Celeste d'Penthièvre, Great Hall
They had told her it would be tough. They had given countless warnings and lectures on the unbridled brutality to be found here, and they had instilled a more than healthy fear of the bloody backstabing the Academy was famed for. All of this had given Celeste the impression that the island would be like some sort of outlaw's den. And yet...as she sat there, listening to the man drone on, she couldn't help but feel as if it were more similar to the halls of her father's palace, intrigue and all. Luckily, the only thing she was better at than dueling was pretending to listen to long speeches, and compared to formal engagements where she was center stage this was positively mind-numbing.
Then a small golden ring landed a few meters to her left. For a second, she was surprised. Had the old man really thrown the thing that far? She was sitting in the very top row, after all, nestled cozily into the corner. Having been one of the first to arrive, she had picked out the prime spot in order to-
BLAM
Within moments, the ring had been engulfed by a giant mob of enraged assassins, one of whom evidently possessed explosives. Belatedly, she remembered something about titles and their possession as she scrambled back to avoid the pack. Whatever it was, there was no way she was going in to get it. It was undignified, and besides, she most certainly would not survive if she remained here for much longer. She drew her rapier and glanced around, fending off the occasional stray slash. There was nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. Nowhere, that is...but out.
Tsk. I hate to use it this early, but...damn, I don't have a choice. Take a nice long look, you peasants, because this isn't something you'll ever see again.
Ducking under a stray crossbow bolt, she shoved a stunned boy out of her way and ran towards the nearby wall. As she ran, she forced mana into the Crystal Lance, skipping the incantation entirely and envisioning the desired result. She reached the wall, and, without pausing, thrust forwards. With a flash of blinding light and a clap of roaring thunder, the newly released lightning spell blasted a a large, boulder-sized chunk through the brick. Celeste ran through it and jumped, ignoring the fatal plunge beneath her.
For a brief second, she fell.
Then the magic burst out from within her. Brilliant white feathers slowed her fall as a saddle materialized beneath her. A moment later, she was no longer falling, but flying
Ah, Bellerophon, my faithful flying steed. It has been too long.
The pegasus neighed in response, kicked its feet, and before long, the pair was circling high above the chaos below. Leaning out of her saddle, Celeste peered downwards, searching for an opportunity.
Hiroari Hata, The Killing Fields
How...how much further?
the two had been walking for what seemed like hours. So far, neither had died, which was a good sign. On the other hand, there was still a crossbow bolt in her back, and Doku - the two had exchanged names at some point - was still bleeding, if only a little. Luckily, the dim lights and faint sounds from up ahead was any indication, they were going to make it.
Heh. Looks like I can do it after all..
As she hobbled across the fields in front of the hall, she envisioned the shocked faces of the thousands of students when they realized two Kai Neni ninjas(well, one plus...something) were the only ones to survive the night. So much for being the weakest nation, and so much for her naivete and inexperie-
BLAM
Several things happened in quick succession, each before she could process the last. First, a great roar rose up from the hall, as the students there all seemed to go collectively berserk. Second, a small but noticeable lightning bolt blasted a hole in the side of the hall, and third, someone summoned a winged horse and proceeded to ride it.
I...wha...
Hata collapsed, partly from exhaustion, partly from shock, and partly from despair, as several students spilled out of the front doors about a hundred meters away from them.
