[center][h1][color=de8f4e]Isana[/color][/h1][/center][right][b]Location:[/b] Kaides Estate, Ground floor dining room
[b]Interactions: [/b][@Rune_Alchemist] [@OwO]
Mentions: Vincent[/right][hr][hr]
[color=lightgray][color=de8f4e]“Maybe…”[/color] Isana wasn’t sure if Sherry was the type to have bad dreams. Not unless…? Isana decided to keep a mental tally of any oddities for now.

Ophelia sat down next to her for breakfast, which drew a gentle, pleased smile from Isa. [color=de8f4e]“I’m…feeling kind of weird, to be honest,”[/color] she answered. She nodded at Ophelia’s following words. [color=de8f4e]“That’s alright. Just preserve your energy for the Orientation, yeah?”[/color]

She was ready to eat in peace, but unfortunately, the first wife’s arrival put a wrench in that. Isana sighed as the catty woman went off on her tirade. In the past, this was when she’d escape. Now, she was simply going to ignore her to the best of her abilities. But then, Estelle laughed, and Isa turned to stare right at her. [color=de8f4e]“Huh. Maybe…We need to talk,”[/color] she mumbled, mostly to herself. Her sisters were acting as strangely as her. She might not be right, but even if she was wrong, what’d she lose by telling them her experience?

[color=white]“Really now, Amabilia,”[/color] Crescence smiled as she sat down for breakfast, unperturbed. Isana spotted a sharp glint in her eyes, though, and her expression was a tad sharp. [color=white]“You should know me better by now. [i]I[/i] don’t go after other people’s children,”[/color] she chuckled carefreely. Despite appearances, in all this time, their mother had managed to learn [i]some[/i] passive-aggressiveness. She didn’t usually keep it up for long, though, and this time was the same. [color=white]“It was actually Estelle who was trying to help out, Sherry, you know?”[/color] She beamed proudly at her oldest daughter. [color=white]“That was really kind of you, my little star,”[/color] she praised. Not one to let her other two daughters feel left out, she gazed warmly to the middle and youngest daughter. [color=white]“Isana, it was thoughtful of you to get us all together. Ophelia, I’m glad you’re more energetic and sociable today. Remember, though, it’s always ok when you need time and space for yourself.”[/color] Nodding firmly, she dug into her breakfast with gusto.

In the end, the family had a companionable breakfast together.

[hr]
The three sisters took a carriage together, and – of course – sat next to each other in the Grand Arena. Isana was lost in thought, marveling at Kaidisyum standing whole, at all these people alive and unaware…It was a grand sight. However, when Vincent suddenly shot his hand up, her focus sharpened. Her youngest half-sibling [i]could not possibly know[/i] about the Class Challenge, yet he had been the first to rise his hand.

Then – it must be that she was not alone.

[color=de8f4e]“Ophelia, Estelle. Let’s meet up later to talk about our future.”[/color]

Her whole first life, she had spent in the Commoner Class. Now, Isana rose her hand as a matter of fact, no fanfare to her demeanour.

Now, who to challenge?

Pondering who she even remembered after so long, one face appeared in her mind like a hazy mirage. What was that girl’s name again…?

[color=de8f4e]“I challenge Argenta Sylvester from the Noble Class.”[/color] Murmurs swept through the crowd as Isana descended the stands to the arena. Argenta hailed from one of Kaides’ vassal families, was one of her peers in age, yet had always exceeded her in skill – at least that was how it had been in the past.

Her opponent descended from a section of stands Sylvas and his supporters had taken over. [url=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/c2/b5/1f/c2b51f3285d44d50c41dfcb7b726b5f7.jpg]Argenta[/url] was an albino, hair white-gray, eyes bloody crimson, skin as pale as snow. Even from the way she walked and looked down on others, Argenta was an obviously arrogant girl. She was always schmoozing the Student Council members, and had befriended Aqua, whom she’d impressed with her skill. She was a good duelist, and despite others drawbacks, a part of Isana had used to admire her.

[color=white]“What, did you lot lose your marbles overnight? Or is it poison again, huh?”[/color] Argenta drawled, a nasty smirk marring her otherwise pretty face.

Yeah, that personality of hers was one reason Isana had managed to recall her name.

[color=de8f4e]“No.”[/color] Refusing to elaborate, Isana walked to the weaponry, going over the selection of training weaponry. In the past, she had used longswords and greatswords, but now, she chose something she’d discovered suited her more. A pair of daggers, and a short sword were sheathed slotted on a leather belt. She marched to the center of the circular stone arena, silently facing Argenta, who was wielding a rapier, its tip padded with a bit of leather.

[color=white]“Well, well.”[/color] The smirk stretched into a shit-eating grin. [color=white]“Since the cowardly Kaides finally got her act together, I don’t need to hold back, do I?”[/color]

Isana merely swayed her head from left to right. [color=de8f4e]“I’m ready.”[/color] So saying, she drew the shortsword with her right hand, and a dagger with her left.

The referee began the match with a, [color=white]“Ready? Start!”[/color]

Before the last word even left his lips, Isana closed the distance, and opened with a side kick. She wouldn’t act as if this was a real match – there were no lethal weapons involved, so she did not need to worry about getting cut. Argenta was startled, though, credit where it’s given, she recuperated fast enough to try and strike at her exposed leg. However, Isana was faster; all she felt was a poke. Had it been a real rapier, a shallow slice might have been made, if that.

Facing her once again, Isana pressed on. She sliced and slashed with her short-sword, unusually aggressive. Argenta had lost her cocky smile, and was starting to take this seriously. She countered with quick jabs and calculated lunges. On one such exchange, Isana rolled to the side to evade, ditching her short sword. Believing this was finally an opening for her to wrap things up, Argenta crowed, stepping on her dropped weapon. Mercilessly, Isana jabbed her elbow to force her to drop her rapier, and tackled into her, knocking her onto the floor.

The beginning syllables of a familiar light spell formed on Argenta’s mouth. The middle Kaides daughter had honestly forgotten Sylvester knew it. However, her friend and lover had made an art out of that very same spell, so she knew how to handle it. She used the only thing available to her – 

Her own spit.

[color=de8f4e]“Hrr-[i]ptui![/i]”[/color] She shot a glob of saliva right into Argenta’s face.

[color=white]“Hiieee—Eew?!”[/color] A shriek ensued, but Sylvester’s plight was ignored. Isana grabbed her head with one hand, and placed her dagger’s blade to her neck with the other. It was wooden, but she pushed its edge so it dug into the other girl’s skin, forcing her to hack.

[color=white]“Ghk-ugh…Kh! I – I yield!”[/color] she managed, and it was only then that Isana unceremoniously stood up, took a step back, and offered Argenta a hand up.

The other girl was too shocked to accept it. [color=white]“Wha-what the hell?”[/color] She stared at her, utterly wide-eyed, voice feeble and shaky.

[color=de8f4e]“Hm. Call it inspiration.”[/color] Her smile was full of mischief and mystery as she shrugged.

The referee announced her victory while Argenta kept staring at her in disbelief. Much of the crowd was equally flabbergasted.

Just what had happened to the timid Isana Kaides?[/color]