Welcome New Students of The Academy of Aetheric Studies

[0headmaster0]

It was that time of year again, the beginning of the academic year and the arrival of new students. Today would be the grand entrance ceremony for new students and the day school clubs and activities would try and showcase their best!

Of course, an exciting day for students was also an exciting day for teachers, keeping track of trouble makers and helping lost students, there wasn't a moment of peace.

Welcome to the world of magic!

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[geeplays]

Thea - a short woman with her auburn hair back in a tight braid - sits at the lunch table with the students, joining in their chatter. A small serving of jelly, deep blue while also sparkling inside like a cluster of stars, reflected in the eyes of the dazzled children. Puffing out her chest, she proudly proclaims that that dish had been her idea. As the potion teacher, she could teach people how to make many such wondrous things, as long as they study hard!

But taking a moment to excuse herself after the end of the lunch and the continuation of the orientation, Thea could be found in the corridor, her shoulders slumped and looking utterly defeated as she groans aloud. The burned and frayed edges of her robe trail behind her.

[lazymage]

Tristan, who was always a difficult man to get motivated if it didn't suit his very specific whims of that given moment, was diligently making his way down the hall towards the teachers' lounge. His every step carried an elegance that those who knew him would say betrayed his true nature and was a trap to the unsuspecting. And yes, this elegant gait was cut abruptly short as he did an abrupt stop and turned around to attempt to run away from the potions professor, who was singed and sighing.

"Nope."

[geeplays]

"Wait!"

Thea springs back up, immediately breaking into a sprint after the man, defying any sense of momentum with how quickly she had shifted into his chase. The solution to this problem clicked in her mind the very instant that Tristan had made his presence known, even if it was that very moment he started moving away from her.

"Tristan! Come back!"

She knows that he knows what she was thinking, and she knows what he must think about that. It won't stop her from trying anyway!

[lazymage]

"I'm busy," he was not.

He picked up his pace while still keeping it within a somewhat respectable gait for a teacher in a school.

It reeked of trouble and time consuming details... he didn't want to know.

[geeplays]

"It won't take that long! I promise!"

Thea knew very well that her promise is one she couldn't keep, much like many others she's said that, but the words spill out in her desperation. Fortunately, there weren't many other students yet here in this hall to see their Potions teacher in such disarray.

"Please! I'll owe you my life! Anything you need!"

A big favor in turn for something that supposedly won't take too long....

[lazymage]

"I don't want your life!" But he did slow down with a sigh to finally turn back with a glance.

"What do you need?"

[geeplays]

The speed at which her short legs had been carrying her finally caught up to Thea as she came to a stop, hands on her knees as she took deep, wheezing breaths for a moment.

As soon as she recovered, she sprang up once more with a serious expression.

"Lend me your syllabus for this course from when you taught it."

[geeplays]

In the courtyard, the students were ushered down a road lined with booths on either side. At the booths, many clubs, teams, and student organizations had displays to advertise to the students and entire them to join. The crafts club displayed all sorts of clothing for mages to wear on their days outside class that their members had sewn, with some pieces coming together in mid-air like flowers blooming before everyone's eyes. The program for studying abroad displayed images of foreign lands in floating orbs. At the Magus Pugna booth stood Seren.

Tall and lean, his height would be intimidating enough; his blank gaze did nothing to help this. Still, he knew he couldn't leave his team to deal with this, no matter how much this wasn't his forte. He had become something of a celebrity at Aether Academy; if he wasn't there trying to recruit others, it'd be an all-too-conspicuous absence. They could not demonstrate in front of the students in such a crowded area, so his mere presence would be enough to attract anyone interested in the art of how mages battle.

Noticing someone approach, Seren picks up a pamphlet before he looks towards the other person, to find... not a new student?

[nerve_damage]

"That's the spirit, Seren!" Reiya isn't tall enough to clap him on the shoulder properly, but she does pat him on the arm. "Make sure you don't waste 'em on the older students too much though. We didn't make that many."

