Earthpne - Northern Arms Academy, NAA Territory . 425 AWThe sound of howling winds apahe g of snow. Three figures made their way through a well snowed in road, the three making for a building some hundred feet away. The ter figure heaved a sigh and spoke in a clearly unamused tone.

  " Snow today, snow yesterday, tomorrow and so on and so forth until the bloody end of time. Would it kill the gods to send some heat our way?"

  The figure iion was a young man eared to be in his te teens, early twe most. Green eyes, brown hair, a and a rugged almost wolfish appearand though he pined now, he still sported a mild smirk. The figure to his left responded in a weary tone, ral; but weary.

  "I could do with less snow sure. But heat? No, that I'll pass on. If it's cold you alut on something on top, but if its hot then there is only so much you take off. No thanks."

  "Aw e on man don't you see? That is the beauty of it. Think about it, we are in NAA one of the if not THE most prestigious Academy in the world. Even royals have to prove their worth in order to attend here."

  The two figures on the sides now turo the ter one, clearly paying close attention.

  "So?"

  "Go on..."

  The ter figure outstretched his arms motioning to all of the buildings around, not just the ohey were heading to.

  "it means that world css and legend css hotties attend these halls and with some heat they will have to- Ugh!!"

  The figure on the right had nded a kick right on the sack. the ter figure went down. His hand pressing on the affected area and mao wheeze out a very feeble "...right on the jewels" before falling face first into the snow.

  The figure on the right who had just attacked the ter one shook its head before speaking, the voice revealing it to be a female.

  "I thought you were actually going somewhere with this Wolf. e on Hunter we'll be te for Professor Valdis's orientation if we tio listen to this h."

  She trudged on, meanwhile Hunter sighed and grabbed Wolf by the cloak and began dragging him onwards.

  "You khis would happen, you knew and you jumped in sack first. I don't know if that makes you brave or stupid."

  "why not both?"

  Wolf spoke with a muffled tohe cloak pressing against his face. Hunter eased up his grip to let the cloak slid down wolf's face.

  "Aren't you and Pandora dating? Why egg her on like that?"

  Wolf shrugged.

  "She's a spie"

  Hunter sighed.

  "....right."

  Wolf folded his arm and spoke in a more serious tone.

  "In any case, didn't Valdis ask for you personally?"

  Hunter shook his head.

  "Don't you ever read your messages? Valdis asked for all of the Aces to attend. Kings too e to think of it"

  Wolf whistled.

  "Must be something important then."

  Hunter's expression was one of utter exasperation, Pandora's too though she was a couple of feet ahead of them so her could tell.

  "The rookie student's orientation? NAA's yearly tradition, Any of that ringing any bells up there?"

  Wolf snapped his finger.

  "Right right! I remember now!"

  He jumped to his feet and started walking alongside Hunter. He then frowned.

  "Wait no, I get why Pandora and I are going. But why you Hunter? You aren't an Ace. You 't even wield Sein."

  Pandora slowed enough to let the two catch up to her and lightly smacked Wolf on the back of the head.

  "Always the tactful one Wolf. Yeah he 't use it but he is still able to keep up with us Aces and he was nominated by both Professor Valdis and Professor Kratus to hold the position of Wildcard."

  Wolf ughed a bit.

  "Oh yeah I remember the after party. That one was fun, sorry Hunter, still nursing one hell of a hangover."

  Hunter's left eye twitched, his expression remained ral but he was struggling to keep it so.

  "...we're supposed to be the ideals to which all students of this academy look up to."

  He looked from Wolf to Pandora who looked back at him.

  The three of them began ughing.

  - Northern Arms Academy, Auditorium.Every seat was filled, one of the rgest batches of alents to be added in NAA's history. All of the newers had their eyes fixed on a familiar figure which took ter stage at the front panel.

  "Right, that cludes the roll call. Looks like everyone is here. Now onto the item on the list."

  A gruff voice called out to the tendees of the Academy, the so called Rookies. The voice beloo Valdis who had not aged a single day sihat night 48 years ago. His mane of red hair was more promi but there was no more apparent differences, he regarded the students with a warm though calg expression.

  "As you all know, Northern Arms Academy holds a storied tradition of nurturing the leaders and heroes of tomorrow. As such the mere act of being here should fill you with pride."

  The newers straightened up at this remark.

  "Though I hope that such pride does not turn into pcy. You've earhe right to e here, not to stay. That right is earned by your as going forward."

  The rookies found themselves nodding at this. Valdis sighed.

  "Don't be sid, you'll wear yourselves out before long. Your only from now on is to grow, us teachers will hahe rest. So aim for the top and see how far your drive take you."

  The doors to the Auditorium swung open. All eyes turo see who was ing in.

  "And on that note..."

  Valdis motioo the Nine figures that were now making their way to the main pao stand beside him.

  "Newers, I present to you the top talent of NAA. The Aces, Kings and Wildcard of NAA."

  Appuse followed the annou, appuse which masked whispers here and there as the udents looked upon the figures with i and awe.

  "I trust everyone is familiar with how a deck of cards is structured. The idea is the same here. I'll let them introduce themselves."

  Each figure wore the same uniform albeit with slight alterations which hio the individual's taste or needs. A long-fitted coat with wide pels, worn over a white button-up shirt with a high colr. A bck vest iween those yers, ched at the waist with a belt that holds a promi buckle which depicted an emblem which sisted of one of the four suits of a deck of cards and the letter A or K. The emblem of the Wildcard simply being a bck oval with a silver W at its ter. The pants were of the same make as the fitted coat though they were muted due to the boots being knee high.

