[Arturian Cerule]

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[attr="class","harum"]Arturian C. ”Raise your sword for those who cannot do so themselves.” [break] Arutrian shifted on the bench he’d been sitting on for the past half-hour, the sketchbook in his hands becoming heavier with each passing moment. The gauntlets that usually covered his hands were sat upon his lap and, much like his hands, the notebook’s opened page was covered in a fine layer of ink. Though it was rough, it offered a similar scene to the one that stood before Arturian: A darkening sky, the gentle flow of water from the fountain, the trees in the background and, finally, the lonely, lilac tea rose that sat upon the fountain’s edge. By now, a few of the petals had fallen off into the water.[break][break] Arturian sighed as he dabbed his pen back into the jar of jet-black ink beside him, only to furrow his brow as it came back just as clean as it had gone in. With a quick glance, he saw that the small jar beside him was, indeed, empty. With a small, somewhat disappointed, smile, he looked back down to his half-complete work. Then, with another motion, he looked towards the setting sun for a moment before speaking quietly with a sigh, “I wonder if I could make it to the Wind District before sundown…” [break][break] [attr="class","harum1"] 205 [break] FOR @pharaohleap Word Count [attr="class","harum"]

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[Bianca Sabbato]

Well... There was I.


Fortunately, there had been no problems with my application to Haven once I completed the admission test. I was courtly escorted to sign the papers and then led to my room to stash my stuff. I never had many things to begin with, so the whole ordeal was basically just trowing a bag over the bed, storing my spear on my newly assigned locker and being told that I “had the rest of the day free” To go do whatever y fancied because apparently everyone was busy with the Vital Festival and such, so I was pretty much left to my own devices.


“Welp...” I announced clicking my tongue a couple times while admiring my empty room. “Time to explore I guess” I said to myself donning my new uniform... The shoes were a torture to even look at, so I simply discarded them under the bed and decided to go barefooted, the weather was nice and warm so it wouldn’t be a problem.


School grounds were nice enough, a lot of trees and wildlife served to make the whole place feel more comfy and alive.
Wandering aimlessly, I was starting to wish I had enrolled in a time when everyone wasn’t so busy doing stuff... I could just go to see the festival, but since I didn’t know anyone it would be kinda lame to root for my school just based on a sense of obligation.


Anyhow, after a while I finally managed to find someone, a pretty normal looking guy doodling on a notebook by himself. He didn’t look busy, so I approached on a steady stride to meet him. Who knows, maybe he could be one of my classmates.


-Sup- I greeted with a light wave once I judged I was close enough. —Hope I’m not a hassle, just wanted to come say hi- Extending my hand to shake his as a sign of respect from a rookie, I waited until he accepted (Or denied) my gesture before continuing.


-So, My name is Bianca, I just joined you lot... Like an hour ago but, you see, I’m a little lost for the moment... Don’t you have a map or some way the get to know this little turf without stumbling around blindly- I said with my best friendly smile. (The one that looked like a smirk but not that much) —That’s a nice drawing by the way, I heard Haven has some art classes and the such, is that an assignment for one of them?-

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[attr="class","harum"]Arturian C. ”Raise your sword for those who cannot do so themselves.” [break] Arturian turned slightly, his eyes wide, as a voice called out to him from nearby. Quickly, he made to set his notebook aside and cleaned whatever ink was on his hands with a small, black handkerchief. With a bright, though reserved, smile, he took the woman’s hand into a strong, firm handshake, the calluses on his hands likely easily noticeable."No worries, I was just finishing up my project anyway.” He threw a quick glance towards the now empty ink pot that sat beside his notebook as he furrowed his brow once more, “Or, taking a break from it, rather.”[break][break] As Bianca introduced herself, Arturian’s smile remained, maybe even growing the slightest it, though it was still plenty reserved, “Another new addition to Haven, are you? Seems you’re much in the same boat as I, though I’ve been here a little longer. Today marks a week, I think.” He turned to gather his things as he continued, sliding the handkerchief into a small pocket on the inside of his cloak before doing the same with his sketchbook and donning his gauntlets. After he was finished, he took the empty ink pot into his hands as his eyes darted about, in search of a trash can. “If you need, I’ve a bit of time before I have anything else to do. I know the grounds well enough to show you around.” He paused, “...More or less, anyway.”[break][break] As she asked about his drawing, he smiled, “You’ve hit the mark with the electives. This is an assignment from Intro to Art with Professor Long. I’m on my third go around with it now, but I think I’ve got it down, for the most part.” With that, he made to walk off, assuming that Bianca would follow. As he did, though, he pointed off to his left, at a tall building that they were currently walking away from, “That is the Grand Hall, which is, essentially, the headmaster’s office. Not very important, unless you get yourself into trouble, that is.” Turning, he continued back down the path that he’d come from, “You’ll need to see the dorms. Thankfully, they aren’t very far away. They aren’t much, but they’re plenty comfortable.” [break][break] Suddenly, Arturian stopped, eyes going wide. “Where are my manners? Forgive me,” He turned back towards the girl, another small smile on his face, though he didn’t dare go for another handshake, “My name is Arturian Mandrake Cerule. I’m a freshman here, the same as you,” he bowed his head, “It is good to meet you, Bianca.” [break][break] [attr="class","harum1"] 424 [break] FOR @pharaohleap Word Count [attr="class","harum"]

