The morning in the dormitories of Elysium University began with a bell. Or rather, bell ringing. The sound came from the street, often through an open window, exactly at eight o'clock in the morning. Unfortunately, the university's historic bell tower remained in the old building swallowed up by the city limits, and at the contemporary university’s grounds, loudspeakers played a recording of the old bell.

  The ringing found Lily already out of bed. A light nightgown lay on the bed. The girl without a hurry changed into everyday clothes. She froze by the closet for a minute, automatically assessing her wardrobe. The old habit made itself known even a month later.

  “Maybe it's for the best...”

  Always dress according to the occasion. That's what she had been taught since childhood. Now Lilum could not afford two dozen outfits for every possible occasion. The closet was spacious, but not to that extent. A white blouse and a dark long skirt became her uniform for attending lectures. The bag was wide and practical, but still stylish, and spacious enough to hold the books and notebooks. The high heels were a mistake, corrected on the first day of great many stairs for comfortable soft shoes.

  Taking hold of the door handle, Lily calmed her nervous tension. Then she listened. Then she carefully opened the door. It was important to be one of the first to leave the dorm, without bumping into someone who would turn entire day in to insufferable bother...

  The corridor was still empty. Especially next to her room, it was a good start. Lilum hurried outside, trying to step softer – the heels of her shoes clearly thudded the parquet.

  Already at the elevator door an anxious premonition overtook her, she quickly looked around to... see an empty corridor.

  As the elevator hummed downwards, the door opposite of the Diamas room opened slightly...

  Lilum spent a couple of minutes in the foyer, pretending to think about something. Soon the flow of students increased, and the hum of the building coming to life could be heard around for a while already. Lilum sighed in disappointment.

  “Maybe she’s... but then...”

  Abandoning her guesswork, the girl went outside, immersing into the cool spring morning. The weather had been steadily getting warmer in past few days. But sometimes a cold gust of wind blew in, reminding that early spring is also the end of winter.

  In the cafeteria, Lily slightly stalled for time, hoping to find her target. Unfortunately a failure. A light breakfast with coffee brought her up to half past eight. It was time to head to the first lecture of the day.

  Already at the exit, she noticed through the glass doors of the cafeteria that a couple of figures were approaching the building from the side of the dormitory. One tall blonde, and the other…

  Lilum quickly moved to the other door and walked out through that one. The last thing she wanted to see now was those two…

  Most of the lectures were held in the main building of the university. The second and third floors were almost completely occupied by spacious auditoriums, with amphitheaters of varying capacities for attendees. Today's lecture was held in a medium-sized room. Students were gradually trickling into the premises. Lilum casually slowed down, slightly absentmindedly – just as she planned – looking around. Unfortunately…

  “I saw everything.”

  Almost suppressing a frightened cry, Lilum stared, haunted, at a pair of scarlet eyes suspiciously peering out from behind the open door to the auditorium.

  “What are you doing here?!”

  The eyes narrowed.

  “What am I doing? I'm watching you, that's what I'm doing.”

  Lilum suppressed the obscene comment that was trying to get out, but was unworthy of her status.

  “Watching me?” she hissed. “Do you believe this is acceptable?”

  The stalker was not at all embarrassed, instead making a suspicious face.

  “Acceptable? And your behavior, your believe, is acceptable?”

  Lilum clenched her teeth.

  “That’s not... I still desire to know why are you stalking me! Should I go to the police?”

  “If you're ready to confess,” Rosa said. “I know what you're doing.”

  “And what is it?” Lilum didn't manage to catch herself. Getting involved with this girl...

  She immediately confirmed her fears:

  “I know that you're following Arthena.”

  Lily felt her cheeks traitorously burning. Rosa slowly slided back behind the door, leaving only her eyes – and a screamingly scarlet shock of tousled hair.

  Already prepared for such a turn of events, Diamas did not change her expression at all. She walked past majestically, dropping as she walked:

  “Leave me alone, girl.”

  “I saw everything.”

  They entered the auditorium. More precisely, Lilum entered, feeling with her entire back how she was being drilled with a stare. She turned around irritably to say everything she thought about vile brats who stalk people and interfere with their affairs – and froze in place dumbstruck.

  Rosa raised her bag a little higher, hiding her nose. The expression in her eyes was still pointedly suspicious.

  “What... do you think you're doing?” Lily uttered dumbfounded.

  “I'm watching you, that's what I'm doing.”

  Lilum involuntarily let out a short growl.

  “Leave me alone, shadows tear you!”

  Rosa lifted her bag a little higher.

  “No can do. You're up to something.”

