[center][h1]Collaborative Post One: Zeno Sienna Afraval's Group[/h1][/center][hr]
“Anesin of House Bjelke, Penny Pellegrin, Onarr Yidlob, and my countrywoman: Linnah Aranda. It will be my pleasure to serve as your master and mentor."

[color=F7976A][i]Anesin Bjelke[/i][/color]. A tightness formed instantly in Penny’s chest. It wasn’t as if it could be any other Anesin Bjelke, after all. She tried to control her eyes. They’d never met in person, of course, and the half-body sketched portraits they’d sent to each other in correspondence a couple of years back were poor representations of actual flesh-and-blood human beings. 

Tall. She was tall. Penny had always considered herself tall, but Anesin was even moreso, and even by Eskandish standards. She noted that the other girl in the group - the Torragonese - was not short either. It was almost comical how small the lone boy was, though his… headgear certainly seemed to be designed to compensate. [color=F7976A][i]Men,[/i][/color] she sighed inwardly, but stopped herself. He was probably insecure, just as she had her insecurities. Dami would be ashamed of her for her dismissiveness and lack of empathy.

It was but a brief distraction from something much bigger. Sienna Afraval was to be her Zeno. That she had expected for a while. Sienna - Zeno Afraval - was one of the few who was privy to her true identity, so it had been arranged. [color=F7976A][i]Anesin, though.[/i][/color] Penny’s heart raced as she gathered her crutches and made her way to the stage. She could feel the eyes upon her: the pity, the disgust, the curiosity. They took a back seat, for once. What if Anesin recognized her!? What if she was outed, right here, right now, in front of her father who was pretending not to know her!?

Out of habit, Penny walked a bit quicker, ready to go first in the order of precedence until she remembered that, as a ‘merchant,’ she was to go after Anesin. The others… they looked to be lower merchants at best, perhaps even commons, and that made her wary. They could expose her - not that they’d want to for they both seemed decent people - but still, they could pick out the flaws in her act through a lifetime of familiarity. 

She could practically feel the short boy - Onarr - staring at her through his bascinet and she was not nearly so vain as to think it was for the reasons that boys often stared at girls. Penny hurried up onstage, counseling herself to breathe. Truly, she’d had enough excitement for one day. It had gone from invigorating to stressful and she was more than ready to curl up in her dormitory bed with a good treatise or instructional and just read for an hour before sleep claimed her. Alas, that was not to be. She’d be headed to Sienna’s townhouse, where she’d likely share a room with the two other girls or at least Linah. A noble of Anesin’s stature might be given her own accommodations. At least Linah seemed the quiet type. That was to Penny’s liking. She could test the waters, dip her toes in, figuratively speaking, and come out of her shell at her own leisure. Perhaps, she imagined, Linah might even feel the same. The Torragonese greeted her countrywoman and it was almost jarring to hear Sienna address her back in their shared native tongue. Not wanting to seem like an interloper, the Perrenchwoman decided to keep quiet and not make it evident that she understood their language. 

Linah greeted everyone else in that brief way that Torragonese usually did. Then, it was Penny’s turn to reply. Father was right there. She could’ve run to him across the stage, yet he was dressed in all of his grandeur and playing a role, as was she. Nervously, she glanced over her shoulder at him and thought that she caught his eye. His head turned with feigned royal disinterest to watch this fourth-to-last group congeal. Penny curtsied towards her master and peers, rather proud of the skill that she had mastered despite having less to work with than other girls, and turned to face her new companion and likely roommate. [color=F7976A]“Likewise.”[/color] She nodded, inclining her head. [color=F7976A]“I’m not much for these sorts of things either.”[/color] She hoped they would come to an understanding of sorts. Perhaps even a friendship. Penny had never had a friend in person and she was presently uncertain as to how to approach Anesin. In the event, there was Sienna. [color=F7976A]“I would offer you something more formal, Si… Zeno Afraval, but I would feel remiss doing so. You’ve been ever so helpful a guide and mentor already.”[/color] Then, before she could address Anesin or Onarr, the latter - who had just arrived - spoke up. 

