WeepingLiberty

Of Blood and Magic

Dakota Brookes

Lunch Break

_{Mention: Joryldin @Jade Blades}

The unmistakable sound of a bell startled Dakota from their daze, a small trail of dust what remained of a trickle of drool that had previously rolled across the skin. Wiping it away with the back of their hand, the mage blinked away the fog of sleep to gather some semblance of bearings.

Last thing they could remember, Joryldin had asked a question concerning the platforms of each house they would be required to report on throughout the semester. The response had been rather clear, though it could have been phrased a little less dickish than it had been. It would see this particular class would be styled more like AP courses offered back home, expectations being the students fill in the gaps of whatever they are missing on their own time. For a normal class subject this wasn’t all that daunting, but for those new to this side of the treaty in question… such a task seemed overwhelming at best.

A couple of other questions were asked, and answered, before the TA continued on into another long-winded lecture. He started out with article one, something known as the Declaration of Authority. Dakota could feel their eyelids growing heavy as Varis continued on about what the article actually covered. The longer he spoke, the less the mage heard before losing focus entirely.

Dakota also vaguely remembered some kind of commotion but as to what exactly happened, they had to piece it together from the bits of conversations going on around them. A shake of the head helped to clear the senses somewhat, eyes darting around to search for Jory so they could head off to lunch together. Unfortunately, it seemed that whilst recovering from the nap, Dakota had lost track of said partner. Heaving a sigh, belongings were packed back up into a bag before the mage stood up to stretch.

Choosing to ignore the group gathering at the front of the room, Dakota wandered out into the hallway with a large yawn. It was unfortunate missing out on what was likely a significant portion of information, however, it was not an immediate concern for the youth. If they weren’t going to cover the basics to understand the material being taught, Dakota would have to do most of the subject learning on personal time.

Currently, though, the mage had more important issues to attend to… such as the uncontrollable growling noises emanating from the stomach. Breakfast had been lighter than usual after rushing out for first class, so a food break was a welcome time for the starving youth. Dakota chuckled quietly and set course for the lunchroom.

It wasn’t long before Dakota had loaded up a plate with a burger among various other goodies that drew the eye. There was a table on the outskirts of the room that happened to go overlooked long enough for Dakota to set up shop, claiming a seat to settle into for the remainder of the lunch hour. As other student filed in Dakota watched them, wondering if it was worth moving to join the groups but ultimately decided against it. With so many classes to attend, opportunities would present themselves before long. All Dakota had to do was wait for the right one.

Withdrawing a pair of headphones, the mage kicked back with a small, portable gaming system. A few of the more reserved students found refuge at the quiet table, content talking amongst their smaller circles and taking the occasional peek over Dakota’s shoulder. A few recognized the title to be an animated rhythm game, the mage’s furious finger tapping a stark contrast to the calm facial expression. Dakota would use the time during loading screens to pick at the food on the table before playing through another song. This cycle continued until the bell signaled the end of the lunch period, a fellow mage tapping Dakota’s shoulder on his way by to let them know time was up.

Spell Theory

_{Interacting with: Cassandra @Gisk
Mention: Professor Tinley}

Shoveling the last few bites of a danish into their mouth, Dakota stuffed the electronics back into the bag and recalled the schedule. Up next should be Spell Theory which meant Dakota was set to return to Onyx Hall where Affinity Master had taken place. There were plenty of differences to note upon arrival however. The room itself was set up more like the lecture hall that Varis had been teaching out of, complete with large monitors meant to display prominent information for the lessons. Dakota assumed the cheerful woman welcoming in the students was the professor in charge of the class, making her more engaging than the fossil Max had been complaining about.

Looking around, Dakota hoped to see the grumpy mage among the sea of faces. It would have been great to already know someone, not to mention it would give the pair a chance to get to know one another like Joey had suggested to the pair. Unfortunately, it seemed the Max would not be making an appearance to this class period leaving Dakota on their own. With a shrug of the shoulders the youth found a seat with a good view of the front of the room, the earlier nap leaving them feeling refreshed and ready to learn.

Despite the name of the course being Spell Theory, Dakota was not at all bored by the information being relayed to them. It was a bit of a shame that this class hadn’t been scheduled earlier in the night than the other, some of the subjects touching upon links Dakota had been missing. Primary affinities made sense, the main elements and a natural knack for said magics, making that feel more an extension of one’s own spirit rather than an artificial tool. But it wasn’t until the Secondary (or Combinations as they were apparently called), that pieces began fitting. Some of what was spoken about felt similar to what the earlier course had been able to reveal but it still wasn’t enough to figure out what the element in question could be… Still, it was a place to start.

As the professor moved on into Tertiary affinities, Dakota couldn’t help but think of Max. It seemed most of what the teacher described fit what Joey had been saying about Max’s own affinity. The mage had to hold back a laugh at how perfect it sounded.

Still not an element, but it should narrow down the research. Maybe give us something to bounce some ideas off of. Worth a shot anyway. Dakota thought to themselves, tuning in for the follow up on something known as a ‘Conditional’. The youth supposed the category was given a cute nickname to make up for a less becoming name: Miscellaneous. It sounded like the category for misfits, elements that didn’t seem to fit any of the categories or in some cases… all of them. It was possible Dakota fell into this category instead, but it would take a little more experimentation and research before options could be narrowed down.

Questions were opened up to the floor, a girl directly one seat ahead raising her hand to ask something about non-human entities possessing Secondary and even Tertiary affinities. The idea that creatures had the ability at all had taken Dakota by complete surprise, but the statistics were definitely on the student’s side; especially if it were a newer, underdeveloped study.

Dakota scribbled some words down on a scrap of paper, leaning forward to drop the note over the girl’s shoulder before raising a hand to ask a different question.

Note to Cassandra

I like the way you think. Looking for a study buddy?

~Dakota (one seat behind you)

“Earlier, you were saying something about arcane magics and how it can be more difficult for those with closer bonds to their affinities to perform… Does that mean it could potentially be an alternative for those who have yet to discover their affinity. I mean, you can’t have much of a bond if you can’t even figure it out, right?”

Of Blood and Magic

Amaris Marivaldi

Treaty Law

_{Interacting with: Cassandra(Kinda) @Gisk
Mention: Varis @Achronum, Eris @Hero, Joryldin @Jade Blades, and Aaron @Obscene Symphony}

Amaris raised a brow, thoroughly unimpressed with Eris’ entitled reply. If anything, she was somewhat disappointed. The man had talent as an actor, that much she could not deny, but it seemed he was less inclined to the art of improvisation. A lackluster response was only to be expected from a man whose entire existence depended on a script. Still, she maintained her posture as the interruption was addressed and sent to a seat far too close to her liking.

“As for you Countess Marivaldi, I would appreciate it if you left interruptions to me. Your lackluster commentary opened the floor to further chaos and deprived your classmates of valuable time. As a noble, your behavior serves as an example to your… peers and perpetuating the discord Mr. Samael benefits no one.” A soft sigh and a weak shrug of her shoulders, Amaris retook her seat as directed. There was no enjoyment from toying with Varis on this topic as any word she had to say would be twisted for his own sick amusement.

The interruption Eris caused was not just on class time but her own as well. She shared the floor with another student in asking questions that would further serve their intellectual curiosities. Such an interruption was a personal affront to her, not to mention the lack of manners displayed by the actor burned her to the core. While she often had fun serving as an interruption to Varis’ daily routine there was at least a small amount of elegance to it. To not at least greet the head of the room properly before galavanting about was in rather poor taste. She expected more from someone who had the world watching his every move.

