Uncertain Magic 2 part 2: Uncertain Feelings

by Nuit du loup

The continuation of the second chapter.

Chuckling at the bit of innuendo, Kat crossed the street, wondering if she actually had time for a little personal attention. She was so wired up for some fun after not being able to masturbate for over a week that she was getting a little wet at just the idea. She reached the big doors of her building and grunted when they didn't even budge at her pull. Then she saw the polished copper plate mounted to the stone next to them. The question was, what did she have that would open the doors?

The first and obvious option was to place her palm on the plate and see if it just opened at her touch, but nope, nothing at all happened. Next, she held up her wrist with the bracelet, since it had done something during her processing earlier. Again the doors were unresponsive. That left only one thing. She pulled her Glass back out of the storage space with a playful flourish, and waved it over the metal plate. It shimmered once in response, and there was a loud clunk of a heavy lock being undone.

"It's always the last thing," Kat joked to herself, yanking on the left door. It was heavy, but swung smoothly open without a creak or much of any other sound. In the subtropical warmth and humidity of Iskar, that took some meticulous caretaking. The foyer she stepped into agreed with that assessment, because it had a gleaming stone floor and a wonderfully pretty rug that she recognized as an expensive import. The foyer led into a kind of high-ceilinged lobby with a pair of wooden staircases going up multiple exposed floors on either side. Tiled hallways led off to either side. It all had that look of an old building that has been lovingly taken care of.

She checked her Glass again, commanding it to show her destination inside the building. The green dot blinked cheerfully within the outline of a room on the second floor, but she also took a look at the general floor plan because it was all new and interesting. All the dorms, which she was amused to see, really were a bit large as Sarah had predicted, and were laid out along a rectangular hall that surrounded a large, central space. Each floor had such a space.

"Are you lost?" asked a calm, female voice.

She looked up and pair of girls were coming out of the right-side hallway, dressed in long cotton robes the color of a night sea, and with wet hair as if they'd just come from the bath. They were looking at her with kindly expressions of amused curiosity. "No," she answered, showing her Glass. "I'm roomed here. This is my first day."

The girls seemed confused by that. "Already?" asked the one that hadn't spoken before. She was younger than the first one, but they were both visibly older than she was; probably at least seventeen for the older of the two. The older girl was also a Tengu and had a really lovely set of white wings tucked behind her back, and gorgeously dark-red skin. Both walked, even barefooted, with a kind on confident grace, like they could take on an army if one happened to show up.

"It says room 210 on here," she replied, trying not to stare.

"Oh," the older girl looked at the other one with a more relaxed smile. "They must be starting it much sooner this year."

"Starting what?"

Again, looks were shared, but they smiled in a friendly way that didn't really bother her. "You'll see soon enough," said the younger girl, sounding delightedly amused. "You'll love it too!"

She let the two continue on, and made her way up the overly grand stairs to the second level and strode down the halls. It was quiet, but well lit in a way that seemed relaxing, and her footsteps had a crisp kind of echo on the floor. The wheels of the trunk clacked on each tile as if there was a metronome sounding off her pace. It also didn't take her long to notice that the air was remarkably cooler inside the dorm building. A heat exchanger had been a large expense back home, but they apparently had one here just for students.

The atmosphere was one of safety and order, which she supposed was appropriate for a school. So the walk seemed to take no time at all, even though she ended up all the way around to the back of the building. She stood in front of her door, which bore her room number in brushed bronze. Taking a deep, anticipatory breath, she once again waved her Glass in front of a door-plate set into a wall painted in calming earth tones. The lock clicked open to welcome her inside, and she pulled.

Before she'd done more than crack it, she froze. This was because as soon as the door had opened a little, she heard voices coming from within. Listening carefully, she figured there were two people having a conversation inside her dorm room. They must not have heard her open the door because there was no pause or hint that something had interrupted them. She decided immediately to listen first before barging in.

"—I don't see why I have to spend all my time looking after some kid!" said a young, female voice that sounded very irritated.

"Thirteen is hardly the age of a child," said a calm, composed woman. "You know very well, and first-hand, that mages grow and mature at a slightly faster rate than the average, vanilla human. This girl is unusually above her peer group on top of that. Besides, most would consider this position to be an honor."

"You're asking me to give up what little free time I have, to look after some brat," said the first voice, it was a little husky with an interesting accent. "I looked up her name on the class list, Commandant; she's from some snotty merchant Family. I don't care how good she is, she's probably spoiled to her eyeballs."

Indignant at this accusation, because they could be talking about no one but herself, she gripped the door hard, feeling unbidden magic tingling through her body, and flung the door open. "You could at least have the balls to say that to my face!" she accused, her voice hard, cold and unyielding. It was the same voice that always seemed to unnerve her older brother. Because of her anger, she sent a popping arc of power curling over her fingers in an unconscious threat display. She liked how her magic felt at the moment, tingling along her nerves, ready to be used.

The room was actually very large for a dorm, not that she appreciated it at the moment. The door opened into a tiny hallway that had only a single door to the immediate right that led to a tiny bathroom. Then all the rest was an open, square room that was over a dozen strides across with the entry hall in the front left corner. There was an unusually large and comfortable looking bed against the far right corner, right next to the sliding balcony door.

There was something like a study corner in the back left, because it had a pair of stout, wooden desks and a whopping total of four, completely filled bookcases. There was also a set of floor lamps, and chairs. The front right of the room was oddly open except for a wide set of closet doors. The front wall boasted several wall hooks, a pair of tall dressers, and what looked like a pair of armor stands made to resemble a female form.

Sitting regally on the bed, was a woman whose first impression on Kat was of matronly maturity. She was human, and well into her middle years, but somehow of indeterminate age. She had a wide face with the lines of a person that had felt many years of stress and responsibility. Her dark hair was held back in a professional bun, and deep brown eyes settled on Kat with a knowing expression. It was not a surprise to this woman then that Kat had been just outside the door, and she wasn't sure she liked being played with that way. Yet, she let her magic settle back down for now.

