Crystal Academy Squad Opal: Second Year - Episode 6

== 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, Mariska and Caiteor traded important parts of their lives in exchange for the desires of their hearts, Milo discovered that his sister was still alive, Cinder transformed into a form that she felt fit her, and Orique made a choice that would change the course of their life. The squad finally discovered the truth of Chad Internship’s body and rescued both Mariska’s beloved and Billy ben-Rubie.
== A Spell for a Year ==
Squad Opal had been split up. With Umber dead, his sister Cinder, an entity from Veyis, had claimed his body and was in the keep of Uloreen. Caiteor, the Firbolg from the Bluwood, was Umber’s flame, heavily hurt from the tragedy of Umber’s death. He was outside the keep, along with Prefect Orique and Mariska. Mariska had used up all the blue honey trying to save Umber’s life, so while she wanted to rescue Cinder from Uloreen’s keep, her greatest goal was to discover a way to save the soul of her boyfriend, Chad Internship. Orique meanwhile had gotten stuck helping Squad Opal, but the things they had seen made them question what they were doing at the Crystal Academy. Finally, Milo Stillweather had returned to the Crystal Academy. He lost his best friend with Umber’s death. He had no closure on the death of his parents and sister from when he was nine. He had fallen in love with a girl whose mind was wiped so that she didn’t remember him. And he learned that bad men won wars. Everything was terrible.
At the keep, Cinder asked Dushah Uloreen if he could replace her arm, which had been torn off by the roc that killed Umber. Uloreen had an attendant take Cinder further into the keep to a room for her with a massive stone bath. They were well-equipped for Cinder’s presence as if Dean Cacian knew the day of Cinder’s arrival might come. Attendants poured clay jars filled with blood into the bath for Cinder. Her body vibrated in anticipation.
Outside the keep, Orique, Mariska, and Caiteor prepared to sneak in. While invisible, Mariska scouted and found a gate on the outer wall that had no guards. She directed the party into the keep, but they quickly found that guards on the walls watched them. However, someone came out to meet them: a sickly thin woman in red. She had been in the meeting room earlier when Milo interrupted Dushah Uloreen’s meeting.
The woman looked at Caiteor. “You must be the one that Umber loved.”
Caiteor had a flash that maybe the woman could see something around the three of them, including Mariska. It was almost as if she could see an aura around them or was probing their minds.
“Come in,” the woman said, “if you wish to see what's left of Umber.”
Caiteor held the woman’s cold hand. Mariska could tell the woman was undead. She clung to the woman.
The three were led down into the keep, Mariska’s invisibility running out on the way. They reached the stone bath and saw a handful of animal carcasses littered behind a screen. Sigils painted with blood were all over the side of the bath. Cinder sat on a stone across from it.
The meeting was awkward. Cinder wondered why they had come for her.
An attendant came and said the bath was ready. Cinder had a primal intuition that the bath was deeply connected to what she was. She removed her robe and stepped into the tub, submerging in blood. Dozens of ghostly hands clawed out of the bathtub and pulled Cinder down. When she finally rose from the bath, twelve other ghostly forms also tried to escape, but they faded away.
Cinder was changed. She was still tall and powerfully built, but her body was more feminine and had a crazed air to it. Her hair was wild and draped over her. Her hands seemed to be a purple ombre crawling up to a pale white.
The woman in red had a spellbook open and seemed satisfied with the transformation. She closed the book. It shrunk until it disappeared. It became clear to the group that she was a powerful necromancer.
Mariska asked the woman to talk. The woman sat, and before Mariska knew what she was doing, she sat as well. The woman knew Mariska had the marks of necromancy.
Mariska asked for the knowledge to permanently revive her boyfriend, Chad Internship. When the woman offered to trade the knowledge for either Mariska’s sight or a year of service, Mariska eventually chose to give the year. The woman gave her a scroll that made everything click in Mariska’s mind. She understood exactly what she needed to do to make it work and save her friend.
They shook hands, and Mariska felt a vibration go up her arm. A mark remained on her forearm. She would return in two moons to begin the deal.
Orique was in shock and awe because of what they witnessed. They said they hoped Mariska didn’t regret the choice. But Mariska said she had nothing left to lose. The two of them left, leaving Caiteor and Cinder to have their moment.
