Pride of Victoria

by windwraith

A masked stranger arrives at Victoria Lake Military Accademy. Can something as simple as friendship unravel the mistery that is Zechs Marquese? Cadet Lucretia Noin wants to find out.

1. In the Courtyard: First Glimpse

"The Pride of Victoria"

By Vigilanti Windwraith

Lake Victoria Military Academy AC 188

Scene One: Courtyard:
First Glimpse

The first time she set eyes on him the effect was riveting, she wasn't the only one to react this way. Students at Victoria Academy all looked pretty much the same, grey fatigues cut so severely that, even if they weren't about twelve years old, it would be difficult to tell if a cadet was male or female. Victoria did not require a military buzz-cut the way some other academies did, still most of the young people wore their hair the regulation length accepted in most military positions. Hers was darker than most and she kept it short, just brushing the nape of her neck. HE was a splendid exception.

Lucrezia Noin was lined up with the rest of her class engaged in morning calisthenics. The drill sergeant walked mercilessly up and down the ranks shouting commands as the young recruits struggled to maintain the rapid fire pace of activity. Then they caught sight of the remarkable figure crossing the courtyard and any semblance of ordered discipline fell away. He was tall, still dressed in civilian clothes, clutching a well made suitcase in each hand. His every movement screamed nobility, shoulders squared with easy graceful steps…the wind teased out his long hair, like shimmering filaments of white gold cascading easily past his shoulder blades. The most remarkable feature, of course, was the silver helmet with its hawk-like visor covering the upper portion of his face.

Some of the cadets laughed outright others snorted in disgust…everyone wondered, 'What was someone like THAT doing HERE?" the drill sergeant must have resented loosing control of the group and his shouts rose in both volume and pitch. Regardless, the crusty old soldier was not someone easily ignored and she could think of much better ways to spend the morning than being sentenced to another 200 pushups. Noin tried her best to bring her attention back to her physical training but thoughts of the mysterious stranger lingered, who was he and why did he wear that mask? She wondered.