Nivara set aside her quill, cursing her ink stained fingers before sweeping her hand over the ink in a flash, turning the parchment from white to a bluish tinge. Expelling ink wasn't on her protocol today but neither was having to assess over fifty new recruits by hand. Mist was her only option now with the rest of her Trait threatened to submerge. That was the way it had to be.

"Next!" She called out in a loud clear voice, shuffling her papers to move to the last set of applicants for today.

Her stomach growled a threatening rumble, desperate to escape to the mess hall for an early lunch. She had to skip breakfast after that incident this morning with the two idiotic ex apprentices. The group of Abnormals, no exchange students had been sent to the infirmary soon after those who no longer accepted Ethros' leadership had been permanently vacated from the premises.

"Lady Nivara?" 

The Mist Maiden jumped, suppressing the urge to shudder as a pair of green eyes stared back at her. She shook her head and beckoned the young girl into the room. She had a confident smile on her face and was garbed in a familiar red shirt emblazoned with a golden dragon and a metallic skirt and shin guards which matched her chestnut hair. 

"Good morning, Regent Nivara. My name is Domino. I am a Fire Traited and this is my Knuckleburst dragon, Ripple." 

Nivara raised an eyebrow, noticing the dragon perching on her shoulder calmly, her amber eyes flitting about like stars. It was a russet red dragon emblazoned with streaks of gold and had a ruffled collar which rippled with flames like a fiery forest against a golden sun. Her mouth tweaked upwards, noting the apt name the girl had given her dragon. 

"Oathed or Agar?" She repeated for the thirteenth time that day.

"Oathed, ma'am. Since I was eight." Domino replied, her dragon wriggling with excitement or worry, she couldn't tell which.

Nivara coughed, not expecting the unlikely answer as she quickly filled in the form and covered the mistakes with her Trait.

"Very well. You may begin."

Domino gave a short bow as Ripple flew off her shoulder and gave their demonstration. It was a standard test to show what capabilities your Trait had be it through performance or combat anything was possible with the wide variety of grimoires. This test allowed the competitors to choose between becoming an Excelliair or a Mediator but right now Nivara had only been thinking about the clan instead of her Sixth Order. She had to rectify that soon.

Nivara's subdued expression flitted back and forth from her notes about each participant and what they had decided to use as apparatus. The candidates were allowed to bring the necessary items to enhance their Trait possibilities but some did decide to choose a more simpler technique of letting their partnership shine regardless of tricks or gimmicks.

Domino's performance was extremely polished, her Oathed was aiming blast after blast at her at high levels of strength and dexterity while changing size as swiftly as possible. Her eyes were focused only on the fire glinting in her eyes, summoning explosion after explosion to perfectly repel her opponent while showcasing both of their attack strengths and control.

"Huh. Knockback Trait. Interesting technique." Nivara noted, running her finger down the form to how the young girl of fifteen had explained her Trait.

She could create a variety of chain explosions with enough accuracy to counter a fire blast from one of the hottest firepowered dragons in Para Dormus without even the slightest flicker of hesitation. She had good eye contact and communication with her dragon but Nivara noted how her overconfidence caused her to cut corners with her footing, almost sending herself crashing to the ground several times.

"OK thank you, Miss Liva. That will be all." Nivara called out, her voice echoing around the room.

Domino looked like she had been slapped with a Scale Shrieker, struggling to hide her disdain. Nivara smiled warmly at her, reminding her of the importance of listening to her commanding officer. That was something the Excelliars had forgotten in their leniency over the last few years.

She gave a stern salute to the Mist Maiden as her Oathed gave a short bow, bobbing a little on her shoulder.

"Did we do OK? I hope we did, Dommy. Did we? Did we?" Ripple said rapidly, curious and excited all at once.

Her Oathed gave her a fierce glare, clamping her mouth closed with a stray hand. Nivara chuckled, placing her hands over each other as she beckoned them over with a jerk of her head. Domino stayed planted, removing her hand from Ripple's snout as she flew over at once, taking twice as many wing flaps as a Talonslash would as she veered over to Nivara's desk, skidding into the cluster of papers and sending them flying.

