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[b][u]Aliquam: Academy of the Arts:[/b][/u]

Leaving Thaum had been surprisingly easy. Everyone he knew gathered like a flock of the faithful the day the Pride left Abatheo, and while he had been immensely touched by the gesture Atlas just had to ruin the moment by saying that ‘it was like seeing parents say goodbye to their children on the first day of school’. The magician was probably envious of the fact that everyone in The Red Parasol gathered around the virtuoso for a very squishy group hug. Ruana was there too, smiling demurely at the otherwise chaotic goodbyes the other girls, Robin excluded, were giving off as the Pride walked off into the distance. So, there was no drama about his departure, which was good. Maybe.

Lute was listening in to Dylan’s excited chatter about Aliquam the entire time; he developed a first impression of the place from listening on the matter artist’s explanations, but the Art Academy was just grand. Too grand. Scary! If the façade was anything to judge by, then everything in this place was costly! The virtuoso was sure that if he broke something here he would slave his entire life to pay it off. He was cringing the entire time and had developed a way of walking which had him stiffly pinning his arms to the side in order to avoid any clumsy gestures. He had also managed to gather more than a few curious stares with his tense posture, not to mention the twanging sounds that wafted around Lute as he nervously glanced around. “Hey Aria, if my arm lashes out or something can you hit it down for me,” Lute asked the illusionist whom he was walking with; they were near to Trixie and Amy, and Lute was trying to subdue his nervous tendencies to avoid annoying the cleric.

They reached an open area full of students and their works. He took in a deep breath, awed at all the art around him. Oooh, that painting of a farmland was pretty! “It’s nice to meet you, miss Dalia,” Lute murmured when they met Dylan’s sister and the tense music around him slowly dissipated. The beauty in the courtyard, especially the flower arrangements, were starting to get to him.