Though her friend said not every event was like a Docking Festival, and Manny agreed, "dressing up in costumes, eating lots of food, dancing, and music" were all obvious Docking Festival things. She'd even seen the ballroom before and it had a big hole in the roof to let the bonfire smoke out. She was sure it'd be a little different of course, but it couldn't be that different. The ex-nomad had no idea what it was they were celebrating though, she hadn't seen any harder-than-normal work being done that deserved a party.

Putting curiosity off for later, Manny took Reiny's advice and used a pair of pliers to try and twist her copper segments into springs while the older girl cleaned up her station. Success was unfortunately quite limited, and the results were more zig-zag than coil and at most wobbly rather than properly bouncy. It did look cool though, it reminded Manny of lighting! Thus, instead of trying to fix them, she went about attaching them to the leafy mask.

"Ailmost goddit," the younger girl called when Reiny inquired about leaving together, and completed her project only a bit after the older girl was prepared to go. Putting her mask in the bag with the sewing kit, she swung it over her should and grabbed the older girl's waiting metal hand. As they exited the workshop together, the engineering student's casual manipulation of the metal rod into a fully functional umbrella had Manny reaching up to the lilac mark on her neck, the raised skin feeling similar to a callus. In truth, the young girl was very satisfied with her gift, but sometimes seeing the gifts of others had her wishing hers was also something she could do, rather than just be. Like having an extra liver when everyone else had an extra arm.

Manny quickly shook off the melancholic thoughts though as she always did and instead skipped alongside her friend, enjoying the sound of the slowly intensifying raindrops upon the tree leaves and metal umbrella. When they arrived at the Seraphine dormitories, she gave Mr. Puffy a farewell pat on the everything before dashing down the hallway towards her room, waving over her shoulder.
"Laist'un to th' bawl essa 'nemone!" she chirped.


The girl's door was waiting unlocked for her, as she rarely carried her pendant and thus never bothered locking it. Despite Manny's unorderly nature and easy fascination with interesting things, her dorm room was sparse and clean. Oddly so, as instead of the furniture being tastefully arranged throughout the room like most dorms, her bed was pushed into the corner and the bookshelf, desk, and wardrobe arranged around it like the walls of a tiny room. Within that nook were haphazardly hung drawings and writings, with various knickknacks piled on the shelves, but outside was left completely untouched. After all, space was to be utilized as efficiently as possible when one lived on a ship, and Manny still half-expected that she'd be getting a roommate at some point. Or maybe just hoped.

Dropping the borrowed sewing stuff on her desk to be returned sometime, Manny turned to the heap of fabric laying atop her bed. The costume she'd been supplied with to wear for the ball was sleeveless, colored a soft yellow with orange flame-like gradients along the bottom of the skirt, which seemed more like a pile of frills than anything meant to be worn. Even peering up the bottom just revealed endless maze-like layers! The costume looked uncomfortable, but she wasn't going to be wearing it long and it was excellently goofy. The people sure picked a good one! Unfortunately, she now had to figure out how to put it on.

An... amount of time later and a miraculous lack of torn cloth, Manny sat kneeled on her bed in front of the mirror, the makeup that came with the dress arranged in front of her. She normally didn't bother with it, but this was a special occasion! Popping the cap off the red lipstick, she rubbed her nose in thought about how best to use it, keeping in mind that the top half would be covered by her mask. Eventually, she drew a happy diamond face on her right cheek and an angry square face on her left cheek, then colored them golden-yellow with eyeshadow and pink with the blush respectively.

"Yeir loukin' redieculous!" she giggled at her reflection, satisfied with the result. Popping her homemade mask into place and a hooded jacket for the rain, she sprung to her window. Manny often saw other students flying through their windows instead of taking the hallways and often wished to do so herself. Unfortunately she was on the ground floor so there really wasn't much point in the flying part, she could just jump out normally. This time however, she wasn't just dropping to the path, but cutting past the hedges and flower garden to the building across the way containing the ballroom. The entrance was on a different side, but she spotted a lit balcony through the rain that she could fly straight to.

Hopping up to the sill, the girl leaped through her perpetually open window and circulated her vitesse. A feeling like countless tiny threads surrounding her like a harness took hold and lifted her through the air toward her destination. The distance turned out further than anticipated, and she got wetter than anticipated, but the hood kept the newly applied makeup from getting washed off, and as she neared the balcony she saw a familiar figure standing outside.

"Goldy!" Manny crowed as she dived down beneath the balcony roof and clasped her arms around Lisa's neck, sharing her new collection of raindrops with the probably unenthusiastic recipient. She tried wrapping her legs around the older student's waist as well, but the numerous frills of her dress got in the way, so she tolerated letting them hang instead.

"Wut're ya doin' ouat 'ere ienstade'f iensiede pahrtyin'?" the younger girl asked curiously, appreciating the warmth radiating from Goldy's body now even more than usual. That rain was surprisingly cold! But after a few seconds Manny reluctantly let go and dropped to her feet, taking a few steps back to look at the musclebound girl properly.
"Aind wheire's yer mehsk?" she asked. She'd been looking forward to seeing what other people had done with theirs. Goldy's dress was also surprisingly normal as far as dresses went, though Manny understood that not everyone would be as into dressing up funny as she was.

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◈ Mentioned: Anastasia Arslan @Ti, Kaspaan Mustaven @Deja, Fasha Sumbul @jasbraq

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Myrion observed as the younger student disappeared into the crowd, his eyebrows narrowed at his parting words, not because he disagreed with the sentiment but more because...

"Who says 'gum under the table'? Wouldn't that mean someone had to clean it afterward?"

Whatever, odd saying aside he had gotten more or less what he wanted, and as a plus, he had obtained a look at Walter Ozyward's personality, not the most difficult he had encountered by a long shot. Turning he began to move just in time to see Wolfg- Mr. Weiß giving the announcement this year, he held his breath as Lady Upperton gave the signal to the band and exhaled in relief when they didn't fumble it, he knew that the chances of that were so minuscule that it was insulting to them but even so he couldn't help the silver of worry that had crept up his spine.

But thankfully everything had gone more or less according to plan... which brought back the doubt of what to do next. Anastasia seemed to be taking care of the students playing with the decorations so it wasn't like- no two people were approaching her, if he was to guess they likely were trying to get her to dance with one of them.

...This was his opportunity.

Approaching the newly formed trio he listened as both Mr. Mustaven and his fellow Illuminaire Fasha Sumbul invited Anastasia to dance and internally wondered what her response would be, the first year or the fifth year? Or perhaps she would attempt to throw a curve ball and say that she was too busy focusing on the decorations to dance? Not that the third option would really be an option if he had his way.

Getting close to them he decided to not let the chance of more work escape him "Mr. Mustaven is quite right Anastasia, I am more than apt enough to take care of the event for a few hours, so if you want I could do that while you enjoy dancing with one of our fellow students" He gave a tilt of the head towards both the students waiting for her response.

It didn't matter who she chose to dance with as long as he could get something to do.

Ana found herself in an unexpected situation, as soon as she halted, other students swarmed around her. Both Kaspaan and Fasha extended their hands toward her, eager to invite her to dance. Surprisingly, even Myrion joined the mix, offering to take over the chores. Before she could voice any protest, he was off and running, efficiently handling the tasks at hand.

This left Ana in a slightly awkward predicament, caught between two options. With Kaspaan, their interactions had been rather elusive lately, and she had wondered if she had unintentionally offended him. Yet, she couldn't shake off the possibility that his avoidance was actually a manifestation of his genuine affection, as she had heard of boys tending to withdraw from girls they secretly liked. On the other hand, there was Fasha, her fellow Illuminaire, and their shared responsibilities added another layer of complexity. Perhaps this gesture was Fasha's attempt at fostering goodwill between them, or it could be yet another calculated move in their intricate dynamic. It was hard to say for certain.

