Besides the world renowned education and state of the art research facilities Elysium Academy was known for, it also boasted luxury hot springs, fine dining, and several licensed masseuses. Headmaster Wally reasoned that stress had to be released in healthy ways, and provided the means to do so. It was more of a PR move than genuine care for the students, plus an alluring perk for all school faculty members, Wally included.

A Headmaster's work was exhausting. Between managing the many eccentric teachers and dealing with rich and influential parents, Wally could hardly scrape together enough time to hastily eat breakfast and bathe for the day. Being the Headmaster of Elysium additionally dropped the tasks of organizing security and charming political figures for research grants on him. It was a miracle that his impressive hair didn't shed away from the stress.

He had scheduled a brief reprieve from his rigorous routine after the orientation, planning to soak in the mineral spring waters and enjoy a succulent meal of fattened phoru liver later. Unfortunately, just as he was about to leave his office, Bethma PMC's Commander Stella roughly shoved two students through the door.

"'Love 'em already," she snarled in her signature, gruff voice, "Caught 'em in a scuffle in their rooms while on patrol. Didn't even have the decency to close the door."

Time wasted on doling out consequences meant time wasted on what little free time he had. He lazily slapped two days of detention on the main offender - Eve - and one on Elesis for further escalating the fight. He expected Elesis' protests and internally sighed. Headmaster Wally was getting irritated, an itch inching up towards his brain.

Luckily, years of mingling with political elites let no emotion - let alone petty annoyance - to slip through his old features. A minor altercation would not be the event that caused him to snap. Unfortunately, he was face to face with the leader of the Red Knights, notoriously known to fight until her idea of justice won.

"She tried to kill me, and you're giving her a slap on the wrist?" Elesis jabbed a finger towards her stoic, golden eyed roommate. If the girl felt anything towards the accusation, she didn't show it. "I didn't know Elysium Academy harbored murderers," Elesis spat in disgust.

"I am not a murderer," said Eve. No emotion lingered in her rebuttal.

"Not yet," muttered Elesis.

"Miss Sieghart," Wally coughed, ignoring the previous discourse, "Bear in mind that there's no concrete evidence towards the fact that Eve here maliciously targeted you with her creation, besides your word. Accidents happen more than we'd like to admit, and we believe that experiencing failures is the key to improvement."

"This is the kind of justice Elysium has? Where innocent people with bright futures get written off on some insurance paperwork, then tossed in the trash? I knew this place was competitive, but letting students kill others is on another level," she paused, then grinned slyly, edges of her lips slightly curling upwards. "It would sure be a shame if the parents learned of the extra risk their kid has here."

Wally slipped, he knew. Old age addled the once sharp political reflexes that kept him in power. Despite usually having full discretion of decisions pertaining to the academy, Elesis turned the tables, evening the negotiation. A bead of sweat trickled down the Headmaster's forehead. On one hand, dealing with outcries of the highly competitive nature of the school was undesirable. On the other hand… ensuring Eve and her patron's cooperation would accelerate Nasod related research by tenfold.

After a short pause, body language barely letting the threat faze himself, Wally had decided. "We won't need to delve into such extremes, Miss Sieghart. I have changed my mind - I will see to Eve's punishment personally within the week. I dearly hope that not a word of this conversation is uttered to anyone else. Elysium does care about our student's privacy, after all."

Elesis hesitantly nodded. Her burning sense of justice was mostly extinguished with the proposal, leaving only the smoldering resentment towards the Headmaster's nonchalant attitude towards "accidental" injuries. It was, at least, huge step forward from sweeping the altercation under the rug, supposed Elesis.

"Headmaster, I also request a room change. She - Eve - is dangerous to be around. I won't spend my year wondering when the next ambush's gonna happen to me from my own roommate." Hardly a request, more like a demand. With Wally's position, he wasn't in a position to refuse.

"Fair enough," he sighed. "It will take at least a week to transfer rooms. Room assignments are delicate, mind you. It will be a paperwork nightmare, but if it it's for one of my pupils, it is worth it. Please take precaution in the meantime."

