[center][h1]The Registry Mystery[/h1][/center][hr] 
[hider=Summary][list][*]Jomurr tries to flex and Linah and Penny are not impressed.
[*]The girls seize upon Anesin's observation about her Registry form and figure out that it's invisible ink. They use heat to reveal a hidden message.
[*]At the bottom of the form is written: "Foundations in Drawing, Converting, and Casting in the Blood School of Magic (MF107) - registration will not count towards a student's course limit."
[*]Eun-Ji, given a mission to get tot he bottom of the strange happenings at the school, snoops very subtly, but is noticed by her fellow illusionist, Penny.
[*]Penny and Eun-Ji feel each other out. It isn't hostile, but they realize that they are not on the same side. Eun-Ji's wariness about Blood Magic and Penny's paranoia prevent that.
[*]Linah and Penny reconvene and consolidate what they know, and Penny considers signing up for the clandestine course[/list][/hider]
Luncheons such as this were an exercise in chaos, Jomurr had decided: all manner of...human beings (he could not spot a yasoi) gathered into a single room. The stench of overbearing perfumes and body odor was almost overwhelming. He was forced to line up like a common beggar and prepare his own plate. This morning had been a most diverting exercise in novelty, but he found himself rather finished with such diversions now. To add insult to injury, his food was...limp and lukewarm at best by the time he'd gotten it. In particular, the Torragonese tarts were at... less than their best. At least the beef stew was acceptable, even if it wasn't exactly fine cuisine. The less said on the Joruban Monkfish, the better. Such a delicious base, but those damned Jorubans always burnt the bloody thing to cinders. Monkfish Sushi was a far superior dish.

Eventually, however, Jomurr was forced to sit amongst the rabble. There was a boy who looked little better than a street urchin who'd disappeared almost immediately, a rather plain Torragonese girl, her Perrench companion who slouched in her seat, hair a birds' nest, as well as a Rettanese whose bedraggled appearance indicated an utter disinterest in personal hygiene. However, not all of them were so awful, he supposed. There were a couple of pretty Eskandish noblewomen (one with striking white hair), Carmillia, and Zemana's four: the taciturn Kerreman, the two Rettanese girls, one of whom was so small and sweet that he simply could not bring himself to dislike her, and the quiet Paggonian. Conspicuously absent, of course, was Solaire, who'd gone gallivanting off for whatever reason Jomurr assumed tickled his fancy, as well as the urchin and the Joruban midget in the towering bascinet helm. 

The Belzaggicman delivered a polite greeting and took his seat close to some of the better-heeled types, including a dusty Torragonese lordling and one of the Eskandishwomen, but he left an empty seat to one side - all the better to stretch out a little bit. [color=800080]"Lovely luncheon,"[/color] he commented, the sarcasm in his tone so subtle that only the most practiced ear could've possibly picked it out. [color=800080]"but what I'm on about is this courses registry. Will anybody else be taking Atomic?"[/color]

Linah glanced at the snotty noble seated within hearing range, but didn't grant him beyond a second's worth of attention. His dismissive tone when speaking about the food, his blatant pickiness, and the attempt to immediately make the conversation about his oh-so-powerful self indicated the type of person she'd prefer not to get involved with.

Unlike her roommate, Penny could not quite exercise the restraint needed to ignore Jomurr's words. The Belzaggic high lord was a prat: typical of the sorts of upper nobles who her father often dealt with. [color=F7976A][i]'Lovely luncheon'[/i][/color] she thought, suppressing a snort and easily able to recognize the hint of condescension in his tone. [color=F7976A]"Hmm, I suppose I could,"[/color] she replied on the topic of Atomic Magic, the teasing and assertion of strength in her tone so subtle that only the most practiced ear could've possibly picked it out. [color=F7976A]"To be perfectly honest, I've not yet decided on a secondary magic."[/color] She'd wanted to say more - to embarrass his little attempt at braggery - but she counseled herself behave. She was not at home and she was not Penelope of Perrence. She was Penny Pellegrin.

Linah turned towards Penny, the action also conveniently hiding the grin she directed towards the other girl from Jomurr. [color=875f9a]"Gutsy,"[/color] she whispered, [color=875f9a]"but then, I already knew as much."[/color] There was an appreciative spark as one of her suspicions was confirmed; Penny was undoubtedly magically powerful. It could have been a bluff on her part, to be sure, but it was likelier to be true. When surrounded by the magically capable, one's confidence had to have genuine skill to back it up if one wished to emerge victorious upon being inevitably challenged. The thought of Penny being able to overpower that braggart was a sweet one. Not as sweet as thinking of ways to overcome the boy herself, of course, but Linah knew that in raw magical capacity, she'd never be his match. However, if she had her mark right, he'd be most indignant being overcome by guile and trickery.

