Wingram, Forest
@Nanaya, @Sifr, @Psyker Landshark

---

Ciara stared down the sword pointed at her throat, shadows freezing in place. This wasn’t fair. She was so close. So close! She was about to get all her questions answered, she just had to grab the little shadow and be gone. Why was Iraleth interfering?

It infuriated her to no end.

It wasn’t fair.

“I would have spared you and left your fate to the faculty should I have won officially. Here? If you lose, I will put you down.”

Ciara openly bared her teeth, glaring. An open threat. One that sent a shiver crawling down her spine. Iraleth had every justification to go with what she just said. Every possible motive. The perfect mindset of a holy killer ready to let loose.

And that scared her.

Then Iraleth’s tone changed, more pleading, begging.

"Stop making me have to try to kill you. I never wanted this to end in violence, you absolute idiot."

“Stop getting in my way,” Ciara bit out. “You can still turn a blind eye to this.”

She didn’t make a single move, though. Didn’t dare to even move a finger, or a breadth of a shadow. Now? Now, she was enjoying her little tantrum, knowing full well what would come next.

"Excuse you? Put her down? I am not burying another body in the fucking woods,"

Ciara blinked in the liminal darkness, illuminated only by the light of Iraleth’s sword. Was Hildegunde… siding with her? Coming to her defense?

Ciara’s lips pursed, feeling an emotion stir within her as her eyes grew hot.

But wait… Another body?

Hildegunde spoke directly at her.

"And you - I don't know what kind of answers you're looking for, but are you that desperate to endanger yourself and others for answers you may not even get - answers that surely have leads elsewhere? Is it worth biting the hands of those who want to put faith in you?"

Ciara finally fell silent at that, slowly moving a hand to press her eyes as she turned her head away. Anger bubbled up in her again, and regret, and a smothering sensation. She was getting smothered. By what, though? …Care?

Air hissed through her teeth as she took a breath, remembering the imp that lay at the other side of Hildegunde. To her, a surefire way to at least get something, answers, or whatever. To hell with the consequences.

But these girls. Her… her friends, if that was even the right word, were adamant and unmoving on this.

It infuriated her to no end.

"Why do you two insist on seeing enemies in each other? Our aggressor is right here,"

Aggressor.

Hah.

By those intents and purposes, she was an aggressor, too. All the orphanages of Vaal Kastrix knew that.

Ciara’s eyes fell on the imp, regret flashing in her face, as she finally relented. Her head bowed as she released the shadows, and sunlight poured in as the darkness fizzled out. With palms up, she took a step back from Iraleth, her face grim.

“...Fine. Have it your way. But I want the thing’s fate decided by the faculty, not by you.”

She twisted Otis’ sword in the grip of her palm as she turned away entirely, jaw clenching as she thought of the fate of the shadow being.

Iraleth and Hildegunde were resolute on this.

There wasn’t anything she could do.

And she hated it almost as much as she hated the swirl of other emotions in her - solidarity, companionship, an understanding. Something entirely foreign, giving pause to her thoughts, stress in her system. Could she really trust this? Trust them?

It was impossible, wasn't it?

Finally. Finally. The first bit of reason Ciara had shown over the past day. At long last. Iraleth dared to let loose a breath, her body untensing ever so slightly.

Hildegunde's choice of wording was curious. Another body in the woods? Though that could be anything. Especially self-defense. Still something to keep in mind for later, though. The girl's other question was brushed off for the moment. Too much to explain here and now. Back to Ciara.

The cynic in Iraleth said Ciara wasn't seeing reason so much as realizing she was outnumbered two to one if she tried to persist, even if Hildegunde was opposed to killing her. But it wasn't as if Iraleth was exactly chomping at the bit to. She just had to have some kind of leverage over the witch at this point. That, or Ciara thought she'd lose regardless. Which begged the question of why she was even bothering with the duel.

Some sort of desperate lifeline to delay the inevitable was Iraleth's best guess. Much like her request to have the imp be judged by the faculty.

"Fine." Iraleth nodded her assent, lowering her sword. It wasn't as if Wingram's professors and headmaster would allow the damned thing to run free, after all. "I accept these terms." She moved back a few steps, walking behind the imp and raising her sword again to point the tip at its back.

"You. Hands up and behind your head. Start walking. We're both aware of what I can do should you try anything stupid, and it has already been a very irritating day. Do not test me."

@Sifr @Estylwen

Six years.

He hadn’t even started learning about everything before six years ago. Had ran headlong since, carried by a voracity and a compulsion. Six years, for the one whose life burned quick in exchange for the one whose life smouldered long into the night. There were plenty of questions Otis had to ask, after all. A great lifespan, even one obtained at the expense of another, was simply a boon for the powerful in this world. If he was not aware of the sheer lack of essence in Rekordia, he’d have suspected Chloe to possess some connection with the immortal Clockwork Empress that ruled his homeland.

