Jumbus

Qualia: Mission Sub Rosa

---

Once Franz has gotten back to his dorm room, he was displeased to see the smell had not been cleaned up. No matter, he thought, the cleaning crew should be around any time now. It was best that he just thrust his mind into his studies and let them do their job.

Another issue that had presented itself was the lack of any acceptable desk. All the tables here were far too low to the ground for Franz’ comfort. He must remember to get a proper Occidental desk put in place at the earliest possible time. No matter, he could make do for now and just continue his study.

Franz went to his stored belongings and surveyed his spiders while feeding them. Which one would mark his first study in Bermuda? Thor the tarantula was the largest spider of the three and also the most lacking in mental capability, this made him the easiest to produce some results with. But that would be too easy. Freyja the black widow, a size smaller with a greater degree of intelligence posed a larger challenge. Franz’ only web spinner leaves at least some physical record once a study is concluded. But no, Franz wanted to start with Loki the fringed jumping spider. Widely regarded as the most intelligent spider breed he was also the smallest of the three. Any progress was hard to make and even harder to see visually. Loki was a tough nut to crack. But Franz welcomed the challenge and wanted to get to work with all the free time he had.

Franz placed Loki on one of the low lying excuses for a table and went to grab his violin. The smell hit him again but he tried to put it out of his mind. The staff would take care of it after all. Raising the bow to the strings, Franz prepared to play. But another whiff of the room invaded his senses. No, Franz concluded, he could not wait for the staff to arrive and sort this out. It wasn’t just him either. Franz thought he could see that Loki was put off by the smell also. If the spider were to exhibit abnormal behaviour from outside sources during his study, it would ruin his notes. He got up and left the room to ask about getting cleaning supplies.

Franz proceeded to spend the next several hours cleaning the room. He was particularly thorough to remove any slight scent of last night’s mistake.

---

HORIZON: In Wastes, Our Dreams

Yeah I'm interested

The Hourglass Order

Interacting with: Carmilla @Animus Luna and Ikon @Force and Fury

---

Leon had a fantastic time with orientation after lunch with the Doge. He didn’t spend much time learning the tour itself. The majority of landmarks around campus didn’t interest him. No, orientation for Leon was orientating himself around the student body. By the end of the day, he had met a good chunk of them and flirted with the few he found interesting.

Leon was in good spirits when he returned to Zeno Luna’s home with the rest of his group. Minus Anna, of course. He was still curious where she would have run off to. She seemed nice. Well, in regards to himself at least.

Leon was simply swept away by Zeno Luna’s performance and let out a small clap when the spell was complete. A sunny barbeque while the time was definitively night, it was very impressive. The ‘sunlight’ wasn’t real sunlight, but Leon felt it being close enough that few could tell the difference. If this was the power of a Zeno, Leon wanted to reach those heights. Just what school of magic was she using? It was by no means an illusion…

Dark magic. The corners of Leon’s smile went ever so slightly down and his eyes opened up with the same minuscule movement. Ever so slightly Leon’s mood changed to a more serious one. This is a considerable shift from Leon’s typical control over facial expressions, however, the change would not be noticeable to people who weren’t watching him.

Leon’s thoughts went back to lunch with the Doge. This Academy was hiding big things because they believe they can get away with it. If Leon didn’t believe that before, the proof was now directly in front of him. A school of magic only spoken of in rumours was just non chalantly displayed before him as if the Zeno didn’t bother to hide it at all.

To further such a drop in Leon’s mood, he didn’t like the sound of dark magic either. To draw from nothing? Foolish. As someone proficient in selling fantasy, Leon had some knack for spotting one. There was always a cost to something. If dark magic was well known enough, he was certain it would be forbidden much like blood magic.

But he couldn’t allow such a serious mood to show. At the very least, dark magic was used to create a feast here. That was enough to set the matter to the back of his mind and sit with his group as if nothing had disturbed him.

“Yes, I am also curious about Carmilla’s enquiry,” Leon stated cheerfully.

---

The Hourglass Order

Interacting with: Carmilla @Animus Vyrik @Dark Light Ikon @Force and Fury

---

Leon with Carmilla

Between notable landmarks or even at places he didn’t care about, Leon seemed puzzled by the course selection sheets everyone was given. Even more baffling, it was the required courses registry he was studying so in-depth. What could have gotten the stylish prodigy so confused about the standard course registry?

