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Interacting with:@ReusableSword

Salem was more than glad that Victor was currently blinded. The dumbfounded look that was now plastered on his face would remain there for a while. He wasn't sure what kind of reaction Victor was expecting him to have, what he wanted Salem to do. Did he really feel like that amount of information was enough to placate Salem? Did he think all he would have to say is that he loved and murdered a mage and that that would be the end of the conversation? For once in his life he was truly speechless. Unable to say anything back he just held onto Victor in silence. On the ride towards their destination he mulled over the information, wondering who this mage was and what she did to have him kill her, as well as if he truly loved her why would he kill her? It didn't make any sense to him but the fact remained he was an Astorio and they were ruthless.

Salem hardly minded the thick brush and closed quarters. The spaces were tight but his mind focused on both the task ahead as well as the new information. He wasn't sure what that last test was supposed to do, was it meant to bring them closer? Expose weaknesses? It hardly seemed to have to do with his actual exam. Finally the path cleared and they began to near a curious tree. Salem tugging on Victor to stop his movements so he could better study it. “To whom walks amidst Time’s tangled web, look close at that which walks removed. Three keys to enlightenment of our kind-Might, Majesty, and Mastery-and yet not all three command them. Pick the light that guides their way and keep it safe on your way to have your diligence paid in kind. Stay to the right as it shines.

Though if sand does drop far too fast, feel free to take the left path." Aside from that there lies three designs before us. A boar, a curling wave, and a blade balancing a flower on its tip. There are small rocks at the base of the tree, and two lines stretching from them" Salem examined the scene a bit closer, scratching his head before turning to Victor. "Any clues on what to do for this one?"

A sense of relief washed over the countess as the serpent’s voice returned, though the sound still held a grating effect on her ears. They had chosen the correct falsehood which would set them free; or so she had thought. Amaris watched as the creature began twisting about the space, the water twisting with it until it was physically pulling at her body. The faster the serpent moved the stronger the force tugged at her until she had no choice but to throw her arms up in the hopes that they might shield her face from any potential damage.

When Amaris finally opened her eyes she found herself somewhat disappointed that she wasn’t staring out into an open clearing with the statue of a serpent at its center, though at this point she would have been lying if she said that she was surprised.

“You really ought to practice looking at the bigger picture…” She mumbled to herself while she took a moment to take in her new surroundings. Amaris found herself in a box partially filled with water but lacking in any visible cracks in the surrounding walls. Turning slowly in a circle the countess noted the distinct lack of a panicking mage trapped in the box alongside her, leading her to assume the pair had traded places. Such a thought was of no comfort as mortals generally did not possess the ability to breathe underwater. Amaris had to remind herself of the magical nature of their surroundings in order to calm herself, at least until she had something different to distract her.

The countess grit her teeth as water began pouring in from above, crashing down upon her head uncomfortably before she had a chance to move out of the way. She took this as a sign that the second half of the game had begun, Maddie likely being faced with her own list of overly vague statements. Crossing her arms, Amaris leaned back against the wall of the barrier to await her partner’s voice while doing her best to avoid getting ‘rained on’. She couldn’t help but wonder who Maddie had been shown, if she had been shown anyone at all. Amaris was finding it difficult to shake the images of her past partners boxed up just mere feet out of her grasp. Had Maddie experienced something equally as traumatizing? Would she be shown the faces of the dead, or something completely different.

Amaris snapped to attention once she heard Maddie speak, the countess hanging on to every word spoken. She was eager to help but she found herself equally at a loss. Was it arrogant to push the former statement as the lie?

“To me, the former statement stands at odds with our prior correct answer. I have no intentions of betraying the trust that you have placed in me and see no reason I would willingly abandon you. That being said, there is something you would have to consider… If the former is false, the latter must be true so think Maddie: is there someone of which you seek to control? Or perhaps a particular outcome you wish to change?”

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Varis demanded to be carried again, not at all interested in stumbling his way through the forest. He’d have the boy let him down before they broke the treeline but until then, it gave him some time to think. The boy in the skull had mentioned a lot of things that left him confused. Yvaine was certainly a name he would have remembered and he’d barely been involved in the Marivaldi job. Even if he had a large role in the Lord’s death, Varis certainly didn’t feel any guilt about crippling the second weakest family further. In his opinion, the entire family reflected poorly on vampire kind. He certainly wouldn’t be upset to see them all wiped out.

