---

Trudging along the path shrouded in copious amounts of mystical fog, Daichi approached the school at a sluggish rate. While looking up at the vast sky, he slowed down to a halt to let the warm rays travel through the gaps of the foliage and onto his skin. The Nocturne squinted and brought the back of his hand to his forehead, shielding his sensitive eyes from the bright illumination. As he was doing so, Daichi noticed the atmosphere changing around him; the farther along the path he traveled, the lighter the fog became. He spotted a clearing ahead, and his face lit up with excitement almost immediately. Almost there... he thought to himself, gradually changing from a fast walk to a sprint. He adjusted the black beanie he had adorned on his head when he felt his ears twitching from eagerness, and he nearly broke into a run when he noticed a building surrounded by copious amounts of trees and waterfalls.

By the time he came face to face with the gates leading to the building, Daichi was completely out of breath. He clutched his chest and hunched over to support himself on his bent knees. Taking deep breaths, the Nocturne glanced up at the building once again, just to make sure what he was seeing wasn't a figment of his imagination. Finally- I finally made it! The new student grinned to himself as he stood up straight once again, slowly regaining his composure. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, admiring the view before preparing to take a step forward. Just as he was about to advance, a jolt was immediately sent through Daichi's body, putting him on high alert- his body had sensed an ominous presence from a distance, causing him to leap backwards away from the gate.

"Who's there?" Daichi called out, his sharp eyes darting around the heavily decorated trees. He brought one of his hands to his necklace, clutching the jewelry in a tight fist. After a moment of silence, he scanned the area for another creature. -Nothing. He opened his eyes and released the necklace, only to look over his shoulder and realize a projectile attack was just launched at him. On instinct, the Nocturne back-flipped out of harm's reach and into a more open area. He crouched on the ground for a moment when he landed, still searching exhaustively for who or what attacked him.

Daichi let out a scoff and rose from the ground, a smug expression on his face. "Heh, what's the fun in hiding?" He rolled up the sleeves of his jacket, clearly exposing the black leather gloves he wore on his hands. Cracking his knuckles, he started hopping around as if to taunt his potential pursuer. "Show yourself. I could use a nice warm up." As he said these words, a black silhouette flashed right before him- he simply leaned to the side, easily dodging the assault. A wide grin came across his lips, and he held his hand out in front of him, turning to face the exposed enemy. "Huh, so this is some kind of test? I love it here already." At that statement, Daichi opened his palm and in an instant, his eyes changed from their original golden hue to an chilling blue, corresponding to the shards of ice that he shot rapidly at the shadowy figure.

Shortly after the fragments of ice pierced the target, it disintegrated into the air completely. The Nocturne let out a heavy sigh, content with his job well done. "Too easy." he mumbled under his breath, smiling broadly to himself. His brushed his hands together and stretched his arms behind his back, letting out a satisfied grunt. While he stood there reveling in his work, an unfamiliar voice echoed through the forest. "Congratulations, Kuroda Daichi. You have successfully completed the final step for your acceptance into Rosewood. Performance rank: Ａ." The student raised an eyebrow and rubbed the back of his neck, his look of triumph changing to one of curiosity. "Hm... so I passed?" Daichi shrugged and made his way back to the gates, this time noting that they were already open for him.

Dᴇsᴅᴇᴍᴏɴᴀ Cᴏʀᴄᴇʟʟᴀ

It was miles of trees and fog; it seemed never ending. Desdemona knew the journey would be a long one, but she didn't anticipate this. She lost track of when things became so quiet, there were no birds or any other animals around. The lack of sound was almost maddening to someone who was used to the noisiness of Esprit. Desdemona continued to walk down the rocky path, holding on to her confidence that Rosewood couldn't be too much farther.

Time had passed, Desdemona was gradually losing patience and when she almost gave up, the gates of Rosewood appeared before her.
"Finally." She says with relief.
The moment of happiness is quickly interrupted by a strange feeling that passes through her. It was quiet-too quiet, Desdemona knew there should've been some sort of noise coming from the campus, she couldn't have been the only one there. The abnormal feeling intensified, until she felt a sudden shock causing her to turn around creating a barrier of protection.

A surge of energy collides with the barrier; sparks of fire ricochet landing on the nearby grass and trees. The blast lasts for only a few seconds before it ends, leaving multicolored smoke behind. The mysterious attacker reveals itself levitating. It bears the appearance of a black silhouette.

Laughing can be heard as the smoke dissipates.
"Is that the best you can do?" Desdemona taunts the figure. In an instant another blast is launched towards her, this time with more power. The impact caused a wider area to be set ablaze, it was definitely a strong enough attack to be fatal.

While concealed in the smoke, Desdemona begins to draw a conjuring circle in front of her. The circle glows spewing dark embers that form into a shape; an ancient behemoth carcass materializes. It swings its tail clearing all of the smoke around them. Desdemona stares coldly at the silhouette while motioning for the behemoth to attack.

The carcass lunges, slashing the silhouette with lightning speed, executing it effortlessly. Before completely descending to the ground, the behemoth disappears. A voice begins to speak, "Congratulations, Desdemona Corcella. You have successfully completed the final step for your acceptance into Rosewood. Performance rank: A."
The gates to Rosewood open for her.
"I was expecting something harder than that." Desdemona says with disappointment while moving forward.

Reas Grimorea

Reas sped through the forest on his skates, ducking and dodging branches as they entered his veiw. The boy's ribbon of fire streaming behind him but never catching on any of the foliage as it only passed right through everything. The Rollerblades tore up the ground underfoot while keeping at a constant speed, blowing back Reas' hair but barley making a noise. "This is it... Rosewood, lets get this year started" He said as he stopped in a clearing and sat down to take a break for a minute looking straight ahead at the . As he sat in the clearing Reas cleaned his skates, picking out the rocks that had gotten wedged in the wheels. 'Wonder what that sound is...' Reas thought when he heard some noises coming from further ahead as he stood back up and continued on towards the gates of rosewood.

The way Reas took to get to the gate took him around a patch of burnt grass or a frozen tree which he suspected was from the elementalist students of Rosewood. The wildlife seemed to not mind him speeding past or jumping over them which was a bit of a strange behavior to Reas as he was used to things moving when he came near them. The silent hum of his skates were replaced by the caw of a large scaled bird which came diving at his head beak first, Reas responded in turn by doing a quick turn on his heels and delivering a devastating kick to birds neck breaking it with an audible *crunch* and flinging the body against a tree. As the body slumped over Reas gave a quick look upwards for any other animal that would want to attack him, satisfied that he had stopped any future attacks he continued on to Rosewood.

As Reas Neared the gates he stopped and launched to the left as a bolt of energy flew out of the bushes. He skidded to a stop only to turn and see a figure shrouded in black rushing him, at which point he formed an illusionary barrier of fire which stopped the person in its tracks. Reas' flames acted as a sort of one way glass, from the figure's side it was a roaring wall of fire but from Reas' side it was nothing but air. Another ball of energy flew through the fire and missed him by a mile but Reas decided it was time to end this. Reas reved his skates and flew forward through the fire making sure to shroud the area in darkness before lashing out with a Roundhouse kick to the temple of the figure, killing it almost instantly.

