Crystal Academy Squad Opal: Second Year - Episode 5

== Summary ==
The Empire of Mowen, one of the three major kingdoms of A’lune, created in secret a school called the Crystal Academy. Threadtouched youths could hone their abilities in all aspects of the Thread, and in exchange for these three years of free schooling, food, and board, the students pledged to devote three years serving in the Mowen army after their graduation.
In 1216 A.S., five teenagers attended the Crystal Academy, together forming dormitory squad Opal. Caiteor, Mariska, Milo, Ohros, and Umber became fast friends. Their first year was a blur of excitement—attending classes and learning about their Threads; romantic relationships and making a boyfriend from body parts; releasing eleven devils and destroying a Hell Gate; the death of the dean; giving in to an inner evil that went on a rampage and killed fellow students; and the unfortunate expulsion of Ohros from the school. The rampage and devils had been erased from the minds of most faculty and students, though Squad Opal covertly protected their memories. Now the four remaining squad members had to continue their schooling while knowing that not all was as it seemed at the Crystal Academy. Far greater challenges would face them in the Second Year.
In this episode, the squad fought the body of a friend, commandeered a barge, and gained insight into Uloreen’s necromantic tendencies.
== There Is Only Cinder ==
Tasked with finding rare blue honey, Squad Opal and Prefect Orique went to the Highland Rise. There, they encountered a roc who killed Umber. Mariska tried using the blue honey they had found to revive her friend. She failed. Instead, Cinder, the dark voice trapped in Umber’s body, had been revived, gaining the control and freedom she had longed for.
Upon awakening from death, Cinder reached out her one remaining arm to grapple the weakened Mariska. Milo tried to tie her up, but she ripped through the rope without issue. Cinder grabbed Mariska and said, “Ready to meet your boyfriend?” Then she ran for the trees.
Milo and Orique stabbed at her while Caiteor slammed her with his shillelagh. Caiteor then remembered that Turn Undead had worked on Cinder before, so he called on the divine for aid. Caiteor held out his shillelagh semi-threateningly, shaken by the death of his friend and lover. Cinder hissed, affected by the magic.
While Orique shot arrows and telekinetically shoved Cinder, Milo yelled, “Umber, I know you’re in there. I don’t blame you.” When Cinder said that Umber wasn’t there, Milo lashed out with both dagger and rapier, blocking Cinder’s path with his body.
When Mariska cast Chill Touch to harm Cinder, Cinder threw her captive down and plunged a demon sword into her. Mariska cast Shield, but the shield cracked as the sword pushed through, further enervating Mariska. Cinder tried to flee, leaving Mariska behind.
As it became clear nonviolence wouldn't work, Caiteor moved closer and cast Moonbeam on top of Cinder. Orique tried to shoot Cinder but missed, which prompted Cinder to say, “I thought you were a longarm.” Orique glared and telepathically shoved, accidentally pushing Cinder out of the Moonbeam before it could sear her.
Milo skirted the moonlight and again tried to block Cinder, saying, "I'm gonna cut you out of there." Milo hesitated ever so slightly, but he was so angry; he stabbed Cinder twice.
Mariska hid behind Caiteor and once more cast Chill Touch. The ethereal hand slapped Cinder, draining the moisture from her body. As Cinder fell, she said to Milo, "You'll never know what happened to your dad, but I do." Cinder then collapsed, the ghostly hand closing around her neck.
Orique pulled out shortswords and stabbed the body. Milo tried to shield Cinder with the Shield spell, yelling, “Don't do that,” but the blades broke through the shield and drove into the body before Orique could react.
Milo tried to stabilize Cinder but had a panic attack of hesitation, realizing that it was his hasty attempt to stabilize that had killed Umber. Caiteor ran over and put his arms around Milo. Caiteor would heal her if Milo could restrain her. Milo sobbed and nodded. His mind was not on his work, leaving the knot work shoddy.
Before healing Cinder, Squad Opal explained to Orique that Cinder was what Umber considered his sister, an entity that lived inside of him. Orique seemed hesitant to believe the story, but chose to buy it.