Penny hid her smirk and leaned back in to whisper, as Jomurr had proceeded to make the stern-looking Kerreman whose name she could not quite remember his next target. [color=F7976A]"Sometimes I can't resist my better nature,"[/color] she replied, but then she noticed Anesin rubbing at something on her registry paper. The Perrenchwoman's thoughts returned to the awkward glances the two had shared a couple of minutes earlier, as Penny had noticed something similar on her own form. Anesin said as much: "It appears someone has written on mine. I do hope they do not assume I wrote on this.” The Eskandishwoman looked to Linah, then to Penny. A frown crossing her face. "It seems careless.”

Penny lowered her voice somewhat and held out her own paper. [color=F7976A]"Mine has the same markings,"[/color] she replied, glancing at Anesin and then at Linah. [color=F7976A]"I thought it rather queer."[/color] She addressed the latter. [color=F7976A]"Does yours?"[/color] At that, her eyes flicked about the table, wondering who else's might've contained what was increasingly looking like some sort of secret message or code.

Linah had to take a moment to redirect the vindictive streak her thoughts had given way to. Cocking her head to the side, she said, [color=875f9a]"No...not at all. But the same message for two - or more people?"[/color] she questioned quietly. That particular list of ingredients sparked familiarity, but she had to sort through some of her memories before she recognized the significance. [color=875f9a]"Ahhh,"[/color] she lowered her voice further, [color=875f9a]"Shall I apply some heat to these?"[/color] she pointedly looked from the parchments to the girls, curious if they'd catch their meaning and if they'd allow the message to be revealed in such a public location. It might not be a secret intended for one particular person, but it was a hidden note nonetheless.

Penny did not quite control her face. Her earlier suspicions had been correct! [color=F7976A][i]Invisible ink![/i][/color] She glanced warily at Linah and then back at Anesin. They were speaking too much in whispers, leaning in too greatly. To even a somewhat practiced eye, it would be obvious that they were conspiring over something. Penny was something of an expert in that, after all. She'd grown up in a pit of just such vipers. [color=F7976A]"Yes, some heat would be nice,"[/color] she said in a bit less of a whisper, [color=F7976A]"I've noticed a bit of a chill in such a grand hall. Yet... perhaps we should keep the papers away from it. Wouldn't want to be burnt."[/color]

[color=875f9a]"That it would be,"[/color] Linah answered casually, matching Penny's tone and amplitude. Yes, whispering so obviously in such a crowd would be noticeable, and it was good of Penny to remind her. She lay a palm upon the table, staring unseeingly into the distance as she concentrated on the vibrations all around her. Carried through the wood of their seating arrangements, the stone beneath their feet, and of course, upon the air itself. That in addition to the sparse rays of light protruding through the glass-stained windows was enough energy to convert into the heat she needed. Returning her awareness to the present company, Linah begun to wave a hand around Penny. [color=875f9a]"How is that?"[/color] she queried. A gentle, warm breeze would envelop Penny, and possibly her neighbours as well. Either Penny or Anesin would have to cooperate with her in the following sleight-of-hand; Linah needed to get her other hand, the free one still perched lightly on the table, upon the parchment itself to ensure she could reveal its hidden contents. Her show of helping a friend keep warm would have to be enough to conceal her true purpose, as there wasn't much else but to follow Penny's guidance in redirecting attention from their scheme.

[color=F7976A]"Ah yes, much better,"[/color] chirped Penny. [color=F7976A]"You are a gem, Linah, truly."[/color] She posted her hands upon the tabletop, incidentally pushing the registry form aside and over to Linah. After a few moments of tense anticipation and glances that were meant to be subtle but likely were not, a hidden text revealed itself, at the very foot of the page: 

[b][i]"Foundations in Drawing, Converting, and Casting in the Blood School of Magic (MF107) - registration will not count towards a student's course limit."[/i][/b]

Indeed, the exchange between Penny and Linah had not been unobserved. Sitting at the same table, Eun-Ji had been eating her own meal slowly. To an outside observer, it looked exactly what it seemed to be; just a girl minding her own lunch. In reality however, Eun-Ji had once more entered a state of focus soon after she started to eat. She had done it mostly to numb herself from the worries that still plagued her mind about her new task, but it had ended up making her take notice of two things. One, that Leon Solaire was nowhere to be seen even though he should be with them. The second thing was the pair of whispering girls.

