The Grand Induction Hall of the Ethereal Luminary rests high within the central spire of the academy, a vast circular chamber suspended in open air and light. The floor is polished marble threaded with slow-moving sigils that drift like gentle currents beneath the surface. Above, a great crystalline array floats in deliberate rotation, its many facets scattering star-like motes across the tall walls of the hall. The light shifts softly across tiers of seating that rise in graceful arcs, while narrow balconies near the vaulted ceiling hold silent observation galleries.

Candidates have gathered upon the central platform, each having passed through the Luminary’s gates and the quiet scrutiny of its wards. The atmosphere is calm, almost reverent. Nothing here feels rushed. The academy moves with the patience of something that has stood for centuries.

A tall figure in deep academic robes steps forward at the edge of the platform.

Proctor Roffimières is an older man, his white hair and beard neatly kept, small spectacles resting upon the bridge of his nose. Threads of constellation-like embroidery shimmer faintly across his vestments, and in his hands floats a clear geometric crystal whose interior glows with faint starlight. His voice carries easily through the chamber, measured and precise.




“Welcome, candidates. You stand within the Grand Induction Hall of the Ethereal Luminary. Today’s trial will determine whether you possess the clarity of thought, composure, and discipline required to study within these halls.”

As he speaks, the crystal array above the platform rotates slowly, casting shifting patterns of light across the floor.

“The examination you are about to undertake will take place within the Astral Vestibule, a controlled dimensional environment designed for evaluation. Harmonization wards within that space will regulate excessive magical output. This ensures fairness among all participants.”

Roffimières closes the small tome floating beside him with a soft gesture.

“You will have a moment before the trial begins.”

The hall remains quiet, waiting. Candidates now have the opportunity to present themselves before the Luminary’s examination truly begins.

✦ Ichabod Pipton ✦ — "Light guides the wise to knowledge."

---

Ethereal Luminary | Grand Induction Hall

---

The quiet glow of Ichabod’s lantern drifted from the back of the platform toward the front, its warm azure flame swaying gently inside it with each stride. He had no intention of missing a single word the proctor said, so he moved with swiftly and with purpose, weaving smoothly through the other potential students.

His messy blue hair fell across his eyes, deep cobalt strands that framed an almost translucent face. The lantern’s glow rose from below, casting a soft light across his pale skin and sharp yellow gaze as it scanned over the other candidates assembled in the hall.

He studied them without staring...noting their postures, their expressions, any details he figured might give him an edge. He wondered about their magic, and how theirs would compare to his. Surely there were powerful mages among them. For a moment he wondered whether his mostly self-taught skills would be enough to pass the trial. But the thought had passed as quickly as it came, his normal level confidence returned with a flicker of the flame inside his lantern.

When he finally reached the front of the platform, he came to a stop among the most frontward candidates, his lantern hanging loosely on the loop of his belt. He straightened his posture and stood at attention, his gaze settling on Proctor Roffimières as he spoke.

---

Sa'Saori strode into the chamber of assembled candidates, the click clack of her booted heels reverberating in the hall.. poignantly disturbing the calm serenity of the atmosphere of the assembled candidates. She was not quite frowning but also not exactly giving off approachable vibes either... the Fae See Young woman cut a lovely figure clad for battle in close fitting but unrestricted apparel. Petite and lovely at 5'5", her long blonde hair tied into a braid at her back... noticeably the heat in the cool chamber seemed to radiate from her un-hidden beauty. But her demeanor was one of stern seriousness... not quite unfriendliness.. just Willful Determination to meet ANY challenge! Her pretty emerald eyes smouldered with fierce... inner fire.

One would not immediately take her for a spellcasting student because slung across her back was a sheathed long Elven Curveblade.. ready to draw from over her left shapely shoulder ~ slung with a dangerous casual familiarity. Her bold confidence and the flicker of emerald flames in her eyes when the softly starry lights from the slowly rotating central crystal array light struck her eyes at just the right angle bringing an eerie flicker flame to her gaze AND, of course, the noticeable increase of temperature in the chamber ~ the only clues magic BURNED within this elven beauty's compact body and spirit... made it evident to all though no other magical que in her appearance gave it away...

