Chapter 33: The Question Session
A horrifying thought occurred to Evernya prompting her to inquire, “Can an unlimited telepath steal the secrets from my mind?”
Thomas responded, “It’s possible but unlikely since even a weak Psion’s mind is difficult to crack. Then you add in the fact you are a T3 Psion, making mental intrusion exponentially more difficult. It would take a telepath of exceptional strength to crack your natural mental defenses.”
Evernya breathed a sigh of relief before returning to the results. She scanned through the remaining results, finding them to be about the current terrible state of her body.
After she scrolled back to the top, Evernya asked, “How did the scan know my name? Did you guys input my name?”
“No, once a being receives a name, the system overseeing all life engraves their name into their soul, allowing any identity scan to pick it up. When you choose a family name or unlock your bloodline, that too will show up on scans,” Answered Meira.
“So I have a magical name tag, that’s cool, but it would make it impossible to hide your identity,” Evernya commented.
“Well, between your engraved name and mana signature, it is nearly impossible to conceal one’s identity, but some have pulled it off. Obviously, any magic capable of concealing or forging one’s identity is also on the controlled ability list,” replied Thomas.
“I can understand why they would control magic capable of concealing identities, but what about teleportation? Wouldn’t teleportation be a security risk?” Evernya questioned.
Meira answered the question as the resident enchantress. “No teleportation is not on the list because it is easy to counter with spatial locks. Most businesses have a spatial lock to stop people from using their storage devices to steal things. A spatial lock seals the space within the perimeter, making spatial related magic impossible, such as teleportation and dimensional storage. It is a complex and lucrative process requiring someone capable of spatial magics and an enchanter to ingrain the magic into runes.”
“I helped create spatial locking devices or locations hundreds of times, including my property, but I added an exception for my storage devices for obvious reasons. With teleportation as common as it is, you need ways to counter it as no one wants a mage teleporting into their business to steal things or attack them. As you will learn, Psions aren’t the only mage capable of teleportation. There are several ways to teleport. Psions may have the easiest method, but several spells, devices, and bloodlines are capable of teleportation or portal generation too.” Meira explained.
“Damn, I guess I won’t be robbing any banks,” commented Evernya, faking a pout.
Thomas jumped into the conversation next. “Oh, I bet you could, but the risk isn’t worth the reward. Besides, once you start regularly hunting for food in the wilds, you will make a steady income from selling off the other parts. In fact, that’s a popular career since most people who need the mana beast body parts, or other materials from the wilds don’t have combat-focused Magic forcing them to rely on others for materials.”
“One of the most common job requests on our college’s job board or the adventurer’s job board is a gathering quest. While you are a student at our college, we require you to take jobs from our college only. This is a rule I cannot bend for you because many departments of our college support themselves on those jobs,” Thomas added.
“Makes sense. DIOM can’t remain self-sufficient if students do not bring in resources.” Evernya said with a nod of her head.
Thomas puffed up in pride as he continued, “We try to make our college economy similar to the outside world so our students can easily transition to the real world. The only difference is we use points earned from ranking and jobs as a currency instead of Sespinian crystals.”
Well aware of DIOM’s economy, the rest of her experts check out as Evernya listened to Thomas, “Someone rich won’t receive any advantages at our college, as their money is useless. Besides you, no student can leave college grounds during a semester unless they venture out to the wilds, which is assessable directly from our college. If we find out a student snuck around to enter the city from the wilds, they will receive a severe penalty. We do this to ensure the economy of our college is as stable as possible because a student has to buy everything they need with their earned points. As an added benefit, our economy forces young mages to learn responsible spending, even if they come from a rich family. Since some students have issues supporting themselves with their points, so we have a welfare system to ensure they get their basic needs but nothing more.” Thomas explained, proud of his college.
“That’s a cool system, but what about when a student at the top of your college’s hierarchy graduates and has to start over as an entry-level employee after they graduate. Won’t that person have a hard time adjusting?” Inquired Evernya, leaning forward, genuinely interested in the system.