With a wave of her hand, Nivara's Trait split into tendrils and gathered the papers within her Trait and collected the papers before they hit the ground. Domino stood, open mouthed before hurriedly catching up with her Oathed before she set fire to the table.

"Hi! My names Ripple but you probably knew that already. I really like your Trait, Miss Mist Maiden. It's really pretty!"

Nivara gave the dragon first genuine smile in weeks, offering her hand to shake. The dragon jumped on her palm in delight, shrinking to the size of a mushroom and curling up on her hand instead. Her heart glowed at the little Knuckleburst's kindness. After what had happened today, Nivara was more than a little disheartened about her position but this little dragonling had came up to her regardless of rank or Trait just to say hello.

"Lady Nivara! I'm so sorry, I-" Domino began, but her voice trailed away.

Nivara quietly handed back her Oathed as the little Knuckleburst mewled happily in her sleep, nestling closer to Domino's sleeve.

"Do your best to look after her, won't you? You only have one Oathed after all."

Domino's ears went red as she nodded quickly, cupping her hands to hold the little red dragon carefully without dropping her.

"Of course, my Lady. I won't disappoint you."

Nivara nods, gesturing for her to leave out the exit as Ripple slowly began to stir, Domino's quiet scolding being the last thing she saw before a familiar scruff of brown hair peeked out from the doorway to the infirmary. Scout's arm was in a sling, his forehead still bearing a slight scar after having eight stitches in his head but his lopsided grin made Nivara's mouth pinch upwards.

"You free for lunch, Master?" Scout asked, making his way through the hastily cleared room.

Nivara grinned, her stomach rumbled in tandem as she vacated from her cramped desk and back aching chair as it toppled onto the arkalite floor without a care. This was the biggest room in Opalace nearest the entrance and it was also the room that the Excelliars had decided to gang up on Scout and the others before Nivara had intervened. It was astounding that a little over three hours had passed since they cleaned up the mess their protest had made before they could allow the new recruits in. They had all been given a starting position and a form to fill out and hand up before the assessment began. 

Nivara had only seen two other Traited good enough to be recruited: thirteen year old House, a Water Traited and his Sea Screamer partner Hydron. Sea Screamers were a rare type of dragon found only in the Neridian seas and typically had two heads which allowed twice the power of water and paralysis. House and his dragon Nohr and Dire had quite a basic combat style but it was quite refreshing to see such a laid back approach to such a simple water blast but it was a shame she couldn't see more variety than the same one trick attack.

However, Pennywise and her Silverwing dragon Windsoar had provided the polar opposite to House and his dragon. They had created a highly detailed display using the help of their Agar to create a variety of long range and short range attack patterns. With the strength of her dragon's windstorms her Intel Traited showed a combination of strategies on how they could be prevented or even combated. It was astounding to see but her tendency to overthink things made her forget some of the more common attack patterns but with a bit more focus and combat training she would be a force to be reckoned with whatever path she decided.

Nivara shook her head, trying to expel all thoughts of the gruelling judging ahead and hated how picky she had to be. Three out of thirteen? No, she had to do better. There was the possibility of recalls but she just didn't have time. If they wanted to survive in this world they had to step up.

"Master?" Scout said, a little worried about the daydreaming Mist Maiden.

Nivara smiled, nodding her head at the boy who had recently been allowed to upgrade his attire. His once pristine white tunic had been changed for a light blue one with matching boots which began to emanate a soft glow of aquamarine blue. He wore similar dragon scale shoulder guards and trousers, the deep prussian blue of a Talonslash not unlike her own.

"New gear?" She said with a smile, noting his embarrassed expression.

"Yeah." Scout said shyly, escorting his Master to the canteen. "Since Rook...left I was allowed to be refitted instead. Healer Quilla helped me a lot with my injuries though."

Nivara grinned, all of her attention on her young apprentice only for the double doors to swing open and her senses exploded with the scents and sounds of food.

"Hell's great gaping gnashers I'm hungry." She blurted out, mist trailing out behind her before it suddenly submerged her in a Transference.

