#dynamic pricing software

[sciativesolution]

Stop Losing Money: How Revenue Management Systems Prevent Revenue Leakage

Revenue leakage is a silent profit killer that many businesses overlook, but it can cost companies up to 9% of their annual revenue. Whether you're in hospitality, travel, retail, or SaaS, even small pricing errors or missed invoices can lead to massive financial losses over time.

In a world where profit margins are thin and competition is fierce, preventing revenue leakage is not optional—it's essential.

This is where an AI-powered Revenue Management System (RMS) like ZettaPrice comes in. From dynamic pricing to automated invoicing, RMS software can seal the leaks and boost your bottom line. In this blog, we’ll explore how a robust revenue management solution can transform financial performance across industries.

✅ What Is Revenue Leakage?

Revenue leakage refers to the unnoticed loss of potential revenue due to inefficiencies, manual errors, or poor pricing strategies. Common causes include:

Incorrect or inconsistent pricing

Contract non-compliance

Billing inefficiencies or missed invoices

Mismanaged discounts and promotions

Poor data visibility and tracking

🔍 Revenue leakage affects 42% of companies—costing businesses an average of 9% of total sales annually. The worst part? It often goes undetected until the damage is done.

🧠 What Is a Revenue Management System (RMS)?

A Revenue Management System is a data-driven, AI-powered software solution that helps businesses:

Optimize pricing based on market demand and competition

Forecast demand and adjust inventory or services accordingly

Automate critical revenue processes (e.g., invoicing, contract compliance, and discount approvals)

Detect and plug revenue gaps before they escalate

Popular in hotels, airlines, retail, and subscription-based businesses, an RMS ensures you’re not leaving money on the table.

🔐 How to Prevent Revenue Leakage Using Revenue Management Software

Here’s how an advanced revenue optimization software like ZettaPrice RMS helps businesses detect, prevent, and eliminate revenue leakage:

1. AI-Powered Dynamic Pricing

Adjust prices in real time based on market trends, competitor pricing, and demand.

Prevent underpricing or over-discounting that erodes profit margins.

Maximize revenue during high-demand periods without sacrificing customer satisfaction.

2. Contract and Compliance Monitoring

Automatically track contract terms, service-level agreements, and payment cycles.

Flag discrepancies, missed invoices, or unapproved discounts.

Ensure full revenue recognition from every agreement.

3. Demand Forecasting and Inventory Optimization

Use predictive analytics to forecast customer demand with high accuracy.

Minimize stockouts and overstocking—both major causes of revenue loss.

Optimize resource allocation and reduce holding costs.

4. Identifying Revenue Gaps and Errors

Real-time dashboards highlight where revenue is leaking and why.

Actionable insights help you fix issues proactively instead of reacting later.

Improve financial reporting and transparency.

🚀 Benefits of Implementing a Revenue Management System

1. Increased Profitability

With smart pricing strategies, businesses can ensure they’re charging the right price at the right time. This boosts revenue without alienating customers.

📌 Example: Hotels using RMS increase RevPAR (Revenue per Available Room) by adjusting room prices during peak and off-peak seasons.

2. Improved Operational Efficiency

Manual revenue tracking and billing are prone to errors. Automation through RMS helps:

Save time and reduce human errors

Standardize pricing and billing processes

Ensure regulatory compliance

📌 Example: Airlines use RMS to automate fare updates, reducing fare leakage due to outdated pricing.

3. Enhanced Customer Experience

Personalize pricing and promotions using customer data.

Improve conversion rates and brand loyalty.

Deliver better value to different customer segments.

📌 Example: E-commerce retailers apply dynamic discounts based on browsing behavior and purchase history.

4. Competitive Advantage

Stay one step ahead by responding to market changes in real time. With RMS:

React instantly to competitor pricing

Maintain market share without sacrificing margin

Improve price transparency and customer trust

5. Smarter, Data-Driven Decisions

Access to real-time analytics empowers your teams to:

Identify new revenue opportunities

Predict churn in subscription models

Avoid pricing blind spots and inefficiencies

📌 Example: SaaS platforms use RMS data to prevent downgrades and maximize lifetime customer value.

🧩 Why Choose ZettaPrice RMS to Prevent Revenue Leakage?

ZettaPrice Revenue Management System is a cutting-edge solution designed to plug revenue gaps and increase profitability. It helps your business:

✅ Dynamically optimize pricing using AI & machine learning ✅ Eliminate revenue loss from underpricing or outdated rates ✅ Automate invoicing, billing, and discount tracking ✅ Monitor contracts and ensure compliance ✅ Uncover hidden revenue opportunities using data analytics

ZettaPrice RMS is ideal for industries like:

Hotels and Resorts

Online Travel Agencies (OTAs)

Retail Chains & E-commerce

SaaS and Subscription Services

With ZettaPrice, you don’t just stop revenue leakage—you unlock long-term financial stability and growth.

