Isika stuffed as much of her Meager belongings as she could into her bag. After two days of hanging around Shanxi, she had finally gotten another message from the mysterious Marisa. She was going to be moved to a place called Arcturus station, deeper in Alliance space, so now she had to pack.

This was proving to be difficult however. Despite coming here with only limited funds and a small backpack, she had somehow ended up with far more stuff then she had come with. Just as well, because she was now broke.

"Stupid impulse buying." She muttered to herself, as she tried to figure out how she was going to carry all these plushies and dolls to the spaceport.

Isikas datapad made a notification noise, distracting her. She wondered if it was Marisa again, so she picked it up.

But it wasn't Marisa, in fact it took her a minute to recognise the address, it belonged to the girl who ran 'The Chronicles of Gensokyo' booth, Ajū.

Isika over the course of the ten day festival, had frequently visited the young writer in her booth. There was so many different kinds of Youkai after all, and Ajū was more than happy to share everything she knew on most subjects.

They had also ended up talking about each other as well. While Isika was slightly more reserved, Ajū had told Isika a lot about herself. It was that way that she found out that Ajū was over 1300 years old… in a sense. Apparently Ajū is a spirit that 'reincarnates' every one hundred and twenty-to-eighty years, but she retains her intellect, her knowledge, and a certain amount of memories, the last one dependant on how much she wanted to remember. The fact that many youkai live well beyond the Asaris lifespan was mind boggling enough, but this kind of bizarre lifecycle was well beyond Isikas comprehension. Despite all this, her current age was seven years old.

Nevertheless she had bonded with the 'young' girl, and they had exchanged contact details on the last day, after they figured out how to get their technology to talk to each other.

But If Isika had been honest with herself, she hadn't expected to hear back from Ajū after she had left back to her home on the Alliance homeworld. It wasn't because she didn't enjoy her company, but because she didn't really expect Ajū would care enough to try.

Back when she lived on the citadel, she was what most would have referred to as a 'Duct Rat', a sort of homeless child that live in the various vents and tunnels that went all over the citadel (and were far more numerous then the council cared to admit), and did odd jobs for credits. She did have friends back there, but most friendships never really lasted. You hung out, if you got caught doing something shady you don't know anyone and nobody knew you, and if you get a chance to get out of the life, you took it and never looked back.

'Kinda like I did." thought Isika.

But it seems that Ajū thought otherwise. Isika opened the chat app.

Ajū: Hello Isika

Isika: Hello

Ajū: you took a while to respond, I didn't catch you at a bad time did I?

Isika: Not really, whats up?

Ajū: Oh nothing much, I just finished settling in back home,and was having a quiet moment, so I thought I'd see how you were doing.

Ajū: Did Patchouli end up getting back to you?

Isika: No, but someone called Marisa did. She's apparently a magician too.

Ajū: Ahh, Marisa. Makes sense. This would probably be more up her alley.

Isika: You know her then?

Ajū: I knew her quite well in my last life, I haven't seen her much since being reincarnated, but we still consider each other friends

Isika: She says she's gonna be the one helping me learn magic.

Isika: What's she like?

Ajū: Like I said we haven't hung out too much since I have been reincarnated, and I have no idea how she would act in a professional setting. But knowing her, she hasn't changed much.

Ajū: She is very energetic and carefree. She is quick to smile and crack a joke. Her magic style is mostly focused around light, heat and pure firepower.

Ajū: She also has a habit of 'borrowing' things that aren't hers, without asking. Then again she is an 'operative' now, and runs a magical Academy, so perhaps responsibility helped her kick the habit.

Ajū: Probably not though

Isika: And this is going to be my teacher?

Ajū: Don't worry, despite the way she acts she is an extraordinarily hard worker, and very stubborn. If she says she is going to teach you magic, she means it. You'll give up on yourself before she does

Ajū: She puts 100% into everything she does, and will expect the same from you

Ajū: Just have an open mind, and I'm sure you will get along.

Isika: alright thanks, I think I needed that

Ajū: Happy to help

Isika: by the way, do you have any idea how to get about 20 plushies into a backpack?

Ajū: that's an oddly specific question…

The was what could only be described as a 'movement' as the ship left the boundary slip. It hadn't been as bad as the first one, but considering the first had made her feel like she had died, that was hardly an improvement. The whole thing made her skin crawl.

Arcturus station was impressive however. Two gigantic back to back crescents, one large one small, with the large one housing many of the Alliances massive dreadnoughts.

"Woah…" Isika intoned breathlessly.

"Pretty cool isn't it?" said the Alliance soldier escorting her.

"Yeah…" said Isika, her face glued to the window.

Docking was a quick affair, as the cruiser pulled into an unoccupied bay, and before she knew it, the soldier lead her into the station proper.

"Miss Kirisame said she would be here to meet us…" The man said.

"And here I am!" came a voice from Isikas immediate left, and she felt a hand on her shoulder, making her jump. She looked up to see a tall blonde woman.

She was dressed very strangely, wearing an odd assortment of black and white cloth, with strange metal bits in places. Her most outstanding feature however was her big enthusiastic grin.

She looked up to the soldier. "Good work Adams, I'll take it from here."

"Yes Ma'am!" the soldier said, saluting before walking off.