Scout couldn't help but laugh, watching his master flit about with manic precision as he grabbed a tray himself and picked a few nearby items before joining the group of potential recruits at the back. Soon the tendrils regathered towards the back of the hall, away from all the peering eyes and cluttered benches and hid behind one of the many large ornate pillars near the exit. She was a Mist Maiden, the pride of Opalis and their chosen Regent and spent no time in stuffing her mouth with every food she could find.

A few minutes later after all the nervous apprentices and weary veterans mulled their way out of the hall, Nivara the now overly full Regent rested against the wall nearest her hiding place and slowly drifted off to sleep.

"You should've seen her stunned face when I said I was an Oathed. I thought her ugly face was gonna drop outta that mask!"

Nivara awoke to the sound of cackling laughter, a familiar group of dragon clad teens sat nearest the entrance, joking around and telling not so nice stories. She recognised the golden dragon emblazoned on a scarlet tunic which made Scouts new outfit look shabby compared to the ornate jacket of the young girl with her back turned. 

"Domino." Nivara hissed, the situation becoming clearer against her food hazed mind. "That boy too, next to Scout. House, I'd guess."

They were all dressed in much more expensive clothing than she had seen the two in. House had the opposite colours to his female companion, dark blue, bluer than the scales on his Sea Screamer dragon marred with a familiar Silverwing dragon. 

"So. The royals of Chimera and the royals of Svalbard have sent their offspring to spy on me, have they? Bunch of demon spawn." She muttered, her body turning to mist at the mere hint of anger.

Suddenly, the boy in the oh so familiar sky blue stared straight at her, his hazel eyes boring through her soul like glass shards through her heart. Scout was with them. He jeered alongside them, rolling a crumpled up piece of paper lazily with his one hand as he sent it flying at the speed of a bullet, inches away from a cowering Ripple. That smile. Was that always a sneer of discontempt?

"At least you don't have her for a Master. My nitwit of a brother tried to cross her earlier and put my arm in a sling. She only cared about what slop they were serving in the canteen, the ignorant fool!"

Nivara's heart hurt at the sound of howling laughter but she clamped it down, her Trait desperate to resurface and strangle them all. She needed...she needed to listen to him, to what he was saying no matter what. Scout wouldn't do this. Not here and not now. He knew where she was. He had to...he had to have some kind of reason for saying those angry mean spirited words. But...she had never seen him this cross before. Wait...Cross. That was her surname! Could it have been a message?

"Ha! Wonder what face she'll make when she finds out you're not really an Oathed at all, Domino!" House jittered nasally, watching Scout curl another page of paper with his hand before letting it loose again. 

Nivara blinked in realisation as Scout sent the paper ball flying into the wall, this time it veered off course and under a table. Nivara's gaze flickered over to the scrunched up paper inked with a cursive 'N' not unlike the ones she had written herself. He knew. He knew she was here but was playing along regardless. She had to do something, but what?

 Blocking Scout's voice from her mind, she allowed the Transference to seep into her skin and aimed for the table as quickly as she could. Her mist form took over instantly as she slunk around the table legs, sweeping back around towards her hiding place with the paper in hand.

"Idiot! Do you want any old dragon to overhear? They'll spout the truth from your lips quicker than you can say spitball!" Domino said, smacking the oblivious Water Traited over the head with her book.

House moaned as his dragon went to see what was wrong while Ripple hung back tentatively away from her partner only to receive a flaming kick for her insolence. The Knuckleburst squealed in horror as she attempted to bat out the flames igniting her tail. The Sea Screamer looked on mournfully as House continued to mollycoddle the two headed dragon as they tried to help the she dragon with a well placed water blast. Ripple slammed backwards, doused from head to foot in chilling water as the nobles roared with laughter as the twin headed dragon looked on apologetically. Poor Ripple plodded away out the exit without a word.

"Stupid dragon. Belonged to my crazy aunt before she got executed for treason or something. Rip's ranting on about friendship and how she's scared of fire. How can a dragon be scared of fire? My mother says I have to keep her and train the worthless whelp but I'd rather have a Boltstrike like my father." Domino said, complaining with ease.

The group snickered, two Traited remaining silent as the other three shared stories and quips about other Master's or potential apprentices. They stayed to the side almost a respectful distance away from the others and kept their gaze low. Nivara fought the urge to slip out the door and follow Ripple but House and Domino were still talking. If only she could get Scout's attention, ask him who they were and what they were planning.