🏁 Conclusion: Seal the Leaks Before It’s Too Late

Revenue leakage is preventable—but only if you have the right tools. In today’s data-driven world, investing in a revenue management system is no longer a luxury but a necessity. With AI-powered software like ZettaPrice RMS, you can:

Prevent revenue losses

Improve operational efficiency

Gain a competitive advantage

Maximize profitability

Don’t wait until your profits vanish through cracks you can’t see.

👉 Start your journey to leak-free revenue with ZettaPrice RMS today!

[priceintelguru]

Explore the essentials of dynamic pricing in this comprehensive guide, covering key strategies, benefits, and examples. Perfect for businesses looking to optimize pricing models and boost revenue.

[pricepointca]

Real-Time Dynamic Pricing Tool for the Hotel Industry

Need an automated revenue management system for the hotel industry? Try out Pricepoint, a real-time dynamic pricing platform; it keeps your business ahead of the line, & helps it grow effectively.

[precium1]

Optimising Revenue with Smart Dynamic Pricing for Hotels

Mastering Dynamic Pricing Strategies for Accommodations

Learn how dynamic pricing can transform your room revenue. Discover proven strategies, tools, and tips to master real-time rate optimisation.

In the ever-evolving world of hospitality, pricing is more than a number — it’s a strategy. With customer behaviour and market conditions changing in real time, static pricing models not the right choice to improve profitability. That’s where Dynamic Pricing comes in.

This blog will help you understand what dynamic pricing is, why it’s vital for Hotel Industry, and how to implement it effectively to maximise Revenue and Profitability.

What Is Dynamic Pricing?

Dynamic pricing means fluctuations in the price points depending on various factors like Seasonality, Demand Levels, Market Condition, Socio-economic situation, Weather Forecast, etc. All the other Rates are derived from the parent rate. When we fluctuate the parent rate, all the rate plans connected to the parent rate plan will update automatically.

Latest trends shows offline Travel Agents & Negotiated Corporate clients are also moving to Dynamic Pricing model.

Benefits of Dynamic Pricing

Maximise ADR over High Demand days/period

Maximise RevPAR through Occupancy over Low Demand days/period

Time saving- update only parent rate plan, all the derived rate plans will update automatically

Low probability of making a mistake while updating Price Points

Key Factors That Influence Pricing

Pricing decisions should be based on data-driven insights. Key variables include:

Demand trends (holidays, events, weather)

Booking windows (how far in advance people book)

Competitor pricing (Monitor fluctuating price points)

Inventory levels (room availability)

Market segments (Corporate vs Leisure, Groups vs FIT, Social vs Business)

Proven Dynamic Pricing Strategies for Hotels & Rentals

✅ Use Price Sensitivity to Guide Changes

Understand how price-sensitive your guests are. For example, leisure travellers are more responsive to discounts, while business travellers may prioritise convenience over cost.

✅ Set Rate differentiated Pricing

Create and Implement Retail Pricing Strategy to cater to a larger target Audience. Example:

Advance Purchase Rate with non-refundable cancellation policy at a discounted Rate for Early bookers.

Minimum LOS Rate at a discounted Rate for bookers staying for a longer stay.

Value add-ons Add Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Spa, etc to create a value Package

✅ Monitor Competitor Pricing

Monitoring Competitor Price Point fluctuations gives us an indication of the Market Demand Levels. Automated Rate Shopping Tool helps the Hotels to keep a close watch on Competitor Pricing behaviour.

Conclusion

Mastering dynamic pricing is about being proactive, strategic, and data-driven. When done right, it empowers you to:

Maximise RevPAR

Improve profitability during both peak and off-peak periods

Whether you’re managing a boutique hotel, a resort, or short-term rentals, embracing dynamic pricing is critical.

Need help implementing dynamic pricing for your property?

Collaborate with RedSKY Hospitality revenue management specialists or take advantage of Precium Automated Pricing Solutions to maximise your property’s Revenue potential.

[bilbobagginsomebabez]

is anybody else upset that instead of authors' unions and the development of labor power, every ounce of discourse and effort towards writers making a living wage is geared towards digital intellectual property rights and digital theft protection. like i don't know about anybody else but I am actually not excited for major publishing companies to be algorithmically searching for and DMCA striking books that are "similar enough" to their copyright. I don't trust AI to be able to tell when something is adulterated metadata vs when something is just very similar. I fucking hate DRM already. I hate buying a book and either being restricted in use of my property or taking it through multiple complicated steps to remove it for an epub file compatible with calibre, where I can file and tag it appropriately.

and i don't think we're going to find any kind of salvation for writers and writing this way. I think we're going to launch another digital arms race (like with removing DRM) while continuously empowering the already wealthy to consolidate power and crush meaningful change through slap suits and the like.

and this is because digital theft is the only problem that the publishing industry is willing to address. because strengthening intellectual property protections doesn't protect art or artists, it allows the big players to better control the playing field and force it to benefit themselves.

