In and out. In and-

My mana reverberated an internal vibration that disrupted my breathing pattern. I stumbled, trying to regain my physical and mental footing, but knew it was a lost cause. In just seconds, the gathering energy disappeared, and I sighed, adjusting my stance.

If someone told me months ago that mages spent hours upon hours learning to breathe correctly, I might laugh. That must be a joke, right? What sort of magic relied upon such a mundane act?

Any laughter now would be tinged with frustration.

Origin Breathing had hit a bottleneck where it mostly stopped improving, save for the tiniest of changes. Without any other development methods, I had decided to try the first idea I had to modify the technique; Specifically, performing it while in motion.

In theory, if I got this down, I could train several times as much as every other apprentice. Even if my speed was half theirs, I would still outpace them if I gathered nine hours to their three.

In practice, it was a nightmare to master. After over an hour, I could finally manage a few dozen steps before upsetting the delicate balance in my core. And that was only while I was alone in my room. Something told me I had a long way to go.

Master Barlow's pill had settled into my core, and it was clear after the fact that my mana was far more unstable than I realized. After the effects took root, I felt a noticeable relaxation in my vessels. It was nearly impossible to accurately describe without feeling it firsthand but might best be understood as the sensation of a roiling stomach, but deeper in my body.

Thanks to a few hours of reading, and some speaking with Master Clemons, I confirmed my little trick of combining potions carried the same risk in the future. He implied there were tricks to do it without upsetting the balance of my mana, but nothing immediately applicable. Thankfully, Origin Breathing was so damned slow that it carried little chance of causing these fluctuations on its own. Small miracles, I suppose.

I glanced at the window, debating if I could practice more before shaking my head. It was almost noon, and if I delayed longer, I might be late for my meeting with the Esttons.

The moment I exited the main entrance hall, I cast Traveler's Cloak, feeling the biting air lessen as mana wrapped around me. Thank the Founders for discovering magic and sparing me from this small misery. The winds had gone from cold only at night and early mornings to a constant, uncomfortable chill. If forced to choose, winters were better than summers, but only barely.

The Esttons waited by the towering fountain, both wrapped in thick cloaks and wearing gloves. Leon was on his feet, pacing back and forth with restless energy while Sophia sat at the edge of the stone structure. I could detect a prickling sensation as lightning mana slowly streamed into her body and hid a smile. Her eagerness to improve matched my own, I suspected.

"Afternoon, my lords," I said when I came within earshot. Leon shot me a brief glare, and I corrected myself, "Sorry. Leon, and my lady."

"Better." he remarked with a laugh and shake of his head, "Are you ready to go?"

"Of course,"

"Great," Leon replied, glancing at his sister, who rose and greeted me with a nod. We had not had our rematch yet, which was fine by me. I was in no rush to lose or, gods forbid, beat her in a duel. There seemed nothing to gain from either, and that made fighting pointless. I was not one for wasting time or energy.

Together, the three of us made our way to Volaris proper, talking as we went.

"So, Vayne, I heard an interesting rumor in my dueling class," Leon started, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye. I knew Barlow taught two classes so that anyone who had a scheduling conflict with one timeslot did not miss out on the opportunity.

"Oh? What is that?" I responded, deciding to let him speak.

"Well, the story is that a commoner took second place, beating Theo along the way. Any ideas who that might be?" he replied, turning towards me with a raised eyebrow. I could swear the edge of his mouth twitched upward as he spoke.

I hesitated for only a moment before sighing, "I should apologize, sir. I know it is improper, but-"

"I told him to do it," Sophia cut it, and we both stopped, facing the young woman, "I ordered Vayne not to hold back."

Leon stared at his sister for a few seconds before he shrugged and said, "Good enough for me. Nice job, Vayne. Between the two of us, Theo could stand to lose a duel or two." and slapped me on the shoulder.

"I-what?" I stammered, blinking at his reaction. The twins had begun walking again, and I hurried to catch up as Leon half-turned to me again.