She was one of the more notable members of Magus Pugna, for better or for worse. Reiya had joined for more practice when it came to controlling large-scale magic spells, and had accordingly induced heavy injuries on more than a couple of her club mates. Though she'd made significant improvement after a year, her reputation was still notorious enough that she was quietly discouraged from participating in manning the club booth at the event despite her enthusiastic volunteering.

Seren is one of the few people she could fight without much worry, talented enough that even with her lack of control he's able to handle her.

"Have you seen my little sister come by? Looks like me but smaller, hair to about here," she gestured at around her shoulders, "probably talks a mile a minute if she's not staring at your face all tongue-tied? I told her to check out the club but no idea if she listened."

[geeplays]

Seren looks down towards Reiya, his expression still impassive, but he does not tense or pull away from the contact.

"If her sister's that much like her, we might have our first ever death in the Magus Pugna team at Aether Academy. Isn't that exciting?"

"No, I don't think I have. Perhaps she's still making her way here."

There are some that had their minds made up and ready to go about which club they intended to join. Some such students made a beeline straight towards the Magus Pugna booth, and likely would have still gleefully taken the club pamphlet if Seren left them in a stack on the desk without even acknowledging them. But with so many clubs to choose from, many students shuffled in groups from booth to adjacent booth, weighing all their options.

"But I'm sure Coach is going to be excited to have two of you to deal with."

His words are heavy with sarcasm; while he didn't agree with the spirit's excitement, the very thought sounded like this could either be very good or very bad for the team. Could even he handle twice of Reiya's strength?

[nerve_damage]

"Maybe she got intimidated by that face of yours!"

Reiya laughs at her own joke. She could mean that Seren is too serious-looking, or too handsome, but if she has one of the two in mind in particular she's not clarifying.

"I don't think she's as strong as me! Maybe. Probably! She doesn't like big spells as much as I do." Though there was probably a strong correlation between that and Reiya's tendency to cause significant trouble. When one grows up watching their older sister making a mess, it tends to make them not want to do the same. "She's still pretty tough though. She'd beat up the neighborhood bullies for me after our parents forbid me from using offensive magic on my own! I bet she'd have lots of fun if she joined."

There's something in her tone that makes it sound a bit too much like a story to be immediately believable, more like a deliberate exaggeration on something that's more inspired by true events than actually grounded in them.

[geeplays]

Seren doesn't react to the comment of his face. He took care of his upkeep well as to not let his parents or others worry, but anyone with the willpower to push past the expression of indifference and make their romantic intentions known were shut down.

He didn't need the spirit to comment on anyone he got close to that way...

While Seren is certainly learning more about their family dynamic, none of it comes off as much of a surprise, now that he knows. His expression softens at the thought of the two siblings defending each other. How nice it would be to have someone like that--the team is the closest thing he can experience to that, even if it's to further a goal.

"Aw, Seren. I could protect you too, if you'd just let me!"

"A smaller you but with more self-restraint. The championship is all but guaranteed this year."

The Aether Academy Cyclones have been close in past years, but even with a couple of standout players, the team's lack of cohesion often undercut their gains. Seren's distance from the others as well as Reiya's tendency to inflict serious injuries had often resulted in miscommunication, which often cost them in the last rounds of the tournament. But maybe someone who sounds like they lack such faults can help bridge the gap.

[nerve_damage]

"Right? That's what I thought too! But she said she was more interested in alchemy, and I don't know if she just wanted me to stop bothering her or if she was being serious but I made her promise to stop by anyway!"

Reiya is about 80% sure that even if her sister is indeed more interested in alchemy, she's also boy-crazy enough that seeing Seren would change her mind.

"So how's the recruiting going so far? Looks like most of the pamphlets are gone!"

[geeplays]

Seren looks down at the lack of pamphlets, then up to the floating display of moments from their previous competitions showing by the side of the booth.

