The Academy, Orientation Day.

On a bright, crisp autumn day, the academy's doors are officially open, and the hundreds of students attending are arriving from every corner of the world.

The Academy itself is built of strong, sturdy stone, giving it the appearance of a gothic church or old medieval castle. Some say it was, before our dear Headmistress took charge. The stained glass windows sitting high on their towers, runic inscriptions, and heavy wooden doors all lend the feeling that the Academy does not exist in the present, but rather in the past. Its location, on top of a large mountain, looks over forests, seas, beaches, and valleys, but students who attend attest to the feeling of isolation, of being cut off. The array of different environments, however, may comfort some. The Academy grounds are vast, but the lack of magical protection (aside from old charms and runes) makes it a likely target for Spirits. But in that lies the Academy's greatest strength.

Miss Headmaster Elysion clears her throat.

"I hope you all are sufficiently seated..." Her voice rings throughout the expansive hall. She checks her watch. "It is half-past eight. The doors, please."

The doors close with a resounding bang. The students, sitting at long, wooden tables rather than the normal auditorium seats, wait impatiently...

"Welcome to the Academy, young ones. To attend is a great privilege. For that, I commend you.

All of you--no matter where you came from, no matter what you were before now, all of you are here for one purpose: to fight. To grow. To learn. It is our duty as teachers to help you along this quest of self-improvement, and your duty as students to give your all, whatever the situation. Please, believe us when we say we only want the very best for all of you.

Of course, this process is not easy. There will be hardships. There will be pain. But, young ones, this is your biggest task--to overcome yourselves.

And that is task we present to you."

(@Metamore@Canidae@ReveTheDreamer@Joker892@QueenNugget@AGenericUser@sassy1085. Take it at your own pace. Some of you don't have sheets in the character tab yet, please post them so nobody has to dig for info. There is still time to apply, if you wish to.)

Ashley stood impatiently in a large crowd of kids around her age waiting for the academy's doors to open. She eyed all the guys who were also standing around also waiting. She grumbled to herself and tapped her foot on the ground, telling herself that standing in this crowd full of boys couldn't really be helped. Ashley angrily sighed through her nose and began pushing her way through the crowd, harshly shoving the guys she passed as she made her way to the front. She wasn't a very patient person.
Making her way through the mass of children, the doors began to open. Everyone began flooding inside of the gothic-looking academy, including Ashley. She made notes to herself of all the boys who touched her. She would have to deal with them later.
Inside the school, there were long, wooden tables that they sat at inside of the chairs that would normally be seen inside of an auditorium. Ashley carefully chose her seat, somewhere around the middle of the capacious room. In the front of room, stood a woman with grey hair pulled into a tight braid with very demanding authority. Ashley respected her immediately. When the huge doors closed, she sat straight up and watched her with wide eyes, becoming very eager to meet her as she spoke. Ashley nodded to the things she said and cheered when she was done speaking.
Leaning to the girl next to her, Ashley smiled and said, "Isn't she great? I'm glad she's our leader and not some putrid guy," she said, lightly elbowing the girl. "Am I right?" Ashley rhetorically asked.

@QueenNugget

Lalisa almost couldn't believe her eyes. Just that morning, she had been at the train station, saying her goodbyes to her dear grandmother and lugging her suitcase to her appointed seat. And now! Now she was at the Academy, and she was going to stay here for... how long? Did Grandmama remember her brochure like she asked? Lalisa fumbles for her messenger bag, but quickly remembers she's in the middle of orientation and those things can wait.

It's bigger than the photos, she thinks. It's like she's been transported to inside a fairytale, a princess's castle... Sit up straight! You mustn't slouch, or Grandmama will be angry with you.

Ah, that girl... she's talking. To her? Lalisa, so far off into her thoughts, almost didn't notice. She catches the last part--"not some putrid guy, am I right?" What? Who's putrid? The Headmaster is a woman, not a man... Ah, you mustn't mess it up! Calm, Lalisa.

"Miss Headmaster is a very talented and powerful woman, isn't she?" She says carefully. It's true, Grandmama has always told her that...

@OliveYou

Ashley nodded her head. The girl she was talking to had dusty blonde hair that reached her shoulders, along with with two buns on either side of her head. She had bright hazel eyes and tanned skin with freckles. "That's true, but I have yet to see what powers she beholds," she said, folding her hands together. "I have high hopes," Ashley continued. "I wonder what we're doing after this. I personally wish to tour the Academy, so I get a feel for it since it is quite large," she paused before speaking again. "But anything is fine for me, as long as it has nothing to do with boys," Ashley stretched her arms above her head before sticking her hand out in a greeting. "Anyway, I'm Ashley Paris, founder of Sisters United, my club back in middle school. Leader of a revolution. And you are?" she asked politely.