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[Bianca Sabbato]

I noted the marks of hard training as soon as he shook my hand, which was a good presentation card on my books, you should never trust a fighter with delicate hands.



I saw him glancing at the little ink pot currently resting useless on a side and soon to be discarded, but preferred not to say anything for the moment. And apparently he was a newbie as well, so he was in kind of the same situation as myself.



-Thanks dude, appreciate it- I said as I made to follow him trough the school. —At least like this we can roll together as we learn the lay of the land- I commented friendly half a step behind him. After all, you have keep good terms with your partners if you want to survive.



-So how are you finding the classes till now? Something I should worry about?- I inquired while contemplating the massive structure that hosted the headmaster headquarters. Frowning for a second. —Still have not met with the big boss himself, did you have a chance to do it?-



We keep walking for a while, with the boy showing me the different halls and buildings of the school, making polite conversation in any point of interest. I’d already knew the dorms but let him show me nonetheless to let him keep his flow, plus, it was more entertaining that staying in my room doing nothing.



-What class are you in by the way? I took red on a whim so maybe we are classmates-
I asked with sincere curiosity in my voice.

Could not stop myself from letting out a chuckle when the blond knight introduced himself, honestly I hadn’t even noticed –Don’t sweat it dude. Nice to meet you too, Arcturian... — I said patting him in lightly in the back. -Mind if I call you Arctur? It’s a little shorter-



Introductions out of the way, I realized I had a way to thank the guy for showing me around. He didn’t look like a Mistralian native to me, so he probably didn’t know how to navigate the city yet.



-So, allow me to intrude, but you looked like you were pretty annoyed when you ran out of ink before- I spoke pointing at his empty ink pot with my long reptilian tail.



-So, to return the favor, I tough of letting you know... If you want the good stuff, I know of a place where you can get as much as you want, buy it “per weight” if you catch my drift... For a price, that is, and not only basic stuff, but even more... advanced things, lets say-



Yes, if I showed him some of the best art suppliers in the bazaar I was sure to rise in his esteem.

