STC - IC

[lumbago]

General Recollection Cast Directory

• 
  

  PASSAGE OF TIME
  3 weeks have passed since the start of the school year.​

  
  
  

  SUNDIAL
  After-classes, late afternoon.​

  
  
  

  CURRENT EVENTS
  Clubs are about to have their first meeting.​

  
  
  

  UPCOMING EVENTS
  The Day of Requiem is in a month.​

  
  
• 
  

  STORY SO FAR ─────────────

  
  — ○ ○ ○ PROLOGUE
  

  A mistake in the fabric of fate.​

  
  — ○ ○ ○ CHAPTER ONE
  

  A story still untold.​

  
  
• 
  

  CAST ─────────────

  
  — ○ ○ ○ Nikias Spyridon, the Tsundere Love Interest.
  

  played by lumbago. [link to cs]​

  
  
  — ○ ○ ○ Soma Konosuke, the Romantic Wingman Sukebe Side Character.
  

  played by Raddum. [link to cs]​

  
  
  — ○ ○ ○ Leonia Tiore, the Kuudere Love Interest.
  

  played by Jumping Fish. [link to cs]​

  
  
  — ○ ○ ○ Solise En, the Dojikko Love Interest.
  

  played by tilucki. [link to cs]​

  
  
  — ○ ○ ○ Vide Coeur, the Protagonist.
  

  played by Reanimator Spuds. [link to cs]​

  
  
  — ○ ○ ○ Kai Ujinaga, the Rival.
  

  played by Ariel. [link to cs]​

  
  
  — ○ ○ ○ Edith Daulfern, the Confidant Side Character.
  

  played by Jessica. [link to cs]​

  
  
  
  
  
• 
  

  DIRECTORY ─────────────

  
  — ○ ○ ○ LORE [xxx]
  
  
  — ○ ○ ○ INTEREST CHECK [xxx]
  
  
  — ○ ○ ○ OUT-OF-CHARACTER [xxx]
  
  
  — ○ ○ ○ CHARACTERS [xxx]
  
  
  

 

[lumbago]

ENTERING PAIDEIA...​

There's a legend often told of the founders of the Paideia. Of how, when they had first ascended the World tree mere decades ago, they wept for weeks without end, their tears spilling forth into the Dakrya River and nourishing it anew. And how could they not? When, within that very cradle, nestled amongst the clouds, was the paradise they thought to have lost to the sands?

Up there, the sun was no longer so severe a tyrant. Its glares—so fatal as to strike a man dead—passed through scarlet leaves, distilled till it was naught but a muted warmth. The winds wrecked no havoc, speaking, not in the harsh tongues it once did, but in soft whispers, promising a gentle breeze with each passage through the vermillion groves.

It was paradise, preserved. A reminder that they hadn't lost it all. That there was still hope to be found in this wretched wasteland, so long as one perseveres. It was this very principle that led those founders to mandate the trek on all its new students.

You are counted amongst them.

The myth, in question, caught the ire of the Church, accusing the Paideia of heresy for daring to claim credit for the Dakrya River. So they say, but you soon realize there's some truth to it.

After hours—days, for some—of trudging through the near-infinite steps that winded around the World Tree, how could anyone not weep at the zenith?

○ ○ ○ — ○ ○ ○​

Your respite was short-lived.

There was no rest for the weary. You had but a mere few moments before a group accosted you and carted you off to a hypethral you'd assumed was the admissions center. There, you signed a whirlwind of papers—non-disclosures, waivers; everything required a form. Miss a single one and you'd be on your way down the winding path once more.

The days preceding that were no less busy. If you weren't filling up forms, you were dealing with doctors and interviewers who probed and prodded at every inch of your life. You noticed that some, after their appointments, returned to the dorms in tears and started packing their clothes. The questions were innocuous, asking of your family situation, your goals, your motivations; the usual sort. And yet, some didn't make the cut.

Why? You don't know. Neither did they.

Each day, another interview. And with each interview, another student, forced to descend the World Tree. This went on for a week before it was done. By the end, the finalists numbered at a hundred, more or less.

And, you, through some arbitrary criteria, survived the culling.

Those that passed received their schedules, school insignias, and uniforms (a blindingly orange sash with the Paideia's distinctive symbol—a tree growing atop an eye—and your name emblazoned right beneath it.) All irrefutable proof of your new status.

You felt right, wearing that sash above your clothes. You're unsure why, but it did. Like it always belonged there.

Now that the eliminations had been over, you had a true moment of respite. A full week, in fact.

Your classes during your first official week were short—barely an hour—dedicated only to introducing students to their professors and their new syllabus. Par for the course.

What wasn't, however, was what followed class hours.

The moment the sun sank into the horizon, the Paideia grounds transformed into that of a wonderland.

Spheres of light, shining and distinctive in shade, skipped between students old and new, almost as if the stars themselves descended from on high. Stalls lined the pebbled paths, each club showcasing their talents and with their own unique fare.

Particularly unique amongst them, however, was the archaeology club, who seemed (?) to be performing a quiz show and a comedy skit in rotations. (A rather ambitious task, given that their booth had only two members manning the stall at nearly all hours of the week-long welcome ceremony.)

A man with a chilly gaze (and an even chillier reception to the contestants) facilitated the first spectacle, the quiz show. Many came away from it with one of two things: either a great sense of shame, or a great sense of ire at the haughty upperclassman who mocked their every mistake.

The second spectacle seemed to be a satirical retelling of the Church's inception, with the same man from before making hilarious (if bordering heretical) interjections at every turn. His other half, the dark-haired one, was just as great, huffing and yelling till he was red in the face. So convincing was his performance, in fact, that you might have thought their contention to be true!

Their shows stayed in your mind. Stayed long enough that you, either for your own personal reasons, or because of their ridiculous showing, jotted down the words, "Archaeology Club" and submitted what would, hopefully, be your last form.

○ ○ ○ — ○ ○ ○​

There was no turning back now. You had signed off your name.

It wasn't long before you received a notice, slid under your door, about the details of your first meeting and a note that said: "What would you sacrifice for the Requiem?"

With all the chaos that preceded your first club meeting, it wouldn't be unpardonable nor unthinkable for one to forget about the Day of the Requiem.

Occurring right before the scorching months of the year, the Day of the Requiem was a day of dualities, where fate was most fickle, for it was on that day when God laid upon the Northern edges of the continent and fell to rest.

Repentance is the focus for the first twelve hours; everyone is to pray and present their tribute in the direction of Theos' Rest.

