[center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/mg8Zg0dZ/Eun-Ji-Banner.png[/img][/center]
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(Interactions with: Manfred ([@Force and Fury]), Karim ([@Theyra]), and Mayu ([@annaplz]), the latter two in the later part of the post.)


As the procession continued, Eun-Ji felt it; the unmistakable feeling of someone watching her, survival instinct nagging at her consciousness. This was something common for one like her, instinct born out of both training and out of experience as a soldier where one must always be aware of one's surroundings or risk being attacked or even killed without realizing it. Keeping up her focus, she started looking around calmly. Alas, the feeling soon passed before she were able to determine who it was that were observing her. The observer who were in truth the scion of Hohenfelter von Meckelin-Thandau had already moved on from watching her.

She mulled about it for a moment before coming to a decision in her mind. [color=87CEEB][i]It's probably nothing... No need to be worried about it.[/i][/color] Perhaps it was just someone finding her appearance to be rather curious, and if that was indeed the case then they cannot be blamed for thinking so.
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[center][h2][color=87CEEB]HAPPENING IN THE PLAZA[/color][/h2][/center]

The procession had finished sometime later after arriving in the plaza. By the evening, the place had been filled full with people attending the next phase of the ceremony. Most importantly for the new students of the academy, this will be when they shall each be picked by a master to be their apprentice. It will most definitely be a big deal, as the experience of being taught by a Zeno will likely be quite different from the experience of being taught by another Zeno. It would be unfortunate for a student to be taken under a Zeno that turned out to be incompatible with themselves. Still, it was not something that the students themselves were able to control. They can only hope that they'll be picked by the "right" Zeno, so to speak.

Eun-Ji wasn't really concerned with where she were seated as long as she got a good line of sight to the stage, and she indeed managed to get that in the end. The other students around her were quite a very diverse bunch, which was a good thing, because it also meant that she didn't end up sticking out like a sore thumb. Still, it was quite the sight for Eun-Ji. She haven't really been paying much attention during the procession due to her focused state to dull out the stimulation. Here, sitting in the plaza waiting for the ceremony to begin, she had no need to tune out anything. [color=87CEEB][i]So many people from all the different heritages... I've never been among this kind of gathering before. Hmm...[/i][/color] She thought about it for a little while. About how far she was from home, about how things had became so different in just three years since she were taken from her village. For most of it, things were miserable. Every single day was a struggle for dear life, freedom was a mere illusion, and she had ended up becoming something she absolutely hated to be: One who extinguished the light of life from others. Even here in the academy, she knew that she were not free. Even here, she will be watched by the other agents of The Cruel.

... And yet, she were also knowledgeable enough to know that the power and influence of The Cruel and the Lotus Sentries were limited here in Ersand’Enise. They will try to watch all the same and they will move to act if she openly did anything foolish enough to provoke them, but they will be far limited nonetheless. [color=87CEEB][i]... I suppose it is something to be grateful of. Perhaps, at the very least, it wouldn't feel like being kept a prisoner all the time here.[/i][/color] It was not exactly a bright thought, but even such small comfort was precious enough to her that Eun-Ji allowed herself a light smile about it.
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[center][h3][color=87CEEB]AN UNEXPECTED GIFT[/color][/h3][/center]
(Interaction with Leon ([@Jumbus]))

Still in her own rumination, Eun-Ji did not notice that the girl sitting next to her have had her seat borrowed by the young man who were bestowed the honor of heading the earlier procession. She had paid attention back then, so she knew of his name and also knew enough that he were considered highly enough that the academy had chosen him for the role. It was then unexpected and a little bit surprising for Eun-Ji that Leon had decided to regard her, someone who for all intents and purposes were very much an insignificant person in the political and social game of Ersand’Enise.

Caught off guard, she stumbled a little in her words, trying to put her mind into being properly formal with the flamboyant fellow youth. [color=87CEEB]"Ah... My apologies, I didn't notice... Oh. Thank you for your kind words...?"[/color] It had been quite a long time since the last time someone commented on the color of her eyes. That used to be rather common back in her village, due to how very unusual they were compared to the mostly black or dark brown eyes of the typical person of Tan Keoulian heritage. It felt a bit nostalgic, and not at all unpleasant even though it was very sudden and unexpected to receive a compliment about it from a stranger.

Eun-Ji listened to Leon's explanation for his sudden greeting and compliment towards her. A violet rose. It did looked most peculiar indeed. She knew of the existence of such roses of unusual coloration before, being that her family of farmers often came in contact with the odd florist or two. Usually, such roses were the result of a very careful and tedious process of multiple crossbreeding. Regardless, they remained quite rare and highly valued, and Eun-Ji knew this.

