For the regional Vernal Conclave, every scythe of MidMerica met up at the former Capitol Building of Fulcrum City when it was still known as St Louis in the Age of Mortality. The hoard of journalists and paparrazzi gathered around the steps leading up to the main entrance, trying to catch glimpses of scythes and their apprentices ascending the stairs. Their clamor reached hit her like a full blow as soon as she descended from the publicar. Scythe Victoria didn't want to take transport, arguing that it was a nice day to be walking, but when she set foot outside, the people surrounded her, some daringly reached out their arms to touch her ring, trying to kiss it so that they could get a year's worth of immunity to gleaning. Scythe Victoria had cursed and fled back to the appartement, shutting the door firmly in the faces of those who followed her. She relunctly agreed to take a publicar, the unfanciest transportation she could think of.

Amber trailed behind Scythe Victoria, flinching each time hands reached out towards her. Like Avery, she was dressed in her black undersuit and grey hooded robe of Scythe Academy, with the green armband standing out. Scythe Victoria just waved her hand in front of her, as if shooeing flies away. Avery had his hood lowered, but walked on proudly, swaggering arrogantly. She tugged at her own hood, which was safely secured over her head, but out of nervousness, she kept tugging on the grey fabric. As she was clambering the steps after her mentor, a journalist thrust his microphone under her nose, his other hand reaching out to grasp her fabric and firmly yanked her back. She stumbled, and her hood blew off. Cameras pointed at her. Amber could hear the click click of their devices, either taking pictures or recording a video of her. Her hair stood out, the reddish tendrils framing the delicate features of her face. Her golden brown eyes blinked rapidly at the dozen of camera flashs.

"What is your name, Honorable Scythe?"

Clearly the journalist had not seen the green apprentice armband. She mustered her courage and replied, but kept her head lowered.

"I am no scythe," she tugged, trying to free herself of the journalist's grip. "Just an apprentice."

The journalist would not let go; he kept his hand firmly on her arm, squeezing. His grip was so tight that she feared it might stop her blood circulation. It crushed her arm, grinding the bones.

"Let go of me!" She shrieked in pain as his grip grew tighter still. "Let go!"

The journalist ignored her. So did the rest of the crowd, busy filming her, gasping in admiration, hands extending to touch her.

"But what is your name, apprentice? What is your name?" He pressed on.

"Let go!" She tugged harder, her fear of cameras and attention making her cry. Tears formed at the corners of her eyes. "Let go of me!"

At the corner of her eyes, she saw, on the top of the stairs, that Avery had heard her. So did the rest of their group. He jogged back and when he reached her level, he whipped his face towards her aggressor. His hazel eyes burned with fury.

"Don't touch her!" He demanded. "Release her immediately."

The journalist gulped nervously and slowly released his steely grip. Avery swatted angrily at the hands clutching Amber's robes. Her face was twisted with pain and fright, her eyes wide with shock. She was clutching her arm, cradling it against her chest. He gave one last glare before wrapping his arm protectively around Amber, leading her up the stairs.

Other scythes streamed past them, hurrying their apprentices - if they had one; glancing back at the crowd with disgust and contempt. He did not care that cameras were flashing at them: the citizens would probably be excited at the uploaded pictures, because scythe's rarely display their true feelings in front of a camera. By protecting her, Avery just did the opposite. Amber was tensed, but she did not complain. Scythe Victoria and Scythe Darwin were waiting, the former muttering cuss words at the crowd, her slightly wrinkled face dark. Scythe Darwin merely glared fiercely at the sea of people behind them.

When they entered the former Capitol Building, Avery whispered in her ear.

"You okay?"

"Yeah," she muttered under her breath, her golden brown eyes glinting with contained anger and embarrassment. "That brute had hurt my arm." She rubbed her arm in emphasis.

Avery fought for control over his temper. He usually had a decent self-control; he kept his emotions guarded and expressionless in school, at home, etc. But when it was about Amber, he wanted to do anything to see her smile, and he would kill anyone that dared injure her. Weeks before, he had struggled with those foreign emotions that rendered him confused and burning, as if his veins were on fire. But now a calm, peaceful feeling settled over him, as if holding Amber was the most natural thing in the world.

Amber leaned into him, the pain slowly ebbing away from her arm. The camera flashs had blinded her, so she blinked when she recovered her eyesight to adjust to the brightness of the room. It was a massive circular chamber, with an enormous chandelier swinging from the top of the dome. This was not even the meeting room, as Scythe Darwin had explained the previous day. This was where the scythes mingled with each other, swapped stories of their gleanings, their life, etc. Lavish tables with spotless white silk tablecloth were displayed against the walls, mountains of delicacies and pastries precariously piling on top of their polished china plates. Amber glanced at Avery. His hazel eyes were wide open in awe, twinkling in the warm light. She felt a rush of affection that she quickly smothered. They had made a deal to stay friends, after all. When they stepped into the big room, scythes had come forward to greet them. Some of them she knew, some of them she did not. Scythe Victoria and Scythe Darwin were quite notorious.

