[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/QloSNfO.png[/img][/center][hr]Under the light of the falling sun, slightly cloaked by magics of darkness, Rachel, Koriand’r, and Garfield (in the form of a crow) went through the city of LA without any undue attention. Disconnected from the news media, the fallout of their battle and following escapade would be something to discover another day. For now, Rachel led the way, guided by her phone until they crossed into a more upscale area, where larger mansions and large yards with prim trees and clear pools resided. [color=faee04]“A place of magic lies here, in this region of recreation?”[/color] [color=7976ac]“Apparently. We’re getting closer,”[/color] Rachel said, pointing her finger ahead, past the wealthy suburb and to an even more secluded region. Given the desert locale, the tree density was uncharacteristic. As soon as she started to note that and speculate, she felt a pull on her cloak, turning to see Garfield’s talons holding on, flapping as though to keep her at bay. Stopping, she waved him off. [color=7976ac]“[i]What?[/i]”[/color] Wings fluttering, Garfield led the way, going down to a corner between two fences, out of sight to any who weren’t driving right by. Transforming as the two girls landed, he asked with a cautious tone, [color=abd876]“Are we going to H.I.V.E.?”[/color] Koriand’r let out a light gasp, while Rachel looked at her phone. [color=7976ac]“What? No. We’re going to the facility of some group called the Home to Improve Volunteer Exceptionals ...Oh.”[/color] [color=abd876]“‘Oh’. Yeah, yeah, let’s go right back to the place I just escaped from! ...Wait, Kori, why did [i]you[/i] gasp?”[/color] The princess blinked. [color=faee04]“I was concerned about the haplodipoidic eusocial insects that might be at our destination. I don’t know much of the fauna of Earth, but the nearly extinct Klamora hearth eaters once caused great devastation to my home world.”[/color] [color=abd876]“...Okay, well this time a hive isn’t a place bugs live, it’s a cult run by a guy called Brother Blood. After my mutation showed up, my parents didn’t know what to do. He let us in. He takes in a lot of kids but he’s mostly interested in special ones. Mutants, geniuses… We get dorms and an education, our parents pay for it and come in for sermons. Honestly, looking back, a lot of what he said was...not good. He talked about us being gifted and strong while the world was dominated by the weak. He talked about the inevitability of the X-gene’s spread leading to humanity’s evolution. Me and my parents were never down for it, most probably aren’t, but H.I.V.E. felt like the only place I could belong. I just focused on keeping all the kids younger than me happy and kept up with my studies. My parents though, they did the real heroic thing. They dug into his past and his deeds and found some stuff they didn’t like. They didn’t report it or anything, they just tried to get me out of there. Blood doesn’t take resignation from H.I.V.E. though. Honestly, I get the sense that he knew, he just let them try. I...had to fight some of my school mates to get out, but they didn’t make it out with me. I don’t even know if they’re alive anymore. It’s only been a few days but...”[/color] Rachel opened her mouth. [color=7976ac]“ If you’re done trauma dumping-”[/color] But Kori’s words were stronger, [color=faee04]“That is horrendous! We must rescue them, and any who do not wish to live in such conditions.”[/color] Garfield winced. [color=abd876]“I mean, I’m down, but that’s a pretty big ask. There’s dozens of students in there. Mutants, tech wizards, regular wizards maybe. I don’t think we can take them all.”[/color] [color=7976ac]“...What’s the enrollment process?”[/color] Garfield gave her a look, before understanding dawned. [color=7976ac]“I can phase through walls, so escape isn’t a problem. We get in, sow discontent, gain allies, I accomplish my goal, and we leave with whoever wants to go with us.”[/color] Garfield thought, nodding growing in intensity before he said, [color=abd876]“Yeah...yeah, that can work! He might be suspicious though if he saw us on the news.”[/color] [color=7976ac]“We can make it work, we just need to play the right part.”[/color] --- The doors to H.I.V.E. Academy swung open, the gold steps and pillars of the foyer looming above as two sets of feet moved across tessellated black and white tiles. Rachel felt shivers down her spine, clocking other ‘eyes’ on her, the pillars coming from top and bottom to sandwich shining orbs, each of them in truth being magical surveillance: eyes to detect anyone wandering around. But there were no guards here, or students. [color=7976ac]“...Hello?”[/color] Rachel had lost her bluster. [color=faee04]“If the lights are on, then there must be someone residing here,”[/color] Koriand’r noted. From the top of the stairs, a figure appeared, wearing casual jeans and a red and white plaid shirt. His steely grey hair fluffed up at the sides and top of his head, and he looked down on the two young ladies, his jaw strong and his gold eyes twinkling. [color=cc9f64]“Well well well, what do we have here? Unexpected dinner guests? There’s always more room at the table!”[/color] said Brother Blood.