  “You're just a thoughtless child!” Diamas flared up. “How did you even end up at the university?”

  “You know how. You got the floor wiped with you, just like with the rest of us, remember?”

  Lilum briefly glanced around. As she thought – as it always happened – the scene inevitably attracted the attention of the surrounding students. Most of them were side-glancing while greening.

  It was unbearable. Lilum couldn't contain the anger boiling inside.

  “And what should I do to make you finally disappear from my life?”

  Rosie didn't even bat an eye.

  “Stop being suspicious. I won't let this go.”

  “My affairs is none of yours business!”

  “It is when you stalk my friends.”

  “She's not your friend, you barely know her!”

  Rosa jumped up, pointing a finger at her.

  “Ha! You admit you're up to something. Now confess all and make it easier for yourself!”

  Lilum slapped her hand viciously – girl barely managed to yank it away.

  “I won't tolerate your vile harassment! You're the one stalking others!”

  Rosa hid behind her bag, making suspicious face.

  “I had no choice. I'm a huntress. And I'm stalking my target.”

  “There! And you admit you're stalking me?!”

  “I admit nothing. You stalk Arthena, I stalk you, we're even.”

  Lilum grabbed her temple.

  “How is that... This doesn't make a bit of sense! Leave me alone.”

  She planned to look away again, but it was not meant to be.

  “No way. I'm watching you because you harbor a secret agenda.”

  Lilum stood nose to nose with her again.

  “And what is that, pray tell, supposed to mean?”

  “I don't know. That's why I'm watching.”

  Gibiska's voice came from behind:

  “Just ignore her.”

  “I thought I asked you to spare me her presence,” Lilum hissed without turning around.

  Gebbi simply walked past.

  “I told her, hundreds of times, as you know. I told her in front of you.”

  “Then why doesn't it work? Your sister is crazy!”

  “Smack her,” Gibiska said. “I won't mind this time.”

  “Maybe I should!”

  Rosa narrowed her eyes.

  “Violence doesn't scare me. I know how to fight.”

  “Not good enough to handle a real hunter,” Lilum taunted.

  This seemed to work, Rosa made a displeased face.

  “No one could handle that ass! You were there too and didn't even try to attack.”

  “As far as I remember, it was only thanks to my efforts that you weren't crushed.”

  “As far as I remember, you only took out your sword to wave it in the air.”

  Lilum stamped her foot viciously and pointed towards the tables.

  “Take a seat right now or you will disrupt the lesson!”

  Rosa puffed out her chest undaunted.

  “I will take a seat when you sit down where I can see you. I am worried about your intentions.”

  “You are just a stupid spoiled child! And you want to be a hunter?”

  “So what?”

  “You don't have a drop of...”

  “Demmas?”

  -... discipline!” Lilum was seething. “Do you think you can work in one of the most dangerous fields in the history of mankind?”

  “I have a keen sense of justice,” Rosa retorted calmly. “As you may have noticed.”

  “You're playing around instead of doing what you claim you came here for – getting an education!

  “And I've succeeded quite well,” Rosa assured. “Even Professor Fidelis called my resonance "interesting". I have great potential.”

  “Yes, about that...”

  “Potential,” Lilum said coldly, “which is worthless if you are too stupid and impudent to hone it. Concerning with you is just a waste of time!”

  “If I didn't know how arrogant you can be, I'd say you envy me,” Rosa teased.

  “Envy?” Lilum breathed out contemptuously. “I'd rather jump under a train than be anything like you!”

  “Then bend your legs, because...” Rosa began to demonstratively count her fingers: “We entered the same academy, at the same time, in the same group, we live in rooms opposite each other, we took the same lecture...”

  “You didn't even know that you were supposed to take that lecture!”

  Professor Bellethor, already standing at the podium, let out a short sigh. Overhead of the noisy squabble he waved his arms at the audience covered in smiles:

  “So, demi... Your ideas!”

  Fjora raised her hand.

  “A bucket of water!”

  A light laugh passed through. Arthena sighed curtly and said nothing.

  “Smack them,” Gibiska spoke up.

  “Maybe someone has a resonance that suppresses the sound?” Tallia muttered slightly from aside.

  Bellethor pointed at her and nodded.

  “Very good, Onikson. So, who in the group has an acoustic resonance?”

  The students looked at each other. The girls in front of the professor continued to bicker, now measuring their merits with weapons. The man looked around the class.

  “Very bad. Should know that already. Demus Pavrelis?”

  The guy sitting slouchedly in the middle of the classroom slightly straightened up on the bench. His attractive face with chiseled features was permanently spoiled by an expression of disdain for everything and everyone that could not boast a three-digit annual income in a solid elysian exars.