== Under the White Bear’s Thumb ==
Back at the Crystal Academy, Milo wiped his tears away, put away his lock of golden hair, and set out for the library. On the way, Billy ben-Rubie found him, but Billy noticed the bad emotion vibes and tried to leave. However, Milo called him over. Billy was usually a jelly blob spectre but he had more shape due to a stash of etherite that students from Squad Tourmaline had placed in the school as an attempt to help Billy. Unfortunately, the etherite caused Billy to feel hunger and other physical sensations with no means of satisfying them.
But Billy didn’t want to ask Milo for help in getting rid of the etherite since Milo seemed extremely upset. Instead, Billy wondered how he could help Milo. Milo took Billy to the library so that they could look up information on Kurt Silva, the student that Squad Opal had supposedly killed, according to Dean Cacian.
The school was quiet that afternoon, with most of the population either gone for summer field trips or at the auditorium for a play that Oregek had put together. Milo hoped Caiteor made it back to school, since Oregek had wanted him in a play. But fun and games seemed so foreign to Milo now. Bad men won wars and good men didn’t exist.
Billy said there was definitely good men. He led Milo to a mirror and pointed at Milo’s reflection. “There’s one.”
Milo let out a tear and thanked Billy.
The two went through records on students in the school, looking through four years. There was no Kurt Silva. Billy recognized the name, however, and pointed out a textbook by Kurt Silva that Wilter Cacian would use for teaching anatomy, biomes, and life sciences. Milo realized that again the adults in his life were just lying, trying to gaslight him and make him question things.
Milo took the book, but decided to pay Caelyn Brightly, the new divination teacher, a visit. Billy departed, not wanting to get too near the etherite in his secret room.
When Milo reached Brightly, he asked if Brightly was a good man. Brightly said that he hoped he’d be seen as a just person at the end of his life.
Milo put the golden hair on Brightly’s desk and said it was from his mother. He asked for a good deed. When growing up, Milo came home one day and found his family gone, the farmstead burned down. He’d kept hold of the hair in case he figured something out.
Brightly said that reliving trauma wasn’t always the best, but he could show Milo if Milo really wanted to see what happened to his family. Milo said he didn’t think it could make the day any worse.
Brightly grabbed a bowl, took one strand of hair, and circled the bowl and water. The water turned into a mess of hair. When Brightly picked the hair up, it turned translucent. The bowl overflowed, and Milo was absorbed into the a vision of the past.
At the homestead, he saw his family. Mother, father and sister in the house. All three had wavy blond hair, father "Pa" was rotund and was drinking a dram of whiskey. Milo’s twin sister, nine years old, had just come in from tending the animals. His mother was directing dinner with an air of joy.
Milo felt joy seeing his family again. But as they set the table, a knock came at the door. His parents looked at each other like they knew who it was. Both grabbed weapons.
People barged in. Milo heard, “You knew what the deal was. The girl is ours.”
Milo’s father put himself in harm’s way and got gutted instantly. Someone backhanded Milo’s mother to the floor. “You don’t go against the White Bear,” the person said. He picked up the sister and carried her out.
While three other people tortured the parents and set the farm ablaze, Milo focused on the man carrying his sister. He was tall with a scar on the center of his face. He had a red beard and bushy brows, but was bald. The top part of his skull had a massive burn.
The vision ended, and Milo found himself back in the professor’s room. Milo said his sister was alive.
Brightly pulled out the same whiskey Milo’s father used to drink and proposed a toast. Milo downed the whiskey and asked if Brightly could find his sister, using the amulet of Solisti she had given Milo as a focus. Brightly tried, channeling the spell into Milo. Milo began to feel cold. He smelled ore. Heard the sound of fountains or rivers. His breathing became laboured as if in high elevation. He heard crowds and smelled baked goods.
Then there was a roar. Milo had never heard a bear, but he knew that was what he heard.
Then he came out of the vision. Milo told Brightly of the visions and the mention of White Bear. Brightly went pale and said the White Bear was a prominent crime lord who ran all the operations in Ylan, the capital of Oldirin. Milo didn't understand, but Brightly apologized. The White Bear was dangerous. He told Milo not to set his hopes high.
But Milo was excited. If anyone could find her, it would be him. He called Brightly a good man. They hugged.
Brightly whispered, “So you know, there'll be no more barges tomorrow. Last one leaves tonight. Best you don't know why.” But his door would always be open if Milo decided to stay at the Crystal Academy.
== A Soul for a Soul ==
Back in Uloreen’s keep, Caiteor approached the transformed Cinder. “You look really beautiful,” he said.
“It’s been awhile since I felt like myself,” Cinder responded.