Tradition stated that if everyone was sincere in both their orisons and their offerings, the heavens would open up and Their tears would flow into the earth, nourishing its people till the day it would arrive once more.

Remembrance and remunerations would come after, for even God, in their slumbering state, remembered Their people, even if only for a fleeting moment, and gave them the river and tree that sustained Theosmati for so long.

A celebration worth preparing for, certainly; still, you couldn't help but wonder: wasn't there still a month left till the Day itself?

○ ○ ○ — ○ ○ ○​

It took some time getting to the meeting place.

The school's layout was confusing then, with paths that wound through nonsensical directions, sometimes leading to dead ends itself. You didn't think it'd get much worse until you set foot in the library.

The library was one of the few close-space areas in the Paideia, said to be created through the collaboration between Nymphs and alumni. It certainly shows, because navigating the libraries without a Grace was almost akin to navigating the Abyss. Not entirely impossible, but more than likely a one-way.

The halls shifted in ways so incongruent to logic that, at some point, you're quite certain you were walking on the ceiling in one of its halls.

You might have been stuck in that place forever, doomed to haunt this place like others before you, if not for him.

 

[lumbago]

"—And you'd best still be there, or by the Nymphs, I will drown you in the Abyss," said Nikias, rushing through the doors for respite before his clubmate could even retort. He wasn't in the mood for any more of them, not after that absolute farce of a performance.

Nikias had spent weeks practicing for that play, memorizing every single word, every inflection, till he was practically the great poet herself. And yet… All of it, all his efforts! Thwarted, for no reason other than his clubmate's disinclination to silence. And, as if to spite him even more, he had the audacity to announce that he was going to switch to a different club! After all that sabotage!

He didn't need any more hiccups. Any more liabilities. He had new members joining after all, though, how someone looked at their absolute mockery of a play and thought it to be a worthwhile endeavor was beyond him. That six had signed on was a downright miracle.

Or so he once thought.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■​

3:05. Late.

Every single one of them.

He had been checking the sun's journey for a while now, counting the seconds as it slowly sunk its way down the orange skies. There was naught but the rising shadows cast by the forest outside to accompany him.

Everyone was supposed to be here by three on-the-dot. Did they decide to ditch?

...No, it couldn't be. The others, perhaps, but not Leonia. He was certain that she, at least, was not so irresponsible. Right...?

And then it hit him.

They've yet to be Graced.

Nikias, fear creasing his features, jumped to his feet and stormed through the halls, searching for anyone, anything.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■​

Bless the Nymphs that he made it in time. Most of the students wandered innocuously through the halls, unharmed, if confused. Any slower and… He shuddered at the thought.

No use in entertaining the past. He simply had to be better.

It took some time, but he had rounded everyone up, settled them down into their club's room: a sparsely decorated area, empty pedestals and shelves all around. Once, dust outlined the spaces where the artefacts once stood. Now, it looked fairly clean, the dust and debris shunted off to a corner.

At least he had the decency to do that. Nikias thought, still frowning. But it won't be enough to forgive. He turned his eyes away from where his ex-clubmate once stood, focusing, instead, on his new club mates. Perhaps one of them will be more reliable than that eel.

"All-seeing light bless you, it's good that you're all here, complications aside."

"You can call me Spyridon." said Nikias, getting right into business. "As you all well know, I sent you each a note with one question in mind: what would we sacrifice for the Requiem?"

"Each year, we all come together in memory of our God. And for that, we must bring tributes worthy of Their eye." Turning to the board, he began to inscribe, reciting them as he did.

"Something old. Something new. Something warm. Something true."

"We already have something old. Now, I leave the floor open to you all. What shall we bring as tribute for the rest?"

@Ariel @Jessica @Jumping Fish @Raddum @Reanimator Spuds @tilucki​

NIKIAS

made by zenith

 

[Raddum]

Reading Music (Aqua Capital, Mac Anu)

​

---

Step by step, a hooded figure climbed the World Tree. Despite his travels to get to this point, the ascent looked like a monumental task unlike anything he'd ever seen. From his leaving of Chyrsos, or the travels along with caravans to get closer to his destination, he'd found new fears, new desires, and most importantly fresh interest in the surface world and beyond. The heat from the sun lessened under the World Tree's protection, but someone so inexperienced with the sun's blessing could still feel the slightest warmth through the beams piercing the brush, though he preferred the chill in the air as he climbed further. He had been lucky to survive this far without burning up his pale skin in the heat of the days spent traveling. The sun truly felt like a hazard, in it's own way.

At one point, he had began counting the steps. He lost count here and there, unsure if he had counted thousands, tens of thousands, or something even more. It was like an endless spiral that he continued to silently climb, occasionally passing those who were exhausted and unable to progress, probably pushing themselves too fast and early. He preferred a slower, steady approach: He conserved his energy and hiked, not the quickest to rise to the top, but in an endurance challenge such as this, being fast wasn't always the most practical.

Motivation was also a necessity. One had to climb because they wanted something- Had something to achieve. Though other elements played into it as well. Continuing upward meant he never had to look down, a preference by him as the concept of making a fast and violent retreat down these steps was more terrifying than any mystery about what was in store up above. He was far from unaware of the height he had attained during the climb, and when he finally reached his destination, he almost couldn't believe the Paideia was truly real, it was almost as if he had ascended to some sort of heaven.

Looking over his destination, Soma Konosuke removed his hood. His ponytail shook with the wind, as did the stray hairs in front of his face. The sight of such a beautiful place- Nature beyond comprehension for most of these lands, a true sight to behold for someone who was used to dark, rocky caverns. Word of mouth had been all he had been able to see of this place, and none of it could do the Paideia justice.

However, he did not weep.

Rather, from shot nerves and a single look at the distance down, he fell to his knees and proceeded to vomit from having to endure this entire situation. He sat there in an attempt to prepare himself physically to go forward, and give himself the time to truly take in the beauty around him for a mental refresh, but he wasn't sure anything would be enough after a climb like that.

He'd made it, and his new life would soon start.

---

Turns out rest wasn't allowed.

The sheer contrast between the slow trip up and the absolute storm of work to be done in rapid succession now was quite jarring. Soma bought himself time by giving each form a genuine read, noting how everything was truly tied to these signatures. No wonder you couldn't hear much about the Paideia from the outside- They were obviously strict about their knowledge and kept a lot of things under wraps. Not to mention the waiver for them having no responsibility if he died here! Or fell from the World Tree itself!

His blood ran cold that they needed to specify about that fall.