  “What? I don't...” Demus Pavrelis caught himself, then dismissively waved his hand: “You don't expect us to learn all the resonances simply out of boredom, Professor?”

  “No,” he said. “But I expect you to use your brain cell, Pavrelis. Very bad. Let me ask it more simply – why does no one in this group have an acoustic resonance?”

  The tian guy next to Fjora raised his hand.

  “Because such resonance does not exist. Acoustic effect is always a side effect of another type of resonance.”

  Bellethor pointed at the guy with satisfaction.

  “Demus Zhao, very good. It is nice to see that I am not just shaking the air in here.”

  He raised his hands in a characteristic gesture of control:

  “Most of us have to suppress quarrelsome girls...”

  “...if only listen-gyhai!”

  Thin chains quickly entwined the scandalous students.

  “Ghiiy!”

  The girls slammed into each other lightly, twitching in their bonds in panic.

  “...by any other means. Demmas.”

  Bellethor turned the students towards him.

  “So who is at fault?”

  Chains wrapped around their heads just in time, pointedly covering their mouths, before both troublemakers tried to loudly accuse each other. Instead there was a fierce jerking towards the opponent.

  “Of course. Should I throw you out the door?”

  They let out a surprisingly similar indignant mooing.

  “I sounded like "yes," to me,” Bellethor said acridly. “But we can't cut you off from the lectures now.”

  The chains quickly loosened, causing the captives to stagger awkwardly, and instantly crawled away, as if they were never there.

  “Professor, I assure you!..”

  “Control yourself, demma Diamas,” he waved it off. “At your seat.”

  She quickly turned and, trying not to look at Rosa, stepped away...

  “And your seat is right in front of me – next to demma Rubin.”

  Lilum froze as if paralyzed.

  “As punishment for your behavior, you will both sit in front of me at every lecture until the end of the term. Is that clear?

  “But that!..”

  Lilum turned around. The Professor's face was...

  “But I am not able to sit in front of the teacher in class!” Rosa blurted out, blushing to the color of her hair.

  “You should have thought of it earlier, demma,” the professor said ingratiatingly.

  Lilum, seeing where all of this was going, lowered her shoulders, and the demmas obeyed simultaneously:

  “Yes, Professor.”

  Gebbi waved mockingly at her sister from the top row. In the front row, a short animata girl quickly moved aside, timidly settling down at the other end of the bench. Rosa looked at her in puzzlement, plopping her bag on the table. Lilum settled down with disgust, very near the passage.

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  “Very good,” the Professor concluded. “Half a day later we can begin the lecture. So. Fundamentals of resonance. Who's first?”

  A tense silence hung in the air.

  “A sea of volunteers,” the Professor said sourly. “And who should I start with... Onyxson, the three main types of resonance?”

  “Kineth, metamorph, and manifestation.” Tallia answered without a drop of interest.

  “Good. Citrin, how are they different?”

  Gebbi twitched.

  “Umm... well, uh, metamorph... changes. Kineth moves, and the manifestation, um...”

  “Changes and moves, eh? Our answers on the level of school somewhere in a backwater fort. Poor. Yes?”

  “Manipulation of inertia, changes in state, and the manifestation of energy, respectively.”

  “Good. Which one is most common?”

  Fjora jumped up.

  “Metamorph!”

  “Incorrect, demma. Yes?”

  “The ratio of the three main types is almost equal, a total of about ninety percent.”

  “Ninety-three, according to the calculations of our university's research last year. Good. What is the veil?”

  “A force field that covers a person's body when the Shadows attack him!” Rosie jumped up in joy.

  The Professor measured her with a dumbfounded look.

  “What?.. No. Poor, Rubin.”

  She sat back down, disappointed.

  “Citrin?”

  “Umm...”

  “Very poor. Onyxson?”

  Tally remained silent, looking puzzled.

  “Not much better.”

  “That is unknown.”

  “So what is known then?”

  “The veil manifests itself as the human body's ability to neutralize physical damage. Roughly speaking, the activity of the Veil allows one to avoid mortal wounds.”

  “And this is a property of resonance?”

  “No. The veil can manifest itself regardless of resonance. The connection with shadows has also not been confirmed due to cases of veil activity among people who have never met a shadow.”

  “Very sad,” Bellethor drawled. “So what is the connection between resonance and the veil?”

  “There is no scientific confirmation of such a connection. This is a common myth, because those who fight the shadows almost always have both.”

  The Professor put his palms together.

