I wasn't really planning to write another AraEle fic until I finished my LuAi fic. Unfortunately, I read two incredible school-AU AraEle fics online. These are "Breathless Autumn" by ForteDragon and "Distances Between" by MikeNolke.
I will admit, I was screaming an equal amount of happy fangirl noises when I read both, despite my dislike for AU works. I kind of started writing my own school-AU story - but I'll leave an advanced apology for the sloppy work, considering I am no fan of this genre.
However, I noticed how those two aforementioned fanfics featured YR x BH (Breathless Autumn) and GrM x As (Distances Between).
I'm taking the challenge of making this CrA x SD. Yes, it's time to go all monotone-demon-berserk-woman-POV.
Character Info:
Elesis - Crimson Avenger
Ara - Sakra Devanam
Raven - Reckless Fist
Add - MasterMind
Chung - Deadly Chaser
LuCiel - Noblesse / Royal Guard
Eve - Code: Empress
Rena - Grand Archer
Aisha - Dimension Witch
Elsword - Infinity Sword
Velder National School: an average public school that houses about ten thousand students. Known for its subsidized but quality education, many teens are enrolled – albeit some forcefully – here, in the hopes to graduate and find a much better future outside this town. A once forsaken and war-torn suburb, Velder was recently restored and is slowly progressing to become like its neighboring city, Hamel.
It's infuriating how no one bothers recalling that war… except for me.
"And that's why the school should also be like the town!" Aisha's chortled. She was suggesting an increased budget for the school's long-due renovation. As much as I wouldn't want to care these brainless council meetings – I can't.
"Heeeey, president! A little help here?" From the corner of my eye, I could see that noisy purple-head's poor attempt in begging for my support. It's pointless for her to do such. Hell, even if my brother were to plead like that, I'd flat out say 'no' in 20 different languages.
To beg was to show one's weakness – something I vowed never to do, nor encourage others to do.
"I think we shouldn't impose such to the administration," finally, a voice of reason. Ciel is a more reliable officer when it comes to these matters. Despite him being a more active member in public office, it makes me wonder why he only garnered the position of vice-president of the campus.
"Mh-hm~ I agree with him," I cringed at the sound of Luciela's voice. I tried to not make it evident, but Ciel probably caught my twitch of discomfort since he shook his head.
Luciela's family was once affiliated with 'Nomed', a political party that comprised of the aristocratic faction of the Solace Region. Most of its supporters wanted rulers who catered to their welfare (or greed, if you put it) – which was the pigheaded want of getting richer and richer.
The family that spearheaded this cause of wealth domination in Elrios was from Fahrmann. How I wish to wring my hands around their descendants. And what happens to us middle class and below?
Hah, no one would bother know, let alone care.
That brings me to the point on why I hate their lard-filled guts.
My father was a general in the Velder Corps. He was the suitable candidate to run against that wretched party. Father shouldered the pleas and cries of the peasant class, and he had the means to eradicate the corrupt ideas of those rich bastards. However, during election period, a civil war was instigated in Velder by those filthy upper-class. It was all staged, I was and am sure of that. I recall every detail, from the rising smoke I saw from our house in Ruben, to the smiling faces of those fucked-up nobles as they handed me my father's bloodied uniform.
It should be understandable on why I absolutely loathe their kind. Should anyone disagree… well, let's not talk about what happens to them after.
"Would you like to take a break, Elesis?" Ciel placed a hand on my shoulder. My guesses were right that he saw my smoldering glare at his closest friend, Lu. I rolled my eyes and rose from my desk. Everyone watched as I strode to the hallways. My feet dragged itself out the room, and I proceeded to the windowsill overlooking the school's quadrangle. Students rarely pranced around the school at this hour, considering that it was 4th period at the moment.
I leaned against the sill, hoping a nap would help me forget the day's events.
"I'm sure your presidential desk is a much comfier than the window pane." Ma'am Eve, the current school principal, silently commented. I don't know when she got here, but the meeting must have ended. I yawned. "I got elected to this position just because no one wanted it," I didn't want to say anything that was really on my mind. "You should feel flattered, half the student population would do anything for your spot in the committee."
I scoffed, "So you're saying that five thousand delinquents are eyeing my position as leader of the juveniles?" Have I forgotten to mention that our school was notorious of having numerous drop-outs? Gangs were never uncommon in public schools, after all.
"Nonsense!" Aisha cheerily called from the doorway. "You're a great leader, Elesis."
"Can it," I spat almost automatically. "There are classes on-going."
"Moving on, I have a task for you, Elesis Sieghart." A signature monotonous voice rung on. It felt like an incessant buzzing to my ears. She droned on that being a leader has its responsibilities, and that I must fulfill them as professionally as possible. I was half-listening until the school principal finally decided to cut short her own sermon. Ma'am Eve concluded her statement by imposing my first duty as newly-elected batch president.