“Say Carmilla.” Leon turned to his pale teammate with his best set of eyes. “You are proficient in Chemical magics, correct? I hope you will be able to make sense of this.”

Leon flipped his required course registry around to reveal that there is some ingredients handwritten on it. Lemon, vinegar, alum, quill. This was almost certainly the source of Leon’s confusion.

I am, but not by conventional standards, she thought. Carmillia edged in closer to Leon to take a better look.

“The lemon, vinegar and alum are most likely the ingredients for invisible ink. The quill to use said ink,” she answered.

You don’t really need to be a chemical mage to understand this, she thought. She pondered over it briefly. It was odd to give Leon that list given he clearly did not understand basic chemistry. A random prank? A course registry that someone had used as scrap paper and forgot about? Or perhaps it could simply be part of the school tour. A clue for an event of some sort. Nevertheless, it was unlikely to be anything important.

“Do you know what it’s for?” she asked, innocently.

"Invisible ink, huh?" Leon scratched his chin a bit in thought. "Sounds like a pretty advanced chemical technique. Do we need a Zeno or something to tell us how to reveal it?" Leon's face shone with sincerity as he asked this. He had never heard of invisible ink before and he had a poor concept of what constituted chemical magics.

"I wouldn't have a clue what its for though." Leon brought the page closer to his eyes to see if he could see the ink. He then looked back to Carmilla with a more devious smile. "Hey, you think someone wrote me a love letter on this same page? It wouldn't be the first time someone has put this much effort in. But I always appreciate it when they do."

“We won’t be needing a Zeno for this,” she responded, making sure to keep any mocking out of her tone. “There are multiple ways to reveal invisible ink but the most convenient method for us mages would be to use heat energy.”

As Leon continued his theatrics, Carmillia felt unsure whether or not to write him off. He appeared genuinely foolish but no mere fool would have success mirroring his.

Fool or not, it was a matter of fact that Leon Solaire was whimsical. They were having a conversation now but if their first encounter was any indicator, Leon could get bored at any moment and wander off. Opportunities to have his attention were scarce so she played along with him.

“As for whether or not it’s a love letter, we could solve that mystery by checking right now?” she said cheekily.

Leon listened intently to Carmilla's short explination. It didn't sound particularly difficult to reveal invisible ink. He wondered if it was really an advanced chemical technique or if she was just being nice.

Despite these inner thoughts, Leon's smile didn't falter once. As if the processes in his mind had no effect on his expression. "Well luckily I am somewhat of an expert in Arcane magic. This shouldn't be too much of a challenge." With a flamboyant flick of the wrist, the tip of Leon's right hand index finger lit up. The heat and light emitting from it fluxuating in intensity as Leon scanned for hidden messages."

"I hope it is some sort of love letter. Frankly, it would be really sweet. I already have a few guesses as who it could be from. That girl with the brunett..." Leon started listing a wide range of people as guesses. None really stood out, either because everyone on that list was generic looking or because Leon just couldn't describe them very well.

Enough with the love letter already, she thought. Carmillia waited patiently as Leon went on and on about the potential senders. It eventually reached a point where they were basically nondescript.

"If there is a hidden message, it should appear by now," she said.

As Leon applied heat to the page, nothing seemed to appear immediately, hence the rather long 'discussion.' However, as he moved his hand very carefully all of the way to the top and all of the way to the bottom, a hidden message appeared close to the latter: "Foundations in Drawing, Converting, and Casting in the Blood School of Magic (MF107) - registration will not count towards a student's course limit."

Blood Magic, Leon saw the oppurtunity to study Blood Magic. The veil of the showman gave way to the briefest uncharacteristic look of disgust. Although he had only heard rumours of such a school, the very foundation of it was antithetical to everything Leon believed. A school of magic almost entirely designed to harm others. He would spit on the paper if he wasn't in the company of others. And just like that, as soon as it had arrived, that look gave away back to regular Leon.

"Don't see anything I'm afraid. Frankly I'm a little disappointed after someone put in this much effort." While Carmilla's attention was drawn to his own course registry, Leon put his hand out politely toward her. "While we are here, I could check your registry as well. Who knows, yours might be more interesting than mine."