Then the rather OBVIOUS Fiery Red brand of the Fae See Church of Flames ~ 'The Fire Huntress'... emblazoned upon the exposed cleavage of her left breast which drew the eyes and made it clear she had once been an Acolyte of the Fae See Flame Church ~ A 'Fire Huntress'!

She had something to prove... either to herself or unknown parties not present and she was here to make CERTAIN she was heard and recognized!!!

Sa'Saori took her place at the head of the assembled candidates, casting not so much as a glance at ANY of them and crossed her arms at her breast... Defiant and Ready to prove her FIRE!!

In the Grand Induction Hall of the Ethereal Luminar, Alica stood among the potential new students. She arrived a bit earlier after her long trip from her home village in the northern part of the Fae See, not too far from the border with Ryken. all the way here in the Grand duchy. She noticed the wards she passed through earlier that protected the Academy. They were far different from the ones surrounding the coven’s grounds. but probably had the same function. keeping unwanted individuals out.
The tall, slender witch with blue-geyish skin, pale eyes and wearing a big bulbous hat just stood there, reading a book. Her eyes were glued to the pages of her book until the proctor took the stage and started the introduction ceremony.

Alicia looked up from her book, her face remaining in the same neutral, emotionless demeanour. She looked at the proctor for a moment as he spoke before she let her gaze wander around the room to see what other kinds of people this school had attracted. She was still a bit strange to the world. Raised sheltered within her coven, Alicia hasn’t met many outsiders besides the travellers and merchants that came to the land of the coven or the extremely rare moments when she visited her parents in Ryken. So most of her knowledge of the outside world is what she read in books.

Looking around, Alicia noticed the half-elf warrior girl. hard to miss with how radiant her aura was… not to mention the tight fit of that outfit. The girl didn’t look like she was the mage type. Yet she didn’t doubt she could keep up with anyone here. Elves were known for their aptitude for magic after all. Perhaps she wanted to become something like a mage warrior.
Alice didn’t think about it much and continued gazing around. That was when she noticed the eerie glow that came from the lantern of a male student. "So Cool!" she thought as she stared at the device from a distance with twinkles in her eyes. She quickly tore her eyes away when she realised she was staring and let her focus go to her book again while listening to what the proctor was saying.

The Grand Induction Hall remained quiet after Proctor Roffimières finished his initial address. The floating crystal array above continued its slow rotation, scattering soft constellations of light across the marble floor and the assembled candidates. No one spoke. The stillness of the chamber held, as if the hall itself were observing the students gathered within it.

Roffimières allowed the silence to linger for a few moments longer before adjusting the small lens upon his nose. His gaze swept calmly across the platform.




“Curious,” he said at last, his tone measured and almost amused. “In most examinations, candidates are eager to declare themselves. Names, titles, lineage. Yet today it seems the Luminary has gathered a group more inclined toward quiet contemplation.”

A few of the other assembled candidates shifted slightly at the remark.

“No matter. The academy is quite capable of resolving such matters.”

With a gentle motion of his hand, the crystal floating beside him brightened. Thin strands of light lifted from its surface and spread outward across the platform like delicate threads of mana.

“Candidates will now be organized into examination cohorts.”

The light condensed suddenly.

Across the platform, small bands of glowing crystal materialized out of thin air. They snapped gently into existence around the wrists of various candidates, fastening themselves without resistance. Each bracelet shimmered with a distinct color, faint runic sigils circulating along its surface like drifting fireflies.

“Groups will consist of three candidates,” Roffimières continued. “Each cohort will operate as a single unit throughout the trial.”

Names began to echo softly through the chamber as the proctor called them out, each trio receiving bracelets of the same hue. A murmur rippled through the crowd as candidates glanced at the colors forming around their wrists.

Then three more bands of light appeared, glowing with a soft magenta hue before settling firmly around three wrists.

Roffimières’ voice followed a moment later.

“Ichabod Pipton. Sa'Saori Gilderleaf. Alicia Medusozoa.”

The magenta sigils along their bracelets stirred faintly.

“You will form Group Magenta.”

More names followed after them. One trio after another was assembled as bracelets of amber, teal, violet, and gold manifested across the platform until every candidate had been placed into a cohort.

