After receiving the scroll and the brush from Erisa, Tamie decided to walk down into the basement where casual members had bedrooms and see hers. Erisa gave her the key to her new chamber - room Number 6. 

Tamie descended the stairs and walked into her new room. It was bright and clear, with a tiny window at the top that showed the pavement outside in the street. The room had one bed, a writing table with a chair, a bedside table, a wardrobe, and a little private bathroom behind the white door. It was perfect for casual living. 

Hmm, of course, it could've been more comfortable... But, I guess, when I make more money doing jobs, I'll afford that one too. Tamie thought. Like most of the Libra, she was keen on comfort and luxury, and being forced to live in such a little room was not unacceptable. Reassuring herself that it was temporary, she felt less uneasy.

She brought in her backpack and began unpacking things when she heard voices from the neighbouring room, Number 7.

"I hate it... I hate when such fools as he mocks my spirit!" the familiar voice of Tiger, the redhead girl from before, sounded. 

"Relax, sis, he's just a fool! Why pay attention to the likes of him?" Riza's voice followed. 

"But, how long is he going to tease me like that?" Tiger cried, "I've had enough of it! It is not funny anymore! It is insulting!" 

Her dog's barks and cats' meows accompanied her angry shouts as if the pets tried to comfort their owner. 

"Hey," Riza said, "he's not going to do it anymore, or he's going to get beat up by all six of us, your sisters! You'll see!"

Tiger laughed.

"All nine of us," she corrected. "Don't forget Blizzard, Christo, and Astra!"

"Oh, of course, they will take part too, for sure!" Riza said.

Tamie blinked in surprise. Tiger was still upset about that pinhead Rick mocking her? She walked out of her room and knocked on the door Number 7.

"Who's there?" Tiger called out.

"It's the newbie, Tamie Wingfield!" Tamie cried, "I'm your new neighbour!"

No voice answered. The door opened and Riza appeared at the threshold.

"She's not in the mood to receive guests!" She gave her a courteous smile, not wanting to sound too bad to the sister of Nick Wingfield, the Elder of the Order.

"I'm not a guest. I'm a fellow member," Tamie smiled back, insulted by Riza's hostility. 

"I don't want to sound rude, but you're yet not a member," Riza said. "You will be when the Joining Ceremony is held and you get a ring." She showed the ring of a rose-and-cross emblem she wore on the middle finger of her right hand. 

Tamie flared up with anger. How dare she talk like that?! There was no doubt she'd be accepted, so she was a member!

"The Joining Ceremony is just for formality," she retorted, "I've already been accepted when the invitation was sent to me!"

"The Joining Ceremony is a ritual held since this order's foundation centuries ago," Riza said. "Don't get cocky just because your brother is a Lord in the Order!" She shut the door before Tamie's nose.

Tamie blinked in surprise but then snarled.

"Ugh, fine, cry alone if you want to!" She shouted and banged on the door. 

She returned to her room and slammed the door behind her. She fell onto her bed. 

I thought Rosenweld was different from the gloomy people of Mandragore. She thought. It seems I was mistaken, people are the same in all countries!

In the evening, Tamie was summoned in the hall and the Joining Ceremony began. The people gathered around Tamie and Edmund and raised their hands where they wore their rings. Edmund raised his ringed hand too.

"Tamie Wingfield," he said, "a Libra of a Tiger spirit, Artist Class, Writer Sub-class, Rankless. Do you swear upon the gathering of all of us, brothers and sisters, that when joining our sacred order, you'll remain loyal, never to betray any of your brethren?"

"I swear!" Tamie said, but with less excitement than she had that afternoon.

"Do you swear to accept all of the Order members as your brethren," Edmund said, "and protect them with all of your powers even if it risks your life? Are you willing to accept the same devotion in return?"

"I swear and I accept!" Tamie said.

"Then I, the current Magister of Rose Cruce Order, Edmund Jaeger, Libra of the Rooster spirit, Keeper Class, Judge rank, bestow upon you this ring in the form of my trust and acceptance, which gives you the trust and acceptance of all members gathered here and those who are not present but belong to this order!" Edmund said.

