[center][hr][hr][img]https://i.imgur.com/goHUSrP.png[/img][hr][hr][h1]I N V I T A T I O N S[/h1][hr][hr][h2]A   Q U I N T E T   O F   Q U A R T E T S[/h2][/center]
They started to appear - out of nowhere, and in the oddest places - invitations to a meeting with the Zenith. Some students received them, but many received something… [i]different[/i]. Just as their peers gathered by the Forked Tower at the requested hour, as Ipte slid towards Shune, so did they: all of them through the Silk Gate. If their counterparts had been... eclectic, then this bunch was outright mismatched. 

It had been more or less a year since the last time that some had found themselves called in such a way and perhaps their appearances were the clearest evidence that each had grown - or regressed - by various metrics. Others were new faces, at least to varying degrees. They counted, among their number, twenty-two in all: Ashon’amar’loiyang, Benedetto Corvi, Cal’tuuro’jaros, Casii’fyret’alan, Desmond Catulus, Dorothea Hohnstein, Edyta Laska, Esmii’nesta’tawaar, Evander Synesti, Fiske Flachstrauch, Ismet’ych’lahiin’dichora, Manfred Hohenfelter, Marz Mohfolk, Nazih Iqbal, Penny Pellegrin, Qasem Laghmani, Silas Reiger, Sven Bjornsson, Tku, Ymiico’luun’yoru, Yuliya Vasilieva, and Yvain de Berbignon, along with a handful of beasts. They congregated within Capital Square, around the foot of a great obelisk commemorating Olkhad the Hammer, a legendary king of yore. Conversations, teasing, and a growing murmur of questioning filled the rather quiet plaza. It was the wee hours of the morning in the City of Water, and only a handful of tired-looking hegelans were in evidence nearby.

However, it took precious little time for the first conflicts to erupt and, before long, Manfred and Evander were on the ground, wrestling and fighting before being separated under threat of death with a smile by Benedetto. Ersand’Enise’s most notorious thug seemed unusually jolly for reasons as-yet unknown, and more than one of his peers was left on edge by the sudden personality jackknife. At the opposite end of the mood spectrum fell Marz, the prickly hegelan craftsman erupting into histrionics over a ruined item owned by Yuliya - a former client of his.

Then, just as they began to grow restless, a little birdie - and very much a glowing illusory one - swept in to guide them on a winding route through the city and into a dark alley. Was it smart to follow? Perhaps not, had at least some among them not known what this truly meant. Hence, and in short, they [i]did[/i], disappearing into what was not so much an alleyway as it was a portal.

Upon stepping through, the youths found themselves divided into a quintet of quartets, staring out into a vast and darkened chamber. This, then, was the Arch-Zeno’s test. Those who had been called upon last year remembered something very similar from the late Paradigm. Initial blunders aside, most had proven themselves competent people before, and those who had not had the earlier opportunity proved themselves now. By various means, all five groups made it through the initial gauntlet, only to find themselves presented with the queerest of locks and the insistence that they utter not a word before a pair of great exit doors. Not a single one tried to blast through. Instead, they did what they had reliably done best, and solved the tactile riddle. Only then was the room beyond revealed...

[hider=Transcript]If you have received an invitation from Karan Harrachora, please post it here to confirm your attendance. You have all traveled through the Silk Gate and are about ten minutes early, beside the great obelisk honouring a former king of Hogh Munkhelad. It is a very early hour for the hegelans and few people are about. You may conference, of course, and share musings, information, or theories.

Desmond steps through to a place he is mostly used to and waves hello to the people he cares for here, having Henry the Giant Dragon hunting dog with his favorite stick. Billium, the cute fireboar with a happy attitude who likes to play with most animals he sees. And Desmond newest companion, Ani, the Firetail dragon whom Desmond had caught from the wild, tame, and now lives with him as one of his lap dragons, she is a diva and she knows she is the most pretty. (edited)

Yuliya enters through the silk gate, happy to make use of her hegelan language skills as she waits for the giver of the note to arrive.  Cal is there making observations of the grand obelisk, steering clear of the lower roofed places around this city.

Esmii steps through the Silk Gate, with her invitation in hand, as proof she has been invited. Looking around, to see who else is here.

Marz steps through the gate with a sigh, he is up too damn early, so this better be worth it.

Silas sat, legs swinging on his post he'd taken an hours before directly atop the obelisk.
"Was wonderin' who'd else show."  He exclaimed casually to the small group of students forming below

Tku rocks up with his satchel and some decent clothing. His hair was dyed a dark blue almost black. He had learned a decent chunk of the hegelan language so he felt comfortable.
"Hello everyone"

Qasem joined closer to the given time, and offered little more than polite smiles and nods to his fellow Biros as he joined them in waiting the one who'd called them together.

Ashon ends up joining up at the location with the others, pondering what all the fuss is about and recognising only three people. He waved toward Desmond, Marz, and Esmii.

Esmii waves to Ashon, then Tku . "Hello you two."

Penny avoided rolling her eyes. The entire yasoi mafia was here. It could've been worse, she supposed. She greeted them all pleasantly enough.

Silas began hurling small pebbles down at Fiske's head.

Tku does a playful bow to Esmii, "Wonderful staff you have, maybe another painting should be made?"

Fiske gritted his teeth as the other threw pebbles at him "What's your problem now, Pipsqueak?"

Fiske gritted his teeth as the other threw pebbles at him "What's your problem now, Pipsqueak?"

"What's that?"  Silas yelled, still pelting pebbles, but added the painted Severan to his list of targets.   "Can't hear yah from up here!"

Marz steps through the gate with a sigh, he is up too damn early, so this better be worth it.

Yuli squints.. no, it couldn't be.. was that the one who made her axe? She realized who it was and ran over
"Hey! It's Mark!! How are ya?" she spoke in hegelan, excited to see a familiar face.

