this?" I asked the teacher while blue lightning left my hands, their individual arcs shooting straight back into my arm not long after leaving. Meanwhile, a set of measuring devices I had been hooked up to were keeping an eye on how I was casting this magic and they had been a great help. Because with these devices the teachers could point out and explain in detail what I was doing wrong and despite how short a time I had been at this place... I had already learned so much!

Once I would lose control of my body after using magic or just parts of it so long as I kept the spell localised. But now? All I had to worry about was a loss of sensation rather than any spasms or unresponsive and twitching limbs. So as such, I was very happy with my progress.

I had even managed to make a small group of friends who were also from my homeland. So, because of them, I was able to get a more intimate and local opinion of how I was doing. Which, in all likelihood, made my efforts go along a lot more smoothly as despite this Oddity House being equipped and staffed by trained individuals. They still did not seem to have a full grasp on foreign magics and tended to speak and act in terms of how wind works.

Yet, sometimes these descriptions by them would work, for it was wind driving the clouds that lead to lightning. So, provided I was able to translate the context in my head or in writing, I could work with it, but it wasn't a guarantee. Which is why I was very happy to have made friends from my land and people, they could fill in the gaps the teachers could not. I was also quite surprised to know many of them came from lesser nobility within the borders of land owned by my family!

"Yes, you are doing wonderful work right now, Student Einervaene. How much longer do you think you can keep it up for?" the teacher complimented which left me smiling before I moved on to thinking about his question. It was a bit hard to tell, I was not feeling like I was losing control nor was this taxing on my external-magic flow so I could not tell. But, it was very uncomfortable to be casting like this, it was like a constant pins and needles sensation.

"Probably about... Now?" I say to him, stopping my magic right then and there as I finished the sentence. The sound of notes being written filling my ears shortly after as I waited there, still hooked up to the machines. Soon getting out of them as one of the assistants took it all off of me and directed me away from the machine. My eyes looking over at the teacher as he came over and handed me something.

"What I have just given you is a copy of all my notes with annotations on what you could do to improve. And the other one is regarding that uniform request."

"They accepted it?" I asked him in excitement as I began to think about the fact I might be able to get something useful done to my clothes. Well, rather, I would be getting clothes that looked like the ones I had grown to like which I borrowed from Rossie-chira.

"Yes and no, the Council of Student Refurbishment turned it down, but, an individual within Mechanical House has shown interest in making it."

"Oh," I let out, slightly disappointed I would have to put a little more legwork than expected into it, "Is there a reason it was rejected? You did say I had a valid enough reason to make the request as we had outlined."

"I know, I know, but, according to the Council of Student Refurbishment, they felt it would be too short term to justify."

"Too short term? There's no telling how long I will be stuck casting and using my external-magic in a sacrificial manner!"

"The notes I have compiled and your progress seems to have convinced them otherwise. Which, I can understand, you have made some exceptional progress these past few weeks even with your stated time of how long you have been doing this."

I smiled again, slightly embarrassed by the praise, "So who in Mechanical House will I be looking for?"

"The document I have given you gives you all the necessary details, Student Einervaene. But, I will encourage you to get to it as soon as possible, being a fellow student, they might not be so patient regarding it. Mechanical House can be very easily distracted at times with their projects, collective or individual."

"I think I have time today, so would that be a good time?"

"As I said, the sooner the better."

"Noted, but, out of curiosity, do you know of any collective projects Mechanical House does?" I then asked him as I readjusted my grip on the tablets I was handed. What he just said having caught my eye, or rather, ear. Soon moving for the exit but lingering so he could answer.

"Sorry, I don't pay much attention, but, I know about now they are working on this year's Inter-House Talent Conflict arena. It should be very interesting to see that."

"Inter-House Talent Conflict?" I repeated in confusion, having not heard of it.

"While we, the Suhurlodst Academy of Arcane Learning and Understanding do not have a dedicated timetable for terms and so on with it entirely being unique to each student, we do have one exception. That being the Inter-House Talent Conflict which happens about two to three weeks after the end of the exam period dedicated to the main bulk of our student influx. You'll hear more about it later in the year, but, essentially, it's a rather violent sporting event where all our up and coming witches can test how skilled they have gotten if they want."

I backed away slightly, "I think I will probably just watch if I am honest." I tell him before gesturing goodbye and heading out. Pondering it in my head as I left the building I had been in for the duration of that session. I know magic training often led to people becoming fighters, but it was not an inherent and pre-determined outcome. Some did it for leisure and others wanted specific skills tailored.

I, for example, was training in my magic so I could be more respectable when I went on home and so I could exert more authority. Because being skilled in magic ultimately meant more respect directed towards you due to it being such a hard thing to master. Even though the scale of this school might contribute to one becoming divorced from reality. Witches were rare, and frankly, it was amazing I got to travel with a small group of them of various skill levels.

But, speaking of that, I should also find some time to speak to Urtuoi-kischu again! I had not had the time recently and while it was cowardly of me, I did not want to be involved in his... Issues within the confines of this place. I know it wasn't right of me but I needed this education to go smoothly and being with him in public might ruin that...