However, her eyes were drawn and locked to the other occupant of the room. Even with her mouth open, ready to verbally lash the person that had been insulting her, without ever having met her before, she stopped in stunned silence. It was like someone had accidently knocked loose the power cord to her brain for just a second. This was because she was looking at the single most stunning person she had ever met. Sarah was undeniably beautiful because that is exactly what a succubus was; but she couldn't disconnect her brain from knowing all that allure came by supernatural means. This girl had it all, naturally and dangerously.

Glaring coolly at Kat in surprised offense was a girl at least a couple years older than she, and a member of the Yuki race. Her hair was a shoulder-length icy blue-white, matching the thin eyebrows set over crystalline-blue eyes that gazed at her with a stony anger that matched her own. She had strong cheekbones, but a slightly round face, and pleasantly plump lips. Her skin, pale and smooth, was only accented by the black of the formal Iskaran uniform. Even with the coat of the uniform, Kat's eyes devoured the shape of high, curving breasts. They weren't as crazily huge as Sarah's, but nicely rounded and full, and Kat had a strong urge to just nestle her face against them. The girl was straddling one of the desk chairs, but even sitting Kat could tell that the girl was taller than she was, and athletically muscled.

"This would be that child you were so angry about," the woman said dryly.

Kat's ire was drawn to the woman now as it was rekindled. "I hardly think it's appropriate for someone, whoever you are, to sit and argue in someone else's assigned room," she said tartly.

"That would be true, except that I am the woman that assigned this room to you," the woman chortled, smiling calmly. She looked across the room. "Well, to the two of you actually. But as to whom I am, I am pretty sure you heard my title."

Kat's brain yanked the memory out, as she purposefully tamped her anger down again. "Commandant," she said, wondering what this woman meant by this room being for the two of them. She was certainly not going to live with someone that insulted her like the girl had. "I don't know what that means."

"Ah, well, the Commandant is the rank and title given to the person in charge of an academy or military school," the woman replied, smiling as Kat's stomach roiled this news. "That means that this is my school at present and I am in charge of training all of Iskar's Valkyries. You would call me Commandant Valante."

"Oh," it was not, perhaps, the most intelligent thing she had ever said, but her brain was busy reprocessing the scene. The girl made a soft sound, so she sent her glare back her way. She was a little shocked to see how intensely the girl was looking at her now, but she stood her ground and didn't avert her gaze. This only seemed to amuse the girl, because her lips -and oh Sky-Father were those nice!- twitched just once towards a smile. "Who is she?" she asked with her voice as composed as she was able to make it.

The woman smiled, pulled a Glass from the air and tapped at it, then she held it out and Kat stepped back in reflexive surprise as the image on it leapt out and hung in the air. The size increased as it did so, making it easily legible. She'd had no idea the ability to do that even existed. It was showing the ID for the girl on the chair.

Evangeline Drae. Years Attended: 3. Mage Rank: A-. Notations: Responsible for several unfortunate incidents, including fights, trespassing, possession of an illegal vehicle, breach of flight restrictions, and property damage. Responds poorly to authority and has little patience for foolish instructors.

It also included a very high quality photo of the girl in the top corner, in which she was glaring at the camera with a peevish expression.

"I prefer to be called Eva," the girl said calmly, crossing her arms beneath her breasts. Kat stared at them unwillingly for a moment, and when she looked back up, she was a bit pissed to see that Eva had done that little move on purpose. The girl was aware of Kat's attraction to her, and was teasing her about it. Hopefully, she thought, Eva didn't know that Kat was already feeling aroused just by that little taste. It wasn't helping that Eva's voice was kind of sexy now that she wasn't so pissed off and was paying attention. It had a bit of a burr that sent a chill down her back.

"Yes, well, the two of you are here, because we have decided to make you a Pair," the Commandant said.

"A pair of what?" she asked, confused.

"See!" Eva snorted dismissively. "She has no clue what's going on. Why would you choose her, when she hasn't even been at the Academy for a full day?"

"The decision is not yours," the Commandant replied in a chastising tone, suddenly stern and formidable without even moving from her place on the bed. She turned towards Kat again and folded her hands in her lap.

"Before the Academy existed, mages were trained using a master-apprentice system. This was long before Iskar was even close to organized as it is today. The highly skilled, and at the time, very specialized, mages would teach their skills to the next generation. This only works however on a very small scale. When student numbers began to climb as needs arose and more talented people were found, a different system was needed, and this school was formed. Eventually it turned into the National Academy as it exists today."

"However!" the Commandant gave them both a proud smile as she raised a callused hand for emphasis. "Something of the old system was kept. As Mentors, our best students, the ones with the highest demonstrated skills, leadership, or unusual abilities, would help train and tutor new students that show the same kind of promise. Its blatant elitism, but the Valkyries are not a place where people are coddled so they can feel good. We want the absolute best mages and the most feared warriors in the entire world; so we have the best train the best, to make them all even better."

The Commandant grinned wider. "Miss Eva here was selected weeks ago to be a Mentor, but only told today that she would be one. This means that despite her abundant social problems, she is being given the care of a new enrollee, and tasked with supplementing and enhancing her training in every way she can think of. The two would stick together permanently until the senior of the two reached the graduation point, however long that takes. Then, usually, the trainee has reached the level at which they can continue things themselves with a trainee of their own. Time has proven the system to be effective at producing top-quality mages."

"So, what you are saying is that I am being chosen for this?" she asked, calming down a little more.

"That is exactly it," the Commandant smiled. "Eva here will be your Mentor, and you will be her trainee, with all that entails."

"Which is?"

"That is for Eva to explain, as the first step in her new position," the Commandant replied, standing. "I am only here because I thought Eva had a legitimate complaint about the way things are, but I see no problems here. You are now under her care, so I expect only the best from both of you, Ms. Genaria. Besides, I promise that you'll both enjoy the benefits of the program." She strode calmly as they stared, right out the door, only slowing to maneuver around Kat's trunk and bag that she had abandoned at the doorway.

"This is so fucked up," Eva said quietly in a doomed voice when they were alone, and then sighed. "You may as well grab your stuff and bring it in here."

Kat rankled a bit at the suggestion, since she had already started heading towards the door to do just that. Everything about this girl caused a strong reaction in her, both positive and negative. She even caught herself watching sidelong as Eva unclasped her cloak and casually rolled it into her spatial fold because she thought it looked cool. She said nothing until she had retrieved her things, closed the door, and set everything back down in the middle of the room.

