With all the preparation for the festival’s capstone event – the pre-dance dinner, venue setup, and whatever else folk were busy with – the Academy’s paths were almost deserted. So, as Cliff and the other scholarship kids took a leisurely walk back to the dorm, things were peaceful.
“Frankly, it’s ridiculous,” Deb said as she fussed with one of her mittens. It had come to that troublesome part of autumn where the weather couldn’t decide if it wanted to be warm or cold. At the moment, things were feeling rather wintry. “I can’t believe that the Academy would give you guys the runaround just to appease a student’s parent.”
“Not just any parent,” Cliff pointed out. “The wonderful, spectacular, impressive Fireshell General.” Deb made a noise, and Cliff laughed.
“I doubt it was all for his sake,” Percy said. Unlike Deb, he seemed completely unaffected by the cold. He seemed warm enough just stuffing his hands in his pockets, but Cliff was feeling about the same – they were both used to early mornings in the fields, and that was a whole different kind of cold. “More likely, they drew things out a bit for the sake of – ah – Loria’s father.” Percy, with his heart of gold, didn’t appear comfortable criticizing Loria’s poppa – considering he was a war hero and all that. In Cliff’s opinion, being a good general had no bearing on whether you were a good father.
Thalos nodded. “That’s the impression I got when we talked it over with Roose. The Academy is obligated to carefully examine any emergency, and our probation was legitimate. They just made a bit more of a show of it for General Faldmen’s sake.” There was a sudden gust of wind and he paused to shiver. “As far as he said, he was never at risk of actually being fired.”
“I still cant believe the Headmistress didn’t warn you in advance about that,” Cliff said.
“Oh yeah!” Deb said, “Nym was telling us about that – she said the Headmistress is your aunt?”
Thalos sighed, glaring at Cliff. “Not my aunt, not really – she insists I call her Auntie, but she was a friend of my grandfather.”
Deb’s eyebrows came down. “So I guess that explains why you’re not exactly a scholarship kid like the rest of us,” she said. “Are there any special benefits to having the headmistress as an Auntie?”
With a grimace, Thalos shook his head. “And that’s why I wanted to keep it a secret – no, there aren’t. He paused to shrug. “Unless you count the occasional home-cooked meal.”
“Not a bad benefit in my book,” Percy said.
“Hear, hear,” Cliff muttered in agreement. “Hey Thalos, did you decide whether you’re going to the dance?” Cliff said, partly out of curiosity and partly to get his roommate to stop glaring at him.
“What?” Deb cried. “Why wouldn’t you go?” Percy looked similarly surprised, but Cliff couldn’t really see why – he was basically only going because of Jenna. It didn’t seem like a particular fun time, getting dressed up and tiptoeing around a dance hall with a bunch of bluebloods with rods jammed up you-know-where.
Thalos looked similarly caught off guard by their shock. “Well, I don’t have a date – not that I was particularly interested in finding one,” Thalos said, “and I can’t imagine standing around in the corner for three hours will be exactly fun.” Deb and Percy would be attending together, though from Cliff’s understanding they were going as friends. Everyone else in teams A and B also had someone to go with – Him and Jenna, Loria and Vince, Nym and Tia, Penny and her block-headed guy. Thalos was the only one who hadn’t found a date.
“The point of the Dance isn’t to dance,” Deb said with a frown. Thalos gave her an amused look, and she huffed a sigh. “You know what I mean. It’s the end of the Harvest Festival! It’s – well, a celebration! You have to go.”
“But still-”
“I’m sure any of the girls would be willing to dance with you,” Percy said, and Deb nodded. “I don’t think that’s a good reason to skip.”
“And if the girls aren’t willing, I’d be more than happy to toss you around the dance floor,” Cliff said, smirking, “Goddess knows you’re small enough for it. ’Sides, if you don’t come, I’ll spend the entire evening worrying over my poor little roommate, crying alone in bed.”
