Fire Emblem: Crestfallen | IC

Marlowe

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IMPORTANT LINKS: SIGN-UPS AND OOC THREAD | CHARACTER THREAD

DATE: 28th of the Traveler Moon, Divine Year 781
TIME OF DAY:
Early afternoon
WEATHER: Warm, sunny and clear skies
MENTIONS: @Solace [Mael], @Rouge Rogue [Leonid], @Psyker Landshark [Theodoric]. @Jessica2477 [Lapis], @Nim [Laila], @Astoria [Parthenia], @Demon Shinobi [Alexander]


As summer draws to a close, the lives of a handful of young nobles and commoners have begun to blossom. After several days' travel, they are on the brink of reaching the town proper of Irinduil. Slowly, horse-drawn carriages carrying the heirs, nobility, and commoners of each of the three nations of Musentia, crawl toward the bustling town at the base of the monastery. While they are weary from their journeys, the new students of the Officers Academy are excited for what awaits them upon the plateau. Arching above them lay bright blue skies, in front of them lay the remnants of the Silverspine and the beginnings of their dreams, and behind them blows a gentle tailwind that spurs them toward their futures.

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Mentions: @Demon Shinobi [Alexander], @Nim [Laila]
The crisp, dying summer breeze blew softly, stirring Sherry from a daydream.
Blue-- there was so much blue, it reminded her of the broad blue skies of her home in Grimdall. In Galbia, there were only thin forests and brown mountains that protected them from the sweltering sun, but the people of Fadell and the southern towns Galbia were always blessed with beautiful days. It was chillier here due to the winds that came from Mordlind, and she guessed that the autumn was to be colder than usual. Sherry hoped that the winter wouldn't be brutal, but at the very least they were to be safe there in the monastery. Nevertheless, she already missed her family; her stalwart father, her temperate mother, her ever-bustling uncle, and even her brother, though he was certainly happy to see her gone.
She shoved the venomous thoughts away and shifted her gaze towards the other two in her carriage. Sherry knew of the boy, Alexander. He was the heir of House Ravaleth to the west. They met a couple of times in the past, when they were on the cusp of adolescence. Her father was always keen on forming relations with the other Houses, even the ones in the other nations. That being said, she was aware of most, if not all, the heirs of Musentia. There were rumors that, this year, the Irinduil Monastery would host all of the ten children of the leaders of the ten Houses in Musentia. If that was the case, then where was the heir from House Kirlou?
There was another person in the carriage with them, a blond one that looked rather young. Sherry didn't know her at all. She stunk of simplicity, and, from what she could tell, the girl had no noble blood in her at all. A quick glance at her hands showed that the girl was a fierce worker, a commoner. At the first sight of her, she only scoffed. Of course, it was well within her luck to share a carriage with two people she didn't like. Maybe the presence of House Kirlou's heir would have made Sherry's travel a little bit better.
For now, the carriage rolled along in a very tense state of quiet. Sherry didn't talk to the other two. Instead, she kept her eyes in front of her, pretending that they weren't there. "Keep those you don't know well at arm's length," her father told her before she departed, "you don't know if their hands will hold gifts and grace or a dagger that will pierce your back."
Sherry was always skeptical of her father's skepticism and distrust. Now, however, she was beginning to understand it. These were people she hardly knew. They were probably scrutinizing her as much as she was scrutinizing them. For a moment, she wished that Parthenia was there, or even Theodoric. Even though she'd never, ever admit it, she would probably be much more at ease if they were there. For now, however, her chin was upright, her back straight, her expression blank, her hands folded neatly in her lap, and her emerald eyes cold and distant as they continued to watch the path.
 
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Mentions: Rouge Rogue [Leon]
No amount of banging his head against the carriage walls could numb the feeling of his sanity drifting away by the third day of travel. The first day had been the worst of his sentence. 'Just me, myself, and I,' Maelys Ernst Pleiades had thought to himself as he recalled those grueling hours of staring at the floor. At least, the next afternoon hadn't been so bad; that was when the other one arrived, the one who called himself 'Leon'. He had immediately thrown himself into a lengthy conversation with his only riding compatriot, unaware if his explosive energy after a day's worth of silence had overwhelmed them. "You're Miss Sylmare's heir?!" he had burst into laughter as if Leon had spoken in jest. Except, to the surprise of the young noble, he was not.

Flabbergasted was a mild description of his shock as Mael's eyes gave a second take of the other boy, scanning across his features. Having visited Sylmare a number of times alongside his noble father, Lady Sylmare had always insisted that she did not have any heir, much less children, to her name, a topic that she had been very adamant of. This sudden revelation only piqued more of his interest as their conversation had transformed more into an interrogation, which only raised more questions than it answered. Eventually, he would respect the nature of their acquaintance and refrain from prying further into the manner. 'My investigation will have to continue another time,' the boy told himself.

The middling sun of the early afternoon drew Mael away from his fruitless slumber. His head rose from the makeshift pillow of his right arm, feeling his stomach stir with creeping nausea. His eyes fluttered opened as his body slumped forward, catching himself from stumbling before his companion. A headache pounded away at the right side of his head, raising his right hand and rubbing his forehead. His light blue eyes were hard to adjust in his sickly condition, wiping his fingers in an attempt to clear his vision. "You awake, Leon?" Mael spoke to the blurred shade seated before him, his other hand coming up to soothe the raging storm within his stomach. "Ugh... I feel like I'm about to puke."
 
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Laila Bellwood
Mentions: @Demon Shinobi @Luminosity


She felt very confident that by the time they arrived at the Monastery, her spirit would be long gone.

When she first heard that the travel there would be done alongside others that were going to attend the academy, Lilia felt rather excited. A chance to meet new people, and ones that she would be studying alongside, certainly felt like something she was up for. However, upon learning it would be done via carriages, she felt a lot less excited. She never enjoyed riding on carriages, cartwheels, and the such, as they always made her head dizzy and weak. She was told she probably had motion-sickness, which sounded bizarre, but there wasn't any kind of cure against it. The only thing she was told she could do was try and toughen up and maybe she'll manage to get over it at some point.

Right now, however, it was far from being the case.

As beautiful as the view gotten along the way, Laila missed it all. Her eyes were mostly fixed on the floor of the carriage, her feet and the feet of the other two. With some of her hair dropping in front of her face, her uncomfortable expression would be concealed from the other two that shared the carriage with her.

She had managed to get a glance of the other two, albeit brief glances. The young lady, who didn't look that much older than her, gave off a few vibes of someone very clean, organized, and well taken care of. All of those, to Laila, were clear signs of nobility. She hoped that those signs didn't mean the lady would be against getting to know her due to her being a commoner. They were both going to the same academy, so having positive interactions would be for the better after all.

The guy that was with them, with what Laila thought was beautiful blue hair, was a bit harder to place. His complexion suggested nobility, yet his clothing seemed to have been more messy than excepted of someone noble. Aside from those, Laila did not know what to think of the young man, but she held hope that he would become a friend to her.

