[center][b]PLEASE SEE BOTTOM FOR TL;DR[/b][/center][hr][hr][@Expllo][@Databug][@imia][@Xaltwind][hr] [b]As Hikari and Kohra continued on their way[/b], they would witness the aftermath of [b]Parin's little prank[/b] on the pompadour'd noble and his pals. The spray of water drew a few gasps, and plenty of laughter afterwards as the nobles were shocked out of their wits--but, the little magical outburst hadn't been harmful, and aside from a few shouts of "Watch it over there!" and the like, it didn't seem like any officials would interfere. Pompadour and his lackeys squealed in surprise and tumbled over each other as the water pushed them to the ground. They spluttered and pushed each other in a scramble to get back on their feet, and by the time they'd finally done so the perpetrator was nowhere to be seen. Several others in the crowd--both noble and commoner--were enjoying the spectacle and being none-too-subtle about it. Pompadour's face, now partially covered by his drooping (yet amazingly, still stylistically intact) hair turned a swollen shade of red as he glared all around them. "Whoever did that, you'd better pray I don't find you!" he angrily howled, shaking his fist at the sky. After a few fruitless moments of searching the crowd, the three--still wringing water from their clothes--made their way inside with the rest of the applicants... Hikari and Kohra would enter the same way Camilla had earlier, finding themselves among the now quite thick crowd. They could see [b]Tristan[/b] standing further towards the front, arms crossed as he waited patiently. On the other side of the room, [b]Camilla[/b] stood out unmistakably, [b]though she seemed to be in conversation with another fellow and the girl who had sprayed the nobles[/b]. "That would be my question, too, hah!" [b]Gunnar laughed as Parin questioned Camilla's definition of cute.[/b] However, the red-clad man wiggled his cigarette between his lips as he winked at the busty bluette. "But, I think the lady means 'cute' like, say...a little dog. Not the same kinda 'cute' [i]I'd[/i] use for, say, a pretty face. Am I right...cutie?" From their position, [b]Camilla and Parin would be able to see Hikari and Kohra[/b] enter...as well as a girl who seemed to be trailing behind them unnoticed, yet was watching the pair the way a snake watches a rat before striking out... [hr][@Th3King0fChaos][hr] As Illios told Bryant his name, and where he was from, and excitedly explained some of the perks of his magic, the other boy nodded along enthusiastically as he crunched through his onion rings, then finished off his kebab. Brushing crumbs on his pants, he looked up at the portcullis as the two of them neared the coliseum. "Oh, my magic?" the boy repeated after Illios's question...with a suddenly coy smirk. He rolled his shoulders, looking out of the corner of his eye as he began to increase his walking pace. "Well, it's really nothing special, ya know, not compared with something as rare as Sun Magic--!" [b]The two of them had entered the arena now, and suddenly Bryant's long legs loped forward.[/b] He gave Illios one last grin--though this one wasn't quite so welcoming. "Maybe you'll see it if we get matched up, though! No worries, I'll keep everything you said about [i]yours[/i] in mind!" [b]Then he shouldered in between some other people and ducked down--aside from a ripple in between bodies, he was gone into the crowd.[/b] [hr][@ERode][hr] [b]"...You didn't have many playmates as a kid, didja?" the huntress replied before Kreszenz dropped down to the streets.[/b] Shrugging, the muscular girl performed her own impressive parkour maneuver to get down from the rooftop and quickly followed, though not so much out of pursuit for the lightning-clad young lady as out of a similar desire to get into the coliseum. While Kreszenz stopped for nothing, the huntress did pause for a moment to laugh at the three nobles who had been soaked with water by another contestant. When the three came angrily stomping towards the portcullis, however, she increased her pace until she was shoulder to shoulder with the ozone-scented heiress. "Welp, good luck to ya, if ya want it! Name's Jayde Wakeley, by the by!" With another gap-toothed grin and a wave of her hand, she separated from Kreszenz and was soon lost among the throng. [hr][@Remram][hr] "As much as I would [i]like[/i] to do that," Isvelt sniffed as he folded his arms, "Look at the crowd--we'd better get inside." True, it seemed like the streets had thinned considerably. Maverick fidgeted impatiently again. "Oh geez, oh geez! C'mon, guys!" Gesturing to Ludo and the royal with one broad arm, he once again sped up his pace just like when he'd crashed into them. But by following [i]behind[/i] the giant, they found their own paths quite clear. Soon they were passing under the iron bars, just behind a gaggle of lesser nobles at whom Isvelt wrinkled his nose. "Why do they look like they've taken a dip in the river? You'd almost think they'd been raised...well, like you." he muttered to Ludo. Once inside the coliseum, however, the disadvantage of hanging out with Maverick was revealed--it was [i]really hard[/i] to see over him. [hr][@Duthguy][hr] "David Abelona? Haven't heard of him. He a Commoner pal of yours?" The man scribbled in his notepad, then looked at Albie expectantly--but when no other information followed, and the boy suggested they move somewhere more private, the old man rolled his eyes and sighed. "Hey, if you don't trust me, kid, that's your problem. Things are gonna start soon and I gotta get a good seat in the audience..." He looked towards the portcullis, and seemed about to leave...but then, he sighed again and looked back at Albie. [b]"Look, you seem like you're outta your depth here, farm-boy. I'll give ya a freebie."[/b] The old man adjusted the collar of his hood. "Watch out for a noble named [b]Snyder Glassard[/b]. He's arrogant, but with good reason--an academic genius, but no slouch with combat magic. His element is Glass, fittingly enough, and supposedly [b]he's a bit of a sadist[/b]." The man pocketed his notebook, and began shuffling away from Albie. "[b]If ya come up against him in sparring, might be better to forfeit![/b]" With the streets now almost empty, [b]Albie would no doubt be quick to make his way inside the coliseum. Again, he spotted that blue-haired girl[/b], talking to another girl and a man who [i]seemed[/i] like he might be a noble, but it was hard to tell. [hr][@Agunimon][hr] As Lanner's siblings made their way up into the audience chambers, the pink-haired girl would work her way through the crowd of other participants to find herself standing closer to the front, where the open skies beamed down on her with a welcoming warmth. Next to her was a [b]quiet young man with red hair[/b], who didn't seem to know what to do with one of his hands. His fingers kept fiddling with the tall collar of his cloak. While it hid the expression of his lips, and his eyes were fixed on the far wall of the circular arena, his breathing was clearly nervous. Of course, he and she were only two of hundreds now cramming into the room, all in different stages of excitement, anxiety, and determination... [hr][@SilverPaw][hr] Solveig would find herself entering at the back of the crowd, though not the last to enter. She stood next to a tall, brown-haired-and-brown-eyed young man who seemed to be quite intently watching a blue-haired young woman--was it, perhaps, a crush? Love at first sight, even? As the crowd shifted, however, she would catch a glimpse--just that--of the man she'd encountered in the alleyway. He seemed to be hugging himself, and his hunch was more pronounced than before. Was he sick as the official had employed, due to that scammer selling potions? Or was it just because he was an unsociable sort, thrust into this claustrophobia inducing crowd? Then he was gone again. [hr][hr] [b]Another rolling drumline and trumpet blare marked the beginning of the Magic Knight Selection Exam. All within the arena heard and felt the rumbling as the huge doors behind them slowly closed. This was it. They could only hope they had prepared themselves for this moment...[/b] [h3]Especially those who had been given their orders.[/H3] [hr] [center][h2]Sometime before the Exam...[/h2][/center] [b]"...but what if any of us are caught?"[/b] "Caught doing what? You have as much right to take the Exam as anyone else, don't you?" [b]A handful of hooded figures, of different heights and builds, met in a secluded place.[/b] One spoke to the others with the authority of an adult speaking to children. The others listened with the obedience of worshipers following a priest's sermon. "There is no crime here. The reason you must keep your involvement secret, is merely so that others may judge your words for their own merit, and not make presuppositions." The leader walked down the line of individuals, patting one on the shoulder here, giving another one a respectful nod there. [b]"And once you are within the Magic Knights,[/b] do not blurt out everything at the first opportunity. Feed them little by little...like leading a chicken to the coop, one kernel of corn at a time." "What about the nobles? Or what if someone starts an argument with us--?" "[b]Don't make the mistake of thinking we have no friends at all among the nobility. Were some of you not such, before you joined our cause?