The Blinding Red of Aeric

Aeric ascended the grand staircase leading to the Royal Institution's assembly hall. It was quiet from where he was, but he could hear the murmuring going on up the stairs, inside the assembly hall.

The golden railings gleamed under the morning light filtering through the tall, arched windows, and the faint hum of anticipation was rippling around the air as he walked.

With every step he took, he had flashes of this exact day, a week ago. It was unbidden but vivid. Headmistress Lysandra walking in front of him, leading the way, and him, stupidly gawking at her ass when he was heading to an extremely serious situation.

Aeric scowled at the thought of it. It might have been only a week but he had been so so stupid back then.

He felt so sure in himself and so sure in the system, thinking that it would do everything for him and he didn't have to worry.