As the carriage hit a bump, Laila felt herself easily thrown sideways, hitting with her shoulder the side of the carriage. The sudden jump didn't help her weak feeling, and she hoped this pathetic show from her side wouldn't make the two think that was all there was to her. A weakling that could barely handle a mere carriage ride. She did have much more to show, otherwise, she wouldn't have received the recommendation to attend the academy, something not everyone got to attend. A second later, her worry faded away, as her focus once more turned to trying to make sure she won't faint from weakness until they arrived at their destination.

She wished the ride would end. The faster it ended, the better.
 
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Parthenia Harland Ciran
Mentions: @Psyker Landshark @Jessica2477

Parthenia much preferred the comfort of having her own personal transportation, despite her family’s estates being a stone’s throw away from the Monastery on horseback. Even if it was simple horseback, it also afforded her the chance to organize her thoughts or conjure up some imaginary conversation in her head, something she could go through in her head and store for future social use. Her unfulfilled wish was no terrible loss, though. She liked the fun of meeting new people. She liked to talk to them, see how they worked inside their little heads, and if she didn’t find their characters wanting, make friends of them. If not, even the dullest of people could make for fantastic entertainment, although usually at their expense.

In this case, her two companions in the carriage were individuals she was familiar with, one more than the other. Sitting across from her was Theodoric, a man of golden hair and a grounded build. As the heir of House Marlon, their lands just north of her family’s, Parthenia had known him since they were only a few summers old. She had always felt that he had a sort of boring personality. He was disciplined and stern, the perfect character for a knight, but it also meant that he had little taste for some of her more outlandish knavery. Still, he was a friend and made for decent company.

The other student-to-be was a person that Parthenia was aware of, but had never met. Despite her age, she made it her business to try to keep up in politics, and always made a concerted effort to at least know the names of the important players of the realm, nobles and commoners alike. Parthenia would not normally have known of the middling daughter of a minor noble house but for the efforts of her father in gathering favor and marriages for his children. She recalled from her childhood that it had been proposed, at one point, that one of his daughters would be married to her younger brother. It never happened, but it would have been an amusing dynamic to see. In any case, while her hair was distinctive, it wasn’t until Lapis gave Parthenia her name that she had put two and two together.

She sized her up as… a bit of a pushover. While she wasn’t much shorter than Parthenia, she was quite slim, and cut a rather unimposing figure, which led her to surmise she was probably a magic practitioner of some variety. She didn’t underestimate her, however; she was a noble, however minor. Like Theodoric, Parthenia didn’t assign any extreme significance to blue blood, but she found that even the most minor of nobles tended to have a strange tenacity.

Parthenia glanced out the window, tasting the countryside air as it filtered through the carriage. She had been catching up with Theodoric and making an acquaintance of Lapis, but had fallen silent during a natural lull in the conversation, letting her attention shift back to the view outside. Some houses began to pass through their view as the horses clopped steadily down the road. She had lost track of time talking; she wondered if they were getting close.
 
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Theodoric Branden Marlon
Mentions: @Astoria @Jessica2477
Well. This could have gone worse so far. Theodoric would have preferred riding in the open air compared to sitting in a carriage, but he supposed it would be good to start being introduced to his new schoolmates. Or in this case, one new schoolmate and...Parthenia. Joy. At least she hadn't started to harass the other girl yet. And at least the third person in the carriage wasn't Sherry. As much as he cared for his two closest childhood friends, being stuck with them in the same carriage for such a long ride would have been a nightmare scenario for him.

Theodoric suppressed a frown as he remembered the day. The twenty-eighth of the Traveler Moon...no. Best not to think about it for the moment. Not in the presence of company. Unfortunate that of all days, this would be his introduction to the Officers' Academy.

His thoughts turned to the companions he was confined to this carriage with for the moment in an effort to distract himself. The blue-haired girl, Lapis, seemed to be formerly minor nobility from what Parthenia had gathered. It had taken him a few moments to recognize her father's name, as well as his antics. Marrying up in the aristocracy was all well and good, especially to increase one's family's power. But abandoning Crestless children and not even bothering to raise his own get? Dishonorable, not to mention morally revolting. He didn't have much of a read on Lapis's personality yet, but from what he could observe of her figure and muscle mass, he'd have her pinned for a magic user. The heavier, frontline specializations were already discarded due to her slim figure in general. Not lithe enough to be a myrmidon or a thief, and not enough strength in the arms to be an archer. Still, she seemed pleasant enough. Gwendolyn would have liked her...

Theodoric looked out the window at that last thought, deliberately keeping his expression neutral. Perhaps that was why Parthenia hadn't tried much of anything today. She would have remembered that today was his elder sister's birthday, and that he would have been in even less of a mood for her shenanigans than usual. He suppressed a sigh. He was being unfair to Parthenia. She wasn't quite all bad, given that they were still friends. Everyone had their downsides, and Parthenia's was her malicious streak. Doric had lost count of the amount of times growing up that he'd had to clean up the social messes she'd left behind out of a sense of responsibility for not stopping it in the first place. Still, she was savvy yet humble, positive traits he'd seen absent from bluebloods three times her age.

Despite his best efforts, Doric's thoughts turned back to his "missing" sister once again. He shouldn't, he knew that. By now, if she hadn't turned up, she was dead. The year she'd first joined the Officers' Academy, they'd celebrated her nameday early, given that she wouldn't be at home on the actual date. Kind, intelligent, dutiful, and already a certified swordmistress by the time she'd returned home. It wasn't fair. Even years after the fact, Theodoric still didn't believe he measured up to her legacy. By all rights and merit, Gwendolyn should have been the heir. Not him.

He pursed his lips, focusing his attention back to the present. He could brood when he was alone. This wasn't the time for his own self-indulgences. The conversation had come to a lull, which was why his thoughts had turned out like this in the first place. Nothing to distract him with. Doric would have to fix that himself.

"Lapis, was it?" He asked with a friendly tone, despite his mood. "What is it you hope to accomplish at the Officers' Academy? Reinforcing the skills you already possess, or learning new ones?"
 
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Alexander Zephaniah Ravaleth
28th of the Traveler Moon, Divine Year 781
Interacting with: @Luminosity (Sherry) and @Nim (Laila)

Many dreamed of achieving greatness through their exploits at the Officer's Academy. Many would do anything to have a chance at such an illustrious school life, one which would undoubtedly open countless doors for anyone in the future. This was the chance for commoners and nobles alike to either make names for themselves, or simply further capitalize on their prestige. While Alex didn't display the same level of preparedness, or enthusiasm as many would have expected, he was indeed excited. He would finally be leaving his horrid "step-mother's" watchful eye. He'd also have a much easier time blowing off his nagging half-sister. She was nothing if not the absolute worst kind of brat. He scoffed under his breath at the mere though of the two until the image of his father popped into his mind. He couldn't rightly say being away from the old man didn't help make this easier as well. It wasn't like he particularly felt at home with them regardless.

He sighed looking out the window of the carriage, these thoughts continuing to flood his mind. He was getting inside his own head again. His mother would most certainly not approve. Perhaps it was best he didn't focus so much on the subject any more. After all, the young man had spent for too much of the trip lost in his own little world with little to no communication with the others who shared a carriage with him. Although, he wasn't sure that mattered much anyone. One was busy glowering at him and the girl in the carriage. He swore he knew her, but he was having trouble placing her. Ugh... Namira would never let me hear the end of it if I don't figure... Alex thought for a moment, before suddenly blurting out, "SHERRY!"

