“Graaaah, what do we do? We’ve not been able to find out anything about that stinking gear all summer long!” Akita groaned as she placed her head on Bridget’s lap.

“I know… but I’m sure we’ll be able to find something once we enter the New Stepolis Academy in two weeks. It is a place of knowledge after all,” Bridget reasoned. They were sitting on the base of the grand fountain in Roberta Square, eating ice cream in defeat.

“What sucks even more is that the Cathedral of the Pantheon isn’t even letting us in anymore because they think you’re some kind of demon spawn now,” Akita hissed, holding up her ice cream as if it were a sword.

“Heh… I actually think that’s quite funny. Imagine that. Me, a spawn from the hells?” Bridget grinned.

“Yeah, and me as her personal lackey,” Akita giggled.

The two laughed it off for a while more but they soon slumped back into their mood from before. Their mood of despair. How could they hope to find out more about this gear if there’s no text to be found anywhere? Where else could they turn to?

“So… Do you think we should just give up for now? Leave it for when we enter the academy?” Akita proposed. When she didn’t get an immediate reply though, she looked up at her girlfriend. “Bridge?”

All Bridget did in response was point.

Akita raised an eyebrow and followed Bridget’s glare, only for her own jaw to drop at what she saw. Coming from one of the roads leading into the plaza, there was a peculiar looking coach approaching. Coaches weren’t all that common in New Stepolis since it basically placed a giant rob me sign over one’s head. But this was something else. For one, it wasn’t drawn by horses but by camels instead. Secondly, the vehicle itself was almost entirely plated with gold and encrusted with rubies and sapphires. Lastly, there was the presence of two armoured men walking beside the coach and keeping a close eye on their surroundings. Whoever was in this coach must be filthy rich.

All Bridget and Akita could really do was stare in disbelief as the coach approached and even stopped right in front of them. The driver then hopped off her seat and opened the door of the coach.

“We have halted, as per your request, my lady,” she said, extending her hand.

“Thank you kindly, Rashida dear,” came a sultry female voice from inside. The owner of the voice took the coach driver’s hand and let herself be helped outside. Stepping into the sunlight came a young woman who must have been around the same age as Bridget and Akita. Judging by everything about her, she looked like some kind of desert princess. Her silken clothing, her lavish jewelry, and of course the coach itself.

The girl smiled broadly as she looked directly at Akita and Bridget. “Excuse me, I wonder if I could trouble you for a moment.” The way she carried herself was so delicate and posh. She certainly knew how to draw attention to herself.

Akita had her mouth slightly agape as the scene unfolded before them. Hurriedly, she lifted herself up from Bridget’s lap and sat up as straight as she could as if her school teacher caught her napping in class.

“You see, we appear to have lost our way in these labyrinthine streets,” the girl continued. “I was hoping that you could perhaps guide us to the New Stepolis Academy?”

Bridget and Akita exchanged a quick glance. Akita knew her girlfriend to be terrible at directions so it was up to Akita herself to help this lady.

“You uh… take that street… then uh… you take the fourth left. Then you uh… you take the second right… and then you’re there,” Akita stammered.

“Exquisite! Thank you ever so much,” the girl said. She certainly enjoyed using fancy words. She turned her attention back to her coach driver, who herself looked to be dressed for much warmer weather as well. “Did you catch that, Rashida dear?”

“I did, my lady,” Rashida replied, bowing her head slightly.

“I do believe we would still have been roaming around the city for another two weeks if it weren’t for your help. It is quite the maze in here after all,” the girl chuckled, turning her attention back to Akita and Bridget.

“You’re… welcome?” Bridget stammered questioningly. It was clear that neither of them really knew how to act in front of this posh lady.

“Ah, but where are my manners? My name is Lavini Providence. I hail from the desert city of Alicendria down south,” the girl said, curtsying as she did so.

“Uhm… I’m Bridget Harrison,” Bridget said meekly.

“... Akita Hirano,” Akita said, even softer than Bridget had.

“Ah, well it is a pleasure to meet you both,” Lavini said.

An awkward silence fell as no-one really knew how to carry on the conversation from here. A silence that lasted a bit too long and so Akita just decided to blurt something out.

“You’re uh… going to the academy huh?”

“Oh, yes, I am! There are other academies that would have been much closer to home but my mother insisted I go to this one and so here I am,” Lavini explained.

“Well… we’re actually also going to the academy next week,” Bridget said.

“Are you really? Now that is wonderful to hear! Perhaps we could be friends if we run into one another again?” Lavini asked, sounding slightly hopeful.

“Well… sure?” Bridget said, sounding slightly uneasy but forcing up a smile.

“Why not?” Akita nodded, putting up the same kind of smile herself.

“Exquisite!” Lavini cheered.

“My lady. We must really make haste. We have a schedule to stick to,” Rashida interjected.

“Ah, you are correct. Forgive me but I must be taking my leave again,” Lavini said as she once again took Rashida’s hand who helped her climb back into the coach. When she was seated, she poked her head outside. “Once again, it was a pleasure to meet you. May our paths cross again,” she said, smiling broadly.

“Likewise!” Bridget said, a bit too loudly.

As the coach started riding off towards the road Akita had pointed out earlier, they could see Lavini still waving at them. All Akita and Bridget could do in response was awkwardly wave back. Only when the coach was finally out of sight did Bridget finally speak up again.

“That really happened… right?” she said.

“Yeah… I think so,” Akita replied, still in disbelief.

Silence fell again. That is until Bridget’s ice-cream fell out of its cone. It must have melted during the conversation with Lavini.

Both girls looked from the fallen treat to each-other and back to the ice-cream splatter again… before bursting out into laughter.