Fantasy Vanguards

[shadowz1995]

"Vampires. The natural predator of humanity. Enemy to mankind."

"Or....at least they were."

"It has been decades since humans and vampires have come together to coexist with one another. We make up for each other's weaknesses. Vampires being the vastly superior species in terms of physicality and humans were the mentally superior, gifted in magic and technology."

"Yet, it wasn't apathy or too much bloodshed that brought the peace around. Neither race could get enough of that it seemed...."

"No, it was a common enemy."

"Disgusting amalgamations of nightmare. Massive, twisted creatures that have been terrorizing the world for the better part of 40 years now. They come without warning, destroy and kill everything, then disappear as quickly as they came. There is no real name but we have taken to calling them The Rot or Rotten."

"Combining the power of vampires and humans was the only way these colossal beasts can be brought down. Academies have cropped up in every major country in the world to train young adults, vampire and human alike, to combat those decaying monsters."

"They have us pair off. One vampire and one human are considered one unit. Turns out we work well with each other. Far better than anticipated."

"We are equal parts student and soldiers. We are the first and last line of defense against The Rot. That's what they tell you and they aren't lying. But they don't tell you how bad it is..."

"They always preach about the nobility and honor of your actions. The passion and glory that taking down one of these Rotten brings. They dont talk about the death toll and with good reason. If they did, no one would join."

"When a Rotten shows up, you better pray you have some senior level officers around. Otherwise, you will be slaughtered. I can't tell you how many times I've seen my friends die. My fellow classmates and soldiers. My....I....I've lost two partners to this scourge already. They were so young and beautiful...."

"The Blood Link. The vampiric partner drinks blood from the human and replaces it with some of their own. As a result, you share abilities. Humans gain some of the physical traits from the vampire and the vampire can use some of the magical power from the human. But the most important thing is The Link itself. You...it's like you becone one consciousness. One unit. One being. You feel everything they feel. Everything they think. The more the two trust each other, the more powerful the bond."

"You feel everything...."

"Including when they die."

"There's no...God.....nothing that can describe what....and then they just EXPECT you to move on! To find another partner and get back out there."

....

"And you have to. You're a soldier. You take a look around and see others holding the mangled bodies of their partners in the same despair as you. But every single one of you has got to push on."

"If we don't, who will? After all...."

"We are the first and last line of defense."

"We are the Vanguard."

IC: https://www.rpnation.com/threads/vanguards.338608/

OOC: https://www.rpnation.com/threads/vanguards-ooc.338605/#post-7966856

CS: https://www.rpnation.com/threads/vanguards-cs.338606/

Extras: https://www.rpnation.com/threads/vanguards-extras.338607/​

 

[shadowz1995]

You didn't have to be some extra sensory magician or hypersensitive vampire to feel the tension and excitement in the air. As the fresh recruits piled through the doors, the energy was practically palpable. Youths from all corners of the world came to Germany, to the infamous Byrgenwerth Academy in hopes to become the defenders of Earth. They could have chosen the academies in their respective countries but they chose to come here. They chose Byrgenwerth and the staff were determined to show the recruits they were right in their tedious choice.

The rookies were all guided to their dorms by officials and given time to leave their belongings before being guided to the stadium sized auditorium. It might have come as a shock but the entire space was filled out like it was the superbowl. The air was crackling with the excitement of tens of thousands and the new arrivals didn't have to wait long before their curiosity was satisified.

The lights died down, leaving the auditorium in complete darkness before a bright light shone upon the center of the building. There stood a man, shadowed by a woman. He was an older gentlemen, human. His skin was rough and wrinkled but he looked anything except weak or frail as he stood tall, giving off the aura of someone with absolute authority.

The smaller woman behind him was practically unnoticeable in comparison but it could be said that this was intentional. If the proud, old man was the warrior then she was the silent blade. Black hair, stark white skin, and the piercing crimson eyes of a vampire. A incredibly rare trait in vampires except in two specific pureblooded families. It also didn't take much for one to recognize which one the woman belonged to with the crest of Ainswurth family imprinted in the black silk garb just over her left breast.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am General Tosfen. Leader of this country's military forces and headmaster to Byrgenwerth Academy."

There was a round of polite applause before the General patiently raised his hand to quiet the crowd. "I look out before me to this sea young minds and see an unbridled myriad of potential." His once blonde hair shifted slightly as he slowly let his experienced blue eyes sweep the crowd once over. "You have all trained hard to get into this school. Some of you have come far off countries because you heard that Byrgenwerth trains the very best Vanguards. I'm proud to say you have made the right choice."

...

"Now, I would like to say that you have all come to make the world a safe place for humans and vampires alike but I know this isnt true. I don't have these wrinkles for show."

"No, some of you have come for money. Some have come for glory. Some have come to perfect their craft while others have come because their friends came...."

"Some of you don't even know why you're here. You just are. But there is one common purpose that unites us all. The Rotten." The crowd of recruits were already completely silent while General Tosfen spoke but the mention of The Rotten brought a palpable tension to the air of the auditorium. Even the most ignorant, naive idiot knew that The Rot wasn't talked about so easily.

"The Rotten that have invaded our world time and time again and I believe I speak for mankind and vampire kin alike when I say that we are all here to put a solid end to that threat. Whatever motives you may have are being held back this threat and only the Vanguard are capable of exterminating this extradimensional menace."

"I look out before every one of you and see a defender of the planet. I look out and see men and women who will serve as this world's first and only line of defense. I look out and see the future of our world....in good hands. I want each and every one of you to prove me right."

The General brought his hand up in a crisp salute, to which every person, instructors included, stood from their chairs and returned with equal parts fervor and dedication.

It wasn't the prettiest speech to have echoed off of Byrgenwerth's walls. But it was inspiring and it drove some courage into those who were feeling uncertain. Even if this wasn't their end goal, it was supposed to make you the best you could be. No one could argue with that.

With all that said, Welcome to Byrgenwerth. You'll have the time of your life...you can count on that...

shadowz1995 Wandering Grim Hollow Anaxileah The Faceless King Mx.Trinity Serf Ember @Fluffy☆Kat Han JiHyo simj26 Mistory Kloudy Suzuken slim Kent Hachi Machi deer Aukanai E.Vasper Damafaud Midnight2902 Twyllvarlais Luckz Dark Sanctuary Compass WoodenZebra Steff__legit_trash__ Shadow Alpha Cosmos​

 

[Compass]

Mason Patch

Mason had shuffled around the school grounds, feet barely lifting off the ground as he followed the students following the instructors about. The only moment of relief he had felt was when he finally dropped his heavy luggage off at his dorm room. It wasn't long after that the anxiety picked up again, and his olive features seemed particularly pale as he took a seat in the auditorium. Ever since arriving, he had craved a cigarette to help ease his nerves, however the morning had been busy and he hadn't had a chance to sneak away to indulge. Though as students chatted among themselves, he grew hopeful. His fingers were twitching as he kneaded his scarf (a necessary for a freeze baby in Germany), and Mason had finally worked through enough anxiety to stand up. Just five minutes is what he needed.

Suddenly, the lights went dark. He flinched, quickly sitting back down in his seat and bumping the student next to him on his way down. "I'm sorry," he apologized quickly and quietly, his accent American. Another student would shush him as the light fell from the ceiling, revealing the headmaster and a mysterious vampire at his side. However, Mason was overwhelmed by the sudden warmness on his cheeks and ears. It was day one, and he was already making a fool of himself to his other classmates. "Ugh," he groaned internally, squeezing his dark eyes shut against his jitters. "Relax, you idiot!"

A strong voice broke through his thoughts and his eyes shot open to really look at the duo before him. He was far back, but his vision was excellent for a human's and anxiety drove him to hyperfocus. Robotically, he clapped shortly with the rest of the auditorium, taking the short time to draw in long breaths and release them slowly. The man continued to speak, and it helped Mason lull his pounding heart into a steady beat. He listened politely and eagerly, the anxiety slowly being replaced with cautious excitement. He wondered if Ray had listened to this same exact speech--maybe even in this same exact seat. The thought brought a bitter smile and a sting to his eyes that he quickly blinked away. The headmaster's speech assured him that he made it: he was here at Byrgenwerth.

The speech ended--it had been kept short and sweet--and suddenly people were saluting. Taken off guard and clumsy, Mason's salute was sloppy and a little too quick. He again bumped the student next to him and winced. The other recruit must have hated him by now. "I'm sorry," he said again, pink returning to his cheeks. He needed to find Reiner, and quickly.

MP: 95/95​

Mira Kingston

Excitement was difficult for the young vampire to muster up, especially for something as mundane as orientation day. So while Mirabelle Elizabeth Kingston followed the heard throughout campus, she operated at minimum energy that morning. She walked with straight shoulders, her proud gait the bare minimum for someone of her bloodline, and Mira was not one to excel beyond the minimum. So she yawned to show off her small fangs and stretched to show off her lean figure having no worries about or even interest in the rest of the day. She didn't quite understand others' excitement or tension. Surely they had all attended school before. She just wanted the orientation to end so she could rest and maybe play some video games. Unfortunately, a small tour of the grounds was not the end of it.