"My father is a traditionalist, and Girem follows his lead on that. He feels advisors must advise and nothing else. They would say that you should focus on scholarly pursuits and leave combat to us."

"And you disagree?"

"Respectfully," he said with a chuckle, "You are my friend and advisor-in-training, but not my slave. If you want to pursue whatever subjects interest you, feel free."

His opinion was not unheard of but went against most social norms in Ferris. There was an unspoken contract in place, where I would focus on the skills Lord Estton wanted, and in exchange, I would gain social and monetary status. And in most cases, noble lords did not want their servants stronger than them. How could they maintain their positions if they lacked the power to keep them?

And yet, despite that, the twins seemed glad to encourage my more unusual pursuits. These were the people I had considered betraying and manipulating for my own gain. It had seemed the intelligent thing to do, and a part of me knew that the pragmatic move would still be to exploit them for everything I could gain.

But that thought did little to quell the pit in my stomach or lessen the lump in my throat. I nodded to Leon, smiling and saying, "Thank you, sir."

"Leon," he corrected automatically before gesturing to Sophia, "And you can repay me by giving her a rematch. She's mentioned it to me twice the past week, which for Sophia is practically obsessive."

I was spared from responding as we stopped in front of a shop. Like most Ferren stores, it was annoyingly garish, with a horrific assembly of collared clothing in each window. Even filtered through my spell, I could detect a strange scent in the air. It reminded me of ink, and I realized after a moment that it was likely dyes for the clothing inside.

"I do owe you an apology," Leon said after a moment.

"Why?"

"Because you're going to hate getting fitted for a proper suit," he responded with a grin before opening the door and gesturing for us to enter. Sophia gave me what I would swear was a sympathetic looked before walking inside, and I followed after a moment's hesitation.

The smell of dyes vanished when we got inside, replaced by a barrage of floral scents. The tang of perfume was enough to send me coughing, and I wondered how in the world anyone could withstand it. I could practically taste it in the air.

A tall man dressed in a dark suit approached, a polite smile on his face as he said, "Good afternoon, my lords-Ahh, young master Estton. How may I help you?"

Leon grinned, responding, "Afternoon, Gerald. We're in the market for two suits, and a dress. The Founder's Banquet is coming up. You know how it is,"

"Of course, my lord. Please follow me."

The man led us through dozens of aisles, passing what must be hundreds of clothing samples. I saw all manner of suits, shirts, pants, coats, dresses, boots, and more accessories than seemed possible. For possibly the first time in my life, I thanked the Founders for being born a commoner. Social norms often annoyed me, but at least I could walk around without suffocating under six layers every time I went to dinner.

Leon and Gerald had continued speaking, the former asking his opinion on various pieces of clothing that we passed. Sophia, for her part, looked decidedly bored, briefly hiding a yawn behind one hand.

We stopped near the store's back, and Gerald gestured for Leon to step forward and stand on a small box. The moment he did, I felt a swell of mana from above us as several measuring tapes descended. They moved like serpents, wrapping around his arms, legs, and chest. Both of them seemed unbothered, Leon adjusting his limbs as the tailor walked around, writing on a board he had pulled apparently from thin air.

"How does this feel around the chest, sir? And the arms? Too tight at the shoulders? We can let them out a touch if you would like." he asked, jotting down Leon's answers and smiling the entire time.

I folded my arms and watched, realizing after a minute that the prickling sensation of lightning mana had vanished from beside me. I could only assume Sophia was getting measured by another shopkeeper for her own attire.

At around the ten-minute mark, Leon glanced over at me and said, "You can probably take a look around, Vayne. This will take some time, I think."

I nodded, turning and walking back into the aisles, examining price tags as I moved. One particular ensemble of blue silks and golden embroidery cost more than a commoner might make in a lifetime. What an absolute waste of gold and effort.

One section stood out, however. The clothing looked surprisingly functional, lacking more decorative elements and imbued with simple enchantments to protect against weather, extreme temperatures, and so on. One was even labeled 'armored,' but as I looked closer, it appeared normal.

