After crossing the imaginary line they had drawn over one of the institute's towers, they spent long minutes arguing over which of the two had won.
Ruby claimed that Crimson Death's snout had been slightly ahead, while Seraphine insisted that Worm's body had crossed the line first.
Neither of them was truly concerned about the victory, but the looks of disbelief on the two spirits' faces were far too entertaining to let pass.
In the end, they settled on a technical tie.
They then decided to enjoy the mild spring sunlight atop the dormitory roof. Having spirits capable of flight came with many benefits. Down below, all the other students looked so small—just like the girls' problems.
"This is nice," Ruby said as she stretched.
"It really is… too bad it won't last," something seemed to be troubling Seraphine.
"The sun?" Ruby sounded far too carefree now that she felt she had formed a real connection with Crimson Death.
"All this freedom. Once the second semester of the fifth year ends and we have to choose a path," Seraphine looked up at the sky, then back at the girl. "What do you think you'll do, Ruby?"
Ruby stared at the imperial city.
"I think my parents want me to become an Imperial Arcane, and that's what I wanted too… but now that I have Crimson Death and finally feel like I can grow our bond, I don't know if I want to spend my whole life in this city. Maybe I should try joining that group of adventurers with flying spirits."
She gestured toward the sky with her hand, mimicking her dragon's flight.
"At least you have a plan. I can't even imagine where Worm and I would fit in. And since he threatened half the nobility, I doubt we'd even get a simple contract."
"And is that really so bad? I doubt you ever truly wanted to be part of the nobility, Sera."
"I don't… but my parents spent so much so that my sister and I could study here…"
Seraphine lay back on the roof, staring at a cloud, just as she always did when she was with Ruby.
"I almost forgot that Lyselle is entering the institute next year."
Ruby lay down as well.
"Don't even remind me. I wish I had a decent contract so she wouldn't have to face the same challenges we did."
"The view up here is nice, but the lawn is much more comfortable."
Ruby tried using the volume of her curls to make her head more comfortable against the roof.
"Lyselle will be fine, Sera. And I doubt anyone will try to mess with her now that you have such a strong spirit."
"Seriously, Ruby, I'll never understand how you can change the subject so fast and then circle right back like it's nothing."
"What? The roof is hard."
They laughed pleasantly.
Seraphine stopped thinking about the future for a while. Suffering in anticipation was pointless.
While the two of them enjoyed their free day, Hal—the supposed scout—was arguing heatedly with the Scarred Man. Spread across the large wooden table were maps and documents detailing the school grounds.
"It's simply impossible, boss," said the man who had pretended to be a scout on the day of the summoning, bracing his hands against the table. He shifted his gaze from one map to another, trying to find a way to bring a large group inside the institute's walls.
"I don't pay you to tell me it's impossible, Hal. Just find a way to get me inside that damn institute so I can take my talking spirit."
"Damn it, boss… I only got in that day because I stole a guild scout's credentials. And besides, security was looser back then. That place is surrounded by barriers and guarded by teachers with powerful spirits—not to mention that crazy headmistress and her thorny dryad."
"Maybe I'm not being clear, Hal. You find a way to put me face to face with that spirit, or I'll find a way to deal with you."
As he said this, the master circles on his arm began to glow intensely.
Behind him, shapes began to take form one after another. Spirits appeared around him. He had many, and their expressions made it painfully clear that these were forced pacts. What confirmed their nature were the thin, white, almost ghostly chains that formed around the spirits' necks.
"All right, boss…"
Hal feared the Scarred Man—but he feared the spirits even more.
"Why not wait until the end of the year? Once autumn starts and the students return home for the holidays, it's the perfect time to attack a non-noble girl and take her spirit. I find it hard to believe that a merchant household would be harder to break into than the institute."
The Scarred Man seemed intrigued by Hal's theory and made his spirits pull back slightly.
"Go on, Hal. Maybe you haven't lost your touch after all."
Hal looked relieved. He had certainly seen those spirits do terrible things at the man's command.
"Not only that, boss. If you're willing to wait a few months to claim your prize, we can get it even more easily. The fifth-year annual tournament is the perfect opportunity. Everyone's eyes will be on the Imperial Arena."