  “And what should I do if I really want to get a resonance?”

  The class stirred, raising a couple of hands. The Professor started on the right.

  “Strength and endurance training, that's the main thing... and, um...”

  “Not bad, Citrin. But what else? Onyxson?”

  “According to statistics, resonance requires focused concentration to manifest.”

  “Good. Yes?”

  “Douse yourself with ice water!” Fjora blurted out.

  The Professor frowned, making a long pause.

  “I don't even want to know. Citrin already informed us about physical training. What else?”

  “No one knows how a person gets resonance,” Pavrelis said.

  “True. And yet, you didn't say what to do.”

  Guy spread his hands in an aloof manner.

  “Get a servant to fetch a mug of resonance, perhaps?” Professor quizzed.

  Some laughter emerged in the class, the guy grimaced dismissively.

  “So, training and concentrating hard. And that's all at all?”

  He looked around at the students. They stay silent in puzzlement.

  “Okay then. What about the veil? How can I become immortal?”

  A few people huffed doubtfully.

  “The veil will not make anyone immortal,” said Rosa, forgetting to raise her hand. “It just...”

  “Yes?”

  “It just helps not to die,” the girl finished in a strangled voice.

  “True. And what to do if someone does not have the veil?”

  “Don't let them wandered off to the forest,” Rosa muttered gloomily.

  There was laughter. The Professor silenced them with an authoritative gesture.

  “Well, that's an option. I heard that the veil protects from the shadows first and foremost. Will the Higher Power save me!..” Professor exaltedly raised his hands and face to the ceiling: “The Light All-Kindly! The Spirits of the Earth and the Heaven!.. From the shadowbeast, when it slicing me opens like a fish?”

  “At the moment, this is the subject of debate. But it is generally believed that the veil protects from attack of the shadows first and foremost. A popular theory is that it has to do with the strange nature of the shadows tissues.”

  “Very good.”

  The Professor rubbed his hands. Then he extended an open palm toward Arthena Illios, who sat at the back of the room, as if to shake her hand.

  “Glad to see that on this course there will be a whole one student.”

  Some chuckled, looking backwards at Arthena, who was the one giving the right answers. She answered Bellethor with an antagonistic look.

  “Now, now, no need to sulk, demma. There's more to come. Diamas, stand up.”

  Lilum quickly wiped the angry expression off her face and stood up looking casual.

  “How many answers you were planning to give?”

  Lilum raised her hand every time Bellethor asked a question, but in vain.

  “All of them!” Lilum answered with irritation.

  “And how many of them would have been correct?” Professor inquired.

  The girl didn’t manage to suppress an angry glare, but she pulled herself together.

  “All of them.”

  He raised his eyebrows expressively, piercing her with a knowing look.

  “Almost,” Diamas grumbled.

  Rosa glanced sideways at her neighbor with a sly smile.

  “I should hope so. However, I wouldn't change your seat anyway. You're sitting in front of me until the end of the course. Both of you.”

  Lilum let out a grumble no worse than hungry Gibiska and sat down without asking.

  “Rubin. Up.”

  Rosa stood up, puzzled.

  “What is your resonance type?”

  “Ummm...”

  Lilum allowed herself only a short sideways glance, but Rosie was positively splashed with a wave of self-satisfaction.

  “What? I simply don't know!” she said indignantly.

  “Of course you don't know,” Professor said. “And you don't know because?..”

  “Because...” The student suddenly realized. “Because my resonance hasn't been formally described yet! We'll do it next... week, I think?”

  “Correct. And in correct. The formal describing is done after your training, that's in correct. But you haven't been tested yet – that's correct.”

  Bellethor walked along the podium.

  “Who noticed the mistake in my question?”

  The class didn't even try to take an action at this point. Arthena gloomily followed the speaker with her eyes, making it clear that she intended to carry the class all by herself no longer.

  “Ah, I see that someone knows,” he noted. “Oh well.”

  After the questioning, Professor limited himself to a standard academic lecture, only occasionally straying into caustic comments and off-topic discussions. Until the end of the two hours of the lecture, the students took notes and made reading lists.

  “...and don't forget about the preliminary exam. I'll conduct it myself, but don't relax yet – at the end of the course you’re examined under demma Fidelis, so...” Bellethor spread his hands helplessly.

  On that point the lecture ended. The students began to buzz with conversations in low voices as they left the auditorium.

  Taking advantage of the fact that Rosa had scattered her things all over the table – and then turned her bag out on the table and began to rummage through something – Lilum quickly slipped away without fear of finding a weight on her leg.

