"I can't believe I'm stuck with you," Adelaide huffed. The closest students backed away from her outburst. After the headmaster finished his speech, again, hearing it a second time only annoyed the young noble further.

"I could say the same," Carmine muttered from beneath her scarf. She had to share a living space with her? And four more people besides!?

"Students," Professor Robert called everyone's attention back to the stage. "Now is the time to bid farewell to your parents and guardians. They may visit again soon, but for now you must be shown to the tower. Some of our senior students have graciously volunteered to be your guides."

"We can figure it out later," Carmine said, already moving away from Adelaide. "Besides, we need four more people. Maybe you can find someone else to bother."

"One can hope." Adelaide retorted. She crossed her arms, remaining in place as other students went to see their families off.

Carmine pushed Adelaide from her mind and readied herself for a harder farewell, but one she knew was coming.

"First place, eh?" Nico smirked as Carmine walked the last few paces towards him. "What happened to the girl who hated being the center of attention?"

"She's still here," Carmine hid her fidgeting hands behind her. "Despite all my boasting earlier, I would have been fine finishing a little later."

"What happened?" Nico tilted his head.

"I…" Carmine thought of Adelaide's goading. Even now, her new roommate’s stuck up, arrogant behavior irked her. No way could she ever lose to that. "I was challenged."

"Really?" Nico chuckled, his eyes tinting with nostalgia. "Antorra was the same way. Goading was best way to get your mother motivated for just about anything. Problem was getting her to stop later on."

"Oh no." Carmine sighed. "That's going to be a problem."

"Or a resource. Spite is one hell of a motivator for some people."

"I feel like I'll be on both sides of that very soon." Carmine checked over her shoulder to find Adelaide hadn't budged.

"Not a happy meeting?" Nico read Carmine with ease.

"I've been stung by wasps with a better attitude."

"I believe I understand all too well. Most exorcists have the same temper."

"She's comparable." Carmine shrugged.

"Well, for now," optimistic doubt lightened Nico's voice. "Don't make too many judgments too soon. Sounds like you'll be spending more time with each other, so give things a chance."

The idea of more time brought Carmine back to how little time she had left to say goodbye, and she wasted enough talk on her roomate.

"I'm gonna miss you." Carmine looked her mentor in the eye.

"Me too, lass." Nico looked down at her, but not by much. He reached up and suddenly placed his palm on Carmine's head.

"...okay." Carmine furrowed her brow at him, hiding her embarrassment through stoicism.

"I remember...when you were the perfect height to be an armrest."

"Fuck you." Carmine's veneer cracked, or more so snapped right open.

"Hey!" Nico warned with a chuckle as she lowered her eyes. "I'm just saying you've grown. One of these days you might be taller than me."

"I hope not, I don't want to be too tall."

Nico laughed again. "Ignore everyone that tells you to correct your posture then."

"That's not funn-" a tight embrace squeezed the words out of her.

"You take care of yourself now." Nico told her. "I'll be back around as often as I can to check in."

Carmine breathed out, returning the hug. "Thanks Nico." They separated after another moment. "I'll see you soon, ok?"

"Yeah. Now you go find some folks for your circle." He gave her a gentle push back towards the tower. "Make sure they can keep up."

Carmine smiled, nodding her head as she turned back to the tower. She wiped her eyes in one swift movement before Adelaide could notice.

“Finally,” The young noble groaned as Carmine rejoined her. “Finished with your sappy farewells?”

“For now,” Carmine said. “What about you? Did you come here alone?”

“Of course not.” Adelaide turned her nose up at the suggestion. “My parents sent their best wishes along and delivered me here at the hands of our family’s majordomo. Naturally, he left when the test began as my success was assured.”

“A major-what?” Carmine furrowed her brow.

Adelaide rolled her eyes and Carmine felt the condescension in her bones. “My family’s head steward. How did you get an education to match mine in your backwater mudhole?”

“Well, first it started with manners…” Carmine started to recall.

“Whatever! They’re letting pairs in through the front, and only pairs.” Adelaide pointed to the tower’s doors. Older students wearing blue robes waited by the entrance and guided students inside tow by two. “If I could have gone in without you I would have.”

“Should I thank you for your patience?” Carmine asked as she moved alongside Adelaide

“Just walk.”

