Lux Academy

In this world, everyone learns how to fight and use their inherent magic to defend themselves from the soulless. For all life in this world, magic is life and all souls have some kind of magic within them. But this world is dangerous and unrelenting, as there will always be the soulless: creatures that have no inherent magic and soul and thus feast upon all life around them.

You are one of the select few who fought hard enough to continue your education and training to become an elite mage warrior in defense of the country. These figures are beings of legend amongst your people, called the Darksbane.

It wasn't easy, getting past the selection process and graduating primary school. Most people, by the time they come of age, learn the basics and move on with their lives. But not you.

Once you came of age, you applied to one of the most prestigious academies in all of the world and found yourself accepted to join them for initiation.

Little did you know that the balance between light and darkness hangs only by a thread. Open riots in the street have caused restrictions and military presences to tighten. Borders have been pressed upon by creatures of pure darkness, and some question whether or not magic is even all the helpful to begin with...

But that doesn't involve you. Your worries as a first year are typical school problems: classes, homework, making friends, making enemies, friendship, romance, acne, magic, building weapons and armor, diplomatic relations, battles and bloodshed. Typical school problems.

The skies above Glinthaven were clear and pristine, not a cloud in sight. Or at least, that was what someone would think if they were down below, in the streets or looking out the window from their quaint homes. Perhaps a few of them could see small streaks in the sky and think to themselves "what is that? Some strange cloud?" Only those who were cultured enough in international affairs would realize that it was a state-of-the-art airship from Whyndsor.

Of course, that would be the view from down below. But, far above, in the airship itself, the view was far more spectacular. From his vantage point, Malachite Sterling was privy to the view of the stars. If he looked past the aura mesh of the wings on the airship, he would have been able to view almost the entire Eroden Range, down to the beginning of No Man's Land itself, the Rupture. If he looked out another window, he would be able to see the vast, endless ocean just beyond Glinthaven's coastline, or the sprawling farmlands to the west.

But, Chite's eyes were not on any of those things. He had seen them all countless times when he was younger. No, his eyes were set on the largest structure in Glinthaven: Lux Academy. The brilliant crystalline tree sprawled high into the sky, blocking the actual buildings below. It reflected the shine of the evening sun, almost like it was on fire. Chite's eyes lingered on it only a moment before he veered his vision lower, to the massive courtyard that stretched out from the tree's branches. As the airship began its descent, Chite could make out little dots in the Academy's walls, moving around, intermingling. They looked like ants. Fitting. The landing pad for Whyndsor's airships (because what other country had them, really) came into view, and Chite imagined his feet stepping on all the little ants. Step, step. If only they scurried away before he landed.

The airship shuddered as it landed. Chite held onto the safety railing for support as the landing gear locked in place and the lights cooled to a cool blue, indicating they were safely on the ground. Chite took one look at his comfy surroundings and then grabbed his suit jacket and his Slate. The jacket, he draped over one shoulder, only holding onto it with the tip of a finger, and he held his Slate in his other hand.

The light of the setting sun would normally be just fine, but underneath a massive crystal structure like the ones in the academies... it was like being right underneath the sun itself. As Chite sauntered down the ramp of the airship, he unclipped a pair of sunglasses from his front pocket and put them on, just as he hit the point where the light from outside touched his skin.

Chite glanced down at his Slate and furrowed his brows as he waited for the device to acclimate to the light. As it did, he typed on it with his thumb, connecting it to Lux Academy's network. The Slate buffered with the change.

Chite waved to the pilot that he was off, and he set off to the Academy itself. In the corner of his eye, he could make out more and more students and their families over at the main entrance. Most of the staff were littered around there, busying themselves with the new recruits to their cult.

None of the initiates caught his attention. They all looked nervous. Some were a bubbly nervous, some were quiet nervous, and some were lose-their-lunch nervous. If it were up to Chite, none of them looked like they belonged there, so none of them would have made it past the first step; no initiation needed.

The airship whined back alive and wind whooshed past Chite, running through his hair and whistling past his ears. He let the ship rise into the air before he turned back. As expected, his butler, Kaso, was a bit behind him, dragging along a trolley with all of Chite's belongings. Well, all of the belongings he had deemed important enough to bring with him to Lux.

"How are you faring, Kaso?" Chite shouted above the still loud commotion from the ship as it left.

"Quite well, Master Sterling," Kaso replied. Malachite nodded and focused his attention back to the Slate as he walked to the Academy.

Finally, it connected to the academy's network. He knew that Arturia had less advance networking compared to home, but this was bordering on ridiculous. He would have to put in a word to get it upgraded during his tenure there.

The screen connected to his database, and there was one unread message. Stifling any expectations, Chite pressed it. It was from his oldest sister, Granite.

The screen buzzed before the image of Granite popped up on the middle of it. She was sitting behind a desk with her hands clasped together, like she was attending a meeting instead of seeing her brother off. Chite pressed play on the pre-recorded video.

"Hello, Malachite. I came on here to wish you well on your first step into your future as a Darksbane. The world is a dangerous place, and the Sterling family is on the forefront of innovation and protection of all. I applaud you for your passion and ingenuity." Chite had to resist scoffing at that. He knew exactly what she meant by that: he should have gone to Zenith Academy, not Lux Academy.

"Our father and sister couldn't make it, but they send their warmest regards and wish you the best of luck with your Darksbane initiation." There was a pause, just a singular moment where Granite took a breath. Chite pursed his lips. He knew there was something she was omitting there, something she wasn't saying. He wasn't surprised his father didn't bother to make an appearance for him; that was to be expected. But, there was something Granite felt she couldn't tell on the recording.

"We will all be eagerly looking forward to your contact upon passing initiation." That was a bold lie, sister. Only Granite gave a particular interest in Chite's activities. Most everyone else didn't even notice his presence.

"Home will be cold without you, brother." With that, the recording ended. That final part did leave a small smile on Chite's face. He folded close the Slate and stashed it in his back pocket as he walked up to the Academy proper.

Just before he got to the entrance, a familiar face stepped out to greet him in the sunlight.

Malachite crossed his right arm across his chest with his hand in a fist and bowed his head in the traditional Whyndsor greeting. "Headmistress Odessa."

"Malachite Sterling, it's a pleasure to see you here, and a surprise. I'm sure you could imagine my face when I saw your application." Headmistress Odessa was covered from shoulder to toe in a maroon dress with sparkling indigo accents that spiraled around it. Her sharp face and eyes peered down at Chite through her glasses.

Chite smiled. "I was informed my grandmother told you of my imminent arrival."

"That she did. That was also quite a surprise, receiving her call. Two Sterling surprises on the same day, almost made my heart go out." Odessa turned and gestured for Chite to follow her.

"My grandmother, how is she doing?" Chite asked, continuing the pleasantries.

"Darksbane Nadora is, as always, aloof and mysterious. She had called me from somewhere along the Delfae coast." Odessa chuckled. "As expected, given her profession, don't you think?"

Malachite nodded. Nadora Sterling was the last proper Darksbane in the family before they turned to running the Whyndsor military with his father. When he was younger, Chite had been taught to be wary of her and her "antics", but, as he grew older, he looked up to her. She rejected the family and their rules and carved her own path, just as he was trying to do now. Of course, he had more sense than her to not completely divorce himself from the family, but still.

Headmistress Odessa led him through several doors until they reached what he assumed was the Great Hall. All tables had been pushed to the side, leaving the middle of the hall empty, and Chite quickly noticed bundles of blankets and pillows resting in one corner. They were going to sleep there...

"What, no suite?" Malachite said, only half jokingly.

"Oh, Malachite. Please don't mistake this warm greeting of my friend's grandson as special treatment. You will receive no such thing in these halls. Now, if you'll excuse me." With that, Odessa left.

As soon as she did, two members of the staff stepped over to Chite. "Name, please," said the one on the left. She was on the shorter side, with bushy red hair.

"Malachite Sterling. I had assumed I was already checked in." Chite said, waving his butler over closer. "These are my belongings. I presume there's a place they can go, or shall I stuff them under my covers tonight?"

"We'll get those sorted out," the lady said as she busied herself by scanning over her clipboard. "There you are, Malachite Sterling. Welcome to Lux Academy." She and her assistant, a broad man with dreadlocks tied up in a ponytail, took Chite's trolley as they left, leaving Kaso and Chite alone in the Great Hall. None of the other initiates had entered just yet.

Chite turned to his butler. "Well then, Kaso. I assume you have some kind of transportation back to Whyndsor?"

"Yes, Master Sterling. I have a train ticket, here."

"Good, good. Well..."

Kaso embraced Chite suddenly and tightly. Chite froze, not expecting the contact from someone below his station. He had become used to uninvited touches or other physical contact from nobles or wealthy people, as they themselves were used to that, but it had been a long, long time since something like this happened.

Kaso stepped back after a moment, clearing his throat. "Apologies, sir. It's just... You will be missed."

Hearing that sent something warm flickering in his stomach. It was genuine, what Kaso said.

"Thank you, Kaso," Chite said, and he hoped the older man heard that it was genuine. Kaso bowed deeply and departed. What was the only shred of his family that came to see him off disappeared from his sight, and he was now alone in the Great Hall. Good. It matched his insides.

The massive doors to the main entrance of the Great Hall opened, and what could only be the other initiates began to trickle in, with their loved ones and staff members surrounding many.

Chite adorned his best professional smile to safeguard his face from any of the thoughts in his head, and waited for them to come in. It was time to play the game.

The journey to Lux Academy was a brisk car ride away. Laz leaned her head against cool glass of the window, tapping her hand against her thigh anxiously. Laz didn't didn't anxious. She sighed, imagining the stars that clung stubbornly to the heavens. Her comfort zone.

In her mind, she tracked the patterns, picking out her favorite constellations as she'd memorized as a child. Ursa Major. Cassiopeia. Pegasus. Her parents told her the stars held secrets, that they whispered of everyone's fates.

Lazuli had never believed in fate.

Stars weren't storytellers, they were just burning balls of glass, lightyears away, indifferent to the people who gaze up at them. Planets were just floating rocks. And destiny... destiny was just another excuse people made for the things they were too afraid to change themselves. Still... Lazuli wanted to believe in something bigger. Something beyond the dust and stone of Glinthaven, beyond whatever lay ahead of her. She wanted to believe there was something waiting for her out there.

"Lazuli, you're quiet."

She blinked. Justyn Lockhart-- her father, in a sense--watched her with his usual unreadable expression. He sat with his arms on the steering wheel and eyes as sharp as ever.

"I'm always quiet," Laz muttered, turning her gaze back to the window.

"That's not true," Justyn said, shaking his head, "Not when you're around people you actually like."

Laz huffed a soft laugh, "Then I guess I'm just out of practice."