So, even with these issues, I wanted to make sure I could be there for him from time to time. Even if it is a sudden drop from what we did before, but, a decline was to be expected. We were freely travelling before, so one should not have come here expecting the same amount of hanging out and such. Yet, that did not excuse me from the idea of spending time with him and having fun and all that.

He was my friend after all and I was his so as such we had a responsibility to each other. I just hoped I could get back to the dorm at a time he was there for a long while. At the very least long enough for us to share a meal together so we could catch up. Or, maybe, I could take advantage of the fact a lot of this school revolved around the student self-determining if they took part.

I could just skip a day of work and so on, relax for a day and just spend it with him? That would be something I would like to do, I would even like Rossie-chira to be there. It could be just like our mealtimes back in that town with the Thurnaimarhos of it who I also hope was fine. We did leave on quite messy terms after all.

But, now that I thought of her, I was left worried somewhat for Rossie-chira as I had seen her spending a lot of time on her own. Something she did not normally do, normally she went along with Urtuoi-kischu whenever possible and was very clingy with him. Something I got a full lesson in several times over as she was very protective of him. But now...?

She seemed a little different, I myself may not have seen Urtuoi-kischu enough these past few weeks but she seems to have not either. Had they had a falling out? No, that couldn't have been it, even when either of them got angry with the other it smoothed out quickly. Rossie-chira was easily pushed around like that, not in the bad way, though.

She was just quick to relent or quick to accept apologies from Urtuoi-kischu. Yet, one thing I found a little funny was how now that I did not have her constantly trying to ward me away from Urtuoi-kischu, he came up in my thoughts less often. So I managed to succeed in doing what she told me to do! But maybe that was the point, to go away from him so I would not think on him often?

Yet, that seemed to have backfired as now I was thinking about him a lot and the smile and brief laugh I just produced proved it. I had good reason to think about him this time, however, a lot has happened since we had gotten here. A lot of stuff I could not imagine being good for him. And with those thoughts I found my smile disappearing as I remembered how I felt when he was revealed to the entire Academy.

Even now I don't think I could describe it, it was just so much to take in, all that noise, all those curses and all those screams. Even being in the privacy of our dorms did not let us escape from it all as we were all given personal rundowns on how Urtuoi-kischu was to be treated. How he was meant to be locked into his room at night, signs to keep an eye out for... It was all so draining to have to deal with it.

And that was just me, someone who was not the target of it all!

"Maybe it would not be a good idea to get too blunt with my questions then? Keep it as off-topic to these problems as much as possible?" I found myself vocally thinking as I turned a corner. A short sigh of exhaustion leaving me as I focused on how much longer I still had to go before I got to the part of the Academy with Mechanical House in it. And upon doing that sigh, I found the topic of Urtuoi-kischu being put aside so I could just quietly complain about all the walking. Then, I looked up, into the sky and then focusing on all the students that were flying.

"Maybe I could do that at some point, figure out how to fly like they do? Rather than how I used to do it." I commented while watching someone recline comfortably on a solid gust of wind that carried her about. Smiling once again as I tried to imagine how comfortable that might be. But then I found myself thinking on how I would use my magic to fly. Flying after all was considered both a badge of honour and a badge of skill.

It was by no means an easy to learn or basic skill, but, it was seen as the benchmark for all those who wanted to be called 'witch.' And there was some irony to such a type of spell being a benchmark achievement needed to really advance in this life. Depending on how you learned your magic and what influenced you as you learnt it all... You could end up completely locking yourself out of the ability to fly as your mind might not be able to process a means...

And while I did not want to inflate my ego or come across as arrogant, even in my own head, I was certain of one thing. Flying would be an achievable goal for me for I was of a people whose magic came from the sky. And even in my inexperienced state, I had developed a spell that would let me ascend to the sky! A spell that I must have surely improved upon since learning new casting techniques?

"I should actually see how close to being able to fly I actually am!" I soon beamed out with an open-mouth smile. Quickly setting aside my former goal as I went off towards an empty stretch of grass. Nearly collapsing due to the amount of breath I needed to take in again once I had finished running to this field of green. And even with a red face and strained set of lungs, I kept looking up with a smile.

Then, once I had recovered enough, I stood up again and flicked my wrists about. Setting aside everything I had been carrying a short distance away just in case this became a messy attempt to fly. And once it was all sorted, I closed my eyes and took in a few calming breaths. Making sure I was focusing entirely on what I had been taught before I even attempted anything.

"Just like usual, you know how to do this..." I said to myself nervously, even though it was meant to reaffirm my thoughts with confidence. A contradiction that had me looking about with a frown before I got back into the determined mindset. Then, I began to feel it all, my body warping and transmuting and the sudden lightness that followed. Yet, a problem soon arose in that I felt myself being pulled apart!

So, in a panic, I cancelled the spell and fell to the slightly singed ground before flailing about. Soon calming down as I took many, many breaths to calm myself down before getting up and crawling over to where I had put my notes down. Stuttering out a sigh as control returned to my body before I began to write down what I had experienced. Staring intently at it while trying to think about what went wrong.

The answer I felt like was most correct was that this spell of mine was built around ascending to the clouds. Something I could not do here as there were no clouds unless you went to the edge of the plateau and headed down the mountainside or the spiralling road. But, as I sat there pondering, I felt the tug on my magical aura which I had briefly lost control of. Perhaps the machines within this place and the neighbouring city had interfered with it?