For as much as Varis complained though, her ‘interaction’ with Eris did serve a purpose. Students still writing were able to catch up, those napping given a reason to perk up, and she had been able to lay eyes on a particular student who had asked a question during the last open floor. While it was not a lesson, if the boy had been paying enough attention, his list of identifiable nobles grew from one to two. Not a significant change but that was one person from two different noble houses he could not identify previously. It was her hope that by having Varis use her family name, it might help him and others like him just the smallest bit.

~~~

With the questions answered and their first oral assignment given, the class was ended by the sounding of a bell. There was a small window of time between classes that allowed for many of the students to linger within the halls. Various conversations erupted around her, including some at the front of the class with Varis. Joining him at his side was the Starag mage assigned to the count, kneeling as he was no doubt instructed to. The sight was nothing more than a power play, and it disgusted her. At formal functions she could understand, after all, even she had to appear more strict than she actually was. But this was a classroom filled to the brim with the boy’s peers, his friends. It was an embarrassment and entirely unnecessary. Even more frustrating was there was little she could do to help. She had no right to step in as the boy was not in any physical danger and any intervention from her was likely to further his ill-treatment out of spite.

She bore a stiff posture as she stood from her chair. Packing away her belongings, Amaris neatly folded her notebook and turned her back on the scene at the front of the room. The sound of Eris’ voice continued as if he had not done any wrong previously, his words causing her eyes to roll back into her head. Such tactics would never usually work with Varis, but it seemed there was more to their relationship than met the eye.

I should have known better… Eris is probably as close to a ‘friend’ as Varis can get. Who else would have the gall to speak to him so informally in public.

Voices began filling the hall as other mages took note of their fellow classmate’s posture at the front of the room. Some sounded concerned, others held pity in their tones, and even more yet thought it appropriate to mock the Starag. All were natural reactions but she thought the last to be rather cruel considering the circumstances. Weren’t they supposed to be friends, look out for one another? A naive thought; pipedream really.

Amaris began filtering out the extra noise, certain the conversations Varis had sparked would only serve to tick her off further. She allowed her eyes to wander about the space for Cassandra, keeping her within her sights as more unfriendly faces made their presence known about the space. Eager to leave, she took her cue to depart once it looked like Cassandra had concluded her business in the classroom.

Taking up pace with the throngs of students making their way to the dining hall, Amaris was quickly joined by Cassandra who managed to fall in sync with her for quite a few moments. It was impressive how effortless she had made that seem, especially with how many students they were actually walking with. There were many conversations going on about the hall and Amaris thought to add one of her own now that she and Cassandra were finally in the same place at the same time, but it seemed their meeting would be just as brief as their first.

Private Meeting

_{Interacting with: Princess Ryner}

The countess became acutely aware of the presence of two mages, much more powerful than any student surrounding her would be. A shift of the eye revealed the familiar faces of Princess Ryner’s personal mages, assumedly a summons in regards to her request.

That didn’t take nearly as long as I was expecting. She’s efficient, I’ll give her that. Amaris thought to alert Cassandra to the change in plans but something stayed her voice. She knew very little about the girl, and she didn’t want to thrust her into the middle of something she could not handle, nor divulge information she could not be trusted with. Besides, if Cassandra’s presence was necessary… Amaris would not be the only one to take note of the escorts.

Quietly, Amaris fell into step with the mages allowing them to lead the way. The journey took as long as expected fighting the currents of hungry students as they made their way back to the administrative buildings. Crowds thinned out the closer they got to the destination making the set pace rather pleasant despite the circumstances.

Eventually there was no more hall left to walk down, no more stairs to climb. The trio had reached the end of the line, the one mage knocking on the door before standing aside to await a response. Amaris could hear the unmistakable voice of Ryner bid entrance to the inquiring guest, a soft exhale to steady herself before straightening her posture completely and stepping forward.

“Would you care for a glass of blood, Countess? It may make explaining how you came to be in the possession of such a dangerous artifact a little easier.” The princess spoke as she gestured for Amaris to sit, the countess complying without hesitation.

“A glass would be most appreciated, Your Royal Highness. I’m embarrassed to say that a misunderstanding has resulted in the interruption of my feeding schedule. It would be nice to take the edge off while I make other arrangements. But if you would pardon my ignorance, I’m not at all sure what you mean by ‘dangerous artifact’.”

Ryner opened the bottle and poured two glasses, sliding one across her desk before leaning back and sipping at it. She considered Amaris for several long minutes, her usual cheerfulness replaced with a somber expression. She finished her glass and sat forward, flipping through the pages of the book.

“This book is written in the First Tongue, a language that predates the originals. They exterminated all those who spoke it and kept it for themselves, believing the very words themselves resonated with magical power. They taught their children, who eventually turned on their Sires, and the language was lost in their conflict. But plenty of their writings remain and many of them have secrets of magic and artifacts and processes we could never imagine.” Ryner explained, putting the book down closer to herself than before. “They are unstable, unfinished processes. Incredibly dangerous and horrifically volatile in some cases. I’ve spent since before the Treaty deciphering and learning this language and I personally certify those who wish to handle these. Four vampires. None of them nobles. Even our Council members are not permitted anything in First Tongue.”

“I’m sure you’ll understand I have a few concerns, starting with how you came into the book’s possession and how much you understand of it.” Ryner made a gesture at the two at the back of the room and the doors opened and closed.

Amethyst eyes glistened with pure curiosity and cautious delight as they rested upon the book settled between her and Ryner. Hours she had poured over the bindings and the unfamiliar text within, running her fingertips over every inch of it, even the weight of the object could be felt in her hands despite not having held it in some time now. A book written in THE First Tongue in her possession? Any scholar’s heart would flutter at just the thought of an opportunity to see such an artifact. But if her father had not been a certified handler then how exactly did he manage to acquire it, and why of all people would he leave it to her? The longer she thought about it, the more questions she had.

Amaris took a moment to sip at her glass, her nerves calming some as she did so. The expression on her face remained somewhat neutral but the look in her eye turned somewhat sorrowful as she continued to stare at the object.

“I suppose that’s where you and I see things a little differently.” She spoke after a few moments of silence, turning her eyes back up to meet Ryner’s.

“With all due respect, ma’am… There isn’t a word in any language that couldn’t be considered powerful or dangerous. Words are capable of destruction and they are also capable of creation. A person, no… the world even, can be controlled with words alone. They are like music but they are also like fire, and once they have been spoken there is no way to reclaim them. In the most poetic sense, words are like a magic all their own… one that even we can use.” A short silence filled the room between Amaris’ thoughts, the blood in her glass twirling in habitual circles before coming to an abrupt stop; the countess returning sharply to the present.

“And it’s not as if the history of magic is without its moments of volatility. Any incomplete experiment would be considered as such, but sometimes they can be better written off. There’s much to consider in that department so I don’t speak lightly when I say I can understand your concern on the matter…” Amaris felt a pang of unease, unsure as to how she wished to proceed.

“I can assure you that I did not seek that out, it was gifted to me upon the death of a member of the council. There was no explanation, just the book and a sense that I shouldn’t tell anybody about it; or at least not right away. I had my suspicions concerning it but had no way to confirm them until just now, should have guessed with how difficult it was to translate. Translation might be a bit extreme of a word if I’m being honest, though. I have made some close approximations on very elementary words but even then, I am most likely wrong. So far, there is only one word associated with that book that I know with any kind of certainty.”

"Is that where our opinions differ, Countess? An interesting conversation but not what we are here to discuss." Ryner asked dryly, unamused at Amaris's unnecessary additions. She tapped her fingers on the book.

"You claim Lord Ralmevik, if I understood you correctly, left his daughter an artifact he had no legal right to own?" Ryner demanded. "How was it delivered? Did a vampire or mortal hand it to you? Did it appear at the hour of his death?"

Amaris’ stare turned icy, her irises quivering between subtle shades as she sought to contain her rising emotions. Was this really what it came down to? That perhaps it hadn’t really been him who held the book and that Amaris had been tricked somehow; an easier claim to make but ultimately solved nothing but to shift the legal blame. But if it wasn’t someone posing as her father, the line of questioning could only lead in so many directions.

“You’re right, it isn’t what I came here to discuss at all, but I’m not sure I like where this is going. Do you honestly think that my father could possibly be a traitor to the crown; like that girl you had me paired with? Is that why she was assigned to me?” The images of Minfilia being flung from the dorms and tossed like a criminal into the back of a van played in her mind like a stop motion video. It was perhaps a more irrational stretch considering the guards had been allowed to leave the immediate space. Princess Ryner was more than capable of handling herself but if Amaris had been considered a true threat, the opportunity would never have been given at all. A sharp exhale served to steady the already shaky memories of her youth, a time corrupted by grief and loneliness.

“That book was in one of many studies. It’s exact location was provided to me via a letter that accompanied his will. Addressed to me and me alone, that seal had been charmed so that if another tried to open it the information would be destroyed and the discovery left to the fates. Had this been a family heirloom it would have been presented to the main house for us to share. If he thought it to be something for the head of the house only it would have been presented to his Lordship Salazar, or me if I had been a few decades older. That means he didn’t want to leave that to chance if he didn’t have to, he guaranteed that I would find it and be the one to decide what to do with it… So I brought it here.” The words tumbled from her lips as quickly as they appeared in her mind, an unstoppable force fueled by years of agonizing over the very subjects they now spoke of.

“If it is your concern that I’ll have more, don’t be… that was it. These questions you’re asking are the reason I’m here. Call it naive, or childish hope… but I felt that if I could learn about that book then maybe I could understand why what happened had to happen the way that it did. But clearly it’s a dead end for me, I mean I thought he had written the damn thing for the first few years.” Amaris fell silent, draining the rest of her glass in one fell swoop. It served to alleviate only a small fraction of what she was experiencing, but at this point she would take just about anything she could get.

Ryner remained emotionless through Amaris’s explanation, refilling the vampire’s glass when she finished it. Ryner sipped at her own, eyes roaming Amaris’s face calculatingly. The black stayed but a genuine chuckle escaped her lips after a moment and she followed the noble’s example, tossing back her drink and refilling it. She set the bottle down and reached down, placing a thin black dagger on the desk.

“If I believed hope naive or foolish, I would have walked into the sun centuries ago.” Ryner sighed with an almost fond smile. “Did you know, your father had a nickname he loathed all those years ago. Remmy, we called him. He hated it, absolutely hated it. Especially once he hit adulthood. Suddenly, he was too manly for childish things, silly nicknames included.” She fiddled with the dagger, staring at it absently. “We were turned together. Remmy, myself, and ten others. We grew up together. We thought we’d grow old together, all twelve of us. And then, it was all gone in an instant.”

“Listening to you, it makes me remember back when we were mortal. Cydril and Remmy would be at each other’s throats over some petty academic discussion. Remmy always used a dirty tricky―I’m not even sure what it was, some turn of phrase or something or other―and my little brother would go storming off, ranting about some differential or another.” Ryner chuckled again, reaching into her desk and pulled out another book. It was an exact replica of Amaris’s and as Ryner flipped them open, perfectly copies inside.

“Do I think Ralmevik was a traitor? Not the way you think I do. But so did he and that’s why he killed himself.” Ryner sat back in her chair, the blank look on her face reterning. “You have a choice here Ms. Marivaldi. I can show you what's in that book. You can learn everything and bear the weight that drove your father to his end or you take the other one, a fond but empty memory. Whichever you choose, you walk out of my office alive. I owe your father one last favor; I won’t dishonor my memory by breaking that faith.”

Amaris’ eyes tracked Ryner’s hand as she refilled her guest’s glass, somehow still remaining the perfect host despite all that had occured. She set to refilling her own before withdrawing a dagger from beneath the desk. But what stayed Amaris wasn’t anything the princess did, it was the words she spoke after. Stories of her father she had never heard, a piece of him untainted by accusations and conspiracies in someone else’s mind. Had they been speaking under different circumstances, Amaris might have broken down in actual tears.

Every word rang true, sounding exactly as she still imagined the man. Well, almost. He might have acted too tough for a nickname such as Remmy, but she remembered the time spent playing in libraries with him. He had never fully written off his childhood.

“Remmy? Really?” She spoke, the name sounding strange but comforting as she laughed. Her eyes trailed between the two copies of the book, debating her choices heavily. Somehow, she couldn’t imagine anything that he wouldn’t have been able to handle, much less something that would drive the man to kill himself. They were words, that if spoken by anyone else, would have been branded a lie and cast away permanently.

The feelings burned her from the inside, so many thoughts, more questions than answers. Amaris was being given a choice to leave it all behind… to find closure in what information the princess did have to offer. But would she be satisfied or would the questions consume her for centuries to come?

