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MEANWHILE, THE CENTRAL CAMPAIGN ROOM ]
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Logestilla straightens her stack of folders against the stone table, clearing her throat to bring the final strains of a heated four-way argument to a close.
"Ahem! Now, on to the last of our prospective Azures to be divided, the examinees who encountered the anomalous demons-" She doesn't get to finish before hands are raised and voices call out. She sighs, mouth curving with amusement as the chaos starts up again.
"I'll take the healer!"
"Heartbrook would make a fine addition to my Cell-"
"That unregistered cambion looks like she'd be perfect for a recon team-"
The Deputy Headmistress glances toward the head of the table where their superior sits, but Irkallla shows no signs of actively engaging in the discussion and continues to pen letters of condolence to the relatives of the newly deceased. Well, no help there. She slams a fist on the table, causing the entire thing to jolt and groan. All those gathrered around it either jump or shut up. Most do both.
"As I was saying," she continues sweetly, "We'll begin by evaluating their applications and start with Ada Hendrix."
There's a pause as they flip to the appropiate page.
"Huh...not sure what she's trying to accomplish here."
"What do you mean?" Thelma Luna, who always loses her paperwork, leans to read over her seatmate's shoulder.
"She wants to help others...okay. But learning more healing magic? Best to go to an Album School then."
"Maybe she wants to see more blood and guts! Small towns rarely offer the opportunity~" Hemorrhage, who is aptly named, suggests brightly.
Anathe du Lac makes a face. "Yeah, something about her showing makes me really doubt that."
"You could read that as an ambition to improve her healing in a more challenging environment." Gwyneira Nieves' suggestion is much more helpful, but also dismissed out of turn.
"You could, but there is no mention of such ambitions, and again, she doesn't seem the type. An Album school would be better suited for her."
The Cait Sidhe leans forward in his chair, expression somehow both mild and pointed. "You watched the recordings. She did not waver in the face of near impossible odds. Ada Hendrix is also partially the reason that Pasha Rarr is still alive. She would make for an excellent triage medic with better training."
The naiad raises her hands and leans back. "Hm, fair enough! I'll take her, then. If nothing else, she'd always have water on hand."
"Don't you have Ortho?"
Anathe looks to the brunet on her right. "Trade you?"
"Hells no! That kid never stops talking!"
"Right then! Miss Hendrix may not have passed the exam, but her excellent showing during the course of it has earned her a spot in Kirin. Moving along!" Logestilla makes a show of shuffling her folders. "On the matter of Zinna Heartbrook..."
"Ah. Shame what happened to her Cell..."
"Has she been informed yet?" Someone whispers to their partner.
Logestilla continues, "She hasn't...the decision to declare them KIA has only been made this morning. We're only working to locate their bodies.... The point of this discussion is to find her another Cell. I'd like to ask your opinion on this, Blade Signifier." She nods toward where Amalareiks sits a few seats down, precariously tilting backward in his chair.
He hums, idly curling a lock of hair around his finger and grinning when all eyes turn to him. As the most prominent Blade Signifier he is often invited to Division Councils for his work amongst the students and shepherding them during the exams. This will be his most important Council Meeting yet and he's reveling in the attention.
"Zinna displayed dedication to her task and the ability to hone greater skill with people. She's working outside of the shadow of her parents to become a better Exorcist than they ever were. Her bravery was clear for us all to see. And-" He pauses as if this is the most important part, "She waited until my back was turned to roll her eyes~" This earns him a few snickers, and Ymir's Cicerone mutters, "Ymir could never." Amalareiks laughs before continuing. "Combat skills are solid but need more polishing, I recognized her movements from our drills. And she could learn to have more imagination when it comes to using her magic. A Cicerone and Cell with more variety than her former would suit her best."
The Deputy Headmistress smiles and sets the Amber's dossier aside. "Thank you, Blade Rex. On to Onyx Xavier-"
There's a general murmur in the room as those gathered perk up with interest.
"A strange one, if I've ever seen it-"
"We should have interviewed her more-"
"Interrogated more like-!"
This time, Logestilla clearing her throat doesn't manage to quell the raised voices.
"Her application says that she just wanted to 'find more cambions'. We've heard that before!"
"And she just wishy-washed her way in, how can we trust her when it truly matters? She just wants to make friends?!"
"I admit, having no recollection of her family sounds awfully convenient...didn't Rhyne Brau claim the same thing?"
"And look how that turned out! Three Cells, gone!"
"That's enough!" The Deputy Headmistress raises her voice without a flicker in her serene expression. "I don't recall asking for your opinions. Blade Rex?"
He'd been watching the chaos with amusement, cheek resting against his knuckles as his gem-like gaze slowly drifts to the expectant woman. "Well, first thing. She told us her weaknesses. That isn't the most calculated move for a spy."
"That could just be a way to lower our defenses!"
"I'll give you that." He nods toward the irate sorcerer. "However, that isn't what I Read from her."
Frowns are still present, but they settle down a bit at that. The cambion's Readings have never been wrong. "Think about it. This is someone who has nothing and no one. Would it not make sense for her to seek out a form of normalcy or community?"
"A draconic demon, though? Don't you think it's strange that she was ready to join something that is at the expense of her life? Without coveting anything material at all? She was absurdly cooperative as well-"
"So she's an anomaly~" He waves a tattooed hand. "We deal in anomalies as a point of pride, remember?"
Logestilla smiles at this, touching the Amarok badge glinting on her choker. "That is exactly what we do, Rex~ Onyx's abilities are multifaceted, she would suit Basilisk House well."
