Aaron listened attentively as Salem said his piece, finding himself quite interested in the answer as well. He ran a free, non-profit clinic; as Lady Sinnenodel (well, her mage) had said, it was a commendable ambition. He remembered Salem mentioning something about being a medic and coming from a family of plant mages. But he had also mentioned difficulty controlling his magic; only three years out of his Awakening and with that sort of skill gap, and he was offering magic services for free? The dots in Aaron’s head weren’t quite connecting, and he made a mental note to inquire in more detail the next time they spoke. If Salem would even speak to him after tonight, anyway. Aaron had no way of knowing if Salem would be so spiteful, but his mind ran away with the worry all the same.

He caught Varis’ look out of the corner of his eye, but there was no time to consider it before he was speaking to Salem, and Lady Sinnenodel’s mage was looking at him again. Her gaze alone - or lack thereof - was enough to make him squirm under his skin; despite the blindfold, it was like she was looking right through him. He could feel her eyes on him. Or, at least, someone’s eyes on him.

In the short moment he took to consider his response, Aaron paid no mind to the place settings whizzing around the table. It was so familiar a sight that he rarely noticed anymore, taking more note of the fact that the Queen seemed to be looking at him as well. “Of life in the outside world, Your Excellency?” he confirmed, not entirely sure what she was asking. “I suppose that remains to be seen. Truth be told, it’s a considerable change, but one I endeavour to learn from. After all, even with an education as thorough as mine was, one can only experience so much from inside castle walls.” He took a breath and offered a smile, gut twisting all the time.

Interacting with: @Obscene Symphony@AChronum

There was a slight smirk on Salems face as Varis spoke, good he was interested. If there was anything his father taught him, it was to ensure you make opportunities not take them. He said 'every moment in your life is one that you can bend to be prosperous. Look for openings where there are none and make your own.' Salem sat back and clasped his hands onto the table and looked Varis in the eyes. "While donations work well, as does my mothers business, you are correct in assuming that there must be more done for the sake of business. As you very well know, my father owns a large pharmaceutical company, and while I dont exactly approve of his methods...they do see results." Salem reached into his waistcoat pocket and pulled out a small, stout, cylindrical jar, no bigger than a compact. "I'm sure you've seen these around? Many people view it as a cure all for a large array of ailments. While it is my father's company and name on the product, it is my invention. As I dont particularly care to be associated with him I allow him to take the fame while i take the profit from this particular product." Salem flashed the product so that the light would catch the golden lettering against the green background, showing the name 'Salem's Vapor Rub' a common household item that can be purchased for relatively cheap and whose vapors are said to help with most anything.

He placed the product back into his waistcoat and scanned the room before looking back at Varis. "I do sell a few things on my own in order to help further, such as bath bombs, face scrubs, and things of that nature. Those are typically online orders that are made by me before being shipped out, ass it is my labor the only true cost is that of materials which are all organic and grown at the Spellman household making it relatively cheap to make. I have many more ideas for innovations, but first I must finish my learning at the academy that her royal highness so graciously invited to me to attend. There I can hone my affinity and thus further hone my craft to see more dreams become reality." Salem gave a polite nod at the princess as he mentioned her before looking back towards Varis. He may of seemed and sounded confident but in reality he wa unsure how his father dealt with this all the time, Salem wasnt sure how well his reply came off but hoped for the best as he gave Aaron a small smile out of habit as well as looking for reassurance.

Varis listened to Salem’s wandering explanation. Did the boy just add words for the fun of it? No wonder Salem didn’t want him around the business. The clientele would fall asleep before the boy reached his point. The personal products briefly caught his interest, a little research for later, but otherwise Salem bored him. “Nobles have little use for drug store remedies when we have the means and resources to afford life mages.” Varis dismissed the product, further disappointed in Salem. The little spitfire outside vanished, leaving this husk of a plant mage who walked right into Varis’s palm and handed the Count a variety of ways to gut the boy’s ambition. Varis almost didn’t want to bother. Almost.

“We’ve always told Anastasia she should let her minnows swim with the sharks. No better way to learn.” The mage laughed. “We are pleased you agree. We imagine your progress will be of great entertainment. We’ll endeavour to keep an eye on you although Varis does enjoy his secrets. He does impeccable work most of the time so we afford him the luxury. He trained Vanessa here for us quite nicely so we are confident you will benefit from your time with him. In fact…” The mage waited for a moment as Varis finished his comment to Salem. “Where exactly is Mr. Starag in your little regimen, Varis?”

“A one and a half.” Varis said without hesitation. The doors opened again and two servants carrying trays came in with glasses of Lillet Blanc and orange. Isadora set one in front of the Queen first, allowing her to sip at it and approve it, before the others were passed around to everyone but Varis. “Originally, I thought the boy less than one. He failed to follow instructions punctually, more concerned about his public image than his obedience, but his use of free questions under pressure caused me to reevaluate and I scored him a two. Unfortunately, the boy requires strict external guidelines and has proven incapable of extrapolating meaning from his environment. Struggle with breaches of routine, I believe were his words. He has been assigned standard lines to complete thus far. Hopefully, they'll have their intended affect."

“Anastasia does enjoy everything proper and in place. Mr. Starag will find our house far less predictable however.” The mage’s smile disappeared. “Varis’s lessons will smooth your transition. We recommend you learn quickly. Our House tends to tilt every few years. It would be a shame to lose you in it.” Varis kept his face pleasant but his mouth tightened slightly at the mention.

“Enough, Sybil.” The Queen spoke. Her words were slow and heavy, burdened with millennia of experience. Her movements kept pace, slow and steady as if her arms were weighted with boulders. “I would like. To hear what. The mages believe. Is an. Appropriate. Solution to our. Current topic. At Council.”

“Mother means to ask, what are your opinions on the Mage Breeding rights amendment on the council table right now.” Ryner clarified, particularly for Salem. She sent him a reassuring smile. “After I introduced the measure, there has been no shortage of bickering on the subject and the Council has hit a bit of a stand still.”

Aaron paid rapt attention to Lady Sinnenodel’s mage as she spoke, affording her every respect he would afford the real thing. But aside from being momentarily relieved that he managed to appease the Lady with his answer, her words deeply unsettled him. More than anything else, Aaron latched on to what she said… well, about herself. The mage woman. Vanessa, apparently. So, Varis trained her? Was he the one who mutilated the poor girl’s back, too? Was this what Varis intended to turn him into as well? A blindfolded, disfigured, docile mouthpiece, talking about himself as if he weren’t even there?

His eyes flashed to Varis as the vampire delivered his appraisal of him, gut twisting ever tighter under his outward neutral mask. Overshadowing all of the discomfort that came from having his every failure thus far broadcasted to the dining room was all this talk of numbers. One and a half? Out of what? Ten? A hundred? He knew by now that Varis’ methods varied wildly from those he was raised with, but he would have thought that a lifetime of conditioning might have put him a little further along in whatever this “regimen” of Varis’ was. He could have groaned had it not been for the company; what on earth was in store for him?

The mage woman had enough time to get out a vaguely threatening remark before the Queen silenced her, and Aaron had never been so happy to hear the woman’s voice in his life. And it was as if the powers that be were giving him a break, as both the Queen and Princess were actually looking for his and Salem’s opinions on a current Council matter.

