The Banner Unfurls

### Episode 1 – Scene 6: The Banner Unfurls

**[NARRATION]** They made it back just as the sun dipped behind the spiral towers, the last light scraping gold across the quad. A handful of upperclassmen sat on the fountain’s rim, pretending that they hadn't also been soaked in grave-water and impweed juice when Professor Ironhoof asked them to gather Impweed and Nightcabbage from the Wicked Woods. Oh - they don't think people remember, but we remember.

The quad murmured with conversation—low, tired, a few laughs from the upper floors—even the fountain hummed gently, as if pleased with itself.

Astrid Ironhoof was gone, of course. Left a note.

**VICTOR (reading):** “"If you’re reading this, you’re not dead. Good job. Class dismissed."

**MAINE (dryly):** "A nurturing presence."

Jonah sat on the grass, wringing out his socks. Ash looked toward the library and saw, briefly, the outline of someone watching them from the second-floor window. Then nothing. The air seemed to whisper as though something heavier moved just beneath the surface.

Darius dropped the bundle of ingredients on the alchemy counter like firewood.

**DARIUS:** "We’re gonna need new boots."

**[NARRATION]** Above them, on some unseen cue, a creak echoed through the air. Thick ropes strained, enchanted pulleys rotated, and canvas unfurled with ceremonious groaning grandeur.

From the top of the main tower, a banner dropped—slow, majestic, and clearly enchanted to catch the wind just so. A flutter of fanfare played from an unseen source. Someone cheered. Someone else promptly coughed up a moth.

Red letters on gold cloth:

> WELCOME TO VQU Try Not To Die

The silence that followed was profound. Then, politely, awkward applause.

Nick leaned toward Orlandus.

**NICK:** "Guess that’s orientation."

**ORLANDUS:** "Do we get a map or...?"

**NICK:** "Nope. Trial by fire, buddy. How was your first day."

**ORLANDUS:** "Well while you were our adventuring I went on a simple quest myself to get to know some of the other new students."

**NARRATION** Orlandus pointed over towards a duo of blonde illusionists. Humans — from what they could tell. And twins too.

**ORLANDUS** "Got us a date with the Martinique twins.

**[END EPISODE.]**