"So, what exactly is this mentor thing, and how does it work?" she asked, sitting down on the bed once again. It was temptingly soft, but odd in one way. "And if we are rooming together, why is there only one bed?"

"That is one important part feature of our... new relationship," Eva said, giving her an odd look. Her demeanor had changed, and it seemed Eva was significantly calmer about whatever this 'Mentor' thing was. Kat smiled and leaned casually back onto her hands, showing exactly how unafraid of this girl she was. It was not in her nature to back down easily from a confrontation or intimidation, but something happened that she certainly didn't expect. It was quick, but she saw Eva's eyes trail up and then back down her body, and then she licked her lips. That was certainly interesting.

"Which is?"

Eva sighed, pulled her Glass out, looked at something, and then she put it back. "It's like this," Eva began, still watching her closely. "When not actually in classes, you and I are going to be spending a very large amount of time together, most of which is going to be a lot of hard work for both of us. Like the Commandant said, I'm supposed to bust your cute ass even more than the instructors already will be. I have to come up with lessons and train you as hard as I possibly can and then submit reports on all of this upwards. This is all on top of my own training. It's fucking exhausting and a giant pain in the ass for all involved."

"Okay," Kat replied calmly, she'd gotten that her workload had been unknowably increased. She was not necessarily adverse to hard work, but there was more to this. "What else? You wouldn't be grinning like a sadistic bitch if that was all of it."

"Oh, there's plenty more," Eva agreed, licking her lips as a pink flush tinged her pale skin, not rising to Kat's baiting tone in the way she had expected. Was she actually getting aroused too? Was Eva toying around with her?

"I called it a relationship, because that is what it is," Eva continued. "In return for my wondrous services, my trainee, meaning you, will perform a multitude of basic tasks to make my life easier. Among other things, a trainee will wash her Mentor's armor and uniforms; keep the room clean at all times, aid with my grooming when needed, run errands, and whatever else that I feel needs doing. We will also eat our meals together whenever possible, and even bathe together. Your life here at this school is now inextricably tied to mine. Basically, I all but own you during your free time."

Kat sat in amazed silence, not knowing exactly how to feel about all of this. "I have to be your servant?" she asked, her shocked displeasure leaking into her voice.

"More like an old-time squire, to be more precise," Eva shrugged, seemingly warming up to the idea quickly now if her smirk was any indication. "Like I said, its payment for all the time I'm going to spend kicking your ass around to make you into a real Valkyrie. This is a two-way exchange, whatever-your-name-is. By the time I graduate and fully join the Valkyries, you and I will know almost everything there is to know about each other."

Kath thought back to a few moments before, to the two girls she'd talked to in the lobby. She had no doubt that they were another such pairing. They had seemed to enjoy each other's company, as if they were sisters...or closer. Was 'that' also being implied? She felt her pussy tingle rebelliously at the thought, and she tried to quash her arousal at the idea. Why should she be so excited by that? "That doesn't explain the single bed."

"Doesn't it?" Eva laughed, and despite herself Kat liked the sound, even though she was the subject of this laughter. Eva shook her head in mock despair. "We are to be together whenever possible, like I said, and that includes when we sleep. That large, comfortable bed is for both of us."

"But, I like to sleep—" she cut off that sentence quick.

"Naked?" Eva said, completing it for her with a victorious grin. "Same here, but if you really dislike the idea of sharing a bed that badly, there is a crappy fold-up cot stowed in the closet. But those things will wreck your back. Just accept that you and I are an 'us' now, and relax. This is our room, and our bed, where we will train and study together, and you are all mine."

Kat really, really wasn't sure she liked the sound of all this. "So what now?" she asked, for lack of anything else. Her brain was too fuzzed with this news to be witty.

"Do?" Eva asked with a bark of laugher and a lift of her left eyebrow. She leaned forward over her long, wonderfully muscled legs. Kat had to stop her eyes from traveling up them to the shadows of the uniform skirt. Why did her Mentor have to be someone that made her wet just sitting there looking sexy in a damn uniform?! She was both aroused and angry at all this. "It would help, if you told me your name."

Flushing unwillingly, Kat nodded curtly. "Katerina Genaria, but I go by Kat."

"Kat, hmm?" Eva's expression turned teasing. "Well, I like the idea of having my own little kitty Kat."

Even though Sarah had made an almost identical comment about her name, hearing it from Eva bothered her. "I don't remember hearing anything about me being your pet," she said coolly.

"Oh, but I really like the sound of it," Eva replied, standing. Kat held herself absolutely still when Eve walked over, calm-as-you-please, and stroked under her chin with a long finger. It tickled, and she involuntarily tensed, trying not to let herself become any more aroused than she already was. She was beginning to dislike how much power this girl had to affect her.

"How much time do you have left?" Eva asked in a sexy, teasing voice, only inches from her face so that their eyes were locked. Eva was breathing deep, as if smelling her. Guiltily, she hoped her slit wasn't yet wet enough to be noticed.

"Shit!" Kat swore loudly, remembering the time limit for all this. How much time had she chewed up? She backed away to the wall and checked her own Glass and realized she had just a bit over half-an-hour left. Breathing, she calmed herself back down. Panic wouldn't help her, and she ignored the odd, impressed smile Eva was giving her at the side of the bed.

Using her Glass, she gave it a query for what was included in the gear trunk of a new student. It dinged and showed her a long list. There was more in the trunk than she had thought, but that was less important right now. The list told her that she had three sets of 'Reactive Modular Combat Suit's and their accompanying gear, one pair of combat rated boots, and her formal uniform; all without rank insignia. "We weren't told which uniform to wear," she commented, raising an eyebrow of her own at Eva who was watching her closely.

"Who is your commanding officer?" Eva asked casually, tossing her hair back to expose her pale neck and narrow ears. Kat had the oddest urge to nibble on them, and use her mouth and tongue to play with that skin until...

She mentally shook herself, dismissing the sudden and powerful sexual urges that kept popping up in her head. "Wallova," she said, proud of her outward calm

Eva smiled and snorted, running a hand through her hair, right where Kat had had been staring. "Definitely the combat armor then, because she's going to have you running everywhere you go from now on. The formal uniform will exhaust and smother you quickly, and she'll make a big thing about being prepared if you struggle or look like a sweaty little beast. Wallova loves pounding on fresh targets, and you guys are the freshest meat there is."

