[center][h2][color=8493ca]Argent[/color], [color=00aeef]Viola[/color] and Glynda[/h2][/center] There are a lot of ways one could describe a snake coiling around another body. Unnerving, unsettling, predatory, perhaps even grim. One word most people wouldn’t use however is soothing. Despite this, there were no better way to describe the movement of the watery snake known as Lis, as it aimlessly danced around the limbs of her concerned owner. It was an odd habit Viola picked up when she got bored; aimlessly urging Lis around her body, feeling the cool touch of water on her skin and pretending it was moving on it’s own. This time, however, boredom was not the cause of this ritual. She couldn’t quite find a word to describe how she was feeling after being briefed on the accusations that were being levelled against Tierra, but she wasn’t in any rush to figure it out. Right now, all she wanted was a distraction, and a soothing one at that. As it turns out, playing with Lis always managed to do just that. Argent leaned against the doorframe to CLRT’s dorm watching his partner play with her water snake, Lis, he thought she called it. There was a somewhat lost expression on the currently white haired girl’s face, not that he didn’t understand the feeling, he himself was still reeling from what they’d been told, Tierra was being accused of murder and her enrollment at beacon had been revoked as a result. Cereza was off somewhere, and Viola was just lying on her bed, making her water snake construct slither around her arms, the silver knight couldn’t do anything for Tierra, or their leader, but he would be damned if he let his partner continue this minor breakdown. [color=8493ca]“Hey, Viola.”[/color] Argent kept his voice low, in order to keep from startling the water witch. [color=00aeef][i]’Mom? Wait, that voice wasn’t female,’[/i][/color] was the first thought that crossed Violas mind. She looked with confusion towards the source of the noise, only to be met with a pair of blue eyes, a shade lighter than she’s used to seeing. Realizing that Argent must have seen her spacing out, Viola tried to suppress an embarrassed blush as she assumed a sitting position while Lis was coiling around her thighs till it resembled a seashell more than a serpent. [color=00aeef]“Yes, Sir Roan?”[/color] she said after she was sure her voice didn’t betray her current state. Argent suppressed mild annoyance at Viola’s overdone courtesy as he straightened and raised his hands with a small smile. [color=8493ca]“Please, just Argent, I’m your partner, if there’s anyone whom you can address without the constant formality it’s me. Anyway, I was wondering if you’re still interested in learning how to fight with two weapons, since we seem to have some free time I thought we could make good use of it.”[/color] [color=00aeef][i]‘Fight with...’[/i][/color] Viola's gaze moved to the room's window, or more specifically the bookshelf under it. There, laying on top of it, rested the Gladius that they had picked up during initiation. With all the events that transpired since then, she had actually forgotten why she picked up the gladius in the first place.[color=00aeef]“How do you propose we do that, Sir R… Sir Argent,”[/color] she inquired, curiosity evident in her eyes. [color=8493ca]“Well, first we’d need to work on strengthening your left arm, and run through some basic moves, then we’ll get you used to fighting with both hands at once, followed by sparring, we can adjust the schedule as necessary.”[/color] Argent replied, his mind began to wander through the potential steps of training the duelist in the use of two weapons. A couple more steps than she would have thought, but she was smart enough to see the truth behind his words.[color=00aeef]“So...what would you say is the first step?”[/color] Thoughts still racing Argent tapped his index finger on his upper lip, a habit of his. [color=8493ca]“Well, I suppose we should set you up with some exercises to strengthen your left side.”[/color] Seeing the logic behind his words, Viola pressed on. [color=00aeef]“What kind of exercises?”[/color] [color=8493ca]“Weights mostly, I guess, I’ve never trained anyone before.”[/color] [color=00aeef]“And I’m not used to listening to someone my own age,”[/color] said the witch, her smile becoming a tad more genuine, [color=00aeef]“But if you’re willing to try than so will I”[/color] Argent found himself returning his partner’s smile. [color=8493ca]“Then I guess we’ll just have to work together to figure this out.”