[IC] Of Blood and Magic

[Hero]

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Watching Ben anxiously, Lilie probably would be physically antsy if she actually had her body. She had no idea what she was looking at, only knowing that whatever was in front of Ben looked really scary. She gasped as she saw it throw the harp at her body with no effort, only sighing in relief as the vampire managed to keep it from smushing her entirely. Why in the world was she delegated to spectator right now?! At least if she was unconscious she wouldn't have to watch what was happening! The feeling was probably one of the worst, helplessly watching as the two talked.

It seemed really, really mad that Ben had attacked, and Lilie wondered if maybe the answer to the riddle wasn't to attack. But if the point wasn't to fight, then what was the point of supplying weapons? Maybe it was a red herring. But then what was he supposed to do? She wondered if this was one of those times that he wasn't supposed to do anything--that's why it could talk, right? If it was meant to just be a fight, it probably wouldn't be able to talk.

As the thought crossed her mind, she noticed the water rising. Oh, oh no, that couldn't possibly be good. Was this a sort of timer? It must be, those weird looking things in the water didn't look friendly at all. She looked at Ben, realizing he hadn't noticed. Panic bubbled up again, and she wished that it would just stop. To her surprise, the water closest to her pushed back just a touch, and she felt like that was too much of a coincidence. So she could somehow still control her affinity? Or was it just lucky? Deciding to test it, she pushed back against the current, and even if the result wasn't as spectacular as she had hoped, she realized it reacted to her.

"Okay, I can still use my affinity...what can I do with that?" She openly wondered out loud, trying to think. Well, getting Ben to notice the rising water was probably a start. At least she could move around a little, putting herself as close to Ben as she could. "Here we go."

Going with the flow of the push and pull, she made sure to push with the waves to reach out further. Once she saw it react, she did one final push, the water swirling around Ben's ankles. Hopefully he would take note of it and realize he was being timed.

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Panicking and putting her faith to the test with @Bert Macklin.

[Trainerblue192]

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Interacting with:@ReusableSword

Salem was more than glad that Victor was currently blinded. The dumbfounded look that was now plastered on his face would remain there for a while. He wasn't sure what kind of reaction Victor was expecting him to have, what he wanted Salem to do. Did he really feel like that amount of information was enough to placate Salem? Did he think all he would have to say is that he loved and murdered a mage and that that would be the end of the conversation? For once in his life he was truly speechless. Unable to say anything back he just held onto Victor in silence. On the ride towards their destination he mulled over the information, wondering who this mage was and what she did to have him kill her, as well as if he truly loved her why would he kill her? It didn't make any sense to him but the fact remained he was an Astorio and they were ruthless.

Salem hardly minded the thick brush and closed quarters. The spaces were tight but his mind focused on both the task ahead as well as the new information. He wasn't sure what that last test was supposed to do, was it meant to bring them closer? Expose weaknesses? It hardly seemed to have to do with his actual exam. Finally the path cleared and they began to near a curious tree. Salem tugging on Victor to stop his movements so he could better study it. “To whom walks amidst Time’s tangled web, look close at that which walks removed. Three keys to enlightenment of our kind-Might, Majesty, and Mastery-and yet not all three command them. Pick the light that guides their way and keep it safe on your way to have your diligence paid in kind. Stay to the right as it shines.

Though if sand does drop far too fast, feel free to take the left path." Aside from that there lies three designs before us. A boar, a curling wave, and a blade balancing a flower on its tip. There are small rocks at the base of the tree, and two lines stretching from them" Salem examined the scene a bit closer, scratching his head before turning to Victor. "Any clues on what to do for this one?"

[WeepingLiberty]

Amaris Marivaldi

_{Interacting with: Madalyn @Achronum}

A sense of relief washed over the countess as the serpent’s voice returned, though the sound still held a grating effect on her ears. They had chosen the correct falsehood which would set them free; or so she had thought. Amaris watched as the creature began twisting about the space, the water twisting with it until it was physically pulling at her body. The faster the serpent moved the stronger the force tugged at her until she had no choice but to throw her arms up in the hopes that they might shield her face from any potential damage.

When Amaris finally opened her eyes she found herself somewhat disappointed that she wasn’t staring out into an open clearing with the statue of a serpent at its center, though at this point she would have been lying if she said that she was surprised.

“You really ought to practice looking at the bigger picture…” She mumbled to herself while she took a moment to take in her new surroundings. Amaris found herself in a box partially filled with water but lacking in any visible cracks in the surrounding walls. Turning slowly in a circle the countess noted the distinct lack of a panicking mage trapped in the box alongside her, leading her to assume the pair had traded places. Such a thought was of no comfort as mortals generally did not possess the ability to breathe underwater. Amaris had to remind herself of the magical nature of their surroundings in order to calm herself, at least until she had something different to distract her.

The countess grit her teeth as water began pouring in from above, crashing down upon her head uncomfortably before she had a chance to move out of the way. She took this as a sign that the second half of the game had begun, Maddie likely being faced with her own list of overly vague statements. Crossing her arms, Amaris leaned back against the wall of the barrier to await her partner’s voice while doing her best to avoid getting ‘rained on’. She couldn’t help but wonder who Maddie had been shown, if she had been shown anyone at all. Amaris was finding it difficult to shake the images of her past partners boxed up just mere feet out of her grasp. Had Maddie experienced something equally as traumatizing? Would she be shown the faces of the dead, or something completely different.