Okay, this may prove useful.

[chloedecker0]

Maximizing Retail Profits: Harnessing B2B Price Optimization Software

In the ever-evolving world of retail and e-commerce, businesses are constantly seeking ways to gain a competitive edge. Among the many strategies employed, B2B Price Optimization and Management Software stands out as a game-changer. Price optimisation and management (PO&M) software solutions enable businesses to oversee and optimize the prices of their goods and services. These services also provide a growing range of sales intelligence advice, such as best-next-action suggestions and customer churn warnings. In the industry, vendors either focus on back-office price management and product management roles, or they focus on providing real-time sales intelligence to sales representatives and B2B digital commerce websites, or both. Quadrant Knowledge Solutions, a leading global advisory and consulting firm, has recognized the significance of this technology in their report, “B2B Price Optimization and Management Applications, 2023”. Quadrant Knowledge Solutions focuses on helping clients in achieving business transformation goals with Strategic Business, and Growth Advisory Services. 

Download the sample report of Market Share: B2B Price Optimization and Management Software

Understanding the Retail and E-commerce Landscape 

The retail and e-commerce industry is a highly dynamic and competitive space. Companies within this domain face the continuous challenge of pricing their products right to maximize profitability while staying attractive to their customers. In this context, pricing becomes a critical element of their strategy. Let's delve into some of these challenges: 

Rapidly Changing Market Dynamics: Retail and e-commerce markets are highly volatile, with ever-shifting consumer preferences and market trends. Adapting to these changes in real-time is essential to stay competitive. Without the right tools, businesses risk making pricing decisions that are out of sync with market realities. 

Intense Competition: In retail and e-commerce, competition is fierce. With numerous players offering similar products or services, pricing becomes a key differentiator. Setting prices too high can drive customers away, while pricing too low can erode profit margins. 

Complex Supply Chain and Cost Structures: The retail and e-commerce sector often deals with complex supply chain operations and cost structures. Understanding the true costs associated with a product or service is essential for setting optimal prices. Traditional methods of cost calculation can be time-consuming and error-prone. 

Customer Behaviour and Expectations: Today's consumers are more informed and price-sensitive than ever before. Their buying behaviour can change rapidly in response to various factors, including promotions, discounts, and market trends. Retailers must be agile in responding to these changes. 

Competitor Pricing Strategies: Keeping a constant eye on competitor pricing is crucial. Businesses need to respond promptly to pricing moves made by competitors to remain competitive. Manual tracking and analysis of competitor pricing are arduous and inefficient processes. 

Download the sample report of Market Forecast: B2B Price Optimization and Management Software

B2B Price Optimization and Management Software: A Necessity 

B2B Price Optimization and Management Software is the solution to these challenges. This technology leverages advanced algorithms, data analytics, and real-time market insights to help businesses make data-driven pricing decisions. It empowers retail and e-commerce companies to optimize their prices efficiently while taking into account factors like demand fluctuations, competitor pricing, and customer behaviour.

Talk To Analyst: https://quadrant-solutions.com/talk-to-analyst

[ajitsinghagami]

Revolutionizing Precious Metal E-Commerce: Agami Technologies’ Dynamic Spot Prices

[sciativesolution]

Hotel Competitor Analysis: A Complete Guide for Revenue Management

Introduction

The hospitality industry is evolving rapidly, and hotel competition is fiercer than ever. Hotels that fail to adapt to market trends, guest expectations, and competitor pricing strategies risk losing market share and revenue. This is where hotel competitor analysis becomes a game-changer. It delivers crucial insights into dynamic pricing in hospitality, occupancy rates, hotel marketing strategies, and guest experience trends.

A comprehensive competitive intelligence strategy empowers hoteliers to improve offerings, optimize revenue, and outperform rivals. In this guide, we’ll explore what hotel competitor analysis is, why hotel revenue management needs it, how to identify your competitors, how AI in hospitality transforms it, and how a pricing intelligence tool like Zettaprice can help.

What is Hotel Competitor Analysis?

Hotel competitor analysis is the process of collecting, monitoring, and analyzing data about hotels that compete in the same market. The goal is to understand their pricing models, revenue strategies, customer reviews, and marketing campaigns to fine-tune your hotel’s positioning.

Key components include:

Identifying direct and indirect hotel competitors

Tracking hotel pricing strategies and discounts

Monitoring hotel online reputation management

Studying distribution channels and OTA strategies

Analyzing service offerings, amenities, and guest feedback

Understanding the competitive landscape helps hotels use revenue optimization software and hotel pricing software to make data-driven decisions.

Why is Competitive Intelligence Crucial in the Hotel Industry?

