Inside the room Azura found Norn sitting on the floor with her legs crossed and her hands on her feet. While Mira was on the bed, sitting with her legs bend, and a book on her thighs.

Norn immediately noticed noticed Azura and raised her hand to greet her, "Hey you're back? How was the first lesson with Christina?"

"It was extremely fun, but also tiring." Came a reply from the former, the fact that the lecture was tiring could be deciphered from seeing Azura's face with dry sweat, and her beautiful blue hair in a mess with dirt on them.

"Christina is quite harsh on people, but she is good at teaching, just persevere through it."

Azura nodded and went to sit at the bed beside Mira. A faint voice came from the little girl.

"You're back, Miss Azura."

Azura replied in a cheerful voice, "Yes I am, what have you been up to."

"Just reading, I don't have much other things to do."

Norn smiled seeing Mira talk to Azura,"Go and take a bath. You're just as muddy as your clothes." She said in her casual tone while pointing to the bathroom.

Azura was slightly embarassed about her muddy appearance, but then nodded as she got up from the bed and towards the bathroom door.

"Umm... Miss Norn, I don't have anything to change into."

Norn got up, "I'll set some clothes from the inn. They allow borrowing them if I remember correctly."

Azura nodded with a "thankyou", and went inside for the bath.

***

The sun was just minutes away from setting beyond the horizon. Shin and others were still travelling. Kasogi stopped and turned to the group. "We've covered enough distance for today, let's set up camp for the night, it's getting late."

Others agreed, Lyra came up to the front her scythe still on her hand. "I'll look for somewhere to set-up camp." With that she dashed off straight ahead with speed almost too fast to follow with the naked eye.

"What do you look for while searching a place for staying the night?" Asked Shin to Lapis.

"It depends on the geographical conditions of the area. For these hilly plains, she'll look for some place like under a large mount, or at a corner of some hill so there is cover from one or two side." Came a reply from Lapis.

Kasogi turned to Shin, "Is this your first time travelling Shin?"

Shin nodded, and spoke in his usual bland tone. "I have travelled, but not far enough for the need to set up camp." Shin came up for a excuse to not get suspicious or act too oblivious about this new world.

Lyra returned about 5-10 minutes later.

"I found a mound, it's at the corner of a hill so we have cover from two directions. It should be the perfect place."

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

The party then went to the place Lyra had mentioned and set up a small camp with nothing but some sleeping bags of sorts for all of them, except one.

"We have them for everyone except Shin." Said Kasogi as he rummaged through his bag. "We'll have to rotate the sleeping bags of the person who keeps guard with Shin."

"That's fine by me." Said Shin.

Kasogi nodded, "I'm currently staying up guard so you can sleep in mine, next is Flaine and after that Lyra. So you'll have to wake up everytime the guard switches. Just bear with it for a day or so, we'll get you one at the next town."

Everyone got into the sleeping bags close to the mound, with Kasogi sitting down against the mound with his sword struck in the ground, focused on his surroundings.

My sleep will be interrupted several times tonight, so it's better to just stay awake and study for the acceptance exam. Thought Shin.

So he slightly adjusted himself against the mound, taking his body out the sleeping bag, upto his chest. He then turned to Lapis, to ask her for the books she was about to give him.

All he saw was her peaceful sleeping form with her face covered with the sleeping bag upto her eyes.

I guess she's a heavy sleeper. He thought.

Lyra saw the exchange and said to Shin, "Lapis is always like that, sleeping as soon as she gets in and not waking up easily. That's also why we don't have her up for guard duty, since she might just doze off any instant. You wanted something from her?" Lyra asked curiously.

"The books she was about to give me to study for the acceptance exam." Replied Shin in a normal voice.

"Oh, you could ask Kasogi for them if you know what books they were, since he keeps all the stuff with him."

"I don't, all I know is they were on basics of ray. But she said she'd give me specific books so I could just pass the exam in the short time I have."

"You could ask Flaine for the name, she must know it but... I don't think she would answer if you asked her. I'll ask her for it, don't worry." Said Lyra happily for some reason.

Flaine was laying beside Lapis, who was beside Lyra. So Lyra leaned over Lapis, her petite body on top of the blue haired sleeping beauty. "Flaine, you got any idea on what books Shin should study for the acceptance exam?" Lyra asked Flaine with a expectant face

"Just tell him to study the book with number 32 written on it's cover in bold letters with the background being bright red." She didn't love to answer, but did so anyway.

"Thanks, you're a big help Flaine." Lyra said in a friendly manner as she patted Flaine's legs through the sleeping bag.

She retreated back to her position getting up from Lapis's sleeping form.

"She said book with number 32 written on it's cover, with a red background."

"Thank you." Said Shin without much expressions.

Flaine smiled in return and covered herself with the sleeping bag. "I'll sleep then, I have to wake up for guard duty later. Good night Shin."

Shin turned to Kasogi who heard their conversation, "you want the book? I'll get it for you."

He rummaged through the huge bag which was kept just beside him, and found the book, though it was in miniscule form. The book grew in size when he dusted some chalk that was on it, which he then handed over to Shin.

It's not that large, probably around 50-60 thousand words. I can complete it by tonight. Thought Shin as he began his studying. Though the night was dark, he was able to read with the light that was emanated from the ring he got from the large tree he had killed before.

***

Azura was pouring water over her naked form. Her clothes were lying on the ground getting wet along her, and only her undergarments were kept on top of a closet of sorts at the corner.

The bathroom was quite small, with a tub full of cold water, and a bucket beside it both made out of wood.

"I hate cold baths, though it's quite refreshing after how tiring today was." She mumbled to herself.

"Hey Azura, I've got the clothes for ya." Came a voice from outside the bathroom.

Azura went over to the door and slightly opened the door so only her hand could pass through, "Thanks miss Norn, please hand them to me."

She got the clothes along with a towel, and closed the door. The clothes were a simple white shirt, with black trousers. They both were perfect fit for Azura. She put them away along her undergarments and continue her bath.

Azura went over to the tub and rinsed her hair with the cold water, washing off all the dust and grime from her hair.

After that she grabbed the towel and wiped her slender wet body with it, then wrapped it around her wet hair.

"I'll get dressed up then."