Kat knew there was a double meaning to those words, she wasn't an idiot. Somehow Eva had decided that she really was hers, and was enjoying herself immensely. She had other ideas about that, even if all her body wanted to do right then was tackle Eva to the ground and tear her uniform off.

She slid down and off the end of the bed to avoid Eva, since she just knew the girl would have tried something if she went that way, and walked over to the bathroom to look inside. It contained only a toilet and a vanity with two sinks and a large mirror. The marble counter already had a collection of bottles and things on it. "Where is the shower?"

"We have a communal shower room here," Eva replied, smiling. "Grab your shit and I'll show you where it is."

"I can find it myself," she retorted, already pulling out her Glass.

"Ah-ahh," Eva said in a chastising tone, and faster than Kat thought possible, the other girl snatched her Glass away. Eva smirked victoriously and twirled the stolen item. "Remember, we do things together from now on, Kat"

A shiver went up her spine at the first real use of her name by Eva in her purring voice. "Fine, but give back my Glass," she demanded, holding out her hand. Eva handed it over, and took advantage of the move to caress the back of her hand. Once again a hint of a pink flush appeared at the top of Eva's wonderful chest, but she just smiled and pulled away.

"Now follow me!" Eva laughed, licking the hand that had touched Kat for some strange reason. She turned and headed for the door.

Hurriedly, Kat took her toiletries from her luggage and then started pulling her trunk along behind her again. She didn't see why she needed the whole damn thing, and she suspected Eva was making her do it just to make fun of her some more. When they rounded the corner in the hallway, she noticed that some of the doors they passed cracked open and eyes peaked out to watch then. Whispered voices carried as well.

They stopped at the only door that Kat had seen so far that was set to open into the inner space of the building. It dinged softly and slid aside on its own, and Kat followed Eva inside, trying to get a look around the taller girl. Inside was another short hallway, in which they passed through several sets of sliding double doors, which she saw no real reason for. After the last doors, they entered a perpendicular hallway with only two doors, both at either end on the long side. A sign with arrows read: Showers to the left and Training Room to the right. Eva turned them left.

The shower room was very impressive for something in a dorm. The entry area had textured anti-slip tiles and banks of metal lockers around the walls with benches mounted to the floor. It was all clean and well lit. "Leave your stuff here," Eva instructed, pointing at a bench. "No one is going to steal anything here."

Kat rolled her trunk to one side to have it out of the way, and looked at Eva, suddenly self-conscious about undressing in front of her. It didn't help, with the way the girl was standing there with her arms crossed, eyes locked on Kat with predatory anticipation. That made her mad, so she stared right back into Eva's eyes, ignoring how gorgeous they were, and just yanked her shirt over her head. Without looking way, she stripped mechanically, trying to make it as un-sexy as possible. She knew she was failing miserably though, because Eva began to look almost hungry, and she was visibly breathing more heavily than she really needed to.

Ignoring Eva, she picked up her toiletry bag, and headed to the opaque glass door that had to lead to the showers. It slid aside with a soft hiss on its track, and she saw what there was to offer. The shower room had one huge, open area of gang showers with wall mounted heads and some on tiled posts out on the floor, but in the back was a section of walled shower alcoves with blue curtains. Just inside the door were stacks of stools, buckets, and a hundred white towels on shelves. She turned to Eva, who had sat down and was untying her boots.

"I am perfectly capable of showering on my own," she said in a frigid tone, staring Eva in the face, still not acknowledging her own nudity quite yet. She spun on bare feet and felt a flare of satisfaction at the look of surprised astonishment on Eva's face. It was plain the girl was not used to people talking to her like that. She headed to the farthest shower stall in the back corner, cool blue-and-white tiles slapping under her feet, and set her toiletry bag down on a provided shelf. She closed the curtain sharply enough to punctuate her words.

Let out the breath she'd been holding in, spun the chromed knobs and steaming water hissed out of the head to swirl around the meticulously clean floor and out under the curtain towards the drains set in the room's floor. Almost at as soon as there was enough noise to hide it, Kat flung herself flat against the wall and shoved a hand between her legs. Hot, viscous fluid coated her fingers as she slid them between soaked lips. Her nipples were almost painfully hard now, and it wasn't at all a challenge for her fingers to find her aroused clit.

"Oh, fuck me," she sighed, spreading her legs to brace herself and expose her pussy. Her mound and outer lips were flushed deeply from her crazy arousal and it felt so amazingly good to finally be able to touch herself the way she wanted to, even if the cause for it confused and angered her, and was only meters away. "Why, why, why!" she hissed irritably, stroking her clit more energetically than she usually did. "Why does she have to be my first one?!"

She pinched a nipple hard, maybe harder than she had intended, and her orgasm seemed to rip its way through her body. She gasped, and her legs slipped out from under her so that her bare ass slapped to the wet tile, and her juices poured from her slit. In a horny haze, she slurped them thirstily from her fingers, while her other hand dropped and continued until a second orgasm arrived on the tail of the first. She threw her head back and growled deep, embracing what she had so badly needed. For a long couple of minutes, she just sat there twitching with a hand clutching at her crotch.

"You okay in there?" Eva called from across the room.

"Why wouldn't I be?" she laughed, feeling so much more relaxed than she had in days. Nothing was better than a good self-induced orgasm or two, to make her feel a hundred times better. After weeks of forced abeyance, it was like meeting an old friend. She was even tempted to go another round if she had the time.

"Well, you were making some funny sounds," Eva replied dryly.

"Deal with it! I make funny sounds," she replied blithely, getting back up on shaky legs. She hadn't expected to cum so hard, but it had been weeks since she'd last had some kind of release, so she supposed she was due a few good ones.

She heard muttering from Eva and only caught a part of it that sounded like, "...it's a good thing she has such a cute little ass."

"My ass?" Kat said softly in bemusement, stepping into the spray of the water. She was no longer in the mood for hot, so she turned the knob back and felt immediate refreshment when the stream turned cold. She tried to look at her own butt with only marginal success, and just grabbed it with both hands, feeling the rounded flesh. The thought that Eva liked it was kind of flattering, but she'd never thought of any part of her as being cute. She decided after a moment of thought that she'd accept it as a compliment.

