The Academic City of Màna - Elysius Region, Kingdom of Allurand: 5th Day of Keystone, Year 8745, Feastday, the ninth hour

The Sapphire City seemed a lot more crowded than usual. Then again, that was to be expected. It was two days before the beginning of the new semester, and the last of the students were arriving. And to make it even more crowded, today was also the last day of the start of term sale down at the Outer Rim markets, so those who had procrastinated on buying school supplies had naturally all come down the moment the shops had opened. All in all, this equated in massive crowds.

The city of Màna housed the finest, oldest and best magical academy in all of the continent, or even the world. Or rather, to be more accurate, the city itself was the school.

Màna stood at the heart of Elysius, atop a plateau on Mount Elis. It was a circular double-walled affair, the outer wall protecting the city itself, and the inner wall seperating the two Rims of the city. A dome of magic cast by Mireena herself encircled the city, not only adding a magical touch to the city's defenses, but also keeping it warmer than the Region's infamously snowy countryside.

There have been multiple legends and stories about Màna, but this story concerns itself with a certain group of students of the mystic arts, enrolling this year, each with a different goal, but all bright-eyed and hopeful. In time they will be famed far and wide, accomplished wizards and sorcerors each and every one. But for now....this is their story.

---

City of Màna, Outer Rim, Shopping District

The girl hummed to herself as she walked through the crowded streets, staring wide-eyed at everything around her. (She ignored the almost constant bumps and shoves she received from annoyed passers-by when she stopped to stare at something.)

All around her were shops and stores, a bookstore there, a small shop promising wands here, even a store for small animals to be used as familiars.

This part of the city was where students could buy the things they would need for the upcoming semester, from books to potion ingredients. Though the brick streets were wide and roomy, the girl barely had room to move, not only because of the crowd, but also because of the street stalls and tents vendors had erected in addition to the city's shops. (She....was skeptical those were legal, though.) The street wound around the outermost part of Màna, and the girl could see the outer wall rise up to her right as she walked. Stone stairs led up to the rest of the Outer Rim at ten foot intervals and if she looked up she could see that the upper walkways and arched stone footbridges was just as busy as down here.

The girl herself was a tall young woman with pale skin, fair features, and a smattering of freckles on her cheek and nose. She had golden blonde hair worn loose, and warm brown eyes shining excitedly. She already wore her school uniform, robes of deep blue under a black cloak with the symbol of the College of Evocation stitched on the collar. In one hand, she carried a small shopping bag. On the other, she held a small scrap of parchment.

She smiled. Alright, most of this stuff was done. She could grab a snack and then buy the rest before the twelfth hour. After that, she just had to wait until the fourteenth hour then head up to Mireena's Tower for the First Year Orientation and the assignment of Dorms.

She almost let out a squeal of delight. Finally, finally she was here in Màna! Finally she was on her way to be a splendid wizard! All she had to do was study hard (and let's be honest that's what she always did), and her dream would come true.

Pumping her fist (almost hitting a random girl, who she profusedly apologized to), she continued to run up the street with renewed vigor.

This was going to be... magical.

edited 28th Apr '18 1:38:24 AM by GrimHelm

Nothing is what it seems. Master of Shipping and Sadism.

Shopping district

Nala walked out of a Necromancy supply store, her bag almost too heavy now but all her shopping for the next month or so done. And with plenty of time to spare no less. Jerry hooted and fluttered down from his perch to land on the elf girl's shoulder.

She looked over and smiled at him. "Alright, that'll do for today. Did you find a good coffee spot like I asked you too?"

He hooted.

"Define close?"

Another hoot.

"That's....not exactly as close for me as it is for you."

Jerry did not respond but began cleaning his feathers. Nala's shoulder's slumped. "Fine, but that's cutting it close you know, I don't have the ring set up for here yet and you're not getting a whole croiss- Ack!" Nala barely dodged a flying limb from a blonde girl who ran off apologizing. Jerry glared after the young girl.

Nala gave him an even look. "Jerry, no, don't you-" The owl took off and immediately flew after the other girl coming to a stop in front of her and hooting angrily.

-dramatic music ensues-

Somewhere within the shopping district

Cormac MacCumhaill was lost.

The Guardian wasn't accustomed to cities, let alone one the size and shape of Mana and was distinctly lacking in funds for school supplies and no one had seemed too open to loaning him some until he could pay for them in full. So instead of buying school supplies, Cormac set about trying to familiarize himself with his surroundings. Withdrawing his runestone from a leather pouch and began leaving a few small runes with nonsensical meanings on every tree he passed to serve as landmarks.