When the final group had been assigned, Roffimières raised a finger slightly.

“One final detail.”

His voice carried calmly through the hall.

“Each group will be accompanied by a veteran student of the Luminary. These individuals will act as anchors during the examination. They are not present to solve your challenges, but to ensure the integrity of the trial.”

He turned a page within the floating tome beside him.

“Group Magenta.”

A brief pause followed before the name was spoken.

“Your anchor will be Adelhein El-Melloi von Breyer, known within the academy as the Iron Magus.”

Equipped Titles: [Isekai], [Human], [Adept Magus], [Ethereal Luminary Academy Student] F, [Magno Sapiente Victori - Grand Magus S] E, Narrative Booster [Arcane Seeker] S, Connected [House Ashford] F, [El-Melloi's Scion]

As soon as the anchor for team magenta was announced, the young magus made himself known. He stepped forward, easily recognizing the group by their magenta bracelets. The same one he was wearing. The clicking of the heel of his shoes came to a sharp stop as soon as he was a few paces from the group, the youth was no taller than 4'7". Adelhein’s gaze on them was analytical, as if measuring their worth even before the exam itself had began. He kept the appraising gaze for a few more moments, caring little if it made them uncomfortable.

“Ichabod, Sa’Saori and Alicia.” He repeated their names, letting his crimson orbs slide from one to the other. “I’m sure your entrance exam will be… enlightening.” The corner of his lips curled upward, ever so slightly, as he leaned towards them. “This is the moment where you share your specialties with one another.” He said, his tone dropping to a conspirational whisper, before straightening his back.

Sa'Saori listened attentively to Proctor Roffimières instruction on the assignment of Groups and formation of Cohorts. She casually regards the glowing magenta magical sigil armband appearing upon her wrist indicating her group. She made no comment or expression... as she walked over to the gathering of Candidates with similar magenta sigil armbands.

Her expression softens to a neutral regard of her fellow candidate cohorts... but turned her attention back to Proctor Roffimières further instructions...

At being assigned their Cohort Anchor, Adelhein El-Melloi von Breyer she regarded him .. with a respectful curtsy and a measuring gaze.

At his request for declaration of their specialties her emerald gaze flashed between the others of her cohort briefly... then boldly she took a step pivoting toward her Group and spoke...

"Well met Anchor Adelhein El-Melloi, and thank you for your mentorship of our Examination. I am Sa'Saori Gilderleaf, Child of Fae See House Gilderleaf, Fire Huntress of the Church of Flames. My skill in the Magical Arts extends to raw eldritch close combat offensive magic as well as Elemental fire, encompassing ranged effects and area effects. I am also a competent swordswoman and I wield a Hybrid Weapon Catalyst for blade and spell combat with sweeping cleaving blade techniques."

Her tone is measured and soft, not haughty or conceited... perhaps a slight tint of shyness and a somewhat self-consciousness to relate her her talents to complete strangers...

"I have ... uhm.. high hopes we can all work together for an Sterling success as a Cohort!"

✦ Ichabod Pipton ✦ — "Light guides the wise to knowledge."

---

Ethereal Luminary | Grand Induction Hall

---

Ichabod’s yellow eyes shifted toward the small, sharp-featured chaperone as Adelhein stepped forward and named the members of Group Magenta. He adjusted the lantern lightly at his side, listening without interruption as their assigned proctor measured them each.

Sa'Saori spoke, introducing herself with a clear, plain confidence. Fire, close combat, swordsmanship... Ichabod took note of all of it. His gaze looked once toward the elegant blade on her back, then toward the book in Alicia's hands. He was the only human among Fae. It was an odd group, for sure.

That was good.

Ichabod preferred variety. Variety meant options.

He stepped forward just enough for the azure glow of his lantern to catch more clearly across his pale features.

“My name is Ichabod Pipton,” he said, voice calm and even. “No noble house, no grand title. I’m self-taught, for the most part. I've had a few mentors.”

He gauged the reactions of the others before continuing.

“I too have an affinity for fire, and a knack for manipulating darkness or what some might call shadow magic. I can make magic circles, and my physical skills are somewhat lacking.”

His eyes moved briefly between Sa'Saori and Alicia as he continued. The lantern flame flickered once.