Amaris snapped to attention once she heard Maddie speak, the countess hanging on to every word spoken. She was eager to help but she found herself equally at a loss. Was it arrogant to push the former statement as the lie?

“To me, the former statement stands at odds with our prior correct answer. I have no intentions of betraying the trust that you have placed in me and see no reason I would willingly abandon you. That being said, there is something you would have to consider… If the former is false, the latter must be true so think Maddie: is there someone of which you seek to control? Or perhaps a particular outcome you wish to change?”

[Achronum]

_{Time: 2:21 - The Forest}

Lilie/Ben

“Fuck no, little bloodsucker.” The beast grinned as Ben stood his ground and took the hits. It took a few steps back, still tense and wary, and cocked it’s head. It seemed to consider him for a moment and started shifting back. “What is might, little bloodsucker?” The beast finished turning back into its smaller form, shook its head, and lumbered towards Lilie.

Salem/Victor

Will update you guys separately once the lantern has been picked!

Maddie/Amaris

Maddie chewed her lip nervously. She’d been trained against assuming control over anything. It was always her family’s job or her future husband’s and, more recently, her vampire’s. The only thing she wanted control over was her magic. The Countess permitted her control over her own life and Maddie seriously doubted the Countess would deny her anything that wasn’t dangerous to either of them. Which means at the same time, the Countess probably wouldn’t abandon her. She was a Marivaldi and a good person all around.

This was difficult. She was almost tempted to pick one at random but she swallowed her nerves and went with her gut.

“The lie is Only a fool believes the vampires won’t abandon thee.” Maddie spoke uncertainty. Nothing happened for a moment and terror crept through MAddie. She messed it up, she fucked up when they needed to pass, Amaris was going to be so disappoin―

The water boiled and bubbled. The Serpent cackled somewhere in the distance. A current tugged at Maddie. The faint light disappeared. Maddie felt like she couldn’t breath, like she was suffocating, drawing, dying…

She gasped as she sat up. Amaris and Maddie were laying on the ground next to the little brooke and the Serpent towered over them. The bell was nowhere to be seen but between the pair in the grass was a blue candle that seemed speckled with glitter. The faint cackling could be heard until it finally gave into the night breeze.

Maddie stood and reached down to Amaris, who would have lost her sight again, helping the Countess up while looking around for clues. She recited the dark eyes spell, a hint of tension in the bridge of her nose, and noticed another message on a tree.

“Forward finds interesting tales, of glory and gold and gambles, while left reclaims the passing time far more swiftly than the other.”

“Seems like we can choose another challenge or head the other way to get past it.” Maddie suggested. The air was still cool and she was glad they hadn’t reappeared wet. She shivered, the memory of being trapped in a filling box still terrifying.. “But before that, are you okay Ari? That was… certainly intense.”

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_{Time: 3:41 - Exam Staging Grounds}

Varis demanded to be carried again, not at all interested in stumbling his way through the forest. He’d have the boy let him down before they broke the treeline but until then, it gave him some time to think. The boy in the skull had mentioned a lot of things that left him confused. Yvaine was certainly a name he would have remembered and he’d barely been involved in the Marivaldi job. Even if he had a large role in the Lord’s death, Varis certainly didn’t feel any guilt about crippling the second weakest family further. In his opinion, the entire family reflected poorly on vampire kind. He certainly wouldn’t be upset to see them all wiped out.

However, the illusion brought up a far more important issue that he’d taken for granted. The boy’s affinity might become a problem in the future and while he was decently convinced the world would have to end before the boy turned against him, the tiniest seed of doubt had been planted. Ryner’s plan would leave him vulnerable to such a thing and now Varis was reconsidering after having his ear sliced in half. Varis was silent and pensive the entire way back, considering his options.

The path back was easy and straightforward enough with two mages on the lookout. As expected, Varis demanded to be put down as soon as the treeline was visible to the mages. He clutched Aaron’s arm tightly again and tried not to stumble. As soon as the vampires crossed the forest edge, their vision returned and they’d see the clearing they originally set up at.

A mage that had been waiting made a short hand signal and Ryner walked briskly down the way, her face kept into a serene smile even as her eyes sparkled with laughter as she looked over Varis who kept his expression politely neutral even as he vibrated with fury. She stopped in front of the four and her smile turned far more genuine.

“Welcome back, Count Varis, Mr. Samael. I see your mages returned you in one piece.” Ryner greeted them. “Congratulations Aaron, Max. You passed your first practical exam. Head over to the tent to turn in any challenge tokens you’ve received and then we have cars to take you back to your dorm. Class tomorrow has been cancelled for first years so you may have a day to recuperate so please take the rest of the evening to relax.”

[Hero]

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The rest of the walk out of the forest ended up no remark from Eris, the vampire determinedly silent. The shock hadn't exactly worn off just yet, but he had done some thinking and at had arrived at a crossroads of sorts. If he was being honest, it would be something that had always been at the back of his mind, successfully buried by...well, everything else in his life. These four years were supposed to be smooth, easy, and relatively peaceful--all he had to do was squeeze in some time for homework and he could essentially focus on building his businesses and annoy Max.

But no, that had been too much to expect. Instead he had to deal with murdered mages and a hysterical rumor mill that he had yet to fully take advantage of, and now this bullshit. He might've meant to take Max's advice to heart but holy fuck did he get more than he expected. Part of him was annoyed he hadn't gotten anything he could practically use unless someone invented some type of time machine, but the other part of him had been distracted by a teeny tiny little detail that affected Eris more than he was willing to admit.