Thalos huffed a laugh. “Fine,” he said, “I’ll go – but only to spare Cliff’s worrying.” He shrugged a shoulder. “For Jenna’s sake, I mean – I think she deserves a good date where Cliff isn’t thinking about other people.”
Deb snorted. “Or magetools.”
Percy nodded sagely, slinging an arm over Cliff’s shoulders. “Poor Cliff needs all the help he can get, doesn’t he?”
Cliff frowned, slipping under Percy’s arm as he tried to decide which of his friends to glare at. His masterful riposte of a comeback, however, was interrupted by another cold gust of wind. His jaw clattered shut and he resolved to glare at the sky. “Come on,” he finally said, “let’s get back to the dorm. I think Percy’s going to need an hour to squeeze himself into his suit – we shouldn’t be late when a night full of memories awaits.”
***
It was Cliff’s first time in the Academy’s banquet hall, and he had to admit – he was impressed. With its vaulted ceiling and wide open floorplan, it could easily fit the two-thousand-odd Harvest Dance attendees. The polished hardwood floor was regularly dotted with white marble columns that might have made the room feel like a temple if not for the hundreds of twirling couples, dancing to the music.
Cliff was not at all surprised to find that Jenna was the more graceful of the couple. He’d attended enough weddings that he was comfortable spinning a girl around for a song or two, but with her upper-class upbringing, Jenna was more at home in the orchestra-backed environment than he would ever be. It was all he could do to keep his feet under him as he tried to keep up with her as she bounced him through the crowd, her billowy burgundy dress in one hand and his hand in the other.
Still, she didn’t seem to mind. By the time the third song came to an end, she was flushed and breathless, grinning as she leaned into him. “I could use a rest,” she said as the orchestra re-tuned their strings between songs.
“Took the words from my mouth,” Cliff agreed, turning to weave them out of the crowd. Tables with refreshments and benches for resting lined the walls of the hall. He scanned along the wall until he spotted Percy in his familiar too-small suit, a little tray of finger-foods in his hand. He nudged Percy with his elbow as he came up beside him. “Still not a perfect fit, huh?” The last time he’d seen Percy wearing the suit was on the day they arrived at the academy, when it’d been comically small. Since then, Cliff has made some minor adjustments to the suit as a favor to his friend, but it was a lot harder to make something fit looser than it was to make it tighter. Still, he’d done all he could, and the jacket was now about one size too small, not four.
Percy turned towards them with a smile and a wave, swallowing down the big bite of the sandwich he’d taken. He’d slicked back his hair with some kind of gel, and it made him look a lot more intimidating than he actually was. “It’s much better than before, that’s for sure. Still, I can’t go for more than a song without – ah – discomfort.” Cliff winced – chafing was never fun. “Which is why we’re standing here.”
Deb was beside Percy with a glass of some pink bubbly liquid in her hand. She had on a fetching green ankle-length dress with sleeves cut open at the shoulders. It made her look younger than the Courier uniform did. “Jenna! Cliff!” she said. Cliff waved a hand in greeting, and Jenna pulled away from him to give the other girl a hug. Deb frowned. “You’re sweaty – gross.”
“Fine, fine,” Jenna said, separating from Deb, “Is that sparkling wine? Where’d you get it?”
“Ah, this way,” Deb said. Jenna threw Cliff a questioning look, but he shook his head – bubbly wine always made him hiccup. The two girls walked off, leaving Cliff and Percy alone.
“Where’d Thalos run off to?” Cliff asked. He’d split up with the others to meet up with Jenna before the dance, but he was pretty sure Thalos had tagged along with Percy and Deb.
Percy laughed. “As soon as we stepped into the hall, the headmistress dragged him off to show off to some of her friends.”
“Poor guy,” Cliff said with a frown. “I guess it’s good that he didn’t find a date – that would have made for a proper intimidating start to the dance.”
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Percy shook his head. “I got the sense she dragged him off because he didn’t have a date. Like she was worried he might run off after a moment otherwise.”
