Evelin looked around the five and pointed at the tall and lanky man.

“You sir, would you mind starting the introductions. We’ll go left from you.” Evelin said.

“If you insist.” The lanky man said. His voice was surprisingly deep for how he appeared and he seemed less stressed out now that the crowds were gone, though the bags under his eyes were still plain to see.

He stood up and fixed his robes. Long as they were it took a moment before the movement in his collar reached the movement near his feat. He was noticeably taller up close, if she had to guess he was well over six feet tall.

“My name is Rigur Sherchower, my mother descends from the Prodigar line of mages and married my father, Narcin Sherchower. Though my accomplishments as a mage are left wanting in my opinion, I have mastered several disciplines related to horticulture and agriculture. As well as taking a minor part in a study of plant life in the Isle of Veser. On that expedition I personally discovered a specimen of flower that in the last few years has advanced the field of medicinal pain relief. Beyond that, I am a simple man who wishes to learn as much as I can about the supporting subjects in my field.” He said.

He was a remarkably well spoken man, much more than he led on. He was still shaky in some details, like having emotion to his speech, but it seemed that his future plans were already solid and foundational. It crossed her mind that if he put on some weight and exercised he could be a monster of a man who could demand the attention of a room more than his oratory skills already did. Rigur sat back down and accepted a cup of tea from the maid standing next to him.

“Thank you for your time Lord Sherchower, I hope our college will be the utmost of boons to you.” Evelin said.

“I’m sure it will be madam, I would expect nothing less.” Rigur said.

The turn moved toward Grant. He flatly refused to face Andromeda as he stood up and he too fixed his coat.

“My name is Grant Varloe, first son of Gregerous Varloe. I trace my mystical blood through the lines of Alavaster, Doneun, and Caltei Sor-Den. While I possess excelling talent in many fields, the field of study I have taken to as of late is Thaumaturgical Rune Magic. My family personally oversaw the development and construction of the East Nalzia to Revier transportation gateways. As for myself personally, I have recently published a journal with detailed reports of over 1400 Thaumatological rune configurations, as well as 26 newly discovered configurations previously undocumented. I have come here not only to expand my understanding of runes, but to branch out into several others fields so that I might keep my repertoire of skills balanced, but so that I might mingle and interact with several of my fellow students so that we may build lasting partnerships in the future.” Grant said.

As much as she hated to admit it, he was pretty good in front of a crowd too. But she could tell by a very specific inclusion of a single word that it was rehearsed. He likely had it planned out before he got here from how clearly he said everything beside that single addition.

Overall, she still did not like him. But assuming he wasn’t lying through his teeth, he at least wasn’t here on the good name of his family.

Evelin was about to have Alice stand up, but then the merchant’s son stood up and bowed quickly. He was allowed the floor and said this.

“I’m sorry, but after hearing the introductions of my fellows beside me, I wish to introduce myself next. My story is much less interesting than yours is likely to be, and I would like to leave our fairest members for last. They likely have the best stories to tell.” He said. Everyone looked toward Alice, it was technically her turn to speak so the decision was hers to make. She smiled and cleared her throat.

“If you wish to speak next, I have no reason to stop you. However, I want to say that you should have more faith in yourself than to believe your story will be less impressive than ours. We have all worked hard to get where we are and should not look down on ourselves no matter our self doubts.” She said.

“I agree, Cylas only accepts the very best. No matter the stripe, sitting here and now is a worthy enough accomplishment that only those who have truly achieved it can claim to have.” Rigur said.

The merchant’s son tilted his head and rubbed his cheek.

“Your kind words flatter me. I’ll do my best to act as befitting the position. Thank you.” He said. He cleared his throat and began.

“My name is Albert Nedely, though I am mystical, it is to mundane parents. My abilities were not discovered until I was already ten, so I am perhaps on the less experienced side. After the discovery of my talent, my father put me in charge of several mage related trade operations all along the northern, eastern, and western shores of Legoria. In my time I have achieved passing ability to manipulate the wind and sparse experience in weather manipulation Magic. Though I consider my pace humble, it was considered enough to grant me access to the college. Here I plan on further expanding my chosen fields.” Albert said.

Out of everyone she had heard from so far, with the possible exception of Alice, Albert seemed the most affable of the lot. He was humble, clear about his message and intentions, and was concise about his goals. It was also impressive that he has been in charge of trade business decisions at such a young age. He didn’t look a hair over 18 so this must have happened when he was still basically a child.

Next up was Alice, Andromeda had gotten a bit about her in their conversation before, but it was mostly formalities and info about divination. She was excited to hear more about her.

“Hello, my name is Alice Magrisal. I am the second daughter of Lord Veyner Magrisal, as well, I was born mystical through my mother’s family though they were not noble. When I was born, my eyes were invalid. Due to this, I was unable to use magic until a friend of my mother taught me the secrets of Divination. With this gift I was able to function in society and practice with my abilities. My progress in the art of divination was noticed by my teacher and through my father’s position we were able to enter me into the submissions for Cylas. Thankfully, I was allowed to attend and I intend to expand my understanding of Divination. I humbly request that you remain patient with me. I will do my best to meet your expectations.” She said.

It wasn’t as much as she was hoping for. But Andromeda was happy to hear that her story went from tragic to hopeful like it did. If she was even a fraction as talented in Divination as she was speaking about it, she might be a prodigy.

That only left her. This had been something she had been stewing on for a long time now.

There were parts of her story that she knew but didn’t understand, parts that she wanted to share but couldn’t, and parts that she wanted to know, but didn’t.

What was her story here? What parts could she tell? What parts couldn’t she? From her understanding, nearly everything about her existence was fantasy in this world. She couldn’t expect anyone to believe her if she told the whole truth, but even if she made something up, it wouldn’t be able to cover everything.

