Teenage sons and daughters looked at the group as their parents were socializing and their mouths gaped open. It was well-known that academies, particularly Majin Academy, were conservative in their manner of dress, but it seemed that the tradition was shifting.

They could hardly react as the group was slowed. Many had even opted to match their expected level of formality. That is, their assumed level of formality.

The guard at the led looked to another that faced him and said, "report their presence. We'll be introducing them as per the protocol."

The female security guard nodded and walked briskly to the inside of the banquet hall.

She came out soon after and gave the order to enter.

Once they approached the door, a strange world was seen.

Dark oak floors covered the entirety of the dining area, with dozens of oblong marble tables with a crystal disc in the center. Each marble chair was carefully crafted and polished silver plates and cutlery were piled in the middle of the table. Black, folded clothes were folded neatly in triangles all around the interior of the tables.

"And the guests of honour have arrived," the Headmaster announced as he held a glass of wine himself. "Please, please welcome them with an applause. I have received word that there are others coming along shortly, so it'll be just a moment longer. In the meantime, everyone please settle in, grab a drink, and enjoy yourself."

There was a soft applause as those in attendance were a little more reserved in such an environment.

Crystalline, decorative braiding covered the corinthian-styled pillars, the white stone walls were given polished finishes, and the entire ambience was one of warmth and elegance.

"Wendi... is... is that really you!?" Church gently grabbed Wendi's shoulders as he looked at her flawless skin, styled hair, and the charm of youth transformed in a single day into the elegance of the beauty of adulthood. "I-I... you're... so much... l-like...!"

Wendi nodded weakly, understanding where the comment would go, but Church straightened himself and offered a wide smile as he took off his sunglasses.

"It's amazing...! I'm so proud. I'm scared of what others'll do so please let me accompany you tonight!"

"Y... yes, that's fine, just... just don't embarrass me, okay...?"

"It'll be a proper gentleman! There'll be no one who could compare. I have received word from Erin that it is true you're that Mathias..." Church with a dark scowl. "I'll permit you presence - for tonight! That is all. You may have one dance. That is all. It is payment rendered for making Wendi beautiful like our Mother. I will be watching you, but you have earned the right to sit beside her. One dance. Any longer and all concessions will become null and void. Understand?"

Mathias quirked his head, but he still nodded out of social obligation. He did not want to dance anyways, but he felt shrugging might be taken in a poor way.

"I'll be with you so feel free to enjoy yourself!" Church whispered as he took Wendi's side, still donned in the tell-tale formal uniform of a guard - with an accompanying armoured vest.

He was forced to leave them by his superiors. However, Church was glad he was able to see Wendi take the stage, front-and-center, as a beautiful woman.

Jennifer looked around and probed Mathias. "Hey, I-I just wanted to ask, how does it look?"

Mathias turned and nodded.

"Good?"

He nodded again.

Jennifer sighed in relief, holding a hand to her beating heart. Lisanna saw the scene and smiled at Jennifer. "You're really pretty. Everything works with your figure. Also, I really liked what you did with that sculpture. I could only see it from afar, but I immediately recognized it!"

"Y-yeah... I hope your not mad for cutting you out... it was just that there wasn't e-enough room."

"Hmm? It's fine. Anyways-"

A young man appeared in butler attire, holding a tray of wine-glasses, with a bottle of red wine in the center.

Taking the silence and lowering his head, the student said, "I apologize for the interruption. Would you like something to drink? We have a fine vintage, I must say."

Jennifer and Lisanna looked at one another, but Mathias nodded. A glass floated gently to him as the student left the silver tray hovering in the air. He poured the wine itself and Mathias took a small sip and looked at it approvingly.

It was much better than the wine he was coaxed to drink when his father settled down after training. Since he was always awake later, Claude did offer him some whenever he returned for the past two years. Of course, he only drank a little, but it was a pleasant time with both his father and mother on the rare occasions.

Jennifer and Lisanna finally nodded and both took their glasses.

Jennifer's expression when she drank it was one of curiosity; whereas, Lisanna's was one of suppressed disgust. As others were now receiving their own glasses, only Mathias, Erik, and Fara were enjoying it and appreciating its contents fully. Others were indifferent due to exposure to better types or an unrefined palate, others curious about the higher-tiered drink.