Shrugging, she got out her soap and shampoo and got to work on getting cleaned up and presentable. Since she had already lost so much time, she hurried. Her long hair took the most time, and she hoped they didn't make her cut it. She liked having it super-long. Finally she was clean, refreshed and feeling much more clear-headed than she had been a few moments before. So she turned off the shower and whipped the curtain aside.

This time she pretended to ignore Eva completely, as if her nudity didn't matter and took a towel off of a stack to dry her body. She took a second one to wrap up her hair. Then she entered the locker area and sat on a bench, only flinching a little when cold wood touched her over-sensitive pussy lips. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Eva watching her with a thoughtful expression and eyes that said she was very much enjoying the sight of Kat drying herself. When she closed her eyes to dry her face, she heard footsteps coming closer and tensed.

She wasn't sure what she had expected Eva to do, only that her sudden approach had made her wary. Two strong, long-fingered hands settled onto her head and began rubbing the towel there into her hair. Since she was actually helping dry her hair, it would be churlish to tell Eva to cut it out and back off. At least it would have been until Eva leaned in close to her ear, close enough for Kat to smell the scent of her. It was a bit of a musky smell, with something else really nice.

"You and I are going to be in here a lot together, Kat," Eva said softly, her voice a caressing purr in her ear that made her start getting hot again, but not uncomfortably so. "There's little point in being shy."

"Who said anything about me being shy?" she replied, still with her eyes closed. It was like Eva was massaging her head, and it felt really good. "I just don't need your help bathing myself."

"Hmm, well you are certainly going to be helping me out," Eva said with a pleased chuckle at the end. "Besides, don't you like what I'm doing right now?"

Unwilling to lie, because she was dead sure Eva would know she was, she admitted that she did like the way Eva was drying her hair. "See, that wasn't so hard to admit, was it?" Eva said, and Kat shivered as the older girl ran fingers though her hair and grazed her scalp. "From now on, you and I are going to be taking care of each other, so we might as well get off on the right footing."

"I just don't see why I have to be your servant," Kat replied calmly.

"Because those are the rules," Eva replied cheerily. "Your life here isn't supposed to be like a vacation."

"I know that!" she said grumpily. "You don't sound very upset about it anymore."

"That's because I no longer see a reason to be opposed to being your Mentor," Eva laughed and took away the towel. "There, that's dry enough for now. I have no idea how you can stand having all that hair up top, even if it looks so nice."

At the stroke to her vanity, Kat smiled as she bent over and popped open her trunk again, looking at the huge amount of stuff that was in it. She reached for the sleek, black material of her combat suit and marveled openly at the strange material. It was like nothing she had ever felt before. A bit rubbery like leather, and yet a thousand time more supple. It moved as easily as silk, and just as smooth under her fingertips. The inside had little lines of what looked like metal, but didn't feel like anything under her fingers. What would it feel like against her skin?

"Put it on!" Eva said encouragingly, sitting across from her on another bench. She pointed towards the end of the lockers. "There's a mirror down here."

"Don't rush me!" she glared at the other girl for ruining the moment. She pulled the garment all the way out and felt her mouth open in surprise. But she closed it promptly and stood, dropping her towel to the floor. The thing was sleeveless, so she just put her arms through the appropriate holes and pulled the suit up and onto her body. She looked for a zipper in the crimson-trimmed middle, and stared in dismay, there wasn't one. "It's defective!"

"Oh, quit being such a baby," Eva laughed, standing and coming at her. Eva grabbed both sides and brought them together, and then she placed her free finger at the base of the garment and drew it up along the seam. Astonishingly, the material magically sealed itself together as her finger passed and she was so surprised that she barely noticed when Eva's finger slowed as it passed between her breasts. When Eva lifted her finger, the suit was one seamless whole, and she squeaked embarrassingly when the suit moved on its own and tightened to conform like a perfect second skin from the waist up.

She moved to the mirror and stared at herself, aware now that her suit was somehow connected to her Glass via her spatial field. It was sort of like a black vest or dress, with lines of crimson trim in places. Like just beneath her breasts, which no one would need an imagination to know the shape of, and yet the material was supporting her just as good as a bra would. There were open decorative patches of exposed skin at the navel and just under her throat in diamond-shaped cutouts. At the waist sides were a matching pair of copper bands of metal inset with reddish crystal that moved with her body in a un-metal-like way. Her legs were entirely exposed up until her hips, except that a long tabard-like piece of material hung down to her knees in between her legs, both in front and behind.

"Here," said a laughing Eva, who was staring unabashedly in delight. She held out a small additional bit of the same black material. Kat took it and saw they were shorts, but with only about two inches of leg. She sighed, glad that something would be keeping her from flashing the world, and reached for the fresh panties she'd brought with her toiletries. Eva smacked her fingers down and she glared. Eva only chuckled. "No panties needed."

Kat glowered and pulled the shorts up her legs, and this time she managed not to make a noise when it squired and formed itself to her body below the suit, molding to her ass, legs and pussy. None of the stuff felt like she was actually wearing clothing, and yet she didn't feel naked either. It was a really strange sensation, especially since she had expected the shorts to feel like she had a massive wedgy going up her crack. Instead, she actually felt pretty comfortable with the whole thing, even if it showed her body off in a way she never had before.

"These are next," Eva eagerly handed over a pair of black leggings with crimson trim at the top. These she drew on with appreciation, because her legs no longer felt so exposed. They ended almost a full hand's length from the bottom of the suit. Last of course were the boots, which were sinfully comfortable on her feet, and the cape, that she felt kind of giddy about putting on. This cape was white and with a golden colored clasp chain that fastened over her chest, and the back of the neck.

After a moment of looking at herself in the mirror, a familiar cheerful voice chimed in her head. <New armor detected! Synching now.> The words also appeared in a small window that superimposed itself across a tiny part her vision. All of which made her stand there in surprise. Then her skin tingled as her magic flowed and rippled through her new armor suit, and in a tiny corner of her mind, she became strangely aware of it, like it really had become a real part of her body, even the cape.