Hal laughed, thinking he had devised a plan too good to be true.
The Scarred Man saw potential in the idea and was willing to wait a few months before putting it into action.
"And besides, boss… who would even notice the disappearance of a commoner girl?"
In the future, Hal would remember that question and regret it bitterly.
Back at the institute, the rest of the free day was just as pleasant for the two girls, who alternated between walking the school grounds and trying to uncover new abilities in their spirits—an idea that came after they wondered what else might be hidden, since Worm had concealed his ability to fly as if it weren't information worth sharing with his own mistress.
However, neither spirit showed any interest in sharing anything at all. Especially Worm, who had returned to his usual behavior whenever he was around Seraphine.
"This sucks. Just when I think he might act like a normal spirit, he goes back to being a pervert who stares at my feet. That's not funny, Ruby. How am I supposed to take this thing home when the year ends?"
Seraphine squeezed her eyes shut, hoping Worm would change his attitude when she opened them again.
It was pointless. Worm was here to stay.
"I remember how your dad was shocked at the idea of you getting a boyfriend this year… and now you have your very own pocket pervert."
Ruby couldn't hold back her laughter.
"But if you ignore that very unhealthy love for your feet and the reptilian eyes, Worm is actually really handsome."
Seraphine agreed with Ruby's assessment, but Worm's face only made the contrast with his personality even sharper.
"You know… I think we should head to the dining hall soon. I'm starting to worry not just about the distant future, but the near one too."
"I don't think you need to worry, Sera. Just make him a bed out of your old socks when the holidays start and Worm will behave perfectly."
Seraphine couldn't believe what Ruby had suggested. What was even more absurd was that Worm seemed to like the idea.
More and more clouds gathered in the sky, turning the mild late afternoon into a rainy night.
The two of them managed to reach the institute's main building before the rain grew heavier. They then headed to the dining hall, which was packed with students of all ages this time. Each table clearly represented a group; even the youngest students seemed divided by status, power, or proximity to the imperial family.
And there stood Seraphine and Ruby, with all eyes in the dining hall on them.
They weren't the only non-nobles present, but they were the only ones who had drawn all the attention over the past few days.
The young nobles clearly hated them—not with the same intensity Seraphine had felt during Worm's registration, but the roots of an irrational resentment were there.
A voice dripping with disdain reached their ears.
"I always told my uncle that if we give this rabble a chance, they'll always start thinking they're more important than they really are."
The two turned to face Elowen Velmora, one of the 8 prodigies and niece of the emperor's second wife, followed closely by her brother Valerian and his two elk-shaped spirits, reduced enough to fit between the dining hall tables.
"You're absolutely right, sister. All it takes is summoning a spirit slightly stronger than a primate, and they already think they can block the path of the nobility."
Worm was ready to deliver yet another speech directed at the nobility, but Seraphine stepped forward first.
"Oh, our apologies," Seraphine said, performing an exaggerated bow meant purely to mock. "We had no intention of blocking the path of such important people… and their spiritual cows."
Ruby burst out laughing and nearly dropped Crimson Death, who was sleeping peacefully on her shoulders.
A small ripple of laughter rose from the section where the non-nobles gathered, but it was quickly silenced when Elowen shot a furious glare in their direction.
Valerian, however, couldn't contain his rage. He quickly formed an attack circle in his hand, trying to strike Seraphine with a surprise close-range spell.
It was useless.
Worm stepped in front of his mistress before the magic could even finish condensing in Valerian's hand. Then, even faster, he formed a barrier around it. Valerian couldn't cancel his own spell in time, resulting in a small explosion contained within the barrier.
Valerian collapsed onto the floor in the middle of the corridor, screaming in pain.
Elowen stood frozen in shock. Her brother's hand was raw and burned. She spun toward Worm, intending to attack him—but fell hard onto the floor instead.
Crimson Death had leapt down from Ruby's shoulders and wrapped his long tail around the girl's feet, easily bringing her down.
The two elk spirits looked ready to charge at Worm and Crimson Death, but stopped when the dining hall doors opened, revealing the headmistress's irritated expression.
Seraphine and Ruby were stunned.
Their spirits had carried out a coordinated attack on the two siblings without a single command from them.
And perhaps…
They had gone too far.