Silence settled between them again. It was always like this. Not strained, not hostile-- just... distant. They were two people who had never quite figured out how to be father and daughter, and after eighteen years, it felt pointless to try. Lazuli had learned a long time ago that Justyn wasn't the kind of man who offered warmth or reassurance. He didn't believe in coddling, in empty encouragements. He believed in action, in results. And yet, even now, there was something just barely hesitant in the way he was glancing over at her. Like he wanted to say something, but held back.

Laz spared him the effort.

"I'm fine," she said before he could ask.

Justyn exhaled through his nose, a flicker of amusement appearing on his face for the briefest second. "I wasn't going to ask."

Liar. She turned back to the scenery just as the spires of Lux Academy came into view.This is it.

The car slowed as they approached the academy gates. The first thing Lazuli noticed was the tree in the heart of it all-- strong, supreme... a symbol of growth. She smiled to herself, but refused to let Justyn see. Instead, she burrowed her mouth in her armsleeve, taking in the rest of the academy. The academy itself was massive, almost alive. The car rolled to a stop, and a uniformed attendant opened the door for them. Laz stepped out, stretching her legs, while Justyn followed at a slower pace.

"Well," he said, sweeping his gaze over Lux, "Welcome to Lux."

Laz shoved her hands into the pockets of her coat, "Bit late for that, don't you think?"

Justyn smirked, "You're the one that decided to show up."

"Yeah. Guess I am," Laz sighed, kicking a loose pebble.

They stood there for a moment, watching as other students arrived. Some arrived by foot, some by... horse, and others by luxurious airships. Laz wasn't sure what exactly she had just stepped into, or what kinds of different students she'd meet. Justyn turned to her, but hesitated before he spoke.

"You know you don't have to do this. Your father--"

Laz stiffened, "Yes, I do."

Justyn studied her for a long moment, then nodded, "Alright," he put a strong hand on her shoulder, "Try not to get expelled on your first day."

"No promises."

After a brief conversation with the school rep, Laz declined a tour and gathered her things from the trunk of Justyn's car. Normally, she'd be in for scoping out the academy, but she just wanted to get away from Justyn. If she didn't part ways with him now, he'd never leave-- in good conscious, at least.

"I can sign myself in," Laz pulled her large duffle from the trunk, grunting as it hit the floor with a loud thump.

Justyn glanced at her with a raised eyebrow, "Please don't make me turn around, Lazuli. Your parents would be ashamed if they knew you messed up on your first day. And by mess up, you know what I mean. No shenanigans. And most of all," Justyn pulled her in for an awkward hug, "stay safe."

Laz's arms stayed pinned to her side for a heartbeat too long before she patted Justyn's back. Affection wasn't exactly their thing-- or, rather, her thing, but she knew what it costed him to say those words. She decided to let him have this one.

"I'll be fine," she muttered into his shoulder, "I'm not gonna go looking for trouble."

A new, loud voice broke through the moment, "New arrivals, form a line in front of the Great Hall for check in! Follow me!"

"Trouble has a way of finding you," Justyn pulled back, sighing loudly, "Alright! Well... I'll see you during your break?"

"Yep!" Laz quickly grabbed her bag, "Bye, Justyn. Don't miss me too much."

"You betcha," Justyn took one long glance at her before getting back in the front seat of the car. Laz turned to face the academy, taking it all in for a second time. After a few long seconds, she made her way to the courtyard.

The Courtyard was packed, other students gathering in clusters. Laz could feel the collective energy of he place-- it was beaming, and she knew that all of the other students possessed talents equivalent to hers-- if not better. If she wanted to become a Darksbane, this was the way to do it. And she wasn't going to let her parents' legacies go down in flames; not when she had so much left to fight for.

A woman with a clipboard led her to a pedestal where another stafff member waited, "Name?"

"Lazuli Dreyka."

The staff member's pen scratched against the paper infront of him, and the man nodded to her duffle, "Any weapons or armor to declare?"

Laz hesitated, then reached into her boot, pulling out a slender dagger that belonged to her father before he died. The blade caught the light, "Just this."

The man examined it and nodded approvingly. Once the inspection was done, he slipped her a peice of paper that read:

Note any severe allergies and/or fears here:

Lazuli hesitated. She picked up the extra pen on the pedistal and started writing: Voidborn. There was no extra room to elaborate, or else she would've. Flashbacks of her hiking-trip-gone-wrong plagued her mind, the images flashing like picture frames. She swallowed... hard.

The man made another note in the ledger.

After a few more seconds, the man finally handed her a slip and gestured towards the large doors of the Great Hall. She took a deep breath before entering. Students miled about, some chatting in excited voices, others standing alone. They mingled, eating light snacks the school provided or setting up camp in one of the corners. Lazuli felt lost--alone, for the first time in her life since her parents died. She needed this, though. If she could get over her fear of Voidborn, she'd never have to worry about getting hurt again.

Laz adjusted her duffle strap, keeping her head high as she scanned the room. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to do next-- mingle? Find someone in charge? But she wasn't exactly the introducing herself type. Her fingers twitched.

Maybe coming here was a mistake.

Maybe it was exactly what she needed. Either way, there was no turning back now.

A warm wind blew, shaking the golden sun warmed wheat in the fields like shimmering gilded waves that would feed all of Destian, stretching out for miles across the land. A single horse and its rider traversed the rippling aureate scene, looking as if something out of a storybook. The rider's golden ginger hair and red cape fluttered back in the wind as she turned her face to the evening sun, blissfully running her fingers through the stalks that brushed against her horse's brown roan coat.

Pyrope beamed up at the sun. Moments like this made her love her homeland so much. The sun was warm on her face as the wind, equally warm, blew her hair out of it. It made her want to run and laugh just from the pure exhilaration and joy of living in such a moment. With the way her horse kept trying to trot, she could tell he was feeling the same way.

"What, do you want to run?" Pyrope asked the noble stallion. Technically he was nothing special, just another partial draft horse like those used on more traditional and rural farms in Arturia, but she liked to think he was part warhorse as well, just like those used by warriors of old.

The horse tossed his head a little, as if impatiently agreeing with her, anxious to run and move fasted then the steady walk they had been going at for quite some time now before the wind picked up.

Holding on with only her legs, she twisted around in the saddle to ensure her meager belongings were properly secure, tightening a couple straps here and there. Once that was finished, she grinned and turned forward again, holding the reigns in one hand and patting the horse's neck with the other.

"Go Rhyolite! Go!" She exclaimed happily.

Without a single nudge needed, Rhyolite took off, galloping at top speed across the plains. Pyrope laughed at the thrill of it all as the wind whisked past her, tugging at her clothes and cape with its force at such a higher speed. Ahead, the grand Lux Academy loomed, getting closer every second. This was it. Each step Rhyolite took carried her closer and closer to her end goal, her destiny. Anyone else in her place may have had thoughts about turning back, of considering the danger of becoming a darksbane too much. But not Pyrope. If fact, she couldn't even fathom having any of those thoughts. It was worth it; this is what she had been striving towards her entire life and she wasn't about to turn back now. This would be a challenge but she would endure.

And it would feel so nice when she was finally free. Free from the expectations of others, free from the guilt she carried of being who she was, free from all the burdens that troubled her now. Just the thought raised such intense joy that she wanted to laugh and cry and yell her accomplishment of getting into Lux to the world for the top of a mountain all at once. However, as not all of that was possible, she settled with a loud whoop, throwing her arms out to the sides and tilting her face to the clear blue sky, laughing as Rhyolite galloped through the fields before them.

Before long, as Pyrope and Rhyolite drew closer, the sun was replaced with the growing shadow of the academy, lit by the amber light from the gorgeous leviathan crystal tree that grew there. Blinking at the not quite as bright but just as brilliant light from the tree, Pyrope took hold of Rhyolite's reigns and guided him towards the road where she saw cars approaching the academy from and... was that an airship coming to land? Someone had apparently decided to arrive in style.

Quickly remembering what she had managed to salvage from a pile of relics her family was about to burn sometime back, Pyrope pulled out the double crested banner that represented both sides of her family, holding it high as she rode in through the gates.

Inside, there were plenty of other initiates that had arrived already, some still arriving yet. Pyrope looked around for any familiar faces and instantly spotted a handful of those she recognized. Some seemed to remember her as well and waved in which she cheerily waved back, others seemed not to recognize her. Maybe it was the hair. She had cut it in a much different style as compared to when she had last seen everyone because someone had used her long hair against her in a scrap. A wolfcut on the other hand was much harder to get a hold of and didn't get in her eyes as much. Plus, it just looked cooler in general, and a lot more voluminous. Either way, she would have to go meet up with them after she checked in and see if they remembered her then.

Grinning at her old companions, Pyrope slid down from Rhyolite's saddle as a couple of the staff approached, looking mildly bewildered at the horse and exchanging whispers. Maybe they were new or had lived in the city and never seen a horse before.

One of the staff, a tall woman with raven hair, approached her with a clipboard and smiled politely. "Welcome to Lux Academy. May I have your name please?"

Pyrope smiled at her. "Of course! My name's Pyrope Pyralspite-Almandine, hence the banner. Who are you?"

The woman blinked at her. "I'm Apache Tyr but that is really not of importance-"

"Nice to meet you!" Pyrope grinned and shook Apache's hand. "Apache is a wonderful name by the way."

"Nice to meet you too-" Apache simply shook her hand in return before getting back to business. "Do you have any weapons or armor with you?"

Pyrope nodded eagerly. "Yep! I've got my sword with me. I like to carry it right here on the saddle when I'm traveling." She proudly patted the sheathed sword that was attached firmly to the saddle just like all of her other belongings minus the banner.

Apache nodded. "May I have a look at it?"

Pyrope happily nodded, glad to show her sword to anyone. While it wasn't the best of blades, and wasn't exactly special or had any sort of important meaning, she was proud of it and knew how to use it. That was what was important. She pulled the sword from its sheath and offered it, laid on both of her hands, to Apache.

Apache took it and after a moment of looking over the sword passed it back with a nod of approval. "Alright, that will stay away until after initiation if you would put it back with the rest of your things. As for your belongings, they will be taken to the dormitories for you."

Pyrope carefully put the sword back in its sheath and grinned. "Alright! Would you mind stabling Rhy here for me too? He needs a place to stay while I'm here." She gently patted the horse's neck then offered the reigns to Apache.

"Not at all." Apache replied, however did not take the reigns and instead motioned for another member of the staff to step forward who uncertainly took them.

"Don't worry, he's a big softie and won't hurt a fly." Pyrope told the other staff member with a reassuring smile.