Some things are better off forgotten, wiped away from the slate completely. How many laws, how many stories have been stripped from living knowledge for the sake of peace and prosperity? What justice could be found in digging up graves? But it was never about justice, not for her. Amaris might never truly believe that her father would set himself up for failure in the way that Ryner was telling her he had… but the manner of his death was only part of it. Knowing what he did, the late Lord Ralmevik had still chosen not only to keep the artifact, but to pass it on.

“A valuable experience to know that there was a version of this conversation that would have ended with a permanent expulsion. The version of my father that you knew, I have wished for decades that I got to meet.” This time Amaris spoke slowly, the gears turning in her head like clockwork as she absently toyed with her house amulet with her free hand.

“There was always a reason with him, and while I may never know what that reason was it can’t just be ignored. There are many things that are best left in the shadows, withered away until nothing remains… but some? Irresponsible to do so. What is madness but a misunderstood state of clarity? Your Royal Highness?” Amaris returned Ryner’s blank expression with a determined one of her own.

“I would like to formally request your permission to the knowledge contained within that book. I understand that I may not like what I find and that it has been considered the death of beloved member of our society. So with that being said, if there are preparations that should be made I am prepared to comply.”

“Excellent.” Ryner sat forward, picking up a case off the floor, gently laying in on the desk,and flicking it open. Several straps lined a plush inside and several pieces of obsidian nestled along the walls glinted in the artificial light. Ryner slipped real copy into her desk and strapped the fake into the case, closing it, locking it, and placing it back on the floor. She pressed something under her desk and the doors to her office opened, a member of the Royal Guard coming in. He bowed to both parties, released with a nod of Ryner’s head, and he left with the case held carefully. Sariel winked at Ryner and she shut the door soft a soft click.

“My apologies for involving you in that little piece of deceit but if my sister knew I allowed this, I fear we both may face her wrath.” Ryner pulled the book back out, flipping it open to the first page. “Over the years, I have come to claim some degree of mastery over the First Tongue. I rarely need references or guides anymore but this was a tricky piece of work. It isn’t an artifact by any means; Remmy would never be so reckless as to allow that to fall into your hands. At least not until he armed you with the tools to handle them.”

“You’re aware of the legends that abound about the original vampires and the children? About their fantastic powers and incredible talents and the other things lost to their petty arguments?” Things changed in an instant. Ryner moved in the blink of an eye, the Princess standing next t the noble, grabbing the back of her head, and shoving her face above the book. “Pay very close attention to what happens next. This is the Marivaldi’s magic, not a mage’s, and I don’t know if your blood has the power to break it.” Ryner held the girl firm, dagging the dagger’s tip gently beneath Amaris’s right eye. It sliced through skin like butter, blood welling and dripping onto the page.

The drips stained the pages for just a moment before vanishing, again and again,until the words blurred red and like sand, blew away. Ralmevik’s graceful script shone briefly before dulling again. Ryner moved her hand and left the dagger next to the book, sitting in her own chair again as she watched Amaris closely. The top of the first page read “The Blood Arts of the Marivaldi Vampires” and the book immediately launched into various forms of blood magic those close enough to the First could perform.

Flinching as her body was moved without her consent, Amaris bit back a surprised hiss as the blade Ryner held broke flesh. As the princess continued to speak the countess had her eyes fixated on the book as instructed though there wasn’t much else in the way of choice in this case. For a brief moment she was worried that the stains that appeared would be permanent, that after all the lengths Ryner went to mislead her own sister, that Amaris had just damaged it. The reality, she found, was much stranger than she had been anticipating.

She could hear the words but they weren’t making any sense to her. Marivaldi magic? Stories of the vampires of old were hardly believable at the best of times. While she was familiar with more than a few of them, she had never imagined that the talents spoken of would be considered magic of all things. It just didn’t seem… possible.

Feeling the pressure behind her head release, Amaris began to straighten her posture once more but only slightly. Everything she had ever been taught screamed at her to look away, that the words revealed to her were not something she was allowed to see. The feeling was reminiscent of a child who had been caught with an inappropriate film or book.

“I- I’m not sure I understand what I’m looking at. I thought that the forbidden magics were a mage creation, an attempt to fight against the agreements despite their endorsement by Starag and Le Fey themselves. Something to be used against vampires not by them…” There was a falter to her tone as if she didn’t quite believe the words she was speaking either. The mere shock of it prevented her from fully comprehending what lay on the page, the more she took in the crazier it seemed. Blood magic was a taboo subject to begin with, but to learn that her family name was somehow connected to several forms of it...

“Hold on, I’m not having any trouble reading this. What about all the translations, the First Tongue?”

Ryner watched Amaris flick through several emotions, pulling out a band-aid and offering it to the Countess. Crow's feet crinkled at the edge of her eyes as amusement twinkled in her eyes. The sight of Amaris struggling to understand a new reality made her remember her own Site explaining her new life; everything seemed new and dark and crazy but also powerful and invigorating and freeing in a twisted, terrible way. After all, she'd been lifted from predator to prey and prey to predator.

“That was First Tongue technically. Nothing but a silly facade with the ramblings of a 200 BC "prophet". Further review of his works determined he really was just psychotic sadly. I always had looked forward to beings of apocalyptic nature bursting for from the center of the world." Ryner shrugged and sighed disappointedly. “Life is disappointment. Remmy warded it in the event someone made it past the seal which ensured its safe return once it passed into my hands. Someone who still commands the lineage’s magic would have to break the spell and since you are my late friend’s only child...” She gestured at the book and picked up her glass again, sipping.

“I would consider, before you try what is in that book, the information you’ve learned today and attempt to reconcile that with the father you knew. I hope you see with new eyes. For history goes to the victor and we have yet to win.” Ryner smiled wearily as the bell rang. “But for now, you’ll need to attend class. It’ll arouse suspicion from the wrong powers if you linger longer.”

Amaris wanted to ask Ryner more but the sound of the bell brought their meeting to a somewhat cryptic end. She finished off what little was left of her second glass, placing it down gently with an appreciative nod of her head. With all that she had learned today, there was much she was going to have to consider moving forward. But if Ryner was worried enough about ‘wrong powers’ taking notice that she would take such extreme lengths to trick her own sister, personal deliberations would have to wait.

Unzipping her backpack, Amaris carefully tucked the book among her other school supplies. For a moment she was relieved to have the book back in her possession, feeling it safer with her after having her dorm raided by officials and the object stolen once already. But knowing what content was held within, not to mention the lengths gone to mislead figures of actual authority, she wasn’t so sure that having it on her person was any safer either. For now, she would have to make do and plan for later.

“As far as I’m concerned, I was here to be given a stern lecture on the interference of royal investigations and to issue an apology for my unbecoming behavior.” The countess rose from her chair and shifted her posture into a respectful bow.

“Your time has been an honor as always and thank you for drinks.” Amaris moved to take her leave from the princess’ study, pausing just before reaching the door.

“Ma’am? Lord Salazar, does he know?”

"The proper form of address is Your Royal Highness, not ma'am." Her voice cracked loudly across the room but her smile remained. "Lord Marivaldi is fully aware of all the details and, while our discussion here may have been the extent of your formal reprimand, I will be recommending the Lord continue this discussion once you return. Good evening, Countess." The doors opened and the mages bowed to the Countess.

“Ofcourse, Your Royal Highness. A good evening to you as well.”

Human Psychology

_{Interacting with: Professor Patel
Mention: Varis}

A swift pace set Amaris’ course back to the halls, this time her block of studies steering her in the way of Nightingale in the stead of Cardinal. Psychology in general had always been somewhat fascinating, but humans were something else entirely. They could either be laughably predictable or a complete enigma with zero overlap in between. She couldn’t be sure if her excited state was solely for the subject at hand or something left over from her meeting with Ryner, but either way it helped to quicken her pace to avoid arriving late to class.

Slipping into the room quietly, the countess took her seat just in time to catch Dame Patel’s first introductions. The woman had a cheery attitude and a soft air about her, a refreshing change of pace from Varis’ strict and rigid command of the room. Seeing him sitting at his designated seat reminded her that she had been secretly hoping he would be assigned to another class. It was bad enough that she had to be taught by him, she didn’t want to have to learn with him either.

Amaris nodded her head with a smile as Dame Patel extended her humbled honor at having the opportunity to teach the slew of nobles in attendance, though, Amaris found herself disagreeing in part with the woman’s words. In her experience, the countess had found nobles and those belonging to the higher houses to be the most out of touch with humans. Even she had to admit that her own knowledge was limited and that the course she was currently sitting in could provide valuable advice.

The curriculum did not disappoint as the professor launched into some of the potential long term effects that could be caused by subtle changes in… well, just about everything. Not only was their own biology capable of turning against them, their environment was a huge factor in their mental wellbeing as well. She had known plants with more resilience than what was being described to her. Obviously, every mage was an individual case but that only meant that there was no fail proof way to address these matters.

While there were some genetic components to factor in, it seemed many of the common issues described where environmental in nature. From simple stressors to more complex traumas, there were a plethora of complications for a species often described as incredibly simple. The most obvious, however, was the forcing of a diurnal mammal into nocturnal habits. ‘Jet lag’ was not a human specific experience but the effects it had seemed to affect them more severely than anyone else; especially when the changes in questions were as drastic as they were.

She was surprised to hear the dame promote a preventative measure as unsupervised as mandatory sunlight periods. With as tight a grip she knew some of her classmates to have, Amaris couldn’t see everyone willingly locking their mages outside during a time of day they physically could not intervene. It seemed rather risky in some cases, but in her eyes, the benefits should far outweigh the theoretical negatives. She hoped for the Starag mage’s sake that Varis would see it the same way, perhaps allowing the boy just a few moments respite each day.

Careful Amaris, worrying about someone else’s mage is likely to only bring you trouble. Why does this one in particular bother you so much? The countess took a stern tone with herself, realizing her personal biases were clouding her perception. Varis had done nothing illegal, he hadn’t even done anything out of the ordinary. There were many others that viewed and treated their mages the way he treated his partner. She should neither be as surprised nor hostile as she found herself getting around the count.

For the time being, Amaris forcibly pushed her thoughts aside to focus on the rest of the lesson at hand. Suggestions included taking advantage of services provided by the school, as well as finding ways to settle the mages into their new lives. If she were being honest, the suggestion of field trips and dual efforts on decorations for the dorms were not an overall bad idea. It gave her some thoughts on how she might mend the rocky start she and Cassandra were off to. There was a lot of work to do if she was going to cultivate the sort of relationship she preferred but there had to be a start somewhere. Dame Patel’s advice might be just the thing she needed to get started. There was only one potential snag she could conceive from the approaches the professor was speaking of.

Lifting her hand into the air, Amaris rose from her seat with an inquisitive expression.

“These are all very helpful suggestions for the transition in lifestyles but, with humans being as varied as they are, isn’t it likely there will be those that will view our efforts to be an insult? If it is our goal to minimize the negative impact of environment on the mages in our care, then what do you suppose the best approach is with the more resistant type personalities; or by extension, a more traumatic entrance to our hierarchy?” Amaris half expected to hear sounds of displeasure from some of her peers concerning her question, however if there were any she paid them no mind.

Of Blood and Magic

Amaris Marivaldi

Mortal Biology

_{Interacting with:Professor Tariq and Lucille @Achronum
Mention: Cassandra @Gisk and Lilie @Hero}

“Oh ho! You want to know about Nelly do ya?” The professor’s face lit up at the mention of the pineapple, revealing that the object did in fact have a name. His teaching assistant seemed less than pleased by the interaction, however, all but rolling her eyes at the tangent to come.

“While you’ve doomed yourself to this, I will be taking students one at a time to register for blackboard. If you do not have an email, we will set one up for you.” Amaris smiled and shook her head at the mage politely.

“Honestly, I don’t mind. I’ll be sure to meet with you once everyone else has been taken care of.” The noble woman sat back in her seat, settling in for what she sensed was going to be a lengthy story. Regardless of whether or not the story contained useful teaching materials about the beloved pineapple, there was much she could learn about her professor simply by listening to him speak.

She had always loved the way elders spoke, their every word a record of a time long gone. What secrets they could hold within memories lost to the ever winding wheel of time. But even more so, she was intrigued by the relaxed nature of a man who lived through the times before the treaty. Amaris had always imagined it to be somewhat of a lawless period with vampires sticking to their more primal nature than the aristocratic temperament they were known for in later centuries. However, Nasir spoke about it as if it were some peaceful sanctuary lost to the beast of progress. Vampires had always been advocates of preserving the natural state of the planet, but it only extended so far these days.

Already the story was off to a confusing start with the professor unable to pinpoint the date he was seeking. So far it was either summer or winter on a ‘dark and blustery fall night’ but certainly the year 712, or maybe 744? Not that it mattered to the overall story in the least but the animation displayed was fun and Amaris couldn’t contain a smile as he showed off his prized possession. Gauging from Lucille’s reaction, this was not all that uncommon a thing from the professor but she personally thought it was nice that he maintained such a youthful excitement no matter what it was he was discovering.

