A new student

(( FORWARD NOTE:: Okie, just so that I don't confuse anyone. Yes, Sarea is mute, but sometimes it will seem like she is talking in italics. If that is happening, she is 'speaking' with Madoka. They have a strong empathy link, so Madoka can hear her thoughts. + Modoka is Japanese, she has an accent so all of her 'L' s will be 'R' s~! ))


Sarea's hand tensed slightly, she was gently thumbing the reigns of her mare as she rode, but she felt as though she was being led to a prison.
"It is just a new schoor, Sarea-Sama. I promise, arr wirr be fine."
Sarea nodded slowly, closing her eyes.

"Oh Sarea-Sama. . . Do not be upset. . . You are very fortunate that the Arcanian empire is so crosery arried with Parandor."

I know, Madoka. I am sorry.

"Miss Aono, Lady Madoka, we will be arriving shortly."
"Arigato, sir."

They rode in silence for a bit longer before Madoka glanced back at her young master, the brunette haired teen's face was plastard with worry.

Two swords clashed together and let a resounding clang around the outdoor sparring compound.
Winter Le'Ali slid her sword down her opponents, and locked the hilt. The younger squire didn't know what to do, and he watched helplessly as the girl in front of him made him drop his sword with a flick of her wrist. She grabbed his sword in one quick movement, then pointed the end of it at his throat.

"Time!" a yell sounded from a man watching the battle. "Winter wins. Again."

Winter took a bow and handed the other squire his sword back. "Pleasure fighting with you," she said.

"Likewise," the other squire replied with a bow.

Winter headed toward the outer wall. After a battle such as that, she needed to see the greenery of the forest. She headed up the steps and looked out. She spotted three mounted people coming toward the old castle.
She ran down to the keeper of the draw bridge.

"Were we supposed to get someone new today?" she asked. The man nodded and started to open the portcullis. The drawbridge was already down, like it usually stayed.

Winter watched as the three mounted people came nearer.

"Well miss Sarea, welcome to the Palandor Knight Academy!" The escorut remarked cheerfully.
Sarea's eyes were already flicking back and forth, scanning the new territory for any useful hiding places, just in case. . . And for others.
She noticed a few watchmen and a girl near her age, but nothing too abnormal.

Just another school. . .

"Prease, give it a chance." Madoka commented softly. Sarea nodded, kicking herself mentally for forgetting Madoka's prescence as she dismounted.

"Welcome," Winter greeted the newcomers.
She noticed the girl that was around her age didn't say anything, not even when her caretaker spoke to her.
"I'm Winter," Winter continued.

"Come in so we can close the portcullis," said the keeper of the drawbridge.
The three did.
"What are your names?" Winter tried to speak to them once more.

The care taker, a young woman with pure white hair bowed.
"Ohayo, I am Madoka. It is an honor to meet you. . . Winter-San? Correct?"

Winter nodded, glancing to the other girl. "Correct. And you?"

Sarea nodded, motioning to Madoka.
"Sarea Aono, is the young master's name." Madoka enlightened. "We apologise in advance. . . Sarea-Sama is mute."

A flicker of surprise flashed over Winter's face.
"Oh," she said, unsure of what else to say.

There was an awkward moment.

Then Winter asked, "Are you her translator then?"

The woman nodded.

"How do you know what she wants to say? Emphatic link?" Winter asked.
She was curious about the two new strangers.

A smile flickered across Sarea's face, she nodded. Madoka bowed slightly, "We apologise again."

"Please, it is nothing to be sorry for." Winter rushed, glancing to wards Sarea. "A handicap makes you no weaker then the rest."
Sarea gave Winter a look of approval before suddenly snapping her fingers, quickly signing.

*If need, I may use sign language.*

Winter grinned. She had spent a few semesters in Ellswyr learning languages, a sign language was one she had excelled at.
"Well, this is a way for us to connect," she signed. Then she continued aloud, "Come, let's get you two signed in and I'll take you to your rooms. If I'm not mistaken, you will be on my floor of the tower."

She lead the way inside the castle, signaling for two second year squires to collect the newcomer's things and bring them inside.
They went through admissions and waited to see which tower and floor they were assigned.