So her final decision tells her story, just as she knew about it.

Andromeda stood up, she cleared her throat and lowered the hood on her head. Her read hair slipped out from the hood and draped over her shoulders. It had grown quickly in the weeks since she arrived here, and was much farther than she liked it to be.

“My name is Andromeda Noelle. My story isn’t as important, or unique, or special as any of yours. I don’t mean this in a self-deprecating way, it is just how it is.” She said.

This was coming from the heart, so she wanted to get it right.

-----

It started with my parents. My father was a soldier in the army, which army it was and what he fought for, I’ll never know. He never spoke to me about what he saw in his days, but I knew that it made him a peaceful man that feared what war could do. He met my mother once he returned from his tour and not long after they were married. Almost a year later, my mother was pregnant, it was a girl. That was me.

We lived together for a few years, but when I was seven years old, my father was killed. By who, how, and for what reasons, I never knew. We buried him in a simple plot near where he was born as he wished. I tell you this, because he is the reason I stand here today.

My father hated violence and bloodshed. The ravages of war made him more sick than anything had ever done in his life. He instilled in me the wisdom he had learned through his words, rather than the pain he endured. He taught me that life was precious, and must be conserved, that every breath was valuable, and each one who breathed ever more.

It was only a few years later that my mother passed as well. She was struck with a sickness that no one could find quick enough before it consumed her. She had never been fully okay after my father died, but this is what killed her.

With both of them gone, I was sent to live with my aunt and uncle from my mother’s side. They took care of me through those troubled years as best they could. They were good people and I value the time I spent with them. But we all knew it was no replacement for my parents.

Unfortunately, the world didn’t let me know peace. The same war that my father fought in had flared again. By this time, I was old enough to take part and do what I could to help. I enlisted as a medic in honor of my father’s wishes, I never once raised my weapon to a man. I spent three years with the army, I watched many men and women die, some in my own hands. The war ended and I returned home, there wasn’t much of it left after the fighting, so I was left picking up the pieces.

Not long after this I came to Legoria. I reached King’s Grove and was present for the attack a few weeks ago. Though before the attack I was already afflicted with something I do not understand. It caused the mana in my body to start killing me. A man named Argo Lander rescued me when I collapsed and took me to a Medea named Rhys. Through their efforts I survived the ordeal. Now I must wear this ring or I might die.

This is when the attack happened, I was knocked unconscious for three days and was nursed back to health by Argo and his family. I remained with them for several weeks. In that time, I learned that I was able to use magic. Using old textbooks they had on hand, I taught myself how to mend.

Over the course of several weeks, I gained a nickname as the “Mending Mage”, because I spent every spare moment I had practicing it.

As it seemed to be the course of my life, a man came to our door and said that Legoria was to go to war as well, and that I must enlist or the family who saved me might be punished. This would be the third time that it has threatened my life, and this time I wasn’t going to wait for it to take from me again.

When I arrived in Salsi per the orders I was given, I was brought to a man by the name of Ferdinand. High Magister Ferdinand. He took notice of my self taught ability to mend and proposed that I attend this college. His reasons for why I should come here rather than any other college are unknown. But I took the chance that was given to me.

That brings me to today.

Having heard my story, you may think I am a novice. You would be right. My skills are not great, but I will do everything in my power to honor all that got me to this point. Even if its at the cost of my mind, body and spirit, I will pay forward the kindness that has gotten me here.

I hope you can all understand that.

-----

The room was quiet.

Everyone sat in quiet contemplation of what they heard. Andromeda sat down and waited for what might come. She heard their stories, knew what they did to earn their place here, and what they wanted to do with their lives. It didn’t feel right making up some story about her life so that they wouldn’t question it. It didn’t matter if they accepted it, what she told them was (99%) the god honest truth. She wouldn’t pretend like it was otherwise again.

“That is… Certainly a lot.” Albert said.

“Indeed.” Rigur said. She couldn’t tell how they were taking it. Where they upset, sympathetic, or confused?

Alice put her hand on Andromeda’s.

“You lost both your parents?” She asked.

“Yes.” Andromeda said. Tears came to Alice’s eyes and fell down her cheek. Hearing her confirm it so quickly seemed to be painful for her to hear.

“I couldn’t imagine a world without my father. Let alone both he and my mother. It’s unthinkable.” She said.

“While I agree with the sentiment, I am more surprised by your speed of education. You say that you taught yourself mending in only a few weeks? That is incredible. It took me years before I could manipulate the wind. Even then it was with the help of the best tutors we could afford.” Albert said.

“I am more concerned with what war would allow someone of her age to fight. It must have been a truly awful affair.” Rigur said.

Grant sat in his seat silent. He seemed to be thinking hard about something. The sneer he wore since he sat down from his introduction was gone. Now he seemed to be considering something.

“Another thing, I heard a tale that the famed “Mending Mage” was able to mend any object, no matter how large, and never run out of mana.” Albert asked.

Andromeda nodded, Albert’s eyes went wide. She didn’t know if running out of mana was going to be an issue with mending, if it used any mana at all, then she didn’t notice it.

“How?! The amount of mana that doing something like that would be incredible, have you mastered it already?” He asked.

“Mastered? Never mind that. If that was the case then she must have gone beyond mastery. Only a savant could do such a thing.” Rigur said.

They didn’t seem to care, most of them at least. They were just worried about her. Did they not care that she had basically cheated to come here? Was it really not an issue? Evelin stepped up.

“Now now, it isn’t polite to talk about someone while they are in front of you.” She said. The others stopped their chatter when this was brought to their attention. Evenlin waved to the staff to remove the table and chairs.

“Now that the proper introductions have concluded, we should move on to the last part of our night before you are fully initiated.” She said.

The second surprise of the night came to them.