“I would very much like to pass this trial, so it's best we get on the same page. I think we establish a system of voting when it comes to making important decisions, since there are exactly three of us. Sound fair?”

A faint smile touched one corner of his mouth then, subtle and sharp. With that, Ichabod lowered the lantern again and let someone else speak.

---

Alicia passively listened to the proctor’s continuation of the introduction. The candidates were going to be assigned in groups of three. That sounds like it's going to be a drag. But it was necessary to be accepted, so it may not be so bad. The others could also be made to do the more bothersome tasks. That is acceptable.

When the bracelet materialised on her wrist, Alicia raised it to her eye level. "Intresting. A physical light construct of this grade to be conjured with such precision on this many targets. There are certainly some powerful magi at this institution," She thought, examining the wristband, tapping it with the spine of her book a few times.
Then the bracelet started to glow magenta, indicating she was part of team Magenta. "Magenta… now let's see who I’m paired with…"

When their anchor called her name, Alicia's gaze turned to the senior student for a moment. "Smal…" She stared down at the senior student. Her face was still frozen in a blank neutral expression. She was surprised by how small their Anchor was.
The rest of her team had gathered. There was the half-elf warrior and the edgy-looking guy with the interesting lantern. Alicia threw the two a glance before returning to reading. At the nudge of the anchor, Alicia’s team members started to introduce themselves. The witch closed her book for a moment to hear what they had to say. The two started to introduce themselves. Sa’Saori, the fire-sword woman from the church of fire. The combination of martial skill with arcane power is not something anyone can combine, and those who train themselves in it are worthy of recognition. But ultimately, it is still a balance of two opposites that will result in no extreme result in either way. She seems competent and very by the books when it comes to manners.
The other was Ichabod Pipton, a human fire and shadow mage. He seems to know what he wants.

After their introductions, there was a small moment of silence before Alicia closed her eyes and let out a mental sigh. Suddenly, Sa’saori and Ichabod heard a female voice "Alicia Medusozoa… Gravity magic… nice to meet you two… let’s get through the examination successfully, I suppose " Alicia said to them telepathically as she opened her eyes again. Her lips never parted for even a second. Then her gaze turned to Ichabod "I too would rather wish to pass… So I can get access to the school’s vast collection of books and means to gather knowledge on arcane and arcane artefacts… a voting system sounds like such a drag… but it is a fair solution for more important situations i guess… so i no complains from me" She messaged the two before turning her attention back to her book.

Equipped Titles: [Isekai], [Human], [Adept Magus], [Ethereal Luminary Academy Student] F, [Magno Sapiente Victori - Grand Magus S] E, Narrative Booster [Arcane Seeker] S, Connected [House Ashford] F, [El-Melloi's Scion] - 0054a6

"Church of Flames, you say?" Adelhein repeated the title, the intonation of the word 'Church' so thick that it almost seemed like it had left a bad taste on his lips. "I forget how religion can be intertwined so closely to magecraft here. Still, it is always good to meet a peer of a noteworthy house, Sa'Saori, and you are much different from the elf who accompanied me for some time. Excellent." He didn't elaborate further.

When it was Ichabod who introduced himself, mentioning being practically the opposite of Sa'Saori and Adelhein himself: no status and self-taught, the youth said nothing. However, his attention had been sequestered by the signet ring on his index finger. He rubbed against his coat to give it a better polish a few times, an impassive expression present on his face.

The lack of address from Alicia seemed to have been noticed and filed away. But not before his crimson gaze fell on her, stony and unblinking, for seconds that seemed to stretch. "It is time." He said, both hands on his back.

A low murmur had begun to spread across the Grand Induction Hall as the newly formed cohorts turned inward, voices rising in cautious conversation, introductions overlapping in a quiet swell of anticipation. Light from the great crystal above continued its slow, measured rotation, casting drifting constellations across the gathered candidates as they spoke among themselves.

It did not last.

A single, clear chime rang through the chamber.

The sound was soft, yet absolute. Conversations faltered, then stilled entirely.




Roffimières had not raised his voice, yet attention returned to him all the same.

“The examination will begin immediately.”

There was no flourish to the announcement. No pause for final preparation.