Days of exams and interviews made Soma begin to lose track of time. Though he usually liked to play it off, he couldn't hide with them that he was at least fairly fit from his time digging through Chrysos' caverns. No apparent illnesses, which was good news to him, though he couldn't help but feel unnerved with the doctors taking so many notes about him. Just what was being written down, and why? As suspicious as he was, there wasn't a way he was getting that information. Even now, he knew he had eyes on him. The security in this place really was tight, one wrong move and he'd be back down those stairs, he could feel it. But why couldn't he see anyone keeping those eyes on him? Was it paranoia? He really wasn't sure.

The same feeling followed him into the interview portion, which was a true purge. Soma witnessed tears, anger, and mixtures of both from people who were sent away from the Paideia. He couldn't imagine how he would've reacted if it was him: Coming all this way, that harsh climb... Only to do it backwards, in shame. So many of these people seemed much more ideal than him-- He truly wondered how he survived where others failed each day, but a complaint wouldn't escape him.

Somehow, of all those participants, he managed to remain. Doubts of self-worth crept into his mind, questioning if he really deserved to be here when others were sent home. What could have happened to make so many promising people get axed from learning at the Paideia? His thoughts wandered, thinking on if they had low staff due to their secrecy: If it was this hard to be a student, imagine what it was like to be an educator. It was definitely different than him being scooped off the streets and being taught...

The sash was tacky, Soma honestly didn't think it fit very well with his attire, but there was also pride. Barely any of the people who came here were able to get far enough to wear it, but Soma felt comfortable. The acceptance was a relief, it meant that he wouldn't have to worry it was finally his turn to be sent down the tree again. Rather, Soma felt relaxed as he met his professors- They all seemed to be intelligent people, at least with this first meeting. He wasn't per-say distrustful of them, but he did like to keep an eye on those in his life and get a bead on what exactly they were like before he made too many judgements.

And the welcoming ceremony! After all the anxiety and uncertainty, it was such a relief to see such celebrations. Soma took an interest in many of the different presentations, though on one particular day he found himself attracted to quite a scene- Seemed to be a quiz, of some kind, though the contestants were absolutely being blasted by the host. Soma found humor in this, deciding to play along from the sidelines rather than intervene directly, though it wasn't actually as hard as he expected. Even with right answers always came a call that demeaned the intelligence of the contestant, though, and Soma fairly quickly found people taking leave rather than wanting to deal with it.

"Archaeology club, huh?" He noted quietly to himself. While the host's behavior left much to be desired, Soma had to admit he at least had some decent trivia. A lot of other booths didn't truly further his goals, or blend with him as well as that simple tidbit. He wondered what kind of knowledge he could gather from partaking: He would kill two moles with one cave-in if he joined, since finding a club was a necessity. Though, that guy seemed like a pompous ass, so was it really worth putting himself through that just to learn a bit more?

Some shrugged his shoulders and grinned, walking away from the display. It sounded just fine, honestly. Nothing ventured meant nothing was gained, so the answer felt obvious as he wrote down and submitted his choice. He simply wandered off into the crowds afterwards- Figuring he'd just enjoy the rest of his time while he had it, as things would surely pick up and become busier soon.

Though just how busy, he had no true idea.

---

"What would you sacrifice for the Requiem?"​

The note had been on Soma's mind since he received it. It was far off, why think of it right now? Soma was generally simple- He tried not to think on it too hard, it was a more personal feeling that usually lead him to an answer. Because really, a whole month in advance? He wasn't really bothered to think on it too hard for the moment, so he simply crammed the note in his pocket and prepared to take his leave for his first club meeting.

It'd been a few weeks, now. Soma was mostly settled in, though he hadn't expected to be sharing a space with someone. Edith, he recalled her name. She wasn't bad as far as he could tell, they seemed neutral as far as he could tell. He figured it could have been much worse- He could have ended up with someone like that guy from the quiz during the welcoming ceremony, what a nightmare that would have been. Yeah, he'd take Edith's more quiet disposition any day.

In the back of his mind, he pondered about another quiet person he met during classes- That Leonia girl, with astonishing jewelry that'd make a Chrysos noble feel envy. A small grin crossed his face, though she had a bit more of a cold shoulder, the two might get along. He'd have to try and see how that would play out, try to connect the dots on his building friend circle. Or... Well, for now it would be a friend triangle.

Close enough.

He decided to embark for the library. Though, this place was a genuine maze to him still. Twists and turns that all lead to new destinations and returned him to old ones. Honestly it felt like a miracle when he finally was rewarded with the library entrance. He figured the club was right behind the door, so he took a second to mentally prepare himself before entering.

As he stepped inside, however, the space was so odd. It felt larger than it looked on the outside, and each step truly felt like no progress was being made. Quietly he stepped through the amassing of books, at first not thinking much of it but as he continued on, he began to feel more unnerved than he had during all the examinations weeks prior.

First it was the bookcases. They began to tilt at odd angles, or become shapes that he couldn't quite comprehend. Of note was one shelf that was large, but the shape felt all wrong. It was spherical... With singular books enveloping a rim around it, making absolutely no sense. He swore the steps were bookcases, too: The books almost pushing out of their shelves to allow him to step higher, as he looked above and saw what looked much more normal than what was below.

"Is that..." Soma was in disbelief, eyes shifting to the ceiling above. "A carpeted staircase?!" This was beyond his imagination, this was beginning to become madness. Soma, now getting cold feet about the library, decided that perhaps backtracking was the best idea for now. But as he turned to go back down the staircase of books, he soon realized he was still going up, somehow. As if they had all risen higher again.

Reasonable panic set in, and Soma continued to scramble up them, figuring it was at least in the right direction. Or was it? He could hardly dictate up from down, how was he supposed to know left or right? Was he actually going back, or did he get turned around again? Nothing looked the same, the spheres were gone, and now the books were spread out along the ground as if they were flat carpet. It was enough to truly make someone's sanity slip, just what the hell was this place?

Just as he was about to yell out for somebody, anybody, to help him, a voice graced his ear. The man was tall, though barely familiar. Perhaps from the ceremony...? Soma found himself guided along, curious that someone could wander this place with such know-how. Simple thanks were exchanged, but he was quite busy taking off to round up the others.

Soma simply rested his hands in his palms as he waited for him to return with more. This was quite the route to a club meeting, of all things. Soma had to imagine someone might get scared off from this, though the madness of it all did intrigue him personally. However, he wouldn't want to get stuck in whatever that was ever again.