1. Optimize Hotel Pricing Strategy

Hotel pricing must adapt to changing demand. With competitive pricing analysis, hotels can monitor real-time rates and adjust prices dynamically to stay competitive and profitable.

Example: If a competitor lowers prices due to low occupancy, a hotel can use dynamic hotel pricing software to decide whether to match, undercut, or enhance value instead.

2. Improve Guest Experience Using Competitor Insights

Travelers rely heavily on hotel reviews and social proof. Analyzing competitor feedback on platforms like TripAdvisor or Google Reviews reveals service gaps and improvement opportunities.

Example: If a rival gets poor feedback on slow check-ins, your hotel can highlight faster check-ins as a USP.

3. Boost Hotel Occupancy Rates

Understanding when and why competitors have high occupancy helps shape demand-based pricing, seasonal promotions, and value-added packages.

Example: During local festivals, if a competitor fills rooms quickly, create festival-centric offers and promote via hotel digital marketing.

4. Gain Competitive Edge

Competitive intelligence tools allow hotels to anticipate market changes and guest preferences. They help adopt sustainable travel trends, tailor hospitality pricing strategies, and offer exclusive services to stand out.

How to Identify Your Hotel Competitors?

1. Direct Competitors

These are hotels with similar pricing, amenities, customer base, and location.

2. Indirect Competitors

Alternatives like Airbnb, serviced apartments, or boutique stays that target similar travelers.

3. Aspirational Competitors

Premium or luxury hotels you benchmark against for innovation and service excellence, even if they’re in a different tier.

4. Emerging Competitors

New entrants, renovated properties, or tech-savvy competitors implementing AI hotel technology or automated pricing tools.

How AI Transforms Hotel Competitive Intelligence

1. Real-Time Hotel Price Tracking

AI-powered price intelligence tools like Zettaprice analyze rates across OTAs, metasearch engines, and direct websites. Hotels can instantly react to pricing changes and optimize rates for profitability.

2. Guest Sentiment Analysis

AI interprets thousands of guest reviews, extracting key sentiments around service, cleanliness, amenities, and staff behavior.

Example: If competitor reviews mention poor room cleanliness, you can highlight your hotel’s hygiene standards in marketing.

3. Accurate Demand Forecasting

Using AI, hotels can predict future demand by analyzing booking patterns, event calendars, weather, and economic indicators—resulting in precise rate recommendations and revenue management automation.

4. Marketing Intelligence

AI tracks competitors' digital advertising efforts, SEO keywords, social media campaigns, and content strategy. Hotels can replicate successful tactics or pivot to underserved channels.

5. Automation for Efficiency

AI replaces manual tracking with dashboards, real-time alerts, and hotel business intelligence tools—saving time and increasing decision-making speed.

How Zettaprice Enhances Hotel Competitor Analysis

Zettaprice is an AI-powered hotel pricing optimization tool designed to automate and enhance competitive rate analysis. It enables:

Real-time competitor price tracking

Dynamic rate recommendations

Historical trend analysis

Seamless integration with OTAs and PMS

Actionable insights through automated dashboards

By using Zettaprice’s pricing intelligence, hotels can reduce revenue leakage, adapt faster to market shifts, and improve RevPAR (Revenue per Available Room).

👉 Outsmart the competition — See Zettaprice in action!

Conclusion

Hotel competitor analysis is no longer optional—it’s essential for success in today’s data-driven hospitality landscape. By leveraging AI-driven pricing software, competitive benchmarking, and guest sentiment analysis, hoteliers can make smarter, faster decisions. Tools like Zettaprice give your property the edge to thrive in competitive markets, elevate guest satisfaction, and unlock sustained profitability.                                                                                                         

To know more visit- https://sciative.com/research-articles/hotel-competitor-analysis-a-complete-guide

[priceintelguru]

In today’s hyper-competitive landscape, pricing isn't just about being cheaper—it's about shaping consumer behavior and redefining market dynamics. Uncover how strategic price competition influences purchasing decisions, brand loyalty, and market positioning across industries.

[pricepointca]

Easiest Way to Calculate Average Room Rates

Looking for a smarter way to calculate average room rates? Try out Pricepoint, a real-time price optimization engine that automatically updates room prices, & helps you boost your revenue.

[h-ri123intelegain456]

Singapore, December 13, 2023 – Intelegain Technologies, a leading provider of IT solutions and services, is proud to announce its comprehensive portfolio of Microsoft Dynamics 365 services aimed at helping businesses in Singapore unlock the full potential of this powerful cloud-based platform.With a dedicated team of Microsoft Dynamics 365 experts, Intelegain provides a wide range of services to support businesses throughout their Dynamics 365 journey, including:Consultancy: Intelegain helps businesses assess their current needs and develop a customized roadmap for implementing or optimizing their Dynamics 365 solution. Implementation: Intelegain provides expert implementation services to ensure a smooth and efficient rollout of Dynamics 365, minimizing disruption and maximizing user adoption. Upgrades/Migration: Intelegain assists businesses with seamless upgrades and migrations to the latest version of Dynamics 365, ensuring they benefit from the latest features and functionalities. Support: Intelegain offers ongoing support to ensure businesses get the most out of their Dynamics 365 investment, providing technical assistance, training, and troubleshooting. “We are excited to

[cymetrixsoftware]

HOW DOES AI POWER PERSONALIZED SHOPPING FOR CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE?

