After that little moment, I found myself sucked back into her hand. I got to get a good view of where I was when Fina walked around. My surroundings were similar... no, it IS a school. I saw other students walking around with a similar uniform Fina wore. It turned out that Fina contracted me behind the school. The campus was HUGE. I was certain that we passed by loads of buildings, and we were still going.
("Hm? Students with different colored uniforms?") [Solace]
While Fina was heading to her destination, I got a good look at the other students. Earlier, there were a multitude of people wearing a blue blazer. Now, there was a mixture of people with red, white, and black clothing. I was pondering as to what they signified, but snapped out of it when Fina entered a large building.
("Is this the dorms?") [Solace]
Moving through the building, Fina walked through a long hallway. The floor was covered with a red carpet, and the walls were decorated with diamond patterns. It was pretty luxurious compared to what I've seen before.
"We're here!" [Fina]
Stopping in front of a dark wood door, she unlocked it with a key hidden in her sleeve.
("...Why the sleeve?") [Solace]
Closing the door behind her, Fina entered the room.
"Solace!" [Fina]
"The summoner, |Fina Kane| calls for you." [???]
The monotone voice I heard before spoke into my mind, and I appeared before Fina once again.
("Calling me out is the same line? Try something different.") [Solace]
"The spirit guide has acknowledged the opinion of the spirit |Solace|." [???]
("...What? It replied?!") [Solace]
I was surprised by its actions, but at least I got to know it's name... I think.
"This is your new home. I hope you like it." [Fina]
Given free reign, I scanned the area. What I saw was similar to a hotel. It had two beds in a large area next to two desks and a couple of lanterns. There was also a transparent sliding door in the corner of the room, leading to a balcony where I could barely see a small round table with two chairs next to it.
("Weren't we on the first floor?") [Solace]
Looking even further, I found a bathroom on the left side of the entrance. That only applies when you're entering the room though... When I spun around fully, I noticed I was right in front of a closet. Nothing about it was special, but there was only one thing that surprised me in it.
("Is that... me?") [Solace]
Inside the closet was a mirror, and its reflecting put my appearance on full display. Next to Fina was a small white glowing orb, exactly in the spot where my point of view was.
("I'm so... SMALL!!!") [Solace]
It was devastating. I finally came to the thought that I was no longer a human, or on earth.
("Did I... reincarnate? No, that doesn't matter right now. I used to be six feet tall! My precious height! Where has it gone?!") [Solace]
My disbelief made me fly around in circles, which also helped me get a grasp of how to control my flight.
"Solace? Ah, you must be happy right?" [Fina]
I stopped my flight, slightly embarrassed from my small outburst.
"Oh, that's right. Here, I have something for you." [Fina]
Following her over to a desk, she rummaged underneath one of its drawers.
"Found it!" [Fina]
She pulled out what I thought looked like an oversized purse. That was, until I realized it was her schoolbag. Reaching a hand into the bag, Fina pulled out a diamond shaped stone.
("...A rock?") [Solace]
It was brimming with a blue light, somehow drawing me in closer to it.
"Oh no! I forgot I had homework!" [Fina]
She set the stone on the table, scrambling to take out books from her school bag.
"What subjects did I have to do again...?" [Fina]
As she moved about, I inched closer to the stone.
"You are in the presence of a Mana Crystal, would you like to absorb it?" [Spirit Guide]
("Uwah! ...Can you stop doing that...?") [Solace]
"The spirit guide has acknowledged the opinion of the spirit |Solace|" [Spirit Guide]
As usual, the Spirit Guide would talk to me without warning.
("...Mana Crystal? Can you tell me more?") [Solace]
"Mana Crystal, a stone capable of storing mana." [Spirit Guide]
("And you want me to absorb it? How? And what are the effects?") [Solace]
"Absorbing a Mana Crystal will allow the spirit |Solace| to gain |Experience|." [Spirit Guide]
"Experience?" [Solace]
I tried asking it what experience was, but it didn't respond.