It could just be girls fooling around of course, but the more she watched them, the more fishy it felt to her. Considering the new mission she'd been given without any additional lead... [i]Might as well, I suppose. If it turns out to be nothing, then at least it would have been good practice.[/i]

Her mind made up, she casually rose from her seat and then proceeded to walk. She began drawing, from the ambient heat and sounds of her surroundings, making sure to draw in moderation so no one would notice. She didn't need a lot for her plan. She kept walking and soon, she passed near where Penny and Linah were sitting. Then she cast a little illusion simply to make it seem like her eyes continued looking in the direction she was walking, while in reality they were looking toward the registry that Penny had pushed over to Linah. It was brief, but it was enough for her to quickly read the hidden text. That done, she continued walking, as if to step outside to get some fresh air.

She felt it. It was extremely subtle and she thought that she'd imagined it, but Penny herself had trained enough in illusion to recognize the sort of arcane application that usually went with it. The Perrench girl blinked and, without consciously meaning to, pulled the course registry close to her chest. She glanced at Anesin and Linah. Maybe they'd felt it too but, to her knowledge, neither was an illusionist. Perhaps a bit carelessly, Penny twisted and, sure enough, they were not alone. The Tan Keoulean girl - was in Yoon-Chi? - brushed past unassumingly. She noticed the Kerreman - Manfred's - eyes upon her before they quickly flicked away. [i][color=F7976A]Why not just ask?[/color][/i] Penny wondered. Pushing her chair out, she scrambled to grab her crutches and rose. [color=F7976A]"You know what?"[/color] she chirped, [color=F7976A]"I'm stuffed. I swear, that turkey has nothing on me."[/color] She faked a giggle and headed straight after Eun-Ji. The moment that they were out of immediate earshot, she spoke: [color=F7976A]"Does it mean anything to you?"[/color] She clarified: [color=F7976A]"The hidden message on the registry, that is."[/color]

[i]Hmm. Suboptimal performance.[/i] Eun-Ji sighed internally as Penny spoke to her. She hadn't expected that she'd be caught in the act, but then again that had always been the risk to the little illusion trick that she did. She turned around to look at the considerably taller girl, looking straight at Penny's eyes. Penny blinked, smiling innocently enough, but implacable. On the other hand, Eun-Ji's expression remained her usual neutral and calm. She nodded, before proceeding to respond to Penny's question. [color=6ecff6]"Yes. I believe the facts of it are quite obvious... That particular form of magic is not supposed to be legal to teach, to my understanding."[/color] Eun-Ji saw no reason to lie; or rather, the very thought of lying didn't even occur to her. It was something that at times maddened her instructors as a Lotus Sentry, yet something that remained unchanged about her. As a saving grace, at least, she was quite adept at not telling the whole truth. [color=6ecff6]"Please forgive my intrusion."[/color] She bowed politely, a full thirty degree of inclination, before continuing. [color=6ecff6]"I noticed you and your friends being... conspirative, and could not help but to be curious about it."[/color]

Penny pursed her lips, glancing back toward the table. [color=F7976A]"Walk with me?"[/color] she prodded, taking a couple of steps. She hadn't paid much attention to this girl until she'd caught her looking (barely), and she doubted that any of the others had noticed. There didn't seem to be anyone following them. [color=F7976A]"And yes, I know that, of course. Everyone does. Just... I was curious about why you might be interested. Did you receive the same message? Were you thinking of accepting it?"[/color]

Eun-Ji obliged, walking along with Penny. She kept her posture and expression entirely casual throughout, looking around at nothing in particular. [color=6ecff6]"No, I did not know what you were being secretive about. I believe my course registry bears no such hidden message. It is a situation that I think fits that saying about curiosity causing the cat to expire. Still..."[/color] She paused briefly, before nodding mostly to herself. [color=6ecff6]"Now that I know of it, it is quite the cause for concern... Nothing good can come out of such magic."[/color]

Penny broadly agreed. Blood Magic had always been something frightening to her: strange, dark, and dangerous...and yet, there was a certain allure to the unknown. She kept that to herself, however, just as she hid her curiosity about why Eun-Ji had been so eager to snoop. She went with something a bit more conciliatory, sensing an opportunity and prepared to play the long game. [color=F7976A]"It is as you say, truly."[/color] She tried to avoid looking suspicious, but she lowered her voice. [color=F7976A]"And yet, I don't believe that we should report our findings. If this appears on forms issued by the school, then somebody highly placed - or perhaps many somebodies - are involved. It is well above our level."[/color] She was worried, but also intrigued. She did her best to project the former and tamp down on the latter, however.

