[IC] Of Blood and Magic

[ReusableSword]

Victor Astorio

The snow was falling just as quiet as ever, the sounds of children finding this snow soon erupted and broke the silence. He raised his glass with a smile to Ryner when she spoke to him. It would seem that his time to enjoy the silence was done but the princess still remained making casual conversation with Ben. There was still some time to relax before the day started so the count stood up and walked up towards the princess and count Benjamin with the half full glass of blood still in his hand.

Victor did not seem to be bothered by the amount of snow that has accumulated on his person. Still, he stepped up to the duo with a smile. “Your highness” he started with a respectful bow of his head. “A lovely evening we are having yes?” the count was in good spirits as the break from school went rather well for him other than Varis coming back but you can’t have everything. He didn’t want to interrupt too much but did continue for a moment after she spoke to Ben, “forgive my interruption but would it be alright if I came and spoke to you about something sometime this week? It is not to terribly important." A lie but he wasn't about to say something direct in front of another noble.

“That is all I did not mean to interrupt, please continue with your conversation.” he still wasn't the best at this talking politely even in casual conversation. instead he continued to drink the rest of his glass silently as his eyes drifted off toward the snowball fights happening down the road.

@Bert Macklin@Achronum

[Hero]

---

---

Eris shook his head at the response, though once again he wasn't sure why he was surprised. It wasn't that he would classify Max as a bum, but good stars was the kid lazy when he had the option to be. He'd have to have that taken care of sooner or later. But as mentioned, he was in a good mood and feeling particularly generous. That and he'd need a little time to accurately come up with a plan. He'd have Ismene draw up a few ideas for him to bounce off of once she finished her own meeting since he was expecting a call after that anyway.

"Excuse you, I happen to know the sun is still exceedingly bright," Eris feigned putting his hand over his eyes, squinting upwards. Right, he did actually know. It was so bright it hurt to look at--was that typical for mortals, too? It took him some getting used to the bright lights and flashes, but even they paled in comparison. He knit his eyebrows in frustration as he realized that the challenge had come up again. He was never going to rid himself of it, was he?

Still, now was as good a time as ever. "No thanks, talking to someone in the shower is only fun if you're in there together," He dismissed the suggestion casually, motioning towards the door. "Pretty sure I saw something at the entrance, though. But more importantly--"

He stopped himself, averting his gaze. What was even the point of asking, anyway? He probably wasn't going to end up getting a straight answer. Despite his better judgment, he continued, "...I'm sure mortals have their own songs about the sun, anyway," He shrugged, staring upwards. "Something that big and bright...it outclasses even the moon and stars."

---

@Scribe of Thoth

---

---

The princess' laughter was charming, though Lilie had to admit the thought of a centuries-old-being learning common phrases definitely entertained her to no end. Still, she felt bad keeping her longer than she should have, so she returned the princess' wave with one of her own before returning to her dorm. The heat warmed her up immensely, the feeling returning to her cheeks and fingers as she hung up her coat. Once she slipped out of her boots, she decided to leave Ben's mail at his study before taking a glance at the clock. Now was a pretty good time to get his drink, too.

Bottled blood had admittedly been the least of her worries but she had to admit that it was still a little gross. Ben had asked her to make sure it was 'chilled' and to leave him a half-filled glass on his desk. The smell had taken some getting used to, but what really made her squirm was pouring it out. It wasn't exactly like juice or wine, but thicker, and it was too weird to watch. Of course, this ironically made her more careful--the thought of cleaning it up scared her more than pouring it, so after fighting through discomfort, the glass was left next to Ben's mail and the rest was put away.

Shivering a touch, she returned to her room in time for her phone to chime at her. Her heart almost stopped and she immediately ran to her nightstand, hastily unlocking it. Instead of getting a sign of life from Aaron, however, it had been Salem. The disappointment hurt her a little, wishing that it had been the blond instead, but she wasn't that lucky today. No, that was mean, she still appreciated getting messages from her friends. Letting out a small sigh, she opened up the message, letting out a small giggle. Yeah, most mages were probably only just now getting up, huh?

> You're so sweet, same to you! No worries, I'm already up!（っ＾▿＾）

Once she sent the message, she double-checked to make sure she hadn't missed anything else, but Salem had been the only one to text her. Maybe Aaron was ignoring her? She did end up spamming him, maybe he got annoyed? As unlikely as it was, she figured even he had his limits. No, it wasn't good to let her imagination run wild. Her grip on her phone tightened for a second before she let out a sigh, placing it down next to her. As desperate as she was for any response, good or bad, all she could do was wait.

---

@Trainerblue192

[WeepingLiberty]

Amaris Marivaldi

_{Interacting with: Madalyn @Achronum}

Curious eyes tracked what Amaris could only assume was her mage as a bundle of cloth shuffled past her toward the kitchen. It was equal parts amusing and concerning to see her partner in such a state, foggy with sleep and doing her best to hide from the pleasant chill of winter. She did suppose the lack of sunlight made the nights harsher for mortal kind but the temperatures hadn’t dropped quite so far… had they? It was difficult for her to tell sometimes as the cold was not only not a problem for her but, instead, a preference. With a small chuckle, Amaris eased up onto her feet and followed Maddie into the kitchen.

“And to you.” She barely questioned the inaccuracy of the statement anymore, having grown too used to it by this point in their relationship. It carried the same sentiment so why argue? “Slept well, I hope?” Amaris quietly placed her glass down on the counter and reached for one of the cabinet’s doors. She withdrew a mug from within and lowered it to the counter for Maddie’s morning coffee ritual. Sliding the item away from her for ease of access to the raspy mage, Amaris picked her own glass back up and continued sipping at it while she observed her partner.

“So is this a new fashion trend I need to be catching up on, because I’m not going to lie to you… it does not look at all comfortable. How can you move around in so many layers?”

[Obscene Symphony]

Varis’ sarcasm stung no less than normal, but it was deserved; so too, the comment on his condition. At that, Aaron could only avoid Varis’ gaze, ashamed that he’d let himself go to such an extent. He’d make a poor guard if unraveling like this was how he responded to stress, yet another item on the endless list of things he’d have to work on if he was ever going to be worth a damn to Varis.

But despite his condition and the million other good reasons Varis had to reject him, he didn’t; but of course, that mercy came with a price. Aaron was taken aback by the extent of the conditions Varis proposed, and his first reaction was, of course, to reject them. A full year without contacting his family, on the heels of one of the worst weeks he’d ever spent with them? After he scolded his aunts and mother for their concern and told them he didn’t want to come back home? What would they think? The Noilas had cast him out, sure, but that wasn’t his family’s fault; they seemed just as confused about the situation as he was. Casting them from his life in even harsher form seemed an undue punishment. Sure, he couldn’t claim to be close confidants with his family the way Salem once described with his own mother: rather, there was an ancient understanding among Starags of guarding information on a need-to-know basis, never letting too much slip. Behaviour was polite and conversation usually superficial, never going into too much detail, never delving too far into feelings or troubles. Those were things to be communicated through knowing looks and telling silences, not words. But despite their tight-lipped nature, his family was something Aaron cherished beyond their name or legacy, and the thought of completely cutting them out for so long was enough to punch a hole through his chest.

And, of course, Varis’ proposal held more than just sentimental consequences. Without any of his former belongings, Aaron would lose the last remaining links to his life before the Academy: the very things that Mr. Deshane and other officials in the Mental program insisted were essential to maintaining his bond with his affinity. Without truly understanding the burdens the program would place on him, Aaron had no way of knowing whether memories alone would prove sufficient. With the consequences of affinity loss so great, could he possibly be up to this challenge? It was a chance, at last—and the only real chance he ever expected to get—to prove himself to Varis and earn a place in his household. It would be his only chance, he was sure, to earn anything; he could see now that his life up to and including the Academy was a series of handouts, prestige and privilege afforded to him by the luck of his birth, not by his own doing. Was his identity, then, just another suit issued by the royal family? Would clinging to memories of his past life really keep him in touch with what formed his affinity in the first place, or would it only tease him with the shadow of someone he could never be again?