The crystal at his side brightened, and the sigils beneath the candidates’ feet stirred in unison, their slow drift quickening into deliberate motion.

“Cohorts will be transferred directly into the Astral Vestibule. You will remain within your assigned groups. Proceed with clarity.”

For the briefest moment, as the light began to gather around the platform, something shifted high above.

Among the upper balconies, where shadow pooled between the observation galleries, a figure stood where no one had stood before. Draped in dark, indistinct layers, her presence did not interrupt the light so much as absorb it. She did not move. She did not speak. Yet her attention was unmistakably fixed below.




Then the light surged.

Space folded without violence, the marble floor dissolving into threads of pale brilliance that wrapped around each candidate in turn. The Grand Hall vanished in a breath.

When sensation returned, it did so gently.

The Magenta group found themselves standing upon a wide circular platform of translucent crystal, suspended within a vast, open expanse. There was no sky, no ceiling, only a deep, quiet void filled with drifting motes of light that moved like distant stars caught in slow current.

Ahead, a broad archway stood embedded in a curved wall of polished crystal.

Beyond it lay the first chamber.

Stepping through, the space opened into a grand circular hall, its scale immediately apparent. The floor gleamed beneath their feet, smooth and glasslike, faint veins of light tracing delicate patterns through its surface. Along the walls, tall mirrored panels stood in careful arrangement, each framed in fine silver sigils that pulsed faintly in time with the ambient hum of the room.

At the center, suspended in the air, a large prismatic crystal turned slowly upon its axis. Its soft light scattered outward in shifting beams, catching across the mirrors and breaking into countless refracted strands that danced across the chamber.

Opposite the entrance, a sealed archway of interlocking crystal plates stood silent and unmoving.

Nothing stirred. Nothing threatened.

The room was calm. Beautiful.

And waiting.

Sa'Saori nodded to Adelhein ~ a sad smile catching her features, "You flatter me. I was not accepted by the Church of Flames because of some prestigious pedigree ~ they were just curious to see if my inner magical fires had been corrupted or tainted by my years enslaved and abused for being a half-blood of a prestigious Fae See Family. It was NOT altruism that motivated their 'Instruction'. They wanted to see if the lovely bastard could 'dance' with the Flames and Not be burned? Do not make the mistake of conflating Religious Piety with Dogmatic Tradition! The Church did not 'offer' their instruction in taming my Arcane fires for free... oh .. I paid.. paid dearly with body and more...!"

Her expression is one of shame but fiery determination... her lovely features 'pained' by unpleasant memories.

"But such things are the past... I came through the inferno.. tempered and unbroken! I confronted my Father, and took my Legacy denied to my human mother. I am and shall ever be Sa'Saori Gilderleaf.. a Fae See~Woman of MY own making! But I DO Thank You, Magus Adelhein, for thy kind acknowledgement as a peer of the Arcane... it is more than my 'Family' Ever afforded me!"

She quieted down when Proctor Roffimières began the Trails, grateful not to have to endure some long-winded or pompous dissertation extolling the Grand Reputation of the Scholars or the Academy... but the Proctor got Right To the Damned Point ~ Sa'Saori respected that!

She watched the magical effects with expected readiness... unconcerned she could not appraise exactly what the effects were doing... master magus' had prepared this set of trails well ~ no novice 'should' understand their complexity or power... that way none could cheat or end-run the trails... they would be fair.. and not given from a position of power or coercion... like some of her training as a Fire Huntress...

When they all 'manifested upon the Crystal platform, Sa'Saori took in the scene... noted there was no point in wondering the why or where of it.. the trails were ahead. So BOLDLY she walked forward entering the crystal archway.

She stood in the chamber... and regarded the 'puzzle' before her... surly the others had realized it was a puzzle? No matter she moved to solve it...

The wall mirrored surfaces on the walls reflected the refracted light from the rotating crystal at the room's center...

Sa'Saori studied the shifting beams from the rotating crystal. She drew her Elven Curve Blade and cast a simple enchantment upon it to enhance its power... not for damage but to empower it with magic ~ as THAT was part of the test after all... she moved to the central crystal and touched the crystal with the enchanted sword tip to see if she could stop or shift the crystal rotation.