"I doubt there'll be anything, given that mine looks like a normal form. But it couldn't hurt to try?" she said as she handed him her own form. It had been brief, but Carmillia had caught a glimpse of his look of disgust. So the showmanship was a front, she thought. Or at least, partly.

Carmillia's understanding of Leon was not anywhere close enough to accurately guess what could trigger such an reaction. Her interest was piqued. It was doubtful that Leon would reveal it's contents which meant she would have to resort to other means.

Leon gracefully accepted Carmilla's course registry and lit up his hand to scan it once again. A short time after looking, Leon's eyes widened a bit as he brought the page closer to his face and angled away from Carmilla's sight.

"My Dearest Carmilla,"

"I knew when I first gazed upon your oddly pale charms under the moonlight that you had me. We had a great time at that merchant's ball in Perrence, didn't we? It is not an easy thing to say, so I had sought to write my true feelings in invisible ink. But... I love you and I hope one day I can gather the courage to tell you in person."

"Yours truly, you already know."

Leon left a long pause after reading that, looking at Carmilla with a shocked expression. "Carmilla... My lips are sealed."

"Oh my."

While such a person could definitely exist—smitten horny males were beneficial for business—none were currently present at the academy. Leon was clearly fooling around and his mischief would be revealed the moment he returned the form to her. Before that happened, it would be useful to poke more into his psyche.

“It must feel terrible for this person to bottle all this up,” she said. “I feel awful for being unable to reciprocate his feelings.”

Carmillia was staring at the ground in dismay. As if struck by an epiphany, she looked back up at Leon with hopeful eyes.

“As my fellow apprentice and someone who is experienced at this, maybe you could spare some advice. How do you handle confessions from all your fans?”

She bought it hook line and sinker, I'm such a villain Leon thought. While his ruse was ultimately a lie, it was clear she thought it was correct. So she was aware of some secret admirer. Leon felt a bit bad for tugging on heart strings like that. It had clearly affected his team mate deeply. But it was his duty as her teammate to let love shine.

"I think things like this just have a way of coming together. I can't offer much in terms of advice." Leon cheerfully smiled as he handed back Carmilla's course registry. "But I wish you good luck."

If you can do something about it, why worry? And if you can't, why worry?—that kind of mindset, eh?she thought. As expected, the form itself had no hidden message. Continueing the act, Carmillia feigned indignation and pouted.

---

Course Selection

Leon had a quick look over the selections for courses. He had little trouble choosing subjects he wanted to pursue:

Foundations in Drawing, Converting, and Casting in the Arcane School of Magic (MF102)
Foundations in Drawing, Converting, and Casting in the Binding School of Magic (MF103)
Dramatic Performance in Tragedy, Satire, Epic & Comedy (AR102)
Instrumental and Vocal Musics, Songwriting & Ensemble (AR103)
Etiquette, Decorum & Forms of Address in Polite Society (SK101)
Fundaments of Astrology & Divination in Magical Practice (AC105)

---

Leon with Vyrik

After his discussion with Carmilla, Leon surveyed the group of students around him. The Castle was going to be his accomodations, hanging out with all the commonfolk. It would be nice to find someone who would be there. As much as he liked his team, they all seemed a bit bourgeois for the type of party Leon had planned.

The boy in front of Leon wore a rather nice looking white jacket. From a distance Leon could see it was made by a rather nice fabric. This wasn't to mention the jewellery that adorned him. From attire alone someone would assume this person was a merchant. But his posture and walking demeanor betrayed any illusion of that. This boy was a commoner, or maybe a performer like him.

Leon slowly picked up pace to be next to the guy. "I don't mean to be rude, but you seem common, are you not?" He asked in a rather oblivious manner.

Vyrik was just on his way out of the building when someone spoke to him. The puzzled look on Vyrik’s face stuck for a moment and then slowly faded, morphing into a frown as he made sense of it. Then he replied.

”Oh Yes, I am quite common. You will find me everywhere. In fact you will probably bump into about ten of me just in this very hall.” he said as seriously and flatly as he could, mimicking the tone and mannerism that had drilled its way into his head over the course of Zeno Mozaru’s tour this morning. He leant in to add a whisper. "Also, I don't mean to be rude, but you seem a pompous mooncalf, are you not?" He stood back and gave a wide friendly smile, one that betray the barbs in his last words.