  Finally, for the first time in several days, she had the opportunity to talk to Arthena Illios without interruption, and Lilum did not plan to let this opportunity slip away.

  “Oh, Arthena...” She casually stepped next to the copper-haired girl. “Sorry, do you mind if I call you that?”

  “Not at all,” she smiled politely. “After all, it is I who asked you to.”

  “Oh, yes...” Lilum suppressed the feeling that she was acting like a total fool. “That’s true.”

  They left the auditorium.

  “So, what do you... think?”

  Arthena raised her eyebrows.

  “About my offer, I mean,” Lilum clarified herself. “I’m really...”

  She felt that she did not have sufficient grounds to continue such a conversation. But then she figured it out.

  “Especially after today. You are clearly better qualified than... most of the class.”

  She produced a casual smile. Arthena responded no worse.

  “I am flattered that you think I can help you in the academic field, Di... Lilum.”

  Lily suppressed a sour face, barely maintaining an attentive expression. This "slip of the tongue" said more to her than any words of any of evasive phrases. And from what Lilum knew of high society girls, Illios hardly did it unintentionally...

  “But I don't think I'm that good. I mean, I don't think you in any need of anyone's help. Today was just an unfortunate day. However...”

  Arthena paused. Lilum stood next to her, hopeful.

  “I suppose you could even help others with their studies.”

  The hope died out like a spark in the night. Of course, Illios wouldn't fall for such a trick.

  “I understand,” Lilum drawled, trying not to slip into a dry tone. “I apologize if I...”

  “I'm being serious.”

  Unexpectedly, the businesslike tone distracted her from her thoughts. Arthena turned around, Lily followed her gaze. And gasped in anger.

  Rosa nervously pressed herself against the wall – in full open view. Then she raised her bag to her face, leaving only suspicious eyes.

  “You again?!”

  Letting out an angry growl, Lilum stepped towards the annoying brat. Then she turned abruptly away, splashing her white tail at Arthena and promptly walked off.

  “I'm starting to think that you really are harassing her,” Illios noted.

  Rosa, without putting away her bag, came closer.

  “I'm keeping an eye on her,” she said sternly. Then she lowered the bag: “She's not bothering you, is she? Nothing like that?”

  Arthena made a good-natured laugh. Then, slightly biting her lip, she ran her hand over Rosa's head, combing her disheveled locks.

  “Hey, you're gonna ruin everything!”

  Rosa quickly brushed other girl’s hand away.

  “I was just combed it!”

  “I noticed that you only do it with your hand, and I decided to help.”

  “I forgot to buy a comb. And Gebbi won't give me hers, the stingy git...”

  Arthena walked on, suggesting with a nod to follow.

  "You know, she's not the only one who's tried to... bother me," she said slowly.

  Rosa started, but the girl waved her hand.

  "No, no, that's not what I meant." Illios measured Rosa with her eyes. "You know, I really... I mean, you really don't understand why she... tries to get close to me?"

  Rosa shrugged.

  "If she were a guy, I'd assume that... well, you know."

  Arthena pursed her lips curtly and made a dry chuckled.

  "Yeah, that would be true. At least sometimes..."

  "But..."

  Rosa paused thoughtfully. Then she shrugged.

  "Nope, no idea."

  Arthena smiled softly.

  “You are so innocent, Rosie. What I don't understand is why she is trying to get close to me. She is Lilum Diamas. Her family is rich and influential. There is nothing I can give her.

  “You mean she really just wants to study together?” Rosie said skeptically. “And what do you mean, ‘rich and influential’? What does this have to do with you?”

  Arthena Illios stood still. Then she grabbed the young huntress by the cheek, causing an indignant cry.

  “Oh, you are so sweet, Rosie.”

  “Ghak! Get off, I'm not a child!..”

  The chance to talk with Arthena one-on-one found Lilum completely unexpectedly. She simply bumped into her in the hallway on her way back from classes one fine day. The second period of lectures had ended and there was a lunch break waiting ahead.

  “Oh, Arthena...”

  She turned around, looking up from her bag. There was no visible tension on her face, only detached interest.

  “Lilum. I assume you're also returning from history?”

  Garthian unconsciously put a hand to her chest.

  “Yes, I'm... taking the basic course.”

  She tried not to sound too disappointed. Illios, however, caught it.

  “I was recommended to take the advanced course in the first year,” she answered reservedly. “But I would prefer to move gradually, at the level of... the rest of the course.”

  Lily knew for sure that the red pest was stuck somewhere on the upper floors, busy with... Light only knows what. Without worry of her interference, Lilum's heart filled with a heroic impulse to take action.