If that was the case then I was left even more impressed by those that were flying overhead as that meant they beat the pull of an entire city! They had such mastery over their own internal, external-magic and subsequent aura that they could win against the machines of this place! Yet, now that I was made more keenly aware of the magic-hungry city we were so close to. I found myself writing down a note regarding the teachers, that I should ask them for more details.

Maybe I could get insight into how the city's magic systems worked or maybe I could get tools to help me against it. Personally, I would prefer the first option as tools can sometimes be curses that kept you from developing. But, if it came to it, I think I would be willing to set aside any ambition so I could learn to fly. Flying in of itself was so prestigious a spell-type that it would hardly be a sore spot.

Assuming I never met anyone who had learned to fly despite all the challenges, but, to meet such an individual would have been an honour! A witch of such skill and prestige could be tolerated to some extent. Like how it was easier to forgive the arrogance of a higher noble back home. Or the lack of manners from a commoner.

You just learned to accept common problems without fail after a certain point.

And soon, I got up from my spot on the ground, having decided to give it just one more go out here before carrying on with my day. Maybe, just maybe, I would do better this time as I had a better idea of what to expect from it all. Or maybe I should have just stopped here and now before I seriously hurt myself trying to contend with the magic-swallowing city near us? And despite this counter-thought that warned me, I moved on with it anyway.

I could just imagine everyone's faces if I came to them saying I had been able to fly for just a moment!

So, with a smile back on my face, I gave it another go and turned myself into lightning with the usual sounds accompanying it. Nothing good came from it, though, I just ended up repeating what had happened earlier. And once I was back into my actual body, I lay on the ground and clicked my tongue. A shake of the head following the moments of silence that followed but preceding my return to the real reason I was out here.

"I hope that did not cost me my chance with Mechanical House." I commented as I went back to where I was going after grabbing my stuff. Holding a finger up as I walked so I could inspect how the lighting arced off of it outside with a weak will controlling it. I had not used much magic outside since arriving here, so it was interesting to watch it head to the city. And when I concentrated on it, the lightning straightened out and headed roughly where I wanted it to go but with some pullback.

Having just seen this, a new thought came up in my head. Could I use this as a means to measure my progress? To see how well my magic could stand against the city that tried to take control of it? I was not sure how I could document it, but I felt like it was a good way to measure my finesse and so on.

Perhaps I could even push some extra stuff from this individual in Mechanical House in order to do so? Like, maybe use my body to influence him or just my personality? I felt more comfortable with the latter if I was honest. Using my body seemed more like something Rossie-chira would do.

It could not have been a lack of confidence, though, I knew very well I was beautiful and I had a high opinion of my looks and wished to maintain them. Yet, despite this, I was unnerved by the idea of say, placing an arm between my breasts or accentuating certain body parts. My clothes would certainly help that as they were otherwise designed for it going by Rossie-chira's personality. But, one core idea stuck with me, maybe it was because I was raised to be more refined?

Being a refined woman tended to not encourage lechery such as taking advantage of a gap in my clothes to let a headrest on my bare underboob. I was even becoming redfaced from just the thought of it alone! A thought was all it took to embarrass me. So how would I ever go through with it for real!?

"Let alone what Urtuoi-kischu might thi-" I began to say before stopping myself so I could frown. Why did I just think of him, why? He was just my friend, he wasn't my parent or a guardian of mine, he did not raise me. So why was I concerned about what he might think alone?

Either way, I soon rubbed my face with a gloved palm before huffing out a laugh. This wasn't the first time he appeared in my thoughts at the most random of times and I had no idea why. He wasn't a human so it could not have been the fact I was attracted to him or falling for him. Yet, I had to be honest, being near him had this strange presence to it, like something compelled me to be near him.

I even have vague memories of a moment when I was near him and he suddenly seemed less... I did not know the correct word at all. I did not want to say attractive or handsome or anything like that. But, all I know is I took off a bracelet while drunk or tipsy, rather, noblewomen should never be drunk!

"I guess I can enquire about it here, I suppose." I then said with a shrug as I finally arrived at the section of the Academy dedicated to Mechanical House. And it was, well, it smelled, it smelled of strong mixtures of oils and other chemicals. A very harsh set of smells all in all now that I was here. The place was even more developed in general!

Lots of metal pathways and painted on guidelines and the amount of wall-mounted medical kits and other forms of health and safety were abundant. And I really wish I had something to block my ears with too, it was very noisy here. Bangs, clangs and booms just kept vibrating throughout the air and I had to keep a loose jaw there were that many strong shakes! So, having taken it all in, I was very glad to have made it into the building I should be at.

And when those doors closed behind me it became very peaceful. The smells were suddenly clean and the noises were dulled or gone. I even found myself quietly laughing at the idea of bringing a scented candle next time if I ever had to return here. Would certainly make it so I wasn't rushing through the factory-like area of the Academy!

"Hey! Who are you?" someone called out to me from a chair on wheels as the group he was with stopped playing some kind of game on them. Some kind of game involving a stick, balls and what I assumed was a net of some description? But, it looked more like an overturned bin now that I got a better look at it.

