Amaris stared coldly out the window of the vehicle escorting her back to her dorm at the Academy. Had the countess gotten her way, she would have been dropped at the front gates and walked herself the rest of the way like she had her very first night at the school. Things were different now though, and she didn’t have the heart to fight the extra precautions. The attack during the Revel changed everything, its effects felt even towards the outskirts of the property with the increased security… just like the princess had promised.
A little late for that. The thought was full of bitter feelings, but it was short lived as Amaris silently reprimanded herself. It wasn’t as if Ryner had planned for a tragedy like this to occur, nor could she possibly have known that it would happen when it did; at least, it was no more Ryner’s fault than her own.
Tearing her eyes away from the passing scenery, Amaris cast her glance down at the card she held gingerly in her hands. Despite its apparent blank face, the countess could still picture every detail of the design that hid below the surface. She ran her thumb across the space where Cassandra’s name should have been as her mind wandered off to other places. Amaris had heard the news about the mage during the broadcast Ryner put together to publicly address the incident that had taken place the week before.
Deep down she knew something had been wrong, after all, she hadn’t seen the girl at all before leaving to return home for the break. She had justified the absence to herself by assuming Cassandra had gotten caught up with security response to the attack, perhaps hunkered down with a friend in need of her support during the rough time… nothing more than wishful thinking. It seemed, however, that although she had seen the same broadcast as everybody else, the full gravity of the situation hadn’t set in until the card was returned to her just a couple of days later. Its return to her possession had been a clear sign that Cassandra was no longer considered her partner. Whether it be her condition or the investigation into the attack she did not know, and knew she likely wouldn’t know for some time; if ever. Instead of returning to school to the bright and high-spirited girl she had bragged to Salazar and Amanda about, Amaris would be returning to a stranger.
As the car drew ever closer to its final destination, Amaris pulled her bag from its place on the floor to her lap. She slipped the card into a pocket for safekeeping and instead withdrew a letter that had been sent from Ryner, or at the very least a member of her office, confirming the change in mage assignment. According to its contents, Cassandra’s replacement would be a girl known as Madalyn and, if everything went smoothly, she would have arrived to get settled in ahead of Amaris. The countess scanned over the words a few more times until she was certain the name had been committed to memory before folding it back up and returning it to her bag. Amaris had just finished fixing the clasps on her bag when the car rounded the corner into the cul-de-sac that contained her ‘home away from home’, pulling up slowly to her designated building before coming to a complete stop. She thanked the driver for the escort before getting out and waving the gentleman off.
For a few moments, all Amaris could do was stand and stare at the front door of her dorm; a lonely figure clad in black from head to toe. The style she had chosen was reminiscent of her ‘Gothic’ period following the death of her father. While the sense of mourning was not nearly as extreme, the simple look was still enough to get the point across. It consisted of a black blouse with ruffled details running partially down the front as well as capping the ends of both sleeves and the collar of the raised neck. Paired with the blouse was a high-waisted skirt that hugged the remainder of her torso before flaring back out until it reached its length just above the knee. The pattern etched into the fabric was subtle, the swirling designs just about disappearing into the fabric depending on the lighting, as it was the set of six buttons along her abdomen that were meant to draw the eye. Looped around the top two buttons was a thin silver chain that attached a small crescent moon charm to garment. While the countess had opted not to wear tights or leggings of any sort, the majority of her lower legs were covered by the tall leather boots she had chosen to round out the look.
“
You going to stand here all night or what?” She mumbled to herself, before resigning herself to the inevitability. One foot in front of the other, Amaris approached the dorm slowly until there wasn’t any more distance to cover. Hand resting on the handle, the countess straightened her posture and let herself inside.