Benedetto floats up beside Silas and seats himself on the obelisk. "What's up, buddy?" he asks, smiling just a bit too pleasantly. "Oh hey Fiske." He grins down at the other smaller boy, all teeth.

Yuli squints.. no, it couldn't be.. was that the one who made her axe? She realized who it was and ran over "Hey! It's Mark!! How are ya?" she spoke in hegelan, excited to see a familiar face.

Marz tilted his head as a woman comes up to him, he looked at her face as he had no recognition of her.
"Eh?! Who the fuck are you? I'm no Mark!"
He spoke to her with a face of confusion and disgust.

Marz tilted his head as a woman comes up to him, he looked at her face as he had no recognition of her. "Eh?! Who the fuck are you? I'm no Mark!" He spoke to her with a face of confusion and disgust.

Yuli frowned. Was she doing a racism? No, she was fairly sure this was the hegelan she contracted all those years ago. Maybe he didn't recognize her...

"I mean.. it's been a while! 4 years? You make my axe!" she continued, putting her hand around 5 inches lower than the height she currently stood. She was pretty young back then.. (edited)

Tku does a playful bow to Esmii, "Wonderful staff you have, maybe another painting should be made?"

Esmi's eyes widen with excitement, "Really. I can't wait."

Yuli frowned. Was she doing a racism? No, she was fairly sure this was the hegelan she contracted all those years ago. Maybe he didn't recognize her... "I mean.. it's been a while! 4 years? You make my axe!" she continued, putting her hand around 5 inches lower than the height she currently stood. She was pretty young back then.. (edited)

Marz' eyes squinted, as he realized who she was then now.
"You...", he growled.
He looked at her and sighed, it was his first axe. It was not his best piece, let it go, let it go.
After another sigh, "So how is she?"

Evander fashionably late than some others entered through the Silk Gate. His clothes pristine, posture upright, prepared for physical activity as instructed. He spotted Noble students like Penny and Yuli, and then there were the others. (edited)

The last of Silas' ammunition was dumped rather unceremoniously in a small torrent atop the small illusionist's head before responding to Benny.  "Oh you know, just attending to the beck and call of our betters."  He matched the boys forced jovial enthusiasm, and even went so far as to stand for his impassioned speech:  "To lay our lives on the line for the benefit of mankind- and so our Zeno's don't have to get out of bed before the hours of Oraff."

Ashon watched the excitement unleashed already, rivalling that of his Zeno group though this keep. He recognised Yuliya too. Giving waving toward her as well. Naturally, he ended up next to Penny, the girl needed no introduction or wave from him given they had travelled here together.

Manfred looked... rather out of sorts in Hogh Munkhelad, but it hardly mattered. He had his arm around Dory and his rifle strapped across his back. A cigar trickled smoke from the corner of his mouth,.

Marz' eyes squinted, as he realized who she was then now. "You...", he growled. He looked at her and sighed, it was his first axe. It was not his best piece, let it go, let it go. After another sigh, "So how is she?"

Yuli had a backpack full of stuff. And as she was stopping by this old hegelan city, she brought it along. She was somewhat hoping she could leave it for repairs while she waited for the Zeno, but what a prime time to bring it out. "She was MARVELOUS! I used her quite a bit, and she was the best weapon I'd ever had! But, y'know, battle wear and tear... she need repairs. 4 years of use after all..." she spoke, as she pulled the.. remains of the weapon out. Melted down and nearly outright destroyed by Brother Ash, it was barely recognizable, grimacing somewhat at the state of her beloved weapon. (edited)

The last of Silas' ammunition was dumped rather unceremoniously in a small torrent atop the small illusionist's head before responding to Benny. "Oh you know, just attending to the beck and call of our betters." He matched the boys forced jovial enthusiasm, and even went so far as to stand for his impassioned speech: "To lay our lives on the line for the benefit of mankind- and so our Zeno's don't have to get out of bed before the hours of Oraff."

Benny slapped his knees and laughed. "Hahahaha. I guess they need their beauty rest. Hahahaha. Dayum. I forgot what a funny motherfucker you are, Silas!" He slapped the smaller boy on the back almost hard enough to knock him off. "Hey Fiske! Get your little punk ass up here! If you can!"

Evander walked by Manfred and Dory, "Still alive I see, and you... still wearing that crown?"

Fiske began sweating bullets from a grin like that... From a person like him it can only mean trouble. "H-hello, Benedetto..."

So many people Tku hadn't meet, it was quite enjoyable going from person to person.

Yuli had a backpack full of stuff. And as she was stopping by this old hegelan city, she brought it along. She was somewhat hoping she could leave it for repairs while she waited for the Zeno, but what a prime time to bring it out. "She was MARVELOUS! I used her quite a bit, and she was the best weapon I'd ever had! But, y'know, battle wear and tear... she need repairs. 4 years of use after all..." she spoke, as she pulled the.. remains of the weapon out. Melted down and nearly outright destroyed by Brother Ash, it was barely recognizable, grimacing somewhat at the state of her beloved weapon. (edited)

"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?!" Marz yelled as he looked his first creation now ruined.

"HOW THE HELL DID YOU MELT A MOUNTAIN FIRE SCALE?! DID YOU SHOVE IT UP THE ASS OF THE DEVIL HIMSELF?!"

He looked at it as he snatched it out of her hands to inspect it further.

Ashon spotted Cal'Tuuro, the lanky streak blending in with the pillars. He moved up against him, putting his arm around his shoulders. [colour=FF3131]"Shall I introduce us again? or you got that eye on the pretty boy."[/colour] He indicated with his hand toward Evander.

Dory looked rather confused at the Revidian's remark, laughing it off. "What crown? I ain't no monarch."

