[hr][hr][center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/SR52k84p/54b4e63d635603b22d80f72a4ba2be54.png[/img][hr][img]https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1ti5x2.img?w=640&h=264&m=6[/img][hr][@Achronum][@Blizz][@Forsythe][@Kirah][@Nallore][@PatientBean][@Trainerblue192][hr][h3][color=AC3EFF][b]4:00 PM - Sun. December 12th, 2038 - New Orleans, Louisiana[/b][/color][/h3][/center][hr]	As the clock struck four, a purple, shimmering mist solidified in front of the main entrance, condensing into a visage that some would know all too well - with long silver hair, a cunning grin, and an elegant purple gown that despite being constructed centuries ago showed not a day of age, Professor Agatha Harkness appeared before the gathered children. She surveyed the space for a moment, noting that it seemed everything was going according to procedure - not that she was in charge, of course. She was here strictly as a coach for the Strange Academy team, the Hex Girls (or Hex Gurls, she could never remember the spelling). 

	If she had received a note from a former student, she made no indication of it. Her eyes didn't even settle on the Avengers Academy students, passing over even her prized pupil, Billy Maximoff. Instead, she made her way through the mob of students, going over to where her own charges were gathered. "You all know how to spell and read, right?" she asked, with a slight wink. "You don't need me to fill out these forms for you?"

	Meanwhile, the very student who had been looking for her had tragically already left the waiting area for the medical exam - had Vicky looked back, she would have noticed something odd about the door she just left from as well. It didn't look entirely real, as if it was painted into the stone walls of Strange Academy. A simple sign that read [i]Contest of Champions Examinations - Closed to the Public[/i] had been taped onto the painting, the only real indication that it [i]was[/i] a door at all. It had been physical and tangible moments ago, perhaps this was an illusion or another enchantment? 

	That, of course, was Vicky's [i]other[/i] problem. She thought the Kingston-Gray house was dripping in magic. The levels of magic here at Strange Academy made the Kingston-Gray home look truly like a low, mild, barely registrable level of magic. The thick haze of magic saturated her sensors, showing her only a fraction of what was truly there, and everything else was barely visible, just faint little blips through a colorful, swirling haze. The amulet protected her, kept the magic from seeping into her, but it could do little for her immediate surroundings. 

	Two things would then happen at almost immediately the same time: 

	1) Vicky would spot a boy walking through the corridors, roughly the same age as her friends, with a charming face and dark blonde hair. Perhaps this could be the local she was looking for?

	2) Her system would alert her to a file from September 13th of that year that needed her attention. 

[hider=The Examination...]Rather than doing a million collabs, [b]send me a DM on Discord for character-specific questions that will come up in your exam.[/b] The exam consists of a standard physical, followed by one more apt for superheroes. The superhero screening consists of a mystical portion, where passing an amulet over your head three times will indicate what enchantments, if any, are present based on the color the amulet's quartz stone begins to glow. There is also a scientific screening, where blood samples are rapidly analyzed to look for the presence of both performance enhancing drugs, as well as varying forms of radiation. A device created by the Future Foundation then examines the student on a quantum level, picking up evidence of time-travel, quantum entanglement, and cosmic powers/entities. 

At the end of the examination, students are then asked to place their hand on the Tome of Izneth, and answer a series of questions. The answers to these questions [i]must be truthful[/i], as that is the power of the book. 
[list][*]What is your name?
[*]Who are you?
[*]Do you want to compete in the Contest of Champions?[/list][/hider][hr][hr][center][h3][b][color=42A9FF]April Flynn[/color][/b][/h3][img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d6/92/80/d6928017c3826e20629dcdf0dfe3641c.gif[/img][hr][b][color=42A9FF]Location:[/color][/b] New Orleans - Strange Academy: Medical Waiting Room 
[b][color=42A9FF]Skills:[/color][/b] N/A
[b][color=42A9FF]Outfit:[/color][/b] [url=https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/06/07/56dd11b6-7b39-4a99-b4a8-058c18f4a3fc_7390c88c.jpg]Khaki-Colored Work Jacket + Grey Tank + Light Wash Jeans + Combat Boots[/url]
[hr][hr][/center]	April was still feeling jittery and weirdly energized as she filled out the questionnaire. She had such a strong urge to run up to Danni and Dori and give them both the tightest of hugs, and apologize for scaring them, and reassure them that she was fine now, that it was all good, that she was better - but they didn't have the time for that right now, as much as her blood was pounding through her body. Everyone else was finally there, including Sabine and Leah - she refused to let her thoughts focus on them, instead just offering them a wave. Leah's text message had been concerning. But everything seemed fine now! And strictly speaking, Leah was her competition. She needed to focus on the contest - on doing her very best to not let her team down, not when they were so close to achieving their dream. It's what Nemo would have wanted her to do. 

