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Mae Soung

"Dream higher than the sky and deeper than the ocean"

0 · 492 views · located in Orion Institute of Magic

a character in “The Orion Affair”, originally authored by ☿Urania☿, as played by RolePlayGateway

So begins...

Mae Soung's Story

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Adeline Butler Character Portrait: Maireadh Fjestad Character Portrait: Aidan Zeller Character Portrait: McKenna James Character Portrait: Hana Hamisaki Character Portrait: Emma Quinn
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#, as written by Cloud


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Date: 1st September | Time: 6.00 pm | Location: Island Cove - Great Hall




Light ripples across the blue waters of the island’s cove, setting the waves aflame as the swells of water race towards the golden sands of the beach beyond. Half of the beach remains untouched, pristine stretches of sand racing down to meet the lapping salty waters. To the left, however, several small jetties have been constructed, floating on the waves and offering a safe docking space for the collection of magical ships arriving. The dock is only temporary, conjured up by staff for the arrival of the school’s students. Once the last has arrived the beach will be returned to its previous state, the swish of a wand deconstructing the floating pier in the blink of an eye.

For any muggles who catch sight of the yearly migration of ships, they might wonder where the sea faring vessels are going. The island is invisible to muggle eyes and technologies, blanketed by powerful spells that render it unmappable and undetectable. Yet, for those with magical blood running in their veins, they know exactly where the boats go and why. Above the beach, perched on the edge of the overhanging cliff, stands Orion Institute of Magic, a school dedicated to the education of young witches and wizards from around the globe. The castle gleams in the setting sun, appearing to sparkle as if its walls are littered with diamonds and crystals. The school’s flag flies from the Western tower, flapping in the sea breeze and proudly displayed the school’s crest – the Southern Cross constellation enclosed in a silver circle of vines with a pair of crossed wands beneath from which the words “To Learn Is the Highest Power” appear to be produced.

For the new students on the arriving boats, this is their first glimpse at their home for the next year, and an impression that will live on long after they have left the school. Awed gasps can be heard from some of those younger students, while the older students look on with smug expressions, their eyes already leaving the stunning castle above to scan the clear waters below. There, a dark smudge beneath the waves can be seen, flying through the water’s depths. There’s movement to the starboard side, barely caught by any who aren’t paying particular attention – just the flick of a tail and then calm again. A second later a shriek is heard from the front of the boat, small hands of the frightened first years pointing at the water monster emerging from the depths.

Long enough to wrap around the ship multiple times, the beast shares many similarities with dragons. Its skin is covered in glistening, dark multi-coloured scales, which seem to change shades as it swims from patches of sunlight to shadows cast by clouds high above. Above water the light also reveals the beautiful patterns engraved onto the beast’s scales. Sharp claws extend from its fore- and hind-legs, as long as many of the first years gapping in fear and astonishment on board the vessels are tall. Large, intelligent eyes blink up at the boat, its mouth opening to reveal rows of deadly teeth as it belches out a shriek. Spines stand to attention along its back, following the movement of its body as it slides through the water towards the boat. Just before the beast reaches the ship it picks up speed, causing more than a few of the new students to stumble backwards in fear as if it were about to smash into the ship's side. Then, to a series of gasps and startled shouts, it leaps from the waters, arching itself up and above the boat, the length of its body curving over the deck, before splashing back beneath the waves on the other side. From there it disappears down, a series of loud cheers and clapping erupting from the older students for its show.

On board the boats the knees of the first years shake, their eyes wide as they attempt to come to terms with what they’ve just seen.

“It’s a dragon… a- a-… a water dragon.” One mutters in bewilderment, no doubt questioning why a school would keep such a beast so close.

“No, it’s a Taniwha.” Another replies, possibly a resident of the neighbouring Island chain of New Zealand, from where the magical monsters originate.

The returning students grin on, confident in their knowledge that the cove’s Taniwha acts as guardian and protector of the school, and perhaps remembering their own first sighting of the beast. Many believe that the Taniwha’s appearance at the start of every year is his idea of a joke, a playful way to welcome the new students to Orion. For the rest of the year he – fondly nicknamed Moe because his full name is hard for many to pronounce – remains largely out of sight, apart from the odd glimpse of a tail or leg slipping beneath the waters.

Needless to say, once the shock wears off the new students and an older student has explained the situation, there’s no stopping the excited chatter. Yet, there is much more to see, and before long the students have left the boats. Carriages pulled by invisible steeds carry students up the winding path to the castle, while the first years are treated to flying hippogriff pulled carriages which zoom around the golden castle at an astonishing pace.

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Just as the sun finally sets, the first years are set down and ushered into the grand hall. There wonder again sets in and necks crane up to inspect the charmed ceiling above. At first glance one might simply assume that the night sky outside has been reflected in the high ceiling of the hall, yet a second glance will show you there’s much, much more to behold, for the ceiling is alive with moving constellations. The crab of cancer scuttles behind the harp constellation of Lyra just as the dragon which gives house Draconis its name glides by. A school of sparkling stars in the shape of fish glimmer in and out of view as they pass swim around the figure of Hercules. Most stars can be seen in the ceiling at at least one time in the year as the ceiling seems to shift hemispheres on a whim. However, of all the constellations, only one is notably absent, both in the ceiling above and in the night sky, Orion the Hunter.

Yet, none of the students can be faulted for not reflecting on the constellation's absence at this moment. For, of equal interest to many is the large array of food spread across the four house tables, waiting to be devoured by the hungry witches and wizards. The feast is always a highlight, and every year the kitchen elves go to great lengths to provide a truly remarkable meal. Everything from roasted vegetables, chicken drumsticks, and mouth-watering burgers to creamy puff pastries, raspberries cakes, and lemon tarts stand ready on the tables. The only thing keeping the students from reaching out and starting their meal is the watchful eye of the school’s headmistress and her accompanying teachers. They sit at the head of the hall, patiently waiting for the first years to file in so that they may be sorted. Only then will a short welcoming speech be given before permission to eat is granted.