"And on that bombshell, I guess it's time for more errands." Scout exclaimed, leaning forward to say goodbye to his fellow Traited.

He kicked his foot off the door and allowed them to swing open again as the five were soon swarmed with another mob of people. The two quiet ones dodged out of the way, one with their Air Trait and the other by skittering out of the way, clinging to the walls for protection. Nivara smiled wanly, she couldn't help but admire her apprentices shrewdness.

"Spoilsport. Try not to die from the overbearing idiocy, Scouty!" Domino called back as he walked out of the canteen and past the crowd, turning right towards the winding staircase.

Nivara struggled to keep up with him against the masses, her mist twisting and turning around the endless sea of hungry Traited. Eventually she managed to wind her way up the stairs and around a maze of walls of pillars to find a small paper swan sitting on a window sill. Nivara returned to normal, her mist flaring out angrily in all directions as she stopped near the slight crack in the wall of a dead end. 

Taking a deep breath, she picked up the little crane and walked towards the dead end. She stumbled a little as the Trait was lifted, a perfect replica of the white arkalite stone as Scout sat in his room rubbing a towel against a small wriggling dragon while another helped to heat her up with its flame.

"Master!" Scout exclaimed, worry creasing his once impassive features.

Nivara sat down next to him and pulled him into a hug, squishing Scout and the little dragon as an unfamiliar blue dragon popped out from underneath the towel to greet them.

"Oi! Watch where you're putting those hands- oh. Lady Nivara, forgive me for my rudeness. I was just trying to help my fellow dragon here get warm." The prussian blue dragon said, giving her a short bow.

"Don't you ever let me hear you say those awful things again, Scout! I almost...I almost…" Nivara said, distracted by Scout as she couldn't help but smother him, making sure the kind hearted Earth Traited was still himself. 

Scout's voice was muffled by the swathes of silk but he still clung fast to his mentor, shaking over the shock at what they had both been through already today.

"I'm sorry, Master but I had to! They were using Silvertongue potion to cheat the assessment and slander your good name. After what happened…I had to find out and stop them, I just couldn't let them...do what they did to Ripple." Scout proclaimed, tears running down the poor boys face.

Nivara smiled gratefully, wiping his eyes with her hands and held him as close as he wished. Her heart hurt to see her young apprentice in such turmoil over something that didn't involve him. Nivara hadn't realised she was slowly turning him into a reflection of herself, a sly, sneaky Traited who wore a mask for every situation.

"I'm sorry, Scout. I should've realised what they were doing myself. You don't have to hide who you are anymore. I'll handle this on my own."

He sniffed, leaning against her cloak as he breathed a small sigh, his hand resting against the little Knuckleburst dragon. She was still shivering against the cool air, her ruffles of fire surrounding her like a collar were beginning to flicker back to life but her heart was no longer in it.

"No. I want to help. I'm not in the Swarm anymore but, you always said our biggest faults can be our strongest assets. I'm not blaming you for what I did...but I know what they're planning and I want to put an end to it." Scout said, his voice quiet but strong.

The Talonslash purred in agreement.

"Well said, Scouterly. Well said indeed. Exactly why I chose you."

Nivara raised an eyebrow at his full name and her apprentice turned away in embarrassment, fiddling with the small crane she had discarded onto the bed earlier. Ripple was currently being mothered by the outspoken Talonslash who kept gesturing to make herself a den within the covers they were sitting on.

"My apologies for not making myself known sooner, Lady Nivara. Scouterly and I only recently got acquainted you see after his grimoire manifested in the infirmary." She explained, giving a kind but pointed glare to her Agar who was expertly managing to use his Trait continuously with one hand.

"It did? Scout, that's great! Did it go OK?" Nivara asked, worried as to why he hadn't said anything sooner.

"I guess so. Pocket and I ended up together because I ended up with a rare Earth Trait. That's all." Scout said, mournfully looking towards the wall.

The Talonslash huffed, her tail flaring in indignation as she shuffled over to her new partner, nestling under his sling to help take the weight of it.