Spotting a pair of (presumably) young women carrying numerous supplies that Cormac could only assume were related to the Curriculum, the druid pocketed his runestone and jogged up to the pair and called out "'Scuse me! I dinna suppose I would be oversteppin' my boundaries if I were to ask tae tag along wi' you two? I'm nae exactly accustomed tae cities an' I'm findin' myself gettin' quite lost.."

Shopping District

"Nyahahahahahaha!"

The sound echoed out from an amethyst furred cat as it hopped from roof to roof above the crowded streets.

"Now this is the way ta deal with crowds. Never be in em." He meowed as he stopped and started to groom himself. "Now... I only wish i knew where Koko was so i could actually have my stuff... Why did he have to run off just as I needed to paaaaaaaay." He nervously scanned the street below, and saw a group of students assembling. Tail flicking back and forth, he jumped down and landed "lightly" on the bright and cheery girl's shoulders. "Scuse me, but have any a ny'all happened ta see a treasure chest running off with a broom in its mouth?"

shopping district

Meanwhile, a really sweaty girl named Elodie was working in one of those street stalls, anxiously staring between the boiling pea soup and the hourglass indicating its doneness, which was almost time. It's not that she was new to the job that she has been anxious, no, it's because this was the last pea soup she makes before she needs to go off to the orientation, and she's cutting it quite close.

"Hey, slowpoke!" one of the witch student customers complained. "Where is my pea soup!" Apparently, Elodie wasn't the only one who was anxious to arrive early.

"Ey, ey, fuck you! You can rush perfection like this!" Elodie retorted back. "I spit at your mother! I'll..."

She stopped herself when she realized that the hourglass had just finished dropping its last grain. She immediately took one big scoop of the soup into the bowl and slapdashedly tossed the bowl to the rude customer before she stripped away her chef uniform to reveal her yellow transmutation uniform underneath. She grabbed her bag from underneath the kitchen table and kissed her daddy, who was making more pea soup as well, goodbye.

"Oh, and don't forget to get the money from the customer!" he reminded her. That made Elodie stopped just short of exiting the stall, turning slowly to the customer, who was giving her the stink eye all this time. She sighed silently, approached him and asked for the money. He gave her the money. "Where's the rest of the money?" Elodie said.

"I'm not gonna pay for bad service-"

"Oh fuck you!" she shouted before she stormed out of the stall and confronted the customer in the streets. "You wanna fight?"

edited 28th Apr '18 1:10:22 AM by sgtpendulum

http://www.last.fm/user/sgtpendulum Yo, check out what I'm listening, it'll be heat, brah :^)

Shopping District

A young man with a heavy parka and an apparently permanently bored expression stared blankly in the line for the street stall. He had simply hoped to get a quick meal before he made his way to orientation, but the cook was taking a while with the man's order for some reason, and he was getting agitated in response.

He yawned, although not due to his own lack of patience. Against his family's expectations, he had trained the previous night in a way somewhat resembling actual effort, and so was even more lackluster than normal.

I don't think that was a great plan. Why didn't I just leave it, it's not even worth bothering if- he groaned inwardly, only to snap out of it as the cook, a young woman, stormed out angrily at the customer's refusal to pay and apparently tried to provoke him into a fight.

“Hey, I normally wouldn't be bothered to say anything but could you not? I'm kind of gonna be late for orientation as is, but if I'm any later I won't be able to give the 'I slept in' excuse plausibly.”

edited 28th Apr '18 1:43:01 AM by Enirboreh

bork

From Mireena's Tower to the Shopping District

Kiri couldn't sleep. He hated when this happened, when this damn ring that had followed him his whole life glowed a dull but unfading red where the image of a fire-breathing dragon encircled it. He got up and dusted off his blue robes, more fancy and clean than anything he'd worn in Sedura, before he slung his bag over his shoulder and left his wonderfully isolated portion of Mireena's Tower to attempt to walk off his tiredness.

But when this seemed to succeed, a new ailment wore away at the young man's focus: hunger. Realizing he'd made it to the outer rim, Kiri tried to find a quiet place to enjoy the breakfast that the Lady Mireena herself had prepared and packed for him. Too generous...