He had plenty of questions, but the Strigidae held them back this time around. Instead, with a gaze that possessed the same sort of youthful self-assuredness that Chloe had, Otis said perhaps the only thing that mattered to him in all this.

“Six years is plenty. If no one else can, I’ll find a way.”

Wingram was undoubtedly a place brimming with idiots and incompetents, with stupid fools who sought only the aesthetics of heroism and military dominance. But amidst the boneheaded buffoonery that manifested when teenagers with too much power gathered, there looked to be plenty of projects for him to work upon. Enough so, even, that Otis suspected he’d need to start taking proper, physical notes soon enough.

But that, of course, will come later. For now, however, the Door opened up once more and he offered Chloe a shoulder to lean on. Banged up as she was, she’d probably leave too big a mess if he re-orientated gravity to simply drop her out. And with that, Otis pulled her out to the clinic, waving at the first nurse to spy the strange pair.

“She was attacked by our instructor during class, as can be seen from the burns. After that, during lunch, she was attacked by an Ethos-wielding monster in the form of a wolf, which caused the cuts. Could you help her out of her clothes and give them to me?”

The clinic and the secret was one thing; he wasn’t going to renege on his statement to fix up her dress because of this.

@Sifr@Estylwen@Psyker Landshark

CAMPUS GROUNDS, FOREST

Throughout the entire conflict, the silhouetted imp simply shrugged its shoulders and stood where it initially surrendered. As things settled down and the group came to a consensus, it tapped its foot impatiently, its toothy grin flipping down into a tired frown. It remained silent until it was addressed, all the same, its vacant face taking the time to stare towards each of the girls even with its notable lack of eyes.

"If you have reached an agreement, then off we stroll," it mused, raising its arms above its head, the last wisp of a shadowy tether to the grey wolf's corpse fading away. "Cover yourselves."

After taking a few steps away while now at the mercy of its new captors, the flesh of the newly detached wolf corpse would rapidly bubble just under the skin as if boiling, before bursting apart seconds later, bringing a brief crimson rain to the surrounding area. The imp scoffed as it walked, arms still raised in submission.

"I suppose a wolf's body cannot meet the endurance threshold for long. A shame."

The imp's head would spin to look towards Iraleth, trying its best to continue speaking before the paladin could think about holding to her words from seconds prior. "But you should know it was an inevitability. By the time its body had been pierced by a bullet, its fate was already sealed. It was no conscious decision of mine to waste perfectly good flesh," it would finish that sentence by turning its head towards Hildegunde, continuing to walk down the forest path.

"And you," the imp would sing while finally cocking its head on a swivel towards Ciara. "You dance with the darkness well. Your movements are more rigid than a bride's, so clearly you are not one, but I remain impressed even so. Were it under different circumstances, a talk between us would serve well."

The being would go quiet after that statement, progressing obediently as the group reached the end of the forest path. Once more, they had returned to the campus proper.

Off in the distance and echoing towards them through faint loudspeakers, Principal Raja's voice could be heard once again. "We will now be conducting the Leyline Attunement Ceremony. We will be starting with students belonging to the 'Standard' curriculum, and conclude with students belonging to the 'Compact' curriculum! As each individual makes contact with the convergence point - the golden pillar - they will simultaneously declare themselves a Shield of Nero or a Sword of Wund! Contact with the pillar will amplify one's voice during their declaration, such that all of their peers may hear their resolve! That will be all. The students of Standard 1 may now progress in an orderly single file line towards the pillar when ready."

---

@ERode

WINGRAM CLINIC

"I... well, you don't need to. But if you deem it a matter worth devoting time to, then I would thank you all the same," Chloe muttered and turned away, a pout creeping across her features, the faintest smile resting there beneath it.

As they exited into the clinic, the receptionist immediately rose and sighed, almost appearing to develop bags under his eyes in real time as he waved them over. "More, huh? What a painful first day for the students. We'll see to it that she's taken care of. Would you kindly take a seat, my boy? Give the girl some privacy."

Chloe would go through the registration process of the clinic, syncing her Adapa with the clinic's terminal, before being led through a door and down a hallway by clinic staff. There was only one other individual in this waiting room, though he appeared to be in no rush - Gulliver Bronsteel, seated in a chair on the opposite corner of the room. He had no visible wounds on his body, nor were his clothes in tatters, but there he sat. A small plastic smirk tugged at the corners of his lips as he stared at Otis, but he said nothing otherwise.

Moments later, the tattered dress was carried out by a nurse and handed to Otis. "She stated that this is given to you under the condition that you take no creative liberties in its repair process. And that she, er, would 'much rather pay good money for perfection than receive an amateurish job as charity'. Passionate, that one."

With a chuckle, the nurse left the waiting room, returning back down the hallway.

