Fin's father's sudden recoil was inadequate, as two mages forcibly pried Fin from his grasp. The father's outcry filled the air, but Fin's thrashing and resistance proved fruitless as he was hauled over to Lance and Samantha, who appeared petrified. Fin retaliated by launching a well-aimed elbow at one of his captors, eliciting a pained groan and causing his arm to be wrenched behind his back. The reaction from the assembled parents, who had come to observe their children's aerodynamics schooling, was a mystery to Fin.
"Fin! Listen not to their deceitful words!" His father's fervent shout echoed as he was being escorted out of the hangar by other mages. "They are ignorant of your true nature!" Despite the commotion, Fin struggled to comprehend the surreal events unfold.
Suddenly, a glimmering object caught Fin's eye. Unbeknownst to him, his father had broken free and had thrown a dagger toward him. The projectile flew with uncanny accuracy, its blade aimed straight at Fin. In a daze, Fin realized he needed to dodge the oncoming weapon, yet he was frozen, unable to move.
Just as the dagger was about to strike, Lance effortlessly plucked it out of the air. A moment of stillness settled over the scene, with everyone's gaze fixed on the blade. Fin's father had been escorted out of sight, leaving behind a surreal aftermath.
"Here you go," Lance stated, offering the dagger to Fin. The weapon was a stunning silver color, intricately designed with swirls and scrolls etched into the metal. The hilt was shaped like a bird with outstretched wings, with the word "Styxblade" written in ornate script along the blade.
"I assume this is yours?" Lance asked, to which Fin replied, "Thanks," as he accepted the proffered weapon.
"That was your father?" Samantha queried in a hushed tone, maintaining a demeanor of haughty disapproval. A number of the mages were regarding Fin with a mixture of disbelief and pity, as if they perceived the cause behind his apparent lunacy. Fin held the dagger firmly, despite his limited experience wielding any form of blade beyond a kitchen knife. "Yes," he replied. "He desires my protection."
Master Zoltar gave a nod to Master Orion, who stepped forward to address the crowd. "We extend our sincere apologies for the disturbance that has occurred. Your forbearance and composure during the interruption is much appreciated. It is our hope that the proceedings will now continue without any further interruptions. I shall now proceed with the selection of my apprentices." The audience regained their composure and fell silent once more.
"I have selected five individuals," Master Orion declared. "First, Leif Frost, please approach and stand by me." Frost rose from his seat and approached Master Orion, casting a venomous glance towards Fin before taking his place beside the Master.
As the sun slowly descended below the horizon, the culmination of the Master's selection process had been reached, with numerous youthful aspirants departing in lament, including the displeasing fact for Fin that Sophia was among them. Despite his fervent desire to exchange places with her, it was a notion that was beyond his reach. Thus, he sought solace in the only form of satisfaction available to him, that of irksomely tormenting her by his compulsory presence.
The obscure and cryptic warnings imparted by Fin's father regarding the Memora only served to fuel his frustration. As he stood there, bearing the evidence of burns, lacerations and inundated with indigo ink, his leg pulsating with pain, he had no recourse but to reflect on those forewarnings. The mages were unscrupulous individuals who placed their advancement in magic above all else, recklessly abducting children from their families, and conducting cruel experiments with callous disregard for their subjects, who were often minors. They were monsters, and the root cause of his mother's untimely demise.
Lance attempted to engage Fin in conversation, however, he was in no mood to reciprocate. Instead, he occupied himself with idly fidgeting with the hilt of the dagger he had secured to his waist, striving to present a menacing appearance. Eventually, Lance gave up and redirected his attention towards Samantha, who possessed a wealth of knowledge regarding the Memora from her elder sister, who was touted to be a paragon of excellence in all aspects of the school. Alarmingly, Samantha was determined to surpass her sister's accomplishments. Lance appeared content with simply being en route to a school of magic.
Fin was torn as to whether he should inform them of the potential danger, but the recollection of the horrified expression on Samantha's face when she learned of his father's identity put an end to his hesitation. He dismissively concluded that even if they were to encounter wyverns traveling at high velocity and thirsting for vengeance, he wouldn't waste his time to warn them.
Once the ceremony was concluded, the students were escorted to the parking lot, where parents tearfully bid their children farewell and burdened them with suitcases and other belongings. Fin, who was without a single piece of luggage, as well as his absentee father, felt an acute sense of emptiness and apprehension. He wondered how he would cope with the looming odor problem with no means of changing his clothes.
Two school buses in a vivid yellow hue were waiting to transport the students to their designated masters. Fin observed as the mages separated the students into various groups, with Master Zoltar's apprentices being placed alongside those of Masters Orion, Eldritch, and Izroth.
Frost, who was known for his conceited demeanor, approached Fin, visibly incensed. He bitterly accused Fin of usurping his coveted spot in Master Zoltar's group. However, Fin, who was exhausted by the incessant vying for attention, calmly pointed out that he had no intention of being selected and that the placement was purely coincidental.
Frost, who was visibly shaking with rage, was unable to conceal his socioeconomic status through his inadequate clothing, despite the attempts to mask it with expensive-looking luggage. Fin, with a hint of amusement, noticed the frayed edges and patches on Frost's bag and the ill-fitting cuffs on his shirt, suggesting that his family's wealth was declining. It appeared that even his name was handed down, as evidenced by the monogrammed initials on his bag.
"Your assertions are fallacious, Frost stated in a voice laden with desperation. "You have undoubtedly performed some undisclosed act to be selected by the Memora's most esteemed Master. Don't even contemplate attempting to deceive me. Upon our arrival at the academy, I shall undertake the task of reclaiming my rightful position. Your begging for release will become your fervent plea," he warned.
"Hold on," Fin interjected. "If one pleads, they are permitted to leave?"
Frost looked at Fin as if he had just spoken in a foreign tongue. "You seem to be lacking comprehension of the gravity of the situation," he replied, his fingers clamped around the handle of his bag until his knuckles turned ashen. "I can hardly tolerate the mere proximity of your presence on the same conveyance." He then spun on his heel and strode towards the other Masters, leaving Fin behind.