[/color] [color=00aeef]“You mentioned we should start with weights. Did you by chance bring them with you?”[/color] [color=8493ca]“I...” [i]‘wait, did I?’[/i][/color] Argent mentally ran through the contents of his luggage. [color=8493ca][i]’Clothes, spare ammo, sleeping bag, maintenance kit, no weights of the appropriate sizes though, damn.’[/i] “No, I didn’t, at least not the right size.”[/color] [color=00aeef][i]‘Hmm...that could be a problem.’[/i][/color] thought Viola. Looking down at Lis in hopes of finding an answer, she saw her violet hair, now as stationary as Lis was, reflected in the water. [color=00aeef]“Well, I was going to ask a faculty member for a mirror; I could always ask for a set of appropriately sized weights as well.”[/color] [color=8493ca]“That would be great, thanks.”[/color] [color=00aeef]“How will I recognize if the weights are the appropriate ones?”[/color] [color=8493ca]“I’ll come with you.”[/color] [color=00aeef][i]‘Oh.’[/i][/color] Viola’s eyes widened for a fraction of a second. She was careful not to let her smile slip though. [color=00aeef]“I..was also hoping to talk to the teacher about...how we did during initiation.”[/color] Argent let out a small, self deprecating laugh. [color=8493ca]“I’ll bet you have far less to worry about on that front than I do, considering I got myself knocked out by being an idiot, though I suppose the adrenaline rush may have been affecting my common sense. In any case, from what I saw you have nothing to worry about.”[/color] [color=00aeef][i]‘Well it’s not just me I may end up asking about,’[/i][/color] mused the witch, [color=00aeef]“‘I simply think the teacher might not speak their mind in front of an audience. Even if they say they don’t care, they will word it differently when the conversation isn’t private. Is it ok if I talk alone while you look for the weights?”[/color] Argent shrugged. [color=8493ca]“I’ve got no problem with that.”[/color] [color=00aeef][i]‘Oh thank dust...’[/i][/color]thought Viola, [color=00aeef]“one moment please.”[/color] With that little problem settled, she picked up Lis, who refused to obey gravity and slip through her fingers, and placed it in it’s home, located on the shelf next to her bed. It was an aquarium, one usually reserved for turtles, decorated with shells and sea stones, all got from her father. [color=00aeef][i]‘Go,’[/i][/color] thought Viola as her hair flashed white for an instant, letting Lis fill her home. [color=00aeef]“I’m ready to go when you are Sir Argent,”[/color] said Viola as she made to stand up. The silver haired knight stepped aside to let Viola through the doorway, then fell into step beside his partner as the pair made their way down the hall. The duo made their way across campus, making small talk along the way. It took them longer than they expected to reach their destination, not necessarily because they couldn’t find a teacher or student that knew where the extra supplies were kept. No, what prolonged their quest was the fact that only one of the teachers was known to have access to the storage space. So the adventuring knight and the would-be princess found themselves on a side quest to find the, sometimes dreaded, white witch of beacon known as Glynda. *knock-knock* [colour=b18fdf]“You may enter,”[/colour] said a stern voice, one that had not yet lost its edge since Viola last heard it, just a few days prior. Argent opened the door and let Viola through first, then he stepped into Professor Goodwitch’s office. [color=8493ca]“Good afternoon Professor, sorry to disturb you like this but Viola would like to ask you a few questions, and I was wondering if I could borrow some of the school’s equipment.”[/color] Argent addressed the stern looking teacher in a respectful tone. A suspicious look was her initial response. [Colour=b18fdf]“I’m going to need a couple of more details before i can answer that question. What kind of equipment.”[/colour] [color=00aeef]“A spare mirror and one or two weights. We’re looking for the former due to me and Sir Argent sharing a changing room, so the extra mirror would help on the off chance we’ll have to change at the same time.”[/color] explained the violet witch. [Colour=b18fdf]“And the weights?”[/colour] the white witch pressed on. Argent answered her. [color=8493ca]“Since Team CLRT has been removed from the regular schedule until Tierra’s acquitting, or replacement, and since Viola has expressed interest in learning how to fight with two weapons I offered to help her, and I thought it would be best if we strengthen her left side before we start, hence the weights.”