The staff member blinked a bit, glancing towards Rhyolite but nodded a bit as he led the horse away. However, Pyrope overhead him whispering to the other member of the staff who went with him to help. "Do we even have stables anymore?"

Apache once again quickly turned the conversation back to business. "Alright, I almost have you all checked in. I just need you to answer one more question for me."

"Fire away!" Pyrope said eagerly.

Instead of answering though, Apache simply handed the girl her pen and clipboard which had a singular unfilled section at the bottom of the paper that read:

Note any severe allergies and/or fears here:

Pyrope grinned. This was an easy part, Apache could have just asked the question herself. Happily taking the pen, she quickly scribbled down her answer.

None :)

She then happily passed the clipboard and pen back to their rightful owner who glanced down at it and raised a brow but nodded slowly.

"Alright." Apache hummed. "You are all checked in. If you would, please follow me to the Great Hall."

"Thank you!" Pyrope said happily, grinning even as Apache gave a curt nod and and began leading the way, trusting that Pyrope was following.

Along the way, Pyrope glanced around to see if any of the people she had recognized before were still around. Maybe she could catch up with them on the way there, although she supposed after would probably work too. Either way though, it was time to find her friends.

Say, was that Chite?

"I swear, Angel. One of these days, you're gonna fling out of your seat and through the window. And I won't feel bad for you," Heliodor muttered, turning away from Angel's unsightly manner and looking through the car window.

Angel laughed at his brother. Lio was just a fun-hater, bent on ensuring Angel's life was as boring as possible. This was why—just to spite him—Angel decided to sit in his seat upside-down, with his feet over the top of the backrest and his head hanging above the floor.

It wasn't like his parents were paying any attention, anyway. They were far too busy discussing "very important business matters” to even look at the backseat. And Angel was far too busy trying to shove his foot in Lio's face to listen to what his parents were saying…which was why he didn't notice their conversation go quiet.

Angel’s father tapped the brakes, and the car suddenly lurched. Angel flung forward, landing in a contorted heap with his limbs splayed across multiple seats.

"Oh my gods," Lio gasped through fits of laughter. "That was the best thing I've seen all week."

Angel groaned and untangled himself from the contortion he’d fallen in. Okay, so maybe it wasn't a good idea to sit upside-down. Angel pulled himself back into his seat with a grunt. He crossed his arms and looked out the window, pointedly ignoring his brother in quite a petulant manner. That only made Lio laugh louder.

"Angel, make sure you have your seat belt on," Angel's mother chided. Angel didn't need to look to know she was smiling; he could hear the grin in her voice.

"Oh, I see how it is. Everyone's just out to get me," Angel huffed dramatically. Even so, he clicked his seatbelt into place. He didn't want to risk landing head-first on the floor again. Angel was pretty sure he’d popped a vertebrae or two out of place when that happened.

"Exactly. We're all thinking about you and how to make your life miserable," Lio deadpanned, reaching over to flick Angel on the forehead.

"Hey!" Angel rubbed his forehead. He shot Lio a glare and swatted his arm. Before Lio could retaliate, Angel's father interrupted them—now that he was actually aware of the boys’ bickering.

"Hey, knock it off," Angel's dad scolded. "You are both adults, and you're still acting like you're in middle school. Angel, you'll be in Lux Academy within the hour. Your mother and I worked too hard for you to act like a little kid."

Lio cleared his throat, straightening himself. Ever the picture of eloquence, Angel thought bitterly. Angel slumped in his seat. He really did act like a child, now that he thought about it. But at least he wasn't annoyingly uptight like someone sitting next to him.

Luckily, the famous Crystalline Tree came into view from the window, its branches reaching high into the sky. Angel wasn't impressed. It was a sight he'd seen many times before, the awe of the building long since faded from Angel's childhood. Sure, he'd dreamed of attending the school, but the older Angel got, the more the allure seemed to fade. That didn't mean he wouldn’t have fun while he was there, though. Having fun was, of course, a number one priority.

Angel was eager to get out of the car. He didn't think he'd last another minute sitting upright in a stuffy car. Angel let out a long breath once he stepped onto the pavement, looking around at the campus.

As Angel gazed up at the Lux Tower, the childhood magic of the academy sparked in his chest. It truly was an impressive sight, one that he’d dreamed of attending since he was a kid. People milled about, other initiates chattering excitedly with family, and…oh my gods, was that a horse? Angel shook his head. He’d need to find the person with the horse and befriend them. He wanted to meet the horse.

Up in the sky, Angel spotted an airship landing near the Lux Tower. Angel gaped at the sight. He supposed the upper class just wouldn't be the same without rich people flaunting their money. Whoever it was, Angel was sure they were spoiled rotten. The flashy sports car his parents insisted on driving now seemed quite dull in comparison.

Angel turned his attention back to the matter at hand and opened the trunk. His stuff had barely fit in there, and that was saying something. Angel was typically a very light-packer. Thankfully, Angel’s brother did most of the heavy lifting.

“Why’d you even bring so much stuff?” Lio grumbled as he lifted the last suitcase out of the car.

“I didn’t bring that much stuff,” Angel insisted. “I only brought three bags! I can assure you that the person with the airship has ten times more than what I brought.”

Lio sighed, picking up one of Angel’s suitcases and wordlessly carrying it toward the gates.

Angel gasped. “You’re just going to leave me here to take the rest of my bags?” he called after Lio.

Lio glanced over his shoulder to shout back at Angel. “You’re the one who said you didn’t bring that much. If it’s not that much, then you carry it!”

Angel groaned. He walked right into that one, didn’t he? Where was a chauffeur when you needed one? His parents weren’t going to help him. They’d already gone ahead with Lio. Angel trailed after his family, luggage slowing him down. He couldn't believe the audacity of his family. How could they just leave him there to carry his own things? It was outrageous, at the very least.

Angel caught up with his family when they were amidst a conversation with a Lux Academy staff member with a heart-shaped face and brunette ponytail. Angel only heard part of the conversation—something about the Grand Hall and a nod of affirmation from his parents.

Angel fell into step beside his brother as they followed the Lux staff member. "What are we doing?" Angel muttered to Lio.

Lio turned to Angel with a huff. "We're getting you checked in. Weren't you paying any attention?"

"Well, I would have been paying more attention if I didn't have so many bags to carry," Angel seethed.

The group walked up the path to the Grand Hall, the staff member pointing out various locations and landmarks. The staff member pushed open the huge doors of the Grand Hall upon nearing them, halting just inside and facing Angel's family. This time, Angel allowed himself the chance to look around, seeing as this was the last stop.

The ceiling arched high over him, intricate chandeliers casting light through the room. It looked like the building had been made to say, "We have money! Lots of it!" and it sure did show. Other families and initiates crowded the room, but Angel could still spot the elegant tables that had been pushed to the side. He briefly wondered why they had been moved until he caught sight of the blankets and pillows piled high in a corner of the room. Angel, surprisingly, was quick to make the connection that they were going to sleep in the Grand Hall like one giant sleepover. He practically glowed at the idea. That was going to be so fun!

A nudge to his side brought Angel back to attention, and his father nodded to the staff member in front of them (Angel still hadn't bothered to learn her name). She was holding out a clipboard with a paper on it.

"Huh?" Angel muttered as he took the clipboard, looking down at it with furrowed brows.

"Please list any allergies or phobias you have on this paper," the staff member answered patiently, clearing Angel's confusion.

"Oh." Angel was about to write "none" when he hesitated. He looked up to Lio with a glare. The Fun-Killer. Without a second thought, Angel wrote down Lio's face >:( and handed it back to the staff member with a bright smile. "Here you go!"

The staff member glanced down at the paper, then looked back up at Angel, confusion written on her face. She didn't mention it, though, and simply tucked the clipboard back under her arm, donning her customer-service smile once more. "Well, it looks like you're all set. We'll take your luggage from here, and if you have any weapons with you, we ask that you turn them in now."

"Finally!" Angel exclaimed, dropping his bags to the floor with a loud thud. His arms were free of their great burden.

His parents looked absolutely mortified, quietly scolding him for his indecency. Angel ignored them. It wasn't like anyone cared much, anyway. Even the staff member seemed unperturbed.

"We'll bring those up to your room for you," she smiled. "Now that you're all checked in, it's time for final goodbyes. I'll give you guys some space."

Once the staff member had left, Angel was ready to mingle among the crowd and possibly meet some new friends. It wouldn't hurt to have some allies for initiation, he supposed. But of course, Lio The Fun-Killer put a hand on Angel's shoulder before he could run off.

This time, though, Lio didn't look like he wanted to sock Angel in the face. He looked pensive. He held Angel by the shoulders, his fingers pressed uncomfortably into Angel's skin. Angel's mood dampened. That wasn’t a look he wanted directed at him.

"Angel," Lio started, quiet enough that their parents wouldn't hear much over the noise of the room. Lio was silent for a long time before he continued. "Don't treat this like some sort of game, okay?"

Angel's shoulders dropped in disappointment. How typical of his brother to only think the worst of him. "I'm not going to, Lio. I know-"

"No, listen," Lio cut him off. "Mom and Dad have been coddling you too much, so I'm telling it to you straight. This is real life. You're not at home anymore. You can't sneak out and mess around whenever you want, and you sure as hell can't skip out on schoolwork just because you feel like it. This isn't about fun. This is about you becoming a Darksbane, Angel. That's not easy, okay? And if..." Lio trailed off, scanning Angel's face. "If you let this opporotunity slip, you have nothing left. We don't have a plan B. Don't let this go to waste."

Angel's features darkened, and he set his jaw. He'd known this was his only option the second he left Feren Academy. He hadn't even been certain he'd get into Lux. As much as he liked to pretend he had nothing to lose, Angel knew the risks. He had everything to lose. He didn’t have to ask to know that everyone else in the room had just as much at stake. Initiation would be nothing short of brutal, and Angel knew he would need to do whatever it took to survive it.

"I know," was all Angel responded with. It seemed enough for Lio because he nodded and patted Angel on the shoulder.

"Good," Lio nodded. Right before Angel turned around, Lio grabbed his shoulder again. "And, Angel? I'm just saying that because I care, okay?"

Angel smiled, nodding at Lio. "Yeah, I know. Don't say 'I love you' or anything, though. That'd make it awkward."

Lio pushed Angel away with an eye roll, the moment now ruined. "Oh my gods, I don't know why I said any of that corny stuff anymore. I should've known you wouldn't take it seriously." Despite Lio's accusatory words, there was a hint of fondness beneath them that was hard to ignore.

With that taken care of, Angel turned to his parents, who'd seen the entire exchange, though they hadn't heard much of the conversation. Before Angel could even speak a word, his mother's eyes welled with tears, and she surged forward, wrapping Angel up in a big hug. Angel awkwardly returned the sentiment, patting her back slowly.