As everyone gathered, Soma simply kept seated as things at least made sense there on the ground, and until coming into this library he didn't realize how precious a normal floor truly was. He felt a slight annoyance at the fact that the Requiem had been a focus on that note rather than any warning about what that had been, but it was really too late to voice that it was a problem, with the obvious issues already being laid out by Spyridon's gathering trip.

Instead, the Requiem came up as the main topic again- It was almost nerve wracking, but Soma couldn't argue much: It was important, despite how far away it was to him. He took it as Spyridon being quite the devout, which he didn't want to disrespect. Rather, he decided to chime in and introduce himself, a reintroduction to those that already met him, but a clean fresh welcoming to those that didn't.

"Soma's just fine for me, it's a pleasure to meet all of you~" He offered a small two-finger salute greeting, though noted that names weren't terribly necessary for everyone with these sashes, switching back however admittedly Soma wasn't sure how long he'd tolerate wearing it over his clothes. He'd have to change it up sooner than later.

He thought on what they needed, and how to solve filling in any of these particular items. It was almost like a small puzzle, he felt entertained in that regard. His mind initially went towards warmth, though he had a quick and rather easy realization in his mind for 'new'.

"For something new, perhaps something applicable would be items created specifically to be used for this tribute?" He offered as a thought to the group. "Hand-made gifts. Quite personal and respectful, no?" He grinned a little at the idea, though kept relaxed and sat down. He'd have to ask himself what exactly he'd use for a gift himself, though... There was a small pang of regret as he realized it might actually be more work than he initially thought, depending on how they went about it.

'I guess by saying that I just signed up for actual work on this.' He thought to himself, eyes momentarily closed. He simply shrugged his shoulders, amused overall. 'Aw, well.'

 

[Jumping Fish]

The trek up the World Tree had been arduous. The seemingly endless steps, with only the occasional checkpoint to serve as a reminder. To remind all challengers: there was still much more ahead. Leonia never liked the heat, and the climb only reinforced that. At the very least, the staff at the checkpoints made less noise around her compared to the other applicants. She only heard the phrase "Are you sure you can continue?" mockingly once, before all of them shut up and let her continue.

As she resumed her ascent, her mind began to drift off. The repetitive monotony caused her thoughts to wander, and she soon began to wonder why she was even doing this. Studying liberal arts in the Paideia wouldn't help her to inherit the business, and the only benefit of studying here was the fame and prestige it would bring to her family. Family. Clutching her locket, the embossing of her family crest bit into her palm. She could still recall the day the message had arrived, to tell Leonia she had been recognised by the Paideia.

Her father had been overjoyed, even letting out a smile. "Leonia, you have to get into the Paideia and graduate. Just the name alone is enough to boost our family business. I believe in you." She couldn't betray her father's trust, especially not when he looked so delighted to see her enter the Paideia.

With a renewed determination, she finished the climb up the World Tree. But the tests that came took another toll on her. From medical examinations to background interviews, she spent the first few days in a never-ending rotation of rooms. The forms were the easiest part, as they were most familiar to any administrative duties she had to do at home.

Though, the number of liability forms was concerning, especially the ones about the Paideia "taking no responsibility for any injuries sustained on or off school property" as well as "no responsibility if a student disappears on campus".

By the end of it all, Leonia sat in a room with all the other accepted students, holding onto her schedule and school insignia, as well as a glaringly orange sash. Although she felt a sense of pride looking at the piece of cloth, she also knew she would have to rearrange her closet before she felt comfortable not wearing the identifier.

​

At the end of her first week, Leonia wandered through the club stalls, though none caught her eye. The reading club had piqued her interest, but was quickly quelled when she spoke to the quivering club members. If she had to spend every afternoon meeting people, she would rather be with people she could talk with. Or at the very least, not act like her presence terrified them. It had happened during classes, which was why Leonia was walking around alone.

As she was about to reach the end of the stalls, she spotted a strangely familiar head of messy hair. Walking up to the archaeology club, she found the owner of the messy hair. It was Nikias Spyridon, a childhood acquaintance/friend. She hadn't seen him since he headed off for the Paideia last year, so it was good to see him. He appeared to be performing a skit with his club member, though he seemed terribly agitated. Perhaps it's for his role?

When the performance ended, Leonia walked up to Nikias. "That was a rather strange performance. So, you're in the archaeology club?" Their stall also appeared to have a trivia section, though she wasn't particularly inclined to answer any of the questions. The one thing that did draw her in though, were the pictures of the club room. It looked rather cosy, with some rather beautiful antiques lining the walls. Exchanging a few pleasantries with Nikias, she left for her dorm.

Her roommate was a girl named Kai, and she appeared to be from Aniketos. The two hadn't spoken much, as Leonia was rather disinclined to talk before bed. As she filled out the club registration form, she wrote "Archaeology Club" under her details. At the very least, she would know someone there.

​

It was the day of the first club meeting and Leonia was about to be late. She had been wandering the halls for a good fifteen minutes, and it was already 2.48pm. At some point she started weaving in and out of chairs hanging off the walls, and carefully stepping over paintings on the floor. She wondered how much longer until she reached the club room. She hadn't seen a sign since she nearly tripped on one ten minutes ago.

As Leonia took a seat on a chair - the room had righted itself a little while ago - she admitted her loss. She wouldn't be able to find the club room - not today at least. Just as she was about to turn back and try to find the dorms, she heard a voice call out to her. Turning around, she spotted Nikias, coming towards her. When he stopped, he briefly apologised, before asking her to follow him towards the club room.

Entering the club room, Leonia was…disappointed, to put it lightly. The air in the room was rather stale and devoid of antiques. Silently fiddling with her necklace, she looked at the other members in the room. Aside from Nikias, she was surprised to see a few familiar faces. Edith was there, as well as a short, pale haired girl she remembered seeing at a few auctions. She also noticed a strangely familiar blond-black haired boy, as well as her roommate Kai. She also spotted a tall, golden-eyed student, but didn't recognise them.

Readjusting the sash on her wrist, she gave herself a once-over. It was the first meeting, and first impressions were important, or so she was told. She wore a thin, loose white blouse with some khaki slacks that had a split mid-thigh. She was wearing one of her shorter heels, a pair of white wedges. She had chosen a set of orange butterfly wing earrings, and an amber teardrop necklace. She didn't particularly like the warm colours, but they made the garish orange sash on her wrist less obvious. Her hair was tied up in a bun, held by one of her butterfly clips.

Making sure her clothes were alright, she noticed the club members had begun to make their self-introductions. When it came to her turn, she simply gave a curt nod and said, "My name is Leonia Tiore. Nice to meet everyone," before sitting down. As the other members introduced herself, she looked over the words on the board.