@QueenNugget

"Lalisa Greenwood. I hope to get to know many of the students here." She shakes Ashley's hand, looking the girl over. She looks very strong and sure of herself, and Lalisa has to wonder what she meant by "a revolution". Is it rude to ask? Oh, how she wishes Grandmama was here! But there's nothing to help that, she must learn to fend for herself...

"How did you hear of the Academy?" Asks Lalisa curiously. "My grandmother is friends with a teacher here, and she wants me to learn how to be "self-sufficient". There are so many people here! I didn't know the Academy was such a popular choice..."

@OliveYou

"I heard of the Academy from one of my fellow sisters. She happened to find out about it while deciding her future school. I'm not sure exactly where she heard it from, but I trusted her enough to not look into it too much," Ashley shrugged her shoulders and pulled her hand away after they had greeted each other. "I also hope to meet many of the students here. I plan to continue Sisters United legacy here, so I'm going to try my best and give this place my all," Ashley said. "And yeah, there are a lot of people here. I just wish it was an all-girls academy, That would have made it ten times better. I'm also curious about how the Academy was founded and how they chose to do what they do, but I guess that can wait for another time. Changing the topic, what is it you do? Like, what are your powers. I'll understand if you don't want to tell me," she continued.

@QueenNugget

"Ah, I see..." There is again--Sisters United. Does she come from a big family? Lalisa clears her throat.

"Garden magic. I can make things grow. I love plants, so the powers came naturally when I was young. Oh! That reminds me..." Lalisa rummages in her bag, eventually pulling out a tin of cookies. She pops it open, revealing the gooey cookies inside. "Chocolate chip Cookies. Please, take one! And I also made some gluten-free, if that's your preference."

Ashley is an interesting character, she decides. Like a heroine. Not a helpless princess, that's for sure.

"Er... may I ask what you specialize in as well?"

@OliveYou

"Ooh, garden magic, that's cool!" Ashley exclaimed, accepting a chocolate chip cookie from a container that Lalisa pulled from her bag. "Thank you. These are my favorite. And they look really good," she complimented before taking a bite. "They taste as good as they look! I have to congratulate you, I couldn't bake to save my life," she shot Lalisa a thumbs up.
"Anyway, I specialize in strength and speed. It pretty much explains itself, I'm super strong and super fast, but I can't overuse my powers or else I get tired fairly quickly," she explained. "I tried experimenting on the limits of my powers and I nearly passed out. That wasn't a fun time. P.E in middle school was extremely easy for me, you could probably assume. I barely tried in that class," Ashley chuckled. "My Sisters couldn't keep up with me and I didn't play with the boys, so I'm hoping there are people here that I can have a real game of volleyball with."
"Oh, and thanks again for the cookie," she glanced around herself, looking for something she could give in return. "Sorry, but I don't have anything I could pay you back for," she said apologetically.

@QueenNugget

"T-thank you. Baking and gardening are all I'm really good at. I'm glad you enjoyed them." Ah. So, indeed physically strong, with agility to match. Lalisa herself is not the most fit of people, but she possess a certain strength from years of digging in the dirt. She wonders what sort of classes they teach here. Maybe magical studies?

"Your... sisters... Oh, there's no need to pay me back!" She adds hastily, putting the tin back in its place. "I'm just giving them out for fun. My grandmama says better a good impression than a bad one."

@OliveYou

"No, one day I'll pay you back for your kindness, maybe not today or tomorrow, but someday. A gift is a gift and I feel as if it is my duty to pay you back. It's the way I do things, that's what got me here in the first place. Excuse me if I come off a bit stubborn or hard-headed," Ashley straightened herself up looked at Lalisa.
"Oh, and if you were wondering, Sisters United is a an organization of feminists whose job is to rid the world of the pests called "boys, males, guys, etc," one step at a time. As I explained before, I'm leader of that organization," she said.

Feine had an odd relationship with assemblies and similar gatherings that took place within schools. For years, he would tune out within assemblies and instead think of almost anything else, usually writing. Feine saw no reason in listening to what he already knew... but this assembly, and school was evidently different.