He was only able to make it halfway through the considerately prepared and delicious meal, slowly moving his mouth to take in the flavor and accommodate his own tiredness, but then a nearby argument began to escalate near where he was sitting. He groaned as the shouting made his head ached, and grimaced as his red eyes followed the sound to a food stall barely ten yards away from him. He took another mouthful of Mireena's meal, watching everything unfold while his ring continued to beat like a second heart around his left middle finger.

Allurand and surrounding world loading, 28%...

Màna Shopping District

The girl continued walking, cheerfully oblivious to her surroundings. She was already imagining the sweets and pastries she was going to buy. Okay, so Mother told her not to go overboard buuuut Mother was also back home in Artina and she wasn't planning on having more than two...three.. so...

Her thoughts were interrupted by a big honking bird flying right by her face. She screamed and instinctively began casting her go to spell. Explosion-!

.....And promptly realized she was in the middle of a crowded street. OH NO.

She diverted her mana at the last moment, stopping the explosion and only causing a very loud pop like a firecracker.

.....A lot of people turned to stare. She blushed and averted her gaze.

But someone approached her at that moment and the girl found herself looking at a young man asking to...come with her?

She blushed even harder at the thought. Okay, so he didn't look like a creep, and he was really ho-. No. Bad. Baaad.

She shook her head and tried to remain in eye contact.

"U-um, if y'all are lost, I guess I can help? I h-half grew up in this city, s-so I don't mind?" Her voice was soft, and her flustered nerves led to her Artinian drawl coming out stronger than usual.

"My name is Eura, sir, and can I have your name?" .....Musn't forget all her manners...

And then a cat landed on her. And spoke. In common. With an Artinian accent too.

Eura blinked. "Treasure chest? Wha..a-are y'all a familiar? O-or, Miss Ana, is that you, ma'am?"

.....Hey, one can never tell with that goddess.

edited 28th Apr '18 2:11:56 AM by GrimHelm

Nothing is what it seems. Master of Shipping and Sadism.

City

While Eura and Asher were distracted by each other Nala walked past them and promptly grabbed Jerry by the skull. The owl cooed in a mix of fear and hope. Nala gave him an evil looking grin in response. "No I don't think so. In fact let's go apologize now, shall we? Especailly since you nearly got yourself blasted!"

Jerry hooted regretfully.

Nala took a couple steps closer to Eura. "Excuse me, sweetie. I'm sorry if my familiar caused you any trouble. He's a bit of an obstinate one. I'd be happy to treat you to some coffee or something if you'd like."

She held Jerry forward to make his apology. The owl turned his head around to look at Nala. She gave him a glare disguised as a pleasant smile. "Or you're not getting any croissant at all."

Jerry quickly swiveled back around and began hooting quickly and piteously. Nala tilted her head to see around the bird."Oh, I almost forgot, I'm Nala and this is Jerry."

-dramatic music ensues-

Near the market

"Phew. That took too long."

Erin had just flown through the barrier separating the city from the outside world. The crowds at the marketplace were big. Too big for her liking, certainly. Especially with her small size and huge wings. The wings, could be dealt with however. She clasped her pendant and, muttering something under her breath, her wings disappeared. The feathery tufts on her head remained, though. She wandered into the marketplace, bumping into people here and there, but getting where she was aiming to go. She felt like she could fall asleep on the spot. It was hard adjusting to a diurnal sleep pattern. After buying all the supplies she needed for divination, she decided that she would get something to drink. However she was distracted by the evocation supplies shop and slipped in to have a browse.

I used to plug my deviantart here but turns out the link was too long.

City

Jumping ever so slightly at the explosion, Cormac took a moment to straighten himself out before responding to Eura. Extending a hand, Cormac introduced himself "Cormac MacCumhaill. I think I'm what you might call a druid, but back home they call me Guardian. An' I'm quite grateful for your help, I'm frae a wee village out in Kallian y'see."

Changing focus to the newly arrived cat, Cormac responded in kind "Well, I cannae say I've seen anything along those lines, but I've nae been payin' such things much heed."

Shopping District, Academic City of Màna - Elysius Region, Kingdom of Allurand: 5th Day of Keystone, Year 8745, Feastday, the ninth hour

"And what's all the trouble?"

Someone had come by the stall where Elodie was arguing with her customer. The newcomer, tall and broad in a well-fed way, wore the robes of an Academy student. In his arms, he carried a bundle of belongings and school materials, some of which looked to be abjuration reagents. His hair was neatly kept and there was an amiable smile on his features.