Mira sat quietly in the auditorium, her thumb tapping at a game on her phone and a frown on her lips. Her posture was clear to those sitting next to her: it said, "Leave me be." And left she was, until the room suddenly darkened. What had been a dull light on her phone was suddenly illuminating her blue hair in the black auditorium and she muttered an annoyance under her breath as she was forced to turn off the screen or be pegged as a problem early on. Her attention forced, she eyed the duo in the center of the auditorium. The man was old, human. Nothing of interest. The woman was refined, an Ainswurth. Mira blinked once, Why not have the pureblood speak? Surely she would command more respect...

Though he suddenly spoke so boldly about the Rotten, and even Mira felt herself stiffen. When he paused, the auditorium was deafly silent. Slowly but surely, the reality of attending the military academy was dawning on Mira, and this man was forcing it. It made her uncomfortable, and her violet gaze surveyed the surrounding recruits. Were they as entranced as she almost had been? Her eyes narrowed, defensiveness giving way to irritation. Her thoughts would drift, drowning out the rest of his speech. She would only pay enough attention to mock-- er, return the salute at the end. Then she would stand, ready to escape the crowd and its tension.

BP: 145/145
Frenzy: 0/4​

 

[Cosmos]

||Ellise Volkov||

Ellise wasted no time in placing her luggage down in the dorms, her cold and standoffish mannerisms carrying through each step she took, an old and leather-covered book held delicately between the fingers of her left hand the whole time she moved about, her scanning and calculating eyes never leaving the words spread out over the weathered and memory-soaked pages. It seemed as though her whole world existed within the confounds of the literature, the lens of her glasses seeing no more and no less than exactly what lay before her, and yet her steps flowed with a gentle sense of elegance and grace, not a trip nor fumble made as she navigated around this and that, people and passerby on her way to the auditorium.

Unlike her fellow peers Ellise did not gawk nor but raise a brow at the stadium like structure. Once having entered she found herself a seat as quickly and quietly as possible, close enough to the entrance so as to make a swift escape once this whole 'formality' was over and done with, but not as to seem totally rude to the instructors she was about to spend a rather long time with, being ignorant of her teachers -no matter how beneath you they may seem- never paid off well as she'd learnt through rather practical means.

The lights switching from their dim glow to an utter darkness was but a nuisance to the girl, she was already three quarters through the book and had intended to finish it during the course of this activity, such a pain these social interactions seemed to be. Briefly she considered using her enhanced senses to continue reading through the darkness but ultimately weighed it as a useless and rather pointless commitment of her time and energy, something of which could be used far better other places than here. Once a bright light shone down upon two figures standing atop the stage Ellise's vision was briefly captivated in an analysis of them as words were spoken, simply echoing off into the back of her mind. The man was of his more elder years, wrinkles donning his stern and battle-worn facial features, the woman however was the one who drew more interest from the young female, clearly a figure of the pureblood line and one of great nobility at that, her pale complexion and well-kept appearance couldn't help but show off her more vampiric traits and give off a vibe of suffocating entitlement and power.

Once done with her analysis of the two her interest quickly faded once more and as if hoping by some miracle the lights would suddenly re-emerge halfway through the speech she glanced down once more at her books cover, closed in an absent-minded fashion whilst she was listening in, one hand resting on top whilst the other lay just beside on her knee. It wasn't that she was ignoring the supposedly invigorating and hope-filled words of the man, instead she was simply dismissing them as something she didn't need to hear, if absolutely required she would have the opportunity to ask Gale for at least a summary of what was said, though she highly doubted such information to be needed again.

A sigh of relief couldn't help but exit her mouth as the lights finally turned back on and those around her stood to salute the man, she however remained seated, seeing no need to stand before it was required in the action of leaving the building they were currently trapped within. Soon her peers began to speak up after the now completed orientation of sorts, mingling amongst one another as friends grouped together and pre-established relations met one another through the crowds, most giving words full of determination and hope to one another, others seeming but as blank as her to the situation- well, almost. It was now she finally thought the time to stand, the book held loosely in one hand by her side as her strange hue of eyes glanced lazily around the area, seeking either the most efficient path towards the door or the one person she had any interest in interacting with around here, Gale.
______________________________________
​

BP: 160/160
Frenzy: 0/4​

 

[shadowz1995]

Sheep.

That was the one word that came to the pureblood's mind as he gazed out onto the tens of thousands of fresh recruits that had come to try out their hand at becoming a mighty Vanguard.

They all looked like doe-eyed sheep being prepared for the inevitable slaughter. Vanilen was never a fan of these little orientations they started doing about twenty-four years ago. This.... pep talk. What these students took as inspiration and courage only helped solidify his disdain for them all. The General was not lying to them by any means. Everything he had said was completely true. What caused his disdain was that didn't understand the depth of what they were going to be learning to do. Vanguards....the first and last line of defense against The Rot. Until they actually got out there for the first time, there was no way any of them could truly understand what that meant.

The nearly two century old vampire stood near the exit of the massive auditorium, sticking to the shadows of the room like a cliché vampire. The only thing that could be easily noticed was the hungry red eyes that reflected light similarly to a cat or a crocodile within the darkness of the room. Hungry red eyes that were practically dead locked with the other pair of red located in the center of attention. The heiress apparent to the Ainswurth bloodline and younger sister of Vanilen.

It was almost humorous how intense their staredown was when the two never saw eye-to-eye. The elder sibling was the first to break eye contact but he did so reluctantly. He knew his family very well and knew that they didnt do anything without some kind of agenda. Whatever it was that she was here for, he appeared to be a major part of it. Regardless of whether or not he wished that to be so. He was going to find out sooner or later it seemed.

Eventually, the lights came back on and Vanilen flinched at the sudden brightness. Vampire senses being stronger than a humans was both a good and bad thing. The pale man took a deep breath and quickly left the auditorium before he was drowned in the flood of students rushing for the door. Once outside, Vanilen pressed the imaginary crinkles out of his military uniform and decided to play something of an amusing game he created. He sat down just outside the exits of the theatre and tried to seperate the lions from the sheep. It was easy to just generalize like he had before but if you take a closer look, you that sometimes these supposed "sheep" are really just wolves in sheep's clothing. Pretending in a world that just really doesnt conform to their ideals. Sometimes you see the truly bright ones. The ones that go down through history as heroes and eventually become legends. Call it some vampire extra sensory, mind's eye babble or the inuition of a veteran but Vanilen was usually pretty good at picking these rare gems out among the passive horde of students.

This year looked halfway promising as he was able to spot a few as they exited the building. Classes were going to start soon and Ainswurth found himself looking forward to checking in on some of the classes. Possibly dropping in on Ms. Julia's lessons.

They had only been recently assigned together and he could tell it was not something she thought very highly about. From what he understood, she wanted to stay as far away from the battlefield as possible. However, the government had one of their best on standby for too long because of the death of his most recent partner. The poor man had just graduated as well. He didnt make it past the first Rotten. Flattened like roadkill after having exhausted too much mana. Vanilen's saving grace was that they hadn't linked yet and he didn't need to experience dying once again. The young woman got horribly unlucky in everyone's eyes. In the others because she got paired with "The Partner Killer" or something that absurd effect. In Vanilen's eyes because she was being forced back onto the field after having lost her partner and lover. The pureblood knew that sorrow....all too well.​

 

[Fluffy-Kat]

​

THUD.

"Well, thats the last of them." The young, charming voice of Tyson huffed as he clapped his hands together, dusting them off. He straightened out his jacket and ran a hand through his tousled hair before propping his hands on his hips and looking at his sister, standing infront of her luggage. "Are you sure?" Her silky voice cooed, "I dont want anything forgotten," her voice was creamy and smooth, like melted whipped cream sitting ontop of a freshly brewed latte, dissolving into a pool of lightly sweetened cream, warmed from a nicely roasted coffee that slides down your throat with ease on a cold day to comfort it. Except this melted cream makes tingles run along your spine when it reaches your ears. She stood at the door way of her dorm, her feet close together with one foot slightly infront of the other like a ballet stance. Her hands were folded infront of her, right hand over the left, a shiny silver braclet loosely clasped around her small wrist. Aceline wore her favorite outfit to her first day, a little black dress with thin straps, and a black ribbon as a choker what tied into a large bow at the back of her neck with her short, black hair hovering over it. Her hypnotic, blue-grey eyes followed her twin brother as he walked to stand beside her and look at the bags he carried for her, "Yep, theres the bag for your clothes, a case for your armor, one for your weapons, that small bag there for toiletries, aaaaand..." he turned and gestured toward her feet, "Your hand bag." Aceline blinked amd looked down at the bag beside her feet, "Oh there it is~" she pushed it furher into the room with one foot before turning to her brother and fixing the lapels of his jacket, "We should get going Ty, ze(the) orientation is about to begin. Did you make sure you had all of your belongings?"