"We have plenty of interest, but we'll see how much it pans out after the first meeting. You know Coach is. They're not wasting time with anyone who isn't serious."

For those seeking fame and glory, Magnus Pugna was an attractive avenue for it, especially with them so close to the Championship Title for the first time in Aether Academy history. What newcomer wouldn't want to be part of the winning team? But the first meeting would be the merciless testing grounds, with the academy's best healers always close by.

Seren can feel the spirit's excitement well up at the thought of new students just finding out for the first time how harsh the sport can be, and he has to quash a feeling of irritation in turn. Will someone not completely interested in Magnus Pugna really want to? Or maybe this girl almost as tough as Reiya says she is, and she'll be the one causing most of the damage. For other clubs, both the club and the prospective members had something to show, but for this one, all they could do is wait. There was no use in worrying overly much about whether she joined or not until then.

"One of the potentials specializes in water magic."

It felt like something that their resident electricity user ought to know.

[geeplays]

One booth at this assembly did not simply settle for being a booth. This display appears to be more of an elaborate parade float, like a tiered cake reaching towards the sky. Dancers and musicians - all dressed as sea creatures - performed with exuberance on each level, the oil paintings of an ocean's wave coursing across the sides of the float. Bubbles appear in the air from seemingly nowhere, all rising upwards to frame the figure at the very top.

In a shimmering dress that shines and glitters in the light like scales, Elle descended the stairs of the float towards an awed crowd, before snapping the fan in front of her face and revealing her confident - or perhaps smug - smile.

"Good day, my dears. I am Eleanor de Chaumont, but you may call me Elle."

Not only did new students come to see, but even faculty couldn't help but turn their heads to watch the show. Whatever they may think of Elle, they couldn't deny she puts her all into a show...

Another time, same place.

[lazymage]

It was the start of a new year, and thus the hopes of the year were fresh and new. Tristin sat in the courtyard as students wandered around, looking for clubs, or being approached by club members trying to recruit them. Tristan couldn't help but feel a little envious of the ones being recruited. This was the start of his second year, and he had already gained somewhat of a reputation.

A troublemaker.

Not that he felt he had done anything particularly wrong, or reckless, but, perhaps a few explosions here or there and some... well, perhaps looking back a few might not have been appropriate for a student to attempt actions, a good fair amount of previous students had decided to keep him away from group activities.

So unfair.

Still, he was hopeful for his new project.

The Dungeon!

At his side, he held a sign on a pole, "Join my Dungeon Party!" Surely someone would be interested, right? You had to have at least 3 people to enter the dungeon, and there were many merits to be gained by doing so. Anywhere from extra credit to materials for self-experimentation could be found in the dungeon, not to mention experience in dealing with beasts and other magical phenomena. It was an important aspect of the school and the key to graduating with high marks. Also, a party was good for the forest too. Either way he was looking for comrades, friends, fellows of aligned goals!

"Looking for a party for the dungeon for the year! I am multi-talented, but healing isn't one of my strengths, so a healer would definitely be nice! But, don't worry if you can't do that!"

this girl's mom or something

[nerve_damage]

At the words "healer", a woman's ears metaphorically perked up. Kallah immediately dropped what she was doing and made a beeline for the source of the voice. A third year, Kallah's previous dungeon party had disbanded when most of the group, including the leader, graduated last year. She had managed to find a spot among them because despite her specialty she wasn't the primary healer, but... well, it would be fine if she took over that role, right? Healing was healing!

"Me! Yes! Hello! I can heal!"

Hmm, looking at him up close, she got the feeling she'd seen this guy before. Maybe it was just around in the hallways?

Re: this girl's mom or something

[lazymage]

"Great! You know the most important part of a party is a healer," some might say enough offense and defence to kill monsters and survive.

Tristan was the student who was late to class all the time yet got top grades on tests and practical exams. Caused accidents and experimented with magic no student should be touching.