Noting the results she walked over to the walls to see if touching the mirrored wall surfaces with the enchanted blade had any effect.

Again noting the effects, she moved to try to see if she could shift the emitted crystal beams to reflect off the mirrored wall surfaces to shine a direct light upon the interlocking crystal plates of the Door exiting the chamber... to see if that would open the doors.

She never touches ANY surface with her bare hand only with her enchanted hybrid Catalyst...

✦ Ichabod Pipton ✦ — "Light guides the wise to knowledge."

---

Ethereal Luminary | Grand Induction Hall

---

Ichabod watched as Sa’Saori moved first, his expression as unreadable as ever, though a faint tension flickered behind his eyes. The scrape of steel against crystal causing him to flinch slightly.

“Please do remember this is a cooperative task…” he said evenly, voice calm.“Perhaps a bit of deliberation before touching things might do us some good?”

He let the words settle, not confrontational, but firm, before turning his attention fully to the chamber.

His lantern remained lit as he began a slow, deliberate walk along the perimeter. His gaze passed across each mirrored panel in turn, not lingering on their reflections, but on the behavior of the light striking them.

The beams from the central crystal fractured and scattered, but not without structure. Some reflections were clean. Others warped slightly.

“...we likely need to align the rays of light to a singular point.” he murmured.

He stopped, turning slightly to track the motion of a particular beam as it split, then split again, bouncing across three separate panels before dissipating into nothing.

“Source… distribution… refraction angle…” he said quietly, piecing it together.

His eyes shifted past the mirrors, toward the sealed archway.

More specifically, toward the interlocking crystal plates above it.

A faint narrowing of his gaze.

“…Right.”

He straightened slightly, now speaking clearly to the group.

“I’m going to assume we’ve all gathered the basic objective,” he said. “The crystal is our light source. The mirrors are the routing system.”

A small gesture of his hand traced the path of a beam as it danced across the room.

“And the endpoint…” he added, nodding toward the door, “…is likely those plates above the entrance. Getting through that door is likely our objective.”

He paused briefly. His attention shifted, settling on Alicia. For a moment, he pauseed, measuring his words before speaking again.

“You mentioned gravity magic. How precise is your control? Can you manipulate these mirrors at range? Even slightly—tilt, shift, apply pressure?”

His eyes flicked back to the mirrors.

“If those panels can be adjusted, even by a few degrees, that would be the simplest solution. We align the path directly.”

He paused for a brief moment.

“But…” he continued, his gaze returning to the moving light, “…if they’re fixed...which I suspect they are...then this becomes a matter of finding the correct route rather than forcing one, of course.”

His lantern shifted slightly in his grip, though he still hadn’t activated it.

“We’d need to observe the pattern. Identify which mirrors are true reflectors, which ones modify the beam, and which ones are… something else entirely.”

A faint, thoughtful pause.

“From there, we construct a complete path from the crystal to the door.”

His eyes moved between the two of them now.

“Do either of you have any thoughts?”

---

Actions:
Uses Arcana - F to try to gauge the purpose trial

---

Alicia kept minding her own business while Sa’saori was dumping her life story on the archon. But it was a distraction to keep the guy busy and not give him a chance to ask too many intrusive questions, so it was not completely useless, I suppose.
Then, proctor Roffimières announced the trial was starting. Alica closed her book. It was time to pay attention. While the sigels on the floor started to light up, Alicia noticed something up above on the balconies. It was hard to distinguish among the shadows, but she could swear there was a person there watching them. Alicia looked up in the direction of the figure right before the light flared up and teleported everyone to their testing realms.

Arriving in the test environment, Alicia let her eyes go around the room to assess the assignment. mirrored walls that reflect and refract the light that comes from a spinning crystal on the ceiling of the room, and a door of interlocking crystal plates. The easiest conclusion is that they need to guide the light to a specific point to finish the test. But where and how? Sa’saori was acting boldly, trying to touch various surfaces with her sword. Not a bad idea. A bit crude, but it does give the group some info on how the thing reacts to force. if things can be moved easily and/or if they want to move at all.
"Do not worry about touching things… this is an environment created to test its inhabitants. I am sure the academy is well aware that people want to apply force and test their surroundings. It’s a natural approach to things after all. So I do not worry that Sasa would break something of importance. just watch, see and note how everything reacts to it." She messaged Ichabod in his mind when he showed concern about deliberation before touching things.