Have you ever wondered how online retailers can offer you the perfect products that match your preferences and needs? The answer lies in the incredible power of Artificial Intelligence. By harnessing the capabilities of AI, personalized shopping experiences have become the norm, revolutionizing the way we shop.

Now, let's take a look at the role of AI in personalized shopping for customer experience:

AI-driven Virtual Assistants for Personalized Experience

Hyper-Personalization: Delivering Relevant Recommendations

Efficient Fulfillment: Streamlining Order Processing and Delivery

Dynamic Pricing: Tailoring Offers to Individual Customers

Inventory Optimization: Anticipating Demand and Reducing Waste

To learn more, continue reading about how AI powers personalized shopping for customer experience.

[diceramblesaboutocs]

Undirected Connection || Idia x Reader || Chapter 1

Prologue

Author’s note: wow I actually updated. :) Also the mandatory: English isn't my native language so...

Rating: Teen Pairing: Idia/Reader Words: 3 884 Tags: GenderNeutral Reader - Reader is from Ignihyde - Cat and mouse chase dynamic - minimal editing - I just try to write stuff - no beta, we die like men

The Board Game club. A place for introverts alike to find their voice as they played against other students, something that they all had in common so they had something to talk about. Or for people who like to stay one jump ahead of everyone else, like Azul Ashengrotto, the housewarden of Octavinelle. In the whole college, there was no more ruthless businessman. Strategy games? Be ready to be dominated by the cephalo-punk (as Savanaclaw's housewarden called him). Or witness him develop the best technique to throw the dice so he would always land the favorable numbers for his turn in a game of chance. Either way not many people were willing to play against him. Other than Idia, who could give a good fight and occasionally even win. It was a battle of equal wit and smarts. A match to witness.

But this evening, Idia found himself struggling. Not because of the game but because Azul's newest obsession and he needed Idia's help.

“Just name your price and we can negotiate.” Azul's clear and benevolent voice slithered towards Idia, like a seawitch's tentacles wrapping around someone valuable.

“No.” For once Idia didn't stutter. Maybe it was because they were in the middle of a game, one of his favorite games in fact. The Court of Wonders, a board game of horror and mystery, taking place in an old gothic city based on Fleur City. Fully cooperative, roleplaying puzzle game with combat and story campaigns where the player characters could investigate, fight eldritch beings, die or worse, go insane and start sabotaging the fellow players. Idia had been so excited when he got the newest expansion for the game that he brought it to the club without a second thought. He had done the prep work for it ahead of time. He had a mental list of how he would convince Azul to play the game with him.

But he didn't need the list. Azul had accepted the choice of game way too easy. And now he knew why.

Azul let out a hefty sigh, trying to tug on Idia's heartstrings. Who would help the helpless, benevolent housewarden of Octavinelle? “You do understand that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity?”

Idia's brows knitted together in frustration as he gestured towards the game hoping that Azul would give up. “For you, now play your turn.”

“And I’m willing to compensate for your efforts. I’m not just a decent businessman, I'm a benevolent one!” The silver haired businessman smiled with controlled brightness, very sure of himself that he would eventually tear down Idia's defenses.

“Azul, it’s your move. What will your character do? We could really use more clues.”

“Listen, Idia, you aren’t understanding the gravity of the losses I’m having here. Through this Litae, I could be making thousands of thaumarks.”

To use his superior technical skills to locate one sorry student who had piqued Azul's attention? If anything, that sounded low tier D rank quest. Idia had better things to do than that. “I can make you a voice generation software, just play your turn.” He had already done the text-to-speech app for the presentations on the Culture event, doing a voice generation on top of that would be a piece of cake. He could look through the best voice banks and implement those to the learning algorithm. He would actually create something, not spy on someone's online activity.

Azul wagged his finger in front of him in protest. “No, no. That won’t do. I need the real deal.”

Why couldn't Azul just let it be? “I’m not going to use my free time to chase after some weird online voice.” The tips of Idia's hair started to shift their hue to more orange as his frustration started to morph into anger.

The change didn't go unnoticed by Azul. “... Very well, I didn’t want to do this, Idia, but you leave me no choice. Jade.” He looked at the door out of the classroom and Idia instinctively followed with his eyes to see the tall eel man with the most gentlemanly demeanor that hid something deep and dangerous beneath it.