  “Arthena, I... I would like to study with you.”

  She raised an eyebrow questioningly. Lilum considered how hard she could push.

  “It’s stupid to hide the fact that you’re better prepared than anyone else… in the entire university.” Lily caught herself. “Except for the professors, of course.”

  “I was afraid you’d miss that,” other answered politely.

  “That’s why I’d be… very grateful if you’d let me…”

  “Lilum…”

  She warily fell silent. Arthena motioned to follow her and stepped aside, suggesting that they would stand further away from the students walking past.

  “You know… I may not be Rosa,” she began, making Lily wince, “but I too don’t quite understand what you want from me. You don’t really think that my company will help you with…”

  Arthena faltered and just shrugged.

  “With anything. Popularity, good grades, social status…”

  “That’s not the point at all!”

  Lily quickly tried to calm down, convincing herself that she was not an open book. But her cheeks still burned traitorously. The girl turned desperately pink, causing Arthena to green knowingly.

  “Okay, fine,” Lilum said as evenly as possible. “I'll tell you straight. I want... for you to pull me up to your level. You're one of the best hunters...”

  “But I'm not a hunter,” Illios interrupted her. “As you often reminded certain red-haired nuisance.”

  Lilum lost her train of thought.

  “What... What does this have to do with the matter? Arthena, she's just...”

  “I know exactly how she can be,” she assured.

  “Then you must admit that I'm right!”

  “Maybe so. In my experience, the easiest way is to just shove something sweet in her mouth.”

  Lily stared at the girl, dumbfounded.

  “Then you can do whatever you want with her,” Arthena added. “She can even help you.”

  Lilum involuntarily fell back a bit.

  “Is this a clue that it's time for me to leave?” Diamas spoke evenly.

  Arthena smiled reservedly.

  “No, I mean that if you really need to practice, you can just ask Rosa. She's quite good.”

  Lilum automatically pressed her lips together, trying not to look offended. Then she crossed her arms over her chest. But before her polite farewell could come out, Arthena raised her hand.

  “I'm not lying. I trained with her a couple of times. Rosa is very talented.”

  “No way,” Lilum blurted out. She caught herself. “I mean, your level...”

  “I'm just a student, Lilum,” girl interrupted. “And your level is not much lower than mine. Isn't that right?”

  “Thank you, but I...”

  “And is it lower at all?” Arthena interrupted again.

  Lilum became wary. Illios watched her very carefully.

  “We both went through a lot of training,” she noted. “And while I understand why this happened to me, I...” She paused. “Like I said, I don't quite understand what do you want from me, Lilum.”

  There was an awkward silence. Then Lily looked up.

  “If you admitting that we are among the best of this year, then why don't we stick together? It can only be for the best, can't it?”

  Arthena tilted her head thoughtfully.

  “For the best... I expected you to say something like ‘beneficial to both of us’."

  Lilum felt her cheeks heat up again.

  “If my request irritates you, then...”

  “I think I've proven well that I can control myself,” Arthena interrupted bit sharply. “Since I’m getting along with Rosa.”

  Diamas snorted in irritation.

  “Why can't I get rid of this girl?..”

  “My guess is that you're carrying her with you.”

  Lilum stared at the other. She, quite unsubtle, smiled. Lily quickly glanced around. The alarm was false, but her expression was so genuinely panicked that Arthena openly laughed.

  “I mean, you really should just ignore her. Or amuse her. She left me alone when I showed her my focus.”

  “You can't encourage ridiculous behavior like that,” Lilum was indignant. “Such children will never learn order!”

  “But I'm not her mother,” Arthena remarked calmly. “I can do whatever I want. And I won't even lose face, you know.”

  Lilum froze, because she was caught off guard. Arthena measured her with a knowing look.

  “We are both strangers here, you know. You’re from Azgart, I’m from Ellisia.”

  Lilum instinctively moved back, barely catching herself in an involuntary defensive pose.

  “I'm not sure what you mean, Arthena.”

  “I think...”

  “...come on. Why else would you grow it like that?”

  Around the corner, they were met by an unpleasant scene. A group of three young men were surrounding someone in a tight circle.

  “Please, I need...”

  A thin female voice came from behind them. It seemed vaguely familiar to both girls, but...

  “Hey, who were saying it couldn't be? Of course it's fur!”

  There was a satisfied laugh. The pitiful voice was drowned out by the macho exchange of opinions. In the gap one could see whom the guys were surrounding. It was a girl of their year. A short animata with thin tasseled ears and a huge fluffy tail.

