To be fair, the security in this place was actually insane. Every corner of the Strixhaven campus that Srenann had studied thus far was covered by some sort of construct, entity, or sentient magical item that felt the need to greet her like she was the center of the universe. Which, for all she understood about this place, could be exactly where they were in truth. Her mind was still fuzzy in regards to how she wound up her, separated from her team and known life, but she wasn't exactly torn up about it... like most people were. For Srenann, there wasn't much to go back to. A wealthy heiress to a clueless family, a military fighting one of many wars that will no doubt be lost to history at some point. A godless world on the brink of collapse...? Okay, maybe she was being a bit melodramatic in her thinking, but she also hadn't been able to sit still long enough this morning to drink her coffee — which bizarrely, tasted the exact same as the kind she drank at home. Not military home, either. Home-home. As if she was given her favourite blend out of nowhere.
❝ This place is too weird... ❞ She said quietly to herself, approaching a painting at the end of the hall quietly. It was a rather small percent chance, but she figured she'd test it nonetheless. Being the only thing of note in this odd hallway, Srenann had a mind to check behind the large portrait for a secret passage. As she felt along the outside of the frame thoughtfully, her finger grazed over an unusual bump in the metalwork. A self-satisfied grin decorated her face then as she pressed it, causing the painting to swing open suddenly.
Imagine Srenann's surprise when she was greeted with the visage of another person, blond and elven it seemed, crouched uncomfortably in a tunnel just beyond the entrance where this portrait would lead. From her guess, he had found another entrance somewhere and was doing some exploring himself when he'd met a sudden dead end and lacked the space for his larger frame to turn around in. With the portrait open though, he could potentially get out. If Srenann let him.
❝ I was expecting many things from this school, ❞ she said, folding her arms over her chest and jutting one hip to the side as she shifted her weight, ❝ a cute boy in a secret wall tunnel? That definitely wasn't on the list for today. ❞
infiltration: half success (ft. @raeltherevenant)
This place was all kinds of strange.
It was more confounding that Miaraim Palace, or any of the Alesselan Incarceration Facilities. It was even more mystifying and enchanted than the lower sections of the Grand Consortium in Pantipa. A muliversal school fitted with secrets and technology from several different universes? Talk about noisy.
It hadn't been a day since Rael had awoken. While he's no stranger to waking up cold-turkey in an environment wholly unfamiliar to him, this iteration was different. He could still recall the faces of his companions. Of Forbes, Roxie, Koda, Felyxs, Grinny...
...And Lyrin.
Where the hell are you all...?
Any searches yeilded no solace. Even the inhabitants of this strange plain saw nothing outlandish over Rael's story, and even upon eavesdropping, none of them seemed concered at all of a new arrival.
Thankfully, when people fail, secrets will always succeed. And so it was that Rael had begun a plan to infiltrate the main building, searching for anything that would help him understand exactly what this place's deal was.
Secret tunnels were a good sign. Strangely, it was these kind of things that summoned the feeling of 'home'. Deft movements hardened by repitition, muscle memory taking over even if the mind was still befuddled... It did him a lot of good to recenter himself like this.
The sentries had been relentless. Constructs, magical beings... It was like he was walking around in Vereor Nox in the Deific Age. His frame hampered by stone walls, Rael slid further into the belly of the beast until...
❝ I was expecting many things from this school, a cute boy in a secret wall tunnel? That definitely wasn't on the list for today. ❞
"Wha-"
No sooner had the end of the tunnel swung open when a figure appeared. Holding his tongue, he studied her frame, and the sassy hip pose she held. Judging by her expression and cocksure words, she was some fins and scales short of the kind of brat Rael had come to appreciate. Just not in this situation.
Relaxing his posture, Rael looked to the honey brown eyes of the girl.
"The flattery's appreciated, but you're kinda short to be my type."
She clearly wasn't any kind of employed enforcement. In fact, Rael sensed a kindred spirit. Remembering his training, he began to scrutinize her gear. Thieves tools, daggers... Had she a Specialist Stone, this kid was a bonafide Rogue. Sensing her not to be a threat, Rael began to shuffle forward, his intent to pass by her into the main hallways.
"Listen, I'd love to chat, but--"
An arcane whirr stood the Revenant's hairs on end. His danger sense activating, elven ears perked up at the sound of one of the constructs approaching the area. Had it heard their exchange? Or was this simply part of the patrol route?
"Quick-!"
Without so much as an explanation, Rael grabbed the girl, pulling her into the crawlspace. His elbow must have caught a mechanism as he heard a click! before the tunnel began to close up. He held the girl to his chest, arms grappling her to ascertain silence from any intended movement.
A heartbeat...?
Rael felt the strange thumping in the place of his own, holding until the whirring noise passed by. A strange melancholy washed over the Revenant, but he let it go with a sigh.
"Looks like this way's a bust. Sorry for dragging you in. Literally."
He cautiously released the girl, eyes sharpened to her blades.
"Looks like Lady Lucrezia's fate is working in this world. Guess we're in this together."