Madalyn had arrived a few hours earlier, picked up and dropped off by Academy vehicles from her previous mage college. On one hand, she was glad to escape the oppressive atmosphere the Countess of her territory instilled in the school. All of her schooling had been gender segregated and
strongly enforced the gender stereotypes. Thankfully, it was a Sinnenodel influence and regardless of how they viewed the separation of the sexes, they were determined to educate their subjects as thoroughly as possible. She had a strong background in math and finances, in art and literature, but history, law, science, and business were always considered the "man's role". On the other hand, her lack of a well rounded education made her a little more nervous than she’d care to admit. The Noila Academy offered equal opportunities to everyone, regardless of traditional roles, and a lot of people came from territories that didn’t adhere to such strict gender roles. It put her at a distinct disadvantage and she was hoping there would either be remedial courses or she could avoid where she lacked all together.
When she’d been dropped off at the Marivaldi dorm, Madalyn almost had to ask if they got it right. Of course she’d had some etiquette classes but they were meant for interacting with other humans, not
nobles. Madalyn had been escorted inside, her bags dropped off in the appropriate room, and then everything she had been alone. She’d spent some time looking around, poking through what her room had, checking out the backyard, and the rest of the dorm. It was far nicer than anything she was accustomed to. Her house back home was thrown together from thrift shops and hand-me-downs with the occasional nicer item that they’d saved up for since taxes decimated what revenue they made from the restaurant. She’d stepped lightly for the first bit but that got tiring.
She continued procrastinating―she had very little interest in going through the effort of unpacking when she’d just packed earlier that evening―for a while, lounging on the couch with a cup of coffee and a book until her stomach reminded her loudly that early evening coffee was not, in fact, food. She put doggy eared the page, put it down on the counter, turned on some easy listening music, and ruffled through the kitchen. Easy and quick was what she was looking for and when she turned up some pasta, beef, and a surprising number of ingredients she recognized from home, it quickly became a no brainer. She hummed quietly with the song as she prepped ingredients when an idea hit her.
“I should probably change.” Madalyn muttered under her breath. She’d worn something comfortable to travel in: a simple t-shirt with a band she liked on it, dark wash jeans, sneakers, and one of the beanie hats she knitted herself. The water started boiling as she considered it and she shrugged. The noble hadn’t shown up yet so she probably still had time. She’d change into something more proper later. She focused on cooking, the sizzling on ground beef keeping her attention long enough to miss the door opening.
Closing the door softly behind her, Amaris stepped into the space with a deep breath. The air was thick with the scent of cooking beef, the smell creating a homey atmosphere that helped the countess to relax just a little. Curious to see what her new partner was up to, Amaris dropped her stuff into a chair in the common area and calmly made her way toward the kitchen. It seemed that the closer she got, the better everything smelled, good enough that it came close to making the vampire jealous.
Slowly Amaris poked her nose around the corner to observe the girl she assumed to be Madalyn, noting the intense focus she seemed to have for the craft before her. It was clear that the mage had not heard the arrival of her roommate, which meant it was very likely that Amaris was about to startle her. While not an ideal first impression, she figured it was best to just get it over with and out of the way. Just to be on the safe side though, the countess remained close to the entrance of the kitchen in case she needed to get out of dodge.
“
That smells delicious. What’s it going to be?” Amaris asked with a soft smile.
Madalyn startled at the voice, nearly flicking out some of the meat she was browning with an involuntary jerk, and she looked over her shoulder at the source. A woman stood partially behind the wall to the kitchen as she looked in. She was clearly a vampire and considering where she was, Madalyn's partner. Madalyn was expecting a demanding question or some sort of comment on her attire if her limited knowledge of the nobles was right so she wasn't 100% percent sure how to handle the unassuming question or the smile on her pretty face. Madalyn knew the vampire was a Marivaldi at the very least. Madalyn knew the Marivaldis respected their mages far more than the other houses. Unfortunately, that was as far as her understanding of them went so she'd have to test the waters for now. She bowed to the Marivaldi before returning to cooking.
"Just spaghetti, ma'am. Right now I'm just cooking meat that I'll add back into the sauce later." Madalyn explained as she took the beef off the heat and set about draining it and setting it off to the side. She slid the spaghetti into the boiling water and then put a bit of the oil back into the saucepan pan and set it to heat again. It was a staple recipe in her house so she could practically do this in her sleep, turning away from the stove to give the Countess her undivided attention for a few moments.