But at least they were finally out of the fucking forest. "Thank fuck," There was no stopping his relief as he ran a hand through his hair, grimacing slightly at the feeling. Rather than its usual feathery soft texture, his blonde locks just felt dirty.

As the princess greeted them, Eris found himself having to put more effort into resisting the urge to roll his eyes. If it was up to the kid he would've been delivered in multiple pieces on a very long skewer. That said, he was glad to hear about getting a night off--he'd have plenty of time to find something to take care of his stress, because he was pretty sure tonight was going to suck. He'd have to talk to Max beforehand and that conversation was probably going to be annoying, and of course he needed to address the elephant in the room.

Actually, now that the princess was in front of him, the other Varis' words clicked in his head--the 'work colleague' mentioned must have been talking about Ryner. Great, now he had another cog to try to wrest himself out of. But that was no reason to be rude. "Quite the titillating challenge, Highness," He replied, leaving himself ambiguous if only because he personally hated every single second in that forest regardless of the other Varis-mind-fuckery and was quickly finding himself starting to hate all illusion and mental magic. And speaking of which... "I'm starting to think you have a fondness for illusory magic at this point."

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Speaking with @Achronum (and waving off @Scribe of Thoth and @Obscene Symphony hanging out).

[ReusableSword]

Victor Astorio

Salem was silent as they continued to move, speaking only for direction. Victor was well aware that the answer he gave him wasn’t the best but at the very least it would shut him up about it until after this test was done. Soon the duo came to a stop and the location of what was their next test. The count listened closely to the words Salem spoke and took a few minutes to think.

“Hmm, ‘to whom walks amidst Time’s tangled web, look close at that which walks removed.’ Definitely talking about us and something that neither of us walk with or live with.” Another pause as he continued to think, “Three keys to enlightenment of our kind-Might, Majesty, and Mastery-and yet not all three command them. Pick the light that guides their way and keep it safe on your way to have your diligence paid in kind. Stay to the right as it shines.” Repeating it aloud again. “One to choose, stay to the right? A maze perhaps. Or only when it shines, three keys to enlightenment, three choices paid in kind. Well which ever we choose we will be tested. But might doesn’t solve everything even if we are good at it.” Again another pause. "boar for strength, Ocean Wave for majesty, and Flower for mastery."

“Majesty is lacking with both of us but still there and neither of us have mastered anything. The last part is just in case we are running low on time. I haven’t felt the temperature change dramatically yet and it will get colder before the dawn. Choose Mastery and let’s take the path on the right. I’m sure it will be fun.” He answered with a smile, these tests are taxing but a challenge he wasn’t expecting.

@Trainerblue192

[Scribe of Thoth]

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Eris was abnormally silent on the way back, which was as much a bad sign as it was a welcome reprieve. It was better than him nervously rambling and saying something he shouldn't in front of Varis, in any case. Max was too invested in this for comfort; Eris' piddly issues shouldn't concern him, but there was always a very real possibility that anything that inconvenienced Eris would inconvenience him too. Not that Max had the ability to do anything about it. This job fucking sucked.

When they emerged from the forest, Max gave Ryner the barest of attentions as she addressed them, responding to her praise with a noncommittal hum. This was definitely a game to her, she looked far too happy at Varis' squirming. At least she dismissed them promptly instead of asking any stupid questions. He didn't need any opinions floating into his head while some mind mage was probably still lurking around.

He was pretty sure he didn't get even a sliver of enjoyment out of this test. Should've walked Eris into a tree when he had the chance. Now he just had stress and the knowledge some asshat was reading his thoughts. He tilted his head toward Aaron was they were walking to the tent, offering a snide grin. If Eris was gonna go do something filthy with Cinnamon, he needed to nip any chance of Aaron trying to use him as an excuse to flee the scene in the bud. Not that he thought the other mage particularly valued his company, but he assumed Aaron would consider an impromptu playdate with the rude kid preferable to listening to vampire romance in the next room.

"So, are you always on piggyback duty or is that a new development?" It was almost a genuine question. Varis seemed ashamed of it, considering he bothered to walk the last bit, but he wasn't sure how creative the leech got when it came to degrading his pet in private.

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@Hero@Achronum@Obscene Symphony

[Bert Macklin]

Perhaps he requires a more literal definition, Ben couldn't help but think as his chest ached slightly. His ego was slightly bruised at the small comment as well but there was no time to dwell on it. The monster went back to its original form after he had taken damage, which meant that one theory of his was proven; of course, he was nowhere closer to solving the riddle now than he was before. There must have been something obvious he had missed. What could it be? A test of might with a strange creature asking him what might was...perhaps this was an exercise in metaphorical restraint. As much as he enjoyed the occasional puzzle, this one had him befuddled.

The water soaking his shoes caught his attention second and he now noticed the rising water level. It must be an indication of a time limit. But he was a little lost on what to do. The thought of taking Lilie and running came to the forefront, but where would he go? Taking a swim seemed nonsensical. Was he truly overthinking? The past riddle was already resolved with Lilie's enchantment, the only thing that came to mind was the warning on 'chains' but he wasn't entirely sure how that could apply.

Ben had no choice: if he could not fight the monster, then speak he would. First things first, he should probably respond to the creature. "Might is great and impressive power or strength," He said. "But if that is what you're searching for, then I do not understand your actions. Why approach my mage? She is powerless in sleep--is this might you speak of so great when aiming at a defenseless creature?"

Whether his words would make a difference or not, he did not know. But it was better than doing nothing, he hoped.