Manfred bit back a snort of laughter. "Spratzmuffin... you even wear it to sleep some days." He turned to Evander. "She's obsessed with it. You know: Women." (edited)

"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?!" Marz yelled as he looked his first creation now ruined. "HOW THE HELL DID YOU MELT A MOUNTAIN FIRE SCALE?! DID YOU SHOVE IT UP THE ASS OF THE DEVIL HIMSELF?!" He looked at it as he snatched it out of her hands to inspect it further.

Yuli recoiled a bit.. he was PISSED. Not quite the touching re-union she'd expected. "Umm.. I fought against sanguinaire.. he uhm.. melted it." she stammered. She felt like she was being interrogated by her household guard when she was a kid again. She was deeply uncomfortable with the situation.

Dory bumped into Manfred's frame upon that remark. "I do not! You always make it sound much worse than it actually is!"

"Mmmmmmmhm," said Manfred smugly.

Evander's eyebrow raised at Dory, "Is not acting ignorant beneath you?" Then to Manfred, "Women don't wear crowns...Queen's do...Dory is no Queen." (edited)

Sister Laska was among the last through, though none would've seen her but for the briefest of flickers as she turned corporeal to pass through the portal. She stood upon a rooftop, made the sign of the pentad, watched, and waited.

"Dory, I have a question about what happened in that cave. Do you know how your beloved was brought back to life?" Evander inquired.

Yuli recoiled a bit.. he was PISSED. Not quite the touching re-union she'd expected. "Umm.. I fought against sanguinaire.. he uhm.. melted it." she stammered. She felt like she was being interrogated by her household guard when she was a kid again. She was deeply uncomfortable with the situation.

"YOU FOUGHT A BLOOD SUCKING, ASS MUNCHING, SHRIVEL DICK SANGUINAIRE AND HE MELTED IT?!"

Marz looked at his axe with anger as he remembered his time slaying the beast. He takes hold of it as he points it at her.

"IS THAT MOTHERFUCKER STILL ALIVE?!"

"...yes. she stammered, before she remembered who she was. She wasn't a youngling anymore, but a woman grown! She would defend herself! "But, I try really hard to kill him. Twice, people got in way. Last time I saw him, he ran into ocean after we fought. Swam after him, and he disappear." she muttered defensively. It was hardly more confident than last time. (edited)

"Ahem..." Manfred addressed the future duke. "Have you never seen a ducal crown?"

Ashon spotted Cal'Tuuro, the lanky streak blending in with the pillars. He moved up against him, putting his arm around his shoulders. [colour=FF3131]"Shall I introduce us again? or you got that eye on the pretty boy."[/colour] He indicated with his hand toward Evander.

At first, he had found Jamboi rather amusing. But after being in the same Zeno group as him, and seeing him every single day, he could not deny that he was a cheese grater against his brain, and his sanity was beginning to escape him, as funny as some of his antics were. Alas, he was in decent spirits.

"Introduce us to whom, moila? Can't say I had my eye on anyone currently, I was a little focused on the gosoi creations here. They have a certain charm to their craftsmanship.." he spoke, eyeing the buildings and the like. He wondered how it was to live so close to the ground.

Tku felt a little uncomfortable with Evander's discontent, "They say if you dress the part it is more likely to happen? Maybe she is just an ambitious girl?"

Evander turned to Tku, "Ambition or fantasy?"

"What happened in the cave? Hmmm, I can't say that I know what you mean with that." The girl thought to herself for a bit. "Oh right, we were fighting these big scary things."

Esmii doesn't seem to know what is Evander's deal is, but it has something with Dory, "Please, can't you dispute this another time. we are here for a reason."


"All ambitions are fantasy my friend. The steps towards them are real. This could be just another step," Tku tried to say politely. 

Sven, meanwhile, was fluttering around the square, looking at all of the impressive architecture. He remained completely in a world of his own: one of pure, nerdy, bliss.

Ashon, meanwhile, patted Cal upon his shoulder again and hugged the guy. [colour=FF3131] "Moila? Moila!"[/colour]. He placed his arm against his eyes as he swept the... tears away? [colour=FF3131]"Moila, we must talk on important matters. The Huusoi have a custom where the one closest to you must bear jewellery. Will you adorn said jewellery for me?"[/colour]

"YOU DIDN'T EVER KILL HIM?!" Marz  barked out at Yuliya. He seemed furious as he looked down onto his creation as a great deal of energy and force almost crushed the handle of the axe. "You will find him" he spoke out in a cold voice. "You will kill him. And it will be with one of my weapons. You understand me?" as Marz spoke low and hard.

"You can't say huh?" Evander looked at Manfred, "He was cut clean and killed." Turning his head back to Dory, "Then, you cried for his life..." Evander opened his palms up and raised them as he said, "Poof" Evander looked back to Manfred, "He was back, that doesn't ever make you wonder Dory?" Looking to Manfred, "Or you?"


Ashon rolled his eyes as he overheard the conversation. [colour=FF3131]" Dumb Yanii don't even know what binding magic is. Our Esmii can piece together a man cut into a thousand pieces."[/colour]

With that, Manfred wound up to punch Evander clean across the face.

He scratched his head as he added up what exactly Jamboi was discussing. It took him a small while to figure out what he was talking about, but he added two and two together, and was somewhat curious and mortified, though he hid the latter. "You mean.. to wed the huusoi girl? The y'rash? I never would have thought you would tie yourself down so young, Ashon. But if you want me to do this task, I am up for it." he whispered, patting him on the shoulder gently. 

"It must have been an Illusion that you saw, otherwise that's impossible for him to be alive. Just calm down."

Silas whooped and cheered as the nobles began to fight out below them. "Twenty on the Kerreman! Forty on the ugly Revadian if they start swingin' magic!"