"It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma'am. I apologize for my outfit; I wasn't sure when you'd be arriving and I thought I would have enough time to finish cooling before I changed. I hope my clothes don't cause offense." Madalyn said, keeping her gaze politely down.
Amaris stepped out into full view now that the initial shock had been dealt with. She positioned herself so that she could watch the girl at work, her eyes following each step thoughtfully as ingredients were prepped and moved about. While there had been many opportunities for her to watch such activities like cooking at home, the whole process still managed to fascinate her. Very rarely did she see humans eating foods that were as immediately consumable like her food-source; they always seemed to be altering their forms in one way or another.
“
It’s no trouble. You’ll find that my travels tend to be on the expedited side regardless of my personal wishes. With recent events considered, I can’t say I blame the rush this time around.” The countess shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly though her smile remained soft.
“
I understand this might be a bit of an adjustment for you, so it makes me happy to see you settling in comfortably. Were all of your belongings delivered properly?” There was a brief falter in the expression reaching her eyes, but Amaris pushed the melancholy sentiment aside to avoid giving off the wrong impression.
The vampiress didn’t answer her question directly and Madalyn wasn’t sure if the settling in comment was approval or a side step. She had been hoping for something straight forward but it would probably come up again if it was a problem.
“Yes, ma’am, they were. Thank you.” The fat in the pan started sizzling and she turned back, sliding the ham she cut into the pan and stirring the pasta. She gathered her other ingredients as she stirred the ham periodically, using the time to collect her thoughts. There wasn’t much to consider other than this vampire was soft spoken and seemed more relaxed than the stories suggested of their kind. Considerate and quiet so far but for every good rumor there were twenty more bad ones and Madalyn knew she’d have to keep her guard up until she could confirm how true the ones about the Marivaldis were.
Once she had everything cooking happily again, she turned back to the Countess. Neither of them had introduced themselves. Madalyn wasn’t familiar with most vampires outside the Queen, the council members, and the Countess that controlled her territory so she wasn’t sure who she was dealing with exactly. Maybe she was waiting for Madalyn to introduce herself first.
“My apologies, I forgot to introduce myself. Madalyn Vazquez, ma’am. My affinity is life magic.” Her expression was pleasant and neutral, like she was taught in school. That was probably the only thing she’d done right so far. Her teachers back at school would probably be clicking their tongues in disapproval but she didn’t see them having to suddenly adapt to living with nobility.
A life mage… how ironic. The countess thought to herself with an internal laugh. While likely a coincidence, Amaris thought the affinity was approaching the line of cosmic mockery. Still, it was little excuse for her absent mindedness and severe lack of manners.
“
I suppose it would help to give you a name if I’m going to get you to stop calling me ma’am.” She chuckled lightheartedly. There seemed to at least be a bit of familiarity, or at the very least the expectation, of etiquette. It would be helpful to not have to worry about teaching it from scratch, but she hoped she wouldn’t have to fight hard to leave it at the door.
“
My name is Amaris Marivaldi, Countess to the main house of Marivaldi. But for the purpose of our partnership here at the Academy, you are more than welcome to call me Ari. Or Amaris if you think Ari is too familiar, I promise it won’t hurt my feelings.” Eyes wandering to the cooking, Amaris inhaled deeply to take in the evolving scent. It had somehow grown richer since her initial arrival, and she was greatly looking forward to its final form. Shaking her head, the countess returned her gaze to the mage still standing politely in front of her.
“
I’m sure between the two of us, there are quite a few questions to be asked. Why don’t you finish up here and we talk things over where it’s a little more comfortable. I find conversations are far more enjoyable when there are chairs.”
"If Ari is what you'd like, then that's what I'll call you. It suits you." Madalyn said.