Alex quickly realized his little blunder, but proceeded to laugh it off. "Sorry," he said as he brought his laugh down to a simple chuckle. "I was trying to figure out why I thought I knew you, princess," he explained, fixing his gaze on Sherry for just a moment before looking back out the window. He marveled at the scenery. "You seem about as stuck up as I remember," Alex paused to glance back at Sherry, "or maybe you're just nervous? Uptight, maybe? No... Probably just judging one, or both, of us."

The young man shrugged moving on, without paying much more attention to the clearly disgruntled red head. "Kidding," he relented with a bit of a smirk as he reach into his pocket, pulling out a small pouch from his bag. He'd packed this on the off chance that the long trip didn't agree with him, but he saw now that he wasn't the one who would need the help after all. The other girl sharing this ride with him and Sherry, seemed to be miserable (especially after that last bump threw her into the shoulder of the carriage). He moved a bit closer to her and nudged her softly while reaching into the bag to pull out a small leaf. "You should chew on this," he said calmly as though any interaction with Sherry had never occurred while simultaneously realizing his seemingly random change of subject might come off a bit odd.

"It's a peppermint leaf. It's good for helping with nausea, stomach issues... stuff like that. It isn't like a cure or anything and it's generally better as tea, or something like that," he smiled, "but it'll probably help you out on the tail end of this trip. Usually makes things a bit more bearable for me on average." In retrospect, it might have helped her out a bit sooner, but he hadn't honestly been paying enough attention to her or Sherry to really think about it. He hoped that she wouldn't hold that against him, though he was sure he hadn't made a great impression regardless, given his lack of proper manners and his slightly more unkempt appearance.
 
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LAPIS ZUVAL

Mentions: @Psyker Landshark (Theodoric) @Astoria (Parthenia)

---

Lapis, from the moment she entered the carriage, wondered what she did to deserve the unlucky fate that the cards had bestowed upon her. Her fortune had assured her that her travel to the academy would be uneventful, and yet here she was with two nobles who was and was related to the person that her biological father tried to make an arrangement with.

The girl, Parthenia, was the elder sister to the Ciran boy who was one of many Lapis’s biological father had tried to marry her to. Parthenia had recognized her name and vice versa, but the two had never properly been introduced. In truth, Lapis was happy that they could meet under these circumstances rather than the fate that had been avoided. Lapis didn’t get to hear more of the other’s backstory before the conversation lulled to a stop, sadly. Due to their differing statuses, she wasn’t confident that there would be another opportunity for her to learn more. It was a shame since Parthenia had been so kind and a pleasure to speak to.

Boo... Well, with time she would get passed the disappointment.

Appearance-wise, Parthenia was very pretty and, judging by the seating, may be the same height if not a little taller than Lapis. She couldn’t see any defining muscle because of the other’s dress, so she couldn’t pin down exactly what Parthenia used for combat. If Parthenia had been a magic user, then there would be another reason to spark up a conversation with her again...

Then there was Theodoric Marlon, heir to House Marlon; a name she recalled her father speaking when he was trying to arrange for her or one of her elder sisters to become his bride. All she remembered from that little exchange was that it had gone nowhere, and she was happy it didn’t. Lapis was unsure if Theodoric even remembered such an event, but honestly, she was grateful if the discussion never reached his ears. It helped make this ride far less awkward than it could have been…

Appearance and personality-wise, he seemed to come off as one would expect of a Noble. He looked as though he would be at least a head taller than her when standing, his shoulders were broad and body strong; definitely a specialist in blades. His composure was rather proper, and, if she could be honest, he held the face and body language of someone haughty and unapproachable. Lapis didn't want to surmise such a thought, and after conversing with him she was happy to say that she was right. He seemed friendly enough, though like Parthenia, Lapis wasn’t sure if there would be more conversations past this carriage.

Despite holding the Zuval name, Lapis was still just a commoner.



Unlike her two companions, Lapis had been rather comfortable for the duration of the transport and honestly didn’t mind being crammed together with her new acquaintances. She, due to her childhood being spent mostly in a library, was accustomed to being seated for ungodly amounts of time doing nothing physical but flipping pages next to individuals she’d never seen in her life. Though the current conversation had died down, Lapis was happy that she had the opportunity to learn a bit more about those she would attend the Officer’s Academy with.

Theodoric had spoken up, addressing her before she could think about rereading one of her books. She perked up, smiling as she listened to his question then paused for a brief second to collect her thoughts.


“Hmm, I would say both, but moreso learning new ones. It would be nigh impossible for a commoner to accomplish my biggest goal without the necessary skills and education.”

“And yourself Theodoric? Parthenia? What do you both seek to accomplish at the Academy?” Lapis asked, taking the conversation back to them. She would much rather learn about them than speak about herself.
 
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The end of summer, huh.

Come to think of it, hadn't all the biggest changes in his life happened around this time, when the days grew shorter and the winds became chilly? The death of his father, and the arrival of the far travelers that brought him to Solitaire when he was but a boy. Getting caught by the assassins that sent him to Cretus, and then by the Sylmare nobles, cutthroats in their own right - as all nobles were. This year, it was the academy that awaited him at the end of a long summer.

Leon rapped his fingers on the open page of his book. He was too deep in thought to read the words, though.

For nature, autumn spells a looming death; for humans, a chance at something new.

... Or something corny like that.

Leon grinned, cheek resting against his palm. Oh boy, if only master Ludeworth could see him now. The poor old coot had spent the past few months trying to teach him how to weave words like a poet. Leon had been dragged to see many a full moon and sunset, but none of it had brought him any particular inspiration. Instead, it was here, in a carriage reeking of sweat and horse shit, where muse finally struck him.

Speaking of striking things...

The boy next to him stirred, and Leon braced himself for another round of interrogation. Oh, pardon-- conversation, as the other was likely to call it. Ever since he'd mentioned his status as an heir to house Sylmare, he'd been the target of constant suspicion. The other ought to be glad he was born a noble; where Leon hailed from, such nosiness often ended in a severed tongue. He knew - he'd seen a few cut clean off.

Then again, nobles were known for their gossip, so he supposed it was only normal. It was funny, in a way; they were like the old hags of his hometown, just as caught up in the business of others, and just as difficult to tell off for it. This guy, Mael, was the heir to Pleiades, the wealthiest house in all of Cretus. Lucky bastard bore a major crest too, or so he'd heard. Of course the guy was up in everyone's business - life was probably boring as all hell, when everything was handed to you on a silver platter.

Well, maybe not everything. Bastard looked sick as a dog.

"Awake enough. G'morning, sunshine." Be that it was past noon. Leon gave the other a glance, then returned to his book. "Just so you know, if you puke on me, you're running the rest of the way."

He turned a page and read a few paragraphs more, just enough to know whether the vagabond protagonist would survive his ordeal, then began to absentmindedly dig through his belongings.

"Here," Leon tossed a flask at the other boy. "Have a sip. Have two. Just don't stink up the place any more than this."

Leon the little spy would have not cared; he'd slept in places that reeked of far worse than vomit.

Leonid the heir probably would, so he figured he should act accordingly.

