With Duchess Felfram

Your thoughts are oddly calm as the rest of the ceremony continues on. Your knowledge of magic isn't great, but you knew there were other, far more hostile forms of magic. Fireballs and arcs of lightning being flung from fingertips. Snakes the size of rivers being summoned out of thin air. The dead rising up and dragging the living to an early grave. So it was with a steady heart that you learned that your apparent talents lied in something that wasn't going to eviscerate, decapitate, obliterate, exterminate, and any other bad thing that ended in -ate.

Thankfully, you weren't so caught up in your thoughts that you'd miss the closing portion of the ceremony... well, all of it. There were some words about how, regardless of the talent your possessed or the power you had, all of you were expected to forge yourselves through the trials of the academy and become magic users devoted to the Tyrant King and his Eternal Empire.

What you did catch upon was her naming a number of the Academy's scholars, those that would guide you through your time here and bestow upon you the skills that will make you feared by the Alliance and its ilk. Given it was stated in not quite as simplified words, glorifying the students, the Tyrant King, and the Eternal Empire as a whole more, while showing no fondness for the Alliance.

Duchess Felfram was an odd sort of creature that you had a hard time truly classifying. With skin that seemed to be a pale yellow-green mix and dark green hair, she was already off something you'd know wasn't totally human, but then came the pointed ears sticking out of her hair, pure blue eyes that seemed almost insectoid in nature, and massive butterfly wings that sprouted out of her back, displaying blue and pink. You'd have guessed she was a fairy, but she stood a good head taller than you did, which didn't match what you'd heard of fairies at all. Combined with her dress, that was composed of varying folds of brown, tan, and green of natural colors, she was a beautiful sight to behold, but somewhat alienating.

When you and the rest of the Abjuration group were eventually left alone with Duchess Felfram following the end of the ceremony, she merely stood over the rest of you for a moment, her lips curled into a delicate, gentle smile that should have calmed you, but only seemed to make your skin crawl.

"My children." Felfram started, her voice calm, almost motherly, yet the echo of something else behind it. "I am so very pleased to see as many of you as we have this evening. Abjuration is an uncommon talent, not so rare as Necromancy, but not quite as appreciated either. I will not lie, our talents do not earn roars of admiration from our allies or cries of fears from our enemies. Those that hunger for battle will likely not see much to enjoy from our lessons, and for that, I apologize." Felfram explained, her hands coming together in a gesture of seeming prayer, her head dipping forward a bit.

There seemed to be no argument or words of displeasure from the group, something you were a bit surprised about considering how hostile most of those attending were. Giving a quick look around, you noticed that the majority of the group seemed almost enthralled by Felfram's words. Adoration wasn't the word quite so well as it was hypnotically drawn in. Only a handful of others seemed to be outside the realm of influence.

When you turned your attention back to Duchess Felfram, you noticed that her focus was directed at you. While difficult to tell due to the lack of pupils in her eyes, you just KNEW that she was looking right at you, her smile growing larger before addressing everyone once more.

"However, you will find that Abjuration is just as useful, if not more so for the individual. To use your magic to nullify the effects of other people's magic, remove curses, and even render them totally powerless in your presence provides you with a sense of control no other form of magic can provide. Furthermore, with the sort of barriers you can produce, you may even become nearly untouchable. Even the effects of time itself can be staved off if you're powerful enough."

Turning her back on the group of students, she looked over her shoulder and said "Unfortunately I must admit, there's no flashy way to get us to where we perform our studies based on it, so let us begin walking." With that being said, everyone follows Felfram as she starts off to the dormitory. The walk is a quiet endeavor as many seem to be recovering, their eyes somewhat weary, disoriented and confused. They only seem to fully recover by the time you all arrive at the building.

Compared to everything else, it's surprisingly bland. Like some large box made out of stone with only the slightest indentations added here and there to give it some character, yet they were clearly there intentionally. In fact, while most of the architecture around the campus was fairly pristine, there was clear signs of the fact it was built upon a hostile environment with spells being cast. This building in particular seemed unmarred, like nothing had yet to touch it, it was unnatural in that sense.

Turning back to you, Felfram's smile had not left her face as she spread her arms and wings out. "Welcome to our humble abode. I know it may not look like much, but our fore bearers were not the most... imaginative sort. But you will find that everything inside will be most accommodating. Please, come up one at a time, and I will provide you with directions to your individual rooms." the fey-like woman declared.

As instructed, everyone goes up one by one, with very few making an effort to get their room first. Not being in much of a rush and remembering Lady Morgana's words, you wait to be the last to receive your room. When it is only you and the Duchess, she looks at you with her smile growing once more in that eerie sense that leaves your skin crawling.

"I've been looking forward to a private moment with you. Lady Morgana told us of your arrival, but between that display at the ceremony and your natural resilience to my Charm, I'm impressed." Felfram stated, taking your hand in hers. It was soft, smooth, and ever so inviting, yet didn't completely alleviate you of the odd sensation you got around her.

"Um, pardon? I-I mean, I guess I do have a lot of mana, but I'm just used to not expecting much around charming people, no offense." you reply, earning a giggle out of Felfram.

"Oh dear, my Charm. You see, while I am a master of Abjuration, my people have a natural inclination towards Enchantment as well, Charms in particular. It's a little test upon our newer students to see who can resist it. You were clearly one of the few that could maintain your composure, and with no training. I'm looking forward to seeing what you're truly capable of." Felfram explained, her featureless, pure blue eyes somehow gaining a sort of... intrigued, hungry look about them.

"R-right, well she told me to come to you once I learned my inherent, um... talent for Abjuration." you stammered slightly, not sure if you should keep staring Felfram in the eyes or not.

"Of course." the Duchess said with a curt nod. "Admittedly, when it comes to Abjuration, there are less spells than others. Things come down to certain, very simple things that you must memorize and put an extra level of attention and mana on. It's easy in practice, but becomes difficult in the heat of battle. While I'll teach everyone this, there are some extra lessons Lady Morgana wanted me to teach you, things that you alone will likely be able to do. But we shall handle that later, for now, head off to sleep. I will meet with you again for your 'advanced' lessons."