However, the illusion brought up a far more important issue that he’d taken for granted. The boy’s affinity might become a problem in the future and while he was decently convinced the world would have to end before the boy turned against him, the tiniest seed of doubt had been planted. Ryner’s plan would leave him vulnerable to such a thing and now Varis was reconsidering after having his ear sliced in half. Varis was silent and pensive the entire way back, considering his options.

The path back was easy and straightforward enough with two mages on the lookout. As expected, Varis demanded to be put down as soon as the treeline was visible to the mages. He clutched Aaron’s arm tightly again and tried not to stumble. As soon as the vampires crossed the forest edge, their vision returned and they’d see the clearing they originally set up at.

A mage that had been waiting made a short hand signal and Ryner walked briskly down the way, her face kept into a serene smile even as her eyes sparkled with laughter as she looked over Varis who kept his expression politely neutral even as he vibrated with fury. She stopped in front of the four and her smile turned far more genuine.

“Welcome back, Count Varis, Mr. Samael. I see your mages returned you in one piece.” Ryner greeted them. “Congratulations Aaron, Max. You passed your first practical exam. Head over to the tent to turn in any challenge tokens you’ve received and then we have cars to take you back to your dorm. Class tomorrow has been cancelled for first years so you may have a day to recuperate so please take the rest of the evening to relax.”

Salem was silent as they continued to move, speaking only for direction. Victor was well aware that the answer he gave him wasn’t the best but at the very least it would shut him up about it until after this test was done. Soon the duo came to a stop and the location of what was their next test. The count listened closely to the words Salem spoke and took a few minutes to think.

“Hmm, ‘to whom walks amidst Time’s tangled web, look close at that which walks removed.’ Definitely talking about us and something that neither of us walk with or live with.” Another pause as he continued to think, “Three keys to enlightenment of our kind-Might, Majesty, and Mastery-and yet not all three command them. Pick the light that guides their way and keep it safe on your way to have your diligence paid in kind. Stay to the right as it shines.” Repeating it aloud again. “One to choose, stay to the right? A maze perhaps. Or only when it shines, three keys to enlightenment, three choices paid in kind. Well which ever we choose we will be tested. But might doesn’t solve everything even if we are good at it.” Again another pause. "boar for strength, Ocean Wave for majesty, and Flower for mastery."

“Majesty is lacking with both of us but still there and neither of us have mastered anything. The last part is just in case we are running low on time. I haven’t felt the temperature change dramatically yet and it will get colder before the dawn. Choose Mastery and let’s take the path on the right. I’m sure it will be fun.” He answered with a smile, these tests are taxing but a challenge he wasn’t expecting.

@Trainerblue192

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Eris was abnormally silent on the way back, which was as much a bad sign as it was a welcome reprieve. It was better than him nervously rambling and saying something he shouldn't in front of Varis, in any case. Max was too invested in this for comfort; Eris' piddly issues shouldn't concern him, but there was always a very real possibility that anything that inconvenienced Eris would inconvenience him too. Not that Max had the ability to do anything about it. This job fucking sucked.

When they emerged from the forest, Max gave Ryner the barest of attentions as she addressed them, responding to her praise with a noncommittal hum. This was definitely a game to her, she looked far too happy at Varis' squirming. At least she dismissed them promptly instead of asking any stupid questions. He didn't need any opinions floating into his head while some mind mage was probably still lurking around.

He was pretty sure he didn't get even a sliver of enjoyment out of this test. Should've walked Eris into a tree when he had the chance. Now he just had stress and the knowledge some asshat was reading his thoughts. He tilted his head toward Aaron was they were walking to the tent, offering a snide grin. If Eris was gonna go do something filthy with Cinnamon, he needed to nip any chance of Aaron trying to use him as an excuse to flee the scene in the bud. Not that he thought the other mage particularly valued his company, but he assumed Aaron would consider an impromptu playdate with the rude kid preferable to listening to vampire romance in the next room.

"So, are you always on piggyback duty or is that a new development?" It was almost a genuine question. Varis seemed ashamed of it, considering he bothered to walk the last bit, but he wasn't sure how creative the leech got when it came to degrading his pet in private.