Ana took a moment to contemplate her choices, and then a bright idea struck her. She decided to seize the opportunity and extend a hand to both Kaspaan and Fasha. Leading them onto the dance floor, she initiated a playful dance in the style of Varrahasta, a lively and rhythmic dance resembling salsa. With a confident smile, she stepped forward, her eyes locking onto the figures of Kaspaan and Fasha. The room seemed to fade into the background as she focused solely on the rhythm.

As the opening beats of the salsa music enveloped her, Ana's body responded instinctively. Her movements were a seamless blend of sensuality and exuberance, a visual symphony that translated the music's passion into a mesmerizing dance. Her hips swayed with an alluring grace, each movement deliberate and fluid. Her arms extended elegantly, fingers beckoning and inviting, as if drawing her companions into a shared dance of emotions.

Ana's feet glided across the floor, the polished surface reflecting the playful glints in her eyes. With a series of intricate steps, she led the duo through a dance that felt both spontaneous and rehearsed, a testament to her prowess in the art of salsa. Her body and soul seemed attuned to the rhythm, each turn and twist executed with precision.

As the music swelled, Ana's dance became a conversation in movement. She engaged Kaspaan and Fasha with teasing twirls and captivating dips, her laughter ringing out like musical notes.

In this dance, Ana's vibrant red hair seemed to catch the light, adding a dazzle to her figure. Every sway, every spin was released giant energy which spread to those around her, as if the very atmosphere was charged with their collective enthusiasm.

As the music reached its crescendo, Ana executed a final dazzling spin, bringing her closer to Kaspaan and Fasha. With a flourish, the dance came to a graceful close, the three of them standing together in the centre of the dance floor. Ana's smile radiated the joy of the moment.

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Shrugging, Sylvia turned her attention away from Grumble, back to Lhoren. It'd be an intriguing matter to look into later, but the dance came first. "Thanks, I'm sure it'll be fine though." She mentally repeated it to herself, attempting to quell any stray doubtful thoughts. It'll be fine, it'll be fine... "At least dancing in the air means you don't have to worry about getting your toes stepped on."

Slowly, she placed one hand on Lhoren's shoulder and the other on her waist, keeping her touch feather-light. It wasn't just out of nervousness. If anything startled her and made her finger claws appear, this way she wouldn't hurt her dance partner. "Like this, right?"

Lhoren stifled a chuckle, and looked at Sylvia with a slightly cocked head and a warm smile. Any doubts Lhoren had about Sylvia's merit as a dance partner disappeared when she could see how earnestly she was trying, and fretting about it. It was pretty cute.

"This is exactly right, if you were trying to just hug me," Lhoren replied in a playfully teasing tone, before taking the hand that was on her waist, clasping it in her own. She held both hands outstretched in a ballroom hold before slipping her other hand around Sylvia's waist, settling on her back. She respected Sylvia's desire to keep some distance for her own safety but hoped that as Sylvia got more comfortable, her grip on Lhoren's shoulder might improve.

"I'm ready to go up when you are," she said, whilst pulling her a little bit closer so that they'd actually be able to keep their grip on each other. "Take us to the air when you're ready. I'll match you."

Sylvia returned Lhoren's warm smile with a strained one, although the latter's non-judgemental attitude put her mind at ease somewhat. "I-I knew that!" she blurted, forcing a chuckle, knowing full well Lhoren would see through her pretense, to her total and utter lack of knowledge of ballroom dancing.

Keeping her own grip on Lhoren's hand loose, she nodded. "Ready." With that, she pushed off of the ground with one of her feline feet, bending her other leg as if leaping, although her ascent was slow enough for the two to maintain their grip on each other. Glancing at the airborne duos all around, she took a mental note of their moves, although that didn't tell her how to begin a dance.

Lhoren floated up with Sylvia, matching her speed, though her grip on Sylvia's waist kept her anchored regardless. She was mainly trying to share the burden of weight. Lhoren was a good dancer alone and a good dancer on the ground, as well as a rather gifted flier, but putting it all together and dancing in the air with a partner was admittedly something she'd only ever done once, at last year's ball. And back then her gift was still new enough to her to heavily distract her. Her only dance had been a disaster back then. Now, she'd had well over a year to become accustomed to her gift, and it should no longer pose an issue.

Lhoren, as the one in the 'male' position, as well as the more experienced dancer, took the lead, and began moving, swaying forwards, causing Sylvia to sway forwards too due to the nature of the ballroom hold.

'Just follow me, watch my movements and try and go with the flow. I'll chime in telepathically if you need any help,' Lhoren spoke into Sylvia's mind, so that she could be heard over the music and chatter around them. Lhoren continued to sway back and forth gracefully, keeping the dance slow and simple for the moment.

With a nod, Sylvia swayed along to the rhythm of the music. Her movements were stiff at first, but gradually loosened to a relaxed grace as her nerves eased. This much, at least, she could manage - despite the fact that she hadn't danced with a partner before, not even at last year's ball. Back then, between her uncontrolled gift and her lack of social experience, she'd just hung around by the food, watching the others waltz and chat with apparent ease.

The same ease Lhoren displayed right now. "You're a pretty good dancer, you know," Sylvia commented. "I mean, you probably just heard me think that anyway, but figured I'd tell you."

Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed Tessa and Raff pulling off graceful twirls and synchronised arm flaps. Her stomach fluttered like a swarm of blue-spotted winks at the reminder that the dance was about to get a great deal more complex.

"Thank you!" Lhoren cheerfully replied, her warm smile growing to a beaming one as she got more into the dance. The more comfortable Sylvia got, the less Lhoren held back. "I've loved dancing since I was a little girl. It's one of my favourite hobbies. I even chose fencing in combat class because it was the closest thing to dancing they had."

Lhoren heard Sylvia's thoughts regarding Tessa and Raff, and looked to see them dancing. They had already shifted into high gear together. "Of course, Tessa is on an entirely different level. I hope I can dance half as well as her by the time I graduate," she mused as she sighed slightly, before her smile grew again and she looked back at Sylvia with what the troublemaker would immediately recognize as an...audacious expression. She switched back to telepathy.

'Doesn't watching them make you want to try kicking it up a notch too? Quick, raise your arm to make an arch I can fit under.'

Lhoren then twirled underneath. Her floaty white dress was swishing from the movement and making her own graceful movements look more impressive and ever-so-slightly ethereal. Another voice rang out in Sylvia's head.

'Now straighten your arm and lean back.' was the next command, as Lhoren did the same, before pulling herself back into Sylvia's arms and returning to the ballroom hold. A few of the couples around them were now noticeably watching the two of them after that.

"How was that for you?" Lhoren asked, beaming, exhilarated and jubilant after being allowed to show off a little.

Sylvia's eyes briefly flicked back to Tessa. "She really is quite something," she replied, lips curving upwards as her expression matched Lhoren's. It looked like Lhoren agreed with her as to Tessa's attractiveness. "I'm sure you can pull off those moves no problem too though!"

Realising this would prompt Lhoren to try exactly that, she regretted her words. Sure enough, that was the next thing Lhoren suggested. Wincing inwardly, Sylvia gave a nervous laugh. "Yep, let's go for it!" It was going to happen sooner or later, and it'd be selfish to stifle Lhoren, but still, the risk of embarrassing both herself and her dance partner in front of everyone loomed large. Tamping down the morass of worries before they could overwhelm Lhoren, she raised her arm in a fluid motion. Lhoren's twirl was an impressive sight to behold, her flowing dress and nimble movements giving her an otherworldly look, like a nymph or fairy.

"Nice! Ok, I've got this!" Sylvia leaned back at the same time Lhoren did, only for her hand to slide out from her fellow dancer's due to her loose grasp. "Ehh! Sorry about that!" Her grin an awkward rictus, she tilted forward and gripped Lhoren's hand again. By now, several pairs of eyes bored into them. She wanted to shrink back from the stares, but to lose her nerve now would be to make both of them look bad.

