Khan had finished downing the rest of his medicine after his concern about Rathel’s absence was finally quelled and satisfied. The last dose tasted as terrible as those previous two. The taste changed very little by the Dwarf ale when Tyrael’s demonstration approached. The headmaster’s face reflected his dislike when he finished off the last of the horrid mess and started to feel the effects drift over him. Slowly his sluggish mind had started to adjust and to overcome the mild effect, his hand no longer hurt and even slightly nulled him to the scene about to erupt. He wasn’t surprised at strength of Sam’s herbs, his own personal reason to avoid it from the start had its own merits bite him in the tail.
 
It was too late now and even if he wanted to escape it, Uicle and Lucilia had proven they’d not allow him. His eyes flickered about the Demonomancer’s demonstration while it played out, fully knew the secret behind it all and remained cold to the staff that was being ‘torn’ apart right in front of him. It was all theatrics brought on by Tyrael’s own familiars and demons, dowsed over in the scene shift most Demonomancers had. It was a simple illusion in a way, enhanced by the environmental effect. For Khan, it was a small scale one that even he could perform but only on a less impressive level. His blank expression became worried when some of the students had taken to assaulting the very actors themselves. In the back of his mind, Khan idled over spoiling the truth about Tyrael’s demo yet he kept quiet. Last thing he needed to do was disrespect the teacher among the students and hinder the fallen Orc’s authority in the long run. At Tyrael’s turn’s end Lucilia mopped up the demons, using unnecessary force, then returned the room to its former state. Khan felt Rathel flinch slightly when a table sprouted roots then smashed in a Demon’s head but his demon said little. Instead Rathel stood in silence to witness the scene draw to a close at Khan’s side.
 
Khan for the most part had suspected the worst was over. Seemed he was incorrect and would pay dearly for it. Like the students, he too raised his glass in toast. Sadly, the medicine had hazed over his judgment and shortly after the psychomancy teacher’s toast the room spiraled into chaos again. Some of the students had reacted badly to something. Their expressions set in horror and fixed in pain, something that caused Khan some alarm. Val, Lidda and many of the other teachers sprang into action for their duties to aid those crippled and bring to serious reactions. However the damage was already done. Khan’s head turned to face Satori, his eyes slightly hardened as she finished her toast, seemingly to release her spell over them. He hadn’t made a requirement to check with him on each demo and sorely regretted it now, a mistake he didn’t aim to make again. 
 
“I agree with Uicle, Satori. After the Feast, I would like a word with you in my office after Dinner...” Khan agreed with Uicle’s suggestion, his voice calm yet it didn’t take a Psychomancer to determine his current mood was upset by recent events. It didn’t help Sam’s medicine had started to affect him and only frustrated the Headmaster to higher degree.
 
Khan’s eyes flickered to the blade that now came to Uicle’s hand, hilt first, like eager pup. Likely one of many to be assassination attempts on Satori’s life after this night and something else Khan would have to deal with, much to his soured mood. Though he could request Val to determine the owner, the headmaster felt it won’t be needed as it seemed a natural reaction to such a violent event. He didn’t like the thoughts twisting in his head; the idea this night would traumatize many students into leaving or thinking twice about their current choices to learn, knowing that Twilight College wasn’t the only option but the only neutral one. At Uice’s mention about this demonstration and how it would be brief, Khan nodded.
 
“I’m sorry Uicle, truly as I should’ve had all the teachers check with me over their demonstrations before I let this happened.” Khan began to apologize to the Necromancer teacher, “Now I wished I had waited until after the feast to take my medicine, it would’ve made damage control easier with a clear head. I fully intent on sending the Students to bed sho- 
 
His eyes jerked up in time to see a student draw too close for comfort. The way she moved, her steps ate away at the distance between her and Satori in a natural way yet the Headmaster seriously doubted it was going to be a pleasant thank you for the demonstration. His suspicions confirmed when the flash of steel and the Wood Elf made to leap, ready to take the psychomancy teacher’s life! He didn’t blame her but he couldn’t allow it. Mainly since it was the Elf’s safety he worried more for then Satori’s. What the Student failed to realize was if provoked, Satori could’ve left her nothing more than a mental vegetable and even worse for it to be justified as self-defense. Khan didn’t have time to react but thankfully he didn’t need to.
 