  Her tail was now being roughly squeezed in the hand of Preston Pavrelis. He was accompanied, as always, by a couple of backup flunkies: a personal friend, the broad and round-faced Balenciara, and a new acquaintance, the skinny and pale Augustis.

  “Please, I need...”

  The thin voice trembled with poorly concealed panic. No one was listening to her, of course, but each attempt to distance herself only further provoked the cheerful young people.

  “Mmm... The quality is not all that. But maybe it's worth to get me a pet, huh?”

  He pulled the tail towards himself.

  “Aren't you afraid of catching some disease or something?” Balenciara noted in a tone that excluded any chances that he did not consider this to be comedy gold. “Aren’t animals supposed to be, like, vaccinated and all that?”

  “Maybe it would be enough to just shave it all off?”

  Flanking Augustis, roughly swiped his hand over the girl's ears, causing her to cower in fear. Everyone laughed. Arthena looked away in disgust and glanced around. Several people, as soon as seeing the scene, hurried to skip past.

  “They are nothing but trouble,” Lilum drawled with disgust.

  Arthena turned to her with interest. But Lily continued:

  “If animals were simply not allowed to go wherever they wanted, this wouldn’t be happening...”

  Noticing Arthena's gaze, Lilum suddenly caught herself.

  “Let's just keep moving,” she suggested evenly. “I thought that we could have lunch together...”

  “I don't think so.”

  The cool tone cut much harder than Lilum expected. Arthena's face seemed calm, but she felt that up until this moment there was a genuine politeness to her, without pretense. But now something had happened – and now Lilum Diamas was not welcome here.

  “Perhaps you should go,” said Arthena. “I would like to see how it all plays out. And perhaps...”

  She glanced briefly at the laughing group of rich heirs. Lilum understood everything instantly.

  “No-no, what are you saying?..” She faltered. “It's just some animata, this three... You know it yourself, Arthena, this could even turn into a scandal...”

  “As I said, you should...”

  A polite telling to go climb a pole interrupted the general confusion. The girls didn’t notice how, but judging by the indignant screeching, someone had unexpectedly bumped into fun having group... with his tail.

  “Light damn it, two in one day already!” Pavrelis was amazed.

  “Two in an hour, a new record even among the shaggy oafs,” Balenciara was declaring.

  Pavrelis stood opposite a tall guy in a simple shirt, awkwardly pulled together by a tie. His pants seemed shabby. The stranger was dark and tall, noticeably taller than the cocky elysian. He seemed taller still thanks to the high, pointed and fluffy ears crowning his sandy hair.

  “Oh, I beg your pardon, demi.” A deep voice oozed with politeness. “I so didn't even notice you. You are quite unnoticeable.”

  “I can't believe it, not only did they let animals in here, but now there's also the surani rabble,” Augustis got loudly indignant.

  The guy really did speak with a noticeable accent characteristic of the Shard’s south.

  “Oi, you!” Augustis snapped his fingers few times. “You be understand? To go be get lost from us, yes?”

  The stranger animata measured the guy with his eyes. Then he looked at Pavrelis, unmistakably identifying their leader.

  “Me be understand, dem, me be understand, yes. I'm not sure what exactly to understand, I mean, I thought the mentally retarded were supposed to be in special rooms away from normal people, but apparently Elysium really does have very loose customs.”

  The confusion lasted only a second. Then both of Pavrelis's houseboys grabbed the animata by the chest with simultaneous threats, forcing him to back away.

  “Whoa, demi, not on the first date...”

  He did something with his hands – with short cries of pain, both quickly pulled back.

  “Do you even know what will happen with you for this, animal?” Pavrelis drawled dismissively.

  “I have no idea,” guy answered readily. “I’m just got out of prison you see, everything in the City of Lights is so new and amazing.”

  To the side, the Animata girl hurriedly rushed away – and immediately bumped blindly into someone. Before she could run away another stranger, shorter than the first, with ashen hair and in a simple suit, carefully took her by the arm.

  “I suggest teaching the beast a lesson,” said Augustis, rubbing his wrist.

  “It is beneath me to get dirty with all sorts of scum...” Pavrelis drawled. “But if you like...”

  They huddled closer threateningly. Animata spread his arms.

  “Is this the place where I am supposed to beg for mercy? Or will you grow a couple of balls and get started already?” He contemptuously twitched his lip dismissively in a distinctly disgusted expression: “What a city this is, cowards and scum...”

  A sword flashed in Pavrelis's hands.

  Spontaneously the corridor seemed to explode with noise and movement – screams, stomping and the clanging of metal mixed together. Arthena snatched something from her belt, the stranger with gray hair rushed forward, the animata jumped back, with a distinctive evasive movement, steel flashed in front of him. A cloud of reddish strokes weaved between the group and the animata.

