I’ve lost track of the amount of complex tastes that filled my mouth this day. As Symboli Rudolf and I exit the cafeteria I can only continue to be in utter awe. My tail continues to flail side to side uncontrollably.

  “Rudolf...” I mumble. “What... kind of world do I now inhabit, that the flavors of simple cafeteria food can attain such vast differences.” I look down to my hands, still smaller than I’m used to. “To think, what had I eaten and been satisfied with before...? I don’t think there’s any way I could ever go back. I would sooner starve than place the ill-spiced fish and vegetables into my being.” Quickly I turn to Rudolf facing her directly. “Please assure me this isn’t a dreamlike fantasy I inhabit before my next battle.”

  Rudolf smirks proudly at my response. “You appear to be a poet when you’re well fed.” She looks down to herself. “I feel that this is real. But I can give you a pinch if that’s what you need?”

  I turn to her, my eyebrows show my bizarre confusion. “A pinch?”

  She blinks then nods. “Oh, right, that expression may have come after your time.” She smiles with a small sigh from her nose. “Since I know you’ll be curious. The term is often ‘pinch me, I must be dreaming.’ I suppose my joke flew over your head.”

  I stare at her. Not knowing what she meant with flying over my head. “I will assume that is another expression for another day.”

  Rudolf laughs to herself. “That just means you didn’t catch my joke.”

  I blink for a moment, then nod. “Ah, and by catch, you mean... I didn’t understand?”

  Rudolf chuckles further, face lowering into her fist as if trying to compose herself. “Right. You’re on the right track. You’re good at understanding metaphors in some contexts. You’ll catch on in no time.” She looks to the center building of Tracen Academy. “We should check with the Director, I want you to see your room, but I need to know which dorms you are in.”

  I pause. “Hm, more than one?” My gaze lurks around the giant campus. “I assumed you would have a building equal in size to the main palace part of the academy.”I look at it as we follow the path to the front, it seems visible wherever you are on the grounds.

  “The dorms are split into a few buildings.” Rudolf explains. “A dorm leader is in charge of each. I assume the Director will want you to be in the same dorm as myself. So I can help you assimilate to dorm life.”

  I fold my arms. “I did attend living quarters for the Elfine Military Academy back home, I assume it won’t be too much of a difference. I will have a bunk with ten other recruits? Or in this case, umamusume?”

  Rudolf stares for a moment before a smile grows on her face. “Well, Tracen’s living quarters are much nicer than that. You only have to share with one other student.” She then chuckles nervously. “Also, I wouldn’t get too confident, you just attained enlightenment over the food differences.”

  I nod vehemently. “And such food it is!”

  Rudolf closes her eyes with her ears leaning back. “You might take some adjusting with how certain things work. Especially with cleaning.”

  I pause. “Right…” I forgot that the three had gotten upset with my personal cleaning habits. I’m expected to clean myself once a day in this world…

  “At LEAST once a day.” Rudolf nods, leading me through the double doors again. “Other than when you first appeared, this should be your first time in the Director’s office. Hopefully you’ll be more awake.” She smirks to herself.

  I nod slowly. “I can’t recall the room, and compared to how much information I’ve been given today, I probably have learned too much to remember it either.”

  She leads me through the center of the academy, still full with students. I do take notice again of just how many wear head equipment or accessories. I slowly feel up to my own ears, which push forward and downward. As if sensing my own worry. Do I truly fit in, even wearing this uniform? That one white haired uma, Oguri Cap, could tell I was new just from looking at me. Perhaps even Rudolf is not aware of the stigma herself. As she also wears one herself, she may not realize.

  We pass through some carpeted offices until we’re outside a door that says “Director Akkikawa” on a plate outside the door. Rudolf gives the door two solemn knocks.

  After some shuffling behind the door, Tazuna opens it. “Oh, it’s just Rudolf and Aven.”

  Behind a desk with two flat slabs standing upward, the director lets out a sigh of relief as she lets go of a stack of parchment filling her arms. “Whew!” She wipes her forehead, her cat is seemingly off her hat for once, pawing at some of the papers.

  Rudolf and I enter, Tazuna closing the door behind us. “We’re trying to figure out how to file the paperwork for someone who appeared out of nowhere.”