"I am Einervaene, I am here regarding someone taking interest in something I submitted to the uniform people?" I recall with some confusion as I could not remember the name right now. Too many distractions overwhelming my mind and senses.

"Einervaene... Uniform... You lot got any ideas?"

"Einervaene!? Hold on!" someone called out from a little further on before they stumbled out of a room. A room that spat out several coils of wire and tubes wrapped in various colours of thread.

"Are you the one I am meant to go to?" I ask as I stepped around the people playing the game. Slightly unsure of how to react when I heard a sudden wave of comments regarding my legs and rear. One even sounding smug about the fact I had walked past his sitting form which gave him a pleasant upwards view. It felt like I was embarrassed from being praised, to be honest, like how I felt with the teacher before when they complimented my learning speed.

"Yes, yeah..." he said as he began to kick everything back into the room. Soon going along with where he was pushing me before he closed the door shut with a loud bang. And I wasn't sure what to do after, I was just standing here and he was scurrying about. An item or two in hand before he got up to put it away before he repeated the process.

"So what is it you wanted me to speak about? I know you stated interest in my request but the teacher mentioned other details."

"Yeah, I showed interest in it. Wanted to do a little work on it as practice for other things I am making." he said as he gave up tidying this place, kicking a barrel away with a huff before he sat down. His wheeled chair not getting far before he had to kick more items out of the way.

"Thank you for doing this, then." I say to him as I stepped a little closer with what I had before putting it by him just in case. His hands soon going over them before he stopped on the tablet with the details regarding him.

"Alright, I have one condition."

I frowned, I was hoping to get it as I wanted it, "What is it?"

"I want to do it in black, not white."

I tilted my head slightly, "Is there a reason for that? I wanted it to look as similar to this as possible." I explained to him. Gesturing to the outfit I had gotten from Rossie-chira back in that town we left.

"Because one of your statements was you wanted runed metal attached to this new set of clothes and as you elaborated that... Lig... Lightning was your magic, copper would be best and copper does not work with white."

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Can't you just paint over the copper? Electroplate it or something?" I then asked him as this just struck me as a very strange change. There were ways to get past this annoyance of his so why did he not move to take them?

He suddenly looked frustrated, "Look, do you want my help or not?" he then said to me. Something that made me want to frown as it was little better than a threat. A minor, insignificant threat, but a threat nonetheless.

"No, it's fine, it's fine. Is that all the changes you wanted to make?"

"Yeah, I can find everything else by just going to the necessary places. Are your measurements included?" he said before asking.

"Yes, I made sure to measure them with a friend."

"All measurements?" he then asked as his eyes stared intently at my chest. A chest I soon moved to cover with an item that I was fiddling with.

"Yes, we made sure all possible measurements were written down."

"Good," was what he said before he ploughed his chair through the mess of this room, "Copper... Lightning magic guiding... Black fabric... Uh... Yeah..." he then mumbled as he pressed several buttons. A few moments marked by clicks and taps filling the room before the main event. Then, it soon all came alive with a sudden magic flow as he went back to cleaning. But, it was mostly around this single machine.

I assume he was clearing the space around it so he could get to it. But, I really wished this place was just clean, to begin with as the mess was really annoying me. Maybe it was just my upbringing and the lessons that came with it. But I just did not want to be here in such a filthy place.

The room then suddenly became silent and he perked up with a smile, his hands soon opening up a machine. Soon after coming out of that machine with several pieces of black clothing rimmed with decorated copper plating and wires. Then, the items were in my hands and he looked at me expectingly. I looked back at him intensely.

"Well, put it on."

I blinked, "Excuse me?"

"Put it on, I need to see if it fits fine."

I blinked again as my grip tightened, "Excuse me?"

"You deaf? I just spoke clearly."

I started glaring at him, "Get out." I ordered.

He moved his head back, "You can't just kick me out of my own workshop." he grumbled.

"I can when you suddenly want me to get changed in front of you!" I nearly shouted at him as I grabbed him and shoved him out. Shocking him on the way out before locking the door behind me with a sigh. My eyes soon looking about uncomfortably as I was completely unaware if any surveillance equipment was in here. But, as I wanted to be done with this room, I took in a deep breath and got to it.

Making sure I did not let my exposed body linger as such for long and going about it methodically. Taking off what I could and replacing it before going on to other pieces of clothing and switching over to it. Slightly panicking when I got to my lower body and upper chest as my body shape had to be contested with. Yet soon, despite my rush and mistakes, I got dressed again in the new outfit.

A small smile on my face as I felt the warmth of the freshly sorted out fabric. But, before I opened the door again, I looked for a mirror while holding my newest clothing addition. A prideful grin soon appearing on my face as I put a wide-brimmed hat on my head. Tilting it down slightly as I stuck a hip out and rubbed a leg before this room's mirror.

"Can't wait to show the others!" I said with lots of giddiness before moving about in the outfit. Making sure it was all to the proper standards before then picking up my older outfit. A smile on my face as I looked on at it before my lips tightened a little. I really did not want to give it back to Rossie-chira...

I just had gotten so used to it and had learned to really enjoy this outfit and it was very special to me! I hadn't had it for long, granted, but a lot had happened in this outfit and it held a lot of meaning. As such, even though I really should have returned it, I did not want to. Maybe Rossie-chira would not notice, but only time would tell.