"Oh, well aren't you special," Winter murmured, handing Sarea a piece of paper. "You are in the same tower as I, but they are letting you choose your floor. One, three, and five have beds available. I am on five. Which one do you choose?"

Sarea tipped her head, considering for a moment. She glanced over at Madoka, who nodded.

*Five it is then.*

"Five," Winter repeated, dipping a feather pen in ink and finishing the paperwork. She gave the paper to the lady that was in charge of keeping up with it.
"Alright, I will show you the floor now," the half-Elf said. "Follow me."

Up five flights of stairs they went. They finally reached the top and Winter opened the door into a living area. She had the squires who were carrying Sarea's and Madoka's belongings sit them down. Then she dismissed them.

"The two rooms at the end of the hall are open," said Winter, pointing. "I'll help you carry your things if you like."

"Ah, arigato. That wourd be very much appreciated!" Madoka replied, bowing slightly.

Winter smiled, reaching down to help grab up the lugauge. "It is really nothing. .."

~{*}~

After roughly a half hour, both Madoka and Sarea were completely settled. Given the fact that they had unload and set up all that they brought, a half hour was rather quick!
Sarea stepped back, leaning against the wall to survey her new living quarters.

Definetly nice.

She had definetly made it feel more like home. A silk tapastrie now hung on her wall, a wolf pack and night scenery finely stitched into it's navy blue fabiric. Her clothes were packed away in the dresser provided, Her weapons neatly arranged, and her books resting on a shelf.
There was even room for the two tatami mats and small table Madoka had given her years ago.

Definetly.

"That's a beautiful tapestry," Winter commented, standing in the doorway.
Sarea signed 'thank you' and went to sit on her bed.

"So where are you from?" Winter asked.

"We are from Arcane," answered Madoka.

"It must be beautiful there," Winter replied. "I've never been very far from here."

Sarea nodded and signed, "It is beautiful."
Winter saw a look of longing cross the girl's face and promptly vanish.

"So... How did you get accepted to the Academy?" asked Winter.

Sarea began to sign slowly.

*Mother,* Winter noticed how she seemed to hold no emotion for the term, *Is the Empress' right hand, she is a reprisenative of Arcane.*
She hesitated slightly, looking to Madoka to continue. The white haired woman nodded, understanding written in her eyes.

"Sarea-Sama was not. . . Treated propery within the Arcanian schooring system."

"Not. . . Treated properly?"

"She. . . Was held above the rest. Once Sarea-Sama noticed, she attempted to break the trend by. . . Causing upsets. . . After some time, it was decided that she must be placed somewhere her skirr wourd be usefur, but she wourd be equar to other students."

*Palandor is a close allie to Arcane, so Mother decided I would be placed here.*

"Interesting," Winter murmured, tapping her fingers on the door frame.

"How about you?" Madoka asked. Winter was sure she wasn't just asking for herself, but for Sarae as well.

Winter exhaled sharply. "I was left on the edge of the drawbridge right by the portcullis when I was about two months old. All that was left with me was a letter, this ring,-" She held up her hand to show the shiny silver circle with a amethyst stone set in the center "- and the swaddling I was laid in. Funny thing is, the night guard never saw anyone on the drawbridge. I've never known a mother or a father and I have been raised here all my life."

There was silence in the room. Suddenly, she sighed and continued, changing the subject, "Well, like you said, your skill is what got you here. Shall we go and see how good you really are?"

Sarea gave a single, sharp nod as a reply, a half smile touching her features.
Madoka eased herself back towards the door. "Of course. I sharr join you."

With that, they followed after Winter.

((Short turn is short, I will write a longer post on my next turn! xD ))

Winter lead the way down the stairs and outside the old castle.
She continued into a courtyard where a sparring arena was set up.

"This is the outdoor sparring arena," Winter spoke, gesturing with her hand. A few other people were practicing in the field.

She headed over to a weapon rank with wooden training weapons.
"Weapon of choice, longsword," Winter said, pulling a wooden longsword from the rack.
"And you?

Sarea stepped up next to her, she seemed relaxed.
Ready.

*Longsword. . .*, she started slowly as she reached down to her boot. *. . .And Saxe knife.* She dragged a slightly curved dagger from her boot.

