@ERodeIRIS RECORD, ARENA
The bodies of guards were sent flying from the sheer force of dark magic - and whether from shadow conjuration or true Umbralism, it mattered little to those affected. As the tower's guardians tumbled across the stands and some few students remaining scrambled to run and flee, semantics no longer mattered, as to them, a full Umbralist devout had revealed themselves this day. This would indeed provide the opening for Ciara's escape, even as a stray bullet struck her, and even as more guards awaiting her outside quickly fell victim to unknown carnage. The sound of cracking bones outside could be likened to the echoing snaps of a campfire growing in intensity, though the screams sounded as if hell itself was the eastern hallway just outside the arena.
On the part of the Undermage still within the arena square, a quick muttering of "Ul'al'Astramis," echoed out from under her breath as she raised her wand outward toward the encroaching dark. The tome she was holding began to flip rapidly through pages as a storm of wind emerged both around her and in front of her, until a half-sphere of solid essence in the form of wind, facing towards the shadows, formed. It guarded against the onslaught and held firm to protect both herself and Otis, the shadows that came in contact writhing away and dissipating as if in fear. After a few seconds of this, and once the assault had ended, the wind dispersed. Nicole looked over to see Iraleth already pursuing despite her current state, and with a click of the tongue, muttered, "That one is going to meet with an early grave."
Upon turning to Otis and hearing his words, she would ponder on this a moment while flipping through her tome with her left hand and holstering her wand with her right. "Very well," she would blurt out without much hesitation. "I will take on the blame for this should anything arise from granting such privileges to a student. At the moment, what matters most is the capturing of the Umbralist filth that ravages the innocent even as we stand here. Decisive action is required."
Nicole's Adapa was summoned forth, and Otis would receive a mental ping requesting to share Iris Record security privileges for a period of one hour from the time of acceptance. "I will rely on you to carry out the actions of which you have detailed, they are indeed possible with these privileges. In the meantime, I will give chase while communicating with the security team and... informing the warden." She spoke her last words with a measure of hesitance, but nevertheless, began to run out of the arena and towards the northern exit that would eventually lead to the first floor's halls.
@AThousandCursesIRIS RECORD, 1F, SOUTHERN HALLS
The guard gave a half-smirk towards Chunji, nodding his head. "I get paid to protect this place, but you're right, eh? They're training you to defend the whole damn nation and beyond, so far be it from me to deny anything like that. I guess if I catch heat for this later, I do, but just stick by me, boy - you won't get hurt if you let me block the strays. The way Umbralists fight and what's required to eventually take the strong ones down, lemme just say... lots of collateral damage."
As he finished saying this, the sounds of screams would ring out, echoing like a sickening choir up and down the halls of the tower. Upon Chunji activating his Ethos, he would be able to see the layout of the first floor - and more importantly, he would see Ciara beyond many walls and hallways to the northeast of his current position. The fastest way at this point would certainly be to cut through the arena via its southern entrance to the stands, and out the eastern exit at the top of the stands that Ciara had most likely taken to flee the arena grounds. As this happened, guards would be barreling out the southern entrance directly in front of Chunji, guns drawn and with fear in their eyes as they took cover in the halls. A few withdrew health potions and downed them, while others prayed to Astra, and others still summoned their leylights and began reading over something intently.
The guard, for his part, would also read his leylight and turn to Chunji, shrugging. "Current orders say to stay away from the Umbralist while others in authority tend to the problem. That most likely means either faculty, Raja, or the warden and his team. In any of those cases, that means your classmate is probably toast. Sorry, boy."
Scratching the back of his head, the guard awkwardly looks away, before side-eyeing Chunji with a dimpled cheek. "We also don't exactly have any right to pursue at the moment, so unless we feel like breaking some rules, the best thing we can do is hunker down."
Despite this, a vein brought on by anger was clear on the man's face, his body seemingly shivering in frustration and anticipation. His words were an attempt at a responsible adult, but his visage was that of boyhood trauma bleeding through in the form of vengeful thoughts. He was certainly old enough to have been, perhaps, a powerless teenager back during the days of the Five Year Apocalypse.
@Sifr@Estylwen@Psyker LandsharkIRIS RECORD, 1F, EASTERN HALLS
The halls were crimson, the screams guttural yet cut short in the heat of the moment; each nevertheless contributing to the roaring symphony of torment that the Iris Record's first floor had quickly become. As Ciara made her way down the hall, she would eventually teleport to an intersection upon which she would notice a familiar face, and that face would undoubtedly recognize her as well. Ciara would see Hildegunde in front of her, and were Hildegunde to be keeping a look out, she would see Ciara as well. This would likely be easier due to the screams farther back in the direction Ciara had emerged from, though it would depend purely on the two at that moment what they would do.
At the same time, the sounds of rumbling from the direction Ciara came from would intensify and grow louder, until eventually it was obvious that it was the sound of... walls breaking, perhaps? The originator of those noises would soon arrive on the scene as well, if it were a person at all.
And from the other part of the intersection not occupied by Hildegunde, a figure would stand there, staring at the shadow mage. It was Ozhiah, his sunken eyes observing her with a measure of judgment, taking in her state. "Lord Leuvalt declared it folly to turn back and see what the mobilization of security was for, but I for my part could not ignore it. Bearing witness to your current state here, now..."
He would crouch into a low stance, one arm extended behind him and the other towards Ciara, both palms facing upward. A faint wind blew around him, watching and waiting. "If you give yourself up now, you will not feel pain when the hammer of order is brought upon you. Of this, I can be certain."
All this, and Ciara could hear a chuckling in her mind. It was from the low-yet-high voice, the shadow that separated itself from the rest. "It appears the curtain call may soon arrive on this performance of yours. What will you do, I wonder? A mark has certainly been made, and scars thought mended have reopened for many tonight. Is this Ciara Ventura? Will this be her last dance, bleeding and limping like a cornered animal, prancing like a court jester soon to knowingly reach the king's guillotine?"