"Thank you for your help and by the gods... Clean up that place!" I said in thanks first before letting out my annoyance. Leaving behind the one who had just helped me with a smile on my lips and greater bounce in my step.

"We have changing rooms you know!" he then called out to me, but I just ignored him as my eyes widened. A sudden flow of air leaving my nose as I got rid of that embarrassment. Suddenly looking down to make sure I had everything before nodding as I left through the door. Going back into the noise and stink of Mechanical House.

"God of Air, please safe me from being a potential carrier of smells from here..." I prayed in worry, marching off quickly to escape the industrial landscape. I did not want my show-off moment to be ruined by the smell of oil! But, I might have been willing to ruin it with the smell and sight of dirt now that I thought about it... This outfit was designed to help me guide my magic after all, maybe it would help me do what I tried before?

I hope it did!

.

.

.

I looked through the window of my room with a frown that was quickly turning into a glare. What I was seeing was bothering me somehow, it just bothered me so much. Nin was currently on the roof with some girl with a sapphire glow. A glow far more intense than mine and possibly even Vine's! But I just was not sure why it bothered me.

I had given up on Nin, he just wasn't strong enough and another had caught my eye, one who had proven himself superior. He even showed me far greater affection than Nin ever did! He was actually responsive to my love. Seigunfrei had just as a whole shown himself to be better for being a future father.

Our son would be strong and lack the impurities my blood might have given him...

"Ninno! No! Like this!" laughed out that sapphire-aura'd woman as she let her magic fill the air. The sudden loudness of her voice bringing my eyes back to their general direction which it stayed before they disappeared. A gentle growl leaving me as I shut the curtains and stood up with my arms crossed. An almost protective manner which I found odd.

And when I moved to leave the room, I did not head downstairs or towards one of the others. I went straight towards the one Nin had left through earlier with that woman. The ruckus they were making getting louder before I heard Nin's disgusting parasite feet land on the floor. It being slightly dulled as I was lingering around the corner of the door.

Sneering at what I heard before I then tried to go elsewhere but I was not quick enough. Because soon my tail reacted aggressively to a sudden hand going near it and that woman danced past me. A wave being directed at me before she disappeared into another room. Quiet footsteps behind me signalling that Nin had left the room.

"Hello, Rose, how have you been?" Nin asked me softly and nervously, yet, despite that, I did not scoff at his pathetic state. I just hid my frown and kept my back towards him before speaking.

"I've been fine, I am just going somewhere." I told him as my mind suddenly became full of thoughts relating to Seigunfrei. I should just go to him and stay with him for the night, hopefully that would reaffirm my thoughts. Get them focusing solely on the one who was better and not the weakling behind me.

"Where are you going?" he then asked me which left me slightly annoyed. Why did he care? He wasn't my love, he had no right to know. Yes... He had no right!

"It doesn't concern you." I told him sternly as I began to leave.

"If you don't want me coming along, that is fine... But I just asked you where you were going Rose... You've been distant lately..." he told me quietly, a slight whimper in his voice as he likely thought of the old me. The one that comforted him in the valleys of this land and in the hidden groves up in the mountains. The one who helped soothe his fear and...

"And I have been distant for a good reason, osibindah." I spat out at him before hurrying off away from him. The sudden flare-up of anger disappearing quickly as tears for some reason began to form in my eyes. Tears I nearly clawed out as they had no right to be there! Or did they?

He was an osibindah, after all, I was just scared... Being scared of such an osibindah was the right thing to do. An osibindah that had saved my life on several occasions and had done more than anyone else. An osibindah who was willing to get shot at and nearly die to get my most important stuff...

Stuff I now had securely stored away in my room...

Dammit!

There was no reason for me to be thinking of him, he was weak! I had no reason to care! None at all! So why won't he get out of my head!?

A magic-covered fist of mine soon slamming into the wall beside me and leaving barely a scratch. All because I just wasn't strong enough to, my magic was not potent enough to affect items so pure in magic. Items I once saw as the rarest luxury in life as we aelenvari rarely went up into the cities as a flower. Only on our own if we left them...

And as I stood there, the tip of my points attempting to dig into the floorboards as I did so, I went quiet. Shaking my head before straightening myself out before I began to move away from the stairs. Coming to a stop once more when I saw through the open door a more welcoming sight. A petal who shone with golden light.

With a smile now forming on my otherwise bothered face, I walked closer to the main door and waited for her. Returning her large and excited wave with a more modest one of my own making as she came closer. One of my brows rising as she got closer for there was something new about her this time. She had a strong frame to her now, something was taking in her magic and focusing it along specific routes.

Her fingertips, the rims of her breasts, along her arms and legs and the base of them too. All of it had a harsh, stern route to it, with hints of the pale blue one might have seen throughout this place. Had she implemented something new to her outfit? I would ask but I was getting the feeling she would explain away once she stopped before me.

"Do you like my new outfit, Rossie-chira?" she asked me with her excitement made clear through her voice too. My smile grew larger as I watched her move her body about with confidence once she came through the door and stopped in the hall. It was nice to see her acting more like a petal rather than a root. And even if I could not see what was truly different about this outfit, I did like what it did to her magic.