"I'll miss you, Angel," she murmured into his shoulder, holding her son even tighter.

"Yeah, I'll miss you too, Mom," Angel replied, though he only partially meant it.

If he was honest, Angel was anxious to leave the confines of his home. Sure, he loved his parents, but that didn't mean he wanted them hovering over his shoulder for the rest of his life. Despite their crazy work schedule, Angel's parents still managed to take an active role in his life once he'd turned to independent studies. Making sure Angel stayed in line was their love language, apparently.

With one final squeeze, Angel's mother finally pulled away with a bitter-sweet smile, wiping the tears from her eyes. Angel's father, on the other hand, looked as if his son wasn’t being accepted into one of the most prestigious academies in the country. He held his hand out to Angel like he was agreeing on a business deal. Angel pressed his lips together and shook his dad's hand.

"Do well, Angel," was his father's only words of wisdom. And Angel hadn't expected anything more.

It was only a moment longer before Angel was waving goodbye, and his family had turned their backs to him, making their way through the massive doors of the Grand Hall. Angel sighed in relief. He'd been itching for them to leave for a while now. It was foreign for Angel to have complete freedom from his family and home, and he was going to relish it.

Halfway across the room, a tall girl was quickly walking, trying to make her way through the crowd that had formed. She had golden ginger hair that wasn't really either color but more of a mix of both and reddish-purplish eyes that seemed focused on someone on the other side of the room.

Angel caught sight of the girl, tilting his head. She sure was walking fast. Something about her seemed oddly familiar, though Angel was sure he hadn't ever met her before.

However, somehow, she had met him before as, on her way across the room, she noticed him. Her eyes widened in realization and excitement as a grin appeared on her face, and she made her way towards him instead.

Angel looked over his shoulder. Was she looking at him? She must have been, since there was no one else in her direct line of sight. That meant she was walking toward him. Who even was that girl?

Once there were no more people in her way, the girl began running towards him before quickly tackling him in a hug.

"ANGEL! It's been forever!"

Angel practically yelped as the girl flung herself at him. He stumbled back a few steps before tripping over his own feet, falling straight to the ground, and carrying the girl with him. He landed on the ground with a grunt and let out an awkward laugh, because what else was he supposed to do when a random girl tackled him to the ground? He was convinced she was crazy.

"Yeah!" he said, glancing around, wondering if anyone had witnessed what just happened. "It's great to see you, uh..." Angel trailed off, furrowing his brows as he looked at the girl. She seemed really familiar, but he still couldn't place her name.

She grinned at him and then seemed to notice his expression. "Has it really been that long? I'm Pyrope, remember?"

Angel blinked at Pyrope. Pyrope. The name did sound familiar, and this girl was adamant that they knew each other. With a start, Angel realized that Pyrope was from Feren Academy. He hadn't known Pyrope personally back when he went to Feren, but he of course knew of her. Recognition dawned on his face, and he smiled at Pyrope.

"Oh! Yeah, you went to Feren, right? I guess it has been a while," he laughed. Angel dearly hoped she hadn't heard too much about him.

Pyrope beamed back and rapidly nodded. "Yep!"

Angel's smile faded as he lifted his head from the ground. Pyrope didn't seem to mind that she had tackled him, but Angel figured it was a bit strange to talk with someone while they were pinning you to the ground. He looked back at Pyrope with a raised brow. "So, do you tackle everyone you meet, or just people you vaguely remember from Feren?"

"Just my friends." She grinned and ruffled his hair before getting up and letting him up as well, offering a hand in assistance.

"Friends, huh?" If he and Pyrope were friends, he wondered who else she considered to be her friend. To Angel, this was practically the first time they'd met. Even so, Angel couldn't help but admire her friendliness.

Angel accepted Pyrope's hand and hopped up. He ran a hand through his hair in an attempt to straighten it, but it didn't do much. No matter. Angel always looked flawless no matter how his hair was styled.

"So, what brings you to Lux?" he asked. After all, everyone had a reason for wanting to be a Darksbane.

Pyrope chuckled a little. "That's a looong story. But basically, restoring family honor if you know what I mean."

Angel nodded, acting like he did know what she meant. For Angel, neither family nor honor had much appeal to him. "Oh, yeah of course! Family honor...and such."

"Well... I guess it's not like family honor full face value, but it's complicated." Pyrope shrugged a bit nonchalantly.

"So...complicated family matters. Got it," Angel nodded.

Pyrope laughed. "The likes of which you would not even believe. Especially considering you seem to have forgotten everything about me." She lightly teased.

Despite himself, Angel flushed ever so slightly in embarrassment. He had never been good with names, especially with old classmates from Feren. "In my defense, I'm pretty sure I had a total of half of a conversation with you while I was at Feren."

Pyrope shook her head but grinned nonetheless. "Sureee. I'm pretty sure it was more than that though."

Angel was pretty sure it wasn't more than that, but he shrugged. His memory wasn't the most reliable source.

Angel's attention was drawn away from Pyrope as more people filtered in through the doors. He wondered how many initiates had been accepted as he glanced around the huge room. It seemed big enough to fit hundreds of people. Then Angel remembered the huge pile of pillows and blankets in the corner of the room.

"Hey, did you see the blankets and pillows in here? Do you think they'll make us sleep in here? Honestly, that sounds kind of sketchy. Maybe it's some sort of 'team bonding' they're making us do."

Pyrope glanced over at the pile and shrugged. "It can't be that bad. At least we've got a roof over our heads."

Angel hummed. "Yeah, I don't really mind. I do wonder about some others, though. Namely, the person who got here on an airship. Did you see that thing? It was massive!"

"I did!" Pyrope grinned excitedly. "As for the person who got here by it, that's Chite! He'll be fine once I find him again."

Angel tilted his head, thinking. Chite. That name sounded familiar, too. "Do you know Chite from Feren?"

Once again, Pyrope rapidly nodded. "Sure do!"

"Huh. So that's why I recognize the name. How many people here are from Feren?" Angel wondered aloud, scanning the room for people he recognized. Angel didn't remember many people from Feren, though. Only a few mismatched names and faces.

"I don't know for sure," Pyrope said, momentarily scanning the sea of faces as well, "but at least four including us two. If not five."

"Oh." Angel didn't like the sound of that. He had hoped he wouldn't run into anyone he knew from Feren, but he knew it was wishful thinking. Feren and Lux were both in Glinthaven, so it would make sense that the majority of initiates were from around the area. Angel just hoped those from Feren didn't recognize him as Pyrope did. And if Pyrope knew much about why he'd left Feren, she didn't bring it up. Maybe it wouldn't turn into too much of a problem.

"Well, it was good meeting you, Pyrope. Or...talking to you again, I suppose," he corrected.

"Yeah! Want to help me find the others?" Pyrope asked with a grin.

Angel hesitated. "You mean, the others from Feren?"

"Mhm! Mainly Chite. He's my next target for a hug." Pyrope answered with a hit of mischief in her voice.

The idea of doing exactly what Angel wanted to avoid sounded less than appealing, but Angel didn't want to turn down the first person he'd met. Besides, Pyrope seemed nice. What were the chances that the others from Feren would be totally evil? So, Angel nodded.

"Yeah, sure. And when you say 'hug,' I'm sure you mean you'll tackle Chite to the ground?" he asked with a smirk.

"Yep!" Pyrope replied cheerily. "Like this!" She suddenly tackled Angel in a hug again, laughing.

Once again, Angel was knocked off balance by the force of Pyrope's hug. He fell to the ground, but this time he anticipated the fall and didn't shout in surprise. He sighed as Pyrope laughed. "Hey, try not to crack my skull on the ground next time, will you?" he deadpanned.

Pyrope simply grinned in return yet asked sincerely. "Sorry, is your head okay?"

"No, and I'm going to bleed out and die because of you," Angel sighed dramatically.

She hummed. "Let me guess, your blood is invisible then?"

Angel narrowed his eyes at Pyrope. "And what if it is?"

"Then I guess I'm getting you medical attention because there's no way I'm letting you die. Not on my watch." Pryope grinned reassuringly. "You are okay though, right?"

Angel sighed. He supposed he'd give up the bit since Pyrope was genuinely concerned. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Pyrope seemed a little relieved. "Good, I'm glad."

Angel tapped his shoes together idly. "So, are you gonna get off me, or am I permanently stuck here?"

That slight undertone of mischief returned to Pyrope's voice. "Unless you think you can get free you are permanently stuck from here on out." It seemed almost like a challenge.

"Well, both my arms and legs are currently incapacitated right now, so it seems you do have the upper hand," Angel nodded with a smile. Angel rolled over so that Pyrope was now underneath him, though he still couldn't move his arms. "I mean, I moved," he pointed out. At least he wasn't stuck on the ground forever.

"Doesn't mean you're free." Pyrope teased before quickly rolling back to how they were before. "I guess I can give you your arms though to make things more fair." She released his arms and just held herself up with her own. "I don't think you're going to get much farther though."

Angel narrowed his eyes at Pyrope, then flashed a wide grin. He again flipped them over, and now with his arms free, Angel was able to hold himself up. Swiftly, he sat up on his knees and rolled to the side out of Pyrope's grasp. He turned to face her with a smile, crossing his legs on the floor.

"I got farther!" he celebrated.

Pyrope laughed and smiled back, sitting up as well. "Only because I went easy on you."

Angel huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Hey, a win is a win! I still beat you."

She grinned. "Yeah, you're right, you did."

Angel sat up straighter with a triumphant smile. "Aaaand, she admits it!" He hopped up from the floor, this time offering his hand out to Pyrope. Well, it seemed the tables had turned. "So, are you gonna go tackle this 'Chite' guy you were talking about? Because I bet he won't be able to beat you like I did."

"Oh I'm absolutely going to tackle Chite." Pyrope excitedly replied, taking his hand and getting up as well. "I'm not going to go easy on him either."

Angel nodded. He wasn't surprised by Pyrope's response. "Well, then, let's let the wind guide us to said 'Chite!'" As they started walking through the Grand Hall, Angel leaned over to Pyrope. "Get it? Because his name is "Chite," like a kite flying in the wind?"

She grinned, chuckling. "I didn't even think about that."

Angel smiled brightly at Pyrope. He didn't remember much about Chite, but if he was anything like Pyrope, Angel thought they'd get along just fine.

Buildings and signs flashed past the windows of the car, but Merry took no notice. He was too busy burying his nose in a book to look at them. He'd been allowed to take his step-father's car to the Academy rather than walk or take the train. Did the train even stop near their house? Merry had no idea and he didn't particularly care at the moment. Advanced Attunement was far more interested than the stone and wood buildings he'd spent the majority of his childhood looking at and running about.