"Or, you know, if you really can't hold it in," Leon craned his neck a little to nod towards the open front of their carriage. "There's a carriage from Galbia behind us, red cloth and everything. They could use a splash of colour."

He leaned back to focus on his book. "Aim well, and hurl far.'
 
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Laila Bellwood
Mentions: @Demon Shinobi @Luminosity


The sudden call of what was apparently a name from the guy that was with them in carriage basically revealed Sherry's name to her, though it made her jump on the spot more than anything else. Afterwards, she briefly looked in his direction, as he continued talking to the girl, before moving her gaze back onto the floor and their feet. She didn't want to keep her eyes moving too much.

When he moved closer to her and nudged her, Laila didn't immediately turn towards him. She did slightly fear another movement would cause her head to spin if she didn't do it carefully. As he mentioned that she should chew something, Laila finally turned to look towards him. Without adjusting her hair, her almost yellow eyes would peek between strands of hair, and move to look at the peppermint leaf. Taking it from him, she gave it a brief look as he kept explaining what it was, and how it would help her.

When he was done, Laila went ahead and placed the leaf in her mouth. Slowly chewing on it, she thought the taste was, at the very least, comforting at the beginning. Maybe it just took a few moments for any effects to kick in. Realizing she hadn't shown gratitude for his concern, she turned her gaze towards him once more, allowing her eyes to peek from under her hair once again "Thank you." She spoke softly.

Letting some more moments pass, the taste of the peppermint leaf certainly began feeling more comforting. It felt like it was helping a bit, and it made Laila decide to always make sure she has some with her, in case they needed to ride more carriages unannounced. As she began feeling a bit better now, she slightly straightened up, which allowed her to more properly look at the other two. Moving the strands of hair away from her face, Laila kept carefully chewing it, holding on to the hope their trip would end soon, before the effects of the leaf wear off.

"I'm Laila." She suddenly said, having realized she hadn't introduced herself the entire way through. She felt more obliged to introduce herself now that she also knew the name of the other girl, even if it wasn't meant for her to hear. She then offered a soft smile to both of them, although she seemed to stop on Alex a bit longer, having been the one who helped her. Her hopes to form a good friendship, at least with him, certainly improved following that display of kindness.
 
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Mentions: @Demon Shinobi [Alexander], @Nim [Laila]
The sight of other horse carriages was a welcome one, as that meant that they were getting closer and closer to their destination. The smell of horse droppings was getting her a little woozy, but it wasn't like she was about to puke-- unlike the blonde girl that sat near her. She was a commoner, of course, which meant she probably wasn't used to carriage rides. It was quiet, at the very least; the silence gave her ample time for her to gather whatever little patience she had in preparation for their arrival. Or, until the boy next to her literally shouted out her name and gave her quite the fright. Sherry jolted slightly, having been knocked out of her daze.
"Oh, I knew that I was riding with more than just a ragged, dusty commoner boy. It's good to see you, Alexander. You seem dustier and scruffier than I remember. I suggest that you call me by my proper title before you howl straight into my ear." Glaring at him, she then turned towards the blonde commoner. The girl looked even more pale than the last time she looked at her. Alexander gave her some sort of leaf and, without a second thought, the girl put it into her mouth. Sherry made a face, wondering how exactly Laila could have taken something from a stranger and decide to eat it. "And it is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Laila. You may call me Princess Sherry Millefiore Grimdall-- or Your Highness, if you prefer."
"We will be arriving at the town proper soon enough," Sherry continued with a smile. "If your stomach cannot handle much longer, even with those dusty leaves you put into your mouth, you won't have to worry. I believe we'll reunite with the rest of the Houses before we walk the path to the Monastery."
 
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Mentions: Rouge Rogue [Leon]

It had taken a minute for the fogginess in his vision to clear up, though the beating within his skull only seemed to worsen with the newfound clarity. Mael groaned in exasperation, drawing circles against both of his temples with his middle fingers. He absolutely despised being confined to suffocating claustrophia for several days, feeling his body cry out for a pulse of adrenaline. The noble tried to keep himself composed, looking ahead to the voice of Leon that answered him as a sudden look of realization painted across Mael's face. "Run the rest of the way, you say? Hmm..."

His eyes drifted towards the window of the carriage to his right, sticking his head through the opening to look along the path that their caravan rode and the other carriages that they were wedged between. Mael caught the glimpse of jet black banners with crimson swords strewn across a shield waving across the front of the wagons preceding theirs, just as Leon had said. He leaned back into his seat, his brow narrowing in a moment to himself. 'That couldn't possibly mean... no, the chances are quite astronomical,' the boy's mind grumbled.

A gasp escaped his lips as a lukewarm flask landed in Mael's lap, drawing him away from the mingling memories. His long fingers draped around its exterior as he picked up the receptacle in a rather overcautious fashion. He began to study its features, even going so far as to smelling for its contents and squinting one eye into the flask after uncapping it. His face gradually lightened into a goofy smile, waving Leon off as he simply feigned suspicion to rile the other boy. "Assassination is punishable outside of Sylmare! And we're outside of Sylmare!" he chuckled, taking care to not touch the flask with his lips as he only took a small sip. He scoffed at Leon's fixation with the book in his hands, his smile dissipating into a pouty frown. "Aw, shucks, Leon. I was only kidding!"

While Mael was fascinated with the romanticized works of great playwrights and storytellers, it was the actual act of reading that the boy often struggled with. It was already difficult for him to sit in one place for too long, as one such as Leon could obviously tell from his descent into madness through sheer monotony. His breaking point was fast approaching, feeling his body tingle with the urge to detonate. He didn't know how Leon could possibly deal with such boredom for so long; his expression grew devious as he looked at the other boy, his eyes glimmering with scheming tendencies. He couldn't take it anymore.

The noble took the flask into both of his hands, but unbeknownst to Leon, it was not for consumption. Mael adjusted the receptacle carefully before squeezing the water from its body, angling the stream to arc over the book in his hands and splash the other boy's face. "Aim well, and hurl far," he recited his companion's previous words of guidance as he opened the door to the side, nimbly slipping outside of the carriage with an almost evil giggle. The sudden burst of motion caused his stomach to turn, nearly succumbing to his nauseous impulse at the side of the road. He poured some of the water from the flask into his left palm, washing his face to revitalize his skin and running his hair further back.

Mael took a series of deep breathes as his arms stretched up high, his taller figure truly basking in the sun for the first time in several days. He turned to look up at the window where Leon sat, capping the flask shut and tossing it up through the opening as he stuck his tongue out at the other noble. "It's been a fun ride, Leon, but you've reminded me that I haven't had my morning jog in several days," his bubbly smile briefly sneaked a glance to the Galbian carriages behind them before returning to his friend. "You may join me, if you so desire! But I'll have you know that I run faster than a Sylmaran horse!"

Mael waved a hand up to the carriage in farewell before turning away, starting with a sprint down the road. His motion sickness eventually settled down as his steps drew into a rhythm, nodding his head in a greeting as he passed by the Concorde's carriages and some others. When he reached the leading caravan at the head of the company, he slowed his pace to match its speed, already feeling immensely refreshed from the physical activity. He did not look to the town residing at the base of the Irinduil Monastery that was ahead of them, but instead, towards the steep sloping path that led up to the Officers Academy itself. "A new challenge," the fires of resolve burned within his eyes, intent on meeting the obstacle head on.
 