  Director Yayoi sighs. “If we told others about an umamusume appearing from thin air, claiming to be reborn. We aren’t certain you’d be safe. Experimentations, interrogations, plenty of things.” Director Yayoi stands on the plush chair. “As Director of Tracen academy it is my duty to keep all umamusume in Tracen safe! So I can’t allow that!” She plops down on the chair, scooting it forward. “So we’re currently figuring out how to forge a papertrail.”

  Tazuna perks up. “Director! Don’t say it like that!” She sighs. “We’re simply… helping an umamusume in need.”

  I stare at them concerned. “Parchment isn’t a suitable material for trailblazing.” I sigh, shaking my head. “Unless you’ve invented some kind of parchment that is indestructible, which, after what I’ve seen, I wouldn’t doubt.”

  Symboli Rudolf stifles a chuckle. “Paper trail in this case means background. As in the modern day most living creatures have records.” She folds her arms. “While normally that act is meant maliciously, these are extraordinary circumstances.” She sighs.

  The Director moves the large plush chair to the side as she remains seated on it. There appears to be no friction with the ground, but I decide not to question it currently. She gets a clear angle at my face. “Now, did you enjoy your meal, Young Aven?”

  At the mention of the food my tail immediately begins wagging left to right. “Yes.” I admit, knowing my tail betrays me even if I try to remain composed. “It is beyond anything comparable I had ever tasted. It would be worthy for those three goddesses that had brought me to this world.”

  The Director unfurls her fan, as she begins fanning herself off. “Fufufu! Great! So meals will be no problem for you to adapt to!”

  I take a glance at everyone in the room, all with headwear of their own. “If... I am in a position to make a request.”

  Director Yayoi perks up. “Of course! What can we do to make things more comfortable for you?”

  “I know you mentioned something about armor when I start running races, but is there a way I may have something... that goes upon my head sooner?” I mutter. “Going around the campus, everyone, and I mean this with no exaggeration, every, single, uma, has something around their ears or head.” My ears lean forward showing my own feelings as I touch them. “I do not require a full armored helmet... I see now that it would stand out a lot more than other’s headgear. But... if I could get something comfortable on my head? Something helmet related, if possible?”

  Director Yayoi perks up, quickly jumping down from her cozy chair. “Hm! Interesting! I can see this is important to you! What specific ideas do you have in mind?”

  I pause, surprised how accepting she is of the sudden request. “Well…” My hands reach up to where my ears used to be. The flat spaces on the side of my head where only hair grows. “If… I could get something that hangs here, perhaps tight, a strap? To fill the void.”

  Yayoi quickly grabs one of the papers, her writing instrument quickly moving. “Hm, right!”

  “If… there was a way to resemble a visor.” I say, my hands pointing straight, connecting at the fingertips to help illustrate my point. “I understand if it wouldn’t be able to be pulled down… but something like that, with the slits in it?”

  “I see! I see!” The director is scribbling furiously on her parchment.

  “Lastly...” I mumble out. “If there’d be a way to have green feathers attached to it somehow...?” I pause averting my eyes. “The Elfine Brigadiers would normally have green feather plume on a piece of their helmet.” I pause for a moment. “I suppose, I’d like something that reminds me of home... and hopefully something Archibald will recognize me with if he sees me.”

  Director Yayoi jumps up. “All right! I should get started on this immediately!” She quickly grabs the cat from her desk and places it on her hat. “Let’s go, Tazuna!”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Tazuna double takes at Yayoi’s suddenness. “Director?! What about the forms and files we need to catch up on?”

  Director Yayoi turns to Tazuna, pointing her fan at her. “Those can be caught up anytime as long as we don’t have Young Aven start classes before then! The lack of headwear is a large issue for her, which means it should be our top priority!”

  “But Director-”

  The Director continues. “To have headgear like Aven describes, we’ll need something custom made. That will take time, even with Tracen resources.” She has a serious expression as she folds her arms. “It is best to get started with the creation of headwear so things can be working in tandem as we finish the paperwork.”

  Tazuna pauses, seeing her director’s serious expression. “I understand.” She turns to me. “Sorry if I seemed to not take your concerns seriously.”