He gave a Joruban salute and… [color=aquamarine]“I am glad to be your student, Zeno Afraval.”[/color] After a brief pause, he switched to Torragonese and provided a very old-fashioned greeting in her language: [color=aquamarine]“May your cattle be well-bred.”[/color] Penny’s cheeks turned pink and she puckered away the smile that threatened to explode across her face. [color=F7976A][i]Me![/i][/color] She thought, [color=F7976A][i]do me![/i][/color]

Anesin was his next recipient, however. [color=aquamarine]“It is an honour to be in your presence, Lady Anesin of House Bjelke. May your ancestors shear sheep for all eternity.”[/color] Penny liked him! She didn’t even have the chance to take in whether it was a look of horror or approval on Ani’s face - it still struck her as bizarre that her long-time correspondent and confidante was here in person and yet did not know who she was - when Onarr fixed upon his next target: her!

He bowed deeply and she was forced to hop back as his helmet nearly caught her in the chin. [color=aquamarine]“I look forward to being your fellow Biro, Miss Pellegrin. May you find safe harbour at a campfire.”[/color] It was an obscure greeting that travelers and soldiers sometimes gave each other in the evening. She supposed it [i]was [/i]evening, after all, and was left unsure whether he was truly clever and was making a bit of a reference to their context or whether he was simply tossing out phrases he’d learned from a book. Either way, she bowed her head. [color=F7976A]“A pleasure, Monsieur Yidlob. Truly, I hope we can all find safe harbour shortly after such a day.”[/color] She stifled a yawn and he proceeded to greet Linah as well, as other groups began to be called. She made what conversation there was to be had with the others, feeling a bit of her wit returning, and glanced over her shoulder to see father rising and mingling as Hugo Hunghorasz gave his final speech. 

Then, the fireworks started and hundreds of eyes turned to the heavens to watch. Father came by to shake Sienna’s hand, and he offered polite greetings to the students, standing momentarily beside Penny as the sky glowed. “Incredible how they get such a vivid red,” he remarked to nobody in particular but truly to her. She might’ve imagined Onarr glancing the king’s way at the remark. She could sense that her father wanted to reach out and show her affection - he was so different from mother in that regard - but both knew that he could not. Instead, Penny merely lowered her head in deference as he was about to ‘wander’ off. [color=F7976A]“It truly is a wonder, your majesty. I believe it is called strontium carbonate.”[/color]

[hr]

Greetings were exchanged, some lengthier than others. When Penny addressed her, stating her dislike of the pomp and circumstance, Linah quirked a brow. [color=875f9a]“Oh?”[/color] she was understandably surprised. Besides her neat outfit, the girl had even curtsied to the Zeno; quite the feat, given the crutch instead of a leg. But perhaps all they’d seen was too much even by whatever nebulous standards the other was referring to. [color=875f9a] “Well, it was quite the ceremony,”[/color] she then commented, tone indicating something between agreement and amusement.

As Penny went on to speak to Zeno Afraval, Linah noted the familiarity. She wondered since when the older woman had mentored the girl, but regardless, this indicated that Penny had potentially intriguing connections.

Then, Onarr introduced himself. At his switch to Torragonese, she openly smirked. His salutation was archaic, and while correct in certain instances, it was utterly inappropriate here. Since part of her attention had been on Penny still, she noticed the other girl stifling a smile as well. Linah tilted her head at her knowingly, laughter sparking in her gaze. Then, she turned towards the Zeno, curious if the royal woman might correct the boy or not.

As Onarr went on, she couldn’t help but wonder if he’d butchered the Eskandish tongue as well. Most likely, and Lin was curious what the southerner’s reaction would be.

