Immediately afterward, a glimmer from the ground caught her eye. She bent downward and scooped up a small blue crystal. Upon touching it, she could feel the power contained within. It's a rune, she thought. A Water Rune. Someone must've dropped it.

She then remembered that she had one rune already attached, a Trick Crystal that Juppo claimed he had found in the Dwarven Vault. She wondered if it was possible to attach another rune. If so, she would have someone attach the Water Crystal. She tucked it away into her small carrycase.

She then walked toward the school building. The guest lecturer would be speaking in about half an hour. That would give her plenty of time to look around.

As she glanced about, she saw the familiar symbol of a crystal ball etched into a plaque hanging to the side of a classroom door. Excited, she burst into the room and saw...

And saw... and saw... a bunch of... students. All her age.

Feeling rather disappointed, she turned to leave.

"Excuse me? Is there something you wanted?"

Meg turned around to see a red-headed, blue-eyed, rather handsome boy about her age. He dressed in the standard green blazer that male students wore in Greenhill, accompanied by black slacks and a cream-colored shirt.

"Um, kind of... I saw the sign, and I wanted to get a rune attached..."

"I see you're new here."

"Well, yeah, but-"

"Don't worry. We're all students of rune attaching and removing. I'm proficient in the art. What do you want attached?"

"Well... see?" She reached into her carrycase and reluctantly held out her new Water Crystal. He snatched it from her hand. "Hey! Give that back!"

The boy laughed. "Relax. I just want to get a closer look." He peered at the small crystal carefully before giving his assessment of the item. "It has a few scratches, but nothing that would cause damage to the rune. It's quite possible to attach."

Good, she thought. "Just one thing. I have another rune already and-"

"If you have enough in magical talent, your body can handle two runes. Let me see the other one. Take off your gloves." Meg pulled off her gloves, setting them on a nearby desk, and etched lightly onto the surface of her left palm was a small tattoo shaped like a gear; it was the Trick Rune. "I've never seen a rune like that before."

"It's rare," Meg said, "and it's stuck in my hand."

"Well, I think you're strong enough to handle two runes. Just barely, though. Now close your eyes."

Meg slowly shut her eyes, and she felt a light tap on the palm of her right hand. She forced herself to resist the urge to draw back her hand; it literally felt as if the crystal was driving itself into her hand. Suddenly, it grew cold. Her left hand began to quiver uncontrollably and sharp pangs shot up her left arm. This was a mistake, she thought. A huge mistake. My runes are gonna kill me, I know they are...

"Open your eyes." She did so. The pain and the cold subsided, and her hand did not shake nearly as much as she had imagined. "I had some difficulty getting that in. It seems your other rune has a resistance field to all other runes. It should be okay, though."

"Okay. Thanks." She suddenly stared at the clock. Five minutes after ten! "Oh no! I'm late!" She dashed off, hearing the faint squeaking of Karakuri-maru's wheels at her heels.

"Come back, miss! You still owe me one hundred potch!" He ran after her, then stopped at the door. His words wasted on a determined teenage girl, he leaned against the doorframe, gasping for breath.

"Dammit..."

Meg settled into the spacious lecture hall. The lecturer, a man named Genba Futou, shot her a strange look when she first entered. She explained that she had lost track of time. A rather obnoxious boy, about her age, then burst into laughter. Now he was lying on the ground, fifty percent stripped of his money and one hundred percent unconscious. Apparently Genba didn't take a lot of bull from his potential students, and Meg needed extra money anyway.

She stared at Genba, trying to stay awake. It seemed he had led a rather illustrious life as a machinist, but he wasn't very interesting to listen to. The graying man with piercing hazel eyes, shrouded in blue tunic and black pants, droned on and on and on, as vibrant as his life may have been... Meg suppressed a yawn.

"I am done speaking. Good day to you all."

Meg suddenly stood up. What was he talking about the whole time? she thought. I didn't come here to listen to this. She stepped up to him as the other students exited the hall.

"Excuse me, sir?"

Genba turned to face her. "Yes?"

"You said you were a machinist, right?"

"Correct."

"Well... I'm the niece of Juppo the Trickster. I'm learning gadgetry and... um, I'd like you to teach me a little about it."

"Oh?" His eyes widened slightly, giving off a startled look.

"He wants me to see more of the world before I become his true apprentice, and I could use the extra help."

He stood silently for a minute, considering her words. Finally, he replied. "I don't see why not. I'm busy through all of today, though. Come back tomorrow and I'll teach you. See you at eleven in the morning. Is that fine?"

Meg hopped, smiling, out of pure joy. "Sure! See you then!" She dashed out the door, heading off-campus. As always, Karakuri-maru followed her.

Genba shook his head. "Now I've heard everything..."

Meg rolled over in bed, glancing at the clock. Nine-thirty. Plenty of time to get ready. She leapt out of bed, changing out of her short nightshirt and into her day clothes rapidly. However, she felt rather grimy and sticky. Time for a trip to the on-campus bathhouse.

She slipped out of the quiet, uncrowded inn and headed for the school. As always, Kara followed her. She then stepped into the deserted bathhouse and into the female side. Maybe everyone already took their bath, she thought as she unchanged again. She washed herself off first, freeing her skin of any dirt. She then slid into the hot water, closing her eyes, sighing happily.

Suddenly, Kara emitted a loud beep. Meg's eyes fluttered open, staring at the small robot. Her eyes caught a glance of the clock conveniently on the wall. "OH NO! IT'S FIVE MINUTES TILL! I'M GONNA BE LATE!" she yelled, then she leapt out of the bath, drying herself off with a nearby towel. She then dressed herself at a speed that would make "Blue Lightning" Flik jealous. She started to run out the door, but then her foot slipped and she tumbled into Kara, which in turn flew into the air and smacked into the back wall, then fell directly into the bath water. Sparks shot through the air in random directions from the drenched robot, until it managed to pull itself out... then it sped across the room in circles, shooting sparks everywhere.

"Water... water... water... in... BZZZZ... vicinity..."

Meg shook her head.

"I guess I can forget about learning for another two weeks..."

Genba stared at Karakuri-maru's waterlogged covering. "Well, it is fairly ruined," he said, to Meg's dismay, "but it's well enough to run. However, it will be moving a bit slowly until you get a replacement part for it."

"What needs to be replaced?"

"This... thing." He held out to her a strange gear-like object, only with a pair of outgrowths on the side. Who knew what it was for? But she would find out. She took the object and placed it in her carrycase. "I don't have any replacement parts here, though. You may be able to find what you're looking for in Tworiver. Tworiver is just south of here."

"Can Karakuri-maru still come with me?"

"Of course. It just will run a little bit slower than normal. Now go. When you get the part, come back and I'll help you install it."

"Okay. Bye!" She dashed out the door again, Kara trying to keep up. She waited for it just outside of the gates.

"We are going to Tworiver?" it said.

"Yeah! Now let's go!" She marched out of Greenhill, on her way to a new town, with her robot in tow.