"I do, I do very much." I say to her as I held her hand and ran a finger along the concentrated magic. A shiver going down my spine as it gave off the impression that she was much stronger than she actually was. An interesting detail that I was sure could have easily tricked a stem desperate for a male if she was actually one. Rather than, well, a potential competitor to my own desires.

But, perhaps I was lucky to have her now. My interest in the osibindah had died off and now it won't be as much an issue anymore to see her with him. Yet, as a friend of hers, could I truly just let it happen? To let an osibindah taint her petal-like quality?

But that made no sense... That parasite was strong in body and arcane reserve, he would only ever grant strong sons and daughters. The latter being more misfortunate than the former, but, humans were different. They had not suffered a devastating loss of their male population, so a daughter was equal, not lesser.

"Is something bothering you?" Vine asked me as one of her fingers prodded my upper cheek and squashed something. A wetness covering it as she withdrew her finger, tears? Indeed they were, I had been crying again as I stewed in my thoughts.

"No, I am fine, Vine, I am fine. Go and enjoy yourself, I just have to do something." I told her as I ushered her along. Having put her back into her more joyful mood with the sharp tap of her high-heeled shoes signalling her departure from my immediate presence. Yet, instead of heading out, towards Exceptional House, I lingered some more.

Quietly following her until the meeting I was curious about happened. When she saw that parasite again.

"Urtuoi-kischu! Look! You like?" she asked in a joyful tone as the sound of her moving and spinning about filled my ears. Only for it to then be drowned out by the sudden shattering of wood and growls.

"You haven't spoken to me for weeks... You have acted like I don't exist... And the first thing you say to me... IS HOW YOU LOOK!? HOW YOU!?" the parasite said with growing rage as it became clear he had moved closer to intimidate her. Yet, even as my friend was threatened by the parasite, I did not move. I just sneered and insulted him in my head.

Her voice was shaking, "I... I haven't..." she stuttered out, likely bending to the pressure his presence put upon her.

"Look at you... You can't even give me an answer..." the parasite growled before the sound of a body hitting the floor then came out of that room.

"WHAT WAS THAT FOR!?" Vine shouted back in anger, a clear sense of hurt in her voice as heavier footsteps became distant, "What did I do...?" I then heard her whimper out before it became clear she had broken down crying. And I did not come to comfort her, I just sneered once again at the thought of the parasite and moved to leave. Shaking my head as one phrase lingered in my mind...

'Of course, that is what was going to happen!'

He was an osibindah, an untrained weakling, a spineless, cowardly weakling. Just like roots, but at least roots understood that they were weak! They didn't try to act beyond their station unlike him! His entitlement would bring him nothing but problems.

And as I walked along a path, a twitch forming near my right eye, I found myself suddenly upset again. So upset that I felt the need to just sit down for a bit which I did once I found a place that wasn't filthy with moss or dust. Then, as I sat there, I found my face resting in my palms while my tail went limp. Its largely boneless mass just flowing in the wind as my head found itself going to a sight I could never be angry or upset around.

Jhroungijherammujhernosumonaterikra.

"Why did such a sight have to make me think of him..." I then moaned out miserably as my head collapsed gently. The means that I use to speak with my true-voice rubbing along what my head rested on before my arm lifted them up a little. And now I was left wondering something regarding it. If I was no longer spending time with a magically untrained parasite, why was I still using words?

I had a far more beautiful means to speak and I could even maintain some privacy with it! Yet, for some reason, they just did not light up like how I wanted them to. It was like a coup had happened within them, a coup that had the sole desire of stopping my true-voice from being heard. And I did not know why that was happening.

I had never heard of an aelenvari losing the ability to speak with their true-voice before...

"Why hello there!" I suddenly found myself saying with sudden upbeatness as I looked down at my leg. Something had walked into it and it was a male! Not just any male, an aelenvari son! In fact, I was so overjoyed at seeing it that I might have cried had I not had other details on mind.

And as I moved to pick it up, a croaky voice called out to the son near the tips of my points. A voice that sounded eerily familiar, yet, it felt odd hearing it now for some reason. Well, that is, until I turned around to see who the voice belonged to. And to my surprise, it was her, the one I once saw as nothing but a thief of two former interests of mine.

"I-Ivy-Mother!?" they said in fright as they backed up after having picked up the confused son. A solemn frown on my face as I looked at the scarred female before me. One I had done so much to cause grief and harm to.

I looked away before answering, what she referred to me as was a tender spot for me, "I am no longer an ivy-mother, Dandel'lhia." I said to her. Slightly bemused by the fact I was able to say her name right despite what I had done to her hair. That dye was still there and her hair was still tainted with a false colour. A false colour that even interfered with my magic-seeing eyesight.

I wonder why she had not taken the means to get rid of the dye? The wind-people surely had the capacity to do it, no? Or had she just not wanted to? I guess I would only find out if I asked her.

"I-I'm sorry, I got to go." she said to me, her voice threatening to give out.

"What's his name?" I then asked her, having stopped her from leaving with just that one question. A sign I still held my former authority as an Ivy-Mother to some extent. Or, maybe, she was just scared of me, the one who had her hurt so badly.

"Spruce'endoor, his name is Spruce'endoor." she said shyly, she even said his name with uncertainty. No confidence at all. What an odd thing for a mother to do...