Cinder reiterated that Umber was gone. She knew that for sure. But what was his was hers. Caiteor, Mariska, Milo; they were hers as well.
Caiteor wasn’t sure he followed. Cinder put a hand out, and Caiteor took it. Cinder said that she needed to retrieve her sword from Milo, but she also had work to do for Cacian. They all did. But they all had the freedom of choice.
The lady in red watched the interaction with great interest. She interjected, saying that Caiteor wanted Umber back so badly. His soul persisted. She could help Caiteor for a price.
“Careful, Witch,” Cinder said.
The lady remained focused on Caiteor. “You have one chance to offer something great.”
Caiteor offered his own soul, which the Witch gladly accepted. They shook on it. The lady took Caiteor to her office and waved her hands. Papers moved on her desk. There was a thinning where the planes collapsed together. She pointed to a map on the table. The thinning was in the Bluwood and would take him to the Astral Sea where Caiteor could find Umber’s soul. The lady gave Caiteor a lantern and a match engraved with Umber’s name in a foreign language. If Caiteor lit the match and lantern while in the Astral plane, the lantern would point in the direction of Umber’s soul. The soul could be trapped in the lantern, and then Caiteor could place it in a fresh body.
The lady put a hand on Caiteor’s chest, consuming the youth of Caiteor’s soul. The lady suddenly became beautiful.
As Caiteor sat there, stunned, the lady went to leave. Before going, she thanked Caiteor. Being a Witch had its problems, and appearing lifeless was one of them. A fresh soul helped.
== Billy’s Body ==
Mariska and Orique returned to the Crystal Academy. Before resurrecting Chad Internship, Mariska decided that she needed to help Billy find his body first. After Mariska explained the tragedy of Billy’s death to Orique, Orique suddenly realized that the Whodunnit mystery club had written a scenario based on that death. But when they went to the library to determine what was in that scenario, Orique accidentally burned the paper, destroying the knowledge.
As the two argued about reading too close to a candle, Billy arrived. He told them that he needed help removing etherite from his secret room, but Milo was too despondent and he didn’t want to add anything more to his friend’s plate. He asked Mariska and Orique to do it instead.
They agreed and followed Billy to his room. The room was walled off, but Orique broke down the barrier in a few minutes. It was a musty room and had the piece of etherite sitting in it. Mariska took it out, but as she neared Billy to leave, she saw his form and features take shape. To her shock, he looked like Chad Internship. Chad had been made using the remains of Billy ben-Rubie.
Billy thanked Mariska and Orique for the aid and hugged them, given a corporeal-enough form by the etherite to do so.
Realizing that Mariska would not be around for much longer because of her deal with the Witch, she asked Billy to promise to take Chad Internship under his wing if she could save him. Billy gladly agreed. They teased each other, then Mariska and Orique left.
They stopped by Dean Cacian’s office, though he was absent. Orique had a special Prefect key that allowed them access to all doors on campus, but they knew that any key use was recorded. They opened the door for Mariska anyway. Mariska went to Cacian’s desk and left him a note explaining how she sold her life to a questionable person. She would try to fix things and if she didn't see him, she was sorry for being a bad assistant. Orique left a note saying that Mariska forced her to do everything that had happened.
Knowing that Chad Internship’s remains were in a drawer in the office, Mariska attempted to retrieve them, but found the drawer locked. She asked Femur to help with his beak and claws. By the hook and crook Femur somehow was able to unlock the drawer, much to his surprise. In there they found the parts of Chad Internship, Billy's body. There was also the exact same scroll that Mariska had traded from the Witch. Wilter Cacian had promised to give her everything she needed, and he apparently planned to keep that promise.
Mariska packed the corpse into her bag. She drank a glass of water sitting on Cacian's desk, deciding that Cacian wasn't as bad as her friends said he was.
Orique pretended that they had seen nothing. The two argued over the Prefect's hands-off role as a mentor and decided that they weren’t friends. Their dynamic was different and Orique was assigned to help them. They had a situation-ship more than a friendship. Mariska took offense to the description.
As they moved their way back to the library, they passed the amphitheater and saw a number of students there. Oregek was performing a monologue about Billy ben-Rubie and the heartache Oregek felt over the death. Mariska found a program on the ground, saying the play was called “My First Love,” dedicated to the late Billy ben-Rubie.
Mariska pocketed the program. Orique realized that it was about Billy, whom they had heard called Robert. He had died three years ago.
