[@floodtalon] & [@TheUltimatum] & [@Shikaru] Meruin blinked. There was suddenly quite a lot of people around her. Somehow she had gained their attention, which puzzled her - asides from the shrub she had created, she didn't recall doing anything particularly note worthy. Tilting her head, her brows raised as she discovered exactly how she had captured their eyes. Casually, she clothed herself, not so much bothered by the fact that she was half-naked than by the fact that other people seemed to be staring at her because of it. Meruin thought it strange that she had attracted so much attention by just taking off her clothing and resolved to do more research on this later. "Thank you for reminding me," Meruin stated evenly. She was grateful of being reminded, but that gratitude was hampered by her own lack of concern for her state of dress. Turning to Arcadius, she gestured towards Apollo. "If you'll excuse me for a moment, I think that man has business with me. Let's continue or discussion some other time." Approaching Apollo with confusion on her face, Meruin once again thought of how strange people acted. The young man was covering his face, looking away from her and hadn't even noticed her approached because of it. Just as she was about to open her mouth to greet him, a wizened voice echoed throughout the auditorium. Meruin's eyes went wide as the floor beneath them lit up, revealing a rune that delivered the trademark school gauntlets directly unto their wrists. She had heard about these gauntlets from Master Reina - she had helped design it, and that the gauntlets held mysteries far beyond their unassuming looks. Their uses also expanded wider than what the staff told the students, however, as her Master only designed [i]part[/i] of the gauntlet, she couldn't be sure what those other uses were. Most likely no single person did. What had truly caught her attention, however, was the rune beneath them. She hadn't even sensed it there, despite how large it was. Truly the Mana-Script lived up to its reputation as the premier magic academy in the world. Turning in a way were she could see those nearby, Meruin gave a small curtsy, her traditional way of greeting someone good-bye, and shortly afterwards found herself in front of the Labyrinth of Hope; an auspicious name for an intimidating location. Without any preamble, Meruin entered the cave, as composed as ever and ready for her trial to come. [hr] [@Zetsuko] [hider=Kieran Altaaya's Exam] [i][color=fff79a]"Ahyahyahya~! You're pretty interesting for a student! Or do you perhaps not consider yourself a student? You Eldritch Abominations always have unusual ways of thinking. I wonder if that's the case with you?"[/color][/i] A high pitched and gleeful voice rang through the cave - or what was once the cave. Now the scenery had changed: all around Kieran was darkness that seemed to move about, as if it were alive. Even deeper into the darkness was something else - [i]were[/i] something else; creatures of many forms, and some that were as formless as the void that filled the space in between the stars. Dark, insane creatures that moved purposefully without purpose. Simply staring at them could give a normal human a headache - they were simply not creatures that could be understood by any of the current students at Mana-Script. Except perhaps, for the one that stood among them. [color=fff79a]"I think it's kind of weird that something like you has yet to break free from that mortal shell, but who knows what you could be plotting?" [/color]The owner of the voice came to light, literally illuminating the darkness around them. She was a small thing, barely larger than the palm of a grown man, with fragile features. She was not wearing any clothes, however, nothing of her was exposed due to the light she radiated, as if she had adorned a dress made from purest light. Thin, willowy wings protruded from her back that twitched every now and then. [color=fff79a]"Well, it's not my place to question students; I'm just a simple test administer after all. So welcome, Mister Kieran Altaaya, or at least the being that continues to go by that name, I am [i]Fo[/i], the one in charge of your examination."[/color] Just as she finished speaking, a large wooden double door phased into existence behind her. The small fairy flew towards the handle and sat on it daintily. [color=fff79a]"In any case, your exam begins now; your objective is simply this: find a way to open this door, for behind it lies the entrance to the true Academy."[/color] [/hider] [hr] [@WittyWolf] [hider=Azrael Arcana's Exam] [color=a0410d][i]"Greetings, Arcana, are you ready to begin your exam?"