Spring light illuminates a garden of roses, white and purple in hue, each reaching towards the sun with ill-paced hopes to reach it. The sunlight kissed the petals of the roses lucky enough to reach it, and in turn, they survived.

To live means to be strong, but how far does one go to reach such a goal?

The roses let their vines expand like vipers stretching to bring down those around them, suffocating them in the hopes of attaining the sun's light; those who could rose above the rest and bathed in the golden sunlight.

Gold crashed into the garden, a light shining similar to the sun. It collapsed onto itself, revealing the glowing bodies of Guisei and Nabi arriving without a scratch on them. The light slowly fled from them like dust carried by the wind.

The two stood atop a unique symbol, one of a serpent emerging from a prism with a single eye at its center, the symbol of pride. The deep violet hue of it had rushed back into the symbol, erasing any remnant of Guisei's golden Reiju.

Nabi walked forward, focusing her mind while silently being overjoyed that Guisei hadn't killed her with his attempt. She kept her hands concealed within the pockets of her hoodie. Her eyes, on the trees outside of the garden.

"You're getting better at your control, we should be at C:A," she muttered, letting a hint of intrigue reach into her voice.

"You've been here before, then?" Guisei asked, a brow raised at the pronunciation.

Nabi began walking, not caring whether Guisei followed or wasted more time asking things that barely mattered in such a situation. A nagging feeling to answer captured her bringing forth a response.

"A few times, just not officially," she muttered.

The two continued their trek towards the shining castle in the distance. An invisible wall stood between the rising tension or perhaps anticipation. What took minutes felt like hours to Guisei, noted by his tired expression as they arrived. His lazy gaze fell upon the castle of pure crimson. It stood 15 stories high with the symbol of pride at the top, too tall in Guisei's eyes as he lowered them to the sight of the guards.

"You know this would be perfect if only it was a bit smaller," Guisei noted before advancing.

"Don't get too enamored. The walls are painted with blood," Nabi replied dryly.

"Wait, what?"

Nabi began walking towards the steps of the castle, watching as her words confused Guisei. She let her expression grow sterner as each of the guards saluted her as she passed by them all. Guisei followed, his eyes searching through the armor of the guards for any weaknesses. The light rustling of leaves prompted Nabi to shift her gaze to the trees, noticing something, someone. She focused back on the entrance, letting the thought rest in her mind.

The two entered an expansive entrance hall. Sunlight touched all around it with colored murals of stained glass depicting the images of students long past such a place as this. Guisei let his eyes fall onto symbols resembling the word "Exousia" among the images before looking to Nabi.

On the other hand, Nabi had her sight on the sea of students in black uniforms, while few stood out, not much seemed different among them, yet what caught her eye was the sight of a large violet curtain, masking the stage in front of them.

Nabi slipped to the back of the crowd, acting as if she belonged there. Guisei followed behind her as he usually did. The silence was deafening as the two appeared out of place; Nabi with her black hoodie and scarlet and raven-colored hair, along with Guisei's ragged jacket with gems locked within.

Two shadowy figures observed the group. Their gaze lingered from above the rafters, like overseers to a larger scheme at play. Both wore cloaks to conceal themselves. Their eyes were like lasers analyzing the crowd of students. A light buzz came from the earpiece one of them wore, only for them to mutter something and shut it off.

"This seems like they've already taken their first step with this 'Project'," said one, "Especially the girl, Daughter of Lord Wrath himself, huh?" A shimmer of light cascaded across the lenses as he adjusted the frames of his glasses. He looked over at the girl beside him, her gaze focused elsewhere.

"Seems like someone from the Xestis Family is here as well. That's concerning," the observing girl said. Her voice sounded more wary and cold. She stared daggers at a brown-haired girl in the crowd.

Her hands trembled with a feeling she couldn't place, neither excitement nor fear but instead both; the brown-haired girl appeared nervous as she'd frantically look around, feeling out of place. A silver crest shaped like a flame lay on her waist.

"Deux, this isn't your game to play. Just focus on Prota's, and he'll be out soon," the boy said, moving in a flash, disappearing into the darkness. Duex nodded in response and followed behind him.

"Bold of him to think games like this can't have more players than just him to have some fun."

Start.

The veil drifted apart like a crimson sea, giving sight to a young man. A smile grew upon his face as he gazed out at the sea of black uniforms, his mind fresh with the information of the four he was after.

His excitement remained carefully underneath his casual demeanor. The violet of his eyes shimmered as the atmosphere shifted, his expression growing closer to that of nobility, cold and calculating.

The room fell silent, compelled by his sudden shift in demeanor. An idle smirk fell upon his face as he looked for the other players in his game of cat and mouse. With a voice light and charismatic he addressed them.

"Welcome, to Curse Academy, I am Zephyr of House Clover," He took a coin from within his pockets, placing it onto a podium.

"Many of the Exousia before me had a saying among them: 'To have power means nothing without wisdom to wield it and the fool who believes otherwise is simply prey in a world of predators'," Zephyr said.

"Unlike those outside of here, I could care less about the trivial things you and the nobility seem to hold. Familial ties mean nothing here, all that matters is your ability." Zephyr glanced to one of the students, noting the Crimson hair and black sclera of his eyes, one born of demon blood. A chuckle escaped his lips.

"Some think a simple social hierarchy can stop them from even reaching a level such as mine, but those are foolish thoughts and you were simply worthless from the beginning. If you wish for a fate unlike that…"

Zephyr caught the gaze of the student, the silver of his eyes clashing against Zephyr's unyielding violet.

"Do whatever it takes, ride the coattails of the greater like House Akamon, manipulate the world into countless wars if you have to like House Kaze and Azamaku. Then, and only then I can assure you are worthy of your power."

The time came as Zephyr reached out to the coin. A ritual repeated for years. Sunlight flooded into the room as the sun met its peak, and the coin went into the air.

The atmosphere shifted.

Energy, unlike Reiju, filled the room, time seemingly froze as light shined off the coin with a clover engraved within. His lips parted to mutter something unheard by the frozen gazes around him.

"Anima Series..."

Time resumed as the coin fell into his hand, bringing forth a confident smirk. Whether by luck or some other force, his gaze met Nabi's crimson eyes.

Zephyr's smile grew as he saw the result brought before him. He let his gaze wander for the other two who were to be there before he set the terms for his game, only to concede, unable to find them. He grew more intrigued by that fact.

"I should make it clear that there is a chance you all may have to achieve even greater heights then possible now. It appears as if the nobility have found it suitable to mock us by sending those with the potential to rival the Cardinal Sins among us, and I have no intention of letting such a slight pass. So, if you can find them and kill them, you may just have enough merit to join the ranks of nobility."

Zephyr gave an innocent smile to Nabi and Guisei. He had set the terms of the game. Now all that was left was to see their reactions to such conditions. His smirk faded, still unable to find the other two.

"It seems the other two just aren't as sloppy it seems," Zephyr muttered under his breath, only to feel a deadly glare his way. The golden eyes of Guisei shined, mirroring Zephyr's excitement. What seemed like an hour of sharp looks being exchanged between Guisei and Zephyr only was a few seconds as Zephyr finished his speech.

"But all that is to say Welcome to Curse Academy. May the morning star shine upon you all. You are all dismissed."