"Argentine, Huntis," a voice spoke out beside them.

Mr. Shields, dressed in a straight-cut, simple black-suit appeared carrying his own glass of wine.

Both stood at attention, but the man's terse expression lightened a little. He was reminded that his skin was no longer crawling with the new fabric so he was feeling more generous.

"You are expected to behave accordingly. Make sure the others are reminded of that." He glanced at the group and turned to walk away.

A hand stopped him.

A young woman in a long, silver sequin dress looked at the group. "Are you not going to say anything? You all look ravishing. I was hesitant when I was told to wear this, but it seems that joining in was a good enough experience."

Neither were embellished with the school emblem, but as they were staff they were not forced to conform to those regulations. In fact, just the markers of the new style of dress differentiated them enough to be clearly the guests of honour - the emblem was not necessary.

Other students who looked down at their own gowns - even those that they customized - were somewhat jealous.

It was reasonable to expect that they were not the targets of the appeal, but the second- and third-years that snatched up the tickets did so as to form contacts outside the school for when they graduated - yet, their presence was muted by the first-years.

Since it was not time yet to intrude, Thomas, Jedd, and Vanessa were wandering around the outskirts in their own formal attire. While Vanessa's was comparatively more appropriate for the occasion, the two boys seemed out-of-place. They knew that they could not expose themselves too much if they wanted to take in the successes - and failures - of the group objectively.

They were there to ensure that their own exhibition would be smoother, more dramatic, and more eye-catching than the one which benefited from the tradition-breaking first-mover advantage. While it wasn't guaranteed that they'd have the opportunity, they did not want to miss out on being able to push for it and refine it beyond Scylla's pursuits.

Justin and Midori and Kahn and Akia were also there as representatives of the two other first-year classes. Several others in their classes were also invited, but since the tickets for sale were on the basic end, their tables were allotted, but it was organized by a separate staff member as they arrived with little acceptance for the attendant's requests, much unlike the reserved tables of the invited guests, students, and staff.

"... We need to find out who made their uniforms," Vanessa said with greed in her eyes. "I heard that old tailor refused to work on anyone's other than Scylla's and staff's requests that night... but to think it was for that...?"

"It'll be easy to find that out later. They'll probably be bragging about it. I just can't believe how quickly they set it up. Right now the groups are still separated, so we need to see how best to cause them to merge..."

Jedd said nothing as he just sipped the punch he ordered. He did not want to drink that night, knowing the day after is likely going to be brutal once Mitras' and their instructor's competitive spirit kicked into full-force.

"... Is that Claude Fellstone?" Thomas asked, seeing the taut, scarred barrel-chested man with a half-dozen blades on his person a long ways away. "He is talking to Mathias so that's probably the best way..."

Claude didn't notice the student's gaze - as he was more fixated on turning his attention to the new entrants.

"Wendi! Lisanna! Come, come! Irina and Alyssa were just talking about you two!"

Claude grabbed the two as Irina slipped in beside them and looked at Jennifer and Fara. "Are you his friends? Come join us for a bit. Ah, you too, Ayla," Irina said with a growing smile.

"... Ok, Mama Vandiese! Let's go!" Ayla chirped happily.

Irina quirked her head and laughed gently. "Okay, we have plenty of room at our table right now so you all can come," she said motioning to the girls.

"Ah! Mathias! Erik! There's a couple people I want you to meet! And... Tanner, is it? Let's go! To hell with it, all you come with me."

Claude took charge of the boys and he and Almer, at his side for the bulk of the night with Alexi holding his hand, went to the other corner of the room.

"...?"

Alexi was smiling as he looked up to Erik and Mathias. "Thanks!" He said, motioning to the scene.

All around them, various displays of magic were being conducted and the little boy's head could not move fast enough. Of course, it was Wendi that invited him, but since Claude and Irina were nice, Mathias was by extension, Alexi thought; further, Erik was nice to him so he didn't have a problem with him in the slightest. As such, he extended his thanks to all the strange teenagers that dropped into his parents' store all of a few days prior for the first time ever.