She didn’t bother arguing with the man licking his lips over an object he couldn’t actually consume, his determination and quirky nature no match for the logic she was trying to impose on him. Shaking her head with amusement, Amaris stood from her seat once more once Nasir had completed his tale and set to dismissing the class.

“Now, remember once we’ve completed blackboard registration, you are free to continue on to your mage observation portion.” The countess made her way over to Lucille now that the bulk of the students had begun making their departures, filling out of the classroom in small clusters. She worked with the mage to set up her own email and blackboard profile, sure to pay close attention in case Cassandra was in need of any assistance with her own account.

Once the setup was complete, she thanked Lucille and returned her attention to the quirky professor asking people to stay after class in order to learn all there was about the mysterious pineapple. Bowing her stance politely, Amaris smiled and addressed the man.

“I appreciate the time you spent enlightening me about Nelly. At present I have other business to attend to, but should my mage show any interest in pineapples I will know who to turn to. I’m looking forward to learning from you this year.” A short secondary bow saw the countess out of the room and on her way to Rose Hall.

With everything that had happened in the last 24 hours, Amaris hadn’t had the time to properly vet her new partner. Aside from her initial contact during the raid on her dorm, the Countess hadn’t yet had the chance to observe Cassandra’s mannerisms. The observation period would be an ideal place to start as it would take some of the pressure off of the mage and supply the vampress with a genuine idea of the girl’s habits.

She followed a few of the other students up around the classrooms, led up to a balcony that overlooked the various students participating in their assignments. Not wishing to disturb the mage, Amaris tried to stay out of sight of Cassandra by stepping back from the rails. Amaris was still able to see but her ability to hear over the many competing conversations was diminished.

Cassandra was sitting with a face already familiar to the young countess, the blonde girl from the night before… The Eve’s mage if she was not mistaken. She seemed to still be in one piece after deserting her mistress which relieved Amaris some. There had been brief concern she would face the kind of wrath she had come to expect from Varis and his kin, a pleasant reminder that the nobles were not all the same.

As far as she could tell, the girls were getting along well enough. A friendship between the two could be beneficial in creating opportunities to study the Eve house representative, however such a connection was a two way street. She would have to take care with any information shared with Cassandra moving forward… not something she was all that worried about anyway but tedious all the same.

_{Interacting with: Cassandra, Varis, and Eris
Mention: Joryldin @Jade Blades and Salem @Trainerblue192}

The sounding of a bell startled Amaris from her thoughts, the change of classes already upon them. Up next would be Treaty Law, a class she had heard might be mixed between the first year mages and vampires. A small bubble of excitement rocked Amaris as she stepped away from the balcony to begin her journey to Vilbrek Hall. So far, it seemed that most of the classes would be separate from one another with small segments for personal mage observation… however having a mixed course would allow her the opportunity to study a much larger portion of her class. Purebloods, embraced, and mages all in one classroom learning and discussing the very treaty that governs their lives. An interesting class indeed.

Most of the other students had already arrived by the time that Amaris approached the lecture hall, her entrance quiet and largely unnoticed. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the front of the room where they befell a most unseemly sight. Standing before the class with his name plastered on the monitors was none other than Varis himself. His position as a TA over one of her courses had gone unnoticed in her research of the facilities, and not at all a pleasant surprise. Groaning silently, the countess stalked toward her seat at the front of the room every step bringing her closer to the last person she wanted to see.

Much to her surprise though, Cassandra had not only beaten her to the hall but had selected a seat nearby the noble’s section. There was something oddly comforting about the choice in seating, finding it just the tiniest bit easier to take her place at the front of the room right as Varis began talking. She shot a look backward at Cassandra as if to say ‘hello’ before settling in with her notebook and pen.

The class kicked off exactly as she would have expected of a course led by Varis. While it was somewhat harsh, there was something about the way he spoke about the Treaty that just could not be ignored. Of all the things she despised the count for, she could never argue his uncanny ability to command a room. It was as close to admiration as Amaris could manage for Varis.

“The goal of this class will teach you its history and provide you with the tools to read, comprehend, and interpret the Treaty’s maze of jargon.” This wasn’t the first time Amaris had been subjected to lessons concerning the Treaty. She had assumed that all vampires, or the purebloods at the very least had some prior knowledge of the Treaty and its workings… after all, the very laws that be are governed by this so called contract. However, she hadn’t taken into account the increasing number of embraced vampires and relaxed study practices among the common families. Not to mention, the mages weren’t always taught all of their rights as living beings under the care of their vampires so it gave them opportunity to learn to care for themselves when away from the ever watchful eyes of the academy.

She sat back and listened as Varis went into the specifics of the syllabus and their future assignments. The study groups he presented were interesting to say the least, a curious task to get into the heads of the nobles who are at the front of ethics and law amendment debates. She wondered how many of her classmates would actually think to ask the nobles in attendance their questions to gain insight into their familial stances. Granted, each group, save for the Sinnenodel, had a noble assigned to study with but none assigned to their own house (by design no doubt). Aside from all that, however, Amaris thought it made learning such a basic topic a lot more fun. And with papers to write as well?

And here I was worried that I wouldn’t have anything to do all year. Amaris mused to herself, returning her full attention to the rest of Varis’ introduction to the course.

Knowing the effect the count could have on others, Amaris had not been expecting someone to actually speak up with a question. Her eyes locked on to a face a few rows back as she shifted in her seat. The boy was very clearly an embraced student from the looks of him, one she had seen in passing a few times at this point starting at the welcome gala. She didn’t think his question unfair, though perhaps a little thoughtless. Most of the students in the room were already somewhat familiar with the noble houses and their public stances on the various laws governing the people. Knowing that, it would be considered nothing short of a waste of time to cover such subjects when trying to teach such a heavy subject on top of their other assignments and presentations.

While it put a little extra strain on those left behind academically, it was the best approach for the lecture as a whole. Amaris wondered what house the unlucky lad had been assigned to, hoping for his sake that it was an easy platform to study history and case files on. Varis handled the question as she had expected, belittling the student without actually outright berating him. It was quite the gift.

Another pointless question was asked and answered before Varis was able to continue the class. With the introductions out of the way, they could start the real lectures. While a lot of the content was something that was ingrained heavily into her early education there was something slightly refreshing about the structure in which the content was delivered. Amaris sat back comfortably for most of the time, only reaching up to scribble quick notes whenever Varis touched upon something that escaped her memory or differed from her own personal teachings. The last thing she needed was to miss marks because she didn’t word something exactly as he spoke it.

As he neared the end of his discussion on the first three articles, Varis touched upon the Starag Commandment which had always piqued her interest. Opening the floor up to questions, Amaris paused a moment to see if anyone had any that pertained to the main subject before partially raising her pen into the air and standing from her seat.

“If you had to venture a guess; in the history of the Starag Commandment, how many people do you think have actually seen the real document?” Before Varis had an opportunity to respond to her inquiry, or Amaris even the time to retake her seat, the doors slammed open with an unceremonious bang.

Many eyes turned to the disruption as whispers erupted about the room. An unforgettable face grinned brightly as its owner made his way from the doors to the stage where Varis still stood mid-lecture. Amaris had to stifle a laugh, her expression only somewhat amused but mostly shocked. One that Eris Samael of all people would be barging into their classroom, but even more so that he would dare interrupt Varis of all instructors.

“I’d be wary of where I stand if I were you, would hate to see something other than a heart break because of you.” Amaris challenged with a raised brow.

Of Blood and Magic

Dakota Brookes

Affinity Mastery

_{Interacting with: Max @Scribe of Thoth and Joey @Achronum}

Dakota’s eyes trailed to the side as one of the TAs approached their table, the one known as Joey if the mage remembered correctly. A crooked smile and a small burst of air served to ease the mentor as he apologized for his tardiness. Whatever issue he had been tending to prior sounded draining, to say the least. Sitting back in the chair, the clueless student remained quiet as Joey set himself up to gauge their situation.

The color of the light changed significantly from Max’s default grey, shifting into a distinct golden hue as Joey began interacting with the crystal. Just as the color shifted and the light brightened, however, the light shrunk in on itself like some sort of singularity. As Dakota shifted forward to get a better look, the TA’s wince was caught in the corner of their eye.

That’s strange… does it hurt to interact with someone else’s magic? No, that can’t be it. I didn’t feel any pain when it was just Max and I, and as far as I can tell he didn’t either… Perhaps a side effect of trying to interact with an incompatible typing? There were so many questions Dakota had from such a brief expression. It wasn’t all that far-fetched an idea based off of the already observed details. For Max, the light presented a much colder and sharp color than Joey’s soft glow, not to mention their outward personalities were somewhat polar opposites.

“That’s… intense. Okay well, I think I see your issue mostly. Definitely not a primary element so if you’re trying to get emotional as a way of working it, your affinity will fight you. No that’s not quite right either.” Joey spoke about Max’s affinity as if it were a person within its own right, something Dakota thought rather odd. Wasn’t magic meant to be a tool used by mages to complete tasks? This level of personification made the stuff sound like some familiar they were supposed to win over so that they could work together… could something like that really have a personality of its own? Or did it have something to do with their own personalities and habits, like some alter ego or something of the sort?

So distracted by thought, Dakota missed most of what Joey had been talking about to Max but was confident that they had understood the gist. Something about stubborn magic that didn’t like to move from its cozy spot. The concept reminded Dakota of Newton’s Laws a bit, though the mage wasn’t sure that magic in its purest form could be considered an object. Still, the idea that it would require extra effort to move it from a restful position was as much sense out of the situation as the mage could make. Joey gestured for Dakota to step up to the plate, the young mage complying by placing their hands on the crystal same as before.

The light flickered on like it had previously, refusing to settle for a moment even as Joey placed his hand on the crystal with them. Dakota jumped a little as Joey jerked his hand away, taking a moment before placing his hand back on the object. It was a lot more noticeable a reaction than from his interaction with Max’s magic, a detail worth noting. Either Max was incredibly dull to pain, or there really was something to compatibility with this magic personality stuff.

“And you have the exact opposite problem. Your magic wants to be everywhere, all at once. It’s eager and excited and it wants out.” Eyes glued to the crystal, Dakota watched as Joey made a small loop with his own magic, feeling a small pull in the structure’s direction. It felt more natural than what they had attempted with Max prior to Joey’s arrival. Dakota’s magic flowed along the shape rather than randomly bouncing against it as it had previously. Which meant the problem was not an issue of containment or strength, but of focus.

Internal thoughts were confirmed as Joey continued to report his observations, mentioning something about needing purpose or a drive… But there was still something about it that didn’t make sense. Was having a task to complete not enough to be considered a purpose or drive, as Joey had put it?

And of course it would have self-destructive properties… what am I supposed to do with this information? Dakota’s head was reeling by the time Joey finished speaking, his suggestion sounding like something a therapist from back home would say. Not that the mage was against sharing personal stories, but Dakota failed to see how it would help the situation. At best, they could throw some theoretical physics or life lesson anecdotes at one another and hope that something clicks after a while.

Gauging from his response, Max seemed to share the sentiment about opening up. If anything he sounded more reluctant to do so than Dakota felt. Couldn’t exactly blame him, considering the pair were complete strangers until today. Curious eyes shifted to Joey as he set to countering Max’s most recent inquiry.

While the response left more questions than answers, Dakota was finished for the time being. It was a fair assessment for the most part. An incomplete theory could do more harm than good and derail progress… still, there had to be something more to it than the TA was letting on. For now, though, the dodged question would have to do.

A bell signaled the end of the first round of classes, and an end to the deceptive task. Dakota had opened their mouth to bid farewell to the lab partner, but Max had already risen from his seat and marched off without a word. The last thing the mage had expected from the boy was an instant friendship, but for whatever reason… it still stung to be left behind so thoughtlessly. Frustration was understandable but the pair was in the same boat with the assignment, so shouldn’t they try to work together on it?

Eyes casting down to the floor, Dakota sighed and stood from their seat before grabbing their belongings and heading out to the second class. According to the schedule, Treaty Law was up next in Vilbrek Hall… whatever a Vilbrek was. While history had never quite been a favored subject for the youth, there was no denying the importance of the information this class would provide. Having grown up outside of the world of mages and vampires, there was really only a small portion of the treaty that mattered (or at least used to). Now that Dakota had been thrown into the middle of it all, there was the matter of law pertaining to mages that now had to be committed to memory.

Let’s just hope this professor doesn’t put me to sleep, otherwise I’m screwed.

