Tavia stared at the passing pedestrians as the carriage took her to Miren’s unmarked building. It was where the younger girl conducted her business.

There were times—too many times, in truth—when she thought of what it would be like to be someone with a typical mortal life, someone without an interface. It was an idle thought caused by the guild.

I would not survive in the core guild… metaphorically. If it wasn’t for Cal opening his house to me, I don't want to think of what my situation would have been.

Tavia had told Cal that she had requested the guild to allow her to station in Oracle Shores or Star Fields, and that wasn’t a lie, but those talks hadn’t gone further than her request. If it wasn’t for the Overseer informing her that there might be a solution to her problem with Cal, she might still be rotting in the core guild.

I was a fool to think it would get better in the core guild. It just got worse but in a different way.

She tried her best to isolate herself from the relentless competition among the Trainees. The friends she surrounded herself with helped somewhat, but Cal was the one who truly let her isolate in peace.

His relentless pursuit of her prevented anyone from truly pulling her into any time-wasting petty conflicts. Cal’s status as the ‘Favored Trainee’ helped her immensely.

Tavia was surprised that he suddenly changed his attitude toward her and acted like he had lost interest in her overnight. She was glad it happened right at the end when his difference was least needed, but it did make her curious as to why his attitude changed so drastically.

I approached Cal after the Selection to tell him not to give up hope, but he wasn’t concerned... about anything. He was like a new person.

Tavia had assumed it meant the guild would take care of whatever the issue was that happened to Cal during the Selection. That was quickly proven false when the Masters overseeing the core guild often lamented Cal’s Selection result to the other Initiates' pleasure.

She frowned as she thought about Tarn. He had jumped at the chance to insult Cal at the end of the Selection, but in the core guild, he switched tactics. Tarn became one of the most irritating suck-ups she had the displeasure to be around.

Not an hour passed without hearing how Cal would no longer be a headache to her. Unfortunately, hearing that repeatedly was giving her an actual headache.

Unfortunately for Tarn, he was wrong about Cal.

She was given a taste of what Cal experienced as a Trainee. The people she could barely stand were suddenly trying to get on her good side, and there were far too many individual meetings with the Masters to be normal.

She loved the promise of future lectures and the contents that would be covered, but even with that, it wouldn’t be enough. The overload of attention was maddening, and it was not something she could tolerate for long before breaking. She knew what she needed, and that was to be mostly left to her own devices.

Tavia quickly realized something at that point. She missed Cal and the way his presence warded off attention from her. It had only been a few days of his absence before she wanted it back.

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That was when she decided it was time to get out. It had still been early—very early—so there was a chance if she did asked now instead of later.

The reactions I received didn’t give me much hope. The Overseer really did save my sanity.

The carriage slowed to a stop in front of Tavia’s destination. She stepped out and patted the horses for their work.

For something purposely left unmarked, Miren made it stand out far too much.

The building had a stone facade with carved details from stories she had heard about the Celestial Order. Vines and flowering plants climbed the walls, giving it a strange, natural touch. Large one-way windows spanned the entire wall, with stained glass at the top that displayed the runes built into the glass. Even the door was unique. It was a heavy wooden door reinforced with wrought iron.

The plain nature of the surroundings made all of this even more shocking. Miren’s building wasn’t in a crowded area of other structures, nor was it alone. The buildings around it had names like ordinary places of business, and the buildings were more utilitarian.

I don’t understand the choice to leave it unmarked when it stands out.

Tavia saw several people across the street as they gaped at Miren’s building. She gave them sympathetic looks before heading inside.

I would stare in shock, too, at something so astoundingly ugly. I’m shocked this is the best the Celestial Order has as a designer.

“Initiate Tavia! Welcome back. How can I help you today?”

Tavia’s eye twitched in irritation at seeing this man again. She hadn’t forgotten how he casually insulted her before leaving Cal’s field. He might not have known he insulted her, but that wasn’t important.

“You told me Miren would be back today.” Tavia did her bare minimum to be polite. She considered it enough that she didn’t growl at him like a beast.

“Madam Miren is resting in her office.”

It was heavily implied that Torin could help with whatever Tavia wanted, but she didn’t care. Plus, he truly couldn’t help with her main goal here. “Take me to her.”

Torin waited a few seconds for her to take back her words, but when the reversal didn’t happen, he sighed and nodded slightly. “Very well, follow me.”

Tavia smiled at the few others who were in this large building before they climbed the stairs. She didn’t know what the others did as a job, but just like the last time she came here, they were chatting while drinking a hot beverage.

Everyone here is strange.

That was reaffirmed by what was on the second floor. The stairs led to one large office.

It was all glass. The walls, the door, the furnishings inside. All of it.

Miren stared at them when they came into view, but Torin still knocked on the glass door. “Madam Miren, Initiate Tavia has business with you.”

Tavia had to bite her lip to stop any ill thought—and possibly rude—statements.

Miren waved her hand, and Torin pushed the glass door open and led them inside.

Tavia cleared her throat and put aside all the strangeness around her. She was disappointed that Cal seemed to abhor the color of the furnishings she chose, but she chose to look at it positively. With Miren back in her office, she could rectify a mistake.

“Miren, I need help to procure another material that’s on the same level as Starlit Marble.”

Miren stared at her momentarily before she called Torin and whispered into his ear.

Tavia waited. She wouldn’t be leaving without her agreement.

She knew that she intruded on Cal’s space, but she hoped that the Starlit Marble was enough of a gift to excuse her guilt.

However, it was only made worse when it turned out that he couldn’t even use it. What was a gift for Cal turned out to be a benefit only for her.

I somehow convinced the Overseer to help me secure the Starlit Marble. I will need to do so again with another material. Miren is the best way to find the Overseer.

“Madam Miren says your request will cost a few guildmarks at a minimum.”

It took all of Tavia’s willpower to not sweat furiously at the cost, even if she wouldn’t be paying for it. “I need to talk to the Overseer.”

Miren raised an eyebrow at her request and tapped her finger on her glass desk. She whispered in Torin’s ear again.

Torin looked confused but repeated the message. “Madam Miren asked if this is for the same reason you procured the Starlit Marble.”

Tavia blinked in confusion before nodding. That caused more whispering.

“Madam Miren says you will have her help.”