“Those steel coffins ? That’s your goal !?”

“My point exactly. Armors are just walking death traps. You’re better off with the hussars or lancers if you want to get in the thick of it, Melissa.”

“Who said I was aiming for field armor ?”

“Wait, you meant the Royal Guard ?”

“Ah ! Fat chance in hell you get to join that one !”

“Easy there, don’t crush her dream. After all, it is such an honor to stand still and look shiny for the court.”

“Catherine is right. Even if by some miracle you’re accepted in the Guard, you’ll waste your best years stewing in those tins.”

“Better bored in a palace than in common barracks…”

“Speak for yourself ! I ain’t picking some drab commission. Oh no ! I’m gonna be-“

“-be the best grenadier officer there ever was. Yes, yes, Saph’. Tone it down. It’s not even been a month and I’m already thinking of strangling you in your sleep.”

“Cathy ! Edith’s being mean !”

Laughter. Banter. It all felt so natural.

The four girls at the next table over had seemingly each found their own place in their little group. Such ease and familiarity were expected from years-long friends, not barely met teenagers. Yet it appeared to work for them.

Sienna had been startled when they sat near her and couldn’t help but listen to them. Sapphire the loud mouth, Catherine the snobbish wisecrack, Melissa the stubborn pessimist, and Edith the collected leader. They had apparently… clicked, as would have said mother Aria.

She couldn’t help but feel envious. Taylor and Lila had avoided her ever since they had their argument and obviously harbored heavy resentment against her. The rest of the students either left her to her own devices or actively mocked her when she tried to approach them. Fortunately, there had been no other incident like Monday. All in all, she was left alone, condemned to fade away because of the actions of others looking like her.

Today had been worse. She’d been excited for the combat classes before, wanting to prove her mettle, but the constant adversity and occasional sneer directed her way had eroded her confidence. That is why, when she was called to fight in the arena, she hesitated. Her opponent had already stepped up to the ring facing the bleachers, wooden sword in hand, when Sienna finally stood up.

Alice Cunningsworth, another pride of her cohort. She had recognized the last name from the eponymous Cunningsworth Trade Company, a private venture rivaling with the state sponsored ones. That family had probably more political clout than every baroness combined.

The instructor had argued that the two prides would make for a fine demonstration of swordplay. The ridicule and contempt coming from the audience pointed at a different reason for their interest in the bout.

Sienna felt cornered, alone in a sea of nipping gulls. And it showed.

Her footwork was shot. Her arms too tense. Her grip too lax. Contesting the center was impossible and every feint made her flinch. The match was a debacle. Three to none. Alice didn’t even break a sweat. When she was declared the victor, she didn’t bow, her face a blank canvas showing neither disdain nor empathy.

Sienna thought she couldn’t fall any lower. Yet she did when she realized she’d spent the day without speaking a word to anyone.

A week. It had only taken a week to be cast down, to break her spirit. She’d thought herself more resilient. What was next ? More neglect ? Bullying ?

Before her thoughts could spiral into oblivion, she caught a piece of the chat going on beside her.

“What about the Corps ?”

“What about them ? They’re glorified pest control.”

“Oh, come on Melissa. They get to explore other worlds. That has to count, right ?”

“Worlds that have never been touched by civilized hands and packed with monstrosities no one’s ever heard of. You’re right, I can’t think of a better posting.”

“Plus, have you met any of them ? Those are some crazy broads ! I mean, you gotta respect the tits it takes to jump into those rifts, but they ain’t right in the head I tell you.”

“I heard that the older they get, the more unhinged they are.”

It’s because of Psy pollution. The more time you spend delving, the more your mind drifts.

The conversation stalled abruptly. Did she say that out loud ?

“What’s Psy pollution ?” The tall one – Edith – asked her directly, a twinkle in her eye. Good or bad omen, Sienna had been starved of interaction and elected to make the most it.

“Rifts are passages to other worlds, you have that right. And… we all know that our environment during childhood is the defining factor to the emergence of our Psy.” Edith now sported a pleased smile while Melissa and Sapphire were intently listening. Catherine seemed to hide a chuckle for some reason.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“A lesser-known fact is that this process doesn’t stop at puberty, it is simply slower and less obvious. Take that to the next step and you can infer that different worlds have different effects on Psy, even for adults. And the worlds beyond the rifts have a twisted influence on us. Therefore, Psy pollution.”

Sapphire whistled. “You’re a smart one, ain’tcha ?”

“Alright, but why the… madness ? If it’s so inert, why would a couple days a month in a rift affect their Psy that much ?” Melissa on the other hand remained doubtful.

Edith answered before Sienna could. “That’s because the rifts’ realms don’t have the same laws as ours does. Some have no up or down, others no light, and most run at a different pace. Usually a faster one.”

Hold on. If she knows that, why did she ask about pollution ?

She didn’t have the time to follow that suspicion as the girls began to introduce themselves.

“Anyway, my name’s Edith Compton, nice to meet you.”

Amber eyes with darker hair. Tall. Silver cufflinks. Embroidered pocket square. Nobility.

“Hi ! I’m Sapphire ! Just call me Saph’. Everyone does.”

Definitely commoner. Pale blue eyes. And black hair. Striking.

“Melissa Paltrow. Don’t call me Mel’.”

Brown all over. Rather stout. Frowns a lot.

“And the best for last. Catherine Rosenclad, at your service.”

Another aristocrat. Gold blonde, greenish eyes. Mischievous.

Sienna sighed deeply. They had to know about her current social standing. Yet they were reaching out to her. Were they jesting ? Was it a ploy ?

Tentatively, she answered. “Well, I’m Sienna-”

Melissa interrupted her. “Wait, weren’t you on the dais at the opening ceremony ?”