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@Hero@Achronum@Obscene Symphony

Perhaps he requires a more literal definition, Ben couldn't help but think as his chest ached slightly. His ego was slightly bruised at the small comment as well but there was no time to dwell on it. The monster went back to its original form after he had taken damage, which meant that one theory of his was proven; of course, he was nowhere closer to solving the riddle now than he was before. There must have been something obvious he had missed. What could it be? A test of might with a strange creature asking him what might was...perhaps this was an exercise in metaphorical restraint. As much as he enjoyed the occasional puzzle, this one had him befuddled.

The water soaking his shoes caught his attention second and he now noticed the rising water level. It must be an indication of a time limit. But he was a little lost on what to do. The thought of taking Lilie and running came to the forefront, but where would he go? Taking a swim seemed nonsensical. Was he truly overthinking? The past riddle was already resolved with Lilie's enchantment, the only thing that came to mind was the warning on 'chains' but he wasn't entirely sure how that could apply.

Ben had no choice: if he could not fight the monster, then speak he would. First things first, he should probably respond to the creature. "Might is great and impressive power or strength," He said. "But if that is what you're searching for, then I do not understand your actions. Why approach my mage? She is powerless in sleep--is this might you speak of so great when aiming at a defenseless creature?"

Whether his words would make a difference or not, he did not know. But it was better than doing nothing, he hoped.

Aaron’s trip out of the forest was as much of a trudge for him as it was for the vampires. Fatigue and cold gripped him in equal measure, and every step lowered his mood from shaken and apprehensive back down to where it had started that evening: thoroughly unamused. The same spiteful thoughts that this test was a farce, unnecessary, and an egregious invasion of privacy swirled in his head as he walked until he tired of them, choosing instead to focus on the placement of his feet and the clues to get them the hell out of the woods, all the while setting his jaw against Varis’ harsh grip and his own burgeoning headache.

The forest’s edge was a relief, if a double-edged one. That was one trial done with, but he knew another one awaited him back at the dorm. Therefore, significantly less welcome was the news of an upcoming night off. He knew it would hardly be a night of repose for him if Varis had any say in the matter, and judging by the vampire’s literal quakes of rage, Aaron was pretty sure he would have preferred the escape of classes to whatever would be ordained for him in their absence. He was grateful, at least, that he wasn’t as mud-caked as the vampires were in Ryner’s presence; next to them, the dirt on his shoes and probably deposited by Varis on the back of his coat could almost be overlooked. He usually would have been mortified nonetheless, but either his own sour mood or some lingering spite over having his head picked through as a part of his exam quelled his usual modesty.

He stayed silent when Varis handed him the Eve medallion and waved him off, offering only a bow to him and a nod to the Princess before setting off for the tent. Only when he knew the vampires’ attention would be elsewhere did he allow himself to reach up and massage his temple, with the consequence of catching Max’s shit-eating grin.

Aaron rolled his eyes. “Nope, that was new,” he answered flatly, rolling his shoulders. Damn, he could already feel the sore spots where Varis had gripped him. Right, excellent, he was going to be peppered with bruises after tonight, too. How could he forget.

Arriving at the tent, Aaron handed the attendant his tokens: the Eve medallion from the digging puzzle and the coin from the skull. “And what about you?” he shot back at Max, crossing his arms as the tent attendant fetched his and Varis' confiscated belongings. “Since when are you all buddy-buddy with Eris? I don’t think I heard you utter a single snide comment to him that entire time. If it didn’t freak me out so much, I’d be tempted to congratulate you.”

“The lie is Only a fool believes the vampires won’t abandon thee.”

Amaris watched the water rise slightly higher as she awaited the serpent’s reaction. For a brief moment there was no change in either girl’s situation leading the Countess to wonder if the selection was wrong. Had she steered the mage wrong? They had both worked so hard trying to come up with the correct answer; Maddie would be crushed. Or so Amaris thought.

The grating sound of the serpent’s laughter filled her ears as the state of the waters changed. No longer was it crashing down upon the Countess but instead writhing about her as if brought to life. It was the sudden, intense force that took her by surprise and unsettled both her mind and body. Feeling sick, Amaris squeezed her eyes shut and begged silently for the unpleasant experience to pass.

Eventually the Countess felt solid ground beneath her once again, but upon opening her eyes she found her sight lost as well. Amaris raised her right arm slowly so that it was above her, hand waving side to side as if the darkness wasn’t proof enough of her inflicted blindness. It was a shame to go back to such a state after finally getting it back, but such were the rules of the game; who was she to argue?