"Heheheh... Quite the learning experience!" she responded to Lhoren's question. "I'll give the twirl a try now." She spun underneath Lhoren's arm, her caitlike legs granting litheness to her steps. Her sigh of relief turned into a breathless laugh. She'd done it without goofing up this time.

"I knew you'd come around to it once you got comfortable," Lhoren chimed, as she then lead the dance again, spinning them both around clockwise then anticlockwise whilst also moving back and forth together. It was a move nobody else around them was doing because they were likely trained to dance in the air, whereas Lhoren was trying to translate a two-step without any ground and therefore without steps.

"If you get any more ideas for moves you want to try, just think them," She spoke up, following with a slightly giggle. "Dancing's fun, isn't it?"

The haunting melody swelled, its eerie notes wrapping around the elegant ballroom like a chilling mist. Ana's graceful dance steps faltered, her feet coming to an abrupt halt on the polished floor. A shiver raced down her spine, prickling her skin, as the familiar and dreaded chorus reached her ears once more.

Time seemed to hang suspended as she stood there, her gaze fixated on nothingness, her heart pounding in her chest. The joyful laughter and the lilting music of the ball seemed to fade into the background, replaced by the ominous resonance of that haunting song.

Her fingers, adorned with delicate jewellery, clenched into tight fists, her knuckles turning white under the strain. Her breath caught in her throat, the air heavy with the weight of memories she had tried so hard to bury. It was a sound that had plagued her dreams for years, a sound that now echoed through the grandeur of the ballroom, a cruel reminder of a past she could never escape.

As the chorus reached a haunting crescendo, Ana's gaze remained fixed on the ceiling, her eyes unseeing, lost in the haunting memories that the song evoked. The surrounding ballroom seemed to blur, the elegant surroundings fading into a hazy backdrop as the past collided with the present.

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"Momma, it's so pretty!" The young girl's innocent voice chimed like a bell, her small hand tugging at her mother's dress to gain her attention. With a tender smile, her mother glanced down at her, following the direction of her tiny finger pointed toward the sky. The harmonious resonance of the Ni-Seraphi's celestial chorus grew louder, a symphony of impending doom.

"Magnus! They're coming, Ni-Seraphi!" Panic surged through her mother's voice as she rushed back into the house, abandoning the child to her awe-filled gaze at the majestic winged beings above. The girl stood alone, a tiny silhouette against the impending shadow that swept over Herbeumont, her eyes wide as she witnessed the otherworldly forms of the Ni-Seraphi gracing the heavens.

The house erupted into a chaotic frenzy as her parents hurriedly gathered belongings, their lives distilled into hastily packed bags. Ornaments fell and shattered, mirroring the shattering of the island's serenity. Herbeumont, once a haven of tranquillity with its fruitful orchards and rustic charm, was now plunged into a chilling chaos, its peaceful aura shattered by the eerie resonance of the Ni-Seraphi's haunting song.

"We must reach the port! The airships may already be departing! Maëlle, we can't afford to delay, your grandmother would rather you live!" Urgency underscored her father's words, his grip on her mother firm as he dragged her away from their home. With one last look, the girl saw her childhood haven reduced to mere rubble and memories, their entire existence crammed into the small bundles they carried.

"Mama, look! They're at the Mullins' farm!" The little girl's voice quivered, a mixture of awe and terror threading through her words. The great being descended upon the Mullins' farmhouse, its song a deafening crescendo that tore the thatch from the roof as if it were mere paper. The child's small hands instinctively covered her ears, eyes wide with a mixture of fascination and horror.

The Ni-Seraphi's gaping maw opened, a portal to oblivion, and the Mullins family, her friend and all, were swept into its ravenous vortex. Time seemed to stretch as the child watched in stunned disbelief, the image of her best friend's anguished face etching into her memory, forever mingling beauty and terror.

"Grab Ana, there's no time!" Her mother's frantic voice broke through the shock, and before she knew it, strong arms enveloped her, pulling her away from the consuming abyss. The girl stumbled, her gaze still fixed on the unfathomable horror before her. She was torn away, her heart and mind forever scarred by the gruesome tableau of innocence devoured.

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A deafening explosion shattered the air, its force slamming Ana to the ground. In an instant, the cacophony of chaos engulfed her senses—shards of glass rained down like deadly confetti, ornate decorations crumbled to the floor in a symphony of destruction, and the world seemed to tremble beneath the weight of the explosion's impact. Ana's mind reeled as the echoes of that haunting night collided with the present, a maelstrom of emotions threatening to consume her.

Dazed and disoriented, Ana's fingers clawed at the cold ground beneath her, her breath ragged as she struggled to make sense of the surrounding turmoil. And then, as if pulled from the very depths of her psyche, her attention snapped to a young face, a first-year student caught in the midst of the chaos. The girl's eyes wide with fear mirrored the terror of another, a memory etched in Ana's mind like a scar.

"No... not again..." Ana's thoughts spiralled into a suffocating abyss, the images of that dreaded night resurfacing with cruel clarity. She could almost hear the screams, see the gaping maw of the Ni-Seraphi, and the agonizing helplessness of her past self.

But amidst the tempest of her emotions, a spark of determination ignited within her—a resolve to rise above the weight of her own trauma. "Ana, snap out of it," she berated herself silently, her voice a fierce whisper in the tempest of her mind. Clenching her trembling fists, Ana shut her eyes tightly, her focus turning inward.

As if drawing from a wellspring of inner strength, she felt it—a rush of warmth, an inferno of resolve surging through her veins. Her body seemed to radiate with a golden glow, the flames of her gift flickering to life around her like a protective halo. This was her power, her ability to heal and to ignite courage within herself.

Pushing herself up from the floor, Ana's gaze locked onto the frightened first-year, her heart aching with empathy. She couldn't let another innocent life be torn away by the horrors that haunted her. With newfound determination burning bright, she moved towards Raffaella, her touch gentle yet resolute as she reached out to grasp the girl's trembling hand.

"Listen to me," Ana's voice was steady, her eyes meeting Raffaella's with unwavering intensity. "You are safe. We are going to get you to a shelter, away from this danger. Hold onto my hand, and stay close. We will get through this, together."

With Raffaella by her side, Ana turned her gaze to the chaos unfolding around her—the shattered remnants of the ballroom, the disoriented students, the palpable fear in the air. Drawing a deep breath, Ana's golden flames blazed brighter, infusing her with a newfound strength as she stepped forward, her voice ringing out above the chaos.

"Listen up, everyone!" Her words cut through the turmoil like a clarion call. "Our priority is the safety of every individual here. First years and civilians, make your way to the shelters. Combat-trained individuals, form defensive groups around them. Auxiliary roles, establish checkpoints for Reconnaissance, Restoration, and Retreat. We leave no one behind."

With the weight of her past and the urgency of the present driving her, Ana's gaze swept over the gathered students, her eyes fierce with determination. Amidst the chaos, her voice resonated with a commanding authority, Ana was ready to fight, to protect, and to lead.

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Day 1 ◈ Time: Night ◈ Weather: Drizzle◈Location: One of several balconies, hiding from the main event. ◈ Participants: Lisa Goldheart @Frettzo & Manny Ryi @Ebil Bunny

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Lisa’s scowl vanished as soon as she heard those familiar footsteps far below the balcony, and she grinned when she saw a young girl no older than 13 float up into view. She took quick note of the butterfly mark and opened her arms just in time for the girl to practically lunge at her. One second, Lisa had been lonely and stewing in her annoyance and the next, she felt like her chest was full of fluff as a pair of arms wrapped around her neck. She returned the young girl’s embrace, partly because she wanted to make sure she didn’t suddenly drop and hurt herself, but also because the girl, named Manny, just plainly deserved the affection. Still, a few seconds later and Manny clearly had let go of her, so she did the same.