Over the radio within the clinic by the front desk, and muffled from loudspeakers outside, Principal Raja's voice could be heard once again. "We will now be conducting the Leyline Attunement Ceremony. We will be starting with students belonging to the 'Standard' curriculum, and conclude with students belonging to the 'Compact' curriculum! As each individual makes contact with the convergence point - the golden pillar - they will simultaneously declare themselves a Shield of Nero or a Sword of Wund! Contact with the pillar will amplify one's voice during their declaration, such that all of their peers may hear their resolve! That will be all. The students of Standard 1 may now progress in an orderly single file line towards the pillar when ready."

---

@AThousandCurses

CAMPUS GROUNDS, LEYLINE ATTUNEMENT ZONE

Chunji would witness as Rio walked around the curved walkway back towards the front of campus, without another word. He made his way to the plaza upon which students had first entered in from yesterday, by the bridge. However, rather than head towards the bridge, Rio instead moved towards the fountain that had found itself repaired after yesterday's battle. He stood in front of it for a few breaths, scanned around to see if anybody was watching, and upon confirming a satisfying lack of people, dug into his jacket pocket.

He'd procure what appeared to be some kind of coin from his wallet, and after once more confirming there were no witnesses, flicked the coin into the fountain. The moment it splashed into the water, Rio's body seemed to be sucked into the fountain as well, leaving no trace of the boy after a mere blink of the coin's descent.

Over the loudspeakers, Principal Raja's voice could be heard once again. "We will now be conducting the Leyline Attunement Ceremony. We will be starting with students belonging to the 'Standard' curriculum, and conclude with students belonging to the 'Compact' curriculum! As each individual makes contact with the convergence point - the golden pillar - they will simultaneously declare themselves a Shield of Nero or a Sword of Wund! Contact with the pillar will amplify one's voice during their declaration, such that all of their peers may hear their resolve! That will be all. The students of Standard 1 may now progress in an orderly single file line towards the pillar when ready."

Otis received the tattered dress, taking a few moments to fold it up into a neat bundle before sliding it into one of his many belt-pouches. Amateurish? Who did she think he was? When it came purely to the art of sewing, the Strigidae severely doubted that there were any wannabe heroes within Wingram who could sew even half as well as he could…but it was a shame about not being able to take creative liberties.

He'll have to be a touch more subtle then, with what he would be adding. Would have to take a look around campus for a proper fabrics store as well. Another item on the list, to be sure. His eyes closed. Another few moments spent on engraving that particular thought into his mind.

And when they opened, that amber gaze fell upon Gulliver Bronsteel.

“I know what you are.”

That was all that needed to be said, before Otis left the clinic. The Attunement Ceremony was beginning, after all, and with it came the faction selection. It would be useful, then, to see where the students fell. It would be important as well, to see where Valen fell.

His steps picked up in pace.

This ceremony would determine what his tools were, and who his test subjects were.

Perhaps it was the norm to have inexplicable entrances that Chunji wasn't aware of. From the auditorium to the leylines, there was now a fountain that Rio had disappeared into. It did stoke curiosity but also made Chunji more cautious about his future activities, from Rio and Chloe's secret to Davil's incompetence to his other classmates' eccentricities.

A sigh escaped before Chunji turned and headed back to the Attunement Zone. He'd make it in time if he started walking now.

There were a few things that perturbed Chunji. One was the lack of address regarding potential problems. If Principal Raja had been informed and aware of everything, Chunji did not perceive a reaction on her part. The woman was an enigma to the school's slogan. At the end of the day, her tenure as Principal may be just another step in her career. Chunji was sure that Rio would have a snarky remark or two about her.

However, what happened next at the Attunement Zone would no less lead to unnecessary conflict that Chunji would seclude himself from. Whatever rivalries may develop, Chunji had no interest in them aside from making Rio's life a little harder than usual.

Wingram, Campus
@Nanaya, @Psyker Landshark

---

Ciara grimaced as she saw the fizzle of rain, and a sweeping shadow made an umbrella over the group, shielding them from the worst of the bloody spray. “...Gross.”

It intrigued her to see the imp walking on its own two feet. Immediately, she had assumed it needed a host to survive. Yet here it was, talking and breathing - though, she wasn’t sure for how long. She didn’t know what the faculty would do with something like this.

Those tainted with shadows never had easy lives, it seemed. Always misunderstood…

Almost as if reading her expression, the imp turned to her as they walked. ”Were it under different circumstances, a talk between us would serve well."

Ciara bowed her head. “Yeah… under different circumstances.”

Inside, she seethed.

Too soon, they found themselves in the campus of Wingram, and Ciara, swallowing her anger, turned to Iraleth. “...Going back to the attument zone makes the most sense. The principal is there.”

Iraleth prodded the imp onwards in silence, keeping a watchful vigil on it. One wrong move, and it'd see purification. She knew it, Ciara knew it, everyone involved knew it. The imp's suggestion to Ciara led the half-elf to give it an annoyed prod with the flat of her sword, shoving the little bastard forward just a little.