"I should be done in about ten minutes and then we can play twenty questions." She chuckled and turned back to the stove, stirring the ham for a bit longer before adding the remaining ingredients. She took a deep breath as sofrito and cilantro filled the kitchen, draining the pasta as the sauce simmered and thickened. It was nice to have a little bit of home in a new place even if she was glad to be out of the nest. Not that she didn't love her family but they could be
slightly overbearing. but they
Meanwhile, her mind was whirring. Trading information with her new partner, easy enough. What did she know so far? First, she was definitely living up to the Marivaldi stereotype. Polite, nice, and immediately creating a sense of familiarity with someone considered beneath her station. Well beneath her station if her introduction was anything to go by. Second, she didn’t comment on her clothing despite the clear differences between their level of dress and coupled with the easy way she put them on first name basis, it was likely Ari didn’t disapprove. Thirdly, the Countess seemed to like the smell of what she was cooking. That would be a good default topic to fall back on if there was a lull in the conversation. She hummed along with the music again as she stirred the beef back into the sauce. She definitely had some mixed feelings about this whole situation. She expected to have four years before she had to face a vampire but, much like her Awakening, she’d been thrown for a loop again. She scoffed softly at the thought.
Awakening. Not the first in the family but it wasn’t like they were common either. The last one had been her great uncle on her mother’s side so when that crystal lit up in her hands, she’d been completely unprepared. Her entire life plan―waitress at the restaurant, learn how to handle the finances from her mother, find a husband that would benefit the family and that she liked―evaporated in that moment and she’d nearly broke down crying. She’d almost missed her affinity announcement in the shock. But what was done was done and there wasn’t any point in crying over spilt milk.
She finished the sauce, stirring in the last of the cilantro because there could never be enough, and tossed the pasta in it. She considered whether to leave it covered rather than plating it but her stomach growled again and she shrugged. “This should be fine. She would have said something.” She rummaged around until she found silverware, grabbed a glass of water, and poked around for the vampire,starting in the dining room. If she didn’t find her there, she’d put the plate away first.
Amaris had stepped away from the kitchen to allow Madalyn some space to finish cooking, returning to the bag she had abandoned near the entry. By this time the object was rustling as a very impatient Getsuga nudged his nose out a hole he had found. She scooped the bag up in her arms and pulled it up close to her face with quiet cooing noises.
“
I know, I know. All this traveling has got you antsy doesn’t it? Let’s get you to your heat lamp.” The countess disappeared around the corner to her room, taking her time so as not to rush the mage in the kitchen. With her pet settled in and her bag emptied of what it didn’t need, Amaris slowly made her way back down the hall to the dining area. She picked up a book she had left lying around and took a seat at the table, skimming through the pages she had read hundreds of times while she awaited Madalyn’s presence. After a few minutes Amaris sensed the mage’s approach from the kitchen, the countess placed the book down on the table and pushed herself to her feet.
“
Please, sit down and eat.” Amaris gestured to the space across from where she was standing before retaking her own and leaning back comfortably.
“
If you don’t mind my asking, it’s a bit odd of a time to transfer. What pushed your decision to come to Noila?”
“Thank you, Ari.” Madalyn set her place and settled into the chair across from her, considering the question as she laid out the napkin on her lap.
“The headmistress of my old school called me into her office and told me that I’d be attending. She said Princess Ryner sent an invitation. I’m not sure about others but I’m not in the habit of denying her anything. I can tell the difference between a request and a politely worded demand at the very least,” She chuckled as she took a bite.
“I haven’t heard much concrete about the school though. How is attending here? This is my first co-ed experience so I’m sure it’s a world difference.” Madalyn asked.
“
I see. She must have seen something she really liked. Even for her, it’s not always easy to steal talent from hard to reach places. I’m glad to get to be a part of your journey.” Amaris replied before taking a moment to consider Madalyn’s question. She had quite a few opinions about the school, but she thought it best to ease the sentiment in rather than bombard her with the negativity.