Taking a breath, a ghost of a smirk played at his lips as he reached for his glass, though he didn’t drink quite yet, instead slowly rotating the base as he considered. Aaron knew the Treaty backwards and forwards, and he followed Council motions closely. As such, he already had a few opinions on the amendment at hand. However, he wasn’t quite so stupid as to think he could simply voice them. As far as he was concerned, he was stuck between the ultimate rock and hard place; the family that had given him everything up until this point and the family that he was being adopted into held opposing views on almost everything, so taking a side would necessarily be an affront to one of them. But he couldn’t just provide some sort of waffling non-answer either. The Princess’ comment about bickering in the Council almost made him laugh; there wasn’t anything that went before the Council that wasn’t deliberated to death, with the vampiress lounging behind them usually being the culprit. But no one could claim that her argumentative skill was anything less than spectacular; Aaron wouldn’t want to have to make a convincing case for gravity against the woman.

Your Lady, he reminded himself.

Glancing to Salem, Aaron wondered if he even knew which amendment they were talking about, or the specifics of the legislation it stood to change. But maybe that was harsh; after all, Salem had shown already that he had some knowledge on Varis’ business, at the very least. But considering the way he talked to the Count, it was very hard to tell where he stood.

Deciding to give Salem a chance to collect his thoughts, Aaron looked back up to the head of the table, offering the royalty a smile and a bow of the head. “Your Majesty, your interest flatters and humbles me. Please accept my sincerest thanks for the opportunity to offer an opinion on this issue.”

He shifted a little in his seat, glancing down at his glass before returning his gaze to the head of the table. “First, Your Royal Highness, may I mention that the spirit of the amendment is commendable. However, I’m afraid that in my view, it seems... redundant.” He glanced to Salem, pausing a moment to put his thoughts in order. “The current legislation, as you’re aware, provides three situations in which a mage may refuse to breed. It’s my opinion that those three exceptions are well-founded and important protections for mages who could otherwise needlessly suffer without them. But the additional conditions proposed by the amendment…” He shifted in his seat again, gesturing subtly with the hand on his glass. “Well, the first, for mages deemed mentally unstable, seems to be a relative non-issue. Perhaps it’s because I am the product of a rigorously selective breeding program, but I can’t imagine why any vampire would want to breed an unstable mage in the first place. Given that any offspring could have the potential for considerable magical power, the possibility of passing on any trait that could put their self-control into question seems like too big a risk. Personally, I doubt the clause would see much practical use.”

“As for the ability for a mage to refuse to breed if they have a living spouse, forgive me, but I can’t seem to grasp where the issue lies.” His eyes flicked to his aunt, just for a second. “Keeping in mind that I have no experience with marriage, it seems to me that so long as both partners understand that these affairs are strictly business, so to speak, there should be relatively little emotional impact. We are all bound by our duty, after all.”

He leaned back a little in his seat. “As for refusing fertility drugs and performance enhancers, well, I can’t imagine why anyone would. After all, if a mage is going to comply after their vampire has gone through all the trouble of screening potential partners, finding a good match, and all the other necessary preparations, I would imagine they’d also be willing to comply with every measure available to ensure that conception was achieved. The only exception I can think of is if said treatments would pose a health risk, but in that case, I don’t see why any vampire would want to risk time, money or other resources on a risky birth.”

Shrugging slightly, Aaron swirled his drink, finally electing to take a sip. It was kind of a shame, really; he’d always found that all wines pretty much tasted the same to him. “So, while I admit I see no objective harm should your amendment pass, Your Royal Highness, it just seems to me as if it won’t see much practical implementation. But!” He took a deep breath, renewing his smile as he returned his gaze to Salem, gesturing good-naturedly. “I’ve taken up much more time than was probably necessary. Forgive me, Mr. Spellman. I talk far too much.”

Interacting with: @Obscene Symphony@AChronum

Before the mage could finish her question to Varis, Salem quickly threw in a statement that Varis would be unable to answer due to his need for quick thinking and reaction to his mother. "Its a good thing that the Nobles arent my target audience then." A slightly smug smile formed at the corner of his lips and quickly faded. Salem watched as the Queen tried out the food before it was given to her guests. Sure it helped with quality control, but she ran the risk of being poisoned by any if her chefs. Then again, who would be so bold? Salems eyes shifted slightly to the Sinnendels and then back to the Queen. That house may be full of power houses, but even they wouldnt be so bold as to assassinate the queen...right? The apertifs cane out in a timely manner, each gingerly placed before the guests while the Queen placed a heavy topic onto the table, the mage breeding rights Amendment.

Salem sat there and listened closely as Aaron spoke. While he understood the current laws on mage breeding he was unaware of the actual details on the revisions that they were discussing in the council. Salems stomach began to feel as though someone was trying a knot and twisting it tighter and tighter. Hearing Aaron talk so nonchalantly about his position on the matter was very unsettling, Either he was very good at lying to please who was necessary, or he truly believed the abysmal things he was saying. Salem was thankful that Aaron laid out all the new information, but was even more thankful when he stopped talking...that is, until he realized he was next.

"Thank you Mr. Starag, and thank you your Majesty for taking an interest in my opinion as well. To make things easier I shall talk the points in the same order as Mr. Starag did so as to keep things orderly. On the first point of mental stability, while Mr. Starag seems to believe this is a non issue and redundant, I will only agree to the fact that it seems redundant. I feel that the mental stability, or lack there of, of a mage should fall under the same clause as 'the current partner being a health risk to the other' Though not directly a health risk to their partner, the labors of pregnancy may prove too much for an unstable mind and cause physical injuries to both the mage and their partner. I dont however view this as a non issue because there are those who would use this vagueness to force upon a child to an unstable person on a technicality, one that should be addressed as has been done in this new Amendment.

"Now for the next issue, refusal to breed if the mage has a living spouse. While Mr. Starag has spent his time being bred and raised within these walls, I fear he knows little about the outside world and how it may function. That ofcourse includes marriages and life partners. If neither partner feel comfortable with bearing the child for another, than it should be fully in their right to deny breeding. I feel there should be respect shown towards the couple and have their joint voices heard when it comes to such matters, after all while he views this as. 'Strictly business' and having 'little emotional impact' I fear he is far out of his depths in what he believes happens during pregnancy. There is a great deal of emotion and even if it seems to be business as usual, it doesnt stop one from feeling emotions.

Now, while I agree that I dont know many who would refuse the treatments and drugs necessary for the pregnancy after agreeing to the fact, there are those who dont want, or believe, in such tools. Not every person reacts to them the same way, not does everyone condone the use of them. I feel that because of this, the option to refuse such treatments should be there. Whether it is used or not is up to the mage, but the option should be available for them if necessary."

---

---

Interacting with: @Achronum

It was a good feeling, being in such a casual setting; the sort of thing Joryldin was worried that he was never see again... or, for the first time, for that matter. His true blue eyes took on the shade of a clear summer sky. The group's collection dwarfed the size of his own, and Joryldin was struck by choice paralysis. He bent down and scooped a disk into his hand.

"I'm not sure. You've got a bit of everything around here."

The art intrigued him too, he gently held the disk up for its owner to take, and glanced at the beautiful scenery.

"Did you guys make these?" he asked, gesturing to the myriad murals coating the bedroom walls. "There's so much talent here, it's crazy."

Silence lingered after Salem spoke, the vampires watching the mages expectantly. After it was apparent they had finished, the mage’s polite smile thinned. Varis sent Ryner a look across the table. The mages clearly prioritized her clarification on the point rather than addressing the Queen’s original statement. She clearly didn’t want possible solutions floating around after the stunt she pulled with the Eves. Still, her attempt was painfully heavy handed. Varis sneered. Cut down the mages and save Ryner’s skin; Varis would have to thank her for the opportunity later.