[/color] [Colour=b18fdf]“Mister Roan,” [/colour]Glynda leads, staring deadpan,[colour=b18fdf] “I assume you are not aware the dorms have their own fitness center?”[/colour] Argent and Viola blinked in unison. They indeed had not been aware of that fact. Feeling his cheeks burn with chagrin, Argent was quick to reply. [color=8493ca]“Umm, no, I was way too tired last night to be paying attention to the dorm facilities, sorry for wasting your time like that, I’ll just wait outside so Viola can ask her questions.”[/color] [Colour=b18fdf]“Not so fast mister Roan,”[/colour] Glynda interrupted his tirade in an exasperated tone. [Colour=b18fdf]“I suppose i should be grateful for your lack of awareness,” [/colour]she said while eying the two occupants of the room, [colour=b18fdf]“most students would have just taken them from the center and not consider the possibility that others might also be interested in using them.”[/colour] [color=00aeef]“I assure you Professor Goodwitch, neither me nor Sir Argent would do such a thing,”[/color] Viola was quick to reply. [Colour=b18fdf]“Indeed,” [/colour]replied Glynda, unconvinced.[colour=b18fdf] “Regardless, we should have the items you are searching for in one of the storage rooms. If you two can write requisition forms for the items and submit them to me, the items will be sent to your dorms shortly. Please keep in mind though, that officially these items can only be lent to you for at most a year. If you wish to still use them after that, another form needs to be submitted.”[/colour] [color=00aeef]“Would it be too much to ask you to let us write one now? No one we asked mentioned we should bring forms with us,”[/color] inquired Viola. A sigh was Glynda’s initial response. [Colour=b18fdf]“No, it would not. Mister Roan, I trust you will be able to fill these forms outside my office while i chat with Miss Marsilea?”[/colour] [color=8493ca]“Of course Professor,” [i]‘Well this is embarrassing’[/i][/color] the silver knight thought as he scratched the back of his neck with an awkward half smile on his face before accepting the forms from Professor Goodwitch and stepping out into the hallway. [Colour=b18fdf]“So what is it you wished to speak with me about, Miss Marsilea?” [/colour]Glynda asked once Argent exited the room. [color=00aeef][i]‘Ok…’[/i][/color] thought Viola, [color=00aeef][i]‘you can do this...you practiced all the ways you can word this without making Miss Cereza look bad and found the best one. Just take a deep breath and...’[/i][/color] [color=00aeef]“I was hoping to find out what were my shortcomings during initiation, and which of them negatively impacted my score when you were assigning leaders.”[/color] [Colour=b18fdf]“Are you that dissatisfied with Miss Floriciente’s performance?”[/colour] [color=00aeef][i]‘Oh come ON!’[/i][/color] thought Viola, wisely choosing not to vocalize, [color=00aeef]“nonono, certainly not. Miss Cereza has been nothing short of a great leader…granted she’s only been a leader for about a day...BUT it was an expertly handled day nonetheless.”[/color] [Colour=b18fdf]“Then why do you want to know whether you were considered for leader?”[/colour] inquired Glynda with a raised eyebrow. [color=00aeef][i]‘Why?’[/i][/color] an interesting question, one Viola hasn’t given much thought into up until now. A small pause set between the two as Viola tried to think of an answer. [color=00aeef]“We’ve...discussed...about her promotion,”[/color] Viola begane, [color=00aeef]“and she has made one or two remarks about her surprize when she made leader over I and...I simply figured she scored better than me.”[/color] Viola waited a moment to see if Goodwitch wanted to correct her, but received only silence. [color=00aeef]“I’m generally used to being told on the spot the things I did and didn’t do right...a luxury I suppose people that could actually afford to go to a junior academy don’t normally have but...I kept wondering what I did wrong and...”[/color] [Colour=b18fdf]“That’s enough, Miss Marsilea.”[/colour] It was now Violas turn to wait for a reply as a thoughtful look crossed Goddwitch’s face. [Colour=b18fdf]“Here at Beacon,” [/colour]Glynda finally broke the silence, [colour=b18fdf]“the Headmaster is the one that get’s the final say on who is given that role or not. Atlas is the only place that gives that role to those with the highest score, and I’d prefer you avoid associating us with them in the future.”[/colour] [color=00aeef]“Apologies, Professor G...”