The Strand-Glider's membrane rippled as Lance fed a mouth-thing in the bonemesh dashboard some glittering mana crystals from his bag. Then the Dover Demon pulled back his scaly brown-gray braids, closed his eyes and connected a shimmering, tentacle thing to the side of his head. Then he leaned back on the seat and closed his eyes. With a graceful movement, the flying manta ray wobbled, spread its massive wings and launched into the morning sky.

Unlike Iogann's interdimensional van, the Strand-Glider's flight was smooth and nearly silent. The hexamesh wing-dome above us was semi-clear, offering a panoramic view of Leviathan's Cradle and the blue sky overhead as we soared over the city.

The Strand-Glider banked smoothly towards the cliffs and slowed down atop a giant, moss-covered skull hanging halfway out from the mountain cliffside. The rooftop door featured whimsical painted flame motifs. A bunch of fire-flowers and fire-grasses sparkled in the skull rooftop garden.

"Picking up Christi?" Cinder asked, sounding resigned to her fate.

"She is my girlfriend," Lance replied without opening his eyes, still deep in his mental connection with the living vehicle. "Unless you forgot."

"Was hoping you broke up with her on the account of how effin' annoying she is," Cinder hissed. "Like seriously, does she ever shut up?"

Lance simply sighed in response.

Christi emerged from her skull-house moments later, snapping the round rooftop door open to momentarily reveal the crystalline cozy interior, her pink-orange flames burning brightly in the morning light. The Cherufe was wearing her usual pink suit and a violet black stripe dress combo.

"Morning Lancy!" she called out cheerfully as the membrane lifted to let her in. Her flames flickered slightly when she jumped into the shotgun seat next to Lance and spotted Cinder and me in the back seat. "Oh! Hi guys!"

Cinder looked like she wanted to melt into her seat as Christi stared at her white sweater with wide, burning eyes.

"Is that... a WHITE See-Mass sweater?" Christi's flames flickered brighter. "Wow! I love it! Cass..."

"Don't. Call. Me. Cass." Cinder ground out.

"Sorry, sorry! I'm just excited to see you wearing something that's not a funeral color," the torch-girl bobbed. "You... both... look absolutely amazing! Wait, wait, wait. Did Alex stay over at your house?" She prodded Lance.

"Yeah," Lance let out.

"He slept over at your place and you're wearing matching sweaters now?!" Her hair flared even brighter, grin widening as she stared at Cinder. "Eeeeeeeeeee!"

"Shut up," Cinder growled. "I'm ignoring you."

She turned towards the membrane-window.

I sent Christi a wink, answering her questioning-look. The Pink Chancellor's flame sent sparks dancing across her shoulders as she clapped and squeed some more, pleased that her dastardly machinations have worked out so well.

The rest of the car ride went a bit awkward with Christi chattering away about delving, Arx, Shandria, mana, mage towers, mages, magic, armor, beast cores, beasts, Celestorms, our sweaters, See-Mass and a million other topics jumping from one to the other with barely any pause.

As the Strand-Glider landed in the designated sky-beast parking area, I was already whisper-strategizing with Yulia in Kaska.

Running quickly to my beat up van, I shoved absolutely everything from its innards with Cinder's aid into Lance's extradimensional backpack.

----------------------------------------

The student council office was relatively empty this early in the morning - perfect timing.

I pulled out a USB cable and plugged it into the computer from my phone, my fingers flying across the keyboard.

"Are you printing an entire library?" Cinder commented sarcastically, watching as page after page of documents emerge from the printer. "What could possibly require this many trees to die?"

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Delving Insurance," I replied smoothly, gathering the stack of forms as the office filled with its inhabitants.

I pulled out five identical forms, sliding one towards each of the present student council members now seated around the office.

Christi, being the most eager, grabbed hers immediately and started reading, nearly setting the paper on fire.

Her pink-orange flames flickered with curiosity as she scanned the document. Within seconds, she looked up. "Wait. You're planning to file an infraction against a teacher? With us as witnesses?! What?"

"An infraction against the crimes of Instructor Zalimar Evernacht," I said.

"I wasn't aware that Instructor Zalimar committed any crimes against you," Quint's skull-like face turned my way from his plush leather chair.

"Not yet," I said. "But he will soon. I'll send the video to all of you at such time and then you'll sign these forms plus the digital version which I will send your way by Omnigram. Sounds good?"

The Wendigo student council president, leaned forward. "And what exactly are these forms for?"