He wanted to put a rose-and-cross emblem ring on her finger on the right hand when Tamie pouted.

"Um," she said, "Magister, may I wear my ring on my left hand?"

The people gasped. Left hand?! It was against the custom! The left hand was the symbol of betrayers!

"Why?" Edmund blinked in surprise. "It is a tradition to wear your ring on your right hand, as a truthful member of the Order".

"Well, the thing is... I'm a lefty," Tamie said.

Everyone gasped again. A lefty?! Such a rare occurrence for a Zodiac Master!

"Oh... But still, as a tradition," Edmund said.

"The thing is I feel my right hand is sort of... empty." Tamie glanced at her right hand. "I've been using my left hand for everything since my deep childhood, even for writing. It is my loyal companion, so when people talk of loyalty and the right hand comes to their minds, my mind goes with the left hand instead. I hope it doesn't pose a problem! You can ask Nick, he's known me since I was born!"

Edmund was in dismay. He had never heard of a Zodiac Master who was willing to wear their order ring on their left hand since the legends of a certain traitor.

"Zodiac Masters once knew such a person," he said in a grim tone, "a lefty who was willing to wear the ring on his left hand and the Magister consented. After six years of loyalty to his order, that man massacred the whole order and fled."

Everyone widened their eyes and some covered their mouths with their hands. Such a gruesome story! Tamie was dreaded too. Was there truly a guy who massacred his whole order, his very own brethren?! He must've been a monster!

As Edmund was willing to put the ring on her right hand, he was grabbed by Nick's arm.

"What is it?" he turned to Nick.

"My sister is a lefty," Nick said. "I know you spoke of Blood Dragon just now, but because you make such vile comparisons, Ed, you haven't yet achieved the Sage level." He furrowed his brow. "Tamie is a girl of the purest heart. She is my sister, my blood kin, and a genius like me. Don't you dare lump her with the guys like Blood Dragon! Please do as she asks! It will be a burden for her if she wears a sacred ring on her right hand, which she perceives as disloyal as we do our left hands".

Edmund was confused at first, but then chuckled and shook his head.

"I trust your words with closed eyes, Lord Nick!" he said. "Fine, if you consent to it, then I shall not object!" He put the ring on the middle finger of Tamie's left hand. "Tamie Wingfield, you are hereby an official member of Rose Cruce Order. We accept you as one of our brethren! We will rely on your strength and share ours with you!"

The crowd whooped. The ceremony was over. Tamie felt happy. Finally, she was an official member of an order!

"Now, let's hold a welcoming party for our new member!" Edmund shouted. 

The crowd whooped, but Tamie recalled her earlier clash with Tiger and Riza and got gloomy.

"I am sorry, Magister, but I feel very tired from today's long journey," she said to Edmund. "I think I'll just go and rest... Thank you very much for your hospitality, though!" 

She left the hall and descended into the basement.

"What's it with her?" Edmund raised an eyebrow. "The Libra would never turn down a party! I know that from my experience. That's why I offered it! I'm not always so generous".

"She's upset." Nick chuckled. "My sister is petty over little things, like comfort, luxury, and how people greet her. I guess some things didn't work as she imagined".

"Hmm, too weird... I understand all that but... Dang, girls take it so hard!" Edmund adjusted his glasses and went upstairs.

Nick chuckled again and shook his head.

I'll talk to her later. He thought. Now, she won't be in the mood anyway.

He followed Edmund upstairs. Tamie, meanwhile, accessed her room and fell onto her bed.

"I thought this order was more fun," she muttered. The earlier insult of Riza and Tiger's annoying sobs poisoned her mind. "I guess I'll just ring up my mom to get better..." She touched her gadget bracelet to ring for her mom's signal but accidentally touched Erik's one. Ugh, no! Turn off! She wanted to turn off the call when a deep, playful voice called out:

"Yo, Tamie Wingfield!"