“This has all your permissions,” the pixie woman said. Myel had informed me the folk with vibrant skin-tones were pixies, as colorful as flowers. “Gets you into the dorm and your room. It also has your meal plan on there and your account information for purchasing supplies.”
This was a shock.
“I have an account?” Given how Pointy-ears from earlier — Myel informed me he’d been an elf — had treated me, Ifigured I wouldn’t get much in the way of financial assistance.
I looked at Myel. He too seemed surprised.
The woman checked her computer, which — like Myel’s phone — was two thin pieces of “magical glass” the top a one-way screen, the bottom a keyboard, even though I couldn’t see the keys.
Fancy.
“Yes, you… oh… wow. An account was set up for you just a few minutes ago. You have the best possible meal plan, and all your books and supplies are paid for.Andyou have a spending stipend of one gold a week.” She seemed impressed.
Myel whistled.
I assumed this was good, but…
“Gold?”
Myel gave a soft laugh. “No paper currency here.”
“How much is ‘a gold’ worth?”
“A lot.”
“And that’s just, like, spending money?” I asked the woman.
“Yes.”
Good, because I needed some clothes. Hopefully there was a place on campus I could buy a few necessities. I asked the woman, and she said there’d be a small shop with school branded clothes in the north building of the lesser residence. If I wanted anything else, I’d have to go off campus.
Good enough, for now.
But that only got me thinking of what I’d left behind.
“Ah… I don’t suppose anyone can contact my landlord and boss for me, back in my world?” I asked.
The nice pixie smiled. “Crossing between worlds isn’teasy, but we’ll have someone convey the message that you’ll not be returning as soon as we can.”
That would have to do.
Not great, but nothing about my situation was.
Although, if I really looked for a bright side, I was about to get a higher education. It was in magic, not anything useful on earth, but still. Maybe, if I applied myself and did well, I could have a future inthisworld.
A smile crept onto my lips.
Growing up in the foster system, I’d developed a strong urge to fight injustice. It went hand-in-hand with my resistance to authority. At one point I’d fantasized about becoming a social justice lawyer, but that had never happened. I had limited options back inthe human realm. College had been financially out of my reach. Yethere, I had an opportunity to learn and grow and maybe, eventually, make a difference.
I tried to keep that in mind as Myel and I left the offices and headed for the lesser residence. I didn’t have a lot going for me in this world, so I’d just have to make my own breaks.
It wouldn’t be easy, but I loved a challenge.
Okay, no, I hated challenges, but if I was going to stay here, I’d have to learn to love them.
Sure… I could do that.
IZZY