Eun-Ji did not immediately respond to Penny's words. Instead, she took some moments to think and consider the matter at hand. On one side, she genuinely disliked the very notion of Blood Magic being secretly taught in the academy. On the other, there was indeed likely little that biros such as themselves would be able to do about the situation... Not to mention that this directly pertained to her additional mission. In the end, she nodded once more before again talking to Penny. [color=6ecff6]"I do not like it one bit... It is... not right, for something so vile to be propagated further. But..."[/color] she let out a small, subdued sigh before continuing. [color=6ecff6]"You are right. I do not think that reporting this will do us any good."[/color]

[color=F7976A]"And yet I wonder..."[/color] Penny began, trailing off for a moment. [color=F7976A]"Who else received these? Is there a pattern?"[/color] She paused and turned to face Eun-Ji, face concerned. [color=F7976A]"What if we had evidence? Perhaps I should be brave - or one of us biros should be. What if... that person were to sign up, to... infiltrate, and try to gain more information?"[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"I am inclined to believe that this was not done by random, so there must be a pattern."[/color] She paused to think once more, and quickly realized she simply did not yet have enough information to form any conclusion. [color=6ecff6]"What that pattern is, I unfortunately have no idea yet. As for what you are suggesting..."[/color] Eun-Ji looked away for a moment, before then looking straight at Penny's eyes again. [color=6ecff6]"It is not a decision I believe I have any rights to opine on. As much as my personal feelings will never agree to the propagation of something so vile, I cannot stop anyone from signing up for it regardless of their reasoning."[/color]

Eun-Ji was onto her. Penny was scared. There was something about the girl that she didn't trust. She wasn't sure exactly what, but it was [i]something [/i]for certain. [color=fdc68a]"Hmm, I do think we should do something to prevent its propagation. Blood Magic... in our school. It's..."[/color] she paused and blinked. [color=F7976A]"Dangerous."[/color] Penny turned back the way she'd come, glancing over her shoulder at Eun-Ji. [color=F7976A]"Though I suppose it will likely not be me to take up the role of spy. Gods, this is insane,"[/color] she whispered. [color=F7976A]"Anyhow,"[/color] she continued, in a louder voice, [color=F7976A]"I do not think I needed fresh air so badly as I'd thought. This brief walk and lovely chat as been more than enough to settle my stomach." [/color]She reached out to clasp one of Eun-Ji's hands in hers, but did not yet take it without the other girl's permission. [color=F7976A]"It has been a pleasure to make your acquaintance."[/color]

Eun-Ji nodded. [color=6ecff6]"It is dangerous, no matter where it is practiced. And this school is indeed no exception, if not one of the worst places for it to propagate."[/color] Of the infiltration and who, if any, shall be the "spy", Eun-Ji made no further response. Instead simply looking with her seemingly ever neutral expression back at Penny. Then, Penny reached out to clasp one of Eun-Ji's hands, resulting in Eun-Ji staring at Penny's hand for a moment. [color=6ecff6]"Ah."[/color] She soon caught on to it, that people of other cultures often made such gestures that were the equivalent of Tan Keoulean's own joined palms gesture. She accepted the clasp, adding a nod along with it. [color=6ecff6]"Yes. An honor to make your acquaintance..."[/color] She paused briefly, not sure what else to say before finally deciding on a simple [color=6ecff6]"Until we next meet, farewell."[/color]

[color=F7976A]"Indeed!"[/color] Penny squeezed her hand slightly, took a step back, and pivoted on her heel, making her way towards the hall and the tables. The girl's mind was burning every step of the way back. [color=F7976A][i]Secret Blood Magic courses, disappearing memories, political intrigue, and now... [/i][/color]she did not trust Eun-Ji. [color=F7976A][i]Perhaps not a bad person, but definitely with her own agenda,[/i][/color] Penny decided, [color=F7976A][i]definitely hiding something.[/i][/color] It took a moment for realization to catch up with her. [color=F7976A][i]Just like me,[/i][/color] she thought glumly. She was to meet with father, in secret, under a pretense later today. How she wanted to tell Linah and Anesin and Onarr - who was strangely absent. She felt as if her secret would turn into a poison between them. Yet, it would not do. Should anyone of any import find out, she would be removed from the school and that would be the end of things. She'd be confined back to that damned room in that cursed castle to live out the rest of her days slowly going insane with her books and her experiments. No, that could not happen. It would not! She needed some more time: more time to make certain that she could trust these people. True, they had not rejected her out of hand, but she did not yet know them deeply enough to be sure that she could trust them with such a secret. Presently, as she drew near, she sighted Linah and tried to catch her eye, giving her a look that said nothing so much as 'oooh boy.'