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Theodoric Branden Marlon
Mentions: @Astoria @Jessica2477
Theodoric nodded at Lapis's response, and considered her words. What he wanted to accomplish at the Academy? His thoughts turned to those whose example he wished to emulate. Family lore and legend established that Marlon had been a cavalryman unlike any other, wielding Imperius with ease on horseback. Theodoric's father was a Holy Knight, utilizing potent Faith magics along with Marlon's blade. And before she disappeared, Gwendolyn had been well on her way to fulfilling the qualifications for a Mortal Savant, her ability with Reason magic being the only factor barring her from mastery.

After a few moments of careful consideration, he spoke again.

"Many in my family have been knights of some renown: either horsemen, spellswords, or both, like my lord father. Though I've never been quite interested in Faith magic. I know a scrap of Reason magic, but I'm more proficient with a blade. I suppose I aim for mastery in both. If I'm to wield my family's sword, magic as a ranged option is more feasible than fumbling for a Levin Sword."

Theodoric would have said more, but a flash of movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention. Was that...Maelys? Running alongside and overtaking the carriages? He probably should have seen this coming. The heir to Pleiades's line had always been rather...exciteable. Such a long carriage ride from his family's lands must have left Maelys stir-crazy. Just from a brief glance outside, Theodoric could tell that they were approaching the monastery now. Still, the path up through town to the actual complex was rather steep. Maelys would likely exhaust himself running up the whole way, if he even made it. He glanced over towards Parthenia. She would have noticed Maelys too.

"Parthenia, a wager. Our next bottle of wine over whether or not Maelys manages to run up all the way to the Monastery. Your choice as to whether he manages it or not."
 
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Parthenia Harland Ciran
Mentions: @Psyker Landshark @Jessica2477

Raising her eyebrows as the carriage passed a farm full of grazing animals, Parthenia’s attention was returned to the inside of the carriage and its occupants as the lull in conversation was broken by Theodoric. She offered Lapis a polite, if not relatively unnecessary smile as she answered his question, although her eyebrow twitched ever so slightly upward as the girl referred to herself as a commoner. It was otherwise a predictable answer to a boring question from Theodoric, really. If Parthenia answered the question herself, she would…

Lapis asked the question for her. Perfect timing. Parthenia would have offered her thoughts unprompted, but making herself seem even just a little bit less selfish was always nice. Theodoric answered before her; as expected, he had some knightly goals, although she was a bit surprised that her childhood friend had been dabbling in reason magic these days. Unfortunately for Parthenia, she had never bothered learning a lick of magic in the past. She would have to step up her game in the future.

Parthenia spoke flippantly. “Both, of course. But I would place a bit of emphasis on other things, unlike old Theo here. Meeting new people, stumbling on new experiences, maybe finding a new chess rival; I hear the potential heir to House Ravaleth is a decent chess player. I certainly hope that’s true.”

She also had more to say, but like Theodoric, she became distracted by a glimpse of movement outside and a trail of dust that followed it. Peeking out the window, she was amused to see somebody sprinting down the road, having already overtaken the lazy pace of the carriage horses trotting along the road. With his back to her, she couldn’t see who it was, but it was apparently the heir to house Pleiades, according to Theodoric. It made sense.

“Maelys, huh?”
She frowned; Theo should know she wasn’t too fond of gambling, but this particular instance was too funny to give up. “Sure. He’s going to arrive at the monastery in a stretcher. There’s no doubt about it.”
 
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LAPIS ZUVAL

Interacting with:

Mentions: @Psyker Landshark (Theodoric) @Astoria
(Parthenia) @Solace (Maelys)

---

She listened to his answer attentively, taking mental notes of it to further piece together the complicated backstory that would create the person that was Theodoric. His answer was certainly one that she would expect to read from one of her knight's tales books, but that didn't make it any less honorable! Lapis had briefly wondered if he'd be willing to allow her to tutor him a little bit in Reason magic, but she quickly dismissed the idea. After all, the academy would certainly have professors at the ready to teach Theodoric everything he needed to know and then some.

Parthenia, on the other hand, had a completely different reason for attending. She seemed to be more of a socialite with the intent of increasing her friend circle, which was certainly fine as well! Lapis, honestly, had a thought that Parthenia would be here for the same reasons as her friend or perhaps to something on similar grounds only to be pleasantly surprised. Regardless, Lapis hoped nothing but the best for Theodoric and Parthenia in the years to come.

Before she could ask something else, Lapis heard what sounded like rapid steps outside. Curious, she looked outside along with her companions, and to her surprise, it was a man running alongside the carriage who seemed to be having the time of his life. Maelys was his name according to Theodoric; definitely a noble.

Interesting! She'd love to have a conversation with him one day if he was willing. He seemed to have plenty to tell and a unique personality if he chose to run the rest of the way to the Monastery.

Lapis also overheard the wagering between her companions, but considering that she most likely couldn't afford the type of wine they enjoyed, she made no comment and instead stayed out of it. But if she had to bet, she'd say that Maelys would exhaust himself before they reached their destination.

There's no way he'd have the energy to make it all the way... Right?

She might have to consult the cards for this one!
 
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Alexander Zephaniah Ravaleth
28th of the Traveler Moon, Divine Year 781
Interacting with: @Luminosity (Sherry) and @Nim (Laila)
Alex smiled at Laila's trust and fairly warm greeting all else considered. It was especially encouraging given the comparable cold nature of their other companion. Even so, as Sherry spoke he couldn't help but laugh a bit in response. Sure she was taking a few shots at his appearance, as well as the sort of home remedy he'd provided, but she did so in such a childish way. "I hope you'll forgive my rudeness in not properly introducing myself, Laila," he said calmly as he tucked away the bag with the rest of the peppermint leaves. "But as you've probably guessed, my name is Alex. Alexander Zephaniah Ravaleth, to be exact, but I much prefer Alex." He gave the girl a smile, for an instant considering completely ignoring Sherry. But then the thought crossed his mind: Where's the fun in that?

He turned away from Laila, not much of a move as he's merely been turned just enough to give her his attention, so that he was looking at Sherry once more. "I'm sorry, princess," there was a certain tone he'd adopted when using the word princess, almost as if he were mocking the title, "You wanted me to call you princess, right?" Alex smiled, "Sorry, again, I've just been having a bit of trouble hearing you," Alex grabbed a small cloth from his bag and pretended to use it to clean out his ears. "Maybe it's all the dust. Do you think it could be dust? You seemed so fixated on it just a moment ago," he said shaking his head, the cloth still practically pristine. "Why, one might even go as far as to say you may have a fetish for it," he paused briefly, "dust I mean." The young blue-haired noble finished as he shook his head.