[Obscene Symphony]

Aaron’s trip out of the forest was as much of a trudge for him as it was for the vampires. Fatigue and cold gripped him in equal measure, and every step lowered his mood from shaken and apprehensive back down to where it had started that evening: thoroughly unamused. The same spiteful thoughts that this test was a farce, unnecessary, and an egregious invasion of privacy swirled in his head as he walked until he tired of them, choosing instead to focus on the placement of his feet and the clues to get them the hell out of the woods, all the while setting his jaw against Varis’ harsh grip and his own burgeoning headache.

The forest’s edge was a relief, if a double-edged one. That was one trial done with, but he knew another one awaited him back at the dorm. Therefore, significantly less welcome was the news of an upcoming night off. He knew it would hardly be a night of repose for him if Varis had any say in the matter, and judging by the vampire’s literal quakes of rage, Aaron was pretty sure he would have preferred the escape of classes to whatever would be ordained for him in their absence. He was grateful, at least, that he wasn’t as mud-caked as the vampires were in Ryner’s presence; next to them, the dirt on his shoes and probably deposited by Varis on the back of his coat could almost be overlooked. He usually would have been mortified nonetheless, but either his own sour mood or some lingering spite over having his head picked through as a part of his exam quelled his usual modesty.

He stayed silent when Varis handed him the Eve medallion and waved him off, offering only a bow to him and a nod to the Princess before setting off for the tent. Only when he knew the vampires’ attention would be elsewhere did he allow himself to reach up and massage his temple, with the consequence of catching Max’s shit-eating grin.

Aaron rolled his eyes. “Nope, that was new,” he answered flatly, rolling his shoulders. Damn, he could already feel the sore spots where Varis had gripped him. Right, excellent, he was going to be peppered with bruises after tonight, too. How could he forget.

Arriving at the tent, Aaron handed the attendant his tokens: the Eve medallion from the digging puzzle and the coin from the skull. “And what about you?” he shot back at Max, crossing his arms as the tent attendant fetched his and Varis' confiscated belongings. “Since when are you all buddy-buddy with Eris? I don’t think I heard you utter a single snide comment to him that entire time. If it didn’t freak me out so much, I’d be tempted to congratulate you.”

_{@Scribe of Thoth @Achronum}

[WeepingLiberty]

Amaris Marivaldi

_{Interacting with: Madalyn @Achronum}

“The lie is Only a fool believes the vampires won’t abandon thee.”

Amaris watched the water rise slightly higher as she awaited the serpent’s reaction. For a brief moment there was no change in either girl’s situation leading the Countess to wonder if the selection was wrong. Had she steered the mage wrong? They had both worked so hard trying to come up with the correct answer; Maddie would be crushed. Or so Amaris thought.

The grating sound of the serpent’s laughter filled her ears as the state of the waters changed. No longer was it crashing down upon the Countess but instead writhing about her as if brought to life. It was the sudden, intense force that took her by surprise and unsettled both her mind and body. Feeling sick, Amaris squeezed her eyes shut and begged silently for the unpleasant experience to pass.

Eventually the Countess felt solid ground beneath her once again, but upon opening her eyes she found her sight lost as well. Amaris raised her right arm slowly so that it was above her, hand waving side to side as if the darkness wasn’t proof enough of her inflicted blindness. It was a shame to go back to such a state after finally getting it back, but such were the rules of the game; who was she to argue?

She sensed Maddie before she felt her, allowing the mage to help her to her feet as best as she could. It was unsteady work at first, having to reorient to proper gravity and all, but eventually the Countess was standing upright alongside her partner. She tried to drown out the remnants of the serpent’s laughter ringing in the depths of her ears by focusing on Maddie’s voice. With the incantation spoken and the spell back in place, the next clue could be found and the pair sent on their way.

“I’m alright, but Getsuga is damn lucky I love him. Never thought I would see the day that a snake scared me.” A chill ran down Amaris’ spine as she pictured the giant serpent staring her down. He was nothing at all like her mischievous companion and just the thought of him filled her with unease. Shaking her head, Amaris attempted to wear a comforting smile for the sake of her mage.

“Magic has the ability to warp not only our surroundings but our sense of time as well. I fear how much we might have lost during our test as it would be a shame to go through so much and fail because the clock ran out… Still, I don’t feel the anxiety of dawn and I am having a bit of fun. Are you feeling well enough to attempt one more then scurry for the exit?” Amaris asked, her mind already racing to wonder about what lay before them both. There was still so much teaching the test had to offer, and not just about Maddie but herself as well. What other parts of herself would she be forced to face?

[Scribe of Thoth]

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Max rolled his eyes at Aaron's comment as one of the attendants started handing back all his contraband. What the fuck was Max going to do with that now? The whole point was to cheat on the test, and he'd be damned if he pilfered shit from one of the alchemy labs for nothing. Maybe he could use it to fuck with Aaron more; he was humoring Max's riffing without dismissing him, so the metal mage wasn't out of the woods yet.

"Ha," he drolled in an unamused monotone, "Yep, you got me, we're besties." In all fairness, Eris did say that facetiously before, "If he wanted to shut up for once; who am I to stop him?"

Speaking of besties, it would probably be better to handle the issue now rather than later. Or even better, try to push the burden onto someone else. The mage pulled his newly-retrieved phone out as he paused briefly, idly typing out a warning text to Ismene. He was really hoping he didn't get tasked with any Eris-wrangling in return, but she likely knew Eris' habits the best. If she thought the situation was an issue, it probably was.