Cinder awoke soon after she was healed. Seeing herself tied and with Milo’s dagger to her throat, she did not fight. Having been close to the void of death, she was in no hurry to return to it.
“Why show me mercy?” she asked.
“I don't know if there's any Umber left,” Milo said, “but everyone deserves chances.”
Cinder didn't know what that meant, but she wasn't strong enough to beat them. She remained their prisoner.
== A Path to Uloreen ==
=== Commandeered Barge ===
On the barge back to the Crystal Academy, Squad Opal had Cinder tied up. She had been compliant throughout the journey back to Inzet.
The group saw guards waiting for them on the shore. After discussing who would take the blame for losing the blue honey, the party agreed that all would share the blame except Mariska, who had the most to lose.
But then Milo told the barge operator to stop the boat. Milo told the squad that he believed they needed to go to Uloreen rather than Cacian, thinking that Uloreen could help them and Cacian would wipe their minds. Mariska was against the plan, but in the end, the group voted to commandeer the boat and head back to Inzet.
After knocking one crew member overboard and putting the others to sleep, Billy ben-Rubie appeared, begging them to return to school. Another squad had tried to help him by placing etherite in his secret room. Etherite made him more corporeal, but it was torture rather than a benefit, for example making him feel hunger but leaving him unable to eat.
Cinder tried to escape from her bindings, but Billy called her out on it. Billy said that Cinder was creepy and definitely not Umber. Cinder said she liked Billy anyway.
When Squad Opal told Billy their plan to see Cacian, Billy said it was a bad idea. Uloreen was having a dinner that evening, which included Dean Cacian. But the group would not be dissuaded. Mariska promised to return for Billy to help him as soon as possible. Billy watched them leave.
=== Encountering Foultrappers ===
When they docked, they debated how to get a bound Cinder through the city secretly. Orique suggested letting Cinder go. Milo said that no matter what, he would stick with Cinder, as stupid as that sounded. Milo asked what Cinder wanted, hoping that maybe they could help her get it. She stated that she had wanted for so long to be free of Umber. Now she didn't know what she wanted, just desiring to travel and see the world.
Milo realized that Cinder was not telling the truth, but there was uncertainty in the voice.
With Milo's knowledge of working through a city, he navigated Inzet, leading the group to a Foultrapper camp on the outskirts of the city. The squad hoped to lay low using the debt of labour they owed the Foultrappers as a cover story for their extra time in the city. Their contact, Irv Quan, was out on a hunt, but Radkish Lemke greeted them. Cinder knew Radkish from her and Umber’s childhood, recognizing that he had gotten a bit too close to Umber’s mother.
Radkish was gobsmacked to see Cinder, recognizing Umber's body. Cinder told the story of losing an arm to a roc. The party stated that she was tied up because of a nervous twitch that had developed from the fight. Radkish asked if Umber still talked to his imaginary friend.
“Only when she talks back,” Cinder said.
Radkish had heard from Umber’s parents that Umber was doing well. Cinder said, “I don’t want to hear about my mother from you.” Radkish laughed but became uneasy, realizing that a child probably wouldn’t have picked up on his close relation with Umber’s mother and it was an odd thing for Umber to say.
Caiteor explained that they were there to help with the promised labour. Radkish was grateful, saying that the Foultrappers were setting up for a big dinner. He would tell Irv that the debt had been paid if the group helped.
But Cinder asked Radkish to free her. While most said not to, Orique said to do it. They attempted to make Cinder’s arm perform a nervous twitch with their telekinetic power, but it was minor.
Because of the odd way the party was acting, whistles rose around the camp. Foultrappers drew their weapons. They asked if Umber was alright or if he had been kidnapped.
Milo stated that it wasn’t Umber Radkish was talking to. As Cinder tried to leave, Caiteor cast Sleep on the Foultrappers, which had a negligible effect.