"He came out of his seed when you had just arrived here?" she nodded in response after I asked that. Then, she finally worked up the courage to leave and went away from me while I kept my eyes on her. A small smile on my lips as I looked at that rather healthy son of hers. I guess Oak'endoor was properly suited for his role as the Gilded-Bark of our flower.

And then my thoughts fouled again as that parasite somehow became involved with them again, much to my annoyance. But, I figured out why quickly as I remembered what happened before he savagely beat me to near-death. Back when he still held some claim to the idea of being a human, when it was just a curiosity that afflicted his body. Back when he was going to pollinate my womb with a son of his own making...

Even though I was angry at the idea of that parasite being on my mind again, I found myself blushing. A clear and warm flow of blood going throughout me as my tail came alive again at the thought of the memory in question. A time where I was so close to being made a mother with a developing seed within her. A memory I could never hate even if I loathed the participant.

"I left it at the..." I began to say with still red cheeks, looking back the way I came as a specific outfit filled my thoughts. The most special and important of outfits for any aelenvari deemed worthy enough of a males attention. And perhaps, it was also my most ironic as it covered much more of my body than I normally wore when dressed casually or professionally. But, despite its importance to me and the process of my first time, I did not move to go get it.

If I did, then perhaps I could have sealed my future with Seigunfrei. Made it clear to my heart and mind once and for all that Nin was not my love. Yet, despite that being the case and my mental yearning for the forgetting of that parasite. I made no moves to go back and get it.

To rush back to my room for it, to tear off my current outfit with little care before delicately putting that one on... To then either hide my body until I saw Seigunfrei again or to rush around with my genitals exposed. And once I would have found him, to get his desired body part out and to let it ram into me or to secure it under me until I was full of its liquid warmth. But I did not do that, I just walked towards Exceptional House, ignoring it completely.

And even as my mind screamed at me to do it, I did not. The thoughts were just ignored and I put more and more distance between me and that outfit. The one Nin risked his life to get when we left that rooted-flower below. And I did not know why much to my frustrations.

Thankfully, I did not have to go the full distance to reach the one I wanted to see as he was walking along the path I was headed. So, with him being in my sight, a firmer smile came onto my face. One that would hopefully stay there without faltering. And, to make it all better, I felt ecstatic upon seeing such a pure, emerald aura within and around his body.

"Well, well, look who it is." he said with a smile as he noticed me and stopped. His arms opening up to me as I picked up the pace and leapt into his arms. Spinning around before I could plant my points into the ground again before my face moved up. A brief kiss following that before I leaned back.

"It's rather coincidental I found you here, I was just looking for you." I told him which led to him huffing out some of his amusement.

"Unfortunately, I will have to hold off whatever it is you want, got to go talk to someone first." he explained as he released his grip on my body. But, he kept my hand firmly connected with his, something I very much enjoyed. It was nice to hold a hand that did not engulf mine, one that was soft too.

"That is fine, I have all night to get what I want out of you."

"You want to stay around mine again? By the Mighty Jhrarda. I knew you aelenvari had a thing for the tender and physical but you might as well just move in with me at this point!" he laughed out as a grin formed on my face. My tail lingering around his lower half and prodding at it so I could tease him.

"Am I perhaps detecting an offer for me to stay with you for as long as I live?" I asked him with that same grin he caused to form.

He chuckled lightly, "Even if I wanted, they would not let me, the Council for Student Dorm Distribution, that is. You are a potential student for Oddity House, after all. Meanwhile, with me, I am an enrolled student of Exceptional House." his chest puffing out towards the end as he took pride in his place in the Academy. That was perhaps one thing I liked a lot about him, he understood what he was and had no issue with showing it off. A fine petal if he were of my own kind or had moved to stay with a flower.

"So even if I was to successfully enrol, I would not be able to stay with you?"

"No, afraid not. However, there are no rules against you just staying with me each night so long as you don't move into my dorm."

"It's an issue when you remove an obstacle but fine when I keep a particular issue in place? Such a strange system." I said to him with a bemused tone. Yet, for some reason, my mind was filled with sighs of relief and loud thanks to the gods above. I was glad that there would be something to keep my intentions with Seigunfrei in check...

"Something wrong?" Seigunfrei then asked me as his hand squeezed mine harder. Not harshly, far from it, in fact, it made me appreciate him more. Seeing such mastery over his internal-magic that he did not have to be cautious while touching me.

"No, no. I am fine, what gave you the impression I wasn't?"

"I just asked you a few questions and you completely blanked out. So, again, you sure nothing is wrong?" he asked me with a concerned tone before he looked over in the direction of my dorm. Even if he could not see it.

"Yes, everything is f-fine." I said at first clearly before stuttering out.

"Has that osibindah been causing you issues? Do we need to go to the Council of Student Dorm Distribution and get you moved to another dorm so you are further away from it?" he said as he came to a complete stop and pulled me close. My body freezing up in panic when I heard what he said. No, no! We could not do that!

"No, he hasn't done anything. It's just... It's just a little bothersome having to be so close to everyone else when they rightfully confront it."

"Rough time relaxing there? I guess that explains why you want to come to my dorm so often. It is very far from the osibindah after all."

"Y-Yeah."

