Kamii clearly doesn't like Basarab. She's hiding behind me and looking at him with suspicious eyes. Yeah, I also don't really like him. His voice is enchanting, and I feel like I'd fall for him because of it - but he's not my type at all... Also, it feels like he could turn around to bite me in the neck and suck my blood at any time. Then again, I don't know what my blood is like, and if I even have any in the first place. Haven't been wounded even once in this world.

"The classrooms are on all three floors, and consist of normal and various specialized rooms for certain courses." A shiver runs down my spine each time he speaks. "The third floor houses the staff faculty rooms and is otherwise reserved for classes on superior elemental magic and unique skills, the second floor is for nature elemental magic and alchemy, and the first floor consists of simple lecture rooms." With every further sentence, my hairs stand on end more. I feel like I won't be able to maintain my real form if this goes on for too long.

On the first floor he guides us into a large hall with four incredibly long tables. This must be the canteen. Richly decorated chandeliers hang from the impossibly high ceiling, making me wonder whether some space magic is at work or it's just an illusion. It looks like it's higher than the building is tall.

"This is the canteen, where you will have your meals during their proper times." Why does it make me think that this guy's a stickler to regulations? "You will be handed a book on the rules and regulations later. Make sure you learn them all before starting class." And there it is. But with your voice, I'll do whatever you ask of me~ Ha, wait! Old man Thorvadis, you're too cunning, making this man my guide...

"This is the library." Before I know it, we've walked quite a bit and are in a separate building. It's connected by a walkway. Beyond the heavy wooden door is what I associate with a fantasy library. There's a receptionist to one side and a notice board on the other. Beyond that is an immense space spanning several stories, filled with an immeasurable number of book shelves, stairs and walkways to allow access everywhere. This must be as big as the main school building. A reading area can be found in its center, with a long and dark wooden table as well as comfortable looking couches with small tea tables. There are quite a few people of all ages reading or doing research while taking notes on paper. "Of course, you are expected to be quiet in here." Basarab whispers close to my ear, the sound sending another wave of shivers down my spine. I think this is even worse than when he speaks normally! Don't do that again!

We go back the way we came from, then exit the main school building on the other side from where we entered, and walk out onto the grass fields. There are people here, all wielding some forms of staves. It looks like this is the wind magic class, since I can see some people floating up into the air while others summon gusts of wind to blow sheets of paper around. Wait, there's a girl with angel wings. There are angels in this world? I want to know more about that person as soon as possible.

We walk past the class and I notice that they are all wearing something like a school uniform. Of course, it's nowhere like modern clothing and there's no concept of plaid skirts and thigh-highs for girls. There are more girls than boys, and they're all around my real age, or younger. Many are in Kamii's age range. I hope she'll be able to make friends here.

Some stop what they're doing and stare at us, with most looking at Kamii's arm. I'm getting used to it, but it doesn't mean I like it. If you have a problem with her awesome cursed form, take it up with me. I dare you, I double dare you! Ah, the angel girl is looking here, too. That face is clearly of the submissive type. I think I know who I'll be chatting up first~

"These are the training fields for practical application of nature elemental magic. The open areas are for wind. The area over there is for earth magic." He points at a field of dirt, with rock formations. But I can't really follow what he's saying, his voice... "Water magic is usually performed at the pool or the moat. Since fire magic is volatile, it is always trained on a field separated by walls." He gestures in the direction of a walled-off section.

We leave the class behind, all eyes on our backs, and go towards a collection of two-story buildings. I can only guess that they're the dormitories, since I can see clothes hanging to dry on lines in the gardens between them. The weather today is quite nice, so many windows are open. I finally realize something: All windows in the academy are made of glass. That's the first time I've seen glass in the human territories. The demon castle had proper glass windows, but all the towns we've passed through so far only had wooden shutters. Well, better than paper, right?

