1300 HOURS
ALPHEIM
THE COURTYARD
ONE HOUR BEFORE THE SECOND EXAMINATION BEGINS.
She was too worried to realise that they actually were in Mistilteinn. In person. Ilise had, on multiple occasions, passed by Mistilteinn while she and Bianca were on their way to Midgard, but she'd never stopped to admire her surroundings. Now that they were actually here, the first thing Ilise noted was its architecture.
It differed from the rest of Alpheim in that it looked like a repurposed mansion from the 1800s. There was a distinct lack of hard light or anything of the sort - instead, Mistilteinn had opted to return to its roots. Magic was still abundant here, of course. It chose to express itself not in the conventional Alpheim style of spiralling towers of light and sparkles, but in exquisitely-crafted topiary animals and statues that could've only been achieved by highly-accomplished mages.
From where Ilise was sitting, she could see the front gate. The crowd had yet to fully dissipate. There was a steady stream of people flowing into the academy's grand, mahogany doors. Every now and then, the security glyphs placed at the threshold of the academy would flash red and sound an alarm, and the offender would be pulled to the side by a contingent of guards.
"They take security really seriously, huh?" Ilise said to no one in particular.
"it's not just security for Mistilteinn, Ilise. If they breach the school, they can enter Midgard, and by extension my family's home. Mistilteinn is the first line of defence. Fortunately," Another one of Bianca's rare smiles appeared. "They have me." She gave Ilise a thumbs-up and got out of the car.
Four people walked up the driveway to greet them. They all wore Mistilteinn's uniform, and several of them looked to be a few years older than Bianca and Ilise. Had it not been for the glittering gold badges that they shared with Bianca, Ilise would've never been able to tell that they were more than just the average Mistilteinn students.
These were Mistilteinn's renowned student councillors. Gods amongst men in terms of raw magical power, even though none of them were legally adults yet.
"Ilise? Meet Rita, Alphaeus, Sephia and Marten. Rita's the secretary, Alphaeus is our treasurer, Sephia's in charge of clubs and Marten runs the disciplinary squad."
The four student councillors bowed graciously. Ilise waved shyly. She was unused to receiving this much attention from anyone that wasn't a Yggdrasil doctor, MUTHR or Bianca. Here were four of Alpheim's brightest mages-in-training, all bowing to Ilise as if she'd accomplished some great feat right before their very eyes.
"A pleasure to meet you, Ilise. I am, as Bianca has so kindly said, the student council's secretary. I joined the school last year. Bianca and I were elected to the student council at the same time. Some prefer to call me Bianca's personal secretary, but I serve the greater interests of the school. Formalities aside, you may call me Rita." Rita said. She took a curtsy this time round. Rita was beautiful, in a daintily classy sort of way. Ilise felt that she wouldn't be out of place in a frilly ballgown and twirling a parasol. She had a slender build, and her cherubic cheeks were framed by short satin-gold hair. Her roseate eyes glittered, even in the relative shade of Mistilteinn's topiary birds. A beauty mark was situated just below her right eye, which was currently obscured by her fringe.
The next person to introduce himself was Marten, the disciplinary squad's captain. He stepped up to Ilise, his back ramrod straight and one arm raised in salute. "Marten Pine. Fourth-year student at Mistilteinn Academy. It will be my duty to make sure that you do not defy our glorious academy's rules, lady Rossweisse. Let me make this clear - I do not discriminate by one's family name, but rather their strength and proficiency with magic. Do not think that your status as a Rossweisse will allow you to bypass the rules. I look forward to a fruitful school year with you." Marten saluted once again, and stepped back in line.
"That's our Marten for you." Rita giggled. Her senior shot a glare at her. Marten towered above most of the assembled student councillors, his imposing bulk the exact opposite of Rita's diminutive stature. His auburn hair had been trimmed into a neat crew cut, and his uniform had been ironed to such perfection that Ilise was finding it hard to believe that he wasn't already serving as one of Yggdrasil's elite Einherjar. His squarish, well-defined jaw gave him the appearance of a weathered commander who'd seen plenty of combat, even though Marten was nineteen.
"Name's Sephia. I'm in my third year here, although I've been on the council for a year or so. Nice to meet you, I guess." Sephia's tone suggested that it was anything but nice to meet Ilise. She almost quailed as she shook Sephia's hand. The girl's words were loaded with barely concealed anger and open contempt. Ilise had never met someone so aggressive, except for Bianca when she was in one of her moods. Then again, Ilise hadn't exactly met many people. Or, well, she just didn't remember meeting them.
Sephia was the only one present that rivalled Marten's height, and even then she stood at his shoulders. She was all skin and bones, with dark green hair and purple eyes that condemned anyone they looked at. Ilise could imagine that they were very effective in dealing with dissatisfied club leaders. Sephia just radiated raw hostility, like how Marten was a pillar of discipline and Rita the very image of elegance.
The last person to introduce themselves was Alphaeus. He stood about half a head taller than Rita, putting him at Ilise's height. he inclined his head nervously. "I-I'm Alphaeus. Second-year student as well. Treasurer at Mistilteinn, because, uh, my parents are investment managers at Yggdrasil." Alphaeus bobbed his head again, his mousy-brown hair falling down to cover his eyes and simply shrank behind Marten.
Of all the student council members assembled before her, she'd related to Alphaeus the most. The way he so timidly used Marten as his shield from the outside world reminded her of her relationship with Bianca, how she had to rely on her sister to get anywhere. No - today would be the day that all changed. The day where Ilise did the Rossweisse name proud, and proved she was worthy of adopting it.
"Where's Ivan?" Bianca asked.
"Oh, he's occupied with pre-examination preparation. Bianca, your presence is required in the council room. Ilise, Alphaeus will escort you to the entrance hall." Rita said, checking off a list on her phone.
"W-w-what? M-me?" Alphaeus squeaked.
"Yes, you. Now, come on. Show Bianca's sister around! We'll rescue you in about an hour. I'd send Marten, but Ivan needs him and the disciplinary squad. Sephia has some club meetings to see to, so that leaves you." Rita replied matter-of-factly.
"B-b-but what about you?" Alphaeus protested. Rita smirked and tossed her hair back, revealing her right eye.
"The president wants me to oversee the proceedings. Are you suggesting that you would like me to defy his orders, treasurer?"
"No! Of course not! I'll escort Miss Ilise here! I'm sorry, secretary!"
By the time Marten picked him off the ground, Ilise was certain Alphaeus had kowtowed about a hundred times to everyone present.
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