The weight of it all was enough to make his head spin, and exhausted as he was, Aaron could hardly follow that logical trail to its conclusion. And now, half-crazy, he had to decide over the course of the night where the trajectory of his life would lead. At least Varis acknowledged the choice as difficult, though “impossible” would have been Aaron’s preferred choice of words. But then again, a year ago he would also have thought it impossible that the royal family would ever dispose of him, so where did that leave him?

Varis’ fingers in his hair pulled him back to the present, his gentle touch and words a sharp contrast to the devastating gravity of what he would ask of him. Out of nowhere, Aaron wondered if this was how Malek felt as a young man, whether this was what he recalled when he spoke of a younger Varis so fondly. Had the stern old man left his own life behind in Varis’ name, too? He had a life of his own now, a family in Eloise, and a position of great power and prestige; for his sacrifices, whatever they were, he had something proud to show for it. What did Aaron have, but the tattered remains of a stranger’s legacy?

The thought almost threatened tears once more, but once more he forced them away; whichever decision he made, he knew he’d need every moment of the forthcoming night to make it.

A moment after Varis finished, Aaron finally nodded. “I understand, Master,” he confirmed solemnly, “Thank you for affording me this opportunity. I will not consider it lightly.”

_@Achronum

[Scribe of Thoth]

---

The sun is bright. Wow, it was just a privilege to watch vampiric philosophy making strides right here in his bedroom. Strange to see a leech romanticizing it, though, even if that was quintessentially an Eris thing to do. Most of them wrote off the sun as 'evil death ball in the sky' and left it at that. Maybe he decided stars were pretty and his monkey brain processed that into 'big star mean big pretty'. Then again, he could've just as easily gotten the idea from a corny soap opera where Mortal A compares Mortal B's eyes to the sun and assumed every human was swayed by the sentiment.

"Yeah, the sun is bright, it's why we don't make a habit of staring directly into it. It's maybe a minor inconvenience while you're driving in the morning or evening, tops," Max explained as he pulled himself out of bed, jostling the dog first when he shifted his legs out and again as he dragged the blanket with him in a lazy attempt to fight off the cold. "And, like, sunburns but I'm not exactly a beach person if you couldn't tell." And if he wasn't before, he definitely wasn't now. Who the hell goes to a beach at night?

"As for stupid songs, I especially like the one about how it melts you fuckers but that one's grown a bit passé in the last couple centuries since the Treaty." Not that he had one in mind, but he assumed mages during the war had to be chanting something while they got victoriously drunk over a pile of ashes. Once he had finally risen to his feet and wrapped his comforter around himself in an adequately warm bundle, the mage arched a brow in Eris' direction, "Am I really the person you should be asking about music, anyway?" He had no idea how the vampire considered 'do humans have dumb nursery rhymes about the sun' the important part of that conversation. Was this Ismene's fault? Did she give Eris some feedback on asking mortals questions rather than extrapolating nonsense from out-of-touch vampiric theorists? Either way, wrong person - Max was neither an aesthete, a musician, or a person with a fondness for empty small talk right when he woke up. And he still didn't know what Eris wanted.

---

@Hero

[Bert Macklin]

Ben was not as surprised as the princess was; more than once a week he would catch the mage already awake at unreasonable hours. It certainly made for interesting conversations into the night when she would be dozing off over her dinner. However, he was understanding once she explained that her schedule was odd even for a human. Her family was often up even before the dawn in order to bake bread properly. A fascinating topic and one he had researched thoroughly after Lilie's explanation had piqued his curiosity. While bread baking required much time, the payoff was considered good to mortals. If the scent was anything to go by then Ben would agree.

"I believe Miss Dionne was already awake when I departed for the library. I thought I would pick up something to read on my own time before the masses were awake," Ben said. "The snow has a way of ruining my best pants, I can agree that I'm not particularly fond of it, either."

A question lingered in the back of his mind regarding what Her Highness was doing, albeit if he had to guess, perhaps she was welcoming the new Sinnenodel representative. His chance to ask was whisked away as Victor approached the pair. As awkward as ever yet he supposed the consistency was appreciated. He hadn't expected the vampire to leave as quickly as he came, however. Ben wondered if Victor even knew about setting up appointments and the like. perhaps he could subtly slip a word to Salem to guide his vampire? But in this time he thought it best to let the princess return as far be it from him to keep her from anything important.

"My sincerest apologies for keeping you here, Your Highness. Don't let me keep you, the weather shows no sign of letting up," Ben said.

[Achronum]

January 7th - 9:10 pm

“No it certainly doesn’t, does it.” She sighed, staring at the cloudy sky forlornly. “I was hoping for a clear evening for the first night of school. I always feel like it’s good luck but I suppose this will have to do.” She gave Ben a wave and turned an inquisitive look to Victor.

“Why not this morning then? I should have some time a little after class ends and I’m always happy to discuss anything with my students.” Ryner offered. “Unless you have something else already planned. If that is the case, I’d be more than happy to have my secretary reach out and find a time that works for both of us.”

---

Varis gave a noncommittal hum as his head tipped back onto the couch. If he gave a damn, he might have found the boy’s concern touching but frankly, he didn’t and so it was just plain annoying. Just another responsibility to deal with because the Noila’s gave the boy all the stress management skills of a toddler. He’d come in with the hopes of a brief nap before the boy all but accosted him, dashing his hopes from the first manic call of his title. Why were mages such finicky creatures?

He supposed he needed to prepare for the night ahead and probably show his face around. He didn’t believe anyone thought him dead after this long of little to no news. Not that he cared; he just needed a distraction for a few nights while he handled Ryner’s request. He’d been overly concerned about the whole thing too. Maybe a few close calls but snatching Perion’s secrets from under his nose was surprisingly simple. Smug satisfaction edged out the annoyance over the boy's melt down. Victor certainly had some interesting secrets hidden away behind that stoic composure. Maybe he could have some fun this semester twisting the big vampire’s arm behind his back.

“Now gather your things. We have appearances to make.” Varis sighed, finishing his blood and leaving it on the coffee table. He forced himself to stand, quietly cursing himself at how sluggish he felt. “And next time you feel like having an existential crisis, do it somewhere I don’t have to hear about it.” Varis grumbled as he headed into his own room, shutting the door firmly behind him as he did so he wouldn’t have to deal with the problem child.

---

Maddie fiddled with the coffee maker, popping in a fresh filter and pouring a generous mound of grounds into it, and gratefully accepted the cup Amaris slid across the counter. The smell of coffee wafted out from the brewer as it bubbled to life and she turned her attention to her partner. “Well enough.” Maddie yawned, covering her mouth as she stretched. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “It was nice not having to deal with everyone clattering around during the day though. I didn’t realize how loud everyone was until I was trying to sleep through it.” She replied through another yawn.

“And, no it’s not a fashion trend. I just hate being cold.” Maddie explained as she headed over to the pantry. Maddie decided cooking was not in the cards for her today and settled on a morning bar. “It’s like wearing a bunch of blankets constantly without having to hold onto them. Plus, it’s super comfy. Lots of soft, plush layers to relax in.” She chuckled, shuffling back over to her coffee as it beeped. She poured it into a mug and brought it up to her nose, inhaling deeply with a pleased sigh. She could give up the sun, the warmth, and whatever else she needed to but if she had to give up coffee, she’d have offered herself months ago.

“How did you break go?” Maddie asked as she leaned against the counter, sipping at her coffee.