"You're welcome, Alexi! It's our pleasure. I hope you can help us here, too!"

Alexi quirked his head and then nodded, not understanding what he was requested to do. However, having a cute kid with them was usually enough to break the ice and Alexi's attention turned fast enough to have him depart for something else that caught his eye.

Tanner stepped forward and looked at the Finance Minister as he turned from talking to several guests.

"Hey, how're you?"

"Good, good, Tanner," Raul laughed. "I see you've made some friends. I know of Mathias Vandiese, but you haven't introduced me to your girlfriend yet."

"Oh, I'll bring Stac' around later." Tanner looked to the group and said, "Right, this is Raul Poniac, my father."

"Yep! I knew him since he was a tike!" Claude laughed.

"Hey, hey, that's not fair. I'm only two years younger than you," Raul laughed.

"Yeah, but still! You were always running around my Dad's place. After catching you so many times, he just gave you a job so he could at least keep an eye on you."

"It worked pretty well, I learned a lot," Raul laughed before addressing the boys Claude rounded up. "And, yes, I am Raul Poniac. I have known the six trouble-makers you've been warned about for quite some time now. You don't know how many times I've had to cover for them. It's quite trying, but it's entertaining in its own right."

"Hey! It ain't my fault that bastard decided to run!"

"I didn't run. I followed orders," a new voice came. "Salam Rettih, a pleasure to see you all again. Or rather, most of you."

He turned his attention on Claude, snorting indifferently as he poured a skin into Claude's half-empty glass.

"If you're going to drink, do it right."

"I was doing it right with Almer last night! Hah, damn it. Right, this idiot is Salam Rettih, a man who fled from the battlefield as things were getting tough in the war. And for some reason they gave him a title, 'The Coward of the North,' or some such nonsense."

"Who crushed them after they were routed?"

"Who routed them?"

"Gentlemen, please," Raul said as he stood between the two glaring men. "It isn't your night to fight; rather, the night is for your children, right?"

"Yeah, whatever. I wouldn't raise a blade against a coward's back anyway. He'd enjoy that too much. Relive old memories."

"Hmph, muscle-brained idiot should've just fell to the Sumerian blades."

"... Sum... erian?" Almer spoke and then Raul nodded.

Speaking in the Sumerian tongue, he described their war achievements. It was largely a defensive war against aggressors, but the two men began proclaiming their achievements - and the other's failures - as Raul moderated it.

"Dad, I'm going to meet some of the other people we were talking about, okay?"

"Yes, yes. That's fine. Ah, take Alexi with you all. He shouldn't be exposed to this conversation."

"Got it. Alexi?"

Tanner spoke in fluent Sumerian and the boy seemed shocked. Whatever he said, he completely took the boy's attention as he guided him away.

Erik looked at Tanner with a new light. "I see... I didn't know other languages were so useful."

Alexi was running around, seemingly on a six-foot leash from Tanner as he introduced himself and the others to various people in the crowd.

"Freidrich, sorry about him. He's an excitable one who seems to like the toys you make. And I think you know him by now, but this is Erik Huntis, the guy that did the statue of Claude earlier."

Tanner said after apologizing for Alexi looking intensely at the multi-coloured lights that were shining off his cuff-links. The man, laughing it off good-naturedly, looked at Eric with a smile as a blonde teenage girl appeared beside him.

"Still calling them toys?" Freidrich laughed jovially. "Just because you were the same as that kid doesn't mean you can speak ill of my new line." He crouched down towards Alexi. "Hey, what do you think? I worked hard on it."

"Pretty!" Alexi said first pointing at the cuff-link before pointing at the daughter. "Pretty!"

"Yes, she certainly is. I believe I heard you that are predisposed with another, Tanner, but Erik, is it? I was once part of Claude's and Salem's group when we were kids. I left life on the road later when I met my wife, but I suppose you're an adherent to the Fellstone Way, correct?"

"I am!" Erik said excitedly. "I'd love to hear more!"

"Is that so? Well, please do join me and Freya - ah, right. I was going to give out some of these for samples," Freidrich said as he bent down again. "It's a present for you, little man."