Well, highly valued if they were natural, to be precise. Eun-Ji remained unaware that the rose Leon had presented to her was the result of magic. [color=87CEEB]"For me?... Oh, I..."[/color] She was at a lost for words, thinking that she didn't really deserve to receive such a gift from a stranger. She held the rose in both hands as Leon gave it to her, quite unsure of how to react and what to do with it. Refusing it and returning it seemed the most proper response, but that risked wounding Leon's feelings. Alas, as she was contemplating this, Leon seemed like he were about to leave to return to his previous seat. Eun-Ji had to react quickly; not something she were particularly good at in the best of times. In the end, she only managed some quick words of gratitude. [color=87CEEB]"I... Thank you, Mr. Leon Solaire. I will, umm, take good care of it..."[/color]

Then just like that, Leon was gone, leaving Eun-Ji with a not-exactly-natural violet rose in her hands. People were looking her way. Some, mostly girls, were definitely staring in a not-very-friendly way. Flustered, she decided to put the rose within her bag, placing it carefully so as to not damage it. Then, she put her gaze to the ground as if to hide her face and avoid direct eye contact with those staring at her, feeling a mix of embarrassment, confusion, but also a shy appreciation for the gift. Of course, the latter feeling would be quite different indeed if only she knew that the violet rose were actually a trick of magic instead and that Leon had told her a lie...
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Eun-Ji took a minute to compose herself after the encounter with Leon. By then, those who stared at her had ceased doing so. Regaining her composure, she started paying closer attention to those that were sitting around her. The first person she noticed sat quite close to her, a young Kerreman man with his brown hair done in a short ponytail. Something about him felt very familiar to Eun-Ji and soon enough she realized what it was. The way this man conducted himself, his body language, and that unmistakable look of one who had seen countless deaths. This man was a soldier, and not the type that enjoyed killing for the sake of it. Not the type that joyfully took life as if its nothing but trash. Not a wild animal of a soldier who merely needed an excuse to kill to sate his bloodlust.

[color=87CEEB][i]I see... So it seems I am not the only one here.[/i][/color] She ended up staring at him, seeing herself in the man, mirroring what the man himself had done to her without her knowing that it was him during the procession. She wondered what his story was, how he ended up becoming the severe looking young man reflected in her eyes. [color=87CEEB]"Ah."[/color] Then soon she realized she had been staring, even letting out the audible muttering due to the lapse in her self-control. She quickly looked away, covering her mouth and lower face with her right palm to hide her embarrassment. That was rude, staring at someone like that. Why, in Tan Keoul, that would have been a big violation of social norm. Eun-Ji sighed internally, reprimanding herself for the brief moment of misconduct.

Right after that, trumpets blared and a crier stepped forward, his voice ringing out across the plaza. The ceremony had finally started in full. People started cheering along with it, though Eun-Ji herself refrained from doing so; not out of a refusal to show enthusiasm or respect, but because she didn't quite catch the sentiment being that she did not came from a country that held one of the Five Thrones. Regardless, when the others clapped as the Monarchs were introduced, she followed along with polite clapping of her own though her expression remained completely neutral throughout the whole affair. Afterwards, it was time for the representatives of the other nations to be introduced. Eun-Ji knew that The Cruel will not be in attendance and that Tan Keoul had sent someone else instead, though she were not told who it would be.

When she saw who the Tan Keoulian representative was, she could have sworn that he was staring right at her in return, briefly but unmistakably. It was one of her instructors in the Lotus Sentries, who indeed also held a position as one of the Emperor's advisors. Even as he no longer looked at her, Eun-Ji noticed him making some subtle hand signs used by the Sentries, doubtlessly directed at her as it reads 'remember your mission'. She swallowed her own spit, anxiety suddenly building up. Just a moment ago, she thought that it will be better for her here in the academy and already a crony of the Emperor reminded her that they will be watching. It all suddenly felt so hopeless again, resignation returning in full force back into her mind as she closed her eyes and lowered her gaze down to the ground, hands clutching with force on the skirt of her dress. Soon enough however, she let out an almost imperceptible sigh, raising her head back and showing eyes that looked indeed like those of a resigned soul.