[Hero]

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---

Yup, this one was entirely on him. Even so, however, it was a little interesting to learn that mortals didn't usually stare up at it the way they stared at the moon. Well, even Eris knew its brightness probably affected their eyes in some way. He honestly had a few theories and questions in mind, but he was probably better off using the internet or going to the library to study properly. Hm, it'd been a while since he actually went to the library, that actually wasn't a bad idea. He could check out a few other things while he was there, too. The buzz around him had mostly died down, so he was sure he could probably hide in a corner somewhere.

Speaking of hiding, now that Max brought it up, he really was on the paler side, wasn't he? Now that his mage was worth something, it'd probably be worth it to actually invest in him. He had trusted him to look after himself and didn't look like he had lost any muscle mass--but for the most part, he had let the finer details slip him by. And of course, then there was the attitude, but Eris had to admit he liked the idea of a sharp-tongued mage. Antigone was charming and Ismene was polite yet curt, but he didn't really have anyone that knew how to go on the attack the same way Max did. Eris needed to figure out what carrot to dangle to get that to work in his favor.

"Nope," He ended up replying to the question at hand briefly--he wasn't going to bore the kid with the obnoxious ideals of music he had gotten used to since dipping his toes into the Sinnenodel world of arts and music. "Anyway, hurry up and shower, I'm thirsty," He stretched his arms above his head before taking out his phone, sitting down on the bench in front of Max's bed, and skimming over an article he had bookmarked. "Need to inspect you, too, so get some underwear on when you finish."

---

@Scribe of Thoth

[Obscene Symphony]

And just like that, the conversation was over. Aaron promised to consider cutting everything he held dear out of his life, and with that, Varis was on to the next mundane task. Aaron supposed he couldn’t blame him - the world didn’t stop turning for the fleeting struggles of mages - but after the week he’d had, everything coming to a neat little end so suddenly felt like whiplash.

It was enough of a system shock to keep Aaron on his knees as Varis left, the mage staring at the couch cushions in a stupor until the slam of Varis’ door woke him up. Even still, the idea of standing felt like an insurmountable task; exhaustion crept in fast as his former anxiety trickled away, and with both body and heart so heavy, the floor was starting to feel like as comfortable a place as any to close his eyes at long last and forget the world for a while.

But, he acknowledged with a sigh, there was no time for that. While it had been far from his mind all week, class was starting today, and with Varis back, in an instant he was expected to go back to normal. So, though his knees shook as he hauled himself to his feet, Aaron collected the two glasses and washed them, doing his best to fight through the swirling fog in his head and get on with the night.

He got more and more aware of his own sorry state as he put everything away, and by the time he was done he made a beeline for the shower, tempted to burn his clothes rather than hamper them. After a thorough scrub, he even allowed himself a few extra minutes in the hot water, hoping it might bring him back to his senses. The heat was nice, at least; now that he was finally able to relax - by his standards, anyway - it was clear he’d been holding himself stiffly, the muscles in his back and shoulders loudly complaining as they finally started to unwind. He let the water run over his face, almost a little too hot, as if he could wash away the bags under his eyes, but only succeeded in making himself sleepy. Jamming the shower to cold fixed that problem, and he finally stepped out, shivering, but awake.

The rest of his routine took a little longer than usual, too - he’d let his stubble go more than he ever usually allowed, too nervous before to use his straight razor with shaking hands - but after much struggle he finally managed to get himself looking halfway presentable, dressed and waiting in the kitchen for Varis to decide it was time to go. With a few minutes to kill, Aaron finally opened his phone, wincing a little at the inordinate number of missed messages. To his dismay, if not his surprise, most of them were from Lilie - as if he needed yet another reason to feel like garbage. He felt worse and worse as he read them, nights’ worth of totally ignored greetings and questions. He didn’t mean to ignore her; he’d tried to at least give her a few signs of life over the week. But he’d been running himself so ragged that it was easy to lose track of time, and he’d been going non-stop since his arrival at the Academy.

Aaron shook his head at himself, laying his forehead in his hand. There he was again, making excuses for himself. He’d let his imagination get the best of him, throwing aside his other obligations, and that was the end of it. He really owed Lilie an apology, but it felt cheap to do it over text. So, after a few attempts, he decided on the decent course of action.

> Hey Lil, it’s a long story, but everything’s alright. Can we meet before class? I really need to talk to you.

_{@Achronum @Hero}

[Bert Macklin]

Ben gave the princess a final bow before continuing on his way and gave Victor a nod of acknowledgement. An odd duck, that one was. Nevertheless he wasn’t eager to remain outside and entered the Eve dorm wordlessly. He was pleased to find a glass of blood waiting for him in his study as he took a moment to put the cookbook into his desk. He drank his fill as he sorted through the mail and emptied the glass before taking it to the kitchen himself.

Once Ben placed the glass in the sink he walked back to the bedrooms and stopped outside Lilie’s door. It was ajar, showing him his mage looking clearly distressed. He supposed the return was never easy for one unused to this life. He recalled Aaron and Noah’s advice as he brought up the courage to walk into the room.

“Good evening,” Ben said. “Are you ready for class?”

Lilie jumped in place, having completely zoned out. Shoot, she didn’t even hear Ben come in! Letting out a tiny sigh of relief, she hesitated as she looked up at him. Remembering what the princess said, she figured she could cut him a little slack; they really had not had a conversation since their fight. Well, new semester, new chance to be friends again?

“G-Good evening,” She replied, clearing her throat. “Yeah, I’m ready. Thank you for the new bag, I couldn’t really salvage mine.” She gestured towards the dark blue tote sitting on the bench in front of her bed. “I tried, but...I guess everything has their limit.”

“You made sure your backpack lasted far longer than expected. It’s admirable, and it was my pleasure,” Ben said. “Although you can thank my mage, Noah, for the design. I’m afraid I have very simplistic tastes even among nobles, and I believe they are ill suited for a young lady who is likely to keep up with the trends.”

He was glad she had no hostility. There was a part of him that wished he could ask what was on her mind, but it was ill advised. He would focus instead on ‘cheering her on’, as Noah stated. But what else could they speak of? Being concerned about her emotions was important, was it not? Noah stated that Ben had a tendency to be intrusive and he had to admit that he had a point.

“Are you excited for your classes?” Ben asked.

Ben was right, Lilie really did push her poor backpack past the point where she probably should have gotten a new one. But it was out of necessity--it wasn’t like her family could afford buying her a new one anytime she accidentally ripped it. She had to admit, though, she wasn’t surprised to hear he had help--the tote was way too cute for someone like him to pick out.

“Noah, huh?” She giggled. “Is he one of your mages?”

“Yes. He is the current heir of the Luscin lineage, one that my father and myself have cultivated for years,” Ben said. “I believe you and he are the same age. He Awakened recently as well; he is a shadow mage, like his father before him. I think you two will get along well.”

The Luscin lineage? Here Lilie thought that the Starags were the only ones that had that sort of thing, but it looked like she was wrong. At least she’d have someone her age in the future, but she wasn’t really sure how they’d get along--she figured he might be like Aaron, but that was just her assumption. Then again, she didn’t really like thinking about what would happen after the academy.

Instead of continuing, though, she decided to change the subject. “Hopefully. But yeah, I’m always excited for more magic,” She told him. She paused for a second, remembering the princess’ words. “Um...I never apologized for accusing you of sabotaging me. I’m really sorry about that.”

Ben was surprised at the apology as he felt he was the one that needed to apologize. However, if he did now, he would be putting them at the same level. Aaron warned him that he wouldn’t be doing Lilie any favors if he remained gentle. He needed to remain firm, but fair.

“Apology accepted. Worry not about it,” Ben said. “However, I would like to reiterate that I do have your best interests in mind. Please, believe me.”

Lilie stared up at Ben, a little surprised. Did he feel bad? Well, an apology would be nice--his words were pretty much etched into her head at this point--but maybe she was expecting too much. Oh well, it wasn’t like they had to be super best buddies or something. She had Salem for that. All they had to do was get along, and she was pretty sure she could manage that.