  I pause, taken aback at how much the small director thinks ahead. I suppose she did not get this role as director through lineage alone. And Tazuna is now apologizing to me for thinking more about what I assume appears to be the pressing matter? I raise my hand slightly. “It’s all right, I did not intend to cause a disruption.” My ears lean forward. “I just feel that I stand out despite wearing this...” I pause, trying my best to not refer to the uniform as aristocratic as I did before. “This... ‘fashion’ that everyone else also adorns.”

  With a swift pull Director Yayoi opens up one of the drawers of her table, pulling out a curled up swirl of odd smooth looking material, with a bright color. She quickly closes the distance between us. “Bend down real quick, I need to get your head measurements.”

  The oddness of the request does cause me to pause for a moment, but I follow through, sitting down, legs crossed.

  Director Yayoi wraps the strange material around my head. “Right. Okay.” She quickly jolts down something onto her parchment from earlier before quickly wrapping around another part of my head.

  “I assume this is for sizing?” I look at her, slight confusion expressed outwardly as my ears twitch. “Many armaments in my day were made standard in bulk. I would have hoped you could simply customize a preexisting helmet.”

  Tazuna smiles. “Well, nowadays helmets aren’t exactly common. If you didn’t have to face wrong doers would you still wear armor?”

  My lips curve into a frown. The idea had never occurred to me that there would be a day without foes to fight. Of course, even I know I was no ordinary soldier. I had heard what others had said about me. And it wasn’t an uncommon opinion. “I always at least wore light leather armor.” I mutter. “It helped me feel secure. But I suppose I wouldn’t wear a helmet all the time...”

  Rudolf steps forward to my field of view as the Director continues with her sizing measurements. “Full plated armor did fall out of favor as well. With advancements weaponry changes, and the moment something could beat armor was widely available, the world was forced to adapt and change.”

  “So much talk of adapting and changing.” I mumble. I wonder, would Elfine have done the same? Would there have been a day that cavalry would have become irrelevant like they are in this world...? My mind blanks for a moment. No, this world had even more advantages of cavalry, they had strength beyond humans, the speed of horses and did not rely on any animal instincts, the sense of horses and abilities are in the body of humanlike creatures, and cavalry are not considered in warfare? If this world has gotten to that point, then surely one day Elfine would have done the same.

  As I stare into space, Director Yayoi appears to notice as she charts another measurement down. “Deep in thought, Young Aven?”

  I sigh. “Yes, I just wonder if this same fate awaited my own world.” I look at her face. “A shift in culture so vast, what would become of horses in a world with lightning magic powering everything? Would taking care of them be seen as a waste of time? Would they be doomed for extinction?”

  Tazuna pauses before letting out. “Not at all!” I turn to her quickly as she has a determined smile on her face. “Pets are still very common, so I’m sure the horses you talk about would be treated in the same way.”

  As Yayoi measures where my human ears would be, she turns to Tazuna. “Do we know anyone who specifically has something where a human’s ears would be?” She wonders. “It feels that it is particularly specific.”

  Tazuna brings her finger to her chin in thought. “Of the top of my head Gold Ship stands out. As she has hat straps there.”

  I pause. “Gold Ship?” I turn my head to Tazuna, an expression of baffled confusion present on my face. “You can’t make a boat out of gold, it would be doomed to sink instantly.”

  Behind me I hear a snicker, I turn to see Symboli Rudolf covering her mouth with the back of her hand. “Perhaps. But remember, it is believed that umamusume have names inherited from other beings. So names that might stand out to you are completely normal and accepted. I’ve seen an umamusume named Traffic Light before.”

  I pause. “That name isn’t too odd. Having ‘light’ in a name is normal, as it tends to be something many aspire towards.”

  Tazuna gives a slight smile to Symboli Rudolf.. “‘Traffic’ might not have been coined a term yet in Aven’s world.”

  “Annnnnd, done!” The Director smiles, writing down the last measurement. “Okay! We should get this commissioned right away!” She turns to Tazuna, then points her fan towards Rudolf and myself. “As for you two, Rudolf, if you could do me a favor and show Young Aven where her new room will be located. I have the form right here.” She hands Rudolf a different parchment. “If possible, could you also show her how she can do routine cleaning. As it’s best for her to get used to the world of modern grooming!”