"Whoa," Eva said softly, not even bothering to hide her appreciation of Kat's appearance. Kat for her part had no idea whether she should be angry at this, aroused, or just thankful. Eva shook her head and pointed at Kat. "That is not the standard combat suit they give to cadets."

"It says Reactive Modular Combat Suit, on the item list," he replied, shrugging, and liking how cool she looked wearing a cape. She itched to twirl like a little kid, but restrained herself in front of Eva. She'd just known they would look awesome on her. "I have no idea what that even means."

"I can't believe how little you know!" Eva sighed. "The armor suits are designed so that new components and upgrades can be added without replacing the entire thing. The suit can protect you in many different ways depending on how it's equipped. Normally the new kids aren't given a cape, and your suit has a few other differences as well." She paused in thought. "Wait! I saw something else in the trunk!" Eva knelt down and pulled out two coin-like pieces of golden-colored metal. "Put these on the backs of your hands."

Kat did so and was surprised, which she really should stop being since everything was new to her, when the coins stuck to her like magnets to certain metals. <Adding component!> said her Glass, with the accompanying air text. Black material bled rapidly out from the coins and in less than a second she was wearing a pair of fingerless gloves that did nothing at all to inhibit her movements or dexterity.

"Those are not standard either," Eva huffed, looking torn between staring at Kat's body and glaring at the oddities of the uniform.

"Why does it need to show so much of me?" she asked, moving around experimentally. Her movements were remarkably free, even with the cape on. She unconsciously dropped down for a second into a split to test the suit, and almost laughed when she saw Eva's eyes lock instantly onto her crotch. It was nice to know that she wasn't he only one having lust control problems.

"Any hindrance in combat can be deadly," Eva replied, blinking as she was brought back to the matter at hand. "And that armor will protect you better than a suit of metal plate."

Kat frowned at that. "I don't get all this. I know Corbado was a bit of a backwater, but how can all of this stuff exist without me ever hearing about it before. Technology like this isn't even rumored about back home. My dad is still proud of our Family's difference engine that they use for financial prognostication and things like that, and here I am with a Glass that talks to me in my head!"

"And this is why I told the Commandant it was too early for you to have a Mentor!" Eva sighed, plopping back onto her bench. "Kat, things around here are not as calm as they seem on the surface. On top of a large number of strange deaths over the last couple of years in the Capital, we've spent most of the last decade under heavy pressure from the Empire. There has been a tiny technological renaissance going on in response, with improvements popping up like weeds every day." Eva's expression grew more serious. "No one talks about it, and the instructors will deny anything, but everyone knows something big is coming. Don't you dare say the word 'war' where you can be heard, but no one can deny that something is causing the pressure here in the Capital to build, and most of the advances you'll see have been kept, as much as possible, from spreading. No one wants an enemy to have the same fun toys you do."

Kat thought about her mother's worries about her taking part in a war. Eva made it sound like danger was only moments away, as if any day now the world would explode. "Then don't treat me, and talk about me like a child," she said, just as severely. "If you are supposed to be my Mentor, then show me everything, but don't ever look down on me."

They stared at each other for a long, silent moment, but Eva broke it after a slow nod. "That is something I've yet to see is worth my time," Eva said thoughtfully. "For all I know you really are just a spoiled little rich girl who needs me to spank good sense into her."

"Try it," Kat said, not backing down.

"I think I will," Eva replied with a happy grin. "But first we need to finish with your suit. Did you synch it yet?"

"Yes."

"Good, now, command your Glass to set your current armor as Armor Preset 1." Kat thought the command to her Glass and received an acknowledging ding in her mind. But Eva was moving on. "Next try asking it to put your armor into storage."

"What does—" Kat cut off in mid question, because when she sent the command her armor began to glow with a golden colored light. Then it began to dematerialize and slide away as motes of light that vanished into her spatial field. She could feel it in there, but that of course, left her entirely naked again. She glared at Eva, who was laughing uproariously, and asked her Glass to re-equip Armor Preset 1. The glowing process reversed, which tickled a little, and she was once again wearing her suit "Was that necessary?"

"Sure it was!" Eva laughed, standing now. "Whenever you need your armor, you can now have it put on you at any time, or stored away just as readily. It's convenient and possibly life-saving, and not a trick your instructors are likely to show you. Now grab your stuff and follow me if you want to show me you really aren't a little brat."

Kat fumed silently and threw her stuff into her massive trunk, closing it once again. Then she hurried after Eva and found the girl heading into the other door down the hall. She followed and stopped just inside. The training room was a massive, open space. The floor appeared to be made of huge stone slabs, in which a multitude of circular metal plates were set into it in different patterns and shapes. The walls were pillared, and there was an odd glowing fog between each, and the high ceiling had caged lighting that kept the room brightly lit. Eva stood in the middle of the vast space, beckoning with a smile and a curled finger.

Kat dropped her trunk, and stowed away her cape, understanding how this was going to work now. She had fought plenty of times against cousins and other kids that didn't like the little rich girl back home. Her father had denied her any kind of formal training, but she had learned a lot through brawling and winning. Not that she had any delusions that brawling would allow her to win now. She suspected that Eva outclassed her by a frightening margin, but that kind of fear was something she lacked, and a different part of her was already starting to get excited at the prospect of a fight.

Crossing the intervening space in calm strides, she breathed deep and stretched her muscles a little. She stopped a short distance from Eva. "Don't you want your armor too?"

"I hardly think that will be necessary today," Eva replied, shifting her stance as she frowned at Kat.

When she got into fights, Kat always got excited and now was no different. Even her nipples were hard again. It was just that her body felt alive at moments like this. She even brought a little of her magic up and let it sing through her body. "Rules?"

"Rules?" Eva returned mockingly. "Just fucking hit me!"

Kat knew she was quick, so she sprang forward with all her might, and punched out with her right arm. Before her hand made it even half-way to Eva, the girl was already gone. Kat turned towards the slight flare of magic to her left and moved right into a spinning kick to her middle that crash into her like a speeding truck. She barely noticed the fading magic circle beneath Eva's feet because she was busy expelling air from her lungs and literally flying through the air. Something slowed her flight down, but she still hit the floor hard, grunting and drooling onto the stone as she rolled.

"Is that it?!"Eva called, sounding disappointed.

