Chezka

World Beyond the Lexicon

woo, made it in time

World Beyond the Lexicon

Yvaine wasn't certain what she was watching, but she cheered on her dear classmate all the same, calling out encouragements in between bites of her pastry. The whole event was quick, too fast for her to properly follow, and soon there was a man crowning Ty as the winner. Yvaine watched on intensely, hands half raised and ready to applaud but faltering as she wondered if it was appropriate to do so. Was arguing boy called "Ty?" He looked like he could be, but he also looked like an "Axel," or perhaps a "Tony."

She turned to Mandi to ask when she noticed the lightning-fast blonde fall to his knees in disappointment. She felt sorry for him, but oh! that means Mr. Seventh Miracle must have lost! "How wonderful," she said, clapping her hands as she smiled up at Mandi and Sophiel. "Our classmate Ty just won." Despite still not being entirely certain what game it was they played, Yvaine set her mind to congratulate him in person when she gets the chance.

A familiar voice rang then, startling her momentarily. It was the professor! The shock quickly gave way to awe and Yvaine looked around for him, amazed that he sounded so clearly to her when he was nowhere near. Out of curiosity, she tested out the parameters of the spell, attempting to respond to his announcement. Her eyes screwed shut as she focused on her message in earnest.

Hi, Professor! I hope you had fun during this small break. I am looking forward to learning from you. Yours respectfully, Yvaine.

There was no response to her response by the time Sophiel urged them to hurry back to class, so Yvaine filed the spell under one-way telepathy. Although, Professor Nyx could also have received it but chose not to respond. Or perhaps he'd received so many responses that he couldn't be expected to answer them all.

Her aimless wonderings kept her preoccupied throughout their short journey back to the classroom, and once there, Yvaine let Mandi lead the way to their seats. She still hadn't figured out where to sit, but this was finally her chance to do so.

With eyes rampant with earnest resolve, Yvaine took hold of Mandi's hand and asked, "Mandi, may I sit next to you?"

World Beyond the Lexicon

@Dezuel @Blu Haha, I noticed! I thought people were gonna go for more offensive ones when I made Yvaine's, but turns out a lot ended up with some sort of barrier and healing spell.

World Beyond the Lexicon

When she was eight, Yvaine accidentally stumbled upon an unused room hidden in the sanatorium's eastern wing. It had been her reading room for weeks, and her refuge for when some of the girls' tempers flared, as it often did. The room had been her little secret, until one day when she found two of the older apostles occupying it. Yvaine interrupted what seemed like an intimate moment. They were locked in embrace and the taller of the two had been in the middle of planting a gentle kiss upon the other girl's cheek.

Yvaine hadn't wanted to disturb them, but they caught her and immediately stopped to explain themselves. They were just friends, they'd said; the taller one was consoling her best friend because she had failed an important exam. Yvaine nodded in understanding, knowing full well the strict punishment that entailed. And here she had thought they were lovers, forced to hide their relationship from their peers! After that, she'd scurried away to give them some privacy, embarrassed for misinterpreting the situation so completely, but touched to have witnessed such deep friendship.

Ever since, Yvaine had hoped to find such a friend. A kindred spirit to whom she could confide her soul. It was all she could think of as Mandi imprinted a gentle kiss upon her cheek. Yvaine was unable to stop the giddy smile from pulling at her lips; even Mandi had agreed that they would become very close friends. How wonderful!

She turned to Sophiel, expecting another kiss of friendship to follow, and was surprised to see the other girl hadn't been as thrilled with the display. Ah, perhaps Sophiel was not ready to be best of friends just yet? Yvaine nodded to herself; of course, a budding friendship must be cultivated as well. She will have to prove herself deserving of their friendship.

"It's wonderful to meet you both!"

The trio approached the food stalls then, Mandi and Yvaine linked in arms. The student behind the charmingly decorated confections stand was a young man, looking more than eager to attend on them. He had an almost too-wide impish grin as he examined her and Sophiel, one that began to unnerve even Yvaine. The boy's gaze lingered longest upon Mandi, a hint of confusion apparent in his face and looking almost like he was struggling to make a decision about something.

"Here you go… ladies," he said with another pointed look at Mandi, handing them each an oblong pastry filled with a cream and topped with icing. "On the house! Make sure to check out the Baking Club. We're way better than the noisy Cooking Club over there." He gestured vaguely across from him, where some sort of commotion was stirring.

