[h3]John[/h3]
The other students listened intently to John's explanation, nodding to show that they understood. Several clapped or oohed and aahed when he summoned his own Exbeast in preparation. Now that he had some backup, the summoner inside the barrier seemed much more confident. He raised his hands and put the finishing touches on the True Summoning ritual, and flooded the sigil with his magic power.

"By the four winds that cross this world, I invoke this ceremony! Sylphid, fae of the air, come to my call and accept the contract I bear! I am thy summoner, my name is Samuel! On my behalf I will ask you to fight, and to lend me your power! If you accept and are bound to me, I shall grant in return an equal boon! Seal the contract, by completion of True Summoning! Sylphid, come forth!"

The seal ignited in green flames, and the smoke rose and entwined together, forming a hole in the air itself. Through this hole was seen a flash of light, and from the rift drifted out a pale green, almost white, figure with a feminine shape but only about a foot tall. The Sylphid had long, elfin ears and two spiraling antennae coming from her head. Her wings were like those of a large moth, their scales shimmering in the light as they rapidly fluttered. There was a sound like a tinkling bell, and it seemed to be the speech of the creature, though none of the humans could discern its words save for Samuel the Summoner. He sensed, more than heard, that it would answer his summons if he provided it with fresh picked flowers and nectar as payment whenever it was called. 

"Your boon shall be granted! The contract is sealed!" He held out his hand, and a magic sigil formed in the air. The Sylphid touched the seal, and as it passed over her the Summoner's aura and her own were mingled, binding them. Then, the sigil began to fade, taking the creature with it back to the summoned space from which it had come.

"Wow! Went off without a hitch!" said Samuel. He brought up a holo screen and turned off the barrier, then shook John's hand. "Thanks for all your advice man, it really helped!"


[hider=Victory!] John gains 20 EXP and the AC for the mission reward.
[/hider]

[b]As other students returned from their final missions of the day, it was beginning to get late. There was still homework and studying to do, but that could be done in dorm rooms, and many bid farewell to their friends or team mates and began to head to their "homes" for the rest of the night...[/b]

[h2]The Next Day...[/h2]
The following morning played out much the same as the last had, and already it seemed that, despite being the only place in the world with a magical curriculum, that AcadeMMO was very much like other schools in that it would soon become a habitual cycle. However, at lunch it seemed something exciting--or perhaps unsettling--was going to happen today after all...

"[b]Attention all students![/b]" boomed the PC system as many were heading to the cafeteria. "[b]There has been a submission for an Urgent Special Assignment! All Students are to report to the Special Assignment board immediately! Report to the Special Assignment board immediately![/b]"

Hayato hurried through the halls alongside many other students, wondering what all the hullabaloo was about. An Urgent Special Assignment wasn't something done for the student's benefit--it usually meant that there was some kind of crisis, the same kind that AcadeMMO was training them for in the first place. As others began to pour into the entrance lobby of the school and crowd around the Assignment Board, the holo screen blinked before displaying a quest card that took up the entire screen, rather than being a small name on a list like usual.


[hider=Special Assignment]
[u][b]URGENT[/b][/u]
Multiple Rogue Magi, suspected to be part of Magi-Terrorism group "COVEN" have launched simultaneous attacks in different cities in the United States. The group is known for its Magi-Supremacist beliefs, and wishes to establish Magic Users as a "master race" and governing body around the world. Currently no demands have been given nor was there pre-emptive notice; it is believed at this time that these attacks are meant as a display of power.

For this Assignment, the Party Limit has been lifted. Students who wish to apply for this mission should fill out their party information in the applications below. If your application is chosen and your party is called, immediately report to the telepads.

More Information will be given as it becomes available.
[/hider]

Hayato's eyes were wide. Rogue Magi were people who had magical abilities, but were not undergoing training at AcadeMMO or the MMO Corps, and thus were not under any kind of control or restraint. Though some magic users had no interest in becoming soldiers or fighting Exbeasts, they were at least registered with officials and undertook proper safety precautions so that their powers weren't dangerous. Rogue Magi, however, intentionally did the opposite, wanting to use their power for their own selfish purposes. The terrorist organization COVEN had come into being about a decade ago, but only in the last five years had they actually begun to gather any kind of momentum. Still, most of their activity had been limited to third world countries where the populace didn't have access to many methods of opposition. For them to launch an attack on the United States, of all places...just what was going on?

Hayato looked around, searching for Hazel or Joe or anyone he had seen the day before...