[/i][/color] Inside the cave, the world had completely changed. The sky was a reddish brown, and bright green streaks of electricity shot through it's dark blue clouds. At the Mage's feet was living grass of deep, black color. Yellow trees with orange leaves dotted the area, forming a large circle. At the very center of that circle stood a creature. Staring at Arcadius with black, pupil-less eyes, it had an ugly, grotesque face maligned with warts and moles. It's hooked nose was as big as a pear, and far too large for it's small, wrinkled head. The creature had short, pointed ears with elongated earlobes and a set of terrible teeth that were poorly aligned, and very, very sharp looking. The creature had a permanent scowl on to complete it's hideous persona. In it's hand was a gnarled staff made of wood that seemed to pulse and beat, as though blood was flowing through it. The creature was also dressed in animal skin, however, asides from a few, most of them were unrecognizable. [color=a0410d]"I am [i]Garroothilchivmadrogo[/i], though in your tongue, that would mean [i]Root of Death and Rebirth[/i], and I am the one in charge of your exam,"[/color] it spoke with a deep, gravelly baritone. [color=a0410d]"I am not fond of engaging in pointless talking, so I will begin your exam here."[/color] Garrooth tapped the end of his staff into the ground. Suddenly, the ground rumbled and shook, and from it, emerged a Golem made of polished black stone. It was as large as a small apartment, with very little human features. In fact, it looked closer to gorilla than it did a human. With a huff, the one who summoned it suddenly turned into soil. It's skin dried up in a second, leaving cracks on its visage. In a few seconds, Garrooth had turned into a sculpture made of dirt. Garrooth's voice, however, boomed from the sky: [i][color=a0410d]"Your task is simple: defeat the Golem and eat it's core. Be warned, however, that your trial does not end there - by devouring it's core you shall be transported into an arena to face a fellow examinee. I do not have to tell you what should happen should you expend too much energy in defeating this Golem."[/color][/i] And with that, the Golem reared up it's arms, and began barreling towards Azrael. [/hider] [hr] [@xXSINXx] [hider=Ava Rayne's Exam] Laughter. Everywhere around Ava was laughter. High pitched, girly laughter that grated on the ears. All around her flew hundreds upon hundreds of pixies. Each of them were smaller than the palm of a hand, yet each of them glowed as bright as a star, illuminating the cavern that Ava was in, eliminating nearly all of the shadows around them. They were adorable, yet mischievous looking things, with long pointed ears and beady blue eyes that couldn't stop moving about. From their backs fluttered wings that vaguely resembled a dragonflies, although they were bigger. They all spoke at once, their voices multiplying as the sound echoed and bounced around the cave. [b][color=ed1c24]"Hello Ava! We are the [i]Thinth[/i] Tribe! We are your Examiners! You no can get out of cave unless you win games!"[/color][/b] Suddenly, they all giggled, and began flying around even faster: they were like large, glowing flies, with the way they darted all over the place. The giggling died down, and they began talking again. [b][color=ed1c24]"We decided! You have to play Hide-and-Tag with us!"[/color][/b] The pixies gathered into the shape of a person. [b][color=ed1c24]"You Hide!"[/color][/b] A small pixie approached the human pixie formation excitedly. [b][color=ed1c24]"And we Tag!"[/color][/b] The small pixie touched the human formation, and suddenly, it lit on fire. The pixies had ignited themselves to make a human bonfire, however, they were giggling excitedly as they did so. Other than becoming more active, they were otherwise unaffected by the heat. They began buzzing around quickly; at first, it seemed that they were simply flying in random directions, but eventually it became apparent that they were taking positions . . . One group formed directly above Ava. [b][color=ed1c24]"You can Tag too!"[/color][/b] Another to her left. [b][color=ed1c24]"But you win only!"[/color][/b] Another to her right. [b][color=ed1c24]"If you Tag leader!"[/color][/b] Three formed in front of her. [b][color=ed1c24]"Or if we no find you!"[/color][/b] And two went behind her. [b][color=ed1c24]"When timeout time!"[/color][/b] Finally, the rest simply filled the gaps, flying in truly random directions and patterns. [b][color=ed1c24]"If win you, you go to school, YAY!"[/color][/b] Suddenly they all stopped flying and stared at Ava. [b][color=ed1c24]"READY OR NOT, HERE WE COME!!!"