The life on campus was mildly barren. Over the course of the late afternoon and early evening, students began to gradually return to their homes. For many, it was without energy that they trudged along their ways. After all, it had been a long day for the majority of students who were forced into taxing hands-on experiences derived from a broad selection of professional specializations. Rest was on the mind of most, if not all students, and it could't have been better timed given the early morning that many would experience for their first official day of class. On the mailboxes posted outside of each dorm, a letter containing a map of the Academy and the inhabitant's schedule was provided for the convenience of their time. Furthermore, a formal greeting written by none other than Dr. Magus elaborated on the academic values that the institute held.
Welcome, Ladies and Gentlemen, both new arrivals and old friends.
Another year has blessed us with the dawn of innovation from each and every one of you.
You are a chosen student of Trinity Institute.
There is no higher honor.
Yet with great achievement comes great responsibility, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Each and every one of you have been chosen for the latent potential we have seen deep within yourself.
Trinity Institute does not make mistakes.
Your time is yours to use.
Be wise and see your future unfold; be wasteful and see your life untold.
Provost Dr. Richter Magus
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Across the campus, it wasn't long before the evening came to a close. Apart from the occasional owl who planned to enjoy the night, most students were long asleep when the hands of the clock reached the early morning hours. Furthermore, it was a safe assumption that none were out and about prior to the first day of class. As such, it remained a subtle phenomena which developed across campus; a delicate growth of flowers and thorns which slowly began overtaking any outlet of flora both indoors and out. That being said, such peculiarities were not contained solely within the confines of the environment; but rather, in and about the dorms as a whole. Giggles emanated from within the privacy of particular rooms. The laughter was audible enough to stir any light sleeper; however, for anyone deep in trance, the sounds were far from being heard. Instead, it was the curious mischief which began to rain upon the confines of the room. Black petals drifted from the ceiling and gently caressed that which they touched, yet such innocence was fleeting as immediately sharp pains akin to that of thorns began rupturing at any point of contact.* For a split second upon awakening, a view of the dorm was possible for all; a rain of black petals amongst a silhouette of twin figures.
*Kent is not included in the pain, simply petals.*
[fieldbox="NIGHTMARE : Everyone but Kent, red, dashed"]The transition in environment was anything but smooth as a view of the dorm quickly dissolved into a literal mess of thorns. From nearly every angle, spikes enveloped each of the students who found themselves trapped in their embrace. To make matters worse, frigid rain rapidly plummeted from the darkened heavens which revealed nothing but the shadowy outline of a floating island topped by what appeared to be a towering cathedral. Back on the ground, the surroundings seemed entirely composed of flowering vines and thorns; however, upon extracting oneself from the immediate bramble, a somewhat spacious region existed with nothing but a deteriorating fountain of once ornate design. The area was rectangular in shape with the fountain existing directly in the center. In terms of boundaries, nothing more than bramble stretched along the length of each "wall"; effectively preventing any further movement apart from within its confines. In terms of appearances, each student was left with nothing more than the outfit on their body and any possessions that were immediately on their person prior to the shift in environment. That being said, on the ground near the origin of their arrival, a weathered card existed with a similar design to that which was given to them earlier in the day. Gone was any electronic aspect of the design; instead replaced by sturdy cloth of obvious antique origin.
"
A game of life or death.
How exciting it will be~!
The player's name is Kent.
Can he save his peers, we'll see~!"
Giggling voices eerily echoed throughout the downpour of rain; the words that they spoke only adding to the mystery of the situation. Apart from the rhyme, no further speech became evident for anyone to heard. Only the sound of soft laughter which never seemed to fade.
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[fieldbox="NIGHTMARE : Kent, red, dashed"] Unlike his peers on the ground, Kent was not trapped in a bramble of thorns and vines, but rather, comfortably resting upon a gentle bed of grass and flowers. The frigid rain seemed to originate from below his position which was peculiar given the low altitude that he existed above the ground. Were he to the walk to the edge of the island, a clear view of the maze below became painstakingly obvious in addition to the presence of his peers located in the largest region of the labyrinth. Furthermore, it was also obvious that his peers were not the only figures which resided in the maze. Were he to speak, Kent's voice would have simply become drowned in the torrent of rain; a shortcoming which gave the teen a single option on the isolated island...To move towards the cathedral whose doors were swung open. The interior of the building was highly ornate, yet nothing out of the ordinary given the Roman architecture which defined its design. Rows of pews stretched the distance of the interior and a large pipe organ encompassed the height of the back wall; however, rather than a pedestal where a priest might have stood, a drafting table existed with a sheet of vellum, pen, and inkwell. On the paper, a rectangular cross-section was pre-drawn towards the bottom edge of the paper. Along the center of each wall apart from the south, a smaller rectangular sub-section existed, partially-filled, with the notation for a door. Within the bounds of the region, four small circles existed amongst one larger...four peers standing among the fountain.
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