She sensed Maddie before she felt her, allowing the mage to help her to her feet as best as she could. It was unsteady work at first, having to reorient to proper gravity and all, but eventually the Countess was standing upright alongside her partner. She tried to drown out the remnants of the serpent’s laughter ringing in the depths of her ears by focusing on Maddie’s voice. With the incantation spoken and the spell back in place, the next clue could be found and the pair sent on their way.

“I’m alright, but Getsuga is damn lucky I love him. Never thought I would see the day that a snake scared me.” A chill ran down Amaris’ spine as she pictured the giant serpent staring her down. He was nothing at all like her mischievous companion and just the thought of him filled her with unease. Shaking her head, Amaris attempted to wear a comforting smile for the sake of her mage.

“Magic has the ability to warp not only our surroundings but our sense of time as well. I fear how much we might have lost during our test as it would be a shame to go through so much and fail because the clock ran out… Still, I don’t feel the anxiety of dawn and I am having a bit of fun. Are you feeling well enough to attempt one more then scurry for the exit?” Amaris asked, her mind already racing to wonder about what lay before them both. There was still so much teaching the test had to offer, and not just about Maddie but herself as well. What other parts of herself would she be forced to face?

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Max rolled his eyes at Aaron's comment as one of the attendants started handing back all his contraband. What the fuck was Max going to do with that now? The whole point was to cheat on the test, and he'd be damned if he pilfered shit from one of the alchemy labs for nothing. Maybe he could use it to fuck with Aaron more; he was humoring Max's riffing without dismissing him, so the metal mage wasn't out of the woods yet.

"Ha," he drolled in an unamused monotone, "Yep, you got me, we're besties." In all fairness, Eris did say that facetiously before, "If he wanted to shut up for once; who am I to stop him?"

Speaking of besties, it would probably be better to handle the issue now rather than later. Or even better, try to push the burden onto someone else. The mage pulled his newly-retrieved phone out as he paused briefly, idly typing out a warning text to Ismene. He was really hoping he didn't get tasked with any Eris-wrangling in return, but she likely knew Eris' habits the best. If she thought the situation was an issue, it probably was.

I think our mutual friend|

Nope, he couldn't send that one with a straight face. Backspace that.

I think our mutual associate|

Much better.

> I think our mutual associate is fumbling right into Cinnamon's hands rn, ill keep you posted

There. Sent. Maybe he'd get lucky and she could handle the fallout while he got the wipe his hands clean of the whole situation.

"Besides, Count No-Fun-Allowed would've thrown a tantrum and probably used you as an example for proper mage-rearing technique. You can't be that much of a masochist," Max continued as if nothing had happened. He didn't really wanna hear Cinnamon bitch either. His eyes hurt, he was cold, he was tired, and he apparently had some stupid poitical game on his hands tonight; last thing he needed was a headache from some whiny leech. Plus the uneven distribution of weight on his arms was starting to fuck with him; he should've taken his other vambrace off Eris when he had the chance.

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@Hero@Obscene Symphony

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“You’d find yourself hard pressed to find a vampire of my age who didn’t hold a special regard for illusion magic but no, I don’t hold any such sentiments for them. I’m far more partial to charms.” Ryner laughed quietly.

“Charming, I’m sure.” Varis spoke calmly, forcing his irritation down long enough to have a civil conversation in public. Once he got her behind closed doors however… “On a more pertinent note, I believe these should suffice to guarantee full marks despite our mages failing to discover any more challenges after this.” Varis pulled out the onyx eyes and deposited them in Ryner’s hand. Her confusion turned to disapproval quickly.

“I fail to see how vandalism and destruction of school property count as a reason to give you full marks despite your completion rate, or lack thereof.” Ryner said dryly.

“Technically, each one of those represents a number of full coins equal to the number of students here. I doubt you didn’t consider the unlikely fact that every student pair had a possibility of stumbling across it so I’m sure there are more than enough coins to complete our grades.” Varis explained, holding up a hand when Ryner tried to speak. She narrowed her eyes at him. “It will also go a long way towards convincing me not to bring you in front of the Council for attempted assault, subversion of the Treaty, and willful ignorance of Council authority but perhaps those are better left to private discussion?” Varis counted each charge against her on his fingers but kept a sharp eye out for anyone trying to eavesdrop. Meanwhile, the Ryner’s’ face went blank and a tense silence settled between them. It took a few moments of consideration but eventually, a predatory smile crossed her face.

