[center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/Ls4rP8pH/image.png[/img][/center] [center]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/center] [center][b][h3]Prologue Day 14 Aboard the Queen Titania[/h3][/b][/center] On one of the observation decks of the grand and luxurious airship, a bespectacled girl, Ryuuko, gazed upon the brilliant azure sky above and the great infinite ocean below, her scaled hands casually resting on a bar of railing and tails slowly swaying left and right. The blue tinted scenery was a common sight throughout the trip; beautiful as it might be, it would not have been at all unreasonable for one to be bored and tired of it. For Ryuuko however, it was a sight that remained fresh for the eyes. She had always been more the type to be outdoor than one to be cooped in, and the observation decks provided the closest it can be for her to the feeling of being outdoor free and unshackled while aboard the airship. [color=FF0000]"Actually it's more about the feeling of freedom than the sentiment of being outdoor itself, really. Thinking about it, I should probably grow myself a pair of wings huh? Imagine the freedom that'd bring, even if it will add one more complication when I'm dressing up, haha!"[/color] Ryuuko heartily remarked to the other students hanging out with her, grinning widely. The other students responded by laughing casually or nodding in acknowledgement before then talking in turn, continuing their casual discussion. These other students, they were drawn to Ryuuko by her cheerful attitude and friendly nature; a welcome change compared to many of the other students aboard the Queen Titania who decided to remain formal, reserved, or even guarded in their interactions with their fellow students. Some might initially be intimidated by either her half-draconic appearance or her straightforward friendliness or both, and some others might simply not appreciate Ryuuko for whatever reasons. But not these students and many others; Ryuuko had never really been one who is wanting for friendship due to her highly social nature. The light banter continued for a while more until lunchtime whereupon the other students left for lunch, leaving Ryuuko alone as she opted to remain in the observation deck. She continued gazing upon the sky and the sea, seemingly absentmindedly. Then she raised her arms, stretching them and letting out a relieved sigh at the end of it before turning around and heading for one of the exits of the observation deck. [i][color=FF0000]Hmmmm. Now then, I suppose I'd better get some lunch for myself and see who else I can find to... hang around with~[/color][/i] She smiled to herself at the thought, curiosity and anticipation mixing together within her. She truly did enjoy getting to know new people and expanding her social connections... The fact that this naturally also gave her the opportunity to casually observe and take mental notes of the other students were simply added bonus. She had already picked out several of the other more notable and famous individuals among her peers, those that were more likely to be of high significance to her own ventures in the academy for one reason or another. [color=FF0000]"まぁ、取り合えず後16日か。時間はまだまだ沢山だな。次は何を見つけるか楽しみね、へへ～"[/color] She mumbled to herself in her native language, continuing to smile casually as she walked ahead... [center]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/center] [center][b][h3]The Thirtieth Day[/h3][/b][/center] Arrival, disembarkation, and then a tour whereupon the two thousand youths were divided into a hundred different groups. Everything went by pretty quickly indeed in this first day on the island for the new students. Lots of useful information were gained throughout the tour. Ryuuko made sure to memorize where the important landmarks and facilities are, all the while enjoying the sight and chatting with a few new acquaintances she quickly made within her tour group. All in all, it was a fun enough experience for her... Although she had to let out a groan at one point during the tour as the group passed through an area which architecture were based upon the traditional Japanese style. All this way here in Bermuda and she still can't fully escape such annoyance... Oh well, never mind that. Can't let a single disappointment ruin the experience! Aside from that, one more thing stuck out to Ryuuko during the tour. The 10pm curfew which were left without a satisfactory answer as to the rationale behind it. "Heavy fog every night after 10pm" was the only explanation given. [color=FF0000][i]You'd think they would have at least prepared a better explanation than that. Well, smells like something else that'll need to be poked around with, hehe~[/i][/color] She had to suppress a giggle at the thought. It's as if they were deliberately fanning the flames of curiosity within the students. Regardless, the tour then reached the final destination as the sun fell and the day turned to night. The Hall of the Greats they called it, an extravagant opera house designed in gothic Occidental style. Ryuuko was no fan of opera and the like but hey, at least it wasn't designed after a Kabuki theater... That would have been a nightmare for her. Just remembering all those boring plays she was forced to attend to and watch by her parents made her internally shiver... Anyways, all looked well and fine indeed within the Hall of the Greats. So many delicacies to try and people to mingle with. Ryuuko casually strode through the place, greeting and waving at some of the other students she had came to know within the last 30 days. She didn't specifically dress for the occasion, finding the need to fulfill such formal expectation tiring. Instead, she just wore one of her usual set of casual outfits, not caring of others' approval or disapproval of her choice. It might as well, since her outfit suited her seemingly nonchalant attitude and aimless wandering as she took in her surrounding. [color=FF0000][i]Hmmmm. There... And there.[/i][/color] Soon enough, Ryuuko had scouted out potential interests among the crowd of fellow students within the hall; those that she had committed to mind as likely of significance and of benefits to pay close attention to. And even among these, there were those who she needed to scrutinize even more than the others... Her eyes casually flit from each of these individuals to the others as she considered what she should do next, all the while leaning back in a relaxed manner on the nearest wall. [color=FF0000][i]That's the youngest daughter of the Konigsmahne there... She's speaking with... Franz Steiner. That's the guy who swore that he's serious about Mesmerology.[/i][/color] Ryuuko suppressed a wide smile at that. Not because she thought Steiner was ridiculous, but because she had always thought that he was a brave one considering the stigma around Mesmerology. She can relate with people that were not afraid to break the mold, after all... Recovering herself, Ryuuko then continued her observation, this time spotting yet two more individuals engaged in a banter. [color=FF0000][i]Valeriya Zhukova, Khalil Gharbi..... Hmm?[/i][/color] That was when her stomach made a low grumbling noise, putting her out of her observation. [color=FF0000][i]Oh, hahaha! Right, whoops. I forgot that I haven't had any dinner myself, silly me~ [/i][/color] Chuckling to herself, she then decided to suspend her observation and to get some delicious nourishment first instead. Can't work on an empty stomach and all that. She walked and looked around for some delicacies that looked interesting enough to try out, ending up browsing a particular table. [color=FF0000][i]This looks good... This also looks good... That looks better. Hmmmm, which to get, which to get.... All?[/i][/color] She was so absorbed in the task that she didn't notice the young man beside her, who suddenly talked to her. [color=f7976a]“Ah, please excuse me. I’d hate to be an inconvenience but… would you be able to help me take this to one of the dining tables?”[/color] The man's voice broke her out of her focus as she then looked at him. Well, that was lucky. Ryuuko quickly recognized who this young man was. She smiled casually, addressing him in return. [color=FF0000]"Oh! Sure thing, no problem at all!"[/color] She took the bowl that the man asked assistance with, nodding at him. [color=FF0000]"It's just this, right? Oh by the way... You're Lê Bằng Kiều, aren't you? You're quite famous, you know."[/color] She giggled casually before resuming with an introduction of her own. [color=FF0000]"Anyways, I'm Ryuuko. Higashiakemi Ryuuko. You might have heard of me, you might have not. Regardless, nice to meet you!"[/color] She puts on an even bigger smile at that, her double branched tails swaying left and right slightly. Not only that she genuinely liked meeting new people, this young man was one of those that was on her list of significant people of interest. She'd like to think that this was a lucky occasion indeed. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Mentions: [@banjoanjo]