The Orientation tour was proving to be partially useful. Though Sion could clearly remember the quickest way to go to Garden Study from the main hall, she did not know where The Complete World History Of Thalas was.

Which, disappointingly, happened to be her second class of the day. Or she thought it was. She wasn’t quite sure if The Complete World History Of Thalas was her third or second course. Perhaps it was the fourth. 

Well, no matter. She had her spirit. 

Reaching into her satchel Sion rummaged through the contents before feeling the smooth feeling of the Spirit in resting. She grabbed the flat lavender compact and opened it with a flourish. Her spirit popped into the air, beaming with energy.

“Hello, new owner! What may I assist you with today?” The spirit gave a light twirl and bow as it recited its opening lines.

“Open Alantin Schedule.”

With a trembling body, it said, “I’m sorry but I do not have an Alantin Schedule in my memory.” Its small body was trembling with each word, waiting for some kind of punishment. The act made her recoil in disgust. She had heard of people who used spirits to unleash their anger. Her new spirit must have endured some kind of monster to be so afraid of a mistake that was no one’s but Sion’s.

“No matter, I must have forgotten to tell you.” 

The spirit’s trembling eased and Sion snapped the compact close. She would have to reset the spirit as soon as she was back at her dorm. As well as find a way to ease its nerves. A nervous spirit would be prone to mistakes, and she did not need a spirit who was faulty.

“Vuela!” A panting voice came behind her and Sion twisted her head to see who it came from. Rin was sweating profusely while gulping air. If anyone else saw him like this they would think that he had run from the tip of the Northern Province to the Southern Province. Twice. 

“What are you doing here, I thought you were still in the dorms?”

“I didn’t think you should go to class. The first half of the second period is probably over by now, and you’re sick and you shouldn’t run and-”

Sion raised her hand to stop Rin’s rambling. 

“First of all I’m not sick, I was tired from a long journey and became a little peckish. Second of all, I don’t even know what or where my second period is so I wouldn’t be able to go to it even if I tried. Third, why are you carrying a cup filled with soup?”

Rin blushed and gave Sion the tiny cup.

“I just thought that you should have something to eat if you’re running so much, so I bought you some more soup.” Rin's blush deepened. Midway through his sentence the skin from his face to his neck was beet red, and his ears were on fire.

Sion looked down at the broth. Then she began to laugh. The whole situation was depressingly hilarious. She was lost in a humongous school, her spirit was no help, and her only companion was a soup-giving maniac.

Rin nervously chuckled with Sion’s roaring laughter. He wasn’t sure if she was happy, or she was just psychopathic. He desperately hoped it was the first option.

“I’m done for.”, Sion stated. Her laughter had run out, and the only thing left was despair mixed with reality. 

“Why?” Rin’s chuckling had also eased out, but unlike Sion, it was replaced with concern for the other party. And also a little caution, he still wasn’t so sure that Sion wasn’t feeling psychopathic.

“I’m lost, and my chance for a good first impression is probably ruined. The teachers probably think that I regularly skip class for the fun of it. My spirit’s a nervous mess, I feel dizzy and I’m still lost!” 

Rin tilted his head to his side and then laughed. Not psychopathic laughter. Not laughter tinged with despair. Just normal, light-hearted laughter.

“I’m sorry for laughing but don’t you think you’re being a bit dramatic? I don’t think any of the professors are going to think you’re a crazed delinquent for not going to school for one day. If your spirit isn’t working you can reprogram it as soon as possible. And if you’re dizzy, then drink some water and sit down for a while.”

Sion’s rationality slowly emerged with Rin’s assuring words. She would be fine. Everything would be fine. She sat on a bench and Rin sat with her. As he drank the soup that was meant for her and she gazed at the gorgeous ivory statues everything became a little more peaceful. The tittering birds, the rolled-out clouds, and the fresh air were all so perfect.

That sense of serenity lasted around a minute before a school guard saw them and fiercely scolded them for loitering around. The pair were forced back into their dormitories.