  My ears naturally droop forward. “I fold my arms slightly. “Remember, I’m older than I look. I can figure things out once shown a single time.” My face feels hot, as if I’m embarrassed being treated so young.

  Director Yayoi opens her fan. “Amazing” is displayed on it. “I know, I know! But it’s best to be prepared! You might be amazed at the ‘water magic’ we’ve developed as well!”

  I stop. It’s true, this world has advanced far beyond what I can comprehend, who knows what mysteries could await in bathing. Even the concept of getting dressed in... frilly clothes has been made easier with use of those “zipper” objects.

  Director Yayoi begins marching towards the door. “Come Tazuna! We must be quick!”

  Rudolf exits the room as I follow closely after. She leads me back through the main hall towards the front doors of the school. I follow along in silence as she heads down the main path.

  “So… where would these dormitories be?” I ask, ears perking up, as I look around for buildings they haven’t shown me yet.

  Rudolf turns to me with a smile. “The dorms are across the road from the school.” She points to some buildings I can see in the distance. “You’ll be in Miho Dormitory.” She nods with her arms folded. “You’ll be in the same dormitory as me, with Hishi Amazon as our dormitory leader.”

  “Hishi Amazon…” I fold my arms, keeping up with Rudolf. The name alone reveals they must be powerful. We walk in silence across the campus until we approach the gates, I notice the street color changes. Turning black on a long line with white painting on it. My ears perk up suddenly. “This path is different.” I tell Rudolf, peeking ahead, noticing white lines painted on the path.

  Symboli Rudolf nods. “Right, this is a ‘road.’ It’s different from the paths we walk on in Tracen Academy, as this is for cars.” She points. “You can see the small white lines near the sidewalk, those are for Umamusume to run on, since we’re faster than humans, at full speed we can take the road.”

  My mind spins. “That’s quite a few new words.” I mumble.

  Rudolf chuckles before she nods. “Right, don’t worry for now, for now let's get you to your room.” She leads me across the black road on the thick white lines, as we approach the buildings past more brick walls.

  There are many buildings past the walls, all modeled exactly the same. With a brief turn, Rudolf makes leads the way into one with myself at her rear. She opens the double doors, and we enter, immediately I hear shouting.”

  “Bakushin Bakushin Bakushin! Bakushin Bakushiiiiin!” Soon after we enter a girl wearing the same uniform having a light brown ponytail zooms past me, arms out behind her, she exits the still open door.

  I stare at the door as it slowly shuts itself. I hear the echoes of the “Bakushin” chant she sings, whatever that means, as I assume her pace continues.

  “That’s Sakura Bakushin O.” Rudolf says, causing my attention to turn back towards her.

  “And does that... ‘Bakushin’ she shouts mean something?”

  Rudolf smiles. “You’ll have to ask her about that.”

  As my face returns to the door where the girl exited, a tanned skin Umamusume runs past, opening the door right after her. “Bakushin! I told you to stop running in the dorm!” She sighs folding her arms as she turns back in.

  My eyes shift towards the uma. She has long black hair lengthening down to her knees and, well, is running towards the direction of the door before slowing. She sigh shaking her head, before noticing Symboli Rudolf standing next to me. “Oh, Rudolf?” She perks up, are things okay? You’re back early from the student council.” She then notices me. “Who is this? Are they new?”

  My ears lean forward, as one of my hands raise up to feel my puffy hair. I really need that helmet soon. This is another uma with a ribbon around her left ear. And she instantly can tell I am new.

  The girl raises her hand out in greeting. “I am Hishi Amazon, Miho Dorm Leader.”

  I stare. She’s slimmer than I would have expected from an Amazon, but I suppose all of us have strength of horses. So appearances of umamusume mean nothing of strength. My hand meets hers. “I’m Aven Doram.” I say. Still trying to get used to my last name I had picked.

  Rudolf’s arms fold, she smiles at Hishi, her eyes looking at my face. “This is a new transfer, she’s going to be staying at Miho dormitory for now. I’m helping her get acquainted with the amenities and the perks of Tracen.

  HIshi Amazon puts her hands on her hips proudly. “You’ll love it here!” She looks me up and down. “You seem strong, you and me, we have to scrimmage sometime. One on one.”

  I pause, scrimmage means practice race in this world. So she is already asking me to race her at some point? I nod slowly. “I feel I need more practice before I can take on someone like a dorm leader already.”