Evander bladed his right arm to meet Manfred, stepping forward to the clavicle and taking his leg behind Manfred to sweep him to the ground, staring down at him he stated, "Your anger tells me more than Dory's muttering, thank you." He started to turn to walk away, but Manfred wasn’t finished. He rolled with it and hooked Evander's leg, bringing him down to the ground before he could take more than a step. The Revidian went down hard and Manfred ended up in a fairly dominant position, though he did not strike for a finish. "Very noble of you to insult my girlfriend and then publicly interrogate her and myself," he announced, separating from the Revidian and climbing back to his feet. "You dishonor your name." He shook his head.

Evander hit the ground hard, his forearms taking most of the brunt as he found Manfred declaring he was acting dishonorably. Evander stared at the face of Manfred, "Nobles don't respect liars, and you should watch yourself when standing next to her."

Cal watched the fight take place. Before the Arch Zeno was even here. This wouldn't do. Typical huusoi, quick to brawl at provocation. He'd do something about it, but not with his fists. He drew, oh so subtly from the latent heat in the area and attempted to deposit some serotonin inside Manfred. Perhaps he would lay off assaulting this.. irritating noble further and making a scene.

Meanwhile, Yuliya listened. She wanted to dispute, or fight back, or say that she tried her best, but he did have a point. That bastard got away. TWICE. And to be honest, his conditions were more than acceptable. "Yes. Very clear. I understand. Does this mean you'll fix her? Or make new one?" she spoke, nodding very quickly and not at all trying to hide her excitement at either one of the prospects. How she'd missed Rastvesti.

"New, I never make anything twice". In his hands, Marz began to heat up the weapon with magnetic, arcane, and chemical magic. As a ball of molten metal and dragon scale formed from the once broken weapon. Then instantly it cooled and hardened into the shape on an ingot as he put it into his satchel. "I'll keep this and forge as we go. You will get it when it is done."

Tku was taking a good look at the fight, he couldn't wait to paint a smug man getting clobbered by a man defending his women's honor. "Both of you, please stop," wailed Esmii. "Boo!" Silas hollered to the Yasoi and flicked a benny towards her head, having rid himself of the stack of pebbles too early. "Let 'em fight!" Esmii rubs her head where the benny hit, "Ow, Silas. they shouldn't do this. What's the point of them being here if they are just going to beat the crap out of each other."

Jamboi released Cal after their embrace, [colour=FF3131]"We speak more some other time."[/colour]

"Absolutely, Ashon. We've got the whoooole year together!" he spoke, enthusiastically. His inner self felt completely different about the matter.

[colour=FF3131]"We do, Moila. It makes me happy you are part of it. May there be many more."[/colour]

Desmond shook his head at what was happening as he went over to Dory and checked on her, "Are you okay?" 

Dory was still a bit shaken up from the sudden questioning moments ago. "I'm fine, this Revidian snob just didn't want to leave me alone."

Yuliya’s eyes went wide as Marz got to work on her weapon. She shed a small tear and waved goodbye to the remains of her weapon, but her excitement overruled any sadness she might have felt. A new weapon, stronger, built from the last. It would be.. beautiful. "Thanks, mark. Yer awesome!" she beamed and gave a thumbs up.

"Marz" He said with a quick cut.

She blushed in embarrassment. I'm a fucking idiot! she thought to herself, before turning to the commotion going on near the obelisk. A fistfight, and Benny causing a scene. She had to see this. Evander seemed to have.. gotten hit?

It was at that point that Benny leapt down, landing right between Manfred and Evander. He grinned massively and toothily. "Good to see my social betters setting the tone," he laughed. He laughed and laughed. "I could kill both of you with a snap of my fingers. Just remember that, but I don’t because I’m a nice guy."

Evander looked at Benny, "Sure." He thought it'd be nice to see Benny kill Manfred and see if he came back to life...again.

Manfred scowled. "I wouldn't try if I were you."

Desmond nodded to Dory as he rubbed her shoulder, yet the moment he heard laughing and sighed, [i]Benedetto.[/i] Desmond turned as he watched what was to unfold. Meanwhile, Tku backed up. Benedetto's exploits were pretty notable. Esmii hides behind Sven from Benny's intervention, she only heard rumours about Benny and she didn't want to test them.

Yet, Benny didn’t seem much in the mood for trouble today. Instead, he pivoted on a heel and took a couple steps, exposing his back to the both of them, before walking away. For a moment, he twisted to look over his shoulder, and winked.

Desmond released a sigh. Benedetto seemed to be in a slightly better mood it seems. To Desmond that is always an okay sign. Dory sighed practically in sync, just glad that this whole scene is over for now.

Silas frowned but fell silent as Benny intervened. The boy was acting peculiar, even by his standards. Lowering himself to the grown in a much slower and less graceful manner Silas jogged to catch up. "What got you in such a generous mood?" He prodded.

Fiske followed after the pebble boy, turning towards the taller Revidian. "Excited to have a invitation like this?"

“Yeah, sure,” replied Benny to the second before addressing the first. He shrugged. "I dunno, man," he admitted. "I just... I used to have something to prove around these big nobles, you know? Now I don't. I look at them and they're honestly kinda... pathetic. Besides..." He lowered his voice and there was a sound dampening bubble a moment later. "I have a specific purpose for being here. Got it from you-know-who. I'll let the kids play. Let everyone see good guy Benny for now, huh?" 

Silas examined Benny, but for all the energies his eyes allowed him to see, he could not measure the boy's sincerity. Fiske's intrusion came as almost a relief. "This your first private assignment right? Don't get too excited. Had a kid get torn clean in half last time 'round."

Fiske began to sweat a little upon hearing what happened last time. He'd clear his throat before laughing confidently. "Is that so? Well, I guess that just means that they are not as great as the great Lean-.. Fiske!"