“He might’ve,” Cliff agreed. Thalos was social enough, but Cliff knew he would avoid spectacle if he could help it. He didn’t talk about his childhood much, but from what little Cliff had learned, most of his roommate’s past was pretty isolated, and his time at the academy was the longest he’d spent with the same people, excluding his grandfather, may the Goddess preserve his soul.
“That suit’s still too small for you, Percy,” a voice said as someone came up beside Cliff, bumping him with an elbow.
“Don’t worry, Loria,” Cliff started, turning towards her, “I already-” He cut off to blink when he got a good look at her, letting out a low whistle that was probably lost in the din of the room. “Well, you clean up nice, don’t you?” Loria was wearing a dress that could only be described as daunting. It extended nearly too the floor, transitioning from a pale yellow at the bottom to dark red at the top. There was a slit up one leg that he was sure would draw all sorts of second glances, but it was all Cliff could do to keep his mind from breaking as he tried to match her current look to the normal, drab Loria he saw every day. “I half expected you to show up in your military grays.”
Her elbow hit him in the side again, a little harder this time. “I’ve attended more formal functions than I can count,” she said with a frown, “I’m not exactly fond of dressing up, but I’m more than capable. You, on the other hand.” She nodded approvingly. “I see you found your comb.”
Cliff smirked. “I showered, too, if you’re curious.” His eyes glanced past her, and he nodded. “Evening, Vince – you’re not looking too bad, yourself.” The seminarian had ditched his vestments for a black suit that still, somehow, looked priestly. His hair was still its curly mess, but he seemed at ease walking beside Loria.
“Cliff, good to see you,” Vince replied with a smile, “And Percy, right? I saw your fights at the tournament. Wonderful stuff – I expect you’ll claim victory next year.”
“It’s a bit early to say that,” Percy said with a smile, “but we can hope, can’t we.”
As they spoke, Jenna and Deb returned, now holding matching glasses of sparkling wine. “Goddess, Loria,” Jenna said, frowning towards her roommate, “I never knew you had it in you. Every guy’s got his eyes glued to you. You’re going to make the rest of us feel bad.” She swatted Cliff’s arm. “Stop staring.”
Cliff clicked his tongue, wrapping an arm around Jenna’s waist. “I promise you, it’s shock, not infatuation. You’ve got to remember, in my mind, Loria is a monstrous nag – my first month here was spent fantasizing ways to get her to quit the academy.” He leaned to whisper in Jenna’s ear. “My fantasies about you were a whole different sort.”
“Okay, you two,” Deb said, “some of us are trying to eat here.” Cliff shot her an innocent look, but she didn’t seem convinced.
Loria was looking at him in an odd way. “Jenna, would you mind if I stole your boyfriend for a dance?” Cliff blinked – was she going to stomp on his feet as revenge for the nag comment?
“As long as you promise to give him back after,” Jenna said with a smile, “and you let me borrow Vincent – it’s only fair.”
Loria shot her date a questioning look, and he nodded. “Jenna, right?” Vince said with a smile of his own, “I’d be happy to dance with such a lovely woman.”
Jenna pulled away from Cliff, finishing her wine in a single swig and taking Vince by the arm. “Oh, and he’s charming, too. Never mind, Loria – keep Cliff for as long as you want.” With just a bit too much enthusiasm, Jenna dragged Vince off.
Cliff watched them go with a wry smile, shrugging off his insecurities and turning to Loria. He offered her his arm. “Shall we?”
She gave Deb and Percy a little wave, and Cliff led her off into the crowd.
***
The song, as it turned out, was a slow waltz that didn’t require much focus to follow, even for Cliff. “So,” he said, “how was your talk with your poppa?” Loria was tall, and with her heels, they were nearly eye to eye as they danced. Honestly, he was a little uncomfortable with how close they were standing, and he imagined she would be too – but then, she had said she’d been to countless events like these.
She smiled lightly. “Your Gift tell you that was what I wanted to talk about?” She was somehow more graceful than Jenna, guiding him through the unfamiliar dance without issue.
“It was either that or seeing me in a suit made you realize feelings for me that you’d stubbornly buried.” Her eyebrow went up and he smirked. “But I figured you wouldn’t do that to Jenna, so it was probably the first one.”