“As expected of mages, completely missing the point.” Varis said dryly to the mage. “So opinionated and yet incapable responding appropriately. The Queen asks for solutions and the mages hand her opinions. This is why vampires are the ruling class. On the subject of breeding however, have we any news from Countess Lavintra? Though her pet is a brute, he is a perfect match for Eloise.”

“She was always a poor communicator. He was removed permanently from the breeding pool. Apparently, the mage fell in love and had a child under her nose. She’s practically ruined, the poor thing. Any vampire with existing contracts parted ways and I hear she is struggling to find new ones.” The mage sipped at her drink before handing it away as the next course was served, Culetto and thin Bamboo Melon slices with sparkling water.

“Absolutely disgraceful.” Varis sighed, picking up the glass of blood that was just set in front of him and swirling it. “As the boy pointed out, mage’s have a duty to their betters. In fact,” Varis looked at Aaron, “what do you think is an appropriate punishment for a mage fornicating and impregnating others without permission?”

“I find Mr. Spellman brings up an interesting point as well.” Ryner spoke up quickly, just as Varis finished his question. ”Your discussion suggested a mage's opinion should count for more in their treatment. How much weight should a mage's opinion have in your opinion?”

She repeated the pattern for a couple of hours, switching it up sometimes to replace the books in the incorrect sections just to watch them take off to replace themselves. Had it not been for one of the librarian’s tapping her shoulder, it was likely that she would have continued until sunrise. Amaris was somewhat surprised that anyone would approach her at all, turning around more so out of curiosity than anything else. For a moment she wondered if she was about to hear it from the head librarian about misplacing so many books, but when she turned around, the face looking back up at her looked more nervous than angry.

“I’m sorry to disturb you Countess, the head librarian sent me to let you know that we have been asked to close the building down early. Our sincerest apologies for the inconvenience.” As the book she had been holding had been pulled from a shelf directly in front of her, Amaris shifted its neighbors aside so that she could replace the title properly.

“No worries, I should probably be off anyhow. Though, if you don’t mind my asking before I go, what’s the occasion?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t have an official answer to that question. All we were told is that a curfew is being put into effect this evening. This is usually done when the administration is holding special events such as the welcome and pairing ceremony you attended upon arrival. But if you don’t mind my saying so, the current rumor is that an unexpected guest is on their way in as we speak. All students are being asked to return to their dormitories for the remainder of the night. Is there anything I can help you with before you go?” While the information received was rather vague, it was surprisingly telling. She could always count on a librarian to pick out the important details. Shaking her head dismissively, Amaris smiled at the messenger.

“No, you’ve been very helpful. Thank you.” Bowing their head, the librarian turned away and walked down in the opposite direction to alert a nearby table of the news. Fully satisfied with her little excursion, Amaris made for the door that she entered through and began her walk back to the noble’s dorms. Despite the fact that the buses were still running to take the straggler students back, Amaris opted to walk the path home instead. As she walked, she couldn’t help but let her mind wander back to the librarian’s words about a possible visitor.

For a curfew to be put into effect so suddenly, the visitor would have to be someone of significance. Otherwise, there would be little need for anything other than a few extra bodyguards… perhaps it’s an inspection from one of the house heads? No, I’m sure the Lord would have sent word ahead if he knew one of the others were to be snooping around. Perhaps a member of the royal family is here to visit the Princess? Theories rushed through Amaris’ mind as she walked along, drowning out most of the scenery around her.

A shiver ran down her spine as a pair of eyes fell upon her, the sensation suddenly putting the young woman on alert. It wasn’t so much a feeling of hostility, but she could not mistake the feeling of malcontent as the muted sound of footsteps approached her.

“You there, halt!” Amaris slowed her pace until she came to a complete a few steps ahead, taking a deep breath through her nose before turning about to face the voice that attempted to command her. With as sharp a gaze as she could muster, Amaris turned around fully so that the crest hanging around her neck was in full view.

The sight she was met with was a great deal more intimidating than she was originally anticipating. It had been a good while since she had last laid eyes on a member or the royal guard… or at least one donned in their official armor. Standing before her was a single guard in obsidian plated armor, so dark in color that the path lighting seemed to bend toward the figure. Threads of gold were laced about the outfit somehow seeming less like decoration and more like definition the longer she took the image in. He was armed to the teeth, carrying not one but two blades of different styles at his side. While she was certain he had other, perhaps much smaller weapons concealed on his person, she doubted he would need any of them… especially against her. Still, despite the wariness she felt, the man’s presence all but confirmed her earlier train of thought.

“I understand you have quite the important task to do here, but your tone is out of place with me. What threat do you see in a first year student sent from one of the noble houses? Do we not both serve her majesty, the Queen?” Amaris’ eye contact was strong, her posture bold, and her voice sharp as she addressed the guard. Even at her stature she bore little actual authority over a member of the Royal Guard, still, it didn’t stop her from pushing what few buttons she could. The payoff in this case was rather slight, Amaris taking victory in the information gleaned from the faintest of falters in the man’s eyes. She had guessed correctly.

“Students have been ordered back to their dorms immediately. Unless you have received specific instructions otherwise, even you are not exempt from these commands.” The guard barked as he maintained an equally strong grimace in the young woman’s direction. It was clear that he was far from joking on the matter, not that Amaris expected anything else from the man. Still, she wasn’t about to take his continued tone without a little push back.

“And where exactly do you think it was I was heading before you barked at me like a dog?” Shifting in his stance, the man’s growing irritation was beginning to show. There was a certain level of respect each party was accustomed to receiving as well as expected to give one another in return. The circumstances, while technically in the guard’s favor, had been turned to favor the young woman staring the man down. Her words rang true, as he alone had the authority as well as the physical prowess to dispose of her right then and there if she posed a definite threat to any member of the royal house. Yet all she showed him was the same level of arrogance that he had come to expect from her kind. The slightest hint of a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he opened his mouth to respond, confident that he had found a counter to silence the brat. Unfortunately, she had beaten him to the punch. Snapping her hand up to silence him she maintained a cold stare as she carried on.

“Now, if it’s my safety you are so worried about, perhaps you should have led with that… or at least a more respectful tone. With such an important visitor present who knows what sort of unsavory folk are skulking in the dark? Try not to get mistaken for one of them while you make your rounds harassing other students.” Amaris forced a puff out through her nose before she spun on her toes and began walking in the direction she had been walking previously. She could all but feel the fiery daggers the guard was staring into her back as she increased the distance between the feuding pair. It seemed however he was not quite ready to give up the ‘battle’.

“Little ingrate, get back here now.” He growled, closing the distance she had widened with a fair amount of ease. Wrapping his hand tightly around her slender arm, he squeezed uncomfortably tight and yanked backward to throw the girl just barely off balance. The motion caused Amaris to falter in her steps as her momentum was thrown off. Her recovery was quick but it was undeniable who held the upper hand in the situation. She fought the small sensation of panic that filled her stomach as she stared up at the man, wondering for a brief moment if she had made a mistake after all.

Before he had a chance to say anything else on the matter, a second patrolman emerged from outside the paved path to join them in the lit street. Unlike the guard she was already exchanging words with, the newcomer was far less armed and nowhere near as armored. If Amaris had to venture a guess as to what force he belonged to, she would have pegged him for the campus’ own security.

“Sir, there is another matter that requires your attention.” The academy guard’s eyes shifted between the pair curiously, as if attempting to size up the situation and gauge whether his direct intervention was necessary. Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, Amaris shook her arm free and put a few paces between her and the guard to collect herself. The royal guard paused a moment, weighing his options between finishing what he had started and complying with something that was likely of greater importance. Choosing the latter, the armored soldier of a man stalked off to follow the lead the security guard that had interrupted him.

