Oriens Academy [Phoenix Game]

[CSA]

Lily didn't understand the teacher's question at all. If in fact vampires were called 'the kings of monsters', there probably wasn't a specific ability or incident that the name was tied to, and the title itself was fairly vague. Who calls them that? How many? Is it a majority? Lily certainly didn't call them that because Alraune were better anyways, so it occurred to her that the title was subjective and thus this had to be a trick question. Probably to gauge the class' feelings and knowledge on the glorified mosquitoes.


Well, Lily didn't want to bite. She would just wait for a couple more students to answer the vague question blindly until the teacher felt like explaining whatever the **** he was talking about. Besides, the scary black-haired girl totally took the answer she was thinking of giving.


Instead, she began thinking about the talk she would have to have with Anya that night about leaving her blood around school for strange older men to lick. Anya belonged to Lily. That was basically Lily's blood she was spilling everywhere, and Lily didn't care to share Anya's blood with anybody else.


"That's MY blood." Thought Lily. "She needs to be more responsible with it."

 

[amdreams]

Rose crossed her arms. "Mr. Richter, whether it was directly or indirectly doesn't matter. Drinking blood from a student on campus is prohibited. Even if you only had a small taste, it could leave some students with ideas. Seeing you having a bit of blood may make a vampire student here believe it's okay if it's just a small amount, which can then escalate to full on attacks within the academy. As a teacher you need to set an example, right?"

 

[ComradeSenpai]

"And here I was thinking our resident princess would accept a chat over tea." Richter shrugged. "Miss Cross, I may be a teacher, but you know very well just what I am, and the school was aware of the risks when they accepted my resume. Rest assured though, I am no stranger to young, impulsive 'vampires' causing havoc. If a young vampire decides to run amok, then I shall take responsibility for my kin and rectify the situation."


He placed a hand on her desk. "Don't worry about some student causing trouble here. As inexperienced as you all are, some brat is only a mild nuisance. So." he ran a hand through his hair. "Lighten up. If you stop worrying long enough to accept more invitations to tea and the like, it'll be a great relief. Or is the crown princess too far above it all to accept tea with an old man?"

 

[amdreams]

Rose frowned at the vampire, unhappy with his answer. "First of all, my sister is the crown princess. She is the one who will inherit the crown (if @Karma200 comes back), not me. And second of all, the point is it doesn't matter what you are. You are a teacher now. You need to lead by example, not just doing as you please and then punishing those who follow. And it isn't just the vampire students I'm worried about. The situation could easily be done by students of other races as well."


She sat back. How could the school have hired this man to teach them anything? Understanding the risks? His race shouldn't matter. He applied for this job. He should know better than to just blame his actions on his biological impulses. Especially since the school does supply blood substitutes. "And another thing. I don't like tea. I prefer coffee."

 

[ComradeSenpai]

"Fine, have it your way." Richter sighed. "She's probably the best tasting one out of the lot of you, so... I'm sure I won't miss out."


He took a few steps towards the front of the class. "If you look under your desks, you'll find a wooden stake and a crucifix. Your homework for tonight is to create a technique or device capable of effectively piercing the stake through a human sternum; it is up to your discretion whether you use, say, a mallet, develop a pneumatic gun, or something more creative, etc., etc. The crosses are a gift from me to you. Students of a less... holy disposition, please refrain from touching the cross unless you want heavy burns; these were blessed in a noteworthy chapel. However, the rest of you are free to do as you wish with them; I recommend mounting it over your bed. Keeps the vampires away. Class dismissed." he waved his hand.


"Oh, and Miss Cross." he called out. "Coffee's acceptable, if a tad too bitter for me."

 

[Karma200]

Blaire leaned against the wall right beside Mr. Ritchter's class, she didn't have a class at the moment and had decided to wait for her sister. She had been waiting about 10 minutes after the class had begun, she had nothing better to do. Vampires weren't really creatures that Blaire enjoyed being around and after she heard Mr. Ritchter speaking about drinking a student's blood she definitely didn't like the sound of that. Running a hand through her long blonde hair she bent down and waited for the class to end.


Her hearing was accurate as she listened to the students inside speaking, she agreed with her sister on the topic of drinking another student's blood. How were the students supposed trust a teacher that's tasted a student's blood? Sure he didn't hurt her physically or anything but still, if your a teacher you should have more control over yourself and be an example to the fellow vampires in this school. Blair kept her mouth shut seeing as how it wasn't her class.


