Kanja and I entered our rooms and stared at the bare beds.

"Uh, do you have any blankets?" Kanja asked, turning to look at Yen, Adela, and Yuzuki.

"You didn't bring any?" Ling asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

Kanja averted her gaze. "No. I didn't." Of course, she didn't. Nor had I. Neither of us had expected to take the exam. Not that I needed stuff. My armor couldn't be taken off apart from my helmet, so clothes weren't an issue. Plus, it provided me shelter from the elements too. All I needed was food, which I often got from the wild.

"Let me go see." Yen ran over to a closet in the middle of the hallway and opened it. She took out a fluffy white blanket. "Seems there's only one."

"That's fine. I don't need one," I said, shaking my hand.

Yuzuki furrowed her brow at me. "Are you sure?"

I smiled even though no one else could see it. "Yeah. Not like the heat of the blanket can penetrate through the armor."

"You can't take it off?" a voice called out. We turned and saw Xue and Arima making their way toward us.

Arima gasped. "Her spirit, it's not too different from a ghost."

"Huh?" Lidia said, jumping.

"Interesting," Ling said, putting a hand on her chin.

"The armor is holding her essence together like a spirit that refuses to move on. But, she's not exactly dead either," Arima said.

I turned my head away.

The ghost mage laughed awkwardly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry. It's just that not every day I see something like this."

"You've seen something like it before?" Xue asked, crossing her arms.

The blue-gray-haired girl shook her head. "No, first time, actually."

I placed a hand on my chest plate. "If not for this armor, I would be gone."

Lidia gulped.

Tamara frowned and lowered her head.

I smiled at her. "If you're worried about having damaged it during our battle, it's fine. You weren't aware. I didn't tell you or anyone as I didn't want you to hold back. Not that I really expected you to dent it."

Ling put a hand on Tamara's shoulder. "You heard her. Don't feel bad, Tammy. Just be more careful next time you fight her. Assuming the chance ever presents itself."

I turned my attention back to Ling's ruler. Adela's eyes remained on my armor.

"I-Is something wrong?" I asked.

Adela moved back. "Ahh. Sorry. I just wanted to see if there might be a way to strengthen it."

"With magic?" Kanja asked with curiosity.

"No. Well, not with magic alone. It'll require tool synthesis."

"Tool synthesis?"

Adela nodded. "It's a class some of you might be taking. You'll learn how to make magical items. Not sure if you noticed Nyima's cross. She and Yuu..." She averted her gaze. "She and someone else made it together."

"What can it do?" Ling asked.

"It's said to strengthen light and water magic."

"I should make one of those for the princess!" Lidia exclaimed, grinning.

"On the topic of classes, I need you five to pick out some electives," Yuzuki said as she rushed over to her room.

"Wait, why do you have a room here now, Yuzu?" Yen asked.

Yuzuki smiled as she brought back five forms. "Our old dorm is currently in the process of remodeling. Plus, it seems that Director Shin'en wants us to be closer to our peers. That place is isolated from the other dorms. Plus, I heard it's being given to the honor students."

"They're getting their own dorm? Lucky."

"If it's isolated, it sounds creepy if you ask me," Ling said as she took one of the forms from Yuzuki.

"Reminds me of the hideout," Kanja said as she also took one.

"Hideout?" I asked as Yuzuki handed Tamara and me our forms.

Kanja laughed to herself. "Forget that only Lidia and the boys minus Jude know the full story."

Ling leaned in. "Now I'm curious."

"Is it related to you kidnapping Carter? Heard Nate talking about it during the test," I said.

Kanja's smile vanished. "Yeah. It's thanks to Carter that I can be here."

I patted her shoulder. "Same."

Kanja blushed. "I wonder if we should do something to thank him."

I let go of her. "Such as...?"

She turned away. "Not sure. Maybe something will come to me while shopping."

I chuckled. "Leave that to me, since I won't be buying much stuff."

"You're going shopping?" Ling asked.

"Yeah. I have no..." Kanja froze and bent her elective form. "I have no money either."

Yuzuki chuckled. "It's fine. We have some funds." She glanced at the other three girls. "Would you like to come with us too?"

Ling sighed. "No. I hate shopping."

Kanja stared at Ling's brown skirt and green shirt. "Explains why you dress so out of style."

Ling gritted her teeth and turned away. "Well, excuse me, miss penniless. I like saving money, unlike some people. Plus, clothes are to be practical."