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[attr="class","harum"]Arturian C. ”Raise your sword for those who cannot do so themselves.” [break] Arturian spoke to Bianca as he turned to leave the Quad, “Thankfully, the classrooms aren’t hard to find. Your schedule should be on the scroll they provided you with, along with the number of their classrooms. They go up from one as you go through the building. I’ll show you what I mean when we arrive.” He turned slightly towards her as she asked about the headmaster, though he continued walking, “I’ve not had the chance, unfortunately. I haven’t heard much about him at all, really. Though, that isn’t enough to form an opinion on him. Maybe he’s illusive.” [break][break] Arturian leaned into the wind as a stray zephyr tore past the pair, ruffling his cloak in the process. He’d foregone wearing most of his armor today, revealing the simple blue tunic that he wore underneath. The gauntlets, really, were a formality. Something to ease his mind and remind him of home. Of course, his longsword was still sheathed at his side. That was something that he almost never left behind.[break][break] The tour lasted for another half-hour, though the pair didn’t spend much time at any singular place on the large campus. Arturian did his best to make small talk, offering little tidbits about each building that he’d heard or read about. Finally, with the tour concluded, the two stood just before the main gates of Haven, looking out towards the town.[break][break] He raised an eyebrow at Bianca’s questioning. “You’ve my apologies. I was placed on the green class’ roster when I was enrolled, though I haven’t had a conversation longer than a typical introduction with anyone else in the class yet.” He turned away slightly, his brow furrowed lightly, “I’ve made a point of acclimating myself to this place before I attempt to make any meaningful relationships. I’m… slightly afraid that they’ve seen that as me being anti-social, but,” he turned back and smiled calmly, “It’s not something I can’t clear up, given a little effort.” [break][break] He started a bit as Bianca patted his back, not really expecting the contact. He seemed slightly uncomfortable at it, but only for an instant, before his smile returned, “Ah, it’s actually…” He paused, his brow furrowing, “...Nevermind. Call me what you will, it won’t bother me. I will, however, continue to call you Bianca, if that’s alright?”[break][break] Arturian turned back to her as she spoke, stopped in his tracks from leading her back to the dorms as the sun, finally, fully set, leaving the night sky in its place. His eyes opened in slight surprise at the sight of the lizard tail that he’d, somehow, managed to avoid seeing during the tour as it pointed towards the empty ink pot in his hand. This expression remained for a moment before shifting to one of awkwardness until, finally, he relaxed and turned back towards Biance, a questioning expression crossing his features, “The way you phrased that… Is this business reputable?” He then motioned towards the night sky, “It’s also, roughly, eight p.m. Will it still be open at this hour?” [break][break] [attr="class","harum1"] 0550 [break] FOR @pharaohleap Word Count - 550/1179 [attr="class","harum"]

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[Bianca Sabbato]

I noticed he carried his sword with him even within school grounds, which was fine, I probably would keep Nereida with me if it wasn’t such a hassle to carry around, a sword seemed much more convenient for that.

-I see. Shame tough- Apparently he was in the green class, well, we could still hang out outside of classes if he was up to. And judging for what was being said, it looked like he was a little afraid of fucking up on the whole socializing thing... And I kinda get him, all groups have unwritten structures and non-spoken rules even if they don’t even notice it.

It is too easy to just fuck up and be left apart.

-Well, as they say. Best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, second best time is now- Even so... I was sure the guy would do just fine, looked enough like huntsman material.

He looked a little uncomfortable with me being all touchy and shit, so onward I’d try to be a little more careful -Sure, you can call me whatever, bro- I said with a confident smile. —And if you want me to call you by your full name, don’t think it will bother me-

On the other hand... Was he thinking I would take him to a shitty place with subpar ink? Ha! As if good ol' Bianca would ever lead a partner astray!

-Oh yes... It is a new business, but it already has the best reputation around here, some may say otherwise, but probably they are just jealous, second-rate competence. Pissed off because they cannot sell as much product as before- I winked knowingly at the knight.

-Used to know a guy, tattoo artist, said the stuff they sold was so pure he could even apply it on human flesh... Probably he shouldn’t, but hey. That's life... Jeez... Wonder what happened to that dude... Probably dead by now if he had used that thing to ink one of the heavy weights and gave him an infection or something-

As I said, really clean shit.

-They close at 10... So we still may be able to find them if we depart now- I cracked my neck on both sides and reached for my tail behind my back, pulling a little to stretch the muscles of my back. -If you up for a runnin’- Unbuttoning my repressive coat, (I would need to see later if I could at least shorten the sleeves, or better yet, remove them) I prepared to run as soon as he gave me the go.

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[attr="class","harum"]Arturian C. ”Raise your sword for those who cannot do so themselves.” [break] Arturian offered a small smile and a shake of his head, “It’s the same with me. I severely doubt nothing you could call me would ever bother me.” Thoughts of a potentially illegal or subpar ink store flashed through his mind before being thoroughly being crushed as he realized just how it was that there’d be an illegal ink store. He offered Bianca yet another, seemingly trademark, smile, “Then I am excited to see it. You’ll have to forgive my wariness. The island of Patch, my homeland, isn’t nearly as… grand as Mistral has proven to be.” [break][break] At Bianca’s claim of the artist’s potential death, Arturian laughed. It was a genuine laugh, hearty, yet, somehow, gentle. It lasted for a good few moments before he sighed quickly and looked back at her, his smile never once leaving his features, “I sincerely hope he'd be more intelligent than that. Who knows? With his belief in its purity, he might’ve thought it a perfect replacement for water.” He took a deep breath to replenish the air he’d lost with his laugh, “Nonetheless, it has my interest.”[break][break] Arturian’s features hardened at Bianca’s suggestion. With all but a quick nod, he set about doing much the same as her: fastening the second button on his cloak, clipping the pocket inside it so he didn’t risk losing his sketchbook, and clipping the cloak itself to his belt so it wouldn’t flare out needlessly. As he did this, he turned to continue speaking to Bianca,“If I remember correctly, the Wind District is hope to most of the wares businesses. We’ve probably got time to spare, but there’s no sense in risking it.” Clipping the last button to his waist and nodding to himself, he spoke once more, “Ready when you are.”[break][break] As the pair ran off, Arturian did his best to keep up. He wasn’t terribly fast, but he did seem to have a great deal of endurance and stamina. The whole way, he followed Bianca wordlessly, his cloak wrapped tightly around his features. He seemed light on his feet, at least. [break][break] [attr="class","harum1"] 0355 [break] FOR @pharaohleap Word Count - 355/1534 [attr="class","harum"]