A smile bloomed as Thomas responded to Evernya’s question. “If they succeeded at our college, they could use the same methods in the real world. Besides, half of all they earn with their points at the time of graduation remain with them in the real world. The other half we take as a tax. We do this, so we need not charge students’ tuition. We also have monthly quotas students have to reach depending on their rank, ensuring participation or they lose ranks and resources. However, don’t worry about quotas. As long as you actively take part in jobs and help other students, you will meet our quotas. We do not allow students to skate the poverty line to receive a free college degree, they need to put the work into better the University and themselves.”
“Wow, you have everything covered. You even saved me a question because I was wondering if I had to pay tuition or not. I like the economy you have at your college and I think I will enjoy working through the ranks. I just have to get my health sorted out and learn how to use my magic. As I am now, I wouldn’t survive long at your college as it sounds like only the strong succeed.” Evernya gushed, excited to start college.
Thomas’s smile only grew brighter as he answered his future student’s worries. “Most first-year mages only know how to throw their magic around clumsily. They don’t know how to fight until our talented instructors teach them.”
“For example, the Ice sorceress you blew away was in her second year of decent ranking. In a duel, she would win, but you could put up a fight. You have her by about one mana grade and caught her by surprise. However, you will learn mana grade isn’t everything. Some of our highest ranked students are only awakened grade four to five. They make up for their lack of power with such precise control over their magic to the point they are nearly unbeatable against others their age. These types of people typically turn into professional duelists, which people hire to win disputes for them. Not all combat-oriented mages need to venture into the wilds to make a living.”
“I once saw a woman of Awakened five beat an Arisen stage mage in an equalized duel. The Arisen stage mage bet millions on the duel, so the woman instantly became rich. I think she retired soon after to enjoy her earnings. A professional duelist can be a dangerous job but lucrative, much like wilderness adventurers. Plus, with her being only awakened stage five, her life span was significantly shorter than a higher grade mage. So she enjoyed her time left in luxury.” Thomas lectured, bubbling with excitement.
Elizabeth interrupted Thomas before he got carried away to move things along. “With your body scan, we have all the information needed for you to qualify for a Sespina citizenship ID. We already sent the required information to Druth’s mages council building while you were still sleeping. Do you have any more questions before we leave?”
As much as I would love to suck their brains dry of knowledge, I can’t keep them all day, as they have important jobs. Besides. I still have my elf search engine and I’ll eventually gain access to a real search engine.
“No, I don’t think so. Thank you all for the help. I hope I can count on all of you during my time at your college. I will enroll for the fall semester, barring any major setbacks.” Responded Evernya with genuine sincerity.
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Sarah took the opportunity to get a word in. She stared directly into Evernya’s eyes before speaking. “Emily wishes you well and hopes to see you soon to catch up. What you did for her jumpstarted her awakening and cured her disease. I have been her doctor for over ten years, and I’ve never heard her talk so fondly about a friend before you. I left my number with Meira in case you need to contact me.”
Evernya blushed from the praise as she downplayed. “I couldn’t let my only human friend suffer in front of me when I could help. I would like to see her again soon too. With her drive, I’m sure she will succeed at her goals even if I didn’t lend a helping hand.”
“She is a brilliant girl. I know she will succeed in life with her work ethic,” Sarah agreed before giving Evernya a quick hug and exiting the room.
Next, it was Thomas’s turn to say his farewell. “I will leave you to change. Hopefully, everything else goes according to plan, and I see you in a few months as a student.”
He handed Meira another guest ID, since the last one became a casualty of the demolition of the changing room before he walked out of the door.
Elizabeth checked the time on her watch before stating, “I would love to accompany you to the Mage’s Council hall, but I have a hospital to run, so I will leave that job to Meira to handle. Please call me if anything happens. I will be there immediately. I can’t have my favorite little Psion get bullied again.”