The Foultrappers were ready for a fight now, believing that Umber was in danger. However, Cinder whispered to Milo, “I thought you wanted to see Uloreen,” before diving under a cart. Milo followed, and the two quickly discussed that Cinder wanted to find out what was going on at the big dinner Uloreen was hosting. Milo agreed to go with her, and they both left.
Orique marked them leaving. The ranger grabbed Caiteor and fled. Mariska cast Invisibility and followed. The Foultrappers didn’t give chase.
Believing that Cinder and Milo had gone to find Uloreen, the other three party members set out to meet with them, planning to get disguises and sneak into the keep.
=== Uloreen’s Dinner Party ===
Meanwhile, Milo and Cinder had reached the keep and were intent on climbing into a window on the outer wall. Milo reluctantly climbed on Cinder’s back and they set off. Cinder didn’t attempt to be stealthy at all, though by sheer luck no guard happened to look in their direction. Milo whispered that they needed to be more careful.
When they entered the keep by window, a guard happened to be walking away from them. Cinder wanted to feed, but Milo asked her not to. Cinder explained that she needed to eat. It wasn’t pressing, but she needed it.
At that moment, a blade burst through her chest. “Die, intruder!” shouted the guard, who had noticed them and attacked. He tried to strike Milo, but Milo dodged and stabbed the guard in the kidney and throat, killing him.
Cinder started longingly at the body.
“Waste not, want not,” Milo said. Cinder began to eat, a voracious feeding that was far faster than it should have been.
Cinder took the guard’s sword before the two made their way to the inner chambers. Two guards manned the door where they could hear a muffled sound that appeared to be Uloreen speaking.
Before they moved on, Milo told Cinder that he understood: Cinder didn't want to be a pet. Milo asked if she planned to kill Cacian.
“I plan to kill a lot more than him,” Cinder said.
“Why?” Milo asked.
“Because I can.”
Milo didn’t know if he could let her do that. Cinder didn’t know if he could stop her. When Milo brought up Cinder’s implication that she could tell him about what happened to his father, Cinder revealed that she didn’t know and had said a lot of things to survive.
Milo called himself stupid, though Cinder said he’s smarter than he gave himself credit. Milo didn’t want to unleash Cinder on the world. Cinder said she might be a better alternative than Uloreen or Cacian.
The two negotiated who Cinder would kill and eat. She preferred to kill the strong rather than the weak, and since most innocent people were weak, she could be willing to leave them alone. As she thought about it, she noted that even Uloreen could be considered weak. At least Cacian had the guts to threaten a ruler.
Cinder made sure that Milo knew she was not going into the room to fight. She had been killed by four school children; there was no way she was going to defeat Cacian and Uloreen.
Milo cast Disguise Self so that he looked like a guard. He approached the guards on duty while Cinder crept along the ceiling.
Milo told the guards that he had been ordered to report. The guards said that it was about time and gave a three-knock signal to open the door.
Inside were seven people. Uloreen sat at the head of the table, flanked by two guards. Cacian was there, along with a woman with dark blue skin in a crimson dress. There was also a Bugbear and someone to whom Cinder felt an instant affinity towards, though they faced away from the door.
Cinder hid in a corner as Milo presented himself. Milo stated that he had been called to provide extra protection. Uloreen immediately saw the deception and waved at Milo, dispelling his disguise. Milo wasn’t distraught; he gave a “you know why I’m here” nod.
Uloreen called for Milo to be restrained. The person beside the Bugbear turned away from the table—They were a zombie. Milo didn’t fight as the zombie grabbed him in a hug.
Uloreen came over and asked why Milo was there. Milo cast Message to say that he was there for a matter of dire importance that he couldn’t speak at that moment.
Uloreen called the guards to escort Milo away. Cacian said to return Milo to the Crystal Academy.
Milo resisted, but it was of no use.
Cinder revealed herself then. “Dean Cacian,” she said, “sorry to bother you—”
“Cinder, quiet,” Cacian ordered.
Cinder lost all ability to function.
Cacian looked at those around the table and said that this was what he had been telling them about. Someone with the faculties of a living creature but the abilities of the undead.
