<I think it's pretty obvious. It's because the Artonans pay Avowed lots of money, and all the Avowed are right here.>

"Well, by itself money's nothing, you just get inflation that way, and we're paying extra for anything from Earth because its got to get shipped to what's otherwise the middle of nowhere, so - I don't know, I should maybe take an econ class, I assume the high schools here are fancy enough for those."

<Likely. It doesn't interest me. I'm going to go for general studies at Weilu High School and become a florist and gardener. I even picked my talents for it. There's a Rabbit skill called Tend Plants.>

"Neat, what's it do? Directly perk them up or give you insight into it or what?"

<Some insight but also I think magically hitting the plants somehow? It's definitely one plant at a time. I target it and activate the skill, and the plant perks up a little bit right then, and I also know what to do to make it even perkier. But that second part is a lot more vague. You have to guess right and follow the feeling of 'yes, that's it'. And being actually familiar with the plant helps. I like that, that knowledge and skill is still useful.>

"Sounds fun! Gardens and also, hm, if I had that I'd be going for endangered plants, probably, those trees that are so rare that where they are is a state secret."

<Well, none of those are here on the island, are they? I suppose it's a route towards getting permission to visit China. Artonans are very serious about certain kinds of plants. Magic ingredients, I think. I'm hoping to be summoned often and learn about alien plants.>

"I have no idea whether to hope to be summoned because I have no idea what they'd want me for," snorts Elisabel.

<I don't know much about U-types. I know 'Ghosten' is a famous hero U-type, but...>

"Yeah, I've heard of her, but I don't think she'll be very predictive."

<Maybe the floor advisor knows more. Neha is a Rabbit, but she's an experienced one.>

"I should ask her when I meet her, yeah."

<She hasn't texted you yet? We should go bother her! She might have missed you somehow. Or just be busy...>

"Where does one find her?"

<Either walking around the building or in her office on the first floor! I could just text her. She's more likely busy than forgot you.>

"I'm not used to that yet, go ahead."

Nod, nod.

Jian Xue looks focused for a moment, but then shakes her head slightly and starts air-typing instead.

<Mental texting is hard. I'm still not used to it. It comes out like bad autocorrect but I'm getting better.>

"Huh, I've been doing notes to self and stuff and haven't noticed typos yet."

<We all have different talents? Maybe you just think in a text based way.> Shrug. <Okay, I texted Neha, so we'll see. Want to see this room block's special feature? Each set of rooms has one. To encourage people to mingle and visit. Ours is I think some kind of alien video game or art piece?>

Oh, if thinking in a text based way helps then that's probably what it is. "Ooh, yes, show me!"

The special feature is a big circular table with a completely black top. It's a giant hi-def touchscreen. When you put objects on it or trace or hit it with your hands, soothing colorful rainbows in different colors ripple over it like soap sheen and slowly blur together and fade back to black.

<These buttons down here change how it works. There's a lot, but this one is the prettiest I think.>

"Huh, you thought it might be a game?"

<Some of the other modes are more game-like.>

She taps one of the buttons and cell-like bubbles in different colors appear, flowing around slowly. She nudges some. Same colors merge, different colors annihilate. There's quiet music.

"Huh, I wonder if there's a win condition." Poke poke.

<Save as much green as possible. Red and blue eliminate each other.>

Poke poke poke.

<Don't make them fast, that makes it harder...>