“She was ! She’s a pride !” Jumping from her seat, Sapphire pointed her fork at her.

“Oh, that’s why-” Melissa began before being interrupted herself.

“Gal, you gotta help me !” Sapphire exploded forward, Catherine’s grip on her arm the only thing stopping her. “The teach’ threatened me with detention ‘cause of my longhand. No idea what I’m supposed to do and Edith threw me out the room when I asked her help !”

“Will you please sit down ? And I kicked you out because you were shouting in my ear.”

“Ha ! I’m always shouting. That’s part of my charm !”

Edith and Melissa exchanged the resigned looks of parents confronted with their child’s antics, said child entirely too pleased with herself.

A sneaky “At least she’s self-aware.” from Catherine broke the camel’s back. Sienna laughed, the others joining her. It wasn’t any knee-slapping howling, an amused chuckle at best, but it cleared her thoughts. The air carried a fresh song to her ears, one of welcoming cheer, of budding camaraderie.

She motioned for a vacant seat at their table. “Can I..?”

Edith pulled the chair for her. “Of course.”

“Thanks.” Sapphire was still staring at her, a goofy smile on her face. “And sure, I’ll help. Your handwriting can’t be that bad anyway, right ?”

“Oh, sister…”

“It is. It absolutely is.”

“No it’s not ! It’s perfectly legible.”

“If you squint really hard, maybe.”

“At least I don’t mistake my Is for my Ls.”

“It happened once and you know it.”

While Melissa and Sapphire continued needling each other, Sienna turned a questioning look at Edith.

“Leave it, they’ll tire themselves out soon enough.” After taking a bite of her pie, she asked precisely what Sienna feared. “How are you holding up, if you don’t mind me asking ? I’ve heard what happened to your clan. It must have-“

“Don’t. I had no ties with them. Their doings are their own.” A bit curt, but Sienna felt her frustration bubble to the surface.

“Oh. I didn’t mean to imply... My apologies.” She appeared genuinely chastised but nobles were a crafty bunch.

“I told you not to be so frontal about it.” Catherine took over, trying to salvage the conversation. “Sienna, we’ve all seen how you were treated this past week. Edith here insisted we offer you some respite from the storm and we all agreed.”

She sipped her tea, then pressed on with a serious expression that didn’t suit her traits. “You probably don’t trust us and that is fine. It may be misdirected, but your wariness will serve you well in the coming years. I only hope you’ll let us show you we mean well.”

Sienna noticed all four were looking at her. Not a hint of the antipathy she felt from the rest of her cohort.

“I understand. I’ll try to be less high-strung.” A small smile graced her lips, a signal to ease their worries. Then, she tentatively changed the subject. “You were talking about commissions, right ? You all want to serve ?”

“We do. Yet it will be easier for some of us.” Catherine said, eyes suddenly downcast.

What could stop a noble from getting a commission ?

Edith tried to explain Catherine’s wistful comment. “Cathy here has certain… familial obligations that might prevent her from joining.”

“Her Ma’ wants her to cozy up to the court. Bunch of nobility nonsense…”

“Quite.” The highborn nodded to the blue-eyed commoner. A small gesture, but not many of her stature would have let a lowborn talk this way about them.

Still, Sienna’s interest was piqued. “If you could, what regiment would you pick ?”

“Well, I always loved riding, so cavalry would be my choice. But realistically, the best I can hope for is the minimum five years posting in a commissariat where my mothers can keep their hands on me.”

Catherine was definitely bothered by her family plans on her life. Sienna had always thought a noble’s lot in life would entail some drawbacks, even if starvation or homelessness never threatened them. But a highborn unable to choose her own future felt wrong to her senses. If the more fortunate among them were not free to dictate their own lives, who was ?

She felt compelled to support the girl. “I think many young aristocrats join the cavalry. If your mothers insist you mingle with other highborns, that could be a selling point.”

“See ? I shouldn’t say that I told you so, but I told you so !” Edith smoothly injected some levity to the subject.

Recognizing the cue as what it was, Sienna turned to the girl. “What about you Edith ?”

“I honestly wouldn’t mind infantry. Fusiliers if I can, but line is fine too.”

“Boring…” Who wouldn’t find line infantry boring if not Sapphire ?

“They may seem boring, but they’re usually the ones seeing the most action. Plus, more potential for promotion.”

“Missus here has some great goal. See, when you get to the rank of Colonel, you also get a seat at the big table, and Edith-“

“Saph’.” Edith cut her off. Not in a curt manner, mind you. A simple look confirmed there was no enmity between the two. But Sapphire had apparently touched upon a subject Edith preferred kept quiet.

“Sorry. Got carried away.”

“And you ? Any particular ambition ?” The attention of the group turned to Sienna, as expected.

“Well… I’m not sure it’s still in the cards for me, but I’d like to join the delvers.”

“Explains why she knows about that pollution thing.” Melissa muttered.

On the other hand, Edith didn’t seem thrilled. “Pardon me if I overstep myself, but are you sure that’s what you want ? If I’m not wrong, their life expectancy is rather short, even for the officers.”

“Don’t worry, I know. Let’s just say I also have some familial obligations.” She exchanged a chuckle with the girls, not offended by the remark in the least. “And I rather like the idea of treading paths never discovered before.”

Catherine raised her glass to that. “Ladies, we’ve got an explorer among us ! That ought to round us up.” And laughter erupted anew.

They talked late into the evening. Sharing small tidbits of their lives. Never condescending, always jovial. It soothed Sienna in ways she didn’t know she needed.

They left for their own residence when the sun went down. Sienna walked back to her lodge under the cover of the stars, thinking that maybe, just maybe, the week hadn’t been such a failure.