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[Bianca Sabbato]

-Lets go then!- I started to run right as I said that, I was not very fast but more than enough to reach the ink shop before it closed.



Being a constant slope, the descent to the wind district was a little easier that what the return trip would be, but still, abandoning the cloud district was the easiest part, wide streets and few people to get in our way. Now the wind district tough...



Some people like to say that Mistral’s streets are like a labyrinth... Well if they are, then I know all the secret turns and passages. Especially all the alleys and walls close to dirt floors.



We ran like the wind, passing by pedestrian and cars alike with a couple close calls and shouted apologies as we traversed one of the busiest part of the city.



-Over here!- I screamed running straight into a dead end alley, but before my companion could complain I was already feeling the earth beneath my feet vibrating and coming to life before us, now in the form of 3 tall steps we could easily jump into to readily jump the back wall of the alley and surface in a secondary street that would save us a couple minutes of travel.



-Don't think! Semblance!- I was feeling strangely invigorated for some reason, so using my semblance liberally was not a bother.



A couple obstacles we sorted that way before I decided it was enough and proceeded to going back to run normally.



-Wow, we made a great time, i'm not even that tired- I commented when we finally reached the grand bazaar where we forcefully had to slow down to not mow down the other buyers.



Well into the entrails of the unforgiving beast that was the bazaar we finally found our objective, a clean, well-established stand where an overweight octopus faunus with a bald and a grand brown beard was handling vials and pots with the suction cups on his hands.



Signaling for him to wait in there a second, I approached the merchant.



-Hey Purp... You up to sellin’?- I asked on a hush while the colossal man looked at me warily.



—... Ah... I know you... Been a while since you came to buy something for Print-



-I'm not here for Print now... How is that chump doing tough? Still alive?-



-Ye, still kicking somehow... So, why did ya come to my humble business?-

-Let’s say I have an interested acquaintance looking to buy some of your stuff- Nodding gravely, the man looked up and called for Arturian to come with a wave of his hand.



-Awrigh boy... I have everyhin’ ya need here... Non of that laboratory shit, all hundred percent organic on my store, and lemme tell ya, it shows- He assured the student with his hands held in front of him on a defensive position.



-We have pen ball, quill, brush, cartridges, non-toxic hand painting, watercolor...- The man went on and on for a while, naming different ink types and painting methods, along with an assortment of painting supplies of every kind and size, going from erasers to whole easels and canvas.



Just when the man seemed like he was over with his monologue, he smirked and took out a large crystal container... -Ahhh... This- Said the man with a sinister laugh as he unscrewed the cork and poured a little over a small plate –Now this is the good stuff... It cost a pretty penny but... Words don’t make it justice, better let you try it by yo’self-



The merchant gave a little look at his surroundings, and after checking that no one was looking, he procured a large piece of papyrus from under his desk. —All yours, champ- Handing a little pot filled to the middle with ink, the man left Arturius to test by himself how good was the product.



-A vibrant color that’s also light resistant, enough additives to last you a lifetime even if you buy by the dozen, water resistant and with a good enough drying agent that you could probably draw on the dirt if you chose to- The smile of the salesman now had taken a size and shape that could be judged as a little... Maniacal. —And you want to know the best part? It comes on all the colors of the rainbow-



Trowing a small vial in the knight's direction, close to the size needed to fill a small pot once -You know what they say... First dose is always free. But fell invited to buy anyhin’ else now or whenever you want... I assure you, once you have tried Purpurine’s stuff there is no coming back- Said the large man opening his arms wide to his sides.