They walked ever onward until the quartet made it back to campus. Just in time for the ceremony to begin, it seemed. At this point, their tardiness didn't particularly matter to Iraleth. Not in the face of something more important like this. Still, that left the matter of who to go to.

"What now, then? Ought we take our chances interrupting the ceremony? We'd have to head that way at some point, anyway.

@Sifr @Estylwen

@Sifr@Estylwen@Psyker Landshark@ERode@AThousandCurses

CAMPUS GROUNDS, LEYLINE ATTUNEMENT ZONE

The school grounds came alive with the rush of eager students. One after another, the protectors of tomorrow couldn’t help but declare their platitudes and swear their vows. Some spoke of their future glory as champions that would arise to ensure the death of villainy, while others kept it short and sweet, and more still simply saw it as their opportunity to put themselves in the spotlight for a brief moment.

Amidst it all, Raja watched on, ensuring that no matter how vapid or longwinded the speeches were, they all ended with one notable confirmation. Whether confident or hesitant, anxious or proud, all needed to say it before the near entirety of the campus’ residents. She observed the future potentials of the nation stand on the podium and, after attuning to the golden pillar behind them, would make their choices.

“I’ll become a Sword of Wund,” one student or another would state. Others would instead move to exclaim, “For I, a Shield of Nero!”

Slowly but surely, those of the standard curriculum would be filtered through, planting themselves firmly on one side or the other of the pillar. From further north of the pillar, where the group exiting the forest would witness the ceremony, the imp would groan with disdain at Iraleth's prodding, before turning back to the group while they deliberated. "Perhaps you could leave my fate until after the ceremony? Leave me tied up to a tree where I can't get away? It is, after all, a moment for your future yearbook - a glimpse of yesteryear's joyous days, innocent and full of fire. Certainly you lot would prefer that over reporting a humble shadeling like myself, yes?"

As Otis entered into the ceremony grounds as well, he'd have felt a violent glare threatening to burn into his back as he left the clinic. Gulliver hadn't said a word, nor had his plastic smile broken, but the aura of aggression was nearly tangible. This vanished as he entered the vicinity of his peers, where ideas of assault were surely the furthest thing from possibility.

As time drew on and the standard students had finished their attunements and declarations, the split between sword and shield seemed even. If one were to take the time to count each and every entrant to each side, they would find that it would have a slight lean towards Wund over Nero, but not notable enough for the untrained eye to catch on to. The loudspeaker would ring out once, blaring with Raja's voice, "The standards have said their piece and made their sides known, and so we will be moving on to the compacts! Proceed when ready, Compact 1."

And so they would. Much like Compact 3, the groups of Compact 1 and 2 also contained exactly eight students, as did the remaining groups that bore the 'Compact' name. While standard classes seemed to ballpark the number of students into a rough range of late twenties to early thirties per class, the eight-person groups remained entirely consistent and exact within compact classes.

Eventually, as Compact 2 had finished with its last attunement, Compact 3 was called to move towards the pillar, attune, and declare their faction. From further back, Valen - who had yet to attune - would observe expectantly, were Iraleth or Ciara there.

Wingram, Campus
@Nanaya, @Psyker Landshark

"Perhaps you could leave my fate until after the ceremony? Leave me tied up to a tree where I can't get away?”

Ciara stared at the shadeling for a long moment, before her eyes narrowed.

“It’s smart.”

“We’re all smart, thank you.”

The Voices were very much enjoying the fact that there was something, someone similar to them. All smiles. Ciara could figure why. If they were really alike, it would be a simple thing for the imp to leave through shadows the moment they turned their backs.

Ciara’s eyes dragged over to Iraleth, and she sucked in a breath. Would the paladin realize?

She could hear what was going on in the attunement ceremony from where they stood. If they delayed any further, they would miss the ceremony outright. The imp had excellent timing for being caught, really. Now, the paladin would have to weigh her options. Hildegunde as well.

For Ciara, she knew her choice already. From her satchel, she produced a length of rope that she offered to Iraleth. Her tone was as carefully disinterested as possible. “Tie him if you want. I don’t want to miss the ceremony.”

Whether Iraleth would accept the rope or not, Ciara would find herself walking up towards the ceremony once more. Her eyes glanced to the side, widening as shecaught Valen staring straight at her. Before she glared, holding his gaze fora moment before she huffed, and tured towardsthe golden pole.

She approached it with purpose, reached out a hand to touch it, and spoke resolutely.

“Sword of Wund.”

Chunji's personal feelings did not resonate with his peer's enthusasim in choosing sides. Perhaps he was too nihilistic or pessimistic about the entire event, but he couldn't understand their passion. From what he saw from his eyes, it was little more than spectacle that would turn into a ticking time bomb with the actors he'd seen throughout the school.