The moment is ruined when Odion Adisa says, "She came to us at the perfect time, then. A cambion with no one else to influence or train her...we could use more-"
"No!" The small woman jabs a finger at him. "Don't even think about finishing that sentence! HR upon you!"
As he'd been sentenced to Humane Reforms thrice that month, he only shrugs and rolls his eyes.
Anna Lyons says, "She's not the only cambion we should be wary of-" and the room implodes with sound again.
"We're killing him, right?"
"We can't train...that."
"Killing him is inhumane! Let him quietly succumb to his injuries..."
"Can I keep his body?"
"No Hemorrhage!" The redhead sinks into his seat with a childish pout.
Logestilla sighs and begins loudly summarizing his application. "Ryuzaki Igarashi does not say if but when he becomes an Exorcist, he will rise above the malevolence that would control him and...become a person worth believing in. He wishes to...kill all demons and protect humans. Particularly his 'brother' Sorachi Kišo."
"Cute." Anna deadpans.
"Tragic." Drake Pixis tsks.
"Well, he certainly proved that during the exams!" Anathe can always be relied on for her quick sarcasm.
Soft lilac eyes turn toward the horned cambion and there are a few mutters of irritation but they lower in volume to hear him speak.
Amalareiks narrows his eyes in thought. "I haven't personally fought with him, but I've visited his cell to check his restraints. The Seals aren't ironclad but they're impressive for an apprentice onmyōji. There is...too much Oni in him to definitively say that he'll ever be able to fully make peace with either side of him, but his little sidekick has already kickstarted the process." He drums his fingers on the table absently, gaze going distant as he considers his next words. "If he were alone the decision would be clear...but together, they show promise. A mite too codependent though. Even unconscious they breathe in unison. Freaks~"
"What- you're not considering?!" Wide eyes turn to an unmoved Logestilla.
"Deputy Headmistress! We've had three Oni cambions and they've all ended in tragedy! Nothing makes this one different!"
"Fourth time's the charm~" Amalareiks singsongs.
"That is not how that works!" Kanami Akiyama protests, "Four literally leads to death!"
Logestilla folds her hands and allows a faint furrow to her brows. "I've reviewed the Seals placed on him as well. They're...quite the innovation. Kiyomi may have laid the foundation, but Sorachi Kišo's talents are clear. If nothing else, we should keep them here as an experiment to see how far they can take him."
There is of course, violent opposition to that idea.
"And have him attempt to eat his own Cell like the last one?!"
"There are bite scars on his so-called 'brother'!"
She patiently weathers the storm of refusal, looking between their dossiers with a pensive hum. "Sorachi's 'Ambitions' portion of the application is full of writing. He's even taken up the margins..." Logestilla's tone is light and casual, "What I'm seeing is an unwavering dedication to Ryuzaki's 'dream'..." She finally lifts her gaze to the incredulous Cicerone. "Every Oni we've admitted...they've come alone, haven't they?"
"Well of course! No one lives long around an-"
"You wanted to know what was 'different' about him." She waves the folder. "This. This gives us the opportunity to have insight into Oni that we never had before. As well as the ability to Seal and humanize them so that other Oni cambions do not suffer the same fate as those in the past. I fully accept that this is a risk, but it's a calculated one that I'm willing to take." She briefly looks to Amalareiks, who inclines his head with a smile. No one is surprised about his support, his former Cicerone always has it.
"Felblanc is not simply a school for training Exorcists. We are Felblanc of Radiant Paths. We exist to make a difference and provide for those who would be executed and loathed simply for the circumstances of their birth. We never give up on a student before giving them a fair chance, and we will not start now. I understand your concerns. I would agree with you if we were dealing with any other Oni...but this could be the start of something new. He has an attentitive onmyōji at his side to adjust his Seals at any moment. Ryuzaki Igarashi and Onyx Xavier can be more than what they are. I truly believe that."
"You can't put your trust in a boy who nearly got them all killed!"
"A Simultaneous Sealing is ambitious, but an appropriate risk given the circumstances. And have you ever met an onmyōji capable of turning an Oni into a shikigami?" Amalareiks counters, brows arching.
Logestilla exhales slowly. "Nerium already interviewed him, and he agreed to have a Karmic Death Curse placed on him as collateral. My decision is final." She looks out over a sea of unhappy faces but finds a few slowly nodding or begrudgingly holding up their hands. It's a start. "Of course, he will be placed in Amarok House so that Blade Rex and I can watch him. Now." She claps her hands. "We are moving on to the assigning of Cicerone."
Voices raise in dispute once more but a sharp, soft one rises above the din.
"I will take both cambion." Zhilan opens dawn-hued eyes to meet the sorceress' surprised gaze. "My ki is suited to healing and executing otherworldly beings, should their deaths be called for. I am also familiar with a branch of Onmyōdō. You have no one better." His chin lifts with his usual arrogance.
She blinks twice before smiling. "Oh? That I don't~ Thank you, Zhilan~"
"Hm." He gives an approving nod before closing his eyes and returning to his meditative state. Looks are exchanged but no one argues against his claim.
Gwyneira's mouth ticks up as he glances over at his fellow first-time Cicerone. "And it would be my pleasure to mentor Miss Heartbrook and Miss Hendrix-" Anathe sticks her tongue out at him. "-a Kirin and an Amarok, correct? But that would leave-"
"Ah!" Logestilla snaps her fingers and rifles through her folders for one near the bottom. "Our recent applicant!" She flicks through his papers. "I- hm. That's...interesting."