The sorting, thankfully, does not take an extraneous amount of time. An old hat is brought out, baring a striking resemblance to the sorting hat used by Hogwarts School. And in fact Orion’s was modelled on Hogwarts’ sorting hat many years ago. However, since its creation the hat has picked up several habits, such as dropping the occasional swear word into its yearly song and insisting on being addressed as ‘Daisy’. No amount of magic or persuading can get it to stop swearing, and the students have come to be fond of this little quirk. Daisy usually receives a raucous applause after any song particularly heavy in unsavoury language. Applause too is given as the new students are sorted into one of the four houses, older students clapping them on the backs and cheering as they move to join their tables. Then, after ‘Robert Zueqo’ is sorted into Draconis, the hat is removed and Headmistress Syborn stands.

A hush descends on the hall as the witch gazes out, her smile warm as she addresses the pupils, “To our newest arrivals, welcome to Orion, and to our returning students, welcome back.” Her voice carries across the hall, while her eyes dance from face to face. “I can see that many of you are already eyeing the lemon tarts, and I will not be the reason to prolong your wait.” A cheer goes up from some of the students, the hungriest no doubt, and Headmistress Sybron waits patiently for the noise to die down before she continues, “However, I would first like to remind all students and inform our new pupils, that unsupervised magic is prohibited, while the forest and beach are out of bounds unless accompanied by a teacher. Professor Savea informs me that the island’s local unicorn herd has several new additions and asks that anyone who happens to come across them, to please be respectful and give the young foals space.” Syborn pauses, her eyes gazing around at individual faces as she lets her message sink in, when she is sure that it had she smiles and raises her hands, “Alright, you may begin.”

That announcement receives a loud cheer, one that becomes progressively quieter as the students pounce on the food. And this is where we start out story, sitting among friends and filling out bellies.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Leia Delaney Character Portrait: Mae Soung
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░░░░░░░░░ LEIA DELANEY ░░░░
━━ pegaѕι ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
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outfit; x
feeling; frightened > excited + cheerful
location; orion school grounds > the great hall
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Seated right in the centre of the boat, eyes squeezed shut and humming a faint tune under her breath, Leia focused on breathing. She had become accustomed to the sideways glances and curious mutterings first years always seemed to send her way during the annual boat ride over to Orion. Typically the young witch would be bouncing around all over the place, introducing herself to as many first years as possible, joking and chatting away happily; however, boats and anything that has something to do with water freaks her out to the point of not being able to move. Leia freezes up and has to find somewhere she deems safe or secure to stay until the whole ordeal is over, hence her being seated as far away from the water as possible, packed in between multiple students. The tune Leia had taken to humming was an old and mostly forgotten Irish lullaby her mother would sing to make Leia fall asleep. She had never noticed the rather ominous lyrics as a child rather focusing on the sweet melody, but as Leia sat muttering the words she realised how truly sad the lullaby was.

When mothers languish broken-hearted,
When young wives are from husbands parted,
Ah! little think the keeners* lonely,
They weep some time-worn fairy only.
Shuheen sho, lulo lo!

Leia sings the lullaby a little louder when the harsh gasps of first years seeing glimmers of Moe for the first time being to penetrate her hearing,

Within our magic halls of brightness,
Trips many a foot of snowy whiteness;
Stolen maidens, queens of fairy-
And kings and chiefs a sluagh shee* airy.
Shuheen sho, lulo lo!

A strong gust of air rocks Leia's boat and her eerie singing ceases, Leia opens her eyes in that second of complete silence to see Moe mid-air; hundreds of young eyes watching in pure wonder before he dives back into the water almost seamlessly, leaving nothing but faint ripples along the waters surface. Almost forgetting her fears, Leia lets a genuine smile spread itself onto her face as she hears a small applause break out before it catches like wildfire and even she, herself, is clapping along.



Leia has always loved watching the first years be sorted, not only because it meant she'd gain new housemates - and potential friends - but because of Daisy. The sorting hat was for certain her favourite inanimate-object-turned-animate ever. The boisterous singing and subtle swearing never failed to put a smile onto Leia's face.

After all the first years had been sorted, and Pegasi had gained a fair amount of new student which pleased Leia to no end, the Headmistress commenced her speech. Half listening, half drooling over the food in front of her, Leia attempts to slyly sneak herself a chocolate tart. Keeping her eyes on the headmistress, Leia moves her hands the slightest bit closer before slowly extending her long fingers. She manages the touch the edge of one chocolate tart before her gaze is met with that of her Head Of House - a typically sweet and smiley Professor Dew was watching her like a hawk and as soon as Leia's eyes hers, the young witch snaps her hand back. Professor Dew may usually be the sweetest Professor at Orion, but right now, Leia could help but feel a sense for terror when she looked at her. Maybe I'll just wait..

Soon the Headmistress finished and with Professor Dew's strong gaze gone, Leia tucked into the chocolate tart she had so longed for. But as she ate, it felt like something was missing, where were all her friends? Leia had found herself surrounded by first years and while she'll typically chatter away happily, Leia hadn't seen most of her school friends throughout the holidays and had missed them all incredibly. Finishing off her chocolate tart quickly, Leia tells the people she had been talking to that she's "Off to find some lemon tarts!" and bounds away down the table.

It's not until Leia sees Mae look around, seemingly searching for someone, that Leia stops walking. A brilliant idea popping into her head. Being as quiet as possible, she sneaks over behind Mae, watching the other witch continue to look down the table. Is she looking for me? Leia wonders, hopeful as always. Bending forward - deciding to ignore the faint giddiness she felt being so close to Mae - Leia moves her mouth to Mae's ear and whispers "Boo!" grabbing her shoulders to make her jump.