"How many times must I tell you, young Scout? I chose you. Not because of your background or your Trait or your grimoire. I chose you because you are selfless and kind and more than the sum of your parts. Paper Trait or not, you have the heart needed to strengthen others when all is lost. Even me."

"But...I'm not ready to be Oathed, Pokey." Scout said worriedly. 

Nivara's mouth tweaked upward at the nickname, expecting the Talonslash to protest but instead she nuzzled his knee supportingly, allowing him to come to her. Pocket was more than likely an experienced Agar, someone who had been partners with someone before and knew the heartbreak of losing those she loved. The fact she was here now with a young boy like Scout proved her worth within this world. She knew but did so regardless.

"I know. I won't make you, either. I may be of noble lineage to the Svalbard's but I won't force you to partner with someone you just met. Anyone who says otherwise is just talking through the arse they call a mouth!"

Scout spluttered with laughter at his Agars sudden crudeness, Nivara unable to stop herself from giggling alongside him.

"I have never heard a dragon say that before, let alone a noble!" Nivara said, still laughing despite trying to keep her composure. 

Pocket truly was something else. The Talonslash stood proudly on the bunk bed while her fellow dragon cowered at such a brazen attitude towards her partnership. Slowly her lip began to quiver and Ripple began to cry. 

Nivara gravitated towards her sorrow at once, scooping the little red dragon gently into her arms and allowed her to cling to her cloak, her claws leaving little pinpricks of flame as they were washed away by the mist. 

"It's alright, little one. It's alright." Nivara said soothingly, pulling down her hood as her mist aided her with pulling of her Everchange cloak and gently surrounding the Knuckleburst with it.

Ripple began to hiccup, sniffing morosely as she snuggled into the Mist Maiden's embrace once again. Scout looked at his Master like he'd never seen her before, her mist gently stroking the flames on Ripple's neck to help settle her. Slowly the Knuckleburst began to purr, rolling around aimlessly within Nivara's cloak cocoon, her tail thrashing with delight.

"Your Trait really is pretty, Miss." Ripple said quietly, giving a whisper of a smile before it faded.

"Not as pretty as your scales, I'm sure." Nivara said, complimenting her politely from within her nest.

Ripple's scales deepened from a soft red to a blazing scarlet, her golden fringe like collar changing alongside it.

"No. No I'm not pretty. Not at all." She said as if it were the only truth she knew.

Nivara was taken aback by her bluntness, Pocket hissing in retaliation as Ripple glared back at her suddenly full of conviction.

"If my Agar says I'm ugly then it is true. Saying otherwise is just mean."

The Talonslash whimpered in shock, attempting to get through to the young Agar.

"No, no. Not at all, Rippledawn. Your Agar Domino has been through some hardships, yes but that does not mean she is right about everything. Your scales are as beautiful as your flame. You must believe that."

"No! I won't! I won't believe it! If I do that means...that means Dommy lied to me and she wouldn't do that, she wouldn't! She's right about everything. She's right about my value, she's right about my fire and she's right about it being all my fault!"

Nivara's heart broke for the little dragon, her hands balled into fists at the physical and emotional torture Domino had put her Agar though. Ripple was not a toy or a tool. She was a living, breathing dragon with hopes and dreams and emotions just as much as any Traited before her. Domino had merely used her Agar to dump all the blame and insecurities on her in exchange for Ripple's unconditional love that she continued to abuse and shun. 

"You're fault? How is what your fault?" Pocket said confused by the young dragons statement.

Ripple looked as if she had been doused with cold water all over again. She curled up in a ball, surrounded by cobalt against the clashing scarlet of her scales as if she were trying to change colour by willing it.

"Mimi. She was my Agar before Dommy. But she died when I broke our contract to save Dommy's life." Ripple admitted, hiding her snout with her claws.

Nivara failed to hide her shock, cuddling her close as she mewled quiet sorrowful howls. Even Pocket looked dejected as she too curled up on Scout's lap and began to murmur.

"The price of living in our world never ceases to cause unnecessary pain. I take it Miss Domino decided to pin the blame on you because you vowed to keep her aunt safe?" Pocket said, inquiring as tentatively as possible. 

