"A what?"

"A chastity amulet." Theodoren repeated, his ears twitching. "You haven't heard of one? It's a magical amulet that makes the wearer immune to most forms of sexual assault." He rolled his hands over one another. "Right! Right, damn. You're not from around here, right." He shook his head, looking sheepish. "Look, I'm used to people knowing basic things." Theodoren flashed a bright smile. "Makes you look cuter, truth told."

"Tell me more about these things, then." Daisy crossed her arms and tapped her foot.

"Well, they're simple, really." He pointed at the wall. "You can get them from any magic shop. They're not even expensive. Want me to just grab one for you? Then you're not allowed to be pissed at me anymore."

She prodded him on the nose, compressing it a moment. "I will be as angry at you as I want to be. I can shop for myself, but thank you. Now, go to your own room. We have class tomorrow." She turned and started to walk away, but he called after her.

"Wait! Um, if you ever want to partner up again, I'm available. I'd like to do it again." He swayed left and right in place. "If you wanna. A good mage and a good fighter are a great team, you know?"

Daisy looked back at him and nodded. "I'll consider it." She headed to her room. She had a night to spend doing nothing, then more school. Then, her magic classes would begin. She giggled to herself, thinking about it.

Dhiren was there, nodding as she came in. "You look especially happy this evening." He gestured at her with his pen. "Did you get your assignment done?"

"I did." She bounced on her heels. "And I'm going to learn magic. Starting tomorrow." She pulled out the shield. "And I got this. I can use it with my saber-tooth dagger. I'm going to be so strong, you have no idea. My stats are going to go up, and I'll have more skills, and I'm going to be amazing."

He shook his head with a little smile. "I'm glad to hear you being so happy about it. But what do you mean 'stats' exactly? You'll score better on the tests? That shield won't help with that."

She waved it away. "Not that, no. Just, I'll be stronger. I mean, more physically strong, or something." She paused, and looked at him. "I need to get a hold of one of those soul appraisers. Look, they exist, so they can see stats, can't they? Numbers on how strong you are in various ways?"

Dhiren frowned slightly, and he looked at her for a long moment before shaking his head. "No, I don't think so." He looked down at the book in front of him, and flipped a couple of pages. "I'm not an appraiser myself, so I can't say with certainty, but I know they can reveal what skills you have, and what curses or diseases are affecting you. The good ones can give you a rundown of all the mutagens affecting you, but that's about all I can think they'd tell you." He looked up at her. "They don't measure your physical abilities in some kind of numerical way, as far as I know. They can't see the future, or tell you what's going to happen to you."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Daisy huffed gently. "Well, me and Theo managed to beat that dungeon up. He's still a jerk, but he had my back, and we got through it." She hiked a brow, thinking about it. "Also, forgive me if this sounds odd, but my milk is a mild healing potion, so that's kind of neat. He had a rough time, and it healed him."

Dhiren laughed and closed the book. "You two were an interesting match. He's not a bad mage, and you're not a bad fighter. I'm glad you two worked well together, even if he isn't exactly the best person in the world."

Daisy hummed with thought. "So only I see them, interesting." She hugged her new shield close. "Hey, the way people have talked, I'm not the only outsider to drop into things. Any of them ramble about numbers before?"

He shrugged and set the book down on the table beside his desk. "I couldn't say, but I've not personally heard of that before. Maybe you're just special that way." He smiled at her, and she could see that he was trying to be reassuring. She could also see that she was starting to worry him. She supposed he was a bit worried that his roommate had lost her mind.

"It's alright." She let it go, eyes returning to her shield. "You're not a warrior, but this really is a nice shield." She tapped at it, enjoying the solid thunks it provided in return. "It was from the boss of that place. I'm going to be a lot stronger with this, I can already tell." She set it down and moved to her bed, flopping over on her back. "Defense was definitely a weak spot of mine."

Dhiren was watching her with a bemused expression. "I'm not sure what to make of that. I'm not sure what to make of anything you say, really." He paused, then looked away. "If I was due for a research topic, you'd make a fine thesis topic."

She rolled onto her side, facing him. "I'd make a good something. I'm sorry I worry you." She waved that aside, not letting him respond. "So, how was class today?"

"Fascinating." He paused his reading. "But I'm afraid it involves topics you haven't even started yet. Just trust me, they had my entire attention. It involved blood enchantment methods to imbue items with your will. Riveting material, really."

"Blood enchantment?" She rolled onto her belly and perked her ears, tail swishing behind her. "Do go on, don't leave me in suspense. I'm going to be learning magic soon, so some details on what that involves would be great."

He waved her away. "I'm not doubting you, but that's quite a few grades ahead of you. Learn gently, but learn well, my dear mouse. Oh! You mentioned you wanted to meet other mice, didn't you?"

Daisy nodded. "Yes, I would like to. I know I'm not the same as them, but I still want to meet other mice." She smiled at that. "If for nothing else than to be a little closer to what I am now."

He clasped his hand. "I spread it around that you wanted it, and word bounced back. A mouse that's a friend of a student would like to meet you, and introduce you to her friends, also mice, if you're up for it." Dhiren tilted his head. "I could arrange for a meetup whenever you like, really." He gestured at the room. "Here, in a nearby park, wherever. It's your call, I'm just the middle man."

Daisy sat up with a bright smile. "Today is just getting better! You're the best. If you weren't involved with a territorial she-cat, I'd offer a hug right now. Hm, I can't stay up too late, since I start my magic lessons tomorrow, but I'd still love to meet her." She looked at the clock and saw that it was becoming late. "Tomorrow." She flopped and drew up the blanket for bed.