He was glad his mother had found someone to settle down with--the wealth had been a bonus and he definitely wasn't complaining--and that they didn't have to worry about where to find food or shelter or money, or how. Mother had worked long hours as a lounge singer in a poorer area of Glinthaven, one that could be quite dangerous for most people. Thankfully, Merry learned fast.

He glanced up from his book as the car slowed down a little and blinked, spotting the driver glancing back towards him. The car stopped and the driver--a man a little older than him with dark hair and dark eyes--fully turned towards him.

"Your stop, sir," he said and Ametrine nodded. He sighed and tucked his bookmark into the book before snapping it shut.

"Thank you, Flint," he said and opened the door, hopping out of the car. Flint also hopped out and headed towards the back of the car to open the trunk. Merry moved to join him, helping him to lift the suitcase out of the trunk. It was only the one and his satchel from the car, which Merry went to retrieve before giving Flint a smile. "Thank you for driving me to the Academy."

"You're welcome, sir. Shall I inform the Mistress that you arrived safely?"

Merry chuckled. "Of course."

"Very well, sir." Flint nodded. "Good luck today."

He glanced over towards the Academy. There was an airship just leaving and he knew who was pretenious enough to use an airship for travel. He had hoped he wouldn't see Sterling after Feren Academy. Apparently, he was wrong.

"I think I'll need it," he said drily, gaze lingering on the airship until it was several hundred feet above the stone walls surrounding the school. Flint snorted behind him and Merry turned to flash him a wry grin. He nodded to the lineup of vehicles behind Flint's car. "Good luck with the traffic."

"Thank you, sir, and goodbye."

"Bye," Merry replied, watching Flint as he hopped back into the driver's seat and pulled out. He kept watching until he couldn't see it anymore, then turned to head into the school, pulling his suitcase along behind him.

And then he did a double-take because was that a horse?

Huh. That was Pyr's horse. So she had managed to get into Lux, too. He grinned, wondering where she was at. He'd find her later, of course, but first, he needed to check in. Merry sighed, glancing around carefully. And spotted Sterling. Oh, hell no. He paused long enough to reopen his book, carefully adjusting where his bookmark sat so he could continue reading as he walked, and then pushed on, desperately wishing that Sterling wouldn't see him.

Thankfully, he did not and Merry easily made his way into the Academy. He wasn't really reading his book, of course. He was just using it as an excuse to ignore a certain someone. Luckily, he snuck past without much fanfare and out into the front courtyard. And glanced up to see the Tree towering over everything. It truly was beautiful, but he could see that from home. It could be seen from most places in Glinthaven.

One of the Academy staff members--a young man with bright blonde hair and dark eyes--spotted him and made a beeline. Merry exhaled and snapped his book shut again, tucking it away in his satchel. He smiled and tilted his head.

"Hello, there."

"Name?" he asked and Merry blinked.

"M---er. Ametrine Merle Ljubica," he responded and the staff member nodded, glancing down at the clipboard he was holding.

The man went through a checklist--his weapons (which Merry handed over--he wanted his war fans on him thank you very much--and was then returned), his belongings (which would be sent up to his dorm later) and then allergies and/or fears. He handed over the clipboard for that. Merry stared at the young man for a moment before accepting it and writing none beneath that question. He handed it back and the staff member gave it a once-over before nodding and gesturing him on.

"Thank you," Merry said and handed over his bags. The staff member dipped their head and waved another staff member over to take them. He smilled and glanced past the young man to look towards the Great Hall. Right. It was time.

Merry closed his eyes for a brief moment before he nodded to himself and strode towards the Great Hall. He cast a look about for Sterling--who he didn't see at the moment--and for Pyr. He spotted her quickly and waved. She waved back, then turned to scan the room. He did the same, looking for anyone else he might recognise. There was a lot poeople in the Hall, a lot of initiates. He didn't recognise a majority of them, so he turned back to where he saw Pyr and made a beeline for her.

He didn't get far as he collided with someone's back. Trust him to put blinders on when he spotted someone he actually liked.

"Ow!" the person he'd collided with exclaimed and Merry had to pull back before they both tumbled to the floor.

"Sorry! Sorry!" he said, startled. "I didn't mean to walk into you like that!"

The person turned and, oh no. The silver hair should've clued him in. Void damn it, he'd walked into Malacite Sterling. Merry froze, staring at the other boy, then groaned.

"Not you," he said, grimacing at Sterling.

"You," Sterling said in reply, tone flat.

They stared at each other for a long moment before Merry heard a shriek of his name--and Sterling's--and then Pyr was tackling the both of them from the side, taking them to the floor. He hit hard and turned to hug Pyr back, and tried to ignore how he was squished up against Sterling beneath her.

"Hi Pyr," Merry muttered, tightening his grip. "Long time no see."

"Way too long!" Pyrope replied excitedly, grinning at them both. "How have you been?"

He side-eyed Sterling, still pressed tight to his side and huffed. "Pretty good, Pyr. Little busy with Father's business, you know how it is."

"I didn't realize Lux was struggling for new initiates this much," Sterling muttered as he rose to his feet--much to Pyr's disappointment, pointing over to someone who looked vaguely familiar with faded blue hair and blue-gold eyes--but Merry could tell Sterling was speaking about him, just from the disdain that was dripping from his words.

"Anyway, it is good to see you again, Pyrope. I did not know who Lux would accept from our year in Feren, but I had a feeling you would be amongst them." Sterling made a point of glaring at Merry after that comment, like he was implying Merry wouldn't have been among them. Merry was not amused, but he decided not to say anthing. Best not to upset Pyr.

Sterling nodded to them, still on the floor, and fixed a cuff before he stomped off, like he had more important things to do. He was in the Great Hall like the rest of them. What a pretentious pri--

Pyr rolled her eyes a bit as he stomped off but chuckled. "I'm going to have to tackle him again on his own later. When he least expects it."

"Uh...excuse me?"

Merry turned his attention to the remaining person, standing awkwardly nearby. He frowned, tilting his head. He had no intention of moving until Pyr decided to let him up. Blue Hair really was vaguely familiar. Merry squinted at him.

"Do I know you?" he asked, giving Pyr a pat on the back. "You look familiar..."

Blue Hair squinted back at Merry, looking him up and down. "I don't think we've met before, but I don't have the greatest memory. I'm Angel, though!"

Merry gestured at Sterling's retreating back. "Jerkface said you went to Feren---wait." He pushed up onto his elbows, eyes widening. "Angel? As in Anglesite Caedor?"

Angel's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Yeah, that's me!" He then looked at Merry suspiciously. "We didn't happen to meet at Feren, did we?"

"Uh... Maybe?" Merry looked down at Pyr, whose face was still pressed to his chest. She mumbled something that he couldn't make out and Merry snorted. "I've definitely heard of you, though. You're the kid that got expelled, right?"

Pyr quickly looked up at him. "Merry!" She didn't seem terribly upset, just a little shocked.

Angel looked up, glancing away from Merry with a frown. He was quick to look back at Merry with a bashful smile, though. "Yes, that is also me. I'm uh...so glad you've heard about me!" He let out a strained laugh.

Merry sighed. "It's not like I know the details, but eh. I don't really care why you got expelled, Angel." He offered the other boy a bright smile. "It's nice to meet you!"

Angel's shoulders visibly relaxed, and he returned the smile. "Yeah, nice to meet you to, um..."

"Oh! I'm Ametrine Merle Ljubica," he said when Angel seemed to hesitate., and then cleared his throat. "Uh, but you can call me Merry. Ametrine seems awfully pretentious, doesn't it?" Merry eyed Angel, then Pyr and then glanced up again, smile turning sly. "You wanna join the cuddle pile?"

Angel laughed, tilting his head as he looked down at Merry and Pyr. "Well, Pyrope already tackled me twice, so why not?" Without a second warning, he flopped down right on top of the pair and wrapped his arms around them. "Aw, how cozy!"

Merry grunted at the extra weight and promptly accepted his fate, letting out an 'oof' before hugging them both back. "Yeah, I'm really comfy, aren't I?"

"So comfy." Pyrope chimed in with a grin.

"Oh, I suppose," Angel shrugged. "It'd be much nicer if we had a blanket, though."

He hummed, tilting his head back to see the nearby intiates watching the three of them, some amused, some with concern. "Mmh, it would, wouldn't it?"

"Yep! I'm always full of bright ideas." Angel grinned. He kicked his feet behind him and followed Merry's line of sight. He seemed unperturbed by the onlookers.

Merry lowered his voice and affected a scandalised tone; "They probably think we're crazy or something."

Pyr just shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh well."

"People already think I'm crazy," Angel muttered.

Pyr hugged them both tighter, giving them a gentle squeeze. "Hey, it doesn't really matter what they think. We've got eachother. That's what matters."

"They at least think we're very weird," Merry said, giving them both a pat on the shoulder. "Pyr, could you let us up now?"

She seemed to consider it a moment, a hint of mischief in her grin before giving in and nodding. "I guess so."

"Does this mean you two are getting off of me now? You're heavy."

"Aww, but I was having so much fun!" Angel complained. Even so, he awkwardly rolled off Merry and Pyr. He quickly jumped up to his feet and offered out his hands to help them up.

Merry nudged Pyr off him and let himself be pulled back into his feet, readjusting how the fans hanging from his belt were sitting and then fussing with his hair. He caught Angel staring and cleared his throat, brushing imaginary dust off his shirt. He offered the other boy a shy smile and then turned to look at Pyr, who was still laying on the ground.

"Well? You gonna lay there all day, Pyr, or are you going to get up so you can go find his royal jerkiness to tackle?"

At that, Pyr happily accepted Angel's help and bounded to her feet. "Well, the ground was kind of cozy but that's an even better idea."

"Knew you'd like it," Merry said, grinning wildly. He turned to face Angel, planting his hands on his hips. "So. Now what?"

"Now," Pyr said, sending him a grin that was somewhere between mischeif and challenging boldness. "We go find Chite again so I can tackle him. He's getting a hug whether he likes it or not; and he's not getting away so easy this time."

He can't have gotten far, Merry thought, scanning the crowd. Then he chuckled and gestured for her to go ahead of him. "Lead the way, then, my dear."

Malachite Sterling was a civilized man. He was classically trained in many things, including fighting styles, proper manners at the dining table, and how to worm his way out of many many less fortunate situations. For him this was second nature, as his family had deemed themselves important enough to meddle in as many situations as they could. Chite prided himself on being able to think up even the most ridiculous scenarios in his mind and how he would be able to solve said scenarios with as little damage to himself as possible.

