Part 2: Steps Towards Home
The rest of the day went on without incident, other than the susurrus of gossip once word inevitably got out about Tuith's death. Still, the news calmed many of the other drow; Billarius was content to at least not be the bottom of the top five, and Gul'tal in an uncharacteristic outburst loudly claimed from across the room that it took the entirety of the top bracket working together to keep him from total victory. Both braggadocios nobles seem content once word 'leaked' that the commoner--the one they still did not bother knowing the name of--was not just a faceless peasant but had been groomed for the place of a master.
After dinner, once a few hours had passed and allowed the graduating nobles ample time to prepare their outfits, First Sword Malaggar Faen Tlabbar and Master Houndarel Fey-Branche gathered the lot at the entrance of Melee Magthere where they awaited summoning to Arach-Tinilith for the final ceremony.
Eventually, the First sword tweaked his head, then nodded in silent acknowledgement of some equally silent signal. Houndarel, receiving the nod, opened the front gate of the pyramid and the two instructors lead the group out. As they filed out of the school, Jevan found himself abruptly cut off by the wide-shouldered frame of Gul'tal Duskryn; the drow warrior was wearing a much more traditional and stylized set of ceremonial black armor adorned with spider web motifs; not nearly as heavy as the Duergar-forged set he had worn during the Grand Melee. Duskryn didn't seem to acknowledge Jevan but ambled in front of him slowly as the rest of the class surged towards the priestess school and their final ceremony.