“An interesting interpretation of tonight’s events. You’ll have our meeting time in the mail tomorrow night. Have a pleasant morning, Count.” Ryner dismissed him with a fake cheeriness. Varis bowed properly to her and made his way to the cars, where he expected the boy to be. Ryner focused her attention on Eris.

“My apologies for the unpleasantness. I expected the Count to have some objections.” Ryner gave him a calculating look. “Were there any issues you wished to discuss or did your time in the test fair better?”

Aaron took a sidelong glance at Max’s belongings—the lighter was self-explanatory, but he struggled to understand what Max could do with those little strips of metal that he couldn’t do with his vambraces—before the other attendant returned with his own items. Aaron’s watch was the only thing of his he got back, seeing as he’d left his phone at the dorm, and was innocent enough; conversely, whatever Max had been planning was certainly more discreet than the tale of blatant cheating told by Varis’ pen light, compass and map.

It took almost all the patience Aaron had left not to roll his eyes again. The tantrums and the attempts to lean on the Princess he expected, but did Varis really have so little shame that he’d try to sneak all this through the security check? The sore spots on his arms made it clear that Varis was no great fan of being blinded, fine, but Aaron would have thought the Count would at least try to appear to tolerate it, seeing as the alternative was the possibility of rumours flying that a Sinnenodel needed to cheat to pass a test.

Putting his watch back on and tucking Varis’ things into his coat, Aaron turned his attention back to Max, letting out a humourless laugh that sounded more like a huff than anything. “No, no, I think I’m safe from that particular form of torment,” he only partially joked, opting to leave out the part where he doubted Varis would ever feel the need to use him as an example for anything. Or... not a positive one, anyway.

He looked over to the cars waiting nearby, and back to Max for a moment, deliberating. As much as he wanted to think those illusions were simply exaggerations meant to shock and provoke, there were still things he wanted to ask. But not here; that was better left for a rare moment of privacy, if he ever gave in to his curiosity at all. There were too many ears around, and Aaron was confident that neither he nor Max were in the mood for a reluctant heart-to-heart about inner demons and vampire murder at the moment. Not that there was even much chance of getting an honest answer out of the other mage, anyway.

Suitably discouraged, Aaron cleared his throat. “Well, enjoy your night off, I suppose,” he lamely concluded, nodding to the other mage and setting off for the cars before Varis could beat him there.

How rude—there was little need to insult his intelligence or lack thereof. Of course the beast had a point as there must have been something that Ben had missed. Attacking didn't seem right, inaction did not give him anything, and apparently he wasn't bright enough to figure it out intellectually. It was infuriating but he felt genuinely at a loss. What had he missed? If the goal was to humble him than the silly riddle had definitely proven that for all his experience a few sentences stumped him. How embarrassing.

And of course the beast approached him until Ben felt the coffin at his back. Between a rock and a hard place, indeed. He would have to apologize to his mage for failing the challenge and hope it wouldn't put too much of a dent in their already shaky trust. For shame, he thought they had made better progress than this. Knowing when to fold, however, was just as valued. He hoped he would convince the young girl of this. "I choose..." He trailed off, looking back at Lilie.

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Interacting with:@ReusableSword

Salem couldnt help but agree with Victors assessment. They were both indeed lacking Majesty, but had some in some respects. Neither were masters of anything, unless you counted being a master a digging your own grave at Noila Academy. Salem got off of Victor and walked forward, grabbing the paper lantern that suggested Mastery and holding it in his hand. He grabbed Victors hand and held the lantern up to illuminate their path as they followed thr stone to the right. "It doesn't appear to be much of a maze, there's a path of stones leading us somewhere." Once they reached the pit, he saw a place to put the lantern down. Salem set the paper lantern next to the wooden post, describing the scene to Victor as he attempted to read the new riddle beneath the lanterns soft glow. "Ahead a challenge, a puzzle, a fight. Which you find is what you chose but no matter what, find the...