“
Her Royal Highness runs a fair school, and it certainly lives up to its reputation. I just hope the recent tragedy hasn’t marred your view of this place before you’ve had a chance to try it out, it really is a wonderful place. Here you will have access to some of the best teachers and mentors you could ever hope to train under. Oh, and our headmistress will not tolerate any outright abuse of its students no matter who they are… just keep in mind there are still those that toe that line and refer to it as tradition. I recommend keeping your wits about you while you settle in.” The countess seemed almost disappointed that such a warning would exist, but the last thing she needed was for Madalyn to get hurt because she was not prepared.
“
But with me, the only detail you’ll have to be especially concerned with are the feeding arrangements. Princess Ryner set it up as a way to ease through the transitional period and strengthen bonds or something like that. Would it be incorrect to assume you are new to it like many of the first year students?” She asked, raising an eyebrow curiously. It hadn’t sounded like her previous school had such a system in place, but Amaris still didn’t know much about Madalyn’s home life to be able to make a certain call.
Everyone had heard about the events. Six students hurt under right under the nose of the Princess that supported mages’ rights and she had to call in the Traditionalist one to fix the problem. She would be lying if she said it didn't make her uneasy but there were additional security measures and she was under the direct supervision of a noble so that had to count for something extra.
“Thank you for the warning. I’ll make sure to keep it in mind.” She promised as she took another bite.
“It is a fair assumption. You’ll definitely be my first in many of these experiences. We have little claim to magic in the family and we own a restaurant. This is my first time sitting in the same room with a vampire for longer than a minute.” Madalyn explained. The first time she met a vampire, everything in her screamed
run. Knowing that she would be fed on definitely triggered some sort of fear but she’d slowly become more accustomed to the idea. The inevitability of it definitely made it an easier pill to swallow.
“Any guidance on the subject would be greatly appreciated. I’ve heard that a bite is relatively painless. Is that true?”“
From what I have been told, that is true. It is my understanding that the process feels a little different from person to person, side effects and so forth but so long as the one doing the biting is mindful of their manners there should be little to no pain. Ca-... My previous partner didn’t seem to mind it at all, but I found myself tucking her in for a nap more often than not.” Amaris’ laugh was nostalgic as she caught herself mid-sentence. She figured she would be able to speak her name again eventually without feeling the pit in her stomach, but now was not that occasion.
“
It’s not something you’ll have to worry about tonight anyway, I got my fill before leaving home so I should be alright for another night or so. If you’re really nervous about it, I’m sure you can track down one of your professors or a fellow classmate to help ease your mind. Once that is settled, the rest will come as it needs to. Let’s see, am I forgetting anything?” She asked herself aloud, eager to move on from the boring subjects as soon as possible.
“
Ah, I suppose there is one other thing. I’m usually one for open spaces and the freedom to occupy them, however I’d like to get the whole ‘I’ll stay out of your room if you stay out of mine’ speech out of the way upfront. It’s the only place I would consider off limits unless stated otherwise, as for the rest of the dorm you are more than welcome to stretch out and make it yours. Does that seem fair to you?” After spending the break practicing with Salazar at home, there was little she had to worry about in the ways of a novice mage discovering something she shouldn’t… but she figured setting the expectation right out of the gate might help make those necessary moments of enforcement a little less conspicuous.
Madalyn nodded as the Countess explained. It was a relief to hear that pain wasn’t going to feature in her future from a necessary ritual though the additional commentary wasn’t as helpful. So the only way to understand being fed on was to experience it. Jumping into something without some preparation wasn’t exactly how she liked to do things but it had to happen eventually. She almost wished the countess hadn’t fed; that way, she could have gotten through it like ripping off a band-aid.
But what caught her attention was the stumble. Ca―? Although she was curious, she’d wait and bide her time. This previous partner of hers was important to her, that much was apparent, but then why wasn’t she here? Why had she been brought into a situation when the Marivaldi clearly already had a soft spot for the other? There was definitely an inkling in the back of her mind but she’d explore that particular issue later when she had some time to herself and process everything she’d found out.