"Sure." Silas said with no confidence, but had the politeness to ignore the boy's fumble. "Just hope I don't end up in the desert again. Heat and sand 'bout 'nough to do me in." He kicked the ground below the obelisk. Surely it had been well past the time now? "Hey!" He shouted to the air, "Harrachora! We're waitin'!" He punctuated each word with a hard kick to the obelisk's base.

Ymiico dropped from her perch on a great cedar and opened the invitation. She made quick work of getting ready and passing through the silk gate to whatever awaited her. A stranger to this land just as she was to any other. Quickly she found her other peers who seemingly took it upon themselves to have a quick bout before they were herded for their purpose. She sought a familiar face for comfort and gossip and did not have to wait long. "Oira, suunei!" Ismette greeted her. "Low ceilings here, hmm?”

Ymiico’s ears perked up like raised daggers. She was relieved to see a familiar face even when all she saw was a secret. “Almost too low,” she replied, her response cut short by a gliding yellow bird.

It turned out to be no normal bird whatsoever, and quickly became an object of curiosity. Many recognized it as their guide to the meeting with the Arch-Zeno. Things would… not prove quite so simple, all told. It appeared that Karan Harrachora was either as fond of puzzles as Hugo Hunghorasz had been, or else he had simply inherited the job from the late Paradigm and this was part of it. Five groups undertook a pair of trials each and, as he’d expected, they passed with flying colours.[/hider] 

[center][hr][hr][h2]P E R I L . . .   A N D   O P P O R T U N I T Y[/h2][/center]
All five of the groups witnessed the same thing: the doors slid apart and the space beyond was revealed. It was... an immense open area in the mountains. A dark-skinned man stood there alone before a table appeared seemingly out of nowhere. He was Karan Harrachora, and he was playing fetch with Henry. All of the other animals were about nearby. He stopped and took a seat, beckoning the students over.

Tku walked in, stunned by the scenery. "Very nice," he remarked as he looked around.

Evander saw Karan Harrachora, walked toward the table that he'd motioned them over to, and pulled his seat out before sitting down.

Desmond chuckled as he took in the sight of Henry playing fetch. He entered and began looking around and checking on Billium who was currently trying to find his owner, and Ani who was moving about, slightly nudging a few to play and bullying them. Once he made sure they were okay he made his way to Harrachora.

Esmii remembered Harrachora, and seeing all the animals seemed to make her smile. She bowed in the direction of the man who she mistakenly believed was the Zenith. 

Ashon made his way forward and bowed his head toward the man as well. He reached out to push the back of Evander's head forward too, discretely so it looked sincere and not forced, so he may bow in respect. He looked around to notice Penny, naturally moving toward her as he took a nearby seat.

Evander snapped back at Ashon's hand before he could even touch him, "Don't," he warned.

Penny scowled a little bit at Ashon's presumptuousness. Evander could be an arrogant prat at times, but she got the sense that Ashon had been nothing but a pest to him the entire time. He smiled widely toward her: the sweetest and most innocent of smiles. [colour=FF3131]"He took good care of me."[/colour]

"This was quite fun, thank you Arch-Zeno." Tku said, having enjoyed the experience.

Qasem leaned against his spear as he surveyed their teacher in the unexpected surroundings and smiled. "Was it a test? Or just a novelty to deter visitors?" Silas, still sour from being forcibly put through the whole ordeal sat on the ground and resumed his cross-limbed stance and glare.

"Mostly the second," Harrachora admitted, "though it served the first purpose this time too."

Dory let out a sigh, is it over? "I can finally see well again."

Fiske just relaxed, no need to get too excited over a small test. Marz comes in as he began looking around as he noticed the man beckoning them to the table and plopped down. Desmond slipped by next to him to cut one of the spots off from someone annoying sitting next to himself.

Yvain, for one, looked rather annoyed. "This whole test took way too long. Perhaps this coming message will be worth it." Penny rolled her eyes grandly and went to take a seat. Truth be told, she was rather fond of Evander in a different sort of way and she did not have the energy to deal with these two sniping at each other. Instead, she seated herself right between Yuliya and... metaphorically holding her nose: Yvain. "Do stop complaining, cousin," she whispered. "One might think you were ungrateful for the privilege of jumping through so many hoops."

"Fine, fine, if that is what my dearest cousin wishes." Yvain whispered back.

"You are truly a gentleman," Penny teased.

The gentleman chuckled. "I try to be for the ones deserving."

"Gods, Yvain," she giggled. "You're tiresome at times, but how I've missed you."

Evander noticed as Penny placed herself between the blondes as he smiled toward them. Meanwhile, Ashon was not done being an utter pest. He looked around for his “Luush'elar,” waving and beckoning Cal'tuuro over toward him.

"So are we done with tests now?" Esmi asked.

Yuli pretended to be absentminded as Penny sat between her and this other blonde boy, but she was definitely listening to the conversation intently, although could not help being distracted by the man she saw help slay the former paradigm. What was his gameplan, bringing all these people here?

While the others talked, Qasem nodded to the Zeno and accepted a seat at the table. "I'm sure we are as eager to listen as you-"

"Whadya want?" Silas cut him off, abruptly bringing them to the point of the gathering.

It flew in the face of every other respectful interaction to this juncture. Karan Harrachora turned to the boy and regarded him almost... mechanically. There was no expression on his face. But there was a monumental surge of magic. Silas... disappeared.

"In case any of you are wondering,” the Arch-Zeno offered, “no. He isn't dead. He's merely... proven himself unworthy by his conduct. That was the truest test here: one of patience and good graces. I trust the rest of you will not let yourselves down. Correct?"
Tku remained very quiet after that.

Esmii nodded in fear. "Sven, he's scary," she whispered, and she received a small squeeze for her troubles.