The figure dissapated into the air and a voice echoed through the clearing with the familiar message "Congratulations, Reas Grimorea. You have successfully completed to final step for you acceptance into Rosewood. Performance rank: A". Reas grinned at the rank that he had gained. "Nice test" he said as he rolled past the next clearing and up to the Gates of Rose wood which were open for him to pass right through. When he was through the gate Reas slowed his skates down to a brisk walking speed to look around at the other students and the large building.

Zensei Zaza

Little whiffs of air quickly paced in and out of his tiny lungs as he fluttered behind a distant oak. In the pitch black forest, Zensei's lime colored glow would be terrible for hiding, but luckily the fog was insanely dense. The grizzly beast came to a halt, leaving only silence to be heard. "Damned soda pop..." Zensei whispered quietly, following that, a high pitched creaking noise radiated from his location, alerting the beast. It pounced after the sound and gained sight of the pixie.

Leaves slapped Zensei's face as the chase proceeded. The beast was slamming the side of it's body against nearby trees in attempt to frighten him, but their distance from each other increased as the grizzly lost stamina. Turning around to taunt the beast, "Hah! fat piece of-", a branch smacked the back of his head sending him to the ground.

Nearly unconscious, a gust of warm air encased Zensei's body. The beast's teeth sank into him, but before they could penetrate his skin, it's bottom jaw blasted away, smacking against a distant tree. The sound of the impact echoed throughout the forest as the beast let out a despairing roar. Zensei floated up above the creature and began throwing it from tree to tree, using each one as a gravitational magnet, every impact echoed a cracking noise and a loud cry that sounded like a dog whimper. Zensei stopped mutilating the sack of meat when a drop of sweat fell to the dirt. A smirk awoke across his face as he fluttered away from the brutal scene.

The sun had just started to rise when the gates of Rosewood came into view. The golden twists and swirls, the big and majestic waterfall, the glowing blue lights, and the freshly cut grass all sparkled into Zensei's mind.

He opened his mouth in amazement and slowly approached the amazing school, then in an instant, blue translucency took control of his vision and body. He quickly began to get colder as multiple black silhouettes appeared in front of him. Without oxygen, Zensei struggled to make his area and the surrounding areas lose gravity, but he luckily began to float along with the grass and water around him.

Unable to move, he increased the gravity as much as he could, cracking the ice that trapped him. The images of the black silhouettes began to grow in front of him so he quickly smashed against the ground once more, completely shattering it. The multiple silhouettes turned into just one and stood right in front of him. Zensei dove under it ignoring the ice that would slice his cheek and made the glistening shards of ice rise into the clouds, away from anyone's view. "Oh shit." It groaned, looking at the sky and hearing an approaching whistle sound. The first shard impaled the grass just a few inches from the figure's foot. It darted away as the second shard came falling down. Zensei laughed and taunted the figure. "Where are you going? Come play with me!" The ice fell increasingly faster, one after the other, until it looked like it was raining icicles. He stopped when he only had one shard of ice left. It was too quiet.

Out of nowhere, the black figure jumped towards Zensei while screaming, sending black smoke into his direction. He slowly began to laugh "Good thing I kept that extra shard."

Blood slid down his cheek as an announcement was made from what seemed to be the sky. "Congratulations, Zensei Zaza. You have successfully completed the final step to your acceptance into Rosewood. Performance rank: B."

He slowly walked towards the gates with one hand held out. His vision began to darken and he lost his balance, landing in the cold, wet, and demolished grass.

Nodah Listig

Nodah trekked past a boulder with moss growing on one side in the choking fog, blinking against smokey arms that reached forward to blind him. His footfalls were all but silent; Nodah was no elf, but he had learnt early how to tread quietly, cautiously, that his movements made no more than a spirit's whisper as he crept through the trees. The foot he had raised froze, inches from stepping into a murky puddle of water. Its surface made for a poor looking-glass, but as Nodah withdrew his leg and landed it elsewhere dry, he could see through the gloom a shining pair of eyes that glowed yellow. He blinked, and the cat's glare was replaced by two glittering jade gemstones.

A rustle in the bushes. Nodah's breath caught in his throat. He whirled around, one hand ghosting to his waist, and the other adjusting the strap of his travelling bag on his shoulder. The possessions he'd brought were few to speak of, but they existed to burden him now, in the dense vegetation where Nodah knew not the beasts and threats. He lifted the bottom of his shirt, breaths shallow and eyes flickering in the darkness. One finger traced the handle of a blade, tucked neatly into his belt beside its five other brothers. His skill did not lie in dagger-throwing, but in corrupting the laws of gravity and flinging objects around for his amusement. Yet, what good were his powers if he lacked proper fodder? Here in the forest, Nodah did not think pine cones and leaf-litter would deter a fanged predator thirsting for blood, no matter how forcefully he cast them.

Nodah stretched out a hand to the forest floor, and his fingers flexed. A fallen branch whizzed into his grasp, and his fist curled clenched around it. Crouched into the hunter's stance, he held it before him, ready to beat at the beast that hid in the shadows if it pounced on him. He peered around him, surveying the arena for the lion to his Roman, and stilled when his gaze swept over Rosewood.

Up ahead, towering above the fog, was a tall regal structure. The archaeology was excellent, its design breathtaking. Most of all, it was his harbinger of safety and security, and only a few yards away.

Relief flooded his throat and threatened to make his words thick. He did look forward to a night in a bed after his journey. Letting his breath out in a detoxifying sigh, Nodah stepped forward, abandoning the stick he had picked up in a frantic, senseless moment.

It was the wrong move. Something bellowed in his ears, and Nodah spun on the spot, heart quickening. "Wha - " He felt the hurricane-gust of wind toss the locks of his hair carelessly, felt the grit of kicked-up sand drag its raspy hand over his cheeks. Nodah's eyes narrowed against the dirt. His right hand snatched up a dagger, and he raised it to his brow, shielding his face. But this did not obscure from his vision the featureless silhouette that roared towards him. With his heart in his throat and curses on his tongue, Nodah leapt to the side, slashing at the chest of the silhouette with his dagger. The steel blade parted through it, like smoke. Nodah's mouth went dry. How was he to defeat a shade?

He swung out the hand that held the knife, and concentrated, remembering the boulder he had passed. The silhouette had turned its head, and its smooth, blank face stared at Nodah. Like something from a dream, it slanted itself, facing Nodah with languid movements. Nodah jerked his outstretched arm and folded it over his chest. With a scream of protest, the boulder came flying past the trees. The shade was right in its path. His other hand reached out, and just before the boulder could smear the silhouette, Nodah made a violent fist. There was a split-second of pause, as the atmospheric pressure surrounding the boulder peaked dramatically, and the granite surface crumpled, like a sheet of parchment that had been crinkled wastefully into a ball. There was a deafening crash. Nodah ducked, curling his body away from the torrent of stone fragments that pelted his skin. He felt one strike his elbow, and gasped at the sharp dash of pain and release, as blood undoubtedly rose to swell. When Nodah looked up once more, the silhouette was gone, and he was alone.