“I’d never dream of intruding.” Madalyn replied, putting her silverware down and giving the vampire a mildly concerned look.
“I apologize for my forwardness and I don’t mean any disrespect but aren’t you entitled to come into my room? I was under the impression that, for all intensive purposes, I had no right to refuse you anything with some exceptions.”“
No need to apologize. I understand my methods are a little unorthodox. You’re not wrong in the sense that the legal system agrees with your statement, as does a good portion of my kind. There will undoubtedly be times where the metaphorical leash will be tighter, the expectations of you higher. However, there is a reason those same people don’t particularly vibe well with Marivaldi-kind. We don’t just care for our mages, we respect them as individuals. So I guess to answer your question, yes technically I am entitled to enter your room without invitation but I have no intention to unless I deem it absolutely necessary.” Amaris explained calmly, wondering if she had thoroughly freaked the girl out yet. Evidently it was not so easy having one’s expectations of life with a vampire shattered, but Madalyn seemed rather level headed. It might take some time but the countess was confident the adjustment could be made.
“
You’ll find that I diverge from a lot from the traditional views of our society. Sure, sometimes you have to put on a show and pretend to just fit in, but all that stops at the door. Here, at home, it’s just you and I. What that looks like will be up for us to decide.”
Madalyn couldn’t hold back the amused snort at Amaris’ words. The last thing she expected out of a Countess’ mouth was
vibe. Despite her looks, Amaris was probably around 100 years old so it was like hearing hip slang coming from your grandparents or great grandparents. The idea made her laugh softly, her smile less polite and more genuine now. She moved her plate to the side, leaning forward and resting her chin on the back of her hand.
“Please tell me you’ve said vibe in a proper meeting. I can only imagine how long it took for some millennia old vampire to try and figure that out.” If Ari said it was okay to be relaxed behind closed doors, she wasn’t going to try and impersonate a high up servant. That was a lot more work that she really wanted to do and the less often she had to, the better.
“But okay. We can figure out how we want to vibe here at home so I guess that means how do you want to do this? I’m not going to lie, I’d appreciate a place where we can just chill.” Madalyn asked.
“And in comparison, what are the expectations once we cross that threshold? Etiquette classes were a mandatory part of my schooling but they were definitely intended for human interactions, much less vampires and even less so nobles.”The countess was pleased to see Madalyn brightening up, clearly more relaxed than when they had made their initial introductions. She shook her head with a laugh of her own, wondering what look Salazar, or more importantly Amanda, would have reserved for such an antic. The thought was enough to send a shudder down her spine, but she stood by the idea.
“
Unfortunately I haven’t had the opportunity, but I think I’d rather avoid the extra time it would take for some of those guys to get a proper translation. Trust me, those types of meetings run long enough.” She waved her hand dismissively as if the very idea of the grumpy old vampires were a gnat buzzing about her head.
“
For the sake of both of our sanity, keeping this space relaxed is what I feel is best. There will be enough of the ‘stick-up-ass’ to go around outside of these walls, no need to bring it in with us. No titles, no pressure… leave the stress for Varis’ lectures. As for expectations held on the other side of that door, well, it’s mostly about minding your manners and knowing how to feel out a situation. Aside from me, there are three other noble representatives; one from each of the houses. I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with their faces quickly and remember your titles with them. If you can, avoid the Astorio altogether. Varis can be strict but at least reasonable and, I hope, respectful of the boundary that comes with interacting with another’s mage. Victor on the other hand… I’d feel a lot better with a little more distance to be honest.” After having witnessed the man launch the mage Lillie clear across the arena, just hadn’t felt much at ease with his presence. She had hoped to know the extent of what punishment followed such a disgrace, but knew that realistically he had probably gotten off with a strict warning.
“
As for me, be it Amaris or Countess I will leave that up to your discretion and comfort. You won’t have to ask my permission to do anything or go anywhere. The campus is a big place and there is a lot to see. I would honestly hate for you to miss out on even a second of it. I just ask that you check in with me every so often and understand the importance of returning swiftly if I should have to request your presence back. And if you find yourself interested in really diving into the noble etiquette I’m sure we can have something arranged, though I wouldn’t be surprised if Princess Ryner had already considered it when she sent your invitation to transfer. Just let me know and I can take care of it for you.”