The Academy was obviously different to an ordinary, boring school... from what Feine knew, it focused on powers, which were uncharted territory for the young writer. He'd heard of them, but now he had them... and was in a school filled with power users. Feine would have liked to think he was naturally a savant, but that was outlandish. He'd only learned of powers being real a few years ago.

Feine knew it'd be best if he listened in on this assembly... and that he did. The woman, Headmaster Elysion, welcomed the students, and advised them that hardships would await... but in turn, they'd grow, they'd learn. There'd be things like pain, too... all standard stuff, but it pleased Feine all the less. Each and every one of those things had a vital role in an exciting story.

Growth, learning - two elements of character development! Hardships - things that could lead to growth, and learning - hence character development! And, most interestingly of all - pain, which could lead to dramatic moments and the like! It was all very exciting stuff to Feine.

'This Academy has the potential to bring forth an excellent tale, one that will shake worlds. Perhaps I'll find inspiration for my next masterpiece here... not only that, but this gives me quite the opportunity. The opportunity to experience a glorious adventure the likes of which have thus far been unseen outside of fiction! Feine thought to himself.

Feine smiled faintly, not uttering a word - though his mind still raced with thought.

'Such an opportunity has presented itself to me, Feine Rhiter! I'd have to be a complete and utter fool to even think of turning down something like this! Fate itself has smiled upon me, by granting me with these powers. Ah... it's almost like a novel of its own. A youth, blessed with a mysterious power and a lance - who enrolls in an academy of similarly powered people, only to rise to the top... much like an ice cube in a cold cup of water.'

MIkale lived in the woods with that old man for as long as he could remember, being here at this school is first experience with anybody besides a crazy old man. Before he passed away, the old man asked Mikale to participate in social interactions.

Mikale walked with his hands in his pockets with a slight slouch, casually pushing his way past anything in front of him. When he got to assembly he noticed there were a lot more students than he'd expected, in a wide grin he thought
"So all these people have powers? Should be interesting". He walked in and found an opening in the crowd, next to him he could hear a girl babbling about putrid men and sisters united. He leaned over to the girl and smirked.
"That's quite a goal you have there, I wish you the best of luck. But I promise you I won't be that easy to get rid of". Mikale looked down and noticed a container of brown circles, he wasn't sure what they were just that they smell good.
"Girl with the blonde hair, what are those things? May I have one?" Mikale asks pointing towards the container.

@QueenNugget

"Oh... well, thank you..." Lalisa blushes a little, but she supposes she should be thankful that the students here are kind... most of them, anyway. That boy was rude enough to barge in the conversation. Hm.

"Is there something wrong with boys?" She asks. Ashley's perspective is a strange one, but she seems very assured of what she believes. For that, Lalisa respects her. "I've never thought of the male sex as... bad, or somehow lesser to females."

Addressing that boy--how rude of him to barge in, but maybe that's how people talk these days, she mustn't judge like that--she hands him a cookie. She must make a good first impression, always.

"My name is Lalisa Greenwood, and these are chocolate chip cookies. Would you like one?"

Kludd sighed as he adjusted his backpack and grabbed Fillan's other bag. He swore the thing was full of just math packets, and none of his real belongings. It honestly wouldn't be surprising. But whatever.
"Hey Fill-"
He looked up to address him, but he didn't see him anywhere. He looked around, trying to find him in the crowd. He swore for a second he saw his messy brown hair somewhere in the crowd, but just like that he disappeared again. Kludd tried to fight back the rising panic he felt as he charged into the crowd. He tried to move around people as best he could, but everyone was sort of crowded and hard to get around. He growls slightly and waits to get through the crowds. He was so focued on just getting to Fillan he didn't even pay any attention to the schools architecture. He vaugely noticed the stained glass windows and made a small mental note to look at them later, whenever he could actually keep an eye on his friend.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, he made it into the room where everyone was meeting. He scanned it quickly before his eyes landed on Fillan and he stormed over there.
"What have I said about running off without me?" He scolded
"You don't even know how worried I get when you do that! Anything could happen to you and I wouldn't be there to do a thing about it. I just want to keep you safe."

@ReveTheDreamer

A tall boy with long red hair casually walked into the room, causing Fillan to look up from his packets. He hadn't seen this student in the halls before but he strode right past him and instantly began conversing with the two girls in the front of the classroom. Fillan wondered how someone could just strike up a conversation with another student that easily.

