Bang, Bang, Bang! The gavel's loud smashing thundered throughout the room.
"Celeste Mallory, for your crimes against Zadkiel's School of Sorcery, consisting of usage of a Forbidden Art, study of sorcery not regulated by an administrator, and manipulation of The Fuse with malicious goals against a fellow student, the court has decreed that you are to be relieved of your duties as a student…"
Almost flying out of the chair, Celeste abruptly stood up, her hands squeezing the granite table she sat at with such ferocity the young woman's knuckles grew white. A hand gently, yet firmly pressed against her stomach as if signaling to stop. Her attorney. This was a court, anything that Celeste did could and would be held against her. Luckily before she could open her mouth, the judge's booming voice had cut her off again, silencing all of the incessant murmuring within the courtroom.
"…However, you are not removed from the school's system. You have been appointed the position of a Captain Guider, due to extraneous circumstances that are not to be stated while with the current company. Court dismissed."
The slime that was the judge slid off of the judicial stool, sluggishly exiting the bench and proceeding between the rows and rows of spectators. Not a sound was made by anybody. The seemingly endless rows of spectators staring at the judge in disbelief, before he eventually exited the courtroom entirely. Celeste was one of the people staring, obviously. What the actual hell had just happened?
⧫ ⧫ ⧫
"Then, he appointed me the. Captain. Guider." Celeste spoke casually, sipping her drink, taking deliberate and long breaks between each word, in an attempt to draw out the most amount of drama possible. Her friend, who was seated across the plastic white dining table froze, his mouth agape while his hazel brown eyes opened wide from beneath his long and bushy brown hair. Celeste laughed out a short laugh, both her blue eye and silver eye devoid of the same happiness her voice attempted to emanate.
"Close your mouth, or a spider'll crawl in." She said dryly.
"Sorry, sorry. It's just- so amazing."
Yet another short laugh escaped her lips.
"What?! I'm being serious! Whether you like it or not, that's still one of the largest damn promotions…like, ever!"
"Okay, okay, relaaaax." Celeste spoke, raising her hands to signify for him to calm down. "I'd prefer if you didn't tell the entire world while you're at it."
A pale look emptied Azo's cheeks, although it was quickly replaced by a crimson red. "I'm so sorry…" He whispered, as if to make up for the loudness prior. "It's just…I wish I got a promotion that large. You're a freakin' Guider now, and I'm STILL stuck as a student. How can you NOT be excited?"
Celeste bashfully dragged her fork across the plate, the utensil gracefully avoiding every bit of food on it. The meal was so pristine, it could be passed off as completely fresh.
"There's gotta be a silver lining. You're forgetting this is a punishment, don't forget that this was as a punishment."
Azo looked away briefly, as if pondering such an idea. No wonder the dope never got promoted, it would probably be a decade before he wised up enough to even be considered one! The brief moment of deep thought was immediately cut short, his pretty eyes lighting up.
"Ooooo, oooo! I got a good question for ya."
Celeste rolled her arms, giving a simple 'let me have it' hand gesture. Fighting Azo's curiosity was a losing battle, and she knew it. From countless…COUNTLESS amounts of times where she had tried.
"When are you gonna get your probation cadets?"
Of course Azo would ask the one question she dreaded answering. Mournfully checking her watch, a deep exhale whistled from between her pursed, soft-colored lips.
"About ten minutes."
Her heterochromatic eyes dragged across the room to the window. The sky glowed with a vibrant yellow hue. Whoever thought it was funny to plan her first meetup with the probies right when her bedtime was was a real funny guy. Standing up, she slid her chair in, nodding to Azo as if to say goodbye. Azo might've said something, but she wasn't listening anymore. His constant pestering was starting to get on her nerves. Walking out of the dining hall and down the hallway to the courtyard, she mulled over a lot of thoughts. Celeste's eyes were almost glued to the marble-tiled floor. Needing to watch where you're going is pointless if everyone stays out of your way. Captain Guider, huh? It was still so hard to believe. Nobody ever skipped over Senior Guider, or even the average Guider position. Within the school's seemingly endless library, Celeste could only recall about four or so students and faculty members ever skipping more than one rank at once. Normally anything beyond Senior Guider is for special cases, whether the person in question was a rare and super talented wielder of The Fuse, or some super influential arse who bought their way through the ranks. Those Guiders often died on their first assignment though, if they even went on one.
Eventually, Celeste had arrived at the end of the hallway, standing in front of a pair of double doors. Closing her eyes, she took a long and deep breath. Mentally bracing herself for what was to come, she raised her arms and pressed against the double doors, causing them to swing open. It was time to confront her future.