Chapter 3
A CLERK DELIVERED another large load of paperwork about an hour later, causing Solomon’s sunny expression to cloud over.
“Well, I guess it’s time for me to be somewhere else,” said Mira, standing to make her escape. Solomon glanced her way with an expectant expression.
“You have no interest in king’s work?”
“You really think I’d be good at it?” she asked, beginning to feel as if she might someday answer to a higher calling. She wouldn’t have minded helping at all…but paperwork always left her at a loss.
That newfound sense of purpose deflated quickly when Solomon muttered, “I suppose not,” and slumped back in his chair. “We’ll probably get a lead on Soul Howl sometime in the next few days. As for our mysterious medium, I have no clue. But I’ll let you know when I find something out. So that’s where we’re at for the moment.”
“Hrmm, I suppose.”
Solomon reluctantly turned to the paperwork awaiting him, then asked, “You’ve got a few days free. What are you planning on doing?”
“So long as I’m here, I might as well be a tourist for a bit.” Mira gazed out at the cityscape. “Then I think I’ll return to the tower.”
“Sounds fun. This city is my pride and joy, so I’m sure you’ll enjoy yourself. Oh, and if you could bring me some of those magic stones you have stashed away, I’d be most appreciative.”
“We’ll see if I remember.” Mira shrugged with feigned indifference.
Solomon smirked. “Well, see you.”
“Yeah, have fun.”
Stepping out of the office, Mira turned down the hallway. At that moment, a door opened and Lily stepped through it.
“Ah!” Mira gasped, her face twitching as a joyous expression bloomed across the maid’s face.
“Oh, my! How wonderful to see you again, Miss Mira. Has your business concluded?” She bowed perfectly as befitting a palace maidservant, but when she straightened, she was beaming widely.
“Hrmm, I was just leaving, actually,” Mira mumbled.
“Were you? I don’t suppose you have a moment? My fellow maids and I have just completed our finest work yet!”
“Well, I… All right, then.” Mira offered a reluctant nod.
It was a foregone conclusion. Mira was resigned to her fate from the moment she saw Lily. If she surrendered now, perhaps she could meet her fate swiftly and with little suffering.
Lily led the way through a maze of hallways until they arrived at the end of a long corridor. Opening a door to usher Mira inside, she busied herself looking for whatever infernal outfit the maids had crafted in Mira’s absence.
It was a sewing space packed with fabric and half-finished pieces of clothing. Mira seemed to recall that this room was in the section of the palace called “the production block,” and it seemed like the maids took that name seriously. This was a sanctum where they spent their nights giving form to their dreams and desires.
For the moment, it was quiet, perhaps because it was midday and most of the serving staff was at work. Mira stood as she waited, gazing nervously at the various maid outfits hanging on the walls. No two were exactly the same, each sporting its own unique flair and charm.
She studied the arrayed uniforms, mentally picking and choosing which would best fit the people she knew. This one for Emella, that one for Flicker…
Two down from the top, third from the right. No, or maybe that one on the bottom row, four from the left…
“Are you interested in a maid’s uniform as well, Miss Mira?”
“Ack! No! I-I was just…” Mira leapt in surprise at the sudden voice behind her. “They’re lovely, but no. No.”
“Wouldn’t you like to try one on?”
“Oh, no, not for me. Thank you.” She worked to regain her composure, struggling between the mortification that would be wearing a maid’s uniform and the silent admission that she would look very good doing it.
“Very well. If the fancy ever strikes, just let me know. I can tailor the design to your exact liking.” There was a hint of disappointment in Lily’s voice, and Mira doubted the maid would give up that easily. Sooner or later, she would make good on her offer, whether Mira liked it or not.
“Now then, Miss Mira, feast your eyes on this! A special set of technomancy robes made just for you!”
Mira was speechless.
“Oh… Oho… Ho ho ho!”
The garment stuck to the prior trend of gothic lolita fashion, but it cut through her prepared excuses with a single slash. In a good way.
She devoured the outfit with her eyes, nodding with each flourish and touch that met with her satisfaction. Earlier design choices were still present, but the overly elaborate frills and bows had been eliminated. Just a few bits of flair here and there to accentuate key points. It added stylishness to the cuteness and wove sci-fi chic into the magical-girl aesthetic. Mira had been a fan of that sort of look in the past.
It looked like something the boss of a mages’ organization might wear: a black-and-white sleeveless dress topped with a black coat with purple accents.
“What do you think?”
“Hrmm, it’s quite nice.” That was an understatement. It was right up her alley.
She was surprised by her own approval. Given previous examples of the maids’ work, she assumed that this outfit was going to look like a ribbon factory had sneezed.
“How wonderful. After we gave you those last outfits, King Solomon was kind enough to inform us what styles you would prefer.”
“Did he now?”
