I couldn't help but frown as I finished slipping out of the dress Twilight Aster had me wear for orientation.

Although it was sleek and elegant and suited me way more than I thought it would, it certainly wasn't what I was accustomed to. It did resemble the regalia I'd managed to summon in my final showdown during my two-day fight for survival, though.

Which... made it really conspicuous. How was I supposed to get it back to my dorm and hide it?

Secret identities and all that jazz.

I sighed, gently folding the dress and neatly placing it on the dressing stall's bench.

Then, I checked myself once more in the mirror.

I was still waifish and boyish-thin from my years of growing up neglected, but my new powers had filled me out nicely, giving me the barest hint of curves and muscle that complemented my new strawberry-blonde hair and vibrant red and gold eyes. Sadly, even my partial transformation couldn't help me much with my... modest bust.

But at fifteen, I still had hope. I didn't know who my father was or how things were like for the women on his side of the family, but my mother had a traditional Italian beauty... which seemed to have skipped a generation with me.

My eyes were were long, narrow, ad almond-shaped, unlike her deep-set piercing eyes. And in spite of the transformation, my nose was slightly crooked where it had been broken from jumping off a jungle gym on a dare when I was eight. But my lips were plump and pink, and enhanced by the magic, I looked almost ethereal.

I shook my head, throwing on my black t-shirt and hoodie, before pulling up my jeans and slinging my backpack over my shoulder.

It was nearly six in the evening, and I was starting to feel the exhaustion creeping in from being at school all day. I would have to figure out how to deal with the dress, but for now, I had to get back to my room and grab some dinner before bed. I glanced at the device, eyeing it with my brows furrowed.

It looked like a smart phone and a stereotypical magical girl transformation device straight out of an anime, all in one. I tossed it up curiously and caught it a few times, flipping it around in my hands.

Shrugging, I closed my eyes and willed myself to de-transform, ready to go back to my dorm so I could collapse on my bed and just process the day.

Suddenly, I felt a faint pulse of energy run through me, and I opened my eyes in surprise as my aura enveloped the device in my hands. A scattered beam of energy shot out from the 'Nexus' device, and a rush of wind ran past me as it whirled around me, ruffling my clothes and hair.

And then it tethered to the dress, and a sucking force pulled it towards the Nexus.

"What the hell!?" I yelped, instinctively trying to grab onto the precious piece of clothing.

But it was no use.

In a heartbeat, the energy sucked it in and disappeared, leaving me standing alone in the empty room, completely mystified by what just happened.

"Changing Sequence: Completed. Please hold for further instructions."

The voice that echoed from the device was distinctly mechanical and feminine, and my eyes widened in shock and awe.

"Did you just... devour my dress?"

"That is correct, Harmonia Lux. Its conversion to energy required a similar output, so its material properties have been converted and stored for future use. To review, please keep your device secure and always within reach. It is a unique and powerful tool for Knights, and is to be treated with the utmost care and precaution."

"Uhhh," I managed. "Noted. So care to explain what just happened to my dress?"

"To avoid a lengthy lecture, the following is a brief summary: All clothing and accessories provided to you by Kaleidoscope Academy are enchanted to allow for additional functionality after the fact. Most standard training 'costumes' were one-time use prior to a recent breakthrough in magitech, but the Hammurabi Nexus has made it possible to preserve clothing and objects during transformation. From now on, whenever you transform, the clothing will be safely stored and converted for future use, and will automatically be returned to your personal storage unit in your Nexus."

"Ah," I breathed, my lips curling into a smile. "That's... convenient? Thank you, I guess."

I blinked as I looked down at my Nexus device. It... looked almost identical to my regular phone now, and I was struggling to wrap my head around what had just happened.

"While I appreciate your gratitude, the procedure is simply a pre-installed feature of the device. If you have any issues, however, please do not hesitate to perform an inquiry with this R.A.I.K.O unit for assistance."

"R...A?" I mused. "As in...?"

"R.A.I.K.O stands for 'Rapid Advancements In Knighthood Optimization,'" the device explained. "If you encounter any difficulties or issues, my functionalities include troubleshooting, repair, and maintenance — amongst other things."

"Hmm," I frowned. "I see. And this includes the ability to uh, make dresses disappear, apparently."

"That's correct! As you may or may not be aware, most clothing and items of this type received from the school are enchanted with a temporary transformation enchantment. This enchantment is only active while the individual is transformed, and will cease upon de-transforming."

She paused, and I nodded. "Okay, go on."

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"However, due to advancements in magitech, a recent breakthrough in material science, and the application of rapid on-the-fly engineering, it has become possible to create and enable a technology that allows for the transmutation of clothing and objects during transformation, and retain their functional capabilities and properties upon re-transformation. This feature is currently under development, but has been enabled in limited numbers. As a Kaleidoscope student, you are one of the select few who have the privilege of testing this technology for use."

"That sounds... awesome, actually," I whispered. "I honestly thought that was just a lame reason to get me into a dress. It looks way more valuable than that."

"It is indeed valuable, and is to be treated with the utmost care and precaution. A fully realized knight will be able to create and manifest regalia out of their own magic, but for now, it is a necessary feature to ensure you are able to properly equip yourself for your duties."

"Right," I murmured. "So, speaking of my duties..."

I paused, cocking my head to the side as I stared at the Nexus device. "How much does this cost in theory and how do I keep it safe? I can't exactly have it on me all the time, can I?"

"Your Nexus device is free of charge and remains your property while in commission. Eventual damage is anticipated, and thus there are plans to provide basic maintenance and repairs at a nominal cost after its testing phase."