”Now, if you don’t mind, I have to go try teach a child who is likely giftless how to use a gift that I barely know how to use myself less he tell a lie and label me a wanted criminal.” there was serious concern amongst those words despite how he tried to play it off for its seemingly ridiculousness.

With that Vyrik spun on the spot and flicked out his cloak, whipping it up in a flourish with the little bit of the kinetic magic he had drawn. No he wasn’t a performer but that didn’t mean he couldn’t have a little bit of that theatrical flair.

Leon was left a bit speechless by the exchange. He certainly wasn't expecting such a confrontational reply to the conversation. "Ah, well, good luck with that." Leon replied in a cheery tone. A smile hiding his dumbfounded and insulted mental state.

Jomurr Ikon the Third, busy walking by, heard a bit of the conversation, scowled, and pulled up alongside Leon, leaning in. "If I do say so myself, that fellow is profoundly unqualified to be a teacher of any sort." He pursed his lips, nodded just-so, and started to move on.

Leon slipped back to his group where he responded to Jomurr. "Well I don't know about that. He certainly has the... I can't describe it really. But I think he could be a good teacher. Not as if I've ever been to a school outside of this though."

Jomurr quirked an eyebrow. "Clearly..." he responded, letting a smirk slip through his imperious facade. "You are far too generous a soul, Solaire." He let out a sigh. "Now, shall we see what 'grand hall' or 'timeless' wonder awaits us next?"

"Yes, of course. I look forward to the Timeless Grand Library Hall" Leon joked. His expression turned back to his more chipper self as he enjoyed the tour.

---

Qualia: Mission Sub Rosa

---

How beneficial that the lady at the desk assumed Franz was the prosecution. Maintaining that assumption could help him gather more needed details. However, it was imperative not to explicitly state he was the prosection. Telling a blatant lie was sure to backfire and harm him in the long run.

“It is an unenviable position to be sure, defending someone whom common sense would dictate is guilty. To do such a thing requires great respect for the law. Even if every piece of information is screaming at guilt, you have to stand and give them a fair shot like everyone else. Like fighting a losing battle for someone you don’t believe in. It’s not for the sake of who you defend, but for the sake of the battle itself.” Realising that his eyes were trailing away in his self-aggrandising speech, Franz turned his sight back to eye contact. “I find such a thing to be strangely respectable. But here I am rambling myself as well.” Franz reciprocated a smile back.

“Nevertheless, I appreciate all your help. I imagine I will need it if I am to oppose Robespierre in an effective manner. Evening delivery to my dorm room would be excellent, having two or three copies of the records would be ideal. Thank you for your work.” Franz began leaving the desk but turned back for a final statement. “Who knows, maybe after all this is done the craziness will subside for a while. I’ll be sure to send you a bottle of wine or something celebratory in thanks should I be successful at the trial.”

How troublesome that people are so against the idea of defending Jeanne. It is to be expected given her reputation. But Franz will need to put in excessive work to win this trial once word got out that he was the defendant. He didn’t exactly need to win this case. But his ego would not allow him to lose either. He had his work cut out for him and it, unfortunately, would harm his time to study.

High risk, high reward. Something deep in Franz’ psyche liked that idea.

---

Once out of the building, Franz pulled out the clockwork sparrow. He spent little time admiring the intricacies of it because he wouldn’t be able to grasp the finer details without considerable time. From the looks of it though, it didn’t look as though Franz would be able to follow it effectively. So instead he settled on writing a letter to send back to Nazca and the group.

Dear Nazca,

I have acquired access to a registry of students in Bermuda, and I am expecting it to be delivered this evening. This should prove valuable in the investigation but will require time to read through. Inform the group that I wish to continue my studies for the rest of the day, but will rejoin you all once the documents have come in.

Regards,
Franz

With some awkward fiddling, Franz managed to get the small message onto the bird and send it into flight. Presumably, it would return to Nazca.

Franz began the walk back to the dorms. Hopefully, his pets were not too off-put by the smells of this morning, or the cleaning crew that, hopefully, came in and cleaned the place. He had a long day of study and note-taking ahead of him, a dirty room would disturb that.