Note to self: don’t pick attitude with the men in black. She thought to herself as she rolled her eyes, returning to her trek home.



Upon entering the cul-de-sac that connected each of the noble dorms, Amaris was quick to take note of a figure standing off alone in the dark. For a brief moment she wondered if the brute from earlier had taken note of her crest so that he could return and give her more trouble away from the campus security. However, as she neared the figure, she realized the stature was far too small to belong to the man from before. Curious as to who was just wandering about the dorms, Amaris bypassed her own house to approach the figure.

While she did not recognize the face, she was fairly certain that the girl standing before her had to have been paired with one of the other nobles with how nonchalantly she loitered around the monitored area. Perhaps her partner was unaware of the sudden curfew or had failed to properly relay the information? Whatever the reason, she didn’t think it wise for the mage to be standing about on her own. Amaris had seen first hand just how grouchy of a mood the guards were in for this particular outing.

“I take it you are one of my new neighbors? I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure of a proper introduction just yet. Would your partner mind if I invited you in for a cup of tea and a conversation? Seems the teachers want us in doors this evening, in fact the guards are rather insistent on it.” Amaris motioned in the direction of her own dorm building with a sweep of her hand, indicating an open invitation should the mage be interested in accepting. There was a sense of urgency to her voice, however, that requested a swift response from the mage regardless of the decision.

@WeepingLiberty

With her potential new friend gone inside, Cassandra wasn't sure what to do with herself. Sure, she would never in a million years say she liked Dominique's company, but having none at all was honestly bizarre. She hoped she had spoken correctly to Lillie and her partner. Going over etiquette lessons, it seemed correct, but was leaving her normal, or a bad sign? Maybe she should have acted more honestly with them, like she did with Dom. He hadn't liked it, but it had brought them onto a strange kind of equal footing. But he was gone.

She was in an uncomfortable middle ground. She had never been on familiar terms with anyone besides her parents, but at the same time, she had been under watch and tutelage for almost as long as she could remember. She didn't know how to make friends, but was unaccustomed to being alone.

It was the magic that was to blame. She might have had a normal childhoood, even if she was a mage, if she hadn't awakened so early. It was one of her strongest and earliest memories. She had vague notions from before, remembered her brother, and what had happened to him. Enough that she felt the stark difference between her life before and after, even if she hadn't understood it at the time.

It had been like burning alive, she nearly destroyed the kitchen in the process.



It hurt, but it was the last time fire had hurt her. Like the first fire had sloughed off her weak human skin, and she had a scaled hide underneath. Of course, she looked perfectly normal after. The power was too strong for her weak child’s body, though, and it was an immense relief when it was sealed away, to await her coming of age. She’d hated it at first. The magic that had taken her brother. That she only survived because her family was being watched after the first child died.

She had no choice but to embrace it, though. If she was going to be forced to be a mage, she would do it. And she would make sure that people were looking at her because she was powerful, not because her brother had caused trouble when his own magic was unsupervised.

She stood close by the Astorio mailbox(or, rather, the Roth mailbox, since Dom had left), and was looking east, hoping to see the first rays of the sun. It would be a few hours still, but she wanted to see it when it happened.

But someone approached. A vampire. Taller than her, and apparently a noble.

“I take it you are one of my new neighbors? I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure of a proper introduction just yet. Would your partner mind if I invited you in for a cup of tea and a conversation? Seems the teachers want us in doors this evening, in fact the guards are rather insistant on it.”

How to greet her? None of her social interactions had been in any way successful so far. So, at a loss for what to do otherwise, Cassandra just answered the question as if they were two normal people, and not a noblewoman of the ruling class, and someone else’s servant.

“I don’t think he’d mind anything, as he’s left. I, uh, don’t know where to, or what I should do in the meantime. So, I guess tea would be nice. I’m Cassandra. Cassandra Roth.”

Interacting with: @Jade Blades

“Yeah, Evalyn made most of these. A few others were gifts from other students or commissions. She likes to surround herself with her milestones.” Ryan explained. “She picks up pieces she thinks are way above her level and tries to “beat” them. Not really sure what beating them entails but it gets her real fired up so it works I guess.” Ryan shrugged and grabbed the disk, placing it on top of the console. He sat on the bed with a bounce. “But yeah, tons of talent. The Princess is a big patron of the arts. The Academy has ridiculous art program if you’re interested. Evalyn can give you the rundown once the President lets go of her and Nick.” Ryan looked back out at Evalyn and Nick, disapproval briefly flitting across his face, before he turned back to Joryldin.

“So, any plans for your first year? I know it takes a bit to adjust to.”

---

Interacting with: @WeepingLiberty@Gisk

Shortly after Amaris’s invitation, sirens could be heard in the distance. Several cars, each stamped with the Royal Guard's insignia, whipped into the dormitory area and down to the Cul-de-Sac. They screeched to a halt in front of the Marivaldi house. Four of the cars were standard size and lightly reinforced. Four guards piled out, two loading crossbows and two drawing their blades. The fifth vehicle was an armored truck, heavily reinforced. The two guards stayed in the trucked, keeping it idling. The back opened quietly and Lucan Bordeleaux stepped out, surveyed his surroundings, and gave a few muffled orders. The Royal Guard spread out, crossbows aimed at the door, while others circle the building and covered the back. He held his hand up to help another vampire step out.

This vampire was covered head to toe in gleaming black plate armor, golden swirls branching out from the Noila royal symbol on the back. A long, thin blade in a plain leather hung at the vampire’s waist and a heavy war axe, the same gold sword adorning the handle, in their right hand. The vampire barely made a sound as they approached the pair in the street and moved almost entirely unencumbered. The slammed the butt of the axe on the ground and pushed to keep it upright and took off the helmet. Princess Nox stared at them, her usual frown firmly in place. Her hair was shaved completely and she had several faint scars across her face. Her eyes flicked from Cassandra to Amarais and back again.

“You will be Countess Marivaldi’s mage. The Astorio whelp turned left with his tail between his legs shortly after orientation.” She address Cassandra curtly before turning to Amaris. “By the authority of the Royal Guard invested by Queen Noila and the Moonlight Council, your belongings, including your mage and hers, have been seized as possible threats to the Council. Once your belongings have been cleared by the Royal Guard, they will be returned to you and you may return to your lodgings along with your new mage. You and your mage are required to return to the Asotrio dormitory at once.” Nox slammed her helmet back on her head, picked up her axe from the ground with a slight crack, and stalked back to the van. Sir Bordeleaux drew his blade as Nox passed him and walked up to the Marivaldi dorm. Attempting to open it, she found it locked, stepped back, and kicked the door in. Lucan snapped and a few guards stormed in after him. Shouting could be heard briefing and Minfillia flew out of the door, obviously thrown, just to slam against the van with a sickening crack and slumped to the pavement. The guards quickly grabbed her and tossed her unceremoniously into the back of the van. Others were moving grabbing metal cases from the back of the cars and tromping inside with them, probably collecting things from inside.

The moment that followed Salem’s piece was tense, but that familiar embarrassment crept up on Aaron again when Count Varis replied, the mage wishing they could all go back to the silence. His ears burned, but he didn’t know what the Count wanted from the two of them; true, their answers weren’t solutions, but what were they supposed to do, just tell the Queen how to vote?