”You know the answer to that first question Manny, too many losers around to really enjoy myself. As for the second one-” Lisa’s knuckles tapped against the wooden, featureless mask she had left on the railings of the balcony, ”It’s here. Had to take it off to breathe in the fresh air. Anyway… I gotta say Manny, you’re looking adorable. Make sure you have enough fun for the two of us, yeah? Dance like there’s no tomorrow, sis-”

The melody faded in. Lisa struggled to keep her goosebumps and breathing under control.

She’d only heard that melody, the real melody, once before in her life from a recording kept in the Goldheart family vault.

Even if she hadn’t been attending the DANS class for the last few months, she would’ve recognised it.

The Hunting Melody of the Ni-Seraphi.

The air seemed to still. The rain felt like oil. The temperature dropped. In Lisa’s eyes, everything suddenly seemed to lose colour and the world slowed down.

In the distance, she saw a storm brewing. It wasn’t a natural one.

This time it was Lisa that rushed to embrace Manny, to make sure she wouldn’t panic and run away.

By the time Professor Grune’s voice rang out through the Academy Lisa had already snatched Manny, and by the time the explosion’s shockwave reached the ballroom, Lisa had already jumped from the balcony and was mid-air. The turbulence disabled her flight and so instead of landing gracefully she found herself headed straight into an old Oak, where both Manny and her crashed and tumbled until they found their way down to the muddy ground, their dresses much worse for wear than before but their bodies mostly unharmed.

After getting herself and Manny on their feet, Lisa grabbed the young girl by the shoulders and looked her dead in the eye with an intensity that she’d never shown before.

”Lil’ sis, I’m taking you to Anastasia. I’m sure that even now, she’s rallying everyone and healing the injured inside of the ballroom. As for me, after I drop you off with the Illuminaires… A few of the students weren’t at the Masquerade, and someone’s going to have to find and rescue them. Y’get me, right? It’s one of the few Goldheart duties that I have no issues with. So let’s go, now.”

Leah had never really been much for balls, at least for the past few years she'd been so busy with the planning of them that it sort of spoiled the fun of it all. Still, not being Illuminaire meant that for the first time in what felt like ages, Leah actually had very few, if any responsibilities for the night- a sense of freedom the strict schedule-keeper was not entirely used to. Leah managed to mingle a bit, and partake in some of the refreshments afforded to them. Despite her feelings of being left out, Leah had to hand it to the student government this year- they'd really gotten everything cleaned up quite well. It seemed that everything was going smoothly.

Then came the music, not from the ballroom, but from beyond. A beautiful, haunting melody that sent shivers down Leah's spine, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on edge as a chorus of mournful notes dropped one after another. She recognized the song- how could she not, the melody had been drilled into her head from the day she was old enough to understand. A hunting melody of the Ni-Seraphi. Sweet and slow, and if one was unfamiliar, it might've been beautiful, but like waves of psychic energy the music held haunting malice behind every phrase. Leah had been preparing practically every day of her life for this moment.

So why was she so scared? Fear gripped Leah like the ice cold grip of her telekinesis. She was terrified, and thoroughly unprepared, despite how much training she'd already taken on. Time seemed to slow as Leah's breath caught in her throat. Tension, her entire body felt taught like a band, she felt ready to burst- she needed to do something, if only she could will her feet to move.

The resulting explosion moved Leah for her, thrown to the floor as the world around them shook. Decorations, ice sculptures and tables crashed around them, followed by the panicked cries of students. Like water rushing into an open breach, Leah found her faculties returning to her, and sprung to life. Adrenaline overwhelmed fear and inaction, and training kicked in. She was a Clearwater, descendant of Eusebia. Time to act like it. As Ana's voice cut through the din, Leah leaped into the air.

Corkscrewing in the air as she channeled her vitesse, Leah found a pair of ornate suits of armor in the ballroom and ripped them out of their alcoves with waves of telekinetic force. Perhaps because of the overwhelming adrenaline, Leah's finesse was slightly out of check, but not her strength as hunks of metal ripped roughly through the air and towards her, pieces of plate armor stopping a few inches away from her body.

"Ana!" Leah called out as she landed facing outward, in front of Anastasia and what students she'd gathered, hunks of metal hovering around her body like some sort of amalgamated steel golem ready to be sent forward to shield the students from harm. "I'm with you! Where do you need me?"

In Ana's hands was one of their first years, Raffaella, and a few more of the younger students had already began congregating towards them. Leah didn't spot any Ni-Seraphi within their vicinity just yet- though that was more likely because their initial strike wasn't targeting the ballroom itself. Breathing deeply, Leah reached down and tore the bottom of her dress off so she could move later. A shame that- it was a lovely thing, but right now they had bigger problems.

"Defenders! Form up!" Leah barked, "Seniors, find your juniors and squad up, prepare a defense! Experienced fighters in the front, juniors form a second line.

"You, you. With me." Leah commanded, pointing at the nearest two combat mystics she could find, her eyes still scanning the ballroom itself. "Dammit, where's Lisa?"

Manny picked up and inspected the wooden mask Goldy had balanced on the railing of the balcony, feeling the smooth surface. It looked nice, while also being as down-to-earth as its intended wearer. A good match! It was a shame for it to go to waste, what with Goldy not feeling in the party mood. She'd said it was because of so-called losers, but in the short time Manny had known her, the young girl was already certain she wasn't one to let people get her down.

"Are ya sure ya wanna be missin' ouwt?" Manny held Goldy's mask out to her, "Dun't needa bei worryin' 'bout havin' no fun, Ah'll be a harnet in the checken coop, et'll be sunny ahll nieght!"

However, the normally boisterous older girl didn't respond, having stilled as if listening for something. Manny curiously quieted down as well to try and listen herself. Unfortunately, all she heard was the music being played for the ball, which was more noticeable now that she was closer and the sound of rain was clearing up. It was actually rather odd, now that she was paying attention! Ethereal, played with instruments that she couldn't place. It reminded her, of all things, of backing music for the Ni-Seraphi story dancers, though without the heavy, ominous drumming.

Manny was fixing to inquire about what had her friend so distracted when she suddenly felt herself lifted in muscled arms as Goldy lept from the balcony. A gruff, masculine voice spoke out from somewhere, heedless of the wind.
"The Hunting Melody of the Ni-Seraphi is exactly what you are hearing now," it explained bluntly, "Those monsters are here and will be at our doorstep any moment."
"Th' Ney-Sirahphi? But Ah thouwght-"


As Manny was helped back to her feet after their frankly atrocious landing following that explosion, the continued disorientation had Manny considering whether to activate her gift (she was pretty sure her head had whacked a tree branch). She ultimately decided not to, Goldy was speaking to her and it'd be difficult to coordinate without speech of her own; plus, she'd walked off plenty of concussions far worse than this.

"Bawlroom, Ielluminayres, goddit," Manny nodded and followed along with her friend around the side of the building towards the entrance, grabbing two armfuls of dress frills to make running easier. She didn't know who Anastasia was, but it would probably be easy to spot them rallying and healing.

It was only seconds for the girls to round the corner to where a stream of students was rushing forth from the ballroom. Seeing them like that, tense and fearful, Manny began to feel strangely disconnected from it all. She knew the Ni-Seraphi were a danger like nothing else, and their song was still playing despite the destruction, they were here! Manny thought she should be feeling what everyone else was feeling. Terror. Panic. Not... whatever it was she was feeling. She turned to Goldy.

"Ah cehn feind Anny frem 'ere, you go do yer sarchin'," Manny reassured, then with a smile she flexed and... she flexed again and tore several outer layers of dress off (that material was stronger than it looked) to make moving more easy. With all the people coming out, getting in would be hard. Not for her though! As she dashed towards the stream, she dropped to all fours and started pouncing in between people and through legs. While certainly more difficult than if she were a creature built for it, Manny had spent enough time moving in a variety of animalian body types to ignore species convention.

