It's the following day, and Raveena Vesper was staring at herself like she'd just met a stranger in the mirror.
Not a dress—thank the stars. But close to it in the way it shaped her.
A deep charcoal tailcoat with subtle threadwork on the lapels. Crisp white undershirt, a gray waistcoat beneath, and trousers. Everything hugged in the right places but left her room to move, shoulders firm, spine straight. Tail slipped neatly through a hidden opening in the coat's back flap.
It felt... weirdly good.
Like not just wearing something. But fitting into something.
She turned a little to the side, watching how the coattails shifted, how the fabric moved with her instead of against her. Her ears gave a small flick of amusement.
"That's it," came a familiar voice behind her, "you look mad dashing."
Raveena startled slightly as Rory suddenly appeared in the mirror's reflection. "Like you're about to go fish for maidens at the Summit."
Before Raveena could respond, another reflection joined the mix. Professor Vask, with her arms folded.
"Well, well. Would've been nice to see you squirm in a dress, sure," the professor said. "But seeing you in anything that isn't a uniform or workshop coveralls? Sight for sore eyes."
Rory reached up and lightly squeezed Raveena's shoulders, leaning in dramatically. "She smells good too," she sniffed. "Like... pine and something expensive."
Mrs. Wynlow's voice spoke out gently from the front counter. "I may have added a light mist of juniper-cedar perfume before she changed. Something subtle, for the occasion."
Raveena blinked. "You sprayed me?"
"I sprayed the coat, dear," Mrs. Wynlow clarified with a polite smile. "You just get to reap the benefits."
Rory nodded in agreement. "Well, it works, right? You smell good!"
Professor Vask, however, narrowed her eyes at the fox-folk. "Hold on. What are you doing here? Don't you have classes right now?"
Rory stiffened, then quickly turned with her hands raised. "I do! I mean—I did. I just told my teacher that I had to excuse myself because, you know, sports club duties. Very serious stuff. Athletics. Teamwork. Muscle building."
Raveena raised an eyebrow. "...And yet you're here."
"Because the sports club didn't need me after all! Tee-hee!"
Both Raveena and Professor Vask turned to give her the look. As if both of them couldn't believe the sudden absurdity of what they just heard.
Rory wilted slightly, holding up her hands. "I-I'll return to school right after I see my friend off, alright? Promise," then she quickly pointed toward the modest travel luggage by the waiting seats. "Besides! Wasn't I the one who helped carry Raveena's packed stuff here?"
Raveena sighed. "Well… I can appreciate that, at least."
"See?" Rory grinned, bouncing a little on her heels. "And I'll carry it all the way to the train station too. So that way, you don't get tired and ruin your outfit before you even get there. You're welcome."
Just then, Mrs. Wynlow gently tapped a smaller, tidy case atop her store counter. "Oh! Miss Raveena, dear," she called sweetly, "this one has your spares. Two additional sets, pressed and scented, ready to wear."
"Thank you, Mrs. Wynlow," Raveena said, stepping forward slightly.
"I'll carry that one," Professor Vask cut in, walking over without pause. "I didn't pack much, anyway. Bare essentials."
Raveena turned to her, frowning. "We already each have a bag. At least let me carry my own stuff—"
"Nuh-uh," Professor Vask waved her off. "When a grown-up offers to do a kind gesture, younglings don't argue. You just nod and say thank you."
"Fine, thank you, then," Raveena answered, backing away.
Professor Vask gave a smug little victorious nod. Then, she pulled out her pocket watch, flicked it open, and clicked her tongue. "Alright. We should head out, train'll be rolling in any minute now."
Rory perked up. "Ooh! I'll grab the big one!" she chirped, hopping over to the waiting area and hoisting Raveena's travel case with both arms. Her knees buckled a bit, but she was able to lift it with no problem, standing proud. "See? Easy."
Raveena raised a brow. "Don't strain yourself showing off."
Professor Vask picked up the smaller luggage from Mrs. Wynlow's counter with one hand, adjusting her coat with the other before moving to get her own luggage case. "Got everything?"
Raveena gave a last look around. "Yeah."
Then, the three of them made for the door.
"Thank you again, Mrs. Wynlow," Raveena said as she bowed her head politely.
Mrs. Wynlow smiled from behind the counter. "It was my pleasure, dear. You'll look just splendid out there. Best of luck at the Summit."
Raveena nodded and smiled as she left the store with the others.
A bit of walking later, they stood beneath the wrought-iron awning of Woodpine's train station. It featured clean, polished stone underfoot, astonishing pillars for support, and a timetable board that clatters as soon as it flips its updates.
Rory stood next to Raveena with both arms wrapped tightly around her in a sudden hug.
"I'm gonna miss you," she murmured, her voice muffled against Raveena's shoulder. "It's gonna be so lonely sleeping without you next bunk over."
Raveena let out a chuckle. "I'm not vanishing into the mountains, Rory. It's just a few days."
"But still!" Rory clung a little tighter. "Your ghost might visit me in my dreams and say mean things about cardio."
"Probably," Raveena teased. "And you'll deserve it."
From behind, Professor Vask cleared her throat. "Alright, simmer down, cub. She can just bring you back a souvenir or two if that'll shut your whimpering."
Rory gasped. "Really?!" then she turned wide-eyed to Raveena. "You will?!"