("Should I just absorb it?") [Solace]
"The spirit, |Solace| will now absorb a Mana Crystal." [Spirit Guide]
("Huh?! Wait, I didn't mean-!") [Solace]
The light in the stone drifted outwards, seemingly entering my body.
"The spirit, |Solace| has absorbed a Mana Crystal." [Spirit Guide]
I left the stone lifeless, no longer brimming with the light it had previously.
"You have gained |Experience|. |Experience| limit has been reached. You have gained a level." [Spirit Guide]
("Gained a level?") [Solace]
A rush of energy similar to absorbing a Mana Crystal came to me, but it felt more... empowering.
"Eh? Solace? You absorbed the Mana Crystal?" [Fina]
She looked at me with worrisome eyes, making me feel a pang of guilt. Maybe I wasn't supposed to absorb it...
("...Am I about to get a scolding?") [Solace]
"Tha... That's amazing! You're so smart Solace!" [Fina]
To my surprise, Fina praised me instead of giving me a mouthful.
("Oh, so I WAS supposed to absorb it. Thank god...") [Solace]
Fina seemed pretty happy about what I did, so I felt an immense amount of relief.
"Now that you've eaten, I'll have to get to doing homework. Solace, be a good spirit and stay still okay?" [Fina]
("That was me eating? I eat those?!") [Solace]
The number of strange things increased, making me feel a bit uneasy.
("Am I going to die if I don't absorb those...?") [Solace]
"Spirits are able to survive in any environment as long as there is mana in the air." [Spirit Guide]
("...Thanks.") [Solace]
While I thought to myself, Fina put away the empty crystal into the bag and sat down by the desk. Working for about three hours, the light outside had already become dark.
"Hnng...! Finally done!" [Fina]
Stretching in her chair, FIna released a faint moan.
("Oh, she's done with homework.") [Solace]
Packing up her schoolwork, she zipped up the bag and placed it underneath the desk.
"Solace, come here please." [Fina]
Heeding her command, I drifted towards her.
"Here, another one." [Fina]
She held out her hand, presenting me another stone brimming with light.
("Another Mana Crystal?") [Solace]
"You are in the presence of a Mana Crystal, would you like to absorb it?" [Spirit Guide]
Once again, the voice of the Spirit Guide appeared in my mind.
"Yes." [Solace]
"The spirit, |Solace| will now absorb a Mana Crystal." [Spirit Guide]
The light vanished from the stone, and I felt a comfortable warmth fill my body.
"You have gained |Experience|." [Spirit Guide]
("...No level up?") [Solace]
Unlike before, the Spirit Guide went silent and didn't grant me a level up.
("So the limit increased with each level up. It's like a game isn't it?") [Solace]
After Fina made sure the Mana Crystal was empty, she put it underneath her desk next to her school bag.
"Time to sleep." [Fina]
Yawning from exhaustion, she stood up from her desk and jumped onto the bed nearest to the sliding door.
"...Cleanse." [Fina]
Her body lit up briefly, but dimmed to nothing in a blink of an eye.
("Was that magic? ...I guess that's no surprise here.") [Solace]
"Switch." [Fina]
Covered by a faint light, Fina's clothing changed into what looked like pajamas.
("She's using magic to change her clothes... What a waste of an incredible power.") [Solace]
Tucking herself into bed, Fina called upon my name.
"Solace, come." [Fina]
Sucked into her hand, I was given an overhead view.
"...I'm not alone now." [Fina]
She spoke softly while staring at the back of her hand.
("It looks like she has some circumstances of her own.") [Solace]
Closing her eyes, Fina fell asleep underneath my watchful eye. With nothing to do during the night, I looked over the room out of boredom.
("Hm?") [Solace]
While surveying the room with my non-existent eyes, I came to a realization.
("...Why are there two beds? She's the only one here...") [Solace]
Assuming there's a second person, I spent the rest of night contemplating about it.