Huang's assignment is to clean the cafeteria. Actually, three of her assignments are to clean the cafeteria; there are different sections she's supposed to cover. There should be a broom closet around her somewhere.

When she gets there a person with a powersharer is already sweeping the cafeteria.

A junior spots her. "The broom closet's over there, is there anything else you're going to need help finding?"

"I'm also supposed to scrub tables and chairs. Did you already check the closet for mals?"

"Yes, but one might have crawled in, I'll go with you."

That is extremely generous. She bows to him about it and says, "Thank you very much."

It's really not, if a mal eats Huang they might be down a freshman for weeks.

"How are you settling in?"

"As well as can be expected, thank you."

"What track are you? I'm alchemy track."

"I was led to expect I would not have much opportunity to specialize, but I think my affinity is best served by incantations - it's weather magic."

"That sounds very useful." Out there, he doesn't add. "Mine is thoughts."

"Doing what with them?"

"Controlling them. Mine and other people's. It's helpful for studying and I have a really nice truth potion, but there aren't a lot of good other uses."

"Usefulness for studying could be very important here."

"It really is! I can loop my thoughts so that they always go back to what I'm working on."

"That doesn't prevent you from looking out for mals?" Mop; sponge; bucket.

"I do it in my room which has very good wards."

He begins to mop the floor near her.

Mop mop mop. "I had been told it was wiser to study in the library, but perhaps that advice was aimed at people without very good wards."

"The library can still be useful because you get books, but I recommend studying there unless you're allied with a junior with a wards affinity."

Which she is not. "I'm planning to try to find a carrel today after maintenance if I have time."

"Good luck. I hope you find someone here to study with."

"Someone in my Korean History class agreed to trade me notes if I miss the class session, but I don't know that she will want to study together more generally; I believe she's from an American enclave."

"Enclavers often don't want to study with indies," he says neutrally.

"I've gathered. I didn't meet anyone in my other classes of the day but I will have a new class on Monday and more on Tuesday."

"You can also often meet people at meals."