[center][h1]Bak and Ward[/h1][/center]

After a few hours St. Lucifer's officially caught on to the fact that school was over for the day, and the dismissal bell sounded across the campus to tell anyone who had continued to stick around that they had better have a compelling reason to. 

Bak took up her customary position by the school gate, seeing off the go-home club as they filed off campus back into their lives. Her clothes were scuffed and she stank vaguely of alchemical components but the most striking thing about her was the long white sheet she had clutched in one arm as her sewing needle went to work on it, in and out, in and out, shortening the thing by sewing ruffles into it.

"Are things always this much of a hassle around here?" Without prior announcing himself, Ward had joined Bak by the gate, leaning against one of the gate pillars. "Quite frankly, you look exhausted. Out of your depth, perhaps?"

Bak finished up the last of the first layer of ruffles and held the sheet out in front of her. The bottom half of it fell and piled on the the dusty ground. She would need to sew a few more. "Is unfortunate, but we have had some truant members last few days, and I am only really useful for blowing people up."

"And yet here you are taking charge." Ward observed. "There are three important traits for leadership. More, honestly, but three is good number for now. Will, inspiration, and foresight. The first is perhaps the rarest and most important. Nothing else much matters if you aren't willing to take action to begin with," he told her. "Then you must be able to inspire those beneath you. Whether it be loyalty or fear changes depending on the person, but it's usually one of those and both have been effective at times. Lastly, you need the foresight to make calculated decisions.

"You seem to have the first. You may even have the second. As for the third? Well I really can't say. But what I can say is that two out of three isn't terrible for someone who is 'only good at blowing people up'." He shrugged. "You're an interesting little group of people here, that's for certain."

"You must at least be interesting to be chosen for not-so-secret anymore evil organization." Bak said, stepping forward to bring her foot down on one of the flyers still littering the ground and scraping back to shred it into little pieces. Will, huh? He should have seen her last week. Or, maybe, right before he'd walked in on that meeting. "What is it that drew you to us? For all you are aware of we helped with big cult attack. Is what newspeople thought at first."

"Oh I've heard plenty of people blame you for the cult attacks. Many of them were very sure of themselves and made very convincing arguments," Ward told her with a smirk. "I just happen to know better. I believe I mentioned I've dealt with them before. Or at least my family has. Mind you, it's not impossible for one or two to be part of your school, but that's the theoretical extent of it. They loathe the gods, and last I checked a majority of you still happily get your powers from them. They think you're mindless sheep. Conversely, I think they're shortsighted fools."

He sighed and shook his head.

"Ah, but you asked what led me to you. I was intrigued by the nature of your group. I believe there is a great potential to get things done with you lot. You work with a distinct lack of red-tape or ethical quandaries. A focus on what needs doing is what is necessary with the situation facing us."

Bak huffed. The nerve of of the cult people. Sheep were [i]cool[/i], that should be a compliment. "Big cult talk man talked very big about hurting Tovarish's city. You know so much, who is this man and where is his house?"

"That... I do not know, I'm afraid," Ward told her. "Their goals and their beliefs I know of to a degree, based off of their actions and their whinging and bluster.  Their true identities are closely guarded, however."

He then narrowed his eyes, "Listen to me well, Bak. I believe I mentioned I was not alone in coming to this city, so to speak. The other noble heirs of my country followed, and claim similar goals. Their motives are flawed, however. They seek glory and status solely whereas I have a more personal motive. My patron god of my family has anointed me as a jailor of sorts. The cult would see my prisoner freed in the hopes of a reward. They think that by serving demons they will have more choice in their fates. They fail to see that the price they'll pay in the end will leave them... wanting. The point being is that I have very personal stakes in this matter and I would see this cult banished for good. I would much enjoy a partnership with your council, barring a full membership. You've already faced them and survived and no higher authority would want to work with some foreign student... so that leaves me with you. I don't mean to suggest you're bottom of the barrel, but you remain my best and only option at present."

Bak closed her eyes and considered while the last of the St. Lucifer's students filed past. Finally he opened them and turned to Ward. "Tell to me one more thing: did you beat up Gabriel?"

"The boy with a bit too much to prove? Yes, I believe we did have an altercation." Ward shrugged. "And I suppose I won."

Bak nodded, stepping away from the wall. "He may not ever attend meeting, but he is nonetheless member of council. Even if he were just regular student I do not condone fighting in classroom. I do not think Tovarish would think such a thing was so wrong. She would think someone with knowledge and strength like you would be very useful and welcome you with open arms. Would probably laugh out loud at people serving demons. But this is not thing I can overlook."

She suddenly turned, reaching out around the corner and grasping something hidden just behind the school gate before bringing it forward to face Ward.

It was a push-broom that she extended to him, handle first. 

"I do not think I will be able to punish you for this the usual way, not if you could beat him. But, if you would like our help and are willing to help us, you should make amends. Afternoon detention for fighting, cleaning up all these dumb flyers with me. Then we will make plans for destroying foolish cult, da?"

Ward's mouth fell open slightly. She wanted him to do... chores? His mouth opened and closed a few more times silently.

"But..." He began to make an excuse but then went quiet again. He'd been about to make an excuse like some sort of naughty child.

He let out a ragged sigh and took the broom, "You're very straightforward, aren't you?" He'd never say it out loud, but maybe he had learned something from Diana. His way of doing things was wasted on these people. He'd have to adapt. This strange girl who seemed as much gun as she was person might be his best chance to learn. "Very well. Amends it is. Then the cult."

Bak nodded happily, stomping around the gate and emerging with a pair of rolling trashcans clearly having been prepared for this purpose.