I think our mutual friend|

Nope, he couldn't send that one with a straight face. Backspace that.

I think our mutual associate|

Much better.

> I think our mutual associate is fumbling right into Cinnamon's hands rn, ill keep you posted

There. Sent. Maybe he'd get lucky and she could handle the fallout while he got the wipe his hands clean of the whole situation.

"Besides, Count No-Fun-Allowed would've thrown a tantrum and probably used you as an example for proper mage-rearing technique. You can't be that much of a masochist," Max continued as if nothing had happened. He didn't really wanna hear Cinnamon bitch either. His eyes hurt, he was cold, he was tired, and he apparently had some stupid poitical game on his hands tonight; last thing he needed was a headache from some whiny leech. Plus the uneven distribution of weight on his arms was starting to fuck with him; he should've taken his other vambrace off Eris when he had the chance.

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@Hero@Obscene Symphony

[Achronum]

_{Time: 2:26 - The Forest}

Lilie/Ben

The Beast nodded along in agreement, not stopping in his lumbering steps to the sleeping girl. This time only his claws elongated as he drew nearer to her. “How bookish, little bloodsucker. For all your years, wisdom clearly is beyond your scope. It's a wonder your plaything sleeps so soundly.” It’s laughter rumbled across the island. The Beast stopped barely inches away from Ben. "Your move, leach."

Salem/Victor

The paper lantern pulled off the tree with as much resistance as an apple plucked from the boughs. Following the line of stones to the right led to a path through the woods that seemed frequently travelled. The path led to a pit twenty feet deep and smooth on all sides except for the small natural ramp that led down to the center. A single wooden post, just large enough to fit the lantern on top, stood in the center.

On closer inspection, footsteps could be seen in the dirt around the post and cracks and divots in walls of the pit that seemed out of place. The wall across from the post shone with a blue message:

“Ahead a challenge, a puzzle, a fight. Which you find is what you chose but no matter what, find the ” The rest of the riddle was missing. Just a single word but someone had carved a chunk of the earth out where the word should be. There didn't seem to be any bits scattered around either.

Maddie/Amaris

“Of course, Countess. It was just a little water.” Maddie’s voice was even and pleasant as she’d been trained to keep it but inside she couldn’t help the dread bubble in her stomach. She had been trapped in a box with water rising every second and Ari was having fun? Maddie wasn’t entirely sure she would be able to face a pool or a tub of water for a little while after this and the Countess was enjoying herself. Removing the concern of drowning really allowed the Countess to take a different perspective on this because Maddie wasn’t experiencing anything close to fun. She left locked in a leaking box at the bottom of an ocean firmly in the not fun column.

But the Countess wanted to continue and Maddie’s grades encouraged that approach so Maddie guided her over the stream and past the statue, giving it a wide berth. “I hope this next challenge is far less stressful that the last. I’m not sure I could handle another round of confinement again.” Maddie admitted. Hopefully, thus next one was a simple puzzle or even a complex one as long as she could move. The cold outside was barely anything compared to the water but a shiver rolled down her spine that she wasn;t certain she could attribute to the weather.

The path was simple and easy, a welcome reprieve after their last encounter. She didn’t notice any writings in odd places and followed them even if they seemed to deviate her from the actual path. It was slow going for a moment as Maddie carefully maneuvered Amaris through the undergrowth but it was worth it when they stepped into a circle of softly glowing lanterns. She let her spell fall with a relieved sigh. The pressure behind her eyes was growing and she was already looking forward to getting out of this mess.

The clearing itself was rather small, barely larger than her room at the dorms. Sft yellow lights hung from trees over a small curved table with two simple stools in front of it. On the other end, a faceless mannequin stood with what looked like a set of playing cards in its hands. Maddie looked around for any sign of instructions but sighed and cast the Dark Eyes spell again, wincing a little. The tell tale blue lit up across the mannequin’s face.

“Fame and fortune, wonder and glory, at the table all bespoken. But fates are fickle and luck so willful, can you find that which they claimed, given to you in an earlier game? Unless you fear you two to one at which a simple left lets you find the sun.”

“I think… I think the challenge is gambling.” Maddie said after painting the scene for the Countess and explaining the riddle she found on the… creepy mannequin. Whoever thought putting a mannequin in the woods was a good idea clearly didn’t understand horror stories. “But I’m not sure what this thing they gave us in an earlier game was unless it was that token the Serpent left us.”

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_{Time: 3:46 - Exam Staging Grounds}

“You’d find yourself hard pressed to find a vampire of my age who didn’t hold a special regard for illusion magic but no, I don’t hold any such sentiments for them. I’m far more partial to charms.” Ryner laughed quietly.

“Charming, I’m sure.” Varis spoke calmly, forcing his irritation down long enough to have a civil conversation in public. Once he got her behind closed doors however… “On a more pertinent note, I believe these should suffice to guarantee full marks despite our mages failing to discover any more challenges after this.” Varis pulled out the onyx eyes and deposited them in Ryner’s hand. Her confusion turned to disapproval quickly.

“I fail to see how vandalism and destruction of school property count as a reason to give you full marks despite your completion rate, or lack thereof.” Ryner said dryly.