Besides the premium stuff, there was a good price in regular, everyday ink, especially if buying by the liter.



Feeling a little smug, I turned to Arctur and gave him a look with my arms resting on my hips and my tail thrashing happily on the floor.




-So... What do you think? Pretty neat huh?-


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[attr="class","harum"]Arturian C. ”Raise your sword for those who cannot do so themselves.” [break] Arturian kept a steady pace just behind the lizard-woman, allowing himself a bit of wiggle room as the pair barreled down the steep, steep hills of the cloud district. Large, flamboyant buildings flashed in his peripherals as he followed closely behind Bianca. What few people the pair ended up almost running into, Arturian found himself throwing quick apologies as they practically flew past. Thankfully, the well-stoned streets of the cloud district, combined with Haven’s position relatively close to the end of the cloud district, allowed them to escape it quite easily, with them exiting it in about eight minutes. Even then, the trip offered Arturian with much more information about the location than he’d had before.[break][break] As the steep slopes of the cloud district began to flatten out into the more level streets of the wind district, Arturian let the distance between him and Bianca grow in size by the slightest amount. As the, somehow, still busy crowds of the bazaar began to grow thicker and thicker, he found himself slowing down, his lack of agility hindering him from properly evading the crowd. With a large number of genuine apologies, the distance between him and Bianca continued to grow, especially considering his fascination with each building that he passed. His eyes roved over bookstores, art galleries, and smithies alike, each store setting a fire alight in his eyes that he’d not had for some time. Still, he did his best to at least keep Bianca in his sights as he pushed past the dense crowd, telling himself that he’d be able to come back to the stores later.[break][break] As Bianca darted off into some deserted alley, Arturian felt a pang of confusion run through him, though he followed nonetheless. After, effectively, shoving his way through the crowd with a long string of apologies, he made it into the alleyway just as Bianca leapt over the high wall. His eyes going wide, Arturian sprinted forwards and leapt for the stairs, managing to bound his way up them at the last minute, the last step crumbling away just as he leapt from it. With a roll, he landed in the street over, though his sword got in the way and made the whole ordeal a bit clumsy. Stll, after a moment of recovery, he jumped back up and looked desperately around for the only one he knew that could get him out of the maze that he’d run into.[break][break] Now that the street the pair were on wasn’t as immensely crowded, he caught sight of, and caught up to, Bianca with relative ease. Now running, once again, behind her, the rest of the trip passed in relative ease until, eventually, the two found themselves in the midst of a large circle of stands. One of them in particular, however, stood out to Arturian. Numerous vials and jars lined the stand. As he observed it, Bianca began approaching it, confirming that it was, indeed, the shop he’d been waiting to see. As he made to approach the stand with his companion, Bianca waved at him to stay. A startled, “Wha..?” was all he could manage as she walked off but, still, he obeyed, watching the two interact from afar.[break][break] After the two spoke, the burly man behind the stand motioned him over. Arturian hesitated for a moment, eyeing the stand and its surroundings warily. He’d heard a bit about how the wind district, potentially, could be a place of counterfeit business and thievery. He was deep in the bazaar now and, despite how much he wanted to trust his Haven classmate, being cautious had saved him from a good bit of misfortune in the past. Still, after that moment of hesitation, he approached the stand, making a point to eye the products sharply.[break][break] As the burly man, a faunus, Arturian had noted at the sight of his hands, started his spiel, Arturian’s stomach dropped with every word. With every bargaining phrase from the man, the entire encounter started to seem more and more like a drug deal. Arturian had never been involved in one, but it seemed every bit like the books he’d read had made them out to be. Not to mention that, somewhere along the way, Arturian had made the connection between the man’s claim of ‘organic’ and the fact that he was an octopus faunus. Arturian had sighed at that. ’Nothing but pain along that train of thought.’[break][break] As the man offered the sample of ink to him, Arturian widened his eyes in surprise, not able to stop himself from throwing a scared glance about him in search of anyone that might be too interested with what was going on at the stand. ’...Did I miss something about the culture here before I arrived? There’s no way ink is illegal here… Right?’ Nonetheless, Arturian shook his head at the man’s offer, pushing the sample and the paper back towards him, “Apologies, I’d rather not tempt myself. I can’t really afford to break the bank on non-essentials. I’ll just have the most affordable calligraphy ink you’ve for sale, if you don’t mind.”[break][break] Thinking the conversation over, Arturian began to turn towards Bianca, ready to pepper her with questions, but a flash caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. Snapping his head back towards the man, Arturian only barely managed to catch the vial that’d been thrown at him, along with the words that’d come with it. Surprised, Arturian looked down to the vial that he’d been given before, slowly, looking back up towards the man that’d given it to him, a small, kind smile coming to his features, “You have my thanks, Purpurine. I’ll keep it in mind the next time I run out of ink. Still, I think I’ll stick with your most affordable, if you don’t mind. A jar should be enough, for the time being.”[break][break] As Purpurin, inevitably, set about to collect what he’d asked for, Arturian turned quickly towards Bianca. “What was that?! I felt as if I was being sold a shipment of stolen dust!” [break][break] [attr="class","harum1"] 1038 [break] FOR @pharaohleap Word Count - 1038/2572 [attr="class","harum"]