"The buildings are separated by gender and age groups. Those before twenty summers stay in these two." Basarab leads me to the ones in the front. They're the biggest, too. Well, judging from that class I saw earlier, young people must be much more numerous than older ones. "The female dormitory where you shall live is on this side. I will introduce you to the dorm mother." A dorm mother? I've only ever seen them in manga! What kind of person will she be? I hope it's not somebody scary...

There are students looking out from their windows and I spot a handsome boy with a distant look, staring at the sky deep in thought. He must be around the age of Rolan, but looks much less mature. The leader has much more experience in life - in many ways. In either case, I can't get excited about seeing any boys, for some reason. I can't ever imagine myself being with one. Wait, what am I thinking? I'm not here for that, I want to study. Crazy, right?

"Mistress Ninlil, I have brought new students." Basarab calls out towards the clotheslines where bed sheets are swaying in the wind.

"I'm coming~"

!!!???

That voice! If it was in Japanese, I would have said that the person who's going to appear is a certain scientific teleporter!

But the person it belongs to is even more outrageous! It's a little girl, around the size of Senka. And she has cat ears! Thank you, god, for letting me reincarnate into a world where I can witness this! Her ears are even twitching and moving according to the sounds of her surroundings. No, I have to control myself, I can't be disrespectful to her and start playing with them.

"Thank you for bringing them here, Basarab." She's not addressing him with any honorifics, making me think she's older than he is. Uh, why is she staring at me like this? "Don't start thinking about people's ages when you only just met them." Wait, I... what, how? "In either case, I'm Ninlil, the dorm mother. Nice to meet you."

"My name is Chloe Marcott, and this is Kamii." I straighten my back in reflex and introduce myself with a bow.

"A demon and a cursed child, huh?" Why...? Did my transformation come undone somewhere or why is everyone seeing through me so easily? I didn't accidentally leave an arm in tentacle form, did I? "Your smell. Even though you're hiding it really well, you can't hide it from my nose." But I took a proper bath last night...

"I shall take my leave, then." With a nod, Basarab turns around and goes back towards the main building. Ah, one last shiver, but now he's gone.

"His voice is so annoying..." You, of all people, are saying this?! Well, that voice would have been annoying, if it came from a grown person, but it somehow fits perfectly with her appearance. "Anyhow, I'll show you to your rooms."

"Excuse me, Mistress Ninlil, but Kamii and I would like to stay together in one room." I point at the little dark elf holding onto my sleeve.

"There are twin rooms, so that can be arranged." Perfect, that way Senka can have a bed to herself. Since Kamii will always sleep in the same bed as I, I think. "But what's with that creepy doll?" Wha, don't just come right out and insult her like that! Although I have to admit, she really is creepy, but also cute. And it seems at least she's been able to keep her identity hidden from everyone so far.

"I like it..." I mutter.

"Well, I'm not one to judge someone's taste, but it's quite big. Must be heavy."

"No, she is actually really light." Even though she does seem to have internal organs. I have to suppress a shudder remembering how I found out about that fact... "Do you want to try holding her?" I think this is the perfect opportunity for Senka to remember that she's acting like an automaton. Not good, shouldn't laugh, not yet.

"What do you like about this?" Ninlil takes Senka and looks at her face with a dubious expression.

"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha." Senka suddenly snaps her head up and laughs mechanically. The dorm mother's eyes go wide and her pupils turn into slits. She throws the doll girl to the ground, scrambles away and climbs onto the nearest tree at an incredible speed. Wow, just like a cat.

"I forgot to tell you that she is an automaton and sometimes does that. I still do not know the rule behind when she does that, though." I try to look and sound apologetic while picking up the dropped Senka. Kamii is grinning openly and I need to suppress my own laughter.

"Don't do that again! My heart almost stopped!" Ninlil jumps down from the tree but keeps her distance from me now. "It won't suddenly start walking around at night, right?" I think I know how to control this cat girl now. Of course, I can't be carrying Senka everywhere, it is unhandy sometimes, but I can play pranks on her that way~

Ninlil leads us to the second floor of the dorm building and through its long hallway, to the very end. The room is at the outer corner of the building, and thus has windows in two of its walls. It's actually quite spacious, with two pretty large beds and nightstands. There's a large wardrobe for each inhabitant, too, so that the clothes can be kept separate. I'll have to buy some more clothes for Kamii and myself. And maybe Senka, too.