It took some bumping and tumbling and she thought a few people may have shouted at her, but she successfully passed the sea of souls into the ballroom. It was her first time seeing it since it was decorated. Sadly, "decorated" was no longer an applicable word, but Manny could tell it had probably looked quite nice. More importantly though, and just as her friend had foretold, a young woman with blue hair was shouting out orders from the center of the room. Being ordered around wasn't something Manny was fond of, but given the circumstances more order would be a good thing.

"Are ya 'Ainastaesia'?" Manny asked after jogging over to the trio of "Anastasia", the pink haired girl, and the red-haired woman, putting her jacket hood down to reveal the butterfly mark. It didn't matter since none of the three likely knew her to recognize the mark, but it was habit to show it off at this point. She gave the group a cheerful hand-over-chest salute and introduced herself, "Ah'm Manny, Goldy- Uh, Gold'art seint me an' Ah'm 'ere ta heilp!"

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Sylvia froze in midair, goosebumps breaking out all over her skin at the new melody that drowned out the ballroom music. An eerie, unearthly chorus she'd never heard before, but from what family and teachers alike had told her, she knew all too well what it had to be. Breath catching, she stared up in sheer horror at the source of the hunting song pervading the air, a flock of distant winged forms descending. Professor Grune's amplified voice echoed from somewhere within the academy, confirming just how dire the situation had turned.

The warning cut off as a blast roared through the building. Sylvia's surroundings spun as a shockwave flung her from her rigid position, throwing off Lhoren's flight and sending her plummeting. "Lhoren!" Regaining her balance thanks to her gymnastics training, Sylvia dived down and grabbed hold of Lhoren, slowly descending as decorations crashed and shattered on the floor. "Lhoren are you ok?" Once their feet touched the ground, she let go, her fingernails - no, claws - snagging for a moment on the other girl's dress. "Ehh! Sorry about that! You're not hurt are you?" Cringing at the shapeshifting mishap, she retracted her claws.

Ana spoke up over the chaos, followed by Leah, both managing to keep level heads as they commanded combatants to defend civilians. When Leah's gaze met hers, Sylvia's stomach dropped. Sure she was decent at combat class, but a real fight would be a completely different matter. It almost made her want to laugh that just now, she'd been worried about something as trivial as her dancing skills. Now it was her fighting skills she'd have to put to the test, with lives on the line.

"R-Right. I'm on it." Hurrying closer to Leah, she gave Lhoren a frantic glance. "Stick by me. I'll be guard cait here." Putting on a feeble smile at her own joke, she extended her claws once more. Adrenaline surged along with vitesse in her veins. This was what her parents meant about the dangers of the world.

---

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---

The light rain swept along the rooftops, painting the surface of the land in a wet sheet. Even the ends of his and the back of his jacket were not exempt. Even still he peered long from his perch, trying to glimpse something from afar. For an old woman she sure could travel. He started to wonder what he'd been expecting to see when a subtle tone started rising above the din of the concert below.

"Huh, someone practicin' vocals? Where-" His externally audible train of thought was answered before it could complete by an announcement broadcast. Professor Grune's warning could be heard echoing out before it was cut short by an explosion, an urgent premature exclamation point to her message. The explosion shook the area, breaking many of the windows and off-setting Walter's balance. Without much warning he slid across the slope of the slick rooftop, swiftly approaching the lip. With only a split second to react he caught the lip of the roof, his fingers starting to slide off the slick edges.

"Woah! I'm faaaa- wait, I can fly." He realized, letting go and just slowly drifting down past the roof's ledge to the first window he could see into. Past the shattered frame he could hear many voices. Some came from the Illuminaires trying to rally everyone, some from others trying to help and yet many others just fumbling about in a panic.

Walter had never seen the Ni-Seraphi nor experienced the war first hand. His childhood mostly was a hazy recollection of their family's efforts to find new footing after a rogue Ni-Seraphi attack left them homeless. Hearing the song on the approach might not of sewn fear into this plucky young youth's heart quite like it would the older lot's, spooky though it certainly was, but it did leave him with a couple questions, ones he hoped to ascertain by peaking over the roof's edge like a gopher taking a cautionary glance out from it's burrow.

_
And boy did he get an answer. These things were big! If their prodigious size wasn't enough of a hint at their inhuman nature then their silvery eyes and great wings made it quite obvious just what they were.

"Crud. This night just went from bland to downright deadly." He muttered, thinking his next actions through carefully. He might of heard something from the Illuminaires about finding shelter but the problem with that is that he didn't have the keenest idea on where those were. He kind of put the whole safety measures spiel in the back of his mind since he never thought it'd get used.

He had one idea, though it was risky and would aggravate the hell out of a lot of very large, dangerous enemies.

Focusing hard his magic pulsed through unseen space. It was truly remarkable, even in the limits of what it was confined to doing. All the very many Ni-Seraphi in his sight were slick with rain as they moved through the storm. Within seconds however they were now covered in sticky tar, the kind used to help weather-proof ships against the tides of the endless ocean. It was as if they had stepped through a curtain of the black adhesive, the transformation spreading across all visible surfaces of theirs in a wide and fast ripple.

He had no idea how they'd react and he had no plans on sticking around to find out. Ducking back down below the roof's lip he removed one of the containers from his back. Looking through a mostly transparent screen of tempered glass he changed the contents within into the formula he saw used in theater smoke dispensers. One day at the theaters and a healthy amount of curiosity had landed him this nifty recipe which was going to come in real handy in a moment.

Uncorking the cap he swiftly landed, coming down into a slide before picking up into a sprint. He raced towards the dueling room seeing is that was where Professor Grune gave her announcement from, or so he assumed. Now, was it a terribly bright idea to sprint for the area that just got hit by an enormous explosion? No, not really. Walter wasn't trying to avoid danger however. He was aware that he may have just gotten the Ni-Seraphi's attention and thus by following his Illuminaire's orders he'd be directing their attention right to where everyone was. At the very least he figured he could set up a smoke screen behind him, something to help hide the others during their escape while making his way towards people he knew for sure could handle themselves in a scrap. The sloppily spilling liquid splashing from the vessel in his hands certainly was spreading a great deal of fog right along his path. All that remained was to find the professor before any of the Ni-Seraphi could catch him out of cover.

Provided Professor Grune was still alive that is. She was tough, surely she'd still be alive despite all the carnage...

Wouldn't she?

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"... And now the food has been spoiled..."

Myrion continued to calmly scold the third year who had thought to themselves that dancing on top of a food table was the brightest idea they had the whole night, the reasoning for why they thought it was a good idea eluded him, the current song was even one of the calmest ones he had heard from the singer, that didn't deter him from making his opinion clear however.

"...The cost of that came out of th-"

Before he could keep going, however, things started happening rapidly.

Professor Grune's announcement.

The melody all students had memorized in class.

The sound of explosions.

Eyes open wide he looked at the student he had been reprimanding who now looked as if he had seen a ghost, pale and eyes as wide as saucers. He... didn't quite know how to react, sure he had studied the Emergency Safety Protocols but he had never expected to use them. He looked at the other students around him and saw the same reaction as the third year some worse with what seemed to be panic attacks and he could feel his own breath come faster and faster.

That was when a shining beacon made herself known.

"Listen up, everyone!" Her words cut through the turmoil like a clarion call. "Our priority is the safety of every individual here. First years and civilians, make your way to the shelters. Combat-trained individuals, form defensive groups around them. Auxiliary roles, establish checkpoints for Reconnaissance, Restoration, and Retreat. We leave no one behind."

He felt himself snap out of the trance he was in, she was right, safety first and everything else second, his role wasn't as set in stone as others as his Gift could change his situation if the right individuals were near but even so he was an Illuminaire first and foremost.

Without hesitation he added his voice to the cacophony that had taken place after Anastasia's statement.

"You heard her people!" With a quick glance he could see that Anastasia had taken the role of shepherd and Leah was taking control of the Defenders, he wasn't close with Fasha but from what he had observed her gift could be crucial in keeping the student body pacified until the situation could resolve itself so that left one position he could fulfill himself "Those with Recoinscense and Rescue abilities with me! We are going to make a sweep of the school for those who couldn't assist the ball!"