What would you sacrifice for the Requiem? She recalled the slip of paper, but had honestly given it little thought. Looking through the items needed, her gaze paused at "Something true". Truth was hard to define, and often subjective. No one could know everything, else they wouldn't be human. But if they were looking for an objective truth, then a book of facts would be close. Politely raising her hand, she suggested, "We could sacrifice an encyclopaedia of sorts. It contains true information, and involves knowledge and learning."

Of course, this would only count if the information was true, but we don't need to get a bulky encyclopaedia. Leonia thought. Something along the lines of "Children's ABC's" would probably count too.

LEONIA

made by zenith

Leonia's Outfit

 

[Jessica]

Edith wasn't alone during her journey to the World Tree. An almost eerie, uncomfortable silence lingered amongst the six that walked together towards the path of their destination; nothing but the sounds of crunching dirt beneath their boots. No one dared speak to one another. It posed the dangers of humanizing the people around them. It meant becoming closer and caring about the ones that aimed to take away everything they've come to cherish. To anyone looking in, they were siblings. But Edith knew that each person here would love nothing more than to see her fail.

She had thought ahead for any potential outcomes, and even hid a weapon within her cloak in case one of her siblings decided now was the time to eliminate the competition. Anything could have gone sour for the six Daulferns…

She tried to distract herself any way she could during the climb upwards. Anything to keep her mind off the most unsettling journey of her life. Her eyes followed the stones that crossed her path, counting each one to steady her breathing. She'd even considered stopping to collect a stone that would be "her rock" so to say. But who's to say her siblings wouldn't take advantage and push her down?

In the end, she stopped for nothing.

The scenery that awaited her and her siblings was a sight that all the money in the Daulfern treasury couldn't pay for.

For a moment, Edith believed that she was hallucinating the Paideia. The nature that surrounded her took her breath away. She almost couldn't believe that such a beautiful place could truly exist. But here she was, standing before it.

The first part of her journey was complete, but this was far from over…

---

She was not foolish enough to believe the climb to Paideia would be the most difficult part. It saved her the extreme disappointment if she had been though.

What followed suit had been the amount of paperwork that rivaled even the assignments and lesson plans that was given to her in the Daulfern house. It absolutely took her longer to finish than others as she diligently scoured through every single piece of paper presented to her. Documents, waivers, signatures… Edith lost track of how many times she'd signed her initials and her name at the bottom of every single page given to her. Each sheet of white paper placed in front of her was starting to feel blinding.

To some, this might have been finished within a few hours. But Edith… Her mind would not allow her to leave the documents as they were until every single one of them was up to her standard. It was, dare she say, torturous. But it was the absolute least she could do for the administration team.

Then came the exams and the back-to-back interviews. She had no idea her throat could feel so hoarse, but even with breaks and water, Edith had to power through what she could and answer the questions in as diligent a manner as she could. A part of her was starting to wonder if she was even ready to go through all of this in the first place, but reminding herself of her hometown that needed her

By this time, she noticed the true intent of these interviewers. Participants who had climbed the same path she did, working tirelessly to be in the same spot she was… forced to turn around and trudge the very same path that brought them there. This time, in shame.

Anger, tears, disappointment, shock. Those were the few of many emotions she witnessed as those who were turned away were forced to go back to where they came from. She recalled what Leonard had told her and her siblings.

"If you walk the path of shame, there will be no destination for you in Amaryllis."

This must have been what he meant…

Edith couldn't help but wonder just how many of her siblings managed to survive the purge. If she was turned away, where would she go? What would she do? How would she fulfill her goals?

The thoughts plagued her head viciously. Edith couldn't help but wonder which interview might be her last. It got to the point where she started finding comfort in these interviews, since it reassured her that she was not forced to walk in shame yet.

She was anxious for that day, but that day never came.

Edith was one of the participants that managed to remain within the Paideia.

The sash itself was not a color that suited her, and yet, when she wore it, it felt so…familiar. Comfortable, even. It was not something she would normally wear, and yet when hung off her body, it felt like it was hers and hers alone.

Only when the celebration came did Edith feel the overwhelming happiness overtake her. It came in the form of tears and a large smile. If she were the only one to make it passed the purge, then she would surely be the one to inherit the Daulfern fortune!

Oh- that didn't mean she would slack off on her studies or turn away such a wonderful honor- of course! She needed to work incredibly hard! For Aniketos and herself!

It was the first time she was able to completely relax since arriving. Enough so that she was able to enjoy a little quiz show a club had put up in the hopes that more members would join. Her original idea had been one of the more... athletic or combatant clubs. But those seemed to have garnered much more interest. There was also the art club, but... knowing herself, she wouldn't be able to participate without being stuck on the same painting. But this club...

'I like relics and discovering something historic... Maybe I should join this instead.'

---

Today was the day of the first club meeting. By this point, Edith had had time to ponder the mysterious note about the Requiem and to get to know her dormmate, Soma. He was a bit of a lazy sort, and though he wasn't exactly the greatest at picking up after himself, his heart seemed to be in the right place. Edith didn't have to worry about any malicious intent with him, but... would it kill him to pick up his trash a little more often? Sure, she might uncrumple the paper he tossed towards his trash can and take a peek at what he was writing, but if it was something he didn't want her to see then he should have thrown it away like she asked!

As Edith walked towards the clubroom, her mind started to wander. What would she sacrifice for the Requiem? Well, everything honestly. Because her everything rested on the Paideia. If they turned her away, she would have nothing... So for the Requiem, she decided on something that was personal to her, but to others... it may seem a tad strange.

As she walked, she started to realize that she couldn't find the clubroom. The hallway continued, and the number she needed just would not appear. It was starting to become frustrating, but she continued. Edith walked up and down the halls, looking like some poor lost child, until eventually a voice called to her and directed her to the proper location. She could make a guess that the handsome man was the leader of the Archaeology club. He was definitely a sight for sore eyes after being trapped in what felt like a maze...

Fortunately, Soma was a familiar face amongst the group of people. Unfortunately, so was Leonia. A face she hadn't seen in so long...

Edith almost wanted to leave the room right then and there, but... She wanted to join the Archaeology Club. She wasn't going to let herself be pushed out of something she was interested in just because Leonia was there.

So, she stayed.

Edith waited patiently for her turn to speak. Even then, it was far less enthusiastic than Soma's and Leonia's introductions.

"I am Edith Daulfern... Nice to meet you."