"Re'lly?! Thanks! Oh! Oh!" Alexi took the small multi-coloured pendant - and then saw another interesting person.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Hey, hey. If you're going to take it, at least advertise a little for me!" Freidrich laughed as he grabbed the boy to stop him from retreating. He put the necklace on Alexi and shooed him off. "Erik, join us for a moment, if you can spare a minute."

"With pleasure!"

"Ah, that's my cue to leave," Tanner said with a laugh as Alexi stalled behind another's back, questioning whether to barge into the conversation or not.

Mathias was dragged along with the group, unsure of what to do, but he ensured he had his note so he assumed it was fine. Tanner moved on and soon the group of boys were intermixed with the crowd, seemingly at a whim, but Alexi seemed partially gravitated to groups with pretty girls so the boys were slowly parted off and left to their own devices until it was only Mathias, Tanner, and Jack.

"Good job, man," Jack laughed. "I think it's time to head back or they'll be angry, I'm sure."

"Nah, look there," Tanner said as Irina was introducing them to the many women she knew in the city.

While their groups were equal part male and female scions, it was governed by a dominant female guest who took the lead as the man who accompanied her slipped off to talk to others. Stacy and Jill were talking to two female siblings and the two exchanged knowing smirks.

"Mama Vandiese strikes again," Jack laughed.

Mathias groaned a little at the name.

"Oh, looks like the rest are back, if nothing else, I don't want to be blamed for not doing something," Tanner said with a grin. "James'll be easy, but Eldrich and Hunter not so much since they overthink things. Well, we don't need to hand-hold them. Jasmine and Kira are already leaving though."

"Why are Hana and Alfred still together though?"

"Don't know. Let's find out."

Since Mathias was informally included in the 'taken' group, neither thought it to be important that they introduce him the outsider girls.

It would only cause a fuss.

Much like the appearance of another who walked forward to meet them as they escaped a throng of people.

"Ah, if it isn't Mathias," Jasmine said with an innocent smile. "May I have a moment?"

Jack exchanged a glance with Tanner who returned it. "Sorry, Jazz, I promised I'd introduce him to someone. Maybe later?"

"Is that so? That's fine. I'll be waiting," Jasmine said with a wink and Tanner quickly pulled Mathias out of there.

Since he was feeling the stare from Jasmine and another - that was likely not Kira - the two wandered through the crowds for a bit, exchanging pleasantries with the guests, and one looked at Mathias with great interest.

"Papa, may I leave for a moment?"

"Yes, of course, honey," the man said with a smile as he was conversing with Jack and Tanner.

"Please come with me!"

She stole Mathias' arm and he was brought to the other side of the room as several opportunistic girls appeared to follow with the one's actions.

"Mathias Vandiese, is it?" The first said innocently enough, but with the eyes of a predator. "Waiter!"

A man appeared quickly and topped off their glasses of wine as Mathias felt a body close in behind him.

Not knowing what to do, he passed forward the note.

"Ah, I'm aware." She said after scanning it disinterested. "I'd just to compliment you on your work. It is not often that one sees someone so familiar with the female form..."

Mathias finally noticed it. There was a large fiery burn on her shoulder and wrist. Most grew numb to the sight of the scars after only a single week in attendance at Majin. Many resign themselves to it prior to submitting the application to seek entrance to the Academy. And many more grew to scarcely notice it all. He looked around. Nearly all of them had exposed scars - and most that joined the encirclement were Majin students.

The second- and third-years had particularly mistreated bodies, but there were some he vaguely recognized being from different first-year classes.

"You know, I've always admired Lisanna O'Clare's body before, but now?" One laughed as she pushed herself on him "If it's money you want, I have it... and, naturally, you can see everything while you're performing it."

They were desperate to get rid of the scars. The dichotomy of honour and prestige one bore with the scars were contrasted with the standards of beauty that they were forced into. Some gave up on it, but many still longed to possess the experience they generated in the past - without the visual cues.

And in such a venue, it was not uncommon for people to be discretely hawking their goods or services.

Mathias looked down to write a note - but his paper was snatched from him.