The woman then refocused on Isika. "Hey there, Isika right? You probs don't remember, but I was hanging around when you and Patchi had your little pow-wow. Marisa Kirisame, Ordinary Magician, Headmaster of the Final Spark, and your soon to be magic teacher."

"Umm… Hello- I mean, thank you- Er…" Isika fumbled, overwhelmed by Marisas presence.

"Easy there kid don't hurt yourself. Plenty of time for that later. Come on, let's get you settled in, shall we?"

Marisa set off at a brisk pace, forcing Isika to scramble to keep up, dragging her second bag (she had been forced to borrow one).

"Sorry I couldn't get to you sooner, but me and the other magicians have been running a magic class for some other volunteers from the council. It's taken this long to get a free moment." Marisa said conversationally.

"Oh! Will I be-" Isika said.

"Sorry kid, you won't be joining that class, we gotta get rid off all that Eezo first. 'sides, that class is full of grown ass adults, not sure it will be kid friendly." Marisa said, anticipating the question.

"Oh…" said Isika, drooping a bit.

"Hey, don't get so glum, while it will take you a bit longer to get there, you will be getting something far more valuable." Marisa said, catching Isikas downcast expression.

"I will?"

"Yeah, my almost undivided attention as a teacher. Way better than some generalist class." Marisa said. "But thats future talk, for now we gotta get you settled in."

After a long walk through the massive station, many people giving Isika curious glances as she passed, Marisa led her to a short corridor, with about six doors leading off it.

"For the time being, this will be where you are staying." Marisa said. She pointed to the room in the corner. "That will be your apartment, it's not that big, but it has a bed, a desk, and a bathroom. The room next door is a living space, complete with lounge area and kitchen, your meals will be sent there, so make sure you are there to get them. Feel free to spend your free time there." She pointed to the door on the end. "That's another bathroom." She pointed to the opposite door. "That one there is an examination room, where you will probably be spending most of the following month."

"What?" Isika said.

"You see, the first hurdle we need to jump is figuring out just how Asari tick." Marisa said. "And that means putting you under the microscope for a bit. Get a grip with just how much Eezo there is in there before we can actually remove it."

"Oh, right." said Isika. Makes sense when she put it like that.

"You ok with that, by the way?" Marisa said.

Isika nodded, "I've come this far, no point in backing out now."

"That's the ticket." Marisa said. "And now it's time to see the doc."

She lead Isika through the door next to the examination room, which lead into a small office. At the desk was a tall Alliance woman with Silver hair, with a odd blue and red hat, with a matching dress. Her expression was stern, as she examined some papers on the table

"Yo Eirin," got your patient here." Marisa said.

"I can see that Marisa, thank you." Eirin said, looking up. "Good evening Miss Isika, please take a seat." She gestured to the seat opposite.

As Isika sat down, Marisa spoke. "I guess this is my cue to split. I still got stuff to do back on the Philosophe, and Patche's probably getting impatient."

"Very well, I will take it from here." Eirin said.

"I leave her in your capable hands doc." Marisa said, before waving to Isika. "See ya kiddo, I'll drop in every now and then when I ain't too busy. Be good for the good doctor."

She left as fast as she had come, leaving Isika quite buffudled as she stared at the closed door.

"Here and gone in a flash, you will get used to it." Eirin said, bringing Isikas attention back to her. "As Marisa said, I am Lady Eirin Yagokoro, and as a favour to Marisa, I will be the doctor in charge of your… treatment."

"So you are going to be the one who gets rid of all the Eezo?" Isika said.

"Perhaps, we shall see." Eirin said, making some notes on a notepad in front of her.

"Eh?"

Eirin sighed. "As it happens I currently have no idea how we will be purging the Element zero from your system. Our people have never had Biotics, so there was never the need for such a procedure. I will be forced to try and invent an entirely new treatment, and that will only be after I have completed an incredibly thorough medical examination. I am sorry to inform you that it will probably be well over a month before we can even consider treatment. If there even is a treatment."

"Oh…" Isika said, her expression drooping.

"I apologise for my bluntness, but knowing Marisa she has probably been approaching the situation with unwarranted optimism." Eirin said. "I Thought It would be best to give you a more pessimistic perspective to save you from undue disappointment, should this not work out. Keep in mind however that I am taking this seriously, if there is a treatment, I endeavour to find it. While I do not mean to boast, there are few more qualified than I."

This helped Isika a little bit. "Thank you."

"You are welcome." Eirin said, smiling. "You are a brave girl for coming this far. It would be very rude to not perform my best."

She stood up. "If you like, we can start immediately. Just put your things in your room, and meet me in the room next door."

"Yes Miss Eirin." Isika said, running out the room with her bags."

Eirin shook her head. "I only hope this doesn't end in tears…"

Chapter notes:

Second chapter, where Isika meets Marisa, and the good doctor.

Before anyone jumps down my throat: Yes, I am aware that Eirin will be going to Tuchanka, I know that, you know that, But Eirin and Marisa doesn't know that yet. It will be addressed in chapter four.

But anyway, the first, incredibly shaky steps toward magicianhood.

For anyone wondering about the update for my other story, it is written… I'm just not happy with it yet. It's mostly just stuff that happens between last chapter and Halloween. I'm going to start speeding up that story, because there really isn't a lot to work with in the first book to be honest. Or the second book really.

Anyway, that will be out some time soonish.