The teal haired henchman gave his most polite smile to Idia, who's hair seemed to turn a bit paler in fear. “Yes, Azul.”

Before Azul could even give his orders to lynch the blue haired mage, tha panic had settled in Idia's mind. “Were you waiting for him to call you in like that?! Like some sort of BBEG?!”

“Jade here has some very interesting information on you, it would be a shame if someone made it public knowledge…” Azul crossed his hands in front of him and leaned in a bit, smiling deviously.

“... Wait wait, why are you taking this so seriously? Chill, dude, don’t you think you are going a little bit overboard with this? Like zero chill.” Idia saw how Azul loved to see him squirm under the pressure. He wasn't eager to let his browser history or his other cringe interested to be public knowledge. He was already half-way in becoming a social pariah, he really didn't need a boost for that.

“I just wanted to make sure that you understand how serious I am about this, Idia.” The merchant of the depths said his name with a singsong tune, happy about his victory in this game. “Shees, I wish I could report you. … Fine.” Idia sighed and slumped in his chair, cursing the cephalo-punk in his mind.

“I’m glad we got into an understanding. Let’s discuss the details of payment.” Azul pulled a very official looking paper out of his bag, tapping it gingerly with an expensive onyx ballpoint pen.

***

It wasn't only the day for the Board Game club to gather, but also for the Film Research Club. All the members were busy with their newest project, a horror short film with stylized visuals and extravagant setting. Using the Night Raven College Campus for the setting was ideal, as the tall castle set the mood to the correct base line. [Y/N] loved the project idea. Even though their little family quirk could be used in many ways in performative art forms such as acting or singing, they loved creating stuff with their hands. It was a creative outlet, where their form or sound of their voice mattered little. Only what they created mattered and they poured their heart and soul into them.

They had just finished creating the base for a miniature hill with a large and bare tree on top and was preparing a glue mixture to cover it with. This served as the adhesive for the dirt, gravel and small pebbles. Vil had been very particular about the color of the ground so [Y/N] had to collect right colored rocks that could be grinded down to smaller size to fit the criteria. It was lot of work, but it was worth it. They would never admit it, but getting praise for a job well done from Schoenheit made them feel very proud of themselves.

While other members were busy with costume designs and hunting down the era specific props, [Y/N] had the workshop class all on their own. The Film Research club had used its funding to get all sorts of tools and smaller scale machines to help with the production, ranging from sewing machines to sawing machines. The big windows of the old classroom made sure the daylight filled the room and gave the best light to compare colors in different environments. Two huge workshop tables occupied the center of the room, the other now filled with all the tools [Y/N] would need for the miniature setting.

“And here is the last stop of the introductions." Vil's clear voice echoed clearly from the hallway as he opened the workshop door completely. Behind him floated a familiar figure to all Ignihyde students, Ortho. Idia's "little brother". A technomantic humanoid, a marvel of scientific potential. He seemed to scan around the workshop quickly, eager to take in everything he saw. Vil on the other hand didn't waste time as he strut with decisive steps to [Y/N]. "This is [Y/N], they are in charge of the special effects, practical and computer graphics. But as you know, the film industry is so saturated with CG that people like to see something real and tangible.”

As Ortho's face recognition verified that indeed, [Y/N] was part of the Film Research club, his eyes smiled. “Ah, [Y/N]! I was told that I wouldn’t be the only student from Ignihyde.”

[Y/N] lowered their headphones and gave a quick wave of hand to Ortho with a small smile. “Oh yeah, I did hear you joined the club.”

“Yes, I hope to understand human emotions better and be better at emoting them to others. I got special permission to enroll as a student here so I hope to be a good underclassman for you.” The young humanoid was eager to explain the situation, embodying the very essence of child-like curiosity.

[Y/N] gave a small laugh. They enrolled in NRC the same year as Idia, so it was weird to think Ortho as an underclassman. “... You have been here as long as I have been so I wouldn’t exactly say that you are an underclassman in that sense. But it is nice to see you excited about this.” Now that they thought about it more, Ortho seemed different compared to their first year. His movements and speech had evolved to be more natural, and one could see him hover alone at times, asking questions. Maybe he was trying to make sense of life even back then. But one had to admit, he seemed even more different now. [Y/N] wondered what had triggered it.

Ortho nodded enthusiastically, his eyes looking past [Y/N] and fixating on the miniature base model. “What are you working on?”

“As our current project is a short horror movie inspired by old school movies, we asked [Y/N] to create sets and effects to work in that context.” Vil was quick to take the center stage again, now looking at the work in progress on the table too.

“Yeah, what Vil said. This here will be a miniature set for an establishing shot for the movie.” Feeling already proud because of Vil's words, [Y/N] gestured towards the project. The little gray pebbles were now neatly placed as naturally as possible on the base, waiting for the glue to cure.

