Gio settled into the train car of the Inter-Ring Express. He was happy to be going home to visit family, doubly so because he had made no meaningful progress in the few days since the interviews. Aside from keeping up with his classwork and some garden maintenance, he had been too stressed to think about anything more than just surviving.

Sinking into the soft fabric of the luxury interior of the express, Gio snacked on the complementary wafer-like snacks and sipped his tea.

Some sort of lavender milk tea. I like this blend… I don’t get why Marie and Baphelus are so against compromise, both styles are fantastic. I should try to pick up some tea for Baphelus while I visit home.

“It’s quite nice, isn’t it? One of the best parts of the Express is that they have a selection of goods from all across the Rings. The tea is from the Silver Ring, the cookies are produced in the Iron Ring, but the secret that makes them so tasty is that the raspberry jam is actually grown and produced in the Copper Ring.” Said a woman sitting across from Gio.

Gio flinched, having not noticed her sit down across from him.

“Oh, my apologies, Giorgio. Old habits die hard. My name is Magda.” said the woman. The first thing Gio noticed was her eyes. Two softly glowing pink hearts replaced her irises, which unsettled him slightly. Aside from the eyes, the curvy woman wore an elegant peach-colored sundress and a wide-brimmed hat with a single teal feather tucked behind a ribbon.

“Oh… hello? Do I know you?” asked Gio. He caught his reflection in the window and tried to contain himself when Rio signed “DANGER” to him discretely.

“We haven’t met, but I heard about you from a close friend of mine a few days ago. I feel terribly bad that I seem to have put you on guard like this, but please rest assured that I am not here to hurt you. I just wanted to introduce myself.” The woman said.

“I… see. Well, you mentioned that the jam from the cookies is from the Copper Ring? That’s odd. I have lived there my whole life until a few months ago and I was unaware that we had jam this good.” Gio replied, trying to remain calm.

“Oh, yes. It’s from this cute little farm in East Copper. You’re from the South, right near the logistics hub, so it would make sense that you’d never been there. The Copper Ring is, after all the biggest inhabitable ring, even if it has a low population density relative to the others.” She replied.

“You seem to know a lot about me for having just heard about me a few days ago, Miss Magda.” Gio replied.

The woman laughed, covering her mouth with a dainty gloved hand in a polite manner.

“I have my sources… but a lady never tells. More to the point, I think we should talk less about how I know about you, and more about what I know about you. I know that you’re a scholarship student from the Copper Ring and that you’re currently in dire need of support.” Magda said.

Gio was taken aback but tried not to let it show on his face.

“That’s accurate. I’ve been… weighing my options recently. If you don’t mind me being slightly direct… why are you bringing this up? It’s a bit of a sore subject for me right now. I was hoping to get away from all of this for a few days.” Gio replied, a small amount of annoyance leaking into his voice.

“Well, because I find it to be unfair. Why should the nobility be able to hoard all of the legendary magic for themselves, leaving the unprivileged to fight for scraps? You see, my friends and I believe that there should be more equality in the Ringed City. The current regime acts as if their bloodlines give them the divine right to lord over the rest of the populace, when in fact, they are just the inheritors of the spoils of conquest ages past. Never forget this, Giorgio- All that we mortal mages call “true magic” is just knowledge that was stolen from the spirits and gods of this world. You and I have every right to those magics.” The woman ranted, her eyes glowing brighter.

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Gio paused to think for a moment.

“You… you’re one of those dissidents. I’ve read about your organization.” Gio said, visibly uncomfortable.

The Pink Lady smiled.

“We prefer the term “Equalists”. Worry not, you’re not going to be witch-hunted for speaking to me… I take discretion very seriously. Nobody on the Express can perceive this conversation. More importantly, What do you think of us? Do you think that we’re the demons that the nobility make us out to be?” she asked.

“I… don’t know. I’m just a student trying to get by. A few months ago I was working at a noodle shop. All of this… it just seems like something outside of my world. I’ve seen reports that say that the… “Equalists” as you call them, are violent thugs who take advantage of lapses in city security to smuggle in contraband, and that you harbor dangerous criminals. I’ve also read “Ringed City Culture”, and that magazine says that you’re a philanthropic organization that offers amenities to the poor, but I’ve never seen any of that personally.” Gio replied.

“Oh, but you have. You’ve already benefitted from our philanthropy.” Said the woman.

“What? In what way have I benefitted from your organization?” Gio asked.

“You need only look as far as your spellbook. I am the sponsor of the Frill and Wattle Spell Emporium,” she said.

Gio gasped.

“I’ve already committed a crime?!” Gio yelled.

The Pink Lady laughed again.

“No, dear boy. It’s not illegal to sell spells. The nobility just don’t like that we’re doing it for a fraction of what they want spells to cost. We get by on a few loopholes, and so long as they don’t catch us giving them away, they can’t do much. It helps that many employees of our various spell-shops throughout the rings don’t know who they work for. As I said, we take privacy very seriously,” she said.

Gio contemplated for a moment, digesting the sudden influx of information.

“So what are you suggesting? If I accept aid from you… doesn’t that make me a dissident? I don’t know If I am comfortable with that.” Gio replied.

“Well, I can not say how you would be perceived by the school, or the nobility if they found out that you had taken help from my organization. I am willing to provide you aid, but I would likely request that you at least come visit, and see for yourself the work that we equalists do. Nothing as binding as, say, a commission- but yes, for the sake of transparency, I’d like to try to woo you into our cause. We would have many uses for a promising young mirror mage.” the Pink Lady said.

Gio was uncertain how to respond.

“I am aware of the… timeline that the Ring Guard has forced upon you. Allow me the chance to make a good first impression by doing the exact opposite- you have an open door to meet with us, any time you desire. While I don’t suggest you put off getting the supplies you need to the last minute, I’ll not turn you away. This lasts forever- even if you manage to get what you need without our help. I can see that I’ve left you with quite a bit to think about, so I’ll leave shortly. I wish to impart one piece of free advice to you, if not only for my own selfish reasons. As a mirror mage, you’re going to need help learning how to deal with reality. There aren’t many mages who deal specifically with reality-bending, but there’s one such specimen lurking at your school. If you find yourself in need of direction in the far future, seek out Wallace Vandoren. I will forewarn you, he’s a bastard, and he’ll try to get out of teaching you at any possible injunction. You’ll likely need to wear him down with a few commendations to get anything out of him… but he is a master at what he does. In any case- good luck to you, Giorgio. Enjoy your vacation!” She said.

The woman disappeared without any theatrics. One moment she was there, and the next moment, Gio was staring at an empty seat.

Yeah… I am excited go get home.

_____

Walking in the front door of his parent’s house, he was greeted by two young children diving straight for his kneecaps.

“GIO’S HOME! MOM!” screamed Emma.

It’s good to be home.