With all that happened that summer, Chite had seemingly forgotten the wild card that was Pyrope and it had only just hit him that he had forgotten as Pyrope was quite literally hitting him. He, alongside Pyrope and Ametrine (who was still wanting to go by the childish nickname Merry), fell onto the ground in a pile of embarrassment and absolutely too much physical contact. Chite removed himself from this interaction as quickly as possible and hoped he wouldn't be followed by Pyrope.

Without looking back, Chite weaved his way through the growing crowd of teenagers and young adults. The atmosphere in the Great Hall quickly and quietly stiffened with dread and anticipation. These poor things were almost entirely in over their heads. Chite had his suspicions that training in the other regions were subpar when compared to Whyndsor, but his attending Feren Academy had all but confirmed it. However, that meant it had all the more potential for molding and reshaping, not in the way Whyndsor wanted, not in the way his family wanted, but in the way Chite thought was best. A new path forward, free from the constrictions of those he would leave behind.

Eventually, Chite found a stopping point by a long table stuffed against the wall by the large doors of the entrance. This wasn't one of the grand wooden tables of the hall itself, but a plastic pop up one. On the table were snacks and bottles of water. Chite perused the table. It housed a variety of processed snacks: chips made from potatoes, chips made from corn, nuts, dried fruits, jerked meats, and a variety of breads, all of which were stable enough to sit there overnight. The table was more than several paces long and almost every inch of it was packed high with food. There was more than enough for all of the... maybe fifty initiates that Chite would guess was in the hall now throughout the night. That, combined with the blankets and pillows piled onto one darkened corner of the hall, indicated to Chite that they were meant to stay in this place overnight. Dozens of pent up teenagers being forced to sleep in the same room while they all anxiously anticipate the most important day of their lives so far... what a resoundingly abhorrent idea. Chite absently wondered if they would be monitoring everyone from afar tonight, testing them before the initiation even started.

Malachite grabbed a piece of deer jerky. It was the perfect sustenance to chew on while one did other things. It was as absent-minded of a thing to eat as one could get while still looking busy or pre-occupied. So that was what Chite decided to chew through as he studied the other initiates.

The first person to catch Chite's eye was an initiate who decided to show up in full steel or iron armor. The only thing he was missing was a helmet. He looked ridiculous, but he at least had the right idea. A staff member was helping him remove the armor, like it was his first time wearing it. If initiation was anything like Zenith's rigorous process to get in, it would be brutal. Everyone had their own method of fending off Voidborn, but from Chite's experience it was far better to be quick on one's feet rather than let armor slow you down. That metal could probably tank one or two hits from a Voidborn before it was a useless chunk of weight, or worse, a deathtrap.

Chite moved on from this person. Likely he wouldn't see him beyond the initiation, so he didn't bother wasting his time. He saw multiple of the same types of people: the slick ones that think they're too good for the air around them, the ones who hate being there (but are there anyway), the ones too nervous to have a personality, and the ones who had no clue what they were getting themselves into. There were a few conversing with each other, and not all of them were from Feren. There were some faces Chite recognized, like of course Pyrope and Ametrine (the day Chite would call that boy Merry would be the day he was on his deathbed... or worse), and maybe a few others Chite did not know as well but thought he recognized from Feren. Overall, though, there were many more faces Chite didn't recognize, which interested him. The percentage of people who went from Stenick Academy to Zenith Academy was incredibly high, even with Zenith's standards. By the looks of it, only a small fraction of those who went through Feren Academy ended up going to Lux. That would have to be investigated further; Chite's curiosity would not allow him to drop it, so he stashed it for the time being.

It was then that Chite noticed a staff member walking up to him. He finished chewing on the piece of jerky and swallowed, donning a polite enough smile as the attendant reached an acceptable speaking distance. He had a clipboard in his hand, which he looked at before he spoke to Chite. "Mr. Sterling?"

"The one and only, in this country at least. How many I help you?" Chite left the smile on his face lax and open.

"We're currently checking everything in for all initiates. Looks like we missed your weapon."

"My weapon? Oh, it's a sword."

"Yes, do you have it on you? We're storing them for safekeeping until initiation. There's lockers."

Malachite pitied the poor man. He sounded so unsure of himself that Chite could have believed the man was asking him a question, or asking for reassurance.

Chite patted his vest and opened his palms. "Besides some remnants of jerky, I'm afraid I have nothing with me. Certainly not a sword. Are you sure it's not in the locker? I would hate to not have my weapon for initiation..."

That last sentence got the man sweating. "Of course not, Mr. Sterling. We'll double check." He backed off much quicker than he arrived.

Chite chuckled softly. "Yes, you do that." He wondered how long the staff would be scrambling to find a sword they never lost. His hands absentmindedly tugged at his right cuff, where a small bracer held a collapsable hidden blade. There was absolutely no world where he would be weaponless in a room like this, especially overnight.

He doubted anyone would be coming up to him tonight to let him know they couldn't find his weapon. Who would want to be the bearer of that news?

The knife that was normally weighted to perfection was heavy in Jet's hands. Absent-mindedly, she twirled it between her fingers, wondering if that would take her mind off things. One spin. She had a long day ahead of her and it was only ten in the morning. Two spins. Maybe she should take a walk up and down the train car. Three spins. This clearly wasn't working-- the action was purely muscle memory, and it couldn't really serve as distraction if it took no effort on her part.

Sighing, Jet set the knife back on her lap, letting her head fall back as she stared blankly out the window. The train was speeding through the Arturian farmland, past fields of wheat on wheat on wheat. The stalks had an almost dizzying goldness to them in the summer gleam. It was going to be so warm up here-- at least, compared to Whyndsor. She wondered if these people understood the cold of the tundra. It built character. Looking out at the blue sky, it seemed to her that this place had never seen a cloud before.

Jet leaned back against the cushioned wall, putting her feet up on the bench she was sitting on and stretching out her legs.

"Uh-uh," she heard Pyrite say. "You don't live here. Get your boots off the furniture."

Jet squinted across the train compartment to make eye contact with her older sister, who had looked up from a book in her lap. Pyrite didn't read for fun, so it was probably some dreary book on military theory or magic training. Jet had never understood why someone would put that information in a book. Such knowledge was better transmitted in practice.

"I'm just trying to get comfortable," she said.

"I would hope you can," Pyrite said, closing her book over her hand so she didn't lose her page. "Not every day you get to ride in first class."

"First class is just, two benches facing each other and a door separating us from the hallway," Jet pointed out.

"That it is," Pyrite agreed. "But it was clean when we got here, which was nice."

Jet let out a little huff, but relented, putting her feet back on the floor.

"Hey, relax," Pyrite said. "Whatever I've said about Lux, I'll give it one thing-- it is definitely the best place to go if you absolutely cannot bear to attend Zenith."

Jet rolled her eyes. "Zenith wasn't my style."

Pyrite snorted, amused. "You were trained for Zenith, dumbass."

"So was Spinel, and he ended up choosing Straxis," Jet said.

"True," Pyrite admitted. "I guess that's a sign things could always be worse. You could be going there too."

Jet huffed, but there was no annoyance in it as she turned back to the window. Still more wheat. She wondered when they'd get to see the coast.

"Was Spinel worried, too?" she asked, after a few moments. "When you dropped him off?"

Pyrite had been about to open her book again, but her gaze flicked back to Jet. "What, are you worried?"

"Uncertain," Jet corrected. "Worried sounds too much like scared."

"Worried means worried." Pyrite set aside her book, clearly preparing for a longer conversation, as she tilted her head thoughtfully. Her long blonde hair-- freed from the practical tight bun she usually kept it in, a rare sign that she was family first and a Darksbane warrior second today-- spilled over her shoulder. "I don't know. He was silent a lot of the journey."

"Oh, so the usual," Jet said.

Pyrite chuckled. "Yeah, nothing new. He did say some stuff, though-- stuff that made me think that maybe he was feeling less bold than he was acting."

Jet turned her way. "What do you mean?"

Pyrite clicked her tongue. "He talked of some memories from training with what could be described as his version of fondness. All of them were from Whyndsor."

"I thought he was eager to get away from there," Jet said. "That's why he chose Straxis over Zenith."

"That's what I thought too," Pyrite said. "Guess his reasoning might've been more complicated than that alone."

Jet hummed quietly, shifting on the bench. "Guess so."

"You're not second-guessing this, are you?" Pyrite asked, with sudden seriousness. "Because if you are, it's not too late to change your mind. Zenith starts later in the season, they'd still be thrilled to have you if you replied to their acceptance letter--"

"I know I want to go here." Jet waved her off.

Pyrite held up her hands. "Alright, alright. Just checking."

"I'm just... not sure how it'll be," Jet admitted. "Compared to what I'm used to."

Pyrite let out a laugh. "Jet, there isn't a situation you could be in at that academy that those trainers haven't thrown at you already. They prepared you for everything. That's why they were so ruthless."

"Sure, but college is actually about way more than learning how to best your classmates in combat and killing monsters," Jet said. "So I've heard, at least."

"Oh, you want college advice? Okay, here it comes." Pyrite held up a finger. "One, join a club or something. That's the best way to make friends."

"There's only a few dozen of us or so in the student body, is there really an audience for clubs--"

Pyrite lifted a second finger. "Two, wear flip-flops in the shower. Just trust me on this one."

"See, this isn't exactly what I meant," Jet muttered.

"Then what?" Pyrite tilted her head.

Jet didn't know how to answer. Maybe she meant she wasn't sure how to be normal. Maybe she meant she didn't know what to do if she wasn't the best among her peers anymore. Maybe she meant whatever it was about these academies that could make a warrior like Spinel hesitate before diving right in.

"I don't know when things settle down," Jet said at last. "If they ever do."

Pyrite scoffed quietly, before she realized she was serious. At that, her expression quickly sobered up. She looked almost... sad. At least, that was Jet's best interpretation of what she displayed-- she'd never really seen sadness from Pyrite.

"They don't," Pyrite said. "As far as I know. This isn't the career for that-- maybe it ends when you retire. Or maybe you'll always be a servant to humanity's safety. But in any case, if you're hoping for things to get quiet, you'll have to change your expectations."

It was what Jet feared hearing. But she merely nodded, leaning back against the bench with a quietly uttered, "Cool."

"You sure that's cool?" Pyrite prodded. "Because if it's not, now is the time to talk about it--"

"It's cool."

"Alright." Pyrite picked up her book, ready to resume her reading, but not without one last searching look cast Jet's way. "It's your game now, sis. Better learn the rules quick."

The cushions of the seats in the train to Glinthaven were plush and soft, almost as soft as the Soleanos' hunting dog's coat. The sun was warm on the skin as the rumble of the train fell into the background. Sodalite hadn't realized how tired he was until he slumped into the seat next to his father. Only the ocassional jostle of the train and chatter of the fellow passengers made his sleep ever so slightly harder, but he seemed to block it all out and sleep soundly. The light faded in and out, the train going through tunnel after tunnel.

