Erule was bored. Very bored. The carriage wasn't quite comfortable enough to sleep in, and asking for more breaks would only prolong the trip. Surely they must be close now. She glanced out the other window again, where the academy should be coming into view. But it was still just trees. At least the other side had an ocean, waves rippling into the sand far below.
She sighed, checked the window again. Then again, again... She heard the coachman laughing. "What?"
"Ah, Miss, nothing. Merely that I can hear your impatience. You'll see it in just a few more minutes, be assured."
A few minutes later, sure enough, her constant checks were rewarded, and not longer after that - a time made shorter by the excitement of it finally being over - she stepped foot onto academy grounds.
She began hurrying towards the front door, looking for a teacher to ask the way to the dorms - and the baths. As she passed through, someone suddenly bumped into her from the side, sending them both sprawling to the floor.
Erule quickly hopped up, her ankle nearly twisting in the process, and turned to slap the impudent- oh, right, that's not a maid. The girl that was slowly picking herself up was clearly another student. Erule, her hand still raised, shouted "where do you think you're looking!?"
The girl paused, her face switching from apologetic to angry. "I was well clear! You were the one rushing in like a maniac! Get out of here before you manage to smack into me again!"
"I might as well just, you liar!" Erule swung her hand down, but her arm was caught, and she turned to see a rather unimpressed man who'd just come up behind her.
"You two are going to be trouble, I see. You can start by shaking hands and introducing yourselves."
"Ugh... I'm Erule Leether." Having had her arm released, she pushed her hand forward. Better to get it done with, she could continue this later if need be.
"Hylia Marlyn, from Dargenia, in the west." She took the hand, shook once, then glanced at the man and strode away.
He sighed. "If I can talk at least one of you out of it... Alright, off you go too."
Erule started walking the opposite direction, then stopped abruptly. "Ah, actually, I'm looking for my room. I want to refresh myself from the trip. Where is it?"
"Ah, go out that door and past the fountain, turn right, then look for the red door. Ask at the desk for your room."
"Thanks."
Her good mood spoiled, Erule found the desk, then finally made it to her assigned room, number 304. There, she found a plain bed, desk, and a plant to decorate. She didn't care much for it, a big pillow would be more her style. But on the bed was an envelope. She opened it, and found a letter, from Daddy.
"Eru, while I am forcing some independence upon you, I'm not planning to cut you off entirely for your time at the academy. For this reason, I'll allow you some spending money; but you must carefully decide how to use it, as it isn't much. Consider what's most important."
"But... Where is the money?" Erule looked across the bed, finding nothing. Glancing around the room, there didn't seem to be a moneybag...- She checked under the bed, and saw it tucked away there. Pulling it out, she began counting. It really wasn't much, she thought. Although she didn't know too much about prices - Daddy bought what she asked for - she had heard some in the process, and asked about others... This was about a week's worth of bath salts.
"Consider what's most important... Wouldn't it be a good bed and bath? The academy wouldn't let the students starve, and I couldn't pay my own meals for three years on this... He didn't say if there's any more coming... But the bed and bath! I can't live without proper rest and relaxation!" Erule jumped up, and strode off to see about going to the shopping district.