With Elder Jargus

Your mind races as the ceremony continues on. You were not quite sure what to make of your supposed talent. The idea that beings from this world and others were something you could summon up at your whim was a rather peculiar thing to wrap your mind around. What was weirder was how Lady Morgana put your inclined talent with your wealth of mana. The claim of controlling the devil himself seemed like something of a hyperbole that she'd use to help explain how powerful you are, but at the same time, she didn't seem like the sort to exaggerate, leaving you wondering just what your powers, once honed, could do.

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 given 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.

Despite the diversity of the staff, Elder Jargus was someone who stood out in his own way among those introduced. Looking to be well on in years, with deeply wrinkled skin and a crown of white hair on his otherwise bald head and flowing beard that added to an air that added to his almost ancient appearance. Yet, it wasn't his advanced age that made him stand out, not fully. Despite his years, he was a tall man, thick with muscle that strained against a brown leather vest and matching tan... skirt? Robe? It was all one piece of cloth that covered his legs, flowing down in a tattered, yet somehow defined piece. Etched into his exposed arms, chest, and even face were tattoos the likes of which seemed almost formulaic. Combining those aspects together with the stern brown eyes that he stared back with, he had an intimidating aura overall.

Once the school divided up into its specializations, the moderate group that was there before Jargus stayed silent as he looked them over, surveying them and determining things they had no possible way of preparing for. Crossing his arms over his broad chest, Jargus gave a slight snort.

Without even speaking to them, he clapped his hands together, mumbling something under his breath that nobody could discern from their current distance from him. Starting from his hands, the tattoos on his body began to glow a light blue color, traveling up his arms and over his body, until there was a bright flash.

When vision was restored, some sort of odd, centipede creature had been summoned forth. It was exceptionally large, about as wide as three grown men and long enough that its body seemed to wrap around the entire group several times over. What made it odd, besides simply being a giant centipede, was that there were several sections in its exoskeleton that had fleshy protuberances extending out of it back.

Not saying a word, Jargus climbed onto the back of the creature, right behind its head where its mandibles were clicking rapidly, and took hold of one of the tendrils extending out of its body. Glancing back to the class, he waited only a short time before the message was relayed and everyone joined him on the creature, holding onto the fleshy bits. Nodding, Jargus gave a tug and the centipede shot forth at a surprising speed, racing across the landscape, heading for the edges of the academy's campus.

Considering the speed of the creature, it didn't take long before your group ended up in front of a large, somewhat domed building with a glass ceiling, making it look not unlike an atrium. Claw marks and other indicators that living beings of all sorts and sizes had been here gave little doubt this was where the Conjuration group did most of their work.

When the centipede came to a stop, Jargus climbed off of it, quickly followed by the rest. Anyone who took too long was met with a surprise as the beast suddenly dissipated in light blue sparks.

Not waiting for those that were slow to recover, Jargus finally spoke, drawing all eyes to him on the fact he was finally addressing them as it was. "You lot, be ya fortunate or not, are stuck with me, jus' as I am stuck with ya." Jargus started, showing no general disdain, but no attachment to the students. "I ain't gonna lie to ya, this ain't no glamorous magic. Ta do it right, ya gotta connect ta beasts, monsters, an' more that ain't gonna roll over for ya, not at first. Get good, an' any enemies ya got will become chow. Fail, an' ya'll become the food."

Silence was all Jargus got, with the exception of a few determined nods from those that likely already had some hand in the art. While the group seemed to have people from aristocrats to jungle dwellers like all the divisions seemed to have, there was a good deal here that already seemed to have some sort of equipment meant for dealing with whatever they may summon.

"Now, I got a lot of preliminary work I need ta run ya through, but I'm already sick an' tired of lookin' at ya. Head inside, find a room, that's it. I'll begin testin' tomorrow mornin'." Jargus announced, making it clear with a snap of his fingers for everyone to move quickly.

You were almost past him, when one of his hands shot out and grabbed you by the shoulder so hard, you'd have thought he was trying to break your bones. "Not so fast, Morgie wanted me ta have a word with ya." Jargus stated, tugging you aside while the others continued on.