[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/MEoNNVe.png?1[/img][/center]
[color=F08080][i][h2][center]Rodrick[/center][/h2][/i][/color]

A lot seemed to happen very quickly. Anise fired off a bunch of questions at Selena, asking her if she was a Kitsune? That sounded familiar, had his mother used to sing a song about them? He was having trouble remembering but he seemed to recall something about them being lost or hunted. It hadn't been a particularly upbeat song, so his mother had rarely performed it. Rodrick felt a little bad when it became obvious Selena was feeling, uncomfortable, but Rodrick couldn't do much but sip his wine as Ixius and Anise went back and forth verbally sparing with each other. This certainly was a fiery group Rodrick has thrust himself into the middle of. There were so many big personalities, and a few ego's, that it became hard for Rodrick to keep track....or maybe that was the wine...shit this wine tasted good. 

Rodrick became torn between listening to everyone around him, and studying his plate and glass so that he didn't have to get too involved. Rodrick despised conflict, he never knew how to handle it. His instinct was to jump in and smooth everything over, but experience had taught him that this just caused others to turn on you instead. Most of the time it was better to stay silent and unnoticed. Still, he felt a little bad for Anise. It didn't seem like she had meant to make Selena so uncomfortable. She was just curious. 

When the topic changed to the to the roads Rodrick's ears perked up, literally. He had noticed the changes as well. When he had traveled as a child there rarely been cause for concern. He and his mother had been able to travel freely just the two of them. But on the road to Hoseforn's the caravan that Rodrick had joined up with had been armed to the teeth, and everyone had been on edge. Rodrick had heard about the disappearances of course, everyone in Balmoria had, but it wasn't just adventurers or travelers that were disappearing. They weren't noticed as often because most people didn't care about them, but a lot of the homeless in Balmoria had started to vanish. People who had been living on the streets for years had suddenly disappeared without a trace. It was part of why Rodrick had even traveled to Hoseforn's. The streets of Balmoria had never been safe, but lately they had felt like a death sentence. The fact that it was happening to adventurers and that it seemed so wide spread made Rodrick's stomach churn a little. The 7 month time line seemed about right as well. Damn, this really was all connected wasn't it.....

Rodrick took a much bigger sip of wine to calm his nerves. It was fine, they'd be safe at Hoseforn's...right? Everyone on the continent knew who Hoseforn was, surely he could protect his students. Still, the world was obviously a dangerous place right now. Should he tell the others what he knew? Would that just make them worry more? 

[color=a187be]"meretrix tacete..."[/color]

The words made Rodrick freeze...Had Anise...had Anise just said 'Halt prostitute'? 

Rodrick stared at Anise for a moment. His face contorted as he tried not to laugh. He might have snorted a little bit. It was not exactly a funny situation, but that had been the same insult his mother had used on patrons who managed to get under her skin. She had always said it so sweetly as well, making it seem as though it was a compliment in a foreign language rather then telling someone to essentially shut the hell up. 
 
Rodrick refilled his wine glass, not even realizing he had emptied it, and took another long swig. Partially because it covered his embarrassment from the snort and partially because the more of it he drank the better it seemed to taste. He watched with some humor as Anise went over so the Selena could touch her horns. There was something innocent about the young fox woman that Rodrick found endearing. 

It was around this time that Rodrick realized he hadn’t actually said much of anything to anyone yet. He had just been sitting there stuffing his face and gulping down wine. This probably wasn’t the best way to try and make friends, and he should probably try and make friends..right? Wasn’t that his reason for being here?  

Before Rodrick could do anything else a large student passed by the table and knocked over Selena. Rodrick couldn’t tell for sure but it looked like she had slammed her head into the desk. Rodrick grunted in anger and tried to stand intending to do something, probably something stupid, but his head spun the second he did. Everything felt sideways and his stomach rolled in protest to the sudden movement. Rodrick steadied himself, but by the time he did he was too late to do anything meaningful. The large teacher with the eye patch had already shown up and the situation defused before it could become something dangerous.  

From what Rodrick could quickly gather, Finn and the other student would duel tomorrow after classes had finished. Rodrick had no idea what a Duel would be like but it would be interesting to watch. He hoped Finn would thrash the other man, but he had no idea how strong either one was.

The large teacher looked at the group of students for a moment his eye seeming to study each one in turn. [color=C0C0C0]“The feast will be ending soon. I would suggest not staying up too late. You’re first class will be at dawn, bring any equipment you have with you.”[/color] He turned and looked at Rodrick for a moment. [color=C0C0C0]“And you should drink some water.”[/color]

With that Sir Vermont turned and strode back the way he had come. When Rodrick looked up most of the teachers had already exited the room, except for the beautiful Drow woman who was still standing there watching the group with a smile. She waited for Sir Vermont before the two turned and left the room as well. Rodrick carefully sat himself back down, his head spinning a little less though it still felt light and foggy, and poured himself a glass of water. Some of the students were leaving, while others were still piling food onto their plates. It seemed like it was up to each student if they wanted to leave or not. 

[b][i]Upon returning to their rooms each student would find a list of classes and required equipment sitting beside their beds. The classes later on in the afternoon would depend on their individual skills and interests, these would include things such as stealth training, musical theory and practice, runecrafting, blacksmithing, as well as special classes for clerics and paladins to practice their faith and craft. However, the first two classes on the list would be the same for every student. The first class, taking place just after dawn, was combat practice. The second class, which followed right after breakfast, was magical theory and practice. All students were required to take both classes regardless of skill in either. [/i][/b]