1020
ALPHEIM
THE AUDITORIUM.
A FEW SECONDS BEFORE BIANCA ROSSWEISSE GETS REALLY, REALLY ANGRY.
The auditorium absolutely exploded at the mention of the Rossweisse name. People were looking around, trying to catch a glimpse of Yggdrasil's heiress. Ilise shrank even further into her seat. Hopefully, the headmaster had meant Bianca, and not her. The students next to Ilise stood up like many others, scanning the area for the prodigious vice-president of their student council. Even the new students rose - they knew that a Rossweisse, no matter their age, had to be a big deal. Someone to suck up to, perhaps curry favour with.
Headmaster Vaughn chuckled.
"No, no. I don't mean Bianca Rossweisse. Our student council's vice president is currently preparing for your examinations. I mean you, Ilise Rossweisse." He jabbed a meaty finger at the back row where Ilise was seated. There went any hope of her keeping a low profile.
"Yes, you, Ilise. Don't be so surprised. I can read your mind, you know. Come on, up with you." Vaughn said. "Should anyone like to aid Miss Rossweisse with her stage fright, she is the blue-haired girl sitting in row eight, aisle four. Beside Mr Kallen Siegfried."
Now he's done it, Ilise thought to herself. Her cheeks flushed to the point that they were almost as pink as Rita's eyes. Siegfried gave her an odd look.
"You're a Rossweisse?"
She shot a glare at him.
"And your name is Kallen?"
Siegfried held up his hands defensively. "Woah there, Ilise. I'm just surprised, is all. You don't look much like a Rossweisse. You don't have their blonde hair. Or the height. No offence. You do have the eyes, though. Are you some kind of love child?"
"Don't be ridiculous!" Ilise hissed. She was perfectly aware that all of the eyes in the auditorium were on her. Ilise would've liked nothing more than to tap into her Kaiserforce and let it all out, to freeze them where they stood and run backstage in search of Bianca or Rita or even Marten.
She didn't need to hear their words - she could feel the movements of their mouths as her powers kicked into overdrive.
"She's a Rossweisse?" Someone two rows in front said.
"Doesn't look like the vice-president at all," Another person, this time four aisles to the right.
"Why's she such a scaredy-cat? Shouldn't all Rossweisses be confident or something?" Someone in the right wing.
"ENOUGH!" Bianca Rossweisse thundered. She stopped only to bow briefly to Headmaster Vaughn.
"You'll forgive me for my untimely intrusion, Headmaster, but I will not tolerate such uncouth treatment of my little sister." Bianca locked eyes with every person in the crowd.
"Hear me now. Ilise is just as much a Rossweisse as I am. If it's magical prowess you're looking for, she has it in spades. Certainly more than half of you combined. If you won't take her word for it," Ilise watched as Bianca's eyes roamed across the auditorium and fell on Siegfried, who practically quailed the moment he felt her icy gaze on him, "Perhaps you'll take mine, Kallen Siegfried. Who are you, a low-tier, and one who's been held back a year at that, to question my sister's legitimacy?"
At this, the auditorium broke out into laughter, having forgotten the fact that each and every last one of them had just been insulted by Bianca.
She didn't bother tapping her microphone or waiting for silence like Headmaster Vaughn had. Bianca simply took a deep breath, and a golden blade materialised in front of the audience. Its light alone was enough to outshine even the spotlights that were currently on the vice-president and the headmaster. The assembly promptly fell silent.
"Bianca, that's enough. You may call off your weapon, regardless of how impressive a display of magic it is. I will allow you to defend the honour of your sister, but I will not allow you to threaten my students. We are all learning, Bianca. Perhaps it would do you some good to learn to restrain your anger and listen to what I have to say before storming out onto the stage. Go. I will see to it that Ivan deals with you appropriately." Vaughn said. His voice was now edged with iron.
If anything, Bianca's reply was laced with acid made to melt that iron. "Have it your way, Headmaster. To the rest of you, don't you ever doubt the word of a Rossweisse. OR I will personally deal with you."
"I said that's ENOUGH, Bianca. Now go! Let your sister prove her mettle by defending herself." Vaughn stared her down. Bianca's eyes flicked to Ilise, who was still huddled in the foetal position. She gave Bianca a tentative nod. Don't cause any more trouble, she mouthed, it's not worth it.
We'll talk at home, Bianca mouthed in return. With that, she left the stage as she'd entered, in a fiery blaze of glory facilitated by her golden sword dissipating.
Vaughn heaved a sigh of relief.
"With that out of the way, I'd like to return to the topic at hand. Miss Rossweisse - I understand that you may not be entirely comfortable with answering my questions. We will leave that to another day - perhaps after your exams have concluded. Now, I'd rightly assume that everyone here is restless after that rather thrilling display by our vice-president. There would simply be no point in going on about my goals for the school year. Therefore, without further ado, I shall unveil this year's examinations."
The screen behind the headmaster flickered to life.
"The exam will be a relatively linear affair. Note that I said linear, not simple. First, you will contend with the written paper. Be warned that it will not be as easy as your previous institute of education's examination, seeing as it was set by yours truly. Next, you will be tasked with infiltrating and exfiltrating from a highly secure base, guarded by none other than Yggdrasil's elite Einherjar and Valkyrja.
Students who succeed in this task will move on to the final one. As put forth by our council's president, Ivan Alexeyevich, the remaining students shall face all five of our student council members. I can assure you, that is no easy feat. I should know," Vaughn allowed himself a small smile, "Since I was bested by some of them in last year's tournament. Further questions will be answered upon your arrival at your respective examination venues.
With that said, let the 600th Entrance Exams commence!"
--