"But no," he spoke again as he inspected the cloth a little more closely this time. "there doesn't seem to be any obstructing my ears... So I guess dust isn't the root of the problem," he said before added, "Maybe you could give me a closer look though, princess. I mean, given your sensitivity to it, you might have a better chance of finding something." Alex held out the cloth for Sherry to grab, though only for a brief moment before he pulled it back and tucked it away. "Kidding, of course, princess," he said as he tucked the cloth away. Maybe his teasing was a bit much, but it was fun. He couldn't deny that. Still, he shrugged and closed his eyes, a playful smirk once again finding its way onto his face. "And all jokes aside, I'm looking forward to arriving at the academy too," he paused, glancing back at Laila briefly before turning back to Sherry, just in case she tried something. "I'm hoping we'll be good friends."
 
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Laila Bellwood
Mentions: @Demon Shinobi (Alexander) @Luminosity (Sherry) @Solace (Maelys)


As she listened to the girl that sat with them, who properly introduced herself as a princess, apparently from the house of Grimdall, Laila's thoughts of her slightly dropped. It felt like the princess had a rather stuck up attitude, simply from the way she introduced herself and from the way she spoke to the boy next to her. She did appreciate the mention that they wouldn't need to stay in the carriage too much longer, although the mention of other houses did worry her a bit. The way the princess decided to talk to the boy made it seem like they knew each other from before, and she had a feeling familiarity between the houses might make others stick together, decreasing the chances for her to get to know others.

The boy, who was apparently called Alexander and was from the Ravaleth house, kept on giving good impressions in Laila's eyes. He properly introduced himself, before looking away from her. She did watch him tease the princess, before meeting his brief glance and remark about being good friends. Laila nodded her head "Nice to meet you both. And I hope so too, Alex."

Looking at the window of the carriage for the first time since they got on the carriage, Laila felt a bit comforted at the sight of the outside. It wasn't anything special, but to know that she was able to even take a peek at it made her feel much better. It was probably still the leaves, but she wanted to believe everything was better, at least for the time being. Before anyone said any further words, Laila spotted someone jog past the carriage, making her blink twice, before turning to Alex and Sherry "Someone just ran past the carriage." She said with a soft voice, but the surprise was ever present on her expression.
 
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Leonid Hector Sylmare
mentions: @Solace

With the lull in conversation, Leon had almost forgotten about the other boy's existence. Gone was the stinky carriage and the steady clap of hooves, replaced by a grand battle at the edge of the world. The last chapter of his book. Soon, he'd find out whether the protagonist managed to slay the fierce dragon and earn his pardon.

But before the convict could so much as swing his blade, Leon was pulled back from his fantasy. This time, it was through an accusation that made every single drop of blood freeze in his veins.

Assassination?

Leon didn't dare raise his gaze. He was afraid his eyes would reveal too much if he tore them from the page. What... did Mael mean? Did he know? No, there was no way he would. Leon had been nothing but an errand boy for the Assassins' Guild; he'd never earned himself enough fame to be recognized on his own. And yet... what, was there traces of poison in the flask? Had he mistakenly picked up the wrong one before departure?

His gaze flickered to the hilt of his weapon. It was well within his reach, if need be. He'd... never directly killed before, though he'd seen it done - even played his part in assisting in such a thing on a few occasions. But... if Mael knew who he really was, no matter how unlikely... Would he really have to--?

"Aw, shucks, Leon. I was only kidding!"

... Oh. He was... only kidding.

Leon wanted to laugh at the supposed joke, but his throat was still much too try and his eyes too wide to risk looking up. So, instead, he simply sighed and shook his head, edging his gaze back from his blade to the book. ... Right. Where was he? Oh, yeah, the battle. He had dragons to kill.

He never made it back into the shoes of Axel the Rugged. Before he could even find the paragraph he left off on, something entered his field of vision. Reflex alarmed him to a potential threat, and he quickly moved to dodge - but it was too late. A jet of water caught him square in the cheek, drawing a surprised gasp from his throat. He quickly moved the book to safety, looking up at Mael with flabbergasted confusion, eyes wide and mouth agape. Had. Had he just--?

"Aim well, and hurl far," the other said.

Before Leon could properly process the significance of those words hurled back at him, Mael had already jumped out of the carriage. Leon caught the flask thrown at him without even realizing he'd done so, all his attention stolen by the peculiar noble - who was now happily jogging away from the carriage as if a pony on a stroll.

For a moment, Leon could do nothing but stare after him. Then, ever so slowly, he begun to process what had just happened - from the sudden assault by water to the verbal jab and the way Mael had flung himself out the carriage. That-- none of that matched what he'd been taught of nobles. They were supposed to be the pinnacle of poise and power, their every move a reminder of their status over the commonfolk. That was how he'd been told to act; refined, distant, formal. Stuck up.

But if the heir to house Pleiades did not, then--

A slight - if all the same devious - smirk tugged at Leon's lips. He licked a few droplets of water off his cheek, then wiped the rest into a sleeve. Surely, his house would not mind if he let be his teachings for a moment. After all, Mael seemed to want to dance - and he'd been taught never to turn down such an invitation. So--

"Let's dance," Leon whispered to no one in particular, as he stood up from his spot in the corner. He nearly stumbled as he did, legs tingling from lack of use. Damn... it did feel good to stretch. He'd been sitting longer than he'd realized.

Silent as a cat, Leon slipped out of the carriage - making absolutely sure to stay away from the horses in the front as he did. Cursed things wanted him dead, he knew. Anyone who'd ever looked a horse in the eye knew - they were evil creatures to the core.

The newly appointed noble peered up the road, spotting Mael much further ahead. There was no way to catch up to the guy in pure speed now, whether he was truly faster than a Sylmarean horse or not. But...

Keeping a low profile and sticking to the blind spots of the carriages as much as he was able, Leon set out regardless. This wasn't his first time stalking a target. You did not need to be faster than them - you just had to be clever, and wait for them to drop their guard. They all would, eventually.

Mael's dropped to a sufficient level when he slowed down next to the leading carriage, eyes fixed onto the road ahead. Perfect. This was his chance. Leon edged closer from behind the carriage, recalling the teachings instilled far deeper in him than any etiquette lesson. Slow, steady, silent, with a blade drawn.

... Except the blade part.

In its place, Leon raised his hands like claws. A few quick steps, a leap--

"Gotcha!"

-- and he threw himself to cling onto the other noble's back as if he were a human-sized backbag, arms wrapped around his shoulders, legs around his waist.

He grinned.

"Right, so I figured I would join you," he mused, quite excited to get to shed the boring old noble act, if only for a moment. "The carriages were going a little slow to my liking. But, you know, since you're faster than a horse, I trust you'll take us to the monastery in a jiffy." Leon tapped the other's side with a heel, as if spurring him. His voice was on the theatrical side, but it did not lose its sly edge. "Come now, O brave steed-- gallop, lest you be bested by the lesser horses behind us!"
 
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Mentions: @Demon Shinobi [Alexander], @Nim [Laila], @Solace [Mael]
Sherry frowned when Alex practically ignored her for the first few moments. How dare he turn her face from her when she was talking to him? In the end, she guessed it was for the best. The last thing she needed was for him to run his mouth at her and to fumble over words as he tried to ascertain his position. She wasn't in the mood to bite someone's head off; it was early in the afternoon, and they were practically at the town proper. But of course, the other noble-blooded boy just couldn't keep his mouth shut. A flurry of words left his lips, and despite them being rather honeyed and kind, she could see right through them.