[/color] [Colour=b18fdf]“Before assigning said roles, however, the Headmaster gives the rest of the staff members a chance to sway his decision. If you wish to know their thoughts on the matter you’ll have to ask them yourself.”[/colour] [color=00aeef]“Understandable,”[/color] Viola chirped. [Colour=b18fdf]“As for me,” [/colour]said Glynda as she rubbed her eyes as she recalled the events that transpired during the meeting,[colour=b18fdf] “I was one of the people in favor of giving that role to Miss Floriciente, mostly because you being leader would have hindered your overall performance at this Academy in the long run.”[/colour] [color=00aeef]“...Could you elaborate please?”[/color] was Violas reply, confusion and curiosity crossing her features. [Colour=b18fdf]“Your semblance requires a large amount of focus in order to be used properly. But being a leader also require a large amount of focus be directed towards the people under you. Asking you to lead would have either resulted in your skills dulling or your team score suffering in the long run.”[/colour] [color=00aeef]“Oh...”[/color] Silence reigned once more, Viola mulling over her words. What she said made sense, but how was she suppose to learn to lead and fight efficiently if she wasn’t in a position that asked for it? It was surprisingly Goodwitch that broke the silence with a long sigh. [Colour=b18fdf]“Doing both at the same time can be a difficult task even for myself sometimes, Miss Marsilea. If you truly did come here seeking answers on what to improve, know that during the second year onward we offer specialized courses intent on teaching students with mentally taxing abilities, such as yourself, how to not lose sight of their surroundings while still being able to use their abilities to their fullest potential.”[/colour] [color=00aeef]“You think I should apply to them?”[/color] [Colour=b18fdf]“I would certainly hope so. A day may come when Miss Floriciente will be unable to properly lead, and your teammates may look at you to do so. I’d suggest you make sure you are prepared when such a day would come.”[/colour] [color=00aeef]“I’ll...keep that in mind, definitely. Thank you for telling me this Miss Goodwitch.”[/color] [colour=b18fdf]“Yes, well, if that is all, you can go and see if Mister Roan is done with the forms.”[/colour] [color=00aeef]“Certainly,”[/color] was Violas reply before taking a quick bow and leaving the room. [color=00aeef]“Sir Argent?”[/color] she asked while poking her head outside the room. Argent looked up from the finished paperwork. [color=8493ca]“Yes Viola?”[/color] Argent responded as his partner’s head poked out of Professor Goodwitch’s doorway. [color=00aeef]“My chat with Miss Goddwitch has reached it’s conclusion.”[/color] Argent nodded. [color=8493ca]“In that case I’ll just hand over these papers and we should be able to be on our way, I hope you learned what you wanted to know.”[/color] The silver knight waited politely for Viola to step out of the doorway, at which point he went inside and placed the paperwork on the professor’s desk. [color=8493ca]“Here you go Professor.”[/color] Goodwitch took a moment to skim through the pages before replying. [Colour=b18fdf]“The items should be sent to your room by the time you start classes again. If not, [i]somebody[/i] will have some explaining to do.”[/colour] Argent once again got the distinct impression that Glynda Goodwitch was [i]not[/i] somebody to mess with. [color=8493ca]“Of course Professor, thank you.”[/color] Argent and Viola stepped back out into the hallway, the latter taking a moment to give the other witch a final bow before closing the door behind them. Turning to face Viola, a grin appeared on Argent’s face. [color=8493ca]“Alrighty then Partner, now that that’s taken care of why don’t we go find the dorm fitness center, and we can start working.”[/color] [color=00aeef]“You mind if we take the slightly longer route so we can pass the fountain?”[/color] Viola asked with the same smile she bid Goodwitch farewell. [color=8493ca]“Fine by me, though if you mind me asking why...?”[/color] [color=00aeef]“Does one need a reason to admire the scenery?”[/color] [color=8493ca]“True, like I said, I’m not objecting, just curious.”[/color] And so the duo made their way across campus, making small talk along the way. It would take them a while to find the center, given the detour they were taking along the way, but neither of them seem to mind.Their spirits were high, and in the end, that was what they really needed.