Magus Kaleb Kane rubbed his forehead as he dropped his phone from his ear. His daughter’s teacher spared no detail in illuminating him on all the grievances she’d given the class today— "and yesterday, for that fact, too!” the teacher had screeched. A bundle of talent and trouble, that one…
His eyes took in the bright skyline of Atera through tactics territory’s floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the grey-shaded room in sunshine—the carpet, the few plants in the cupboard, the IBR table in the center. The view faded away, his mind roaming to this morning’s unsuccessful lecture with his daughter. He could never muster a mote of the presence the title ‘Magus’ besotted him when speaking to her. Like her father, a soft bearing didn't do the job. The question remained, then: who could?
An idea struck him, bringing him back to the present. He strode for the IBR, metal desk, pushing away a few chairs and fiddling with the touch controls. A high-pitch chime went off—once, twice—before the sound stopped altogether. “Hawke speaking.”
“Hey, I have a little problem with you know who,” Kaleb sighed.
There was a pause before the notorious Instructor’s voice sounded throughout the room. “Did Hayes cuss you out again?”
Kaleb couldn’t help but let another sigh go at the distant memory. “No, the other one.”
“Ah, Rubina.”
“Yes, Ruby,” Kaleb huffed.
“Trouble at school?”
Kaleb shoved his hands into the pockets of his combat cloak. “As always.”
“Mind if I take her out for a joyride?” the cloud mage asked. A faint beep caught Kaleb’s ear, and he figured she exited one of the rooms in HQ unauthorized for regular guild members. “She’ll be back before dinner.”
“That would be perfect,” was Kaleb's response. “I’ll just let her sitter know.”
“Heading there now,” Hawke said. Kaleb grabbed one of the chairs he moved and sat, ready to dive into some admin work when Hawke’s sharp voice sounded once more. “Oh, and Kane—how are Hayes, Efron and friends doing?”
“Can’t say,” Kaleb answered, muttering a curse as his worries strayed back over to the squad under his care. He’d been trying to ignore it unsuccessfully the past few days and, ironically enough, the fun Ruby stirred did just that. Until now. “They are currently on an expedition.”
“So soon?”
If Kaleb hadn’t known better, he’d thought he detected worry and surprise in her voice. Experience warranted it being solely the latter. “My thoughts exactly. Even still, I couldn't exactly deny them that chance.”
“Well, if your pair of Strikers remember my training, they’ll be fine. Scratched up, but fine.”
Just surprised, Kaleb confirmed quietly to himself. “I’ll trust your word.”
“You should,” she said as if it was absurd to think of doing otherwise. “See you at seven.”
Kaleb didn’t have a chance to reply, the table pulsing a light red. She hung up. Raking a hand through his dreads, he swiped the table to bring up an IBR keyboard. He could trust her word and trust the facts, right? So, without any hesitation, he pulled up a host of files.
HAMMER SQUAD
(i) Valory Efron - [Striker]
Element(s): Metal — Subset: Coldsteel
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Instructor Notes: Close-range combatant using a saber and metal invocation to assist her in fights. Highly attentive and creative in her methods. Her abilities shine against people, rather than aether creatures, where her keen sense is showcased. Conflict-averse. Brave. Quick-witted.
(ii) Carielle Hayes - [Striker]
Element(s): Magma, Sand
Instructor Notes: Close-range combatant wielding a greataxe with an uncanny amount of dexterity, experience and grace. A great improvement in magma invocation, needs work on her sand element equivalent. Perhaps a touch impatient, but a talent nonetheless.
(iii) Alessio Azotus - [Bulwark]
Element(s): Light, Mineral— Subset: White Jade
Instructor Notes: A shield able to block attacks up and personal, as well as at a distance. Azotus holds two qualities rarely seen in a bulwark: durability and fluidity. If able to grow out of his shell, he will flourish to unknown heights.
(iv) Kylee Lenson - [Support]
Element(s): Ice, Air, Divination
Instructor Notes: A quiet and yet dominating presence in the backline. Makes little mistakes, and fills in where needed. Communication has improved, but still needs a little more work. Uses ice and air elements like a third and fourth arm. Divination could be an area to work on.
(v) Ekon Nightingale - [Hunter]
Element(s): Darkness, Illusion
Instructor Notes: A combatant skilled in playing with the acuity of his opposition. Relies heavily on alchemic strength, to both his benefit and detriment. Nightingale should focus on overcoming this crutch, and his inability to communicate amicably.
(vi) Jesal Haldar - [Anchor]
Element(s): Gravity, Amplification
Instructor Notes: Has the building pieces of everything you might need in an anchor. Gravity to immobilize the enemy, amplification to enhance his team’s strength. A strong leader in every sense of the word. An area of focus is furthering his skills in manipulation.
LANDRY SQUAD
(i) Errick Landry - [Bulwark]
Element(s): Earth
Instructor Notes: A veteran in providing cover for any team. Strong leader, an even better mentor.
(ii) Silann Haldar - [Support]
Element(s): Air, Lightning— variation: Dark lightning
Instructor Notes: A nightmare to face, capable of lightning-quick, devastating artillery,
(iii) Bo of the Third Halo - [Hunter]
Element(s): Illusion
Instructor Notes: A hunter that appears in the most unlikely places, covering your back unknowingly.
(iv) Aeron Cote - [Anchor]
Element(s): Water
Instructor Notes: An anchor tried and true. Extremely grounding.
VERSETTI SQUAD
(i) Leah Versetti - [Striker]
Element(s): Water-Ice Mixture
Instructor Notes: A Striker with a special ability to control the phases of water to aid in her quick, sharp close-range battle style.
(ii) Mikhail Williams - [Hunter / Support]
Element(s): Lightning
Instructor Notes: A mage who wields lightning like a second-hand. Plans to become a Support, acts as a Hunter as of now. Williams sustains the skills for both.
Kaleb managed to grab the last few files from Horizon’s Silence after Hammer Squad had a little run-in with them during one of their earlier rift dives, Storm’s Keep. Their instructor was left blistering in the face of Kaleb’s calm anger—and he should’ve been. Versetti’s actions were uncalled for. Thankfully, they were all on the same team now. Reading over their files assured Kaleb that his students and the rest of the expedition would be just fine. They had the skill and grit. They understood that in rifts, it was kill or be killed.
The next phone call he answered had better be news of their safe return.