Kanja curled her hand into a fist. "Why you little..."

"And you, two?" I asked, turning to Lidia and Tammy.

Tamara shook her head.

"I want to go check up on the princess once I'm done here," Lidia said, smiling.

"I won't be going either. Not that fond of shopping myself," Adela said.

"Suit yourself," Yuzuki said, holding out her hands. A vortex appeared in front of her. "Let's go!" She jumped into the black portal without warning.

"So, that's space magic," Ling said, whistling.

"So cool!" Lidia said, beaming. I giggled. She sounded like Aurelius and Carter.

"It is impressive," Xue said, smiling as she walked into the portal.

Tamara stared at it and didn't even blink. Did she find it interesting, frightening, or a mix of the two?

Kanja put a hand over it and moved it up and down. "Seems safe."

"Of course it is. Yuzu made it," Yen said, pushing her in.

"Ahh!" Kanja yelled as the sound of heels clicking on stone echoed from the portal.

"Did you really have to push her?" I asked.

Yen chuckled. "No, but I thought it'll be fu- Ahh!" She yelled as she was dragged in by someone on the other side.

I sighed and jumped in.

Kanja smiled as she let go of Yen's arm. "Sorry, senior. Thought it'll be fun."

Yen rolled her eyes. "Come up with your own lines, first-year."

"Now, now, girls. Don't fight," Yuzuki said, looking over her back.

"We aren't fighting," Kanja said. "It's just banter."

Yen nodded.

Yuzuki laughed. "I guess that's true. If you were, you would be at each other's throats."

Arima smiled. "Indeed."

"You two sound like you have experience with such sights," I said.

The ghost mage smiled. "Alto, Aban, and I would banter often. We still do. Only with Uli we don't, but that's because he isn't the type to dish it out, so he might misunderstand."

"Was surprised that he bantered with Wani," Yen said.

"He did? I didn't get to hear any of it."

Yen touched her ears. "Yeah. That Ulissis really is something. Didn't think that he would be related to the first Magus Maximus."

"What? He is?" Kanja asked.

"At least that's what he claimed."

"Uli spoke the truth. His paternal grandmother is the daughter of the first Magus Maximus," Arima said, crossing her arms.

"Wow. So, what about you, Yuzuki?" Kanja asked, turning to look at the redhead.

Yuzuki chuckled. "Well, I did grow up with the triplets. Plus Yen and Hika would often fight too."

Kanja smirked. "Hika's Yen's boyfriend, no?"

Yen blushed as we walked into the mall. It was a lot bigger than I had expected. Three stories, all brimming with people.

Then again, it had been years since I had been to one. Most malls in my country had gone bankrupt. How had this one avoided that fate?

"H-he's not my boyfriend," Yen muttered as she ran ahead of us. She gasped and made her way toward the window of a store that sold guitars, drums, and other music-related goods.

"Yen, we came to help the girls find stuff. Not for our own shopping," Yuzuki said, putting her hands on her hips.

Yen lowered her head. "Aww, but I wanted to get a guitar. Look, they even have a purple one! You know how much I love purple."

Yuzuki snickered as she grabbed Yen by the back of her violet backpack. "I know very well, but my answer remains the same. Let's go."

Yen sighed as she started walking again. "Okay."

Xue smiled slightly. "Seems that Yen isn't too different from her brothers after all," the lilac-eyed mage whispered.

"Yeah," Arima said, giggling.

Yen pouted. "I can hear you two..."

"If we have enough money left over, you can use it for your guitar," I said. "I can't wear clothes, so I'll be looking for something to get Carter to repay him."

"Why not make him food?" Yen asked, looking over her shoulder. "He struck me as a foodie with how he ate his ramen."

"Good idea!" Kanja said, grinning.

I smiled as well. "Yeah. But, what should we make him?"

Kanja glanced at the food court. "Not sure, but maybe we can get some inspiration."

Making Carter ramen came to mind, but I doubted it would be as good as Hideo's.

"Wonder if Hika and Lei can help," Yen said as she took out her phone from the side back on her backpack. Its case was a deep purple like grapes.

Yen frowned.

"What's wrong?" Yuzuki asked.

"That brat isn't answering."

"Lei or Hikaru?"

"Lei. Wonder if he's busy. Usually, he answers right away when he has time. Let me try Hika."