So she nodded, giving him a small smile. “Okay, I will,” She told him.

Ben mimicked her nod as he walked to her, patting her head. He was glad she was in agreement; their time together would go much smoother this way. For the moment he would leave her be as despite asking if she was ready, he still had to prepare his own bag for the night. He wished he had some of her enthusiasm even if it only extended to magic; he never was the studious type unless it actually interested him.

[Hero]

---

---

Lilie wasn't really sure why Ben pat her head like she was some kind of dog, but she guessed it wasn't supposed to be demeaning. She did, however, go to her bathroom to fix her hair--her dumb brother liked to pat her head too. Was that just a tall person thing? Or was it just because she was short? No, it had to be the former, she was an average height, everyone else was a giant towering over her. Her mom and dad did it a lot, too, now that she thought about it. As if she had another reason to be annoyed at her lack of height!

As she yanked the scrunchie off and let her hair spill over her shoulders, she pulled a brush through it before perfecting her usual ponytail, letting her mind wander. She didn't really have any expectations for the new semester, but she wondered if maybe she should. Then again, it hadn't started the way she wanted to at all. Yesterday was just spent worrying over Aaron and seeing old friends, but it felt weird. Helena definitely got into her head--well, she was always in her head, but things were different with her now. While going home felt the same, coming back here was a little easier. She didn't really miss her town anymore like she used to. Maybe she could finally get used to mage life?

Staring at herself in the mirror for a second, she looked herself up and down. A cream-colored turtleneck and a brown skirt so long she could probably wear it as a dress and no one would notice.--no matter what anyone told her, she still felt like a grandma. Maybe she could make things a little different? Touching the Eve pendant, her eyes flickered to her hair, and an idea came to her. Returning to her closet, she searched through the accessories before finding a brown scarf. Folding it, she tied it around her ponytail, making a makeshift ribbon before inspecting herself in the mirror. Aha! One little touch and she actually looked closer to her age!

Her phone beeped again, and her heart stopped. No, last time she got excited, it had been Salem, so it was probably him replying. That or Max found a new meme to show her. She put on a little more perfume before returning to her phone, plopping herself down on her bed and promptly throwing aside every thought as she let out a massive sigh of relief. So Aaron was okay! Thank goodness, she really did convince herself that something happened. She did frown a little, getting a little nervous at the last part. Was that a good 'I need to talk to you' or a bad one? No, the bad one was 'we need to talk', right? This was good? Hopefully?

Either way, she needed to respond. Or maybe she should wait a little so she didn't come off too desperate? Then again she had spammed him so not coming off as desperate was probably too late. She tried to think of what to say, but there wasn't much she could since he wanted to talk in person. Clucking her tongue, she figured she'd go with something simple and cheery like nothing was wrong.

> okay!

Was that really all she could come up with?! Letting out a groan, she tried to force out another message. Still, her anxiety got the best of her and she ended up apologizing.

> I'm sorry for all the messages, I hope I wasn't too annoying

Okay, that took a depressing turn. But she could salvage this!

> see you soon!

Lilie stared intently at the last message, the three words striking through her very core. "...'see you soon'? Why? Why am I so lame?!" She whined, dropping her phone onto the bed as she buried her face in her hands.

---

@Obscene Symphony

[WeepingLiberty]

Amaris Marivaldi

_{Interacting with: Madalyn @Achronum}

Amaris chuckled again as she continued to observe her partner. She could understand the sentiment of hating a particular environment, though their preferences seemed to be complete opposites. While Maddie bundled up to avoid the cold of winter, Amaris shrunk away from the heat of warmer months. The countess did find herself feeling brief concern, however, as she realized it was probably unhealthy for her partner to have to bundle up quite so severely while still inside the dorm; something she would have to remember to look into later.

“I see. Well, so long as you’re comfortable and it poses no distractions, I suppose there’s no harm in morphing into a walking blanket.” She teased, taking another sip from her own morning meal. Her expression faltered somewhat when asked about her own break, though the break in relaxation was only momentary as Amaris considered how to best answer the question.

“It was… interesting. A bit more hectic than I was counting on, but I suppose it was just as good for the house as it was for me. The place gets too quiet if you let it.” Amaris shook her head gently as she smiled. “One of the perks to living in a vampire household, though, is that everyone is more or less tuned to your sleep schedule.” Lifting her glass in a mock cheer, the countess drained it of the rest of its contents and set to cleaning up after herself.

“Speaking of schedules…” A quick peek at a nearby clock confirmed her suspicions as it ticked ever closer to the start of the academic night. “We should consider leaving soon. It wouldn’t look very good if we were late to our first day of the new classes. We can catch up on the way, it will help take your mind off the weather.”

[Scribe of Thoth]

---

Max's face contorted into a scrunched up mess at Eris' words, as if the leech had shoved a sour candy in his mouth rather than simply mentioned an inspection. What the fuck did that mean? The sexual connotations he was ascribing to the statement were probably more imagined than real, given Eris' sudden interest in his magic, but did the blond have to make it sound so fucking creepy? What did his appearance have to do with him being a special little Taldrin collector's piece anyway; it wasn't a tangible quality. Ugh, he thought this was all over after Feliks got ahold of his wardrobe, what more did Eris want?

"Fine, but you better turn the heater up before I get out of the shower if you expect me to trounce around naked for your amusement," Max snapped begrudgingly, "And if you make it weird, I'm throwing the fridge at you." He knew what was coming; the moment Eris had figured out... whatever the hell he needed to figure out by eyeing him like a piece of meat, he'd start teasingly prodding and commenting until he got the explosion he wanted and then dance off to class while riding the attention high. Max had no choice but to play the game too, if he wanted to be able to look himself in the mirror afterward, anyway.

He dropped the blanket he'd been wearing like a cape on the floor with little regard and marched into the bathroom. He wasn't in any rush to make the shower quick to begin with, but now that Eris had told him to hurry up, he was sure to take extra time. The warmth was nice, and it wasn't until the whole room had gotten nice and steamy that Max even considered turning the water off - in no small part because he knew he'd be standing there for a while and he wanted to keep the cold at bay for as long as he could. Plus, if all the moisture made Eris cut the feeding short because it was messing his hair up, even better.

He threw on a clean pair of underwear, as requested, and cracked the door just enough to let his head poke out. "Alright, pervert, I'm done. Get in here," The mage shouted across the dorm before slamming the door shut again. He did a quick once-over of himself in the mirror as he tussled his hair into its usual careless bedhead with a comb. Everything looked... normal. Nothing Eris could complain about, anyway. Unless the leech was expecting Max to look like a supermodel by the time of his actual public debut, which sounded like a lot of work and a miserable diet of tasteless crap. Maybe the tiny bit of mass he'd put on lugging around that armor for the past few months would placate the vampire for now. No, this was probably just Eris wanting to catalogue his newfound gem before he put it on display. Ugh, now he sounded anxious. That was a weak person word. Expectant? No. He just wanted to know what the fuck Eris wanted, and whether or not it involved effort. This was probably just some weird new way for Eris to mess with him.

---

@Hero

[Achronum]

January 7th - 9:30 pm

The school night crept up quickly after that, the quiet night completely obliterated as the student body came out in full force. Students hurried to their first class as they rushed to escape the cold, the warm buildings a blessed relief from the winter night that was only getting colder. And as usual, more than one fire mage accidentally set themselves on fire trying to ward off the chill.

Varis permitted himself a few moments to sink onto his bed, cradling his head in his hands. It was just go, go, go these nights and frankly Varis wanted a break. Even if it was just one morning he could lock himself away and forget about everything for a moment but from home to boy to school with nary a pause in between. He hadn’t imagined it’d all be quite so demanding fifty years ago but he supposed it was the price of power. He shoved himself off the bed, leaving his pity party behind as he did, and threw all the belongings he believed he’d need for the day into his briefcase. He double checked his schedule on his phone, confirming the Arena was his first stop of the day, and swept out of the dorm once the boy was finished. He ought to have hurried the boy along a bit more but with how awful he looked, Varis was certain he needed all the time he could get.