Taking a breath and another sip of his wine, Aaron supposed he should just let it go and be thankful. After all, it was a rare honor to be invited to offer a view on anything when it came to nobility, especially the Queen, even if whatever he offered was destined to be dismissed. And of course Varis’ comments stung, but they were borne of some semblance of truth. Maybe that's what made Salem's response so odd in Aaron's mind. He was preaching progressivism that could only come from a misunderstanding of how things had to be, taking a principled stance that sounded like he would be happy to see mages have all the same freedoms as vampires. Aaron mused that he might be a fine match for some young Marivaldi if Lucan hadn’t gotten him. At the very least, he knew Lucan well enough to know that Salem was in little danger of repercussions for his views; The Night of the Evening was a bit of an elitist, but he wasn't malicious. Voicing those views so openly, however...

Thankfully, the subject was shifted from the preeminent incompetency of mages to something rather more involved, a breeding deal gone sour. Even Aaron had to agree with Varis to some extent on that one; he’d been honest when he said mages were duty-bound, as Varis reiterated, and Aaron had no qualms with denouncing this mage’s behaviour. Even without considering the flagrant defiance and disregard for his mistress, how much of an idiot would this mage have to be to know the consequences of his actions and still go through it?

Apparently Varis had read his mind, and Aaron nearly shivered at his question, tune changing rather abruptly. Despite disapproving of these mages’ actions, knowing that they were selfish and wrong and that they brought it on themselves, he couldn’t help but remember the sickening feeling he’d gotten as a teenager when he learned what could legally be done to mages who reproduced without permission. It sent a chill up his spine even now. Needless to say, it had been more than sufficient to stop him stealing glances at servant girls.

“Whatever their vampire sees fit, Master,” Aaron replied dutifully, if not a little stiffly. The human deep down within him still bristled at ‘Master,’ but Aaron ignored it. “They know their mages best, they’d know the most effective repercussions for them. I’m sure the Countess will find the legal range of punishments available to be more than adequate for her purposes.” He barely spared a glance to a servant as the courses were changed, not daring to touch the new food until Lady Sinnenodel’s mage started eating. “In this case, whether the Countess resorts to extremes like sterilization would have to depend on how she assesses the risk of her mage repeating this behaviour going forward, though I do think it’s prudent that he was removed from the breeding pool. With that kind of recklessness and rebellious attitude, it sounds like he has some temperament issues. Best to ensure he doesn't pass them down.”

He glanced to Salem when he finished, having caught the rather loaded question the Princess had thrown at him. Not that Varis’ inquiry was any less double-edged, but Aaron was curious to see how loyally Salem would follow the idea he had formed in his head about him. Briefly, Aaron feared that his answer to Varis would only worsen what he was sure was a declining opinion of him on Salem’s end, but he had to push the thought away. He’d enjoyed their time together earlier in the night, but Aaron had no duty to him; he couldn’t fly in the face of his superiors just to save face with a mage he’d only met earlier that day. Even if said mage would, more likely than not, be a frequent feature in his life going forward.

Interacting with: @Obscene Symphony@AChronum

Zelda
Troy
Salem Sr.
Alicia
Aaliyah

”Your discussion suggested a mage's opinion should count for more in their treatment. How much weight should a mage's opinion have in your opinion?”

Salem didnt even pause to think of his answer, no, he knew exactly how much weight he believed a mage's opinion should have. "I believe they should have equal amount your majesty. That is to say, I feel that among the current council, there should be an equal number of mages present to have equal say in the matters discussed. I do not doubt the councils decisions, but I feel it rather odd to have a council of non mages weighing in on mage matters, thus a council of both mages and vampires should be created to better discuss these ideas." Salem went to go grab his drink but was unfortunately too late and it was removed and replaced with the next course. A bit upset that he hadn't the chance to try it, but that was the least of his worries.

Salem went to turn to Aaron but found himself unable to. He began to feel a sort of hand, creep around his neck from behind him, and grab hold of his chin. The spectre was cold and hard against Salems smooth face, holding his gaze forward until a new feeling began to wash over him.

It felt as though he was back at the Orientaion room, seeing Aaron and Lilie for the first time...but not the first time. Salem was filled with joy as he watched his meeting with them again from the outside. His body slowly began to creep closer and closer until he was looking through his own eyes again, Aaron and Lilie slowly sliding away as the room darkened and an under lighting lit their faces. Their voices could be heard from the distance saying

”What a loser, why does he think he can come and speak to us?”
”I dont know. I have an idea, let's just say we'll meet back up with him and leave him when our matches finish. We'll never have to see that pathetic face again.”

Salem got closer and closer until the two turned to face him, faces under lit and grins of treachery across their faces as they spoke in unison

“Wait Right here ok? We'll come back, promise.”

They're maniacal laughter could be heard as they slowly faded away and the sounds of their laughter were replaced with his father's stern, but loud, voice.

"Those people down there, they only use you, your kindness. Instead you're out there gallivanting in the slums letting them abuse you and your talents..”

As his father spoke he began to grow taller and taller until he was looking over Salem, casting a dark shadows across him. The shadow grew and grew as the voice became more thunderous, fading into the background as rain began to deluge on top his clinics tent. Loud drops of rain banging against the tarp as Salem desperately worked to heal a patient on the table. The sounds began to meld together, turning into a rhythmic beep on a monitor. The only sound pounding in Salems ears. A flat line. The patient was lost and anguish filled him like the sea consuming a capsized ship. His stare was blank as he looked on ahead and attempted to close his eyes and look away from the body.

There it was again, that cold hand, gripping at his chin, forcing him to relive his past and look head on. A warmth began to hot his skin, welcoming, beautiful warmth. Salem blinked a few times, adjusting his eyes as he saw fields of flowers, a bright blue sky, tall green trees and his boyfriend Troy. His eyes were lavender, against his fair skin and tuft of raven black hair. Troy's smile was as warm as the suns embrace and everything seemed perfect. The flowers in the distance began to wilt and rot, sweeping ever nearer towards the pair until everything was decayed around them. Troy's voice could be heard from behind Salem, distorted, the scent of a crackling fire emanating from him.

”What's the matter Salem?” Salemn turned to face Troy, who was now engulfed in flames, face rotting off, the scent of a campfire and rotted flowers permeating the air. Salem began to slowly move further back, away from Troy until he hit a wooden wall.

He slid down the wall slowly, shaking, muttering like a fool, as his eyes were peeled open and the sounds of his family could be heard outside arguing, as the scene became his room.

”The poor boys been drugged! Who knows how long that weasels been tainting his mind!” “His mind wouldnt be so easily tainted if he wasnt so weak!” ” When I get my hands on the Blossoms! I'll-” ” Now all of you stop it. This isnt going to help him. He needs us right now.” “What he needs is discipline!”

All the while Salem had fully fallen to the floor, the cold hard wood pressed against his skin, soothing the burning feeling on his biceps from his nails digging into his skin. He shivered, mouth muttering uncontrollably, his stare fixated on the light from under the door as his family's shadows danced around and argued.

The door slowly opened, light pouring in, blinding him as he felt a cool, wet, towel pressed against his forehead. Was she always so tall? His face now nuzzled a pillow as he ran a fever, a large snake coiled against his chest, the smooth, chill, scales helping to cool him down. ” Now now child, you'll be alright. I've got you.” Salems bed seemed larger somehow, he moved his hand to place it on the snake and noticed it was the hand of a child. His as a child. His eyes wearily looked around the room and noticed the ingredients for an anti venom. That's right...he was invited to play at a competitors house while they were entertained as guests. The fever must've made him forget...the tea...they poisoned him, his mother, to take done her empire. He reached out once more to touch his grandmother, but when he did she shattered.