Suddenly, ooh's and ahh's sprawled from the passengers. He felt himself get shaken out of his slumber. "Dali. Dali. Wake up. Look out the window."

Dali groaned and opened his eyes, rubbing them before finally looking at the view outside.  A river ran alongside the tracks, drawing the eye to the Lux Academy campus. Dali looked up in awe (and with a crick in his neck) at the bright almost sun-like branches of the large Crystalline Tree. It looked almost ethereal, causing a few passengers to rub their eyes to check if it was real. Dali looked over at them and shook his head. It wasn't that awe-inspiring.

Following the tree down, he spotted the large stone wall that circled around the Lux Academy campus. It almost looked like a fortress, if you ignored the large spire that seemed like it was almost growing on top of the walls when you looked at it from so close. The pattern of the bricks and stones was neat yet rugged, getting closer and closer as the track started to run alongside the wall.

Dali sighed. It wasn't particularly right to say he wasn't excited to go to Lux, he just wasn't the most enthusiastic. Yeah. That sounded right. Against his wishes, his father forced him to go to Lux. Well... maybe it wasn't forcing. His dad only supported the idea of him going to Lux, heavily encouraged him to do so, and was really supportive no matter the choice... so maybe forced was a bit too harsh.

He snapped back to reality after noticing the train beginning to slow as it pulled into the station near the wall. The overhead speakers crackled and fizzled to life. "This is your conductor, officially welcoming you all to Lux Academy Station! Please collect all items, such as bags, larger bags, purses, and luggage. Silvuni Rails is not responsible for any lost items, or children left unattended on the train, especially infants, five year olds, and moody teens. We thank you for choosing Silvuni."

His father stood up and stretched. "That was a nice ride, don't you think?" He reached up where Dali's luggage was, hauling it down as it made a muffled "thud" onto the carpeted floor.

Dali just shook his head and groaned a little. "Do I really have to? What about the dogs? And Smith? Alin?" Dali, for the first time in his life, made sad puppy eyes at his father. Even he couldn't believe he'd stoop that low.

"Dali, my boy. This will be good for you! Think about how much more hunting you can do!" His father patted him on the back as the two walked onto the station platform. Dali felt his eyes roll a little. As much as he loved hunting... he always had a bit of an apprehension doing it.

Sure, hunts were and are a fun part of his family's traditions. He would never say the thrill of the hunt was boring. Yet, recently, he'd been thinking. There's always been a part, albeit the smallest part of him, that felt so bad killing the Elderbeasts. Of course, he knew they were evil and malignant and probably not sentient. Probably. That little-eeny-tiny-itty-wee bit of him said otherwise. It protested against his own beliefs. Told him to go against his heritage.

"-brothers gave me this letter to give to you. Dali? Dali, snap out of it." His father said, clapping in front of his face, bringing him back to the real world. "Did you hear any of what I just said?"

Dali made a soft nod while rolling his eyes. "Yes, I know. The two wrote me a letter. Can't be anything good, though. Those two are the worst at writing. I saw them spell 'however' as 'hauevr'. They're really straining their shared brain cell..."

"Don't be so harsh on your brothers! Just read it." His father handed him the letter. He opened the envelope and skimmed over the contents.

to dali

Even tho we dont think you deserv the spotlight we have to say that you we will mis you a little bit even tho your stinky and stupid. We hope nobody treets you wrong beacuse if they do than we will have a problem beacuse we are the only ones who can treet you mean >:)

Hopfully we wont see you around,

Smith and Alin

p.s tell us if you see any pretty girls pls

Dali couldn't help but snicker a bit. Sure, he hated them and they truly pissed him off, but he had to admit that the letter was at least a bit thoughtful (if not funny) of them. He folded the letter up and stuck it in his pocket.

"Alright, let's get moving!" His father picked up his bags and began to walk down the cobblestone path from the station to the academy. Walk maybe was too little. It was more of a jog.

Dali shook his head and went after his father. "Dad. I am perfectly capable of carrying my own bags. You don't need to do that."

His father did a dramatic sigh and handed over one of the bags. "I know, but when else will I be able to coddle my fa—" He caught himself before he said favorite and cleared his throat. "My youngest son."

Dali couldn't help but laugh a bit. He definitely was going to miss his father's sense of humor. "Ah yes, your youngest." He smiled as the air was filled with silence and continued trekking towards Lux. He took in the scenery as they got closer and closer to the gates, seeing cars, limosiunes, even a horse pass by.

As the two finally passed through the gates, he was met by the sight of various people bantering and saying hellos and goodbyes, and some of them gawking at what seemed to be an airship lifting off and leaving. He just shook his head. He'd have to see who came out of that... thing.

His father turned around and set down his bag. "I'm gonna miss you, son. Don't do anything I wouldn't do, and don't get into any trouble." He smirked. "Though I doubt you will."

Dali smiled. "You know I won't. I'll miss you too, dad." He stepped toward his dad and hugged him. "I'll make sure to write. And send Smith and Alin my best wishes." He snorted a little. His "best wishes" were a pretty low bar for them.

"I will. I will. I just can't believe it; my own youngest is already going to such an esteemed academy." His father almost started tearing up.

"Alright, alright. You better get going now, or you'll miss the train." Dali said, hugging his father a final time. The two smiled as his father patted him on the back.

"I'll get going now then. Be safe, Dali." His father patted him one last time before turning to walk back to the station. Dali watched for a while before picking his bags up and slinging them onto his shoulder.

He watched as multiple parents, friends, and relatives left their children. One of them had something in their teeth. Dali winced and looked away. He decided to try and find one of the staff members, just so he could get checked in and all. Maybe after that, he should check out what that commotion was about. He nodded, tentatively perusing to find a staff member.

It didn't take long to find a staff member who wasn't preoccupied with someone else, and they locked eyes. Thankfully, Dali didn't have to go out of his way to try to get the lady's attention or anything, as she walked over to him with a polite smile on her face. "Hey there, looking to check in?" she asked.

Dali nodded, smiling a little, although a little awkwardly. "Yes, I am."

"Great! What's your name, sweetie?"

"I am Sodalite Soleanos. You can just call me Dali."

"Sodalite..." She scanned her clipboard and clicked her tongue. "Found you. Let's just write in Dali here so our staff knows your preferred name." She flipped over the paper to one beneath and scribbled something down. "So, Dali, what weapons and armor do you have?"

"Ah, I have a rifle and a couple of other guns. And some ammunition." Dali rubbed the back of his hand.

"Gotcha, gotcha." The lady scribbled something onto the paper once more. She tapped the back of the pen onto the clipboard and looked at Dali. "When you get into the Great Hall, we'll take your luggage to your room. Make sure to separate your armor and weapons and give them to us. We'll keep them safe and ready for initiation tomorrow. And, Dali, one last question!"

She handed the clipboard and pen to Dali. She tapped the area for him to read. Do you have any fears or allergies?

Dali grabbed the clipboard and tapped the pen idly on the paper. He thought for a moment and then jotted down quickly, although with neat handwriting, Small Spaces. He capped the pen and handed it neatly back to her.

The staff member took the clipboard back and smiled at Dali. "Perfect. You're good to go, Dali. Just head into the tower, follow the signs to the Great Hall. You can't miss it. And welcome to Lux Academy."

"Thank you." Dali bowed slightly and walked off to find the tower. He couldn't help but doubt himself. Even though his father supported him, what did that really mean? He always would support him.

He shook his head and curled his hand into a fist, making his skin red. No, his father would never lie. He would be fine.

He would be just fine.

Citrine Manda CitRINe peeled a mandarin methodically. He admired the way the slanting evening sunlight illuminated the bold orange of the peels, which he collected carefully in a bag he'd dispose of later. The color of the fruit popped against the cool brown of the ship's deck, which itself contrasted with the cerulean waves just beyond.

He simply existed for a moment, absorbing the refreshing scent of citrus and the sloshing of the waves that the ship cut through and the warm feel of the last rays of sunlight on his skin. Wasn't this world beautiful?

A human voice shattered his peace.

"We'll be arriving soon." The captain nodded respectfully to Rin and his grandmother, who was standing at the railing beside him.

"Thank you," his grandmother responded elegantly. After dismissing the captain, she turned to Rin. "Remember your training, Citrine." She held his gaze meaningfully.

Rin nodded. He offered half the mandarin to his grandmother. He was thankful it was his grandmother accompanying him, because if it were his mother or his father, that gaze would have had a different meaning. His mother would like him to help anyone he met. His father would like him to collect and bring back artistic inspiration. That's what he'd learned was their most common meanings after years, and still he suspected each of their gazes meant something different. But his grandmother? She meant exactly what she said: remember the hours he'd spent with her training with the spear, his attunement, and his mind.

"I will," he replied. And as the Lux Crystalline Tree came into view, with its deep blue and purple that almost seemed to be pulsing with a power he imagined he could feel, he knew he'd stick to that promise. Sunset flowed over the grounds of Lux, the forgiving light wiping away imperfections in the buildings and suffusing the academy with a sense of possibility. Rin anticipated exploring the expansive training grounds and acclaimed libraries and smiled slightly.

Rin knew Lux wasn't a utopia. But for one moment, one moment where he ignored the thought of his future classmates and teachers, he imprinted this view of the campus in his mind and thought it was the most perfect place in the world.

...That impression lasted exactly eleven minutes and thirty four seconds. At eleven minutes and thirty two seconds, Rin stepped into the crowd of initiates and their families, spear strapped to his back. At eleven minutes and thirty three seconds, another initiate stepped onto his foot. And at eleven minutes and thirty four seconds, they started to apologize profusely.

Rin stiffened. "It's alright," he said awkwardly. He stared at the ground, his luggage, the student's boots, anywhere but in their eyes. In Rin's experience, most people tended to take eye contact as a sign of wanting conversation, or of interest, or creepiness, or some other wild misinterpretation of his gaze. His gaze wasn't that unnerving, was it?

Finally, the student said a final "sorry" and moved off through the crowd, and Rin exhaled. He glanced over at his grandmother.

"I regret leaving gaps in your training," she said simply, moving smoothly between clumps of people. "Perhaps Lux Academy can help fill in the social aspects of your education."

Rin's jaw tightened. He thought that was a little excessive... it wasn't like he couldn't work with others. He just... he just preferred to spend time with the more permanent world. To calm himself down, he started designing a library with adjacent botanical gardens in his mind. He took inspiration from Lux and mentally added growths of indigo crystals to the tops of the entrance pillars.