Then Ichabod went on to theorise about the test. He did make some valid observations. The goal of the test is likely to get the light of the crystal to hit something. But as it was currently, it was getting way too scattered by all the mirrors. So getting it focused on a single point would be one of the first things they should figure out. Alicia walked to stand beside the crystal that emitted the light and looked at it. She wondered what kind of crystal it was. What was it made of to be able to emit light like that?
When Ichabod inquired about Alicia's gravity magic, the witch looked at him again. "My magic works only in my immediate surroundings. I’m not skilled enough to manipulate gravity at range at this moment…" She told him telepathically. Not that her magic could be of any use to adjust any of the mirrors if they were static objects, which Alicia hoped they were. If they could easily adjust even some of the mirrors, that would mean so much more mental work figuring out the correct configurations then. "I have some thoughts i guess". She messaged both her teammates when Ichabod asked for their thoughts. "I think also that the goal is to direct the light to a specific point. So let us first determine where it could be. The plates are the obvious answer. But is it all the plates or only specific ones? It could also be that we need to hit one of these mirrors with the light? See if one of them absorbs light rather than reflects it." Alicia turned her gaze towards Ichabod "You had shadow magic, right? Can you try to see if your shadows can block the light beams? It might make figuring things out easier if we can stop some of the beams so we can focus on the path of others, I guess"
Alicia closed her eyes "Talking about light. even if we can manipulate the mirrors and know what we precisely have to hit it would be really hard to find out the right way as long as that thing is still moving" She pointed to the crystal "most ideal would be if we can figure out how we can stop or control that thing... I suppose... If we can control how the crystal will turn, we control where the light will end up in the end, I guess". That gave Alicia an idea. She opened her hand towards the crystal and used a [Gravity pull] on it to try and reverse the direction it was spinning in until it only spun around its vertical axis.

Equipped Titles: [Isekai], [Human], [Adept Magus], [Ethereal Luminary Academy Student] F, [Magno Sapiente Victori - Grand Magus S] E, Narrative Booster [Arcane Seeker] S, Connected [House Ashford] F, [El-Melloi's Scion] - 0054a6

When they stepped into the glass-like chamber, Adelhein spent a singular moment looking at the central crystal. Crimson eyes wandered along its edges, catching how it redirected light across the room. "Hmmm." He murmured before turning his attention elsewhere. After all, as Roffimières had put it, he was not there to help them with the test. His duties lay elsewhere.

"Well put. Let's see you and your comrades fare on the first test." Saying so to Sa'Saori, he walked to one of the walls of the chambers. His gaze was locked on the mirrored panel, appraising it for any strangeness. When he was satisfied, he turned around, watching the three participants work on the puzzle with crossed arms.

The chamber answered experiment before it answered theory. When Sa'Saori brought the enchanted tip of her blade against the floating crystal, a clear note rang out through the room, high and pure as struck glass. The prism did not stop, yet its rotation shivered for the span of a breath, and the beams spilling from it jumped across the mirrors in a new pattern before settling again. Touching the mirrored panels with the same enchanted steel proved more revealing. Most remained cool and firm, but one gave a faint ripple beneath the blade as though its surface were only pretending to be solid. Another swallowed the reflected glimmer for an instant instead of casting it onward.

As Ichabod moved the perimeter with lantern in hand, the structure of the trial began to show itself. This was no random scattering of light. There was intent in it. Some mirrors reflected true, some bent the angles unnaturally, and at least one seemed meant to interrupt or consume a beam rather than continue it. The sealed archway opposite them remained the clearest destination, especially the interlocking crystal plates set above its frame, where faint lines could now be seen resting dormant like an incomplete sigil. His reading of the chamber aligned with what the room itself was quietly suggesting: this was a test of routing, discernment, and false appearances.

Alicia's gravity reached for the central prism next. Under the pressure of her spell and the warded resistance woven into the chamber, the crystal did not yield fully, but its turning did shift. For a few moments its horizontal drift tightened into a cleaner axis, and one narrow beam sharpened enough to strike the wall beside the door. There, a single silver rune lit violet, then faded when the prism's motion slipped back out of alignment. High above, unnoticed by most, the shadows of the observation gallery remained still.