While she waited she whistled a tune she remembered as a child, when she wasn't practicing her aim she was sitting down or in a tree humming a tune. When she heard Mr. Ritchter announced that class was over she let a smirk form on her face seeing as how she hadn't seen her sister in a while since she had disappeared for her future Queenly training. She had missed Rose so Blaire stood up and waited for her sister to come out.

 

[Advent Azure]

Azure sighed with great relief as class ended. It was not to much for Azure, but a lot of weird things went on in it, and it was definitely unnerving. At least the assignment seemed easy enough, and warding away vampires with this crucifix would be nice as well, another way to put his mind at ease


Azure took the stake and put it away safely, but when he went to take the crucifix, it sparked out in his hand with energies, burning him as it went on for a few moments until its sparking ceased, becoming inert toward Azure. Luckily, it was small and silent enough that he didn't make a scene from this event, although it did make some noise, and with it, Kylier looked back at Azure


-... I see...-


-Gah... my hand...-


Azure switched the crucifix to his other hand, and took a look at his hand, seeing that it got all charred up from holding it for those few moments. Although it was no longer trying to repel him or something, he noticed that he felt a little calmer, if overall slightly weaker, or rather, a bit short of breath... He wasn't sure exactly what had happened, but it had already passed, and put the crucifix away on him as well


-That was weird... why did it do that... I'm just a human..... no point wondering about it... My hand though-


Azure got up and promptly left, not saying Lily as he made his way out. He wasn't too happy over his right hand's now blackened palm. He hoped it would heal alright, but until then, it's going to draw attention since he can't really hide the damage. After he stopped examining his hand, he noticed Blaire was just standing outside for some reason