Ripple didn't reply, her expression saying all she needed to know.

"You were her Agar. You loved her like family. Domino is only a child. A child who needed a partner to survive. Executed or not your aunt saved her."

Ripple shook her head, denying the Regents words without saying a thing.

"Mimi...Mimi died because of her Trait. She was a necromancer, a Shadow Traited."

Nivara's heart was in her throat, her breathing came quick and uneven as she threw her hands up to rest her head against them. She knew that name now. Mimic the necromancer had taken the last stand against those who shunned her kind. If Domino found out that Lady Aria was comatose then who knew what kind of plan they'd cook up to overthrow her or avenge her aunt.

"That's...unfortunate." Pocket said evenly, not wanting to suggest anything for or against it. 

"It's no excuse. Trait or not, your Agar doesn't apply to that and neither does Ripple. She's innocent in all this." Scout spoke up at last, helping his Regent to focus on the present.

Nivara took a deep breath, carefully adjusting her mask before answering.

"You're right, Scout. Ripple is still her Agar. Despite her mistreatment it has nothing to do with what they did at the assessment today. Silvertongue potion or not, we need proof not speculation."

Pocket nodded her head, heading over to where Ripple was resting and nudged her with her head.

"Come on, little one. These two need to talk alone for a bit. I'll show you to the canteen and get you some food. You'll need all the strength you can get for the Masters arrival for the second half today." 

Ripple opened her bleary eyes, giving the older dragon a shaky nod before they flitted off together towards Scout's paper trap and into the open. Nivara had forgotten about the second half of the judging. It allowed the rest of the applicants to showcase their talents in front of potential mentors and receive feedback based on recommendation. Nivara couldn't help but smirk, no wonder the nobles had been so livid. 

"OK Scout. We've got a few minutes. Tell me what you know about Domino's plan."

Scout fidgeted with his Trait, flicking through the sheets of paper scattered on his bed and tried to nail down the main focus of what they wanted to achieve.

"Like you, they want to establish a chain of command now the Excelliars forces have been cut in half. Most are on the fence about it, either completely for or against you. Svalbard and Chimera are the two houses who are most against you."

"Not unlikely considering they both have their kids looking out for one another." Nivara said, scoffing derisively.

Scout shook his head.

'That's not all. They've blackmailed two other participants to act as fodder and they've reluctantly agreed. I don't know much about their Traits but they're mimicking the olden stories of the Laia like crazy."

Nivara winced at his choice of wording, the revelation about a potential necromancers niece being in the same place as her gave her the chills. Either way, she couldn't deny the connection to the Myth of the Four Tomes.

"Fire. Water. Earth and Air. Laia fanatics indeed. So, what about the exchange students?" She continued, hoping that they'd be allowed to participate.

"They aren't keen of course, but it sounds like they want to sabotage their assessment in some way. I don't know why they'd lie about being Oathed though. Convenience?" Scout said, his theorising a painful reminder of her discussions with Kaldra.

"I don't know. But I'll keep an eye out just in case they want to frame me for anything Silvertongue related." Nivara said evenly, unable to hide the worry in her voice.

Scout gripped her arm tight, his sling brushing against her cloak.

"Of course. Please, be careful. I'll try to figure out as much as I can and try to let you know if I deter them."

Nivara smiled, giving him a brief hug in return. 

"I know you will Scout. I trust you. Be safe."

Scout watched as his Regent calmly smoothed her cloak over her legs before standing and donning her cloak just as before. With a cheery wave, Master and apprentice said a silent goodbye as Nivara guiltily stepped through the gap in the wall and turned to mist once more.

Her thoughts clung to Scout's comment as she descended back down the stairs, unable to hold her Transference any longer as she gripped the oak worn doors into the canteen. The thought of two broken Agars within the hall, sharing food and stories steeled her nerves as she slowly began to accept her apprentices speculation as proof that her deception was slowly unravelling.

Nivara knew exactly why Domino lied about her Agar. She was goading her out. Somehow, some way the nobles of Chimera knew about Kaldra and wanted to frighten her. Whether or not that had worked remained to be seen but one thing was certain.

They knew she was an Oathed.