Strengths and Weaknesses

The halls and offices of the administration department hum with activity, admins and recruits bustling past doorways akin to a busy hive. Fresh recruits glance about, doe eyed and lost, searching the numbers above each doorway to find their destination while others emerge from their appointments hopeful or uncertain. Cassius nods and smiles to them as he strolls past, making his way to the comfort of his own little corner here.

He slides through the door, clicking it shut behind him gratefully. His office, like most of those within the building, is scattered with various paperwork, files, scrolls and notebooks. The walls hold corkboards pinned with the scribbled names and details of recruits, strung together into their units by colored threads. He slides into his chair, taking a deep breath before diving in. The relief is short lived, his door bursting open abruptly and making him jump.

Oh, Ifani!

Cassius blinks

I hadn't called for you yet…

Ifani places her hands on the desk and leans over him, staring over his shoulder.

I don't belong on this unit!

Ifani states bluntly

He sighs through his nose, a thin frown forming.

Alright

Cassius concedes and gestures towards the door.

Ifani tsks but pauses to shut the door behind her, returning her attention to him swiftly.

I... understand why you feel this way

Cassius responds cautiously and gestures for her to sit

Do you?

Ifani answers, ignoring his offer entirely and narrowing her eyes

Of course

Cassius responds gently

I've reviewed your performance at assessments and all other aspects of your file—its my job to be familiar with the recruits I manage.

Then you know I deserve better!

Ifani insists

I am aware that you are a skilled combatant

Cassius agrees, his words slow but precise

But that is not the only factor which determines unit placement.

What?

Ifani grates, her brows lowering

Every recruit has strengths and weaknesses

he continues, gesturing to one of his boards

Some, like you, excel martially while others intellectually or socially. When we piece together a unit, we do so according to their strengths and compatibilities, yes, but also to balance out each others' weaknesses.

I don't have weaknesses!

Ifani huffs, wrapping her arms around herself

All members of your unit are more than they seem

Cassius continues, ignoring her assertion

And all of you have incredible potential. Despite this, each member has extreme shortcomings holding them back. My hope is that all of you can help each other overcome these flaws!

Albert aside

Ifani derides

How could any of them possible help me?

Well…

Cassius answers, his voice sliding between tones

It's about how all of you can help each other—not solely you

Ifani's frown deepens but he continues

Take Tia and Albert for example. Both of them can learn a lot from you about combat and from them, you can learn how to overcome your… difficulty with relationships.

You're telling me

Ifani seethes, her irritation bubbling higher

I'm stuck in this pitiful unit to babysit a weak heiress?

No, no!

Cassius denies, butchering his attempt at a gentle tone as he flounders before her anger

I-it is far more complex than that! My goal with every unit is balance.

Ifani laughs, a harsh and strident sound, and begins pacing the office. She stims with a chopping motion near her face again and the air around her begins to heat.

Ifani

Cassius tries to be firm but is clearly shaken

This is exactly the kind of behavior-

You don't get to tell me how to-

Ifani snaps, placing her hands on the edge of the desk again and drying out the wood with her touch

In the middle of her sentence, all of the frustration that had been accumulating throughout the day suddenly goes cold, falling away beneath her all at once and she gapes. Ifani had been battling becoming overwhelmed throughout the turbulent day and now all of that irritation disappears in one sudden drop. She stumbles backwards and crashes into the seat offered to her before.

Did you...

Ifani's voice is faint, glancing in Cassius' direction listlessly

Do something to me…?

He shakes his head and tries to refocus her attention to the matter at hand.

Your shortcomings

Cassius continues, feeling more confident

Are your anger and your… peculiarities while interacting with your peers.

Ifani stares hard at the floor, feeling numb and at a loss

You have the potential to be an incredible soldier, Ifani, but no soldier can fight alone. You must learn to work with your peers! If you can prove to me that you can do that… I might reconsider your placement.

Ifani pinches her eyes shut, her face tightening as she takes stock of all he's said, and her mind spins as she tries to assess her own emotions.

Fine.

Ifani concedes simply, still unable to shake her discomfort

Alright!

Cassius responds with an optimistic smile

Then let's go over your schedule.

Almost an hour later, Cassius lingers in the doorway as Ifani departs. He is unsurprised to find Casimiro walking the halls outside his office.

I appreciate your help, sir.

Cassius conveys to his superior. Casimiro shrugs, watching Ifani disappear.

This may happen often

Casimiro denotes flatly

Her emotions are intense.

