“This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind when you said you’d buy me a new outfit.” Ser Terry says as we walk to class, holding the enchanted garment I just gave him to replace his outfit which Marvin claimed to be unable to salvage.

  “What do you mean?” I ask, perplexed as to what he could be objecting to. “It’s the same set of enchantments that I have on mine, so I know it’s good.”

  “Yeah, I guess I just assumed we’d be picking something mundane out, you know, together.”

  “Oh, I guess I didn’t think about that.” That would explain why he was so happy when I said I would buy him a replacement. Well, to some extent at least. “I don’t really shop for clothes. Hadn’t the need where I was before, since there weren’t any other nobles to impress. Alan, my cousin, has mostly been picking my outfits since I got here. He’s been wanting me to be more involved with it, but I guess I find it boring.”

  “What? Not action packed enough for you? Now that you’ve tasted the academy’s combat games everything else seems dull?”

  I grimace at his jibe. “Not exactly.” What exactly then? I took pleasure from the clothes I purchased in Fluemberg, but it’s just so tedious here. Perhaps it’s because then I was completely changing my presentation to the world. In contrast here, no matter what style I adopt I just look like another rich noble. Choosing loses its thrill when I know that even the worst option is better than what I had before.

  “You’re thinking so seriously.” He nudges my shoulder as we walk, causing me to stumble slightly. “Hey, thanks. This is really generous – way more than what you owed me.”

  I smile. “We can still go shopping for template outfits if you want. Though you’ll be paying for those.”

  “Can’t I just copy without paying?”

  I shake no. “If you want to be arrested. In fact, there are a couple of laws you should know for wearing it. I put a note about them in a pocket.”

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  “Sounds like a headache. Maybe I’ll rescind my gratitude.”

  I smile at his levity. “Don’t worry, it’s mostly just minor stuff like what might be considered theft with it.”

  “It better be. Your imperial laws are so convoluted. I certainly wouldn’t have been admitted if I weren’t exempt from that test.”

  “Yeah…” I say, feeling briefly uneasy at it being called ‘my’ imperial laws, and so move on to the subject I’ve been wanting to ask. “Hey… why did you enrol in this class anyway?”

  “Applied divinations?” he asks, assuming correctly that I’m talking about the course we’re on course for.

  “Yeah, I didn’t think you were interested in that.”

  “What? Because I’m a dumb knight and it’ll just go over my head?” He puts on a show of offense.

  “Well, yeah,” I say, provoking an exaggerated scowl to which I smile to let him know I’m joking. “Okay, yeah, I was partially talking about knights not tending to pursue divination beyond the basic, but more so I was talking about what I’ve seen of you. I didn’t see you do any divinations during the exam, so I assumed you shared the disinterest of your fellow fighters.”

  He shrugs. “I guess I acquired an interest recently… I guess I wanted to understand you better.”

  “What’s to understand?” I ask, a bit flustered at the admittance of attention – I’m standing out again.

  “Yeah, I mean, you have an interesting way of fighting. Very intense, and effective, and divination is a big part of it. Figuring it out seemed useful, even if I never emulate it.”

  “Ah… okay but why?”

  “Why what?”

  “Why do you think it’ll be useful? I guess, what are you even planning on doing after you graduate? Are you going for a military post? With us, or back in your homeland?”

  He’s silent for a few moments before answering. “I don’t know actually. I mean, I’ve done some fighting, plus I’m a knight so I assumed I’d do some more. I haven’t really thought about where I’d be doing it or for who though. What about you?”

  I shrug. “I guess I’m the same. I realized this during my interview, but I spent so much effort getting into the academy that I didn’t think about what I’d do after. It’s a bit comforting to know I’m not the only one. I wonder how many of our classmates are the same.”

  “You should ask them. It’ll be good for you.”

  “Yeah, you’re probably right.” At least it’ll help in selecting contacts.

  “There you go, calculating again,” he says, apparently able to read something on my face.

  “Sorry.” I’ll do better at hiding it next time.