Take Responsibility.

[wordsmithery]

Once again, the time allotted for investigating seems to run slightly long this week - understandably so, most likely, given the state of the bodies and the fact that there were a pair of them this time. But eventually that time does draw to a close, leaving nothing but the elevator waiting for you at your floor of choice and perhaps a sense of irony in the notion that there's quite literally nowhere to go but up from here. Once again, the deceased have had three more join their numbers since you were here last - greyed-out portraits of Killia, Vanille, and Phi have been set up on their places in the podium circle, watching the proceedings with unseeing eyes from atop the black fabric that's been draped over their spots. The lectern above remains unoccupied; the Wordsmith's voice can be heard either way, however, echoing throughout the room once everyone has found their place in the circle. "Two more Apprentices' lives have been lost, and this time the guilty seeks to terminate their course of study with company in tow. Whatever their reasoning, should they wish to circumvent death or perhaps simply have the living accompany them, will you truly allow Encouraging and Rational to have died for that purpose? If your answer should be 'no', then have the guilty held accountable for their actions." Thirteen Apprentices remain. It's your job to decide how many are still standing by the end of the day.

I still regret every word, that day, I never said

[matchbreaker]

[ This trial was a mess. Hard on everyone, filled with conflicting emotions, and the twists and turns in it made it unsatisfying for everyone involved. That's probably become the norm at this point though! As have the gatherings in the aftermath of them. This time around the letter comes under everyone's door fairly quickly into the evening, following only a short delay for those organizing it to get things together and console themselves enough to be presentable. ]

Come to the dining room if you want to be with people. I will have board games, cards, food, and drink. We also will be writing letters to the dead, if you want to do that around others.

- Elda, Hanyuu, and Mikazuki

[ The dining room's set up is once again fairly simple. Hanyuu broad board games, Elda brought some rpg books though she doesn't expect anything to come of it, and there are a lot of envelopes, paper, and pens from the mail room. The mail room's going to close tonight, of course, but most of the letters will probably be written privately anyway. Elda just wanted people to be sure they knew they could.

Food wise, there's grilled meat and fish, rice, cream puffs (all Hanyuu!) Mikazuki's tea (both black and green!) and Elda's ... spicy fries. Some of them are more mild! However, the mild ones are covered in sugar so uh... that's probably not better. Either way, have at ]