"Students, depending on age, are required to wear uniforms. Those with special requirements..." She looks at Kamii's crab claw while saying that. "... will need to get their measurements taken, so a customized uniform can be provided." We walk into the room and look around. Yep, I think this is pretty nice. It's really clean, the big glass windows let in a lot of light, and the beds look soft. "Any questions?"

"Is there a curfew?" That's quite important to me.

"There isn't, but students can't leave the academy grounds without a permit from the principal anyway." Wait, really? I feel like I won't be getting one, ever. "You're allowed to spend your nights in the library or in classrooms, if you're so inclined. Some will train in the specialized rooms all night long to improve themselves. Of course, you're not allowed to be out on the fields and use noisy spells after nightfall and before dawn. But other than that, things are pretty lax around here." Ninlil walks up to one desk, opens a drawer and takes out a book. "These are the rules and regulations. Most of them are common sense, but it's better to know them than not." It looks needlessly thick...

"Thank you for everything. I will make sure to study them." If I really have to. "I would like to return to the entrance, where I have friends waiting."

"Well, I take that the procedures for your enrollment aren't finished yet, but they should be done before the evening. You're free to do as you like until then." That's what I wanted to hear. I excuse myself and we make for where the rest of the party is waiting. I assume that Luna is either still in the middle of her test, or already there. I'm sure she would want to get back first before going on a tour of the academy.

On our way back, we go over the grassy field, but the wind magic class isn't there anymore. Guess they finished and moved inside or something. But somehow the building is still empty. Maybe the noise insulation is so good or classes are just that quiet. In either case, I still know the general direction and make my way to the entrance hall.

Oh, Luna's there already, talking with Rolan and the others. She's happy, so it must have been a success. I walk up to them and am greeted with congratulations. My face must have shown the result of the conversation, but I'd have thought that my mind is quite jumbled at the moment. The fact that I'm a demon was found out today. The dorm mother is quite obviously a demon, too, so I don't care too much about being seen through by her. Still, I had thought that my disguise was perfect, after Arcelia didn't find out.

"What did the principal want to talk to you about?" Luna asks the big question. Damn, I didn't come up with an answer for that.

"Ah, just some things, you know..." Japanese dodging response! She seems to understand that it's something I can't or don't want to talk about and doesn't press further. Thank you...

"So, you're both enrolled now? I'm proud of you!" Rolan says with a grin. Well, we don't know the details yet, and how long we have to stay here. If I can't learn teleportation magic within two years max, I will have to leave, to return to the demon continent.

"We will not be able to go on any requests with you for a while..." Luna sounds dejected. Rolan takes her face into both his hands and looks into her eyes.

"Don't worry, just think about improving your magic. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, Runa." And they kiss, for the first time openly in front of the rest of the party. I guess this isn't the time to try and keep it a secret, even though everyone already knows.

"Missy, good luck and have a great time." Gram says to me and pets my head. So that's how it feels when one's on the receiving end... it's not bad. The bard stays silent and only winks to me. Uh...

"We can get a permit from the principal to go out into the city, so we will come and visit you from time to time." I say, although I doubt I will get one. With me having all affinities and being a demon, the cunning old man won't just let me move as I please. All the more reason to learn space magic, if it allows me to teleport wherever I want to.

The farewells are a little dragged out, as if we won't meet each other ever again, but in the end, we go our separate ways. The men leave the women behind, as if going to war... What's with this image? Luna is genuinely sad, with tears in her eyes. We're still in the same city, and it's not like we're in a prison. Well, it's not like you're in a prison, I might as well be. But at least it's a school prison. With angel and cat girls. Crap, I think I'm having a really stupid grin on my face right now.

Let my school days in a different world begin.