On their way to the library, the two met up with Milo, who was coming from Brightly’s office. Mariska told Milo that she planned to fix Billy.
At that moment, Orique heard the Prefect whistle instructing them that something important was happening. Orique covered their badge to indicate they heard the message and left.
Mariska told Milo that Caiteor remained behind in Inzet.
== War on the Wind ==
Meanwhile in Inzet, Cinder walked through the lower levels of the keep, surrounded by undead. As a creature of the undead, she had more control over them, and they calmed with her presence. The lady in red told Cinder that Uloreen knew something bad was coming. Dreadhounds, fiendish creatures said to have been made from the blood of Vilithk herself. They were in the east and replicated at a fast pace. Soon they would be at the gates of civilization. They were known only to seek killing and devouring.
Mortals alone could not stand in the way of such creatures. Two armies were needed, one of the living, the other of the undead. Cinder would be one of many generals for the dead.
“We will drink the blood of Vilithk until we are drunk,” Cinder said.
She was then brought into a meeting room high in the keep, which was full of important people. Uloreen was there and introduced her to the varying leaders of A’lune, including Jewel Vonder, Ralexio Anvir, and Yuri Reknave.
As this happened, Caiteor overcame the shock of losing his soul. He knew how to find Umber’s soul now and had little passion for anything else. However, he wished to apologize to Cinder, but saw Cinder had already left.
Down the hall, he heard a wailing that sounded like people being tortured. He knew he was now complicit in whatever horrors were occurring and decided to leave without knowing the truth. He set his sights on the Crystal Academy to say his farewells.
Back at the Crystal Academy, the seven Prefects gathered. Speaking to them was Anders Daxon, the hottest teacher. He had bad news: The Prefects would have to do unpleasant things. As Prefects, the school needed them to make sure that everyone met curfew. Conscription notices would be put out the next morning. All students were to begin training with the Inzet military for the war. They didn't know who it was against, but the Crystal Academy needed to be prepared. They did not want students fleeing the school to try to escape conscription.
The seven Prefects’ names had been sent to Uloreen, listing them as leaders. They would probably rise through the ranks quickly.
== Bringing Life Back to the Academy ==
Mariska and Milo arrived at the library. Milo took a moment to look at his reflection in the mirror before catching up to Mariska.
Mariska explained that she sold a year of service to a necromancer. Milo was surprised about this. He mentioned that Uloreen and Cacian were terrible people, but Mariska said that Cacian at least had been planning to keep his word about helping her revive Chad. Mariska also explained that Billy’s body was what she had used to create Chad Internship. She wanted to revive Billy and Chad and have Chad stay at the school.
Milo didn't understand half of what Mariska said, so she told him she needed some more body pieces. She needed the body of someone who died by the hands of others. That way, she could revive Chad into that body and Billy in his own.
Milo left to find a body. It was a tall order. He also wondered why Cacian had Billy's remains.
Mariska began the ritual to resurrect BIlly. She put all the body parts on a table and wove magic around them. The limbs stitched together as energy pulled them close. She rolled the etherite over the body, and it pulled Billy’s soul into the corpse.
A moment later, Billy awoke, screaming. He freaked out, but then hugged Mariska, so excited to be alive again. Mariska reminded Billy to take Chad under his wing. Billy said he'd help however he could. He tasted himself and said he tasted terrible.
Mariska told Billy about Oregek and the play. Billy began to remember. He also remembered that Oregek killed him. Mariska told Femur to go get Milo, but Femur got lost, unsure where Milo was.
Meanwhile, Milo traversed the corridors looking for a specific Gnome janitor. Milo quickly found him and asked if the bodies of Drex and Yeniece were put to rest nearby. They were two students that Cinder had killed some time ago.
The janitor thought for a moment and stated that, yes, the bodies were still there, kept in cold storage next to the tomatoes, waiting to be interred. Milo wished the janitor well and would say a prayer on his behalf. Then he left for cold storage, picked the lock to the cordoned off area, and found the bodies. Unsure which Mariska would prefer, he stacked them on a moving cart, covered them with a cloth, and returned with them to the library. As the play was ending, he had to be particularly stealthy, but no one noticed him.
At the library, Billy picked up Milo in a hug, thankful for being alive, and relayed the information about Oregek killing him. Milo said he never did trust Oregek. Billy explained that Oregek loved him, but had suddenly flipped out and killed him. It was a mystery as to why.