"Shit...no!" Kat spat, wiping her lips and standing. She looked down and wondered how her ribs weren't broken from a hit that could throw her though the air like that. Then she noticed that the metal circles between her and Eva were glowing faintly, but fading rapidly. They had slowed her down. She ran at Eva, and this time she saw the girl move and managed, somehow, to turn with her. Eva grinned and simply rolled with her punch as if it was barely a bother. Then Eva caught her upside the head with another punishing kick that sent her sprawling and her ears ringing.

Several more times she stood and she managed to last longer each time, and move her body just a bit faster, but each sequence ended with her on the floor. The attacks hurt like a complete bitch, and yet she had yet to suffer a physical injury more devastating than the bruises that were going to mottle her body. Finally, she managed to see what Eva was doing. She was using magic to infuse her muscles, to drive her strikes, and reinforce her bones. It didn't even look that complicated.

Getting back up off the floor after her twentieth and most recent knockdown, she stood on wobbly legs and then sprinted at Eva, whose eyes widened in surprise. Eva braced to avoid the tackled she thought was coming, and Kat whooped aloud as she jolted to a stop, and channeled her own magic in a rush of power. Light from inefficient, unused magical energy swirled around her like luminescent dust and fog, and she drove it into her body, trying to form it like Eva had. Yelling at the top of her lungs, she shoved her right arm forward in an open-handed palm strike toward Eva's stomach.

Just before her hand reached its intended target, there was a coruscating flash from Eva, and then all the unexpended energy released with roar, and a blast of air and light. Kat was knocked back, but she remained on her feet and tried to see how Eva faired. Her jaw clenched in angry frustration when she saw Eva grinning, and waving away the magic circle that had generated a translucent shield to protect her.

"Nice," Eva nodded. "You learn quickly, but you're still doomed."

Eva drew her arm back as if prepping for a punch and a circle of bluish magical light appeared beneath her feet again, energy humming. This time Kat felt the other girl gather much more magic than before, and raised her arms in a guard position. Eva laughed, even as another tiny circle flared to life next to her drawn fist, with sigils drawing in the air down her arm. Suddenly, she punched forward and a bright thing, flashing blindingly in the blue signature of Eva's magic, shot through the air.

Kat had just enough time to growl, "Fuck me," before the object reached a spot about a meter in front of her, where it detonated. The bang was painfully loud, but it was the shockwave that picked her up and threw her right over the floor like a human missile, right at the wall. Even with the floor plates slowing her, she hit an invisible shield between two pillars with tremendous force and all the air in her lungs left in a single grunt. She dropped; surprised she wasn't in more pain, like an empty sack.

She lay there, breathing hard as her brain tried to reorient the world, when hands grabbed her and flipped her over onto her back. Eva straddled her body and grinned down at her, looking all sexy and excited. A hand stroked Kat's exposed belly in a sensuous caress. "Not bad, Kat!" she said, licking her plump lips slowly. "I think I'm going to like that you are mine."

Growling, Kat absolutely refused to surrender just yet. Eva wasn't the only one that could use a projectile spell. Granted, hers was a crappy imitation at the moment, but it would do for now, and at this range. Exhaustion prevented her from remembering that the spell she had garnered from Captain Kyshin months ago was meant for war. So she raised a trembling hand to point at Eva, and began assembling the spell. Eva's eyes flared open as the magical circle, in the whitish hue of Kat's magic, bloomed into existence beneath them and three fizzing missiles formed around her hand like orbiting comets.

"Wait!" Eva shouted with her eyes wide with shock. "That's—"

She gave up shouting and threw herself backwards and off of Kat in a single motion, even as the spell bolts that she had yet to figure out how to aim, rocketed up towards the ceiling with a sound like tearing paper. An alarm sounded in the room in an angry blat, and a large, complex blanket of circles and interconnected spell forms appeared in an instant to generate a ceiling barrier made of a golden light. The spell struck and three rapid discharges sent both Kat and Eva sprawling once again. Kat stared upwards in amazement when she stopped moving. She'd tinkered with the spell a little and kinda figured out how to increase the power of the bolts, but apparently she'd added a bit too much magic. Next time she'd test her modifications first.

Then an ear-splitting whistle sounded through the room, and ropes of magic snapped out from a new spell circle, one whose signature she hadn't felt before, and immobilized her in an instant. A loud yelp told her Eva had been similarly trussed. Footsteps and a large number of muttering voices came from the direction of the door.

"Cadet Kat!" shouted Wallova's voice. "In what part of my instructions did I ask you to spar with your Mentor? Or use lethal-level magic in a training room?"

"Uh...you didn't?" she replied, still breathing hard.

"That's right! I didn't, did I?" Wallova screamed, bending over to deliver it right in her face. "So why are you laying on the floor right now? And why were you two trying to kill each other?"

"We were just having...our introductions," she said, trying to shrug while bound. She also noticed that the spell seemed to be draining her magic in a slow trickle. Handy.

"Introductions?" Wallova said, as if she'd never heard the word.

"Sure," Eva called, from wherever she lay. "Kat and I were just getting to know each other when you came barging in." Kat groaned. Why did Eva have to add that last part?

"Barging in you say?" Wallova chuckled darkly. "I think they chose perfectly by putting you two together. You'll either kill us all in a spectacularly flashy manner, or become the scariest pair of fucking mages we've ever seen! Now stop lazing about and get off the damn floor!"

"I'd love to ma'am," she said and wiggled in the binding. "You tied us up though."

"Oh yeah," Wallova made a dismissive gesture and the spell broke. After wiggling some at being free again, Kat sat up, unable to suppress a groan at her collection of bruises and general aches from the short fight. It felt like she'd been dragged behind a car for a few miles.

Eva was also sitting up a few meters away and looking at her with an odd smile. "You tried to kill me!" she barked.

"I did not!" she countered, slowing getting to her feet. "I just didn't know that spell would do that. I couldn't test the changes I made."

Instead of being angry, as Kat would have expected, Eva come right up to her and pulled her into a crushing hug, laughing hard. Kat tried to push her away, but only succeeded in half-groping the girl because Eva fought her effort like it was nothing. "You and I are going to have so much fun!" Eva promised.