” That was an antique! Do you know how hard it is to acquire those!” The shattered pieces were on the floor, his father screaming at him as he banged his cane against the ground. A burning mark on his back quickly stung to remind him it was there. A welt from the cane. ” You do NOT run in this house hold you understand?! What a pathetic child. Cant follow the simplest of directions! Clean this mess.” Young Salem began to cry as his shoulder stung with every sweep of the broom, picking the shattered glass and placing into the dustpan. He moved to dump it into a wooden box for repairs, as the pieces fell, his eyes became transfixed, the box now vertical as the pieces formed back into his grandmother, the wooden lid closing. ” Dont go! Dont leave me!” he yelled through thick tears. The cries fell on deaf ears as the lid finally closed, a loud thud resonating throughout the room as the box shifted further and further out of reach. The room stretched and warbled as the sound resonated and was finally collapsed under the sound of his head hitting the back of the wooden chair. His foot stung as though someones sharp heel stomped on it. He turned to face the source of the pain and noticed Princess Ryner next to him, he was at dinner again, and no one seemed the wiser of the turmoil within.

---

Max turned his nose up as the apologetic boy simply vanished before his eyes. Good riddance.

"And how about he watches where he's going." He grumbled as the girl walked away, turning on a heel to march toward his dorm. "Whatever."

He flexed his hand repeatedly as he walked, trying to replicate that spark from earlier. As it became increasingly apparent that Max wasn't going to get results, he opted to start grumbling to himself for lack of a better outlet for his frustration.

"Stupid bitch, thinks she's better than me because she can disappear. I guess she is since I can't even do anything yet." He blew air out of his nose in a derisive snort, clenching the hand he was flexing into a rigid fist, "Useless orientation. Useless school." He threw open the door to his dorm with unnecessary force, and then slammed it shut even more harshly before stomping off to his room. He planted himself face down on the bed, burying his face in a pillow before letting out a muffled wail of frustration. It was cathartic, in a way.

After some time, he rose from the bed and started peeling off clothes, lazily throwing them onto the floor of his room en route to the bathroom before turning on the shower. He stepped in after the water heated up, leaning his head against the wall lethargically as the water dripped down his body at an awkward angle. There was no point in showering again today, but he doubted the academy would send him a water bill, so he was going to enjoy the heat. Max let out a sigh, lazily trailing his eyes around the featureless interior of the shower in idle boredom. Better than reflecting on the day he'd just had. What a terrible day. He, Maxwell Alderman, simply wanted to have a quiet academic career, but these shithead vampires keep bothering him.

Focus on the positives. Class starts tomorrow. Hopefully he'll be performing magic by the end of the week. After that, he can spend all his time on honing his skill rather than wandering aimlessly around campus or entertaining anyone else's stupid whims when they feel like bothering him. At the very least he'd have an excuse to isolate himself from the leeches, if not his fellow mages.

---

The plant mage snatched Varis’s response to Aaron off his tongue as he suggested radical change to the monarchy. To the Queen. No hesitation, no brief consideration of his future, no passing self preservation instinct. Laughter threatened to bubble out of Varis but he suppressed it. Compared to Aaron’s puritanical Noila ingrained beliefs, Salem presented an entertaining point of view on the current order. The gears in Varis’s head picked up the pace as the vampire recognize an opportunity in this. Salem presented the perfect hammer with which to shatter his new mage’s silly preconceptions.

In the corner of his eye, he noticed the slight flinch in the Queen’s temporary attendant. The motion smoothly transitioned into a full movement away from the table but someone looking for it would have noticed. The mage’s flanking his Lady kept their eyes firmly trained on Salem after his little speech. Varis smiled at Salem as his and Ryner’s gamble played itself out. Earlier than the Count would have cared for but Salem accelerated the plan unexpectedly. The pair spent countless nights conceiving a way to counter this nasty habit of his Lady but instead they agreed to use an unprotected mage as bait, someone with little more than rumors and guesses about their internal affairs. The empath would invariably give away his Lady’s actions as she assualted his mind with a cacophony of suffering and Ryner would break the spell as she did. He saw his Lady’s mage turn her head slightly to the Queen’s attendant.

Just as planned. Now Varis had an easily identifiable boundary to work with. As long as the empath was in the room, she wouldn’t try her little tricks again. He would make sure the boy was on his heels while the attendant was out.

“Lets entertain the boy for a moment. What is to stop the vampires, anyof them not just the Council, from enthralling the mages like they do now? Wouldn't the mage Monarchy turn into a puppet government?” Varis asked, “And boy, what do you think of Mr.Spellman’s suggestion? Does it warrant any serious consideration?”

Are you. Actually stupid.

That was just about all that was going through Aaron’s head as Salem said his piece, having barely taken a breath before telling the Queen that everything about her political system needed to change. Aaron might have gasped if not for the company, torn between recoiling in horror and outright laughing at the suggestion. Okay, now he knew that Salem didn’t know what he was talking about. Or who he was talking to, apparently. Did he not have a shred of respect? Or even a modicum of an instinct for self-preservation?

Silence fell on the room again, and when Aaron looked around the table, he saw Dora falter; she played it off well enough, but she had a harder time keeping her composure than the rest of his family, and Aaron could tell that something was troubling her. She was probably just as disturbed by Salem’s affront to the Queen as he was. And apparently Salem realized his mistake, having gone eerily silent, simply staring at the table. Glancing to Varis as the silence stretched on, Aaron noticed he was smiling at Salem. No doubt sneering at his foolishness. Aaron would have felt bad for the mage had he not been so appalled.

Finally, someone spoke; Varis again, indulging Salem’s idea. Salem was a little more alert now, having jolted for some reason and apparently come to his senses, and Aaron watched him curiously as Varis asked his question before turning his attention to the Count when he was spoken to.

“No, Master, it doesn't,” Aaron stated flatly, not quite as bothered by the title in his sudden irritation. “At the very least, it presents a logistical nightmare. Remember, we mages are short-lived. We die within a century. How can we expect consistency from a council whose members change every few decades? Whose members can easily be incapacitated or killed?” While it was addressed to the Count, Aaron’s response was mostly for Salem. “Forgetting for the moment that such an arrangement would fly in the face of the order prescribed by the Treaty, a council of mages would lack accountability. After all, it’s easy to make controversial decisions when you know you probably won’t be around to live with the consequences.”

Interacting with: @Obscene Symphony@AChronum

Salem turned to look at the mage, addressing both her and lady sinnonedel together "I would ask you not to disrespect someone so blatantly." he turned back towards Varis "I agree that enthrallment would become an issue, and I feel that the council and mages could work together to create some form of safety for the new addition to the council, the mages. As for you" Salem looked pointedly at Aaron, nearly dis attached and disappointed in the boy hed met earlier, as he leaned forward"You view the mages life span as an issue, yet I view it as a boon. The fact of the matter is, while consistancy is all well and good, change is what's needed in the world in order to progress to better future. Each generation of mage will have grown in the lasts, seeing its faults and being able to attempt to work together to fix them." Salem reclined back into his chair, "But I wouldnt fully expect someone like you to understand, its is not yours, nor anyone fault, but you are not at a point in life where you can view my perspective. I know that Princess Ryners prestigious school will allow you the opportunity to see many world view points."

Silence pressed down on the room’s occupants after Salem finished speaking. Ryner and Varis made eye contact while the Queen glanced once at Lady Sinnenodel’s mage and back to the recklessly forward boy. The mage brought a melon slice and chewed on it for a moment as she regarded Salem. Varis picked up his glass and leaned back, fiddingling with the stem. Isadora, with a look from Ryner, shifted discreetly towards the servant’s door. Only the woman chewing disturbed the silence..