Desmond saw Silas instantly disappear as he stood up, his hands were set down onto the table and he looked to the Arch Zeno. Yet, before Desmond could speak the eminent master spoke. Desmond let out a sigh as he sat back down, now slightly more upset.

Cal shrugged. Why did Jamboi like him so? He had barely tried to make this happen. He went and sat next to the monkey king, not saying much of anything. He had been relatively unimpressed with the puzzle but moreso the people solving the offered puzzles.

Ashon found the drink cannister and started to pour water for Cal and himself. Upon Harrachora's words, he ended up providing everyone with refreshment, before seating himself back down next to his unwilling 'friend'.

Tku just breathed out and shook his head, frankly disappointed by both of them. He just finished a sketch to keep himself busy... very silently.

Qasem blinked, staring at the spot where the small blind boy should have been. "Certainly." He finally said, bringing his eyes back to the Arch. "Though I think you'll understand our eagerness given all the build-up."

"[i]Most[/i] certainly," Karan allowed. "That is understandable. You were placed in stressful, trying, and perhaps even tedious situations. Tempers flared, personalities clashed and, one way or another, you managed. It is perfectly ordinary for people to be a bit on edge, to forget themselves." His eyes flicked almost imperceptibly quickly to Evander, Ashon, and Manfred and he clasped his hands at the small of his back as the last of them sat. They may have noticed that Sister Laska had appeared silently among them at some point. "The thing is," the Arch-Zeno continued. "I am not looking for ‘ordinary’. These situations demand more than ordinary. That is why I've called you. It is why I've tested you."

"What would have happened if we failed to meet your expectations, Arch-Zeno?" Esmii asked politely.

Ashon gently pointed at the spot where Silas had been sitting.

"You'd enjoy a pleasant luncheon with me and receive some academic commendation. That would be all." Harrachora replied with a smirk, "Or [i]that,[/i] if you failed by being a jerk." His eyes went to where Ashon was looking.

Esmii looked to where Silas had been before he'd disappeared, still holding onto the benny that he’d thrown at her. She put it in her pocket for now.

Then, the Arch-Zeno rapped the table twice with his fist and it became... a world map: An unusually  detailed map and there were things on it - putative continents and landforms - that none had previously seen.

However, it appeared to focus in on one place in particular. "This is Kerremand," he said. It continued to magnify one particular region. "This is the small town of Mandelein, in the far west of the country, right by the Tripartite Border with Mycormi and Hypari."

Desmond began to inspect the map, curious of the supreme detail this map gave while listening to the man speak. Esmii found herself doing much the same.

Tku pulled out his own map, instantly noticing the similarities/ "Very Intriguing!" His voice rose enthusiastically before he tamped down on it. 

Manfred, Kaspar, and a couple of the other Kerreman speakers glanced at each other. Ashon was, after all, from Hypari, just over the border. Then, like clockwork, the following people had papers appear before them, reading: The Beast of Mandelein: Dory, Manfred, Kaspar, Ymiico, Casii, Ashon, Cal, Qasem, Ismette, and Sister Laska. "Take a moment to read these," the Arch-Zeno advised.

Qasem stared blankly at the unfamiliar mapped region on the table, then the papers placed before him. Ashon looked at the others who'd gotten the pieces of paper, and one, in particular, who hadn't. His eyes moved to Penny as he looked toward her, and lingered for a moment, before they turned to the parchment.

"There is something very wrong in this town," Harrachora continued, "and it almost certainly crosses the border. If we send official personnel, we fear they'll clear out. Many of you will notice that you have experience in the language, with the region and its unique challenges, or at least with handling... monsters."

Ashon looked at some of the details. Why Kerremand of all places, and why was he being sent [i]there[/i]!? The location on the map was suspiciously close near another place he was familiar with: the place where his parents had passed away. [colour=FF3131]"Not all monsters are covered in fur..."[/colour] he murmured.

Dory looked at the map before waddling towards Manfred. "Mandelein isn't too far from your family's lands, no? Know anything about it?"

"Not so far," Manfred allowed. "Not so near either. It is a backward place, though it wasn't always. Once the yasoi cloistered, it stopped being a trade town. The House Kapperstel, who oversee the lands, are notoriously aloof and removed." He scowled. "And the queen has done nothing?" Dory looked quite annoyed with the information. "A Noble who forsakes his lands does not deserve to rule over it." A rather triumphant smirk appeared on her face. "I would do a much better job than them!"

Manfred shrugged. "Apparently, it runs reasonably well. Circumstances beyond their control and all."

"I see..." The smirk quickly turned to a more neutral expression. "Then I guess my greatness isn't needed to rule there."

"Well, you never know." Manfred winked.

[i]Beasts.[/i] Qasem watched as the scythe-wielding sister of the Pentad took one of the papers. It was to be cleansing then. Part of him wanted to protest, his role was neither judge nor executioner. Instead, he examined the briefing and listened closely to what else the Arch had to say.

"Finally," the Arch-Zeno added, eyes taking in Qasem for a second, "there is the matter of truths. Expect a very tangled web in that town. Very tangled indeed. There is a reason why half of you could pass for locals there while half are very pointedly outsiders."

Ashon nudged Cal in the side, speaking to him discreetly. [colour=FF3131]"Make sure those two don't share the same room together or none of us will get any rest. Bad enough with [i]her[/i]."[/colour] His eyes moved to Isii and Casii, but particularly the former.

Ismette saw him looking at her. She waved and smiled sweetly. Casii scowled and spat. She had not liked the hegelan hole in the ground. She had not liked it one bit, and the wide open mountains, not much better. Ashon smiled sweetly in return at the first of the pair, and waved back.

Cal added two and two together once more. Were all continental yasoi this loopy and depraved? He waved and did not let his thoughts show, as always. He would have to work with them all in the near future. "Tell me Ashon,” he inquired, “why are there so many couples at this school so quickly? Is this part of the twin continents' culture?" 