"You don't need to tell me anything," one laughed. "Just nod and all will be well, okay?"

"Yeah, there isn't much reason to deliberate. It's fine, isn't it? Just us."

"..."

"Mean! Hur'!"

A child got up from his hands and knees as he finished crawling from underneath them. He was decked out in a half-dozen different products, ranging from rings, necklaces, scarves, a wide-brimmed feathered hat, and he even had two weapon belt draped around his shoulder to his waist as if they were bandoliers. And even a new, deep blue cloak that only added to his gaudy - if adorable - appearance as it dragged on the floor.

He grabbed Mathias' hand and proclaimed at one of the girls he just crawled under, "Pretty! Move!"

She blushed and nervously reached for the scars on her neck, but Alexi repeated the command again as he dragged Mathias forward. She stepped to the side, offering Alexi more room to navigate.

"Pre'y Two! Move!"

Pretty three and pretty four did not resist much as they were left confused and Alexi successfully extracted Mathias from the group.

Tanner ruffled his hair and gave him one of the treats, a brownie in this case, that the waiters brought around.

"Good job! Alexi, let's go!"

Jack was already moving Mathias away and the caped, bedazzled Alexi kept them at bay with several "Pretty! Stop!"s.

Alexi was not verbose enough to think of other words in that situation, but it worked surprisingly well.

Mathias was safely brought back to the table where Irina was now resting. "Ah, that was tiring," she said, relaxing as she drank her wine with Erin by her side.

"Mom, where did Wendi go?" Erin asked.

"Don't know, but she was with Lisanna and Church so she'll be fine."

"Okay... ah, this is boring without her," Erin complained before her eyes lit up. "Mathias! I have an extra sword, want to fight?!"

She unsheathed the long-sword at her waist flipped it casually in the air, and caught it with two fingers on either side of the blade's tip. The handle was given to him since her mother was beside her. She would be polite since the scene and company demanded it.

He shook his head before Irina could say, "no fighting inside - or tonight."

"Hah... fine. He could clean out the blood, but aiming for just hands is too predictable. I thought I'd give it a try though," Erin muttered, angled the blade effortlessly with the two-finger grasp, and dropped it into a sheath she quickly lifted up.

Jack quirked his head at the scene, but Tanner was more familiar than most with that family's peculiarities - he just chuckled at the sight.

"Mama Vandiese, we thought he might be safer here for the moment. He was stolen away by some girls... they all had scars, so, yeah, probably that," Tanner said with a laugh.

"That's fine, that's fine. I told him to avoid doing it so it's trouble he has to deal with sooner-or-later. I shipped off the girls so they get me more goss- so they can have more fun, but it is tiresome. You can keep taking him around. Find Lisanna and Wendi and then just drop him off there, I think they were by Stacy and Jill anyways, so you'll go there anyway, I'm sure."

"Yes, ma'am. Mama Vandiese has spoken, Mathias." Jack said with a laugh.

Mathias groaned as he motioned them to wait for a moment. He had to draft a new note having his original stolen away from him. After a minute, Tanner took him again.

"Hmmm... where could they be," Jack mused to himself. "Let's try by the food."

"Wait, there's Ayla, let's ask."

Ayla was talking excitedly to a group of female scions, completely taking their entire attention while only using part of her own. She saw the three coming her way and immediately smiled.

"I knew it! Mathias, Jack, Tanner: these three are Amethyst, Jules, and Tanya! They're going to Majin Academy next year so I was just telling them all about what we were doing!"

"Did you mention that you're the undefeated champ?" Tanner said with a laugh.

"Of course! I am! Undefeated, I am! A Champion, I am! An Undefeated Champion, I am, I am! Ahem, more importantly, - hmm, well, of equal importance! - we're talking about which girl is the prettiest - aside from me and those four! So pick!"

"Aside from those four? Huh, you're putting me in a tough spot."

"I gave you an out, Jack! So it's fine! Speak! We've decided that the top three, beyond myself, Lisanna, Wendi, Jill, and Stacy are Jennifer, Jasmine, and Kira."

"It's true that they're pretty," Jack said easily, "but it's hard to place it."