After Elizabeth left, Meira turned to her kitten. “Change in here since you destroyed the nearest changing room. Good thing I brought a backup dress for you because you pulverized the other one. Somehow, the wedge sandals survived, so we will reuse them. You need to look good for your ID picture, so no complaints.” Meira ordered.
“Fine, but you need to take me shopping as soon as possible. I want to pick out my own clothes.” Evernya compromised.
“We will after you are healthy and have a bit of training.” Replied Meira.
Meira materialized another pair of black bra and panties, along with a familiar dress, causing Evernya to gasp in surprise. “I thought it fitting for you to wear this dress plus, you look too cute in it to not wear it again.”
“You sure it’s a good idea to wear this dress, it may give me bad luck. I just want everything to go smoothly. Though, I agree it is a pretty dress. I liked it more than the black dress.” Evernya said while eyeing the dark blue dress she wore at the public mage’s test.
“Everything should be ok. If something else happens, we will deal with it,” Meira assured.
Evernya gestured to the black skintight suit before asking, “How do I remove the suit?”
Meira replied after setting the folded stack of clothes on the table. “Use the pull-down menu at the top of the screen and select the deactivate the icon that looks like a mini version of the suit. I’ll give you the instruction manual when we get back to my place. The computer on your arm is on par with a smartphone. Some people even use it as their underwear. It has a self-cleaning enchantment, so they don’t have to take it off much, and it has openings in the private area to do your business when deactivated. Personally, I would rather wear normal underwear. Beside it would look odd undershorts and a t-shirt. Most suits lacked the features yours does, but the prolonged wear features are mostly standard.”
“I agree, I don’t want to wear this all the time even though even in its activated state I barely notice it,” Evernya replied, while poking on her suit computer to deactivate her suit.
A quiet sticky pulling sound resonates through the silent room as the suit released itself from her skin. “Woah, that feels weird! It’s like sticky tape peeling off most of my skin at the same time. What if someone had a lot of body hair?” Evernya exclaimed.
Meira shot a glare of envy towards her kitten before responding. “Another unfair part of your body. You don’t need to shave! Since your body was probably never mortal. Maintenance, the rest of us have to deal with, such as shaving, skin, and hair care, don’t apply to you. Oddly enough, the hair on your head still grows while everything else seems frozen.”
Meira eyed her kitten’s shiny black bangs encroaching on her eyes before adding, “You will need a haircut soon. Your bangs are almost covering your beautiful blue eyes. As for your question, even if you had hair on parts of your body under the suit, it wouldn’t pull out hair like tape or waxing because the suit is not sticking to your skin. The suit fuses with the top layers of your skin instead, including the body hair.”
Evernya ignored Meira’s comment about her body’s lack of maintenance requirements to respond to her question. “Makes sense. Otherwise, everyone would have to shave all their body hair off. Also, I agree I need a haircut soon. When I first awakened, it was just below my shoulder blades. Now, my hair is nearing the base of my tail.”
“Once you are healthy, we will go out shopping for your own clothes, necessities, and a haircut.” Said Meira.
I can’t believe I’m looking forward to shopping and getting my hair cut. Am I turning into a girly girl? In my old body, I would do the minimal amount of shopping and never look forward to it. I still refuse to wear bright colors, though. Besides, I don’t think I would look good in a yellow or pink flowery dress.
“Get dressed, we better get going. I promise I won’t peak, though I’ve seen everything already.” Dictated Meira, after checking the time on the clock next to the door.
“I don’t really care if you see me naked besides this suit shows almost everything anyway,” Evernya commented before she grasped the collar portion of the suit, straining her arms as she stretches the suit to pull her arms through the enlarged opening.