Linah met Penny's eye; her departure had been obvious enough, and she thought to have discerned the reason for it. The Tan Keoulean girl had used an illusionist trick that was one of her own favourites. Penny seemed to have caught that, and followed the other girl...for a confrontation? Quirking an eyebrow at the Perrench teammate, she smiled and waved a hand for the other to retake her seat. [color=875f9a]"An auspicious new meeting? Or a previous acquaintance?"[/color] 

Penny rather plopped back down onto her seat, sliding her crutch under the table and flicking back the curtain of hair that had draped itself over her face as she'd leaned down. [color=F7976A]"In truth?"[/color] she replied. [color=F7976A]"The girl is not to be trusted."[/color] Her voice was low. She spared the briefest of  glances in the direction of the Kerreman - was it... Manfred? - and schooled her expression into something akin to 'juicy gossip' before continuing. She'd seen her sisters do it and nothing else piqued disinterest from others quite so effectively. [color=F7976A]"She may not be nefarious, but she has an agenda. Plus, she is desperately against any sort of practice of Blood Magic in this school."[/color] She kept an even tone on the last statement: open to interpretation, or so she hoped, for Penny herself had mixed feelings on the matter. Anesin was rather busy stuffing her face, and how that girl maintained the physique that she did with such an appetite was quite beyond the Perrenchwoman. Linah, however, was a different story. They were in this together now, she sensed, and how the Torragonese responded could serve to tell her much. 

Linah was just starting on her dessert, a light, sugary, many-layered thing. She matched Penny's expression - her potential ally-or-friend was really good at that - and listened politely. Before answering, she patted her mouth with a napkin to remove the sweet white dust that had inevitably accumulated there as she ate. [color=875f9a]"Many people are prejudiced against it,"[/color] she commented thoughtfully. Yes, there were countless people who'd erase that school of magic if it were possible. But someone who may be working towards making that a reality? Linah didn't consider the Tan Keoulean suspicious just for that, though Penny [i]had[/i] been the one to have spoken to her, and so would be aware of subtleties Linah wasn't privy to. [color=875f9a]"Well, best to keep this whole business away from her then, as much as it is possible to do so now that her interest was aroused,"[/color] she shrugged lightly. It was better to know whom to be wary of ahead of time, even if it meant that opponent (if the foreign girl could be termed as such) now possessed an unfortunate piece of information. Still, she'd have come across it sooner or later. Admittedly, Linah wasn't concerned about Eun-Ji's possible agenda, but she'd keep it in mind. She knew very well that she could be somewhat careless about matters she didn't consider relevant to herself - that was something she yet needed to work on, broadening the scope of what concerned her.

Penny found herself distracted by Linah's dessert selection. [color=F7976A][i]Mille Fueille,[/i][/color] she thought. It was a regular at the family dinner table, and roughly ninety percent sugar. More important, however, was the Torragonese girl's take on Blood Magic. [color=F7976A]"I mentioned that somebody should probably check that box, and if it is indeed a class, investigate it."[/color] She looked at the slowly-cooling food on her plate for a minute, not particularly appetized by the sight of it. She generally ate better back at home. [color=F7976A][i]But you are not Penelope of Perrence,[/i][/color] she told herself, [color=F7976A][i]you are Penny Pellegrin - daughter of a humble printer, and food such as this would be a rare treat. You must eat it.[/i] "I do not think any magic is inherently evil: just... some of the people who use it may be."[/color]

Whatever Linah may or may not have said next was lost, for then, Ardredelle Latvar stood, rang a bell, and informed everybody that there were five minutes left before their food would be cleared and there would be a series of speeches. Stragglers had already been filtering back in for the past few minutes, and they joined or rejoined the tables. Conversation either picked up or died down, but it appeared, for now, that the mystery of the supposed secret blood magic course would have to wait and that Penny Pellegrin, Anesin Bjelke, and anybody else who'd received that invitation (and maybe even some who hadn't) would have a decision to make this evening.