"Blaire? You're back from the camping trip? Where uh... What happened, where did you disappear to?"





~~~~~


Kylier examined the stake thinking through some things while she eyed the crucifix. It was likely that it would react to Kylier's touch, and with Mel in the room, she felt like she was being targeted, waiting for an open chance to strike. She wasn't to sure about her as a person, and doesn't know enough about her to really know what she is planning, or what her thoughts are.


With that, she left with the stake in hand and the crucifix behind. She didn't need it after all, it's more harm than good to her. She left without saying a word to Lily as well, and passed by Azure, completely ignoring him, though that doesn't stop Azure from grunting once with concern toward her as she came on by, until she finally got out of sight

 

[TenaciousTinkerer]

Victor had been observing the class throughout the period, taking note of just a few things. First of all making sure to note that the teacher seemed as if he was not entirely in control of his temptations. Its to be expected probably but Victor may need to keep a eye out on the vampire students if they get the same urge out of nowhere.


Next, The fact that the blond elf that he was walking with earlier, apparently was the 2nd in line for the throne, apparently having a sister. Part of Royalty, really didn't see that coming. He didn't really look to see if there were any children of the royals, why would he after all? But even if he had wanted to look, he did not expect her to be out in the open in the halls by herself. The staff here must be more competent if they can just let them run around doing whatever they want. Never know when a person with the intent to harm or kidnap may come around. But it could just be a joke among the teachers and students, a bit of listening, rumors, and reading can tell but that would be for later. This school was getting more and more interesting by the moment with some of these students, a great choice to come here Victor had thought to himself.


He walked up and pulled out the crucifix and the stake from under one of the desks. Its a good thing too, a crucifix here possibly may have been blessed differently compared to where he was before, meaning that what he had just in case in his homeland may not be effective as these, plus a fresh one is nice, and from a legitimate chapel compared to the small thing they had back. The steak however, well, he might need to think a bit to see what he can do with it, probably just load it onto a large rifle of some sort. But he would think about it more later.


Off he went out of his class, Jayus starting his following. Victor was going out the door behind the green haired lazy boy, going around him when he suddenly stopped. Victor walked around and was turning when he too noticed the other blonde elf that had quite the aim. Simply tipped his hat and moved along, with Jayus following behind to move out of the way of the students coming out. Didn't want to be rude to them of course. He settled onto the side of the wall just letting everyone pass, while listening to conversations that were going on before he would make his way off to do some reading in the library.

 

[Karma200]

"I had to disappear for a while, training for my future career," Blaire replied to Azure as she gave him a small nod. Becoming Queen was the one thing Blaire wanted nothing to do with, it was a responsibility forced onto her but she knew the people needed leadership and it was her turn to give it. She would be ready for when it happens.


"Now I'm just waiting for Rose to come out since I haven't seen her in a while," She added as she grabbed her hair and pulled it onto her shoulder so that it didn't get tangled on the bow and quiver that lay on her back like always. Blaire went nowhere without them, they were like the toy she was given at a small age that she never wanted to part with.


"So how are you?"Blaire asked Azure with a small tilt of her head.

 

[Advent Azure]

When Blaire asked how he was doing, it just dawned on he that he was just really having a terrible time, between being packaged, switching masters, and bolted by his newly acquired crucifix, burning the entire inside of his right hands palm black. Still he's had comparatively worse. Still not wanting to cause any unnecessary concern, he picked his damaged hand.


"I think it's not the worst day to be honest... Just a weird day I guess... With unusually assignments..."


It wasn't exactly a lie that he told, but regardless, for "normal people" whatever that means in this day and age... It really is awful.


"You uh... Doing alright with your things?"


He doesn't know much about Blaire at all, pretty much only knowing that she likes archery... and lazing about on tree tops where no one can find her... unless your someone who had the exact same intent.

 

[CSA]

Listening in on the argument between the teacher and Rose was a fun, unanticipated development. It was always nice to know more about her prey/enemies, and Rose was prey. Mr. Richter, on the other hand, may end up qualifying as an enemy in the future- especially if he got any funny ideas about Anya.


"I may just end up feasting upon some humanoid bones after all if the old man makes a move, and all the while he's teaching me how to have an easy time of it."





And he really pushed Lily's buttons when he said that Anya was the tastiest- to him, perhaps. To an overgrown leech. But both Rose and Anya could vouch for the fact that Lily was hands-down the tastiest of the lot. Or they would be able to if they knew what was in those pies. Well, it was no matter. Lily knew that she tasted the best, and that was all she needed.


When they were given their homework, Lily took the stake and cross from under the table with little problem. Yes, she was a demon, but she was a demon who had found something to care for besides herself. Truly the power of love was...


Oh, she was sizzling a bit. Lily tucked the blasted thing inside one of her books, and managed to glance a tiny light-show from her new pet's desk. She had thought Azure was human, and the fireworks did stop quickly, but it was still odd.


Anyways, both her new pet as well as her pet-to-be left without a word, and she was a bit insulted. Who cares if you probably just found out that one of your parents was a demon? That was a stupid thing to worry about. Lily gathered up her stuff, which Azure had left like a terrible pet, and exited class. She would have words with him, but he was busy bumbling like a ******* to the lazier and stupider of the two princesses.


Lily stayed in his sight, however, making it obvious that she was carrying her own stuff when somebody else should be doing it. She flashed him a little smile.

 

[Advent Azure]

Azure looked over, seeing that Lily was more or less demanding his attention. He knows when someone else wants him, although Lily is far less subtle when it comes to it compared to Kylier. Still, Azure had to do what he had to


"Er... I'll actually catch you sometime later Blaire... I got things I need to do... its good to see you are back though"


Azure went over to lily, saddened because he knows that his plan to get away and hope she would forget about Azure failed, especially when he just stayed in an area where it would be harder to miss him than to see him, but that was his own fault


"I uh... I just wanted to uh....... I'm sorry..."


Azure fell silent quickly, knowing that she really doesn't wanting him talking, or at least he figured, and took out his hand from his pocket and held both of his hands out, perpendicular from his chest, knowing exactly what it is she wanted to do


-Hopefully... my...... burnt hand won't hurt from touching things?-

 

[CSA]

Lily continued to smile as she placed her stuff in Azure's hands and turned him around.


"I'm sure you want to catch up with your sister." She told Blaire, after which she quickly took Azure to a less populated location.


"Sorry?"


Despite the change in location, Lily's voice was also softer and quieter than usual. She did not need any attention.


"Sorry doesn't even begin to cut it. I'm sticking my neck out for you- really sticking my neck out for you. The least you can do is uphold your **** end of the bargain. I don't even know that I can trust you any more. ****, maybe your sister was right. Maybe there's only one **** way to skin a cat, and I'm trying to do it with a ******* spoon. Maybe trying to be nice, offering mutual benefits and the like, is for the weak. Maybe the only real **** way to gain loyalty is to completely desolate one's subjects until even their will to resist is gone and any light left in their eyes is become dim. If that's true, I don't even know why I'm wasting my time with you. I might as well give you back to your sister, because that's not really how I do things. Not any more."


Lily pulled Azure close, and stared into his eyes intently.


"I'm trying, Azure. I'm trying real hard to be the shepherd. But you have to trust in and follow me, or your sister is going to win. Your sister is going to win, and that means that you lose. Forever."

 

[amdreams]

Rose looked at the cross and stake on her desk, glancing up at Mr. Richter and then back down. She was unsatisfied with how the blood drinking issue was resolved, as the vampire still hadn't showed an inkling of remorse for his actions, but she supposed this would be the best she could get at this time. "Well, you can add more sugar if you wish then," she told him, before taking her "assignment" and leaving the classroom.


Once outside, she caught sight of Blaire, frowning and crossing her arms at her sister. "Seriously, Blaire. You've got to stop disappearing like this. The student council is now pretty much just me. If you don't step up, we're going to have to replace you."


