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[center][sub]Time: 3:11 am - The Forest[/sub][/center]

[hider=Lilie/Ben]

With the water gone and the bottom of the pool clear for now, Ben could see there was nothing in the first pool except a small opening at the bottom where the floor and the wall met. It was just large enough for someone to crawl through and a little bit of golden light spilled out but Ben could clearly hear something over the sound of the waterfall:

A woman sobbing.

Meanwhile, the third pool was different from the other two. The bottom was rounded, the floor only flat where it connected with the bottom of the stand holding the koi fish figure. At the bottom, Lilie could hear faint whispers all around her. They disappeared as she rose and claimed the koi fish figure. But that’s where it went wrong.

The scales on the koi fish crumpled like dust, revealing a dark and cracked shark in its place. The figurine grew impossibly heavy, pinning her hand where the koi fish once lay. The entire pillar shuddered as an impossibly loud grinding sound echoed all around them and it started lowering to the bottom of the pool, dragging Lilie along with it. The whispers grew louder and louder until they finally quieted.

In the waters Lilie was being dragged in floated several still bodies. Aaron, Cassandra, Salem, Kanalie, her family, all drifted in the waters with various chunks of debris from what seemed like a dam. Most of them were still, unmoving, helpless against the invisible current but Ren was still struggling, clutching his throat, desperately reaching out for Lilie as he mouthed something at her. [/hider] 

[hider=Salem/Victor]

The path was easy to follow, seemingly where only the forest once stood, but as they walked the sensation of someone watching them was unmistakable. There was no sound, no birds or insects or even a breeze. It was like the forest held its breath for what came next.

And what came next was a soft padding on the trail behind them, the faint huffing somewhere above Victor's height, and a low, guttural growl rumbling. Victor and Salem could feel the breath waft across them, the stench of rotted carcass, and a sharp prickle traced across Salem's nape.[/hider]

[hider=Maddie/Amaris] 

Maddie pondered the riddle, focusing on it’s parts. She didn’t understand the does not toast section but they could visit that later. Amaris was right, the secrets and blood should refer to pre-treaty and it was likely that the Noilas were the one voice since they founded the Moonlight Council. But which voice? If she understood this correctly, that voice was put down for three counts of treason but that voice’s sister still kept whatever cause the voice was championing alive. It’s been operating out of sight for centuries but it has a lineage of healing? What kind of healing? 

The last line though was what made her think they may not be talking about a vampire. While maybe the school attending nobles may call their Lord or Lady “master”, she doubted they’d hold a secret history against the applicable Lord or Lady. A secret history sounded like a mage’s attempt to maintain their family’s secrets and she was far more confident in that than anything else that had happened tonight.

[color=FC8686]“I think we’re looking for a mage. Vampires keep secrets but an entire secret history that goes against what we’re taught? I doubt it honestly. Society as a whole benefits from the truth. Why would a vampire risk their position for some silly story?”[/color] Maddie offered.[/hider]


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[center][sub]Time: 4:24 am - The Academy[/sub][/center]

With most classes out for the morning, the Academy grounds were quite lively. A few other exhausted first years straggled here and there but most were either wrapped up in their dorms or still out in the forest. Other students watched with sympathy, offered congratulations, or laughed at their haggard appearances to themselves. A group of seniors relaxed at some of the benches scattered across the grounds, a mix of vampires and mages, and exchanged a rambunctious conversation, their laughter easily carrying over the general din of Academy life. 

The looks and rumors about the Starag on campus had mostly died down but inevitably, eyes were still drawn to the quintessential mage. Conversations still grew softer around him and most, mage and vampire alike, edged out of his way. Whether that was because of his own stature or his association with a particularly nasty vampire was inconsequential; after all, it was usually a mixture of both, but as Aaron walked, two guys fell in stride with him.

The one on his left looked like he never slept, the bags under his eyes rivaling Aaron’s own, and his mouth seemed permanently sloped down at the edges. He wore a white lab coat and a pair of safety goggles dangled from his neck, a bag slung haphazardly over his shoulder that swayed with every step. His glasses were a bit smudged but otherwise he was clean and orderly. He didn’t seem particularly interested in Aaron, instead keeping his eyes forward.

The other guy however was all smiles. He had a bounce in his step and a thermos in his hand,a messenger bag bouncing against his hip. He was a t-shirt and jeans kind of guys apparently, a few wrinkles suggesting he probably didn’t care much about his appearance other than putting clothes on because he had to. He popped his ear buds out of his ears and shoved them haphazardly into his pocket before taking a sip of his drink. He looked a little awkward but took a little breath and started talking anyways.

[color=69F954]“Okay, not really sure how to start this since you’re kind of intimidating to talk to but since you don’t look like you’re making a mad dash around campus right now, wanna come hang out for a bit?”[/color] The guys asked. [color=69F954]“You’re always so busy it’s hard to figure out a “organic way” to do it since we don’t share classes but we’ve been interested in asking you over for a while!”[/color] He explained, doing air quotes on organic.