“Technically, each one of those represents a number of full coins equal to the number of students here. I doubt you didn’t consider the unlikely fact that every student pair had a possibility of stumbling across it so I’m sure there are more than enough coins to complete our grades.” Varis explained, holding up a hand when Ryner tried to speak. She narrowed her eyes at him. “It will also go a long way towards convincing me not to bring you in front of the Council for attempted assault, subversion of the Treaty, and willful ignorance of Council authority but perhaps those are better left to private discussion?” Varis counted each charge against her on his fingers but kept a sharp eye out for anyone trying to eavesdrop. Meanwhile, the Ryner’s’ face went blank and a tense silence settled between them. It took a few moments of consideration but eventually, a predatory smile crossed her face.

“An interesting interpretation of tonight’s events. You’ll have our meeting time in the mail tomorrow night. Have a pleasant morning, Count.” Ryner dismissed him with a fake cheeriness. Varis bowed properly to her and made his way to the cars, where he expected the boy to be. Ryner focused her attention on Eris.

“My apologies for the unpleasantness. I expected the Count to have some objections.” Ryner gave him a calculating look. “Were there any issues you wished to discuss or did your time in the test fair better?”

[Hero]

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Well that was awkward as fuck.

Eris blinked very slowly at the scene unfolding before him, shaking his head slightly like he was trying to shake the tension away. He was usually all for low-effort cheating, but he wasn't aware Varis was so brazen about it. Maybe it was because of his own experience with the illusionary princess, but Eris didn't really think mouthing off to royalty was ever a good idea. Either Ryner was excruciatingly patient or the Sinnenodel had something on her--alternatively she might have just been shocked like Eris was.

There was no chance to quip or stop the redhead, but he'd be lying if he said he tried hard. Still, now that he had a second of the princess' time, Eris straightened up slightly. His head might've been all over the place, but he wasn't about to lose the chance to make due on his promise sooner than later. If he was being honest, he would rather not set foot in the princess' office ever again if it could be helped.

"I'm sure your mailbox will be stuffed to the brim in that regard," Eris couldn't help but let that much dryness out before he paused, rubbing the back of his neck. "That being said, I would think he did you a favor on interfering with that particular task--having insight on the other sounds great until their memories get mixed around and things get...confusing..."

He didn't even get the chance to realize what he said before lowering his arm, a little tense as he closed his eyes. No, best to just spit it out and get it over with. Except, despite everything, it still felt wrong. It felt like he was outing some deep, dark secret, something he was never meant to tell, and feelings be damned if he was one to back-stab so suddenly out of the blue. Then again, did he really have any more dignity to lose? There was also the possibility that he was mistaken in the identity of who to pass the message to, but for now, he would take his chances.

After a few seconds of deliberating, he took a quick look around to make sure there weren't wandering eyes or ears. "It seems I had the opportunity to speak to Cydril," He lowered his voice as he spoke, gauging her reaction.

---

Speaking with @Achronum (and getting over the awkward moment like what even was that).

[Obscene Symphony]

Aaron took a sidelong glance at Max’s belongings—the lighter was self-explanatory, but he struggled to understand what Max could do with those little strips of metal that he couldn’t do with his vambraces—before the other attendant returned with his own items. Aaron’s watch was the only thing of his he got back, seeing as he’d left his phone at the dorm, and was innocent enough; conversely, whatever Max had been planning was certainly more discreet than the tale of blatant cheating told by Varis’ pen light, compass and map.

It took almost all the patience Aaron had left not to roll his eyes again. The tantrums and the attempts to lean on the Princess he expected, but did Varis really have so little shame that he’d try to sneak all this through the security check? The sore spots on his arms made it clear that Varis was no great fan of being blinded, fine, but Aaron would have thought the Count would at least try to appear to tolerate it, seeing as the alternative was the possibility of rumours flying that a Sinnenodel needed to cheat to pass a test.

Putting his watch back on and tucking Varis’ things into his coat, Aaron turned his attention back to Max, letting out a humourless laugh that sounded more like a huff than anything. “No, no, I think I’m safe from that particular form of torment,” he only partially joked, opting to leave out the part where he doubted Varis would ever feel the need to use him as an example for anything. Or... not a positive one, anyway.

He looked over to the cars waiting nearby, and back to Max for a moment, deliberating. As much as he wanted to think those illusions were simply exaggerations meant to shock and provoke, there were still things he wanted to ask. But not here; that was better left for a rare moment of privacy, if he ever gave in to his curiosity at all. There were too many ears around, and Aaron was confident that neither he nor Max were in the mood for a reluctant heart-to-heart about inner demons and vampire murder at the moment. Not that there was even much chance of getting an honest answer out of the other mage, anyway.

Suitably discouraged, Aaron cleared his throat. “Well, enjoy your night off, I suppose,” he lamely concluded, nodding to the other mage and setting off for the cars before Varis could beat him there.

_{@Scribe of Thoth @Achronum}

[Bert Macklin]

How rude—there was little need to insult his intelligence or lack thereof. Of course the beast had a point as there must have been something that Ben had missed. Attacking didn't seem right, inaction did not give him anything, and apparently he wasn't bright enough to figure it out intellectually. It was infuriating but he felt genuinely at a loss. What had he missed? If the goal was to humble him than the silly riddle had definitely proven that for all his experience a few sentences stumped him. How embarrassing.

And of course the beast approached him until Ben felt the coffin at his back. Between a rock and a hard place, indeed. He would have to apologize to his mage for failing the challenge and hope it wouldn't put too much of a dent in their already shaky trust. For shame, he thought they had made better progress than this. Knowing when to fold, however, was just as valued. He hoped he would convince the young girl of this. "I choose..." He trailed off, looking back at Lilie.