Barely audible sound of scanning took place as Ortho leaned closer to the project on the table. “Ooh, yes, I can see it now. You use hard foam as a base and then add details and such with other materials like polymer clay, artificial miniature grass and foliage to make it look like the actual environment. I’m familiar with it as I used to help my brother work on Pirates of Treasure Planet figures and battle arenas.”

The mentioning of the popular miniature strategy game made [Y/N]'s smile wider as the nostalgia flowed into their mind. “That’s pretty much where I picked it myself too. Well I didn’t play the game myself, but my older brother too used to be a huge fan of the game when he was younger.” Their brother let them help with painting the figures and designing the battle arenas that they then took to the local comic book store. The game itself seemed quite deep and complex, [Y/N] was more interested in the creative aspect of the hobby than actually playing the game. “I see.” Ortho smiled.

Vil took a moment to look at the clock on his phone. “That said, have you informed the art club of our order?”

[Y/N] nodded, reaching out for their notes in their bag. As they grabbed the notepad, they could feel as the bag vibrated gently on silent. There was so many notifications coming a long. As soon as the club time was over, they would have their work be cut out for them. But every request would be a step closer to Wonderlink console. “Yes, I delivered the offer and advised them to send portfolios in the club email address. Right now there are couple applications but I haven’t checked them any further. I wait for couple more to arrive.”

“Very well. Forward the best candidates to me as soon as possible.” Vil would quickly take a look at his face through the front camera and then type a message to someone. He really was a busy and wanted person. Always going and reaching for new heights. One could hope to have such passion for everything that they did.

Ortho looked at Vil and then at [Y/N], trying to make sense of the conversation. [Y/N] gave a small shrug, it wasn't really a secret. “Candidates for matte painting for the background of this miniature set.”

“How exciting, you guys hire people from other clubs to work for the projects too?”

“Making films are collaborative efforts, dear Ortho. To get the best film, we need the best talent. Depending on the project, we might need a very wide range of talents to help with it.” Vil gave his signature pose whenever he was offering advice to anyone who just happened to be listening.

Ortho nodded and processed the information for a moment. “Say [Y/N], would it be okay for me to come to such meetings sometimes. I would like to know how these kinds of things really work in real life.”

“I don’t see a harm in that.” The idea didn't seem bad at all. Having someone like Ortho with such appointments would probably be very beneficial. He was an information bank and most likely had cameras installed into him. If some other student started to be too much of an arrogant bitch, they would have evidence. You never knew with students of Night Raven College, the S-rank troublemakers.

“Ah yes, the best way to learn acting and how people talk to each other is in the natural setting. I will allow it.” Vil gave his blessing, which meant that it was more than okay.

“Thank you!” Ortho beamed at Vil and turned back to [Y/N], his eyes fixating on their bag on the table. “Someone is really trying to reach you there. It is barely audible, but my sensors pick up vibration in frequency that would indicate that your phone is getting notifications.”

“Ah, sorry. Yeah, it is probably my friends sharing weird videos on magicam.” [Y/N] said as they pulled their phone out of the bag, the well worn phone charm dangling from it. A graphic presentation of constellations inside a silhouette shaped like a pegasus embellished with silver lines, giving it a look of an enamel pin.

The eyes of the young technomatic humanoid widen in recognition. “Is that the pegasus star system logo from Star Rogue?”

“Oh, yeah, it is.” [Y/N] moved the phone closer to Ortho, showing the small phone charm to him. It was an old charm, but it was beautiful. You rarely saw phone charms anymore, the smart phones rarely had any way to tie one on them. Even now, the old Star Rogue charm was looped around a self-made hole in the phone case.

“Me and Idia used to play that a lot when we were kids. It is one of my all time favorite games ever.”

Of course they would have played it. It was a cult classic. A legend of a game. The story, the graphics and the game mechanics were revolutionary when it was published. “It is a classic! I have played it too many times already, even tho I’m not that good at bullet hell games.” [Y/N] added.

“Maybe someday I can get Idia show you the no-death meteor run!” Ortho seemed more than happy to ask his brother to do that. Though [Y/N] had their doubts, it was already a rare sight to see the housewarden outside his room. Once in a full moon, the older Shroud emerged from his cave of a room and even then he tried not to draw any attention to him. Maybe he really just played all day and night in his room. Well, they could not be too mad about it, Idia still held best marks when it came to tests in school. Expect physical education. He really struggled with that.

“Oh, he has managed that? Serious props to him.” [Y/N] had to admit. It was a pretty amazing feat.

***

The cup noodles became too soggy again. Idia snarled but food was food and he had to eat something. Served him right as he got too immersed in the third volume of Sled Over Heels. It wasn't the newest anime around and the manga was only retelling of the anime, but the original creators were part of the writing process and he saw it 100%. Maybe one day he would learn to put on a timer and not trust his own judgement when 3 minutes had passed.