[/b]" The leader chuckled as if they themselves didn't believe their words. "There are some who will listen. As for those who argue--keep it in good faith. Let them win here or there, if it assuages their mood. Especially if your refusal to engage them makes them angry--it will only make you look better in the eyes of the other knights, and them look the fool." The leader turned their back and paced away, before addressing their agents once more. "All you must do, is remind the Magic Knights of who they [i]truly[/i] serve. Then, when the time is right...[b]they, too, will join our revolution![/b]" He pumped one fist high, and those behind him did the same. "For the People!" "For the People!" repeated several voices as one. The hooded figures would soon disperse. Come the day of the Exam, there would be no cloaks or hidden faces. [u][b]They would be out in the open, like all the other applicants...[/b][/u] [hr][hr] [center][h2]Inside the Coliseum[/h2][/center] [b]"Attention, all applicants!"[/b] An older gentleman, dressed in green robes with a white stole, held a Magic Tool shaped like a large, conical horn to address everyone in the chamber. "Please stand in orderly fashion and remain silent! Momentarily, we shall explain this year's trials for the Magic Knights Selection Exam!" In the seats above the arena floor, the audience clapped for a short while, then they too fell silent. From somewhere, a magical spotlight swept across the coliseum before falling on the nine, high backed seats in the balcony! [b]"We will now introduce our beloved Captains!"[/b] Another dramatic bit of music played, as nine figures walked out from a hidden alcove somewhere, and made their way to their seats... [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/b9i1EYN.png[/img][/center] "Captain of the Golden Dawn--[color=goldenrod][b]Argos Everhart![/b][/color]" The first man bowed gracefully, his long blond hair billowing. "Of the Silver Eagles--[color=snow][b]Helve Silva![/b][/color]" Next to the taller men she stood between, the woman looked almost like a doll. "Crimson Lions--[color=firebrick][b]Azarleon Vermillion![/b][/color]" This man smiled so charmingly several young women in the crowd swooned, while waving his hand in perfect parade manner. "Blue Rose! [color=lawngreen][b]Jennifer Greenvalley![/b][/color]" The cheery-faced blonde woman spun in place before putting two gauntlet-covered fingers to her cheeks with a big, shiny smile. "Green Mantis, [color=navy][b]Giles Lavaretz![/b][/color] Coral Peacock, [color=mediumvioletred][b]Owen Walder![/b][/color] Aqua Deer, [color=wheat][b]Bisera Melanthius![/b][/color]" A pirate, a priest, and a witch walked up to their seats. The sea-dog actually leaped up onto the balcony, prompting a cheer from those watching and generally hyping up the crowd. The priest, a huge beast of a man, smiled but nonetheless pulled the showboat back down with a gentle hand. The beautiful woman wearing the wide-brimmed hat, however, worked the crowd in a different way--blowing a kiss that many of the male applicants would swear was directed at [i]them[/i] in particular. "The Purple Orca, [color=darkslategray][b]Grant Eisenfaust![/b][/color]" Compared to the three before him, the next captain merely approached his seat and sat down with no excitement whatsoever. He didn't even acknowledge the crowd or the applicants, merely folding his arms and sitting with ramrod straight posture. It was a wonder he could even do so comfortably, considering he was covered head to toe in black armor that hid every feature... "[b]And our newest captain, please welcome the leader of the Black Bulls--[/b]" Many of the applicants began to mutter as the next figure approached, causing the announcer to speak up louder, "--[color=yellow][b]Captain Birusk of Elysia[/b][/color], to his first Selection!" Now the mutters became outright gasps as a ripple of gossip spread among the applicants. [b]"That's an Elf?!"[/b] "I heard about him, [b]he's only been a Magic Knight for a year[/b] and he's already a Captain!" "What about [b]that one in the armor,[/b] ain't he new too?" "Yeah, but he was here last year! They both went up through the ranks [i]super[/i] fast!" [b]"Ain't no way he's stronger than Argos!"[/b] Of course, there were other exclamations regarding the other Captains as well. "Princess Helve is as beautiful as--!" "Hey, be quiet! People aren't supposed to call her that, it's not official!" "Oi, don't shove me! She's definitely gonna get picked as the Royal Heir, and you know it!" "They call that guy the [b]Two Headed Flame Demon[/b]? He doesn't look that scary to me..." "Don't let him hear you say that! They say his training is [i][b]brutal![/b][/i]" "But he's so handsome~!" "He's already married, though..." "W-what!?! NO!