While Mariska prepared to cast the spell again on Drex’s body, Billy put a sheet on as a toga and helped Milo find books on Oldirin and the White Bear.
At that time, Caiteor made it back to the school. He went to the library and saw the revived Billy. Billy greeted him and explained everything, but was shocked by how awful Caiteor looked. Caiteor explained that the Witch wasn’t feeling as generous with him as with Mariska.
While Billy left to find Oregek, Mariska gave Caiteor a hug. She said they could murder the lady later. Caiteor said his goodbyes and told them that he would find Umber’s soul and return him to them. Milo said they could fix all of it, because that’s what friends do.
—A terrific explosion suddenly rang from the quad. Everyone heard it, including Orique. All ran outside to find a bloodied Billy and a possessed Oregek who floated and had eyes completely black. Billy cried.
Oregek threw an Eldritch Blast at Mariska, though she deflected it with Shield. “You should not be here,” Oregek said. “Leave this place and let me remove this child.”
Oregek sounded demonic and seemed possessed by Vilithk. Milo pulled out the Vile Blade of Nozum while Orique and Mariska started to fight Oregek.
Caiteor watched the fight for a second. Then he slipped away, intent on taking the ferry off the island. He had only the drive to find Umber. Milo saw him leave and cast Message, saying, “I’ll find you.”
Caiteor paused. “I think you might,” he said.
Mariska cast Wither and Bloom, draining Oregek’s life while healing nearby students.
Oregek made his way towards Billy with an Eldritch Blast ready to release.
Milo brandished the blade. He pricked his finger and dipped blood onto the blade. The hilt adjusted to his grasp as it accepted him as its master. He stealthed his way behind Oregek and plunged the sword into the student’s back.
When the blade pierced Oregek, two versions of him split from the torso. Both coughed up blood, but one was smiling at Billy. The other was demonic and seethed, saying there could be no distractions.
Milo gave a deft flick of his wrist. He severed the demonic version, which dripped as black ichor to the ground and sizzled on contact, burning into the stone before it evaporated. Oregek’s velvet jacket ripped to shreds.
Oregek fell to the ground. Billy crawled towards him, and they hugged and kissed. Billy held Oregek as they cried and Oregek explained that what was inside of him was jealous of Billy and forced him to kill Billy before. But now, Oregek had been freed from his possession.
== Epilogue ==
Faculty soon entered the quad and began healing the injured. Chaos unfurled. Mariska took the distraction to go back to the library. Milo looked at Oregek and Billy and muttered, “For Umber and Billy.” He sheathed the sword and followed Mariska.
Mariska performed the spell once more, flooding Drex’s body with warmth and energy. Soon, the eyes opened. Chad Internship sat up. “It’s you. I knew you’d bring me back.”
Mariska grabbed Chad and the two kissed.
Milo watched them reunite and shed a tear. It was such a precious, beautiful moment; he slid away to give them privacy. Before leaving, he cast Message to Mariska: "Last boat off the island is leaving now. I don't know what that means for you and Chad, but I wouldn't stay here if I were you.”
Orique saw Milo headed towards the docks. Orique was supposed to make sure no students went on the barge, but Orique told Milo about the coming war and said he should leave. Milo told Orique that his sister was alive. He asked Orique to come with him. Maybe they could work on their friendship together.
Orique didn’t want to fight in a war, but was paralyzed at the thought of leaving. As such, Milo grabbed Orique’s hand and pulled them to the boat. Orique went along, glad that the decision had been made.
As they neared the barge, Milo happened to run into Kora, his girlfriend whose mind had been wiped. She apologized for running into him and gave a flirtatious smile. Milo thought about what might have been, but kept his course for the boat.
Back in the library, Chad and Mariska continued to hold each other. Chad said he never wanted to be without Mariska ever again. Mariska explained that she had given up a year of her life, but Chad said that he’d bring her back, wherever she went, because she’d do the same for him.
Near the barge was the presence of Umber watching over Caiteor, his soul energy now connected to his former lover. Even Cinder could feel the tingling as her other half had been called by a great act of sacrifice. Cinder still felt caged by Cacian and when she felt the resonance in the air, she reached into her robe and touched a locket that had a portrait of all of Umber’s friends.
Cinder went quiet. At that moment, Cinder realized how silent it was, being alone in her own mind.
But she couldn’t focus on that for long. She stood with Cacian and Uloreen, the three discussing plans to defend the empire against upcoming threats.
As the sun set, three students made their way off the island and to their next story.
Second Year CASO - 06