[center][h2][color=87CEEB]Seung Eun-Ji[/color] & [color=2E8B57]M[/color]anfred [color=2E8B57]H[/color]ohenfelter von [color=2E8B57]M[/color]eckelin-[color=2E8B57]T[/color]handau[/h2][/center]
[center]Collaboration with [@Force and Fury][/center][hr][center][h3]An Alliance of Wolf and Lotus Under the Moonlight[/h3][/center]

As with the breakfast he cooked, the dinner prepared by Zeno Zemana had been quite delightful indeed, especially in comparison to the tasteless foodstuff she had gotten quite used to as a Lotus Sentry. The food had lifted her mood somewhat, as she were feeling less sombre compared to earlier during the day's activities.

To Manfred as well, the meal had been delicious. Zeno Zemana was not the awful person he had supposed any Zeno would be. Kurbis and Cumin were... being cute and doing cat things. However, he was still in a sour mood. 

The Zeno's inquiries then brought Eun-Ji's mind back to the very source of her previous gloomy mood, though fortunately she had already organized her thoughts and feelings about it now so as to not relapse into melancholy again. She looked at the Zeno, contemplating whether or not to inform him of what she had discovered earlier. Penny's words resurfaced in her mind. Would it even be a good idea to report this to the Zeno?

They'd made it all sound so noble, thought Manfred: the learning of skills so that you could destroy your fellow man or else press an advantage over him. How the Zenos of Ersand'Enise had pranced about that stage, making jokes, hobnobbing with politicians, laughing and drinking the way that the officers of Kerrmand had: even Zemana. The way that magic was used and status maintained was bigger than any one man - any group of men. It was an institution and one simply could not make headway in the world against it. That such a wondrous gift from the Pentad should be so jealously guarded by so few seemed a sin.

Then, Eun-Ji's gaze turned to Manfred instead. There was hesitation still as she fiddled with her fingers while her gaze kept on flitting about between the table and Manfred. Finally thought, she made up her mind. [color=87CEEB]"Mr. Manfred of House Hohenfelter. My humblest apology but I... There is something I wanted to speak with you about. Privately."[/color]

He'd chosen courses, of course, and okayed it with his master. If this was to be Manfred's education, he would make the best of it. He had little use for the typical magics, though. The kinetic and magnetic as taught here were of little use for his ends. Then, he noticed Eun-Ji: looking at him, and he quickly averted eye contact. He glanced back, though, and caught her gaze. Zeno Zemana was busy discussing something with one of the others. The little one - Mayu - was quite interested in cooking, it seemed, and Karim had discussed the possibility of cooking with cloudmelon. [color=87CEEB]"Mr. Manfred of House Hohenfelter. My humblest apology but I... There is something I wanted to speak with you about. Privately."[/color]

Manfred blinked, caught off guard and unsure of the reasons for Eun-Ji's sudden entreaty. [color=2E8B57]"Of course,"[/color] he replied after a moment, mind racing. Her address was more of that almost-painful formality, but there was a hesitant urgency pushing up against it this time. [color=2E8B57]"Perhaps we should step outside."[/color] If there is something the matter, why does she not ask our master? he wondered. Then, it occurred to Manfred that there might not actually be anything the matter. Perhaps she... no, that is summarily unlikely and quite beneath you. He rose and excused himself from the table, making his way to the door.

[color=87CEEB]"Yes... Thank you."[/color] Eun-Ji followed Manfred after also excusing herself from the table, heading for the door. After they arrived outside, she took a brief moment in silence before then turning to face Manfred directly. [color=87CEEB]"My apology once more for taking your time, Mr. Manfred of House Hohenfelter... I... That is, I believe there is something I discovered today that I should inform you about."[/color] Another brief pause of a few seconds lapsed. Eun-Ji had just realized something; why did she went to Manfred for this? What she were about to tell him did not seem related to the mysterious happening of yesterday night. It was weird, and she didn't fully understand the reason... But somehow she felt like she can trust him. [color=87CEEB]"The registry we biros were given for the course selections. I found out today that for certain students, a hidden message was included in their registry form. It was an extra choice... One for enrollment in a course titled 'Foundations in Drawing, Converting, and Casting in the Blood School of Magic', and registration to that course will not count towards a student's course limit."[/color]

There was strong resentment in Eun-Ji's voice, accompanied with a frown, as she spoke the name of the hidden course. [color=87CEEB]"I... One of the students who received the registry with the hidden message was Ms. Penny Pellegrin, and... We talked, and she raised a point that to report this to the school would be folly. I agreed back then but now I am unsure... Should we tell of this to Master Zeno Zemana?"[/color]

It was like a splash of cold water to the face. Blood Magic, Manfred thought. Of course they would offer it: no sort of magic destroyed and dominated better and, for all of its pretentions to the contrary, this place was a finishing school for how to dominate one's fellow man. The Zenos had known exactly what they were doing. He tried to avoid glancing back into the townhouse. At the end of the day, this was hostile territory and it always would be. [color=2E8B57]"We could,"[/color] replied the Kerreman. [color=2E8B57]"By rights, we should."[/color] He shook his head tightly. [color=2E8B57]"But I don't think it would do much good."[/color] He was going to say more, about how, even if their master was one of the good ones, he'd be powerless against the academy establishment, but he didn't. 

