Chapter 1, Intermission 2: Arcadia's Graduation

1 Midsummer 3 BS (1497DR)

The yearly graduating class of Elturel's Magical Academy come out to celebrate as part of Midsummer Holiday Festival. Arcadia has blossomed into an incredibly gifted, talented, and popular young Sorceress, reknowned for her incredible abilities with Fire magic. However, rather than spend this special day with her burgeoning group of friends and peers, she's instead decided to dedicate the day to spending time with her childhood friend, the creepy genius spellcaster, Cassius Az'Reald. Though they did meet each other in passing throughout the years when time afforded, Cassius' duties around the campus grounds and his studies of Draconic culture in the lands of the North, along with Arcadia's increasing responsibilities and study as she progressed in the coursework, meant that they had not seen each other in quite some time.

The plans for the day are foolish and clumsy. A lunch in a secret garden offered to Arcadia from the Reinhardt's, an elderly couple charmed by the young sorceress' beauty and grace. Enjoyment of the festival games and snacks set up on the campus grounds, where Cassius wins a small momento for Arcadia. A brief shopping excursion at the stall of the Reinhardt's featuring jewelery and accessories. A quiet retreat to a mages tower of the Academy for a professor Cassius frequently interacts with.

All throughout the day, just one minor occurrence and event to the other. Yet throughout it all runs an undercurrent of understanding between the two. Their lives, seemingly drawn by Fate or Destiny, are trying to pull them apart. Cassius expresses his concerns about stagnating intellectually under the oppression, rules, and oversight that dictate practically every facet of academia within Elturel, due in large part to the reverberating aftershocks of 'the Shattering', an event from nearly 30 years prior where all magic items suddenly ceased to function. Arcadia expresses apprehention for her upcoming role and responsibilities for the kingdom as a 'Monster Hunter' after her graduation.

Yet as the two youths open up to one another over the course of the day, an inescapable bond of support and strength begins to weave and intertwine them together. Arcadia suggests Cassius go speak to Elrich, the third in their trio of childhood friends, who recently became a noble instructed to oversee the territoes of 'Berdusk'. Cassius helps Arcadia to see the bigger picture and her own control over her own destiny. They promise each other to meet once again, at Berdusk, and to pick up from where things left off there.