Plunging the dagger back into its sheathe, Nodah looked down at the unevenly-shaped pebbles that now lay scattered. He rose his foot and took a step, the forest-floor crunching like gravel beneath him now. As he walked towards the school, he inspected the cut on his elbow. It was neither fatal nor worthy of concern, an accident, was all.

An echoing voice rang, "Congratulations, Nodah Listig. You have successfully completed the final step for your acceptance into Rosewood. Performance rank: Ａ." Nodah did not break stride, eyeing the open iron-wrought gates that loomed before him. "Hooray for me," he muttered hollowly, flashing eyes flat.

Nodah was going to step over the threshold, into Rosewood. Why could he not summon the joy, the triumph, the relief, of having acquired a position in a prestigious school, where attendance was a privilege? He thought of what he had left behind. He should have been overwhelmed by emotions to have successfully escaped his past, that treacherous monster that had until so recently been his present. Except, Nodah wasn't. Nodah could not muster the feelings required of him.

He almost walked right by the pixie. Eyes shuttered close, clothes green, and hair the colour of emerald, the creature was breathing, curled up on the ground. He was stained crimson, from a wound on the head. It was the blood that compelled Nodah to kneel - he who summoned everything to his hands before he bent. The pixie was no larger than a fruit. Nodah's lips quirked in bemusement, and he leaned forward to inspect the pixie further, eyes flashing indigo, then blue, then yellow, as he took in every detail. One finger brushed the pixie's hair aside gingerly, looking for the wound. When he was satisfied with what he'd gathered, Nodah prodded the minuscule shoulder for a reaction to gauge his degree of consciousness.

Nuna Mori

Strolling casually through the dense fog, Nuna observes the vegetation surrounding her intently. The significance of the forest expounds further than just a body of greenery; it is home to various creatures and herself. Inspecting the path, she noticed the detrimental state it was in. "Some idiot was skating through these grounds with no respect for you. Bastard." The tracks led a long path and she figured it may direct her towards the school. Stepping forward, she began singing an incantation.

"I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast."

The melodic tune that echoed from her mouth had a reaction with the earth. The tire strewn ground began eroding and reforming as Nuna enchanted it with her verses. As she proceeded farther ahead, the renewed earth was vibrant with its flora. Feeling exhilarated from the feat performed, she was ready to purge all impurities. As the breezes passed, rustling the foliage, blowing her hair, and hoisting fragrances, she was taken aback by a certain odor. "What is this... blood?!" Eagerly rushing forward to investigate, she was appalled by the horrific scene before her. Blood splattered amongst trees and the mass of an animal were stagnant before Nuna. She slowly approached the mutilated body of the half-dead beast.

Without hesitation, she conjured the power within her and began healing the beast. As she stretched her arms forth, the wind began swirling around collecting leaves. The leaves filed upon the mass, emitting a radiant light. "Rise." The beast roared back to vitality with the impression it was still engaged in battle. She felt herself losing grip of her consciousness but was prevented from hitting the ground by the monster. She thanked the creature and decided that she could ride the bear to speed up her journey. Mounting the animal, it was ordered to ride off into the direction specified. Mori had to make up for lost time through this mean.

The creature ran with haste and led her quickly out of the forest. On her way out, she spotted the mangled neck of a bird and looked away in disgust. She arrived at a clearing where the school was visible. Mori dismounting the creature was shown affection with nuzzling. After the intercession, the bear was told to depart and be well.

Nuna came across a peculiar inscription on the ground, giving off some sort of satanic ritualistic vibe. She spent a few more moments taking in the scenery around her. "Something feels off here..." The Druid paced around the vast field, examining the various remnants left behind from what appeared to be battles; the bark on some trees were charred, multiple puddles of water were scattered throughout the area, and... the smell of blood was getting stronger. Nuna made her way slowly over to one of the damaged trees, hesitating before she placed the tips of her fingers on the burn. "Speak. Tell me of----" In an instant, her eyes widened and flashed with a bright yellow. She threw her head back, gasping for air as images starting reeling in her mind. Quick glimpses of a previous battle appeared before her- a blurred recollection of a shadowy silhouette materialized and was launching fireballs at what appeared to be a demon, drawing the same incantation that Nuna had seen just seconds before. The Succubus slid down onto the damp grass, still grasping the tree before she was torn from her vision. She closed her eyes as she took deep breaths, gradually regaining her composure. So these... 'things' attacked other students...

The time she spent gathering her bearings on the ground left her defenseless, and she was suddenly struck from behind with a blunt force. The impact was so strong, Nuna was immediately sent flying, her body limp from the attack. She tumbled across the ground, picking up dirt as she skidded to a halt. She remained motionless, almost unconscious. However, as she heard the crunching of grass beneath someone's feet, her eyes opened slowly. Nuna's vision was blurry when she looked up at the violent creature, wielding the brass knuckles that assaulted her. Just before the figure prepared to launch its final blow, she managed to gather enough strength to avenge the foe.

Upon whispering this statement, a torrent of wind began to collect leaves. They swirled above their heads before suddenly lashing out at the enemy, lacerating the shadow relentlessly until there was no remainder of the dark energy.

She eventually stood up, grabbing her shoulder and cracking her neck. "Damn, the grass..." She brushed off her skirt and was stunned by a loud booming voice. "Congratulations, Nuna Mori. You have successfully completed the final step for your acceptance into Rosewood. Performance rank: B. (Seriously)" "Really. I cleaned up all the shit these bastards left behind for that?" Before proceeding to the gates she sings her verses and repairs the damage done to the environment.

In the vicinity of the entrance was a lanky, light hazel haired human. He appeared to be crouching over something, so Nuna approached with caution. Close enough to see, there laid a green colored fru--. Oh, it's a fair-- pixie. She was weakened by the huge consumption of energy and had to replenish it. She thrust herself upon the human, happily wrapping her arms around the boy's waist, slipping her hands beneath his shirt to get a feel. "Pardon the intrusion..." She licked her lips suggestively and grasped his elbow. The small gash was healed when she brushed her fingertips across. She gracefully moved towards the pixie, tending to his injuries. "This is more tragic than your wittle boo-boo, Mister." She picked up the little green fruit and cupped him in her palms. A radiant light shined through her fingers and she rejuvenated the damage done to the creature.

Zensei Zaza

Zensei slowly opened his eyes to the face of a skimpy woman with long flowing silver hair and huge breasts. He became aggravated and hissed at the woman, biting her left boob. Quickly releasing his jaws, he flew towards the school doors rejecting her presence. "I don't need your help, slutty freak!" The pixie approached the polished metal door and tugged on the handle only to find out that it was locked. He raised his hands in front of the door and began to confidently move his tiny fingers like he was playing a piano, shifting the gravity within the lock. A small click noise came from the door, letting Zensei know that he was successful.