Tyson waved his hand to shoo her off of him, "Yes I did, now lets go!" He took hold of her shoulders and spun her around, gently pushing her down the hall, she struggled to say something but he inturrupted her before she could, "Now get marching missy!" The male twin shut the door before hurrying after her, his boots thumping along the floor as he chased her heeled footsteps.

-------------Auditorium!---------------

There was a sea of freshies chattering and conversing amongst themselves while they waited for the orientation to begin. The twins hurried down an isle and took the first two seats they saw. Tyson moved so that his sister could be seated first, then he took his next to her. What a gentleman. Aceline crossed her slender legs and placed her hands in her lap after pulling down the bottom hem of her dress to cover more leg. The walls echoed with voices and it was quite loud, she turned to talk to her brother but leaned closer so that he could hear her voice over the others, "I didnt zink(think) sere(there) were so many people," she scanned the audience briefly, taking in all the young faces. Tyson looked at her and chuckled, "This isnt a buffet, get that look out of your eyes," his deep voice joked. Aceline nudged him with her elbow and flashed a grin, pouty pink lips parting for a fanged smile. Just then did the lights dim down, and the voices with it. Both twins immediately pasted their attention to center stage where a man and a woman stood and shared the single light that was spotted on them. Everyone's gaze was directed to the duo down below as the male figure introduced himself as the headmaster, and other titles. The audience, Tyson included, in exchange gave a welcoming applause but the gentleman, now known as General Tosfen, quickly silenced the uproar and continued on with his formalities. Ty watched, wide-eyed and in awe, like a child watching tacky magic tricks, a small open-mouthed smile revealed the dimples on either side of his cheeks, Aceline on the other hand, had no expression, she wasnt bored but wasnt particularly impressed either. She gave her brother a side-eyed look and grimaced at his small smile that grew into a full fledged wide grin, 'How can he be ziz(this) excited? Its just words, we havent even done anyzing(anything) yet,' she thought to herself. Switching legs she crossed she sighed quietly to herself, 'What a dork.' Dont be confused, Aceline was excited too she just wasnt expressive about it the way her brother was, regardless the anticipation was still there. The speech was done as quickly as it began, ending with a salute that Ty quickly snapped to do. Aceline lazily stood up, and saluted half-heartedly, and remained at a stand to instruct Tyson to beat the mass of bodies trying to fit through the doors all at once.

Lights flickered back on and Aceline blinked several times to allow time for her light-sensitive eyes to adjust, dark, thick lashes fluttering. She grabbed onto Tyson's sleeve, rubbing her eyes while he led them out of the stuffy room, heightened with anxiety to leave. Outside was no better, brighter actually, "Ugh..." the vampire sister groaned.
"Cheer up Ace, its going to be fun here!"
"Its not zat(that), its just...my eyes were loving the dim lighting in zere(there)," she explained.
"Well get used to it sister, we'll be spending a lot of time out!"
"Ugh...."

​

 

[Han JiHyo]

HYO-RIN LEE

‘This is it. I’m finally here…’ The smile on her face grew wider at the thought. Excitement and nervousness ran through her veins in equal parts as she took another deep breath to ground herself. It wouldn’t do to swoon in delight even before setting foot on Academy grounds, after all. Tightening her grip on the backpack’s strap, Rin allowed herself to merge with the wave of numerous other fresh-faced soon-to-be students and be swept through the front gates.

In the face of an entirely different sort of world and scenario she was used to, her bag provided a reassuring and comfortable weight upon her shoulders. That, at least, was familiar. Unlike the towering, relatively old building before her and the vast bitumen area surrounding it. Rin had never in her life seen so many people packed into one place before, country-girl that she was. Even though her hometown was small and had to accommodate quite a number of bodies, it was still comparatively less than what she was currently witnessing. Unbidden, she paused in her strides to drink in the full sight of the famed Byrgenwerth Academy in order to re-confirm it wasn’t a really vivid dream. Rin was pretty sure she was gawking like some bumpkin, but the majority of her brain didn’t care. Well, that was until someone jostled her forcefully.

Snapping out of it, Rin apologised to the disgruntled female with a sheepish laugh before following one of the many Academy staff to their respective dorms. The further they walked, the more Rin became increasingly worried about getting lost on school grounds. She didn’t even remember the first set of turns or hallways taken to reach the dormitory building from the front gates. However, as she was directed to the corridor on the far left together with a handful of students, these worries were momentarily pushed aside. Claiming the first room she came across, Rin merely took a few seconds to glance around the small furnished room as she placed her luggage beside the single bed by the wall.

As the flood of people made their way towards the auditorium, apprehension rose. The lights died abruptly just as Rin found herself a seat near the end of a row, quite a distance from the middle. Enough that she needed to strain her eyes to see the two figures clearly. A male figure to her left bumped her arm lightly, but his apology went ignored as Rin’s gaze was captivated by the vampire woman. Though she had encountered a few vampires in her short life, none looked as refined and dignified as the one standing slightly behind the General. The speech was short, but the delivery of the message was powerful, reminding her strongly of the recruiters that inflamed within her the desire to be a part of the Vanguard those years back. As soon as General Tosfen finished speaking, Rin was clapping enthusiastically, nearly leaping out of her seat to return the salute, a wide grin surfacing. Now, a new chapter of her life would begin!

“Oh, it’s quite all right,” Rin answered on reflex as her arm was knocked again and the same apology came from her left. Not one to get upset over trivial things, she smiled and extended her hand in greeting. “It’s pretty crowded in here. I’ve probably got a few bruises just trying to find an empty seat just now. Anyway, I’m Lee Hyo-Rin but just call me Rin. It’s less of a mouthful.”

“Isn’t this great, though? We’re Byrgenwerth students now!” In her excitement, Rin plowed on ahead before the guy could introduce himself in turn. “Obviously all Vanguards are equally great no matter which Academy they graduated from, but…Byrgenwerth! Still can’t believe I managed to get in this year. I mean, look at how many people there are, right?”

Mana Pool: 97/97

Interactions: Mason Patch Compass

Mentions: N/A

EWALD REINER KLEIST

Taking his own sweet time walking towards the auditorium, Reiner hooked his fingers through the belt loops of the Academy military uniform he had been coerced to change into for the orientation. Something about needing to look neat and tidy and unified for one day. Although he couldn’t care less about making a good impression for the flood of newcomers arriving today, he conceded as he couldn’t be bothered dragging up the energy to argue. Stopping every now and then to take in the scenery, Reiner’s mind wandered back to Mason, wondering if the youth was doing fine on his own. Was the human overwhelmed by the scale of the situation? Maybe. If he was anything like Ray.

The last time the vampire had spoken to the boy was three days ago, when Mason was packing in preparation to leave for the Academy. Reiner had returned to his Family home to tie up some loose ends before making his own way to Byrgenwerth, arriving this morning, before the break of dawn. If it wasn’t mandatory for senior officers to attend the orientation too, the vampire would have happily stayed in his room cleaning Ansgar. It was a waste of his time to listen to Tosfen’s speech for it told him nothing new. He had heard variations of it over the years and missing one wasn’t going to harm anyone.

But reluctant as he was, Reiner’s feet carried him all the way to the auditorium, where all the newcomers and Academy staff were already gathered. Standing at the very top floor gave him an excellent view of the whole interior of the building, but even with his vampire sight, he had a hard time finding Mason in the crowd. Giving up after a few more seconds of scanning, he leaned an elbow on the railing before him, gaze distant and ears tuned out as the light switches were killed. The Headmaster’s voice droned on and he suppressed the urge to yawn. Thirty-six hours straight of no sleep was taking its toll. Wincing as the bright lights flicked on abruptly, the vampire returned the salute half-heartedly before relaxing his stance, not moving from his position as he watched the students flow towards the exit. There was no hurry to get out on his part. He wasn’t an instructor and he didn’t have classes to get to. All in all, the rest of the day could be counted as free time for him. Unless something came up.

Blood Level: Yet to be determined

Frenzy: Yet to be determined

Interactions: N/A

Mentions: N/A

 

[Nogoodname]

Idris and Emily Alder
​

The two siblings took turns helping the other unpack their things, making quick work of the job while they had the time. There was a heavy excitement that hung in the air of the students first day at the grand academy! And Emily was clearly affected by it. She bounced around what was to be her new dorm with a spring in her step as she slipped articles of clothing onto hangers and tucked them away in the closet, filled her desk with necessary supplies, and most importantly found a place for all her books, all the while Idris watched in the background with an amused expression as he helped unpack "Someone's excited" he teased as he stiffened the covers on her bed, sitting up to admire his handiwork. "Well of course! It's the first day!" she chimed as if it was the most obvious thing in the world "Why wouldn't I be excited?". Idris just shook his head "Oh no reason... You know, if you're nervous there's still time to back out", his tone was joking but there was an air of sincerity in his comment, to which Emily responded with a laugh "You know that's not true!" she chided. "Right... just wishful thinking I guess" he muttered in response, earning himself a curious sideways glance from his younger sister "You know... you didn't HAVE to come with me.. I can do this just fine on my own" she stated, as she had a thousand times before, and it was true, Emily was a hard worker when she set her mind to something, she could have easily gained admission alone. Idris waved a hand dismissively "and leave you here all alone? What kind of brother would I be if I did that?" He leaned in to ruffle the girls hair playfully before making his way for the door "now c'mon sis, orientation time" which Emily responded to with a cry of glee "Right right let's go!" She dropped what she was doing and made her way to the doorway, shoving her brother out.

