[@AThousandCurses]

[b][h3]BRIDGE[/h3][/b]

"Tsk. So it's like that, huh," Rio would spit out, a hateful glare shot towards Chunji as his hands sunk into his pockets. "Made a promise. Can't let that girl die." His brow would furrow as he looked upon Chloe's bruised, burned, unconscious body with - for a moment as brief as a flash of lightning, such that only Chunji would catch it in all his focus - a slight softness, or perhaps regret. With a final push, his golden giant repelled a final wave of attackers behind them, his shields shoving them onto the ground before retreating back towards Rio.

"Yeah, alright then. Have it your way. Hand her over and we'll all call it even. No point in staying here any longer anyway," he'd reluctantly agree as the giant slowly seemed to shrink and merge into his back. "There's no need to go all-out on our first day, after all."

On Chunji's part, the front half of the shoe that kicked Chloe would have faded into dust, but the girl was most definitely out cold. Over the course of the conversation with Rio, would Chunji look around, he'd see smoke seeping out of the mouths of those that the pruner elf had aged; by the end of the conversation and as Rio's giant faded away, the students that were aged seemed to revert to their prior selves - with the one difference that they seemed to each fall unconscious from the violent and sudden shift in physique. The notable exceptions would be Chunji's shoe and the dagger he had thrown, which were not repaired. Priority of some students was dedicated to retrieving these downed students, while others began to stampede forward. 

Rio, meanwhile, would look at his wristwatch, then show it to Chunji as well while maintaining distance. "9:30. The time remaining isn't ideal, and I don't have anything against you, so let's leave the fighting at that for today. My idiot friend and I won't interfere with you, and you won't interfere with us now that there's a fire under all of our asses. Sound good, knife thrower?"

Should Chunji accept, Rio would retrieve Chloe's unconscious body and begin carrying her across the bridge, making a mad dash to get ahead of the angry students wanting revenge for being repelled by his Ethos. Other students would quickly follow behind, rushing desperately to get off this bridge of disaster. Up ahead, however, they would see flames spreading quickly from the campus side, causing some to doubt their advance upon seeing yet another wall against progress.

The voice of the woman from earlier would ring out from further within the campus, echoing for all to hear. "Attention, all students. The time is now 9:30 AM on March 1st of the Sacred Record. It's recommended, though not required, that all students find their seat in the auditorium with all haste. I do, of course, say it's not required because there's always a comfy bed waiting for you back home - wherever that is, of course, because we certainly wouldn't care enough to confirm. That is all!"

[hr]

[@Sifr][@Psyker Landshark]

[b][h3]PLAZA[/h3][/b]

Wooden chunks scattered clear across the plaza in all directions - the Mannekin seemed easily replaceable and cheap to mass produce judging by the waves that ran out one after another, but a challenge for any warrior more competent than a farmer they were not. They were barraged by the combined attacks of the new duo that took charge in the heart of the plaza, completely ineffective and unable to even get within striking range. That was until one of the new waves found a different Mannekin at the back. 

As the other dozen wooden warriors sprinted out of the many doors from the cluster of red buildings beyond the fountain, a Mannekin dressed in flowing purple robes with a wooden staff and a comically stereotypical conical wizard hat would strut out. It would raise its staff, and a ball of flame would shoot outward from the tip, hurtling towards Hildegunde at the speed of an arrow. Whether it hit her or not, it would explode at the location that Hildegunde was standing at the time of casting, sending smaller splashes of fire in all directions outward for three meters, partially setting fire to the wooden bridge. 

The fire would spread quickly, its magical nature clearly enhancing its potential for destruction, and within seconds the foot of the bridge by the plaza would become wreathed in fire. The bridge itself wasn't damaged by this, but the fire spread all the same. Should either of the duo attempt to attack the wizard, they would find the wall of Mannekin suddenly move with supernatural speeds to take the hits for their wizard commander, as if pre-programmed to do so.

The voice of the woman from earlier would ring out from further within the campus, echoing for all to hear. "Attention, all students. The time is now 9:30 AM on March 1st of the Sacred Record. It's recommended, though not required, that all students find their seat in the auditorium with all haste. I do, of course, say it's not required because there's always a comfy bed waiting for you back home - wherever that is, of course, because we certainly wouldn't care enough to confirm. That is all!"

[hr]

[@ERode]

[b][h3]TOWN[/h3][/b]

"Ah?!" The only thing Otis would hear at first was shock at the request. Davil's face was one of uncertainty and deep thought as they ran, clearly not fully sold on the idea. It was definitely a tough thing, giving up his pride and joy, an aspect of himself that was unarguably [i]his[/i]. It was definitely a difficult deal to take, Davil fully aware of the risks involved of depriving himself of his greatest strength-

"Okay, sure! You seem like a good guy, so I don't mind. Oh, such chums we are! I'm real glad I met you, Otey! Otes McGoats! I'm just plum jazzed at my good luck right now," the boy would exclaim with glee, a mouth of pearly whites in full view as he gave Otis a thumbs up and a chuckle of goodwill. "My mum always told me it'd be easy to make friends once I just showed people what I can do, and now here we are, best of buds!"

