(Related post: "News")

As Oriath was attending one of her morning classes, an office errand boy was sent to fetch Oriath and a few others. Once they were all gathered in the Dean's office, they were each handed a scroll with the imperials seal. "These arrived early this morning," the Dean said, pushing up her glasses. "They were delivered with urgency and you are to open and read them immediately. I have also received such a letter and have already been informed of the situation."

The students gather looked around at each other and Oriath looked down at the scroll in her hand. She broke the wax seal and unrolled the scroll to read what is written inside. "Her Majesty wishes to summon us to perform magic for her and the council? This is quite an odd request to be delivered so urgently," Oriath said.

"Never-the-less," the Dean replied. "This is an official summons. Each of you are required to do as the summon says. You all will leave as soon as you are ready. Transportation will be provided by her Majesty and is waiting outside for you. That being said, you all will be excused from classes for now, though I expect you all to make up for the missed lessons. Understood?"

"Yes Ma'am," the group said in unison.

With a nod, the Dean waved her hand towards the door. "No off with you. And hurry, we must not keep her Majesty waiting. We have a reputation to uphold, remember that."

Chatter immediately rose up among the group as they filtered out of the room. Oriath, however, was silent as she walked back to her dorm room. It was such an odd request and to be summoned so urgently...well, it was obvious something else was going on. What would royalty want with a bunch of Academy students?

As Oriath entered her room, a tall black haired man looked up from his book. "Classes are over already?" he asked in a silver voice.

Oriath shook her head and pulled out a small bag and began to put a few things inside. This immediately peaked the man's curiosity and he closed his boot, sitting up from the bed.

"Are you going somewhere?" He asked, waiting for her reply. Oriath handed the man the note and he took it and quickly scanned its content with his piercing gaze. "Odd..." he said with narrowed eyes, rolling the scroll back up. "I wonder what the real reason is?"

"I wonder that myself," Oriath said tieing the small bag shut and hefting it over her shoulder.

The man immediately changed forms and wrapped his small dragon form about Oriath's neck. <I am coming with you,> he stated in her mind.

"I knew you would say that," Oriath replied with a sigh, heading out of her room. When Oriath arrived outside, she was surprised to find a portal master waiting for the group of students. He waved at Oriath to step into a circle he hand inscribed in the ground and then pointed to the dragon. "That coming with you too?" the elderly man asked.

"Yes. It is," Oriath replied simply.

"Good good. Stand there. Yes. Like that. Someone will be waiting to escort you once you arrive on the other side. Have a pleasant journey!" The old man said and waved his staff. There was a flash of light and then Oriath found herself standing in the center of a large open room. there was a group of guards waiting there and one of them stepped forward and asked Oriath to follow.

She did so and was taken to a room with a large table. She was told to sit and wait until everyone assembled, and then they would be addressed by the princess.

Oriath sat in on of the chairs and hung her back on the back of the chair. <Very odd, indeed,> the dragon on her shoulders said. <This might be rather interesting.>

Oriath simply gave a sigh to the dragon's comment and waited for the others to arrive.

Deadra