Episode 99 - A Stressful Supper

## Synopsis

Felice led the dapper students down a hallway to the lounge. He then introduced them to the other four students waiting for them: Delnys and Penny, and the rest of their team, a dark skinned dwarven woman with white hair, and a young human man with tiny glasses, legs crossed sipping a cup of tea.

The dwarf wore a similar dress to Integrity but in a beige colour. The human man wore a simple shirt and trousers. Penny wore the same high collared plum dress as before. Delnys wore a straight, black dress with fitted arms ending in lace, as well as a small black hat with a veil covering the top half of her face.

Delnys choked a little on her tea when they entered, then quickly cleared her throat and welcomed them in and offering tea. Mira suddenly felt awkward, and sat down while Delnys avoided her gaze. The other students’ eyes were firmly fixed on Mira.

The dwarf introduced herself as Zara Greybeard, and the human as Ainsley Woodley, top of the alchemy department. Mira said hi, and that she hoped they were having a good time. This earned her a smile from Delnys, who asked how all of them had been.

Polite if slightly awkward conversation continued for a few minutes, before Penny asked Mira why she hadn’t spoken to Delnys recently, and the room fell silent. Mira stammered that she’d been busy and Delnys hadn’t tried to talk to her either. Penny continued, asking if she was sure it wasn’t to do with saying she wouldn’t do anything dangerous, before immediately doing just that. Mira tried to explain that that was to prevent future harm, though Penny seemed unconvinced.

The heavy silence that fell over the room was broken when Elrich blasted the doors open, followed by Artis wearing fantasy jeans and a ratty button up shirt, and a shorter human woman with silky black hair wearing bright orange sashed clothing and gold jewellery. Clearly unable to read a room, he asked if they were all good. Integrity broke the tension by bowing and using a stupid accent, filling Zara’s life with joy. Delnys said they were fine, and ready to start the dinner.

The students all followed their professors, mentors, and parents, into the dining room. At the far end of the room was a huge arched window giving the beautiful view of the lake surrounded by trees starting to gain their autumn colours, as well as dark clouds on the horizon. While on their way, the woman in orange greeted SWIM, telling them she was ZAPD’s mentor, Indumati Parlour. She thanked them for keeping Delnys safe, and revealed that Delnys had told her about Neska. She said that while not all of the faculty could be trusted, she hoped they would trust her as they trusted Artis.

They took their seats, Elrich at the head with Artis and Indumati next to him facing each other. The students filled in the rest of the seats, Integrity sat next to Artis and Zara, Serinepth’s next to Zara and Mira, Winsler next to Indumati and Ainsley, and Mira across from Penny and Delnys.

Elrich clapped his hands, and called for Felice to bring the dinner. Several levitating trollies laden with silver platters of food moved to the table, the plates floated onto the table, and the closhes (lids) disappeared to reveal a vast array of food. Roast duck, seafood meatballs, French onion soup, roasted vegetables, and much more. They made small talk about their project, making golems and the natural fluids needed to create life. Throughout the dinner Penny flipped between smiling with the others and giving Mira a hard stare.

Part way through the dinner, Integrity subtly showed Artis the rock Phillip gave her. He hurriedly responded, “*Don’t, just don’t.*” Integrity used her Awakened Mind to telepathically reassure him that she wasn’t, and just wanted him to know. Artis, fear in his eyes, just reiterated, “*Don’t*.”  He got Integrity to give him the stone, before returning to entertaining Elrich.

As the dinner came to a close, Elrich stood up. He thanked everyone for coming, Felice for organising the event, and Delnys and Penny for suggesting it. He then said that he and the mentors would be going to the lake, leaving them in Felice’s capable hands.

Felice grabbed the wooden box containing the personas they had written down, and gave it to Mira to randomly pick one. The paper was written in a purple ink, and contained both a name from Winsler, and an description from Felice. Upon reading it, her outfit changed to a monochrome purple. This continued round the table as the students were assigned their characters for the evening:

* Mira (Purple): Engels, a paranoid professor of optics
* Serinpeth (Orange): Simone Idle, snobby alchemist
* Zara (White): Celeste
* Integrity (Yellow): Jimothy Larold, noted socialite and heartbreaker
* Ainsley (Indigo): Lamboch Lamboch
* Winsler (Black): Weshamm, surgeon with a loving heart
* Delnys (Red): Anastasia Fernickle
* Penny (Green): Oridica Rowe

After they had drawn their slips, Felice lead the students back to the lounge to start the mystery.