The terse pair made their way to the entrance and joined the growing line of students. Everywhere she looked, Carmine saw other pairs getting along better than she and Adelaide. Maybe Carmine was just unlucky, and all the agreeable, easygoing students were already inside. Hopefully less ‘nobles’ too.

As she waited in silence Carmine realized one of the older students would act as their guide, an obvious thing given the fact announced , but her head filled with things she should say and ways she should act until all the information bled into each other. By the time it was her turn to step inside, she froze.

“Hi,” An older student waved as he stepped in their path. Carmine looked up wide-eyed, struggling to manage even a ‘hello.’

"Greetings," Adelaide said for the both, her normal contempt contained. "And you are?"

"I'm Aaron Burke." The older student pressed his hand against his robes. Carmine dared to look up and saw a young man perhaps four or five years older than herself. Too much time indoors paled his skin to a pasty white, dotted with red acne. Shaggy brown hair fell aroud his face as shadowed eyes peeked out between the dangling wisps. Carmine didn't know why, but looking at him reminded her of a leech. Not in the parasitic sort of way, but the way his dark hair matted down, Carmine couldn’t think of anything else. He slouched in front of both young mages and offered a welcoming grin. “I’m your guide to the tower for the day. Hope that’s ok…anyway what are your names?”

“I am Lady Adelaide Regan Winters, Heiress to the county of Krenwal,” The noble brat made sure everyone knew.

“Oh.” Familiarity flashed across Aaron’s face as he nodded along to her introduction. Carmine guessed he’d dealt with this before. “And how do you prefer to be addressed, Lady Adelaide Regan Winter, heiress to the county of Krenwal?”

“Adelaide will suffice.”

“Good.” Aaron’s shoulders sagged even further, Carmine couldn’t tell if it was relief or dread. Though, if she had to guide around Adelaide all day, it would have to be the latter. “What about you?” He turned to Carmine.

She stuttered, anxious after Adelaide’s grand self-introduction. All she could manage was, “Carmine.”

“Good to meet you, Carmine.” He smiled a little wider at her simple introduction. “I saw you both managed pretty well during the placement test. You both must be pretty resourceful.”

Some more than others, Carmine thought, thinking of her partner’s brute force methods.

“We managed.” Carmine barely spoke loud enough to be heard. “...somehow.”

“What’s that mean?” Adelaide sneered, but Aaron spoke over them both before it went any further.

“How about I just show you both inside?” He motioned through the doorway. “Stay close, alright? The tower’s got its fair stack of weirdness.”

Carmine looked past their guide and already her brain spun in circles at the tower’s interior. The tower’s base spread over a fair distance, like a large manor, the widest point of the whole structure, yet as Carmine peered into her new home the other side of the tower spanned an impossible vastness closer to a city square. She moved through the doors and immediately craned her neck upwards to find the building stretched even taller than the outside. Lightness unsteadied her feet as the daunting distance seemed only to grow larger with each second she stared. Dozens of floors spiraled upwards all through the tower’s length, and other students were flying floor to floor. For them it looked as natural as walking.

“Pretty crazy right?” Aaron read Carmine’s mind. “I nearly fainted when I saw this for the first time…I’m not great with open spaces ya see…”

Carmine pointed up to the impossible space and looked back at her guide. “How?” She sputtered out one word.

“I…admit,” Adelaide added, wide-eyed, taking in the sights herself, “I’m also curious.”

“I can’t say I know all the details,” Aaron began. “But from the way I heard it, there was an ancient archive where this tower was built that focused on creating and expanding space within itself. You’ve been there, it's where your test took place.”

I was right, Carmine gloated internally, but Adelaide did not care…or even seem to remember.

“The Gallyians, the family that governes the province, founded Reefcliff here and partnered with the old Lavals to figure out how to best use the site. They used its knowledge to help build the tower over it.”

“Then, is this place unique?” Adelaide asked.

“Probably. I doubt you could find any mage capable of replicating this on their own, but if another site like this existed it’d be possible.”

“That’s so cool,” Carmine marveled…until she realized she said that out loud and pulled her scarf up to hide herself.

Aaron laughed. “Don’t worry about it. Come on, I’ll show you where you’re staying.” He led them along to one of the nearby walls. The azure bricks moved aside at their approach to show a small room with a crystal panel embedded into its side wall. Carmine recognized the lift. The ancient archive she visited more than a year ago had the same designs.