She was soft spoken and her voice more mellow. Edith didn't see the need to share too much about herself. Not when there was something more important to discuss.

"Something warm..." Edith thought aloud to herself. "Is giving a bit of blood too much? I-I'm sure offering a hot food we make would work too, but blood is a little more... personal..."

She looked away after she finished speaking. Edith was having a bit of a hard time looking Nikias in the eyes after giving her suggestion.


​

 

[Reanimator Buns]

Vide sat cross-legged on the floor of the library. Where in the library? Well they didn't know. Navigating the deep and labyrinthine room was never easy for the empty-minded subject of much intrigue and fear was never particularly a strong suit, but fear and anxiety was quickly chased away by the promise of a new and unread book. After all, Elaine well acquainted to seeking them out. They weren't in any danger even if they had no clue where they were. Someone would find them...

---

Indeed someone had found them, the head of the Archeology club, which truthfully Vide would have much rather stayed lost in the library. And of course they had forgotten the ever important things that Spyridon had asked them all to bring. Vide looked around at those who were all here. The words of Elaine echoed in their mind.

"Remember to make friends! Your life depends on it after all! Hahaha!"

Just remembering that laugh made Vide shudder.

Vide looked around them. They had seen a few of them so far, but this was their first time really meeting with everyone sans Solise, who they had been dormed with. From their answers, Vide divined that their club leader seemed to be always be a bit dower in his expressions, but there was no doubt relief in their safety. He perhaps was more kind than would suggest by speech and appearance.

Next was Soma. He seemed quite fun and sentimental with the notion of something hand made, but Vide was sure there was a hint of annoyance after his own suggestion as if something he realized made him less eager about his own idea.

Leonia was quite direct and literal. But at least that made things easier to understand. Still, her icy gaze did intrigue them. Stoic and elegant was what Vide thought of.

And of course there was Edith. She had been nearby at times, and from their interactions, and her answer, Vide divined that loyalty was perhaps her greatest ideal. They knew that if they had a problem, Edith was probably someone to seek help from.

As for Solise, though she had yet to answer, Vide could see how hard she tried and worked, in spite of her own misfortunes and mishaps. They worried they too might have forgotten. Perhaps this Vide's own lack of preparedness would ease her feelings?

First impressions were everything and they were deeply in need of coming up with a solution to their current predicament or they may all think them unreliable. Vide closed their eyes to focus, reaching their hand in their pocket and...

?...

There was something in here! What was it again?... Vide gave some thought, and for whatever reason they settled on "candle."

Vide pulled out the candle. It was white in color and partially used already, melted wax forming a crown at the top above the wick, which was charred and coated in soot. When did they pick this up? Oh well, this was actually a blessing in the end.

"Well, this candle could probably be used for that instead. Obviously if we light it, its something warm." Really Vide didn't really understand this sacrifice. Why such specifics? It almost felt like a means to measure a personality in some way. Still, this was likely a better plan than one of them giving their own body and blood as an offering. Something like that really made them worry. Contracts were powerful, and one's own blood is important and potent in the confines of contracts. So Vide believed, at least.

It was then that they realized something very important. Vide neglected to tell them who they were. So much for first impressions. "Ah! I'm sorry. I'm Vide. Vide Coeur. Nice to meet you all."

 

[tilucki]

Solise thought her journey from Aniketos to Malum would be the first and last time she'd move in her life. Honestly, she was pleased to spend the rest of her days in The Holy City, working for and supporting Yvonne. She was never one to think too far into the future, always intimidated by the thought of it, so she just focused day by day working diligently digging up and selling artifacts. It wasn't much of a surprise that receiving an acceptance letter into Paideia completely shook up the routine she had built up and grew comfortable with- it scared her, the idea of uprooting everything she was working so hard for just to up and leave to study. But Yvonne was adamant, unyielding despite her fragile state that Solise must go. Unable to go against any request of Yvonne, Solise gave in despite her worries- the last push forward being that she'd be able to work and make money for her adoptive mother while studying.

Surprisingly the trip went relatively smoothly, at least in Solise's terms. She didn't hurt herself more than a few bruises and scratches that were easily disinfected and bandaged or just simply ignored and left to heal naturally. The biggest shock was when she actually arrived, when the academy began kicking out other students one by one- how she wasn't one of them. Why? Solise wanted nothing more than to have someone tell her she could go home, go back to Yvonne, without having left on her own terms. It would've been less cowardly that way. But she made it through the culling and she even ended up with a roommate, an androgynous and extremely tall person named Vide. It didn't bother her much, having grown up half of her childhood in a crowded orphanage. Then there was the fact she had to join a club, a mandatory rule at Paideia. When signing up for the archeology club she didn't think much of the two characters and the play they put on, along with a game of trivia- she just knew that Yvonne back at home would be rolling in her bed full of spite if Solise hadn't have signed up for the club.

The note that had supposedly been slipped underneath her dorm room's door was never found by Solise, at least not in a readable form. It had gotten stuck halfway underneath the door and when she opened it the movement made the paper rip, so she had decided to throw it away- surely it couldn't be that important. Yvonne said her letters would arrive every weekend in the postal office, so she assumed it was just a hazing prank on the new students... or something like that.

The day of the first meeting between the club had turned out to be a little rough for Solise. She was still getting used to the corridors, hallways and the sheer size the academy boasted and that caused quite a bit of accidents for the accident prone girl. Exactly fifteen minutes before the 3:00 meeting she had managed, somehow, some way- to trip walking over a carpet that had folded up and slam her head against the wall at the end of the hallway she had stumbled down after losing her footing. It left her with a pounding headache and a small red bump in the middle of her forehead, an embarrassing mark to show off for her first club meeting. Solise had found the nearest mirror and put on some healing salve she always had on her before heading off the to club room, somewhere inside of the library. Unaware of her lack of time she had now that she had stopped to treat her head bump she curiously made her way through the eccentric maze that was the library. Luckily for her, possibly some karma to make up for her accident in the hallway- the same sharp featured man from the archeology booth found her and a few others, leading them towards the club room.

The club room had a lack of treasure for an archelogy club, which Solise found quite disappointing- but she assumed half of the fun would be filling up the room with things they procure together. Though... some of the other members didn't seem like they'd have any interest going out on digs. When Spyridon introduced himself Solise gave a small wave, feeling a little out of place when she took another look over the other club members. They all seemed... well off. There was a tall girl with sparkling jewelry that matched the academy's tunic tied on her wrist, that was smart, Solise just lazily put it around her hips. A blue haired man who sat quietly, he seemed like he was the shortest guy here. Solise could at least relate to that. Vide was here, her roommate. A familiar face was welcomed, she even gave them a small wave. Then there was a pretty looking girl with violet hair, seemingly friendly. The last girl was regal, her blonde hair was similar to Solise's but it looked much more mature and beautiful on her than it did on Solise. Everyone introduced themselves and she was able to match the names to their faces, so she did the courtesy of doing the same.