Rathel was quicker and had been watching her long before Khan had. The demon had stomped his hands into the ground, his mind focused upon the nearest table, and soon it had grown roots that latched upon the young student. They started off thin in their race up her leg; the roots twisted and snaked up the side. They entangled her, her struggles forced them to thicken and react until finally they stopped her completely in her tracks. In and out, they interlocked to focus most at her dagger hand where it created a thick and useless glove.
 
“I would suggest you calm down, Ms. Wood Elf, while we sort out what has happened. This was something… unauthorized by the Headmaster, I assure you, but we can’t allow blood to be drawn within the College.” Rathel tried to say in a soft voice. 

Auriels gaze flicked about to the plant-demon the moment he started talking to her, her eyes narrowing into a glare. The look was short lived as she quickly turned her attention back to Satori, relaxing slightly now that she was immobile. Her grip on the dagger loosened and with it she felt the roots that restrained her held her far less tightly. The moment she thought she could break free of the wooden restraints she tensed again and pushed up from the floor towards Satori, her knuckles white on the dagger's hilt. Brute strength, however, was not one of Auriels virtues, and there was no way to twist from the roots entirely before they once again had her totally ensnared. When she looked around again, she realised she’d made it all of half a meter closer, and she doubted the master of her bonds would fall for that trick again.

Still she twisted and turned within the roots trying to escape, but it was no use. When it was blindingly obvious she wouldn’t escape on her own terms, she stopped and turned to glare at the Headmaster. “I’d rather get stabbed than remember her little [i]demo[/i]!” Her voice was elevated and filled with anger, but it wasn’t wild. Bloodshed might not be allowed in the college, but even being on the receiving end was more pleasant than living your worst waking nightmare.

Rathel wasn’t stupid or he would’ve been a dead demon long ago. His many years within the inferno, a life and death struggle that made him powerful had taught him never to completely trust appearances. His suspicions were right when the Wood Elf from Xeric’s demonstration, had begun to relax, his magic loosened only to tighten again when she aimed to begin her assault once more. This time the vine and root became unyielding in their bonding even when she ceased. This time, she was suspended within the air by the thick tree branches, unable to touch the floor or get footing to aid her struggles. 
 
The Headmaster didn’t flinch or react at first from the student’s glare. The Headmaster barely registered Uicle’s request of Lucilia and Satori, his mind centered on the Elf who had earlier starred alongside a teacher and earlier dared to provoke Zaad all within one night. He personally he believed he deserved it after allowing this to happen and breaking the students’ trust. Her anger and rage was clear in her tone causing to Khan raised upright, his hand shifted to grip the table edge when the dizziness hit him full on and threatened to topple him in his rush. He wasn’t sure how, but he managed to stay standing while he moved slowly around the table.
 
“Khan…” Rathel’s voice had caution against the Demonomancer’s action, his focus still maintained upon the transformed tables and wooden items to contain the Elf.
 
“I’m fine Rathel it’s just the medicine kicking in. I shouldn’t have taken it during the Feast, despite Sam’s stubbornness, and none of this would’ve happened.”
 
After he rounded the table, the Esyire brought his form to stand before Auriel. His voice was steadier than his wobbling form as he spoke, “I wish that was the worst she could do to you, truly, but it’s not. She only gave you a taste of it. Not everyone uses their magic responsibly, something I’m gravely disappointed to see Satori do in the worse way. However, killing her won’t undo what’s been done. You’ll still have whatever experience she gave you and that fact won’t change, even with spilling either of your blood.” 
 
“Oh I know it won't make me forget. I’ve been down that road before. It will make me feel better though!” She knew she was thoroughly beaten here. Revenge would have to wait. Maybe she’d just have to forget about it for a while. She put on an exaggerated look of exasperation and flipped the dagger round in her hand to a normal grip. “Fine, plant man. You win.” With that she dropped the dagger. Then she turned back to the headmaster “Just keep your damned Psychomancer Bitch on Leash!”