[/color][/b] [/hider] [hr] [@The ghost in black] [hider= Aleksandra “Hound” Galino's Exam] Aleksandra now stood inside an arena. The arena itself could easily fit thousands of people, both as fighters, and as spectators; which was good, considering what was currently occupying its center. Standing around ten meters tall, two Titans made of dull bronze smashed into each other, beating each other, attempting to destroy each other. The ground cracked and shockwaves flew, kicking dirt up and obscuring their legs. Aleksandra herself was currently at a safe distance, for she stood at the very back of the arena's seats. Next to her sat a woman dressed in a flowing white dress, with a neckline that plunged deep so as to show-off her chest; she was beautiful in an unearthly manner. Her face seemed to glow radiantly simply because her she was too beautiful. Even sitting down, it was apparent that she was a tall woman, and very shapely as well. Her manner of sitting squeezed her huge bosoms together in attractive way. And yet, there was an aura of unmistakable blood-lust that permeated the air about her. She watched the two Titans clash at the center with undisguised ecstasy - the woman's breathing was heavy, and her hand twitched were she held them at her lap, as if preventing them from going any lower. [color=ec008c]"These two, beautiful, [i]wonderful[/i] beasts have been fighting for a year now,"[/color] she said suddenly, in heavy, gasping breaths. [color=ec008c]"There's just no stopping, you see? There's a curse on them: they can't kill each other. Only an outsider can do that. And yet . . . they hate each other too much to allow anybody but themselves to bestow death upon the other."[/color] The woman turned to face Aleksandra. [color=ec008c]"Isn't it just . . . [i]mesmerizing[/i]? I can't think of anything more attractive than this . . ."[/color] With a sigh, the woman shook her head. [color=ec008c]"And yet all good things must come to an end. Darling, [i]they[/i] are your task. [i]End[/i] one of them, and end their feud. Assist one of them in gaining victory, and you shall be brought to the true Academy. Unfortunately, do not think that they will let you simply interfere with their duel: should you do so where they can see you, expect the both of them to come after you."[/color] Suddenly, the two titans glowed and changed colors. Where two dull, bronze colored Titans fought, there were now resplendent gold and silver ones. [color=ec008c]"Should the [i]both[/i] of them fall, however, you will have failed your task. They will be resurrected, and you will start from the beginning."[/color] Attractive crimson eyes bored straight into Aleksandra's own. [color=ec008c]"Now, begin, and hopefully, you can show me a sight even more ravishing than this . . ."[/color] [/hider] [hr] [@Aisling] [hider=Agatha Merriweather Pendragon's Exam] [i][color=a36209]"Well, what's this. A Pendragon? Oh, but you don't look like much of a knight . . . ah, how disappointing . . ."[/color][/i] As soon as Agatha created a light above her head, it spread out rapidly, illuminating her entire surroundings. Now, it seemed like a wholly different area. She stood on an endless field of grass, and directly above her were massive, rusted gears that blotted out the sky. They turned, and with each turn, the sky groaned. The air was stifling and smelled terrible - like rotting flesh and rusted metal mixed together. Sitting behind Agatha was a tall, thin, stick of a man - or at least what looked like a man. His skin was the color of copper, and his long thin face had bolts for eyes. His teeth were made of nails, and his fingers were made of small knives. Whenever he talked, his voice echoed inside of his mouth, as if his whole body was hollow and the sound bounced about inside of it. [i][color=a36209]"I had heard that Pendragons were superb knights. Just my luck that I got the Witch one."[/color][/i] His voice was grating, and sounded like to rough pieces of metal being scraped on each other. [i][color=a36209]"Well, I am Din, known as Dun, with the given name Dylin. Little Witch Pendragon, I am your proctor. This is your exam."[/color][/i] He spread his arms wide, and suddenly, the gears started turning faster. [i][color=a36209]"There is a specific pattern of weather that you must meet, in order to be free from here. For every correct part of the pattern, the gears will stop moving as both a signal, and as a relief for you - take note, that you are running on a time limit: The oxygen I supplied to this world is slowly but surely thinning out, and should you fail, well . . . I suppose you won't truly die, however, I've heard that death via lack of oxygen is most terrible."[/color][/i] It favored Agatha with a terrible, monstrous smile made of rusted nails. Pointing a finger at her, it continued; [i][color=a36209]"Also, should you expend too much energy in this task, beware for you still have one more ahead of you once you complete this one . . ."[/color][/i] Clenching his hands together and resting his head on it, Dun stared at Agatha with beady, dull, bolted eyes. [color=a36209][i]"Now . . . you may begin."[/i][/color] [/hider]