Coming back to the inferno. (Azurite thread)

[Anastasia]

It's been a long few months for one blue haired magician.

It all started when he went to track down his wayward sister, Kaolinite. Finding that she was sitting on a hotbed of magical activity was cool, one that you intend to explore yourself. Yet, finding out that his beloved sister was into forbidden arts such as necromancy was more of a downer; sucked even more when Azurite found out she was notably dead and cremated.

The ensuing trip back to your family was a rough one. Grief mingled with outrage and curiosity about her death and this Mugen Academy dominated, weeks and months going by as the family coped. Finally, Tanzanite, your grandfather, asked you to go back to keep an eye on this academy, as well as perhaps finding out what dark paths led her to such terrible arts.

Thus, your trip to Tokyo began again.

---

Damn it.

It figures that on the day you come back that a small snowstorm is falling, with an outright blizzard promised tomorrow. It takes a bit more time to get back to Kaolinite's old apartment than you had desired, nearly noon before you sit on the couch there.

You can't really even linger inside the soon to be warm household, either. Mugen is open today...and even from here, you can feel the pulse of magic from it. If anything, it's stronger and more defined than it was months ago. Winds coming from the direction of the school carry the faintest taste of such great magics, giving the snow laden air a truly mystical feel to match it's dreamlike fall.

[thepanda]

“Ok, I have two options,” Azurite mutters, staring out the window. “One, I could go ahead and trudge through this winter wonderland and, hopefully, straighten some things out at Mugen. Or I could stay home and get snowed in by a blizzard and deal with the paperwork later.” Watching the white bits of frozen precipitate fall not-quite-slowly outside, he nods.

“Staying in it is!” The blue-haired young man begins a cursory inspection of the house, which is terminated quite quickly by a force even stronger than the pull of magic. A hardy rumbling signals the next room to be inspected. Sadly, several months without an occupant does not a stocked kitchen make. Defeated, he gathers his winter wear together and begins a trip toward the school, as he might as well go there if he’s going out anyway.

[Anastasia]

After a short but warming meal at a local cafe, you head to Mugen. The towering edifice is as it always has been, the wet and heavy snow swirling in the air like white starlights dancing in the gray air. The place throbs with magical energy; it's now the clear and away strongest source of power in the Tokyo area.

Quite frankly, it's almost surprising to see it as a place on Earth and not some faraway, fey land, it's so drenched in the powers that most humans cannot or will not comprehend. School is still in session, only a few people out in this weather as you approach.

[thepanda]

A low whistle escapes Azurite’s lips at the ‘sight’.

“Man, what did I miss since I’ve been away?” He opens himself more fully to the magic aura, basking in it.

Perhaps coming back to school today wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

He enters the building, heading for the office to go see about classes. Again.

[Anastasia]

Entering inside, you soon find your way to the front offices. It's not a hard trip, as the way is clearly outlined to lead guests from intruding in the classroom areas. The flows into a trio of middle aged women - a receptionist, a secratary and a page - to deal with you and your coming requests.

"So dearie," the secratary says, graying and tied back brown hair complimenting her chain and glasses, "What do you need?"

[thepanda]

“Good day, ladies,” Azurite begins, smiling more from the magical ambiance than anything else. “I had transferred out some time ago due to a bit of family related business and need to transfer back now that it has been taken care of.”

He rocks back on his heels, hoping that this wouldn’t take too long.

[Anastasia]

"Right," the secratery nods once. "Dear, you'll need to fill this out," she yanks out a four or five page sheet, full of papwerwork headaches. "And talk with a conselor for placement. You already passed your entrance exams, yes?"

All three eye you as the spectre of bueracracy looms over your shoulder...

[thepanda]

“But of course,” he says, bowing slightly and taking the paper. After a time he returns it, having filled out transfer papers twice already; once the first time coming to Mugen and the second when going back home. Boring it is, but better to get it out of the way now than later.

“So, I need to see a councilor now, yes?” he asks, wanting to get it over with.

[Anastasia]

The glassed woman nods, taking the form and looking it over. "Alright...Azurite? Hum. Hey, Beiji, check the file for that name, would you?"

The page woman, long haired and starting to really show her age, nods and goes to pull out a thin manilla folder from a nearby file cabinet. "Just hold on a moment, dearie. I think your name might be red listed - which means Headmaster Tomoe or a representative will wish to speak with you directly." With the warm smile she gives you, it almost can dispel any fears you may have obtained just now.

[thepanda]

“As you say,” he nods gratefully toward the older woman. It probably would be easier to explain his leave to the professor anyway, as he’d have to do so eventually anyway.

“Two birds with one stone,” he says quietly to himself, taking a moment to study the room as there isn’t really much he can do while waiting.

[Anastasia]

A few moments later, "Yeah, he is," one of the women confirm, which causes the secratary to smile at you again. "Okay..." she nods to a few decent seats over in the waiting area, "Go ahead and sit down. We'll send a call upstairs to administration and they'll send someone down."

[thepanda]

“Thank you,” he tells her. Azurite moves to the waiting area, his mind not pondering anything in particular.

“I should have brought a book or something,” he finally decides.

[Anastasia]

There are a few brochures and a student guide on a small corner table, neither of which give much of note or interest; pure fluff pieces. It's about twenty or so minutes before Professor Tomoe himself enters, his daughter with him. They look to be freshly out of the snow, both still wearing snow boots and heavy jackets/overcoats.  The girl is carrying a white cat, a cresent moon mark on it's forhead. "Go ahead, Hotaru," he smiles to her, then turns his gaze to you as his child goes off. Of note, all three seem to be some of the many sources of power here.

After that, he nods to you, soft, dark eyes studying you. "Come on...let's go upstairs to my office."

[thepanda]

Yes sir,” Azurite says, rising to his feet a little less swiftly than normal, not so much staring at the professor but studying him nonetheless. He picks up his winter coat, folding the heavy material across an arm.

A few steps later and the blue-haired youth falls in behind the older man.

[Anastasia]

It's a short trip to an elevator, and a not too long trip to the Headmaster's office. Dark and as warm as you remember, Tomoe takes a few moments to get out of his boots and overjacket before sitting.

"I'll call up some tea - the weather is truly unpleasant," he notes, doing so with a short phone call. "So," he begins right after, "You're back."