“These lifts are everywhere,” Aaron explained as he beckoned them along. “Literally, walk up to any of the outer walls and one will open for you. Once inside,” He touched the crystal panel as words flashed across its surface. “Just pick your floor and off you go.”

The wall rebuilt itself just as the floor jolted with the lift’s movement. A short cry escaped Adelaide as the ground beneath her feet moved. She saw Carmine staring at her and responded with a glare.

“We don’t have these is Krenwal,” She grumbled before jutting a finger at Carmine. “Why are you acting so calm?”

“I’ve been on one before,” She smirked. “In an archive built by the Ancients. This isn’t-”

“Wait, Really?” Aaron interrupted, leaning into Carmine’s field of view and pulling all of her confidence from under her. “Can you read Yarish properly?”

“Uh…” Just a few questions pushed her to near sensory overload. “Yes.”

“Wow. We don’t learn that until our second or third year.” Aaron stroked his chin. “And even then, I still suck at it. You’re gonna have a leg up on other students if that’s the case. Good for you!”

“Thank…you?” Carmine lowered her head, hoping her hood would hide her delightfully panicked expression. When they arrived she didn’t wait for the wall to fully unveil her destination before she squeezed past.

“Careful,” Aaron warned. “It’s easy to get lost up here.”

True to his words, the floor Carmine stepped onto had as much variety as the gentrified customs office in Edrinock. A curved hallway rounded the tower with a red carpet along the center on the floor and dark wood doors embedded into both walls every few steps. Each door sported a small recess carved into its midpoint and Carmine recognized the shape as a perfect fit for the tower effigy around her neck. She looked at her own and once again the ruby glowed within.

“It's like the test,” Carmine remarked.

“That’s right,” Aaron reached around his own neck and pulled his own emerald jeweled effigy. “These things are attuned to certain points in the tower, usually your dorm unless there is an assembly. It will guide you where you need to go, so do not lose it.” Aaron tucked his necklace away. “It is possible to get lost in this place for hours. Ask me how I know.”

“H-how do you-?”

“Experience.” Aaron shook his head and led them further down the corridor.

Carmine followed the light of her necklace to the door it shined upon. At Aaron’s urging, she placed the effigy within the doors recess. Yarish flashed red along the door’s surface before it swung back on its own and welcomed them into their new home.

A massive crystal orb filled Carmine’s view. It floated in the middle of a furnished lounge replete with the most cushioned couches and chairs she’d ever laid eyes on. Each seat faced inward to a crystalline ring table sitting just below the orb’s surface.

“What is that thing?” Carmine stepped back from the threshold.

“It’s a scry stone.” Aaron gently pushed her inside. “It can be used to contact other rooms inside the tower…but mostly it’ll be when a professor wants to talk to your circle. One of my partners uses ours as a canvas for painting. It really pisses the head mistress off. Take a look around, there’s more to see.”

Carmine moved beyond the lounge to a kitchen outfitted with a stove and oven that she assumed were powered by sorcery, and next to them a large box, cold to the touch. A wash basin sat embedded in a countertop with a strange crystal hanging over it. As Carmine pressed her fingers to the stone, water began pouring out from its surface.

She jumped back, did she break it?

“You really are a country bumpkin,” Adelaide said, reaching out and touching the crystal to stop the water’s flow. She started pointing at each device, condescending once more. “This is a sink, that's an oven, and here is a refrigerator.”

“I know what an oven is.” Carmine glared. Even if it was an oven unlike anything she’d ever seen.

“There’s a small library too,” Aaron pointed across the lounge to a few bookshelves clustered in a corner. “Any books you need for a lesson you can find there.”

“That will be adequate.” Adelaide replied. Her nonchalance drained Carmine’s excitement by the word. “Where are our quarters?”

“Right here,” Aaron knocked against one of the walls and a hidden door flashed into existence. “Yours first Lady Adelaide.”

Noble buzzkill moved up and put her effigy into the recess. Just as before the door opened on its own accord to a decent sized room. A bed pressed up against one wall as a desk rested opposite with a small lamp powered by an arcanite crystal. Wall shelves hung above, empty for the moment, and a strange translucent window gave view to Reefcliff’s pier. Compared to the cramped room Carmine lived in before, this easily doubled the size.