He slowly nudged the door open until he could see the lobby. There was a gigantic chandelier hanging above the front desk that beautifully illuminated the room an indigo color. The floor was made of smooth crystals that gloriously reflected the blue light back up onto the furniture, which was simplistic with geometric shapes. In front of the desk was a line of people waiting to get their student identification necklace and schedule. The person behind the desk was an elf who wore a name tag that read "Yayo Fiji", he had pitch black hair that was tied back into a long ponytail, bright purple eyes, and pale white skin. He looked right into Zensei's eyes with a concerned expression on his face. The pixie felt like he was supposed to say something. "U-um.. I picked your lock with my gravity powers and it's really pretty in here and I like your eyes.." Yayo's eyes opened with excitement and grew a smile that seemed to stretched across his face. "Please come, come!" The pixie hesitantly fluttered to the freakishly tall elf, looking at all the people in line. The most noticeable ones were a yellow eyed slender nocturne wearing a beanie, a curvy white haired demon with thick horns, and a human wearing cool red roller blades. When he got to the desk Yayo asked for his name, class, race, rank, and electives chosen. As Zensei answered the questions, he noticed a microphone on the desk next to the monitor that the elf was plugging information into, explaining the voice he heard outside.

"Okay! Here is your schedule and student identification necklace that will unlock your dorm room for you! Thank you for choosing Rosewood. My name is Yayo Fiji and I will be your cook, professor, janitor, maintenance man, counselor, principal, and doctor. Use the intercom in your dorm room if you ever need anything." The pixie looked down at his necklace in awe, the pendant was pearl green and shaped like pixie wings. When he flipped it over to see his dorm number, his heart almost blew out of his chest. "Hah! I get the top floor, nasty freaks!" He flew over to the portal and set it for the tenth floor. "Bye psychos!" He yelled and laughed as he entered the warping device.

---

Daichi stood among the massive sea of students, unable to hide the amusement on his face. Upon entering the large building, the Nocturne was completely taken aback by the beautiful interior design of the school- Rosewood certainly upheld its name as the most prestigious school in Mystia. Mysterious, elegant, and exquisite- Daichi couldn't put into words how breath-taking the building itself was. While he was lost deep in his thoughts, he noticed the line of creatures ahead of him had dwindled to just a few more people. Clearing his throat, Daichi stepped forward to come face to face with an elf that towered over him. "Welcome to Rosewood! May I ask for your name, race, class, rank, and electives chosen?" The large difference in height caused the yellow-eyed cat to pause, somewhat unfamiliar with an elf of such "caliber."

Sensing his hesitation, the elf tilted his head and offered the Nocturne a cordial smile. Daichi, snapping out of his bewilderment, brought his fist to his mouth and cleared his throat. "-Sorry, my name is Kuroda Daichi. Nocturne, an Essentia, and rank A." The elf behind the desk nodded his head and turned to the side, flicking his wrist upward to call forth a holographic HUD. The blue glow of the keyboard reflected brightly against both of their faces as they both stared at the intangible screen. "Magical History and Potion Making." With swift movements, the graceful creature's deft fingers swept across the letters, entering the provided information. Once he was finished, the elf ushered the device away, causing it to vanish in an instant. Before it faded away, a peculiar ornament materialized and slowly levitated onto the smooth surface of the table.

"Alright, here you go! Be sure to keep this with you at all times." The creature slid what appeared to be the paw of a kitten, its fur jet black and its pads matching the crimson red of the claws. Picking up the icon between his index and middle fingers, Daichi turned the necklace over slightly to read the text printed on the back. 10th floor. Daichi looked up at the elf and returned the warm smile with a slanted grin.

As he was putting the student-id around his neck, he continued walking towards the crowd of students gathered in the center of the lobby. On his way across the room, he glanced over his shoulder to scope out any other "competition." A few students seemed more distinctive than others, including the human with the ribbon of fire coiled around his leg and the white haired demon with a stare almost as cold as his own. He narrowed his eyes accordingly, being sure to note the necklaces both creatures were wearing. His focus quickly shifted to the jiggling handle of the large metal door, curious to see who- or what- showed up late to the orientation.

When the little green pixie came into view, Daichi couldn't help but let out a faint scoff; he had expected a creature a little more menacing. With that, the elf caught everyone's attention with his booming voice that echoed throughout the hall. Following his brief welcoming speech, the pixie he had chuckled at prior to Yayo's introduction flew over to the warping device after shouting something inaudible. He cocked one eyebrow and casually made his way over to the portal as well, ignoring the whispers and slight commotion the other students were making. Daichi put one hand on his hip and the corners of his mouth curved only slightly. "Looks like we're roomies." he mumbled, joining his new roommate on the teleportal.

Nodah Listig

With a small sound of surprise in the back of his throat, Nodah lurched forward, and had to maintain his balance by rocking back on the balls of his feet. He felt his muscles tense without volunteer, as hands slithered around his middle, entrapping him in their iniquitous hold. He lost his breath for a moment, the air had thickened. In the corner of his eye, a wispy strand of blue hair waved like a ribbon.

“Pardon the intrusion,” he heard a girl say. Fingers found his iced skin beneath his shirt. Their tips felt sunbaked. His jaw locked almost painfully, Nodah’s eyelids fluttered closed, the warm press of a body against his stiff back. It would be the easiest thing to throw this girl off of him, and send her sprawling to the dirt, leave an impression or two as due penalty for her callous infraction. But that was un-chivalrous, and recollections of the gallantry lessons his mother had drilled into him with her brittle voice hammered a dull ache in his head, driving him to maddening confusion. Preservation, or patience? Retaliation, or restraint?

Nodah’s eyes sprang open. They burned in their sockets, turned the warmest ocher, with a frozen nugget of ice encased in each center of their heat. “Of course,” he lied breathily, forcing his muscles to relax beneath the girl's blanketing warmth. Nodah's mask of indifference returned to him, betraying not a trace of the upset that hadn't roots in the risqué nature of the druid’s actions. His elbow was touched, and no inspection was required to know that the girl had healed the superficial scratch. A druid, then, and a succubus as well.

Once she pranced away to the pixie, Nodah felt true relief. He straightened to his feet, and when the pixie was returned to the world of the living - leaving with haste - Nodah turned to the succubus.

“My thanks, fair lady,” he murmured. Despite this, the flecks of cold in his irises began to burgeon, unbidden. Like weeds, their crystal tendrils overran his pupils, until wintry blue had besieged what had been tawny eyes. At odds with his gaze, Nodah released a wane smile. "Though I must ask that you keep your affections away from a bashful man. You are beautiful; I find myself undeserving," glibly, he said. Poisonous thoughts rose like fumes in his mind, intangible to only him. His eyes were the only indications that they existed at all. Cast yourself upon me once more, and you shan't find me clement. This, he kept to himself. He must. Nodah did not burn bridges - be they inflammably wooden or crumbling stone - before he'd crossed them.