  Rosa stood between them, clutching a scythe in her hands. The sword’s blade clanged, knocked off by the steel handle. The tall animata made a short snort, lowering the wide curved blade.

  "Are you crazy?!" Rosa barked.

  Arthena was a bit slow to rush forward:

  "To call a weapon against a person?!" she supported.

  Pavrelis turned around and measured her with an assessing look.

  "And so what? A simple...”

  "I heard that one gets in big trouble for this.”

  The good-natured voice sounded suspiciously affecting, expressive. Swinging a spear with a frighteningly serrated blade on his shoulder, the gray-haired guy came closer. He walked as if on a stroll and took a place opposite a group of Elysian rich kids. The girl-animata, whom he calmed down, had already managed to slip away unnoticed, and now the guys were standing side by side.

  “A-prrf, I would have managed them,” the animata flicked his hand, his tail drawing something like a number eight in the air.

  “That's why I'm here,” he noted in response. “To the prison again?”

  “Oh come on, judging by my experience, this is normal for Elysium...”

  “...and that's exactly why every year I am!..”

  The shout made everyone turn to look at the group off to the side. But it wasn't just one of the onlookers shouting. A short, elderly man in a neat, old-fashioned suit, was approaching the brewing fight, a professor from the College of Natur-physics.

  “Every year I am recommending that you’re damned foci be taken away from you all! This is a civilized society! A temple of science! You act as if this were some kind of den for outlaws!

  Under his stern gaze, the weapons reshaped themselves into foci.

  “Demus, I assure you...” Pavrelis began.

  “Oh, I've seen enough of what's happened here, young man. Your names demi, and quick now!”

  The trio puffed out their chests imperturbably like roosters on a walk.

  “Preston Pavrelis.” He said this as if he were presenting his royal title to the shepherds.

  “Algernon Augustus.” The skinny blondie's tone was slightly lower in rank.

  “Benedes Balenciara.” It was hard to figure who the third considered himself to be, but he had arrogance a plenty.

  The animata’s ears stood up straight, his face was dumbfounded.

  “You're kidding me...”

  The gilded boys made malicious faces.

  “There’s no way that these are their real names!”

  The arrogance quickly fell off, replaced by anger.

  “You cur, do you even know...”

  “Quiet, Pavrelis!” the old professor shouted sharply. “You've shown plenty of family heritage today!”

  The guy automatically opened his mouth, but, meeting the old man's stern gaze, abruptly slammed it shut.

  “This... outsider attacked me!” he declared with indignation nevertheless.

  “I assure you that Professor Fidelis will find out in detail what and how happened here! Well! You?

  “What?” Rosa was taken aback.

  Catching herself, she quickly hide the focus behind her back.

  “You know, demma! The scandal on the first day was not enough? Made yet another scene...

  “On the first day?” animata said. “Nice...”

  “He-he...” Rosa smiled smugly.

  “Your name, demma!”

  “Rosa Rubin!”

  The Professor turned to the guys:

  “You two?”

  “Haanash Hurgan,” animata said. “We were trying to find Director King.”

  “Frank Marcell,” the gray-haired one said. “I'm with him.”

  “I assure you, visiting demma Fidelis would be most sufficient for you,” the old man said fiercely. “Why bother the Director...”

  “No, seriously,” Hurgan interrupted him. “We came in an exchange program, first day and all that, and...”

  “I hope you don't think, demi,” the old man boiled over, “that this freeing you from!..”

  “Demus, demus, please,” Marcell softly cut in, raising his hands. “We don't think anything, we were just heading to see the Director, and since...” He made an undefined gesture and finished: “Then perhaps you would do us a great favor, if it's not too much trouble...”

  “Rest assured...” the professor muttered. “Follow me, all of you, quick now!”

  And with gaits that presume no disobedience, he strode toward the hall. The trio of special treatment hesitated, and reluctantly dragged themselves after him. Rosa joined a couple of students from the "exchange program", they immediately began whispering, exchanging opinions in half-voice.

  “Um... Arthena?”

  The incident was now completely over and done with. The girl came to her senses and, under Lilum's questioning gaze, put the focus behind her belt, after which they slowly moved away. Lily walked next to Illios, feeling a strange tension. She didn’t dare to break the silence, deciding to simply...

  “I'll be honest, Diamas...”

  A quiet voice made her turn warily. Arthena looked straight ahead, her face was impeccably calm.

  “I'm quite disappointed.”