The trek towards Aldera wasn’t exactly pleasant. This was war after all. Many of the students who were now Death mages had never seen war, and now they were walking directly into the maw of it. Grimm looked side to side, carefully studying the faces of the young mages around him, he knew that many of them would not leave Aldera alive… the thought was daunting… never had Grimm seen this fragility of life before. Of course Aria ran up behind him and wrapped her arms around Von Grimm

“If you keep your head in the clouds so much you’ll miss all of the pretty flowers” she chuckled handing him a makeshift bouquet of red and blue flowers. They smelled sweet and small orbs of silver liquid fluttered upward in the wind, like flakes of silver snow from the flower’s petals.

“Ah, Saint Lilies” Grimm said “didn’t know they grew out here” he said smelling their sweet aroma.

“They grow where mortals need them most, didn’t you know that?” she said as she continued to pick them

“They grew here because someone had the pollen on them and happened to transfer it onto a fertile bed of soil” he said “You can be so naive sometimes Aria”

“I prefer the term, ‘child like wonder’”

“Isn’t this all so exciting” said a new voice from the crowd of mages. The voice approached Grimm and Aria and revealed itself to be a short, stocky primal beast kin. He had long bat wings and massive bat ears. He dressed the same as the other recruits, in black cloaks, and wore a thick black blindfold over his eyes. He tussled his greasy black hair and spoke again “Did I stutter? I said isn’t this all wonderful” he said with an offputting wide smile

“It’s war”

“And isn’t that lovely?” he responded “I should introduce myself, the name’s Tabath; Tabath Groan” he said, his clawed bat wing out stretched for a handshake. Grimm pulled back with reluctance. Tabath chuckled “how about now?” he said again, this time offering his hand. Grimm shook it hesitantly

“I don’t recognize you from the institute” Grimm said

“So you haven’t, I have quite the memorable face” he chuckled “They don’t let us primals into the academy you know”

“There are plenty of primal beastkin in the academy” Grimm retorted, noting the number of clerics who were more beast than otherwise, who inhabited the academy, or those who operated in the monastery near it

“All tame… no matter though, I find my skills to require a more… hands on approach” he laughed “I’m a blood mage, from Mesma.”

“Mesma? Never heard of it” Grimm replied, putting an arm around Aria, who hid behind Grimm’s body

“Of course you haven’t, it's a little island down south, a slice of paradise for primals like me. A pure bred like you wouldn’t understand” he laughed again

“If you’re looking to pick a fight because we were born different then I recommend you pick it somewhere else” he said, readying for a fight

“Wouldn’t dream of it, I like my place in society, I don’t have a bone to pick with anyone” he chuckled “But the Elven” he smiled even wider “Did you know they say that their blood runs like honey, smooth and rich” he said, salivating.

“Von, he’s scaring me” Aria said, gripping his shirt

“Listen buddy”

“I’m all ears” Tabath said wiggling his massive bat ears

“If you can’t act civil then you have to leave, get out of here!” Grimm said, shooing off the primal beast kin

“Alright, we’ll be in touch ‘Von’” he said with a giggle as he walked away

“Like hell”

“Exactly”