Out in the crowded hallway Emily stuck closely to her older brother, the noise and density of the people around them getting to the young vampire, Idris was used to this sort of behavior so he simply pressed on with her in tow. The two walked in silence for a while before the hallway opened up into the grand auditorium. The incredible sight of the filled auditorium stole a gasp from Emily "So many people..." she muttered under her breath as the two made their way towards their seats, the thought that so many people shared the same dream as her was somewhat uplifting to the young vampire, she grinned excitedly as the two of them found their seats and waited for the orientation to start.

As the lights began to dim Emily found her attention drawn to the older man as he made his speech, the old mans words weren't the most uplifting until the very end, but the electric atmosphere from thousands of bright eyed new students kept her hanging on his every word. When the lights finally returned and the speech drew to a close followed by the generals salute Emily looked around quickly as she noticed some others returning the gesture, she hastily saluted back, the gesture made awkward by the nervousness of the younger vampire. Idris too gave a simple salute and turned back to his sister "Well... that's that, ready for your first day of class?" he asked as he watched the rest of the students begin to file out one by one. "Yeah!" she returned as she sat up in her chair, excited to get to her first class of the day.

 

[Mx.Trinity]

Auditorium

INTRODUCTION

Silent stood with discpline a strong and patient motion of the arm. A salute to the dean of the academy. This moment wasn't just for the dean alone this moment was for every man or woman fighting to keep their squad alive, fighting to prepare their students for the battle ahead. 40 long years of damnation on this planet. Fighting the rot and all of it's kin. A solid show of respect like this was a rarity that Silent wouldn't pass up.

After the lights came on with a series of loud "chunks"; Silent made his way down the aisle calmly. Not minding the slow and steady pace, it gave him time to himself. Time that wasn't obligated to anyone but himself. At least it was momentarily until a familiar scent wafted into his nostrils. Vanilen the late vampire, the only one Silent could even slightly relate too. One of the oldest he knew the pain that came with bearing the beast, perhaps moreso due to his previous partners. Silent walked out of the auditorium and stopped turning his head to look at Vanilen. He nodded with respect before turning his attention to the staircase down to the grand courtyard of the academy. He made his way down. Fluffy-Kat Upon reaching the bottom of the steps he turned to notice his newly assigned partner; Ty. Silentium nodded to himself and proceeded up the stairs towards his partner and his partner's sister. He extended a gentle hand forward offering a handshake to Ty. He considered this the normal interaction between humans, a typical and almost traditional greeting. He Smiled at him and his sister, nodding towards the lady.

"I assume you two found your rooms and have gotten situated. What did you think of the Dean's speech? Honorable wasn't it?"

​

Grand Hall

EARLIER

He stepped up the stairs pushing open the large wooden doors to the lobby of the Academy. The Grand Hall. He made his way to an off center place close to the front doors. The interior of the Academy was vast, exquisite, and luxurious. A king of the old times could enjoy himself here. Silent let his eyes wander across the electric lamps and crystals of the chandelier. Watching the beautiful colors splinter across the hall's ceiling and walls. He pressed his back against a pillar and awaited the new arrivals to start flooding in to their dorms.

​

​

Blood Level: 725/725

shadowz1995 Wandering Grim Hollow Anaxileah The Faceless King Mx.Trinity Serf Ember Fluffy-Kat Han JiHyo simj26 Mistory Kloudy Suzuken slim Kent Hachi Machi deer Aukanai E.Vasper Damafaud Midnight2902 Twyllvarlais Luckz Dark Sanctuary Compass WoodenZebra Steff__legit_trash__ Shadow Alpha Cosmos

 

[simj26]

Freyja Wionne

She had strategically chosen a seat at the far back, purely out of courtesy. She had the experience and the common sense to realise that, with most of those gathered within the impressive auditorium of Byrgenwerth being a head shorter than her, she was bound to be a major part of their view if she had decided to place herself in a front seat.

As a result, however, her sight of the grandstand suffered. She squinted and leaned forwards till the seat creaked treacherously, but she could still barely make out the features of the couple atop the stage. She could tell that one was a man, and the other a woman. Their gait alone, however, spoke for their respective strengths. They were powerful, the man carried himself with a likeness of a man who has experienced much, and fought many wars before the present time. The woman behind him exuded instead an...aura? (she couldn’t place her hand on it) that Frey could tell was one of sheer professionalism and ability. Both were powerful in their own right. These were members of the Byrgenwerth staff. Interesting.

Hushed whispers and murmurs rippled through the crowd when the man spoke. General Tosfen was his name. She didn't recognise it. This was hardly a surprise. She never read much of the news, and never remembered many of the names. She did, however, consider the fact that he must be a well-known militant of prestigious position. His voice was unwavering, clear, and was as strong as he looked. His command of the language was impressive as well. The reaction of those around her was more apparent an evidence that his words carried well in meaning. Freyja dispensed courtesy freely, but believed respect ought be earned. General Tosfen certainly has earned his lot.

The speech ended, and the lights returned to being. Freyja watched as the General salute the crowd. It took her several moments and prompting from another prospective student beside her to realise that she had to also rise and salute the General in return. Formalities dispensed and the tension in the air cleared, the whispers and murmurs erupted into cacophony again. It reminded her of Ticheli’s Vesuvius. An organised chaos. She remained in her seat, shifting her bulk slightly to allow the others in her row to exit first. If she moved now, she would no doubt only inconvenience many. She looked to her phone, earpieces attached to its jack, for an opinion on whether she should plug them in and dive into the symphonic world for a while.

Janacek’s Sinfonietta was displayed on the music player’s ‘Currently Playing’.

She frowned. Terrible choice for such an environment. She returned her phone to her pocket, and leaned back on her seat, which creaked again. She closed her eyes, and waited for the organised chaos to abate, like waves upon the shore.

 

[Damafaud]

Faust Senade
Auditorium

Not everything there was new to him. Although it could also be said as not everything there was familiar to him. Totality was rare in life, after all. For instance, he didn't completely lose his memory. He found fragments of scents, scenes, and faces with time, even if he couldn't remember what, where, or when he sensed them. It didn't really matter. His mind wandered far into its own world as Faust sat mutely on his chair, silent while conversations buzzed around him. It wasn't like he knew anyone there. His sole acquaintance was nowhere in sight either.

His thoughts were intruded by a bump to his shoulder from a student beside him. He was going to dismiss the apology the student gave him, but he stopped himself. The lights in the room were darkened, and a man had stood upon the podium. As much as he wanted to answer, it would be impolite to talk while someone was speaking. Faust was going to listen to the speech absentmindedly at first but decided against it. It would be obvious he wasn't listening if he sat there dumbly while everyone was saluting or going, or laughing. The stare of the man pierced right into his eyes, or so he felt when the headmaster mentioned those who are just there for no purpose. Well, that could only be him, couldn't it?

Faust returned the salute a bit too slow. Really, should everyone move that fast? If he wasn't paying attention, he was sure he would yelp out of surprise. As if that wasn't enough, his late salute was rewarded by a shoulder to his cheek by the same student who bumped him earlier. He rubbed his cheek out of annoyance but said nothing. The student apologised readily, and he smiled at him. Well, at least he knew his mistake. "It's all right. I'm a bit jumpy myself, " Faust took his pen out from his coat pocket and started to click on it rhythmically. A habit he had found useful to ease himself down. "Where should we go now again? " He felt it was the right question. No one told him where to go next and it gave him a reason to converse.

Compass

 

[slim]

Willow Hallend

The whole business with the dorms was always tiring, especially when she had to pack her stuff and move to another even though she had made herself pretty much at home in the small room. Orientations were rather annoying and grew more difficult to stand with each passing. It was basically a bunch of jostling and sweating under intense lighting with the Headmaster's booming voice rattling the auditorium. Willow had never been introduced to large crowds such as these for most of her life and now that she had seen how they were, she wasn't that intrigued. Nonetheless, she finished shoving her belongings into a faded suitcase and dragging it some ways down the hall to her new room. She proceeded to heave her bag onto the small bed and join the crowd moving into the auditorium.

Willow made her way to the front with a lot of squeezing and jabbing and looked on with interest at the headmaster and then the sullen vampire behind him. It was always interesting to see the two and their dynamics. It was even more interesting to think all of the recruits in the room were going to end up like them with enough effort.

The headmaster gave his speech that was meant to inspire and all that jazz, and Willow fluidly met the older man in a crisp salute and the end of it. A part of her felt a bit queasy as she felt the seriousness of it all sink into her bones. She was actually going in the field this time. No more tiny missions and training. She was going to be partnered and sent out to fight monsters from hell. Willow's eyes scanned the others on the stage who carried themselves as if the whole world rested on their shoulders. Well, it kind of did. They were all battle-worn and hardened by what they had experienced out there where the Rot roamed.
Willow wasn't sure if she wanted to turn out like them.
But how else would she use her abilities to fend off the very creatures that ruined her own parent's lives?