Inwardy, Varis sighed. It was obvious his Lady and himself were goading him into a mistake. If no one at the table acknowledged what just occurred, he should take the hint and maintain the charade. Instead, the plant mage handed himself and quite possibly what few rights he had over to the Sinnenodels. He would have to tread carefully or the arrogance he’d shown thus far would come back tenfold. The woman tapped her fingers gently against her napkin.

“We find your demand both amusing and insulting. As a mage, you should be thankful for anything your betters do for or to you.” Her voice rang sickly sweet. “But since your naivety amused us this evening, we will allow you an opportunity to redeem yourself.” The mage reached behind her head and drew off the blindfold. Her eyes were partially sunken in, a deep red covering what remained of her sclera and the last of the pupil colored like puss. Faint scars reached a few inches past her eyelids. “What disrespect” the mage chuckled on the word, “have we offered?”

Salem watched as the mage removed her blindfold, revealing a grotesque scene that more interested him, than repulsed him. Severe acid damage He’d seen these before, never once as a form of accident. No, these monsters clearly disfigured their mage in order to make her more complacent. It was clear the type of people he was dealing with, Salem would need to watch his next moves more carefully.

“I refer to the intrusion of my mind. Lady Sinnenodel, I acknowledge that you view things as mere objects, and if that's the case, my mind is no possession of yours. If anything, aside from my own it would, by your logic, be the possession of Mr. Bordeleux who is not present at the moment to have given you his blessing to use his item.” Salems eyes wandered back towards the mage and a slight frown began to form. Poor dear...such a cruel fate to have to live

‘Game, set, match.’ Varis shook his head as the Queen narrowed her eyes at the mage and Isadora slipped out of the room. Ryner sat forward, prepared to object to anything that occured on her school grounds if it endangered the foolish mage’s life.

“That is quite. An accusation. Mr. Spellman.” The Queen raised her voice. “I expect you. Have some proof. Of this intrusion.”

Salem clenched his fist under the table as the queen spoke. “I don't quite know how one would prove such a thing. I can only describe to you what it is I felt and know, Your Majesty.”

“Your feelings. Mean little. When bringing. Accusations. Against my council.” The Queen responded. “Mortals easily. Misconstrue their own. Experiences since. They have so. Little to gauge. Them against.” The mage woman hummed thoughtfully.

“Perhaps there is more to this than we see.” The mage turned to the Queen. “The boy blatantly disregards our superiority, pushes for massive reform, and fabricates claims against a Council Member. All the night after the Eve’s little debacle. We find this an interesting coincidence.”

“Describe your. Experience, boy.”The Queen demanded.

Salem cleared his throat as he looked sincerely at the Queen. “Of course your Majesty. It began as I went to catch a glance at Mr. Starag, only finding myself unable to do so. I felt cold, lifeless hands, like that of a spectre, gripping against my face, forcing me to look onto images of my past. Starting from the most recent, going all the way onto my childhood. Most were memories that caused pain, or negative emotions. Very few slipped in that offered some form of comfort. Anytime I wished to look away from the barrage, those cold spectre hands would grip me once more and force me to look on. I was suddenly jolted back out of its grips when Varis mentioned the potential of enthrallment of the mage council members.”

Salem sat forward, both hands clasped together on the table. “Your Majesty, that is the experience I just had as I sat at your table. Now, I do not personally state that Lady Sinnenodel ordered her mage to do so, but as magical law stands, any magic made by a mage is the vampires responsibility. Is it not?”

The Queen’s eyes turned black almost immediately and her frown deepened into a scowl. “Do not presume to lecture me on laws written by my hand.” The Queen boomed. The previous lethargy faded as her irritation became apparent. “Since your arrival you have spouted radical views and blatantly disrespected my Council and her authority. While I encourage progressive thoughts, I will not have you attempting to cause turmoil within my ranks with false accusations. In light of recent events within the Eve household and here on my daughter’s campus,” Ryner moved to speak but the Queen held her hand up. “You will be placed under observation and your family's assets will be seized until our investigation into your intentions has concluded.”

“Mother, Salem is speaking from inexperience and an obvious trauma. There is no need to launch a full investigation into him.” Ryner protested. “The boy offers free medical services to those in need. You can't shut down his operations with practically nothing against him. And if it turns out to be true, it would be a gross violation of the treaty and its laws.”

“While the description of his ordeal matches several mental interrogation techniques, the boy already admitted to having no other evidence of the event. It is entirely circumstantial that the attack originated with my Lady or her mage. It is also possible, and more likely, that the attack came from another source considering the increase in the Red Hand’s activity as of late.” Varis countered Ryner. “In consideration that an agent of the Red Hand has managed to infiltrate the Academy as Countess Marivaldi’s partner, it is likely they have resorted to other techniques to fracture our unity. Mental magic is not an uncommon branch and an agent of the Hand could have inflicted something upon Mr. Spellman without his knowledge.”

“I meant no disrespect Your Majesty, I, a mere mortal, simply wished to gain clarification on if I recalled your laws correctly. That way I could know if my allegations towards the pair would be correct or if I must offer an apology to Lady Sinnenodel for misunderstanding your laws and thus wrongfully placing blame towards her.” Salem turned to room. “I know nothing of this Red Hand you speak, so I doubt I'd be aware of any of the hands involvement with my mind. With more information to consider, aside from the only mage I could have seen responsible, I ask humbly for an apology that I may have spoke too soon in my accusation towards Council Woman Sinnenodel. As you said, Your Majesty, mortals can rarely process their emotions so well and having my mind infiltrated is a very disturbing thought to bear.” Salem bowed as he could in his chair towards the Queen then Lady Sinnenodel. “My sincerest apologies.”

“As such, we support the Queen’s decision to investigate the Spellman family. The Marivaldi’s should prioritize them in fact.” Lady Sinnenodel’s mage demanded as the conversation continued without acknowledging Salem. “We find the very possibility of more unwitting victims both disturbing and dangerous. If the Red Hand exploits such staging grounds, we suggest closing all of them.”

“I apologize you Excellency but closing charity funded organizations would damage our standing with the vastly majority of the community. We should be careful not to take extreme measures with such little information. If anything, the boy mentioned he found acting as a guest stressful earlier and it could be as simple as a case of overactive nerves.” Ryner interjected. “Stressful situations often trigger mortal’s overly colorful imaginations. Run your investigation mother but ease his restrictions. I will add etiquette lessons to his schedule so we can prevent this behavior in the future.”

“If my theory proves correct, he is still a danger to himself and others.” Varis reminded the table. “He must stay under someone’s eyes. On campus, there are plenty of guards but when he returns home, he becomes a flight risk at best. It is imperative we assign an escort or temporary watch for his breaks.” The Queen seemed to consider this, her eyes clearing as the assembly spoke.

“Very well. The Marivaldi’s will investigate the Spellman assets but the boy will have his freedom still.” The Queen decided, her voice returning to its slower pace. “On his breaks, he will accompany Aaron home until the investigation is complete. The boy will have no contact with his family or assets until the Marivaldi’s deem it safe. That is final.”

Salem looked towards Aaron, eyes shaking slightly as he looked down and nodded in agreement to what had been decided for his fate.

Silence descended once more. Isadora slipped back out into the room. Ryner shot a sympathetic look at Salem and Varis sipped at his blood, disappointed in the Spellman child but satisfied he learned his place. The mage went back to eating alongside the Queen. Lady Sinnenodel herself now wore a small smile.

Aaron watched Salem with something like morbid curiosity as he spoke. Good Lord, it was like watching a trainwreck. He had no idea how to feel, caught between bristling at Salem’s patronizing insult and gaping at his further contempt for the nobles present. Not a single polite term of address for any of them, and he was so bold as to make some vague demand of Lady Sinnenodel? Aaron couldn’t tell what had come over the mage, but as the silence stretched when he finished, his gut only twisted; Aaron had a pretty good idea of what was coming, but he feared that Salem was none the wiser.