~~~

_{Mention: Max, Varis, and Joryldin @Jade Blades}

Dakota was among the last to arrive, scanning the room quickly to see if there were any familiar faces. Max appeared in the crowd, already (or still, it was difficult to tell) irritated in his acquired seat. The mage thought about sitting close to him in the hopes of learning something about him that might help their assignment in Affinity Mastery. That thought was quickly dismissed, however, as it was most likely going to be more of a distraction than the youth could afford with the subject at hand.

Instead, Dakota chose a lone seat off to the side of the room, sneaking back a few rows in order to increase range of visibility. A few rows away, the mage caught sight of Joryldin who looked to be somewhat lost in thought. The smallest twinge of guilt plagued Dakota as they peered unseen at him, feeling a little bad at having missed the opportunity to greet him earlier in the evening. An apology would have to wait until lunch though, as the TA began speaking to the class.

Already Dakota disliked the man. While they couldn’t quite give the feeling a name, there was something about this Varis guy that rubbed all the wrong ways. Everything from his posture to his voice was overly condescending, not to mention his punctual start was more than a little unnecessary. But, above all else, there was something about his eyes that struck a fearful chord within the mage. They were cold and calculating, borderline on predatory in a way that made Dakota’s blood run cold. There was no denying who held all the power in the room, regardless of his status as TA.

He wasted no time or pleasantries on the subject at hand, detailing the expectations of the course moving forward. Dakota had expected the class to be work intensive, but what Varis was talking about was far beyond what the mage had expected. The whole thing was going to be taught like some honors master class, complete with individual study sessions and frequent papers with attendance to outside meetings being mandatory for a grade?

Hell, this is absolute hell. Dakota thought to themselves, staring at the syllabus before them on the desk. The name Astorio appeared next to their own on the page, a quick scan showing several others who would be paired similarly for the year’s assignments. Just as things were beginning to feel overwhelming, a familiar voice spoke up in the room.

“Excuse me, Count Varis? I have one quick question. If it’s in our best interest to make a stance in the oral debates based on the house of our study group, will there be lessons later in the semester outlining the platforms of each house?” Hearing Joryldin’s question brought a glance of amusement to the youth’s face. For whatever reason, perhaps it was the style of clothing he chose to wear, Dakota had pegged the boy for an academic slacker. It was a pleasant surprise to hear him speak up, especially when the teacher was someone so intimidating. It might have been easier just to sit tight and hope that someone else asked or that Count High-and-Mighty would mention it in his lecture.

Of Blood and Magic

Amaris Marivaldi

_{Interacting with: Professor Tariq @Achronum}

The lack of echoing clicks to accompany her pace was somewhat odd for Amaris, having grown accustomed to wearing some form of heeled shoe wherever she went. It had been quite some time since she had worn a flat soled shoe such as the black converse she had paired with the outfit of the day, but she couldn’t deny how much more comfortable they were to walk around campus in; a fact she would be sure to keep in mind moving forward.

Pausing outside of Cardinal Hall, Amaris took a few moments to breathe and bring her emotions under control. While she couldn’t see them, she was almost certain her eyes were still rather harsh in comparison to their normal hue. She didn’t want her classmates getting the wrong idea about her so quickly out of the gate. Once she found herself feeling more comfortable, Amaris ducked inside to find her lecture room.

At first glance, the room seemed to be set up just as the auditorium was. The seats were arranged in neat rows, raised a level with each additional section so that the front of the room was visible no matter where you were sat. Instead of there being a stage, however, the front of the room was flush with the floor. Display monitors and a podium were the focal point of the space, suggesting a good mixture of spoken lecture and image references for those of the more visual learning spectrum. There was also a table present, but it wasn’t all that large in comparison to the rest of the pieces that made up the professor’s ‘stage’.

It wasn’t until after her initial inspection of the space that Amaris noticed the figure dancing about at the front of the room while the other worked at setting up their materials for the lecture. An odd sight to be sure, but amusing all the same… or at least amusing to her. Somehow, she doubted the woman setting up the laptops shared the sentiment, if her expression was any indicator. Amaris could already tell that if these two were going to be her instructors for the next year, her learning experience would be engaging in the best of ways.

As per usual, Amaris caught sight of the four lonely seats set apart from the rest of the group. Front and center were the designated seats for the noble representatives, her own house crest staring back at her in a semi-mocking fashion. She made her way down to the front row and claimed her chair, setting her bag on the floor beside her feet once she had pulled free a pen and notebook. While waiting for the lecture to begin, she found herself twirling her pen gracefully about her fingers, never once faltering as she tracked the dancing vampire with her eyes. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but there was something odd about the man… aside from the unique choice in fashion.

Before she could figure it out though, the woman stepped up to claim the attention of the student body. She and the dancing professor were introduced respectively, a curt explanation given to excuse the strange behavior being displayed by the elder. Amaris couldn’t help but to smile at the notion of an elder discovering something for the first time. What delighted her even more was how much the man, known as Nasir, appeared to be enjoying himself. The lady, who had identified herself as Lucille, seemed less entertained by his notions suggesting his antics were something of a regular occurrence to her.

While Professor Tariq amused himself with the walkman, Lucille wasted no time in diving into their first lesson of the day: some program or site of some sorts known as Blackboard. She wasn’t at all familiar with it, not being the most tech savvy, but the concept seemed simple enough. From her understanding of things, Blackboard was essentially a digital planner. It was where the syllabus information could be found, had a calendar to keep track of due dates far in advance, and best of all, a place for assignments to be submitted from anywhere. Her preference for handwritten notes wasn’t going to change, but she couldn’t figure it taking a whole lot of effort to transcribe her physical copies of assignments into digital ones. She would have to touch base with Cassandra to see if she would be comfortable with sharing access to her calendar for the sake of keeping academics on track.

Before Lucille had the opportunity to continue with her demonstration of the education portal, she was promptly cut off by the sudden appearance of a pineapple. Slipping off the headphones that had been previously occupying his attention, the professor interjected with his desire to begin addressing the class’ true purpose. Amaris had to admit that she was somewhat surprised by the reasoning behind the curriculum, having figured all fledglings would have been exposed to feeding from a living source long before attending the academy. It was possible that in the excitement of it all students had forgotten themselves, an embarrassment that few were likely to ever admit. By making lessons such as these mandatory, it cut out any need to single students out and instead ensure the standards were reinforced via a reward system.

As Amaris suspected, there was little presented in the first lesson that she did not already know. The list of pros and cons for each location were a nice addition to the curriculum, however, a neat list made in her notebook leaving enough room to add other arteries or techniques if need be. Surprisingly, there was one thing in particular Professor Tariq touched upon that was completely new to Amaris. She had always been aware that the feeding process had some physical effect on the mages but she had never put any additional thought into what sort of effects they may be. At most she expected a sense of comfort to mask the potentially lethal consumption that was taking place, either an evolutionary cushion on the mage’s part or a predatory advantage on the vampire’s. However, from Nasir’s lecture, it sounded as if there were certain other factors to take into consideration. Things such as physical arousal caused by feeding from particular locations, or purposely feeding from painful locations for similar effects… it was a bizarre concept for Amaris, but a fascinating one all the same.

She was pulled from her thoughts as the professor was dropped to the floor, Lucille having dodged some sort of demonstration she was uncomfortable with. It was a fun and comfortable dynamic to watch, something she hoped she could get out of her own partnership with Cassandra. Granted, Amaris doubted their would be any instance where she would be trying to publicly disrobe the mage… but the sentiment still stood.

Amaris looked up as Nasir opened to floor to questions, pausing only a short moment before she calmly raised her hand into the air. She allowed her hand to fall flush with the rest of her body as she pushed herself to her feet, her eyes twinkling as they did whenever she got particularly excited about a topic.

“I apologize if this might be a bit off topic and I hope you can forgive my rampant curiosity. But is there a specific purpose to the pineapple you hold in your hand? Correct me if I am mistaken, but it is inedible unless your biology is embraced. So what need would you have for such an… exotic plant?” The countess awaited a response with more anticipation than would be warranted by such a bizarre question. She had realized that it was the presence of the fruit that had been weighing on her the entire time. She could never be truly certain with some vampires as to what their origin may be, but it was often assumed than elders his age and status would be pureblood. Despite this fact, even if Nasir were embraced, the man would have to regurgitate the food at some point anyways. It was because of these things that his continued possession of the item nagged at her throughout the presentation.

Of Blood and Magic

Amaris Marivaldi

_{Interacting with:}

Morning/Day

After Cassandra had retired for the day, Amaris was left to her own devices in the uncanny space. She sat for some time in the common room, her head rolled back and eyes trained on the ceiling as if it held some secret message she was meant to find. There had to be something she was missing, some detail that had slipped by her, but for all the time she spent staring off in thought… nothing presented itself as a viable excuse. To take action in such a manner, the guard would have to be acting on solid intel, the information her own Lord Salazar had provided according to the princess. But such intel could not possibly have been amassed within a day, at least not enough that they could confidently act on which to Amaris, left only a few options.

If the guard was certain there was a threat but uncertain of the extent, it would explain the wide net they had cast with the dorm and belongings. However, that theory had too many holes. If there was really the potential of herself being suspect then she would have been detained for questioning alongside the mage just to be safe. Nox had been clearly driving her away from the scene, not just dismissing but threatening to detain her for a separate offense.

