Oriens Academy [Phoenix Game]

[CSA]

Lily nodded at Bunny, still looking a little sorry.


"Yes... you're right, of course. Being at fault for something negative is predicated on having flaws, after all. But it's alright! I'm your friend now, and not the kind that does bad things to you. Because that's not a friend at all."


Why did Lily have to be so perfect? So perfectly smart, beautiful, charming, and now she had added friendly and thoughtful to her long list of perfections. Alraune could feel a modicum of pain, even though they didn't have to from an evolutionary sense, all so that they could empathize better with the other races who could. But even for an Alraune, Lily was so great that it was a little hard to understand the plight of the weak and unspecial. Like Bunny.


At the very least, however, Lily understood how horrible something like that could be.


Then Anya showed up. Was it really impossible for her to be away from Lily for a whole day? But still it made the Alraune somewhat happy, knowing how much she was needed.


Yes, the weak needed her. It was the burden of the strong, after all, to tame the timid. And all of this only cemented that feeling.


"Anya? What are you doing here? I mean, it's good to comfort your friends when they are sad, but didn't I say I would be busy today?"

 

[MechaGhoul]

The waiver in question starts off with a embolden "ARCHAEOLOGY/HISTORY FIELD TRIP"


Within the waiver it details an expedition to the Valley of Kings in Egypt, where students will get a chance to explore fascinating ruins, participate in real dig-sites, learn history in the actual landscape it took place and a chance to gain a few artifacts of their very own. Essentially mandatory fun! The waiver then goes into rules concerning expected behaviors and guidelines. Such as stay with any assigned buddy, general school rules, among others. It also details how room and board will be handled. Then in a much more fine print dealing with legal issues. Oriens Academy is not responsible or liable for any damages to the participating parties. Such damages may or may not include, being flayed by mad cultists, being burnt alive at the stake, being driven to madness, .... (The list goes on for awhile) ... And papercuts.





Miss Espinosa glanced at Skyia, "Thank you for passing the waivers around! I'll go over it a bit later." She turned her attention to the rest of the class, "Does anyone else need the Basic Class Assignment Packet? Feel free to come up and take one. Or..." Espinosa turned towards Rasputin, "Ras pass these to whoever needs them, or nominate someone again." She then glanced at Victor, "I noticed that you may take an interest in the bullets? You did stare at them for a bit." She smiled, "Oh I'm sure you'll enjoy the lessons concerning the War, I have quite a few weapons that I uncovered and will pass around when we cover it in class. It'll help give you a feel for the era and its weaponry."


Espinosa glanced at the clock, and waited for more students to show. "So class, any questions so far? And not about the waivers just yet, they'll be covered later."

 

[Zerohex]

Ras took the packets, then took a spare desk, plopped the pile on top and dragged the whole thing closer to the chalkboard. It was kinda loud and annoying, just like him. He then picked up a piece of chalk and began writing in big, bold letters, often making extremely unpleasant screeching noises. When he was done, the message read "BASIC CLASS PACKET, SHUT UP AND GRAB ONE" with an arrow pointing down at the pile. In his experience every single one of the students in the building needed all the help they could get, so they all should grab one.


When he was done, he noticed Espinosa talking to a student about bullets and weapons from the War, so, having lived the period himself or so he claimed, he just had to butt in again. "The era was horrible, yes indeed, and the weapons were often cruel, unusual and extremely deadly with no art to them beyond their ability to kill as many people as reliably as possible".

 

[MechaGhoul]

Espinosa glanced at the chalkboard, not minding the horrible screeching noise"That'll do it. Thanks Rasputin." She gestured towards him, "You'll have to share more stories with me after class." She peered at the class in general. "Feel free to ask questions for me to answer. Or Rasputin, if he is in willing mood to share his knowledge." Espinosa then took her brush and continued brushing off the 'Jaguar' artifact.

 

[Parsnip]

Curtis read through the waiver, intentionally skipping the risk clause. It was mandatory, after all, and he didn't really want to know what horrible things may or may not happen- didn't need all that extra stress. He grabbed a packet and raised his off-hand slowly.


"I-isn't that, uh, the whole point of weapons?"


________________________________________________


High above Oriens Academy, the clouds parted to reveal a tremendous whale-thing, bloated to enormous size and propelled by rippling flaps of skin, like the shameful lovechild of manta ray and blimp. The whale-thing floated down to the school, opened its' gaping, toothless maw, and disgorged what at first appeared to be a tongue, but was soon revealed to be an equally gigantic and bloated tapeworm, which promptly slammed its' bulk through a window, directly into the classroom where Azure and Rose were having their discussion.