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[Bianca Sabbato]

-Ahh... Wise choice boy, wise choice. I get’ya order ready in a pinch- And with this, the octopus man left to the back of his shop leaving me alone with Artur’s inquiries.



Putting my hands behind my back, I played dumb with the boy for a second.
 —Hahaha, you are so funny Artur! We did just buy a little bottle of ink, that's all...-



Sighing deeply, I decided I already have had enough fun with the knight and spoke a little more frankly. —Well, actually there is a reason for all of that-



Turning to him with a soft smile, my mind was flooded with old stories and conversations from past times, some of them even held with good ol’ Purpurine himself.



-It was something that happened a long, long time ago, everyone knows about it, even you, even an ignorant girl like me has heard of it at least on a superficial way-



Catching a glimpse of a small flask of bright pink ink, I deliberately grabbed it in a way that everyone could tell I wasn’t actually trying to steal it or something.



-It was more than twenty-five years ago, for some complicated reasons there was a war that ravaged our word- Unscrewing the top, I submerged the tip of my thumb into it.



—‘Cause in places like Mistral, the people in charge decided to ban all the things that make us different as individuals... They banned music...- Using my pink-stained thumb, I drew a small circle under my right cheekbones.



—... Acting...- I did as well with my left cheekbone.



-And of course... Art- I finished by drawing a straight line from my bottom lip to the lowest part of my chin.



-And some people not only had to get used to this, but some like old man Purp actually grew under these rules... But you know the old saying, the more you tell people not to do something, the more they’ll try to do it!- I could help myself but to let out a little laugh at the overt truth of that statement.



-So even things like selling ink and paper needed to be done on back alleys and sewers, using fronts like laundry shops and accounting offices to hold dances and singing nights- I couldn’t even begin to imagine what was it like on those times. With any luck, neither me nor my children would be able to do it.



-Let’s just say that Purp is more used to that kind of dealings... And people around here chose to humor him... Besides- I winked impishly at my partner. —What better way to shit on those bastards that banned art than the selling of color in the disguise of a performance?-



On the corner of my eye I saw Purpurine returning with a pretty jar or ink decorated with flower and mountain motifs. I handed him a smile as he saw my paint-filled face.



The man grumbled as he handled Arctur his request. —Cheeky girl...-



-Hope you don’t mind. Tough it would suit me well- I said with my best girl-scout smile.



-Nah... Wear it with pride, it’s all I ask of ya-



After carefully counting the money handled to him by my companion, the faunus let us go with a small nod.



-Well... It’s pretty late, do you wanna go back to Haven? We don't have to run, so we can take a more scenic route- If he complied I’d show him more lively streets, the ones with the beautiful gardens and statues, signaling the important streets, so he could start to know the city a little better.