Elesis could nearly see the lies slithering out of the old man's teeth, snakes glinting with malice. By now, she knew he didn't give a damn about his students besides the money brought in by parents and research grants, most likely. She felt a pit of disgust welling in her stomach by her blackmail, but it was worth it to stick it in a corrupt man like Wally.

"And I want my little brother, Elsword Sieghart, kept safe. He's not gonna survive the classes, much less with watching his back every second." Elesis was stretching the offer of Wally's generosity - they both knew. Eve watched, a spark of something briefly flickering in her eyes. "If he gets hurt…"

"Of course." he agreed. He stared at the red headed woman, challenging another demand to be uttered. A sufficient pause passed, signalling the end of the negotiation. The Headmaster gestured towards the door. "I assume that our business here is finished. You are both dismissed."

Elesis stood. She stared down at the Headmaster with a mix of contempt and distrust before exiting the office. Tossing a wary glance behind, she tensed for a millisecond at the porcelain skinned girl following.

The door slammed shut, leaving the Headmaster alone with his thoughts. Wally bought himself a week to deal with a loose end - and an influential one at that. Elder's government would have no problem believing the words of the leader of the Red Knights, while he was sure that Eve would withdraw her cooperation at any mention of discipline. Unfortunately, only two known sentient nasods existed in Elrios. Wally would not - could not - make do without nasod aid. He would have to hope that the red haired knight didn't divulge to much of the conversation's details to outsiders. Luckily, a safe gamble on her strong sense of honor would bite her in the back.

oh El, elesis, please help me

Elesis' Elysium branded phone buzzed, signaling the retrieval of a text. All students at Elysium received one from the numerous uniformed staff at the end of orientation. Elesis didn't know why the school gave out phones, especially when the majority wouldn't bat an eye at the price of the newest gadget on the market. She dismissed the thought as she read the message. Likely Elsword, she supposed, he was the only one who got her number.

what's up? you ok? replied Elesis. A sinking feeling enveloped her stomach. Thoughts racing, she raced through possibilities. Was he in danger? If he was, what overpowered him? Why? Or was it Wally? Did he seriously decide to betray me so soon? She was interrupted by a reassuring vibration. Visibly relaxing, she read his reply.

got this creepy af roommate. calls himself ain.

At least this 'Ain' wasn't a murderer. She hoped.

hes trying to look at my phone rn

call and pretend to be my friend or smth to get me out

Elesis wasn't sure how a call would help get rid of a creeper, but she obliged. She was pretty sure Elsword's phone didn't even get to ring before he picked up.

"Hey," she said, "Meet me at the gym? It's two blocks north of the dorms."

"Hell, yes," Elsword emphasized the last word. He nearly tripped over his last words, clearly desperate to escape, "Cyasisbye!"

Elesis frowned at the beeping phone as it's connection cut. What exactly scared Elsword of even a proper goodbye? She briefly wondered if she was shepherded into a trap, like a lamb to a slaughter.

"I estimate that Headmaster Wally has less than a quarter of a chance of betraying you this early."

Elesis jumped at the voice. The voice with a soft, metallic tinge that revealed no emotion. Eve. She caught the shorter girl staring at the phone, a few feet behind. She had forgotten about her presence after learning of Elsword's predicament, and Elesis internally smacked herself for failing to follow rule number two of the Red Knights.

"And you plan to?" Elesis reflexively reached towards her waist. Grasping air, she silently cursed the academy. Damn the school and their restrictive weapons policy!

Eve made what could've been interpreted as a sigh and shook her head. "As I have stated before, I am not a murderer. What occurred in our domicile was a malfunction. Demy should not have attacked you in the first place."

But it still did, Elesis itched to point out. However, Eve's dubious analysis before piqued her curiosity. "Then why are you helping me?"

"I am also skeptical of the Headmaster. Your fate determines my evaluation of him, and I doubt he would abuse my trust so soon."

"So you're using me as bait."

"Yes."

Elesis didn't like the idea of being used as a test for Wally's integrity, much less for Eve. She didn't have much of a choice, though. Elsword was waiting, under duress or not. She turned to leave towards the gym.