TRANSLATIONS::
[ keeners - mourners - people wailing and lamenting the dead. ]
[ sluagh shee - fairy host. ]

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Leia Delaney Character Portrait: Mae Soung
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Like a child Mae ran up to the front of the boat, crouched down and peaked over the railing with eager eyes. She watched Moe put on his little show like he did every year. The serpent like beast had always caught Mae's attention from day one at Orion and the way it's scales shimmered different colors of the rainbow captivated the witch. "So cool!" she blurted out like an excited child at the zoo. Mae turned her head to her right to meet the eyes of staring first years. That's when when she smiled sheepishly as her cheeks grew red from embarrassment. Suddenly, Mae shot straight up startling a few of the first years and cleared her throat. "Ahem,"

"Don't worry he won't eatcha or anything. Mae's embarrassment melted rather quickly while a bright smile appeared across her lips. "He's pretty cool right?" Some of the first years nodded but others just kept staring at her as if she was crazy. Nice save Mae, nice save. Her eyes gazed over the small crowd of first years before they landed on a rather excited looking girl. The witch extended her hand with her bright smile still in place. "Hi, I'm Mae Soung, I'm Pegasi." The younger witch shot her arm right out and was greeted with a surprisingly gentle handshake. "Amelia Webb" she responded with a cheery tone. Mae could tell the girl was excited but she was holding it back.

"It's alright to be excited, I felt the same when I first came here," Mae turned to face the ocean and pointed up to the school that came into view soon after Moe's performance. "plus our home is definitely something to be excited about." The children all turned their heads to where Mae was pointing and was greeted with such an amazing sight. She giggled a little at their wide-eyes and surprised expression but it didn't take long for her eyes to wander once more, this time landing on the ocean blue below. The witch couldn't wait to swim in Islands blue ocean once again. If she was allowed Mae would have jumped off this boat a long time ago but then again she didn't want to seem like a crazy person . . . again.




The sorting ceremony was going good by Mae's standards. Everyone was in a happy mood waiting for the new comers to be sorted into they're houses. Every house got at least two new members while others had more but it was all balanced out because the houses that got more first years last year got less this year and vice versa. To her surprise the girl Mae was talking to earlier was sorted into Pegasi. As Amelia made her way down and over to the table the two made eye contact. Mae smiled and stuck both her thumbs up and Amelia returned to gesture. She looked as if she was about to say something when the young was pulled into greetings and welcoming's but Mae left it at that, it was best to leave the new member to socialize.

Right before the headmaster finished her introduction Mae's hand was already reaching for some roasted vegetables which she half filled her plate with. The other half was filled with some grilled chicken and shrimp. From across the table one of her teammates decided to strike up a conversation about quidditch that Mae happily engaged in with a few more of her teammates joining in. They shared some laughs and ideas about upcoming games but the witches mind began to trail off a bit. Something was missing, there was usually a bright haired witch that Mae would see from the corner of her eye but she was missing. Turning her head to look down the table Mae bit her lip hoping to see Leia but there was no sign of her.

Letting out a little sigh, Mae looked back down at her plate a little disappointed and shoved a forkful of veggies into her mouth. Why am I disappointed? It's not like I wanted to see Leia anyway . . . do I? Realization finally kicked in as her chewing slowed. Aish, I do . . . I do want to see her. Her heart began to race just thinking about it and her cheeks slightly flushed. No, no, no this can't be.

"Boo," somebody whispers in a singsongy voice, grabbing Mae's shoulders and making her jump, "Did you miss me?" They ask, spinning her around so that Mae comes face-to-face with her scarer - Leia, the one person she had just been thinking about was stood there, grinning, clearly amused by Mae's startled look. Mae began to cough, choking on her food when Leia scared her. Her coughing fit lasted a few seconds before Mae wiped her mouth with the napkin that was in front of her. "What gave you that idea." Mae asked nonchalantly trying to sound normal while turning her head slightly away from Leia so she wouldn't see the slight blush that came across her cheeks."Aw come on," Leia beams, leaning over Mae's shoulder as she moves her head away, "Don't try and hide it - of course you did!" She teases, poking Mae's blushing cheek.

Inhaling deeply Mae turned to face Leia as she made an effort to hold back her blush. She pulled up the fork to her mouth and shoved more of her veggies into her mouth. "Nope." Mae said plainly but her heart spoke differently as it felt like a hammer in her chest. Taking the seat next to Mae, Leia swings her legs around, their thighs brushing as she does, "Oh really?" Leia asks, raising an eyebrow ever so slightly. Mae shifts her gaze from Leia to the plate in front of her, before receiving a new burst of determination. Looking purposefully into Leia's big eyes, Mae nods "Really." Leia smirks, enjoying the back-and-forth between them. Moving slightly closer to Mae and leaning her elbow on the table so that she could rest her head in her hand Leia returns her strong gaze, "I'm not so sure.." Without thinking a small smirk made it's way across her lips as she leaned in closer. It was her turn to play now. "Oh really?" Leia was impressed yet surprised that Mae managed to turn it back on her. Deciding to play along, Leia bites the corner of her bottom lip before nodding slightly, "Yes, really."


"Maybe you're just hungry." smiled Mae before lifting her fork with what was left of her veggies to Leia who eyes the food, shrugging. "Yeah, but I'd prefer something sweet," Leia replies, taking Mae's fork and setting it back on her plate before leaning over the table to grab a lemon tart. "Wanna try some?" Leia offers, putting some on a spoon moving it closer to Mae's mouth. Mae took the spoon into her mouth and ate the pastry which was a bold move for her because she was now getting nervous and cursing Leia in her mind for being so smooth. "I-It's good." she stuttered before pulling away abruptly and stabbing a piece of her chicken and shoving it into her mouth. It was clear that she had lost this battle. Wait, now that Mae remembers she was talking to her teammates before Leia scared her half to death. Looking over towards her house mates she saw that most stared at the two with wide-eyes and flushed faces. Mae gulped hard as once again a blush engulfed her face but this time it was out of embarrassment.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Leia Delaney Character Portrait: Isaiah Cole Character Portrait: Mae Soung
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#, as written by Agent
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Isaiah Cole dropped the empty tin can of Heinz Beans among the old china and bike parts and other junk that made up the pile of used port keys. He then moved quickly from the arrival area towards the docks. A smile spread on his face as the brief wave of travel disconcertion passed and a cool salty breath of air filled lungs. It was early spring and the edge of winter was still noticeable to someone whose home seemed significantly closer to the equator every degree below thirty he experienced.