---

Qualia: Mission Sub Rosa

---

Franz was in no particular rush and had no interest in causing a scene by trying to skip ahead. He simply waited in line like everyone else until he reached the front desk. He spent the time mingling with the crowds around. Franz would subtly inform people about the witch trial Robespierre saw fit to put on. How awful, who would be next to face the pyre of the rabid Frenchman?

It felt like no time at all before Franz had reached the front desk to be greeted by a kindly Swede. Her general demeanour told Franz that he may be able to get away with a lot more than he was allowed. “Ah, good morning! How are you doing today?” Franz decided to match her cheerful disposition, it seemed like the best approach.

“I don’t mean to use too much of your time. But you may have heard about the demonstration this morning?” Franz’ expression shifted to more of a sombre one. “Well, I have the unfortunate task of opposing Robespierre. I am finding the prospect rather stressful. To go against a man of such renown in legal matters will be challenging given the sheer amount of resources he has… I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to rope you into my worries.” Franz snuck a smile back as if to portray he was putting on a brave face.

“I am just enquiring about gaining a list of students registered here in Bermuda. I think such information will be essential for my investigation. Picture records would be preferred as well, Miss Bordeaux claims an egoist of a peculiar appearance had provoked to her. I’m sure this won’t be a major ask considering Robespierre will have access to the same files, no?”

---

@ERode

The Hourglass Order

---

Leon had never slept with curtains. He never saw the need. Privacy was no issue and having the sun wake him up was one of the most pleasant parts of his day. Like an alarm clock that provides a warm hug instead of the harsh noises that rip you from sleep. In fact, the only time he slept with curtains drawn is when his company insisted.

The first rays of dawn kissed Leon’s face letting him know it was time to get up. But his waking was hardly peaceful. Leon woke with a slight shortness of breath and a headache as if he had been drinking. It wasn't a good feeling, such was the consequence of using all of his magic energy last night. Leon thought back to the rose he had turned purple. If he hadn’t done that, he wouldn’t be experiencing this right now.

Why did he do that? Was it for general adoration? No, he wouldn’t need to change the rose for that. Was it so that he could eventually date that girl? No, because otherwise he would have at least asked her name. It was for some kind of satisfaction that Leon himself couldn’t quite grasp or define. Still, just because he couldn’t define something doesn’t mean it is any less worthy of pursuit. Leon would take his magic hangover again and again for such a thing.

The expression Leon wore upon waking was a much more exhausted one. Rubbing his face as he got out of bed and stumbled to the mirror. He chucked on some stylish black pants and shoes to match. A few gold bands on each wrist, a necklace with the symbol of Ipte on it, and styling his hair just write. There was only one last thing to do. Eyes closes, Leon gave a long exhale in front of the mirror. When he opened them again, he was back to his regular self, chipper and optimistic with that characteristic smile. He was finally ready to leave his room, forgoing any shirt or covering for his top half. Jewellery and lean muscles were enough, it was the morning after all.

From the looks of things, Leon was the first ones up. Such a thing was expected when you wake up at the crack of dawn. With the light steps of a dancer, Leon made his way down the stairs and out the backdoor to see a very small backyard. It was only a garden full of various fruits and vegetables. At least, that’s what Leon hoped as he was unable to recognize any of those plants.

Hopefully, Zeno Moonlight didn’t have a problem with Leon sitting in her garden because he was doing it anyway. He spent most of the sunrise basking in the glow while eating a fruit he didn’t recognize but it tasted delicious.

---

Leon’s sun meditation was disturbed by someone from the kitchen. By the sounds of it, Jomurr was already up and clearly bothered by something… again. Leon did know how long he could last with someone of that temperament. It seemed every little then produced a frown on the young lord. Maybe it was worth trying to show him the brighter sides of life. Hopefully, it could turn his disposition around for the better. It was unlikely he'd accept though. For now, he had to deal with regular old Jomurr. With a last meditative breath out, Leon rose from the garden.

“That is quite the list of food, Jomurr.” Leon stood in the kitchen taking a sip of some water he set aside earlier. “I hope you don’t expect for us to finish all that this morning.”

Leon took the note on the table and gave it a skim. Zeno Hamir Zemana, eh? Nothing sparked to Leon's mind about him. Unsurprising considering how little attention Leon gave the ceremony until his own name was called. “Maybe we can share it with Zeno Zemana’s group. You wouldn’t know anyone in that group, would you? I hope they’re cool.”

