Rachel brought Ezah back to her room. She figured this was the safest place to talk about something as ludicrous as breaking into the Morgana family home. Her quarters were in the southern most dormitory for the apprentices. Each building had rooms for several dozen apprentices and their training gear. Like most buildings on the Academy grounds, these were dived by class, and because of how few Beast Tamers there were, Rachel nearly had a whole floor to herself.

Trying not to draw too much attention, Rachel quickly hustled Ezah through the dorm and into her room. Rachel’s rooms looked like every other apprentice’s dorm. A simple mattress supported by what appeared to be old packing creates occupied one corner, with a small chest for clothes and a plain desk adorned the opposite wall. A few pictures of her family and the Blin region were tacked to the walls. Altogether it was plain, but to Rachel it was home.

“Please tell me I misheard you,” Rachel said once she and Ezah were safely inside her room. “You can’t seriously be planning to rob the Morganas?”

Alexia’s family, the Morganas, were one of the wealthiest and most powerful families on the continent. How else could they afford to fend of years of assassination attempts against their daughter? Her father was the head of the Royal Academy of Magic in Treitz while her mother had more Champions Tournament wins under her belt than anyone else living.

“Well, I won’t be robbing them necessarily,” Ezah said. “More like ‘creative removal of objects from their home without their knowledge.’”

“How is that any different from robing them?”

“Because they invited me.”

“They what?” Rachel said, nearly falling down on her bed.

Ezah leaned against the desk, fidgeting with her dress as she spoke. “It’s for my training. Why I’m wearing this stupid outfit in the first place! Gah! I hate it!” She flopped down onto the bed next to Rachel. “Our assignment is to infiltrate some fancy party or another and steal a specific artifact from the hosts. They’re all alumni and have agreed to this. Where’s the challenge? Where’s the thrill if they know we are coming? I drew the Morganas.”

“They really have you doing that? I’ve heard that some of the clandestine classes had unique tasks, but that’s crazy.”

“You’re telling me. I didn’t sign up to wear a stupid dress at all ball,” Ezah huffed and turned to Rachel. “They want us to attend a ball- as a guest mind you!- and find whatever artifact they tell us to and sneak out with it, All during the party. It’s insanity! When will I ever need to do this? All I need is a dark room and sharp blade.” Again, Ezah pulled out a knife from somewhere. Light, with that dress, Rachel would be surprised if she could hide a pen!

“That’s why I wanted to talk with you about Alexia,” Ezah continued as she stowed her blade. You’re best friends now, right?”

“Well, I uhh…”

“Perfect!” Ezah said, clapping Rachel on the shoulder and nearly knocking her off the bed. “Then you can help me. All I need is a layout of their manor and any details about the security they have in place. Magical and mundane of course.”

“Wait, Ezah, I’m not sure about this.”

“Perfect!” Ezah said, flashing a bright smile as she rose from the bed. “I knew I could count on you. Let me know what you find before the end of the week.”

With that, Ezah left the room, leaving Rachel confused and worried. On one hand, Ezah was a good friend. She’d helped Rachel in countless practices. Al’tun and her had really had fun together playing hide and seek. Rachel couldn’t help but chuckle and the memory of the last time the pair had played that game. Ezah’s face as she rose from the mud pit she had been so sure would finally stump Al’tun was a sight Rachel would never forget.

On the other hand was Alexia. Rachel hadn’t been able to see, let alone speak with the Elementist since they returned from their Trial. New friendships could be rocky enough without their first conversation being Rachel asking to rob Alexia’s parents.

A bell tolled in the distance, cutting off the rest of the Rachel’s thoughts.

“Light, I didn’t know it was so late!” The Beast Tamer said as she quickly grabbed her equipment and rushed out the door. If she didn’t hurry she’d be late for a class she’d dreamed about since starting her training as a Beast Tamer: Wrangling a Wyvern.