~~~~~


Mel tuned out most of what happened next, not particularly caring about whatevr ethical argument Rose and Richter were having. She instead focused her attention on Kylier, staring daggers at the girl. By the end of class, she saw something . . . interesting. A glance. Between Kylier and some green haired boy. It only lasted a brief moment, but Mel was sure it wasn't a coincident. Especially since she didn't exactly notice the boy's reaction to the cross. It was a long shot, but she had something to go on at least, for a way to repay her debt.


~~~~~


Riff stood there, staring at the cross on his desk. Did he risk touching it? Mr. Richter said it was blessed, but maybe the collar Mel gave him, which supressed his demonic form, would somehow allow him to touch it? He reached out to it, but before he could, Mel had already grabbed it off his desk. "Riff, find out the connection between those two," she whispered as she motioned to the two leaving the classroom without acknowledging each other's presence.


"Miss Mel, are you sure they are related in some way? They seem like strangers to me." She looked up at him with stern eyes. "Are you defying me, Riff?"


The blond opened his mouth to say something, but quickly closed it, shaking his head. "No, Miss Mel. I will do as you say." And with that, he left before her. Outside the classroom door, he saw the boy Mel had pointed out. However, the boy seemed to be in conversation with the alraune he had met on his first day here. "Good morning, Miss Lily," he said before looking at the human. "Excuse me. Can I have a moment of your time? I promise it will be brief."


~~~~~


"Well, that was a short class," Bunny said, getting up with her stake and cross in hand. "He didn't even tell us the answer to his question." She studied the stake in her hand, trying to think up something for her assignment which was pretty much to stake a human . . . Odd.


Putting the stake and cross in her bag, she turned to Anya. "You have to be more careful around Mr. Richter. He said you were tasty, so he might come after you if he's hungry enough." Bunny waited for the neko to finish gathering her things before heading toward the door. "So . . . what were you planning to do after class?" If the neko wanted to be friends, then Bunny would oblidge. Having more allies was a good thing after all.


As she walked, he bumped into someone, falling back onto her bottom with a soft thud. "O-owie. I'm so sor-" Looking up, she saw that she had walked into Mel of all people. The girl glared down at the angel. "Watch where you're ******* going," she said before leaving the room. Bunny continued to sit on the floor, stiff as a board. She snapped out of it soon enough though, grabbing her things hastily and standing up abruptly. "S-s-so, Anya . . . What did y-you want to d-do?"

 

[Advent Azure]

Fear..... Just Fear..... That was something that was dominating Azure's thoughts right now. Unlike Kylier who dishes out punishment just because she can, Azure found it more worrisome because Lily hasn't actually done anything yet, and is probably scaring himself more than what she is capable of, but he doesn't even know what a plant person could do, he doesn't even know her, but he realized he made a mistake, and figured probably should have to run as soon as he had the chance


As she brought herself he couldn't help but to turn his face away and while remaining locked on Lily. He was completely stunned by Lily and her threats.


"I...... I just wanted to... wash my hand clean..... and then... get back to you....."


Azure's voice was shaky and fearful as he spoke, lacking everything that is usually "him". He had no idea what to expect next, but it was likely not going to be pleasant. But then someone came up to them, someone he was pretty sure he didn't know, or at least remember, and looked at him, looking like he had seen a ghost.