Thats it. It just cuts off there, it appears to be missing a piece. Though if this is any indication of whats to come I believe we are up for a fight." Salem took a moment to look around, there was no missing piece, no sign of the final word save for a few footprints that showed someone else had been here. "Some assholes decided to vandalize the test. There's shoe prints here to denote another student has come through this test as well. DThey probably failed and tried to ensure any other student who passed it would too." Ok so Victors tracking skills and teachings were definitely useful, but that didnt mean they weren't about to have a long talk at the dorm about murder. "If the last challenge is anything to go by, as soon as i place this lantern where it belongs...we're in for a fight."

“I would also consider it a bonus if the next challenge restored my sight.” Amaris agreed that something less intense might be beneficial for them both. Something similar to their earlier bell selection, perhaps, or a pop quiz from either of their classes. As curious as the Countess was, however, she forced her mind to remain focused as Maddie led her along the path. She had allowed her thoughts to become too muddled in the last challenge and made things more complicated than they had to be. For the time being she would work on staying as grounded as she could.

The Countess found herself taken somewhat by surprise when Maddie indicated that the pair had reached their next point. For the previous challenges and clues, Amaris could vaguely tell that they had entered a clearing from the denser forest paths… This time, though, it felt little different than the path itself. She could just about imagine the pair being drawn in and locked in yet another box and had to fight a groan. Maddie had yet to voice any sort of displeasure at their new setting so Amaris chose to take some solace in that as she awaited a description or instruction from her partner.

“Gambling huh? Sounds interesting. I assume taking the path toward the sun would mean a failure for the exam so we might as well play. You said something about an object acquired in a prior game?” Amaris took a moment to think back to their previous challenges but found herself short on answers. The only objects she could remember were the two bells they had selected, one of which was surrendered to the serpent for their most recent trial.

“What was the token from the serpent? May I feel it?” She asked, wondering if there was a clue in the identity of the object itself. It was strange though, the wordings of the riddles they had faced. There were certain phrases that she struggled to determine the correct interpretation for and this one was no different.

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“Cydril?” Ryner asked, her tone even but barely bothering to hide her skepticism. Her eyes darted past Eris, where a few royal guards were standing and watching Eris’ interactions carefully. “The only individual I know by that name is a legend long past, burnt at the stake in front of every noble centuries ago by the Queen’s hand.” Ryner dismissed Eris’ comment with a wave of her hand but she did soften her look sympathetically. “I know the challenges were strenuous but as a vampire and pillar of this society, you mustn't let your imagination run wild. However if it would put your mind at ease, I’ll have some time shortly after sunset tomorrow to talk through it. I’ll make sure my secretary expects you.” She put her hand on his shoulder in a comforting gesture but the grip on it was with the barely restrained strength of a centuries old vampire. She breezed past to greet another pair that was exiting the forest but her warning was clear.

Meanwhile…

Varis didn’t bother acknowledging the boy as he approached the car, ducking in without a word and snapping at the driver to get moving. The driver pulled away barely a second after the boy shut the door and Varis seethed the entire way back to the noble dorms. The night had been humiliating. He was disgusting, his gloves were destroyed, the boy tried to kill him, and Ryner had laughed at the entire situation. It was utterly disrespectful and nothing could make the night worse short of a call from his Lady. Varis tapped his foot impatiently against the car floor as he stared holes into the driver through the rearview mirror.

It felt like an eternity but eventually they stopped in front of the dorm and Varis swept out of the car and up the path like a hurricane, his anger radiating off him in waves. Once they were inside, Varis turned to the boy. “Clean yourself up. Don’t bother getting dressed yet either. I expect you waiting at the end of your bed by the time I’m ready.” Varis snapped before he disappeared into his room, not bothering to unbutton his clothes and instead just shredding them until they were just tatters on the floor. The boy would dispose of these and whatever he wore that night; burning them would be an excellent catharsis.

Varis stumbled into the bathroom, eyes shut until he fumbled his way through covering the mirror. The sound of the shower coming alive put him a little more at ease and he stepped in immediately, scrubbing as hard as he could at the dirt and grime that covered him. The night had been a nightmare and he was ready to let it go for the rest of his existence but first, he had to use it as a lesson for the boy. His performance was far below his expectations, unsurprisingly, but Varis had expected his physical performance to be at least just subpar not dreadful. Clearly, he’d let the boy handle his own schedule for long enough. He was slacking on his training and that was unacceptable. He’d fix that quickly enough.