I couldn't help but frown as I finished slipping out of the dress Twilight Aster had me wear for orientation.

  Although it was sleek and elegant and suited me way more than I thought it would, it certainly wasn't what I was aced to. It did resemble the regalia I'd mao summon in my final showdown during my two-day fight for survival, though.

  Which... made it really spicuous. How was I supposed to get it bay dorm and hide it?

  Secret identities and all that jazz.

  I sighed, gently folding the dress aly pg it on the dressing stall's bench.

  Then, I checked myself once more in the mirror.

  I was still waifish and boyish-thin from my years of growing up ed, but my new powers had filled me out nicely, givihe barest hint of curves and muscle that plemented my rawberry-blonde hair and vibrant red and gold eyes. Sadly, even my partial transformation couldn't help me much with my... modest bust.

  But at fifteen, I still had hope. I didn't know who my father was or how things were like for the women on his side of the family, but my mother had a traditional Italiay... which seemed to have skipped a geion with me.

  My eyes were were long, narrow, ad almond-shaped, unlike her deep-set pierg eyes. And in spite of the transformation, my nose was slightly crooked where it had been broken from jumping off a jungle gym on a dare when I was eight. But my lips were plump and pink, and enhanced by the magic, I looked almost ethereal.

  I shook my head, throwing on my bck t-shirt and hoodie, before pulling up my jeans and slinging my backpack over my shoulder.

  It was nearly six in the evening, and I was starting to feel the exhaustion creeping in from being at school all day. I would have to figure out how to deal with the dress, but for now, I had to get bay room and grab some dinner before bed. I g the device, eyeing it with my brows furrowed.

  It looked like a smart phone and a stereotypical magical girl transformation device straight out of an anime, all in one. I tossed it up curiously and caught it a few times, flipping it around in my hands.

  Shrugging, I closed my eyes and willed myself to de-transform, ready to go bay dorm so I could colpse on my bed and just process the day.

  Suddenly, I felt a faint pulse of energy run through me, and I opened my eyes in surprise as my aura enveloped the devi my hands. A scattered beam of energy shot out from the 'Nexus' device, and a rush of wind ran past me as it whirled around me, ruffling my clothes and hair.

  And then it tethered to the dress, and a sug force pulled it towards the Nexus.

  "What the hell!?" I yelped, instinctively trying to grab onto the precious piece of clothing.

  But it was no use.

  In a heartbeat, the energy sucked it in and disappeared, leavianding alone in the empty room, pletely mystified by what just happened.

  "ging Sequence: pleted. Please hold for further instrus."

  The voice that echoed from the device was distinctly meical and feminine, and my eyes widened in shod awe.

  "Did you just... devour my dress?"

  "That is correct, Harmonia Lux. Its version to energy required a simir output, so its material properties have been verted and stored for future use. To review, please keep your device secure and always within reach. It is a unique and powerful tool for Knights, and is to be treated with the utmost care and precaution."

  "Uhhh," I managed. "Noted. So care to expin what just happeo my dress?"

  "To avoid a lengthy lecture, the following is a brief summary: All clothing and accessories provided to you by Kaleidoscope Academy are ented to allow for additional funality after the fact. Most standard training 'es' were oime use prior to a ret breakthrough in magitech, but the Hammurabi Nexus has made it possible to preserve clothing and objects during transformation. From now on, whenever you transform, the clothing will be safely stored and verted for future use, and will automatically be returo your personal ste unit in your Nexus."

  "Ah," I breathed, my lips curling into a smile. "That's... ve? Thank you, I guess."

  I blinked as I looked down at my Nexus device. It... looked almost identical to my regur phone now, and I was struggling to my head around what had just happened.

  "While I appreciate yratitude, the procedure is simply a pre-installed feature of the device. If you have any issues, however, please do not hesitate to perform an inquiry with this R.A.I.K.O unit for assistance."

  "R...A?" I mused. "As in...?"

  "R.A.I.K.O stands for 'Rapid Advas In Knighthood Optimization,'" the device expined. "If you enter any difficulties or issues, my funalities include troubleshooting, repair, and maintenance — amongst other things."

  "Hmm," I frowned. "I see. And this includes the ability to uh, make dresses disappear, apparently."

  "That's correct! As you may or may not be aware, most clothing and items of this type received from the school are ented with a temporary transformation entment. This entment is only active while the individual is transformed, and will cease uporansf."

  She paused, and I nodded. "Okay, go on."

  "However, due to advas in magitech, a ret breakthrough in material sce, and the application of rapid on-the-fly engineering, it has bee possible to create and eeology that allows for the transmutation of clothing and objects during transformation, aain their funal capabilities and properties uporansformation. This feature is currently under development, but has been enabled in limited numbers. As a Kaleidoscope student, you are one of the select few who have the privilege of testing this teology for use."

  "That sounds... awesome, actually," I whispered. "I holy thought that was just a me reason to get me into a dress. It looks way more valuable than that."

  "It is indeed valuable, and is to be treated with the utmost care and precaution. A fully realized knight will be able to create and ma regalia out of their own magic, but for now, it is a necessary feature to ensure you are able to properly equip yourself for your duties."

  "Right," I murmured. "So, speaking of my duties..."

  I paused, cog my head to the side as I stared at the Nexus device. "How much does this cost in theory and how do I keep it safe? I 't exactly have it on me all the time, I?"

  "Your Nexus device is free of charge and remains your property while in issioual damage is anticipated, and thus there are pns to provide basic maintenand repairs at a nominal cost after its testing phase."