"You are to guide Miss Ara Haan, the new student, around the school,"
"… Say that name again?" I prayed that my ears didn't hear right.
I slowly repeated said name. I mused at the thought, but my mind slowly clouded into anger. I opened my mouth to speak, but there were thousands of verbal barbs that I wanted to shout. All of them died on my lips. "The school accepts this late a transferee?" the purple-head absent-mindedly voiced out. The principal fixed her gaze to the shortest of us three. "The meeting is adjourned, kindly go back to your classes, Miss Aisha." She gave an indifferent shrug as the junior retreated from us.
When Eve – screw the damn honorifics for this uncalled task – was sure that we were alone, she continued.
"I understand you have an animosity towards the Haan family, as they are part of the ruling-"
"Then why?!" I didn't mask my infuriation. It maddened me that Eve knew, and yet she gave me such a job to carry out. My blood was boiling, and I wouldn't mind drenching both her and Haan in it – as long as they'd know how I felt.
"The sins of the father… or for her, it would be, brother, are not the sins of their relatives," Eve dared to stare me down. "I don't care," I muttered, fingers massaging my temples while averting my eyes from hers. That was when she dropped the bomb.
"She has no more affiliations with 'Nomed.'"
"... Really?" I feigned nonchalance, but shock seemed to coat my words better.
"Although I will not overlook the fact that she was once one, she was never an active member in their propaganda for wealth," Eve then glanced to the side. "I'll fill you in with further details, but that's the gist of it." I opened my mouth, but the words wouldn't form once again. "She even wanted to go under a pseudonym in order to renew her identity altogether," added Eve.
"Isn't this enough to show her courage and resolve to change?" I hated rhetorical questions, especially when it came from a Nasod.
"I'm not some tour guide for new students... so, she was disowned or something?" I wanted answers, but maybe I could ask these directly - if I really were going to be demoted to Haan's personal attendant.
"Help her in familiarizing with the school," Ma'am Eve instructed, completely dodging my question. "Be friendly, act like an approachable person and all," she continued. I mentally scoffed. "Besides, I think you'll li-" she covered her mouth a bit to chuckle.
I have never heard her do such before. Could Nasods laugh?
"Never mind," the principal waved her last statement off. "You better run along, Miss President," she eyed me a stern look. Then again, her face was always stoic and impassive. Serious or just plain normal was hard to distinguish with Eve. "I told her to drop by your class during lunch break," she turned away before I could speak again.
"Give a good first impression to her. You can do such by welcoming a little change in your way of living." Eve glanced one last time at me before leaving me for good. "Great, now what?" Her messages were always veiled in mystery. I scratched my head before punching the wooden door of the Student Council's room open. Unlike half an hour earlier, it was peaceful and silent – just the way I like it. I found myself loitering around the room; letting the events that had transpired replay in my head.
"So... she's no longer one of 'them.'" I muttered silently. Strangely, I didn't feel angry or furious. I couldn't pin the correct emotion, but I kept questioning at how these events are fitting into place.
Confusion seemed accurate enough.
I glanced at the wall clock in the office. The principal was correct; it was 5 minutes before lunch. "She'll meet me in the classroom, correct?" I paced back to the exit, but before I knew it, I felt the cold tiles digging on my back. The door was wide open. Through my darkening eyesight, I caught a glimpse of the assailant.
"Oh no! Are you alright?" I heard the ebony-haired maiden gasp.
"Shut up…" I mumbled, the pain shooting up my temples. I dragged a lead-heavy hand across my forehead. "A-Ah, you're bleeding." The newcomer exclaimed as she knelt in front of me.
When I meant 'in front', I meant my sprawled legs were between hers, and this strange girl brought her face dangerously close to mine. She whipped out a cloth from her pocket, and leaned over to wipe the blood off my face. "Wait, blood?" I quickly brought my stained palm to eye-level. As my eyes dilated at the sight of red, my head went light. The last thing I saw, before my vision blanked completely, was the name 'Ara' on that bloodstained handkerchief.
"Was this all a coincidence?" I never knew the answer to such.
The next thing I knew was that I am staring at the school clinic's ceiling. My own forehead was covered in gauze. The nurse told me everything that happened and how that new student dragged my unconscious body here.
"So much for a first impression." I growled as I remembered her name.
1.5k words and I'm not even sure how this story will progress~ I promise to introduce all the character by the 3rd or 4th chapter. Just a headcanon for this AU that Nasods aren't robots - but their race is known for their stoic and serious personalities.
~BreadCrumble