Cacian gave Cinder permission to speak and asked if Umber’s spirit had moved on. Cinder stated that he had. In that case, they could learn what exactly was going on and Cinder could become the beginning of something very powerful. Cinder would be closer to undeath than ever before.
“And,” Cacian added, “we can do much about the arm.”
Cacian smirked at Milo, knowing that Milo had lost. Milo cast Message to Uloreen asking for a private audience, stating that he knew that the dean had dirt on Uloreen and not all was as it seemed. He had news.
Uloreen called for the room to be cleared. He'd give Milo one minute before barring him from the keep. Those leaving stared at Milo, surprised that he could get a private audience. When the doors closed, garbled noise that sounded like Uloreen speaking started up, signalling that they were in a private space and anyone trying to listen would hear nothing of importance.
When they were alone, Uloreen gave Milo a weary look. “I cannot begin to describe the events that will come to this city. Unless you have something that can stop thousands of deaths, I don’t think you have knowledge that is truly valuable to me. But, I will listen.”
Milo told Uloreen that the dean was instrumental in releasing the devils, and also that Squad Opal had the blade of Nozum. They took it because they knew they could help. They trusted Uloreen, but didn’t trust the dean. Milo wanted to be of service.
Uloreen patiently listened. Then he asked if Milo remembered Kurt Silva. Uloreen had a talk with Cacian, who had told him that Squad Opal released the devils and killed Kurt Silva. That was why Cacian had replaced their memories with ones saying that they were heroes. Uloreen had put truth spells on Cacian; was Milo saying that those spells had failed?
Milo admitted that they released the devils. Uloreen’s ring glowed, implying that there was some doubt in the answer.
“Young man,” Uloreen said, “did you come here just to tell me the same story you did before, or did you come here to tell me something new?”
Milo didn’t have anything new to say. He was foolish to think he could help. But he didn’t want to be at a school with a bad man like Cacian leading it.
Uloreen stated that Cacian had called Squad Opal the group with the most promise, the ones who could be leaders. Bad men won wars, and with the exponential growth in Dread Hounds over the last year, a war was coming. He thanked Milo for the candor, but said that morals had no place in the war that was coming.
Milo was dumbfounded to find out the truth of the person he had looked up to. He asked, “Should we listen to Cacian, then?”
“If you want to save the city,” Uloreen answered.
The Dushah opened the door. Cacian was right there. He asked if Milo was ready to go.
His spirit broken, Milo gave a bitter grin. “Yes, Sir.”
== Further Splitting the Party ==
Meanwhile, Caiteor and Orique had found bad disguises. Mariska remained invisible. They were outside the keep trying to figure out how to get in when Milo and Cacian walked out. They heard Cacian saying that the events had all been quite regrettable, but they could talk about it on the barge.
Milo recognized Orique and Caiteor through their disguises. Casting Message, he said, “She’s inside.”
“Do we need to get her?” Orique asked.
“She doesn’t know what happened to my parents, but for me, it’s still Umber. Up to you.” Then Milo and Cacian moved on.
The three discussed what they would do. Caiteor said he understood if the others had to go back, but he had to try one last time. Orique had a moment of worry about their standing at the school, but decided to help anyway.
Though invisible, it was obvious that Mariska didn’t think there was anything productive they could do at the keep. However, she decided to help anyway rather than abandon her friends.
On the barge to the Crystal Academy, Cacian told Milo that he wasn’t going to remove the Halfling’s memories since it seemed to be ineffective. It was understandable that Milo’s world had been rocked. The world was a dark place, but Milo could be a light in it.
Milo was hesitant. “Uloreen said bad men win wars. He said you're a bad man. Is that true?”
“Morality is a construct we've built. Everything is about survival. Sometimes the right thing is not the good thing.” Cacian put a hand on Milo’s shoulder. “You will understand it the more that you face it.”
Cacian disembarked, but Milo remained on the barge, holding a lock of golden hair and crying.
Second Year CASO - 05