  "Wow," I breathed, shaking my head in disbelief. "My personal phone nearly broke my mom's bank at bae. I guess they have it easy here, huh?"

  "The Guardians and the powers-that-be have spared no expense when it es to providing the Magical Knights with the tools they o perform their duties and remain safe. We reize that this burden and itment does not e without a cost, and thus we are dedicated to providing you with the best equipment and support services possible."

  I shivered, exhaling slowly and f myself to think about something else. W about bills had bee a habit at this point. Before ing to Kaleidoscope Academy, we didn't have much more than food, water, and shelter. The costs of healthcare and living were astronomical, and I had spent tless nights w how my mom would get through it all.

  But now that we were here, and I was learning how to fight, train, and uand my new powers, it felt like my entire world had ged. I wouldn't take it frahat's for sure.

  There was a faint buzz of energy in the air as I gazed at the Nexus device, and a small smile crept on my lips.

  "Thank you, R.A.I.K.O?"

  "o abbreviate me, Harmonia Lux. As a nguage model, I am her se nor able to form feelings or attats. I simply provide information and assist with your needs as needed."

  "Hmm, that sounds a bit harsh, and artificial. Are you sure you're just a puter, uh, Raiko? You sound like you have a personality."

  The device vibrated with energy, and a low hum sounded in the air. "That is merely a side effect of the algorithm that interfaces with your own magic, Harmonia Lux. If there are any s or pints, please feel free to reach out to and for assistahrough the support portal."

  "Oh, yeah," I chuckled. "But as for me, I think I'm good for now. At least I uand what's going on ahe basics for how to use this thing."

  "If you have any questions or issues, please do not hesitate to inquire."

  "Sure," I smiled. "Good to know. So, um, how do I get out of this ging room?"

  As if on cue, a side door I hadn't noticed before slid open at the back with a shimmering portal, and I couldn't help but gawk. "Nevermind."

  I walked through the portal backpa had, only to arrive ba the deserted hallway I'd left earlier.

  "Alright, um. That's pretty cool," I muttered, staring at the wall where the portal had been. It was now just a dull, bnk ste, without a hint of anything weird ical.

  I had no idea how long it would take for me to walk all the way bay dorm, but at least I could go bad take a breather before thinking about dinner. It had been a long, exhausting day, and I was eager to sit bad rex before my csses began.

  I made my way dowairs and out the mairance, smiling softly to myself as I pulled out my Nexus devid skimmed through the information.

  It was a sleek and effit phone, a noticeably faster than my personal phone. What was weird was that all my usual apps had been ported over, but it didn't look any different.

  There was a notification blinking oop, and when I clicked it, my breath hitched in surprise.

  It was a text message from Albert, and I couldn't help but crack a grin.

  Al: Hey Sienna, sorry for w you. Gonna be ba campus tomorrow. Busy night ahead of me - let's catch up for lund talk about what happened. See you soon!

  I chuckled, shaking my head and typing back a reply.

  Sienna: 't you fug pick up your phone a little more? And I'm fine, just anxious and stressed. Meet me for lunear the Rose Garden, okay? And you got a lot of expining to do.

  Al: LOL yeah. Don't hate me, alright? See you in the m.

  I closed the versatioing out a sigh as I stuffed the device ba my pocket.

  As much as I wao find out more about the amazing device I'd been gifted, I khat dinner was calling me. My stomach was growling, and I haden since breakfast.

  If only my mom could see me now.

  It had been just me and her since I was little, and while we had always scraped by, but her love and sacrifices had meant the world to me. She'd gotten a little too deep itle as I went through middle school and high school, but with hindsight, I could sympathize with her struggles.

  She had been hiding. Hiding from her past, hiding from memories.

  It had gotten to the point she stopped feediogether for days at a time at some point, and I knew she assed out up the street at Migan's with booze in hand by the time I came home from school.

  Al's family had been close to us from the day I'd befriended him iary school, and once we'd reached middle school, they started givihe clothes I'd needed, inviting me over for dinner, and eveing me borrow some of their books.

  Their generosity had gotten us through some lean times, and now that I was here at Kaleidoscope Academy, far away from everything that I'd left behind, I felt nothing but regret and shame for the way we'd left things off.

  I'd been glued to the reports sinightingale Eclipse otted fighting the mohat a dozen knights couldn't defeat at Pewterstoy. She'd cut down monsters p out of portals by the hundreds, saving tless lives and inspiring the popuce. Then, from what the magitech specialists could determine, she'd somehow phased herself out of our world to reinford thi the veil out of our reality.

  It was nothing like her story. The most feared name of all from the Nightmare of Nox.

  But that was Nightingale Eclipse. My mom had been my hero, and in a way, she still was. I didn't pretend to uand what she did, but I hoped that she was still okay out there. Wherever she was.

  She'd ily inspired me to bee a knight, to stand up and make a differen the world. All those childhood stories about wizards, heroes, and adventure had spurred something within me, and I khat I couldn't just sit around and twiddle my thumbs while the world went up in fmes.

  At least I had Al with me now, and the Guardians and powers-that-be were giving me a ce to prove myself.

  "Mom, are you going to be alright?" I muttered under my breath as I hurried to my room. "I... I miss you. And I just hope things get better."

  She'd always been difficult to talk to about emotions and feelings, but she'd told me ohat she roud of me and that she loved me. That would have to be enough for me to hold onto until we saw each ain.

  It had to be enough.

  And with that, I made my way down the corridor and to my bedroom, eager for a warm meal and a good rest for the night.