Yet the temperature couldn’t spoil Isaiah’s excitement to be returning to Orion for another year. With his canvas duffle bag slung across his shoulder he adjusted the small trunk under his arm, jostling Cinder’s cage in the same hand. The raven, already ruffled from the journey, simple gave a disapproving croak and clung tighter to his perch.

“Sorry Cin.”

Reaching the dock Isaiah set the trunk among the other luggage being loaded on the ship and placed the cage on top. As he pulled his bag over his head over his head he looked around at the other students boarding. Some of the younger ones had parents seeing them off, while some of the older ones seemed to revel in their independence. Like the trio who probably didn’t even have a learner’s permit for the flying carpet they had arrived on and were now being reprimanded for.

Isaiah laughed, shaking his head as he walked up the gangplank onto the ship.

<><><>


He was lounged with his hands behind his head out on the top of the cabin in the middle of the deck, enjoying the sway of the boat and trying to absorb as much warmth from the patch sunlight he was occupying, when he heard the excitement start up. Peeking an eye open saw the students crowding the side of the boat with a mixed range of expression, apparently Moe was showing off for the new arrivals again.

Isaiah hopped up, glanced around quickly and –seeing no sign of any sort of chaperon or other authority figure who might give him detention before the school year had even started – pulled himself up into the ladder-like rope work of the shrouds. He climbed up several rungs before turning to see the entire length of the Taniwha moving just beneath the surface of the water.
Grinning widely, Isaiah watched as the Moe moved around the front of the ship, his grin growing as he spotted one of his elder housemate’s energetic reaction the Taniwae’s display. He thought with friendly affection that despite six previous years of this Mae seemed as adorably excited as the first years.

Isaiah glanced about the deck for any other Pegasi students. No doubt Devan, the only other sixth year from his own house that he really knew, was there somewhere. Instead he spotted another seventh year, Leia Delaney, huddled in the very middle of the boat as she tended to do on the crossing to Orion Island. Poor girl was less than comfortable with floating in the middle of the Tasman Sea, but her mood seemed improved as Moe suddenly leapt from the water. Isaiah clapped along with everyone else as the show-off disappeared beneath the waves again, only to hook is legs tighter around the ropes when he wobbled precariously.
He looked down at one of the younger students clinging to the bottom of the shrouds, having decided to follow his bad example.

“Get down before you land us both in trouble, kiddo,” he joked, but started climbing down himself to make sure the kid did the same, ignoring the impertinent glare he received.

<><><>


Isaiah cheered with some of the other student as Daisy dropped some choice swears in this year’s song and clapped for each and every new student as he or she was sorted into their house. Among them a Katie, a Rory, an Elouise, and an Amelia, were all sorted into Pegasi. At the other end of the table from the firsties he whistled loudly with the cheer of his house. He was sitting with the other senior students as he listened to the headmistress say her usual bit about this rule and that. Mostly he was just waiting to dig into the feast the house-elves had once again outdone themselves on. Professor Syborn’s note about unicorns was new and interested him just long enough to wonder whether they’d get to see much of the herd in Care of Magical Creatures this year, before he was promptly distracted by her approval to start eating.

It wasn’t until he’d finally gotten of the delicious smelling, and even more delicious tasting, food into his mouth that Isaiah took proper a look around the table. He was seated next to two fifth year girls excited who seemed to be comparing the aesthetics of the certain male professors. Isaiah decided to block out that discussion before he heard some opinion which wouldn’t allow him to sit through a Defence Against the Dark Arts or Care of Magical Creatures Class while maintaining a straight face. On his other side were a few members of Pegasi’s quidditch team, talking to Mae across the table and two seats down from Isaiah. He continued to eat as he listened with casual interest and partial comprehension to the conversation on the tactics of Porskoff ploys and Woollongong Shimmies. He shoved a particularly large mouthful of rice and veggies into his mouth to keep from giving anything away when he noticed Leia sneaking up the table towards Mae.

In hindsight this was a terrible idea, because he struggles to keep from spitting his food out with the laugh that bubbles in his chest at Mae’s startled reaction. Despite this he shovels another mouthful in after swallowing the first to keep himself quiet while he and the other quidditch players watch the exchange between the two girls. He hadn’t really paid it much thought before but the two of them would be kind of great together.

He elbowed the slack-jawed beater sitting next to him who snapped his mouth shut as Mae looked over suddenly with a growing blush.

“So,” Isaiah cleared his throat to break the awkwardness, then smiled addressing Leia “Besides all the apparent missing of certain people, did you enjoy your winter break, princess?” He bit his tongue rather than saying that she and Mae should just say cheesily quote the Star Wars ‘I know’ to each other already.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Maireadh Fjestad Character Portrait: Leia Delaney Character Portrait: Mae Soung
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A glittering shower of rainbow ocean sprinkled down on the amazed first years. A mystical creature and it's glistening body dancing above their heads. Mair reaches her fingers up to feel the cold ocean sprinkle down on her. A smile plays on the ends of her lips and she sighs.
"Moe" she whispers. She's always been quite fond of this beautiful creature. It's inspired many a poem and drawing. She finds its playful dancing on the first day very poetic. Despite the fear that had once been shadowing the boat just seconds before, an eruption of cheers breaks the silent air. She can feel the fear dissipating and can see the same wonder in each first years eyes. She remembered then her first year. Her father had told her stories of the magical protector of Orion, and being that young of course she never believed him. That was until, of course, she had seen it with her very own eyes. Her father had feared she would have been afraid of it, but she wasn't. It enchanted her, as many aspects of Orion always had. It had a very mystical presence, Orion. If a place could have a presence. It inspired the young witch so long ago. Ever since she has devoted herself to the mystical mysteries of Orion. She engulfed herself in the magic, the charms, the spells, the beauty! Of course the creatures have always given her such fascination and to this day Moe still enchants her.