"Victoria! What a pleasant surprise!"

"How are you Victoria? How are your subjects' families faring?"

"Charles Darwin, long time no see!"

"You look superb as always, both of you!"

Greetings and warm welcomes fused from every direction. Soon, their mentors were swept away. When she passed them, Scythe Darwin made a discreet gesture towards the other apprentices. Mingle, he mouthed. Amber and Avery both nodded, watching with slightly bemused faces. Amber shrugged and headed towards the group of apprentices. As she gracefully slipped under Avery's arm and strolled over.

"Hi," she said cheerfully to a bunch of boys and girls. "I'm Amber. What are your names?"

One boy, slightly gangly with mischievious eyes and a crooked grin stepped forward. Clearly, he was their leader, of some sort.

"My name is Oscar. We are all old apprentices from the last conclave, except Will and Ben. The boys here," he gestured to his left, where four boys stood, smiling. "are Will, short for William, Favian, and Ben, for Benjamin." Will was tall and lanky, with a shy smile and brilliant blue eyes, his brown hair covering his brows; Favian had a slightly dark skin and shiny white teeth, short black curls, his green eyes bubbling with amusement; Benjamin had brown eyes, a crooked nose, chesnut hair and a devilish grin. "The girls here," Oscar continued, are-"

"We can present ourselves, Oscar." A girl snapped.

She had tanned skin, brown eyes and dirty blond hair. She flashed an annoying look at Oscar, who merely winked and retreated. Amber guessed that these two had a sort of...connection.

"Anyways," the girl said as she turned towards her. "I'm Lavinia, or Vivi, if you prefer. Just don't call me Vinny." She wrinkled her perfectly straight nose. "And the black haired girl here, is my best friend Xylia."

"I don't like any nicknames, though. Just Xylia. It means woodland or wood-dweller in greek." Xylia gave me a soft smile.

Amber dipped my head.

"Okay."

Lavinia stretched her neck to look at something behind her. She followed her gaze and turned. Amber hit her face hard as she turned in a muscly chest. She staggered with pain, rubbing her nose.

"Ow," she muttered.

Amber raised her head and glared at Avery. He just gave her a cool smile. Suddenly she had this feeling that Avery did not like mingling much. Especially other girls. She patted him on the back and slowly pushed him forward.

"Oscar," she adressed the auburn haired boy. "This is Avery. Avery, this is Oscar."

"Nice to meet you." He eyed Amber and Avery, interested. "Are you guys like a thing, just like me and Vinny?"

Lavinia turned red in the face and slapped Oscar on the arm. The latter just laughed and slung his arm around her shoulder. Lavinia grumbled something unintelligible, probably something rather rude, but did not back away from his arm. The others watched with growing amusement. Amber shifted uncomfortably.

"Well, sort of, I mean not really, not that much, uh, just, you know..." her voice trailed away.

Oscar winked at her.

"I saw you both when you entered the chamber. Avery had his arm over your shoulders. You guys shouldn't deny this," he waved his hand in the air between them. "Feeling. Connection."

Avery tensed and flashed him a tight smile.

"We chose to stay friends, in the meantime." He glanced at Amber and felt something like a sharp twinge of pain in his chest. "We both agreed."

Amber was gripping her sleeves, her golden brown flickering in the brightness. She glowered at Oscar, asking him to not question further, unless he wanted a fight. Or a painful death.

Thankfully, the boy did not question further, judging that it was safer to keep his mouth shut. He swiveled his head towards the group and cheerily continued the conversation to dissipate the tension in the air. As Oscar blabbered about scythe things, Amber's eyes scanned the crowd for one person in particular. She squinted, trying to see a wisp of redwood brown hair, or a familiar face.

There!

Behind some pillars, standing next to one of the buffet tables, stood her mother, among some other scythes. By the rapid gestures, they were clearly in a heated argument. Amber did not like one single bit the uneasy glances that they threw at each other, or their soft muttering of discontent. She noticed Scythe Marian leaning on a pillar next to Scythe Catherine, calmly smoothening the situation. Amber decided not to go over and get herself involved.

She turned her head back towards the group, where Favian was now engaged in a discussion with Benjamin about some toxin properties. Oscar and Lavinia were arguing, probably as usual, with Xylia watching them with an amused expression. Will and Avery stood aside and talked quietly, but Amber was too distracted to listen properly. She joined in Favian and Ben's argument, a tiny bit frustrated that they could not understand the simple concept of poisonous mushrooms and fungi. But at the back of her mind, she still had a nagging feeling that whatever Scythe Catherine, Scythe Marian and the other scythes were arguing about it was nothing good or a simple matter.