[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/miB972F.png?1[/img][/center] [center] [h3][i][color=ed1c24]Absinthe Red, Ellie B'herit[/color][/i][/h3] [img]http://i.imgur.com/Rl0G96a.png[/img] [/center] "Things have escalated in an unpredictable way, as far as I can see, most of the students won't make it back on time, or even find a card at all." Ellie said to Reiko who waited by the finish line. Three and a half hours had passed already, but only one student had reported so far, curiously enough, it was one with least chances of getting through this test. Fate certainly has weird ways of doing her thing. "Do you think we should interfe- What!? Where's she?" Ellie looked around, trying to find Reiko, but it was of no use, since the Scarlet Sage was long due on her way to the proving grounds. "Well, whatever happens happens." The demon girl shrugged, before turning to the petite form of Shinobu and the ever present (almost literally) troublemaker, Dana, and asking, "Now, would you like some hot chocolate? I even got some marshmallows, if you want." [center] [h3][i][color=ed1c24]Senior Instructor, Reiko Asamiya[/color][/i][/h3] [img]http://i.imgur.com/M7gKe7x.png[/img] [/center] Reiko on the other hand, was so very displeased at how things turned out that one could almost spot a blaze behind her glasses framed glare. The Scarlet Sage walked to the test are with large strides clutching what looked like a magic wand in her hands to the point that it almost snapped. "That's enough for today", Reiko said upon stepping at the line that marked the exit, her voice being broadcast all through the ruins by a series of magically conjured orbs of light that acted as a PA system. "All the applicants, report back to the academy, I'll give my final assessment of you there." After that, Reiko dismissed the communication spell and at the same instant all the drones who were still fighting disengaged and went back to their storage facilities, not offering any kind of resistance even if they were to be attacked. "I'm disappointed with you, Eos. Your teammates I already expected trouble from, but you seem to deserve some extra disciplinary measures if you can't understand that these drones are not like you. Come to my office later, I have a... fitting punishment for you." Having said all she had to, Reiko turned on her heel and walked back to the school, or at least until she retrieved her motorcycle. [center]• • •[/center] Back at the academy... Reiko was already waiting for the students on her place over the entrance stairway. When enough of then had gathered in the stone courtyard, sighed deeply, before saying, "First of all, to finish my answer to yesterday's question. A Chaser is... anything, but what I'm seeing before my eyes. The whole of you, except for a single person, are failures, utter failures, in fact." "Did, any of you thought that the test was a walk in the park? I've some of you acting with arrogance, needless fear, confusion over such simple conditions. Even the ones who displayed some measure of actual skills failed in some basic assessments that would have got you killed, were that a real mission." As she said so, Reiko's harsh words sapped the will of more than one student, soon enough cries of protest and complaints about they being treated like soldiers echoed through the stone hall. Reiko was unamused. "To those who are raising their voices, I ask. Who's forcing you to stay? The doors are open, so serve yourselves. But, for those who choose to stay, know that it's my prerogative to accept or not any of you. The doors to the inner hall are open as well, if you choose to cross them, know that your lives will be mine to do as I please, until I have molded you all into what a true Chaser is." With a gesture of her wand, Reiko dismissed the rose vines that were keeping the door to the academy's interior closed. Despite the failure of this year's test, she decided to give them one last chance to prove their worth. Any who crossed the threshold would be accepted as long as they knew that what stood before them was nothing short of a trip through hell. "Being a Chaser is not about justice, nor heroism, or any other of those romantic lies. It's a job to keep those who can't fight safe, just that. Think well before making your choices." Reiko walked inside the academy, ignoring any further protests. Now it was up to the students to decide their own fate. [center] [h3][i][color=ed1c24]Seven Swords, Kurenai[/color][/i][/h3] [img]http://i.imgur.com/kBsEKOK.png[/img] [/center] Kurenai couldn't say that she was disappointed with how things turned out. Life had chewed her for long enough, another scar or two wouldn't be that bad. Especially when Crowley had already told her how the "Red-eyed Demon" was harsh; Kurenai couldn't expect anything less of Reiko. Before going in, though, Kurenai spotted both Juniper and Gyuuki hanging around some corner and approached them, doing the best she could to avoid the crowd, despite that a random student pushed her aside causing Kurenai to stumble and seek a nearby wall for support. Some people instantly recoiled or made faces when they noticed the mechanical arm that laid underneath her cloak, but this didn't fazed Kurenai at all, she was way too used to prejudice because of that to even care, anymore. Anyway, "Are you two going to join?" Kurenai asked her recently made friends, if she could have the luxury of calling them that way. "I have no choice but to do this, if I want to find my master, Crowley. I guess you can say he's the closest thing I have to a father, even though he never liked me calling him that way. But, will you two as well?" Independent of them coming with her or not, Kurenai would ascend the stairs and be one of the first to enter main hall.