As the excited chatter died down a little and the school grew closer, a sadness fell over Mair. She had so engulfed herself in her learnings and magic she had forgotten how much time has passed. It was her last year here. That was her last grand welcome from Moe. Her heart clenched and her face contorted in brief pain. Her white male companion (cat) sensed her troubled mind and leaped into her arms where she sat on the deck of the ship. She snuggled him close and breathed in his comforting fur. He was such a good friend...
That's when it hit her again. The pain. He was honestly her only close friend. She had many friendly acquaintances, and got along with many students, but she had yet to make any close friends... Actually, she had still yet to even make an enemy. It was another thing she had neglected in her enchantment of the school and focus on studies. She had always been so engulfed in her own little thoughts and day dreams she hadn't even realized she'd let many opportunities flitter by. Even many of the first years already had forever friendships just being on this boat, but in her many years here she had yet to even share secrets with someone. She felt so utterly... alone.

Of course her little cat chose then to lick her nose and she sighed heavily.
"Ky of course I'm not completely alone."
Sometimes she felt like she and this little cat had a psychic bond. She sometimes believed she could feel his emotions, and he often somehow knew what she was thinking. It wasn't impossible. Of course many things could share psychic bonds, hell, many of her classmates were psychics (term used loosely).
She realized she was talking to her cat out in the open and blushed profusely, but of course no one saw her. She was a little spec, a drifting whisper, a smudge on the wall. It was her fault really. She'd hidden herself away in her thoughts and studies, engulfed herself in reading and charms and spells. She rarely talked to anyone. How could anyone notice someone who was practically invisible at this school.
She remembered then words her father had spoken to her before leaving this last time.
"My little butterfly, grow. You are a caterpillar. You eat and live and you wrap yourself up in this protective cocoon, but you must break free of this. This is your last chance Maireadh. Before you leave Orion you must become a butterfly or you will wilt in the real world. You will be crushed and stomped on and consumed by everything dark around you. You must try, expand your wings, take a leap of faith..... and fly."
She knew where she'd gotten much of her poeticism from. Her father was quite a romantic too, but she understood these words. She even doodled them in the front of her new leather bound notebook (a gift from her mother before she left).
These words spoke to her on a very spiritual and soulfull level. She could feel the words sparking something deep and hidden inside her. She was meant to fly, and not just on a broom, but rather emotionally. She was meant to grow stronger, grow braver, stop herself from just withering away slowly. She wasn't going to just die (metaphorically of course), but rather she wanted to soar among all the other butterflies. She smiled slightly, the feeling of sadness leaving her, because she knew. She knew this was her last chance, and she would take hold of this chance.
And fly.




So many excited new Pegasi joined her table. The little first years cheeks gleamed joyously and shy. She loved her house. It was so kind. So.... dream like? There were many a dreamer in house Pegasi, and it showed. Eyes gleaming with a certain curiosity and bright imagination. The first years were so obviously Pegasi, or at least to her. She could see some were sad and longed to be with friends, but when welcomed with such warmth and kindness that sadness went away. The moment brought many warm memories back and she almost felt sad it was her last year again, but she wouldn't let herself. When headmistress announced the year had begun and the feast too, the room erupted with sound. So many smiles, so much laughter, it made her feel happy to be at such a school. It was bittersweet.
Mair looked above to the starry sky and stared longingly at the constellations. She couldn't wait to gaze at the real stars. They always amazed her, in the same way that Moe does.

She reached out towards the platter of mixed fruit and filled her plate full of strawberries and raspberries and blackberries. Friendly smiles passed back and forth between members of her table. She was so happy to be back, but the sinking feeling of loneliness continued to rear its ugly head.
She distracted herself by looking around at all the Witches and Wizards in the room. Most seemed happy, many seemed a little nervous (mainly the first years), but all seemed very satisfied with the choices of food. Of course it was magic and somehow knew what everyone liked, and so strategically placed it in front of either witch or wizard. Leia and Mae were getting extremely familiar with each a little down the table after such a long break, Mair only knowing their name really because they're both 7th years. She'd talked to them, and as she'd realized weren't at all close with them, and it made her sad knowing she'd probably had the chance to know them.
Her face blushed when she realized how familiar they were getting and she had to keep from staring at them. She looked away and quickly pushed a blackberry between her lips.
Her eyes wandered to the group of teachers at the long table at the front of the room and almost choked on the strawberry she'd tossed into her mouth.
She still had yet to break her enchantment of the glorious Prof. Lua Savea. She loved magical creatures, but she tried to convince herself that was the only reason she joined the M.C.C. Club.... Of course it wasn't the only reason. Prof. Lua Savea haunted many of her dreams, but no one had to know that. Something about a mysterious looking bad boy (MAN??) always attracted Mair. Of course if she told anyone (like she would ever have the courage) she would probably get thoroughly reprimanded, but what's wrong with a little puppy crushes (ironically). She felt her cheeks burning and didn't realize she was staring dreamily until said Professor looked her way and she practically fell out of her seat in embarrassment.
She quickly turned away and continued stuffing her face full of an assortment of fruit.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Leia Delaney Character Portrait: Isaiah Cole Character Portrait: Devan Erskine Character Portrait: Mae Soung
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A carved ivory tusk. A wand made out of a smooth, hollow bone, charmed into reality by blades and chisels. Unreal was what Devan initially thought when he read Ava’s penned letter. To create a wand out of an entity devoid of life was contrary to the wand-making tradition. A wand maker’s moonshine to disappointment existed in curiosity, in the experimental usage of assorted materials for the frame and the core. Only wood had been proven effective, as written by the timeless wand makers of yore. The reason being that such material possessed life, they breathe and they exist. There was a saying that some trees wait for a long time for a wand maker to carve out their souls, and to create the wands fitting for their living human counterparts. Bones are not the same! They were such mindless things.