The giant worm-thing rippled once, twice, and regurgitated yet another creature, like a grotesque matryoshka doll- this time, a sort of pink, fleshy crab dripping with a clear fluid that pooled on the floor. This thing, too, unfolded its back to reveal a thin, spidery-looking woman with hands on her hips who stood within the whale-thing's shadow, dressed in silk pajamas and a sleep mask.


"HUSBAND RICHTER!", she shouted, her tone businesslike and without joy, "OLGA IS HERE FOR MAKE LOVE TO YOU. DO NOT RESIST."

 

[MechaGhoul]

Espinosa nodded at Curtis, "That is what weapons are for. So if you took any Fighting Electives I hope you paid attention." She paused before raising her index finger, "It's more of a legal thing, so you don't try to school the due for damages. That's what it is really there for, I doubt anything like that will happen. Anything else you are concerned about Curtis?"


Espinosa continued brushing and cleaning the artifact.

 

[Zerohex]

Rasputin cackled after hearing Curtis' question "Yes! Of course! Well, not the cruel and unusual part, no, that was just for cruelty's sake, but why do you think it was such a horrible time? Without concern for things such as restraint, tact or some manner of aesthetic thought it was a horrendous, unbridled slaughter, yes, a most atrocious time". Rasputin's voice was oddly...nostalgic as he related an abstract idea of the horror that was the War.

 

[MechaGhoul]

Espinosa glanced at Rasputin, "And yes he is right. It was a very violent and destructive time period, it was a slaughter, with oh so many War Crimes committed casually just for wanton cruelty! Which! We will learn about later in the Semester! From the forms of torture created during this period, popular weapons, and many, many battle sites. We will cover a lot about the War."

 

[ComradeSenpai]

"Class was out, and I wanted to visit you!" Anya replied, looking up from the angel. "And it's a good thing I came, Bunny needs a hug, just like y-" she stopped, sniffing the air.


"I smell something funny." she said aloud.


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


Richter looked up from the stopwatch, instinctively backing away. He felt a deep pit of foreboding in his stomach, one he didn't know vampires could get.


He hoped to whatever dark beings may be it wasn't what he thought it was.

 

[Parsnip]

"I was just wondering, is all. Oh, wait! Actually, is this, uh, this trip going to be an overnight?" He fiddled with the manila envelope containing the papers, his efforts foiled by his gloves, "-And, uh, could someone help me with this?"

 

[EmilyPower]

Emily continued reading her books, not minding anything that was going on in the class. She was just waiting for the terrible guilt feeling to get out of her head. She knew she would have classes were she would have to use her powers. She wasent ready. She had to decide betweeen skipping class or using her powers and hoping nothing happened. She was afraid of the things following her, and she knew no one was supposed to know about it but the feeling became bigger and the tought of the creature attacking the school became terrifying for her.

 

[Advent Azure]

Azure got horribly cut off... due to the violent entry of something, and was speechless... absolutely floored...


-Wa.... what?!? Richter?-


"..... Well now... this gives me the chance to have some real fun now..."


Although normally Kylier would be watching over Mel, just to see what she was doing out of boredom and learning, she is not sure if she has died or not. After all, she still has business with Azure, and thus, in the waiting. Cloaked in her illusions she decided to use her Illusions on Olga, to make her perceive Azure as Richter in his entirety... and rendering Rose invisible to Olga


-Azure... I wonder if you will despise me more than he does now-


"Alright..." (Richter-Illusion)

 

[Parsnip]

Olga removed her sleep mask to find Richter sitting at a school-desk in an empty room. She sniffed the air.


"Husband, why do you smell so? When we last meet in Ukraine, you smell of blood and meat, like savage beast. Now you smell like small child who wets bed, also patchouli-", she squinted at the Richter-shade, "-and your speech, it is unfinished, da? You speak in trailing, like baby-man."


She moved back towards the coffin-crab, shoving a hand into one of its many skin-pockets. Something tightened around her forearm.

 

[Advent Azure]

Azure was confused at what Olga was talking about...


-Why does... what is she...... why are you doing this Kylier-


"KYLIER!!!"





Azure shouted outloud, hoping she would get the message


-... I suppose he noticed... I'll leave him be... I still don't know if that mage is about...-


The illusion on Olga dropped...


"Uh..... I'm... not your husband... someone else played a trick on you..."

 

[Ixacise]

Josue raised his hand and began to speak loudly and very clearly. It was time for his introduction after he grabbed the make up work packets and watched the old man eye him curiously. "My full name is Josue Skramarooxx'itzly Rapturia Vapoolis Scion of Tempoly of the Clan Teal Blade. I have many other honorifics and names in to my native culture, but I doubt such an introduction will have enough time nor will your feeble minds be able to even comprehend such cultural complexities," he said rather effortlessly.