Despite what the student believed, Khan truly sympathized with her thinking but couldn’t allow it. He watched her flip the dagger about into a less threatening manner and submit to their decision, dropping the dagger. It fell loudly upon the floor where it stayed as she turned to Khan, warning him to keep his staff in line. Naturally that was what Khan intended to do from this day forward, not even allowing the teacher to teach her own psychomancy warden classes in a faint hope it would encourage student hurt by this experience to seek a way to defend against it. Other measures were Val and her student’s rune classes which would only seal implanted memories or control, still giving Satori the ability to acknowledge possible threats. It was counter productive to eliminate all possible ways to be notified about the likely threats on her life now. 

“I’ll assure you, I will do everything in my power to keep this from happening again. Even if I have to talk to the Archmage Ovak Regdar him-

Khan’s eyes widened when a voice entered his head, one currently on Khan’s shit list. His face immediately turned up into a frown upon recognizing the owner. He listened quietly while it spoke in favor of releasing the Wood Elf and letting her kill the teacher. ‘Come on Boss, just let Dollface try to kill the Psychomancy teacher.” 

The Headmaster’s voice growled a bit in his reply, outloud as he didn’t care how crazy he looked from seemingly talking to himself. “And why, Zaad, do you think it’s a good idea to allow her to kill Satori? Why the concern and desire for bloodshed to happen within these walls?” 

Zaad was silent, but Khan could feel the pleasure and mirth behind it. The demon had his reasons for wanting this to happen yet Khan didn’t know why, something that didn’t settle well when dealing with Zaad. Again, Khan’s voice spoke with a little more authority. “Zaad, what would you gain from her killing Satori?” 

Finally the demon smugly answered. ‘I would win.” 

This time it was Rathel’s, who had been listening into the conversation, turn to speak up. His voice indicated he didn’t find Zaad’s answer satisfactory either and their current relationship certainly wasn’t friendly. “Win, what do you mean by ‘I would win’?”

Zaad merely chuckled within both Khan’s and Rathel’s heads, the later turned to Auriel for answers. “Ms. Wood Elf, you won’t happen to know what he means by that would you?”

Auriel looked on in confusion and then amusement as the headmaster ‘chatted’ with Zaad. This was just getting better and better. “Can you let me down first? This is ridiculous.” The roots were a little looser now that she’d dropped her weapon, but she was still being held above the ground in a rather awkward position.

Rathel blinked then nodded, his hands dug into the ground as the roots released and flowed back into the items they once been. He politely warned the student. “Keep in mind, I sense or even suspect you going on the attack, I won’t release this time.” 

Auriel was happy to be back on the floor and in control, though she didn’t show it. “Thanks.” She said half sarcastically to the plant-man demon thing. “I don’t know what that crazy dust ball is on about. Probably thinks I can’t handle it.” She looked quickly around for him. He wasn’t there, just like she’d thought. “I [i]can[/i] by the way you dustball!” She said loudly, hoping he’d hear from whichever plane of the inferno he was presently ‘gracing’ with his presence.

With that, she bent down and retrieved her dagger, keeping her eyes locked on the plant-man the whole time, and too forcefully sheathed it again. “Anything else you want from me?” She said expectantly to the Headmaster.

“Currently?” Khan began as his curiosity was filled. “Nothing other than try not to hurt others or yourself. I can’t allow someone who has killed to remain on College grounds, namely within them. Some mages forget that magic can be as wonderful as it can be harmful, a lesson I’ve learnt myself in the worse way.” 

Khan’s eyes seemed to haze over for a moment only to be jerked back into the present, his face still fixed upon the woman. “Also, Zaad can’t hear you no matter how loudly you shout. It’s one of the many…[i]perks[/i] of binding him in the way I did. It’s not a pleasant thing having five completely different minds in your head at all times after all.” 

“Yeah whatever” Auriels response to the comments on having multiple minds was dismissive and uncaring. “You sure you want me to stay then? I don’t carry these weapons for show.” Auriel had stopped counting the people she’d killed on the job quite some time ago. Merchants didn’t usually ask for their attackers to be spared.