Sure enough, the danger Aaron had felt building as they’d discussed came to a head when Lady Sinnenodel’s representative spoke next, ridding herself of her blindfold. Aaron regretted looking as soon as he saw what was underneath; a wave of nausea hit him at the sight of the poor girl’s eyes, and he had to look away, taking a slow breath to soothe his stomach. He had no idea what could have caused such disfigurement, nor did he want to find out; he felt cold, face going a little pale as his former fears came back full-force, and for a moment all he could think about was whether or not he’d suffer the same fate.

Thankfully - or perhaps not, it was getting hard to tell - he was occupied with new concerns when conversation picked up again, Salem being so bold (or was it stupid?) as to stand his ground, claiming that Lady Sinnenodel’s mages had invaded his mind. Given the warning Varis had given him on the way over, Aaron wouldn’t have been surprised if Salem’s accusations were true, but he was no less appalled by the fact that the man actually dared to make them.

Aaron’s anxiety only mounted as the pseudo-interrogation continued; for lack of a ring to spin, he resorted to the next best thing, hands coming up to straighten his collar and tighten his tie. But when he reached his neck, he had to stop himself, only gently touching the pendant at his throat and making a concerted effort not to put anything out of place. It wouldn’t do to alter the outfit Varis had so pointedly arranged for him, even though the disarray only stressed him further. He had no phone screen to clean, couldn’t smooth down his hair, and he couldn’t tug on his ear either, afraid that he’d dislodge the golden cuff. He took a breath, trying to loosen the tightness in his chest as he lowered his hands to his lap, but it did little to calm him. With no other option he reached into his pocket under the table, taking out his ring and turning it in his fingers, though he didn’t dare to put it on.

His heart jumped into his throat when the Queen’s pace quickened; Aaron didn’t hear that tempo from her often, but it was never good. He was well aware that Salem deserved every word and more, but the poor boy was only digging himself deeper and deeper and Aaron couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. Clearly he was in over his head, apparently not fully understanding the weight of his actions. Aaron had been hoping he would come to his senses before things came to this, but apparently they weren’t so lucky.

Varis’ mention of the Red Hand, however, pulled Aaron out of his head for a moment. He was less concerned with the Count passing off Salem’s claims as their doing - Aaron had his doubts, but he couldn’t be certain either way - than he was with the idea that one of their members had managed to infiltrate the Academy. As a noble’s mage, no less. Needless to say, the thought of a member of a major rebel faction infiltrating what Aaron thought was one of the most secure locations in the world was more than disconcerting. And if there was even a sliver of a chance that Salem had been affected by them, then he could completely understand the nobles’ urgency.

When Salem’s fate was decided, Aaron’s heart went out to the mage, catching his eye and his look of utter defeat. Realistically, he had gotten off easy, but Aaron could empathize nonetheless. He had no idea about Salem’s relationship with his family, but if it was anything like his own, then cutting off contact must have been devastating. Aaron simply nodded respectfully regarding his assignment, opting finally to eat if for no other reason than to have something to do with his hands. If he was to be Salem’s escort during their breaks, he would readily oblige. Hopefully nothing would come of this investigation.

The resulting silence stretched the rest of the course, only the various guests eating and Varis fiddling absently with his glass heard in the room. By the time the servants began collecting empty plates however, Salem suddenly felt it click in his head, the delicate movements Varis made on his wine glass since just after he sat.. stroke, tap, pause, stroke, stroke, stroke, pause, stroke, stroke, stroke, pause, stroke, tap, pause. Over and over again, Varis repeated the sequence as he listened to Aaron, pausing sometimes to sip at his glass or swirl the blood.

The concerned inhale was no more than a whisper, if even that. The vampires at the table, and Lady Sinnenodel’s mages, almost snapped their necks turning their collective gaze on Isadora. The poor woman’s face turned sheet white and she trembled, the glasses on the platter in her hand clicking. Her eyes were fixed on the Princess. The Queen’s disapproval shifted to suspicion as she appraised the scene. “Go.” The Queen said. The mage hurried to the Princess’s side and gently laid her hand on her shoulder. “Are you well, Princess?” The woman whispered.

All the while, Ryner watched Varis’s fingers for far longer than it took him to stop his actions. Her face was blank but her eyes seemed ill at ease. Isadora’s touch seemed to bring her back and she nodded at the woman. "Yes, thank you. I remembered a rather important piece of paperwork I forgot to submit to the Council on behalf of the school. No need to worry; it is a matter I can handle come tomorrow.” Isadora hesitated a moment before curtsying, picking up the tray of glasses, and leaving the room once more.

“I’ve always said. You need more organization.” The Queen snapped, breaking the brief lull in conversation. “Your sister. Recently started using. A rather colorful. Method of labelling. And scheduling. Perhaps a lesson. From her could. do you well. She never seems. To have these issues.”

“I’ll see when our schedules cross, Mother. It has been a few decades since I’ve seen her after all.” Ryner responded stiffly. She relaxed quickly and a sly smirk, eerily similar to Varis’s. “Though perhaps now is the time to mention exactly what those papers are about."

“Varis has done exceptional work blocking the past few issues I’ve written for the Council. He has quite an eye for technical reading and analysis.” Princess Ryner said thoughtfully, swirling her glass. “As such, I was considering waving Varis’s treaty law requirement. He knows it better than most here after all. But then I thought to myself, it would be remiss of me not to offer the best for my students here at the Academy and so starting tomorrow Varis, you’ll be Count Alder’s TA.” She sipped at her wine, a smug look on her face peeking over the glass. “Though it is more a formality than anything else. Several important family issues are pulling at the Count’s attention and I thought it easier to find a substitute for him this year."

“Princess with all due respect, I don’t have the time-” He stopped talking when she set her glass on the table and the smug look on her face vanished, eyes darkening quickly.

“You broke my school’s policy when you convinced my arena master to waive your self defense credit. Although I expected it, I’m disappointed in your heavy handed approach. I’ve grown to expect a certain degree of finesse from you.” She arched an eyebrow and sat back, inviting the Count to disagree. Varis stayed quiet. “Since you won’t be participating in that class, you’ll have plenty of time for your TA duties.”

“I appreciate the opportunity and the compliment.” Varis acquiesced, his calm and relaxed manner clashing with his eyes. “You have a brief review of Count Alder’s lesson plans prepared for my review?”

“You keep all of the projects you’ve worked on or a copy at the very least?” Varis’s eyes narrowed as the the smug look crossed Ryner’s face again. “Then you already have what you need.” Varis sat in silence, seething again. Just under a year before his invitation to the Academy, the Princess included a request to evaluate and improve a professor’s outdated lesson plans on the treaty law. Varis shredded the papers, disgusted with the Noalian propaganda involved in it, and sent back an entirely new plan. With everything going on, he’d forgotten about that. Apparently, the Princess had had plans.

“I do have a folder with images and names of everyone you will be teaching. I know you dislike being caught unaware.” She added, finishing the conversation. “Come to my study after dinner to get it. As a side note, TAs grades are based on both the professor’s and the student’s reviews and pass rate.” Varis remained silent again, fuming.

“Mr. Starag,” The mage spoke again as she tied her blindfold back on as a tomato, basil, olive, and mozzarella salad and a small glass of pinot grigio was set in front of the guests. “We are interested in your appraisal of our dear Varis so far. We afford our darling more independence than the rest of our house at the moment and we want to ensure he is as strict as consistent as we taught him.”