TWs: None, I think :)

"Interesting," Vertin uttered.

"What is it?" Sotheby turned to her.

"No one here looks as if they've seen any piece of technology before." The silver-eyed girl responded, her eyes wandering over to a few people trying to figure out how the television worked.

"Some of us have." Sonetto stepped up to them, "It just looks different from the ones back where we come from."

'So it's true that technology wasn't around as long as arcanists were... maybe they've been around since the prehistoric ages.' Vertin noted, adding that thought to her theory bank.

"We should help them." Sotheby huffed, striding her way over, "Hey, I don't think fighting the magic triangle will help!"

"It's a rectangle, Sotheby." Sonetto corrected.

"Right, I knew that-" Sotheby blushed as she took a look closer at the TV, "I'm sure it's not any different than the one I have. Let's see here..."

The blonde took a moment, analyzing every trace of the television.

"Is this going to take a long time?" A brunette girl with sunglasses asked, "Schedules are gonna be handed out today, and I've yet to look around the academy."

REGULUS - Afflatus: Star - Damage Type: Mental - DPS; Support

"Not at all, ah-! Think I've got it!" Sotheby pressed a button on the back of it, "Anything?"

"Nope." The brunette popped.

"We can figure it out later, Sotheby." Sonetto spoke, "We have to get our schedules."

"Ah, oh well." Sotheby frowned.

As they exited the dorm building, the brunette girl with sunglasses following along, Vertin spoke up, "How did you guys enroll here?"

"Hm?" Sonetto hummed, and Sotheby looked at her.

"I'm from this period, so I didn't have to change anything. But everyone else is from all over... so, how did you guys get here?" Vertin averted her gaze towards the clouded sky.

"Well," Sonetto started, "I feel like it was a different experience for everyone. I got a letter from this school."

"So did I...!" Sotheby's eyes widened.

"It was months ago, though. Probably the beginning of Summer when they sent it. I sent a letter back, letting them know I would enroll." Sonetto shrugged, "It was weird. These dignified people showed up at my door and next thing I knew-"

"We ended up here!" Sotheby finished for her, "I had that same experience!"

"So, what? They kidnapped you?" Vertin raised an eyebrow.

"No, not really. They explained they were from the school before taking me." Sonetto said, "And they let me pack my bags."

"They weren't that gentle with me!" The brunette following them spoke, hands on her hips, "I told them it was rude to wake a Pirate Captain in the middle of her sleep! It was bloody 9 AM for crying out loud!"

"Not to be rude, Captain, but 9 AM is usually the time class starts." A floating apple bobbed and wandered over to them.

APPLE - Afflatus: Star - Damage Type: Mental - DPS; Heal

"I wasn't in school at the time, Mr. Apple!" The Captain crossed her arms, "Why does school start so early anyway?"

"According to psychology, your brain is most active from 10 AM to 2 PM and from 4 PM to 10 PM," Vertin spoke. Everyone was quiet as they stared at the silver-haired girl, "Did I say something wrong...?"

"Where'd you learn that from!?" Sotheby's eyes shimmered.

"I have a lot of psychology books," Vertin answered.

"Do you have any psykologie books about creatures? Maybe one for carbuncles or our little cactus friend we found?"

"I'm sure I do. I can let you borrow them after class."

"Yes, that would be wonderful!"

Sonetto looked at Vertin, an unreadable emotion in her eyes.

Vertin found her schedule effortlessly. There weren't many names with V going to the academy.

'Hm... Defense, History, Science...' Vertin read. It seemed that she wouldn't be taking the Offense courses. That made her breathe a sigh of relief. She was essentially powerless.

Well, she is powerless.

Sotheby gasped in excitement, "Guys, I got Science first class after Homeroom!"

"Is that a good thing?" Vertin asked.

"Well, I think Plant Afflatuses are free to use their arcanum in Science. As long as it's for science." Sotheby winked.

"That worries me..." Sonetto muttered, "I got Defence first."

"Me too," Vertin spoke.

"Is it Hall 11?" The ginger took a peek at Vertin's schedule, "Huh, we're in the same class... hey, how come you don't have any Offense courses?"

"Oh," Vertin hummed, "Must be a mistake on their part."

"You better go get it fixed then," Sonetto told her.

"I will." Vertin nodded, then spotted a tuft of black and white fur go by, "After I do something."

She moved past Sonetto, making her way through the crowd of people. Sonetto and Sotheby watched her leave with puzzled faces.

"Wooof... woof." The sound of barking made Vertin stop in her tracks as she spotted the black and white border collie. She smiled, "The puppy is disappointed."

"What's the matter, Pickles?" The curly-haired man standing before him asked, taking the paper the dog had in his mouth, "Hm? What's this?"

"Woof..." Pickles drooped his head, "The puppy wants something changed."

"Ah, I see. They didn't put a Defense class on your schedule... such a shame." The man sighed, "We'll have to go fix this."

"I'll see you in class then." A girl with a ponytail and glasses spoke. Vertin remembered seeing her with that Pirate Captain earlier that morning.

MELANIA - Afflatus: Beast - Damage Type: Mental - Burst DMG; DPS

The woman turned around, spotting Vertin. Her eyes only widened a bit, "Oh, hello... Vertin, right? You're in the dorm next to mine?"

"Yes, that's right." Vertin nodded.

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance. I'm Melania." She spoke, adjusting her glasses. She glanced at the overhead clock, noticing the time, "Oh, we're going to be late. I have to get going. See you around."

Melania left in a hurry. Vertin quirked an eyebrow, 'We're...?'

"Hey, you're that girl from yesterday!" The curly brunette spoke.

"Huh?" Vertin perked up, noticing the guy looking at her.

"I left in a hurry that I forgot to introduce myself... before you stands the great artist-to-be, Diggers! What is your name, dear friend?" The eccentric man held a hand out.

"Vertin." The silver-haired girl shook his hand.

"Pleasure to meet you!" Diggers beamed.

"Woof! Woof..." Pickles walked circles around Vertin, seemingly smiling at her appearance, "The puppy is pleased to see you."

Vertin bent down, curling her fingers in Pickles' fur, gently ruffling an area, "It's nice to see you too, Pickles. I wanted to thank you for yesterday."

Diggers let out a questioning hum, "Thank him for what?"

"Helping me," Vertin told him.

"Woof... woof!" Pickles pressed his face against the palm of her hand, "The puppy is grateful."

Vertin noticed that the crowd had dulled down to only a few students left in the grand hall.

"I should go. Wouldn't want to be late on my first day." Vertin stood up, smiling at them.

"I don't get the use of being punctual..." Diggers muttered as he took a few vials out of his pockets, "I just can't wait to let my beautiful Reflective Bubbles free during Science class!"

"For science purposes, right?" Vertin quirked an eyebrow.

"Uh-" Diggers glanced at the colorful vials, "Right, for science..."

"Woof..." Pickles seemed to shake his head disappointedly.

He then winked at them, which made Vertin somewhat confused and concerned since Sotheby did the same thing.

'Are they related...?' Vertin couldn't help but ask herself as she walked away, going to her Defence class.

✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧NOTE✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧

I made the roommates list... didn't realize how many girls were in this game lmao

Fun Fact: Televisions were invented on Sept. 7, 1927, and were widely used all over America in 1946.
Furthermore, televisions in the UK started in 1936, following the first demonstration of a transmitted moving image in 1926. So, it's likely that Sotheby had one, given her status and the fact she lived in the early 20th century for 13 years :)

Comments are appreciated 3