What he saw from the world...

It was indescribable.

The moment someone attuned with the golden pillar, it started many intricate processes. The identifying, authenthicating, assimilating, tethering, imprinting, and many more. It was only simple conjecture that Chunji had formulated, what was actually unknown to him. A present magnum opus of essence that-

The scent of iron interrupted Chunji's thought process. A burning sensation ruminated in his head that lead Chunji to impulsively wipe his nose. A brief touch gave him a quick answer.

Blood.

Chunji immediately withdrew his Ethos and stopped usage. "Hmmm." A new limit had been discovered. A new limit to be tested. Another subject to be studied at a later time. His compact had been called and Ms. Ventaura had declared her afflilation. An unexpected designation, but something that wouldn't have bothered Chunji.

Finding himself next in line, Chunji walked up to take a spot at the pillar. His hand grazing his pillar itself. Chunji had reminded himself of what the pillar was.

An precipice of knowledge that build its base through blood, sweat, and tears from a suspicious source. He wouldn't stop it from connecting with him, but he could restrict what would it access.

Chunji tried his best to guide the pillar on where it could attune. It was an instinctual process, but one Chunji tried his hardest at. The pillar reached out and Chunji met it halfway. The pillar of the Primal didn't come, as expected, but the others did. One by one, he guided them to only assimilate at his hand. Perhaps it was pointless, but Chunji felt that he needed to try.

Isolating the place of contact to his right hand, Chunji called out his side.

"Sword of Wund."

The delivery in tone left much to be desired.

"Adapa, return."

Amidst the speeches and declarations, the ceremony where one sorted themselves into two competing affiliations, Otis retrieved his Adapa from where he had left it in the forest and re-examined the recording. The creature had surrendered relatively quickly and had invoked rights that it did not actually possess...but that the three who stayed were willing to humor. Ciara had found some form of kinship with it, no doubt, and now, she had approached the golden pillar and announced herself as a Sword. So too did Chunji, a sanguine trickle upon his nose the price of staring into the Sun.

And now, the Strigidae ascended. Valen's gaze was set upon another, but that was no matter.

Instead...

Otis turned towards Principal Raja.

"When I left, there were at least three students who were bound in the clinic. Chloe, Davil, and, as you would know, Gulliver. Rio, from Compact 3, also seems to be missing from the crowd. Now," he gestured the golden pillar, "this would not change my personal intention of joining the Sword of Wund, but for those who have missed the ceremony due to injury or deficiencies, would this event be hosted again? Is there a less ceremonial method of attunement? Or are they simply automatically sorted, as a form of punishment for having failed to attend?" He folded his arms, head tilting to the side. "On a separate note, since you seem to be relatively free at the moment, considering that there's neither a limit on the length of student speeches nor is there any paperwork you need to attend to during this process...Principal Raja, could you provide me with a few examples of the feats one would need to accomplish in order to gain access to the Iris Records?"

They'd returned just in time, it seemed. At this rate, it looked like almost everyone she knew was choosing Wund. Hmph. It wouldn't impact her decision in the slightest. The choice was symbolic, to be sure. But symbols mattered. Armies didn't win with shattered morale, even when they held a technical advantage.

Iraleth was interrupted from her thoughts by both Ciara and the imp. The absolute impertinence of these two. Did they think she was an idiot? She knew very well how this went. Take eyes off the little bastard for a moment, and it'd find a way loose, even if it was tied up. No, she'd do this right before anything else first.

The half-elf took the rope, first tying the imp's hands behind its back before using the remainder of the length to wrap around its neck in an improvised leash. Or a noose, if one were feeling uncharitable. After Ciara and Otis went, Iraleth practically dragged the imp along as she stepped forward, turning to Principal Raja before anything else.

"Principal, if you wouldn't mind?" She offered the end of the rope to the woman. "This creature was found in the woods, attacking Hildegunde. It surrendered, and accepted being taken to you for judgment in lieu of death." Iraleth reported before stepping over towards the side, keeping a hand on the rope if Raja didn't take it. Her other reached up to touch the pillar.

"Shield of Nero."

@Sifr @Estylwen

The Imp's comments on wasting flesh leaves a bitter taste in Hildegunde's mouth. It was odd to think she shared the same sensibilities with her attacker. The hunter makes no comment, fishing for something in her pocket as she approaches the ceremony.

Hildegunde keeps a steady gaze on the imp, quietly satisfied with Iraleth's decision - if she did not protest, Hildegunde would've. She only turns away to face Raja once Iraleth names her.

"Hardly attacked me," she says, shrugging some as she turns over a coin in her hand - the thing she had been fishing for. Save for her leg injury, which was more cumbersome now that the adrenaline was wearing down, she was fine.

"Chloe got the worst of it. And I am thankful my classmates, as I do not think she'd have come out alive if I remained alone."

