My vision went black for a millisecond until we exited the other end in a very large Teachers office, it was very full yet very organised with room to move giving it a very spacious yet full feeling. "Welcome my children." The Deputy Headmistress greeted us.
"Good morning Deputy Head Mistress." We all answered in unison like children in school.
"Rowan, Will that is all for now." She smiled making them both bow their head in respect and left the office.
"Please, sit down sit down," The Deputy Headmistress instructed us with a wave of her wand making three chairs from around the room and pulled up in front of her desk.
We all cautiously and quietly took a seat, not knowing how to correctly behave or what to say. "Marvelous students." She smiled leaning back on her chair. "So I assume you're wondering why I called you in so early? Miss Daisy Packwood." She smiled.
"Umm Yes Ma'am." Daisy quietly answered with a hint of nervousness in her voice.
"Hmmm if you don't mind me asking your family name is rather quite different then one would expect." She asked Daisy curiously.
"Yes Ma'am I was adopted by humans." Daisy quietly answered.
"Ohhhh, that makes so much more sense now." She smiled back to Daisy, "Anyways back on task, I am told that you're a Paladin or Serra?" She asked Daisy trying to sound friendlier but looked like it had no effect on her.
"Yes," Daisy carried on answering her sheepishly.
"So we've been contacted by the Church of Serra, they have requested you to make a showing in Catavan's funeral processions if you don't mind...." The Deputy Headmistress informed her opening a draw and pulling out a rather nice looking enveloped with a opened wax seal.
"May I ask why?" Daisy quietly questioned still looking very uneasy.
"They heard that a Paladin of Serra helped in the defense of the city so they wanted you to attend to heal the spirits and morale of the city, it's also very beneficial for Atlantis as well." She answered Daisy.
"Okay, when do I need to be ready..." Daisy quietly agreed.
"Preferably in the morning, the processions don't start until the afternoon, I assume you'd need to be briefed and things beforehand." She answered.
"Okay... there are a few things I would need to take with me and prepare if you don't mind." Daisy informed her.
"Take as much times as you need." The Deputy Headmistress nodded.
"It's mainly my armour, I'll need to clean and polish it up," Daisy tried to explain.
"Let me help with that..." The Deputy Headmistress offered and with a flick of her wand made Daisy's armour look completely new without dents and scruffs perfectly polished making Daisy look like an outstanding knight.
"Thank you." She quietly replied.
"Ohhh and both of you accompany her as well, she seems a little sheepish maybe some friends will help calm her nerves." She ordered us.
"What about our classes?" Grace questioned.
"Never mind about your classes, I'll notify your teachers of your absence." She smiled.
"Sure." We both smiled at Daisy.
"I'll clear you three to travel today, there will be students waiting for your arrival at the world tree she smiled.
"Thank you." We thanked the Deputy Headmistress standing up and began making our way our for her office.
"You okay Daisy?" We asked her as we left the building making our way back to our dorms.
"Yeah, I just don't do well with authority," Daisy answered us clearly still a little shaken.
"I understand, I was a lot like that when I was younger." I smiled trying to comfort her.
"So what are the funeral processions like for Serra followers?" Grace questioned.
"Generally we would offer prayers and bury those who passed in hallowed ground, but the general procedure for arctic regions is burning of the bodies because the areas are so cold it stops the natural process," Daisy answered.
"Hallowed ground?" I questioned.
"Yes, it's holy ground that will stop anyone messing with the dead," Daisy answered.
"We're talking about necromancy right?" I questioned a little shocked.
"Yes, being buried in Hallowed ground stops any magical tampering and also allows the soul to travel to its rightful place in the afterlife," Daisy answered.
"And not being properly buried or ceremony has implications?" I questioned.
"Yes, but only for individuals who weren't ready or feel they were wrong or cheated, whereby they stay in this world and their souls become vengeful wraiths, ghosts or other ghostly beings." She answered.
"Ohhh..." I nodded in understanding.
"So we'll meet up here when we've gathers our things?" Grace asked as we arrived back at the dorm building.
"Sure, I'll go let everyone know we've got other plans today," I informed everyone.
"I got some stuff I need to gather." Daisy smiled at us looking like shes back to normal.
"I'll explain it to Helen and bring some supplies," Grace added.
