Magical (A Quest of Vacations, or Starsigns, or Something Else)

...You suppose, if nobody else is paying attention, you probably should, just so there's somebody in the area who has all the presented information. Also because it means you won't have to watch whatever that student who appears to be a pot is doing to those poor blades of grass.

"After a series of incidents last year, the necromancy lab has been closed to students until further notice. To the ones who caused this: You know what you did."

"Wait, since when did we have a necromancy lab?" You hear another student ask nearby. You can't see who it is, however, with how large the crowd is.

"In addition, the library has received a new shipment of books. Users of fire magic should be extra careful until we can get them properly fireproofed. No, just lining the inside cover with stickers is not enough. Like always, those with copies of the most recent yearbook are invited to make donations, but do not attempt to do your own fireproofing unless you have passed at least three object enhancement classes."

They fireproof the books here? You hadn't even realized that was possible- everything you've ever tried to infuse with magic comes out waterlogged. You'd assume that's why it takes so many classes.

"If you happen to be sharing any of your classes with Mokka, do not worry. He's supposed to be studying there, your teacher isn't being suddenly inspected. Unless, of course, you are in Mister Paprika's class, as he is still on probation. Anyone who has concerns about him or another member of staff can leave a note in the anonymous drop boxes located in the meditation rooms, the library, and all faculty offices. If you would feel safest leaving them in multiple boxes, do so. We do not need a repeat of 'Lady' Basil."

You sort of wish, at this point, that you were with one of the older students, just because they could probably give you context for some of this. You're sure it would be an interesting story. Anything that can make you hear air quotes generally is.

That or the Sound Spirits just inserted it because they could, but that still probably says something about how interesting the story would be.

---

You zone out at about the time the principal starts outlining how the cafeteria planters are not for student use, and come back to reality at about the same time everyone breaks for lunch.

Well... of the ones that stick around for lunch. There's no afternoon classes yet, so the commuter students who have already caught up with their friends or don't have any to worry about yet, are able to go home. But even with them gone, the cafeteria is more full than you ever remember it being.

The food is higher-quality, too. No more relying on prepackaged sandwiches! But now you need to find a new place to sit, since your old table seems to have been swallowed up by the crowd.

Still, maybe you can sit with some of your classmates now. There seems to be an open seat by...


[ ] Caramel and Bel.

[ ] Nutmeg and Raspberry.

You spot Raspberry and Nutmeg first, an impressive feat considering that Raspberry's hair is longer than she is tall, and while Nutmeg is a bit larger than usual for a young vox, it's not by that much. Still, you can see them, there is space open near them, and you already know who they are, so you may as well try to sit here.

"Do you mind if I join you?" You're hoping they don't, you don't have any better ideas, but it's still best to ask.

Nutmeg only takes a moment to glance at you before saying, "It's fine. I mean, you aren't Bel, so..."

Raspberry sighs. "You know you'll have to learn to get along with him eventually. Otherwise, Sir Mustard will just keep putting you in the same group for assignments- and most of us get to pick those." You get the feeling that they've had this conversation before. Many times, even.

"So... why don't the two of you like each other?" Something tells you that saying this might not have been the best idea.

"Well, he gives up on things too easily. Goes around with his head in the clouds, jumps right into fights he can't even be bothered to finish..."

Raspberry shakes her head. "I know people of opposing elements don't always get along that well, but these two really take it over the top. It's so bad, I can't even involve them in any of my projects." It doesn't really surprise you, how upset she sounds by that. The one thing that really stands out about her is how passionate she is about her art.

"Oh, yeah, you never told me what your latest project was going to be. I mean, I assume you have one, you wouldn't be going around asking people for references otherwise." You're pretty sure Nutmeg knows full well what Raspberry's doing, and she's just looking for a change in subject, but you're not going to say anything about it just yet. And not just because you're currently eating something.

"It's... sort of a group portrait? I mean, not really, because I can only see one kind of spirit, so I'm working off of others' estimations, and I can't really tell if they're good artists or not. But I'm going to paint all of the kinds of spirits together, because they're one of the two major sources of magic." She sounds really excited about it, even if you know she's nowhere near having everything she needs to get started.