  There were many who thought that having the uniforms of those at the top be so eborate was arrogant; the truth however was much more practical. Those that beloo the "face cards" tiers of students also participated in missions for the academy. The uniforms served as a means of distin and prote for the students when deployed.

  The first of the figures made her way to Valdis, her frame was of average height, long golden hair which covered her back swayed with each step taken. Her eyes were a clear blue and she regarded the newers with a firm unwavering gaze. She spoke and when she did her voice had no trouble reag ead every one of them.

  "I am Annaliese Basch, the King of Clubs. I look forward to being challenged by you."

  An eager tohough it only seemed so to those that knew her already. To the newers it might as well have been a threat. Valdis cleared his throat.

  "Right, she means to say that you are wele to ask for help should you . Right?"

  He turo see her, his expression inscrutable. Annaliese nodded.

  "Yes! That!"

  She gave the new ers a broad grin and made her way back to the rest. The in line made his way to Valdis, this one was a tall broad shouldered man with short well kept bck hair and brown eyes. His uniform cked the long sleeves of the others in favor of showing his muscur arms. When he spoke he did so in a polite tone which heavily cshed with his figure.

  "My name is Emerige, King of Diamonds. I look forward to growing together with you. Should you need assistance you are wele to approach me, I will do what I ."

  He o the newers and made his way back, the figure ing in. This one had a tall frame with long brown hair which was wildly u-though he would o anyone who ented on it that it was not dirty- the hair prevehers from seeing much of the features of his face though it was clear he was grinning.

  "Name's a, Carla. The King of Spades. Give me a shout if you need help, only if you're capable though. I don't waste my time with lost causes."

  He waved at the crowd and then made his way back. The st of the Kings taking his pce, curiously no one had seen her move, it was like she was just there from the start. She had a white scarf on top of her uniform and spoke in a barely audible tone.

  "Mei Zhao, King of Hearts. "

  And as soon as she had spoken, she was back with the others. The newers were at a loss as to when she had moved back. Valdis chuckled.

  "Well those are the four Kings, onto the Aow."

  The four aces made their way to Valdis at the same time.

  Wolf was first, his uniform traded away the whites for deep Azure tones and sported dual holsters which were occupied by two sleek looking firearms. He waved at the crowd and ractically aglow with glee.

  "Hello rookies! Name's Wulff Laurent, Wolf to my friends. I am the Ace of Spades."

  Pandora came , she slightly shorter than Wolf who was himself quite tall. her shoulders were not broad but she had an athletic fit, the uniform was not altered though it was clear that it was quite tight. Her hair was li color and it was a little past her shoulders and her eyes were of a deep emerald tone. She spoke in her usual strict tone.

  " I am Pandora Chloros, The Ace of Diamonds. If any of the Face Card Tiers below us are uo help you, don't hesitate to ask us for assistance."

  Wolf looked away and sighed, clearly not amused by the notion of more work. The Ace chimed in, the tone almost apologetic.

  "ah but please exhaust all other options first. We Aces are often busy and as such we might not be able to help yht then and there. Name's Sage by the way. Sage Grant Ace of Clubs."

  He waved at the group, sheepishly ughing as he did so, his frame athletic but hiddeh his uniform which was somewhat baggy in parison to the others, like wolf he had traded away the whites for a deep green torapped to the left side of waist was a sword in its sheath.

  "Like my fellow Aces have just said, we don't mind helping but we are usually busy so please sult others first, unless you are happy to wait. I am Naomi Takahashi, Nao to my friends. Ace of Hearts."

  Naomi had long bck hair which easily reached her knees, it was ly held in a ponytail. Though perhaps her most captivatiures were her crimson colored eyes and pale skin. Her uniform cked sleeves but not gloves and these reached up to her elbows, on her belt hung a headband with the emblem of her family.

  "There you have it, the Kings and Aces of NAA. Lastly we have..."

  "Name's Hunter. NAA's Wildcard. If you are asking me for help its because you are bei on a mission. I look forward to that."

  Straight and to the point. That was how Hunter ied with others, or at least most others. Hunter sported a tall athletic build which leaned a tad more towards muscur, but that was not what drew the attention of others. It was the rest of his features which set him apart. He had pale skin which did not darken no matter how much he tried and Golden eyes which were near iridest, his hair was jet bd it reached his neck. His uniform reflected his desire to remain anonymous, it sported both a scar to cover his lower fad goggles to hide his eyes. Like Sage he sported a bde.

  Valdis cleared his throat.

  "There you go then, these are the individuals whom we hope you will surpass in the years to e. I have high hopes for you all. Dismissed!"

  With that, the newers begaing the Auditorium, heading now to their first css. The Kings and Aces did the same though they used the back door. Meanwhile Hunter approached Valdis.

  "You wao see me professor?"

  "Hmmm? Ah yes, the cil has requested your presence. Looks like a new mission for you,"

  He lowered his voice.

  "You didn't hear this from me, but it looks like there is a magic beast sighting near NAA grounds, its likely you will be tasked with that up. Don't want the Sectors thinking we 't keep our own yard eh?"

  He chuckled and patted Hunter on the back.

  "Before you head there though, stop by Kratus's b, he wants to see yarding the repairs to your equipment. Just in time too, just... don't let him drag you into another one of his weird experiments. You know how carried away he gets."