"I know, right?! Mathias, write down your answer - now!"

"...?"

Mathias sighed as Ayla already forced a napkin and a jewelled pen to him. He assumed it was a sample given to them from one of the guests, but he just scrawled his answer and folded it.

"Okay! One down. Tanner?" Ayla took the message, not opening it just yet.

"Aside from them, I'd say Jazz, honestly," Tanner said.

"Really? I'd pick Kira," Jack laughed.

Ayla nodded with each of their choices and looked at the note. "And there is another tie! Mathias picked Jennifer. We're in a tough spot. Okay, we're going to round up more votes! Bye!"

Ayla ran off and the other three were pulled into her pace and sped off after her. It was impressive since they were all in heels.

In that little lull, others came to them. "Hey, where did all you go?" Lisanna asked somewhat irritably. "Please tell me...?"

"He's safe," Tanner laughed as he patted Alexi's adorned head. "I sent him to extract him from some of the other girls so be sure to spoil him a little later, okay?"

"Okay," Lisanna spoke quickly with a relieved sigh.

Wendi looked around and prodded Jennifer from the side. "Hey, did we hear that right? Mathias said Jen was the best?"

Jennifer looked away with a blush but Lisanna quirked her head. "I mean, it's true. He did say that, but wasn't Ayla talking about it being excluding us? She tried to get our opinions on it too. Even the boys' side."

"Ho, the guys side? What of it? I want to hear more," Tanner said.

"We've pretty much just picked you three and Erik since it's weird to pick anyone else... or at least that's what I did."

Jennifer nodded. "I don't have know much about it so I just kind of went with it. Mathias, you do look very handsome, too."

"Yeah, as expected of Irina," Wendi said confidently.

"Mama Vandiese," Tanner corrected laughingly.

"Y-yeah, maybe...?"

Church glared at Tanner but said nothing.

The three got the message and did not bring it up again, but Mathias wrote a note. 'Sorry if my mom was dragging you all around. She's like that sometimes.'

"No, no," Jennifer said immediately. "It's fine. It was fun."

Lisanna shrugged, "it was just me and Wendi for a bit so we were just talking about the statues. A lot of people really like them, I guess?"

"I guess so... I really happy about that," Wendi said with a blossoming smile. "Hey, did you all want to check out the sculptures to see if anyone is there? I couldn't get a good look at them all too, and I noticed some people changed theirs a little too!"

Mathias shrugged, but pointed to a backless cyan dress housing a pale body. It seemed there was a joiner.

"Alexi, brownie."

This time it was she that gave him one. Alexi thanked Fara profusely and devoured the brownie.

Wendi ran to the concession table, grabbed a napkin, and wiped his face before disposing of it. Fara was already walking away.

"... At least she's going over to the gallery, let's go!" Jennifer said. "Also... sorry if mine isn't any good... I tried, but... yeah."

"No, it was good!" Lisanna and Wendi quickly rebutted her.

"It was definitely good!"

Tanner said, "we're going to find those two. We'll bring them over after we find them though. Talk to you all in a bit."

"Okay! Bye!"

As Church was clearly a guard, Mathias attracted a lot of attention as he was walking with four beautiful girls. Since he was in the custom-made uniform, it was clear that his presence was marked as a contestant, but it seemed to only incite the darkening stares towards him. Some were clearly jealous, but of who it differed. Several were jealous of his position, several of the girls, and some of the guards and staff tried to keep their expressions from being read as they saw Church's job assignment.

No one was safe in that group, but also no one pressed them.

While walking across the dark oak floors, passing several tables in the process, they began to hear strange chatter as they turned the corner.

"... Sir, I'd value this at approximately five-hundred gold."

"And this?" A girthy merchant said as he stroked his beard.

The appraiser he brought with him looked at James' statue next before looking after a long while.

"It's difficult to say. It appeals to warriors and those that desire to become one. It can also be used for high-end weapon outlets. I suspect it'll be predominately used for increasing the turn-over rate if one uses this ingratiate potential customers. A simple slogan like 'look at what you'll survive with our armour' would suffice.'