Solomon would have an idea of what her tastes were, after all. They both liked the same sci-fi magical-girl shows. On second glance, she realized that this outfit actually resembled his favorite character’s design.
That jerk! Now he’s playing dress-up too!
She looked at the large white leather belt integrated into the design of the dress and the short front of the coat that wouldn’t hide her legs when closed. That was Solomon’s doing, for sure.
“All right, Miss Mira, step this way,” Lily said as she led Mira to a fitting room and handed her the clothing. “Do you require assistance?”
“I’ve got this handled, thanks.”
Mira accepted the outfit and disappeared behind the curtain to find a large mirror and a set of shelves on either side. Placing the new clothing on a shelf, she tugged at her hem as she began to change.
Lily beamed in admiration as Mira stepped from behind the curtain.
“It suits you perfectly, Miss Mira!”
“You think?”
The Elder summoner tried to maintain her cool composure, but her chuckles as she checked the fit gave her away. The clothes made by the palace maid corps were top-notch quality—they fit perfectly and didn’t hinder any movement.
“Now, let me explain some of the added features,” Lily said, leading Mira over to a table where several papers were spread out.
“First, these are the names of everyone who assisted in creating your personal set of technomancy robes.”
“That’s a lot of names.”
The list of credits stretched across the page and even included Solomon and Luminaria. There were so many she could only skim through, but she noticed Toma, lead designer of the Accord Cannon.
“As the name implies, technomancy was utilized in the creation of this outfit, and this manual explains how it works.”
“Technomancy, eh? That sounds…dangerous.”
Mira thought of the FAV—the surprisingly modern, surprisingly terrifying armored car that Solomon had developed and Garrett piloted. She glanced down at the clothes she was wearing, but Lily shook her head as if to allay her misgivings.
“There’s absolutely nothing to worry about. In fact, with the benefits it provides, I can guarantee that you’ll gladly continue to be our dress-up—ahem, you’ll gladly continue to accept our outfits.”
“I’m sorry… Were you about to say ‘dress-up doll’?”
“No, I don’t believe I was.”
Mira shot her a glance, but Lily looked away and pretended not to notice. Mira decided to let it slide and turned back to the instructions.
“Now, then, allow me to explain,” said Lily. “Let’s start with the most important feature. The belt on the dress houses a small compartment that can store a Magic Stone or Mobility Stone.”
Opening Mira’s coat, Lily reached toward the integrated belt and opened the black buckle in the center. Sure enough, a single stone would fit neatly inside.
“Oho. That’s handy,” Mira muttered to herself as she opened and closed the buckle.
“That is what makes this a proper technomancy robe. The magical properties of the inserted stone provide all sorts of benefits!” Lily explained with pride.
She’d only been involved in the selection and preparation of the fabric, so this portion of the explanation came by way of Toma. In preparation for this event, she had hounded Toma daily for information until she had memorized everything.
“Now, as for the general status enhancements…” She flawlessly repeated everything he’d told her. “The dress and the coat were made to be resistant to both fire and ice, though do be aware that it doesn’t protect against extreme temperatures. Using the right Magic Stone should even block the flames of a phoenix! It will also cause the outfit to self-mend…within reason. If the damage is too great, it will fail to repair itself. When a Magic Stone is inserted, it will strengthen defense in accordance with the attuned element.”
Pleased with her flawless recollection of the details, Lily shot Mira a triumphant look. Meanwhile, Mira was running her hands over the outfit, exploring with great interest.
“Oho. Very useful.”
Mira was honestly surprised by the abilities. It seemed the outfit had greatly exceeded her expectations in every way. It still wasn’t at the level of her replica robe, but these technomancy robes were quite high-spec. With the effect activated, they might even have superior defense.
Well, she could always switch back and forth between the two. Her interest growing in the new outfit, she began to mentally go back over the features.
“This all sounds like it cost quite the pretty ducat. Are you sure I can just have it?”
Normally, equipment with that level of performance would be pretty expensive. Mira looked up at Lily with curiosity.
“But of course. The expenses were covered by King Solomon and Lady Luminaria. It’s entirely yours.”
“Were they now?” The two hadn’t said a word about any of this. She smiled, wondering if she had been set up by the pair of them.
Conspiracy or not, I’ll have to show my appreciation, she thought. They went out of their way to keep it secret, so it wouldn’t do to just say thank you. She’d have to find them the perfect gift as well.
Lily escorted Mira through the sewing room to the maidservants’ quarters, where the other maids were waiting to dote on her. They had all helped with the creation of the outfit, so Mira couldn’t leave them hanging. Soon, they were putting her hair up into all sorts of different styles.
Honestly, she was getting somewhat used to being treated this way. The array of sweets they’d put out for her certainly helped take the edge off.
She had a quite lovely teatime and did her best to ignore the commotion going on around her head.
***
It was just past lunchtime, but after the mound of snacks she’d consumed in the maid’s quarters, Mira was feeling sated. She made her way out of the palace and into the city, intent on sightseeing.
