Bair looked out and asked "Does he hate us?"

"Of course not" Grim reassured him. "You're his friends but he has to find his own way."

"That's next weeks lesson, don't worry, duels aren't allowed until the first week of classes are over," Suzanne cut in.

"There's a few different types of duels, challengers have to declare which type they're doing before," Gendry said. "You can reject a challenge of course, but it's not viewed highly."

"They have to be the same year as you for first years, as well, otherwise it wouldn't be very fair, but that's enough for now," Suzanne said.

"Well if someone challenges me to something I don't know how to do it's not very fair either, but I'm not really here to be some big master wizard anyway." Camus shrugged.

Grim said "Don't worry, your close." he said quietly. "I can already see speed improvement even with the weights on."

Bair said "I do?"

"That Bair is your biggest problem," Grim said as he got him here mentally. "You lack confidence and when things get to hard you try to find an easy out. But in truth..." Grim sighed "You have talent boy, you just need to know how to use it"

Suzanne glowered down at Marcel, her eyes seeming to darken. Thomas growled lightly from her lap as Marcel glared right back.

"Alright, alright, no turf wars right now please," Gendry said, clearing his throat. "Least not within the city you two."

"Dirty witch," Marcel hissed at Suzanne, ignoring Gendry.

"Mystic bitch," Suzanne spat back.

Camus let out a whistle as he backed away a few steps, hoping his egging on of the underdog didn't start an actual fight.

(Okay, I'll start and this time it's thought out XD) 

This is Richard's country, and yet his daughter is forbidden from it. Forbidden to see her land, forbidden to see the power of order, all because of the vermin that plague these lands. Even in death, even with both of his daughters now his own, Alex still finds a way to make things difficult for Richard. Day in and day out he sees his daughter in pain. The right choice was made, William will be a good man for her to marry. However, he will not have it ruined by mice. Vxal has done as he asked, though he pleads every day with him to calm his temper.

No, Richard will not, not when his daughter is unhappy. He will do what's best for Amelia no matter what sacrifices he has to make. These rats will be found or they will die. The future will be his to control...because it has to be. This is Elodus, this is his legacy, and he will make it perfect. He will make it perfect for her. 

Eric observed his father silently as he heard the stories, seeing the few from out there. Why is he tighteneing his grip? For Amelia he says? But they are not at war. The Templars do not need to be used in this way. Thankfully Kira has forgiven him, as for Amelia....he doesn't know what to say. He never imagined a betrothal right out of the gate. That was not part of the plan...

He hoped that one day Amelia will speak to him, he has to. 

Emily was silent as she stood guard from her best friend. She wish she knew what she could do. She sees her father now so tired...King Richard....he means well but...what is he thinking? 

Right now she must focus on her Princess, she will protect her with her life, she must, she never wants to see her like she saw back in that room again. 

Meanwhile in Hollow, Grim was observing Bair's training. He was at the full weights and he was getting faster than her was before but it was still to slow. Perhaps...

Grim motioned as Bair came to him panting like crazy. Bair looked at him as Grim kneeled down. Bair asked "Are we moving again?" 

Grim shook his head "I need to test something..." He took out the key and unclasped Bair's weights as Bair moved his now less encumbered legs in surprise. Grim could see it...he could feel it. 


Grim said "I need you to sprint in a circle. I need to see something..." He sat down as Bair nodded backing up bolting in said circle as Bair started to realize he was going faster than he ever did before. He felt the ground practically glide against his feet. However his joy was interupted as he failed to look where he was going and rammed into a tree. 

Grim chuckled barely hiding his joy. "This is perfect." 

Bair paused and said "But I'm not as fast as you" getting up quietly. 

"Yeah, but that's going to take time. You're not ready for that kind of speed yet" Grim said looking at him as Bair deflated. "But we can work with this. We now have a speed I feel comfortable moving on to combat training." 

Bair asked "Really?" 

Grim nodded saying "Yeah" 

Bair said "Thank you" 

"Bair, I want you to take these past few months as a lesson, because this has always been your problem." Grim said looking at him. "You don't put 100% into what you need to do. Your mind clouds, you feel like your energy is wasted, however when you try...when actually try. You see the results Bair. Now rest up, I won't train you when you're this tired." 

In the ruins of Batherlor's Grove, shadows began to cling to the wall as a sinister growl emanated from the mouth of one Morgan Tempre. She underestimated them, underestimated the Enforcers. She was overconfident. Of course they had light spells. Of course they could counter her. Morgan paced a bit. That arrogance almost ruined everything. She will not repeat that mistake. Blackmarsh might have to wait...perhaps it's time to gain some allies of her own. 

Amelia stared forlornly at the portrait that now sat in the living area of her rooms, hanging above the mantle of the fireplace. Amelia seated, Will behind her with his arm around her shoulder. He was happy, confident, a little possessive. He had claimed her as his, without even trying, and without even asking. Amelia couldn't bear to look at herself, the forced happiness, the painful smile and the way they'd made her look so perfect and innocent, the picture perfect princess. She couldn't be her real self for the portrait. She only hoped...nay, prayed to Greka, that someone, anyone, could see through the pose and see how miserable and unhappy she was.