I leaned closer to the mannequin wearing the so-called armored clothing, noting that they looked a hair thicker than expected. And there was a slight sensation of mana that felt almost muffled, the tell-tale signature of enchantments. When I reached out a hand to brush against the sleeve, I heard a cough from a few feet behind me.

I spun, my heart thudding, and saw a young woman dressed formally standing nearby, a polite smile in place.

"May I help you, sir?"

I hid my embarrassment with a cough, nodding and gesturing towards the clothing set, "What can you tell me about this?"

"Interesting, isn't it?" she said, walking forward and fiddling with the shirt, pulling it off the mannequin, "Each set consists of three weaved layers. The outermost is enchanted for weatherproofing and fray resistance. The innermost is insulated, maintaining a comfortable temperature for the wearer. But the real secret is inside."

She held it out to me, and I took the shirt in hand, turning it over and confirming it was a fraction heavier than a usual shirt. While far from cumbersome, the difference was still notable.

"Sandwiched in the middle is a third layer, made of treated leather and enchanted for additional durability while maintaining flexibility."

"Fascinating. And how effective is it?"

"Weaker than metal armor, but enough to stop a knife or a weak spell. And it's excellent for those preferring more...discrete protection,"

Very intriguing, indeed. But something occurred to me, and I raised an eyebrow, saying, "By telling me all of this, you are giving away the secrets of your business, are you not?"

"Far from it, sir. I told you nothing of the enchantments or the craftsmanship required that you couldn't likely decipher on your own,"

She had a point, and I smiled, handing the shirt out to her and asking, "How much for a full set?"

"In your size..." she glanced me up and down, nodding once, "eight hundred gold. And I must also mention the month and a half wait time for each set."

Well, it was nice to dream. I would need to work for months to afford a single set, and that was not cost-efficient. Thanks to my training, proper meals, and finally hitting a growth spurt, I had started to catch up with the shortest apprentices. There was a good chance that I would outgrow any clothing within six months. Still, I smiled, thanked her for the help, and headed back towards Leon.

He had finished up with the tailor when I found them, discussing prices and a few other odds and ends. When they spotted me, Gerald gestured towards the box, remarking, "Please step up, sir."

The tapes appeared again, encircling my chest as he walked around me, nodding and jotting down measurements. I watched him work for a few minutes before something occurred to me.

"Why not use magic to make the clothing automatically fit? We use those sorts of enchantments on our uniforms, and it would no doubt save gold."

The man did not even slow in his work, replying, "The more enchantments onto an item, the more difficult it becomes to stabilize each. Possible, but difficult and expensive. Besides that, a good tailor can make a much better fit."

We had not covered that in my classes yet, likely out of a lack of need. No first-year could imbue multiple enchantments onto a single item. At least this trip was proving eventful. I was never one to turn down an impromptu lesson or wisdom found in strange places.

An hour later, we left the shop, a newfound phobia of measuring tapes and serpents rooted deep in my mind. Leon had paid for all three of us, handing over platinum coins with a casual disinterest that prickled at me. Each was worth a hundred gold, a fortune in my eyes that he spent on a whim.

But again, I reminded myself that any resentment was unfounded. Leon had been nothing but generous towards me, and that continued even now. He had gladly taken up the cost without batting an eye and done it simply because he saw me as his friend.

Why did Leon care so damn much? It made no sense and clashed with everything Girem taught me. Sure, kindness to ensure loyalty was a prudent move, but he had gone beyond that. It was a waste of time, gold, and energy.

We had barely begun walking again when Leon asked, "Is anyone else starving?"

Sophia shook her head, "No. And I have studying to finish."

"Oh, come on, Soph. I barely see you anymore. Take a break and relax for once,"

"We can't all flash a smile and win over hearts and minds, Leon," she retorted in a tone that screamed to drop it.

Leon took the hint, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye and saying, "Just the two of us then, Vayne. At least this will give us time to talk about something even more important than proper attire."

"...which is?" I asked, dreading his answer.

"Who you're bringing, of course," he answered with a laugh, "It's only proper to bring a date to these sorts of things, after all."

Fantastic.