[hr][hr][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/0SdKWRg.jpeg[/img][hr][COLOR=CCA1A1]Location:[/color] Hall of Ancients, Strange Academy
[COLOR=CCA1A1]Grimoire:[/color] Tiara of Jagged Glass
[COLOR=CCA1A1]Skills:[/color] N/A
[/center][hr][hr]

The motel room was centered in a snug little alcove next to a 7-Eleven and some random Chinese food place. It was not, she realized, where she saw herself when she had abruptly run away from home after blowing a hole in her bedroom. She expected every siren she heard to be one looking for her, but so far she had remained safe.

After she woke up from a horrendous night's sleep, she threw the covers off and sidled out of bed. As she walked to the bathroom, her foot hit something and she nearly tripped. She collected herself and glanced down to see a strange box. She picked it up and moved it around. On the box were some bars. She touched one and a melodic sound echoed out. She pressed another one and, suddenly, the box got smaller. She nearly panic-threw it against the wall, but she held on.

A magic, puzzle box.

Holy cow, this was it!

She had intended to just show up at Strange Academy and beg acceptance. She had her story all lined up too. Full of tear-jearky moments and her, the true heroine, against all the odds! Plus, if Doctor Strange was there perhaps he could vouch for her? He knew her, to an extent.

Cassie sat on the bed and put the box down. She had to get this right. She pushed the bar she did the first time and heard the note. She tried another and the box shrunk again. She cursed inwardly (though not really since she said 'fiddlesticks'). The song had to be something, right?

She pushed another bar, then another and this time, it didn't shrink. She pushed another, each time a bar fell away. Each push grew her confidence. Each one made her more excited. Eventually, the bars fell away and something fell out. Cassie let out a loud 'whoop' and was scolded by her neighbor in a colorful mix of slurs and what she assumed was...Spanish?

She took the letter and read it. Then read it again. Finally, she put it down and jumped all around the room.

What a fantastic birthday present.

[hr]

Strange Academy was breathtaking as Cassie entered the soiree that was happening. She tried not to look like some starry-eyed newbie, but she could hardly believe she was here. She looked around at some of the other students, trying to size them up. Some had to be new here, too; it stood to reason. She saw some ghostly hands serving nourishments and food which she didn't partake in. Her stomach was too busy doing flips for her to get anything down yet.

She noted a couple other students all heading into one room in particular. Cassie remembered the letter said the Hall of Ancients was where she would find her room and Coven, whatever the heck that meant. She didn't want to ask for help, but she followed some through the third door, where she noted there weren't many other people inside. Was she to be in an exclusive club?

The room was decorated beautifully. She noted the choice of fabrics and color to convey what she was sure the intention was: this is the top. Anyone who is anyone is here.

The fish tank in particular caught her attention. It was made of crystal and housed an assortment of fish that blended in a kaleidoscope of colors. They shifted shape and form. It should not have surprised Cassie as she was standing on the precipice of magic school, but it was grand either way.

After spending what could be argued as an incredible amount of time basking in it she noted the sign close by. [i]Catch One[/i]. Wow, magic school was wild. Was she to catch her dinner? Or was this a test perhaps! Like whatever fish she caught would be a test, or possibly sorting her into some school-based group where she would make lifelong friends and possibly an enemy or two. 

She debated how best to proceed. It was pretty evident this wasn’t something as simple as grabbing a fishing pole or just dunking your hand in. If this were a magic school, she would need to do some magic.

But that was the problem, wasn’t it? Her magic was….intense. Chaos incarnate if her parents were to be believed (and, she noted, they were correct in this aspect). So, how to catch one of the fish? Cassie walked up to the crystal encasement and lifted her hand as a faint, red glow reverberated out of her palm, her eyes glowing darker as she summoned a spell she had used before.

Her eyes landed on one of the fish that went from a light, green color to gold. She waved her palm and uttered an incantation under her breath as her spell was sent forth. To the trained eye, an image would appear over the fish’s head: an adornment of glass and thorns. A tiara sent spiking through its skull, implanting itself in its scales. The fish wriggled a bit, aghast at the damage done, but soon, it stopped and paused there, uncertain.

Still using her spell, she uttered a command to it: [color=CCA1A1]”Come to me.”[/color] Simple, yet effective. The fish started swimming up to the top and, as it neared the cusp of the water, Cassie reached in quickly and grabbed the fish, taking it out of its home. It didn’t squirm or fight. Instead, it seemed to accept its fate.

“Wonderful. Another Gray student. Everything we needed.” Professor Croan tsked. “Perhaps our illustrious headmistress will graciously take her off our hands.”

“That was an excellent casting, dear! And the flair, the tiara, gorgeous. Magnificent!” Professor Mikkail cheered. 

“There has seemed to be an uptick in this magic type recently and we should be concerned, Mikkail. However, her technique did show excellent potential and danger hasn't stopped me before.” Sariel extended her hand to shake. “Professor Sariel, artificer advisor. If you ever want to explore the true limits of your powers, do not hesitate to knock on my door.”

Cassie hadn't quite noticed the other people there, standing in obvious attention to those who went after a fish. Cassie looked and her fish had turned into a [url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/01989525-5e43-738b-a1a1-7c79d376f4db.webp]key[/url]. She noted it and put it aside for now as she shook the woman's hand in front of her. [color=CCA1A1]"Oh gosh, umm. Thank you! I would love to learn more. Thank you, all of you!"[/color] though one in particular wasn't happy with her, it seemed. What did they mean by 'Gray'? Was it a mark on her record already?

Satisfied somewhat that she had made a good starting foundation for her time here, she shuffled off to the side. Some people were around, but she didn't know if they were old friends or whatever. She hoped she would not be the only new person here. She desperately wanted to fit in. Well...as well as someone that can bend and shape chaos to her will [i]can[/i] fit in.