[color=87CEEB][i].... What?[/i][/color] And yet the surprise, evidently, refused to end there. For soon after that, Eun-Ji noticed the semicorporeal hand that was most definitely the result of Arcane illusion in action. She would know, she herself specialized strongly in being an Illusionist. The hand disappeared completely soon after, leaving Eun-ji to blink twice, gaze still fixed to where she saw the hand was. [color=87CEEB][i]No, I most definitely saw it. It was not a trick of the eyes.[/i][/color] Then she heard the words of another student nearby. [color=D2691E]“Hey, did you see that?”[/color] And it proved that she was indeed not mistaken, considering she weren't the only one who saw the hand. Before she can ponder things further however, Eun-Ji's attention were taken by yet another happening. This time, it happened right onstage.

A massive energy surge, unthinkably great, appearing and disappearing all in the span of less than a second. Eun-Ji instinctively flinched, closing her eyes by reflex. She opened her eyes again slowly afterwards, missing the brief and subtle nuances of the Arch-Zenos onstage because of it. [color=87CEEB][i]... Huh? What? I...[/i][/color] What followed were moments of confusion. It all felt so very weird. She couldn't really understand what was going on. [b]Something had definitely happened[/b]. She was a Lotus Sentry. Unlike most people, she were trained to notice incongruity and abnormality. [b]Something had definitely happened[/b]. Something felt like it was missing in her mind and she didn't know what, but without a doubt, [b]something[/b] was missing. [color=87CEEB][i]... This smells too much like trouble. The question is whether this is a trouble that concerns me or not.[/i][/color] She put her left hand on her chin, face lowered once more, deep in her own thoughts. The only thing she's sure about was that something had definitely happened and something in her mind was missing. Obviously, whatever it was shouldn't be missing, and this was cause for concern. Still, after thinking it through for a while more, she decided that just the fact that she knew without a doubt that something was amiss will have to be enough for now. After all, there wasn't much she can do about it; definitely not now, but perhaps later?

................

Things proceeded quickly after that. Arch-Zeno Joshe Intaba took to the stage and picked his apprentices, followed by the next Zeno doing the same thing. Zenos took to the stage and names were called, yet it was not until almost the very end that Eun-Ji's own name would be called upon. The one who called her was a Zeno Hamir Zemana, a large and bearded Virangish man. As far as first impression went, Eun-Ji decided to reserve any kind of judgment. It would be unwise, considering she knew little about this man that she will be apprenticed to. One thing that was sure, was that he managed not to butcher her name when pronouncing it.

Along with Eun-Ji, the man had chosen Mayu Iovina, another girl who were unmistakably also of Rettanese heritage. Karim Nazeri, a Paggonian. And to Eun-Ji's surprise, the very man that she had observed earlier. [color=87CEEB][i]Manfred of House Hohenfelter... I see.[/i][/color] It took her a little bit of effort not to stare at Manfred again as a kind of curiosity surfaced in her mind about him. She had found him to be intriguing, for reasons she have yet to grasp. Still, she managed to instead regarded the Zeno and the three other students of the group. A brief introduction was only appropriate. And typical of Eun-Ji, she decided to do so in a rather formal way.

She pressed the palm of her hands together in front of her chest, and then bowed her head forward slightly at about 15 degree of inclination with her eyes closed, keeping the position for about a second before rising her head back up and returning to a more neutral pose to introduce herself in Avincian. [color=87CEEB]"I am Seung Eun-Ji of Tan Keoul. It is an honor to be picked as your apprentice, esteemed Zeno Hamir Zemana; and to be your peers, Ms. Mayu of House Iovina, Mr. Karim Nazeri, and Mr. Manfred of House Hohenfelter. I am looking forward to a fruitful cooperation among us."[/color]

Soon enough, all the Zenos and students had been put into their respective group. Almost immediately after that, bright magnificent lights came to life followed by the great Hugo Hunghorasz making a brief yet impressive performance of teleportation after which he finished the ceremony with a speech. All were dismissed, and the lights turned back to normal. Clapping filled the air, and then came the fireworks. Eun-Ji looked on toward the fantastic display. This indeed marked the end of the ceremony, the end of the day. And tomorrow? Tomorrow her mission shall begin in earnest.

It were beautiful, the fireworks. There was no doubt about that in Eun-Ji's mind. Yet, they were all also fleeting. Oh so very fleeting. As each firework soared, exploded, and then disappeared, she counted every single one that she were able to perceive. Those who looked her way would very clearly see it in her face; a profound sadness and a longing for a better time that had long since passed. In this moment, under the fleeting fireworks, she was not a Lotus Sentry. Instead, she became once again the young humble girl of equally humble origin. And of the fireworks, the young girl thought of only one thing in her mind.

[color=87CEEB][i]Why did they have to die?[/i][/color]