After thanking the man profusely, Yvaine took a bite of her éclair and swooned. The sweet chocolatey flavor had burst across her tongue and lit up her face with delight. "This is amazing, isn't it?" she looked at both Mandi and Sophiel expectantly, hoping they both enjoyed the treat as well.

Curiously, she glanced over where the member of the Baking Club was scowling, and was surprised to see a familiar face in the middle of it all.

"Oh! It's the arguing boy from class!" Yvaine noted happily. She thought it was funny how he seemed to have a proclivity for arguments, going so far as to confronting who she recognized as one of the Miracle Seven. Yvaine knew as much about the so-called school's greatest pride only from what the headmaster had mentioned earlier, and even then she was aware that arguing boy would be at a disadvantage. She hoped he would win anyway!

"Will class be like this every day?" Yvaine turned back to her two companions, hands pressed together in joy. Boisterous classes, outdoor ceremonies, food stalls, and wonderful performances. Everything was in stark contrast to the priory, where strict discipline reigned paramount. "Everyone seems to be having so much fun!"

_{☆═━━ ━ @Dezuel@AThousandCurses}

World Beyond the Lexicon

Kress has the advantage then!

World Beyond the Lexicon

Yvaine was used to seeing stars, in manners both figurative and literal. In the Church of the Celestial, it's the third body that completes the Trinity, the iridescent orbs of hope that guide you through the darkness. More literally, she loved to lay under the night sky and gaze at the infinite galaxy of stars that greeted her without fail. Stars are a part of the very nature of her magic and she sees them everywhere.

That said, when a whirlwind of a force suddenly collided against her, sending her head slamming against the professor's podium, it was an entirely new type of stars she saw. They danced about her vision, bouncing against walls and making the room spin around her.

Yvaine was slow to process the chaotic string of events that followed, although she remained vaguely aware as it unfolded. First, the hard rock that collided against her had apologized. Oh! It was a person! The boy, Caelum he'd said—a wonderfully saintly name, she thought belatedly—had an easy laughter that made her instantly at ease.

"It's okay!" Yvaine assured, smiling even as her hands flew up to press against the piercing pain on her forehead.

Another classmate came forward then, although Yvaine was too dazed to grasp the entirety of her spiel. Something about miracles and obsessed brothers, perhaps? Her joyful disposition was contagious, but their esteemed professor didn't seem amused. Instead, he seemed upset as he moved to settle the class.

Yvaine dutifully obeyed when he called for them to find seats, and in her search for an open one, she locked gazes with another student, one with kind eyes and a welcoming smile. It seemed to Yvaine at first that the friendly girl was beckoning for her to join her, but it was the other student, Verena, who she meant to call over after all. She smiled their way anyway, just because. In the end, she hardly had the chance to sit before an announcement sounded and the professor started leading them outside.

She was among the last to leave the classroom, trailing after a stately-looking boy who mumbled to himself in a language she was unfamiliar with. As she walked out with her hands still pressing against her forehead, she wondered idly if the boy had also accidentally hit his head against a Caelum and a podium.

☆

The opportunity to simply sit back and watch the welcome ceremony did wonders to ease her headache. Yvaine was able to fully appreciate the headmaster's speech, and the excited history buff in her was overjoyed at the mere sight of him. Before today, the great Alphonse Augustine was only a name in her book. Now he was delivering a rousing speech and it was directed towards her! The announcement and showcasing of the Miracle Seven only continued to fan the flames of fervor within her.

By the time the professor dismissed them, Yvaine felt restless. She felt compelled to make the headmaster proud. To strive for the esteem and recognition of the Miracle Seven. To hone her magic. To help save the world from evil. But perhaps, more pressingly, she wanted to know more about everything and everyone.

Starting with her classmates.

Fighting the urge to wander about and examine each and every delightful stall lined up about the school grounds, Yvaine roamed around in search of her classmates instead. Because of her tardiness, there were only a handful whose name she knew, but she was certain she would recognize them even in passing. These were all friends in the making! Yvaine had always dreamed of being a part of something special like this, a group with which she could foster a sense of togetherness and develop a tight-knit bond.

"Oh! Miss Yvaine, over here~! Do join us!"