Nodah held the succubus' gaze a second longer, before turning to walk, his strides long. "A good day." By the time he came to the building, his broiling stomach had settled.

He saw that the pixie had unlocked the doors, and Nodah slipped in after him. With a light “Hm,” of appraisal, he raised his vision to the ceiling, sweeping downwards and taking in the extravagant interior. He tossed a glance at the queue of people he joined, heard Yayo Fiji address the pixie, and the pixie leave high-spirited, a Nocturne in his wake.

Nodah slid into place behind a horned demon and a youth on rollerblades – what curious company Rosewood kept – and fingered the strap of his bag, hands working restlessly as he amassed his thoughts (a nasty business). For several heartbeats in that copse of trees, he had been a skittish colt, vulnerable to the harmless, and which startled at every touch. That feeble cloak which had draped heavily over Nodah – atrophying his muscles and robbing his strength – had not only laid Nodah as bare as was conceivable, but had also brought forth memories of a scrawny youth, whom Nodah spent every waking moment running away from, but could never outpace and evade. The boy refused adamantly to be evicted, to be buried. In eternal preference to the cloak, Nodah donned his mask; yet, at times, the reins slipped from his knuckles, and he was forced to flounder and grope the floor for them, like a crippled beggar without his crutches. It did not matter that Nodah had thrashed only privately, only briefly. He had. And that was reminder enough that the boy - that loathsome being Nodah had once been in a life past - remained within him.

There wasn’t time to contemplate the riddle; people were stepping forward to Yayo Fiji’s desk. When it came to Nodah’s turn, he kept his eyes on the elf’s tapered fingers as he typed. “Nodah Listig. Human. Gravitin. Rank A.” Blue eyes flashed green at Yayo Fiji. “Though you might know that, seeing as you did just assign us our ranks at the gate.” He received a bright chuckle in return - the kind that compels you to tuck into the pocket of a summer coat, so that you might retrieve it while winter rages and feel your centre warm again - and Nodah allowed a smirk. “Magical History, as well as Potion Making.”

“Welcome to Rosewood, Mr Listig,” declared Yayo Fiji, his voice embroiled in warmth, soft and gentle as cotton. Nodah could learn to be fond of the man who ran the school. He held out an open palm to receive his necklace. Minute gold links joined hands to form a thin circuitous chain that glittered. The gold pendant was moulded to be a bird. At first glance, it took the specific shape of a lark, limitless and immortalised in a laugh. But Nodah peered closer, and the outstretched wingspan and hooked beak came together, like pieces of a puzzle, to form an eagle instead; frozen in mid-flight and mid-caw; no larger than half his thumb; cut from winking gold with intricate details, easy to overlook but combining to please the sight. A masterpiece, and no less.

He caught Yayo’s eyes as he slipped the necklace over his head. Tucked beneath his shirt, the kiss of gold felt cool against his heartbeat. “Thank you.” Nodah said, sincerity tasting odd on his tongue, before walking to the portal. As he waited for the next ride up to the tenth floor, he wondered at the reflection he had seen beneath the pendant’s unblemished golden surface.

While the interior of the building was beautiful it didn't hold Reas' attention for very long since he was more interested in the other students. When he got to the front of the line he had been too distracted with the others there that he hadn't realized that the rather tall elf was sitting behind the desk drumming his fingers for a few second before clearing his throat. When Reas heard this he turned to face the root of the sound at met the gaze of the elf who's name tag said "Yayo Fiji". At first Reas was nervious but the warm smile that spread across the elf's face basicaly melted the tension away. "May I have your Name, Race, Class, and Rank please?" Yayo said as a screen popped up and waited for the requested information. Reas gave the information to Yayo and watched him enter it into a pop-up screen that reminded him of the kind his father used when building his inventions which he would let Reas test.

After the Info was entered Yayo pushed the screen off to the side and told Reas to hold out his hand. He did so and a Gold pendant materialized in his hand feeling as cold as ice on his palm. The pendant was in the shape of a golden blaze around a silver wheel which reflected the light making it shimmer when moved. Reas looked at the back of the pendant and saw the words 10-H, "Nice im on the top floor" he said before more people walked past him talking about being on the top floor too. Reas gave a small bow to Yayo and rolled towards the portal and stood there with the others waiting to go up to the top floor and meet his dorm-mates. The portal began pulling upward on reas as soon as he rolled into the area of it, he rather liked this pull though as it made him feel a little lighter. He slipped his pendant around his neck and bent down to change the magic adapter of his skates to slow them down to "safe" speeds so he wouldn't get yelled at for speeding in school.

Reas relaxed a bit as more people walked into the portal and he waited for the last of them to get in. The Ribbon of fire wrapped around his leg further to keep it out of other's faces and stopped it from moving around.

Dᴇsᴅᴇᴍᴏɴᴀ Cᴏʀᴄᴇʟʟᴀ

The college building was to no surprise, extravagantly decorated. Desdemona stood by the entrance, examining the area. It was somewhat noisy and filled with students, which was a relief from the silent trip to Rosewood. After a few moments, she notices the line for the identification necklace growing longer. “Great… Even more waiting.” she sighs. Desdemona tried to stay occupied by finding things to focus on other than the line, but in the end couldn’t stop herself from getting annoyed. It was finally her turn to get her necklace and the tall elf, Yayo Fiji, was behind the desk. “Welcome to Rosewood!” he greets.

He smiles at her, in exchange she frowns. “Is something troubling you?” Yayo asks. Desdemona makes a frustrated noise.
“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting?! I don’t understand why this line is so slow!” her outburst causes some heads to turn, she stares at the observers aggressively and they look away in fear. Yayo continues to smile at her “Now, now. Getting upset won’t make things go faster right?”

Desdemona realized the elf had a point, and slightly regretted making a scene. “Yeah, yeah, whatever knife ears. Just hurry up and give me my damn necklace.” she demanded. A holographic screen appeared by Yayo “May I ask for your name, race, class, rank, and electives chosen?” he asks.
“Desdemona Corcella. Demon. Necromancer. Rank A. Magical History and Potion Making.” she responds as Yayo enters in the information rapidly. As he finished typing, a skull necklace ornamented with diamond-like jewels appeared on the desk. Desdemona grabs the necklace, “Be sure to keep this with you at all times.” Yayo says as she quickly walks away.

Desdemona paced towards the teleportal located in the lobby. Looking her necklace she sees the dorm room on the back, 4-C.
“I hope my roommates aren’t annoying.” she mutters as she enters the portal.

Zephyr

Zephyr strode purposefully through the forest, not wanting to lose any more time than he already had. It was getting slightly darker, and the fog in the forest only thickened as he continued to walk. He could sense the conflicted nature of plants as he passed, affected by his demonic nature, but also by the fact he was a Druid. Destruction and healing was an odd and unusual combination, Zephyr knew. But he made it work. His abilities made the trip through the forest fairly easy, brambles on the ground shying away as if they were respectfully clearing a path for him.

