[center][h2]Seraph Academy[/h2]
[h3]Practice Halls[/h3][/center]

[center]~~~ [@AzureKnight] (LIS) ~~~[/center]

Zev'jul stepped to the side to evade your shockwave attack. "[color=92278f]Ayav dya bitis![/color]" He chanted his spell, flame-colored magic formed on his arms and he stretched them out to launch a sizable fireball at you.

It was not very fast so it was easily evaded or reflected but Zev'jul closed the distance in the meantime and started close quarter combat with you. The fighting was quick, you manage to evade and block his first moves but your opponent opened you up with an elbow to the rib which was followed with a backhand to the face and then a solid kick that sent you some feet away.

'Ohhh...' The crowd gasped.

Magic formed in his arms again and then he made a rising motion with them. A moment later, you felt the floor you stood on become hotter and hotter. It was time to get out of there and launch a counterattack.

[center]~~~ [@AzureKnight] (HIS) ~~~[/center]

Your card proved to superior to Primera's arrow but the latter was not deterred nor startled. Yet, there was a look of surprise on her face when your elastic spell hit her on the leg. She was in your grasp.

Primera was sent to the floor by your pull but she was not going down without a fight. As she was pulled, the Wood Elf pulled more arrows from her quiver and fired them at you in an attempt to derail your battle plans somewhat.

[center]~~~ [@Rune_Alchemist] ~~~[/center]

[quote=Seleth Thenri][color=0076a3]"Well, quite the cheer sir stuffs-his-face, I hope that big armor of yours isn't just for show...so try not to loose too badly, hmm?"[/color][/quote]

The knight laughed heartily. "[color=a0410d]Is that how Dark Elves are nowadays?[/color]" He replied. "Are their usual calm and polite demeanors a thing of the past?"

Your fat opponent did not move as you charged him, merely bringing his axe back to his shoulders. But once you got close, the fat knight raised his right foot and brought it down with heavy force.

*SLAM*

The floor shook violently for a brief moment. You may be prepared to dodge but there was no evading that little move. You lost your footing and stumbled into the floor on your back.

The first thing you saw when you opened your eyes was Sir Eats-A-Lot, ready to bring his large axe unto you.

Fortunately, you were collected enough to move out of there and perhaps form a counterattack.

[center]~~~ [@Polaris North] (RVL) ~~~[/center]

The two of you stared down at each other as you cast your blessing spells on yourself. But after a few more steps, Galmore suddenly zipped across the field, surrounded with dark green energy, and hit you with his entire body, knocking you to the ground.

Galmore towered over you with one foot raised. Everyone in the hall knew he was going to bring it down your face and everyone knew you needed to get out of there if the fight was to continue.

[center]~~~ [@Pyromaniacwolf] ~~~[/center]

"[color=blue]Whoa![/color]" Ecthel bended his body downwards to evade your lupine fireball and giving you enough to get close and personal with the student.

But Ecthel rose with an arrow nocked on his bow, aimed at your face and ready to be shot in a moment's notice. You barely moved your head out of the way as the arrow whizzed past you. Ecthel continued shooting arrows at you, his speed at pulling and nocking arrows almost a blur.

Still, you were at your desired distance from him and he made no effort to change it. Though, that might also mean that he was ready for any close quarter combat.

[center]~~~ [@A Lowly Wretch] ~~~[/center]

Hellia blocked your thrown knife with a quick shift of her halberd. She was about to make one big swing at you but you moved out and so she did not follow through.

What followed though was she roared. A roar so loud and powerful, it stunned you for a brief moment. Being unable to react, a heavy swing from the broad side of the halberd sent you flying to the wall. Instead of hitting the wall though, you hit some sort of invisible barrier that glowed once you crashed into it. It was the magical barrier that protected the audience from anything dangerous from the fight.

But now was not the time to ponder about that, Hellia leaped to the air with her halberd on high, aiming for a heavy vertical strike against you. You were in a position not shone by light, you can use that to your advantage.

[center]~~~ [@Frozen0Titan] (KAZ) ~~~[/center]

The left Tozen was startled at your lightning-fast transfer of position but he was undeterred. This Tozen swung his first swings at you, they were not very fast but they had quite the force on them. It was likely they were just attacks meant to measure and gauge you. Expect that he would have something up his sleeve should you decide to counterattack.