He then took a break to let his words process through their brains as no doubt if he continued it would be lost on them before he continued, "Also I wish to ask if there is a clear bias by the various races who founded this school. For let it be clear not only have I studied on past evens but coming from a long and rich culture that have found themselves watching these troublesome affairs I have no stomach for any obvious lies they might tell to pass themselves as righteous and heroic. And I say this as fair warning as I will give corrections over any biased misinformation. "

 

[Parsnip]

Olga spat onto the floor, "The nerve of this man! Has he grabbed me for the fool?"


She unclenched her hand, withdrawing it from the skin pocket before wheeling to face Azure.


"You there, gypsy child! Tell me where I find husband. I will own the words with him."

 

[MechaGhoul]

Espinosa glanced at Emily, "You look green around the gills, do I need to send you to the nurse or something? Also it looks like you haven't picked up a packet, I would suggest you come up and get one." She continued brushing as she glanced at Curtis, "Yes this trip will be overnight, over the weekend. Longer if I rope the rest of the facility to provide activities for their classes to do during the trip, in which case it should be about a week." She glanced at him messing around with the Manila envelope. Oh jeez, I've got to help him open it discretely so he doesn't get embarrassed or anything.





Espinosa glanced at Josue, "Well Josue, while I am sure you intend only the best, please keep the corrections of bias into a low standard. As for bias, yes there will probably be some cultural bias within your textbook, it is hard to avoid. For example, it will cover Pre-war humanities bad treatment of the non-human race, and it does not have much focus on the better relations that our various races shared before the War. While it tries to keep bias to a minimum, it does not have it as fully impartial as it could be. I will note some points that the textbook does not make, whether due to bias or a lack of space."


She stared at Josue and smirked, "Well read, as is to be expected from your people. I expect you to prove up on your statement, which I am sure you will." She glanced at the rest of the class, "I expect you all to do well in this class, do not disappoint."


Espinosa glanced at Rasputin, "Oh if you could find any stragglers for this class, bring them back in the manner you most see fit. I trust your judgement on this."

 

[EmilyPower]

Emily looked at Espinosa and looked at her hands, she was pretty pale at the moment.


She stood up and took one of the packets like the teacher told her to.


She sat back down at the desk and read the packet. She didnt have much choice, she needed to go.


Emily didnt want to know what could happen if she didnt.

 

[amdreams]

Rose let out a frustrated sigh as Azure's description made clear just who threatened him. Rasputin, or rather Fioravante Bloyse Zirnitra Gwydion Megalesius Johanai de Prospero Rasputin Von Elsimore, the purple clad man from last night. Rose had heard rumors of the man for years now, but had never actually met the man until last night. Students and teachers alike talked about the teacher's aide who despite a record of misconduct and absense, managed to inexplicably keep his job here at Oriens.


And here he was, causing trouble again, threatening to expel a student for such a ludicrous reason. And not only that but he was the one to put Azure in such a critical condition as well?! How in the world has he not been fired yet? She'd have to have a long talk with her father this weekend.


She pinched her eyebrows, visibly frustrated by what she was being told. "Okay, first of all, he doesn't have the power to do that. He isn't even a proper teacher, and even they can't expel you for that."


Then Azure mentioned Riff and Vash. Did he want to talk about her plans to get rid of them as well? She was about to ask more when some grotesque worm thing, that she was sure came directly from her latest nightmare, crashed in through the classroom windows, with a woman with a thick accent coming out and proclaiming her intentions to bed a teacher.