Coming to what seemed to be a clearing, Zephyr paused and scanned the area suspiciously. It seemed there'd been a battle of sorts that had taken place. Blood, scorch marks, gouges in the earth. He allowed himself a small smirk, sensing the intents of the battle, or battles. So he was going to be tested? Brilliant.Bring it on, he thought, rolling his shoulders. He kept walking, more alert this time. Even with the extra attention, he was still surprised when a dark figure barrelled into him, knocking him to the ground. He leapt up again, looking around when he spotted the shade between the trees a few metres away. A shade? With substance? He noted with surprise, but then dismissed it. If it had physical substance, well, that just made it easier to hit.

He sprang up brambles next to the shade, which erupted out of the ground and nearly trapped the shade, but it was gone at the first noise. Zephyr groaned, but then whirled around as he heard a crack behind him. He was just in time to throw his scaled fist at the shade, stopping it in its tracks. There was none of the satisfying crunch you got from punching humans or virtually anything else, but he knew he'd made a solid connection, creating enough force to send it flying back towards a tree. He didn't waste any more time after that, splitting the tree the shade hit into two and quickly wrapping the remains around the shade, compressing until the shade dissolved into ashes that then disappeared. Fighting back the mild nausea that came from destroying plants, he strode over to the tree and healed the trunk. It kept its new mangled shape, but was vibrant and alive once more by the time he was done. Turning to face the iron wrought gates that now loomed out of the fog, he heard a ringing voice.

"Congratulations, Zephyr. You have completed the final step for your acceptance into Rosewood. Performance Rank: B."

A B? Really? Zephyr rolled his eyes and walked through the gates as they swung open for him and slammed shut behind him. For the first time, he looked around at the school with interest. There was no other word for it- Rosewood was majestic. It looked every bit the prestigious school, deserving the renown it had throughout Mystia. By this time, the line of students was fairly short. He stepped into line, still observing the students around him. He made sure nothing showed on his face but mild boredom, but noted with interest the elves, Nocturnes and other creatures he saw. He'd never seen so many different creatures in one place.

Once at the front, the elf at the desk gave him a warm smile. "Finally made it, eh? Please give me your name, race, class, rank and chosen electives."

"Zephyr. Demon. Druid. Magical History and Potion Making. Rank B." Zephyr gave the answers quickly and shortly, and just as quickly the elf typed in the data. As he did, a necklace appeared on the desk beside him. Made of an purplish metal, it had what seemed to be a long serrated tooth as a pendant, made of lightning ridge black opal. A thin thread of the metal snaked around the tooth.
Picking up the necklace, Zephyr noticed 10-H inscribed on one of the necklace links.

"That's your dorm room, make sure you keep this necklace with you at all times." The elf told him. With a noncommittal grunt, Zephyr nodded and strode away towards the portal, still looking around him.

Nuna Mori

Nuna was astounded with this occurrence; a green fruit had bitten her breast and she was rejected by the boy. "The both of them don't know what they're missing out on. As for the green apple, his penance better be ready." She was angered by these events and almost forgot to inspect whether if that pixie left an imprint. Nuna looked down at her skin, paused, and raised her head once again. The rage that flowed out of her could not be expressed in words. "MY LUXURIOUS SKIN. I'm going to have to take a bite out of that fruit." She grumbled under her breath as she hurriedly entered the college building.

Entering the structure, she noticed the elegance of its interior, but she was too angry to dwell on that fact. She was ready to go to her room and relax. The identification line was relatively short compared to what she imagined.

She approached the desk, looking at the elf who waved his dexterous and stated, "Welcome to Rosewood! Your attempt to keep the exterior perimeter intact was greatly appreciated. If I may inquire, what is your name, race, class, and electives?" Nuna gave a cold stare at the elf, whose name tag read, Yayo Fiji. She was in no mood for games and continued glaring at the ecstatic elf. "If I may inquire- why do you need such information considering the fact that you already know of my doings and assigned my rank." The elf gave a smirk and stated, "You're perceptive aren't you. I see you are not in the best of moods, so let me not bother you."

Although this was true, Nuna reluctantly stated her information. "Nuna Mori. Succubus. Druid. Magical History and Art. Even though I should have done better: Rank B- seriously." As the elf's fingers moved instantaneously to the provided information, a necklace with a pendant attached materialized. Nuna inspected the intricate pendant. It was decorated with what appeared to be a ghost orchid; the spider web like plant had specs of blue that closely resembled the hue adorned on her head. The center was vivid with a yellow fluorescent flower. At this point, the elf had finished entering Nuna's demographics. "You must keep this on your person at all times." Dismissed from the table, she stared enduringly at the necklace and noticed it had scripture on the back. 4C. As she progressed to the portal, lost in the workmanship of the necklace, she caught a glimpse of a demon entering the building. What caught her gaze was the masculinity and scales covering one arm. "Intriguing", she stated as she continued through the portal.

Zensei Zaza

After waiting for so long Zensei began to feel bored. The portal's pad was already crowded with excited students, so he hovered higher for fresh air. Struggling, he managed to gain the power to yell at Yayo. "Can we go yet?!" The elf ignored the pixie as the yellow eyed nocturne squeezed into the area. Zensei screamed as he was sucked back into the crowd of creatures. The nocturne stared at the pixie through the gap of everyone's legs and put one hand on his hip as the corners of his mouth curved only slightly. "Looks like we're roomies." he mumbled.

The pad began to spin slowly as a purple glow pulsed from the center. Frightened and ignoring the mumbling, Zensei leaped towards the beanie wearing nocturne. The other students were too amazed by the light show to notice the tiny wings that slapped their legs. He lowered the gravity around himself and jumped up to the the nocturne, wrapping his tiny arms and legs around his slim forearm. Zensei screamed as navy blue fog emitted from above and encased the students. A bright white light appeared in their eyes, blinding them and radiating a deafening ringing noise.

Zensei, still wrapped around the nocturne's forearm, began to slowly recover from his lost senses. Under the two of them was velvety soft carpet that smelled sweet, almost like chocolate but also flowery. A combination of numbers and lights blurred into view along with the carpet, the tips of every thick woven piece fabric emitted a feint white glow. Under the glow were the soft black strands, making the carpet look like a starry night.

Once Zensei was fully recovered, he began to ramble to the nocturne that still had no senses. "Looks like we're on the tenth floor. By the way what's your name? Thank you for saving me by the way. By the way I love this carpet."

---

Turning his back towards the influx of students behind him, Daichi stood with his face towards the exterior of the portal as he remained as close to the exit as possible. After hearing the familiar shrill voice of a creature at the far end of the lift. That was when the gaze of his angular eyes met multiple times with the large, round ones of the pixie that had piqued his interest. Without dawdling too much on that fact, his eyelids fluttered closed when the doors of the teleportation device finally spun closed.

The smooth, reflective surface of the ground beneath their feet vibrated almost violently, slowly rotating with the large number of students scattered across it. Plenty of astonished gasps and surprised yelps filled the portal, but Daichi simply took a deep breath to tune out the world around him. He cleared his thoughts completely, and soon all background noise began to fade into nothingness. Through his eyelids, the rays of purple light that filled the small space brightened only slightly as the floor's counter-clockwise motion sped up in unison. Just when he was about to veer off into his meditative zone, he felt a sudden warmth envelope his arm just above his wrist.