Tia scours the map carefully, navigating her way between the buildings populating the recruit's lodging zone, pleased to find her building is located near the women's bath house. The sun has begun to set, causing shadows to arc drastically between the rows of buildings with vivid red streaking between them. She double checks the number on her map matches the number on the building before her, 6F. The structure resembles an inn with two floors and a set of rooms flanking the door on each side. The building was connected to all those beside it in one massive row, breaking up occasionally for the various streets and alleyways.

Why are you nervous?

Duff questions her, still tucked into her cloak

I've never had a roommate before...!

Tia answers, biting her lip and eying the windows

Besides, everything else was a wreck today. I don't want to mess this up too.

Don't be passive

Duff advises in a deep tone

Make them respect you.

No!

Tia exclaims with disbelief

I want friends, Duff. That's not how people make friends!

Oh, of course

Duff sasses

Because you clearly have more experience.

Tia looses a large sigh and opens the door. She passes through a simple hallway, two doors on opposing sides and a staircase at the end. She looks at the two doors as she passes by, each one having numbers carved into the door. The number scribbled onto Tia's map is three, so she continues upstairs, passing rooms one and two. Tia finds her door on the right, taking a deep breath before opening it. She spills light into the dim room, surprised to find Ifani inside. Ifani sits to one side of the meager room, facing the wall where a mirror hangs. She is in the midst of rubbing oil into her braids. Ifani pauses, glancing in Tia's direction and squinting into the light. Despite her nerves, Tia offers Ifani a simple smile.

Close the door!

Ifani barks, only able to make out Tia's silhouette

Tia jumps at first but steps inside and clicks the door shut swiftly, lingering in place sheepishly. Both girls blink and squint as their eyes readjust. On the right side of the room, Ifani has already made herself at home. Her belongings are unpacked, precisely placed and organized. She has taken her nightstand and placed it in front of the mirror where a set of combs, pins and jars of product lay before her for her use. Boots and sandals are lined up along the wall near the door and a large chest is placed at the foot of each bed. Tia also notices a different blanket and pillowcase tucked neatly onto her bed, the ones matching Tia's set folded and set aside over her chest. Tia's side is completely untouched, her belongings still packed and waiting. A single candle is lit on Ifani's table, leaving the room dim but still navigable as crimson spills in through the window. Ifani finally recognizes Tia and a sour expression overtakes her features.

Of course its you

Ifani grumbles, turning back to the mirror

She continues working on her hair but Tia can see her jaw clench and she works more rapidly. The frustration that had fallen away while speaking with Cassius returned to Ifani all at once as she made her way here, perhaps worse than before. She tries to extract comfort from her routines, attempting to wrangle in her runaway irritation.

W-we didn't really get a chance to speak earlier

Tia squeaks, twisting the cloth of her cloak anxiously

But I'm actually really excited to be on the same unit!

Ifani continues as if Tia hadn't uttered a word

My name is-

I know who you are.

Ifani cuts her off, agitation adding a bite to her words

Tia Minx, house heir and daughter of the legendary Duke Allen Minx.

Tia feels a cold pit forming in her gut as Ifani speaks, her tone growing more hostile with each word

Bbeing on this unit would have been my dream, an honor. Only the best would qualify for someone of your position

Ifani mocks snidely, fastening the lid onto its jar and wiping the oil from her hands. She turns in her seat towards Tia and her eyes narrow

But you... you've had every opportunity handed to you and you still fail! But I have to pay for it?

Excuse me?

Tia rasps indignantly, puffing up

Ifani begins stimming again, flapping her hands and twisting her head. Duff feels Tia's anger building and takes a serpentine form, coiling defensively around her torso.

And now I have to live with you!

Ifani grates in a wavering voice, rising to her feet

You don't even know me…!

Tia squeaks, her throat contracting

I know your kind!

Ifani seethes, her words stirring a familiar pain in Tia's chest. Ifani begins chucking anything within reach in Tia's direction

You're weak, you're selfish!

Ifani's eyes rest on Tia's bag and her face clicks into a vacant expression

And I won't share my room with you!

Ifani fumes, approaching Tia's belongings

Tia lunges forward at the same time, grabbing Ifani's wrist as she reaches for Tia's pack. Tia feels Ifani's magic rush into her, a searing and unyielding defense, and that heat is quickly physically palpable. Ifani's arm, gleaming orange, scorches Tia's hand in an instant. Tia rips away reflexively, producing a guttural yelp and holding her wrist with her other hand as she backs away. Tia studies her hand with wide eyes, the skin of her fingers and palm melting away like wax and leaving red, gooey flesh. Exposed ligament and muscle peek between whitened bubbling blisters. Tia falls into a panic, the familiar sting and lingering heat reminding her instantly of the night of her transformation. Neither girl notices the air about them chilling briskly.

