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"I've seen enough for now." Harn's voice is louder than the clashing lightsabers and after a moment the lawn is silent. "Tomorrow's lesson will begin at the correct time." Cady notices Harn looking at her when he adds "In the future, wait until after class to go swimming." The other students look around with embarrassed downcast eyes.
(They all had wet hair at the beginning of class.)
"Princess Cady!" Deline's voice behind her makes Cady flinch as her attention is jolted away from Harn. "Jax didn't tell me your lightsaber was pink!"
Jax holds the back of his head with one hand. "I didn't think it was important..."
"I'll see you later!" Triss takes a step back away from the others and turns away but then she looks back and waves.
Cady waves and watches Triss hurry into the academy building. "Deline, I'm meeting someone in the plaza to go shopping for meal ingredients. Do you want to come with?"
"Of course!" Deline bounces ahead of Cady through the academy hallway and into the plaza. "Who are you meeting?"
Cady turns and looks across the empty plaza "His name is-"
"Ren Starbreaker!" Jax's hand is on his lightsaber. "What are you doing here?"
Cady and Deline both turn as Jax advances toward Ren at the edge of the plaza. Ren takes a step back but only to take a fighting stance. Cady holds up her hands and runs forward. "Wait, Jax, Ren, stop!"
Hearing his name makes Jax pause and look over his shoulder. "You know Ren?"
"Um..." Cady stumbles to a stop in front of the two boys. "We met last night. Ren offered to take me shopping."
"Nice to see you again, Princess." Ren grins at Cady and smiles at Deline. "This must be the beautiful friend you mentioned." He nods and looks up at her through his hair. "My name is Ren Starbreaker."
<span class="mu-i">
I never said she was beautiful! I mean, she is, but-
</span>
Cady clears her throat. "Ren, this is Deline Elaas."
Deline giggles in delight but then Jax positions himself between them. "I just remembered I need to go shopping too!"
<span class="mu-i">
Somehow this became a double date!
</span>
The four of them walk away from the academy and into town, Ren in the lead. He turns around and walks backward, grining at Jax hovering protectively behind the two girls. "So, Princess, what are you shopping for, anyway? A new crown?"
Deline claps her hands. "Princess Cady is making a meal!"
"But I don't know what to make." Cady looks up at the sky. "I don't know what kinds of ingredients people on Amantes use."
<span class="mu-i">
I's all riding on my Meal Preparation skill!
</span>
"I know a merchant who sells raw ingredients." Ren turns back around and points at a woman in an orange hood. "Zafron, this is Princess Cady Omega."
The woman looks up and frowns. "How long have you been out of jail?"
Ren coughs as Cady glances down at an open crate next to Zafron. Inside is a transparent canister filled with white grains.
<span class="mu-i">
Is that really rice?
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