Daichi snapped out of his thoughts and opened one eye, peeking down at the new presence he was suddenly accompanied with. The nocturne parted his lips in preparation to say something, but his actions were brought to a halt as soon as the dark blue mist was emitted from the ridges in the high ceiling. He quickly lifted his head, narrowing his yellow orbs at the unknown substance that was rapidly filling the space. The many precautionary thoughts that reeled through his mind were silenced when a strong jolt shook the whole teleportal. The nocturne was nearly thrown off his center of balance when the device started moving, taken aback by the abrupt movement and the overwhelming flashing of lights as the students traveled up the building with great speed.

The intense resonance that echoed through the area was quite displeasing to the sensitive feline ears, causing him to bring his free hand to one side of his head. Daichi staggered forward unsteadily when he was certain his destination had been reached. His vision was still blurred and foggy, and the hall that stretched out before him was somehow spinning in a similar fashion to the portal. A groan escaped the disheveled nocturne as he struggled to maintain his balance. He slumped over against what he assumed was a wall, still clutching half of his face.

"-Looks like we're on the tenth floor. By the way what's your name? Thank you for saving me by the way. By the way I love this carpet." Upon hearing the voice of the other creature, the bothersome ringing in Daichi's ears finally stopped, granting the cat some alleviation for his symptoms.

With a sigh of relief, Daichi looked down at his wrist to observe the other being closely. A slanted smirk spread across his face before he spoke up. "Heh, looks like you're right. I didn't even realize- I was a little out of it." He spoke casually, a cheerful tone prominent in his voice. "Kuroda Daichi. You?" As he sparked conversation, the nocturne brought the arm bearing the tiny little green fruit in front of him, hoisting the small pixie a few inches from his face. The green aura of the specimen before him illuminated his face appropriately, fascinating the black-haired creature as he took in the minuscule details.

Nodah Listig

Nodah's breath was easily lost in the crammed portal. Jostled to the side, he pressed his back against the wall. Sorely tempted to change the gravity around him just for breathing space, Nodah diverted his attention to evening his breaths, to preserve sanity of mind in the crushing portal. Just then, he spied the succubus-druid entering the portal. His green eyes flashed blue. Honestly, Nodah, you do not leave a girl alone in the forest! he could hear his mother saying in her thready whisper of a voice, a ghost in spirit. Now apologise to her for your lapse in chivalry. Are you a gentleman, or a Neanderthal? Honestly!

Nodah gritted his teeth, unable to believe he was about to take imagined advise from a disembodied voice of his own making. But the turmoil her touch had brought was gone. It was the first day, and it would not do to sour relations so early in the term. He might not like the voice, but it had roots in his own mind, and he knew when he had spoken dismissively to the succubus that he had discarded his manners.

Nodah turned to the blue-haired succubus as best as he could in the crowded portal, by then wearing courtesy like a second skin. "I'm afraid I haven't had the honour of introducing myself to a fair lady," he said quietly. "My haste to reach Rosewood overcame my better judgement prior. I hope you will forgive me for abandoning you in the woods." He managed a small bow, staring at her from under his eyelashes whilst he bent. "I am Nodah Listig. Always a pleasure. May I know your name?"

When the portal kicked alive, blue fog descended upon them, someone began to scream. Nodah winced, the shrill sound piercing his eardrums. "Do be quiet," he moaned quietly, the words barely audible even to himself, as a flash stole his eyes, and a ringing noise even worse than the high-pitched keen robbed him of his hearing.

Nodah stumbled forward into newfound empty space, and knew it was over. He blinked rapidly, bursts of light spotting pitch-black vision. Where was his sight? He blinked once more, and found himself on his knees, his palms tracing over soft bristles. A carpet, then. Slowly, dots of light came into view, a waving grassland. Raising his head, Nodah saw the other students, among them the pixie from the forest clinging onto a Nocturne - who introduced himself as Kuroda Daichi - babbling away. Gathering his legs neatly beneath him, Nodah pinched the bridge of his nose. "I shall never use the portal again."

Leval Lamrue

Leval focused the beam of light from his gloves trying to make sense of the rather messy handwriting of the old map in his hands. The fog rolling between the trees was incredibly dense, making what was already a rather difficult task into a near impossible one, as the fog hungrily ate in the light. Leval glanced up with his beam carefully examining the area around him, noises barely audible in the forest kept causing shivers of electricity to course down his body, raising the minuscule hairs on the back of his neck. ‘Paces,’ he thought letting out a muted sigh, ‘Who the hell still uses paces as a form of measurement?’ The shopkeeper had definitely swindled him. Leval had expected as much, but the prospect of a shortcut of Rosewood had been too much to resist. Now, rather than being the first one to enter the halls of knowledge from his dreams, he was three hours behind schedule.

A strange shape by a nearby tree caught his eye causing him to spin around gasping. A large scaled bird was crumpled against the towering tree, its neck smashed into the side leaving a red stain on the surrounding forest floor. “Oh god, it looks like it was hit by a sledgehammer- what could have done this?” Leval’s hazel eyes began to flit side to side, his shivering getting worse. Of course, he known that Rosewood was a strange place filled with “gifted” children, but it hadn't really hit him until now what he might be facing. Leval closed his eyes and imagined the knowledge he could find there. Books upon books, soaring towers filled with knowledge, and teachers that could answer every question burning in his mind about this world. His breathing stilled as he regained control, with one hand he reached to the bird and closed its eyes, before standing.

Leval looked around him, or as much he could with the fog blocking most everything from view. His right hand idly played with the bouncy tuft of brown hair as he looked for a way one of here, his left hand still clutching the useless map. The first test, he decided, was to get out of this forest. He moved his right hand down and turned on his gloves to their highest intensity. It didn’t provide much in the way of visibility, but it was enough. His eyes caught on to distinctive marks on the ground, a straight line churning up the earth where it based and the distinct impression of footprints all headed the same direction He smiled at the earth and straightened, thought still dwarfed by his surroundings.

“Well no time like the present.” Leval furrowed his brow and reach deep inside himself touching the source of his gift. Around him, light bent and writhed, shaping itself to his desires and layered itself around him. Where he had stood a moment before, there was a huge man, body made of nothing but muscle, holding a two handed clay-more in his hands. To Leval, however, nothing had changed except for a faint imprint in the air around him that let him know the power was working. He moved his hand through it, pleased with its in substantial form. ‘This will make anyone think twice about messing with me.’

The massive human illusion moved forward, keeping perfect pace with Leval's motions looking confident while inside, Leval maintained a nervous grin. The light was growing clearer and fog seemed to be thinning out steadily. And then Leval felt the air rush out of his lungs. The sight of the magnificent tower before him, the knowledge he could never find in the books of traders, and the waterfalls providing a beautiful backdrop to the scene.