Varis grabbed his umbrella and waited for the boy to be ready, checking his schedule to make sure he knew where he was going. His first class was going to be in a training room at the Arena. Fantastic. Just where he, a Sinnenodel, wanted to spend his night. Thankfully, he expected an easy class. Every vampire could do this instinctively, it wasn’t like it was hard. He rolled his eyes, barely acknowledging the boy once he finally finished, and locked the dorm behind them, taking off into the cold night.

---

“Ugh, I guess you’re right.” Maddie sighed as she took another long sip from her coffee. “Give me a moment and I’ll be ready.” She made her way back into her bedroom, happy to slip under the water of a warm shower for a few minutes. Her dallying in the kitchen cost her more time with that precious warmth than she cared but she didn’t need to wash her hair today so she could afford to be quick.

And quick she was. She’d perfected the last minute showering routine after years of procrastination (she just hated getting out of bed any earlier than she had to) and fifteen minutes later she was ready for the night. A long winter skirt with warm comfortable pants underneath, snow boots, a sweater and a jacket, mittens, a scarf wound tight around her neck, and a pair of earmuffs later, she rejoined Amaris in the living room with her bag thrown over her shoulder. “Okay, ready as I’ll ever be.” She sighed, a preemptive chill running through at the thought of the icy winds waiting for them beyond the door.

---

Mage Classes

Aaron

Lighties for Lyfe!!!

As was the usual protocol for snow and rain, Aaron's affinity class moved from their private clearing in the woods to a small classroom in Rose Hall. It wasn't grand but Professor Daun outfitted it with little fairy lights so his students would have plenty of light to pull from without struggling against the full power of the fluorescent lights. They twinkled against the darkness as the only sources of light and Professor Daun took the opportunity to relax, sipping at his tea as little motes of sunlight danced around his fingertips.

The center of the room had changed. Where originally it was just a chair and a table for Aaron to put his things down on, now there were two hula hoops ten feet away from each other. An intricate maze of lines traced the ground between them, creating a series of diamonds between them. Various animals, from dogs to cats to birds to butterflies, were painted in the center of these diamonds.

Lilie

Affinity 102 would be held in the same ballroom as the Revel's most notorious party was, overlooking the ocean as the snow dusted over the agitated waves. Three large metal barrels of water sat in the center of the room, several paces apart. Eri laughed into her phone, the sound bouncing jovally around the ballroom as she chatted away in another language excitedly. She spoke with her whole body, hands flying as she gestured wildly and paced the length of the room.

Another man, tired and worn looking, stared blankly out across the sea. In sharp contrast to Esi's comfortable sweatpants and tank top, he was dressed in a full suit, tailcoat long enough to brush his ankles. He stayed as still as a vampire, barely breathing, except for his index finger that tapped against the underside of his watch nervously. Esi hung up her phone call and clapped him on the shoulder, causing him to jump and clear his throat. She smiled kindly.

"Welcome back, Bar. I know it's been a rough time for you." She rubbed his back comfortingly, giving him a comforting rub on his back. "It hasn't been the same without you." The man gave her a weak smile and straightened, fixing his shoulders and giving his reflection a sharp nod. It was time to focus on the present and he turned sharply as the ballroom doors opened.

Max

Clickity Clackity, Roll for Attackity

Affinity 102 for the metal mages was held in the Onyx Hall. The room itself was reasonably sized, a little larger than a student’s dorm, but was for the most part empty. Nearly everything had been removed from the room, from the chairs to the computer and screens, but a long table holding various blocks of metal in a circle around a green pyramid the size of a soft ball remained. Professor Xander Artiae flipped through a few documents in a large binder labelled “Group Studies”. He was dressed far more heavily than before, a sturdy winter coat with fur lining wrapped tightly around him despite the warmth in the room. Heavy winter gloves replaced the metal gloves he usually wore.

Meanwhile, another student leaned on the far end of the table, scrolling aimlessly on his phone. His clothes were neat and clearly ironed, not a single wrinkle in sight, if not a bit gaudy, a clashing combination of vibrant colors despite the season. Far too much hair gel kept black hair in place, practically gleaming in the fluorescent lighting, and his chubby cheeks had a faint red tinge to them, as if someone had pinched them recently. He absently tugged at the heavy leather collar around his throat, the usual metal clips replaced with plastic zip ties, as he waited for the class to start.

Salem

A Rose by Any Other Name

Greenhouse 4 was, as usual in the early evening, a chaotic mess of dirt and seeds and water everywhere. Students, teachers, and researchers alike whirled around in a strange frenzy, chatting back and forth as they cared for each of their individual projects. People ducked under crates and dodged flying thorns as someone accidently prompted a spined hylicamp to explode.

Just another day in the Academy Greenhouse 4, the developmental lab for organic defenses.

The instructional section of the Greenhouses were safely locked behind steel doors, though one thorn managed to fly through the cracks as it swung shut behind Professor Leo. He ducked it and chuckled as it lodged itself firmly in the wooden shelves across the room. Shelves dominated the room with every size pot and gardening implements crammed haphazardly with no rhyme or reason. Several rickety tables stood scattered around the room, each one with a large pot of dirt, a tray of rose cuttings, a watering can, two pairs of work gloves, and a dowel. Professor Leo picked up one and twirled it between his fingers. He glanced down at his robes, splattered with dirt and fertilizer. Should he have cleaned up for class? Maybe but the sooner these little seedlings get used to it, the better. It's their future after all!

Five other students slowly made their way in, more than one sporting bruises and scrapes. Professor Leo only laughed and gestured at the nearest table for everyone to gather round.

---

Vampire Classes

Ben, Amaris, Victor

Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks

“Welcome, welcome my little Chickadees!” Dame Patel’s voice boomed across the hall as she stood at the podium of the lecture room. It was the same room as her other class, Human Psychology, so she didn’t even bother leaving between classes. Her mage sat at the computer as usual, dutifully setting up the screens behind her. Each screen showed a different image- The left displayed a computer with an email account pulled up, the center a stock photo of a vampire speaking into a small bulb dangling on a cord that hung from their ear and was attached to a walkie talkie clipped to their belt, and the last displayed two vampires, one on a phone in the middle of a call and the other typing out a text message. “I hope you came ready to learn because I certainly came ready to teach!” She beamed as she spoke, clapping her hands together.

“In case you didn’t take me your first semester for your required Human Psychology course, I am Dame Anika Patel, Wolfsbane of the Celestial Court, but Dame Patel works just fine for you darlings! I see a few familiar faces and I’m doubly excited to see you all! We’re going to have a fantastic semester here!”

Varis,Eris

Blind, Deaf, and Dumb: What Fun!

The Back to Basics class was set in one of the practice rooms of the Arena, nestled the furthest away from the sound of the training classes going on above ground. The floor was padded with various training stations around the room and a mirror ran the length of the far wall. A number of weapons sat on racks on the wall, bolted under lock and key, and a rather uninspiring vampire stood in the middle of all of it. She was skeletal looking, eyes sunk in and milky, but she stood with the false ease of a well trained soldier. A only sneered in contempt as the other vampires came filing in and scoffed once they seemed to settle into position.

“Let’s make this clear real quick. Every one of you shitstains already met my mage and he made it clear that none of you are worth shit here. Noble, common, actor, literal dog shit- I don’t give a fuck. You’re all a bunch of maggots to me and if you step so much as one toe out of line, I’ll kick your ass across campus and then back again.” She snapped, eyes zeroing in on Varis. “And if anyone thinks that using your little eye fuckery is going to get them out of this, I’ll gouge your fucking eyes out, understood? Glad we’re all on the same page.”