Hopefully, her mind wouldn't play tug-of-war for too long. For now...Willow just needed to make sure she was ready for whatever was coming her way. She gave the adults on the stage a last glance before heading towards the entrance of the auditorium. She ignored the gleaming red eyes of an older vampire, Vanilen, and made her way back to her dorm before the entire population inside the auditorium flooded out trying to get to their own dorm. Willow was nervous about a lot of the things going on but was ready to start training as soon as possible.
Mana Pool 110/110

 

[Wandering Grim Hollow]

Annaliese Cromwell​

"Wow..." Ann gasped in amazement at the sheer size of the auditorium she was ushered into. Not only that but it was packed with people from all walks of life and countries. An awe-inspiring sight indeed. Especially for a little orphan girl who has only seen the orphanage and some other areas from excursions. Things like malls and parks, this meant that the auditorium is a first for her. At least one of this scale of course.

"E-excuse me... Pardon...! Geez..." She grumbled as someone or rather a few someones jostled right into her. Sure its a packed place but come on! She's tiny! Well, at least the jostling had pushed her towards a set of empty chairs so she simply settled herself into one of them and kept quiet. In the few moments it took for her to calm down, it finally dawned upon her that she finally made it. She was going to be a member of the heroic Vanguard! Finally, a chance to be hailed as a hero! Just like those guys who visit the orphanage. Speaking of which, Ann tried to find a certain someone among the crowd but after a few futile minutes of trying decided that it was impossible.

"I'll just look for her later then...." Ann sighed as the lights dimmed down and the standard introduction speech began. It started off simple enough, your basic 'you made it' and 'sense potential' type of speech. But the General was surprisingly straight to the point compared to what Ann expected. He talked about training and hard work, the usual but then he talked about the Rotten. Ann felt her back tingle at the mention of those things. The sheer fact that she could feel the room's atmosphere chill means that the speech is making its impact.

"Gee... That's encouraging..." Ann muttered as the General finished off his speech before saluting the students. Ann rose from her seat to return that salute, much like her neighbours. With that, the speech was over and the students began trickling out of the auditorium. Ann simply stayed in her seat, intent on waiting out the crowd or else she'll probably end up bruised again.

"Doesn't help that I'm tiny...." Ann grumbled as she curled up in her seat, wistfully staring at the others.

Blood Level: 146/146
Frenzy: 0/4​

Julia Valois
"What a lively bunch..." Julia muttered as she watched the almost literal tide of students pour into the auditorium. From her seat near the front, she watched as the auditorium steadily filled up with freshies and some of the older students. A small wistful smile formed on her face as she thought back on the time of her own first day as a member of the Vanguard. How naive she was back then. And a little brash too. If anything, the training helped knock the kinks out.

"Poor children...." Julia muttered as she opened up her folder and began reading her lesson plans. Her stint as a mage instructor was smooth so far and the little additions she had helped the students prepare for the real thing better. Add the fact that she does supplimentary lessons at the firerange, she can mingle around with both the humans and vampires. Something that does come in handy at time.

Her review of the lesson plans were cut short as the lights were dimmed in time for the General's welcome speech. Julia put the folder aside and waited for the speech to begin. It was standard, precise, to the point. Much like the speech more than a decade ago when Julia was one of the many students sitting in the auditorium. Julia's mind tuned out the speech as she stared at the seated crowd. Her mind wondering what made them want to join the fabled First and Last line of defense against the Rot. Was it tales of grandeur? A sense of wanting to be greater? Or perhaps it was anger at the Rot much like she felt those years back? She may find out the reason for some but she knows that most of the kids will never return. Their reason, hopes, dreams, goals, all consumed by Rot. Much like her old squad. Poetic really.

Julia promptly shook that thought out of her head when she noticed the General start saluting. She rose from her seat and joined in the salute, a warm smile on her face as she did so with as much pride and dignity she could. Once the speech was over, the lights came back on. Julia grabbed her folder and went around the side to the exit. Being used to the crowd meant that she can slip through them pretty easily despite her height. Once outside, she spotted a uniformed figure lurking by the exits. She cheerfully approached him and saluted.

"Bonjour Major Ainswurth. Checking the flock again?" Julia asked, smiling her usual warm smile.
​

shadowz1995

Mana: ???​

 

[shadowz1995]

Vanilen hadn't moved much. A few old comrades walked by and greeted him. One of them being Silentium, a pure blood a bit older than he was but the only other one that saw the world through the same scope as he did. Perhaps they didn't agree on everything but they certainly fought well together. It wasnt uncommon that the soldiers on the field became lax once they heard that The Boulders of Byrgenwerth were on the battlefield together. They were practically a two man army even without partners. While that may seem amazing or even enviable, both of the men in question knew that kind of power came with a price. While they seemed calm and collected at all times, it was merely a front.

That kind of power stroked The Beast's ego. The two were less like men and more chained up monsters. Those chains being their will. Once that was broken....well it was suffice to say that should one succumb to the Frenzy, it was the other's responsibility to put them down. That or send a tactical missile to wipe em off the planet.

It was only when a seemingly cheery woman approached him that he snapped back to the present. He stood and returnes the smile he was given with a small one of his own and a crisp salute. "Ms. Valois." He greeted with a nod, "You are correct. Im trying to see which ones stand something of a chance. So far, it seems promising in comparison to the past."

Vanilen relaxed his posture and gave his new partner a once over before letting a small breath escape his lips. "Ms. Valois, I was there when you started here. I know what you've been through...."

"I've asked you in the past but are you sure about this. I can get you assigned to someone else. Someone less.....of a high risk factor."
​

Wandering Grim Hollow

 

[TPBx]

Kamiya Akihiro

Akihiro saluted and left the auditorium with the crowd of other students that were there. The young vampire expected to find his childhood friend, Hanako, there, but sadly she had not shown up to the academy's opening ceremony. He was slightly dismayed, but it was no deterrent to his plans for that day. The school was lively with all the new recruits that had joined the ranks of a new generation of Vanguards, and he planned on at least meeting up with his fellow classmates for a bit. He stood up and made his way around the cramped auditorium, the students were busily making their way out of the auditorium or standing around conversing, so it was a bit of an endeavor to fight his way through the crowd to get to the exit. With a little more effort, he found his way to the door and fell write out of the crowd of other academy students doing the same.

(open)

Yamada Hanako

In the privacy of a field outside the academy, Hanako faced off against three other combatants in a spar. She bowed to them and in respect, her sparring partners also bowed. Hanako then raised her bamboo sword above her head and the others did the same. She yelled as she dived into them slashing downward at the man in the middle. He blocked in response to the attack, and the other two simultaneously launched their counterattack against the young fighter with two horizontal slashes coming from either direction. She rolled backwards and dove underneath their swords to dodge the attack and from a crouching position, slashed at one man's legs, knocking him over and landed a clean hit into the man's abdomen with a follow up attack, knocking him out of the fight. Hanako then stood up and faced off against the other two, they raised their swords in front of them in a more defensive manner preparing themselves accordingly. The two other fighters then rotated around her to line themselves up on either side of Hanako. Each brought their swords close to their chests and Hanako raised hers in the same stance as before, patiently waiting for their next move.

The stand off was like those from old 20th century samurai movies. Each opponent silently observing each other. Waiting for the right moment to strike. With each footstep emanated the knowledge of a thousand swordsmen before them. Then in almost poetic fashion each swordsmen let out a loud yell as their bamboo swords crossed once more. Hanako blocked one strike and then turned around to take another blocking that strike. She rhythmically turned around back and forth to block each fighter's attacks slowly moving backwards to try and get herself into an angle where she could see and attack both at the same time. While doing so, her enemies also took steps towards Hanako to stay on her flanks.

To break the stalemate, Hanako briefly engaged onto one opponent, feigning a full on assault to take him out of the fight. The other fighter lifted his sword up and charged at Hanako, slashing downward diagonally to his left side to end the battle. Hanako, caught his movement out of the corner of her eye, and then immediately switched her attention when she knew her enemy had committed to an attack. She broke the engagement with her current opponent and jumped to dodge the attack from the fighter coming from behind. As she came down she twirled around and kicked the fighter in the chest, stunning him for a moment as he tried to catch his breath. The girl then followed up with another clean hit with her sword and finished him off. The final fighter then committed himself to ending the fight. He cut downward and followed his attacks with a flurry of others. Hanako attempted to keep up with his tempo, but he was quick and relentless. Her blade met his several times tapping out the brutal harmony of a one sided fight.

With each clap of the bamboo swords they wielded, she was reminded of her recent grim memory. Flashes of it came forth from her mind, the clanging of steel and the guttural screams. Hanako lost focus for a second as she was overcome with emotion. Her fear for her own life blinded her and she was quickly overwhelmed by her adversary. She swung wildly and in this moment, her opponent found an opening and disarmed Hanako. She covered her face and cowered in fear as he raised his blade above his head, he slashed once more downward toward the girl's neck and stopped at the nape, signaling he had defeated her. Hanako's opponent then removed his mask revealing his identity as Hanako's elderly instructor, Himura Jonouchi. He was dismayed with Hanako's performance and more importantly concerned with Hanako's rather apparent signs of Post Traumatic Stress.