But none could mistake the straightness of his posture or the slight inflection in his query, the hallmarks of someone who served to keep the peace.

Màna Shopping District

Eura was distracted from the cat-that-was-possibly-a-goddess by the sudden arrival of a woman who was apparently the owner of that bird from before.

The young woman turned to look at the newcomer...aaaaand blushed a deep crimson. Oh. Wait, no, Eura's better than this. Mother wouldn't let her hear the end of it if she was distracted by a pretty face. Again. She had to remember the pride of her family name!

Eura shook her head to clear her head.

"Er, well, I think I should be the one to apologize to y'all. I almost went and punched ya, so there's no need to treat me to something. N-not that it isn't a pleasure to meet you, Nala, and Jerry, right? He's actually really cute. I'm Eura."

Nailed it. Minimal stuttering!

Then Cormar introduced himself and Eura let out an honest to goddesses gasp.

She whipped her head towards him so fast that someone could have heard a snap.

"A...a druid?! From Kallian?! Aaaaaaahhhh.....That's so...fascinating!"

Eura let out a high pitched squeal and immediately grabbed hold of one of Cormac's hands with both her own (bag still clutched).

"I-I'd be happy to show ya around, Sir Cormac! I'd just like to ask a few questions while we go! Ooh, what's it like in Kallian?! Have you met Rozel? What are the Trus Eivel like?! It's all so interesting!"

edited 28th Apr '18 7:47:36 AM by GrimHelm

Nothing is what it seems. Master of Shipping and Sadism.

market district

Erin was daydreaming of going to the evocation academy when she was snapped out of it by a loud squeal. She rushed out of the store to see what was going on.

"What's going on? Are you guys ok? Wait... Sorry for panicking."

I used to plug my deviantart here but turns out the link was too long.

In the Middle of the Market

Walking fast but with clear purpose was a tall figure dressed in a red robe and blue pants, their face was covered by the robe's large hood as they made their way through crowd, their broad shoulders brushing into strangers left and right, but the hooded person seemed unfazed, or perhaps more likely they just ignored everyone else, not bothering to apologize, they often looked to the side and stared at the stalls, stopping for a second and moving, seeing a shop, going inside, going outside and moving. See a piece of junk on the floor, stop before again, moving. Maybe they held their excitement at bay, but their curiosity to their surroundings was too much, well, their surroundings aside from people that is.

"Man the weather here is much better than the outside, how do all the other Elysians deal with this cold? I miss home in this way, rocky, rather than all snowy, can't even see any of the mountain with all this snow" The figure seemed to be speaking to themselves loud enough for people nearby to hear, it was a slightly feminine voice, making it obvious that the person was very likely female.

"Okay actually, I should drop this my face is starting to feel hot " The girl said before flipping her hood backwards, revealing her long white hair and deep blue eyes. She couldn't withhold her own excitement any longer

She stretched her arms upwards as her hands were closed into a fist she made a V formation, a wide grin plastered on her face as she looked towards the sky, she inhaled slowly and deeply, and shouted.

"MÁNA THE WAIT IS OVER, THE IRON EMPRESS IS HERE AT LAST!" She continued to stare at the sky for a couple seconds before finally returning into a relaxed position, a smile on her face, she finally exhaled in relief.

"Ahhh, release, that was good, now time to conquer this university and all it has to offer!"

edited 28th Apr '18 8:48:59 AM by LiorVal

Shopping District

Elodie had gotta admit, she really did not think this one through. She thought that being forceful on a customer, who's most likely haven't worked out in the entirety of his life, would make him get scared and just gave her the money. That's what works for most customers, but not this one, he's just staring her down like he really wants to fight. And now it seems like everyone was staring at her, including two busybodies who want in on a fight.

"Well, you see, gentleman," she said mockingly as she rolled her eyes with her hands on her hips. "This pisstaker apparently doesn't want to pay full price for his food because of 'bad service'-"

"And it's justified," the student retorted. "It took a long time to get my food and this wench is being rude to me!"

"It's only been 10 minutes when you came in and ordered some soup! Have some sense of patience!"

http://www.last.fm/user/sgtpendulum Yo, check out what I'm listening, it'll be heat, brah :^)

Shopping District

Asher watched the transpiring events in an amused fashion, before looking a but irritated when attention on him was lost a bit. As such, he jumped down from his rather flustered perch and assumed his normal form with a bow, a tip of his large witch's hat, and a flick of his tail.