She let her gaze drop to the journal in her lap, the last of the journals recovered, just before the final battle. She had put off starting it, not wanting the camaraderie she'd found in them to end. She didn't open it, only traced the creases in the leather instead. Would he be able to see through it? He seemed so perceptive, so aware. She thought maybe he could, but why would he care? She was the daughter of the king he hated.

Will looked up at his father, furrowing his brows. "Sir? What do you mean?" he asked.

Ryker was quiet, having long given up on contributing in this search where he wasn't useful. He followed, and helped where he could, which mostly boiled down to keeping a look out and an ear out. Now, he was scanning the town and paused, as he spotted something on the message board in the middle of town. He left the other two, walking slowly over to it as he took in the massive portrait hanging in the middle of it, the soft curling red hair, the blue eyes that shone with wisdom. It was Princess Amelia. His eyes fell to the words beneath and his breath caught in his throat. Betrothed.

Hypha watched quietly from where she stood on guard, rather surprised Grim was actually being a decent teacher for once. Maybe he had learned some too, in the time they had been gone.

Roland watched the Enforcers running their drills from atop the wall surrounding the training grounds, thinking to himself quietly. It had been a month since Bair and the others left. He wished he had heard from them by now, but figured no news was good news. They'd kept Morgan Tempere at bay for the most part, training people to stand against her as well. He'd protect the princess and the royal family, just as he always had.

Jenna practically ran into Veronica in the hallways of the castle, not watching where she was going.

Suzanne was grading quietly in the courtyard of their dorm building, sitting in the shade of the tree. She had not been feeling the best today, urges and duties tugging at her since the night before. It had kept her up all night, fighting the draw to hunt, to seek out what her magic so desperately craved, and as such, she was drained today. She sighed, setting her quill down as she leaned her head back to rest against the trunk of the tree, closing her eyes. Thomas laid in the grass beside her, seemingly asleep except for the occasional flick of his tail.

As he read over the list, one-by-one each graduate stepped forward to stand between the class and Amondel, still at attention. Eventually, Alyssa's name was called, to the mumblings of a few of those that hadn't been called yet.

Galahad gave an accepting hum toward Percival's continued justifications before noticing Ryker had disappeared. Looking around for a moment, he spotted the mercenary at the message board, Percy following the inspecting knight's efforts and seeing the same sight. "Is something the matter?" Percival asked, the two approaching to see what that portrait was that caught his eye.

The one thing that stumped Camus now was not his homework, it was his patent work. One month was down, and he only had two more months of grace period before he was expected to begin putting out patent attempts to placate his sponsor. He had some theories, namely condensed necromantic energies being made into armor and weapons, but he needed to gather some ingredients for the experiment. The woods outside Arcana were rife with magic to nobody's surprise, surely there'd be some good targets for experimentation there. He just needed to get his current homework done, then he could head out tonight to begin looking.

"Have you seen the portrait, son?" Gavin Sr. Asked, clearly unamused by this line of questioning. "The girl looks utterly depressed. It's a poor look upon you and the royal family both for her to look so upset, like she's issuing a damned cry for help with her eyes."

Grim said "No, I want to finish the remaining three phases in isolation." He stood up "For now though Bair, I want you to get used to this new speed normally. Don't forget your basics, you'll need them for when we begin practice"

Bair nodded and started to walk...well...speed walk as he tried to slow down.

Kira said "I need a break from your brother. He's been apologizing to me non-stop for that stunt he pulled a few months back." She then asked "I then remember we haven't really talked all that much since the announcement so please save me from him, I would like to have a conversation with someone without the words "I'm sorry" being uttered every five minutes" 

Morgan paced in the ruins of her old home as she started to think more clearly. Who would also like to see Bair dead? Who would also want his blood?

Alyssa slowly approached, barely able to hide her joy. She did it, she's one step closer to her goal. She's going to protect the rulers of these lands...like her father before her.

Hypha did her best not to sigh. She was tired of being out here in the wilderness, especially with Grim. She wondered if Roland would ever send relief and someone to swap out.

“Oh so he can apologize to you endlessly but can’t say a single word to me for a month?” Amelia asked, frowning as she crossed her arms. What a jerk. “What even for? You had nothing to do with any of that!”

"Uh," Ryker paused, trying to remember. He recognized the boy, he thought. "I think he's a high ranking noble's son?" he guessed. He was around Amelia a great bit, if he remember correctly. "He and the princess were close friends, from what I remember, but she never seemed the type to rush into marriage. She wasn't a young girl who gushed about weddings and families, she liked to play knights, and was constantly whacking people in the shins with a wooden sword she apparently stole from her brother." He felt a little bitter at the memory that played in his head, the young and annoying princess who cared far more to rough house than play dolls.

Will wanted to protest, that that was no time at all, but he didn't want to make it worse. "Yes, Father," he said quietly.

"Good! Dismissed!" Amondel spoke, then turned to leave, letting the guards-in-training depart from the training fields themselves.

"So, that miserable look of hers isn't pure coincidence." Percival replied, noting Ryker's memories playing through his head. What an eccentric child she was. Truly Pendragon's blood, regardless of who raised her.

"Good." Gavin Sr. went back to his breakfast, saying nothing more. He said all that needed to be spoken.