The next morning Jisoo was awakened early by the bells of the clock. She was surprised to discover that during the night she had scooted over next to Moonbyul and wrapped her arms around her. She poked her head up above the duvet and shivered.   "I was right," Moonbyul said, "you're a cuddler. It certainly keeps one warmer during the night." She scooted out from under the duvet and started getting dressed. "I know some of the girls do more than just cuddle, but I don't like to do that. I hope you don't mind."   Jisoo wasn't sure exactly what Moonbyul was talking about, so she just got out of bed and started getting dressed.   Once they were both dressed, they headed down to the dining room.   "Good morning," Wheein said. "It's oatmeal this morning."   The disgusted tone with which Wheein said this led Jisoo to expect the worst of oatmeal. It wasn't actually that bad - a sort of thick, bland porridge, improved greatly by the addition of raisins, cinnamon, and sugar from the platter in the middle of the table.   Once all the students were eating, Madame Park walked in. "Good morning ladies," she said. "Who knows what class you'll be starting with this morning?"   Moonbyul's hand shot up at once, but Madame Park ignored her, waiting for another girl to raise her hand.   Madame Park acknowledged Solar. "First we've got scientific boxing today," the pink-haired woman said, "followed by fencing. Then after lunch we've got geography and current events, followed by a study period before dinner."   "Very good," Madame Park said, clapping her hands daintly. "You'd all do well to pay as much attention to the calendar as Solar does."   Solar looked down the table at Moonbyul and smiled a simpering smile. Moonbyul just looked back at her, blinked a couple of times, then went back to her oatmeal.   ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^   After breakfast they had a short break before classes began, during which Moonbyul showed Jisoo more of the academy.   "Why didn't Madame Park call on you when she asked about the calendar this morning?" Jisoo asked, when they were on the hall containing the guest bedrooms and she was pretty sure they were alone.   Even given the unlikelihood of there being anyone else around, Moonbyul stopped and looked all around her before answering. "It's like I told you last night - Madame's favorites always rise to the top of the class. You've seen it in action now - I knew the answer just as well as Solar, and I knew it faster than she did. But because Madame favors her, she's second from the top of the class, while I'm temporarily second from the bottom."   Jisoo shook her head at the unfairness of it. "What do you mean 'temporarily'?"   "Just you wait," Moonbyul replied. "By the end of the week Madame will have found an excuse to move you up so that I'm at the bottom of the class again." Moonbyul paused for a moment, apparently deep in thought. "The key will be to see whether she moves you up one spot or more than one. If it's just one, then she's probably planning on keeping you down here with me. If it's more than one, then you're on your way to being a favorite, or at least in the top half of the class." Moonbyul looked up at the clock at the end of the hall. "We'd better be heading to class - there are few things Madame dislikes more than tardiness."   They quickly made their way down the stairs, then along the back corridors until they stood before the doorway of the balloom, which until the next ball had been pressed into service as both boxing gym and fencing salle. Rose reached the door at the same time they did, and they all walked in together.   Jisoo couldn't help but stand and look around - she'd never seen anything like this. Stands along one wall held swords of all descriptions. In several places around the room bags hung from stands, awaiting something, though she wasn't sure what. All the other students were already there, wearing padded leather helmets and bulky padded leather gloves.   "Jisoo, get over here!" Moonbyul called.   Jisoo hurried over to an equipment rack at the side of the room, where Moonbyul fitted her with a leather helmet and leather gloves, then started dressing herself in this costume, which was apparently required for scientific boxing.   "Go over by the others," Moonbyul said. "I'll be there as soon as I get my gloves on."   Jisoo walked over to the other students, when her forward progress was sudden stopped by Jennie tapping her in the chest with her glove.   "Hey new girl," Jennie called out. "I dare you punch me in the face."   Jennie had thrown her head back laughing at this, and so didn't see Jisoo draw back her arm and send it flying forward with all of her strength, slamming directly into Jennie's jaw. Jennie staggered back a couple of steps before suddenly sitting down on the pads which apparently marked out the area for boxing practice. More quickly than Jisoo would have thought possible, Jennie was back on her fee