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[Arturian Cerule]

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[attr="class","harum"]Arturian C. ”Raise your sword for those who cannot do so themselves.” [break] Arturian listened intently to the story, though he rolled his eyes jokingly at Bianca’s dramatic performance. After she finished speaking, Arturian continued, “I’ve heard such stories. Back in Signal, the Great War and its subsequent reasoning played a major role in our history lessons.” Calmly, he turned to look at the jet-black vial of ink in his palm with a newfound admiration, though he didn’t go as far as to paint his face with it, “Until now, all I’ve known is Patch. My parents lived their entire lives there, too. All I ever heard of the ban were horror stories that’d been passed down the line of communication until they were too twisted to seem real. But…” He paused and looked back up at Bianca, and then at the shady stands around the area they were in, “To think that still, twenty-five years later, you can still see the effects of the era’s oppression,” He sighed and pocketed the vial before continuing, “...Perhaps those stories weren’t untrue at all.”[break][break] Arutrian turned around to look at the surrounding architecture, a fire lighting in his eyes as they roved over each curve of stone, each swell of brick, “When I was a child, I always knew that I wanted… more than what Patch had to offer. I did my best to remain selfless, I knew I couldn’t afford to be greedy in the life that I’d been given. I had no problem with it, either. But my sense of adventure…” he smiled as the sounds of a distant street-musician began to fade into the background, “That was the greed that I allowed myself. I knew, of all of the riches and fame that I could ever wish for, to work towards becoming a Huntsman, towards saving others, was the option that would harm the least people.” He paused and clasped his left hand around his wrist as they rested at his waist, almost as if he was reprimanding himself, confining himself to the hand he’d been dealt, “There’s not much of anything in Patch, save for the forests and beaches. When I’d gotten word that I’d been accepted into Haven, I was overjoyed. I remember thinking, ’Finally, an escape from this miserable place.’” He paused again, furrowing his brow at nothing in particular, “I didn’t mean it. From the start, I knew that I’d had a happier start in life than most could ever hope for. I remember the guilt that thought brought with it. But, when I arrived in Haven and caught even a glimpse of what awaited me here, I remember thinking that I’d been right after all. That I really was escaping misery by coming here.”[break][break] Arturian paused again, this time a little longer than most, as a miniscule, slightly melancholic smile began to adorn his features, “...Then I’d started to hear the stories. First, it was about things like the attack on Rochdale village. Or… the traitor. It’d taken some time, but I’d finally realized that this place had its troubles too. That guilt, of thinking I’d escaped a prison, came back to me.” He laughed, dryly, but it was clear he wasn’t exceedingly upset about what he was saying. In fact, his expression still spoke of amusement, “To think, even that long ago, Mistral had gone through such… defining moments in its history. To think that, even today, you can still, clearly, see the effects of the war, almost as if it’d happened yesterday.” He laughed again, this time, though still quiet, it was more amused than hollow, “Really, it only reminds me of the reasons why I fight,” he looked up towards the night sky, brow still furrowed in slight confusion, “I think I’ll be able to offer my aid here to more than I ever could have hoped to in Vale. ...It’s good to know I made the right choice.”[break][break] Finally, just as Arturian had finished his… spiel, Purpurin returned with the ink that he’d requested. As Purpurin spoke a few words to Bianca, Arturian placed a few, precious cards of lien upon the counter before taking the jar of ink and stuffing it carefully into the rucksack on his back.[break][break] As the two faunus finished interacting and Bianca turned to speak to him, Arturian tilted his head in thought. “It would do me well to attempt to navigate my way back to Haven without aid. ...I think I remember most of the route correctly.” After a moment more of thought, he nodded to himself, “Very well, we may return. Follow me.”[break][break] What followed was a slow, though efficient, trek through the back alleys of Mistral’s Wind District. Though Arturian made a few wrong turns along the way, most of his decisions were, more or less, capable of leading the two back to Haven’s front gate. Within twenty minutes, the pair had begun to begin the ascent up towards the Cloud District, along with Haven’s subsequent entrance. All in all, the journey was without problems and, after forty-five minutes, the pair stood, once again, at Haven Academy’s front gates.[break][break] With his signature smile, Arturian turned towards Bianca as they entered, offering a handshake towards her, “It was a pleasure, Bianca. Your help was much appreciated, and I doubt I would have ever come across Purpurin’s stand if you hadn’t let me to him.” He bowed his head, “I am in your debt.”[break][break] After they finished their exchange, Arturian offered Bianca a nod, “It’s late, I’m afraid. Though we may not be classmates, I’m certain I’ll see you again. For now though,” he actually bowed this time, “I will take my leave and bid you adieu.” If nothing else was needed, he would then turn and head towards the dormitory. [break][break] [attr="class","harum1"] 0982 [break] FOR @pharaohleap Word Count - 982/3554 [attr="class","harum"]

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[Bianca Sabbato]

Silently, I digested Artur’s words in respectful silence, a man not only from Vale, but from the island of Patch was a rare sight on these lands... Come to think of it, I didn’t even knew where Patch were located on a map, I probably should look it up on my scroll later.