  Hishi Amazon laughs. “Well I’m ready whenever you are.” She nods to Rudolf. “I’ll let you take care of things. I’m sure you’ve got it.” She nods before turning back where she came from. “Take care, Aven Doram.”

  I pause slightly. “Despite making it up on the spot. The name together has a nice ring to it.”

  Rudolf perks up hearing that. “Did you not have a last name in your world?”

  My eyes move to the floor. “It was... a long story.” I say, averting my face from Rudolf. “I would prefer to not use it here. As it did not have good connotations back home.” I raise my head shortly. “It’s best to not dwell on it.”

  Rudolf nods. “I apologize, I did not mean to pry.” She looks to the paper. “Your room should be up the stairs here and around the corner.” I follow her lead, passing by many doors each with a room number next to them.

  “Here it is.” She says, unlocking a door with a key. A quick glance at the number reveals “213”

  I enter, noticing instantly that the room appears split in two, two beds, two desks, two wardrobes, two tiny bedside tables. A large window in the center of the room.

  “This... is quite large for student accommodations.” I look between the two beds. “This space is supposed to be shared by only two students?”

  Symboli Rudolf nods with a smile. “Yes,” She chuckles slightly. “When I heard you mention bunks, I assumed you’d find it quite lavish.” She pauses, looking at me as if waiting for something. “I notice you’re not calling these things ‘aristocratic’ anymore?”

  I sigh slightly. “As the Director’s cavalry commander, it would be improper to look at a gift horse in the mouth.”

  Rudolf pauses then smiles. “It seems you have expressions that I’m not even familiar with.” She says with a grinning nod. “You’ll have to teach me what that one means.”

  I pause for a moment. “I guess I am in the teaching position…” I nod. “It means, I should not raise my concerns with how lavishly they seek to treat me. Although some things are too good to be true, a world without combat, this world already seems like the dream that everyone sought to unify.” A brief pause. “I should only work to please her expectations.” I say, performing the Elfine salute. “Aside from searching for Archibald, of course.”

  Rudolf holds back her smiles as she examines me. She seems to eye a change, but I don’t take note of it. I look around the room, and suddenly a flash of light fills the student dormitory.

  “AH!?” I squeak quickly, my mind immediately looking towards the source of the light, a glass like chandelier from above.

  Rudolf has her hand on a panel on the wall, staring at me with a surprised expression. “I thought you’d have gotten used to artificial light by now?”

  I shake my head quickly. “That’s not the issue here?! Why did it flash on so suddenly?!” Then as if it just struck me. “Right! This is lightning magic, it flashes suddenly, it doesn’t have a slow build like fire does...” I turn my head, hand rubbing my chin as I look to the upside down chandelier built in the ceiling. I then quickly turn to Rudolf. “I suppose I expected it to slowly build up to the consistent light of other rooms, like torch scones.” I stare at Rudolf's hand. “Is... this what controls the light?” I approach the panel, smoother and glossier than the wall around it. “May I...?”

  Rudolf pulls her hand away, signaling for me to go ahead. I notice a part of the panel is raised from the wall, while the other is pushed into it. As I touch it, I slowly feel around, noticing a small give if I put pressure on the side sticking up. In a decisive movement I push it down.

  All at once, the chandelier’s light fades, leaving only the natural sunlight coming through the window. I stare in shock. Even being around this technology... having it in the palm of my hands is something... surreal. My hand raises up, feeling the other side of the panel has pushed out. Another decisive push, the light blinds me for a mere moment. “The power of lighting at one's fingertips...”

  Rudolf watches me with a smile, as I continue to mess with the panel.

  “What do you call this lever that controls the light in each room?” I ask, still watching the shadows of the sun fleeing within an instant of my fingers.

  “It’s the light switch.” Rudolf chuckles out slightly.

  “This world has many wonders...” I mumble out.

  “Well, you’ll find cleaning is one of them.” Rudolf nods. “When you’re ready, I shall show you the restroom, and some of the basic hygiene routines you’ll need to keep up.”

  My sense of wonder isn’t even discouraged at the aspect of cleaning. When you have the power of the light at your fingertips, maybe some joy can be found even in the tedious process of cleaning.