"Uh..."





His eyes darted back to Lily for a moment before returning to Riff's. He wasn't sure if he was going to make things worse, but she was indeed talking to him


"Sure... what is it?"

 

[Karma200]

Blaire justed blinked when Azure left and Lily had went with him somewhere, when her sister came she couldn't help frown.


"I haven't seen you in a while and that's the first thing you have to say to me? Besides, mom and dad ordered me to hurry home for some special training," Blaire rolled her eyes, she didn't want to be lectured by Rose when she had been lectured back at home almost the entire time. She had thought that Rose would've been happy to see her but it sort of annoyed her that she was being serious.


"Whatever, I'll see you later," Blaire shrugged her shoulders before turning around and walking away, she should just go and do shoot some arrows. She was no longer in a good mood so practicing might help her greatly.

 

[CSA]

Azure had practically wet himself, and Lily found herself astonished that it was possible to frighten anyone this much even when she was just trying to help. Well, 'help' for her own benefit, but it was helping nonetheless. For once she wasn't even trying to intimidate anybody, and this is how it turns out?


"An idiot like this doesn't even deserve someone trying to be nice to him if all he does is cower and reject help. Maybe I should just do it the old way. A nice cocktail of hard labor, psychological attack, and physical discipline..."





Then that boy that she had met before showed up, and she let go of the idiot kid. What the **** would anybody want with this coward? After Azure answered, Lily spoke as well.


"Whatever you have to say to him can be said in my company as well. Speak as you will."


"He couldn't even look at me straight when he said what he did... wash his hand my roots. He's a liar as well as a coward. How do I deal with this? Obviously reasoning and logic doesn't work..."

 

[ComradeSenpai]

Richter failed to stifle a giggle as Rose and the last few students exited the classroom, soon breaking out into loud laughter. He made his way to the supply closet, and opened a cardboard box inside, pulling out several torsos as the classroom door closed, separating him from the outside world.


-----------------------


Anya took a careful look at the stake and cross before placing both into her backpack.


"What?" she asked Bunny. "That can't be right. People don't eat people; he's not a monster or anything. I'm not even food. Don't be silly, Bunny!"


She gave some thought before asking the second question. She normally didn't get this kind of choice, "I dunno." she hugged Bunny's arm, reflexively rubbing her face against the girl's shoulder. "What do you wanna do?"

 

[amdreams]

Riff turned to Lily, a bit confused as to why she demanded that she hear his business with Azure. Though it wasn't like it was a secret either. Or at least Riff didn't think it needed to be secret. "I . . . never said I needed to speak with him alone, Miss Lily, but okay."


He turned to Azure. The boy looked terrified. Apparently from being grabbed by Lily? Riff couldn't find any reason why the boy would be scared but whatever. "I might as well, get this dne quickly. Do you have any relation to a girl named Kylier?"


~~~~~


"That's all well and good but you have duties here. Do you know what's been going on? Besides, you're not going to get the throne for like 100 years. Why would you need the special training now?"


Watching Blaire leave only frustrated Rose more. She always seemed to be running away. Well, fine then. It looks like she couldn't even depend on her own sister.


Great. There goes the all the work Lily had put in to destress Rose last night. Letting out a sigh, she made her way to the student council room, dragging her feet along the stone floors.


~~~~~


Bunny looked down at Anya. Technically, they were all monsters, right? But it'd probably take days to fully explain it to the little neko, given her rather innocent, if not oblivious, personality. "Just be careful, okay? There are some very bad people in the world. Even here."


Even with Anya nuzzling her arm, Bunny frowned, her mind elsewhere. "I . . . I think I need to see Rose again."

 

[Advent Azure]

Despite his prior fear driven state, hearing Kylier's name sparked a controlled anger out of Azure, with a matching grin. Why would anyone want anything to do with Kylier. To him, behide annoying if not enraging personality, lies an even worse person, or at least to Azure, he never cared about Kylier or her social life.


"I know her... But I don't want to talk about her... As far as I care, the only relationship I have with her is giving me a second chance at life..."


Azure wasn't sure why he shifted moods all of a sudden, he's usually a mellow guy that just deals with whatever, and doesn't get as mad as he is now when he is talking about Kylier. He thought back as to when he began feeling weird as he is now, and figured that the crucifix he has is having some sort of effect on him.