Which should mean that Minfilia was their target after all. I can understand not warning me in case my actions posed a risk in exposing the operation too soon, but then why go through all the trouble of inspecting my things if they don’t truly believe I have a part to play. Unless they were looking for something specific… Amaris opened the clutch the guards hadn’t bothered to take from her, removing her phone before setting the pouch down on the table. She pulled up her short list of contacts, her thumb hovering over the name of her family head. One phone call had the potential to clear everything up, but there was a part of her that feared the possibility of it proving a darker theory. Amaris would have to seek out information elsewhere, perhaps Princess Ryner would have some insight.

She exhaled slowly and clicked over to her text message history, archiving the messages between her and Minfilia in case they were subpoenaed as evidence. There wasn’t anything interesting or lengthy about their discussions, the only conversation taking up not even a full page of the application. Once she was certain that the data was secure, she shut the phone off completely and placed it back in the clutch bag. Kicking off her shoes, she placed them neatly beside the table before padding barefoot over to the couch. She felt strange invading another noble’s home and could not bring herself to sleep in a bed belonging to another. Instead she opted to lounge on the couch to rest. With all that had happened, she knew sleep would not come but it would help pass the time until the sun set.

Amaris’ eyes slid open the moment her body sensed the setting of the sun, a quick glance at a clock confirming her assumption of the relative safety of exiting the building. It was still rather early, so she wasn’t expecting Cassandra to up and about just yet, giving the noble time to sort herself. Curious to see the state of things, as it was entirely possible for the royal mages to have been snooping around throughout the day, Amaris approached the door to peek outside.

A small flutter caught the young woman’s attention as she opened the main door, a note tacked to the structure addressed to Amaris and Cassandra each. It seemed that the dorm was already cleared for their return, and a request for prompt relocation was implied. No doubt someone would be by during classes to move Cassandra’s belongings to her new home, the urgency a good indicator that a new occupant for the Astorio residence had been found. She thought it a bit sudden but had far more things to worry about than the house dynamics of the Astorios. Propping the door open just enough so that she would be able to reenter without a key, Amaris stepped outside to see what damage still remained.

Impressively, as she approached the structure, it was almost as if the morning prior had never even occurred. The door had been replaced and it seemed as if any damage to the exterior had been mended, most likely to give the appearance of having never been disturbed at all. The only clue to the guards’ presence were her own memories and a slight depression of the front yard grass.

Following the path up to the door, Amaris let herself into the building and scanned the room for signs of disturbance. Anything and everything that had belonged to Minfilia had been stripped from the room. A trinket here, a decoration there, and undoubtedly the entirety of her room bore blank spaces where items used to be. Everything that belonged to Amaris, however, seemed to have remained, or at the very least returned to, their original locations. She wasted no time in making her way down the hall to her private quarters, pushing open the door with zero hesitation. All night she had thought about this moment, wondering what it was that she would find when she returned. As she stepped into the room, Getsuga emerged from his hut, standing to his full height with his fangs bared.

“Hush now, it’s just me. They didn’t hurt you did they?” The snake appeared to calm considerably once she had spoken, responding to her tone of voice by curling back up on the bottom of the tank. Looking at him, she could tell that Nox’s word had been kept. Not a single scratch could be seen on the animal, but his stress was apparent. Someone he was unfamiliar with had gotten too close to him. Reaching below the tank, Amaris brushed her fingers of the inscriptions etched over the hidden compartment. Had she a functioning heart, it was at this point she was certain it would have stopped. The book was gone.

Violet eyes shifted to the sharpest of sapphire as she swallowed an aggressive snarl. In taking the book, Amaris was now set in a very difficult position. Had it been found by chance, it could be used as a way to incriminate her for crimes she did not commit. She doubted there was anyone at current who could properly and quickly translate the language held within, nor would there be anyone who would believe that she could not understand the language of book in her own possession. However, there was the smallest of thoughts tugging at the back of her mind asking if the book was the reason Salazar had not warned her in advance. The timing had left her with no way to safely move the item to her person, and it was unlikely with her request than anyone other than the guards had been snooping around her room.

“I need to see that report.”

~~~

Having calmed down some, Amaris had returned to the Astorio residence to wait for Cassandra. There was much to inform the mage on, and not a whole lot of time to do it. It would seem that her original plan with Minfilia would have to be altered with the hope that Cassandra could learn on the move.

For the time being, Amaris could be grateful for the opportunity to change clothes. She had swapped into something far more casual than the day before; donning jeans, a form-fitted tee, and a gray sweater wrap to match the dreary weather she had witnessed on her walk over. Amaris had also taken the opportunity to snag a slim backpack she had brought, slipping a few class supplies into the bag for the day ahead. Just to be on the safe side, she had packed the laptop she had been instructed to bring to the school, but for the most part her supplies consisted of paper notebooks and pens of varying colors. She had always preferred a manual method of note keeping and would see to using it as much as she could over the electronics.

Outfit

Casssandra Interaction TBD

There is nothing to see here, move along.

~~~

When Amaris set off, there was still plenty of time before the start of classes to run an errand or two. There weren’t many things that she had in mind, namely one stop that took priority over all else. Passing by the lecture halls altogether, Amaris made for the student service buildings with an extreme sense of purpose.

She could feel the eyes on her from all around, no doubt rumors already beginning to make the rounds as to what may have occurred the night before. Luckily, or so she hoped it to be, the grounds had been under curfew minimizing the number of eyes who saw what went down in their cul-de-sac. Amaris wondered what news the other students had been given, exactly what image she now had to compete with, but for the time being it did not seem that anyone was attempting to mock her. If anything, students she strayed near scrambled to put distance between themselves and her path.

Despite the fact that her family crest was neatly tucked in under her sweater, the receptionists were already well aware of who had stepped through their door. Polite greetings were given as they attempted to hide nervous glances, most likely wondering what sort of night they were about to have. While Amaris was finding it difficult to control the shade of her eyes, she made damn well sure to keep her tone in check. She knew it wasn’t any of their faults that she was in the position she was in now, and it wouldn’t do her any good to alienate a service that might be able to help her out after all.

“I need to speak with Princess Ryner, it’s urgent.” A few glances were shared between the clerks before anyone chose to speak, the sound of fingertips on mechanical keys filling the silence in between.

“I’m sorry Countess, but she isn’t available to see you at the present moment. All visitations must be scheduled and approved prior to an audience. The best I can do under such short notice is to pass your statement of urgency along, a granted audience will be at her sole discretion.” Amaris nodded her head in understanding, a determined expression making her intentions quite clear.

“It would be a shame for me to miss the opening lectures anyhow. Please, let her know that I wish to speak with her as soon as she can see me. I’ll be eagerly awaiting an update, thank you for your assistance.” With a quick bow of her head, Amaris left the clerks to their work.

It wasn’t an ideal situation having to hope that her message was passed along promptly. She had never expected to get to speak to Ryner immediately, but she had hoped to secure a meeting for today at the very least. At this point, she had done what she could to get the ball rolling and there wasn’t any use trying her luck as she had the night before. For now, it was all just a waiting game.

Glancing at the time on her phone, Amaris began making her way toward the hall that had been printed on her schedule. First order of business for the day, if her memory served, was Mortal Biology in Cardinal hall. Where the subject was concerned, she was already quite familiar from lessons taught in her home. Between their relationships with the mages in their care, and the state of the Lord’s family, it would be rather embarrassing to not have at least an elementary understanding of the physiology. Amaris hoped that there would be something new to learn, but she wasn’t going to be on it being presented immediately out of the gate. The anticipation sent a shiver down her spine, the excitement easing some of the anxiety and frustration she had allowed to pent up.

Of Blood and Magic

Amaris Marivaldi

_{Interacting with: Cassandra @Gisk, and Princess Nox & company @Achronum}

The Red Hand

Nox awaited Cassandra’s departure before she spoke again, the mage complying with her directives in a prompt manner. The countess was going to have to make a point of apologizing to Cassandra at a later time, but first… to deal with the imminent threat.

“Your concerns are not my responsibility. If you have an issue, submit them through the appropriate channels. I will assume this Getsuga is a creature in your care and for your peace of mind, it will be evaluated immediately by my personal mage. I will make not of your continued refusal to comply with the investigations orders as well. Return to your quarters immediately otherwise you will be charged with obstruction of justice as the mage’s accomplice.”

What I would give to be able to return to my quarters, signora testarda. Amaris thought to herself, neutral eyes trailing after the princess as she took her leave from the clearly ended conversation. It wasn’t until the guards approached her that she turned away, allowing the pair to escort her back to the dorm they were relocating her to. She found walking away to be so much easier now that she had acquired some telling information from the princess about the situation at hand…

Stepping up to the door, the young countess extended her arm hesitantly half expecting the knob to burn her fingertips for daring to enter another’s domain. Over her shoulder could be felt the looming presence of the guards that had escorted her from her own dorm, waiting rather impatiently for Amaris to comply with the orders she had already pushed her luck on. Exhaling with resignation, she tried pushing the door open, pleased to find that it gave her little resistance as she entered the Astorio residence. Turning around to shoot a half-hearted glare at the guards who still stood by watching.

“Well? What are you waiting for, run along. There’s nowhere for me to go at this hour, it would be risky for me to even try. Hopefully, this will be the last time we’ll ever have to deal with one another.”

Though, somehow it doesn't really feel like it. Amaris thought to herself before closing the door between them. Bolting the door shut, Amaris turned about to take in the room around her.

The layout of the dorms seemed to be identical to one another, the halls and rooms exactly where Amaris assumed them to be. However, there was something off about the space, small things that unnerved the countess. Perhaps, had it been anyone else under any other circumstances such details would have been inconsequential… but the stress of the evening had Amaris nitpicking. The space seemed rather basic, as if no one had taken the time to customize it to their own desires. Not surprising as it’s newest inhabitant had left with such short notice… unfortunately the scent of the previous owner still lingered in the air. Everything considered, Amaris found herself feeling like an outsider.

Amaris allowed her eyes to settle on the young woman that was to be her new partner, so many thoughts racing through her mind that it was difficult to find a place to start. Whatever had happened with Minfilia this night, Amaris hadn’t seen a thing coming. Moving forward, she would have to take greater care regardless of who she spent her time around… classmates or not. Luckily, she hadn’t found the time to really talk with the blonde mage which meant nothing private could be shared even if they used magic to interrogate her. Currently, her biggest worry was the tank in which Getsuga called home. The base had been designed with discretion in mind, a secret compartment built into the frame that had primarily used to hide small gifts and other such trinkets. Shortly after her acceptance to the academy, Amaris had consulted with a mage she trusted from one of the lower Marivaldi branches. Together they had drafted up a plan to discreetly secure the compartment with minimal charms or indicators. In all likelihood, it would have been safer to contract the project to a professional, but she had been hoping to keep the modifications off the books. She just hoped it would be enough to slip past the Royal Guard’s interest.