He continued to read his childhood friend’s words, whilst the world was abandoned to the nearby strangers. A number of them were both mesmerized and quailed by the appearance of the Taniwha, a creature unseen in the oceans beyond this dimension. When he was a rawboned young boy naive to the wizard scene, the creature overwhelmed him with bliss. A confirmation of his distant, unrealized dreams. A door to a new world existed with uncommon creatures like the ones he saw here. Somewhere. And he will find it.

Do me a favor and gather the molars of your classmates and those younglings. I’ll need them in the future. A chuckle escaped his lips upon reading the last sentence. The timing came after the new students’ cry of despair, caused by the subtle movements beyond the boat. Condemned by the disapproving stares of those who were older or the same age—he could not tell within the imminent dusk—he muttered an apology, but they turned away to watch the Taniwha flaunt its crystalline scales under the siege of the sun.

He looked at the paper in his hands, eyes of sapphire caught in the alphabets. The heat crawled underneath his skin, but he resisted revealing a look of embarrassment. Someone called out from the front of the boat, announcing the arrival on the familiar unfurling shores of Orion. After folding the paper in established sections, he slipped the letter into the pocket of his pants, and released a deliberate sigh of relief. He left the boat, and then arranged his robe in tolerable creases. The lacquered carriage to his second home waited, the unseen steeds creating etched motif with their hooves on the garb of sand. Do they resemble the descriptions retold by people, or were they actually grotesque demons punished to pull these carriages? He wondered what they looked like, and how it must have felt to be invisible to the world. Seems horrible, he thought as he went to his carriage.

***

Eleven inches and Sycamore wood. Elena was not exactly made like a typical wand, at least according to his father. The wood was kept in an alchemical compound for a few years before it was carved and constructed. It had something to do with capturing the souls from the dead that drifted around the universe at a period of time. Disturbing, he once said, a young boy barely discouraged by the idea. His father refused to tell him the secret, the concept of infusing magic into wands, and he told him to figure it out. It sounded like his father sold his soul to be able to acquire this unfathomable knowledge, or it might be that the famous Ollivanders shared the secret of sentient wands over a feast of Gillywater, dragon milk, and fish scale appetizers. If the knowledge required dragon milk, he might have to reconsider his path before he spews his guts out.

Wild cheers swept the hall. Reality snapped him away from his thoughts, and he saw that people have begun taking the plates from the center and filling their share in such haste, as though the food will disappear when left alone. He was dazed in the midst of celebration, forgetting to pay attention to the freshmen being sorted into their respective houses. His mind in absence may seem misplaced, but the distraction of wand theory served to pull him away from the concerns about a rumor his father said prior to his return here. Even Ava had mentioned it in her letter. Something about the Elder Wand’s restoration.

He tucked the idea in the back of his mind, with a plan to return to it again when classes resume. His appetite was lost on him, on the wrong day and on the wrong time. Eating a lot of lemon squares during the summer has brought an aversion to the flavor of lemon inside his system. After some debate, he decided to trade a decent meal for a dessert that did not involve a parallel flavor. Cream puffs. Were there cream puffs? His eyes searched across the table for its ghost or manifestation, and he found them several seats away. He stood and walked towards the location, only to catch sight of the people he knew. Since he took the last boat, he was only able to get a seat at the far end of the table, where he was surrounded by a host of strangers.

When he reached his friends, he placed his plate on an empty spot of the table. “You guys! Good to see ya,” he said, a smile rising on his face. Upon noticing the blush on Mae’s face, his smile transformed slowly into a smirk, branding him curious. “So, what did I miss?”

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Character Portrait: Leia Delaney Character Portrait: Isaiah Cole Character Portrait: Devan Erskine Character Portrait: Mae Soung
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#, as written by Agent
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“Devan, mate!” Isaiah laughed. He slid along the bench to make some more room for his friend; brazenly ignoring the displeasure of the taller, more broad-shouldered, quidditch beater beside him that he elbowed aside to do so.

“What did you miss? Well!” He sends a devious look towards Leia as Mae’s continued to blush beside her, “Our seventh year counterparts, your fellow team member the sweet Miss Soung and our dashing Miss Delaney-” he was really hamming it up and dragging it out, “-having been setting an example of house togetherness for us young and innocent sixth years.” Did Leia just scoff at the word ‘innocent’? “They’ve been rather chummy, the two of them, in their long-awaited reunion. And it seems that the rest of your team are keen to learn from this example, considering the slack-jawed regard with which they’ve been observing it.”

Some of the team seemed good-natured in his ribbing, but with others (like the beater beside him) he was clearly not winning friends if the looks he was getting were any indication. But at least the switch in targets also angled to alleviate the extended focus of attention he’d inflicted on his two female friends.

Would applying for quidditch commentator, a position which had opened up with the graduation of Thomas Arkinson last year, improve or worsen his relations with his houses team? Isaiah didn't think he minded either way, but his knowledge of the sport was a bit limited beyond the basics.

“Hey Devan, you’ve got a copy of Quidditch Through the Ages, right?” he asked, reaching across the table to serve himself a decent helping of apple-rubarb crumble and then immediately spooning some into his mouth.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Maireadh Fjestad Character Portrait: Leia Delaney Character Portrait: Isaiah Cole Character Portrait: Devan Erskine Character Portrait: Mae Soung
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░░░░░░░░░ LEIA DELANEY ░░░░
━━ pegaѕι ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
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date; september 1st | 6:00 pm
feeling; amused + cheerful
location; the great hall
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Unlike Mae, Leia didn't find the fact that their whole 'conversation' - if you could call Leia profusely flirting and Mae mumbling shy responses while her cheeks burned a deep shade of pink a conversation - had an audience. In fact, it amused Leia. She always has loved being centre of attention and noticing everyone watching the pair, slack-jawed, couldn't have failed to bring a bright smile to Leia's lips. Catching one young witches eye further down the table, Leia sends her a wink before she quickly averted her gaze [Leia vaguely recalled her name being along the lines of Mair-something].