He watched quietly as a few students started heading towards him, his Gift burned at the front of his mind and he looked around calculating who could make the most use of it.

---

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As the Melody progressed it hit her ears as a raging Fortissimo, A haunting song of instinctual fear.

The voices of all too familiar figures of the past began to swirl in her mind.

"It was for the good of the family."

"Why did you leave us?"

"Why would you forsake us, we needed you."

"Our dearest daughter."

The normally composed Illuminaire shivered, tears began to well up. "Please leave me alone..." She would do anything to never return to that place again. An anguished look covered her face. "I do not need you anymore.." Her mind ran with imaginary laughter. "Of course you don't need us... We, however.. need you.. All you had to do is return home after your childish outburst. You are the reason for our suffering!" Fasha crouched down, held her head and mumbled words begging for forgiveness.

"Listen up, everyone!" Her words cut through the turmoil like a clarion call. "Our priority is the safety of every individual here. First years and civilians, make your way to the shelters. Combat-trained individuals, form defensive groups around them. Auxiliary roles, establish checkpoints for Reconnaissance, Restoration, and Retreat. We leave no one behind."

Anastasia's voice rang true, as if a knight from a fairy tale saved the princess. The mental aberrations faded. I'm a damned Illuminaire now, no time for the past! A quick wiping away her tears and before long she stood up. She was quite proud of her combative prowess, yet... I doubt a couple punches and kicks will do much. She could probably support Leah, however she had to make sure every student was safe before thinking of such a thing.

She began to use her gift to calm the fearing students down yet she quickly took notice her reach only went so far. She could close in on everyone to escort them but that would take too long. If only she could reach further with her gift.

Fasha then overheard another voice. "Those with reconnaissance and Rescue abilities with me! We are going to make a sweep of the school for those who couldn't assist the ball!" She was not that interested in Myrion as a person of interest, yet he might be able to help them both gain a good reputation for being instrumental. She, along side some of the students who she managed to herd made their way over to the other Illuminaire who already gathered some students around him. "Hey, four-eyes." She called out smugly, bowing politely. "Need a herder?... Perhaps I could be of service."

She smirked. His gift could be fun to experience.

---

Day 1 ◈ Time: Dusk/Evening ◈ Weather: Light Rain ◈Location: Conservatory -> Infirmary ◈ Participants: Staggered Daemons @Aeolian

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Primrose held the invitation to the ball in her hands. The paper felt coarse and harsh in her hands as if it were aiming to escape her loosened grasp as fast as it could. Foreign, was the best word to describe the feeling it elicited out of her. She read the words, the prose, the date, and time in which everyone was expected to attend. With such a deep run into her time at the Academy, attendance at an event as grand as this one seemed profoundly useless. She had forged all the connections she was going to make, seeing that there was one year left before she could put the academy behind her and return to her cottage, tending to the matters of magic that her villagers required from her. The wind whipped the paper through her hands, creating the cacophonous noise of rippling paper. Tall grass whipped at her bare feet in a more soothing matter than one of pain and discomfort. Her toes curled and pressed hard soil under the wrinkling skin of her toes.

The russet of leaves that made her cloak ruffled with the wind in a similar manner to the strands of messy hair that hung from her mask. She looked up at the sky, a deep blue devoid of any stars yet which made the sun feel lonely to her. The same kind of loneliness that would have plagued her if she did not burn as bright on her own just as the sun did. A sigh escaped her lungs, the invitation slipping through her now spread fingers. Finally, freedom. Like a magical carpet, paper flicked and flipped on the currents of the air stream. Primrose wasn’t one to litter, her toe tapped on the ground, causing a spike of briars to erupt from the ground below. The width dwindled towards the base, making it more spike like, enough to pierce the paper in midair, sapping any life and movement from it. With a snap of her fingers the briars eviscerated the paper into particles she quickly set aflame before touching down to her earth.

“Not this time Prim, maybe next time”

Primrose dropped to her knees and traced her finger through the dirt drawing up what she would have worn to the masquerade had she gone. There was a sort of comfort in imagining that reality seemed to lack. A mushroom stood watch, began to tremble, then exploded out of the ground with a sapling underneath it. A golem of soil less than half a foot tall found life through Prim’s magic. Eyelids found themselves opening with a jovial smile to accompany it. The tiny molar shaped golem made its way over to prim and nestled against her leg like a stray cat looking for food.

“Why hello there little one” a warm boisterous laughter escaping her throat, “Aren’t you a cute one? Come to accompany me today?” The golem nodded, tugging at her leaves. “Okay then, let’s have our own masquerade ball then. Care to dance? Oh, but first, let’s do something about this” her finger wagging around the nakedness of its face. Petals flew loose from a few flowers around and formed a mask around the golem’s articulated face. “That’s better” another chitter of laughter before picking up the golem into her arms and beginning to waltz with her new found friend pressed to her chest.

Swinging the little one around in an entangled circle, there was nothing that could interrupt their moment. Well, almost nothing. The soft patter of rain trickled on herbaceous leaves, causing streams to run down the venation of the plants. The soft patter began to turn into a march as more and more droplets of precipitation landed around them. The little golem grew heavy and dense from absorbing so much rainwater. More mushrooms sprouted from its head, showcasing just how fast it could grow with the guidance of Vitesse.

“Quick little one, let’s get to the conservatory before it comes down.”

Once in the conservatory, Prim did the best she could by pulling out any extraneous water that lay dormant in the little golem. The two of them looked out of the fishbowl window into the clouded skies that threatened to suffocate the sun that once shone. Quite suddenly, almost akin to shooting stars, silhouettes of clouded figures came crashing out of the skies. Prim removed her mask and affixed her gaze, causing her to squint, to the emerging figures. From the opposite side was some mystical force aiming to greet them before they could enter the bubble of the Academy. ”Is that...is that Ms. Grumble?” Prim asked in her haze of confusion. Ms. Grumble was immediately hostile, provoking a massive bolt of lighting above her. She couldn’t make out too many features on the strangers, but she knew they were hurt. Crimson red running down the side of one made it blatantly obvious, her eyes jumped and skittered around the serendipitous meeting or battler rather.

Their speech was mostly inaudible, but the body language showed no sign of antagonism from the unwelcomed guests. Ms. Grumble recognized this herself and disengaged enough to warrant some common ground. A spasm of fear quaked through her body, causing countless bumps of skin to rise on end on her skin. “Mother of Eusebia” she feebly coughed up at the appearance of Ni-Seraphi hot on the heels of the strangers. Discordant songs chimed in her ears, piercing the layers of brick and glass that separated her from the outside. The first time hearing a song so deleterious she could never have dreamed of having paired with such angelic beings, perhaps a frequency not meant for human ears. Her eyes traced the trajectory of the strangers, the infirmary was her best bet of where they were headed. The halls were empty, and the mass of students were stuck in the ballroom. They needed care immediately and who better to dispense it than the master herbalist herself?

Primrose turned to her little one with a look of determination that was parroted in the tiny golem, filled with sheer determination. Both nodded in solidarity and took off running towards the infirmary. Uneasy about leaving Grumble behind, her nerves settled a bit with the announcement from Grune about the deployment of ESP. The sudden explosion that cut off the rest of the message shook Primrose to the core, knocking her off balance before she stumbled into her feet like a newborn giraffe, tucking her tiny golem into her arms. “May the academy be in safe hands” she whispered in soft prayer. Primrose arrived to the infirmary to be greeted by the four strangers that had shed their obscured figures due to the light of the room. A man, a woman, a figure with an unusual bug-like head, and an adolescent bleeding from their side stood before her. Clenching her fist her responsibilities kicked in, “Get those clothes off and apply pressure! I need some space to work”, idle hands turned dexterous, thumbing through her bottomless pockets.