"In fact, despite the rules, I'm sure a pair could easily survive as long as they can cover offense and healing."

[geeplays]

As the sun began to set on the first day of school, two young men walk side by side across the campus.

Emrys, the one walking behind, has a face that could be confused with a doll. As the heir to the head of the Mistgrove House, he was known to be from a very reclusive, old money family with many scandals and tragedy plaguing it over the years. He intended to not get too close to others, lest his own behavior become a source of mockery, or if others attempted to worm into business that he could barely comprehend himself. Of course, this would be easier if he kept to his room, and wasn't being pulled around by his valet.

Bailey, the man walking slightly ahead, is Emrys's personal valet. His uniform denotes his profession, but rather than carrying the expected quiet dignity of this profession, he looks around with bright, starry eyes at everything like one of the fresh-faced students. Eventually, he sees what he was meaning to show Emrys before.

Flashing lights leak from beyond the door left ajar, before Bailey pulls it open just a bit wider so they can peek inside.

[lazymage]

As if conjured suddenly behind them, a young man with long hair pulled into a ponytail and a moon hair clip at the side of his head leaned over uncomfortably close from behind their shoulders and spoke slightly too loud.

"What are you looking at?"

[geeplays]

Emrys turns around, the only surprise apparent on his face is the slight raise of eyebrow.

Bailey, however, spins around like someone dropped a piece of ice down his back, arms failing.

"Gah! Oh--"

However, just as quickly, he straightens up and regains his composure with clearing his throat and smoothing back his hair. He flashes a winning smile, while Emrys gives a cool glance to the third party.

"Good evening, my good fellow," Bailey says, voice dramatic and exuberant. "I had believed this is one of the club rooms, but... this sort of work doesn't look like that of any ordinary student, now does it?"

Bailey pulls the door open just a bit more for the new person to see, though Emrys takes a step back to let them step forward and peek as if they wish. He can already tell that prying into these matters isn't going to lead to anything good.

"I'm sure whoever it is in there has already heard you."

Emrys's voice, by contrast, sounds almost like a ghost on the wind. He crosses his arms, only hoping that the other student involved (who he has not yet addressed) won't indulge him in whatever else he's gotten into now.

[lazymage]

"What ordinary student even attends this school?" it was a legit question. Those smart and talented had other prestigious schools to go to, the nobility also had those same schools, the only people choosing this one over any other would be those with strong magic inclinations.

"And there are a lot of clubs. You can make a club for anything. I have a club, it's for forbidden magic! No one will join it, though."

[geeplays]

“Yes, but this is surely beyond…”

Bailey couldn’t imagine students doing this sort of thing. He was only familiar with some low level magic used to help about the household, so perhaps that skewed his perception, but still!

Either way, he’s not inclined to pursue that when the young man continues.

“Forbidden magic, you say? And what sort of spells does this sort of magic entail, precisely?”

Bailey has a gleam in his eye, while Emrys narrows his own.

[lazymage]

"Old spells, ancient spells. The sort no one knows or uses anymore," so basically, his club was probably about research.

"Also all the spells the adults know and won't let us try."

[geeplays]

"Em, you haven't joined any clubs yet. Why not this one?"

"I had no intent on joining any."

Emrys can't help but feel a bit embarrassed that his valet addresses him with such familiarity in front of others. He did tell the man that he didn't care about putting on airs like that, but right now, it just looks like his taller friend dragging him around. Does it look bad on his family that way? Regardless, he doesn't press the point.

Bailey, however, doesn't look ready to give up. Since he isn't a student, he can't really join any officially. Still, it'd be good for his lord! This isn't motivated by the excuse of wanting to participate himself!

"I do think you'll have to be more persuasive," Bailey says, trying to put on a serious yet detached sort of look, like someone about to haggle down a price. "Sell us on more of these spells you have in mind. If you're serious about starting this club, surely you already have some degree of expertise in this area."