"I see." Winter passed her a spare longsword, then stepped back a few paces.

"Ready?"

Sarea nodded, glancing to madoka. The young woman nodded. "Begin."
Winter was mildly surprised when Sarea sprung forward, using her hands as a spring-board and placing herself less than a foot away from her opponet. Raising her saxe knife to catch the end of Winter's longsword, all while steading the longsword in her other hand.

Winter saw the knife coming to meet her sword, she she changed the direction of her sword and went to slice at her opponent's unprotected side.
Sarea saw this coming, however, and met the Winter's sword with her longsword instead.

Winter jumped back and stabbed.
Sarea caught her stab with her own longsword and made a swift cut with her dagger.

Winter hissed as the knife grazed her arm and drew blood.
She recoiled and rolled to the other side of the girl, preparing to slice her from behind.

Sarea was already turning, spinning on her heels to meet Winter. Despite this, she was caught off guard a knocked back a bit when her opponet attacked.

The mute girl frowned tensing as she was caught in sword lock. . . She just needed--
Now! As Winter's gaze flickered to the longsword, Sarea brought her saxe knife crashing upward. It took the weight of Winter's longsword long enough for Sarea to thrust her own sword hard directly against the blade, knocking it to the ground.
She then leapt forward, driving Winter back until Sarea's duel weapons were crossed inches from the auburn haired girls throat.

"Well. . ."

Sarea blinked, stepping back.

*I am. . . Sorry. I got carried away.*

Winter's lips curved a bit to show a faint smile.
"Lucky blow," she said, as she tucked her sword under her arm and looking around.

Not only had the people in the sparring arena stopped and watched, they had drawn a small crowd of other people as well.
"You're a decent swordswoman," Winter continued. "It's not often I get beaten or get a challenge such as you gave me."
She looked around and people began to disperse.

"Why are they reaving?" Madoka asked.

"I'm what you could call 'Queen of the Compound' during the summer," the girl replied. "Usually, the younger squires will obey me. I do wish it was like that all year round though." She sighed and looked at her arm. Blood was smeared down her arm a little ways from where she had been cut by her opponents dagger.
"It looks as though you got me pretty good, Sarea," she said. "I guess it is a good thing it isn't poisoned."

Sarea offered an apologetic smile, nodding.

*I am sorry.*

"No need, the cut is not very deep. . ."

*Even so. . .*

Winter laughed slightly, not noticing that Madoka had moved to her side and was eyeing the wound.
"Winter-San, you best take care of this injury. . ."

"I will. Shall we?" Winter asked, motioning to the tower.
Sarea nodded and up they went.

"You have a lot of skill, Sarea," Winter said once they were up in the tower. She lead the way to her room.
"You'll advance fast here with your skill."
She opened the door and revealed a simple room. There was a wardrobe, a bed, a few chests, a desk, three chairs, and a bookshelf.

She opened a chest and got out a bottle and a bandage.
"Here we are," she smiled. "Marigold tincture." She looked at the two who stood in her doorway.
"Come in, sit down. We can talk while I bandage this."

Sarea nodded, entering the room and taking a seat on one of the chairs. Madoka waited until her young master had sat down before being seated and peering at Winter with concern.
"I am assuming you have treated quite a few minor injuries rike this, Winter-San?"

Winter nodded, a grimace forming as she cleaned the wound.

"Yes, but usually they haven't been mine. When I was younger I worked in the infirmary here. That was before they started to train me. But I have seen my fair share of wounds." She answered.

She put the salve on and wrapped the wound.

"Now... Shall I give you a tour?" she asked, hopping up from her bed.

Sarea and Madoka both nodded and Winter lead the way out of the room.
"So what did you both do before you came here?" Winter asked. "You said something about the schools not being big enough for you talent or something?"

Sarea shuffled bit her lip gently.

*That is not. . . Quite it. . .*

Madoka faithfully stepped in, sensing her young master's emotional dip. "In previous schoors, Sarea-Sama tended to be treated differentry, since her parents are such infruenciar peopre. . ."
Sarea nodded for Madoka to continue.

"And. . . Werr, she attempted to change that by. . . Acting out."

Winter tilted her head. "You mean, by causing problems."

*That is exactly what she means.*