And that's when a bolt of force slammed into Leval’s back, knocking the wind out of him and casting him forward into the stump of tree. He hit it with a resounding crack and fire lanced through his shoulder and he heard a distinctive pop. He let out a yelp filled with pain and shock. The illusionary appearance mimicked his actions though the sound of impact was much lower than it should have been for a man of his size. He wrenched his eyes open and looked over to where the blow had come from. A figure in a dark clothes covering his entire body stood behind him raising its hand for another blow. ‘Oh god oh god oh god,’ Leval thought as he scrambled back behind the trunk. The area had seemed fine before, no sign of earlier fighting. ‘Is this because I’m late?’ the mad thought raced across his mind.

Another bolt of force slammed through the tree making a fist sized hole through the tree itself and straight through his illusory head. The illusion quickly reformed as Leval stared, not breathing at the blast that would've taken his head. He heard the distinctive sound of feet approaching. ‘Run. Gotta run.’ His panic took over and he began racing through the trees, but quickly tripped on a fallen branch. He twisted his neck around, the figure behind him was approaching rapidly almost seeming to glide across the ground. Desperate, he reached for his magic once again, feeling the strength of it course through his body. His illusory image grew massive towering above him, 15 feet tall, muscles bulging and coursed with veins, wielding a blade almost as tall as him. The image roared with savage fury bringing the figure up short staring up as the illusion lifted the blade above his head and begin to bring it crashing down. The figure raised its hands to block the blade, and as he did so Leval came up from below, screaming wildly, and stabbed the sharp end of the branch he had tripped over into the figure with his good arm. The figure jolted almost as if it were surprised and disappeared into a puff of dark smoke, dissipating rapidly into the foggy air.

Leval rolled onto his back, his chest rising and falling rapidly, filling his air with good, life giving air. "Congratulations Leval Lamrue. You have successfully completed to final step for you acceptance into Rosewood. Performance rank: C"

‘...a test? Really?’ Leval rolled onto his stomach and blanched. The adrenaline in his system was fading and the pain in his shoulder was beginning to throb. He put his shoulder against and nearby tree, took a steadying breath, and lunged forward. His vision burst into bright white and agony caused stars to explode in his mind. Nevertheless, he felt his shoulder click back into place. After a few moments of recovery, he flexed his fingers, testing to make sure everything was still working. Somewhere in the confusion he had lost his map. Leval quickly reduced the size of his illusion to the hulking 6’6 brute, but did away with the sword. Then, at last, he strode through the gates mounting excitement propelling him forward.

Zephyr

As Zephyr approached the portal, he felt eyes on him and turned to meet the amber eyes of what seemed to be a Succubus. "Intriguing," she murmured, her eyes fixed on his arm. Zephyr was used to attention to his scales. At this point, he didn't care, especially if it meant the attention of a gorgeous creature like her. They reached the portal at roughly the same time, but before he could say anything in response a human started speaking, laying on more charm than virtually anyone he'd ever met. Did people still bow? Stifling a smirk, Zephyr focused his attention on the swirling surroundings that made up the portal.

The portal shifted with a sudden jerk that would have made a less stable person than Zephyr stumble, as dense blue fog descended. "There just has to be fog everywhere, doesn't there?" He muttered to himself, and then winced as a high pitched ringing filled his ears. There was a flash, the pitch of the sound increased until it was unbearable. Then, finally, it stopped. Zephyr's head ached, but he seemed to have managed better then the human, who was on the floor and mumbling something about never using the portal again. There were two others in the room as well, the second of which he almost didn't notice. A tiny green pixie on the arm of a Nocturne, babbling away. A long hall stretched ahead of him. The tenth floor, nice. Which must mean his dorm room was H? What Zephyr didn't see, however, was doors.

There were numbers that shone softly a few feet above the dark carpet, but he had no idea what their significance could be. He glanced towards the Nocture and pixie. They had been here first, and hopefully knew what to do. "I don't supposed any of you know where 10-H is?" He stated wryly, fixing his pale eyes on them."I'm Zephyr. Demon. Druid." He added shortly, getting any necessary introduction out of the way. Interestingly, he already felt more secure here. In the small town where he'd previously lived, humans had often had violent and terrified reactions to the nature of his being. Amusing though it often was, it had also gotten grating. Here, though, was none of that, although the steel like scales on his arm did stand out.

Dᴇsᴅᴇᴍᴏɴᴀ Cᴏʀᴄᴇʟʟᴀ

The portal was definitely not what Desdemona expected. Soon after the students entered, the floor began to spin emitting a purple glow and fog. The onlookers were amazed by the change of environment. Desdemona scoffs at their reactions, “How childish…”. The faces of awe quickly turned to panic. Flashes of a bright light accompanied with a booming sound came suddenly, startling most of the passengers.

Confident that she could block out the commotion, Desdemona used techniques she was taught to keep herself grounded. It was working at first, but to her surprise all of the energy from the portal became overwhelming. Closing her eyes and covering her ears, Desdemona didn’t know another way to counter the effects it was inflicting on her body. “W-what is this?” Desdemona struggles to mumble as she was increasingly becoming disoriented.

Slowing opening her eyes, she could see a carpet lay out in front of her. It resembled a night sky filled with stars. Desdemona walks forward, leaving the portal behind her. The rest of the hallway came into view and her senses began to return. “I hope this school has even more surprises.” she says slightly intrigued from the portal experience. As she searches for her dorm, she spots a door that’s plated 4-C. “Looks like I found-“ interrupted by the sight of a succubus standing in front of the entrance, Desdemona figures that’s one of her roommates. “Looks like I have to sleep with one eye open.” she continues to walk closer.

Leval moved forward to desk of a huge elf figure smiling wildly. Glancing around the room, he saw very few people left- most seemed to be exiting through a glowing portal. His curiosity stirred from deep in his being, ‘How does that work?’ Several theories began running through his mind, but all of them seemed implausible. Leval frowned at it, “I’ll need a closer look, I suppose.” He was just about to go over for a closer look, but he was interrupted by a polite clearing of the throat. He looked back to Yayo Fiji rather embarrassedly, “Oh sorry.”

“No problem! Welcome to Rosewood! Can you please tell me your name, race, class, rank, and chosen electives?” With a start, Leval realized that Yayo was looking directly into his eyes, not those of his illusion.

“Umm Leval Lamrue, Human, Illusionist, Power Rank…” his voice dropped to a whisper, “C. And I would like to take Magical History and Potion Making please.” His eyes dropped down avoiding the steady gaze of the elf.

“Very well! I handle most of the jobs around here so I’m sure I will see you soon. Here is the key to your room make sure you keep it on you at all times.” On the desk a necklace manifested itself. The chain of the piece was made of polished bronze with a singular piece of Zebra stone carved to form dual theater masks, each half white and half black. As Leval examined it more closely, he saw that the eyes of the masks were filled in with gold, or something like gold, pyrite maybe. On the back of the key “4-C."

“Ah well- thank you!” Leval rushed off to the portal, his illusory appearance maintaining its calm as it walked into the portal.