"And the approximate increase in revenue would likely be three percent, minus some added expenses of maintaining it and securing it... I'd position it at six-hundred, retail value if we include intrinsic value. Transport and inventory costs... likely will make it adequately profitable at three hundred."

"So it seems," the appraiser said.

Each had different purposes, appealing to different demographics, but most were inherently valuable. There were a few that could be valued by the artist's origin and bloodline, or even coming from the same 'batch' as the others which may garner more attention.

The minimum valuation was one hundred gold.

Everyone was shocked to hear the numbers, but they kept quiet and were spying on the man who belatedly noticed their presence.

"Ah, honoured fellows, I am Silan Fidiacci, an art merchant in this very city. I am very interested in these works as they are, but I'm curious if you could humour me for a moment. If you, in your spare time, produce another work of similar quality, I'd be happy to take it off your hands."

Silan handed them each a business card, but since they didn't know where to put it, he laughed. "Just give it to the boy. Mathias, I believe. He can hold onto it for a moment. I would like to also request a certificate of authenticity from the academy, signed by the headmaster and the artists themselves. If you could make that happen, I will provide you with all storage rings. Their space will be quite small, but they're worth quite a bit." He looked at Wendi, "one may also be prepared with several state-of-the-art supplies for future pro-"

"Church! Go get the Headmaster right now!" Wendi shouted excitedly. "Like the-"

She and the girthy man began talking excitedly about art, literature, poetry, and other mediums of expression. Church, hearing her command, hesitated for a moment, but still summoned the headmaster since it was Wendi's command. And it seemed her friends were there - and several other stationed guards were now looking at them.

"... Certificates of Authenticity, huh? I did not think of that. So be it! Watsan!" A well-dressed man appeared next to a only semi-slovenly dressed bearded man. "Get someone to draft those right away."

"Understood."

Watsan turned to the side and began speaking to a crystal. In three-minutes, the certificates were brought over. The Headmaster signed all of them and then passed their respective documents to the students. Mathias looked at his own curiously.

"...?"

"... They're together?"

"It was just done that for simplicity," the Headmaster said with a smile. "We'll split the proceeds fairly so it won't trouble you too much."

"... Okay? So... uh... just sign here?" Lisanna asked.

"Yeah," Silan said. "There is perfect."

Mathias signed his spot as well. It seemed they were numbered too. Theirs was number 23, apparently going by the order of appearance in the showing.

"Very good, I'll give you five these. Tell the rest to see me and I'll give them theirs," the man said as he pulled five small rings from a keychain in his pocket.

It was a simple, effective tool to bribe people indirectly. Since gifts were fine, and they were young, it was likely that they did not have these artifacts that came on the mass-market only a decade ago. It had been long since a staple of accomplished mages and merchants, however, for decades if not centuries.

Each was small and their simplified production technique wide-spread so it was only a ten gold apiece when bought in bulk. However, the addition of the certificates added a base value of fifty each to each sculpture.

Ten gold was still such a significant sum to normal people; however, due to a massive wealth differential between the upper and lower classes due to various factors, it was prohibitively expensive to be used by those of lower means.

Even Mathias only saved a single gold after several years of working in a lucrative field, if excusing that a fairly large portion of his earnings was allocated to his future allowance and tuition expenses. Also that the books he bought were not a copper-penny issue of factory-farmed novellas appealing to children or romantics.

"How do you use them?" Lisanna asked the question burning of everyone's mind.

"Just inject mana into it, it'll become bound to you alone, and then you just need to think 'open' after the first initial verbal command. That being said, it will require more specific applications to lock against others, but it is fairly straight-forward. Likewise, the same is to be done with 'close' after saying it once. It'll be similar to bringing objects inside and out of the stasis field you've used - just use an unattributed spell like Hover for simplicity."

After being given the detailed instructions, Mathias passed them back the cards they off-loaded on him. It seemed after a few attempts - and his (forced) creaking voice appearing - he was able to work with it well.

"The rings should adjust to your fingers as well, but many warriors just tie them around their neck with a strong enough material to resist blows that may, unluckily, be targeted there. Many dislike their hands covered in jewelry, after all."

