Annabelle is giggly and affectionate in the bath, but with sanity restored she has the presence of mind to prioritize.

She really wants to impale herself on Christa's cock and have more sex, but, later, she promises herself and Christa both.

Despite this resolution, as they walk sleepily down the street toward Library Gemini, Annabelle's mind is less focused on her alchemy work than dwelling on just how many little corners and nooks there are in the castle of feminine learning, corners and nooks and other places that might provide privacy... and coming up with more than a few just from memory.

Aire’s stepped back a bit to let Christa do most of the walking and talking while she pays extra attention to the thoughts she’s picking up. She’s informed Christa that she thinks she’s picked up some vague hints of weird stuff going on in the last day, so she’s obligingly spread her telepathy out to passively read passersby. Aire’s pheromones helped that process along, subtly encouraging doing what she wants.

Aire pays close attention to the passing minds on the street. Does she hear anything strange?

There are a lot of people on the street, and most of them are thinking about their jobs or their families or someone they want to date or someone they are dating or are shielded or are thinking about food or a lost item or the glory of the tentacles turning all the girls into sluts or a play they saw or a book they read or what they need at the market or how their shoes are uncomfortable.

Nothing particularly interesting.

No, no, Aire rather thinks that bit about the tentacles turning all the girls into sluts is very interesting. When she picks up on that she focuses her attention closer on that mind. What else is it thinking?

It is a Brother of the Collegiate, also on his way to Library Gemini. The images in his mind are hard to interpret, like he's partially shielded or something similar. But he's training to be an artist and he has a girlfriend now who can't get enough of his cock and its all thanks to his art teacher and something something paint closet something something secret door something something tentacles.

This is very interesting! The partial shielding suggests that her suspicions were correct and all the interesting people learn to do that rather than just leaving their thoughts out in the open for people like Christa to pick up.

So, apparently the art teacher has a secret door in the paint closet that leads to tentacles. Or something like that.

Well, one more thing to add to the pile. Although rather the juiciest, so far.

Another day of study and work. They're signed up for an Astrology session that evening but are otherwise free to spend their time as productively or nonproductively as they choose.

Annabelle plans to continue her potency-chart, even if it is probably going to be hard to concentrate on it. What does Christa (or actually Aire) plan to do with her morning?

Christa’s in complete control of herself, thank you very much! It just makes sense to do whatever Aire tells her to, when listening feels so good, and she lets Christa cum so nice.

Aire wants them to see about signing up for that stealthcraft class, it sounds interesting, and maybe useful after the whole bear scenario, or for the weird stuff she keeps picking up on. Maybe also watching that dance cohort if they’re rehearsing again today. Aire picked something up through Christa’s telepathy yesterday suggesting some of them might be a bit like her and Annabelle.

(She'll listen in for any more information about the possible tentacle cult, but doesn't feel she knows enough about how she stacks up there to risk involving herself on this little information)

What does Annabelle think of these ideas?

Annabelle doesn't see why not.

'Christa' can go find Miss Lavich and sign up for her next session, and then later they can go watch the dance cohort together. Annabelle tries not to think about what it could mean if the pretty dancing girls are... like that. It's a very distracting thought.

And so, off Christa goes to talk to Miss Lavich!

Miss Lavich can be found in the studio on the west side.

The woman is a giant. Eight feet tall, with an imposing presence, visible muscles, and huge breasts barely contained by a slinky black floor-length dress with detached sleeves. And four arms. There's a feeling that surrounds her. An air of power. Of alluring danger. A draw. A pull. An ominous gravity. Her mind is seemingly unshielded... but seems to be empty of thoughts beyond what she says or does.

If a woman such as this can go unnoticed, underestimated, dismissed, clearly her stealth and deception techniques are well worth learning.

When she sees 'Christa', Miss Lavich regards her for a long moment, smiling strangely, before waving her over. "What can I do for you, little Miss?"

“Um, hello Miss Lavich. I, um, recently had an unexpected encounter with a bear. And I was thinking of signing up for the next session in your stealthcraft class? If that would be okay?”

Aire is very sure that this woman is shielded and wielding that shield at least as well as Aire can. This is concerning. And so is that look on her face. Aire is used to that look being on her face.

"Quite, quite okay, my dear."

The huge four-armed woman glides across the floor of the studio to loom over 'Christa'. Her other students are various girls that Christa is vaguely familiar with at best. Almost half of them are... fuzzy, not quite shielded but illegible to telepathy.

Lavich produces a sign-up form, listing the lessons for sale and their prices.

"Today we are merely reviewing our experiences, aren't we, girls. Tomorrow, however, we shall be going out, to learn by doing. How do you feel about learning by doing, my dear?"