“Astute,” she said dryly. “Yes, I – well, I wanted to talk to the rest of our team, but you were the only one there, so…” She trailed off. “I figured dancing like this was about as private as we were going to get.”
“Oh? Is what your going to say that private?”
“Of course!” she said with a sharp frown, “When I’d finally calmed down and gotten a chance to think about what happened at the inquiry, I was mortified.” He felt her shudder. “It’s not in my character to bare my problems like that – especially family problems.” There was a crescendo in the song, and Loria led him in a little spin with a quirk of her wrist.
“Don’t worry,” Cliff said, “I won’t hold it against you.” Honestly, it humanized her more than anything else – especially after he’d watched her fight in the Second Hands-on, she’d seemed a little too put-together. It was almost comforting to know she had her own issues like the rest of them.
“And don’t hold it against my father either, please,” Loria said. Cliff grunted, and her gaze sharpened. “Cliff, I know your first meeting didn’t exactly go well, but please – he’s a complicated man.”
“Yeah, I know,” Cliff said, “Honestly, the inquiry might have been the best thing that could have happened if you’re worried about my opinion of him – I thought he was cut from stone, but it turns out he’s just an idiot.”
“An idiot?” Loria said testily.
“Well, yeah,” Cliff said, frowning, “I mean – he thought you needed to be treated like a fragile piece on the mantle. If you needed coddling – Goddess protect the rest of us.” She blinked, surprised, and he continued, “Honestly, It reminds me of-” Cliff froze as he spotted a familiar magepriest at the edge of the hall.
Loria stumbled, nearly falling into him before she got her feet back under control. “Cliff? Are you alright?”
“I – ah-” Cliff started, suddenly feeling a surge of unease. It was the brown-haired magepriest with the glasses. Cliff had only seen him once, when he’d showed up at Paolo’s workshop before the festival. The first time Cliff had seen him, he was wearing the blue of the Church’s Sentinels, but now – green, like a normal magepriest. Was that strange? Why did the man make Cliff feel so uneasy? Loria called his name again, and he realized he was standing still in the middle of a crowd of dancers.
“Are you alright?” she asked with a concerned frown.
“I’m – fine. Sorry, I – I think I need a drink.” He pulled away from her, turning to thread his way through the crowd, ignoring Loria as she attempted to press him for more information. Something felt wrong. Was it his Gift? Had something on the edge of his perception come into focus when he saw the mysterious magepriest? He wasn’t sure, but either way, he wasn’t in the mood to dance anymore.
By the time Cliff had a glass of wine in his hand – red, and not sparkling – the look on Loria’s face had turned to one of confusion. Deb and Percy were gone from the outskirts, and Cliff assumed Vince and Jenna were still dancing. That was fine, he wouldn’t know what to say to them, anyway.
“Cliff, what’s going on?” Loria asked – it was the third time she’d asked the question, and she was growing impatient.
“It’s nothing, probably,” Cliff said, staring into his wine. He swirled the glass slowly, mind and heart racing. He had to trust his Gift, right? He looked up at Loria. “I just – do you know where Roose is?”
Loria’s frown deepened. “Roose? Cliff, what’s-” She shook her head. “Never mind. I think most of the professors are on the other side of the hall with the guests, why?”
Cliff nodded and started walking. The Dance had informally split into two halves – on one end were the students who’d just come for a fun night, and on the other, most of the guests, plus the students who would be using this as a chance to network. It was a little childish in his opinion to separate like that, but then, Cliff wasn’t sure how he’d go about dancing with his professors, so maybe it made sense.
Loria followed behind him wordlessly, understanding him well enough to know that he wasn’t exactly in the mood to explain himself. Not that he could. He was moving on the loosest of hunches, and he was only going to Roose because he felt like he wouldn’t be able to relax otherwise.