Silan was infinitely glad his set-up worked. With their card in the space - and human nature demanding inertia preventing such an innocuous card being removed after the events of the night - they'll be forced to sense the mana signature embedded in each card directly reminding them about his business.

And if he just bought five, the price would already be couped in the added value. On average. Many certificates were more valuable because of the validation of blood ties - like the very artists of the joint statue in front of him.

The Headmaster noted his intent and said, "I'll arrange for the others to sign it. However..."

"Yes, I'd appreciate your cooperation," Silan laughed.

As did the Headmaster and the two went their ways as Watsan trailed after them.

The five were just toying around with the rings and each of the girls just wore the discretely branded rings on their fingers as Mathias shoved his in his pocket.

His pockets were now free of the others' ID cards and keys.

It was a good result for him.

And Tanner, Jack, Stacy, and Jill that soon arrived.

"Mathias, may I have a word?"

A man pulled him to the side - and Lisanna immediately hopped to his defence.

"He-"

"I know. I wish to ask about that," the man said, pointing at their statue. "It involves the female, 'The Dancer', so to speak. I was curious if you might be able to show me how you did her eyes?"

Wendi nodded excitedly. "Yeah! It's always interesting!"

"... Is it?" Fara yawned and walked away somewhere else.

Jennifer joined her after a timid glance towards her own statue that man stood near. She seemed embarrassed to associate herself with it.

"...?"

"You need only demonstrate. I am an artist as well, but eyes are difficult to get right. And seeing hers, I see that to be the case. Here."

The man opened up a stasis stone that he hid in his pocket - one that had a delicate yet expressive face made of ice. However, the eyes were dull compared to the rest.

"?"

"I know, you need not remind me," the man groaned. "I understand that inputting another's may ruin the balance, as you're evidently aware, but I seek to better my craft!"

'Except... this is my first-time...?' He thought tiredly before shaking his head.

The man looked crestfallen at the apparent rejection, but a female scion appeared at his side. One he didn't look at as he was more engaged in the sculpture. "Please! I want to perfect my daughter's face!"

"... Mathias... it's fine if you want...?"

Mathias grumbled in annoyance but still grabbed the stone. Since the man was just working with reinforced ice, it was fairly easy to make alterations with his practice with Fara the days before.

He took a seat at a bench, concentrating on the work, and kept alternating between statue and subject. Since it was a bust of her, it required more control- especially there was no end to the man's hovering.

"... I see... I see... but why does it seem she's embarrassed?" The man asked Mathias who was just mirroring the model's eyes.

The father was more concentrated on the work than his daughter so he didn't see the difference.

After a few alterations to the face to convey worry, confusion and a general displeasure at being ignored - directed in the occasional glances to her father - Mathias passed it back. The daughter, all the while, kept an air of resignation, slightly shaking her head as she feigned disinterest in her father's actions. She turned to look at the displayed works and no longer offered herself as the indirect model Mathias based the obvious sculpture on.

"... It is quite different. I think I've noticed the technique, but it will require a great deal of practice. I also thank you for making the rest match. It is terrible on a father's heart to see an incomplete work for his beautiful daughter!" He spoke as he stared at the bust.

The daughter walked away as he continued to speak to the work as if it were her.

Mathias soon joined her in her goal of retreat, alongside Lisanna, Wendi, and Church. Different directions, however.

'There are too many strange people here,' Mathias wrote to Lisanna.

She burned it and nodded.

"It's true, but... maybe that's normal at an art gallery?"

"What's normal?"

"Strange people here."

"Oh, kind of, but the art dealer and that guy were pretty normal. There's a lot worse at literature circles," Wendi said with a visible shudder. "It's... too much sometimes."

'And this isn't?' Mathias thought.

The Headmaster was in the center of the room as he neatly lined-up the edges of the certificates. He passed them off to Watsan who disappeared into the crowd and he rose his glass.

"Hello! We'll be starting the dinner portion shortly so I'll ask you all to head to your tables! If there is any adjustment required, do let us know and we'll expand or contract the tables accordingly."

"... I guess it's time," Wendi said at long last, patting Lisanna on the shoulder.

"Y-yeah. I guess it is."