A squeak escaped her throat as her trembling thin arms give out, causing the stretched collar portion of the suit to snap closed over her upper arms. With her upper arms trapped at her sides, Evernya surveyed her surroundings for a solution. Her eyes landed on the table to her right, causing an idea to form. She crouched down to align the stretched collar with the edge of the table and pushed upward while straining her arms and wiggling her torso, shifting the form-fitted suit down a few centimeters with each attempt.
After a couple minutes of struggle, the suit slid down to her elbows, prompting her to stop. She stretched the suit outward with her right arm before contorting it upward and out, causing the suit to snap almost painfully onto her right waist. With her right arm free, Evernya reached over to her left side, slipping the suit down, freeing her left arm. Next, she wiggled her hips while pulling the suit downward, slipping over her hips and down her legs before finally off her legs. Now free, Evernya collapsed on a chair to her left, exhausted.
I love how flexible my new body is. Getting out of that suit would have been impossible in my old body. Wait, is everyone in this world this flexible? Somehow I don’t see some old guy being able to get out of a suit like this. Evernya’s thoughts halt as a hysterically laughing elf drew her attention.
Evernya glared at the laughing elf, tail flicking in annoyance, but the elf continued to laugh, unaffected.
Several minutes passed before Meira calmed down enough to speak. “Is that how you strip out of your clothes all this time?” Meira asked, while trying to suppress another giggle fit.
Evernya reddened in embarrassment while defending herself, “Yeah, you never mentioned another way to get out of these tight clothes.”
While staring at her kitten with fascination, Meira responded, “That was an impressive display of flexibility. I don’t think I could wiggle of that suit even though, as an elf, I pride myself on my flexibility. Do you really think they would make a resizing enchantment without a loosening enchantment built-in? I figured it was common sense, so I didn’t mention it. All you need to do is insert mana into the clothes similar to how you activate the resizing enchantment, but picture the clothes loosening. They will loosen a few sizes to allow you to slip them off and on. When you put a resized piece of clothing back on, it will remember your size and automatically fit to your body again after feeding the clothes mana.”
“Why didn’t you stop me then! Do you know how hard it was to get out of the suit!” Growled Evernya.
“It was too entertaining to watch you contort yourself for me to stop it. If all other career paths don’t work out, I’m sure you could get a job as a contortionist.” Meira teased, which only made Evernya angrier.
Evernya’s eyes glowed, and a low growl rumbled in her throat as she lost control of her anger. “Evernya, calm down! It was just a joke!” Proclaimed Meira while she was holding her hands up in surrender.
Evernya closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath to calm her anger. After a few minutes of silence, Evernya reopened her eyes and spoke. “Sorry about that. I don’t know what came over me. I understand you didn’t mean any harm, but I lost it.” Evernya apologized.
“It’s okay. Hair-trigger tempers aren’t out of the norm for an Alpha shifter, especially a draconic one. However, work on controlling your temper better. Besides, you don’t look threatening standing there naked. Maybe if you had sprouted some claws and fangs, you may have sold it better. With your petite frame, just growling won’t scare many people.” Meira teased.
Evernya did a quick glance down her body to find she was, in fact, naked. She grabbed the clothes on the table and quickly changed into them. “The suit feels like I am naked, so I forgot I had already taken off. Let’s go get my Sespina ID. I just want this over with.” Evernya urged.
Meira suddenly turned serious as she warned, “I agree, but please try to keep your emotions under control, especially when we are at the Druth mage council building. They will look for any excuse to force you into an unfair deal because of your rare talent, so please don’t give them the opportunity. They’ve even tried to do the same with me over the years, so watch out.”
“I will try, but it is becoming harder to control my temper. I just hope everything goes smoothly. I need a break from humans for a while.” Evernya admitted, growling in frustration.
“Human nature is one reason I made my house out at the edge of the wilds. I don’t receive as much racist treatment as you do, but it still happens occasionally. You will always deal with the racism, but once you make a name for yourself like I have, you will receive better treatment.” Meira assured.
“I hope so now, let’s get this over with.” Evernya urged, staring at the door impatiently.