On her way out, she paused briefly for pleasantries with the guards at the palace gate. Solomon had informed them that Mira was Danblf’s pupil, and that gave her free license to come and go as she pleased.
Her thoughts meandered to the academy. Even from a distance, she’d been struck by the impressive architecture. Then she glanced around her immediate surroundings.
“Now, how do I get there from here?”
Despite the methodical layout of the city, it was difficult for Mira to get her bearings once she was on the street. She wandered around, looking this way and that. Just as despair was beginning to set in, a patrolling guard appeared.
He was momentarily awestruck by her long silver hair, but he realized a moment later just who she was. He hurriedly dipped into a bow. As a pupil of one of the Nine Wise Men, Mira was a guest of honor in the city and her physical description had been widely circulated.
She trotted over to him and asked, “Quick question: How do I get to the academy from here?”
“Ah, Miss Mira, is it? Let’s see…the academy. Just cross the bridge behind you and head straight along the main road.”
“Oho, I see. Thank you.”
Turning in the direction the guard was pointing, she spotted the bridge. After glancing back to thank him again, she took off toward the academy at a brisk jog. The guard relaxed, relieved that he’d kept his cool as he stared after her. He found himself captivated by the bouncing pigtails.
***
One of the defining landmarks of the Kingdom of Alcait was the great crescent-shaped lake at the center of the capital. The area hugging the inner curve was the high-rent district, and from there, one could reach outlying areas by crossing bridges that cut across the lake.
Mira trudged her way across one of those causeways. It was ten meters wide and paved with thin ocher stones that stretched off into the distance. Streetlamps were evenly spaced along the sides, giving it a sense of class and acting as a subtle reminder that it connected to one of the wealthier parts of town.
The lake was wider than she remembered, but after some trekking, she finally reached the opposite shore.
“Ah, Lady Mira! Heading to the general districts?”
The question came from the guard at the gate between the bridge and the city beyond. The gate itself wasn’t that big, maybe just wide enough for a single carriage to pass through. A small room set up alongside it afforded the guards shelter from the elements.
“Hrmm, thought I’d do some sightseeing.”
“A wonderful day to tour our fine city. I’ll open the gate, if you would kindly stand clear.”
He stepped back into the guardhouse and the gate slowly opened. Through the widening gap, it was evident that this area of the city was worlds apart from the elegance of the district behind her. It was filled with life and energy, as crowds of common townsfolk went about their business.
Mira waved to the guard in thanks, then stepped through the gate into Lunatic Lake’s Eastern District. A wide street led to Alcait Academy, and she marveled again at the wonders around her as she made her way along the boulevard.
The shops lining the main street offered a wide selection of goods. Many carried general wares, but the nearby academy meant that a number of stationery stores were doing brisk business in this part of town.
Mira was surprised to find an overwhelming number of shops selling mages’ implements. Whichever way she turned, there was another store dealing in magical tools and gear. There were items for almost all disciplines of magic—wands serving as weapons, catalysts for a sorcerer’s spells, talismans for mediums, sacred stones for clerics, holy water for demonologists, and more. There were even a few stores selling Magic Stones and enchanted items.
Feeling the prickles of excitement, Mira gave in to her instinct to window-shop and flitted between stalls, passing the time and thoroughly enjoying herself. Her eyes feasted on the mix of classic staples and never-before-seen products. Whenever she saw something new, she asked a clerk what it did with eyes aglitter. Some shop owners explained happily, some nervously, and some very carefully and thoroughly.
Her urge to window-shop completely satisfied, Mira finally arrived at her destination in front of the academy.
“It’s huge,” she blurted softly. It was true—the grounds of Alcait Academy were as expansive as an airport. The three largest buildings on the grounds faced a magnificent quad. There were other structures on the campus, but they paled in comparison.
For the Elder of the Tower of Evocation to stand boldly out in the open while staring at the front of a school felt somewhat…undignified. Mira hid herself behind the front gate and peeked around the corner. Unfortunately, that just made her seem even more suspicious.
In the schoolyard, students were honing their physical strengths. Some were sparring, while others were running laps. In one corner, a man was teaching a martial arts course to about thirty children dressed in gym clothes. On the opposite end, a male instructor and a female instructor addressed a formation of sixty robed students. The sheer size of the quad made the number of students seem fewer.
Mira watched with amusement as they practiced—the scale might’ve been extreme, but it was definitely a school.
“Such youthful exuberance,” she muttered to herself. Back in her original world, she was six years out of university, and the nostalgic feeling caused her to smile.
“Are you interested in attending the academy?” a voice came from behind her.
Mira reflexively trembled as she realized she’d been caught spying. Fearfully…slowly…creakingly, she turned to see who had caught her. Half crouched behind her was a woman with cat ears and a gentle smile with a large book bag slung over her shoulder.
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