“Are these the two late additions?” The woman asked, her eyes flicking over Zack and then to where Zara was hidden inside the carriage.

“They are indeed. Have the preparations and their room been sorted?” Grieves asked, walking over to her while everyone else began unloading the few boxes stored in the back of the machine.

The frown transformed into a concerned frown as Zara stepped into view, clutching Zelda and George tight.

“They have. Luckily, no one has moved in yet, otherwise this might have been a problem. The largest dorm on the main floor has been set aside for their use. It contains two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a common area with a small kitchen. It is usually reserved for the highest-ranking noble attending that year. We shall keep that information to ourselves, lest this… situation causes problems in the future.”

Zack held back as the soldiers he had never gotten the names of hurried past, their arms laden with boxes. Only the sergeant held back to talk to them.

“Well, this is as far as we go, for now at least. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again at some point. Try to stay out of getting in any duels and keep your sister safe. I remember her state when we first rescued you both back then. The progress she has made since is remarkable, but you need to keep in mind, it is easier to backslide mentally than it is to move forward and grow past a traumatic experience. It will be even harder for someone as young as she was, who suffered for as long as you did.” He looked them over one last time and nodded as the rest of his group came back empty-handed. The one trip had been all that was needed to transfer the few belongings they possessed.

It was advice that Zack wished someone had given him when they were rescued, and then shuffled off into the broken system for orphans. He had done the best he could with the information he had on hand. It was barely enough, and it could have been so much more effective with the proper knowledge.

“Wait, what do you mean duels?” He cried out as they climbed into the metal carriage.

“Nobles attend this academy; they consider themselves above getting into mere fights and common brawls. They settle their differences through official duels with more on the line than the risk of a bloody lip or broken bone.” With those parting words, the doors snapped shut, and they sped away with a gentle whir of the mana-tech engine.

The siblings shared a worried glance and then turned to face the building they would be calling home from now on.

“Are we going to be okay here?” Zara asked, coming up to his side.

“Once I make it through the portal, no one will dare to bother us again. We just have to survive until then. After they realize just how much our abilities are worth, we’ll never have to worry about money or people with an inflated sense of self-worth coming after us.”

She nodded once and took a single step up the stairs. “Just be careful. We can’t fight the corporations. Not yet, anyway.”

Zack gave her a light nudge and together they entered the building, their eyes growing wide at how nice and opulent everything was. As one, they looked down at the gleaming wooden floors and then at the shabby state of their clothes and footwear.

“I have a feeling that we are going to stick out like sore thumbs here,” Zack muttered as they spotted the dorm matron from earlier waiting for them to the side near a hallway.

“My name is Edith Rammore. You may either refer to me as Edith or Matron,” She began as they drew close. “Behind me, you will find the door to your dorm. No one but the two of you are allowed inside it. That is to prevent rumors from arising regarding your peculiar treatment. I repeat, do not let any of the other students inside your dorm unless you wish to make your lives more difficult.”

She handed them each a key to the door. “Feel free to take some time to freshen up and then come find me when you are done. There is much that I need to show you regarding the academy grounds as well as getting you registered for classes and other such nonsense.” She pointed to a non-descript door to the side of the hallway. “That is where I live, and where I will be when you are ready.”

She abruptly opened her door and left them alone.

“I don’t think she likes us,” Zara said as they walked through the door of their dorm apartment.

“No, I don’t think she does either.”

They stopped in shock at how nice the furniture was in the main room. At the back was a small kitchen with gleaming appliances. They scattered at the same time to look at the two bedrooms off to the side and the bathroom that was nestled between them.

“This is like a million times nicer than our apartment could have been when it was new!” Zara was pale and rubbing her chin on the top of George’s head. “What if we break something?”

It was a good question and not one they had an answer to yet. It was on the list of things they needed to discuss with Edith later.

Zack peeked in at the large room that would be his, with a complicated expression. That one-bedroom was larger than his and Zara’s old rooms combined. There was so much space, even if he ignored the space taken up by the wardrobe, dresser, and desk. It all felt like it was too much.

“Look at the size of this tub!” Zara screeched in awe at what looked like a small swimming pool to her.

“We shouldn’t waste too much time in here, let’s get back to Edith and finish doing everything with her before unpacking.” Zack dropped the bag he had packed for the short trip on the couch and motioned for her to do the same.

Somewhat hesitantly, she placed Zelda beside the bag and held onto George. “Fine, let’s go back and get this over with.”

Zack raised his hand and knocked on the matron’s door. What he had hoped would be a confident knock changing into something hesitant and unsure of itself by the time his hand descended awkwardly on the wooden surface. He shrugged mentally and knocked again, his hand steadier the second time.

They waited for a minute, shuffling their feet, and wondering if they should knock again when the door opened.

A severe frown still decorated Edith’s face as she looked at them. “Are you already ready to continue?”

“We’re ready. There is no sense in delaying this. We’ll finish unpacking tonight after we have finished everything that the academy needs us to do.”

“Very well then. Let us get the two of you registered and fitted for your uniforms, as those will take the longest. After those are done or underway, I will give you a tour of the grounds and building as well as show you where you will need to go each night for your jobs.” She ushered them out of the dorm building.

“It’s the building from the picture, the one with the spires!” Zara exclaimed as they walked down the stairs. It was the first time the duo had gotten to look around the area. They hadn’t been near enough to the windows inside the carriage earlier to spot anything besides the ever-present trees. The building in question had been on the front of the pamphlet they had looked at with the obnoxious recruiter before.

“That is the central building. It has the administrative offices inside, along with the admissions and registration offices on the first floor.” Edith explained, leading them towards it along a path that cut through the grove of trees.

“Where is everyone?” Zack asked as they neared the towering structure made almost entirely of marble.

“Not here yet. The new semester doesn’t begin for another week and a half. The earliest, most students will begin arriving is still a couple of days away. Only those of us who live on the academy grounds full-time are here currently.”

“What about the headmaster? Do we need to meet with him?” Zack stuttered to a stop, craning his neck to look at the sole office near the top of the spire.

“The headmaster has indeed expressed some interest in the two of you, but not the kind I believe you will like. You will not be meeting him today, however. He was forced to fire his brother-in-law due to the two of you and then accept you both regardless of his feelings on the matter. I’m sure you can understand how that has colored his opinion on you.” She sighed and turned to face them. “I’m not going to lie to you. Despite your test results being reported as frankly off the charts, your time here will be tough. Few of the teachers will be willing to get on the headmasters’ bad side to show you any type of favor.”