---

The Hourglass Order

Interacting with: Eun-Ji @Medili Carmilla @Animus Anna @Izurich Ikon @Force and Fury

---

Kiss from a Rose

Leon was the first to take a seat and proceeded to sit right in the centre. The parade was a wonderful time, not just the light show but tossing roses to the adoring masses. But for all the spares he was given, he was now down to a single rose. Leon twirled the dethorned flower in his hand, wondering at the possibilities of what he could do with it.

Looking around, Leon got to look at all the arriving students. Who would he get along with? There were all sorts flowing in, beautiful, ugly, cute, scary, and worst of all, boring. There were some with standout clothing choices. None better than Leon’s own style, but that was an impossibly high bar to clear.

What he didn’t expect to see was a pair of piercing violet eyes.

For someone who travelled the world, Leon did not see a lot of people with strange eye colours. Not unheard of, but quite rare indeed. It intrigued him and gave him a fun idea of what to do with the rose. She ended up sitting quite a distance from him. But he was Leon Solaire, this wouldn’t stop him from doing something he wanted. Leon snuck the rose into his cape and made his way to the girl with the violet eyes.

When Leon arrived, the girl had people sitting on either side of her. This wouldn’t do. “Excuse me, may I borrow this seat from you.” Leon asked with a soft tone to the painfully ordinary girl next to Eun-Ji. The girl blushed and quickly left the seat to Leon. Leon smiled at her “thank you, I won’t be long.” Leon proceeded to take the seat in a laid back fashion before looking toward Eun-Ji.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t help but notice the colour of your eyes. They are very nice.” Leon said putting on his best smile. “But that isn’t why I’m here. You see, I believe I was fated to meet you… Let me explain.”

“I was throwing roses at the crowd during the parade and happened to see the most peculiar rose. I became drawn to its colour and decided I would keep it to myself.” Leon reached into his cape and drew out a vibrant violet rose matching Eun-Ji’s eye colour. “I love this rose a lot. But you see, when I saw your eyes, I knew it never belonged to me in the first place.” He handed the Eun-Ji the rose.

A simple binding spell developed with arcane theory was Leon’s Colour Change, the ability to change the colour of objects. Given the small size of the rose, it didn’t take too much energy. But still, it drained the last of Leon’s already dwindling magic reserves. For something like this, the trade-off was worth it in Leon’s mind.

“Well I best get back to my seat, I think the ceremony is about to begin.” Leon looked around at all the people staring at his display. [color=fff200[b]“And I wouldn’t want a lady such as yourself to be subject to needless rumour.”[/b][/color] Leon left and made sure to thank the girl whose seat he had stolen.

Leon had a moment to consider if he should have introduced himself. And decided against it, she knows who he is. Leon was certain of it.

---

Royals

The rest of the show was uneventful. Leon sat stylishly in his seat as he watched the kings take the stage.

Jobanzaggah and Rouis, now there were two rulers who knew to play up style. They truly wore the fashion of kings and wore them well. Leon suppressed the urge to clap with each of those two entering. Horik and Sancho, well, they tried. Or at least Leon hoped they tried. It baffled Leon that people withthe wealth of kings struggled to dress.

Leon’s mood changed entirely when Malatesta took the stage. Leon looked toward the stage with a serious expression of respect to the man. Malatesta could make out Leon in the crowd and they made brief eye contact. Or at least that is how it looked to Leon. He gave a small head bow to the Doge of Revidia. Leon had to make sure to show respect in the right places, hewas a piece on the chessboard of royals now.

Leon found it funny how far he had come within this last year. From just any great performer with a tendency toward exaggeration to a considerable political piece. In Leon’s mind, everyone was a political piece in the end. He just prefered to be a name rather than a statistic. Plus… plus… why was there a floating hand going toward the stage?

Leon was quite adept at the theory of illusion, so he could pick out a floating hand when he saw one. However, Leon never practised illusion. This is because he finds the replication of real-life objects to be boring. Leon is far more interested in using the power of light to create things greater than some boring old reality. So, when Leon saw some shifty illusory hand swimming through the crowd, he didn’t care. Probably some dorky younger student trying to pull a prank. How mundane.

