Practice makes perfect.

Sitting on the edge of your bed, you think about how you would even establish such a link without being able to see Harmony. It was easy enough in class when she was sitting right in front of you but this wasn't something Professor Grombrow had gone over with you yet. Trying to clear your mind of other thoughts, you imagine Harmony in her room, possibly sitting on her bed much like yourself. As you concentrate, you fight the urge to think of the well-endowed blond wearing anything other than the school's uniform, her ample chest straining the fabric of her sweater vest.

"No. No. Not like that." You think to yourself. "Don't get distracted."

The image in your mind is ghostly and unclear as you try to reach out with your astral self. Soon the picture of the girl sitting on her bed begins to feel, for lack of a better term, solid. All of the sudden, you sense what you can only describe as a snap in your thoughts and the feeling of something reclaimed.

"A little crude but not altogether terrible." You hear Harmony's voice in your head once more.

"I would think I did pretty good, considering this was my first attempt." You protest with a laugh.

"The idea was simply to contact me and not project an image." She informs you. "But I suppose it will do, given the circumstances."

"An image?" You ask slightly worried at what you may have projected.

"Me, sitting on my bed." She answers you. "The detail could use a little work though."

"So you're an art critic now?" You seize the opportunity to joke with her.

"I could be." She insists. "I probably know more about it than you." Harmony's critiques sound more like friendly banter now.

"Somehow, I don't doubt that." You chuckle. There is a brief pause before you continue. "So, what's your prediction for our next summoning class?"

"Professor Hobbins did say we would spend one more day working with our familiars. It stands to reason it will be about training them to use their abilities or possibly casting spells through them." She says. "What else is there to do with them?"

"Who knows. As soon as I think I have a clue about what to expect, something new comes up." You admit.

"Please. You're only half as dumb as you act." Harmony teases with what is the closest thing to a real laugh you have heard from the girl.

"I guess I'll take that as a compliment, coming from you." You sheepishly laugh back at her.

"Don't go getting a big head over it." She instructs with confidence.

"Will you be at the meeting tomorrow? For the wizard's dueling team." You inquire, feeling more relaxed around her than ever before.

"Of course. You don't take me for a quitter, do you?" She answers you.

"No. I was just wondering if I would get to see you." You admit.

"Just because we share a few classes and I tutored you once, don't go getting any ideas." Harmony scoffs, this time with an obvious laugh, even if only slightly.

"Ideas? What sort of ideas would I be getting?" You take advantage of her current warmth towards you.

"If you don't know, I'm certainly not going to tell you. I guess I'll give you the benefit of the doubt this time." She finally says without a hint of what she meant.

"How generous of you." You joke. "But how am I supposed to improve my art, if I don't get to look at my subject?"

"I was referring to my room." She informs you.

"Ah, so I need to see more of your room is what you're telling me?" You tease before worrying you may have taken it a step too far.

Harmony doesn't immediately answer and the silence coming across the mental link you share is almost palpable. "If you are going to be immature, I think we should call it a night. Besides, it's getting late." While her voice conveys that she has put her guard back up, it isn't altogether unfriendly or its usual cold tone. After another brief pause, she adds. "Good night."

"Good..." You try to respond but Harmony cuts off the mental link before you can finish.