During the fireworks, the Perrench king approached, and Linah tensed up. She stood silent and still, pointedly not looking at anything beyond the spectacle in the sky. Zeno Afraval was one thing, but a king so close? She had no idea how to act. However, she did have to return the perfunctory greeting he offered. As she did, she noticed how much more human he looked up close. Sometimes, the power people wielded blinded her to the fact that in the end, there was a person just like any other beneath. Well – just like any other in [i]some[/i] aspects.

A king greeting a royal was not all that odd, regardless of the politic situation between Perrence and Torragon. But Penny, a mere rich merchant’s daughter sassing the king himself? Linah twitched, but did all in her power not to react. Either Penny was pure steel and guts, or…Or, what? Could there be an acquaintance of sort due to her relationship with the Zeno? Or was her family so well-connected? In any case, it was a thing to keep in mind. This girl wasn’t to be underestimated, no matter that many – the vast majority in fact – would simply dismiss her as useless due to her disability. Clearly, that was not the case.

[hr]

[color=darkgray]It was unfortunate that Anesin had chosen the path of appearance over comfort when the other students had pushed forward to gain the more treasured seats. The fact that Anesin had not appeared a fool in the many eyes watching did little to alleviate the oppressive temperatures, and the shade seemed to make the most pathetic crawl towards her throughout the proceedings. The thin pale hood she wore stopped the sun as a spoon would halt a flooding river. Even as Anesin likened herself to warriors of Eskandish legend, suffering the cleansing of the flame before she could step towards her future, she found no real solace. It was just going to be like this with the Greenlanders. Forever, hot as an arcanist's fetish den. [sup]([s]or a Goose's hatred[/s])[/sup] Either way, Anesin seemed to spend the entirety of the ceremony trying to look ever the regal child. She sat up straight, smiled, nodded and clapped; but she spent so much energy manifesting calm perfection that she had barely energy to spare for actual attentiveness. In fact, had she not been one of the last chosen she may have missed her calling.

As it was, Anesin remained one of a dozen when her name was called, and she stood stiffly. Her glacial eyes immediately clung to the Zeno; Sienna Afraval. Anesin's Mother had detailed a list of Zenos who would make appropriate leads for her daughter, most likely to the school itself, and Anesin knew of Sienna Afraval. The Princess of Pain. The stark white tattoo curled with her pale pink lips as she took measured and purposeful steps forward. It wasn't until Anesin was graciously bowing her head to the Zeno upon the stage that she allowed herself to size up her fellow disciples. And size definitely came to mind when the smallest of the group spoke to her. While Linah had been adequately brief in her introduction and received a sedate bow, Onarr had already garnered a raised brow before he started speaking.

[color=aquamarine]"May your ancestors shear sheep for all eternity.”[/color]

If the brow had not been clearly noticeable prior, this time it twitched enough to shift the runes across her shimmering face. Confusion was present for a moment, but then it was gone and she regained her composure and offered the same gracious bow of her head. Examining the armored boy with trained indifference. As he began speaking to Penny, Anesin took the reprieve of conversational duty and took a quick glance at Penny. She received the same tilt of head as the other two. A perplexing group to be sure. Inwardly she pleaded that perplexing meant interesting and that interesting was a sure path towards being distinguished.

Anesin allowed her eyes to drift once more across the contents of her future before shifting them upwards; towards the light show and the continued spectacle their arrival had pulled forth. She took in the group’s actions and conversations through her periphery for the time being, content to rest her judgment elsewhere until it could be better sorted. Penny’s yawn had affected her, along with the day, and she was in no state to begin shuffling through everything.

Her reverie was interrupted, for only a flicker of a moment when the King arrived. Anesin offered him a bow of her head deeper than she had given to the other's, but likely not deep enough. It mattered not as he seemed preoccupied. All the better. It would be a curious thing to speak to the man she had heard about in letters, especially in such a public and exhausted setting. It seemed Anesin was dismissed from that awkwardness and her eyes flitted outward again. Superficially focusing on nothing and inwardly listening to the every movement of those near her to get some inclination of solidarity.[/color]

[hr]
[color=aquamarine]“ Oh! I didn’t mean to ....” [/color]

Onarr poked both of his index fingers together pensively, becoming more concerned with the state of his leather boots. A million calculations blazed through his head, trying to figure out what was the best way to remedy this social situation. It also helped to ignore the fact he may have made the same mistake with an Eskandish noble and a Zeno. 