Having been lulled into a sense of security from the boring hand trick, the boom on stage had Leon jump a bit. What was that? Was this some kind of attack? Leon was happy to see no one was hurt. But it left him wondering what had caused it.,,

What had caused what? What was he thinking about? In almost a split second, Leon had lost memory of the event. Initially, Leon struggled to recall what he was just thinking about, but couldn’t. Was he curious about it? Sure. Did it bother him greatly? Not really, no. Besides, stress causes wrinkles. Best to leave the matter in the past where it belongs.

Leon took out his hand mirror and checked his hair as he waited to get assigned a master.

---

Everybody loves Me

Leon’s name was called first, but he waited for the others to walk first for dramatic effect. He stood up from his chair and strolled toward his group, playing up his approach for onlookers.

Leon reflected on the team names that were called. Illannak. That rang a bell. A faint one but it was present. Subject to the recesses of Leon’s mind full of hundreds of people, he couldn’t quite place it at all. On the other hand, Jomurr Ikon III needed no introduction. A noble with such renown and style, certainly the boy was after his own heart. Leon had few doubts they would make fast friends.

Finally getting a good look at the group, Leon developed an excited grin. They were all fashionable. Correct dress sense was a good sign for any group, it meant their priorities were in order. He wondered if any of them make their own clothes, Leon had dabbled with the idea before. It could be a fun hobby over the year.

Fades-in-moonlight had a very strange look to her though. Unaware of the term Greyborn, the grey skin seemed very unhealthy. Both Ilannak and Camille also looked rather pale. These ladies certainly could do with some time in the sun. Still, it was a small blemish in an otherwise perfect looking group.

Leon finished his approach with a majestic bow. “I, Leon Solaire, am present.”

During introductions, Leon couldn’t help but notice one of the girls looking at him. Managing a look toward her, something did spark in his head. Determining this was Illannak was easy enough, but figuring out where she was from was much tougher. She was a merchant girl so it’s unlikely he knows her from her name alone. He recognises her face, so she probably isn’t just another nameless face in the crowd where was she from. Where did he meet her? Leon hoped she wasn’t from when he was doing his service to Ipte, that would be very, very awkward. Instead, Leon gave her back a friendly smile before turning his attention to the group conversation.

Leon picked up from Carmilla’s introduction. “Why thank you Carmilla. I am also looking forward to this year with you all. We have already shown we have the most style. Now it’s a matter of letting them know who the best magicians are.” It was an egotistical statement, but Leon stated it with confidence.

Later on, Leon watched the fireworks show with the group. He was entranced by the majesty of the flying lights. Why did they have to fade so fast?

---

Qualia: Mission Sub Rosa

---

“A pleasure as always, Ms Ryuuko. It is my duty to exceed expectations when I can.” Franz replied to Ryuuko. He bowed his head slightly showing a sign of respect for his future colleague.

Franz was glad the others had assumed he was genuinely trying to defend Jeanne’s case. The matter of the fire witch’s mental stability had been the subject of many rumours. Even if the girl wasn’t lying, it isn’t certain that this ‘monster’ truly exists. In truth, Franz did not consider Jeanne innocent. The burning had definitely been caused by her and only some slim gaps in the evidence left a case open to contend. Franz had ulterior motives driving him.

But. There was one person who didn’t seem to buy what Franz’ had said. Jeanne herself. After his whole speech, Franz expected some sort of reaction. A request for his help or even just a look of desperation in her eyes. Franz got nothing as he had expected. Her voice was free of doubt and her eyes held a certainty to them. For all his ability to manipulate a correct response, it was like talking to a brick wall. Such certainty during a time when she is completely helpless speaks to an incredible devotion and belief. Devotion to what, Franz was not so sure.

But what if she was telling the truth? What if this Egoist monster did exist? Sure it didn’t dissuade Franz from his assumptions about the girl’s character. But it was worth looking into. If nothing else, it would help him have some hope of winning this case. In addition, the motives of such a beast could give him a better insight as to why Jeanne was a target.

“Yes, I believe some brunch is in order.” Franz proclaimed in response to Ms Bordeaux. “Although, I would like to address a small matter elsewhere, so I will join you all a bit later.” Franz turned his attention to Nazca. “I have heard about your clockwork avians. Would you be able to lend me one so I can find my way back when my business is concluded? I assume that is within your abilities, no?” He asked with a widening friendly grin.