Near the wall, Adelhein watched in silence, arms crossed, letting the newcomers find the shape of the first answer for themselves.

Her gravity reached the centre crystal. pulling and guiding it to a desired spin. But this control only lasted a breath’s length, but long enough that the lights could converge and hit a single point next to the door before returning to its default rotation cycle. "Interesting, although holding a strong will of its own, the crystal can be influenced in another direction given enough force. even for just a moment… … if I concentrate more on it, I bet I could control it just long enough to aim it…" Alicia pondered taking in the info of her little experiment.

The attempt gave some valuable insights. But the most interesting one was the silver rune that lit up with a violet glow when the light struck it. "hmmm" Alicia walked over to the wall next to the door, stopping in front of where the rune lit up. Alicia raised her hand and softly touched the wall where she noticed the rune lit up. "What does this mean?" She wondered, looking at the silver rune, trying to remember what the meaning of the rune is, and how it translates into common language. It was obvious that this rune had something to do with solving the puzzle. But at this point, there was still too much unclear to determine what function it could serve.

"Did any of you find something?" Alicia asked the other two. if they combine all they found out, maybe they could solve the puzzle. or at least determine the pieces that were in play.
Alicia’s attention returned to the rune. Maybe there were more of these runes. The witch started to examine the walls around the door, as that is where she found the first rune, to see if she could find more of them. She knows not all might be of any use. But as one already lit up when the light of the crystal hit it. Maybe others would do the same. So knowing the location of others means she has targets she could try to aim the crystal at if they decided to try to manipulate the big source of light.

Sa'Saori, noted the chimed tone created on the touch of her enchanted hybrid catalyst... she had not considered that sound and tone might be part of the puzzle. When testing the mirror surfaces with her enspelled blade she found the 'false' mirror noting its location...

At Alicia's Question she answered, "..Yes.. interesting. I think sound or perhaps chiming the crystal surfaces might provide some clue as to the orientation of the beams emitted from the rotating crystal."

Then she walked over to the 'false mirror' surface and demonstrated with the tip of her blade, "...This mirror-surface seems to be a false surface... its appearance is of a mirror but its not solid.. permeable. Perhaps its illusory...concealing some clue or trigger?"

The chamber responded again, not with force, but with quiet alignment.

Alicia’s earlier manipulation had left a trace the room had not yet discarded. As she studied the wall near the sealed archway, her attention settled on the faintly glowing sigil where the refracted light had briefly converged. Up close, the rune was not etched in the usual manner. It seemed embedded beneath the surface, revealed only when struck by the correct angle of light. Its shape was delicate, angular, and incomplete, as though only one part of a larger pattern had been awakened.

As her fingers brushed the surface, the glow did not fade. Instead, it pulsed once, softly, acknowledging the contact. The crystal behind them continued its steady rotation, but now that the group had seen it, the pattern became clearer. The light was not random. It was searching.

Sa’Saori’s observation of the mirrors proved equally important. The permeable surface did not resist her blade. The tip passed through with only the faintest distortion, like pushing through a thin veil of water. On the other side, the reflection did not match the chamber perfectly. The angles were slightly off. The central crystal appeared lower, its light dimmer, its beams less scattered.

And then, just for a moment, something else bled through.

The floor in that reflection was not smooth crystal. It was segmented. Layered. Structured in a way that resembled interlocking shapes far less refined than the Vestibule’s design.

The image corrected itself almost immediately.

The mirror stilled.

Across the chamber, another faint glimmer appeared along the wall near the door. Then a second. Then a third. Dim, incomplete sigils, each waiting to be struck by the proper beam of light.

The puzzle revealed its next layer.

The crystal did not need to be stopped.

It needed to be guided.

And the room, patient as ever, continued to watch.

Sa'Saori nodded and moved over to the crystal... she did not try to stop it.. but pull its down tot he position she saw in the reflection in the mirror surface she observed in the permeable mirror.. to lower the crystal so its rotating beams strike to proper mirror surfaces to trigger the appearing incomplete runes.