"Ojou-sama, are you sure you want to continue down this path," the old Japanese man asked.

"I do, Himura-sensei," Hanako replied as she stood up, still a bit shaken.

"Then do as you wish, Hanako-sama. Just know that at that academy, Byrgenwerth, they will not show you the same mercy I have shown you today."

"I understand. But I have to do this, or else I could never live with myself." The man then looked into Hanako's eyes and saw the former fire of his student that he thought he had lost. She was serious about becoming Vanguard, but Himura had his reasonable doubts. Anyone with her condition should be seeking a therapist, not head to the world's premier military academies to fight such a dreadful enemy as The Rot. Himura however put these doubts aside, believing that the crucible of battle would hopefully wash away the memory of the horrid act Hanako was forced to commit.

"Very well then. It's not my role to stop you from doing what you think is right, Hanako-sama," Himura told her. He then motioned towards the mages dressed in elegant robes that were stationed on either side of them. They raised their hands and began chanting an incantation, opening a portal to her room at Byrgenwerth. "Go. Yamada Hanako and take this with you," the old man commanded. Himura then handed over to her a katana encased in a red sheath. Hanako immediately recognized that it was Yasuomaru that Himura had handed to her. Hanako bowed and gripped onto the sword her teacher had given to her. She turned toward the portal, walking through it and reappearing in her room. Hanako then turned around to wave goodbye, but the pathway had already closed, beginning a new chapter in her life as a Vanguard in training.

 

[Luckz]

Gerard Slepnine-184/184
-​

Gerard's piercing blue eyes scanned the crowds of humans and vampires alike as they ruffled their way into the Auditorium to listen to the Headmaster talk,he then took to the building, his eyes fluttering ever so carefully across every mark and dent and perfectly polished windows. It surely was grand and it pleased his senses. A small incline of his head in appreciation to what he was expected to be greeted with, grandness, glamour and delightful pleasantries. Gerard walked forwards, empowered with confidence as he wiped the non-existent dust off of his shoulder and straightened out his black suits collar, he entered the Auditorium along with the others and quickly seated himself amongst the crowds. Mr Slepnine was stuck in his thoughts of his partner, the delightfulness he'd soon taste and not to mention other people here if he could just get his ha...

The voice entered his mind like a roaring lion, the Headmaster, his wrinkles, lines and all things magnificent about him, despite his seemingly weariness Gerard knew better than to undermine authority. His hand went to his throat before his blue eyes looked over the woman. Gorgeous. That was the only word and he knew her, one of the richest families in the entire Vampiric World. Delightful. His mother would love to have a meeting no doubt. The vampire listened intently and applauded the man before waiting for the crowds to rise around. He made no effort to move out of the way, after all, you always save the best till last. No?

Gerard laughed a sweet and deep laugh as his eyes twinkled when he exited, checking the time on his watch he looked around. Now where was his sack of delights? He had to say he was a little peckish? The man walked away from the doors before taking a seat on a perfectly manicured bench, Gerard crossed his right leg over is left knee and bathed in the sweet sun, eyes partially closed as he watched everyone walk by, occasionally doing ratings out of 10 on the yummy fleshies.

Candice Roseden - 83/83
-​

The British girl wondered through the large complex with stars of amazement in her eyes, it was massive and larger than the rich homes in England she stayed in, even the schools weren't as big. The 15 year old kept walking, eyes darting everywhere, evaluating entrances and exits with a small smile. Walking poised and elegant the girl settled herself down in the Auditorium she admired the headteacher, booming confidence and strength despite his frail looks. What a great strategy, her eyes also took to the woman, interest flicked in her brown irises as she tried to decipher her, rich? Obviously. Pretty? Clearly. Super duper undoubtedly scary and could kill you with a flick of her eyes. Yeah that wasn't off the list. Candy looked on wards, no emotion in her body language except confidence and strength, a usual thing for her. The Lion quietly clapped her acknowledgement of the Headteacher's 'amazing' speech and agreed she probably couldn't do any better, she quickly made her way out, dodging elbows and minding the taller people around her, the amount of times she'd been hit with bags on shoulders and smacked in the face with an elbow.

Candice headed outside, sorting out her black leggings as she waved her top around trying to cool down, she hadn't a clue how many kids were in there but boy the amount of heat generated made her sweat but luckily she didn't smell at all. Within a couple of minutes her body cooled down as she walked outside of the crowd, dispersing quickly and practically tripping into the air so she could break free of the sweaty newbies. She ducked under arms and quickly headed forwards, lost out of her fucking mind. How in the world am I to live in this place? I arrive last night, slept in a hotel and come here this morning only to be lost in a god damn castle with no clue what staircase leads where. Candice looked around confused but lent against a wall instead, she didn't even know who her Vampiric partner was yet. Yikes. The girl waited, watching the students around her.

@open

 

[Shadow Alpha]

Alois Jäger


Today was the perfect day for all the students to gather up in the auditorium and listen to a generic welcoming speech that probably would've bored Alois to death if he had actually bothered to go. Instead, he found himself lounging comfortably on the roof of the auditorium while he listened in on all the commotion taking place below him. While he was enjoying the breeze, his mind played back how his morning started off as a complete disaster and why he was lying there in the first place.

Alois was woken up by 2 of his older sisters as they literally dragged him from his bed by his arms and legs. It was a frightening sight to walk in on as his mother peeked her head in to make sure that he would be up for his first day at the academy. It was already bad enough that his sisters towered over him and he managed to be the smallest of the family. Their torturous wake-up ritual continued on Alois agreed to finally get dressed but he managed to doze off while putting on his official family attire that he was to wear while attending school. By the time he woke up, Alois realized that he would probably be late and tried to speed up with getting dressed and making sure that he was well fed. His father gave him specific instructions to attend the new student orientation to represent the Jäger family. Once he'd arrived a the luxurious Vanguard Academy and followed the directions on the map that he'd received at the entrance, he looked through one of the windows and saw how serious it seemed to be as it was packed full of students and staff. His left eye twitched as he realized that his father would be highly irritated that he arrived so late and that there was no point in walking in at this point. Alois decided to look around for a place to relax before his lilac eyes glanced up and a childish smile spread across his face before making his way up one of the trees that was placed perfectly beside the academy. He dropped down and landed without a sound, similar to the leopard which was a symbol of his family.

Bringing his attention back to the present, his ears were filled with the sound of hurried steps and multiple converstaions. Alois looked down on the mingling humans and vampires with eyes full of excitement since he's always been a friendly person. With ease, he made his way back down to the ground andhapply waved at anyone that made eye contact with him.

Anyone​

 

[Compass]

Mason Patch

To Mason's visible relief, the young woman he had bumped was kind and too lost in her own excitement to care much about his clumsiness. She was pretty in a simple, girl-next-door sort of way. Despite her kindness, he still felt his cheeks warm as she shook his hand. He was taught growing up to always give a firm handshake, but his hands were still clammy with anxiety and his fingers shook. Thankfully, he hadn't eaten yet otherwise he might've puked it up. Then he literally die of embarrassment. Clearing his throat, he wiped his cold hands on his jeans as she spoke. She gave him a name that he'd have trouble repeating back, but he saved her from trying: Rin was simple enough for his overwhelmed mind and he nodded. He had opened his mouth to respond before she was off, moving with the crowd or risk being lost in it.

She wasn't Reiner, but she quickly proved to be a friendly face, so Mason followed her and adjusted his scarf again. Maybe it was the fact that he had simply followed in another's footsteps, but it hadn't really hit him that Byrgenwerth was such a big deal to some people. Acceptance alone into Byrgenweth was a grand testament to one's resolve (or maybe just willingness to be fodder against the Rot). Either way, he couldn't help the swell of pride he felt. This was the academy to be at, and here he was, among hundreds of other recruits. "It is incredible," he agreed. Her optimistic attitude was a refreshing kick in the ass. It didn't curb his craving for tobacco, but it gave him something different to think about until he could smoke.

"I'm Mason," he said, stepping into place at her side as they traversed through the hustle and bustle. "Do you know who your partner is?" He recalled Reiner's visit a few days before, but he didn't remember the same treatment for his brother. What was normal here?
​

MP: 95/95
Han JiHyo​

 

[Wandering Grim Hollow]

Julia Valois
"Oui. I am very sure with the current arrangment. Just because I am paired with the infamous Bunker doesn't make the risk any more different on the field, no?" Julia giggled softly at her attempt to joke about it. It was odd really, back when she was only a trainee, she had already heard stories about Major Ainswurth. The deaths, the suspicious way he seemed to always survive, the rumors. She would be lying if she said that she never believed a single rumor. It was... strange. Almost poetic in some cosmic way.