The phone rang for a while before someone finally answered.

"Hello? Yen?" a tired-sounding Hikaru answered.

"Why do you sound like you haven't slept in ages?" Yuzuki asked, taking Yen's phone.

"Lei left me with the boys. Cart is currently making a lot of noise."

"Huh? Why?" Kanja asked.

"He keeps asking people to battle him."

"Fight me, Hika!" Carter could be heard.

"I already said no!"

"I'll take care of him, come on!" Nate could be heard saying.

"Aww! Stop! Don't drag me by the hair! I'm going to become bald!"

Nate laughed. "I'm not even pulling that hard."

"Wahhh! Let go of me, you meanie!" Cart cried.

Hika sighed.

"I feel bad for you," Kanja mumbled.

"Same," Yen said.

"That guy acts like a child," Yuzuki said, laughing nervously.

Yen scoffed. "Makes me wish that could have been there. I would happily have taken Nate's role and given that brat a piece of my mind."

Hikaru laughed like his sister. "He's a bit of a hyper kid, but he's not a bad guy. He's actually similar to your brothers."

Yen grumbled. "That makes me want to discipline him even more. So, why did my troublesome little brother leave you alone?"

"Ayawamat told him that Iah was suspended."

Her eyes widened. "What?"

Yuzuki let go of Yen's backpack. "No wonder Lei left. How long was it since he left?"

"About twenty minutes ago."

Yen winced all of a sudden.

"Yen, what's wrong?" Yuzuki asked, touching her shoulders.

"I don't know, but I feel as if someone just hit me hard in the stomach."

Yuzuki gasped. "Could Lei be in the middle of a battle?"

Yen rubbed her stomach. "If he is, his opponent is no slouch."

"Hopefully, it's not someone seeking his core."

"Should we go back?" I asked.

Yen sighed. "The pain has subsided. Seems Lei's fine, for now. Kun's likely to go investigate."

"Maybe I should go too," Hikaru said. "I'll leave Ayawamat to take care of the first years."

Suddenly, the sound of an explosion came from the phone.

"What was that?"

"I said to let go of me, jerk!" Carter could be heard yelling.

Hikaru sighed. "Carter, be careful or you'll burn the dorm down!" the second-year yelled.

"I-I'll put out the flames!" Jude said.

"I'll handle it," Huo said, likely pushing the flames away.

"Carter, control yourself!" Nate yelled.

"I will once you let go of my hair!"

Kanja sighed. "That guy has a strange fuse."

"Huh? K-Kanja?" Carter mumbled.

"I'm talking to the girls still," Hikaru said.

"You were talking to the girls all this time? I thought you were talking to Lei. Oh no. What do I do? They probably think that I'm a big baby."

"You are," Nate said, flatly.

"It's your fault!"

"Sorry, I have to hang up and take care of this," Hikaru said.

"I understand. Take care," Yen said before hanging up.

Yuzuki sighed. "That Carter is dangerous if left unchecked."

"Sounded like trying to keep him in check is what caused him to react that way," Kanja said.

"He might be more unruly than I thought," I said.

"Let's hurry up and finish shopping," Yuzuki said, pointing to a dress shop.

My eyes lingered on a green dress in the display window. It would've looked good on me if I had my original body.

"So pretty," Kanja said, smiling at the dress. "Wonder how much it costs."

"That seems too expensive," Yen said, putting her hands on her hips.

I frowned, even though it wasn't for me.

"Mira, are you feeling alright?" Yuzuki asked. "You seem pensive."

"H-huh? What do you mean?"

She put a hand on her chin. "You haven't spoken as much as you had on the ship. It's as if your mind is on other stuff. Are you worried about your armor?"

I shook my head. "No. I-I'm worried about this body of mine."

"Isn't it tied to said armor, though?" Yen asked.

I crossed my fingers together. "Yes, but..." I huffed. "It's nothing for you to worry about. Not like telling you will change anything."

"Mira," Kanja said, furrowing her brow.

"Maybe not, but it would at least help you get it out of your chest," Arima said, winking.

I shook my head. "Even if I did, you wouldn't understand!" I yelled, running off.

Why had I done that? It wasn't like me to react so aggressively. Could it have been because I felt like no one understood me? Or jealousy for them having bodies while I didn't? Perhaps, it was a mix of both.

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed this chapter ^^. Thoughts? Theories? Predictions?**