[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190120/b458a81531631a6916fa9413063c5f80.png[/img][/center][right][sub]Interacting with: [@Trainerblue192] and I guess kinda [@Achronum][/sub][/right]
The walk to Cerulean hall was mercifully uneventful, Aaron letting out a breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding when his and Varis’ paths finally separated. As he neared, his excitement began to overtake his lingering unease, and by the time he reached the room, his mind was abuzz with anticipation. 

The temperature was a surprise, to say the least, a bit of a tangible chill climbing up Aaron’s spine as he followed where the TAs indicated to stand. Briefly he examined the balcony above them, wondering exactly what it was there for. Maybe for instructors to observe. He supposed he’d find out soon enough. He recognized the Awakening crystals on the tables, and absently touched his ring; it was a memento from his own Awakening, fashioned from the very crystal that had been used for his ritual. As well, with the crystals here, he was pretty sure he knew what they were meant to be doing; Sariel had shown him an exercise with his own crystal shortly after his Awakening. 

His wondering was interrupted by a rather amusing entrance by the professor, introducing himself as Mr. Martin. Aaron’s eyebrows raised at the name -- he’d have to ask about it after class if there was any time. It turned out he’d been right, though; as he watched Mr. Martin’s demonstration, he definitely remembered doing the same exercise with Sariel. It had been some time since he’d done it last, but he was confident he could do it again. 

Finally it was time for them to give it a try, Aaron excited to get started as the TAs came down the line with table assignments. There was a moment of confusion, though, when the TA the teacher had addressed as Ralph stopped in front of him, the temperature between them shooting down to freezing as the mage looked between him and the paper, apparently displeased. 

[color=0076a3]“Great. The guy whose family enslaved us. Welcome on.”[/color] Ralph said flatly. He handed the paper over to Aaron. [color=0076a3]“Table three, Salem Spellman. Don’t fuck up.”[/color]

Immediately Aaron bristled, excitement vanishing into an unfamiliar burst of anger, though he was more than practiced enough not to let it show. He was well aware that opinions on his family varied, that there were probably wide swaths of humans and mages who hated them and what they stood for, but that didn’t make the comment any less inflammatory. 

Head held high, Aaron didn’t dignify the comment with a response, only taking the paper and holding eye contact with [i]Ralph[/i] until he moved on to the next student. Hopefully that was the beginning and end of Ralph’s little ‘issue’; he’d hate to have to get into it with a TA. If [i]Varis[/i] wanted to kick him around, so be it, but he wasn’t about to take that sort of disrespect from an equal. 

Letting out a breath and resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Aaron focused instead on the paper he’d been given. Table three, Salem Spellman. Quite the coincidence, if it was one, but fortunate nonetheless. Aaron still wasn’t entirely sure how comfortable he was with what he was supposed to be doing, but hey, the teacher said to get to know his class partner, right? And it wasn’t as if he was supposed to be mean to the guy or anything. Getting to know people was all a part of making friends, having some semblance of a social life. He probably would have done it anyway, without Varis’ direction. Especially if he was meant to be spending his breaks with the man. Maybe not the ‘report everything’ part, but… would what Salem didn’t know really hurt him? After all, Aaron wasn’t convinced that he was [i]actually[/i] a rebel, so he probably had nothing to hide anyway. It would be fine. Probably. 

He concluded his rationalizing as he sat down at table three, tucking his bag under his chair before straightening. Finding Salem had beaten him there, he offered the other man a smile. Make friends. He could do that.

[color=f0d705]“Evening!”[/color] He greeted cheerfully, placing his sheet on the table. Grinning, he eyed Ralph nearby, leaning in a little to Salem and subtly pointing him out. [color=f0d705]“I don’t think that TA likes me,”[/color] he chuckled, swallowing his former irritation and straightening up again. [color=f0d705]“But I suppose everyone can’t be friendly. Speaking of which, did you ever get ahold of Lilie?”[/color]