As Fillan settled down, he began to continue doing his packets when he noticed the empty chair sitting beside him. I know it's been there since I've walked into this classroom, but it almost feels like something's missing here. Did I forget my stuff? Fillan tightened his hand around his bag, Why is this chair so empty and desolate? How long has it been since someone sat in it? Is this chair originally part of the building, refurbished or new? Why did I sit here and not there? Perhaps I just passed it paying no specific attention to my surroundings and picked a spot at random. I still can't quite shake this feeling that I've forgotten something... someone?
As Fillan formulated trivial thoughts regarding the empty chair and it's origins, he heard the scrapping of the large wooden doors moving back. A very large and broad figure stood in the doorway and upon further inspection, one that he knew very well,
"Kludd!"
He said in an excited, yet hushed tone. The headmistress was still instructing the class in the front of the room, and he didn't wish to disturb anyone.

Fillan saw Kludd didn't take the same measures when it came to being quiet as he stormed right up to him. His face equal parts relieved but also agitated.
Fillan crossed his arms as Kludd spoke and looked down, avoiding Kludd's face. Guiltily, he recalled a voice in the back of his head telling him not to stray too far from Kludd and to wait up. He kicked himself now for not heeding it and staying but he also felt a little conflicted, he wanted to be able to go wherever he wanted. Fillan quickly made up his mind.
"Sorry,"
Fillan quietly mumbled. He picked up his pencil and resumed doing his packets.

@Canidae
Kludd sighed loudly. He really couldn't stay mad at Fillan long.
"Its okay. Just at least say something if you're going to wander off."
He said, scooting his chair closer to Fillan and wrapping an arm around his shoulders. He could hear the headmistress lady speaking but honestly didn't care that much about what she was saying. He only cared about keeping Fillan safe, not whatever they were doing at this school. He looked around at the other kids there, noting three people sitting together not far away. The strong looking girl sitting in between the other two he did not get a good feeling about. The guy with them seemed fine enough but not someone he would willingly talk to. Then again, he wouldn't willingly talk to a lot of people. The last girl looked nice though, he couldn't detect any problems with her. He continued scanning the room, glad he'd found Fillan in the first place. He was his best and currently only friend after all.

Something had piqued the young writer, Feine's attention. The area was full of commotion, and chatter. Feine sought both of these, but he sought something that both commotion and chatter could lead to. That thing Feine was searching for was nothing other than... inspiration.

Taking out a small notebook from his pocket, along with his trusty, though somewhat roughed up pen of four years, Feine got to work as he glanced at various people within the room. The first person that came to Feine's mind was none other than the headmaster. If Feine's memory served him correctly, then the headmaster's name was Elysion. The very name brought forth inklings of inspiration towards the writer's mind - the next step for Feine was to utilize such inklings to turn that ink into text with meaning. In particular, one thing stuck out to Feine about the headmaster. That thing was her name. Elysion.

'Elysion... a word relating to Greek myth, am I correct? Oh, what am I saying... of course I am. After all, I am a master writer, aren't I? Knowledge of words is vital to my very being.' Feine thought to himself. 'If I recall, it relates to the land where the dead dwell, an afterlife of sorts... of course, I expect this to be a little over the heads of everyone else here, I'm sure.'

Feine jotted down a few notes, then hastily diverted his gaze around the room once more... and his eyes eventually landed on a group of three students, much like a ball in a roulette wheel. The trio of students consisted of two women and one man. They seemed to be talking, and this tickled Feine's fancy to quite a degree. It was quite a diverse duo.

The first person to catch Feine's eye was the man, who seemed to have a slight slouch of sorts, along with long hair, though perhaps both were a trick of Feine's eye. But nonetheless, nonetheless! Feine stood by a saying in the world of writing - there is no wrong interpretation! And Feine's interpretation of the man was a somewhat wild fellow, though perhaps with a calm side...

The second person Feine's eyes investigated was one of the two women in the group, a lady with a ponytail and just about average in height. Feine's interpretation of this lady was 'tomboy', a character archetype which he found quite interesting. As for Feine's interpretation of this lady, he believed she was a tough tomboy - with a heart of gold, who wouldn't harm a fly!

And as for the final woman, she had blonde hair. Feine noticed she was slightly smaller than the person he'd identified as a tomboy, but perhaps, once again, it was a trick of the eye? What Feine noticed, was that she was handing the wild looking man a cookie.