As soon as we split, I began making my way to Jay's room. "Umm Scarlet?" I asked using my badge.
"Morning sis!" Scarlet greeted me as sound cheerful as ever.
"Umm we were given a special assignment today, the Deputy Head Mistress wants Daisy, Grace and I to head to Catavan to represent Atlantis," I explained to her.
"Ohh... so you won't be here for training?" She asked sounding a little down at the news.
"Sadly we need to leave as soon as we can," I answered her.
"Okay then.... we'll be sure to see Paul, I think he's in Catavan today and he's always happy to see you." She smiled.
"Thanks, Scarlet," I replied to her.
"Take care!" She smiled and cut the conversation.
Arriving at Jay's door I instinctively reached out to knock on the door until I heard Jay's voice having a conversation with someone. 'Wait what?' I questioned leaning my ear to the door to listen closely.
"What do you mean we can't trust them?..... wait a second I think someone is at the door." Jay said stopping his sentence.
'Crap' I thought to myself and began knocking on the door.
"Who is it?" Jay asked.
"It's Emilia..." I informed him.
"Ohh good morning." He smiled opening the door like he had nothing to hide.
"Hey..... you okay?" I questioned.
"Of course why?" He asked in return a little confused.
"No reason, anyways I came to tell you that Daisy, Grace and I have a trip to Catavan to represent the school, so we won't be in class today," I explained to him.
"Wait what?! You get to skip classes?!" Jay asked in shock.
"Yeah apparently," I answered.
"Aww man, you guys are so lucky...." He replied a little jealous.
"Can I come in?" I asked politely trying to find out who he was talking to.
"Sure come in." He smiled opening the door letting me walk in.
"You're room's a little bare like mine." I chuckled walking around noticing it has hardly anything personal inside.
"Yeah you know, I didn't grow up with much." He said scratching his head.
"I tell you what, next time we head out together, we'll buy some stuff to make our rooms feel more homely." I smiled.
"Sure." He smiled back.
"Also I'm sure Grace would have told her, but can you explain to Helen for us as well?" I asked.
"Sure no problems, I'll also tell Morgana." He smiled.
"Ah yeah, Morgana too." I nodded.
"Well, I better start heading out." I smiled.
"Sure, make sure you take care." He smiled back nodding.
"Yeah we'll be fine, I also think Paul's in town anyway so it should be safe." I smiled.
"That's great." He smiled as I exited the room.
Making my way back to meet the others, Daisy was wearing her armour but this time with a tabard on top of her breastplate with a robed angel on the front. It looked beautifully intricate like it took a masters hand to even make such a thing, the condition looking almost unused extremely clean with no loose threads or hint of wear. "What's that?" I questioned Daisy taking a closer look.
"This is Tabard of Serra, the winged angel on the front and the back is Serra, all Paladins of Serra have one." She answered.
"That's awesome. What else do you have there?" I questioned noticing she had a small pouch.
"Just some offerings to Serra." Daisy smiled.
"Hey, guys!" Grace smiled walking out with her bow and quiver and a large side bag. "I brought some food and drinks and supplies just in case." She smiled.
"Let's head out. It's gonna be a long day." Daisy informed us.
"So what do we have to do once we get there?" I questioned.
"Well, I'll probably be taken away to help prepare the bodies for the ceremony and perform prayers to Serra. If you guys want to help I'm sure a sister would have a task or two they would need help in." Daisy answered.
"Is thins going to be your first time?" I questioned.
"I've participated in a few smaller ones, but never one this large." She answered.
As we made our way to the world tree we were meet with three students with a large box beside them. "Daisy Packwood and friends?" They questioned as we arrived.
"Yes, that's us," I answered.
"Great, We've got supplies and clothes for you to wear." They smiled.
"Oh?" I questioned.
"Yes, we have winter coats for you. These are official Atlantis robes," They all pulled out a very beautiful large thick hooded robe lined with a sort of natural fur with a red inner lining and helped us put it on. "We also have Atlantis badges," they said pulling out medium-sized badge shaped like a shield split into three equal sections with a very artistic representation of each house of Atlantis. "And finally some supplies and leaflets." They said pulling out a small satchel for us to wear.
"Thanks, we all smiled." accepting them and putting them on.
"When you're ready to leave we'll have the Portal activate for you." They smiled.