[Hero]

---

---

Okay, okay, Ben definitely noticed. But the more Lilie watched him, the more she realized he wasn't really doing anything. Not that that was a bad thing, but she was pretty surprised. Maybe she overestimated him? Well, not like she would do much better, she was pretty sure she'd either dive into the waters or hide on the other side of the coffin. There had to be something she could do, but aside from letting Ben know that he was running out of time, she had no idea what she could do. She could use her affinity, but it wasn't like it would do anything to the monster.

Looking down at the sea, she tried not to shudder at the sight of one of those...things. At least Ben wasn't fleeing right into one of those things. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, though, she suddenly got an idea. She had already managed to get the water to reach Ben, and with it rising, she was pretty sure she could get the monster, too! Could she maybe push one of those weird things to the surface?

Seeing as how she literally had nothing to lose at this point, Lilie ignored the conversation as she stared down at the creepy-swimming-creatures. She patiently waited until one of them would decide to swim close to the island, making up her mind. "Okay, okay, I can do this," She verbally encouraged herself. Just push, and pull, push, and pull, and push way harder than usual. If she could consistently send water flying, she was pretty sure if she just did what she usually did in Affinity Mastery with Esi she could do it.

She moved as close to the edge and the underwater thing as she could, trying to time her pushes. She wasn't entirely sure if it was making a big difference, but seeing the thing try to swim away let her know she was doing something. "Sorry!" She apologized, focusing on one big push as she sent it towards the beast.

---

Deeming herself queen of the sea with @Bert Macklin.

[Trainerblue192]

---

---

---

Interacting with:@ReusableSword

Salem couldnt help but agree with Victors assessment. They were both indeed lacking Majesty, but had some in some respects. Neither were masters of anything, unless you counted being a master a digging your own grave at Noila Academy. Salem got off of Victor and walked forward, grabbing the paper lantern that suggested Mastery and holding it in his hand. He grabbed Victors hand and held the lantern up to illuminate their path as they followed thr stone to the right. "It doesn't appear to be much of a maze, there's a path of stones leading us somewhere." Once they reached the pit, he saw a place to put the lantern down. Salem set the paper lantern next to the wooden post, describing the scene to Victor as he attempted to read the new riddle beneath the lanterns soft glow. "Ahead a challenge, a puzzle, a fight. Which you find is what you chose but no matter what, find the...

Thats it. It just cuts off there, it appears to be missing a piece. Though if this is any indication of whats to come I believe we are up for a fight." Salem took a moment to look around, there was no missing piece, no sign of the final word save for a few footprints that showed someone else had been here. "Some assholes decided to vandalize the test. There's shoe prints here to denote another student has come through this test as well. DThey probably failed and tried to ensure any other student who passed it would too." Ok so Victors tracking skills and teachings were definitely useful, but that didnt mean they weren't about to have a long talk at the dorm about murder. "If the last challenge is anything to go by, as soon as i place this lantern where it belongs...we're in for a fight."

[WeepingLiberty]

Amaris Marivaldi

_{Interacting with: Madalyn @Achronum}

“I would also consider it a bonus if the next challenge restored my sight.” Amaris agreed that something less intense might be beneficial for them both. Something similar to their earlier bell selection, perhaps, or a pop quiz from either of their classes. As curious as the Countess was, however, she forced her mind to remain focused as Maddie led her along the path. She had allowed her thoughts to become too muddled in the last challenge and made things more complicated than they had to be. For the time being she would work on staying as grounded as she could.

The Countess found herself taken somewhat by surprise when Maddie indicated that the pair had reached their next point. For the previous challenges and clues, Amaris could vaguely tell that they had entered a clearing from the denser forest paths… This time, though, it felt little different than the path itself. She could just about imagine the pair being drawn in and locked in yet another box and had to fight a groan. Maddie had yet to voice any sort of displeasure at their new setting so Amaris chose to take some solace in that as she awaited a description or instruction from her partner.

“Gambling huh? Sounds interesting. I assume taking the path toward the sun would mean a failure for the exam so we might as well play. You said something about an object acquired in a prior game?” Amaris took a moment to think back to their previous challenges but found herself short on answers. The only objects she could remember were the two bells they had selected, one of which was surrendered to the serpent for their most recent trial.

“What was the token from the serpent? May I feel it?” She asked, wondering if there was a clue in the identity of the object itself. It was strange though, the wordings of the riddles they had faced. There were certain phrases that she struggled to determine the correct interpretation for and this one was no different.

[Achronum]

_{Time: 2:31 - The Forest}

Lilie/Ben

The Beast looked unimpressed at Ben’s lack of response but reached around him nonetheless, sharp claws reaching for the helpless mage. It didn’t take note of the shifting water until it was too late. The creature Lilie managed to wash up shore tumbled across the ground for a second before latching onto the Beast’s foot. The Beast howled as the creature buried rows of teeth in it’s foot and tore. Nothing came out but the Beast screamed still, tearing at the creature. But instead of dying, each piece developed into exact replicas of it.

The Beast thrashed, stumbling as it did, and tripped over its own foot, crashing down over Ben and Lilie. It’s claws drove into Lilie’s face as it tried to catch itself…

And the clearing was back. The harp hadn’t moved but no longer played for them. A jade elephant carving shone faintly in front of it with a little piece of paper. On it, Lilie would find the familiar blue writing:

“With wisdom gained, your path diverged. Respite excitement for paths abandoned lay ahead. The moon’s own travels guide you homeward bound while it’s mirror offers a lesson.”