"That's enough of that!" Wallova chided, whacking them both on the head with a flexible stick she pulled from her spatial field. Eva let her go, and rubbed at the sore spot on her head with a glare at the woman, and Kat used the opportunity to step away. She patted herself down, surprised she wasn't shabbier looking, and put her cape back on. She heard several surprised sounds when she did that, and she turned to find all the rest of her class standing in the doorway. Some were in the armor suit and others were wearing the formal uniform, indicating they hadn't had a clue which to wear either.

"Well, if you two are done with your little show, I have a program to run!" Wallova said, looking unhappy. She had a whistle hanging from her neck, and she had changed into a combat suit much like the one Kat had seen Kyshin wearing. "Kat, would you kindly join the rest of us?"

Ignoring the sarcasm, she walked over towards the other girls. Behind her, Eva called out "See you at dinner!" She groaned and raised a hand to wave her acknowledgement. Sarah and Cassie were standing together off on one side, so she made towards them. Sarah was giving her a brilliant grin and Kat felt a laugh of her own bubble up.

"We leave you alone, and you go off having all the fun," Sarah teased when Kat reached them.

"How come she's not wearing the right uniform!" said a familiar, poisonous voice. Kat turned and saw who she had expected to, the peevish girl that had been complaining all morning. The girl had pushed out in front of the others with hands propped on her hips. Kat took a look at the others and realized her suit really was a little different. Mutters among the girls indicated that they too wanted to know what was going on.

While they all had the same upper part, the other girls had a matching pair of pants that went all the way down past their knees, while still conforming perfectly to their skin. At the waist they wore a belt from which a pair of crimson side skirts hung. None had a cape, and none wore gloves. The bits of metal her suit had were missing on them as well. The girls still looked great in them though. Sarah's breasts were being shown off to the whole world like gifts of sexual bounty, and Cassie looked so sexy and lithe. They actually seemed to complement each other when standing together. Cassie and Sarah were both giving her appreciative smiles too.

"By the gods! You certainly bitch a lot," Wallova said bluntly, looking right at Kat's accuser. She pulled out her Glass. "Cadet Tarina Menova?"

"Yes," Tarina said. "I just want to know why that girl is being treated differently. She lives separately from us in this place, and has a different uniform."

"Because this is Valkyrie training!" Wallova replied simply. "I did tell you that this is not a place for coddling. We are not here to make you feel good. We do not treat everyone equally, because frankly, some of you will prove to be complete shit and not worth our time. You will be treated according to your demonstrated abilities and willingness to put in your own effort. Don't expect handouts you haven't earned."

"But we all just started!" Tarina complained, pointing accusingly at Kat. "She's been here just as long as I have."

"Ah! But you see that bit of silver on her wrist?" Wallova smiled in a way that told Kat she knew this would cause her more trouble. "She came here by special appointment from a respected Valkyrie in the field. She has also been put into our Mentor program, which is why she lives here instead of with you."

"Why did she get chosen?"

Instead of answering directly, Wallova glanced over her shoulder at Eva who was watching on in amusement. "Miss Eva, what would have happened to you if that spell had hit?"

"Without my armor on or defending myself like some stupid cow?" Eva said, grinning at Kat. Kat returned the expression with cool disregard. "I would have been blown into a bloody spray pattern all over the room."

"Hah!" Wallova laughed, shaking her head. She turned to Kat. "You don't seem bothered by that."

"Why?" Kat replied. "She said there were no rules, and since she used a ranged spell against me, I used the only one I know against her. I don't, and didn't want to kill her, but it would have been at least partially her fault if I had."

Wallova turned back to Tarina, who looked a little pale at the talk of killing. "See? Kat here is just enough different from you that she is in the Mentor program. If you distinguish yourself and show a great deal of promise, then maybe you will join it later, but I doubt it. Kat will be in all the same classes and training as you, but unlike you, she will have almost no free time. Think about that when you are in the city having some fun with your friends, because Kat will be right here getting her ass kicked."

"I don't think I envy you anymore," Sarah giggled in a low whisper, and pointed at Eva. "That girl is your mentor?"

"Yeah," Kat answered, taking advantage of the moment to stretch out some of her soreness. She was going to tighten up overnight from the feel of her muscles.

"At least Kat will have some kind of peace and quiet at night," Cassie muttered. "I have to live down the hall from the fucking sex fiend."

"You say the nicest things sometimes!" Sarah laughed, looking quite pleased and perfectly happy with the rooming assignment.

"Kat, she spent most of the two hours we were given naked and roaming the halls to meet people," Cassie said, her eyes pleading for Kat to understand her plight.

"You were right there with me the whole time!" Sarah replied, looking at Cassie with an expression that promised much. "Too bad you didn't get undressed though. You have nothing to be ashamed of with those strong and sexy legs, and I only got a tiny peak earlier because I wasn't paying attention."

"This is what I'm going to be living with," Cassie sighed, her cheeks reddening. "She talks like this all the time."

"Oh, Sarah's fine," Kat chuckled, glad to be back with her new friends. Even with her ribald humor, Sarah didn't affect her the way Eva does, and she found the banter to be kind of fun. It didn't hurt matters that both were quite wonderful to see in their skin-tight armor. "What's wrong with her saying you have nice legs? Because you do have a pair of good ones."

"She told me, in front of everyone on our floor, that she wants to have me wrapped around her at night when she sleeps!" Cassie said in a strangled sounding tone. She looked almost half-afraid of Sarah. Kat wondered if Cassie was having the same problem with Sarah that she was having with Eva.

"It's a compliment!" Sarah broke in, looking serious for once at Cassie. "You're my friend, right?!"

Cassie gave a heavy, tortured sigh, "I suppose we are."

"Are you three done with you little knitting circle over there?" Wallova broke in before Sarah could embrace Cassie again. She had her arms crossed in exaggerated patience.

"Yeah, sure," Kat answered for all of them, ignoring Eva's grinning face behind the Major.

"Well, since Miss Kat has decided to join us, it's time for lunch!" Wallova announced firmly, striding at the door. "And try not to look like a lost flock of useless sheep this time while we walk over!"

Kat shared smiles with her two friends and then all three of them formed the front of the pack in a line. The other girls were much better about forming up now, though most still didn't bother to walk in step with anyone else. Kat didn't really care though. She was more than ready to eat.