“Now by the end of this class, you’ll be switching senses like a mortal fucking breathes. No thought, only instinct. Effortless and easy. And what better way to do that, that robbing you of all the other ones? Now get in pairs or whatever. I’ll be distributing knives, blindfolds, and earplugs soon.” She commanded.

[Hero]

---

---

Getting Max to grumble less and stop trying to beat him with the towel rack was going to have to be his next priority.

Rubbing the back of his head a touch, Eris didn't really have too many expectations for the Back to Basics class. If he was being honest, it wasn't so much that he really wanted to relearn sensory basics, but getting his ass handed to him by Dame Patel at the time had started to wear on his nerves. He had figured that despite his training, he never really honed his natural abilities--what was the point in learning how to swing a glaive if he wasn't taking full advantage of his reflexes and senses? Sure, he knew how to make his footsteps disappear to sneak up on people and shapeshift, but that was pretty much it.

That and he was kinda hoping it would help his extracurricular lessons with Dame Patel not be as humiliating as usual.

Either way, he was pleasantly surprised to find Varis alongside him. A flirty joke, an exasperated eyeroll, and it was back to their usual beats. Not entirely, of course, but Eris liked it that way. Unfortunately, he couldn't even bask the return to their routine as a much more pressing issue appeared before them. As much as Max made fun of him for his evening wakeup routine, Eris was reminded that it existed for a reason. The things that could happen to your skin as the years passed were terrible. Did this woman never hear of moisturizer? Her eyes were so sunken in he was sure he could classify her as a walking skeleton. Disgusting, she was worse than some mages!

Eris avoided rolling his eyes as she spoke, too preoccupied with trying to think of how he could get away with taking a picture so he could put it on Max's mirror to show him how bad he would get if he didn't follow Eris' skin regimen. That said, it was flattering to hear he was a step above literal dog shit, though at least he didn't look like shit. By the stars that face was going to haunt his nightmares in the morning, wasn't it? The only silver lining was that he was very much interested in the promise of having his abilities come naturally to him. He would have rather learned from someone who wasn't a complete eyesore, but he supposed it was bound to happen. Not everyone could be as beautiful as he was, sadly.

At the mention of pairs, Eris turned to the redhead, clicking his tongue. "Knives, blindfolds, earplugs...I'd make a joke but it's too easy," He'd spare Varis that much, instead focusing on him. "You look like you've encountered something unpleasant."

---

@Achronum

[Scribe of Thoth]

---

Max needed to know who to talk to about getting towel racks that were both easily removable from the wall and sharpened to a fine point at the end for staking vampires. Surely some avant-garde designer leech was trying to make home defense in the bathroom trendy.

The classroom was decidedly not what Max had been expecting. Creepy esoteric looking shit as the centerpiece of the room was practically a staple around here, even if all the aligned metal pieces were probably part of another elaborate building block puzzle. The pyramid might do something funky, though, so the brunet made a note to keep his eye on it if its purpose in the inevitable upcoming exercise never got adequately explained. More pressingly, there was nowhere to sit. It looked like some war table everyone in a movie would stand around while General Metalhands over there explained how he was going to save the day with some risky maneuver that he played out using the metal blocks while the rest of the cast argued. Okay, maybe exposure to Eris was getting him a bit too into the entertainment media mindset. Point was, this looked like a room set up for a very specific demonstration, not a place he'd be taking lectures, even if there was a sizeable practical component to the class.

The other student seemed to have the right idea, leaning on the table nonchalan- Greta's smouldering ashes, what the fuck was that guy wearing? The outfit was so garish it actually took Max a moment to even notice the collar. His vampire must be a piece of work, or this clown was a complete pervert, or both. If that thing was his fucking focus too, Max might actually end up getting kicked out for laughing. He was barely managing to bite his tongue as it was, if only because he was pretty sure Professor Artismo or whatever his name was could fold him like a pretzel right now and he didn't want to be on the bad side of people who could do that. Still, if Rainbow Retriever had an ugly voice or something on top of that, Max was gonna have to take his chances with the punishment.

No, he couldn't wait until later. Maxwell Alderman may, at times, be polite, but he was never nice. Max lifted his phone with the bare minimum level of discretion and angled his camera at the walking fashion crime, making sure to feature the collar prominently in the shot. He couldn't just not laugh at this guy, even if it had to wait until later. But then there was the question of who to send this gem of a picture to. Salem was probably the easiest to talk shit with, even if that weirdo might actually consider the color scheme viable. Still, the guy was literally wearing a collar. The joke wrote itself.

> Attached: 1 IMG
> Look Aaron joined the circus

Who else? Lilie wasn't exactly mean, but everyone intuitively had to know this was funny. If she didn't get the joke, she was blind. He should probably exclude the Aaron angle though, since they're in like-like now or whatever.

> Attached: 1 IMG
> Bruh

Oh, and Max couldn't forget the man himself. Aaron would probably send back a dry response but collar aside, he'd be agreeing. Maybe with a new leech he'd learn to stand up for himself - Max was practically doing him a favor here by giving the blond a snapshot of his life ten years down the road.

> Attached: 1 IMG
> Thought you dyed your hair for a sec smh

Ah, hell, might as well send it to Eris too. Y'know, as an afterthought. They weren't friends or anything. Plus, if the initial shock didn't outright kill the leech, his commentary would probably be better than anything Max could come up with himself.

> Attached: 1 IMG
> If you get a call about me bullying another student later I'm just letting you know rn it was because of this
> Ik you understand

Max tucked his phone away politely after he'd finished his bout of acting like a high school girl and turned his attention toward the professor. "They couldn't arrange for, like, plastic chairs or something?" He questioned absentmindedly. It wasn't exactly a leap to assume the reasoning why everything had been removed from the classroom was because they all had metallic components and nobody wanted a student to accidentally send a chair flying during a lesson or something. Not that Max was complaining about less objects to manage his magic pouring into, but they could at least give him something to sit on, especially if Artiae intended on giving them a decent workout.

---

@Hero@Trainerblue192@Obscene Symphony _{Everybody gets a text today!}

[WeepingLiberty]

Amaris Marivaldi

_{Interacting with:}

The journey from the dorms to the academic hall was fairly relaxing for the countess. Gentle snowfall filtered out all of the extra day to day sounds, leaving a satisfying crunch beneath each footfall. Even the air itself felt refreshed. It was crisp and light and unburdened by humidity. If anyone asked her, Amaris might have agreed that it was a perfect evening. She did, however, regret that her partner clearly did not share her sentiment. Perhaps looking into warming up the dorm a bit more might be called for to keep her mage comfortable.

When it came time to part ways with Maddie, Amaris smiled and wished the girl good luck for her classes before continuing on her way to the first block of the evening. Based on her schedule, first up would be Introduction to Communication with Dame Patel. It was certainly a name she had heard before but hadn’t quite had the pleasure of a face to face introductions. If memory served, she had been one of the professors handling Human Psychology as well, however Amaris had been assigned to another classroom for that particular course. She was looking forward to seeing what manner of instructor the Dame would be.

Before she stepped into the classroom, Amaris took care to release persistent snowflakes from her hair and swipe the stragglers from her shoulders. The downside to nonexistent body temperatures was surely the need to manually remove snow at times, but she didn’t mind one bit as it gave her the moment she needed to ease her nerves. Once settled, Amaris entered the classroom and found her way to her seat. There were a few faces she recognized sprinkled among the many she did not, unfortunately, very few had names she could recall right out of the gate. Seeing as their schedules were more elective this semester, Amaris couldn’t help but wonder if she would be seeing any of the other nobles alongside her for the course; a feeling that was quickly chased by the dread of potentially starting her days around Varis. Not wanting to spoil her good mood, Amaris decided to focus on the graphics being displayed until her attention was demanded by the presence of Dame Patel.

The Dame’s voice rang loud and clear across the hall as she introduced herself to the class. She seemed nice so far, though anyone who earned a moniker such as ‘Wolfsbane’ was likely to be more than they appeared. This only served to heighten the countess’ intrigue as she set her full focus to her new instructor.

