whiteoak academy

[oshibana]

The country of Esmos has a proud tradition of raising the children of its noble houses into powerful mages who wield all manner of control over the magic that runs through the world. To this end, the most magically adept (and, typically, richest and most well-bred) children are sent to the prestigious White Oak Academy. Here, they learn how to get along and more importantly, how to mingle and socialize in high society. Etiquette and history classes are held alongside magical theory and combat and it's impossible to tell just which is more dangerous – the magic the students are learning to control or the social circles they're expected to begin navigating. Still, White Oak is known through the land for a reason and with nobles and royalty in attendance, the security and care taken in protecting their students make this the safest place in all of Esmos. Surely nothing could go wrong in a place like White Oak.

Comments

[oshibana]

[ whiplash... ]

M-maybe not but... It's good to be thorough, I think?

[ Whether or not she'd meant it as an insult - it's true that Lily can't just rely on talent to coast by. ]

I'd like to ensure I do everything properly, at least.

[calyptroll]

If there's any strain in the spell, it's because I have little talent with wind magic. [Her jaw clenches, and she looks like she's only replying in words because she's too well-bred to spit.] Get on with it and get it over with.

[Not good with wind magic, no- not very naturally good with any magic in particular, as far as Lily would know from seeing her in class.]

[The truth is that she's an absolute expert at exactly one form of magic, and it's the one she's required to take with her to her grave. And she has never once flinched from duty- but there are times it galls, to know that she'll have to spend the rest of her life hobbling herself, never showing her potential to the public eye.]

[The elements of the natural world, wind and stone and water... they all just feel so cold and sterile to her, compared to blood magic. Light and fire are brighter, but they're just not the same.]

[oshibana]

[ Ah. Somehow, hearing that right from the girl herself makes Lily feel a little bad – not bad enough not to take a note of it (it's for class, she's not getting a bad grade just because the lovely Lady Calpiny is Like This) but it still strikes an odd note of sympathy with her all the same. The two of them might not get along, but she's seen how hard Dulcie works – how frustrating it must be for her results to be stymied by something she truly can't help.

With that, she turns her face away from Dulcie and carefully cups her hands around her mouth. A playful breeze catches her voice, just present enough to ruffle Dulcie's hair as it carries her words along. ]

Mulching is the addition of a protective layer around the base of your roses. This process helps your roses to retain moisture, suppresses weeds...

[ ... she panicked and just started reciting from one of her gardening books for lack of anything else to say. ]

[calyptroll]

Hmph.

[Dulcie scoffs audibly and looks away. Still, her expression softens just the tiniest fraction as she dutifully takes the message down in her perfect, elegant noblewoman's handwriting.]

[She's always been quite fond of roses.]

[Then she looks up and catches sight of Lily, and her expression sours again.]

This garden already has one too many flowers.

[Scowl once more firmly in place, she snatches up her paper and stalks off to go hand it in. Probably one of the least comfortable school assignments either of them have had in a while, but at least everyone survived.]