Oscar, like Ashe, tended to be silent and reclusive, but he was always inquisitive and watched his surroundings eagerly, always learning what things he could using the small unseen details. Where someone might see a leaf stuck to a pant leg and think, 'What is so important about a leaf,' Oscar would know what type of leaf it was and where it came from. He would deduce information about where that person had been and judging by the fact it was still there the person was in too big a hurry to get somewhere, or away from somewhere, to have tidied themselves up.
He used this skill now to observe the teachers after the ceremony. They were talking, it seemed as though they were worried about something. Did they not truly think that the new graduates were ready for their first assignment? If so, why did they allow them to graduate? Krissy was a savant, complete control over her element, to the point that she could touch the flame directly with her skin and not be brunt. However, she was reckless and would do things that might cause trouble for someone else. Arden, it seemed to Oscar, was the opposite. He was a rare mage who had the potential to fully tap into the spiritual powers around him, and yet he seemed afraid to do so, like he didn't have the confidence needed to fulfill his duty. The extremes of the group were probably what concerned the sensei.
Oscar would have enjoyed more time to collect information and watch the group chat more, but it was time to start heading to the site of where it all began.
As each of the five traveled to the clearing under the old Hallowed tree memories would play out before them of their friendships and trial and tribulations leading up to this moment. Once there, the group would have a moment to meditate and to collect themselves for what they were about to do. Nerves would no doubt be running high, if not amongst the students, then amongst the teachers who had gathered to observe. The teachers also took the moment to meditate and pray for success.
After a short time, Krissy would ask, "Everyone ready? Let's do this!" Clearly eager and overexcited.
The five would take their places and begin their initial movements. These first few moves were not moves intended to actively cast spells, simply movements intended to allow the group to synchronize their movements together and match each others pace and timing. The same set of five movements would be repeated until they all moved together. It would be an uncomfortable number of repetitions before the group decided they were ready to continue without words. Able to move on their bodies would twist and pull, pushing the spirit flow around them into the intricate shapes and patterns that made up the complex combination of spells they were about to perform.
Everything was going perfectly, all of their motions perfectly timed and paced, each member of the five watching each other. Everything in harmony, everything in balance. When it was time to place the new bindings many of the teachers visibly stiffened, the moment of truth was upon them. The new bindings were placed and the old bindings removed, a few more movements and then the old bindings would be cleansed, vanishing in a stream of light.
The group took a few deep breaths together, bowed to the tree, and walked away from the tree, still in synchrony. It wasn't until they had reached the clearing that they dared move independently of one another.
Sensei Tomo was the first to great them. "You have exceeded expectations, you should all be very proud of yourselves. Tonight there will be a village festival in your honor. Tomorrow we will meet and discuss what your futures hold."
Not a moment after the last words a soul rendering crack erupted through the entire area, like reality itself had been snapped in two everyone could feel it down the very marrow of their bones and none more so then Arden. A vacuum of spirit energy had been formed in an instant and the shockwave of the returning spirit energy nearly knocked him off of his feet. Screams followed, but something was different about these screams.
Back in the clearing, the tree had exploded in a fiery explosion and there, screaming in the agony of its rebirth back into the world was a very large demon. Red skinned with black eyes, horns, nails, and hair, it was awash in blue flame which was rapidly spreading from its body into the surrounding forest. All around it teachers writhed in an agony of their own, or if they had made it through the explosion with little to no damage, they were already starting to take up battle stances and started to process their energy into casting spells.