"I'm Solise En, pleasure to meet you all." She smiled a little, seemingly friendly despite feeling a little nervous. Hopefully they didn't pay much attention to the red bump on her forehead. It was when the topic of the Requiem came up that the smile dropped and she looked around the room in panic- it seemed everyone knew what he was talking about but her. Wasn't the Requiem a good while away? Why were they already coming up with tributes? She stayed awfully silent, letting her clubmates do the talking, they were clearly more prepared than she was. She felt pretty foolish and extremely lost-- was she supposed to know about this in advance? Everyone else did... Standing there with her hands in front of her she picked at the skin around her nails, listening and nodding along to each of the things brought up.

"I like what everyone else came up with..." Solise spoke up after Vide, her voice a little timid. "If I had to come up with something... I guess for a new tribute we could grow something? Like a vegetable." She still seemed a little confused but she didn't want to not provide anything. "But I think what Soma suggested would be more interesting." Solise gave her clubmate a small smile of acknowledgement before her eyes returned to Spyridon, waiting for his approval.

 

[lumbago]

It was good to know that his underclassmen didn't take this task lightly. Each and every single one brought an idea to the table. Granted, some ideas were thought of with less care and time than others—Coeur's paltry choice of tribute being one such example—but nevertheless, it was certainly better than last year's showing. (He still remembered the frown on Paidotribe Smaragda's face. How her eyes would glisten every so often as she glanced at the door, waiting for more to arrive.)

He added every suggestion to the board under its appropriate column, nodding at each one. That is, until one particular suggestion caught him unawares.

"Huh?"

"Blood?" Did he perhaps hear it wrong? "Blood?" No, he did not, because Daulfern sat there, avoiding his gaze.

He turned to the others, hoping to find someone as disturbed as he. "Blood?" His voice rose an octave as he stood before Daulfern herself, waiting for a defense. A response. Anything.

Perhaps he was making a mountain out of a molehill—festivals in Malum, after all, were keen on such a sacrifice, (much to his distaste,) but that was in Malum. He hadn't expected someone to bring that same tradition here.

@Jessica​

NIKIAS

made by zenith

 

[Raddum]

As Soma sat there, he got to take in just the exact kind of crowd he was with. Some faces were familiar, some not so much, but that just meant more to observe and learn about how exactly his time here with them would go. A proper round of introductions was the true way to start off a group meeting like this and he had to say every member of this little club went through it in an orderly fashion! And with a bundle of ideas, to boot.

Leonia's suggestion was simple, but made enough sense to him. A book of facts was definitely true, and simplistic enough to get your hands on. Though, Soma himself would be cautious of misinformation cast out across a long spread of books, old and new. Who knew what could be considered easily 'wrong' in the gaze of something beyond them? His mind personally went elsewhere: He thought of a declaration of faith, personally written. Truth from within sounded simple enough, and ideal. Why risk relying on someone else's word in case it's wrong? Not that he'd suggest otherwise- He already put enough work on his plate. Or maybe such a thing constituted as a gift, and something new? She might've just given him an idea that'd make his life easy, though only time would tell if it worked as his mind intended.

Edith came next. He very visibly raised an eyebrow at the mentioning of blood, quite the sudden suggestion. Were such things normal in other parts of the world? Thinking on it, it'd be so easy to drain a small offering of crimson, fast and efficient! The effort behind it nothing compared to the thought itself. While not something he would have considered, it sounded easy, too. His roomie probably didn't see it the same way, if her mentioning of how personal it was was any indication, she seemed to offer it as a serious contribution without any of his half-baked intent. He wasn't about to stop her as while a cut was mildly harmful, it wasn't going to kill her or anything. But it seemed one of the new faces, Vide, wanted to do so.

His eyebrow kept raised at them pulling out that candle. Who just had that on their person, huh? What a sudden but pleasant surprise to hear them offer it as a replacement suggestion for Edith's idea of a blood offering. Even easier, right? Though maybe not as personal. Regardless, Soma couldn't disagree with Vide's logic on the most basic level. "Pretty thoughtful for just a candle..." He commented their way, tone mostly neutral, though his expression showed his amusement with his mouth being a thin line curved into a smile. It was at the very least amusing the man, though much beyond that couldn't be pulled from his expression.

And as one who wasn't used to the sun, and his home even more so, Solise's idea of growing a vegetable was both foreign and yet, not so much. It wasn't like he didn't understand it, it was kind of the same concept as awaiting for fungi to grow to a consumable size. It went into a mental checklist of things to try at some point, though for now he'd simply take her acknowledgement of his own idea and offer a thumb up along with a raised arm. "Glad to have someone on board~" He responded positively, looking her way made it easy to see that bump on her forehead. Quite the nasty mark! And after what he himself experienced entering this place, he momentarily worried that it had been the very way she got injured. Really, how could it not have been mentioned that the library was so dangerous? Or just genuinely unnatural. Were there other places that'd give them similar issues, or would this be the extent of it? His mind was wandering back to all those papers he put his name on.

A slight glisten in the light caught his observant eye and distracted him from that thought however- It wasn't sweat, perhaps something applied to Solise's head already to help treat the injury? Hard to tell for sure, but he felt confident enough to leave it alone. It'd be kind of embarrassing to have something like that called out in front of the group anyway, right? Best to not be brought up like that, he thought. Unless anything concerning began to happen with the unfortunate girl.

Spyridon brought him back around to the whole blood bit. Soma watched the sudden pause, the realization of something that was a bit more out there than the rest. He kept his amused expression as he watched their ringleader seem to progressively lose it at the idea, which from Soma's perspective was quite informative. So it might've been normal for some, but definitely not everyone above ground. Quite informative, he could learn a thing or two from this group after all!

"Sounds a bit dire, sure," He spoke up to the presented issue, seeming to almost side against his roomie for a moment, but his words were quickly followed by a half-hearted shrug, one eye closing in a prolonged wink. "But you didn't exactly set any extra stipulations beyond 'warm'. So is there really a problem, or are we just being a bit squeamish?" A genuinely question, from someone mostly neutral on the subject, but figuring the freedom of expression was Edith's to have. It was her sacrifice, after all.