Tia staggers until her back hits the door and her eyes dart to Ifani in shock. When Tia looks into her eyes they seem blank and far away. Ifani begins stomping towards her and Tia fumbles with the door, stumbling and tripping into the hallway before falling flat on her back. Tia recoils, flinching as Ifani begins chucking Tia's belongings at her. Tia protects her head from projectiles with her arms and Duff moves to lunge at Ifani. Yet before he can strike, footsteps begin hammering up the staircase. The door behind her clicks open as well, causing Duff to hesitate.

What in Luxis' name are you-

Andrea's voice shrills from the staircase, halting at the sight of them

Tia peeks to find Andrea paused at the top of the stairs and Zetian lingering in the doorway behind her. Andrea sports an openly delighted expression, laughter on her lips as Tia looks to her for aid. Ifani disappears back into the room completely ignoring the other two, gathering up the rest of Tia's things in her arms. Tia's eyes shoot to Zetian for help next but she is smothering her own smile behind her hand as she peers over Tia, pitiless and amused. Ifani returns to the door again, unceremoniously dumping the rest of Tia's things into the hallway. Without a look to anyone else she slams the door shut. Zetian gives a fluttering laugh of her own and shuts the door in Tia's face as well.

She just burned me!

Tia yelps to Andrea in disbelief, presenting her hand

Ohhh

Andrea coos in false sympathy

Yes, it's not wise to touch Ifani without permission, she doesn't care for it. Best you learn now, I suppose!

Andrea cackles, giving Tia one more pitiful appraisal—at her belongings scattered across the hallway

Good luuuck~!

she practically sings, spinning and descending the stairs at her leisure with a generous wave of her hand

Tia shuffles out of her prone position and cradles her hand as it continues to radiate heat, her vision wavering as moisture streams down her face. Duff pops out of her sleeve and flicks his serpentine tongue over the wound as Tia watches her tears splatter against the floorboards.

Why did I think anything would be different!

Tia chokes discordantly, face scrunching.

While she is clearly furious at the girls she is also livid with herself for letting this happen. Ice crystals begin forming on the glass of the window, the air thinning dangerously in the lonely hallway and even her scattered belongings begin to rattle. Duff's eyes shift about, observing these effects warily.

You need a healer

Duff insists gently

Tia squeezes her eyes shut, swiping at her tears with her forearm as she shuffles up. Tia kicks a few of her things to one side of the hall before staggering down the stairs. As she reaches the bottom, the front door swings open and Longwei slides inside. Tia sucks in a breath as their eyes meet, averting her gaze with a wobbly scowl and padding forward wordlessly. Longwei snags her wrist as she attempts to pass him. Longwei's magic reminds Tia of a sultry summer evening, tranquil but laden with humidity. His face darkens as his eyes slide over her wound but Tia rips it out of his grasp, sheltering her hand with her body.

Stop!

Longwei calls after her, following Tia outside

What!

Tia rasps, her voice breaking, unable to stifle her anguished expression

When she turns, she finds Longwei is fully manifested, slate blue from head to toe. His eyes gleam bright yellow, azure scales are spread too thinly over his skin and nubby yellow horns poke through his white hair. Tia blinks, unsure what his intentions are, and her posture is instinctively defensive. Then a gust of wind whips past her and Tia has to push her hair out of her eyes. When she looks again a dragon has swept Longwei onto its back.

It's body is prolonged and scaled like that of snake with a strip of white hair running down its back, exploding into a puff at the end of its tail. Alabaster hair also surrounds the crown of its head, forming a seeming beard, two long whiskers and puffy eyebrows. It's head is squared with an extended muzzle while yellow deer antlers and dramatic fangs curl out of its mouth in various directions. It possesses four legs along its lengthy body with five white talons. Intense round eyes regard Tia nestled under its bushy brows, matching Longwei's as they sear bright yellow. Even in the growing dusk, Tia could see its glimmering azure scales and yellow belly as its body ripples and bends like a mystic river.

Longwei sits just behind it's head, gripping the elaborate antlers and extending an arm out to her. Tia hesitates, still in awe of the mystifying creature she had only known through legend, and he reaches down, swinging Tia behind him as the dragon dashes past her. Longwei sucks in a deep breath, exhaling a trail of fog into the night sky. The dragon treads upon these vapors, running, swimming and leaping along the trail Longwei crafts for it. They linger above the compound as Longwei readies another breath before rapidly descending the second pathway. Tia blinks, sliding off of the creature's back at the door of the clinic.