Suddenly realizing that she had been standing in silence for the past minute or so, Amaris shook herself out of her thoughts and forced herself to focus. Cassandra sat at the table with a drink of some kind in her hands, assumedly waiting for Amaris to do or say something. In all honesty, Amaris was at a loss for either. Approaching the table, Amaris sat herself down and settled in.

“That was perhaps more excitement than I would have preferred to deal with in one evening. I guess I should apologize to you in advance, seeing as you are now apart of whatever happens from this moment on.” Relaxing her posture back into the chair, Amaris allowed a casual smile to grace her features in the hopes that it might be of some comfort for the mage.

“Tonight is not the night to be worrying about that sort of thing though. You have more important things to be focusing on, like the classes that start in the evening. We can work out our arrangements tomorrow.”

Of Blood and Magic

Amaris Marivaldi

_{Interacting with: Cassandra @Gisk, Princess Nox & company @Achronum, Mariette @MsMorningstar, and Lilie @Hero}

The Red Hand

“Save your fire for the Sinnenodel snake, Countess.” The mere mention of the family name sent a shiver down her spine, though be it fear or anger she could not tell.

“Your baseless accusation doesn’t bother me. If you take issue with how the guard has handled something, you may file your complaint through the standard channels. My sister is even on campus to more easily attend your whims.” Princess Nox paused just long enough to wave away the guards that had been hovering in case their assistance was required.

“If you have questions about my duties, you may ask them to Lord Salazar himself. Since your family has taken over the Eve’s intelligence network, he has an active hand in these deliberations. I have neither interest nor authorization to explain this to you.” Amaris maintained her gaze on the Princess as she continued to speak down to her, ignoring the mage’s words completely. The approach of another party gave Amaris a few moments to take in the information that had been provided, her mind racing through a thousand details every passing second.

Amaris was well aware that the intelligence detail had been moved to their responsibility. She had helped on a previous occasion translate a note in a rarer dialect to expedite the call to action. But that had been nearly a decade ago, who could tell what sort of cases he was deliberating on presently. Still, to knowingly set the Royal Guard of all groups down on her head without warning of any sort… it didn’t sit well with her no matter how she looked at it.

Her eyes drifted to the side as Nox exchanged words with a woman whose face she recognized. It was a second face from the house of Eve, although, unlike the representative from the orientation… she did happen to know this vampire’s name. Countess Mariette, an interesting personality to put it lightly. She hadn’t had the pleasure of witnessing her up close, having only interacted through nods of acknowledgment in passing. It would seem she might get her chance if Mariette were attending the academy as well.

But if she’s here, that means the other representative went home as well… That’s two, in one night. What strings are being pulled here? She allowed the ferocity in her eyes fade somewhat, the blue tinge returning to something that resembled a royal purple. If there were truly some game being played, Amaris was already behind the curve. She knew not the rules, nor the other players. Amaris had but one purpose in coming to the Academy, perhaps this would be an opportunity to find answers to her own questions. For that, however, she would need to recollect herself and plan proper.

Her eyes trailed off after the lighter haired mage, who took off at an impressive speed upon being ordered back to their dwelling. Mariette took this as her cue to exit the stage, but she got the feeling it would not be the last she would see of the Eve. Amaris’ attention was only recalled as Cassandra finally spoke up, a lot of the enthusiasm now replaced with a cautious tone of voice.

“Countess, I think we should go inside. I’ll invite you in for some tea. Er, blood?” Amaris shifted to look back at Cassandra, taking in what she could about the mage. To be frank, Amaris was somewhat surprised at how quickly the young girl was to jump to her aid, despite the situation at hand. It was both admirable, but also incredibly stupid… And she had been the one to spark the confrontation. Reaching up to run her fingertips over the crest of her house, Amaris exhaled slowly. She would have to remember to set a better example moving forward.

“You may go on ahead, I will be up shortly. I still have one more thing to discuss with the princess here.” She spoke calmly, almost warmly, as she directed Cassandra return to the safety of a shelter only she had the key to. Turning back to Nox, her demeanor had definitely changed, no longer aggressive in nature but no less direct than it had been.

My accusations might not be as baseless as assumed, perhaps just misdirected. I need to ensure the safe return of that book.

“Well, it seems we have a misunderstanding on our hands then. I’ll forgo an official complaint, however, I no longer have any faith that my personal property will return to me undamaged. School supplies are easily replaced, but gifts from my father are less so. I would like to formally request that Getsuga not be moved from the residence, and that you appoint the head of your operation here to his care and protection until the situation has been resolved.” Amaris didn’t think the request sounded all that unreasonable, her concern surrounding the life form rather than the object he was passively guarding.

“If it’s a paper trail you need, I can reach out first thing in the evening to file through the proper channels. However, may I ask that you consider the motion currently?”

The young Marivaldi also considered asking for a copy of the call to arms that Nox had received, but thought better of it due to her request. She had the right to the information, or at least parts of it anyway. A request could be made for it at a later time once she had guaranteed the security of the book.

Of Blood and Magic

Amaris Marivaldi

_{Interacting with: Cassandra @Gisk and Princess Nox & company @Achronum}

The Red Hand

Amaris could tell from a slight shift in the mage’s demeanour that a decision was being made in her head. While she couldn’t be sure, she assumed it was a sense of hesitation at being approached by another noble… something she thought strange when considering she was loitering around the cul-de-sac like she belonged. Perhaps her introductions to others had been less than kind, an unfortunate inevitability it seemed and a regrettable one at that.

“I don’t think he’d mind anything, as he’s left. I, uh, don’t know where to, or what I should do in the meantime. So, I guess tea would be nice. I’m Cassandra. Cassandra Roth.” The words spoken were polite but informal striking the smallest of gleeful chords. This mage, Cassandra, was among the first to speak with her as if the two weren’t from completely different lifestyles. Even her own mage had taken a more formal tone with her, but then again, she had yet to spend enough time around her in order to learn if that was just how she was. Perhaps hearing Cassandra visiting might bring some relief to the atmosphere, help relax the golden haired mage into her new surroundings.

Still, there was something about the content of the sentence itself that stood out as being rather odd. Cassandra was currently unattended in every sense of the word. It was a rare opportunity for a representative from each noble household to attend the academy at the same time. While the Astorio house was somewhat known for its volatility and rash nature, it made little sense for the representative to bail with such little notice regardless of whether their attendance was compulsory or not. Repercussions would be severe for anyone who disobeyed the wishes of the head of any house, but particularly theirs. Departure must have been more pressing than the possible outcome. An alarming thought to be sure, but one Amaris was careful to keep hidden behind a calm smile.

Lips parting to respond, a not so distant sound consumed the young vampire’s attention. Sirens were probably one of the last things one would want to hear on grounds owned by the royals themselves. She spun around just in time to see several dark colored vehicles round the corner, barreling up the street to halt in front of one of the dorms. Her dorm. A fierce look overtook the calm expression she had been maintaining, a defensive step to the side was taken to shield Cassandra from any possible danger. Her gaze grew even more cold as the moments passed, the light violet of her irises giving way to the sharpest of blue.

Guards piled out of the cars and took up points around the house, directed like an orchestra by a vaguely familiar face. Lucan Bordeleaux, one of the royal’s finest fighters and wicked with a blade. There were few faster than his hand, and few dumb enough to even try. Whatever reason the guard had come crashing down on her home it had to have been serious… That, however, was not nearly enough to cushion the blow it was meant to deal. Heels clicking intentionally loud, Amaris’ fury only grew the more faces she took in.

Among the faces that turned at her approach, the guard that she had gotten into it with from before was among them. She could just about see his sneer behind the stoic professionalism he was attempting to show. The only thing that stilled her steps was the unmistakable presence of a royal figure among them. Amaris refused to flinch as Princess Nox made her approach, slamming her weapon down so that she could reveal her face and address the subjects of her operation. As she spoke, Lucan directed a group of guards to break down her door and rush inside, the menace from before too eager to be at the front of the pack.

“You will be Countess Marivaldi’s mage. The Astorio whelp turned left with his tail between his legs shortly after orientation.” The words were directed at Cassandra, whom Amaris had put herself between. Simple directions, no, order was more accurate. But the information was lacking and without explanation for such a sudden change in action. Clearly, it was either unimportant, or a need-to-know basis. Still, it was the least of Amaris’ current worries.

“By the authority of the Royal Guard invested by Queen Noila and the Moonlight Council, your belongings, including your mage and hers, have been seized as possible threats to the Council. Once your belongings have been cleared by the Royal Guard, they will be returned to you and you may return to your lodgings along with your new mage. You and your mage are required to return to the Astorio dormitory at once.” The tone left little wiggle room to the actions that could be taken henceforth. Under normal circumstances she might have complied without hesitation, but too many things just weren’t adding up. Could it really have been a coincidence that someone of the guard would pick a fight with her just prior to invading her home?

I don’t think he knew at that time, but his presence now could be a determining factor in how this all plays out. If it comes down to it, I might need to strike at him first before he can use my previous outburst against me. The guard was not the only problem either… If Nox was insistent on thorough examination, not even the snake tank would be able to hide the book she had stored within. Truth be told, she had absolutely no idea what information the book held. It was written in a language unfamiliar to her and had been among a few items her father had left behind specifically for her upon his passing. Even the current Lord Salazar knew not of what she had been given, as she had been careful to keep everything under wraps. It wouldn’t do to have a piece of it given directly to the royal house, especially when it seemed so much information was already being shrouded.

“With all due respect Queen’s kin, I demand an explanation.” Amaris spoke with a measured tone, addressing the princess not by her name but in a manner that acknowledged her position all the same. Eyes shifting to the space behind Nox, Amaris watched as Minfilia was thrown from the house and slammed into the side of one of the vans before finally being shuffled into the vehicle itself. The faintest scent of blood reached Amaris, most likely wafting from a cut caused by the rough handling. She was beginning to regret having not eaten at first opportunity.

Turning her eyes back to Nox, Amaris took advantage of the momentary silence to push her luck.

“Should I be warning Lord Salazar to watch his back with the very Council he is sworn to serve and protect? You have made your position on how our family is run very clear despite your own situation. Perhaps you were not satisfied with the results of your investigation after my father’s death, but that does not entitle you to take advantage of the situation to continue your blatant harassment. Don’t you think it was a little inappropriate to send one of your drones to pick a fight with me just before raiding my home? This treatment is absolutely unacceptable!” A couple of the guards shifted behind Nox, gripping their weapons tighter as Amaris’ voice raised in volume. Never once did she move from her spot, knowing full well that her tone would be deemed a threat if paired with a sudden movement of any kind.

Of Blood and Magic

Amaris Marivaldi

_{Interacting with: Cassandra @Gisk}

Library

The space Amaris passed through had changed drastically in atmosphere since the welcome event from the night before. Cold elegance had been replaced with a sense of homeliness and community, twinkling lights stripped away leaving the space to be lit by simple candlelight. A natural hush had fallen over the space to allow the sounds of the fountain to take priority over all else. In all, it was quite the relaxing space despite its public access. Amaris made a note of the space to return to later on.