He sat into his gaming chair, the signed agreement generating damage over time, area of effect debuffing him, reminding him to do his "job". Major L. The agreement and the soggy noodles.

Fortunately, Ortho let himself into his big brother's room, enthusiastic as ever. “Hey Idia! How was the board game club today?”

“Ah, Ortho… It was a drag really… Azul was being crazy obsessed by some mystery entrepreneur and pretty much blackmailed me to help him locate them.” Idia didn't even look at Ortho's entrance, slurping on his meal and glaring at the official paper hoping it would burst into flames just then and there.

The smaller Shroud's eyes filled with worry and he approached Idia. “... You can’t let him do that. I will go to the Octanivelle dorm and have a chat with him.” He would. If no one else was his brother's friend and protector, he would be. It might have been his programming or the fact that his personality was based on Idia's dead younger brother, but he was always worried about him. Idia was quick to bend to his fate, whatever it may be. The depression and the social anxiety had him almost immobilized, and Ortho didn't want anything more than his brother to get better and find happiness and friends.

The offer made Idia's social anxiety raise its ugly head. “No, no no, no really, it is fine. I don’t want him to get super salty at me. It is already awkward to go to the club, I don’t really want the added awkwardness on top of that, plz.”

Ortho sighed. “Very well…” If Idia wished him not to say anything, he would respect his wishes. Even if it pained him. As much as it could pain a technomatic humanoid with artificial intelligence. But he wasn't sure if those were once again programmed emotions or was he truly feeling it. He shook his head. It didn't matter. What mattered was that Idia was feeling comfortable.

The silence that was born out of Ortho's submission to his wishes didn't help Idia's anxiety. “But hey, how was your club? The first day of the film study club.”

“Oh it was great! Vil showed me around and introduced me to everyone there. And guess what, I’m not the only Ignihyde student there.” Ortho didn't want to prolong the heavy atmosphere either and he truly felt excited about his day.

“Mm… I suppose there would be someone who would be interested in films here.” The older Shroud leaned back in his chair, trying to remember if there were any loud movie fans in the dorm. Or atleast any he talked to.

“It is [Y/N], they are from Class D of the third year” Ortho floated next to his charging station, preparing the device for the night.

Idia squinted. “... I have no recollection of them.” One would have to have a booming voice and loud opinions or otherwise eye catching for him to actually remember them. Someone like Malleus Draconia or the Leech Twins. Riddle Rosehearts made himself very unforgettable with his scary presence.

“Well anyway, they seemed super cool, and promised to let me observe as they would negotiate with other clubs for the film!”

“That’s pretty MVP behavior.”

“I know, right!”

Idia was happy to see his brother excited and making friends. At least one of them was and Ortho was always the more extroverted one anyway. It fit his character and Idia was content how the things were. Dealing with other people was tiresome and awkward. And with that thought, dealing with the stupid agreement he was blackmailed to agree to.“... Ortho, I would like to you to help me a bit with Azul’s demand. The entrepreneur in question makes personalized greetings for the clients, with the voices of known big wig celebrities or characters. If you could run your detection algorithm over the greeting I get to see if there is any indications of AI generation, patterns or pitches that could give us a lead for the person in question.”

Ortho tilted his head a bit as he assessed the brief. “Sounds doable. I suggest we choose a famous person who is well documented so we can compare the audio data against them.” “Yeah. Hmm… How about Neige LeBlanche? He is pretty popular and active on Magicam so there would be lots of casual footage and professional quality audio to run the tests through.” Even Idia knew who he was, the rivalry between Vil and Neige was almost a meme on its own.

“That’s a good choice!” Ortho beamed and readied his audio sensors for processing the possible information.

Idia took his phone out and started to type in the contact information and request details for this mysterious Litae. The money would not be a problem, but his mind blanked as soon as he reached the request text box. “... What should I ask them to say…” He looked at Ortho.

“How about a good luck shout or encouragement? Or a good night's wish while playing one of their characters from a beloved film?”

“... Let’s go with that.” Who was he to shoot down the suggestion? He didn't have any better ideas. Hopefully this would give enough data that he didn't need to do this again. He typed in the request: "Neige LeBlanche. A good night's wish." He stared at the request details in silence only to admit that he didn't know any films starring Neige LeBlanche. So maybe his actor persona would be enough.

He pressed send and in ten minutes an audio file was sent to his spare email. There was no way he would use his primary email to something like this.

With a swift click of a mouse the audio file was downloaded and it played its contents clearly: “You look so sleepy… haha… maybe you should go to sleep. Don’t worry, I will bake you an apple pie tomorrow. Like I promised. Good night, my dream. Sleep well.”

It really sounded like Neige. No immediate detection of audio artefacts from audio generation. The voice was clear and soft.

And this all made shivers of cringe travel across Idia's back.