"Insurance," I repeated, sliding the documents across the table. "In case something goes wrong during today's Delving class."

"You're THAT certain that something will go wrong?" Quint asked.

"Absolutely," I said, meeting the mental pressure from his Wendigo antlers pulsing in his head with absolute belief.

Quint's amber eyes narrowed, studying me intently. "Explain."

I pulled out my phone, displaying the compilation video of Emerald to the student councilors. "Emerald Stratos repeated the following slur and has made multiple public threats against me. She also clearly stated her intention to harm me. These forms are simply a bit of a preemptive legal protection measure."

"I'll talk to Em," Quint said with a weary sigh after Emerald uttered her 20th 'Nullie!'. "Besides that, these forms are specifically mentioning Koshei Zalimar Evernacht as the perpetrator, not Emerald.

"Quint," I said. "I'm not planning to hostile Em, but if she or one of her friends assaults or murders me and Instructor Zalimar ignores it, then simply sign this form. Good?"

Quint studied me for a long moment with what was possibly a calculating look. His skull-face was hard to read. The other student council members - Christi, Lance, and a couple of other reps watched the exchange with varying degrees of interest, curiosity and concern.

"Fine," Quint finally said. "But if this turns out to be some elaborate prank..."

"Quint," I said. "I know that you're dating and protecting Em and this isn't against her. If you DO NOT sign the form when Zalimar messes with me, your position as student Pres will be done."

"A bold threat," Quint's hissed, eyes flaring dangerously within his skull. "Especially from a new student."

"Not a threat," I smiled. "A prophecy. You're a Wendigo. You can smell the truth of my words. Smell this - the student bullying at this school has gone on long enough. I'm going to end your career if you get in my way. I know you're going to get in my way. I know you're going to attempt to cover up what happens today. You're between a rock and a hard place. You have a choice to make today. Either you act like the Student President or you act like Em's boyfriend and resign."

Quint shuddered slightly as he inhaled.

"You..." he started.

"Will likely be attacked today by Instructor Zalimar," I finished for him. "And you will either sign that form when it happens, or your political career at this school ends."

Quint crossed his arms, clearly unhappy with my proposition.

"In the meantime," I continued, pulling out another stack of papers, "I need to register a new delving team."

"What? When did you even..." Quint blinked, momentarily thrown off balance by the sudden topic change.

"I love you," I said, sliding the registration forms across the table. "Five members. Full legal paperwork already filled out. Just needs your signature as the student council president."

"'I love you'!? What kind of a... delve team name is that? It sounds ridiculous," Quint sputtered, completely derailed sideways. "You're not even a registered delver yet. You can't form a team without completing basic training and certification!"

"Already done," I pulled out more paperwork - certificates bearing Father Matthias' signature and church seal. "I completed my certification through the Triumvirate Cathedral's youth program last month. All perfectly legal and documented. Do check your phone or computer. Father Matthias should have emailed you about it yesterday."

Cinder choked from where she was sitting.

Quint's amber eyes narrowed as he checked his phone. Sure enough, there was an email from Father Matthias, complete with all the proper documentation and timestamps.

"This is..." he started then fell silent reviewing the documents.

I looked at him smugly.

"You still need parent or guardian approval for new team formation," Quint pointed out after a deep pause. "And qualified sponsors."

"Already taken care of," I said, sliding another form to him. "Father Matthias is my guardian in Omnithornia. Lady Nova will be handling my sponsorship."

"Lady Nova?" Quint's sputtered. "Justice Nova's wife?"

"Indeed," I smiled pleasantly. "She's quite supportive of proper, supervised delving activities. Much better than unsanctioned summoning shows, wouldn't you agree? Anyways, my paperwork is in order, so make with the signing."

Quint twitched as he studied the forms.

"Cassiopeia Nova, Katherine Kells, Iogann Wanderer, and Vespera Simmi," he muttered reading out loud. "Hrmm. I haven't seen any indication that these students have agreed to join your team," he noted, tapping the form with a claw.

"Not an issue," I said confidently. "I've already arranged everything."

"Everything?" Quint demanded. "Including getting Katherine Kells to agree to join a delving team? The same Katherine who hasn't participated in any school activities in years?"

"Yes," I nodded. "The very same. Look, I gotta meet them in like five minutes. Sign the damn form, before Cass and I are late to class."

"Very well," Quint signed the form with a flourish. "I hope you know what you're doing."

"I always know what I'm doing," I replied, gathering up the forms. "Except sometimes when I don't... in that case I usually wing it."

I winked at Cinder.