"Asher Welkin, Artinian Witch. At yer service." He returned the hat to his head with a flourish, and dusted off his skirt.

Shopping District, Academic City of Màna - Elysius Region, Kingdom of Allurand: 5th Day of Keystone, Year 8745, Feastday, the ninth hour

Adjusting his bundle, the robust-looking student stepped closer to the cauldron, breathing in the fragrant aroma. "Mmmm, I can smell Elysian thyme. And bacon bits! This is all good, though a bit of lemon would have given it some pep." Elodie saw that purple lanyard on this one's breast pocket before he turned to her first customer.

"Sir, overlooking the fact that the best pea soup usually takes 40 minutes to prepare, you are aware that one should not be rude to anyone in the service industry?" The tone was pleasant, only just slightly chiding. It was like he was trying to give the young man an easy out.

City street

Nala squinted out Cormac at the mention of where he was from as Jerry took up a position on her shoulder. "Kallian, you said? Oh! you must be part of that druid tradition that guides the villages just outside the elf lands. Mom and Dad mentioned your group a few times. Well then, I certainly have to extend my hospitality to you or I'll never hear the end of it when I visit home. So why don't we all go get coffee and snacks, my treat? There's a place about five streets over which isn't as close as I'd like...."

Jerry looked to one side and hooted haughtily.

"....that's nice Jerry but you're wrong. But in any case I'll pay as a way to ring in the school year. I'll even pay for...." She looked over at the catboy.

"Err...are you Eura's familiar taking a human form or-" She cut herself off when Asher introduced himself. "Oh, okay, my mistake, I'll still pay for you all the same.

edited 28th Apr '18 10:36:55 AM by guyshane

-dramatic music ensues-

market

Erin noticed the owl. She ran over to it, not noticing that it had an owner.

"Hello? Who are you? What are you doing in a place like this? You'd think it would be too crowded."

She grasped her pendant, revealing her grey-brown wings.

I used to plug my deviantart here but turns out the link was too long.

sorry, meant to post this on the signups thread. please ignore.

edited 28th Apr '18 11:08:44 AM by SomethingRandom113

Umm... so, I was here, I guess. If I wasn't, someone hacked my account. So, yeah.

Market District

"Mngh- out of the way, please- little to the left? Left- not into me!"

The upperclass-woman, Concettina, struggled with the wave of busy students and citizens. Usually a crowd like this would part for her (no doubt thanks to her "generous offerings"), but here it was like a machine- a machine having quite a drastic malfunction. She considered herself lucky no foul criminal swiped her purse, or stepped on her yet...

"Do you people not know manners?"

With a minor fit of desperation, she tried her emergency tactic- toss a coin into the crowd, and watch as they gather in a mass.

Unfortunately, all that truly transpired was a single, ordinary man getting hit in the head, before realizing what hit him. He remarked on his good fortune, pocketed the coin, and went back to business.

Concettina was displeased.

"Aaaaaagh! I hate this toooooown!"

And then there was silence

Shopping District

Kiri was almost finished with Mireena's breakfast when some girl standing just little bit away made herself heard over the crowd, eliciting a groan from him when her yammering made his head ache again. "Dammit, do you people ever stay quiet...?" he muttered to himself.

Allurand and surrounding world loading, 28%...

Shopping District

Alvurac let out a quiet groan. He didn't want to be dragged into this, but he knew he would feel bad if he just up and walked off while the situation was escalating behind him.

Typical. He felt obligated to help.

He hated it when that happened.

“Look, sir, can you not? Please? She's getting stressed out - and that won't make the food come faster. Plus I've been waiting nearly as long as you have, and I haven't been complaining.”

He neglected to mention the reason he hadn't been complaining was because he had fallen asleep several times. That probably wouldn't help the girl's case much.

bork

Shopping District: Kiri and Machina

The woman's ears were sharp enough to hear the young boy's quiet mutterings nearby, she squinted as she inspected as much as she could about him from afar, although not much came up aside form a lonely young black-haired boy eating his lunch. She grunted before deciding to move closer, something about him was curious for her, she picked up a pen and twirled it expertly in her fingers as she approached him.

"How rude, I was simply proclaiming my victory, I got here, after all. I won the journey from Mesis to Màna, I deserve to have a victory cry, or do you think otherwise young man?" She only looked at Kiri's face for about a second, before noticing the ring on his hands, spinning her pen even faster she stared at it for a long moment, before again taking her eyes back towards the young man, it seems she did it to… Be polite? It was very unclear