Haven... Seemed like it lived up to it’s name, both for Arturian and for me at least. It served as a safe place to escape the misery, in whichever form it may present itself.

Being new to the school, I hadn’t heard anything about Rochdale or a traitor before, so I made a mental note to ask him about it once we were outside.

-Lead the way, champ- I said letting the boy guide us through the streets and alleys of the Mistralian metropolis. He made one or two mistakes but easily corrected himself... Good, failing was one of the greatest teachers out there, the other was...

I quickly abandoned that train of though.

-Nothing bad with a little greed or selfishness as long as you keep it in check, you know? Not letting it consume you and shit like that, not loose what you already have because you’re looking for more- I commented following our previous conversation on the bazaar, not trying to sound overly preachy, but just making small talk.

-Good thing that you are not letting the shinny lights blind you to what lies beneath. This city can be heaven or hell depending on which side of the smoke you find yourself at- Probably even Patch was pretty much the same, at one level or another. —Being living here my whole life, and I can tell you it’s like a cat with razor-sharp claws hidden beneath his fur-

After all, no matter how hard you try, is never easy to escape from the past.

Besides that, there was a certain thing that I really wanted to know. -What was that think you said about a village? Rochdale? I think? And a traitor... I still knew nothing about those things, so I’m a little on the dark here- I asked with genuine curiosity.

-Any specific reason you choose Haven over the other schools? If you graduated Signal, then probably you could have chosen any academy you wanted. I kind of didn’t have a choice, that's why I’m asking- And that, was a story for another time.

All in all, Arturius seemed like a dude that had found a way to make it big in life while helping people along the way. I had to admit it, that made me respect him a little more.

Finally, the gates of Haven appeared before us, and it seemed like our little trek had come to an end. —Any time, bro, pleasure to meet you- I said as I returned the handshake, although I was a little taken aback when he bowed and declared himself in my debt.

Smirking, I knew what I had to do. -Hey! Don't say your indebted to me! You’d only tempt me to collect the payment in blood one day!- I jokingly taunted Artur before I as well bowed to him, pinching the sides of my skirt as I had learned to do so many years before when practicing for a junior concert.

-Goodbye dude, see ya around-

And with that, I took my leave to go take a shower and turn in for the night.

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572/3342 Words

[Arturian Cerule]

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[attr="class","harum"]Arturian C. ”Raise your sword for those who cannot do so themselves.” [break] Arturian winced as Bianca questioned him on the two glaring, somewhat recent, events that he’d heard other students and teachers talking about in the past week, not to mention the articles he’d been able to find when he’d looked it up on the internet. From what he’d found… they weren’t pleasant things to think about, “I haven’t heard much, but I heard that a village nearby was sieged by Grimm, some time ago,” he paused, “As for the traitor… You’d do well to look it up online.” He frowned, “I’m not sure I could do the story justice.”[break][break] Arturian shrugged weakly when Bianca asked him about why he’d attended Haven in particular, a blank expression crossing his features as he spoke, “It wasn’t in Vale, and it seemed far away.” He paused. For a few minutes, he continued to walk in silence with the girl. Just when it seemed like he’d dropped the topic, though, he continued, bringing a gauntleted hand to scratch at the back of his neck, “Please do not mistake me. When I said that Patch..” He winced, almost like it pained him to say the words, “When I said that Patch was miserable, I did not mean it was a bad life. Quite the opposite, actually. It just… didn’t align with the one dream I allowed myself to have. I… am harsher on it than I intend to be, sometimes. I couldn’t wish for a better place to call home. Haven just… better suited what I wanted to do.” He sighed, his brow furrowed, “...I do not wish to speak about this any longer, if you wouldn’t mind.”[break][break] When the pair finally arrived and parted ways at the gates of Haven, Arturian rushed to his dorm. He had homework to do, after all. That drawing wasn’t going to finish itself. [break][break] [attr="class","harum1"] 0308 [break] 308/3862 Weapon - E | Semblance - E| Durability - E| Martial Arts - F | Stamina - F | [attr="class","harum"]

PHARAOH LEAP CREATES

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[Wolfe]

XP Distribution:

Arturian: 38

0 + 38 = 38 XP new total

Bianca: 33

0 + 33 = 33 XP new total