As she speaks, she weaves the coin through her fingers, until it settles on her thumb. She flicks it, and the coin flips in the air, landing in her open palm. She glances down, but those accustomed to Hildegunde's gaze would notice that it lacked its usual piercing quality.

The truth was, she didn't really look at the coin at all. That was the thing about coin flips - often, it is never about the side that it lands on. In many cases, it is about discovering what you wanted all along - although want was perhaps a strong word for Hildegunde. She did not feel that strong pull at her core as the coin danced in the air. What she did feel, however, was the need to be contrarian to her Adapa's suggestion. Even with nothing else to guide her, if he wanted her to join the Sword of Wund, she would join the-

"Shield of Nero." Her delivery was only marginally above Chunji's.

@Sifr@Estylwen@Psyker Landshark@ERode@AThousandCurses

CAMPUS GROUNDS, LEYLINE ATTUNEMENT ZONE

Raja cocked an eyebrow upon catching sight of the imp, taking hold of the rope and remaining silent as the students explained. The loathsome creature scowled and almost seemed to hiss as Raja's fingers wrapped around the makeshift leash, and its bravado had dropped entirely in her presence. It now stood there with its head hung low as the principal stared down at it, pulling tighter to ensure that the rope would hold. She would turn from Iraleth, to Ciara, to Hildegunde, and sigh. "Serviceable. I will attend to this shade properly after the ceremony and interrogate it on its origins. Thank you, students of Compact 3, and I do apologize that this was allowed to happen on school grounds. In the future, campus security will be tightened."

Bowing her head in apology, she turned to listen to Otis' speech, allowing him to finish before replying. "To answer your first question, those who missed attunement today will be pulled from morning classes tomorrow for a mandatory make-up. Small in scale, no opportunity to say their piece in front of everyone. They will simply attune, declare their choice of sword or shield, and return. Should they fail to make an appearance tomorrow as well, without justifiable cause? They will be packing their bags and returning home."

Some in the crowd nodded in agreement at this, while others appeared nervous for absent friends or classmates. Such things were not specified beforehand, but many appeared grateful that someone rose to seek clarification. Raja's index finger tapped against her cheek, upon the boldness of Otis' other question. She deliberated, and after another moment, turned once more towards the owl in acknowledgement.

"As for the Iris Record? That tower seeks the exceptional beyond the exceptional. All who possess an Ethos have the potential to guide the future, but those who study and train within the Iris Record were chosen by the board with their own criteria that has not been revealed even to me. As of now, the task of finding more of its inhabitants falls to myself for the rest of the school year."

The crowd would begin whispering uncertainties towards one another, some speaking of rigged selections or biases, or paid entry from the pockets of rich parents. Raja would raise a hand to silence them as she continued.

"I seek the worthy. I seek devotion to the Union, to the future, and to oneself. One may prove themselves through body, mind or soul. Fell a great and terrible blight upon the world, unearth and prove a hidden truth of the world either unknown or previously thought fictitious, or come to understand the world and hear its voice. Such things will I task to the starry-eyed dreamer who wishes to enter the Iris Record and study among its residents as a peer."

Valen now stared towards Otis as he moved closer to the front, his fiery glare sharpening as if insulted that the boy would even think to rise above his station. He said nothing, but watched closely, looking back and forth between Otis, Raja, and the shadowy thing she now held in her captivity.

"Now, will that be all, Compact 3? We have a ceremony to conclude in short order, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about a mid-morning snack or two," she inquired, her expression softening as she chuckled to herself. At the same time, she also side-eyed Valen, a small trace of venom in her gaze to anybody close enough to behold her expression.

Compact 4 seemed ready to ascend to the pillar, patiently waiting to see if Otis was ready to conclude his business atop the stage. One particular orc girl in armor seemed to impatiently stomp her foot as she stared daggers at the Strigidae. "Windbag," she'd mutter.

"Yes, that will be sufficient."

Otis turned to the audience, his amber gaze settling upon Valen. The weight of gold, and the heat of flame. The Strigidae had never hidden his desire to test, to challenge the scion of Leuvalt. Though he may have to delay it in order to investigate the situation with Gulliver, a field test with Valen remained a semester-long project that Otis would undoubtedly attend to. So there was only one thing, really, that was left to be said.

"Sword of Wund." Don't run.

And with that, he vacated the stage, not sparing another glance towards the flame-haired heir. Not sparing even a thought for the armored orc from Compact 4. Joining Chunji and Ciara, the Strigidae nodded at them, then turned towards Iraleth and Hildegunde who now stood on the other side. "The lines are drawn now. Perhaps the following days classes will take an adversarial bend." A near-180 degree twist of his head, so he could face his present companions once more. "Now, what did you see?"

"Currently they're nine compacts, excluding ours, that each have eight students. Other than the compacts they're other groups, who I assume are taking the standard course, that have twenty to thirty students each. They're faculty, including Principal Raja, situated around the area of the Attunement Zone. Other than the Pillar, nothing else stands out."