A blush ran over her cheeks as she furrowed her brow in anger. Oh, Alex was just begging for a tongue-lashing. She didn't know him that well, but she already didn't like him. By the Void, he was lucky that she knew of him before they entered this carriage. She pulled away when Alex showed her the otherwise clean bit of cloth that he had inserted into his ear, her face twisting into one of putrid disgust. "Get that thing away from me, you mangy--"

Once again, Alex turned away from her for a moment. Laila was the center of attention again, leaving Sherry flustered and itching for a fight. This time, his words somewhat soothed her. Yes, friendship was important. That was why she came-- to prove herself worthy of being heiress to the throne of Galbia. And how could she do that without friends... or at the very least, relationships? She opened her mouth to say something in approval before Laila stated someone had just run past the carriages. What.

She looked outside to see Maelys Ernst Pleiades rushing ahead. What in Yhirel's name was he doing? Or thinking?! This wasn't a race! Her temper boiled again and she leaned out of the carriage, resting a hand on the poor carriage driver's shoulder. "Maelys, you bloody idiot! You're embarrassing all of us, damn you--!" she shrieked after him. The boy continued to run past all of the carriages without any regard. A hefty sigh left her lips as she sat back down and pressed her face into her palm. Something told her that this wasn't going to be an easy year at all.

MENTIONS: @Solace [Mael], @Rouge Rogue [Leonid], @Psyker Landshark [Theodoric], @Jessica2477 [Lapis], @Nim [Laila], @Astoria [Parthenia], @Demon Shinobi [Alexander]
Upon reaching the town proper, each of the carriages' occupants left their seats. For the first time in days, they were able to fully stretch their legs and appreciate the view as they climbed the hill to the Irinduil Monastery. Against the backdrop of azure, the monastery looked much like an ivory fortress. Sherry stared at it as she found herself dreaming about what could be inside. It was huge, after all. Bigger than she imagined. She wondered how the monastery was even built all of those years ago. Well, of course she knew, but it was still a thing of awe. For once, Sherry was silent as they were guided to the main gates, instead falling into step with two of the people she knew best-- Parthenia and Theodoric.
A variety of people eyed them curiously as they were led inside. There were a couple of merchants that had stopped their chattering, a smithy that turned her head to watch them pass. Slowly, more and more eyes fell on them. Sherry was used to the attention, albeit a little nervous. These people were all strangers to her. They knew nothing about her save for her name, a few cherry-picked facts, and a certain handful of rumors. They were skeptical of her, yes, but they should be excited as well. She was more than just a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed noble-- she was to be the queen of Galbia soon enough, after all.
The small crowd of monastery students halted at the back of the main courtyard, right before another large set of mahogany doors at the top of a flight of stairs. They were not yet open for them. Instead, there stood three people flanked by white-clad monastery knights. They peered down at them quietly for a moment, and it was then that Sherry felt more nervous than before. Her expression remained fixated on them. She had to look strong, fearless; it was her duty to make a good impression on these four ornamented strangers.
The first of them, a beautiful maiden with tresses of jet black, stepped forward. Her pale eyes swept across their numbers as her hands rested delicately on her lap. "All of you, welcome to the Irinduil Monastery. We are glad to see that you have made it here safely and soundly. I am Iris Aislinn Calandre, the Dean of Students at the monastery and cardinal of the Church of Yhirel.
"Children, there is no such thing as a noble fight," the woman continued, her delicate brow furrowing slightly. "When people fight for a cause, all that happens is that different ideals are pitted against each other. All sides will believe they're in the right. And in a battlefield where everyone is prepared to end someone else's life for their own purposes, who is to say that righteousness exists? If it ever comes to a point where you have to choose what you fight for, be decisive and make that choice consciously-- and, most importantly, steel yourself for what comes next. Because children, those choices will always bear consequences.
"That is why the Officers Academy was founded almost five hundred and fifty years ago. For the future of Musentia to be one of peace and prosperity between all of its peoples. Some of you have come from humble origins. However, it is the first time in the Academy's history to be so fortunate as to host all of the heirs to royal seats in Musentia."
Sherry pressed between Theodoric and Parthenia as she fought to get a better look at the three people. Behind Iris were two other individuals-- a seemingly youthful man with long, white hair and bright eyes, and a dark-haired man that glanced at the white-haired man, most likely the Archbishop, almost apprehensively. No wonder why she had seen faces in their crowd that looked at least a little familiar.
"Our professors, Juno Cybille Qetesh and Talbot Leron Reeve, will confide in you the deepest understandings of history, military strategies, and so forth in order to ascertain your position as proper, well-educated individuals that will push Musentia into a new era of peace," Iris announced. "Your numbers have been divided into two separate classes, the Red Chimeras and the Green Falcons. Each of them will be led by one of our professors, alongside a house leader that will serve as the students' leader. The Red Chimeras will be taught by Professor Juno Cybille Qetesh. Its house leader will be Sherry Millefiore Grimdall, heiress of House Grimdall and to-be queen of Galbia."
Sherry blinked. She was to be the Red Chimeras' house leader? She gave a sly look to Parthenia.
"The rest of the Red Chimeras are as follows: Theodoric Branden Marlon, heir to House Marlon. Maelys Ernst Pleiades, heir to House Pleiades. Parthenia Harland Ciran, heiress to House Ciran. Leonid Hector Sylmare, heir to House Sylmare. Alexander Zephaniah Ravaleth, heir to House Ravaleth. As for the commoners, Laila Bellwood... Lapis Zuval... ..."
"The Green Falcons will be taught by Talbot Leron Reeve. Its house leader will be Francette Albillion Luralei, heiress to House Luralei. The rest of its numbers are as follows: Marcus Sauthier Kirlou, heir of House Kirlou. Victor Rampes Keryth, heir to House Keryth. Ariel Silke Valyra, heiress to House Valyra. Namira Helena Ravaleth..."
Sherry nudged both of her friends in the sides. "I'm house leader. That means I can boss you two around," she snickered as the rest of the names were read out to the crowd.
"That is all that I wish to say, for today. As for now, Professor Talbot will show you around the monastery. Professor Talbot?"
The dark-haired man standing next to the Archbishop nodded curtly and walked down the stairs. "Come on, hurry, hurry. If we keep it on at this pace, we'll be done by midnight!" Professor Talbot chimed as he walked past them and headed their numbers.
Sherry frowned. Something was wrong. Weren't there supposed to be two professors? "Professor!" she called out, taking a couple of quick steps to fall into line next to him. "Where is Professor Juno? Shouldn't she be guiding the Red Chimeras around?"
Talbot looked at her with a small frown. "Unfortunately, she wasn't able to make it. This morning she woke up with a terrible hangover and went out to hunt in order to get it out of her system."
Sherry didn't even know what to say. She fell back in line with Theodoric and Parthenia, a very confused and flabbergasted expression plastered on her face.
 