[Bert Macklin]

If I were to have my own title, what would it be, I wonder?

The thought came at a comical timing right after Dame Patel introduced herself to the class. Ben would have to admit that the impression he had on the vampire wasn't entirely positive. Once, he had caught her name out of Eris when he had declined an offer for some sort of happening—Ben hadn't cared for the conversation so he had not paid complete attention⁠—and he distinctly remembered her title. 'Dame' was not one of the traditional titles he was used to hearing but it was clear that this woman was someone of importance. Unfortunately much like Viscountess Vasiliev it would seem his impression was tainted by the actor. There was a thought in the back of his mind that begrudgingly admitted Eris' network was more varied than his, but he would dismiss it. Said actor was nowhere in sight and thus was this place a happy one with no need to bring him even to mind.

Dame Patel was interesting even if she did associate with Eris. She was quite perky for her age for one. Title aside, her enthusiasm was infectious and she used the most curious nickname. Chickadees were small birds equivalent to finches but it did not seem to be used negatively. Perhaps it spoke of how she saw them or maybe it was meant to be a symbol of her status as the educator and how she viewed the younger generation. As they would look to her for guidance he supposed it fit. Still, 'Wolfsbane' and 'chickadee' were awfully odd to be coming from the same person.

Nonetheless Ben made sure to pay careful attention. He had failed his own personal task at mastering his touchphone and had only accomplished taking photos and videos. It was useful at times but when it came to communication he had yet to trust the screen and his own taps in order to properly send a messaged. He wished the phones had keys that popped out like his typewriter. Even his old phone, however, was only barely utilized. Noah and Geoffrey often sent him 'voice mails' and 'voice memos' that he found increasingly useful. And so he decided on this class in order to better himself. He hadn't expected the computer image, but the idea of using a fancy laptop was an exciting prospect to him indeed.

[Obscene Symphony]

Before Class

_{Collab with @Hero}

He was pushing his luck as it was, but Aaron hesitated just a moment more before leaving his room, staring at where he'd hung Dawn on his bedpost before his shower. Would it be poor taste to put it back on? Varis wanted him to take the night to consider losing it for an entire year—possibly longer, he knew Varis wasn't fond of the thing from the first—so maybe omitting it tonight would make for a show of good faith. But on the other hand, Aaron was still a little jumpy. Planned or not, Varis’ disappearance crystallized just how thin a line the Count walked, demonstrating how vulnerable he really was. That wasn't even to mention that after the Revel debacle, Aaron didn't trust the campus guard as far as he could throw them, and even if he couldn't accompany Varis all night like he'd have liked to, he didn't feel comfortable wandering around unarmed like nothing happened.

His second of indecision felt like an hour, but finally he grabbed his scabbard from the bedpost, securing it to his hip as he emerged from his room.

To Aaron’s surprise (and embarrassment), Varis didn't seem to take a moment to himself this evening, even after all that happened. Instead, he was waiting impatiently in the foyer—exactly the reverse of how things should be, Aaron noted sourly. But it was just one final gaffe on top of this whole disaster of an evening, and he pushed past it, tight on Varis’ heels as the pair of them swept out the door.

His phone buzzed as he and Varis parted ways, and he exhaled a sigh of relief to find it was Lilie, still somehow receptive to him. A pang of guilt hit him at her apology, though. If either of them should be apologizing, it was him—that was precisely why he wanted to talk to her. A glance at the clock told him he still had a bit of time before class; he was headed to Rose Hall, hopefully not too far from where Lilie was going. He tapped out a quick text to that effect, arranging to meet Lilie at a spot pretty near halfway between their respective destinations.

The buzz of her phone stopped Lilie in her tracks and she took a second to fish it out of her pocket. Peering at Aaron’s message, after glancing at the time, she realized she still had a little ways of meeting where he had suggested. Trying to hurry along as quickly as she could without slipping, the girl ended up running there, apologizing to the few she nearly ran into. By the time she reached Aaron, she was a little out of breath. Still, the struggle had been worth it to see that familiar face at last, her heart skipping a beat and her cheeks warm as she gained a huge smile. It was such a relief to see him that she forgot herself completely, rushing over to him without worrying how silly she probably looked.

“H-Hi—oof,” She didn’t realize she had to stop to catch her breath, taking a second to remember to breathe as her legs complained. Even that couldn’t stop her smile, though she did need a little time to say something. “Hi! Hello—I—I’m here!” She announced, straightening up and clearing her throat. There was so much she wanted to say now that they were together again, so many things she couldn't wait to tell him and just the idea of talking before class was enough to make her giddy. As she got a proper look at his face, however, her expression fell a little. He looked completely exhausted, like he hadn’t slept in days and would probably keel over if he got pushed over. If she had a comfortable pillow and blanket he would probably curl up and just sleep for the entire week.

Her previous questions gave way to only one: “Are you okay?” She asked worriedly.

Lilie didn’t keep Aaron waiting long, and he felt a little giddy at her approach, the smile on her face warming him from the inside out. After the week he’d had, he’d almost forgotten how lucky he was: Lilie was here, she was happy to see him, she reciprocated his feelings—it was almost too good to believe. Even as tired as he was, he couldn’t resist a wide smile of his own, feeling like a second weight had been lifted off his shoulders just at the sight of her.

He noticed her change in expression, but wasn’t fazed—he’d done his best to make himself presentable, but in the state he was in, he still expected several more looks like that tonight. Her question went largely ignored—once more a lump in his throat stifled his voice—and instead he simply gave a cautious look around, making sure no one was paying attention to them too closely before gathering Lilie into a hug, resting his chin on the top of her head.

“I am now,” he breathed, a little emotional despite himself. The relief of having Varis back unharmed coupled with the joy of seeing Lilie again was all too much too soon, and he pressed Lilie’s face tighter to his chest, blinking away the hints of tears that threatened at the corners of his eyes.

After a moment, once he’d gotten ahold of himself, he released Lilie from the hug, holding her out a little so he could look at her. “I’m so sorry I ignored your messages,” he apologized, his sincerity clear on his face. He heaved a tired sigh, shaking his head. “I didn’t mean to, I’ve just—I mean, I was going crazy, but everything is fine now, Master is safe and… everything is fine.”

He took another long breath, caught off guard by how flustered he was. It might not have been the whole truth—he did have a pretty big decision weighing on him—but they could talk about that later.

Lilie was surprised by...well, everything. For one, as silly as it sounded, she really wasn't expecting such a tight hug. She always knew Aaron was bigger than her, but it was surprising to see how easily she fit with him, his chin on her head making her feel safe and protected. Was that too corny? Yeah, it was, but she'd be lying if she said she didn't enjoy it. He was warm, and while there wasn't any hint of lavender like the last time they were close, she had to admit she didn't mind.

Still, her flustered expression didn't last—after all, him hugging her wasn't the only surprise. Like her Papa always said, if it was too good to be true, then it was. And apparently, Varis Sinnenodel was alive. No wonder Aaron looked so ragged, he was probably already getting berated or punished or sleep deprived. But what surprised her the most was how happy he seemed about it, like he was genuinely happy that the count was alive.

Even with that in mind, however, Lilie just shook her head. It wasn’t any of her business, and he seemed so relieved that she felt like she didn't really have a say in that. "It's okay. I understand," It wasn't a complete lie, but it didn't matter. As she held his hand, once again letting the giddiness take over as she smiled up at him, all that mattered was that Aaron was with her now.

"You can make it up to me," She couldn’t help but tease him. "Like...maybe with dinner tonight?"

Aaron’s smile persisted, letting out a chuckle at Lilie’s comment. Dinner, like a date? Of course like a date, what else would she mean? They’d already kissed—according to movies, they were like, two steps past ‘date’ already. It was all pretty foreign to him, to be sure, but he was happy to follow Lilie’s lead.