"Listen carefully. The Hunting Melody of the Ni-Seraphi is exactly what you are hearing now. This is not a drill. Those monsters are here and will be at our doorstep any moment. Do what you can to prepare. We're initiating ESP. Remember your training. You know what to d--"

In Arthur’s mind, the reality of a Ni-Seraphi attack was theoretical. The whole concept of ESP wasn’t something he would actually have to engage in. But now with the explosion and the ballroom’s music abruptly giving way to that horrid melody, Arthur was in a panic.

He sat up after being knocked off Grumble’s chair, his pastry snacks scattered around him. Everyone also seemed to be in a panic after a quick survey of the area.

In his theoretical version of a Ni-Seraphi attack, Arthur could support the frontlines but would choose to stay back. It wasn’t his war, none of this was a fight he would choose, and he wasn’t going to throw away his life so freely. But that was just a dream of a perfect world, one where he could choose not to help and things would end up fine.

Reality was much more cruel.

Arthur’s stomach sank as he spotted a group of first-years starting to take to the skies. He recognized a few of them from tutoring flights. Had they lost their minds or just misunderstood what they were supposed to do? Their reasoning didn’t really matter to Arthur because they had no business taking on the Ni-Seraphi.

They had some capabilities in combat and perhaps together that gave them the confidence to even attempt such a thing. In a few years, maybe they could make a difference. But as it stood they had the tell-tale signs of first-time flyers, barely able to take on a breeze alone last five minutes against a real enemy.

As much as Arthur would have liked to kick back and watch it all work out in the end, he could see students younger and less experienced than him rising to the occasion of an early death sentence. It wasn’t something he could just sit back and let happen.

Theory meant he didn’t have to think about the people who fall in such a conflict. Reality meant knowing them, having spent hours with them. He couldn’t have inaction weigh in his conscience like that.

He stood up and shook off the pastry crumbs that littered his suit in the blast. A gentle breeze gathered around him as if limbering his aeonhart for the fight ahead. All of his abilities were about gathering motion after all, a wind-up process took negligible vitesse but let his power add to an existing but ever-shifting flow as opposed to creating one out of nowhere.

Using his hands as anchors of concentration, he positioned them in front of him with the left directly in his line of sight and the right pointed toward the crowd below. His right hand rose gently causing a pile of napkins to erupt from the food table to join a steady orbit around him. His left hand fell violently and the first years in the distance became unsteady in an instant. Their struggle to stay in the air resulted in them quickly descending with Arthur using his remaining concentration to prevent free fall while he flew up to talk.

“If that's all it takes to knock you out of the air, there is no way I’m letting you out of the ballroom.” Arthur lectured from above. “Listen to the Illuminaires, don’t do anything stupid.” The hypocrisy of words were lost to him in the moment.

---

The glee and suspense of the evening simmered into a haunting song. It brought the hairs of his nape up to attention, unnerving in its ambience. It had caused enough of a disturbance to halt the dances in the ballroom, and the weather had worsened. It dawned on Kasp that this was because Grumble was gone. That thought was shot out of his head when Grune and her warning bellowed through the halls. Kasp felt a shiver run down his spine, something he almost never did, his heart loud in his ears as well. This was not a drill alright, he could spot huge visages in the distance being shadowed by militant lightning. Ana spoke before him, directing her flock like a good Illumnaire would. Seeing Raffaella be taken under protection was enough to entice his bravery forth. His fists clenched, then froze into limbs of spite. With a short glance to his own House leader, perhaps with a bit of uncertainty, he crouched down and then lept off into the night air with a frozen wisp of wind in his wake.

He'd barely cleared the horizon of the ballroom before a gust of wind forced him to end over end in a descending tumble, Kasp flailed about. He quickly caught himself and glared up where he thought a daemon might be frostycuffs ready.

"I don't think you should go either, Kaspaan." Arthur advised from below. Compared to his tone with the first years, this held more respect for his classmate's abilities. "This isn't combat practice."

"Yeah, you're right. Should we round up all the others?" Kaspaan spoke hurriedly with the tune of the night slightly unnerving him. His flight prowess was slower than most but the ice condensation dragged him down. He looked down at the hurried crowd of first years and their peers and Illuminaires protecting them. Yes, they needed to be more defensive at the moment. "Lead the way, We need to help out where we can, You take a Daemon class yet? They'll be Larvae out n about ready to strike..."

"Rounding up the others is good. Try to keep the first years safe, don't let them get hot-headed." Arthur looked down at the crowd below. He grew some new respect for the Illuminaires who got everything under control. "Larvae could slip by the frontlines, they'll need you for that."

Answering Kaspaan's assertions, Arthur did not lead the way. Instead, he floated in place.

Kaspaan looked down at the crowd and then back to Arthur visibly flustered as this was not what he had been expecting as his first Emergency Safety Protocol. Then again, that's why it was in place. He tried to think back to his lessons and recalled with a worried furrow that Grune might be hurt right now, or Professor Grumble even. He floated down near the ground where the assembly was as he spoke.

"Alright, I'll go help the tikes, but what about the others?" Kaspaan strained to say under a bravado grimice. The uncertainty affected the boy more than he care to admit.

"Leave that to me." Arthur said back with a sudden grin of confidence. But it posture betrayed the quick facade.

Arthur floated nervously waiting to support the approaching frontline.

Kaspaan's barely got to the ground before the shrieks of demented Larvae could be heard over their broodmothers' song. His fist were now firm bricks and he drowned out the drone by grinding his jaw, perhaps that would steady his nerves. Kasp didn't have the best eyesight so we failed to notice the true scale of the beasts out in the Endless. He did spot Fasha however, and his other dance partner of the evening both fulfilling their leadership roles. This was confidence in real form for the young noble so he gave his own shout.

"Alright first years on me I need eyes so I can smash n bash!" He didn't have to hold back for fear of reprimand now. He was almost giddy when he frostly spoke to the small crowd of younger children and teens milled in his wake. One even spoke up, a shaven-headed boy with rather bright eyes and a forked tongue, "I taste them, they are close Kaspaan! Real close!"

---

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Lhoren didn't quite know what the melody in the air was at first, but several dancers around her knew all too well. Lhoren felt her blood go cold. Her back was to the approaching Ni-Seraphi, but she looked straight ahead at Sylvia's face as her dance partner looked up in terror, and Lhoren heard every resulting thought of just exactly what Sylvia was seeing. Lhoren tried to make her body turn around, but she couldn't. She was frozen in fear.

"Listen carefully. The Hunting Melody of the Ni-Seraphi is exactly what you are hearing now. This is not a drill. Those monsters are here and will be at our doorstep any moment. Do what you can to prepare. We're initiating ESP. Remember your training. You know what to d--"

Lhoren had been listening intently to the message but there was a sudden rush of air followed by a crashing, and then everything went hazy. The panicked thoughts of the dancers around her falling were overwhelming her senses. She felt the wind rushing past her as she fell but couldn't even figure out which way up she was, or how high. Down was left? Up was north? Lhoren shut her eyes tight, braced for impact, and hoped the fall wouldn't hurt too much or break anything.

When she opened her eyes again, she was safe in Sylvia's arms. Her adreneline was pumping so hard it was making her dizzy, and the screaming thoughts of panic and horror around her were making it hard to concentrate, but she tried to shut it all out for the moment to focus on Sylvia.

"I'm not hurt. I don't think. Just....overwhelmed. Thank you for saving me," she replied, as she held onto Sylvia's shoulder for support as she got back on her own two feet. Sylvia could feel the hand on her shoulder shaking. This time, she genuinely didn't seem to notice any shapeshifting mishap at all. The girl who seemed to constantly see through Sylvia and read her like a book during their dance was now trembling like a leaf with wild, darting dilated eyes that could not seem to settle anywhere.

It was Ana's voice, followed by Leah's, cutting through the cocophany that snapped her out of her haze and brought focus back into her mind. That's right. They all needed to help. But Lhoren didn't have her rapier, and it likely wouldn't do much good against a Ni-Seraphi anyway.