Still, this brings up a question. "Will you do one with Starsigns, too?" You ask. She shrugs.

"Maybe as a warm-up. I mean, everyone already knows what the Starsigns look like, it's something that just about every major artist has done at least once. May as well get it out of the way now..."

"If you put the same amount of effort into both, you could say they're part of a set," Nutmeg suggests. "Though the only thing that really changes about Starsign pictures is the backgrounds, isn't it?"

Raspberry nods. "And nobody really puts much effort into them. The closest was Cider Rainbow painting the symbols over a picture of the night sky, and... everyone says that's the best it could ever possibly be." You can almost literally see her enthusiasm draining away. Is the new librarian really that talented? In that case, why did he come to the Academy?

"That doesn't mean you can't try it yourself," Nutmeg points out. "How would they know it can't get any better if nobody ever tries?"

"I... suppose." She's just picking at her food now. You think a change of subject- even a slight one- would be appreciated.



[ ] Just how famous is the librarian, anyway?

[ ] Did Nutmeg ever get around to talking to Mokka about his old class?

[ ] So, what will you have to expect from the start of classes?

[ ] What sort of projects has Raspberry done in the past?

"So, classes are going to be starting soon." Is that too drastic of a subject change? You don't know, you've never had actual classmates to interact with before, your family is traditionally homeschooled. "And this isn't either of your first terms, so... what's it going to be like?"

You think they can both tell you were trying to change the subject. It would be sort of concerning if they couldn't, actually, with how different it is from your previous topic of conversation. Fortunately, neither of them ask you about it.

"Well, Sir Mustard will likely start by making sure everyone can get along. Not to the point where they can all reliably recognize each other, but more to make sure that they won't kill each other." Raspberry barely manages to avoid glancing at Nutmeg, or at the nearby table where you can see Bel and Caramel talking about something. "He may also try to ascertain everyone's preexisting capabilities."

It takes a few moments for you to parse that sentence. "So... like a test?"

"Exactly. He leans more toward the practical than the theoretical- that is Miss Ketchup's area of expertise, and he recommends that his students all take at least one of her classes- but he says it's to make sure everyone will actually be learning something."

"Caramel thinks it says something about how the staff is paid here," Nutmeg adds. "But he also doesn't want to look into it." Her next stab with a fork is stronger than it strictly needed to be, as though her food had somehow offended her personally.

Raspberry sighs and shakes his head. "Yes. This is why nobody's ever told to listen to Caramel."

You blink. "...Does he know you say those sort of things about him?"

They don't answer you, but you're pretty sure you know the answer already. Of course he doesn't. They know better than to let him know that.

Still... you remember encountering Nutmeg with Caramel, and that she'd agreed to help him with something. So maybe she doesn't agree with Raspberry about this? Or maybe she just can't back down from a challenge.

This could bear some looking into.

---

Sir Mustard's classroom is on the west side of the building. It's one of the longest-used rooms- apparently, it was reassigned to him after Miss Madeleine decided she wanted something a bit more central- but it doesn't really look it. The desks appear to be brand new, the blackboard is completely clear, most likely due to being washed over the break, and the floor- made of light brown stone rather than the turquoise carpeting that lines the halls- is polished so well you can see your reflection in it.

"You might not want to get used to this," You hear Caramel mutter. "I guarantee, this is the only time it's going to be so clean, and it's all because his sister makes him do it."

You can barely see it from here, but there's a door on the other side of the room, next to the blackboard. It opens, and your teacher comes out, still-burned hat slightly askew as he carries a pile of papers.

"Hello, come on in, sit wherever you'd like... Actually, wait. Returning students go back to your old seats, new students can sit wherever. That way, I can give back the end of year essays... well, most of them, there was a bit of an incident..." At his words, the returning students swarm the classroom, as though they were waiting for that moment. There does seem to be a bit of confusion, but not much of it.

Once they've sat down, however, it's time for the newer students to do so. And you don't actually know what a good place to sit would be. Eventually, however, there is an empty seat that sticks out to you.


[ ] It's by the window, behind Raspberry and in front of Caramel.

[ ] It's close to the front, with Bel and Nutmeg on either side of you.

[ ] It's in the back. You don't know any of the students there, but you've still got time to make friends.