Sensing someone else watching her, Leia turns back to where her friends were and notices one of the Pegasi beaters staring at her and Mae intently. "Enjoy the show?" Leia asks him, raising an eyebrow ever so slightly. The beaters only response was to roll his eyes and shrug his shoulders. "Eloquent as always, darling." Leia says sarcastically, making sure to draw out the 'darling' knowing full well that most people hated her little nicknames.

"So," another watcher then began; Leia knew it was Isaiah even before she locked eyes with him, “Besides all the apparent missing of certain people, did you enjoy your winter break, princess?” Deciding to stop tormenting the butch beater seated next to Isaiah, who had turned red with anger or embarrassment Leia wasn't sure, but she reckoned it was best to quit while she was ahead - and intact.

"Jealous, Izzy?" Leia asks, a hint of a smirk present at the corners of her lips, "Don't worry I missed you too,"She then ponders upon whether she had, in fact, enjoyed her winter break. Going home, although she got to see her family, was always boring compared to being at Orion. "My break was... Fine, I'm just happy to be back." Leia nudges Mae's shoulder, "I doubt your winter was nearly as exciting as it would have been with me but go on, tell me all about it." Leia teases, she actually was curious about how her friends had spent their break. Everyone seemed to call a different country 'home' and most had far more exotic locales to go back to than Northern Ireland, so it was always enjoyable to hear about what they got up to.

When Devan approached their little cluster, Isaiah was quick to fill him in on all that he had missed out on. "the sweet Miss Soung and our dashing Miss Delaney have been setting an example of house togetherness for us young and innocent sixth years.” Leia was quick to scoff at Isaiah calling himself innocent, the younger wizard was anything but, everyone knew that. Even the beater beside him who had attempted to act like he wasn't listening into the groups every word, had to stop himself mid-eye roll. "They’ve been rather chummy, the two of them, in their long-awaited reunion. And it seems that the rest of your team are keen to learn from this example, considering the slack-jawed regard with which they’ve been observing it.” Leia simply shrugs at Devan once Isaiah had finished, feigning nonchalance, "Always happy to help the team." She says simply, before adding "You know you should really try-out for the Quidditch commentator spot, Izzy, that was quite an impressive speech."

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Maireadh Fjestad Character Portrait: Leia Delaney Character Portrait: Isaiah Cole Character Portrait: Devan Erskine Character Portrait: Mae Soung
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Mae forced her blush to go away when she was faced with the stares of her other housemates. She simply lifted her cup up to her lips that held her juice and sipped it as if nothing happened. Sometimes she hated what Leia could make her do with just a stare or smile because it made her feel like such a fool. Mae pushes her mostly empty plate away from her a little before it disappeared and another more smaller one appeared in front of her. Smiling inwardly to herself Mae reached over and grabbed a lemon tart for herself along with a couple of raspberry she garnished it with. Mae took a forkful of her dessert and ate it as she watched Leia bask in the spot light of all the attention. If there was one thing that Mae had to say she didn't fondly like about Leia then it would definitely be her quest for attention but Mae has been slowly getting use to it over the years. The bright haired witch had to be the first and only friend that Mae ever took that crap from and didn't mind.

Noticing a pair of eyes on her from a little down the table her gave switched from Leia teasing the beater to the dark haired witch staring at them. It was Maireadh, one of her housemates that she kind of knew a little bit but then again didn't. Mae couldn't forget Mari's name because it was such a unique name plus she heard it almost all the time since they have some classes with each other and both have charms club together. One thing Mae instantly noticed when she first saw the witch was her eyes. Those striking blue eyes that Mae instantly fell in love with. They were just something about them that captivated her, maybe it was because how blue they were? Anyway Mae flashed her a quick small smile before her attention was pulled back to Leia when she nudged her.

"Hm? Oh, well you may have liked it." she nudged back before continuing. " Mom took us down to Paris where we first visited some Christmas markets. The smell that filled the streets were intoxicating, it was a mix of peppermint and and different spices that came from the bakery's and wine vendors. I think I ate a little too much roasted chestnuts but the music and jazz festivals were amazing!" her voice sounded mildly excited all over again as if she was reliving the events that passed last winter. Mae was about to ask Isaiah how his winter break was but that's when Devan came on through which brought a big smile to Mae's lips. Devan was one of the first people Mae had befriended when she first transferred here and he was just lovely. He asked what did he miss and Isaiah began to explain. Mae couldn't help but to hold back a giggle when Isa said the words innocent which earned a scoff from Leia also. "You know you should really try-out for the Quidditch commentator spot, Izzy, that was quite an impressive speech." Mae let out an audible giggle and nodded to Leia's comment. "Yeah, I think that'll be a perfect job for you!" Finishing her juice Mae could feel her eyes grow a bit heavy as she let out a yawn. She was feeling tired now but didn't want to stop talking to her friends.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Leia Delaney Character Portrait: Isaiah Cole Character Portrait: Devan Erskine Character Portrait: Mae Soung
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“Thanks, mate!” Devan sat on the vacant space beside Isaiah, and he laughed, the burden in his chest disregarded in the moments of camaraderie. He could feel a wide grin pulling his cheeks. It was not exactly comfortable, but he was the perpetual victim of this intense expression around his wonderful friends. What a misfortune it truly was, but it was a misfortune he could afford after weeks of utter defeat in his upcoming nineteenth wand. By the morrow, his face will be tender and sore from the delight projected from his skin. Perhaps his professors will be calling on him to answer a question or two, and he could reveal a devastating grin (no thanks to his friends) to scare or to mock them. It will definitely not end well.

He was fixed in the spectacle of Isaiah’s eloquence, a tale of two sweethearts unraveled in eager delivery and impressive words. He would have produced the customary applause for his friend, but the discussion continued with a suggestion from Leia on Isaiah being a Quidditch commentator. “That’ll be very cool,” he said, easing his grin slowly until it was his mediocre but cheerful smile. He could have sworn it took some superpower to be able to keep such an expression, and Adeline was the chosen one. He has yet to witness a break in her pattern when they meet another time. Maybe he should lie to her that Aidan plans to set some kind of alarm to wake her up every hour? They’re gonna kill me. He shivered. The prospect of his sixth year in Orion is turning out to be the trill of his final hours.