That seemed to have concluded their briefing, however. They were to complete a task and were - quite tantalizingly - free to take advantage of any opportunities for self-advancement they might find along the way. "Should you require more than what is in the folders, you may speak with me after," the Arch-Zeno decided. "Your goal is relatively simple, however: kill the Beast of Mandelein, menace that it is, and uncover any illegal or hidden activities the town is caught up in. Now…” He pivoted. “There are quite a few more of you present."

With this, a second set of papers appeared in front of a second set of people: Yuliya, Nazih, Esmii, Yvain, Marz, Penny, and Sven. The map shifted and they were now looking at Vossoriya.

Yuli excitedly jumped in her seat a little. Her homeland! And it seemed she was going with Penny and [s]Mark[/s]Marz to boot. What a wonderful day this had been, outside of annoying puzzles. "Penny, I can be your tour guide!" she exclaimed unabashedly.

Penny all-but squealed in excitement. "Oh mah Shune! I've always wanted to see Vossoriya!"

"My first mission, I'm kind of nervous." Esmii stuttered, hugging herself. Beside her, Sven gulped. "Don't worry. Mine too. I'm shure they know what they're doing." She smiled only somewhat nervously. "At least we'll be together." It was enough to make him smile back, and he wrapped a comforting arm around her, though who it benefited more was difficult to say.

Yvain smugly leaned against Penny. "It seems we get to spend some precious time in this Callanasti Winter 'Wonderland." His eyes moved towards the Vossoriyan. "Seems you have a friendly guide as well."

"Yuli will make everything better," Penny assured her cousin. "She may even outdo you for sheer positivity!"

Marz began to read through the paper presented and scoffed, "[i]Gods,[/i] it'll be cold!"

"Your mission here is a simple one, though made more difficult by certain local... circumstances," continued the Arch-Zeno.

"Aren't Hegelans supposed to be cold-resistant?" teased Penny. She winked to make it clear that she was joking. He seemed like the high-strung sort.

"I might be. Don't mean I [i]like[/i] it! Much more used to the heat meself," Marz replied.

Yuli grinned along, singing her national anthem to herself. She was thinking about the clothes she'd probably have to lend Penny to make sure the poor girl wouldn't freeze down south.

"This," said Harrachora, pointing to a spot on the map where two major rivers met - Yuliya and Marz may have recognized them as the Kuska and Belykuska - "is the trading town of Kirimansk. There is supposed to be a shipment of something very secret, valuable, and - if opened - very dangerous passing through it. Problem is that it's been stalled there for... quite some time: the whole Hundri, in fact. Whatever you do, please don't open it. The less you know, the less you can be liable for." He was walking around the table now, peering over their shoulders. He stopped for a moment, between Penny and Yuliya, reaching out and then... something seemed different. It was so quick and minor that it would've scarce been noticed by any but the most alert. "Your job, however, is to retrieve it and bring it, intact, back to the Hegelan City of Hoch Dorumvir, and its portal, from which it can be moved quickly and safely to Hogh Munkhelad and then, in the hands of Zenos, to the academy."

Marz nodded his head and said, "A'kay, I can deal with that. Sounds interesting enough"

"I am intrigued by what would be so important that we shouldn't open it." Yvain rubbed his chin. "What do you think?" He looked towards his cousin, but something about Penny’s demeanour had changed. She was quiet and pensive, unusually so for her.

[i]Not open?[/i] Would Yuliya be able to stop people from doing that? Also, what exactly was being taken through here? Her mind raced with questions, so much so that she almost missed Harrachora stopping behind them for a moment, but she just let it happen. Whatever it was, it wasn't something she could do anything about. Regardless, she simply listened until the man was done, before turning to the rest. "The less we know, the less problem. Your tour guide still ready to help!" she spoke, trying not to hide the inkling of fear that the current Paradigm put in her.

"Does it, as a Vossoriyan yourself, not make you incredibly intrigued to what this might truly be?" Yvain looked rather interested in the reasons as to why they’d been advised not to look into what the cargo would be.

"It probably way more boring than you think. Nothing interesting happen in Kirimansk. Not while I live there," she assured him, telling a half truth. Yuliya just needed them to shut up for now, to avoid antagonizing the Arch-Zeno.

"Fine fine, have it your way. I won't ponder on it any longer." Yvain still looked somewhat frustrated by the potential fact that someone of his standing could be sent on such an unimportant mission.

"Excellent!" decided Harrachora, clasping his hands in a businesslike manner. "I do apologize for the rather opaque manner in which you've been received, but some discretion is necessary here and not knowing what is in those three crates allows you to be genuinely ignorant should anything go askew, though I have faith in all of you that it will not.” He applied some verbal balm to their worries. “Rest assured that there are immense opportunities as well and that you will have a local guide aside from your very gracious Vossoriyan classmate." He nodded in thanks towards Yuliya. At that, there was another massive surge of energy - massive enough to nearly make some sick.

Twin portals opened. Through one, they could see trees and a road running through a deep forest. Through the other was a frosty plateau in the mountains and, in the near distance, an enormous stone and steel gateway to a city.

"да направит нас ветер!" Yuli exclaimed as she bolted through the portal, ushering the rest to follow. The exodus happened with surprising speed. They had their supplies and their briefings and, unlike the groups that the Zenith had brought together, there weren’t all that many ties between the two cohorts.

Everybody else was gone within a minute, and the twin portals closed behind them. There were only five remaining: Evander, Desmond, Tku, Fiske, and Benedetto. Karan Harrachora, Arch-Zeno of Ersand'Enise, turned to give them his full attention. "You have been kept back for a reason," he assured the five young men before him.