Passing the courtyard by, the noblewoman made for the administrative building responsible for the campus’ library. Up until this point everything Amaris had witnessed had been grand, every hall, room, and morsel of food was the absolute best it could possibly be. But there was one thing that Amaris had yet to judge the Academy on, one thing she revered above any other facility the school had to offer.

Her heels echoed sharply as she made her way down a plain looking hallway, the lack of art or any design on the walls forcing her attention to the wooden door at the end of the path. She found herself paused with her palm flat against the door, eyes drifting down at the rug beneath her feet as she allowed herself a moment’s breath before allowing herself inside.

Light amethyst eyes twinkled with excitement as Amaris stepped inside the lavish room. Somehow the space seemed larger than it would have appeared from the outside, whether it was a trick of the architecture or a bout of magic, she wasn’t entirely certain. The door closed softly behind the vampiress as she began her inspection of the place. A few muted steps forward brought a small hint of a smile to the young woman’s face. She had long since mastered the art of stepping carefully in quiet spaces, but she got the feeling it was not her skill alone that allowed for such peace. As if to answer her assumptions, her eyes were drawn to the various occupants of the room who gave no note to the fact that they were not oriented to the same plane of gravity as their observers were.

My apologies father… but I do believe I have found a new favorite hideaway. The young woman thought to herself with a fair amount of glee. While it was an impressive display, however, there was still one final aspect that needed to be assessed.

Eyes scanning the room, Amaris spent a few moments observing the scattered occupants of the space. Upon entry she had noted the librarian returning a book to its rightful place without so much as raising his head from his work. It was a small motion, perhaps entirely out of habit for the man, but it was a telling sign for the young vampire. There was a certain buzz to the surrounding atmosphere that intrigued her, a sensation similar to what she felt upon arriving at the academy yet it was not quite the same. It didn’t feel as if it were watching her… simply waiting.

Off to the side, a student buried under a mountain of various study materials held up an index of herbs and released it into the air like the librarian had done only this time the student’s hand remained up in the air as if ready to receive something. A few words were mouthed and a different book flew off a shelf to deliver itself into the expectant hand of the awaiting student. She watched as they opened the book to several chapters in without hesitation showing a clear familiarity with the title despite having not looked at the title pulled.

Deciding to take a closer look at a nearby bookshelf, Amaris eyed a title from a shelf just out of her reach. A small smile graced the young woman’s lips as she took a small step back and called the object forth. It wiggled in place for a moment before dislodging itself from the row, floating gracefully down until it was right in front of her waiting to be grasped. Plucking the book from the air, Amaris thumbed through a few pages to see what the book was about before holding it up like she had seen the others do previously. She felt the weight of the book shift slightly, releasing her grasp on the object so it could float back and replace itself into the space it had left behind.

“Well isn’t that convenient? ” Amaris mused, allowing her eyes to wander once again. She wasn’t looking for anything in particular at the moment so she set to slowly pacing about the room, travelling from section to section to see what the library had to offer. Every so often she would randomly pluck a book of the closest shelf and thumb through the pages, committing the names of the titles that piqued her interest to memory before putting them back where they belonged and moving on.

She repeated the pattern for a couple of hours, switching it up sometimes to replace the books in the incorrect sections just to watch them take off to replace themselves. Had it not been for one of the librarian’s tapping her shoulder, it was likely that she would have continued until sunrise. Amaris was somewhat surprised that anyone would approach her at all, turning around more so out of curiosity than anything else. For a moment she wondered if she was about to hear it from the head librarian about misplacing so many books, but when she turned around, the face looking back up at her looked more nervous than angry.

“I’m sorry to disturb you Countess, the head librarian sent me to let you know that we have been asked to close the building down early. Our sincerest apologies for the inconvenience.” As the book she had been holding had been pulled from a shelf directly in front of her, Amaris shifted its neighbors aside so that she could replace the title properly.

“No worries, I should probably be off anyhow. Though, if you don’t mind my asking before I go, what’s the occasion?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t have an official answer to that question. All we were told is that a curfew is being put into effect this evening. This is usually done when the administration is holding special events such as the welcome and pairing ceremony you attended upon arrival. But if you don’t mind my saying so, the current rumor is that an unexpected guest is on their way in as we speak. All students are being asked to return to their dormitories for the remainder of the night. Is there anything I can help you with before you go?” While the information received was rather vague, it was surprisingly telling. She could always count on a librarian to pick out the important details. Shaking her head dismissively, Amaris smiled at the messenger.

“No, you’ve been very helpful. Thank you.” Bowing their head, the librarian turned away and walked down in the opposite direction to alert a nearby table of the news. Fully satisfied with her little excursion, Amaris made for the door that she entered through and began her walk back to the noble’s dorms. Despite the fact that the buses were still running to take the straggler students back, Amaris opted to walk the path home instead. As she walked, she couldn’t help but let her mind wander back to the librarian’s words about a possible visitor.

For a curfew to be put into effect so suddenly, the visitor would have to be someone of significance. Otherwise, there would be little need for anything other than a few extra bodyguards… perhaps it’s an inspection from one of the house heads? No, I’m sure the Lord would have sent word ahead if he knew one of the others were to be snooping around. Perhaps a member of the royal family is here to visit the Princess? Theories rushed through Amaris’ mind as she walked along, drowning out most of the scenery around her.

A shiver ran down her spine as a pair of eyes fell upon her, the sensation suddenly putting the young woman on alert. It wasn’t so much a feeling of hostility, but she could not mistake the feeling of malcontent as the muted sound of footsteps approached her.

“You there, halt!” Amaris slowed her pace until she came to a complete a few steps ahead, taking a deep breath through her nose before turning about to face the voice that attempted to command her. With as sharp a gaze as she could muster, Amaris turned around fully so that the crest hanging around her neck was in full view.

The sight she was met with was a great deal more intimidating than she was originally anticipating. It had been a good while since she had last laid eyes on a member or the royal guard… or at least one donned in their official armor. Standing before her was a single guard in obsidian plated armor, so dark in color that the path lighting seemed to bend toward the figure. Threads of gold were laced about the outfit somehow seeming less like decoration and more like definition the longer she took the image in. He was armed to the teeth, carrying not one but two blades of different styles at his side. While she was certain he had other, perhaps much smaller weapons concealed on his person, she doubted he would need any of them… especially against her. Still, despite the wariness she felt, the man’s presence all but confirmed her earlier train of thought.

“I understand you have quite the important task to do here, but your tone is out of place with me. What threat do you see in a first year student sent from one of the noble houses? Do we not both serve her majesty, the Queen?” Amaris’ eye contact was strong, her posture bold, and her voice sharp as she addressed the guard. Even at her stature she bore little actual authority over a member of the Royal Guard, still, it didn’t stop her from pushing what few buttons she could. The payoff in this case was rather slight, Amaris taking victory in the information gleaned from the faintest of falters in the man’s eyes. She had guessed correctly.

“Students have been ordered back to their dorms immediately. Unless you have received specific instructions otherwise, even you are not exempt from these commands.” The guard barked as he maintained an equally strong grimace in the young woman’s direction. It was clear that he was far from joking on the matter, not that Amaris expected anything else from the man. Still, she wasn’t about to take his continued tone without a little push back.

“And where exactly do you think it was I was heading before you barked at me like a dog?” Shifting in his stance, the man’s growing irritation was beginning to show. There was a certain level of respect each party was accustomed to receiving as well as expected to give one another in return. The circumstances, while technically in the guard’s favor, had been turned to favor the young woman staring the man down. Her words rang true, as he alone had the authority as well as the physical prowess to dispose of her right then and there if she posed a definite threat to any member of the royal house. Yet all she showed him was the same level of arrogance that he had come to expect from her kind. The slightest hint of a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he opened his mouth to respond, confident that he had found a counter to silence the brat. Unfortunately, she had beaten him to the punch. Snapping her hand up to silence him she maintained a cold stare as she carried on.

“Now, if it’s my safety you are so worried about, perhaps you should have led with that… or at least a more respectful tone. With such an important visitor present who knows what sort of unsavory folk are skulking in the dark? Try not to get mistaken for one of them while you make your rounds harassing other students.” Amaris forced a puff out through her nose before she spun on her toes and began walking in the direction she had been walking previously. She could all but feel the fiery daggers the guard was staring into her back as she increased the distance between the feuding pair. It seemed however he was not quite ready to give up the ‘battle’.

“Little ingrate, get back here now.” He growled, closing the distance she had widened with a fair amount of ease. Wrapping his hand tightly around her slender arm, he squeezed uncomfortably tight and yanked backward to throw the girl just barely off balance. The motion caused Amaris to falter in her steps as her momentum was thrown off. Her recovery was quick but it was undeniable who held the upper hand in the situation. She fought the small sensation of panic that filled her stomach as she stared up at the man, wondering for a brief moment if she had made a mistake after all.

Before he had a chance to say anything else on the matter, a second patrolman emerged from outside the paved path to join them in the lit street. Unlike the guard she was already exchanging words with, the newcomer was far less armed and nowhere near as armored. If Amaris had to venture a guess as to what force he belonged to, she would have pegged him for the campus’ own security.

“Sir, there is another matter that requires your attention.” The academy guard’s eyes shifted between the pair curiously, as if attempting to size up the situation and gauge whether his direct intervention was necessary. Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, Amaris shook her arm free and put a few paces between her and the guard to collect herself. The royal guard paused a moment, weighing his options between finishing what he had started and complying with something that was likely of greater importance. Choosing the latter, the armored soldier of a man stalked off to follow the lead the security guard that had interrupted him.

Note to self: don’t pick attitude with the men in black. She thought to herself as she rolled her eyes, returning to her trek home.

~~~

Upon entering the cul-de-sac that connected each of the noble dorms, Amaris was quick to take note of a figure standing off alone in the dark. For a brief moment she wondered if the brute from earlier had taken note of her crest so that he could return and give her more trouble away from the campus security. However, as she neared the figure, she realized the stature was far too small to belong to the man from before. Curious as to who was just wandering about the dorms, Amaris bypassed her own house to approach the figure.

While she did not recognize the face, she was fairly certain that the girl standing before her had to have been paired with one of the other nobles with how nonchalantly she loitered around the monitored area. Perhaps her partner was unaware of the sudden curfew or had failed to properly relay the information? Whatever the reason, she didn’t think it wise for the mage to be standing about on her own. Amaris had seen first hand just how grouchy of a mood the guards were in for this particular outing.

“I take it you are one of my new neighbors? I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure of a proper introduction just yet. Would your partner mind if I invited you in for a cup of tea and a conversation? Seems the teachers want us in doors this evening, in fact the guards are rather insistent on it.” Amaris motioned in the direction of her own dorm building with a sweep of her hand, indicating an open invitation should the mage be interested in accepting. There was a sense of urgency to her voice, however, that requested a swift response from the mage regardless of the decision.