"I—I mean—yeah? Probably?" Raveena stammered out.
Rory's tail started to wag. "Then I'll pass the time so well I won't even notice how long you've been gone!"
"Just don't get your hopes up too much, I'll… just find something that I think is good enough for you," Raveena responded before she glanced sideways at Professor Vask. "That reminds me, what kind of place are we staying in?"
Professor Vask raised a brow. "Why? Worried I'll snore?"
Raveena shrugged. "I just don't want to end the day sharing a room with—"
"You are sharing a room with your teacher," Professor Vask replied flatly. "We're professor and assistant, remember?"
Raveena scowled. "There goes any hope of peaceful nights."
Rory grinned. "Ooh, what kind of room is it, though? Like, a really fancy suite? Or is it some shady old inn with creaky floors and a single towel?"
Professor Vask rolled her eyes. "It's decent. Clean, private, and good enough to stay in for a few days."
Then she looked over at Raveena, who still wore the face of someone about to be sentenced to mild suffering. "Relax," she added. "We're not sharing a bed. The room's got two. And you better thank me, because getting that setup cost me an arm and a leg."
Raveena frowned. "Why? You're a speaker. Don't you get special treatment?"
"That is the special treatment. We're staying in one of the venue's private suites. But," she jabbed a thumb in Raveena's direction, "since I'm bringing you along, they made me pay the extra guest fee. So technically, we're getting double the special treatment."
"Embarrassing," Raveena muttered.
"And not a single ounce of gratitude," Professor Vask sighed.
At that, Rory just whistled. "Hey, rooming with your teacher and getting perfume and tailored clothes? Raveena, you're basically royalty now!"
Raveena scoffed. "Yeah, well, I don't think awkwardly sharing a room with my teacher counts as royal."
Professor Vask gave her a side eye. "Live with what I gave you, brat. Didn't take you for the unappreciative type."
"I didn't say I hated it," Raveena answered back. "I'm oh so thankful that my dear professor spent all this money just to make me her assistant."
"Oh so," the professor echoed dryly, hand on her hip.
Then—whooooot!
A train whistle rang out, and it seemed that their train was on its approach.
All three turned their heads, and just down the tracks, the gleaming front of the Rosequartz-bound train pulled into view, wheels screeching gently as it began to slow.
The other passengers along the platform stirred to life, some stretched, some lifted bags, while others checked tickets.
As the steam train hissed to a complete halt, Professor Vask bent down and scooped up both hers and Raveena's luggage bags with ease, one in each hand. Rory, a bit reluctant now, handed Raveena her larger case.
"Here," she said, giving it a small shove toward her. "And hey, if you see Aya? Tell her I said hi, yeah?"
Raveena gave a small smile, clutching the handle. "Yeah… I will."
Professor Vask turned toward Rory and gave her a firm look. "You better get back to the academy after this, alright?"
"Yes, ma'am," Rory replied quickly, tail giving a playful swish. "You two have a safe trip!"
And with that, Professor Vask led the way as they stepped up into the train and made their way down the aisle of the passenger car.
Once inside, they checked their tickets, found their number, and ducked into their assigned cabin. Raveena stored her luggage down below while Professor Vask tucked the lighter cases neatly into the rack above.
When they finished setting things down, they both settled into the seats.
Outside, the last of the passengers shuffled along the platform. Raveena listened quietly to the muted hum of voices and the clack of shoes against the stone floor of the station platform, right outside her window.
After a bit, Raveena reached over, unlatched the small window panel, and slid it open. As soon as the breeze rolled in, she leaned against the frame, resting her chin on her hand.
Down on the platform, she caught sight of Rory scanning the crowd. The fox-folk girl turned in a small circle and then lit up as soon as she saw Raveena poking her head out.
Rory beamed as soon as she spotted her roommate and waved both arms like a flag.
Raveena smiled and slightly waved her hand in return.
The two locked eyes across the brief distance, then mouthed in near-perfect sync:
"Bye!"
"Bye."
Then right after that, Raveena mouthed again: Go home.
Rory read it immediately, and as soon as she understood, she nodded and started to walk away slowly, dragging her feet just a bit toward the station exits.
Raveena watched her for a moment more before she leaned back inside, letting the breeze slip past her as she slid the window shut.
The glass clicked back into place, and she sank fully into her seat. The cushion beneath her was soft, softer than she could remember from a train bench. For a second, she let herself relax, tail curling loosely at her side.
Now comfortable, she looked at Professor Vask, now settled beside her with a newspaper stretched open in one hand. The top of the page read 'The Wonder Times,' and it was already halfway folded like she was only pretending to read it.
"So," Raveena said, "since you're a speaker at the Summit… what're you actually going to talk about?"
Professor Vask didn't respond to her.
Instead, she sighed through her nose, folded the paper up with a flick, and stood. She reached up, opened her luggage, and shuffled through it for a few seconds.
Then she pulled out a slim stack of papers, turned, and handed them down to Raveena.
Raveena looked at her, confused, eyes moving between the pages and her aunt's face.
Professor Vask said nothing as she closed the luggage, returned to her seat, and continued reading her newspaper.
Raveena furrowed her brow, then slowly looked down at the papers in her hands.
She read the first few lines… then a few more.
And then her eyes widened.
"…Wait. Is this real?"