closed for Sylnaeve
Yukio glanced at name written on the scrap of paper in her hand. Melody Wainwright, Rosewood Hall, Room 318. Rosewood was located to the west. Yukio deliberated a moment, then decided to detour along the seaward side of campus. She enjoyed the tang of the sea air along the cliffs.
She strolled along the cobblestone walk that ran just inside the protective wall running near the cliff edge. Yukio glanced over; below were the dark cliffs that gave Blackstone Academy its name. At the base was a broad beach of grey sand edging the large cove with its blue green water. A narrow inlet in the encircling dark rocks kept out the more tempestuous of the Mediterranean's waves, leaving the water so clear that she could see the bottom even from this height.
The wind that whipped the fabric of her skirt about her thighs had the hint of summer. The grey beach below was presently deserted, but it wouldn't be long before the water was warm enough to invite swimmers. The beach would then be lined with dozens of her bikini-clad classmates enjoying the afternoon sun.
Thoughts like that always amused her. Many of the structures at Blackstone dated back centuries to when this location had been a nunnery. For hundreds of years, devout nuns in their simple clothing had come here to spend their days in humble prayer. She wondered how the nuns would feel if they saw their quiet halls now housed bold, young women who wore makeup, miniskirts, and high heels and who in most cases were anything but humble.
Still, not everything had changed. The name had been Latin as a nunnery, but buried within its rambling title were the words "nigrum lapidem" - "of the black stone". The nunnery had fallen into disuse in the early 20th century. It had even been briefly occupied as a fortress during the Second World War.
n the 50s, someone had the bright idea to turn it into a school for women, a nod to its nunnery past. At first, it had been little more than a place for the wealthy and powerful to send their daughters until a suitable husband could be found. Indeed, eventually a government official or successful businessman had Blackstone graduate for a wife. As women came to greater prominence in the world, so too did Blackstone's star rise. Gradually expanding into a true bastion of higher learning, its graduate s in the late 20th century would themselves rise to positions of prominence: doctors, judges, senators, CEOs, and even a prime minister. Now in the 21st, Blackstone was viewed as a gateway to the halls of power. The wealthy and influential the world over vied mightily to get their daughters into a school of such prestige. Thus had Yukio, daughter of a multinational corporation's CEO, found herself halfway around the world on this small island, staring out at the Meditteranean.
Yukio sighed softly before turning back from the cliff. She loved this view, particularly at this time of day. She would miss it when she graduated later this year. Still, she had a task to perform. She adjusted the strap of her backpack and resumed her trip along the the path.
Classes were still in session, so only a handful of students were presently moving around. A pair of first years (identifiable by the color of their skirts) waved at her as she passed. As Student Council Vice President, Yukio was a prominent member of the student body, so she was used to such shows of respect. She smiled and nodded in reply.
A few minutes later, she arrived at Rosewood Hall. Entering through the main door, she took the stairs from the main foyer up to the third floor. Glancing in both directions on the landing, she found the hallway clear. She strode down the hall till she stood out in front of Room 318.
Yukio checked her watch. Melody should still be in class for at least the next 15 minutes. Still, Yukio knocked anyway. No answer. Yukio checked the hallway again to make sure she wasn't being watched. With the coast clear, she unzipped a side pocket from her backpack and withdrew a small ring of keys. The first two she tried were no good, but with the third, the lock on the door clicked open.
Yukio stepped inside and shut the door behind her. It looked much like her own freshman dorm room had: desk, bed, chest of drawers, closet, window. First year rooms weren't much on space or amenities.
Yukio was tempted to snoop around. Till last night, she'd never even heard Melody Wainwright's name before. Of course, that was likely by design. When the Society initiated contact for the first time, it generally used someone the individual didn't know. Yukio was all the more curious given Melody's age. Most new initiates were sophomores or juniors. There must be something special about this one to merit such early attention.
Yukio reached into her backpack and withdrew a dark rectangle. The almost pitch black stationery was of high quality and felt weighty and stiff in her hand. Elaborate silver calligraphy looped across the front proclaiming "You are being considered. - In Societatis Rose". On the reverse, the same silver scrawl listed a date two days hence followed by "Midnight, Old Chapel".
Yukio set the card on the bed, leaning against the pillow; Melody would be sure to notice it against the white sheets. She then opened the door carefully and peeked out into the hall. Seeing no observers, she slipped out, letting the door lock shut behind her.
Yukio smiled as she exited the building. How she wished she could be a fly on the wall when Melody discovered the invitation. Getting contacted by the Society was an event equal parts exciting and eerie. After all, In Societatis Rose was reputed to be an elite secret organization which selected only the most gifted and talented students for membership. But then Blackstone was replete with folklore of the ancient and mysterious, like the ghost who purportedly haunted the bell tower or the story that hidden in the catacombs was a stone altar once used Nazi occultists during the Second World War. They made for fun tales to spook the first years, but of course they were all just stories. As such, Melody had just been contacted by a group which everyone agreed didn't exist....