Christa feels an urge to squeak, but powers through!

“Um. It’s sort of scary when the thing I’m learning by doing is how to hide from a bear. But as long as we’re not starting with that, it sounds good!”

This is mostly true. Christa prefers books, all else equal, but she still enjoys learning things in a more hands-on way.

Aire, meanwhile, watches and waits. She feels uncomfortably observed here, like perhaps Lavich knows she’s there. She hopes her presence is overlapping enough with Christa’s not to be noticeable to telepathy.

Lucky for Aire that Lavich is not a telepath.

"Good to hear, good to hear. Why don't you sit nearby. You may turn in that form at the end of today's review, and in the meanwhile, catch a glimpse of what your money will get you, hm? You arrived just in time to see something interesting."

Lavich turns back to her other students.

"Gather 'round, girls."

She claps her hands... and a darkness descends over the studio, light attenuating despite not being obscured by anything, plunging the room into twilight. Then, in full color like it and it alone is still receiving natural light, a miniature diorama of the interior of what looks like some noble mansion forms out of mana and light.

Miniature copies of the girls in the room appear in the diorama, and Lavich starts narrating in her sultry voice, critiquing and suggesting, pointing out where, when, and how each girl failed to be entirely stealthy.

Christa watches, spellbound. This is such a good way to teach! And so cool! She's going to get to infiltrate a noble mansion! This is great. She's so glad Aire persuaded her to sign up.

Magic, then, in addition to the pure physical strength implied by that body. Aire isn’t exactly a combat powerhouse, herself. She’s more resilient than normal, regenerates, and could use Protect magic for shields. She can cast illusions herself, but doesn’t think she has the control to do so as well and as quickly as Lavich. And she could do some more esoteric stuff with Protect, Mind, or Sex magic. But her instincts tell her none of that would be enough. Lavich is dangerous.

Well, her first strategy was never combat, was it? If it comes to it, she’ll offer up her body for Lavich to use, and rely on her ability to entrance those over-exposed to her scent and the pleasures she offers. That, she thinks, is less likely to fail her.

The Illusion Magic replay and review continues, going through each of the girls in turn.

First one of the unshielded girls... then another... then another...

One by one, each of the girls with unshielded minds goes first. Not a single one of the shielded girls is reviewed before all of the unshielded girls are finished.

Nothing happens, nothing changes, when Lavich finally proceeds on to give the first of the shielded girls her turn. Except maybe the reviews getting shorter, simpler...

The girls who've already had their review start trickling out of the studio. One by one, they all leave. A few of the shielded girls leave too, but as Lavich completes the final review, all five of the girls who remain are both shielded... and maybe a little anticipatory.

As Lavich glides over to 'Christa', one of those five casually leans against the studio entrance archway, almost like a lookout.

"Intrigued, my dear? I presume you'll be joining us, since you're still here."

Christa is not the most observant person in the world, without her telepathy to lean on. She doesn’t pick up on anything besides the fact that the (Pretty! Tall! Sexy!) teacher is asking whether she ‘s still interested in signing up.

“I’ll definitely be joining you! It was all so interesting.”

She’s managing not to stare at Lavich’s breasts, but it’s taking noticeable effort, and her eyes are still flicking down occasionally.

Aire is paying more attention. She notices the pattern where the unshielded go first, notices that they’re all that’s left, and realizes one of the girls is playing lookout. Given how Lavich is acting this probably isn’t going to devolve into an attack on Aire. No, more likely this is a situation like the tentacle cult, and they're considering inducting 'innocent little Christa'. Not something she needs to interfere with.

The other four Sisters come up to flank Lavich on either side, forming a wall of red-and-silver-clad bodies that just so happens to trap 'Christa' against the wall of the studio. The four girls are all smiles, though. Fervent, inviting smiles with an edge of anticipatory glee behind them.

     "You'll love it with Miss Lavich."

     "What's your name?"

     "You're a cutie, huh."

     "You should join us!"

Lavich takes the signup form from 'Christa' and glances over it. Taps the promised-payment section with a mysterious smile.

Then two of her four hands descend to gently rest on Aire/Christa's shoulders. "I suspect I shall enjoy having you as a student, Miss Christa. You seem so eager to learn."

Christa is actually getting kind of excited! The last time someone looked at her like that it was Aire right before she let Christa feel as good as she liked. She’s not really consciously noticing that fact, but her heart rate is picking up and she’s blushing slightly.

She giggles at all the enthusiasm about having her present and let’s out a quick, “I’m Christa!” and, “Um, okay,” when she’s asked her name and told she should join up.

When Lavich’s hands rest on her shoulders she shivers slightly.

“I am! Um, eager to learn, I mean.” she squeaks out.