"I would hope so, would be a shame to come all this way to only be turned away," Desmond chided.

"Well, I hope so, though the experience was nice enough," Tku chuckled.

"Is this something special?" Fiske looked questioning.

The Arch-Zeno smiled at the quips, but there was no light in his eyes. "Trust that I have no such intention." He regarded Fiske as well. "You have been held back because some of your peers - those who do not believe themselves to be on any sort of 'mission' and have gone to Torragon for personal reasons - are headed for certain death. It is this fate that I hope you can save them from." 

Desmond heard what was said and felt the weight of the room increase. He broke the silence and was the first to speak. "I see… Do we know what might cause this 'certain death'?"

Fiske sighed upon hearing the task for them at hand. Part of him got rather annoyed by the fact he had to save people who’d gotten themselves caught up in a ‘certain death’ situation.... certain death? "Save them from their own fate? That sounds rather complicated..."

Tku wondered what he could possibly do to help with this. It seemed above and beyond his powers but maybe they needed a healer. "If I can be of assistance, I will." He bowed his head. "I do owe you after all," the Obenjan added.

"From my experience, fate is evanescent," advised the Arch-Zeno. "Though this opportunity may be complicated," he conceded. "It should also be quite lucrative for you."

Evander looked at Harrachora, "Who are the peers you want us to save?"

"Isabella Lowell, Zarina Al-Nader, Marceline Hohenfelter, Ayla Arslan... and the Tan-Zeno Jocasta Re." The Arch-Zeno replied evenly.

None of those were people Tku knew. Not that it mattered, but to be responsible for saving a Tan-Zeno seemed a bit much.

Desmond nodded as he thought about who could be aiming for all of these individuals. He knew Zarina, Ayla, and Jocasta should be close. Marceline is a business partner to Zarina, but Isabella: that was the one that was odd. He pursed his lips for a moment. "Okay I think I'm getting the picture"

"I have reason to believe that a grave danger lurks out in the deserts of Torragon - just beyond the Refuge of San Agustin de las Arenas - and that they are headed, potentially, into the very mouth of it."

Fiske frowned. The Hohenfelter girl had gotten involved with this mess? He'd expected the Arslan girl but the Hohenfelter girl usually seemed to be of the smarter variety. [i]Gods, she'll have to reward me if I save their asses, and she’s loaded.[/i] "If a Tan-Zeno is on that mission they should genuinely be pretty safe, no?"

"Beings," Harrachora revealed, "snakelike beings that are said to live in the desert, but I think there's more to it. I don't think they're the danger... at least not directly. Your friends are about to get wrapped up in something much larger than themselves. Whatever you find there, I have a sense that it could be world-shattering: something that you must report back to me and only to me." He shook his head. "We have hidden enemies among us, and I'm not referring to agents of the Traveler."

Snakelike beings... Fiske remembered something akin to that. They came from great metal birds. If they were involved, it might be more dangerous than what had happened at Moli's. The thought of seeing those snakelike beings both intrigued and terrified him to no end.

Tku had heard of Snakelike people in folklore but never anyone truly believing they were real. Yet…if this was the Arch-Zeno and there was indeed a hidden continent, then it could definitely be true. Why he’d chosen Tku, the boy had no idea but… "I will do my best."

Desmond thought to himself as he he heard the man speak. He began to piece together thoughts and ideas that he knew in the area, as the moment Harrachora spoke of snakelike people, Desmond snapped his fingers as it showed him what he needed. He nodded, businesslike, mind racing. "Okay, I think I got it now. I've dealt with these beings before. Okay. I understand sir". He continued to nod, resisting the urge to rise and pace. "So our job is to stop this event from happening, or the more likely thing is to make sure the others you sent us to save is to survive." 

Evander leaned in when he heard Harrachora reveal the description fitting what he knew as Sirrahi. He knew what the Arch-Zeno meant by hidden enemies. Evander understood all too well what was introduced at this briefing table. Harrachora felt similarly as Evander about the greater war afoot. The Revidian listened to Desmond, "Sounds like the latter, the event is happening and our peers don't know what they are walking into, therefore we are going to make sure they survive." 

Tku made note of Evander and Desmond's reactions to the news. Perhaps they knew more information. He came to the conclusion that he should ask them later for safety’s sake.

Karan Harrachora's gaze was heavy. Serious. It drifted about the table, taking in the other five men there. "This is the final question, then: can I rely on you for this?" He paused, hands clenching and unclenching behind his back. "If you have any serious doubts or reservations, now is the time to step back from the precipice. I assure you that the rewards will be truly incredible should we succeed, both for yourself and our society at large, but there is risk here, and I would never order you to move forward into danger were I not entirely certain of your willingness."

Tku made it known multiple times that he was ready, and who better to see how the world might change than an artist to draw the story? "You have my word Arch-Zeno."

Desmond took in a breath and sighed. It was a dangerous thought, yet what was he if not a man who’d lived his life perched on just such an edge?  "You can," he replied simply.

The Arch-Zeno inclined his head in thanks.

Fiske was sweating, this was a serious situation... but if the rewards were as incredible as Harrachora was saying, it might be worth tagging along with Benedetto and Desmond. "I will do my best."

Benedetto hadn't said much so far. In fact, when this fucking Zeno had disappeared Silas, he'd been ready to throw hands. He scowled and considered. [i]Jocasta,[/i] he thought. [i]In grave danger,[/i] he thought. [i]Hmmmmm.[/i] An idea occurred to him, then: an awful idea, a wonderful idea, A wonderfully awful idea. "Oi I'll help save your lil' world," he answered with a toothy grin. "I'm in."

With that, Karan Harrachora bid them good luck and godspeed and opened a portal. The burning heat of the dune sea was already rolling through it. The sand was whipping and the dragons were circling above by the time they stepped through.
[hr][hr]