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Mentions: Rouge Rogue (Leon)

Steadily, with one foot in front of the other and the crackling of wheels beside his track, Mael watched the mirage of the town crawl ever so much closer as his lungs traded exhale after exhale with the cool air. His hands trailed to the upper buttons of his outer coat, beginning to undo the uncomfortable bounds as heat poured across the skin beneath. He spent a moment to truly gauge the remaining distance of his run, lightly scoffing to himself. Having not prepared his body properly for the moments before placing the daunting trial over his heart, the boy scoffed at the thought of possible failure; now had been the opportune moment to break free from his horse-drawn confinement, and it was mind over matter as he would never allow himself to suffer such monotony ever again.

With the wind waving across his face and pulling through his hair, it was moments like these that the noble found defining. Mael did not care about the elevated standards forced onto his identity simply because he unwillingly struck the genetic jackpot. He could nearly imagine the disgusted expressions painted over the faces of the other heirs, or even the wagon drivers, but to fret over the haughty opinions of those who indulged in being above everyone else meant conceding what little freedom remained in his soul. 'Just like you,' he thought to himself as he closed his eyes with a deep breath. 'She would say, you're embarassing all of us!'


"...Wait a moment..." 'I could have sworn that I've actually heard her voice, just now!'

His eyes drew open as Mael slowly wheeled around, his expression contorting into one of immense bewilderment as Leonid had suddenly appeared behind him.
"What in tarnation-" the noble exclaimed, finding himself caught in the many limbs of a spider as his arms flailed about from the additional weight over his back that nearly sent him tumbling to the dirt path. He quickly adjusted his shaky footing and immediately straightened his frame from its hunched state, his muscles rippling from underneath his tight clothing. "You know the tale of Marlon and Ciran?! It seems that I've misjudged you, Leon!"

A tale of the Mordlind Concorde, the name of Marlon's knight brigade, spoke of a fierce battle against the dark forces of Azaral before the formation of the Ten Heroes which left Marlon and Ciran unhorsed and gravely wounded. Ciran, his loyal knight only second to Grimdall, refused to accept death, and carried Marlon all the way across the stretch of plains now known as Ciran's Crawl. With even more resolution burning within his soul, his lips curled up into a wily grin. Even with the extra burden over his figure, Mael began to run even faster than before almost effortlessly, letting loose a loud chuckle as he outmatched the lazy pace of the carriages. "Together, we ride!"



Mentions: Rouge Rogue (Leon), Luminosity (Sherry), Psyker Landshark (Theodoric), Astoria (Parthenia)

The view of the monastery from the town at its base was as beautiful as it was endearing, but that had not been the thought to cross Mael's mind as the noble found himself standing at the start of the treacherous hill-like slope that led up to their final destination. Sweat poured across his figure as the boy had removed his coat entirely, slinging it over his shoulder as his body slumped forward and his hands planted against his knees. "We're nearly there," he wiped his forehead, looking up to Leon who had since detached himself from his back. The feat of carrying the other boy all the way to the town had been completed without intense struggle, but now, the true challenge laid ahead of him. It only took a moment's respite for Mael to appear recharged, pointing up at the monastery as he was already psyched for the next stage. "A race of menacing proportions... let's carry on, shall we?!"

Whether the race was won or lost between them had escaped his mind as Mael was practically a crumpled mess on the ground by the time that their entire caravan reached the main courtyard of the Irinduil Monastery. "Haah... haah... C-c-child's... play..." his voice was hoarse as his entire body cried for oxygen, feeling his legs pulse with irritation from the strenuous activity. Despite this, the boy remained on his feet, feeling his undershirt tuck against sweat-bloated skin as he clumsily wore the jacket once more. While his face lit with excitement from the sight of old acquaintances, there was a moment where his gaze narrowed towards the red-haired Sherry Millefiore Grimdall, a hint of contempt and scorn in his blue eyes before the words of the cardinal tore them away. 'I could never forget her.'

The collective trio who stood at the helm of the staircase struck him as the usual case of importance, studying their faces carefully as Mael found himself thinking back to the words of his grandfather. Farfalle had spoken highly about the Archbishop and the Dean of Students, having recommended them to him as valuable resources in learning the history of Musentia outside of the classroom; Iris Aislinn Calandre, in particular, was who his grandfather gushed about. And yet, something piqued his curiosity from the back of his mind; despite such youthful appearances, that would have implied that they were nearly fifty years old, as his grandfather had been merely fifteen years of age during his attendance. Though, he supposed that it was simply a manner of coincidence, given that the sixty-year old Farfalle also took on the look of someone much younger.

He was flabbergasted to learn that all of the heirs and heiresses of the ten houses were enrolled in the current year, having to reaffirm the dean's statement as Mael's eyes darted about and went down the list within his head. Just as he started to do so, he had turned into a volcano of objections, nearly erupting with disapproval upon the announcement of the Red Chimeras' house leader. His shock multiplied tenfold as fate placed him underneath Sherry Millefiore Grimdall, trying his best to contain himself for the moment.
"In case you didn't know, that's you," the boy whispered to Leon when his friend's name was eventually called for the Red Chimeras, nudging the other noble in the side with his elbow.

Just as the professor of the Green Falcons was tasked with leading a tour around the monastery, he motioned for Leon to follow along as Mael approached Sherry, seeing that she was joined by none other than Theodoric and Parthenia. Despite the amount of years that had passed since he had last seen them all, it had been relatively easy to recognize both of the girls through their distinctive hair colors. Though, at the sight of the former, he gasped as he found Theodoric a bit taller than before.
"No challenge is too great for Maelys Ernst Pleiades," the noble still found himself greatly winded from the miniature marathon, giving each of them a wink as he smiled brightly. 'They were sure to have witnessed my incredible display of endurance!' he thought, stretching his legs out. "It's been such a long time, Doric! Parthy! Sherry."
 
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LAPIS ZUVAL

Interacting with: @Nim

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Faster than Lapis could have anticipated, their carriage made its stop within the town containing the Monastery. The stretch to her legs felt magical after spending days in a single place, despite her body being accustomed to being stationary for prolonged periods of time. But honestly, what was truly magical was the sight of the Monastery. She had seen drawings of the location in history books within her aunt's library, and each time she saw it it always took her breath away. But now, seeing the historical building in person, Lapis had needed to remind herself to breathe.

She wondered what sort of histories lied hidden away in the library~

Lapis had been far too caught up in her own thoughts to pay any attention to the people that stared at them, but what had snapped her back into reality was the beautiful woman who had stepped forward to welcome them. The woman, Iris, continued on to explain why the Officers Academy was founded, and to also make known that all heirs to the royal seats were attending the Academy this year.

O-Oh... Oh dear.

Ugh, was her stomach beginning to churn? Her fortune never said she'd have to interact with royalty...

May Yhirel save her of any potential embarrassment... Lapis just wanted to get by this year without any issues.

Introductions of the professors were said, and the assignments of Houses were in order. Lapis herself had been assigned to the Red Chimeras, the same as the nobles she'd been carriaged with as well as a couple of others who seemed to be very familiar with one another. She sighed, seeing that she was going to have to communicate with people who may not want to communicate with her as well.

Ugh. May the cards shine brightly on her fortune...

Lapis decided she would at least extend her hand to the other commoner of the group, 'less the two wanted to spend the rest of the year becoming social pariahs. She looked to the girl, Laila, and smiled.












"Laila, was it? It looks like our comrades are quite friendly as it seems. I hope you and I can become just as friendly as them one day~"
 
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