Salem/Victor

Salem told the GM he would place the lantern once Victor has a chance to react to the scene. PM if you don’t plan a reaction post to what Salem mentioned and I’ll update here; otherwise, the section is written and will be posted as soon as the victor post comes out (unless it is on Monday which then I’ll just post it with the update).

Maddie/Amaris

Maddie could only attribute the Countess’ enjoyment to her lack of sight. Anyone with common sense would be equally creeped out by a faceless mannequin with words on it’s face sitting at an empty table in the middle of the forest. She was personally of the opinion that avoiding more challenges was the better idea. Maddie could clearly use the spell for an extended period of time. A higher grade wouldn’t reflect that any better. Sure, she definitely appreciated the fact that the previous challenge brought some interesting things to light. Like a secret book with her father’s dead name in it. Or the fact this wicked raven was keeping secrets and using her but that surprised her the least. Nice or not, the Noila’s were still vampires and vampires were notorious for their political games.

“Of course, Countess. It’s a blue candle that seems to have glitter in the wax.” Maddie repeated as she passed it over to the Countess, holding back a sigh. Maddie would have to keep an eye on Amaris’ dealings with the Noila’s. If she was naive enough to miss the connection to whatever dealings she has with them, it was likely she hadn’t noticed whatever the danger the riddle was warning her of. Even if they hadn’t had a good relationship, Maddie would have had to intervene. Her vampire’s well being was her own after all.

---

---

_{Time: 3:51 - Exam Staging Grounds}

“Cydril?” Ryner asked, her tone even but barely bothering to hide her skepticism. Her eyes darted past Eris, where a few royal guards were standing and watching Eris’ interactions carefully. “The only individual I know by that name is a legend long past, burnt at the stake in front of every noble centuries ago by the Queen’s hand.” Ryner dismissed Eris’ comment with a wave of her hand but she did soften her look sympathetically. “I know the challenges were strenuous but as a vampire and pillar of this society, you mustn't let your imagination run wild. However if it would put your mind at ease, I’ll have some time shortly after sunset tomorrow to talk through it. I’ll make sure my secretary expects you.” She put her hand on his shoulder in a comforting gesture but the grip on it was with the barely restrained strength of a centuries old vampire. She breezed past to greet another pair that was exiting the forest but her warning was clear.

Meanwhile…

Varis didn’t bother acknowledging the boy as he approached the car, ducking in without a word and snapping at the driver to get moving. The driver pulled away barely a second after the boy shut the door and Varis seethed the entire way back to the noble dorms. The night had been humiliating. He was disgusting, his gloves were destroyed, the boy tried to kill him, and Ryner had laughed at the entire situation. It was utterly disrespectful and nothing could make the night worse short of a call from his Lady. Varis tapped his foot impatiently against the car floor as he stared holes into the driver through the rearview mirror.

It felt like an eternity but eventually they stopped in front of the dorm and Varis swept out of the car and up the path like a hurricane, his anger radiating off him in waves. Once they were inside, Varis turned to the boy. “Clean yourself up. Don’t bother getting dressed yet either. I expect you waiting at the end of your bed by the time I’m ready.” Varis snapped before he disappeared into his room, not bothering to unbutton his clothes and instead just shredding them until they were just tatters on the floor. The boy would dispose of these and whatever he wore that night; burning them would be an excellent catharsis.

Varis stumbled into the bathroom, eyes shut until he fumbled his way through covering the mirror. The sound of the shower coming alive put him a little more at ease and he stepped in immediately, scrubbing as hard as he could at the dirt and grime that covered him. The night had been a nightmare and he was ready to let it go for the rest of his existence but first, he had to use it as a lesson for the boy. His performance was far below his expectations, unsurprisingly, but Varis had expected his physical performance to be at least just subpar not dreadful. Clearly, he’d let the boy handle his own schedule for long enough. He was slacking on his training and that was unacceptable. He’d fix that quickly enough.

[Hero]

---

---

That worked way better than she had expected.

Lilie watched (in horror) the spectacle, amazed at how devilish the creature of the water was. She had been right to have been creeped out by them, their ability to multiply downright frightening. Good thing she was safe from them! Or at least, she assumed she was, because as the beast toppled over onto the count, she suddenly realized just how reckless that was. It was like watching everything in slow motion, the beast's leg getting ripped to shreds, it falling onto both Ben and her body, and its claws reaching out and plunging into her face--that last one in particular wasn't fun to look at.

But as quickly as it happened, everything faded just as fast, and as Lilie blinked, she was back in front of the harp in the forest. Her hands flew to her face, her fingers tingling lightly--she was back in her body! And her face wasn't slashed! Thank goodness, really, those beast's claws looked like they had really done some damage. She let out a huge sigh of relief, patting herself down. All limbs accounted for, too. It looked like Ben came out unscathed, too.

Looking back at the harp, she noticed the small elephant, taking both it and the piece of paper before reacting the spell. “With wisdom gained, your path diverged. Respite excitement for paths abandoned lay ahead. The moon’s own travels guide you homeward bound while it’s mirror offers a lesson.” She read out loud. "Well, we have two challenges down, so now we need at least two more for the complete grade, and four for that extra credit." She carefully pocketed the elephant with the heart, bouncing on her heels as she looked up towards the moon.

Walking back to the vampire, she took a hold of his sleeve, pulling him towards the next challenge. "I'm down for learning. Let's go!" She urged him.

---

Deeming herself a winner with @Bert Macklin.