Yukio glanced at name written on the scrap of paper in her hand. Melody Wainwright, Rosewood Hall, Room 318. Rosewood was located to the west. Yukio deliberated a moment, then decided to detour along the seaward side of campus. She enjoyed the tang of the sea air along the cliffs.
She strolled along the cobblestone walk that ran just inside the protective wall running near the cliff edge. Yukio glanced over; below were the dark cliffs that gave Blackstone Academy its name. At the base was a broad beach of grey sand edging the large cove with its blue green water. A narrow inlet in the encircling dark rocks kept out the more tempestuous of the Mediterranean's waves, leaving the water so clear that she could see the bottom even from this height.
The wind that whipped the fabric of her skirt about her thighs had the hint of summer. The grey beach below was presently deserted, but it wouldn't be long before the water was warm enough to invite swimmers. The beach would then be lined with dozens of her bikini-clad classmates enjoying the afternoon sun.
Thoughts like that always amused her. Many of the structures at Blackstone dated back centuries to when this location had been a nunnery. For hundreds of years, devout nuns in their simple clothing had come here to spend their days in humble prayer. She wondered how the nuns would feel if they saw their quiet halls now housed bold, young women who wore makeup, miniskirts, and high heels and who in most cases were anything but humble.
Still, not everything had changed. The name had been Latin as a nunnery, but buried within its rambling title were the words "nigrum lapidem" - "of the black stone". The nunnery had fallen into disuse in the early 20th century. It had even been briefly occupied as a fortress during the Second World War.
n the 50s, someone had the bright idea to turn it into a school for women, a nod to its nunnery past. At first, it had been little more than a place for the wealthy and powerful to send their daughters until a suitable husband could be found. Indeed, eventually a government official or successful businessman had Blackstone graduate for a wife. As women came to greater prominence in the world, so too did Blackstone's star rise. Gradually expanding into a true bastion of higher learning, its graduate s in the late 20th century would themselves rise to positions of prominence: doctors, judges, senators, CEOs, and even a prime minister. Now in the 21st, Blackstone was viewed as a gateway to the halls of power. The wealthy and influential the world over vied mightily to get their daughters into a school of such prestige. Thus had Yukio, daughter of a multinational corporation's CEO, found herself halfway around the world on this small island, staring out at the Meditteranean.
Yukio sighed softly before turning back from the cliff. She loved this view, particularly at this time of day. She would miss it when she graduated later this year. Still, she had a task to perform. She adjusted the strap of her backpack and resumed her trip along the the path.
Classes were still in session, so only a handful of students were presently moving around. A pair of first years (identifiable by the color of their skirts) waved at her as she passed. As Student Council Vice President, Yukio was a prominent member of the student body, so she was used to such shows of respect. She smiled and nodded in reply.
A few minutes later, she arrived at Rosewood Hall. Entering through the main door, she took the stairs from the main foyer up to the third floor. Glancing in both directions on the landing, she found the hallway clear. She strode down the hall till she stood out in front of Room 318.
Yukio checked her watch. Melody should still be in class for at least the next 15 minutes. Still, Yukio knocked anyway. No answer. Yukio checked the hallway again to make sure she wasn't being watched. With the coast clear, she unzipped a side pocket from her backpack and withdrew a small ring of keys. The first two she tried were no good, but with the third, the lock on the door clicked open.
Yukio stepped inside and shut the door behind her. It looked much like her own freshman dorm room had: desk, bed, chest of drawers, closet, window. First year rooms weren't much on space or amenities.
Yukio was tempted to snoop around. Till last night, she'd never even heard Melody Wainwright's name before. Of course, that was likely by design. When the Society initiated contact for the first time, it generally used someone the individual didn't know. Yukio was all the more curious given Melody's age. Most new initiates were sophomores or juniors. There must be something special about this one to merit such early attention.
Yukio reached into her backpack and withdrew a dark rectangle. The almost pitch black stationery was of high quality and felt weighty and stiff in her hand. Elaborate silver calligraphy looped across the front proclaiming "You are being considered. - In Societatis Rose". On the reverse, the same silver scrawl listed a date two days hence followed by "Midnight, Old Chapel".
Yukio set the card on the bed, leaning against the pillow; Melody would be sure to notice it against the white sheets. She then opened the door carefully and peeked out into the hall. Seeing no observers, she slipped out, letting the door lock shut behind her.
Yukio smiled as she exited the building. How she wished she could be a fly on the wall when Melody discovered the invitation. Getting contacted by the Society was an event equal parts exciting and eerie. After all, In Societatis Rose was reputed to be an elite secret organization which selected only the most gifted and talented students for membership. But then Blackstone was replete with folklore of the ancient and mysterious, like the ghost who purportedly haunted the bell tower or the story that hidden in the catacombs was a stone altar once used Nazi occultists during the Second World War. They made for fun tales to spook the first years, but of course they were all just stories. As such, Melody had just been contacted by a group which everyone agreed didn't exist....