Chunji answered Otis's question as he followed his classmate. The penchant for trouble seemed to have grown with every passing hour. With Otis's question bringing unwanted attention, it was about to hit everyone in the class as collateral damage. Though with their track record, Chunji reckoned his classmate would be undisturbed by such a thing.

Though the passing comment from Compact 4 made Chunji narrow his eyes. "Inconvenience." It was small mutter but loud enough for those nearby him to hear.

Wingram, Campus
@Nanaya

Ciara grimaced as she listened to the principal before her gaze dropped to the shadeling. What would she do to the imp? The possibilities flitted through her mind, as minor as running magical tests, to as extreme as tortuous interrogation.

And then what would they do with the imp afterwards? She had a feeling the school was principled closely after the preferences of Vaal Nero. After all, it had been the high bishop that had called the school to accord. And Ciara knew, without a doubt, the church held no quarter for even the hint of umbralists, or those unfortunate enough to be touched by shadow, like the shadeling was. One couldn’t help but be who they were, after all.

So there she stood, her stomach turning as her class took their turn at the golden pole. She could hear Otis speaking with them, but unfortunately for the dark one, she had other plans.

With one last look to the shadeling, Ciara made her escape, stepping back into a pool of shadow that whisked her away. She couldn’t stand it. But maybe, there was something shw could do about it. Hit two birds with one stone, in a sense.

Before Ciara knew it, she found herself in front of the library, and headed inside. She needed books. Books on primal magic, and a hint. Maybe the staff here would let slip where they kept ‘dangerous’ trespassers on campus.

The shadeling was on her mind, but so too was her duel in only a handful of hours.

Iraleth watched impassively as Ciara left before her gaze turned back towards the imp. Whether or not someone entered the Iris Record was of no concern to her. Glory was a byproduct of deeds, not the goal.

The side comment from the orc girl in Compact 4 had Iraleth suppress a snort of amusement. She couldn't help but agree. Otis certainly liked to hear himself talk, didn't he? Fortunate that he was clever. Too clever by half, considering everything she'd seen him do up to this moment. That boy was scheming something. She just couldn't tell how harmful it would be to others when it came to fruition.

Nonetheless, he posed a question Iraleth had to answer.

"See?" She tilted her head. "It surrendered not long after you left. The veil around the wolf turned into that imp. Demanded to be taken to a leader, invoked prisoner rights." Iraleth narrowed her eyes at the little shit in question. "Personally, I think it's just mocking us."

The paladin looked aside towards Valen Leuvalt, who seemingly still hadn't picked a faction. She glared, trying to convey a message through sheer force of will and her glower.

Wund. Wund. I don't want to work with you. WUND.

@ERode

@Sifr@Psyker Landshark@ERode@AThousandCurses

CAMPUS GROUNDS, LEYLINE ATTUNEMENT ZONE

The remaining compacts would ramble on to varying lengths, some promising better futures or making grand promises of greatness, while others settle for few words. Some notable standouts would be an orc girl from Compact 4, who simply stated, "I'll win," before attuning and leaving, or a twiggy-looking gnome from Compact 6 with hair that resembled a vanilla ice cream swirl, who read a full page from his favorite adventure novel before Raja hastily moved him along even as he swore he, "Hadn't gotten to the big reveal yet, the main character's arc climax all ties into my motivation for the school year!"

Different priority was given to Compact 8, 9 and 10. Notably, the students from each wore a silver pin on their chest. There was a shift in the air as they all approached in a marching formation as one, with Valen taking to the front of them. Raja raised an eyebrow as this transpired, crossing her arms as she awaited an explanation. The Leuvalt heir would step forward and take to the podium, locking eyes with the principal with a nod before turning to the crowds of Wund and Nero each. "Explain this, Leuvalt," Raja would spit, waiting for the boy to begin speaking. After another moment to take in his surroundings, he would.

"It is not through arrogance or ignorance that I stand here to speak, but through power. At the age of nineteen, I already stand at the apex, ready to seek contest with the strength of Dandelily's finest, Strigari's finest, and beyond that, even breaching the realms of the four Mirrisian Stalwara. Were it based solely on merit, I would rival the capital's arcmages, and an arcmage's cloak would grace my back. I, as the reignited hope of Leuvalt, am indeed he who triumphs, and none can argue such claims," Valen would declare, back straight and chest proudly puffed, looking across the students of both sides - taking an extra second in particular towards Otis and Iraleth, were they to catch his eye. He would sigh, his shoulders sinking a moment as if contemplating something, before continuing.

"And yet, merit alone is not what brings us success. We live in a world of titles, struggling through its muck - many of us swallowed whole by the maw of unequal birth. Those in power across the many societies of this planet are not always there through merit, but often through title, through wealth, through happenstance, through nepotism, through misfortune of the capable, and more. I count myself among those who received a voice through titles and wealth, initially. Yet, such things gave me the chance to demonstrate merit, ability, and ambition. Is it fair?"