Except one minor problem. “I’m afraid I don’t have any money to take you out,” he chuckled, patting his jacket. He didn’t have the requisite permissions either, but that was beside the point. He squeezed her hand, offering an alternative. “But I’d be happy to meet you at the dining hall tonight, if that would suffice.”

Aaron was so cute that Lilie was honestly flattered at his invitation. He didn't have to take her anywhere, she was just ecstatic that they were together again. Though honestly he could have suggested anything and she would have agreed. Just as she was about to agree, however, she stopped herself, eyes widening as she got a better idea.

"Or I can cook for you!" Lilie told him excitedly. "I mean, Ben’s never—Count Benjamin is never around at dinnertime anyway, and it kinda gets lonely eating by myself." Her head was suddenly filled with ideas—she could go all out and do a three course meal, she probably had everything she needed since the fridge and pantry were full now.

Remembering something, she took his other hand in hers. "And yes, I will ask permission first to have someone over," She told him, stepping in so they were closer. "What do you think? Homemade dinner for two away from all the bustle and noise...and in the privacy of a dorm, too." She couldn’t stop her blush as she tried to tempt him into agreement.

An excited Lilie was a delight to see, and Aaron was glad for the cold that disguised his own blush as she made her invitation. He just barely stopped himself from asking if she was sure about it; sharing a meal was one thing, but Lilie cooking for him seemed so much more… intimate. Was it presumptuous to accept? No, no, it was her idea, and he knew cooking was a favourite hobby of hers. And she seemed so excited to do it, too! It would be a lie to say he didn’t like the idea, though he was hardly worth the effort, but — no, he was thinking too much.

The thought did cross his mind that it might be counterintuitive to have dinner at another noble’s dorm moments before potentially pledging to change his life for a year to prove his loyalty to Varis, but that voice in his head was shockingly quiet for the moment. He’d have to think on it more, sure—he’d have to think on everything more tonight—but he couldn’t convince himself to decline.

“You know, that sounds really nice,” he agreed, giving Lilie’s hands a squeeze. A quick glance at his now-exposed watch, though, reminded him that they were starting to cut things close. Taking another quick glance around, he pulled Lilie to him and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, gut aflutter at his own boldness. “Let’s talk about it more at lunch, okay?”

If the red on her face wasn’t noticeable before, then it definitely was now—and while Lilie could have credited it from the delight in hearing Aaron hadn’t outright declined, it was obvious that his little kiss had done the trick. For just a moment, she wished she wasn’t such a diligent student. All she wanted to do was spend more time with him, but even she realized that maybe she really was being too clingy right now. Besides, he wanted to meet for lunch, so it wasn’t like they were going to be apart for long.

Slowly nodding, Lilie let out a tiny exhale, trying to calm her heart down. Even as he looked fondly down at her, she couldn’t really dismiss just how tired he looked. “Um...I’m also really glad things worked out for you,” She said as she reached up and fixed a stray lock of his blond hair. “But you know, maybe next time, you can lean on me. I know I can’t really do much, but it’s better to worry with company than to worry alone, you know?”

Aaron’s smile softened, feeling moved once again by Lilie’s concern. As disparate as her and Varis’ comments were, it was almost a little funny that she was the second person to criticize his stress response tonight. Not that she didn’t have a point—quite the opposite. Whether it be trusting in his senior mages or looking to someone else for help, he really needed to stop trying to shoulder everything alone—apparently, it made him crazy. Maybe that was part of the reasoning behind Varis’ proposal: without the comfort of his Noila contacts, he’d be forced to build a network of his own.

He tried to swallow the returning lump in his throat, pushing those thoughts aside with a deep breath. It was all important to think about, but he didn’t want to colour his time with Lilie with difficult questions like those.

“You’re probably right,” he conceded. “If I’m honest, this whole ordeal has…” he considered for a second how to finish that sentence, before shaking his head. He wouldn’t bother Lilie with any of that right before she had to run to class. “I have a lot to think about. But I’ll keep that in mind, I promise.”

Lilie squeezed his hand in comfort, nodding in understanding. She shouldn’t pry too much, but she was glad that he’d at least consider it. She was a lot more relieved as she looked him over, giving him a breathy smile in an effort to cheer him up.

“Good!” Lilie said happily, though she figured it was probably time to go so they wouldn’t be late. Lifting his hand to her cheek, she let out a tiny sigh. “I’ll spend less time worrying and more time thinking of ways to take care of you. And I...um, just...I’m just looking forward to spending more time with you.”

Smile widening once more, Aaron pressed Lilie’s hand tighter to his cheek. “I am too,” he said warmly, trying not to dwell on her “take care of you” comment too much lest it distract him more than it should. Giving her hand a squeeze, he regretfully dropped it, taking a step back to go on his way. “I’ll see you at lunch. Enjoy your classes!”

Now he just had to find a way to pay attention to his.

~ /// ~

The cold didn’t feel quite as obnoxious after his conversation with Lilie, but even still, it seemed the night’s burdens wouldn’t be banished so easily. As Aaron made his way to Rose Hall, even with Lilie’s sweet words still ringing in his ears, the weight of Varis’ impossible request settled back on his shoulders with the snow, melting back into the crevices of his mind and filling him with a different kind of chill. By the time he made it inside, he was once again feeling the brunt of his sleepless week; he’d have been grateful for the dim lighting to hide the fatigue on his face, but unfortunately, Professor Daun could see through it just as well as he could. At least this time, it was (hopefully) understandable.

“Good evening, Professor,” Aaron greeted the older man before he even got a proper look at the room, closing the door behind him before finally turning to see that their usual setup had changed. In addition to the usual table and chair, some kind of… well, Aaron wasn’t sure what he’d call it, but some lattice had been drawn on the floor, capped on either end by hula hoops and filled in with drawings. An illusion lesson, perhaps? They’d started touching on simple animations at the end of last term, after all.

“Your handiwork?” Aaron asked as he put his things away, tipping his head to the floor. He felt his watch buzz, Max’s name rolling across the screen. Right, people were probably finding out that Varis wasn’t dead right about now; Max probably had a few choice words. Opting to deal with those later, he took his watch off and stuffed it in his coat pocket alongside his phone. Light from unexpected sources always threw him off when he was learning new skills anyway.

_@Achronum

[Hero]

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"Magic, magic, magic, magic, magic--"

Honestly, this day was going so well. At least it took a turn for the better because she was swooning and skipping and dancing and happy and everything--nothing could bring her down right now. Of course, she had her new--boyfriend? No, it was too soon to put a label, right? Actually, she probably should've asked about that. But it didn't matter, Aaron was tired but okay, she could now keep an eye on him knowing he was safe, and magic classes were started again! In the back of her mind, she also knew she'd have to take that stupid etiquette class, but she was reveling in happy thoughts so she'd deal with that whenever it came.

Her phone buzzed before she reached the ballroom, and she paused to take a look. Max had taken a picture of someone wearing a collar with only one word. Oh geez, he must have one of those vampires. She couldn't help but shudder, all too glad that all she had to deal with was an uppity Ben, though she did manage to type out a quick response.

> No leash?

She definitely hoped there wasn't. Pocketing her phone, she entered the ballroom, perking up at seeing Esi. Seeing that she wasn't alone was a little surprising, though. The guy with her looked formal from head to toe. That wasn't really too strange to see around here, but he seemed super stiff. Catching his expression, she noticed how tired he looked, too, like he hadn't rested in a while. 'Wound up' was the first thing that came to mind, but he honestly looked...well, she couldn't think of the word she was looking for, but she had to admit she was a little worried about the poor guy.

It didn't help that he instantly reminded her of Aaron.

Swallowing hard, Lilie mentally berated herself--there was no need to jump to any conclusions. Instead, she threw on a smile, giving the pair an excited wave. "Good evening!" She greeted them.

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