"Wow," I breathed, shaking my head in disbelief. "My personal phone nearly broke my mom's bank account back home. I guess they have it easy here, huh?"

"The Guardians and the powers-that-be have spared no expense when it comes to providing the Magical Knights with the tools they need to perform their duties and remain safe. We recognize that this burden and commitment does not come without a cost, and thus we are dedicated to providing you with the best equipment and support services possible."

I shivered, exhaling slowly and forcing myself to think about something else. Worrying about bills had become a habit at this point. Before coming to Kaleidoscope Academy, we didn't have much more than food, water, and shelter. The costs of healthcare and living were astronomical, and I had spent countless nights wondering how my mom would get through it all.

But now that we were here, and I was learning how to fight, train, and understand my new powers, it felt like my entire world had changed. I wouldn't take it for granted, that's for sure.

There was a faint buzz of energy in the air as I gazed at the Nexus device, and a small smile crept on my lips.

"Thank you, R.A.I.K.O?"

"No need to abbreviate me, Harmonia Lux. As a language model, I am neither sentient nor able to form feelings or attachments. I simply provide information and assist with your needs as needed."

"Hmm, that sounds a bit harsh, and artificial. Are you sure you're just a computer, uh, Raiko? You sound like you have a personality."

The device vibrated with energy, and a low hum sounded in the air. "That is merely a side effect of the algorithm that interfaces with your own magic, Harmonia Lux. If there are any concerns or complaints, please feel free to reach out to command for assistance through the support portal."

"Oh, yeah," I chuckled. "But as for me, I think I'm good for now. At least I understand what's going on and er, the basics for how to use this thing."

"If you have any questions or issues, please do not hesitate to inquire."

"Sure," I smiled. "Good to know. So, um, how do I get out of this changing room?"

As if on cue, a side door I hadn't noticed before slid open at the back with a shimmering portal, and I couldn't help but gawk. "Nevermind."

I walked through the portal backpack in had, only to arrive back in the deserted hallway I'd left earlier.

"Alright, um. That's pretty cool," I muttered, staring at the wall where the portal had been. It was now just a dull, blank slate, without a hint of anything weird or magical.

I had no idea how long it would take for me to walk all the way back to my dorm, but at least I could go back and take a breather before thinking about dinner. It had been a long, exhausting day, and I was eager to sit back and relax before my classes began.

I made my way down the stairs and out the main entrance, smiling softly to myself as I pulled out my Nexus device and skimmed through the information.

It was a sleek and efficient phone, and felt noticeably faster than my personal phone. What was weird was that all my usual apps had been ported over, but it didn't look any different.

There was a notification blinking on the top, and when I clicked it, my breath hitched in surprise.

It was a text message from Albert, and I couldn't help but crack a grin.

Al: Hey Sienna, sorry for worrying you. Gonna be back on campus tomorrow. Busy night ahead of me - let's catch up for lunch and talk about what happened. See you soon!

I chuckled, shaking my head and typing back a reply.

Sienna: Can't you fucking pick up your phone just a little more? And I'm fine, just anxious and stressed. Meet me for lunch near the Rose Garden, okay? And you got a lot of explaining to do.

Al: LOL yeah. Don't hate me, alright? See you in the morning.

I closed the conversation, letting out a sigh as I stuffed the device back in my pocket.

As much as I wanted to find out more about the amazing device I'd been gifted, I knew that dinner was calling me. My stomach was growling, and I hadn't eaten since breakfast.

If only my mom could see me now.

It had been just me and her since I was little, and while we had always scraped by, but her love and sacrifices had meant the world to me. She'd gotten a little too deep in the bottle as I went through middle school and high school, but with hindsight, I could sympathize with her struggles.

She had been hiding. Hiding from her past, hiding from memories.

It had gotten to the point she stopped feeding me altogether for days at a time at some point, and I knew she was passed out up the street at McFinnigan's with booze in hand by the time I came home from school.

Al's family had been close to us from the day I'd befriended him in elementary school. After a couple of years, they started just outright giving me the clothes I'd needed, inviting me over for dinner, and even letting me borrow some of their books.

Their generosity had gotten us through some lean times, and now that I was here at Kaleidoscope Academy, far away from everything that I'd left behind, I felt nothing but regret and shame for the way my mother and I left things off.

I'd been glued to the reports since Nightingale Eclipse was spotted fighting the monster that a dozen knights couldn't defeat at Pewterstone City. She'd cut down monsters pouring out of portals by the hundreds, saving countless lives and inspiring the populace. Then, from what the magitech specialists could determine, she'd somehow phased herself out of our world to reinforce and thicken the veil out of our reality. Or some kind of mumbo jumbo like that.

It was nothing like her story. The most feared name of all from the Nightmare of Nox.

But that was Nightingale Eclipse. My mom had been my hero, and in a way, she still was. I didn't pretend to understand what she did, but I hoped that she was still okay out there. Wherever she was.

She'd indirectly inspired me to become a knight, to stand up and make a difference in the world. All those childhood stories about wizards, heroes, and adventure had spurred something within me, and I knew that I couldn't just sit around and twiddle my thumbs while the world went up in flames.

At least I had Al with me now, and the Guardians and powers-that-be were giving me a chance to prove myself.

"Mom, are you going to be alright?" I muttered under my breath, wiping away tears as I hurried to my room. "I... I miss you. And I just hope things get better."

She'd always been difficult to talk to about emotions and feelings, but she'd told me once upon a time that she was proud of me and that she loved me. That would have to be enough for me to hold onto until we saw each other again.

It had to be enough.

And with that, I made my way down the corridor and to my bedroom, eager for a warm meal and a good rest for the night.