He would give a moment of pause for the crowd to take in his words, Raja at his side tapping her foot as if waiting for him to wrap things up. Such a gesture would then encourage Valen to proceed after another moment, shaking his head.

"...It is not fair. Wund? Nero? Those, too, are equally determined through title. Shaktis Wund as the pioneer of spellcasting, and Nero as the great martyr who burned for his beliefs. To stand behind them and their truths is admirable, but outdated. There is no merit in continuing the path of a predecessor's success - no new ground to be tread by reopening the old wounds of the world. And so what do I propose? A new beginning. It is here that I announce that Compacts 8, 9 and 10 will not be partaking in this pitiable faction war. As the classes that make up the Iris Record, we will carve our own path."

Discussion would perk up amidst the crowds, with reactions ranging from disbelief or mockery at the ridiculous long-windedness, to anger and confusion at what seems to be special privileges, to some of the more competitive folk seeing it as a challenge. Raja herself stood there, her face contorting in frustration, putting her foot down. The imp cackled lowly, but was ignored as the principal leaned in towards Valen. "What? This wasn't in any documentation I was told of, Leuvalt. I'd expect-"

Just then, Raja opened her Adapa and began reading a new notification that had arrived, her eyes going wide. "I see..."

Valen nodded, and looked towards the remaining Compacts wearing silver pins, as he withdrew one from his own pocket and placed it on his chest. "With permission from the board of directors, I, Valen Leuvalt, will act as representative of Wingram's third faction: the Helm of Kastrus. With a legacy of pain and hate, Kastrus Aishblut had regardless done more for the people of this country than either Wund or Leuvalt. He is why we enjoy luxuries that Mirris and Rekordia struggle to maintain, and it is through the will of the forgotten prince that we who claim the Iris Record shall find the future."

At that, the remaining 23 students making up the Iris Record would march and encircle the attuning pillar. Valen himself would turn away from the crowd towards the pillar, and all at once as if rehearsed, each of the 24 Iris Record students would touch their palms to the pillar. An immaculate burst of energy would ring out as they attuned, and as Valen closed his eyes, a smile would briefly grace his lips - so sudden as if it were almost a trick of the light. Upon the completion of attunement, Valen would bow to both crowds of Wund and Nero, and then make his way off the podium after one final statement. "That will be all. This is a declaration of intent: the future will be ours to helm." He would state this plainly as he walked off north of the pillar with the rest of the Iris Record students, presumably back towards the tower.

Raja would stand there, gritting her teeth as she read an email in utter disbelief, seemingly unable to dispute the declaration in the slightest with whatever information she was presented. Regardless, she would look towards the remaining students and shrug. "Well... that will be all for the ceremony. The full details of your faction choice and what it entails will be delivered via essence mail by evening, but for now, all further classes for the day will be canceled. The effects of attunement are sometimes wonky on your prime essence, so we'd like to give you lot the rest of the day to adjust to and report any complications."

The crimson-haired principal would storm off, stomping towards the Iris Record, yanking the shade imp along with her.

---

@Estylwen

WINGRAM LIBRARY

As Ciara entered, the library would be notably empty - predictable, due to the ceremony. Sitting at the checkout desk, legs propped up on the desk itself as he leaned back in the office chair, would be the familiar cloaked, hooded visage of Michael. His eyes would initially be closed as if napping, hands propping his head up in sheer comfort, but would awaken and dart towards Ciara as she entered. The same easygoing smirk he always wore would be present as he nodded in her direction, scratching at the scraggly stray chin hairs on his face as he withdrew a book from his pocket.

"You ever read, 'Scented Pawns', by Henora Milby? Absolute classic of Rekordian literature, never knew it had respectful depictions of werewolves in it. Crazy shit, that. Shame those dudes ain't around anymore, I'm sure hollerin' with the wolfpack would a real riot. Umbralism, eh? Whaddya do."

With a small chuckle escaping him as he haphazardly tossed the book onto the desk, he rolled his shoulders and looked back towards Ciara. "Buuuut, spoilers: all the main characters die in the end. In the book, I mean. Henora had a real mean streak, she loved killing off her darlings. The werewolves in particular got it really bad, but I guess that's what a period piece'll get ya."

Michael would lean up in his chair and kick his boots off the desk, finally sitting like a normal person. "Sudden arrival though, kid. I'm guessing you weren't here to talk literature, and I ain't here any longer than I'm required to be, because good lord am I losing it sitting here. Just browsin' and want me to shut up and leave ya be, or is there somethin' you're itchin' for?"

Apart from Michael, Gulliver Bronsteel would be visible at the other end of the library, though he didn't seem to be paying attention to the conversation; he was instead nose deep in a book in the corner.