"Also... If you don't mind... Would you like to get a drink later? I'm a bit of a lightweight and its been awhile since I went out for a drink." Julia offered, sheepishly playing with a lock of her hair. A nervous tic of hers that got her wondering why she was nervous. Was it the Major's presence? Can't be, shte has talked with him in the past. The rumors? Maybe, its not unlike her to believe in rumors after all. Or was it the reality that she will be heading out to the field again? Most likely, Julia dreaded returning to the field after THAT happened. The small bottle of pills in her pocket only reminded her as much. To be taken daily or as needed, her entire emotional state is controlled by those damned pills. A fact that she hated.
​

shadowz1995

 

[shadowz1995]

Vanilen Ainswurth

The elder watched her for a time, as if he was searching for something. While she said it was fine, Julia had shown clear signs of discomfort around him in the past. Whether that was a testament to Vanilen himself or to the fact she may have to be on the field again remained to be seen.

Of course, one of the downfalls to being a nearly two century year old vampire was that they generally had a habit of staring a bit too long before actually saying anything. Adding to anyone's discomfort unintentionally. Still, the Major just wanted to be sure she wasn't lying to him or to herself in saying she was ready. Though, even if she was, there wasn't much Van could do about that.

Eventually, he nodded and decided to drop the subject but Julia's next question was certainly from out of nowhere. One of the vampire's eyebrows arched up in curiosity, even suspiciously. This was a first for Ms. Valois to ask something like that. In the twelve years he'd known her, she never once expressed any kind of interest. So it couldn't be because she suddenly did become interested. Was it because she wanted him to keep an eye on her while she drank? So, she wouldn't do anything....idiotic. That seemed like the more likely scenario but out of everyone to ask, why him? There was literally a whole staff full of better options and them being partners wasn't a good enough reason. At least, not for Vanilen. It could be a stigma he developed during his years at Byrgenwerth but it was always hard for him to believe anyone would want to spend time with him.

The vampire crossed his arms and regarded the blonde woman silently for a breath before nodding, "I'm curious as to your reasoning but if you need someone to keep you safeguarded while you blow off some steam then I can certainly oblige. I'll just need to feed beforehand so as not to be tempted by anything." It was no secret how strong The Beast's presence was in Vanilen. Anyone could tell just by having a conversation with him. The way he looked at everyone was no joke. It was often said that Vanilen was looking at prey not people. It wasn't an untrue statement either. The monster within could be tempted in many different ways and if his newly assigned partner was trusting him with her safekeeping, he would need to be sure beforehand that The Beast wasn't going to be a problem.


Francis Gundyr

Oh man! Byrgenwerth was everything Francis could imagine and then some! It was an unbelievable sight for someone who was so used to living/operating in war zones and no man's lands. After all, the guy was born into this life. Never really having a place to call home. In fact, the concept of a home was almost lost on him entirely. He only knew about it because of the soldiers his family worked with as a kid and how they would go on and on about wanting to go "home". Warzones were Francis's home. As it was, the merc's personal dorm room felt more alien than anything he had ever experienced in his entire life. Even the concept of a bed to sleep on was weird to him.

Still, he knew how to be respectful in the presence of military authority though it never erased the borderline arrogant look he always had.

When the time came for the orientation, Francis was seated somewhere in the center with the highest concentration of people. He wanted to be as inconspicuous as possible and blending in with the crowd was the best way. If you wanna hide a tree right?

The lights went out and soon a strong, elderly man took the stage while being shadowed some woman. At first, Francis was going to dismiss her as his secretary or PA but the crimson eyes and emblem upon her clothing quickly caught his attention. This woman belonged to one of the most powerful pureblood vampire bloodlines that still exist in today's world. Most of the bloodlines have watered down over the years due to interbreeding. Vampires were lucky in that they could inbreed without any consequences. In fact, it was common among purebloods. Its how they stayed "pure". Though Francis has always thought the definition of pure varies widely depending on who you ask.

The speech given by the General was short, sweet and to the point. Just how he liked it. No unnecessary fluff or banter. Just the facts and needed information.

After orientation ended and everyone began to leave, Francis nearly had to fight four people for him not apologizing when he bumped into someone. Everyone was bumping into everyone. What the hell was the point in apologizing every single person? That very thought was what came out of the merc's mouth everytime and clearly some people took acception to that. Still, no one had the balls to start anything with him for many reasons but the main one was how he looked like he wanted the fight to happen. As if he was looking for an excuse to floor someone.

The PMC took a gander around after exiting and there he found an incredibly interesting situation. The male grinned widely as he spotted an old rival, "Oi!" He called out. The English accent being unmistakable, "Tyson! The hell are you doin 'ere mate? I never took you as the military type. Too damn soft for this life. Thought you were gonna be a day care teacher of sumfin' ".
​

Wandering Grim Hollow Fluffy-Kat

 

[Kloudy]

William Hawthorne

​

"Well, now wasn't that quite something?"

William had been seated near the front so that he could get a better 'look' at who would be delivering their induction speech. Although he wasn't particularly looking at all, more sensing the mana within the man that had come forth to address them all. It was vast and it held quite a potency to it, something that made even William's pale in comparison; daunting stuff indeed. Afterwards, William had made his way outside with the rest of the students, most of whom were simply aimlessly wandering about and chatting away. It was a blissfully ignorant moment for them all, the gravity of the situation they were all in clearly having not sunk in. That induction speech was a pep talk for soldiers being sent into the killbox. They were Rot-fodder, there was no nicer term for it. A few of the clever students had recognised this from the speech and looked either nervous, outright scared or determined in their own right. William wasn't sure which one he was, although he suspected it wasn't probably a bit of all three. At least he had seen a Rot, at least he had some experience with them. These poor young fools had no idea...

William had made his way away from the majority of the central mass of students, still near the auditorium's entrance but more out of the way. Given his disability, he used a cane to walk about as it was easier than having to constantly focus on using his mana-sense. Perched on a low brick wall, William simply listened to the multitude of conversations that were occurring about him. Every so often he would take a glimpse at all the mana that was circulating the area, manifesting within each student. Aside from the vampires, a few exceptional human students seemed to sport quite the mana pool on them. Whilst William could not quite tell specifics, he could tell the difference between different mana types. Psi and Arcane mana, for example, had a definitive difference in how he percieved it. Pyromancy and Cryomancy had a clear contrast too. It was these telltale signs that usually led to his victory in student-on-student combat. That and his ridiculously potent magic, that is.

William didn't often brag, not whilst he was in gentleman mode anyway, but his magic was really something to boast about. Especially given that he still had a decent mana pool despite specialising in one magic type only, the cost for each use of his magic was also quite low. Combined with the powerful force behind each attack, his obvious raw natural ability generally dwarfed others around him. Of course, William was capable of humility and did not flaunt this... much. But it was in combat that his abilities truly shined, setting him aside from the rest. Many mana-sensitives and vampires would probably be able to sense to the potential within him like blood in water. The sharks had come on this day, and William had to be prepared.

He had spent a lot of his recent life in the academy, post-his city and family/friends getting destroyed of course. He knew most of the staff personally and he was on good terms with most of them, good enough terms anyway. As he sat, he looked out for a few, also noticing the few veterans playing their "Guess the Potential" and the vampires playing "Who Wants to be my Next Meal/Partner!". Honestly, William envied them. It must be great to have others to joke about this stuff with. William didn't talk much with the other students or veterans in the academy, he generally just kept to himself. Perhaps now it was time to mingle to stop being single? But he was the gentleman now, he shouldn't approach anyone. Besides, someone would probably offer to walk him across the path if he got up, much to his annoyance. They wouldn't know, but he was more than capable of walking unaided, even without the stick. No, he would let someone come to him. He hoped it would be a cute girl...

 

[Quietpersona]

Ryan Decker​

As the assembly concluded, Ryan couldn't help but feel...underwhelmed. The pep-talk, if one could call it that, hadn't really sparked her interest. She knew what he had been implying. Death didn't scare her. Not in the way most people would expect. No. Death was inevitable. What scared her, was the thought of the people she cared about, being stuck in an afterlife of darkness. She was scared of what came after. She was scared that she wouldn't see her mother again. She was scared that the last image of her mother, the one where she was broken and bleeding and apologizing, was how she would remember her forever.

The sudden brightness of the lights turning on startled her out of her decidedly depressing thoughts. Quickly she got up from her seat and began the task of making her way back to her dorm. Her white hair bounced behind her as she walked with a purpose. Too bad no one else seemed to be in such a hurry. People were pushing and shoving, apologizing and glaring... It was a big mess and the sooner she got out of it the better. After a few gentle shoves of her own, a few side steps, a glare that could melt someones face off and a genuine apology to someone she almost tripped, the mage was finally clear of the horde. A deep sigh of relief escaped her lightly glossed lips and she slowed her pace significantly.

Now that she was not nearly as surrounded as before, Ryan took the time to actually explore her surroundings. Her blue eyes wondered, taking in the details she had been too preoccupied to notice before. This place was like a fortress. If she had been a lesser minded person, she would even think the place was safe. It wasn't though. In her opinion nothing was safe. There was only the illusion of safety.