With that concluded, Franz left the plaza and began making his way to the administrative buildings of Bermuda. Surely if such a beast were to exist, they would be on the student records. Perhaps there are a few French students who have a bone to pick with Ms Bordeaux as well. Maybe it could help get him some dirt on Robespierre. If this 'Egoist monster' ended up being fictional, a dirt throwing match was probably the best option.

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@Yankee@Medili@banjoanjo@Click This@ERode

The Hourglass Order

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Leon would have loved to have written his own speech, he really would have. But he didn't only get this speech opportunity from the Revidian Doge, he also probably wouldn't have come to this school without him. Leon had a lot to be thankful for. So, when a Revidian messenger gave him his speech for the opening ceremony, he couldn't refuse. Besides being the first non-noble to do this was a big enough statement in itself. If he were to go too overboard with it, he would risk offending powerful people or even worse. Some jealous noble house could think it a good idea to slip a knife in his back. Leon valued the gifts of the Revidian Doge and more importantly, he valued his life. So he just read the words he was given.

If someone were to ask what Leon was trying to say when he accepted this, Leon would say 'it's up to your interpretation'. It would be the perfect answer really. Leon could say nothing about why he actually took it and the people would draw their own self-fulfilling meaning from it. Plain and simple. In truth, Leon had little to no clue why he did it. To disgrace nobles? No. To empower the common man? No. To lift his own ego? Close, but no. The reality was Leon didn't have a deeper meaning to it all. Sometimes statements can just be statements, empty of all meaning. Plus it's fun.

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In the moments after the speech, there was a delay before they were allowed to ride. Administration delays or something, Leon didn't pay too much attention to it. Instead, Leon admired his horse. An ivory Perrencian breed and a brilliant stallion at that. But most importantly, it was his horse. Leon pulled some strings to take his own horse in the parade, it matched the typical visuals of the leading horse so there was no issue. It meant a lot to him because this would likely be their last ride. Icarus was a travelling horse and had no business being locked in a stable while Leon spent his time away studying. After the parade, Leon would reluctantly hand him back to the caravan. It was for the best. So if this were to be their last ride together, it ought to be a good one. And Icarus was more than trained for the antics Leon had planned.

And they were off. Leon's horse took the first step through the gate, and the city exploded in celebration. Countless people cheering on the new students. Leon was in the front to see each and every one of the adoring masses. He gave out a cheery laugh as he tried to wave to them all. Beneath him, Icarus' training was put into action as he walked down the road with style and panache. Certainly, outside of silly noble traditions, Leon showed himself to be the perfect frontman for this parade.

Leon had his doubts at first, but he felt like he was home already. The large smile on his face grew even bigger by the minute.

It wasn't until he saw some familiar faces in the crowd did Leon decide to begin his actual show. They flew a yellow flag with a white sun on it so Leon could pick them out in the crowd. It was his caravan group, cheering to his right side. He gave a particularly big wave before his smile turned a bit more playfully devious. Taking his other hand off the reins Leon leaned back a little, entirely relying on Icarus' training to keep steady. Leon gazed toward the sky and extended his arms with a slight bend and palms raised sunward. Then, he began unleashing light into the air.

By no means did this look harmful to the crowd, Leon knew better control than that. Although, it certainly would have been startling to some. Multicoloured trails of light took to the sky like fireworks, but more defined so as to see them clearly in the day. While Leon started off with simple trails, he quickly transitioned into drawing shapes and then figures. Animals of light danced across the sky above him. At one point, a knight of yellow fought a dragon of red. Leon created tales of wonder and spectacle for the crowd to see without saying a word.

After only about three minutes, however, Leon stopped. He was a little out of breath after it all but could hide it well. Leon wasn't able to sunbathe quite enough this morning because of the parade preparation, plus solid light in the day sky was a draining feat. It was no wonder he couldn't hold it for too long. He was lucky to have ended on a finale rather than having it fizzle out.

Even if it looked like Leon would be running on low for the rest of the day, it was well worth it. He looked around to see even more cheering and some frozen in awe. But alas, it was back to smiling and waving. He still had a few roses to throw out after all. Leon requested extra.

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