After a few seconds, he replied back. 

[color=aquamarine]“I’m glad you agree.” [/color]

The Joruban then kept mostly silent to himself, watching the fireworks alongside the rest of his fellow Biros. He was relieved that the helmet helped hide the blush of embarrassment on his face. Trepidation wormed inside his stomach as his stress began to amplify rumors passed onto him by older students. Would they drown him in the Arboretum for insulting one of the Zenos? One of the third years had mentioned passing by that those who insulted the Zenos would be executed during the Trials for their insolence? His stomach froze when he remembered the most outlandish rumor: that he would be forcibly fed to the Goose of Ersand’Enise. 

What was to be his fate? 

Then, the arrival of the Perrench King dissipated the paranoia that had fogged over his judgement. Onarr’s eyes flickered between the king and Penny, connecting their two erstwhile comments together. King Rouis deigning to parlay with the commoners? He would have expected him to converse with Anesin instead of Penny. There were a dozen other Perrench nobles in the crowd so why her? 

More questions grew in Onarr’s mind. This was a riddle, the same as her crutches but only invisible in its evidence. 

He coughed out politely to break the conversation, regarding Penny with a curious look. 

[color=aquamarine]“Ah, a student of alchemy. Not many Biros would make that observation.”[/color] He paused before adding another question in a slight hopeful tone. [color=aquamarine]“Are you by any chance a Chemical mage?”[/color] 

[hr]

Penny blinked, outed, and father moved on as if it were nothing, meeting and greeting a nearby group. Still half-turned, she could feel the others’ suspicion. On her first day here, she had already damaged her cover. She gulped nervously, schooling her face and not yet turning to face Onarr if only so she could school her features.She forced a smile and twisted. Truth be told, she was already rather fond of Onarr and his peculiar ways. It was this fondness that caused her such distress for she could not bear his and Linah’s suspicion. [color=F7976A]“Oh no,”[/color] she chirped, [color=F7976A]“though I dabble… quite a bit. I’ve ever so much time and I’d love to learn more of its mysteries. Perhaps here -”[/color] She stopped to stifle a yawn. [color=F7976A]“Gods, I could use a drink, a book, and a bed. Apologies. But yes,”[/color] she continued, [color=F7976A]“in this place, the only limit to what we can learn is our desire to.”[/color] She let her eyes wander across the shadowy buildings of the academy, surrounding the grand plaza. [color=F7976A]“So wonderfully equalizing, don’t you think?”[/color] She regarded Onarr again, over her shoulder, blushing slightly at the moment of earnestness. [color=F7976A]“I’m sorry. You don’t have to answer that, of course. So… would you be asking if I was a chemical mage because perhaps you’re a chemical mage?”[/color] There was a twinkle in her eye as she asked. Onarr struck her as the sort to focus in chemical magic. It would also be prudent to distract him from any suspicions he might have of her.

Onarr’s eye flickered to the side in perry as Penny hid her face from him. Was it something that he said? His fear was momentary as she replied back with remarks that made him nod in agreement, especially the fatigue that was already seeping into his neck and knees. Well, not everything. There were still some things that Ersand’Enise couldn’t make equal. It was evident in how the others towered above him. He wiggled his bascinet for a moment  to relieve the itch from wearing it all day before replying back to her question. 

Onarr then snorted at her question and hid a short chuckle. [color=aquamarine]“I would be if my great grandfather didn’t electrocute himself whilst trying to pray to Shune two centuries ago.”[/color] His amusement died down as a note of regret entered into his voice. [color=aquamarine]“Whilst I do practice chemical magic, magnetic magic is unfortunately my specialty.”[/color] 

Onarr paused before deciding to rephrase. [color=aquamarine]“What I meant is that chemical magic just seems much more interesting than magnetic magic. I find it to be the most diverse of the five magics. Natural talent in an area does not necessarily beget interest.”[/color] 

He coughed before asking his next question with a deliberate slowness. 

