The School of the Shifting Moon’s new star. A tier 10 talent. The Moon Princess. With a tier 10 moon Affinity, she was given the best of everything that the School could give her. The best Tiny Qi Stones. Private training with the best weapon masters, strategists, and tutors. Her own courtyard, only a step down and a few away from the Headmistress’ courtyard. Even direct tutelage under the School’s Guardian Beast, the Moon Shadow Cat. Hell, she’d advanced her Cultivation and had all of her stats in the low D’s in the nearly 2 months it took the other new students to reach the peak of the mortal realm.

What she was really looking forward to was the tournament among the subordinate factions to determine which of their new disciples would have the opportunity to serve her. Of course, winning the tournament meant nothing if she didn’t want them to be her servants, and she’d be entering herself to eliminate the ugly, creepy, or lecherous ones. Her retainers needed to be reasonably attractive, as well as capable, and loyal, especially the ones who wished to be bodyguards.

Marianne wasn’t used to the princess treatment yet. She’d been a college graduate who moved to New York City before the world ended, so her lot in life had improved drastically. But it was too drastic, and the constant emotion filled looks from the other students, and even the mentors, were grating on her nerves. And all of them had so many expectations for her, when she just wanted to do her own thing, have full control of her own life. Which was why she needed to tolerate the School for long enough to gain personal power, and loyal followers. Once she had enough minio---- friends, she would be able to start her own Faction, and never have to bow her head again. By her own admission, Marianne had authority issues, but that only occurred because she was too free spirited and strong willed for anyone to attempt to hold authority over her for any length of time.

On this particular evening, after a full day of training with Yue, the School’s Guardian Beast, Marianne lounged on a soft couch and munched on chocolate covered fruit, a guilty pleasure that was much less guilty now, with her increased Cultivation making gaining weight nearly impossible. If her tutors were to be believed, at high enough levels she would be able to forgo food, water, and even sleep, and with her Affinity, it would be harder for her not to near those heights than to do so. Regardless, she indulged in the sweets, while examining the list of new disciples that the subordinate Factions were most likely to enter into the tournament. Each and every one of them was at least tier 7, the majority being tier 8, and even a few tier 9 Affinities making an appearance. The tier 9s were a surprise, most Factions would keep them to increase their own power.

A few of the tier 8s caught her eye though. While the tier of their Affinity wasn’t amazing, the alignment of their Affinities could more than make up for it. It had been explained to Marianne that the alignment of Affinities was just as important as the tier, as the closer your Affinity matched that of your techniques, the faster you would grow and the more powerful and efficient the techniques would be. Several of the candidates had Affinities that perfectly matched the techniques of their Faction, like the ocean Affinity from the Boundless Sea Sect, the tree Affinity from the Untouched Forest Sect, or the volcano Affinity from the Mehltar Clan.

Marianne paged through the files on the candidates, overall pleased with the general looks of the group. She knew she would have to vet them significantly more, most likely in person, to get a real read on them, but that could wait. She had midnight training tonight with Yue, and should not miss it. Training against a being who was older than your entire civilization was surreal, especially when you realized that Yue could have also destroyed human civilization by accident. But it worked miracles for Skill growth and competence with Skills, and Yue was likeable enough, if a bit distant and cold.

Marianne looked out at the sun, and figured she had about 2 hours left until she needed to leave for evening training. Just enough time for a quick nap, and dreams of pretty man servants…...