Eun-Ji remained silent as she listened to Manfred's words, eyes fixed on his face all the while. She maintained her silence after he finished stating his thoughts on the situation as well, before then letting out a soft sigh of resignation. [color=87CEEB]"I suppose it is what it is then..."[/color] Eun-Ji concluded in her mind that it was just logical in the end. The academy was surely involved in allowing the teaching of Blood magic in its ground, it wouldn't have been possible otherwise. So Penny and Manfred were both right, there's little good in reporting this matter. She whispered lightly as she looked away to nowhere in particular. [color=87CEEB]"How vile..."[/color] Then, she looked at Manfred once more, bowing politely at him before speaking again. [color=87CEEB]"Then... Should we do nothing at all?"[/color]

What a coward you are, Manfred Hohenfelter. The thought bullied its way into his mind, unbidden. There was an almost cloying earnestness to Eun-Ji. She seemed both immensely closed off and yet painfully in need to reach out. She'd reached out to him and he was brushing her concerns aside. They were legitimate concerns: his concerns. He glanced back at her, lowering his voice. There was a hint of conspiracy to his tone. [color=2E8B57]"Now... I never said we should do nothing."[/color] His  heart beat a little bit faster. This was dangerous. He'd be messing with people much more powerful than himself. [color=2E8B57]"We need more information, though. One or both of us need to get into that course. We need to see what it's about. We need to see who's involved. I am not a spy, but I know something of how they work: you get into the enemy's workings. You learn. You gain their trust. Then, when you strike, you can do some meaningful damage."[/color] Crickets chirped outside. Dogs barked and howled under the light of the moons. A wagon rumbled past, its horse's hooves clattering over a nearby street's cobblestones. Manfred felt like a madman. This was not what he had come here to do and yet... he clenched his fist. It had the potential to be far more meaningful, at least, so long as Eun-Ji was on board.

[color=87CEEB]"Oh."[/color] Eun-Ji wasn't expecting that. She had thought that Manfred will confirm that there's indeed nothing that can be done. That was how it usually went... And thus she can't help but wonder about it briefly. After a moment more of silence, she nodded, eyes alight with purpose. [color=87CEEB]"Very well. And indeed, I agree that more information will be necessary. And... I was... That is, trained in espionage. Perhaps I should be the one to perform the infiltration... But..."[/color] She paused, hesitating. [color=87CEEB]"I am not particularly talented in magic... That is, my abilities are very specific in that regard. And I know little to none of Binding..."[/color] The implication was clear. She possessed little to no confidence in actually being able to pull it off. Yet now that Manfred had seemingly suggested it, she was feeling strangely pushed towards the idea. For the first time in quite a long while, she didn't feel like giving up so quickly. [color=87CEEB]"... How about you, Mr. Manfred?"[/color]

[color=2E8B57]"I fear my use of the Gift is as specific as yours. I know a little of binding - for practical reasons - but nowhere near enough to call myself adept."[/color] He scowled, thinking. [color=2E8B57]"You do not think that you can trust this other girl you mentioned earlier, do you?"[/color]

[color=87CEEB]"Hmm."[/color] Eun-Ji did not answer immediately, taking a few moments to consider her own opinions of Penny. Then, she shook her head. [color=87CEEB]"Unfortunately, I do not know much about her. Not enough to be sure whether she can be trusted or not. Still... She seemed to possess significant curiosity about the hidden course, and had considered entering the course."[/color]

Manfred nodded. [color=2E8B57]"Then she is to be approached only with caution. I feel we must do this ourselves and the both of us entering gives us more chance than only one."[/color] He paused. They would have to go back inside soon. [color=2E8B57]"We just need to figure out how to gain entry..."[/color] He trailed off, hoping she might have a better idea than him.

Eun-Ji nodded in agreement. [color=87CEEB]"Then that is what we will do. As for the matter of gaining entry..."[/color] She paused briefly, trying to think up something. [color=87CEEB]"... Alas, aside from stating our desire to enter the course by adding something to that effect to our registry and hoping that will somehow work, I do not have any other idea. If there is more time we could find other ways perhaps but... Time is against us."[/color]

[color=2E8B57]"Did you see a course code?"[/color] Manfred asked quickly, the idea absurd but coming to him nonetheless? If there was such a thing, perhaps they could write it in on the bottom of their pages without arousing too much suspicion. To openly state that they were interested in learning Blood Magic would not do.

Eun-Ji nodded. [color=87CEEB]"Yes. It would be MF107."[/color] She caught on to the meaning of his question. She paused yet again, briefly. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath in and out, as if mentally preparing. Then, she looked at Manfred's eyes directly. [color=87CEEB]"...Then I suppose our course of action is clear, Mr. Manfred?"[/color]

He scowled, but there was a hint of excitement to it too: a nervous anticipation as he glanced over his shoulder at the people inside. He nodded. [color=2E8B57]"I suppose it is. Also..."[/color] He actually smiled a bit. [color=2E8B57]"You don't have to call me 'Mister.' Manfred is fine."[/color]

It had been a long time indeed since Eun-Ji found a purpose like this, one she decided out of her own will instead of her superiors. She cannot help but feel a little bit of excitement over it as well. As to Manfred's words... [color=87CEEB]"Oh."[/color] It caused her to pause a moment yet again. [color=87CEEB]"Very well... Manfred."[/color] She allowed a small yet earnest smile to accompany her words, before turning around to head back in. [color=87CEEB]"Now let us return before the others start to wonder..."[/color] And then finished her words with a little bit of laughter.

[color=2E8B57]"Indeed,"[/color] Manfred agreed. He almost winked: almost. [color=2E8B57]"Please, now: ladies first."[/color]

And thus, with their plan decided upon and with a bond starting to form between them, the two returned inside to the Zeno's house.