To escape his present thoughts, he reached out for the cream puffs, fingers anticipating the texture and surrender of the pretty things to his proximate touch. Three on his plate, and one unfortunate cream puff directed to the depths of his mouth. He was pleased, the flavor less expressive than the lemon distress coating his stomach. His mother never forgets to flood his taste with her legendary lemon squares, until he could not miss it over school days from the overdose. It was not the case that they were terrible—in fact, they were delicious, and he enjoyed them. Too much of something, especially lemon, could make the very thing unbearable. Not that he ever complained, since his dear mother merely wanted to make them for him. She was oh-so-sweet, unlike her golden creations.

“Naw, I wish I did—” was his immediate response to Isaiah regarding whether he possessed a print of Quidditch Through the Ages. “Couldn’t take my book outta England. Color me surprised when a sleekit aide confiscated it on my third year. Said something mental…that kids shouldn’t be playin’ with broomsticks. That they’re for cleanin’ the streets,” Devan sighed, scratching his cheek when he thought he might have rhymed accidentally. Or not. All he knew was that he would not want to witness a page of his dreadful poetry. “Had to read it in the library before my first official practice. Sorry, Zai.”

He took another cream puff between his fingers, lifting it closer to his eyes. A realm of soft pudding, encased by a pair of crusty pillows. If he could replicate the idea in wand-making, he might be able to soak a softened wood with that certain catalyst of extracting the magic from the core, and allow it to rest and absorb for a few days, instead of months as his father did with submerged hard wood. Pinching made the cream puff waste its attractive form, pushing the smooth realm out of its core. It is possible that the wand will end up with the same disfigured countenance—a paste of what was once wood and core remnant. Bloody hell. I’m sorry. He devoured the cream puff, protecting whatever dignity it had left.

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Character Portrait: Adeline Butler Character Portrait: Maireadh Fjestad Character Portrait: Aidan Zeller Character Portrait: McKenna James Character Portrait: Hana Hamisaki Character Portrait: Emma Quinn
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#, as written by Cloud


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Date: 2nd September | Time: 8.00 am | Location: Great Hall




The first full day of school dawns bright and early, sunlight seeping in through stain glass windows and falling on students eager to start the day ahead – or go back to sleep. Many enjoy their final hours of freedom before class begins, knowing that as soon as they sit down to learn, assignments and homework will mar their free time. As eight a.m. rolls around, most students can be found pulling themselves from bed and making their way to breakfast. Some eager – or unlucky – few have been up since the crack of dawn, the Phoenicis Quidditch team under the direction of their captain having woken before the sun in order to get a jump start on the other houses’ teams. Now, however the delicious smells of pancakes, bacon and eggs, porridge, and every other breakfast treat one could imagine seems to permeate the air. Any first year who has already forgotten the path from dorm room to Great Hall need only follow their nose.

The heavy double doors stand at the rear of the hall, directly opposite the teachers’ podium and bracketed by two large carvings – one a likeness of the Taniwha Moe, the other a carved map of the night sky with the cluster of stars known as matariki (the Pleiades) centre stage. On the wall either side of the doors hang the house banners, indicating which long table belongs to which house. To the far right upon entering one finds Centaurus, with Draconis right and centre. Pegasi house stands left and centre, with Phoenicis against the left wall. While the house segregation is strictly maintained during dinners, and in particular feasts such as the welcome back feast of the night before, breakfast and lunch are another story. Students are free to sit at other houses’ tables. One will commonly find most students grouped at their own house table, merely because this is typically where their close friends sit, but for those who wish to diversify their friend group, Orion allows for movement between the benches. It’s not uncommon to see Draconis sitting with Centaurus, or Pegasi beside Phoenicis. Students may roam where they please, though for the first day back it also pays to mind the Head of Houses.

The first day’s breakfast is when timetables are handed out by each house’s head. Most of the heads are able to recognise their house members, and for those who don’t and for the first years, the difference in colouring of their uniform offers a key clue. Centaurus students wear their clothing embossed with the mossy green and warm gold of their house. Draconis have a clear blue and dark bronze as decoration, while Pegasi have a softer lilac and silver combination. Students in Phoenicis house can be found with scarlet and black edgings to their uniform. Professor Dew, Head of Pegasi, can be seen gliding between the tables, stopping to hand out timetables to her students with a smile. She knows all by name and will often pause on her way to enquire after a student’s family or break. Her first years are welcomed with a calm smile and a note that if they have any problems, her door is always open. Centaurus’ head, Professor Favreau, looks as if he’s still half asleep. A piece of toast hangs from his mouth and when he finds a Centaurus student he can often be seen scratching his head as he searches through his collection of timetables. He too knows them all by name – or most of them at least - though he has been known to make up fond nicknames for his favourites. Across the hall Professor Maddox grins as he shares a joke with a Phoenicis student. He seems to view the handing out of class schedules as a competition with victory going to whoever can see all their students sorted the fastest, though he keeps getting distracted as he shares sarcastic banter with the louder members of his house. His attitude is perhaps the complete opposite of Draconis’ dignified head. Professor Jones of Draconis does not hurry, yet she is possibly the most efficient, handing out schedules with a nod of approval or a simple ’See me after breakfast to sort out this issue.’.

For the older students, their schedules are designed around the O.W.L. and N.E.W.T examinations they will be sitting at the end of the year. Some sixth years, having done terribly in one subject or another, are unable to meet requirements for their preferred topic and must pick another, while others sit tall with pride at having received near perfect marks (the majority of these seem to be found in house Centaurus). Other students are eager to look over their timetables and compare classes and schedules with friends, while others lament over a packed day and not enough free periods. Whatever your mood and wherever you find yourself sitting, there is sure to be much to discuss. The first day back is always exciting, and even the stars reflected in the enchanted ceiling above seem to be brimming with energy.