“All rooms are identical to start,” Aaron explained to Carmine as Adelaide looked around. “You can move things around however you please, and bring your belongings in as you see fit.”

“This is great,” Carmine exclaimed. “Mine is just like this?”

That’s right. And only your necklace can open the way. No parents barging in, eh?”

“Y-yeah.” Carmine nodded, her grin fading. “I’ll…look at my room later.”

“Really?” Aaron tilted his head, and checked the clock hanging in the dorm’s kitchen. “Alright then, how ‘bout some lunch? The residential floor has a cafeteria in case you can’t cook.”

“Excellent,” Adelaide turned her attention back. “I was concerned for a moment.”

“Can’t cook for yourself?” Carmine asked.

“I had more useful things to learn.”

Carmine huffed. We’ll see how long that lasts.

“Oh!” Aaron snapped his fingers. “Nearly forgot!” he pointed back to the crystal orb in the center of the lounge. “We can check your standings.”

“What standings?” Carmine followed Aaron back and forth. Between him and the headmaster, she worried everyone at this school might be a little scatterbrained.

“Our rankings as students, correct?” Adelaide knew that too, and she just loved to explain every little thing. “Understand Carmine, not all sorcerers are equal in ability, some of us are more empowered than others. There are subtitles for registered magi denoting their ability and status. I’m sure with my ability,” she sighed at Carmine, “and yours…we’re likely in the upper echelons of the school at least.”

“Hand over your necklaces and we can find out” Aaron opened his hands. Both students eagerly gave over the effigies and Aaron placed them onto the crystal table. Lines of arcane energy similar to the walls of the desert archive ran through the table, the necklaces. The gems on each shined bright, red for Carmine and blue for Adelaide. Yarish runes ran over the orb’s surface before they coalesced into Carmine’s and Adelaide’s likenesses …along with their height, weight, age, and place of origin before coming to the tower.

Carmine flinched back, wondering how that little thing she wore around her neck took all that information. While she felt disturbed, Adelaide cheered.

“Just as expected!” She tightened her fists. “This will prove my ability.”

“Aspirants…”Aaron scratched his chin. Carmine swore a tinge of disappointment crossed his face. “I…was still an aspirant until a few months ago.”

“Is Aspirant good?” Carmine looked up at her name on the display. ‘Aspirant Carmine Felis,’ it sounded like a real title.

“I’d say. As rankings go, there are ten,” Aaron explained, holding up all his fingers before lowering four of them from one hand. “As a student, you’re really only concerned with the first five. First is neophyte. We always have a few of those at the tower every intake, and that’s fine. Believe me, don’t judge people for that.” he gave a pointed look to Adelaide. “Some people come here having started their education already, some come to begin it here. Waste time thinking less of them and they might well surpass you. Next is an apprentice, someone that knows the basics, pretty average starting out here. Adepts are after that, they’re the folks who show a bit more development along the path. Aspirants come after them, which is where you two are.” he waved his lonely finger at them both. “You’re at the level where our instructors are going to expect significant improvement from you in order to advance to Brim, that’s where I am. Brim is just on the cusp of being recognized as a full sorcerer.” Aaron scrunched the one finger on his second hand. “To start off as aspirants…The instructors recognize what you can do for sure, but they’re gonna expect a lot from you at the same time.”

“Let them,” Adelaide retorted. For once she looked at Carmine without a hint of annoyance or dread. “This is only the beginning, correct? If we’re in the same circle then we’re going to go much further, understand?”

Carmine saw the fire in her partner’s eyes and it was infectious.

“Right.” She pumped her first, her excitement rekindled.

“That’s a good attitude.” Aaron praised. “Just to finish, after you become a sorcerer that’s not the end either. There is Major, Ascendant, Maven and Sage all above. Some folks stay here longer to study and reach those higher levels. So, never think you’re done learning, or you’ll get reminded at the worst moment. I guarantee it.”

“We won't,'' Carmine answered, full of anticipation for the future. “We’ll keep growing and never stop.”

“That attitude is going to carry you here.” Aaron clasped both their shoulders. “But you won’t get very far alone. First, lunch. Then, you both are going to find the other members of your circle.”