He was just about done designing the exterior of the building (it'd be domed, with rows of arches) when they encountered a staff member. She carried a clipboard. Rin noticed its sharp angles and was contemplating which architectural style it was most like when the lady asked for his name and any weapons or armor.

Rin handed over his spear, the evening sunlight glinting off its silver tip. It set him on edge to be weaponless, even as he reminded himself that it wouldn't be for long. The woman returned it after a few moments and Rin relaxed slightly. Unfortunately, the next question on her clipboard put him on edge again. Severe allergies or fears? Allergies made sense, but why would they need to know his fears? Sharing fears made him think of bonding exercises in school and that was not something he wanted to be reminded of.

He stared at the clipboard for a moment. There were many things he could write. Having to socialize. People expecting something of him and him having no clue what it was. Being lost. Eventually he simply wrote, "Personal questions."

And with that, he was checked in.

Rin turned to his grandmother. In the fading light, he could imagine her as the stately ruins of some classical building. She gazed at him for a moment.

His grandmother opened her mouth, and Rin expected her to give another reminder or piece of advice. Instead, she closed it, reached out, and patted his shoulder. She stood there for a second, then said, "Do your best. Do better than your mother." Her golden-brown eyes flashed.

And what could Rin say to that? He nodded slowly. He felt as if he were on the ship again, except swaying on uncomfortable waves of anticipation and nervousness instead. But he'd adapt. He had to.

Rin bid farewell to his grandmother and watched the last remnant of home glide away. Time to enter the Great Hall and, supposedly, a new chapter of his life.

A few minutes later, Rin concluded that the only good thing about the Great Hall was that it was liberally scattered with trash cans. He'd disposed of his mandarin peels in a convenient bin next to the door he entered through.

Other than that... blankets and pillows? They'd be expected to sleep here, together, listening to incessant snoring and subjected to being stepped on by students fumbling their way to the bathrooms in the middle of the night? Though apparently some weren't as averse to getting to know the ground as Rin was, judging by the hug-tackles he observed. Rin sighed.

Finally, he chose a corner that seemed slightly less crowded, and sat down. Rin closed his eyes and returned to designing the library in his mind.

After the encounter with a staff member, Chite had focued his attention back to the crowd of initiates. As he studied them, he grabbed a water bottle and sipped from it. Just as he was getting a bit bored, he noticed Headmistress Odessa's head pop out from the crowd as she stepped onto a wooden stage near the opposite end of the Great Hall. Oh good, things were about to liven up.

Chite stalked the outside of the crowd that started to form around the podium as some attendants worked to get a microphone onto the stage. Either this was an unexpected visit from the Headmistress or Chite had just noticed the first sign of Lux Academy's incompetence. It was highly interesting either way. The initiates herded themselves around the Headmistress like a crowd of unsuspecting prey, and Chite circled them, inspecting those who felt more out of place than others. In part, he felt sorry for these people; they really did not know what they were getting themselves into. But then, how could they know? Another thing to fix.

The microphone on Odessa's stage whined to life, getting everyone's attention onto her. She offered a polite smile to the audience. "Welcome, Darksbane-to-be." She said into the mic, her voice carrying loud and clear even without it.

"I hope you all have been able to check in and set aside your battle armaments for initiation tomorrow. There are refreshments by the front door. Please, make yourselves comfortable in here. This is where you'll spend the night."

Malachite wandered behind student after student, studying the reactions to her words in his peripheral, while he kept his eyes on Odessa in order to avoid any suspicion.

Odessa's smile left her face. "I want to remind every person in this room that you are not attending Lux Academy yet. You have no place here, no room, no spot in our registration yet."

The silence thickened in the hall. Malachite's lips curved up just the slightest amount.

"Tomorrow morning is initiation. From this point forward, I've instructed my staff to treat you just as they would any Darksbane. We will give you respect and space. You will receive only the barest of instructions, and we expect you to figure out the rest on your own."

Malachite roamed through the shadows and weaved in between two students who didn't even really notice him.

"Tomorrow will test your knowledge and capability as a Darksbane-to-be. Not only just your limits in the battlefield, but your deduction skills, your ability to work alone and as a team."

"I won't elaborate more, to not ruin the mystery. But, I will say this: do not try to cheat your way out of or through initiation. I have no time for those who think they are the exception; our rules were paved through generations of blood."

Odessa suddenly smiled. "Have a good night, Darksbane-to-be. I will see you all bright and early tomorrow." She stepped off the stage and walked swiftly out of the hall while everyone was still too stunned to make any potential objections known.

Malachite noticed Pyrope separate herself from the crowd and, before he could make himself sparse, she noticed him and began her beeline towards him. He excused himself from Lapis and attempted to make some distance between him and his pursuer while he collated his thoughts. This had quickly morphed from bothersome to infuriating. He had to put an end to it before it became a problem in the happenstance they both made it through initiation and continued their... friendship. Even coming to terms with that in his own head was a struggle. Friends were a liability.

Chite swiveled around and sure enough, Pyrope was right in front of him with a much too large smile on her face. Before she could make physical contact with him, Chite held up his hand to stop her. She did stop, which Chite had to admit to himself that surprised him.

"Pyrope, dear, it's time to get serious." Chite stated, keeping his face neutral.

At first Pyrope looked a bit confused as her smile slowly faded from her face. The happy expression she had had before though was not replaced by a frown. Instead it was replaced by soething that almost seemed like dissappointment.

"I know that, more than you think but let me have at least this." She said to him, her voice quieter then before but firm.

"No, I believe one tackle to the floor is sufficient enough, thank you." Malachite brushed his vest off. He still felt dirty from that.

"Fine then." Instead of tackling him, Pyrope simply hugged him before he could stop her. He grimaced at the forced contact and awkwardly reciprocated, patting her on the back. After more than enough moments passed, Malachite had to gently separate himself from Pyrope.

"Right, then." He said, not really sure what to say.

She looked up to him, probably one of the only people she had to physically look up at with how tall she was already. "Thank you, Chite. It's been a while and a lot's changed but it's nice to have that much still."

Malachite studied her face. There was a puzzle there, something he did not see at Feren. Eventually, he said, "I'll see you after initiation, yes?"

Pyrope gave him a smile but it was much smaller then before and not quite filled wih happiness as it had been. Instead it conveyed some complex sort of emotion that appeared even to Pyrope to be hard to decipher.

However, instead of answering her normal cheerful yes, she simply looked him dead in the eyes and answered, "hopefully."

After that unfortunate encounter but interestingly enlightening encounter with Pyrope, Malachite had more than enough interaction with these people for the night. The high windows that adorned the walls of the Great Hall showed the sun setting for the night. Malachite did not have to try and check the time to know it was getting late. If the Headmistress' words were to be believed at face value, then he would have to be up early the next morning for initiation. It was a good idea regardless, though, because he wanted to be among the first to be up for one last look at people before initiation. Whether they had figured it out or not, every single person in this room were about to become his competition, directly or inadvertedly.

Chite dragged a stuffy pillow and a scratchy blanket from the pile to a distant enough corner of the hall, between two different stacked piles of benches. He begrudgingly stripped off the outer layers of his vests until it was just a button up shirt. While others asked the few attendants still in the room for pajamas, Malachite was fine with staying in these clothes overnight. It was not the most sanitary, but it was the most effective. The less needless preparation before initiation, the better. He could mentally prepare far easier for the battle come that way.

Malachite studied the casual talks that littered the room as the initiates readied themselves to sleep. He could tell there was still a stifling layer of caution and concern that enveloped the teenagers as they all tried to act normal for perhaps the last time they could. Normal was never a concept Chite was priveleged enough to become familiar with.

And so, Chite eventually drifted off to sleep, his dreams overlapping with the constant discretion of the people around him.

Mica drove along the long and winding road on a motorcycle, his lower face covered with a gator and his hair blowing freely in the wind. He had rented it from the first village he entered in Arturia. They had a drop-off location near the academy, which he'd have to visit first. He didn't have money to burn. Or time, since the train stopped mid-journey for some passing elderbeasts multiple times. If he were to create a hit list, the person who thought it was a great idea to put the starting term in the middle of migrating season for the elderbeasts would be the first and probably only one on it.

At the moment, he was only awake because of two energy drinks and a bag of coffee beans. He tried to cover as much road as possible in the shortest amount of time, which meant putting aside sleep. He'd sleep when he could at the academy.

Speaking of the academy, he'd have been just fine going to his local academies but noooo, his father got in contact with some distant family member to send him to this one. It was where everyone wanted to go, except him apparently. Any day, he'd choose music over fighting and teaching. He hated dealing with other kids, especially younger ones, and was glad his parents never had any others after him.

The academy was very noticeable as he got closer. That big, old fortress. Looked pretty cool though.



Mica dropped off and paid for his time renting the motorcycle before walking to the academy. He put his headset in his ears and called his father. He liked to be let known when things happened. It rang five times before he picked up.

"Hello?"

"Heyyy, Dad. I'm in Glinthaven. Just dropped off the bike."

"Great! That was fast. How were your travels?"

"Not bad."

"That's good. I'm so proud of you son..." His father started saying. Mica tuned out the rest as he suppressed an audible groan. Every time he brought this up. Every. Time. He's so proud that Mica was going further in life than him and was going to make a difference in the world. Supportive, but was also the one putting the weight on his shoulders. He just gave absentminded "mhms" when the time seemed right until he was on the other side of the street from the walls of Lux Academy.

"Hey, Dad, I'm at the academy now. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

"Alright, son. Talk to you later. I love you."

"Love you too. Bye." Mica hung up first, and pocketed his headset. He walked along the wall, looking around at the buildings and people. They were a lot more.... expensive looking than he was used to. Then there were people on the streets taking selfies. Definitely tourists. Or maybe some very enthusiastic students that were going to be going to Lux and had to document everything. He personally cherished his memories. If he didn't remember them, then they hadn't made it into the "worth remembering" pile and were thrown away to make space for other things. Mainly music.



The tour was pretty cool. The most beautiful part was the tree in his opinion. It had been breathtaking looking at the crystals as he went by, flickering ethereally at different angles. He had to admit the age of the school was pretty impressive as well.

He felt weird though, being one of the few kids without a family member with him when first arriving. Not that he wasn't independent. He knew how to live on his own and could very well do it. But that wasn't the issue. It was just the matter of having family there. If his father nor mother could come all this way... how were they even paying for him to go here?

Once inside, he took his sunglasses off and for the time being hung them on the neck of his shirt. He wondered why they were asking again for his allergies. He had to give them that information when first being accepted into the academy. He put down "square needles" as a joke. Fears were an odd question to ask. He just put down "N/A" for it. That was a question he didn't think they needed the answer to. With that done, plus handing over his weapons, he was led to a large room with many sleeping bags. Great chance to get to meet some of the other initiates he supposed.