Meanwhile, the middle Tozen blocked Maldur before the tiger could reunite with his master. Tozen also begun swinging with his blade but these were faster and meant to actually hurt the animal. Or perhaps provoke a sort of response for him to take advantage of. Perhaps both?

The right Tozen had begun moving towards the left one, planning to overwhelm you with combined combat prowess.

[center]~~~ [@RoccanIronclad] ~~~[/center]

"[color=8dc73f]Cute.[/color]" Rielle remarked at your spell and began hurling projectiles at you. Green-flaming skulls and magical explosions but you knew these were coming. You dodged Rielle's attacks and closed the distance on her successfully.

Now that combat became close quarters, green-colored magic appeared in Rielle's right hand which formed into a jade-colored scimitar. You could see that Rielle was not at all amused that you managed to slip through her earlier onslaught though you notice that she was not moving away from the magic circle that she created.

She twirled her blade and prepared to do battle with you but you still didn't know what that circle did or will do.

[hr]
[center][h2]Luminous Citadel[/h2]
[h3]Meeting Room[/h3][/center]

[center]~~~ [@Frozen0Titan] (TIB), [@Polaris North] (FAY), [@AzureKnight] (ENI) ~~~[/center]

[quote=Tibrus Heatherman][color=a2d39c]"To what or who are these allegations directed towards Professor Athos? Is there any form of time frame from when the Arcknights first voice their suspicions to now?"[/color][/quote]

[quote=Faye Nisval][color=aba000]"I would also like to question these Arcknights. Surely, for them to have suspicions, there are people they actually suspect of doing so. Or at least some clues."[/color][/quote]

[quote=Enishi Fuyu][color=00aeef]"I can think of one person who fits the bill perfectly... One of the competitors in your tournament happens to be a professional thief and a sociopathic killer. And she was able to lie and sneak her way in without a hitch."[/color][/quote]

"[color=darkslateblue]I'm... afraid it is not your target, Mister Fuyu. Though perhaps she might be a potential accomplice in this matter judging from your description.[/color]" Athos replied. "[color=darkslateblue]Most of the Arcknights all point their fingers at one suspect: The Caldeyrons.[/color]" The court mage revealed. "[color=darkslateblue]If you are not up to speed, the Caldeyrons was once a minor house but rose through the ranks over the years. They may be polite and courteous, kind even, but they never stopped yearning for more. Never content in being where they are.[/color]" Athos followed it with one last remark. "[color=darkslateblue]While that may sound admirable, that means that they do not like losing and will do [i]anything[/i] to prevent it. If they do lose, someone [i]must[/i] be blamed.[/color]"

"[color=darkslateblue]Anyway, we do not have any substantive evidence that the Caldeyrons are up to something or if they are actually up to something at all.[/color]" Athos continued. "[color=darkslateblue]That is why we are called here to properly investigate this matter. Anyone else like the Arcknights would attract attention and alert the conspirators if there are any.[/color]"

"[color=darkslateblue]If we have no more questions, I'd like to share with you the leads I have found.[/color]" Athos waved his hand in the table formed a magical cloud that took the shape of Zauberheim. "[color=darkslateblue]Firstly, there is a warehouse over here...[/color]" He pointed to the town adjacent to the Eastern Gates. "[color=darkslateblue]...that sounds suspicious from the reports. Officially, they are a storage of food and other goods but some locals report they could feel magical energies coming from it. One Arcknight has confirmed this.[/color]"

"[color=darkslateblue]Then we have this gentleman.[/color]" Athos waved his hand again and the cloud formed into a shape of a [url=https://d.wattpad.com/story_parts/213597561/images/142d965f81c24f31.jpg]sharp-dressed man with slightly darker skin with combed black hair and refined posture[/url]. "[color=darkslateblue]This is Sir Juan de la Cruz. A noble here but lately he has been gathering inordinate sums of money which disappears with no recorded transactions.[/color]" He introduced the suspect. "[color=darkslateblue]We are talking about an extraordinary amount of money here. Almost enough to buy anything in Zauberheim save the capital itself.[/color]"

"[color=darkslateblue]And yes, Miss Nisval. You are allowed to go to the tournament grounds though I am curious as to what you intend to do there.[/color]" Athos addressed [u]Faye[/u]. "[color=darkslateblue]Oh and, Sir Fuyu. We do not mind paying extra but I am interested in how you will go with dealing with your particular matter now that she is in the tournament.[/color]"