	She filled out the questionnaire quickly, feeling a weird twinge in her gut as she put down her legal name. It felt nauseating - but just for a second, and then the feeling passed as quickly as it had come on. A similar sensation came up when she stared at the portion for the emergency contact. She didn't want anything to do with her parents. She wasn't speaking to them. She didn't want to speak to them ever again. And given that the form said emergency contact, and not guardian... April decided to put down a different name entirely. 

[hider=Contest of Champions Questionnaire][list][*]Legal Name: April Cassandra Flynn
[*]School: Margaret Carter Institute 
[*]Qualifying Team: Excelsior 
[*]Date of Birth: April 15th, 2022
[*]Physical Age: 16
[*]Emergency Contact: Firestar / Angelica Jones
[*]Notable Abilities or Powers: Hydrokinesis 
[*]Declared Item: N/A
[*]Pertinent Medical History: Bipolar II
[*]Signature Certifying that You Agree to Follow All Contest of Champions Rules: [i]April F.[/i][/list][/hider]	
	April then glanced at the different lines, before purposefully picking one that seemed longer than the others - in hopes that Danni and Dorian would be able to catch up with her, and that they could chat. She already missed them so much! And it had been less than day since she'd seen them last! She waited in the line for about five seconds, before she couldn't take it any longer - and she made a beeline straight for Danni, pulling him into a tight hug. Dorian was with Percy, so she figured she'd start with Danni. [color=42A9FF]"Danni Danni Danni Danniiiiiiiiiii!"[/color] April squealed. [color=42A9FF]"We're finally here!!!!"[/color]

	The Vision, of course, hardly shared April's excitement - instead being left to ponder just what exactly Leah had been hinting at... [hr][hr][center][h3][b][color=ed1c24]Percy Novikov[/color][/b][/h3][img]https://i.scdn.co/image/ab676161000051748a415cc649022ca4d5582ed8[/img][hr][b][color=ed1c24]Location:[/color][/b] New Orleans - Strange Academy: Medical Waiting Room 
[b][color=ed1c24]Skills:[/color][/b] N/A
[b][color=ed1c24]Outfit:[/color][/b] [url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/0d589277-9f3d-4fdd-9f52-2e1e122326d2.jpg]Dorian Approved Outfit #2 - Sunglasses, Flannel, Skinny Jeans[/url]
[hr][hr][/center]	Percy dutifully filled out the questionnaire, taking great care to ensure that every detail was accurate and correct. It seemed like the sort of form that ought to have been signed by a legal guardian, but there were many things about the Contest of Champions that seemed a little odd on reflection. Most schools did not allow children to simulate fighting each other to the death - and yet, Percy was fairly certain the scenario in the previous year's contest had been a last stand of sorts. He'd woken up one night to Dorian reviewing it on his phone.	

[hider=Contest of Champions Questionnaire][list][*]Legal Name: Percy Theo Novikov 
[*]School: Margaret Carter Institute 
[*]Qualifying Team: Excelsior, transferred to Uncanny Avengers 
[*]Date of Birth: July 25th, 2024
[*]Physical Age: 14
[*]Emergency Contact: Dr. Dominika Novikova, Maria Novikova  
[*]Notable Abilities or Powers: Temporal teleportation, omnilingualism 
[*]Declared Item: Firemen's Axe 
[*]Pertinent Medical History: None.
[*]Signature Certifying that You Agree to Follow All Contest of Champions Rules: [i]Percy Novikov[/i][/list][/hider]

	[color=ed1c24]"I'll see you in a bit, then,"[/color] Percy bade his boyfriend, giving Dorian a kiss on the cheek as he was still filling out his form, before making his way in line. He scowled slightly as he spotted his sister out of the corner of his eye. The idea of dropping out of the contest just to attempt to hurt Diana's chances at winning did occur to him, but he dismissed it almost immediately. He wouldn't allow Diana to ruin this for him. He was here to compete, and he did genuinely wish to do so. Of course, he was still refusing to speak to Diana, but his maturity could only go so far. 

	He was about to enter one of the examination rooms, when a gust of wind blew in front of him - and Tommy Maximoff beat him to the chase, slowing down just enough to smirk at Percy before slamming the door shut behind him. 

	[color=ed1c24]"Asshole,"[/color] Percy grumbled, his fist tightening around the paperwork, crinkling the form. 

[hider=Reminder - A Selection of Contest of Champions Rules][i]This list is non-exhaustive - please ask if you have questions / if there is a major rule you believe I have missed![/i]

[list][*]Eligibility: [list][*]Students may be between the ages of 12 and 19.
[*]Students are only allowed to compete on one team.
[*]Students must be enrolled and in good standing at their home institution.
[*]Students must be eager and willing participants.[/list]
[*]Combat: [list][*]No animals / pets / other companions may be brought into the arena. However, summoning of creatures is allowed. 
[*]No maiming or killing. 
[*]No usage of performance enhancing drugs, such as Mutant Growth Hormone.
[*]No summoning world-ending entities, such as Galactus or the Phoenix[/list][/list][/hider]