As the dynamic duo ran, they would find themselves at the end of the street they had entered from via the walkway, and now found themselves in what resembled a town square very reminiscent of Neroite architecture. There were market stalls set up with Mannekin manning them, a podium near the center, and various buildings denoting different roles such as "Inn," "Blacksmith," "Clinic," and even a merchant guild branch that seemed to still be under construction. Though smaller than the average town, it definitely had the homely feel of a hub for ambitious adventurers.

Many paths seemed to split from here, undoubtedly leading to other parts of the academy city, but two locations would stick out immediately: on one side, a path directly ahead that led up a rugged dirt incline, into what appeared to be a forested region with an imposing tower in the distance mostly obscured by trees. On the other side, a red building immediately to Otis' left as he'd enter this town square, with a plaque labeled "Main Building" above the door.

"Hmmm," Davil would ponder aloud as he took it all in. "They have a clinic here?! That's really cool!" In the end, that was the full extent of his external thoughts as he took this area in.

Should Otis try for the door to the main building, the Mannekin would suddenly burst out of the market stalls they were resting inside with crossbows in their hands, firing at the pair with the intent to disable.

The voice of the woman from earlier would ring out from further within the campus, echoing for all to hear. "Attention, all students. The time is now 9:30 AM on March 1st of the Sacred Record. It's recommended, though not required, that all students find their seat in the auditorium with all haste. I do, of course, say it's not required because there's always a comfy bed waiting for you back home - wherever that is, of course, because we certainly wouldn't care enough to confirm. That is all!"

[hr]

[@Estylwen]

[b][h3]MAIN BUILDING[/h3][/b]

Upon searching for any signs of her unknown attacker, she would take note, occasionally, of small eyeballs partially melded with corners and ceilings. They would vanish the moment they were spotted, withdrawing into the walls out of sight, but if she looked diligently enough, she would always see more as she moved. "Correct, I am but a humble student. You could say, though, that I've been given a special privilege in this... weeding out process. This divine culling. Something beyond simply arriving on time."

As she moved and dismantled the mannequins, she could hear low growls of frustration coming through that same loudspeaker, though she couldn't find a direct source through which the sound was coming. "I took the time to consult Ezzy about the best outfits to dress them in, and everything! It was my peace of resistance, or something. How could you do that?!"

With a deep exhale and a few meditative chants over the phantom speaker, the temper in the boy's voice calmed. "Fine, fine, you defeated some of my grunts. Pat yourself on the back. But you're not ready. Not for the terror ahead."

Ciara would find signs and boards along her travel that would definitely be where directories would normally be, but they all appeared crudely ripped out. In the midst of all of this, handing out the information, she could fortunately feel that it was being understood just as quickly as it was being received. Repetitive pulses of essence from within indicated comprehension and acknowledgement, and it all certainly made sense logically. 

However, a crushing sensation would wash over Ciara in the moment in which she finished her snapshots. It almost felt as if she was being grabbed and lifted by her head by an incomprehensibly massive clawed hand, the stench of macabre curses filling the area around her. A low-yet-high voice would whisper near her ear in that moment, raspy and off-key. "Time will progress apace, and as I am time, I decide when to move. You forget yourself. Perhaps a thoughtful begging will see you with more fortunate results."

The hostile essence would dissipate in an instant afterwards, leaving Ciara again free to move. More bat-wielding Mannekin would be swiftly closing in behind her now, and the speaker with that nasally boy's voice would once more crackle to life. "Yikes, essence rebound or something? Don't worry, we all fail now and again, that's just a part of life. You can always apply next year. Gives time for some of the real heroes to get their rightful head start, heheheh. Mannekin! Thrash her mercifully!"

Upon that command, the Mannekin at the front with a pompadour wig would suddenly speed up with a faint trail of lightning behind it, and would perform an acrobatic front flip, aiming to bring its lightning-infused bat down upon Ciara. If she successfully dodged, the bat would create a crater in the ground of the hallway, sending a small arc of lightning outward and shards of rubble in her direction.

The voice of the woman from earlier would ring out from further within the campus, echoing for all to hear. "Attention, all students. The time is now 9:30 AM on March 1st of the Sacred Record. It's recommended, though not required, that all students find their seat in the auditorium with all haste. I do, of course, say it's not required because there's always a comfy bed waiting for you back home - wherever that is, of course, because we certainly wouldn't care enough to confirm. That is all!"