Once her curiosity had been sated and she was sure she at least knew the basics of how to get around, Ryan began making her way back to her dorm room.

 

[Fluffy-Kat]

​

Students hurried off in a race to the exits, which the twins wisely chose not to take part in. Instead, they sat back, and watched the flood leave the large room before even attempting to make their move. The crowd died down by a ton now, and both Aceline and Tyson stood up at last. Aceline rose first, uncrossing her smooth legs, fixing her dress, and swiping any wrinkles that may have crept on it while she sat. She ran her slender fingers through the ends of her panther black hair to look a little more lively and freshened up. A panther was actually just the animal that suited the vampire, or any large cat really. Aceline had this feline stuffiness about her. She was sleek and elegant, the embodimemt of finesse and pride, giving attention to matters/faces that she deemed worthy. But she carried the vicious strength and prowess of a lioness if her path is crossed at a bad time. Still, out of all animals, a black panther was still better suited. Not the biggest of the wild cats, but still had a painful bite, silent and stealthy, a shadow of the forest, purposefully elusive to be left to her solitude. But if you are lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the creature, its beauty could not be described, with mesmerizing eyes against the blackness of its fur, just be mindful not to stray too close.

Tyson on the other hand was easily represented by a stag: regal, kind, and gentle. He had a soft heart, and could easily be labeled as a push over, but stood his ground to protect those around him, or to fight for his beliefs. He tends to the herd before tending to himself, and carries himself with confidence and humility. Tyson should have his own crown to carry, much like how the stag has his rack.

Aceline waited for Tyson to rise and step out of the isle so that she could pass through, but the pair was stopped short when a tall, deathly looking man approached them. Aceline went wide eyed and stared for a moment as Tyson responded to the older vampire's greeting, "Yes, we have. Thank you for your concern," a small smile pulled his lips as he bowed his head in respect and took the hand he offered before collectively propping his hands behind his back, "Honorable? Perhaps. But exciting? Indeed. I look forward to working with you very soon. But for now, my sister and I would like to take this time to get better aquainted with our new home. Please, excuse us." Ty stepped out of the aisle, beside Silentium and offered a hand to his sister as she stepped onto the steps that lead them out. She gladly took his hand and the two made their way to the hallway and out into Byrgenwerth. Aceline's heels knocked through the corridor and onto the outside pavement where Tyson let go of her hand and she followed, "Frère?*"
"Oui?" Tyson responded without looking at her.
"Who was zat(that) man?" She asked curiously, turning back to look at the auditorium doors.
"That....is my new partner." there was a slight hesitation in his voice as he dragged out the words reluctantly.
"Quelle?!" her head snapped back around to look at him. "You already have a partner?!" Her words were fast, heated by a French fire.
Tyson chuckled nervously, "You didnt think we were going to be together did you?"
"Why wouldnt we," she crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, its one thing to grow up together, but we cant be dependent on eachother for the rest of our lives. How will that pan out when we each have our own families?" Tyson looked at his sister when she looked away from him, a little sad he had cut their tie with out even knowing. Tyson put a hand on her shoulder, "Hey, Im going to be right here, no matter what. We're twins, ans no one can take that from us," he smiled to try and lift her spirits, but Aceline only responded with a half-hearted, solemn smile.

"Oi!" The voice caught the attention of both siblings, and they rurned at the same time, both sets of blue eyes landing on the person responsible for said voice. "Oh no-ho-ho," Tyson laughed, already recognizing the owner by just the sound. "Tyson! The hell are you doin 'ere mate? I never took you as the military type. Too damn soft for this life. Thought you were gonna be a day care teacher of sumfin' ".
Tyson laughed and opened his arms for a hug as his old friend approached, "Im only here to prove people like you otherwise. Im not the little weakling you once knew. Well, not as weak," he joked, "I had a different calling." Tyson took a step back and gestured toward his sister, "You remember Ace dont you?"
Aceline looked at him with heavy, unimpressed eyes, "Truly delighted," she managed to capture sarcasm even through her strong accent. As stand-offish as she was, this wasnt the worst response. Aceline usually didnt care to meet new people, and would show it by not even giving the time of day, but before coming to Byrgenwerth she promised Tyson to be a little more friendly with others. Besides, she already knew Francis, he was Tysons friend but she remembered him, "Aw Aceline, you remember Francis dont you? Dont you remember having the biggest crush on him when we were little?" Tyson teased with a laugh and continued to reminisce on the way she used to act around his friend. Aceline took a sharp inhale and snapped her head around to look at him, her nose and mouth scrunched with disapproval. How could he bring up something so irrelevant, so embarrassing?! "Pourquoi dirais-tu ça?!" she muttered through gritted incisors, asking why he would say that.
"Aw you were so cute, little Aceline~" he mimicked her accent briefly when he pinched her cheek, flustering her further. Aceline turned her head away from him and waved her hand to get him off but Tyson had already won this battle.

Tyson: 1
Aceline: 0

Ty, now satisfied with his achievement, turned his attention back to Francis, "How have you been? Anything new?" he asked, wanting to get reacquainted with his old pal. Tyson and Aceline had grown so much since they last saw Francis. And by the looks of it, the young merc did a lot of growing himself. Aceline lingered quietly, glaring at the back of her brother's head. She was going to remember what he did, and she was going to get him back at some point. You know, the way siblings do. The thought made a shadowy smirk creep onto Ace's pursed lips. Her eyes scanned the near by area while her brother attempted to catch up with his friend. Upon doing so, she landed on a pair of very unique eyes. They were grey, and almost seemed lifeless. His hair matched the clorless shade of his eyes, but even more interesting, he wasnt...really doing anything. Just sitting there, perhaps people watching? For a quick moment their eyes met and Aceline looked away quickly to avoid any awkward eye contact, unaware of his "condition". And when she thought it was safe, she looked at him again. First through the corner of her eyes, then her head followed. 'What a strange boy,' she thought, tilting her head slightly.






Mx.Trinity shadowz1995
Mentioned: Kloudy

Note*** Frère means brother (according to google translate xD)

Spoiler: Current Outfits

 

[Shadow Alpha]

Alois Jäger


After his attempts at being friendly and only receiving a few nods and smiles in response, Alois decided to go on the offensive when dealing with new people. His iridescent irises scanned the mass herd of humans and vampires that making their way by and was slightly put off by the scent of anxiety that wafted around like a lingering spirit. "Why are these people so damn nervous after leaving the auditorium? Its not like it was a test or that the old man was that intimidating," he mumbled that to himself as he continue eye people that went by him. At this point, Alois would rather be back at his estate in Germany than this boring place. His right hand went up to ruffle his short blondish-white locks as he began to wonder if people were mistaking him for a child due to his young, feminine appearance.​

Alois sighed once before straightening up and searching for people that weren't involved in conversation or those scattered by themselves, he saw these people as the weak links on the social hierarchy and easy targets. His pupils dilated slightly as he locked onto a girl that was alone and looked stressed out beyond belief. One whiff told Alois that she was indeed human and was glad that he had fed before coming to this boring academy. It wasn't hard for him to make his way through the crowd without being bumped into as if he were on the hunt. The girl was around his height, which was always a bonus in his book since he was quite small for males his age. Alois offered the girl a bright and cheery smile that exposed his sharp canines before holding out his hand, "Nice to meet ya, my name's Alois Jäger! What's your name?" He spoke with a light yet obvious German accent that he had been unable to get rid of even though he has done quite a lot of traveling as a child.
​

Luckz

 

[simj26]

Gale Ainsmith
Gale had been separated from his friend before they had been directed to their respective bunks. He had fervently hoped that she wouldn’t have made the connection between his sudden disappearance prior to the speech and his actual gender. He spent most of his time in the crowd searching for his partner instead of paying attention to the stage on the auditorium, and had chosen the corner seat right at the back, on the opposite end from a tall lady with a stern countenance that looked as if it had been carved out of stone and a body that fit this said feature, for the exact purpose of seeking her out.

It didn’t take him long to zero in on her after the lights dimmed, but he had thought it rude to move during the event. He had manners after all. But as soon as the lights came on, he made a beeline for Ellise, ignoring all of those in his way, using his diminutive form to slip in between the gaps and make his way towards her.

He soundlessly stepped to her side, rearranged his neutral expression into one of animated joy, and clapped a hand on her shoulder. “Hey, hey, Ellise! Sorry, I got so caught up in rearranging my stuff in my new room I totally lost the time.” It was a lie. The first thing he did in the room was toss his duffel bag aside and hissed a very clear curse. He then stood in front of the mirror, carefully emulating various emotions and gaits, practicing every single role in the book, especially the cheerful girl next door. Some had already noticed that he resided in the male dorms but, hopefully, none had made much of a connection yet. Perhaps he could still convince them that it was a simple clerical error, and ‘she’ wasn’t too bothered to fix it, on account that there were too many cute boys around.

Back in the present, he took Ellise’s hand and led her along the crowd, pushing aside the sea of human and vampire bodies for the door. “C’mon, El, it doesn’t do well for either of our complexions to stay in such cramped spaces!”

Cosmos