“You’re not the worse to have walked through those doors.” The Headmaster said and added. “We don’t turn people away because of their past, merely their present actions within the School. Since you’ve not drawn blood here, I needn’t worry you will just kill someone else because they’ve angered you.” 

He started to slowly make his way back to his seat, his voice still speaking clearly and showing little evidence on his feelings towards the subject. “I doubt anyone that has weaponry here has it for show. And while we aim to provide a safe and comforting environment, it’s more difficult than it sounds. In addition to that, the College provides services to most of Tiien and in those missions and tasks you are able to apply what you’ve learned within these walls. It will show you what you can do with your magic, both good and terrible. Most have determined through these tasks if they truly want to be mages or let the magic fade from them.” 

“Nice to know I’m welcome here.” She said with a half sarcastic slightly skeptical voice. “I’ll try not kill anyone unless they try to kill me first.” Auriel was genuinely happy that they wouldn’t hold her many past killings, both on the job and otherwise, against her. “So you guys do missions aye? Do we get paid? I mean the travel and the magic learning is nice, but there is nothing like a bag of gold.” And the chance for untold mischief, she added in her head. She was getting eager to get away from here though. Her demonstration was over and being around Satori without ripping her throat our was not easy. She was not the most adept at hiding her emotions and it was probably showing.

“The choice to believe my words is yours, nothing I can say or do can convince you differently. Though I believe actions are strong way to show it.” Khan answered her while he moved away from Satori, her seat at the far end of the table and in the opposite direction he treaded. A secret relief in his own opinion as he wasn’t sure what he would’ve done if he had to bypass the teacher along the way. Rathel, who notice Khan’s difficulty in walking became too obvious, had started to pull in closer to the Esyire. The larger demon pressed his form against the Demonomacer, his body separated the Headmaster from his continual scrapping over the table edge and aided him along. However Rathel had only manage to keep his Demonomancer upright, the balance was still difficult to keep while they painfully made their way towards Khan’s seat. 

Khan’s words still resumed to talk to the Wood Elf, farther explained the College’s system in hopes to keep her attention and prevent her from returning back to the first task. “You would receive a small percent of it though most goes to the College as it help to keep it running. Otherwise, we have to take funding from the students monthly or a large sum yearly and another percent from each mission since we established the job in the first place. It’s not cheap keeping this place running on pure charity or donations. There are perks: free room and board, meals and a place defended from monsters in the surrounding areas.”

“Sounds alright to me I guess. You know you don’t look so great. You sure she didn’t get to you too?” Auriel said with a quick, sharp gesture towards Satori. She really didn’t want to be there right now though, and while sleeping was probably out of the picture with her brand new set of unpleasant memories, getting away from the dining hall certainly was. “Actually, nevermind. I’m getting out of here. Have fun with the crowd.” She said before he could reply turning away and stepping off the teachers stage. It was only once she was in the crowd again that she realised her words were ambiguous concerning whether she was simply leaving the hall or the college. Maybe Zaad would be surprised to see her again the next day. She laughed quietly to herself at that little irony.

Rathel merely chuckled as the Wood Elf was already on her way out, he knew it wasn’t Satori’s doing because it was an old healer named Sam getting even for Khan’s stubbornness. A fact the demon found rather funny in a light hearted way while he clumsily guided Khan to his seat. The effects would lessen later as he just finished taking the last dose not long ago and the fact this current, brash event would be one Khan refuse to allow to shimmer over, the Headmaster’s night was likely to be a long one. 

“Sam’s meds knocked you on your ass, Khan. Likely best you not stand while Uicle finishes his demonstration and we send the Students to their rooms. Some might be unaffected but others seemed to have taken this to heart. I only hope the damage is minimized or there might be funeral before long, the only question I have is simple: whose corpse will I be burying, Satori’s or a student’s?” 

Khan’s hand merely came up to shoulder his head, his face hidden from sight and likely mulling over his unsavory task later this evening.