 

[Jessica]

Interactions: @lumbago

--------

The last two to introduce themselves were called Vide and Solise, who both seemed relatively friendly. Their suggestions were quite pleasant and, dare she say, safe. The candle for warmth, and the vegetable... Truth be told those potential offerings had never crossed her mind. It didn't seem personal enough to the person that was making it. Anyone can grow a vegetable, but no one else had the farmer's blood, did they? If they made something specially for the sacrifice; she was more on board with that idea.

While Edith did believe her suggestion was a little out there, she didn't expect the club leader to single her out in the entire room. It was humiliating, and... if she had to admit, a little infuriating as well. Seeing how she would have to defend herself, she fell quiet as she thought about what to say to the man with glasses. Then, with a little sigh, she spoke up.

"Quite a childish reaction over something natural, don't you think? I am not asking you to give a limb; merely suggesting a drop of blood as sacrifice." She responded to him before adding. "But I suppose I'll explain myself since you so graciously singled me out..."

Edith sighed again. How troublesome over a mere suggestion. "The Paideia is all I have. Without it, I become nothing. Your blood, your heart, your brain, your lungs; without those, you are no longer you. To me, sacrificing even a drop of something so vital to my being to the Requiem would convey its significance to me and my life that a lit candle could never show. It may not be as important to you, but as I said, without the Paideia, I am nothing... Forgive me if the idea is so disturbing. If you did not like it, all you had to do was say so..."

With that, she averted her gaze again. Since none of them knew her predicament, they would most likely not completely understand. But she said what she thought and what she felt. Whether she made another suggestion or not, that was up in the air now.

She'd have to give her thanks to Soma for, sort of, defending her suggestion afterwards.

---

​

 

[tilucki]

A modest smile played on Solise's lips as Soma acknowledged her agreement on his tribute idea. Though she couldn't help but notice how his eyes stayed looking at her for a little longer than what she was comfortable with, had he noticed the bump on her head? Just thinking about it made the spot throb with pain, she was sure a headache would arrive soon which wasn't something she was looking forward too. Solise refocused her attention elsewhere in hopes of distracting herself from the growing pain, finding herself looking back at the club leader.

Solise didn't think much of Edith's suggestion after living in Malum and celebrating during the festivals. Sacrifices were common after all. But it seemed her suggestion caused quite a commotion with the leader of the club, the four eyed man exclaimed the word blood three times, each time with more concern than the last. Her dark brown eyes flicked in between Edith and Spyridon, quite curious to see how the situation would go from here- Edith seemed rather calm and collected, which Solise couldn't help but admire a little. It seemed Soma was a rather friendly person as he stood up for Edith almost immediately, rationalizing her idea before teasing Spyridon.

Solise's eyebrows raised in amusement, her lips slightly ajar as the corners tugged into a small smile. She would've laughed but it was only the first meeting of the club and she didn't exactly want to end up on the club leader's bad side. Luckily for the easily entertained girl Edith then spoke up, rather fluent and eloquent with her words.

Her eyes widened in awe over the impactful explanation given by Edith- after that Solise was more than willing to give a drop of blood. How poetic!

It took Solise a few moments to build up the courage to speak up after Edith- a little fearful she might sound rather inarticulate after such a speech. But she wanted to stick up for her fellow clubmate who seemed a little under the weather that she had been singled out. "I... I wouldn't mind doing that. I think it's a wonderful tribute idea actually..." She stuttered a little at first, scared to bring the attention of the room over to her but by the end of her sentence she was glad she had stood up for Edith- hoping her sincerity showed.

@Jessica @Raddum @lumbago

 

[Jumping Fish]

Listening to the other suggestions, Leonia could see the thought behind them. Although a candle was a little…lacklustre, it did fulfil the requirements for the sacrifice. Growing a vegetable was certainly more orthodox, but Leonia didn't have confidence in her ability to raise a plant. Something made as a tribute would be easier, and less time consuming.

It was only when she heard Edith's suggestion that her interest was piqued. Blood? Sounds like something Edith would suggest. Though she wasn't a fan of gore, a blood sacrifice was nothing. Leonia also appreciated the sentiment of it, as one's own blood sounded much more genuine than a candle in displaying worship.

Pitching in with the others, she added her assent to the blood sacrifice. "I think blood is a reasonable means of paying tribute." The warmth of one's life was incomparable to any other. And since meaningless blood was spilled everyday, would offering it as a sacrifice not bestow it with the greatest value?

Growing up in the finer parts of Amaryllis didn't mean she was blind to violence. After all, the boredom of nobility drove people to insanity. From brutal animal fights, to betting on which gladiator would survive…such scenes were simply par for the course in Amaryllian high society. A little bloodshed was seen as little more than teatime entertainment.

In comparison to Edith's suggestion of a blood offering, Leonia felt a little bad. A book was a little plain, especially as a tribute. Perhaps a scale would work better? A properly balanced scale is much easier to find than a completely accurate book, and it is commonly used to represent justice and fairness.

Reading through the board again, she did notice Nikias seemed a little miffed, similar to when he was performing the other day. Perhaps it's his resting face. She would bring up the idea of a scale a little later. For some reason, Leonia didn't feel like she should approach Nikias for the time being.

LEONIA

made by zenith

 

[Reanimator Buns]

Vide couldn't help but kick themself mentally for their blunder in accidentally making it seem as though they were calling Edith's idea stupid. "O-oh I'm sorry. I didn't meant to belittle your idea. It likely does hold the most significance. I was simply not expecting an answer like that. But I feel I can learn a lot from what everyone's suggestions are. Like that's what the purpose of this 'sacrifice' really is: an introduction."

Vide tried to force a smile, but only the slightest bit of curl to their lips appeared. You'd have to be focusing with such intent that it was likely none scant but noticed.

Vide looked around the room. "In fact I feel I've learned a lot about you all already from just this simple moment. But I'm curious, Spyridon, what would you suggest bringing? I'm really quite interested in what you think is an acceptable sacrifice."

There wasn't any mal-intent in their suggestion, nor were they trying to call out their leader. But Vide knew that if they were to get to connect better with them, they needed to learn more about them. And so far, all Vide picked up from him was that he might be a little stand-offish and squeamish, Spyridon still worried about them and wanted whats best for them.

Really, this whole ceremony held little bearing on their own life and in the end, perhaps that led them to treat this with less severity and seriousness than it needed, but for whatever reason, Vide couldn't help but see this more and more as a personality quiz in a way.

@lumbago