He then kissed my cheek after bringing it up a little, "Alright then, when I am done here, we'll head back to my dorm and I'll ensure you have a very relaxing night." he told me with a suggestive glance. A smile returning to my face as my tail moved in accordance with it.

"That will be wonderful, thank you." I told him just as he went inside the building he had apparently wanted to go to. As it was within the gap between the four Houses, I could only assume it was directly related to the Academy heads. Their gilded-barks, ivy-mothers and other important positions and so on. But, of course, they weren't what I compared to, wind-people weren't as sexually inclined as we aelenvari.

It was probably something mundane but still ultimately necessary. Like how the less engaging and by far worst parts of being an ivy-mother was given to someone else to do. Something I usually gave to a petal so close to being a stem or the lucky inverse. And it was a good thing I did that, giving some of my tasks to others.

Otherwise, I would not have been able to spend as much time with Nin back when we stayed at my flower...

"Can I just go one moment without you coming into my thoughts!?" I muttered out quietly with a distinct harshness. Nearly snarling at a nearby piece of decorative stonework at the entrance of this building before I calmed myself. Sighing once more and tapping my finger impatiently while looking at the machines some used to fly. A particularly large one hiding just beyond the great central tower in the city in front of me.

It was an impressive sight indeed, a mass of metal that could likely destroy this entire plateau if it was to crash. Held aloft by what seemed to be six devices that shot out pure, untainted emerald light that kept it all up. A great display of magical strength, and thankfully, one I could count on not having to get involved with. Unlike then, when he lifted up that immense weight...

When I had to intervene with a magic blast that nearly drained me into a state of unconsciousness... Back when he proved himself to be far greater than the one who had caught my eye before. And it frustrated me, looking at this distant machine. Because even when it was something like this, it always went back to him.

To that damnable parasite!

Soon getting up in frustration before moving to someplace quieter, "GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" I soon screamed at a wall before I collapsed to my knees. Crying into my hands as my heart seemingly battled with my mind and the rest of my body. I gave up on Oak'endoor when I saw someone stronger, all aelenvari did this until they had their first child! At least, most of the time.

Yet, somehow, despite having been exposed to so many males of the wind-people who were far stronger than Nin... He just wouldn't get out of my head and I did not know why, I never had these same doubts when I gave up on Oak'endoor! So why was I having them now!? It made no sense!

"I don't love him... Do you hear me!?" I seethed out in anger towards my chest, towards the heart that pained me so. A strange tremble coming from my chest before I began to shake my head some more in disbelief. What was wrong with me? Why was something I should have loathed and despised staying so firmly in a place where a desire of many years did not...?

There was no reason for it to be like this, there just wasn't any reason! Seigunfrei was stronger, so much stronger! It was clear when he walked beside Nin on that day and it was made abundantly clear when Nin lost. So easily did he lose, not one hit was taken by Seigunfrei and he toyed with Nin.

Toyed with him! He couldn't have made his superiority anymore clear!

"Rose-sweerui! Where are you?" Seigunfrei called out to me from the other side of the building. But, what he said made me angry for some reason.

"Don't call me that... You have no right to call me that..." I growled out as I focused on the honorific he attached to my name. The honorific the male lover gave to his female...

And then I blinked and trembled in frustration some more. I was his female! So why was this making me angry... Why...?

"Alright, hop on." Seigunfrei then said to me as he picked me up after he had sped around to my location. Clearly having followed my magic signature like the skilled witch he was. And then, I was silent as he carried me through the sky, in his arms. All the way until we reached his dorm which he then put us in through the window.

Just like Nin did with that woman with the bright and beautiful sapphire-aura.

"Hey! Calm down, what's wrong?" Seigunfrei then asked me as he set me down on the large and spacious bed he had to himself. In this room that was just his, a room that he had gained through talent and strength.

I, however, did not say anything, I just latched on to him and kept my lips against him. Placing them against him time and time again as he tried to back away, clearly more concerned with what I had just done. But I would not let him dig into that, I would not let him know. So I came at him with as much passion-making love as I could.

I kept it up until he relented and just went along with it, his hands soon having a tight grasp on me. My breath shuddering every time our lips parted, but not from how good his tongue, lips or touch made me feel. But rather, because I could barely hold in the disgust I had for myself. I should not have been doing this with him...

It wasn't right.

"N-No..." I said to him quietly after we had moved on to his bed. His partially naked and exposed frame being right in front of me. Rimmed by muscle that contained such gluttonous quantities of magic from the greatest mountain, it was indeed. Yet, even with such a temptation before me, I did not want him exposing my body more.

And thankfully, he relented with a frown and a sigh before going down beside me.

"You're a strange woman, you know that?" he said with a small smile, even if he was mocking me. But, I returned the smile before snuggling closer to him, holding myself tightly towards him. Taking deep breaths through my nose so I could take in the scent around him, tainted by his aura and external-magic. And even though his hands were on me with confidence and care, I did not want them there.

Something I found so odd... They were on my rear, one hand for each side. I should have enjoyed it so much. To feel such a strong son-giver on me, just one word from putting one in me.

Yet, all I could think about was apologies and anything even linked to the concept.

'I am sorry...' just kept playing through my mind over and over, like a monotonous task devoid of all joy.