"No, I'd stake my life because it is already owed."[Neidr]

"Rather than that, though, I think it would be better if we calmed down and focused. Miss Cerns, you asked for information. I have brought it to you." [Neidr]

"You brought me a character assassination. [Azalea] Neidr sighed and shook his head,

"Then, we are at an impasse. What we need is evidence, I'm sure with due time, it can be provided. Is that enough for you, Miss Cerns?" [Neidr]

"As long as this woman doesn't spread this around with that impudent tongue of hers." [Azalea]

"Arrieta?" [Neidr]

"Yes?"[Arrieta]

"Do you agree?" [Neidr] There was a short silence and then a drawn out

"Yes." [Arrieta] She sucked in a breath and continued to speak,

"It's not like anyone would believe me anyway. She has a cult following now."[Arrieta]

"Yes, I noticed that..." [Azalea] Neidr clapped his hands together loudly, startling the both of them,

"Glad we got that settled."[Neidr] Arrieta let out a small laugh and calmed down a little. She looked over to Azalea and asked,

"Are you sure we will pass that exam?" [Arrieta]

"Yes, although my Cerns house isn't what it used to be, will still have pull." [Azalea] Arrieta stretched and relaxed her body, she muttered,

"That's good, man that pre-test was really hard. I don't know if I'll be able to make it in Rotham at this rate. How were we supposed to pass anyway?" [Arrieta] stoneface looked at Neidr, he nodded his head in confirmation. In a soft cold tone she stated,

"It tests determination, and persistence. The last remaining will be those best suited to the academy." [Azalea]

"What... did you just say? What does... What do you mean?" [Arrieta]

"The test ends when enough people have died. Once the commoners reach an acceptable number, then they may pass. A school of equal opportunity cannot directly kick its commoners out, afterall." [Neidr]

"Do not sully the reputation of the Rotham academy. It is the most prestigious Academy in all of Flirord. This test hardens the resolve of the commoners to better prepare them for what lies ahead." [Azalea]

"Miss Cerns, you don't have to act if no one is watching." [Neidr]

"You!"[Azalea] She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "What was my tell?"[Azalea]

"There wasn't one, just a guess." [Neidr]

"Do you think of yourself as clever?"[Azalea]

"No, do you?" [Neidr] Azalea let out a sigh and said,

"You're a very troublesome man, Regardless, I hope the both of you can act in a way that suits the Cerns household. Since I'm putting in a word for you, you will be seen as our people." [Azalea]

"If that is the case, all the more reason to transfer Arrieta to a new room." [Neidr]

"I don't see the connection." [Azalea]

"Your sister's assumptions will be confirmed, at least in her eyes. Do you want the rift to widen?" [Neidr]

"Very well, I will try to find this, 'Viv' and return her to Elizabeth's room as you have advised." [Azalea] The room returned to silence. An hour passed by as the ship made its way back to Rotham academy. The trio was sitting in the together in a room with a massive window. Looking out at the front of the ship, they could see the tower, even from their elevated position, Rotham academy seemed to have no end.

"Man, that tower never ceases to amaze me. I ain't never seen such a thing back home. Everytime I see it, I'm astounded at what Rotham Academy can do." [Arrieta]

"You shouldn't be." [Azalea] Arrieta jumped up and gestured wildly while speaking,

"Hey! I know yall noble folk see me as a hick, but you gotta admit, no matter where ya from, this is impressive." [Arrieta] Azalea shook her head with a self-mocking smile on her lips

"Of course it is, but it isn't a tower. It's a medium." [Azalea]

"Looks like a tower to me. Whadya mean medium anyway?" [Arrieta] Azalea took off her glove and handed it to Arrieta.

"Look at the script carved into it. This is a medium, mediums are what allow us to turn the immaterial material. Mana forms into what the script ordains. That is a medium." [Azalea]

"Oh, "[Arrieta] Arrieta eyes lit up as she excitedly spoke, She pulled out the device she used to cool Neidr wound before and said,

"This here is a medium, eh?" [Arrieta]

"...No, it's a mana tool." [Azalea]

"You just said mediums turn mana into physical things, right?"[Arrieta]

"Well, yes, but Mediums allow you to have control over to mana you are using. mana tools are just tools imbued with preexisting spells, they take physical mana as a resource or mana in the surrounding area. Its an item even those who haven't cultivated their own mana can use. Mediums are specialized tools encoded with a series or spells that can be manipulated in different ways to have different effects. The most sophisticated mediums are encoding with an entire mana language. These allow their user to access a myriad of spells with different forms and purposes. My glove is rather simple, it holds a series of fire spells written in the Flirordian military script."[Azalea] Stoneface's face didn't change during the whole speech, but her pace of speaking increased, as if she just couldn't wait to say the next thing. Arrieta wasn't bored at being lectured at either, in fact her eyes lit up in interest. She looked like she was nearly ready to jump out of her seat.

"Can I try?" [Arrieta]

"Probably not." [Azalea]

"Whaddya mean probably? Isn't that a yes or no? It's yer glove, afterall!" [Arrieta]

"It depends on whether or not you have mana. You haven't trained your mana before, so your base mana is pitifully small. I doubt it would work."[Azalea]

"Don't feel bad, my mana is small too." [Neidr] Azalea nodded her head and said,

"Its honestly astonishing how little he has. A noble should be able to train from a young age. He is either lazy or very bad at mana training."[Azalea] Neidr pursed his lips. It was true that he was lazy, but did she have to say it? Arrieta let out a loud laugh, and Neidr narrowed his eyes and looked at her.

'Et tu Brute?' She was too busy slapping her knee to notice at first, but when she did, she threw a sorry look Neidr's way and said,

"Sorry, sorry, your face was priceless."[Arrieta]

'You don't seem very sorry to me.' Neidr shook his head as the ship docked on one of the floating islands. He looked through the window and took a deep breath. There were a lot of things that were still yet to come.