Following your departure from the City of Ink you find yourself in a ship bound for Aldebast with a trophy in hand. Across from you sits Angea who watches out the window eagerly as various stars and worlds pass you by.

She had been the one to quickly get ahold of the tickets needed for passage for both you and the small group that had agreed to come along with her. The starship wasn't particularly large, but thankfully you'll be headed directly to your destination with no stops along the way. 

The flight is overall smooth and uneventful. You make yourself comfortable and await your arrival.

Angea

Time passes and before you know it the ship begins to smoothly descend into port. Angea excitedly scoots out of the way, allowing you to get a better look out the window.

The town in the distance is illuminated with twinkling lights of all colors that reflects off the piles of snow surrounding it. At the center of it all there is indeed the college, though it looks much more like many different buildings smashed together into one shining golden citadel. In the distance you catch glimpses of a far-off ominous tower and other strange things dotting the island.

As the ship docks, Angea will jump from her seat and hastily head towards the exit. She motions for you to follow her.

Angea

As you exit the ship you are instantly hit with a gust of cold wind. Thankfully as the two of you head into town it is a more comfortable temperature. It's surprising actually considering all the snow around, so it's likely some kind of magical effect. Unfortunately there is little time to take in the sights of Snowstar, as Angea guides you through some less crowded streets, steering away from the sparkling winter markets, towards the large golden palace at the center.  The whole place gives off an air of regality and whimsy, something easy to expect from a place such as this.

Upon entry to the college Angea hurries off towards where she assumes her friend's office is. There is a considerable amount of wandering through the many sprawling hallways, down spiraling staircases, up elevators, and through portals. Angea mutters under he breath about how confusing this place is, but still assures you that she isn't lost. There are a few people around, most likely students, that glance towards the two of you as you walk past and murmur among themselves when they think you're out of earshot. They pay particular attention to the object in your hands and regard it with confusion, curiosity, and most notably: familiarity.

After quite the venture she finally stops outside of a simple polished wooden doorway.  There's a gilded nameplate mounted to the door that reads "Archmage Vinta" in an elegant script. With some hesitation Angea will give a hard knock on the door.  Right away you hear something, rummaging from the other side. The sounds of movement, and then something falling and breaking? Followed by several curses. The door swings open and you find yourself face to face with a tired-looking browbird.

They actually seem taken aback by this situation, thus taking a moment to assess it before speaking which does lead to a somewhat awkward feeling hanging in the air. Seeing you, then Angea whom they regard with more surprise than the lost trophy in your hands. Finally they straighten up and clear their throat. However Angea speaks up before they can.

Angea

Angea

Vinta

Angea

Vinta

 They don't give an answer to Angea's question, and instead give a heavy sigh and turn, heading back into their office and motioning for their friend, and by extension you, to follow. She looks to you, shrugs a little, and heads inside. Almost immediately she trips over a scroll case just laying on the floor but manages to catch herself.

You make eye contact with her as both of you realize that there is an awful lot of stuff laying around with papers, books, and more littering most of the checkered tiles creating an obstacle course of objects for the two of you to avoid. The rest of the room isn't much better, stacks of things are pushed up against the walls with more things precariously piled atop them. Bookshelves are not only stuffed with the expected dusty tomes, but artifacts, folded clothes, trinkets, potions, and piles of dishes that were likely set there to get them out of the way. Every single surface has been covered with things, so much so that Vinta struggles to shove some stuff out of the way to make room at their small coffee table in what you assume was once a kitchen area.

Vinta

They look back towards you and eye the trophy in your hands for a moment, but their neutral expression makes it difficult to guess at what they might be thinking. You and Angea make your way to the table and take a seat after clearing various things off the chairs. You can see Vinta in the kitchen area from here as they rummage through their cabinets in search of tea or really any kind of refreshment to offer guests, only to find more dishes, books, and scattered papers. With a heavy sigh, they return to the table defeated and take a seat across from the two of you.

Vinta

Angea

Vinta

Angea gives the okay so you hand the trophy over to Vinta. They wave a hand and you watch as the trophy gently lifts from your hands and floats across the table to them. With a small flick of the wrist they turn it over a few times in the air, inspecting the now empty slot in its surface before gently floating it down to sit upright on the table. 

Vinta

Explain the situation