'That woman - she may look kind and innocent, but in truth - she's got a hidden mean streak and feeds off the despair and misery of others! And that cookie she holds there - it is, in truth, laced with poison. As soon as that man takes a bite of it, he'll crumple to the floor, choking and in disbelief - for he's been had by this not so innocent blonde beauty, having been taken in by what seemed to be generosity. Feine thought to himself, analyzing the group further. 'What will then follow is the blonde woman acting confused, when in reality, she knows the situation off by heart. However, the ponytailed tomboy will be coated with a thick wave of shock, for her wild friend has fallen prey to the poisonous delicacy.'

Feine chuckled exactly three times, which netted him a few confused glances from a couple nearby students. Feine was aware that perhaps he stood out, being alone, and staring at a group of two ladies and one man, while feverishly jotting down notes. He didn't care, though. In fact, it could even prove to be a benefit to the writer. What excitement comes from a life of nothing but sugar and rainbows?

Feine's mind wandered back to the realms of writing swiftly.

'And I will entitle this piece... An Unseen End. How lucky I am for inspiration to have stricken?'

The Train Station, Orientation Day

'Be smooth.' A shaky breath stuttered passed Seren's lips in an attempt stop themself from wringing their hands. Instead of the calming force the exhale was supposed to be, it only highlighted the fact that Seren even needed to calm down in the first place. As such, their skittish hand did not cease, and they had to consciously remind themself to keep their shoulders from hunching in apprehension. 'Just take the first step,' Seren instructed themself in thought, 'and then the next. It's simple.' Following their own lead, Seren did just that, and finally stepped off from the train platform to the mouth of the forest that surrounded the mountain on which The Academy sat. Seren disappointedly sighed at themself before repositioning their rucksack up on their back. They shouldn't be so nervous, but they had anticipated this. Seren knew themself well enough to know how they got in new situations, and Seren had learned how their siblings started to get when Seren was in new situations.
No longer the cool disposition from Maeve watching their back; the brewing machinations from Armani plotting to scare Seren even more; and most affectionately missed, no longer did Erika give Seren's hand a warm squeeze that promised everything was going to be alright. Before they could stew in their own thoughts Seren brought theemself back to attention. They knew Maeve and Armani were waiting on them, even if Armani had promised that the two of them would go on ahead as per Seren's request. 'They can probably see me now,' Seren silently worried. 'Gotta act normal.' With false conviction they marched up towards the trail. They had a long way to go to the top. Seren forced themselves to smile, and shoved their anxious hands into the pockets of their hoodie. "No turning back now," they muttered under their breath. Seren approached the worn and beaten trail that snaked its way through the woods, up the mountain, and to The Academy. Seren glanced backwards as they continued walking. Behind them was the train station, the last place between home and here. In front of them was a student, whom Seren just barely managed to see the back of before walking horns first into them. The opposite of smooth and normal

”Tch.” The small boy clicked his tongue in distaste as he propped himself up against the school’s wall. Raphael absentmindedly twirled a stud earring around in his earlobe, avoiding eye contact with others as much as humanly— or, “fairily”— possible.
It had been less than a week by his count since he had discovered his fae origins, out of the mouth of his true birth mother herself. Raph was still annoyed by the idea, so much it almost made that magical blood that ran through his veins boil. On top of all that, and running away from home to be a migrant lounging on school property, the damned headmistress actually had forced him to enroll. Rather, she threatened him nonchalantly that if he didn’t either enroll or get the hell off her property, she was going to tell his family just where he had run off too. Evil woman..
Raphael pulled his jacket a little tighter in the chilly autumn air, glad for the sunlight that poured down at least. Eventually they decided to let the group of waiting students inside, Raph one of the first to bolt his way inside so he didn’t get stuck next to other people.
Raphael sat about as far away from others as he could, tuning out the blabbering of the headmistress and allowing his golden eyes to wander the outside world beyond this school. He already felt claustrophobic in here.

Soon enough the whole introduction was over, and the blonde boy pushed out of the wooden seat to go scower the place on his own. His golden eyes flickered between the mass of students, feeling nausea rise in his throat at how obviously fake they were to each other: smiling and laughing with complete strangers? Give him a break.
But, a sudden lightbulb clicked on in his head. Well... if they’re so busy chatting it up, they probably wouldn’t notice a pickpocket walking off with their wallets, now would they? A slight evil smirk played on his lips, finding his target (anyone) and elegantly sweeping behind them, nimble fingers taking hold of the corner of their wallet from their back pocket and quickly stuffing it into his jacket.