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[center][sub]Time: 3:21 am - The Forest[/sub][/center]

[hider=Lilie/Ben]

As soon as the cat figurine was lifted, the grinding drowned out the roar of the waterfalls and the platform trembled as the pillar slowly rose up into the ceiling. Water rushed up through the space left behind as the pillar lifted out of the floor. The cave shook violently, bits of debris loosing off the cave ceiling.

Behind the pillar, Ben would find Delia, beaten and bloodied, chained to the back of the pillar with blood trickling down from her wrists. She struggled weakly as her feet left the ground. She caught sight of Ben and froze for a second before struggling harder, mouthing the same thing over and over again as she tried to break free.

[i]Run.[/i]

[/hider] 

[hider=Maddie/Amaris] 

Maddie left the Countess thinking in silence, instead considering the options in front of them. She really didn’t know enough about any of them; any choice she made would be a complete guess. When the Countess asked if she felt lucky, Maddie stifled laughter behind her hand. Here they were playing a game of chance with increasingly cryptic riddles and they were both scrambling enough to hope they guessed it right. Well, if they had no other options…

[color=FC8686] “Why not? It seems we’ve made it this far somehow.”[/color] Maddie placed a piece on Aaron and a piece on the Astorio mage. They’d betted on Lilie and Aaron already so time to take a new gamble. Maddie nodded her confirmation at the dealer at his questioning glance and he cracked his knuckles and cackled.

[color=deepskyblue]“Well darlin’s, I think your luck just ran out. A win for me finally!”[/color] He drew the kill card, dancing it between his fingers for a few moments before slapping it face up on the table. Maddie smiled up at them from the card and the dealer clicked his tongue in disappointment. [color=deepskyblue] “Must be a draw then!”[/color] He repeated the process with the other card, drawing and slapping the winning face down. Maddie blinked at the Astorio mage’s face and smiled politely at the dealer, who shook his head in disbelief. A bell sounded behind him as he slipped them their chips.

[color=deepskyblue] “Ah, no wonder I’m off my game! Shift change!”[/color] He beamed, stretching a little before he looked around and then peered abc at the two thoughtfully. [color=deepskyblue]“Well, this was fun but my pride is a little hurt here, you know? What do you say we play one more round? Make it a little more interesting?”[/color] He asked, pulling out two more cards and holding them out. One was Amaris and the other was Maddie. [color=deepskyblue] “A double or nothing round. Walk out of here with four tokens instead of two or nothing at all. Try your hand at some real luck, eh?”[/color]

Maddie stared at the two cards a bit more longingly than she’d care to admit. This would guarantee them a 100% on their exam if they won the next round and they could head straight to the exit. Her eyes were tired from holding the dark eyes spell and she wasn’t confident her magic reserves would handle getting sidetracked by another challenge. She composed herself and sent an inquiring look at Amaris, a tilt of her head indicating she’d follow Amaris’ decision. [/hider]

[hr][hr]

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[center][sub]Time: 4:34 am - Academy Grounds -> Study Room 6[/sub][/center]

Ander wrinkled his nose at [i]master[/i] but otherwise ignored it. [color=69F954] “So I hope you don’t take this the wrong way but the only favor I want from that is never being in the same room as him.”[/color] Ander pretended to gag at the idea of sharing space with the Sinnenodel. [color=69F954]“But uh, I dunno why? Not really a reason other than you’re kinda totally off by yourself a lot and you seem like a cool dude? Gotta admit, haven’t really thought about it besides let’s hang out with him, right Rolf?”[/color] Ander asked the haggard looking summoner. Rolf only gave a noncommittal grunt as a response and Ander beamed, clearly taking that as a positive response.

Ander led the trio to study room 6, pulling it open and leaving Rolf to hold it open for them. A fresh crisp breeze flowed over a lake surrounded by colorful wildflowers. The sky was still bright but the sun was dropping towards the horizon, leaving long shadows across the lake from the trees on the other side of the lake. Four students relaxed at a bunch of picnic tables, books and notes scattered around the surface while they murmured among themselves. Rolf silently beelined for the table and plopped himself down unceremoniously next to another mage who squawked irritably as he snatched up a book. He sent them a flat look and the whole table quieted, suddenly focused and working. 

Nearby, a checkered picnic blanket was stretched out on the grass where a louder group was laughing as a girl who must have been a little older than Lilie was gesturing wildly as she talked. One guy, sporting several piercings and bright blue hair, rolled on the floor as he clutched his stomach and another girl, dressed in modest black and white finery, covered her mouth as she laughed. A red headed guy only rolled his eyes at the story as he smiled, his attention more focused on the guitar he was fiddling with. Between them, a few plates of food were set out, mostly cheese and fruit, with a glass pitcher full of a light pink liquid. Ander grabbed onto Aaron and pulled him over to the laughing group.
 
[color=69F954]“Alright! I got him!”[/color] Ander cheered as they approached, everyone’s attention on them. [color=69F954]“Okay so the guy currently dying is Diego. He’s a third year, charms major cause he’s lazy as fuck with a Water affinity.”[/color] Diego was still busy trying to keep himself composed but managed a wave at the very least. [color=69F954]“Our resident gossip queen is Hilda, second year like me with an Earth affinity and an evocation major. Every need to know who’s who, she’s got you covered.”[/color]

[color=hotpink]“Okay, like, you have to totally spill Aaron. Did you get a girl sent to the mines?”[/color] Hilda gushed, brushing her hair out of her eyes that were quite intent. [color=hotpink]“Like, I totes don’t believe it for a second but no one’s had the balls to ask you yet. So gimme the scoop![/color]

[color=69F954]“Please keep in mind that anything you say to her will indeed make it around the student body.”[/color] Ander made a show of whispering in Aaron’s ear, [color=69F954] “And she had a bet riding on it that it was all lies. Let her suffer for a bit longer.”[/color] He stuck his tongue out at her outraged gasp before continuing on with the introductions.

[color=69F954]“The modest maiden here is Lilith, treasurer of Student Government. Her partner is Rowan, the President. She’s a fourth year student with a Sound Affinity and a Protection major.”[/color] Lilith offered a head nod and a smile as Ander barreled on. [color=69F954] “And the last member of the fun train is Alex, fourth year with a Fire affinity and evocation major. He also TAs Evocation for Primary Affinities so he’s over with the study monkeys as often as here.”[/color] Alex waved lazily at him.

[color=Red]“And you fell for the puppy routine, huh? Well, you’re stuck now. Ander won’t let you go once he’s got you.”[/color] Alex laughed. [color=Red]“You just came back from your practical right? Take a seat. You’ve gotta be dead on your feet.”[/color]