As though hearing her wishes, a cordial voice called out to her. Yvaine was delighted to find the kindly girl from class, still as welcoming as she had been earlier. With her was a more unfamiliar face, although one she was certain was a classmate. There was an admirable sense of composure that radiated from her, and a coolness that was almost in stark contrast with the other girl's warm amicability.

Yvaine watched as the two girls acquainted themselves, then followed suit, gently reaching out to hold their hand. Instead of a handshake as would have been customary, she held their hands to her heart instead. In the priory, it was a gesture of sincerity. "I would very much love to be friends with you both! May I ask for your names?"

Then as an afterthought, she gestured--with her hand and the one she still held--toward a food stall she had passed. Her eyes glittered with unbridled excitement. "Would you like to try out that delicious pastry? I've never smelled anything so sweet."

_{☆═━━ ━ @Dezuel@AThousandCurses}

World Beyond the Lexicon

Yvaine had always dreamed the day she left the priory would be one filled with fanfare. A pivotal chapter that marks the beginning of her journey, just like in her books. In her imaginings, it is dawn and the sun rises alongside her, as excited as she is to begin the day. When she breathes in deeply, scents she'd never known tickle her nose, revealing a world of novelty now within her grasp. The sisters who have welcomed her with open arms, those she has come to know as family, see her off with proud but wistful smiles. Her heart aches with bittersweet joy, but each step forward brings her closer to new beginnings.

The real thing was a bit... exactly not like that at all. Yvaine was instead whisked away at night, immediately after her daily errands. There was no time to pack what meager belongings she had, nor to speak her farewells. Only the abbess saw her off, although at the time she had been more preoccupied with the generous donation she had just received. As she joined her new guardian in his carriage, she could smell only the strong odor of smoke and alcohol lingering in the air.

At least the sentiments were the same. Kind of. When she stayed up that night, looking at the starlit sky—the same one she has always gazed upon yet a different one all the same—she marveled at its vastness as though she was seeing it for the first time.

Their trip to Avalice took a week. From what she could glean from the maps she'd memorized longingly all those years ago, they had taken the most direct route, and their only stop was at a small inn to allow her to wash herself before they arrived at the academy. Her guardian explained what was expected of her along the way. Everything was taken care of; her registration, lodgings, belongings. All she had to do was to go to class, learn, and graduate.

Currently, Yvaine was working on the "go to class" part. Her guardian dropped her off just beyond the academy's gate with only the name of her class and slightly vague encouragement to do her best. It seemed to her that finding the lecture hall was a trivial task, but she would soon realize that she underestimated the scale and splendor of the legendary academy. More than once, Yvaine found herself veering from the correct path to marvel at the new sights before her. The eastern wing of Avalice alone had been twice as big as the priory, and in the short span it took her to roam its cobblestoned paths, she had seen more of the world than she had her whole life.

Yvaine's sightseeing stroll eventually refound its purpose. A small booming directed her attention to a soot-covered hallway, the last remnants of black smoke just clearing away. Ah! The label above the entrance door greeted her with the words she had been looking for: CLASS CAMELIA.

Her entry to the room was accompanied by what seemed like an ongoing argument? Or perhaps just a very passionate discussion. Yvaine had gone in just as a dark-haired lady, beautiful although anger seemed to contort her face, mentioned something about riddles and philosophy. Another boy spoke out in repsonse afterwards, his words just as impassioned. Hoping not to interrupt their heated debate, Yvaine gently excused herself as she walked in between the two, motioning for them to ignore her and to please continue freely expressing their indignation. She made her way to the front of the room instead, to whom she hoped was the professor.

"Blessed day, Professor," Yvaine smiled and made the sign of the star over her heart, two fingers tracing the symbol starting from the bottom right. "I am Yvaine, and I beg pardon for my tardiness."

She leaned over his desk then rising on her tiptoes and whispered, slightly coy and seemingly mindless of the ensuing drama behind her. "Do you happen to know where I sit?"

World Beyond the Lexicon

World Beyond the Lexicon

@Dezuel Ooh, that could be fun! So many things Mandi can teach Yvaine. Mandi’s also probably one of the few that won’t corrupt her so much, haha

World Beyond the Lexicon

lolol, everyone's so intense and excitable. When shit hits the fan, Yvaine will just trail after everyone like (ㆁᴗㆁ✿) ^???