- Enlightenment Meditation. Average Affinity.
- Six Senses Deprivation. Average Affinity.
- Hand Crafting. Average Affinity.
- Swimming. Average Affinity.
- Steady Bulwark. Average Affinity.
- Pain. Average Affinity.
...
I looked through them over and over again, and in the end decided to first try Six Senses Deprivation and then Swimming, in case there actually was an open swimming pool for students like it said there was.
I discussed my choices with Victor, the librarian, and he assured me that there really was a swimming pool and that my choices were convenient.
"The swimming method is very popular, as you might imagine. Not exactly because people have great affinities for it, but because whoever gets it on their list usually ends up at the Swimming Club, so it's a win-win. As for your other choice... I can't say I've heard of it before, but I'm acquainted with this type of method. It should be a good alternative for the prickler."
I stopped nodding when I had his last sentence.
"Prickler? What's that?"
"You don't know? Oh, right, they should be distributing it tomorrow. It's the most hateful magic gadget there is, that has somehow become the staple for magic practices among novices. Everyone uses one of those until they get to Rank 1, as it imitates the actual magicmeter."
"Er... What's a magicmeter?"
"Have you heard of a multimeter? It kind of works like that, but for mana instead of electricity."
I pretended to know what it was and replied, "I see..."
You know, sometimes you had to 'fake it 'till you made it'.
"Anyways, you're going to want a replacement for the prickler, trust me on this, and the one you chose should be good enough."
"Alright. Thank you for the help."
"You're welcome. Now, the books you need are called: 'Blind Justice Listens Better', 'What is Dark, Really?' and 'The Book of The Seven Senses'. I will get them for you.''
"Oh, no, there's no need, I can get them on my own. I just need their locations."
"Very well. 'Blind Justice' is..."
...
After a not-so-short visit at the library, we were finally back at our dorm.
Suddenly, exhaustion befell me, and I felt desperate for sleep.
"Okay!! What are we playing tonight?"
Sam was probably referring to a PScreen online game. I remember he and Fred talking about some new releases.
"I'm gonna go shower. Does anyone want to go first?" Pim asked.
Honestly, I wanted to go first, but he also looked tired so I said:
"Go ahead first. Just don't take too long there."
Pim looked straight in my eyes for a couple of seconds, as if hesitating, then nodded and went for the closets.
As I thought, Pim was really observant. We were similar in that way.
Fred and Sam were discussing what game to play, and I sat down at the lower bunker bed, thinking about the inconvenience that it would be to dress a uniform, but hoping it looked as cool as the ones he had seen students wear.
"Um, guys?" Pim turned to us while scratching his head.
"What's up?" I felt an impending doom from that look.
"We... forgot to buy groceries, and there's no shampoo nor soap in the bathroom." He quickly glanced back inside. "There's no toilet paper, either."
"Oh, you're serious?!" Sam yelled.
Damn me. It occurred to me that we indeed had reminded ourselves to do groceries but had completely forgotten during dinner. We also had no water or other utilities for the week. I recalled our schedule starting tomorrow, our days would be busy from 600 to 2200 until Saturday. There would be no time to do groceries during the week!
"We have to go today." I concluded with gritted teeth. "Right now."
Fred widened his eyes and turned back to his screen. Sam was in shock.
"Right now? It's past 2200 right now, and the curfew is-"
"At 2300, yes. But we have no choice. We can't stay four days without shampoo! Or toilet paper!" I could argue that we could indeed stay without drinking water, I would even argue it's a priviledge of the few.
"If we hurry, we can make it on time." Pim hurriedly agreed. "But we have to share our tasks there. We can make and separate a list on the way there-"
"Hold up, hold on. You can't be serious. It's 2216, right now. It takes 20 minutes to get there, another 20 to get back. Even if we find an open convenience store at this time, we would have to buy everything in less than four minutes!" Fred exclaimed like I had never seen him do.
"There's no time to lose arguing. If we decide that we will definitely be late, then we turn back at once." I said, opening the door. "And it's 20 minutes walking."
"Damn it all." Fred Dotson mumbled.
Samdervaal clicked his tongue in frustration.
I looked at the three of them hurriedly putting their shoes on, and decided to give them some inspiration.
"Besides, even if we do get late, it's just a little curfew. How bad could it be?"
...
"Oh shit. We're done for." Sam uttered under his breath.
We stood in front of building number 2, the clock marking 2301.
And the glass doors wouldn't let us in.
"What was the punishment for breaking the curfew, again?"