Sylvia moved to join Leah's lines of defenders, and turned back to offer her hand to Lhoren. Lhoren considered carefully whether she was best suited to help, or whether there were other roles that she could be more useful in contributing to, such as rallying, or...

"Those with Recoinscense and Rescue abilities with me! We are going to make a sweep of the school for those who couldn't assist the ball!"

Lhoren turned to look. As well as Leah's lines of defenders, Mrion was calling for those more suited to recon. Lhoren turned back to Sylvia and shook her head.

"I'll only get in the way here. I don't know how I could help fighting against Ni-Seraphi. I'm going to help the Recon team sweep the school. Sylvia, good luck, and please don't get hurt."

Lhoren approached the small group surroinding Myrion, her nerves calming down now she was focused on a mission. Fasha, the Illuminaire for her house, was also there and offering to use her gift to herd people. Lhoren's mind started to explore the possibilites of using her gift in comjuction with Fasha's and how easy that could make rounding up any students unaccounted for.

"I'll help too!" she shouted as she jogged towards them. "I'll be able to find anyone within 20 feet of me even if they're not visible, as long as they're still thinking something."

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Raffaella, thoroughly elated by her successful dance with Tessa, bouncing on her feet and all smiles, excitedly scampered off to find Kaspaan. "Okay! I'm gonna dance with Kass—oh, and Ana too!" she boldly announced, her newly discovered love of dance filling her with courage. Her excited proclamation would be cut off, however, and neither her jubilation nor her bravery were to last long, as a much more dire announcement echoed through the academy. It was then that Raffaella began to notice the song.

It was a beautiful song, and yet, something about it unsettled Raffaella, though only just. She had never heard it before, herself, but somehow it was hauntingly familiar. She didn't need to have heard the song to feel the increasing sense of dread. It came from inside of her, irrevocably etched into the DNA of all mystics descended from those dreadful days of old. She, like many other first years, stood still and uncertain as some of the older students scattered about in anticipation of what was to come. Then, there was an explosion that rattled the entire school. Little Raffaella, dainty and frail as she was, was thrown off balance with ease, falling face-first on the ground with a short and high-pitched cry, quickly stifled by her impact with the floor. Students fell from above, landing all around the girl—who would narrowly escape a meaningless and terrible fate of being simply trampled to death by her panicking peers.

"ESP..?" Raffaella mumbled in a daze as she staggered to her feet, a single drop of blood running down her perpetually pale face. What does extrasensory perception have to do with this? wondered the woefully underprepared teen as bodies moved all around her, knocking her about like a weather-vane in the midst of a storm and threatening to knock her to her knees again. As the haze cleared from her eyes, and the ringing in her ears subsided, she saw them—and they saw her. Not only did they see her, they stared at Raffaella—with hungry eyes.

This... is a mistake! You can't see me! You can't! she thought desperately, tears welling in her eyes as she stood in place, frigid with fright, staring helplessly into the white voids of their eyes. Something unfathomably cruel yet beautiful was going to eat her—alive, she would later learn. Her aeonheart began to race even faster, until eventually, it would stop, like some vengeful god of cruel and unusual punishment had decided to play a prank on the innocent child. "N-No. No, please..! Not now..!" she whimpered, sobbing. "Daddy..!" she exhaled, her voice hollow and devoid of any hope. No one could see her. No one would help her—and no one would remember. She shut her eyes tightly, shaking like the small and frightened animal she was, prepared to die, trembling with the overwhelming feeling of defeat.

Then, something snapped her out of it. It was Ana.

Raffaella gasped, as if Ana's very presence had forced the breath of life back into her already-departed lungs. Her aeonheart began to beat again, though laboriously. "Ana..!" she cried, like a child who'd just woken up screaming from a scary dream. Raffaella clung to her arm, leaning on her like the pillar of strength she was as she barked orders to the others. Soon, her heart would settle just slightly, and she made the mistake of looking up. "Ana!!" she cried out, terrified, tugging her arm and pointing up at the Ni-Seraphi as smaller, much more horrifying creatures poured out of their mouths like locusts.

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It wasn't exactly easy to find his way around the academy even when it wasn't under attack by giant monsters. With the chaos and the need to stay low lest he draw interest from the many critter swarms that seemed to be rising out from the ni-seraph he quickly found himself back at his dorm instead of where he had planned to go in the first place.

"Aw crud, this wasn't the way to the dueling room. Might as well make a pit stop " He muttered, climbing gingerly through the broken glass into his dorm. Once inside he quickly dropped his books off seeing as their value was not worth the extra weight dragging him down in this crisis of a situation. As he was picking up his lighter the door slammed open. He whipped his head around to see not a fellow student but a pupa. It might of had humanoid features but there was no way he'd mistake that ichthyoidal stare for anything else.

With it's right index finger sharpened into a long organic needle, the very tip moist with something other than water, it spared little time gawking as it rushed Walter. With quick wit he changed the faint sheen of rain on it's body into something else: lighter fluid. As he fell away from the monster he gripped the spray bottle, hooking it off his belt and pointing it at the creature as it neared him, ready to slash.

"Time to fry."

With a strike of the light he sprayed a focused line of what was now also lighter fluid into the attacking pupa, the lighter setting the fluid ablaze as it travelled and met the surface of the creature itself which was also doused in lighter fluid. It seemed that it's momentum was carrying it forward still as it screamed forth at Walter. Falling to his back he stuck out a foot to push back the burning nightmare fuel, incidentally kicking the creature square in it's midriff and sending it tumbling over him into the dorm's fireplace.

Like a tightly wound spring Walter sprung back to his feet, taking witness to the screaming abomination as it tried to lift itself up and out from the metal grills that kept the firewood in. Letting his fingers fly with pure instinct he slipped the lighter back up his sleeve and instead reached for the fire poker sitting a mere couple feet away from the fireplace. Swiftly and with brutal repetition he swung the metal implement into the creature, foul goo reeking of brimstone scattering about until quickly the struggle was no more.

His pulse raced, his knees threatening to knock as they shook. Walter hadn't been one to seek altercations and yet for the first time he had just dispatched one of humanity's greatest enemies in live combat. He felt like a leaf in a tornado, the adrenaline in his blood bringing out a cold sweat in him. In his brief struggle the mask's tie had come loose, fluttering down from his face leaving him just as he was: Walter, here and now.

_
Of course his victory was short lived. The commotion had drawn a couple more stray pupa who were now approaching the open door to his dorm. With fire poker still in his off-hand and his spray bottle in the main-hand he quickly dove back out the windows he came in from. Hooking the spray back to his belt and pocketing the lighter he loosed more fog as he scurried away in no particular direction. As he fled he spotted something distant. The Seraphim... Inactive?

Wait, why is it not deployed yet? The very thing it's meant to fight is knocking on our door and it's just sittin' there!?

He rushed forth only to see the reason for this laying there half conscious, struggling just to keep from drowning in the rain. It was Professor Incanowitz, The seraphim piloting instructor. Those things were always a curious wonder, machines fit to stand toe to toe with the ni-seraphim, built from their remains.

He rushed up to the downed professor, hurdling the chunk of masonry laying between them and moving up to the older man's side.

"Hey professor! Don't die on me, y'hear?!" He ordered, uncertain of how to help him but sure of the fact that he wanted to. While perhaps not the professor he cared for the most he kinda liked the old guy. Something about having passion for his craft resonated with the young capitalist. That was all aside from the fact that someone needed to pilot the seraphim. If it wasn't to be the professor then Walter needed him to get him up to speed on how to pilot one of these things in the time it'd take him to get up in there.

Even considering piloting the seraphim in times like these was probably crazy, a terrible idea no doubt. Still, if he wasn't going to pilot the giant robot then who was?

No, really, Who? Walter was very accepting of volunteers, especially on offers from anyone who'd know better than he on how to pilot this thing.