So basically, nothing was expected of her. She’d wound her nerves up for nothing which is the one of the greatest sense of relief in the world. Be respectful of boundaries, behave outside of the dorm, and check in to make sure she was still alive and kicking. She didn’t know what she did to please the Princess but clearly she drew the lucky straw when it came to the nobles.
“Well, that all sounds reasonable. When I was dropped off in front of the dorm, I nearly turned around and ran. I’m glad I didn’t. I think we’ll get along well.” Madalyn relaxed back into her seat.
“If we’re keeping it chill in here, then call me Maddie. All my friends at home do. So, check ins. Are texts okay for the most part? We’ll see each other here plenty I’m sure but I don’t know what my schedule looks like yet so I don’t know how easy it’ll be to set up face to face meetings throughout the day. What’s your number?” She took out her phone and opened a new contact for Ari.
“So you mentioned the other nobles but they have mages too right? What are they like?” She asked.
“
I wouldn’t have blamed you for taking a healthy jog in the opposite direction, but I’m glad that you decided to stick around, Maddie.” Amaris reached for the phone she had tucked into the side of her skirt after returning her bag to her room. She had been keeping the device close to her on the off chance that Cassandra messaged her while they were apart, but it was clear now that such a thing wasn’t going to happen. Instead she flipped through her information until she had located her personal number and turned to offer it to Madalyn.
“
Texts are perfectly fine, as are calls if there is something you need a reply for. I will admit though, I have not fully mastered the device yet. Texting etiquette, if there is such a thing, is still quite foreign to me so I apologize for that.” With a sheepish smile, the countess shrugged her shoulders and sat back in her chair once more. It didn’t take her long to ponder Madalyn’s question about the other’s in the cul-de-sac, but unfortunately her own introverted nature left her with little response.
“
I’m afraid that I won’t be too much help to you there. To date I have only personally interacted with one of the mages here. Lilie, she’s paired with the representative from Eve. A sweet girl so I hope the partnership is kind to them both. I don’t know much about Varis’ partner other than he was most definitely groomed for a position around royalty; you can see it in the way he holds himself. Unfortunately for him, he was paired with Varis of all people and his treatment is harsh. Makes me sick to see the two of them together. As for Victor Astorio… I’m not entirely sure who pulled that equally short straw. I rarely see him, let alone his assigned partner.” She figured she had seen the mage in question before, but without the proper context, she wasn’t able to connect the dots.
“
Maybe we’ll luck out and they’ll drop out of the sky to introduce themselves.”
“Or they’ll leave us alone and we won’t have to mingle at all.” Maddie said hopefully as she entered the phone number into hers. She sent off a quick text to Amaris, nothing more than a hello and a hand emoji, and tucked the device away. So she was in the dark about the other mages. A disappointment considering the likelihood of them interacting was high. Hopefully, they are relaxed and chill. The royalty one made her a little nervous but she sympathized with the poor mage. If his Sinnenodel was anything like the Cou―
“Wait. You said Varis. As in, Varis Sinnenodel. The vampire who is the heir to the Sinnenodel family currently?” Maddie asked as she made the connection. For some reason, just saying the first name didn’t mean anything until the family name clicked into place. There wasn’t much in the way of news about the vampires except for those close to the Council but their heirs she knew. Great. Out of the frying pan and into the fryer. She’d make sure to put a little extra effort into avoiding that one.
“And you’re Amaris Marivaldi, Lord Ralmevik’s daughter. Wow. You are very relaxed for someone in your position.” Maddie said, stunned. The lives of the Council members and their immediate households were common subjects even among humans considering their decisions shaped their entire existence but you considered them like the stars, distant and out of reach. Yet here she was, neighbors to one and the actual mage of another and the realization was more than just a little overwhelming.