Still Azure knows without a doubt that he is human, Kylier made sure of that, but even so, he wasn't going to lose himself over an object. He took the crucifix out of his pocket it, grinning at it, and hurled it down the hall, not wanting anything to do with it anymore. In a few moments, he calmed down, back to his usual self, a bit on edge still.


"I'm... Uh... Sorry about that... Heh. I guess that crucifix did have an effect on me."


He felt guilty over wasting Riff's time and seeing that short, odd event, he should get a clear answer, even though he'd rather not tell people about their relationship


"If you really need to know, she's my sister... My step sister to be exact. Just don't go around spreading the word, I don't want people to know I'm related to someone like her..."

 

[ComradeSenpai]

"You know, all this unnecessary stress is terrible for your health" Richter stated as Rose entered the council room. Richter himself leaned back in a chair, feet casually placed over the table. He eyed a piece of chocolate, spinning it between his fingers.


"You should relax, maybe have a hot drink. Let me tell you the tales of my people."

 

[amdreams]

Rose jumped when Richter spoke up, her heart nearly bursting right through her chest. She hadn't expected anyone to be in the room, much less him. She quickly noted that she should lock the door when she wasn't there. The half-elf waited for her heart to settle down before addressing the vampire. "What are you doing here, Mr. Richter? I doubt it's actually for a story hour."


~~~~~


Riff watched as Azure became somewhat angry at the question, before returning to normal when he discarded the crucifix given to them during class. Odd. It shouldn't affect a human like him, right? It didn't affect Mel, or at least didn't seem to. The blond decided to push that thought away for later though, focusing more at the issue at hand. "I see . . . So Miss Mel was correct after all."


His eyes fell to the floor before going back to Azure. "Well, thank you for being honest. I need to report back to Miss Mel, but other than that, my lips are sealed. I do feel the need to warn you though. As you really are related to Miss Kylier, you may experience a bit of trouble in the near future. Miss Mel has shown interest in you and I doubt in the good way."


"Oh, excuse my rudeness. My name is Riff."

 

[ComradeSenpai]

"On the contrary, I feel that's exactly what you need. I feel like you weren't properly paying attention in class, and missed some of the finer details." he said, taking his feet down. "In order to properly kill a vampire, you should be able to understand their underlying nature, how they behave and think. Now, you're an elf. I'm going to go out on a limb and say you don't particularly care for my kind. But you don't understand how a vampire thinks, which puts you at a major disadvantage when you'll inevitably fight one of us. So, why don't you take a seat over there? Consider this a bonus lesson you're taking with a tutor."

 

[amdreams]

"You're wrong," Rose said in a matter-of-fact way, her eyes on the floor to avoid looking at Mr. Richter. "It's not just because I'm an elf. I've had some bad experiences with some vampires. I hate them because of that."


As the vampire offered a private lesson on how to kill his kind, Rose's head turned to him so fast, it looked like it could've given her whiplash. "Why? Why would you do that? Tell me how to kill you? What could you possibly gain from that?" She searched his face, looking for a twitch, one too many blinks, anything that could indicate an ulterior motive to his actions. In doing so, she did sit down though. If his information was reliable, it'd pay to pay attention for now.

 

[ComradeSenpai]

"In time, you'll understand my reasons. Very soon." Richter replied, leaning back. "I was born... or reborn, rather- in the early fourteenth century. In my years, I've only ever turned one person, in the early 2000s. She was about your age, actually. Cute, too. Now, when a vampire is born, we don't waste much effort on teaching fighting, or utilizing our abilities, or that other stuff you might find at this school. There's something inherently more important to us: psychological conditioning; a vampire keeps its memories of being a human, and that means they're basically still humans. As such, we teach two things: total subservience to one's master, and a certain disregard for human life. Becoming a vampire used to be a very deliberate thing. Every fledgling was molded carefully, and in his lifetime, a vampire is expected to only create a handful. Quality over quantity, you see. Selene especially was rather meek, timid, yet I was able to get her suited to the lifestyle in a few short years. We were practically family."


At this, Richter leaned forwards, resting his head in his hand as he exhaled slowly. "My... 'bloodline', I guess you could call it, has a sort of tradition, to ensure strength of will. After a few decades, when my own master felt I had matured, she put put me through it, and I gave the test to Selene in turn. Can you guess what it is?"