[color=aquamarine]“If you are interested in chemical magic, I would be willing to share several of my notes. We are of the same master. It seems that cooperation would benefit us both.”[/color] 

Penny blinked. Onarr’s suspicions, if he had truly held any, seemed to have been allayed. She was a fool for having assumed the worst, but then that was ever a struggle. He wanted to share notes with her. Truth be told, Penny kept extensive notes on every school of magic and not only Binding, but she was again struck with a wave of anxiety. Would that she could ask Anesin for advice on the matter, as she sometimes did by correspondence. She glanced in her friend’s direction and the girl looked to be occupied. Penny would have to navigate this on her own. That Onarr was intelligent, she could sense clearly. [color=F7976A][i]What if he reads them and…[/i][/color] he wouldn’t laugh, she knew. He was too polite for that. He would say vaguely agreeable things and she would sense the subtle disappointment and she would lose his intellectual regard. 

But then she looked out and saw the arch of Benedict the Blessed - her great-grandfather. [color=F7976A][i]You miss one-hundred percent of the shots you don’t take.[/i][/color] She could have a friend here. She sensed that she and Onarr were of like mind in many ways. She was about to reply before it struck her how she towered over him. Perhaps he was just young or late to grow or perhaps he was a dwarf. In any event, she imagined that it must bother him to always have to look up everyone’s nose when speaking. Penny sunk into a crouch, letting her crutches down gently in front of her, and stifled a second yawn. It may have been her imagination but it almost sounded as if Anesin stifled a laugh when Penny knelt downward. Her guts turned to ice at the sound - being laughed at - but she pressed on. [color=F7976A]“I should very much like that,”[/color] she agreed, glancing toward Onarr at more-or-less eye level. [color=F7976A]“I cannot promise they will be of much quality… or legibility, but I can guarantee they will be diligent.”[/color] She flicked some hair over her shoulder. It wasn’t in its usual braid and it was becoming unruly. [color=F7976A]“And to what you were saying earlier…”[/color] [color=F7976A][i]My great-grandfather had a talent for magnetic magic.[/i][/color] She almost said it. [color=F7976A]“I find that people often act in fervent and inadvisable ways in service of the Pentad.”[/color] 

Perhaps that had been rude. Perhaps she had said too much. [color=F7976A][i]Anesin,[/i][/color] she thought, [color=F7976A][i]do I even dare speak with you?[/i][/color] Her good hand hovered over her crutches, ready to make a retreat should she need to, but it was not as if her unwitting friend would or even could be allowed to recognize her. Then, it suddenly stopped mattering. Their Zeno, who had been largely busy with being accosted by royals and students, was able to break away. “Penny, on your feet,” she scolded, quirking an eyebrow. [color=F7976A][i]Foot,[/i][/color] Penny thought, but she dared not sass Sienna. “Everyone, it’s been a long day. I see plenty of tired faces and, uh…” her eyes turned to Onarr. “Body language.” She clapped, businesslike. “We’ve lots to do tomorrow. Plenty to learn. Let me show you to our townhouse. You’ll find your sleeping arrangements prepared and I’ve had keys cut for all of you.” She smiled, professional once more, but not without some warmth. “Come along now.”
[hr][hr]
[hider=TL;DR]1) General introductions with some particularly hilarious/out-of-place ones from Onarr.
2) People react to the fireworks and the Perrench king comes to visit, drawing varying reactions. 
3) His visit serves to kindle some suspicions about Penny, especially for Linah and Onarr.
4) Anesin mostly does her own thing, wilting in the heat and quietly anxious about her future. 
5) Onarr and Penny hold a fairly deep cocnversation before Zeno Afraval calls the group home for the night.[/hider]