As they made their way around the outskirts of the hall, the song finished and the orchestra quieted. Instead of another song, the headmistress’s magetool-amplified voice rang out. “Good evening everyone! I hope you’re enjoying the dance.” Cliff glanced towards the front of the hall as the crowd let out a low round of applause. Thalos’s auntie was standing on the dais behind the podium with a familiar scarlet-haired beside her. Cliff felt himself sighing – he wasn’t going to be able to talk to Roose until the speech was over. “Normally, I don’t like interrupting the fun of the dance – better to save the formality for the closing ceremony tomorrow. But the guest I’m introducing as well as her announcement is anything but normal.” Some had already recognized the Hierophant, and the noise level in the crowd was rising – her attendance at the festival had, after all, been a secret. “It’s both an honor and a pleasure to introduce the Hierophant of Marifond, Sister Aurora!”
The roar of the crowd was both sudden and overwhelming, stopping Cliff in his tracks. He turned to find Loria had joined in the applause. He found himself clapping too, momentarily distracted from his mounting unease.
When the applause began to die, the Hierophant spoke into the microphone. “Good evening, everyone. Goddess preserve you all.” The room was suddenly silent, everyone listening with rapt attention. “I apologize for interrupting the dance, but I have several things I would like to say, and I must return to Crestfall tomorrow.” Some excited student yelled something indecipherable – probably forgiving the Hierophant for her interruption – and Sister Aurora smiled. “I must also apologize for a small deception I have carried out on you all. You see, though it was not announced, I have actually spent the week at this wonderful Academy. It has been a very long time since I have attended a festival like this as anything but the Hierophant, and I am pleased to say that the experience was as fun as it is in my memories.” She paused, and the crowd took that as a chance to celebrate – it was a great compliment to have a woman like the Hierophant praise you like that, after all.
When the applause died, she continued. “Yes, certainly, this festival has proven itself a more interesting experience than even those I experienced in my youth.” Cliff felt himself flushing – he imagined most harvest festivals didn’t involve exploding magetools. “Some of you may be wondering why I have chosen to attend the festival this year. There are many reasons why, but I’d like to explain the largest-” Cliff was pretty sure Loria’s date had something to do with it, but obviously there was something else beyond that. “Though I did not personally attend the Marifond Federal Academy of Magic, I have worked with many of its graduates, and I know them all to be capable. I have little doubt this is due in large part to their education here.” She paused for another round of cheers. “Which is why I approached your headmistress with an offer. Many of you may know that next spring, the quinquennial Hierophants’ Synod will be held. Today, I’m pleased to announce that Marifond has been chosen, for the first time in half a century, as the host of the event. Next year, Hierophants from around the continent will be gathering in Crestfall to hold conference on liturgical and administrative issues within the Church. The event requires a great effort from the host country, including a great number of staff to assure a safe, secure, efficient event. To that capacity, Headmistress Esmer has agreed to lend me the Academy’s student body to staff the event.”
Cliff blinked – that was a lot of information, and quickly. He knew the Synod was held every five years, but he hadn’t realized it would ever come to Marifond – and the students would be working there?
Before the crowd had time to react, Sister Aurora continued. “Now, I know this is a lot to ask of you all, but I strongly believe that-” She cut off when the air pressure suddenly shifted. Cliff’s ears popped, and around the hall, half a dozen glass windows shattered.
In the air above the crowd, a ragged black crack stretched down, like a plank of wood splintering. There was a piercing, tearing sound, and the crack was wrenched apart into an ugly, black void, suspended in the air. Cliff felt his stomach drop as half a dozen black-clad figures burst out of the crack towards the dais. The first figure out of the portal held a bright red, shimmering spear in his hand, and with a single swing of his arm, he hurtled it towards Sister Aurora.
Energy exploded in the air as the spear disappeared from Cliff’s view. His eyes swiveled to the Hierophant. The spear was stopped in front of her, stuck in a thick panel of flaming armor – Fireshell.
The crowd was screaming now, and from behind him, Cliff heard the crack of gunfire. He spun to see more black figures bursting into the banquet hall, faces covered and weapons drawn.
The Academy was under attack.