“Okay. This is a lot, I’m not going to lie. I have to be honest, wouldn’t someone with experience in this kind of field be a better choice of partner? How does the Princess choose us?”“
I wouldn’t mind it much if they opted to leave us. I might actually get something productive done for once.” Amaris joked, plucking her phone back up just to tuck it back into the band of her skirt. She would fiddle with the device later to get her new contact in order. It was far more amusing to watch Madalyn make connections she hadn’t before with the names and a tad more context provided to her.
“
The very same, and the only one I know of. I don’t think I could handle any duplicates. He is… interesting enough in singularity. And correct again, the late Lord Ralmevik was my father. Salazar and his wife run the show these days, and it’s because they do such a fantastic job that I can afford to be a little more relaxed. Besides, I wouldn’t be able to assist much while attending Noila anyway. Evidently, it would be a conflict of interest.” The countess smiled softly and reached a hand out to rest on top of Madalyn’s.
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It’s going to take some time to get used to, but I don’t think you’ll have to worry about the experience. You will glean some over time, and having me as a partner will hopefully help to take some of that pressure off. Now, if we’re talking about Varis or Victor… well, the experience might be a little more important. But the only thing you could do to offend me is lie to me, so as long as you don’t do that you’ll have plenty of time to figure things out.” Shifting once again, Amaris removed her hand from Madalyn’s personal space to instead pinch the bridge of her nose.
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As for Her Royal Highness, only the stars know what goes on in that head of hers. I’m sure she is full of wisdom and I don’t doubt her abilities or choices, but I cannot even begin to understand some of her decisions. I mean, she initially paired me with a girl who was under investigation for something. Nox was breaking down my door the first week of classes. You wouldn’t happen to be up to anything illegal would you?” Amaris raised her eyebrow at the mage with a playful smirk.
Maddie nodded as Amaris spoke but quickly shook her head at the end.
“Well, you nobles certainly know how to get into trouble." She murmured quietly. Being a noble's mage was going to be a pain. She'd have to stay on her toes to keep out of the other ones hair and hopefully out of the eyes of whoever was eyeing Amaris next in their little political games. Why did her life have to get so complicated?
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What can I say, it just comes naturally. But I suppose that’s what it means to be in the spotlight, gotta keep things interesting for everybody else.” The countess let out a small chuckle before rising to her feet.
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Well, I suppose I’ve taken up enough of your time this evening. I’m sure you have plenty left to do in order to get settled in so I won’t keep you here any longer. Seems like a good time to retire for the morning, so if you find yourself needing anything, you know where to find me. Pleasant dreams Maddie.” Amaris departed the table with a smile, the book she had been skimming while awaiting the mage scooped gingerly in her arms as she walked away. Her pace was leisurely, the vampire in no particular hurry for anything, but purposeful as she made her retreat to her room.
There wasn’t really much in the way of luggage, after all, the belongings at the school were just a fraction of what she owned in total. What need would she have had to transport anything, when all she needed would have already been at the estate for her? The only things she cared about had already been unpacked and placed including her beloved Getsuga, who snoozed comfortably beneath his heat lamp. It wasn’t long before Amaris also found herself curled up and resting comfortably.
Maddie waved goodbye, staying at the table for a few minutes after Amaris left. She sighed at her plate as she took it to the kitchen and started cleaning up, putting away the extra food and putting away her mess into the dishwasher before retiring for the day. This situation was surreal. It was a lot to process, knowing she’d be running into more high stress, high strung vampires along the way. Hopefully, their mages were less so. Maddie stared forlornly at the pile of luggage waiting patiently to be unpacked, swore under her breath, dug out her toiletries, and left that pile for another da-
Night. It was night now. She yawned. A night owl she may be but years of waking up with the sun left her exhausted in the early hours. That kinda sucked. She was going to miss the sun and she had a sneaking suspicion it wouldn’t be the only thing she missed. But those thoughts were no good now. Right now, a shower and bed sounded fantastic.
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