What the hell was going on? What was this "Olga" talking about? How did she know Azure? And why is it that the villains seemed to have more respect for school property than the good guys?


~~~~~


Bunny had been surprised at the sudden appearance of the neko, nearly enough to break her facade for a moment. Nearly. This was a good thing though. If Anya believed Bunny to be a good person, Lily would be compelled to as well. The angel hadn't seen much of the interaction between the two girls, but she had seen enough to know how much Lily cared about the girl. The alraune was practically whipped, in the most platonic way possible.


"Th-thanks, Anya," she said, smiling sweetly at the nekomimi.

 

[Ixacise]

Josue was about to sit and read whatever flights of fancy passed at history. But the dear teacher unintentionally stepped into a landmine. With the righteous fury of warrior battling for a just cause he rose stately and filled with renewed vigor, "Obejection! Humanity's pre-war mistreatment of what the non-humans each with their own 'gifts and powers' that outranked their practically non-existent arcane abilities ? Absolutely preposterous and utter nonsense! I bet some elf wrote that, and do not start me on elves or demons or angels or anything else for that matter... Simply put around the age which we called the 'Clispaethean epoch' if the various races did not from that end on decided to scurry into their own secluded areas away from humanity like common vermin and isolate and stagnate themselves for millennia on end none of this would happen. Oh yes what a grand idea to obscure oneself from until the humans forgot then expect them to not panic and treat one nicely long after they had forgotten of you presence. One does not simply abandon a garden and expect it to not be overrun, and yet they expected no housekeeping. "


He then took a very heady breath too cool his emotions and let his next part of his correction flow like a running stream. His eyes eyed the hapless class like an emperor overlooking his subjects in court. He spotted a student who seemed to try and stealthily leave. "YOU THERE! Do not dare leave while I give valuable enlightenment!" he said as he forcibly made him sit down. He then continued, "Such 'mistreatment' is hardly surprising considering the situation. And yet they have the gall to act like they were hurt; despite being the equivalent of stupid child that kicked a ball at a Hou-xhah nest and cry when unsurprisingly they attack. So yes they come back and wage a stupidly destructive war with a clear advantage while crying and then having declared themselves victor declare their actions just. Such pernicious lies sicken me, after all what had these 'Grand' races accomplished? Whilst they scurried away like troglodytes in caves the humans managed to achieve a cohesiveness and gumption any of these races have yet to display as they not only did they conquer the world and not implode without anything that you call 'magic' to help them. And yet all falls as pale simulcrum to the greatest of Cretorian works which sadly were already crumbling into dust and ruination were hastily annihilated during the war. I weep not just in sadness but in anger over Mu and Lemuria and lest we forget Hyperborea too."

 

[MechaGhoul]

Espinosa glanced at Josua, and clapped a bit. "Truly you will lead your people to an even greater glory one day. And yes the textbook was indeed primarily written by an Elf. I will point out the various flaws the book makes, much like you just did right now. But this textbook is the required reading. Anyway, I am glad you have brushed up on your history. Which book did you use to draw your conclusion, or was it an oral recounting? Clearly Cretorian in origin. But unfortunately, the winner gets to write history... I however will make sure to avoid the bias that the Victorious Side has added. Alongside biases that the races may have added. And..." Espinosa glanced down at the 'Jaguar' artifact as she cleaned it "That is why I find the Pre-War Era the MOST fascinating! All of it was achieved with minimum to non-existent gifts. I'm glad you enjoy that era of history as well. But yes we will cover a large variety of subjects from Pre-War, to the War and finally Post-War. Each student will find their own particular favorite." She paused for a moment, "And of course lost knowledge will be recovered. After all." Espinosa grinned as she shot a thumbs up, "Recovering Lost Knowledge is my specialty."

 

[Parsnip]

Curtis paused in his attempts to undo the twist-tie with a pencil (his fourth one), captivated by this verbal smackdown as Josue dropped the knowledge. He wasn't quite certain who to believe- after all, back in Iowa, they didn't usually discuss history and who did what at what time. Usually they just talked about corn, and corn-related things like grain threshers and blight.

 

[Advent Azure]

"I... Uh..."


-Richter's her.. husband then...?"


"I don't... know where Richter is... I'm sorry I couldn't really be of any help...?"


He managed to suppress a confused look... he figured that having one really wouldn't help the situation in anyway...


-Why..... why is all this happening.....-


Azure began to feel tired with everything that was going on... it was bordering on nauseating... but for the time, he'll just bare it for now...


-What did she mean by... 'gypsy'... though...? I don't think I should press her on about what she is talking about..... I don't think she's someone I want to deal with... I just want to focus on the task at hand...-

 

[CSA]

"Well I guess it's OK to visit if class was already out," replied Lily, "But we don't go around talking about the hugs I did or did not need. That is one of the personal things that we do not share- even with friends."


But Lily really didn't know what Anya meant about a funny smell. Lily smelled just as good as ever, and Anya certainly did not smell bad. As Bunny thanked the Neko, Lily sniffed around.


"Oh, yeah. I see what you mean."


Lily sniffed a little more intently, homing in on Bunny.


"Yeah... yeah, I think it's..."


After a final few sniffs, Lily had her conclusion. Alraune had a sense for certain smells, being the creatures of seduction that they were. She had hardly noticed until Anya brought it up, but it was odd.


"You smell different, Bunny. Like... boys. You smell like boys."


Of course although it was a scent that Lily could pick up, she didn't personally have any experience that could educate her about what it might have been. She just knew that boys smelled like this often, and that Bunny smelled faintly of it now.


"Why do you smell like boys?" asked Lily innocently.

 

[Advent Azure]

-Now... that I think about it, I guess I can tell her where I last saw him-


"Well... if you go out this door, and go down the stairs closest to here, until it says you are on the ground floor, you take a left out of it, and you'll be at a door that says the student council room. Maybe you can pick up his trail from there?"


-Now that I think about it... Kylier said that I used to be a gypsy too....... sorta..... I think...? long ago... but sorta just..... left it at that...-


Azure tried understanding what Kylier was talking about... to no conclusion... it only left him with a face full of unsolved answers for a bit