<a class="link link--external" href="https://64.media.tumblr.com/9bc8fec1018f7e1c2f32f74b16404b31/96698fab241f35db-5c/s540x810/b8fbe13144d9f32584388dedb7d1c459dcada940.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Aoura </a>hovered a few feet above the floor while putting on her clothes, such as they were, a dark green leotard open in the front to show her stomach and belly button with matching thigh high stockings. There were perhaps those that would call it a bit too revealing but in truth it was a traditional Dolarian soldier's fatigue. It was still early and outside her window at The Crimson Blade Academy the sun was barely over the horizon but she had been summoned to report to the council which could only mean one thing. It was time to officially graduate from cadet first rank to full apprentice. She had passed all the necessary tests a week ago but had had to wait for it to be made official until there was a complete team of apprentices for her to join. Being summoned before the council in this way meant she and at least three others would begin to finally see some real action. She strapped her blades to the low of her back and hung the satchel and the whip on her hips before leaving her room.<br/><br/>Her wings were buzzing, almost like an insect's, as she flew through the corridors from the dormitory to the council's chambers. She flew fast and barely slowed down to turn the corners. She knew these corridors well enough after three years to navigate them in her sleep. She even did a quick but elaborate loop before setting down in front of the council's chamber where she found a familiar face was already waiting.<br/>"Good morning Z," she said and folded her wings.<br/>"Any idea who the other two are yet?"<br/>She of course had her suspicions on who the other two were but one could never be entirely certain when it came to the council and their selections. And it wasn't like there were enough cadets that had only recently passed their tests to choose from. Most of them Aoura knew by name and face but she had had very little to do with any of them outside training and mandatory social events.<br/><br/>All she really knew about Z was that she was an orphan from Yern Prime who had been taken in by one of the Crimson Blades and that she was something of a natural leader and one of the techies, as well as a very skilled archer. The two of them had participated in simulated battles and other team building exercises together but despite Z's outgoing personality they had never really socialised outside the arena. Not for lack of Z trying though but Aoura was quite private and mostly enjoyed her own company and the company of her books on various subjects, such as medicine and natural science. Rather than pacing restlessly back and forth like the girl she suspected would become her captain Aoura leaned up against the wall and closed her eyes. She still kept her other senses wide open though.