Author's Note - Trails of Cold Steel and all characters are owned by Nihon Falcom and is published by Nihon Falcom and XSeed Games. I do not intend to own Trails of Cold Steel and this is purely a work of fiction. However the original character and backstory of the original character are my own.
Anyway without further ado, please enjoy my alternative take on Trails of Cold Steel.
Chapter 1 – Arrival: Part 1
The sky was bright and clear. Big white fluffy clouds rolled by slowly over the wide open and vast green fields of Eastern Erebonia, just a stone's throw away from the capital city of Heimdallr. Roaring down the tracks was a great steel machine, carrying many passengers to their destinations. The scene in the windows rushed pass at blinding speed, trees, fields, farmhouse and animals all went by in a blur.
Sat alone, looking out of the window of the train was a sole young man. He had wild raven hair, warm grey eyes and was wearing a red school uniform. His mind was lost in thought as he looked out of the window at the scenery, until a P.A speaker come on. "The Ministry of Railways wishes to thank all passengers for their patronage. This train is bond for Bareahard via Celdic". This snapped the raven-haired boy out of his thoughts, and he looked up towards the speaker. Focusing on listening for what the next stop will be.
"The next stop is Trista… Trista" "We will be stopped at Trista for one minute, please ensure no belongings are left behind". Having fully regain his focus, the raven-haired boy smiled to himself and thought to himself "Almost there!". Taking another look out of the window at lush and green scenery, he thought "…Man, spring's really in full bloom here, huh?".
The train continued to thunder down the line, soon arriving in its destination of Trista. Slowing down as it pulled into Trista station at platform one, coming to a complete stop as the breaks screeched, there sound echoing though the station. Marking a new chapter in the life of the raven-haired young man. The doors sprung open, allowing all the passengers to disembark onto the platform. As the young man walked onto the platform, he looked around.
There where students exiting the train predominantly where green uniforms, with a few wearing red uniforms, like that of the raven-haired boy. He then proceeded to exit the station, but soon enough came to a stop just outside the doors of the station. Wide eyed and flabbergasted by the scenery of the town of Trista. "Wow..." he said out loud as looked at the quaint and beautiful town, where every tree was in bloom and petals slowly drifted in the wind.
As he stood there gazing at the relaxing town, he failed to notice a blond girl, with crimson eyes wearing a red uniform coming out the station door. She too was staring at the blooming trees and lino flower, as she failed to notice the raven-haired boy in front of her. To which she promptly walked into and landed right on her arse. "Ouch…" she cried as she landed down hard onto the floor. The boy having noticed something bumped into him, he turned around and offered her his hand.
"Whoa, sorry about that. Are you okay" "I should have picked a better place to take in the scenery" the raven-haired boy said, as the blond-haired girl accepted his hand. After the raven-haired pulled her to her feet with surprising ease, she said "Don't worry about it. I should've been paying more attention to where I was going instead of gawking at the flowers."
After taking another look around she turned back to the raven-haired boy and said "It's really a pretty town, though. Isn't it? Just like a postcard." The raven-haired boy replied "Yeah. I guess that's the magic of springtime for you."
The raven-haired boy looked down to the case the blond-haired girl was holding and asked, "I hope everything in your case is okay."
She simply shuck her head and replied "Oh, no need to worry everything in it will be fine."
She then turned back to him and gasped at him "Hey, you've got the red uniform too, huh?"
The raven-haired boy replied "Now that you mention it, most of the other people on the train had green uniforms, your one of the few I've seen in red" "I didn't really think about it till now, I just put of the uniform they sent me"
The blonde-girl then replied "Yeah, your right there aren't many of us in red, but I doubt it's a mistake" "Maybe it means we'll end up been classmates"
"Well if that is the case, I guess I've got something to forward to too" "Oh and the names Rean, Rean Schwarzer. Nice to meet you" Rean said as he smiled brightly.
"Nice to meet you too, I'm Alisa Rein... ford" Alisa suddenly went very quiet and was looking down at her feet, quivering. Then with no warning she grabbed Rean by his collar and yanked his head down. So, she could stare into his eyes, with a stare that could freeze over hell itself.
"You Will Not Tell A Soul, Do You Understand" Alisa said in a tone that commanded both fear and domination, in a terrifyingly calm tone. Rean could do nothing but gulp and nod very slowly in response.
She then realised Rean's collar and said "Good, well nice to meet you Rean Schwarzer" smiling brightly as if nothing had happened. Rean just stood in place, still shaken from his traumatic experience because of the young Reinford.
But he is snapped out of it when Alisa asks him "Hey, Rean you in there, wanna walk to the entrance ceremony together?"
Rean then replied "Yeah, I'd like that, plus if I get lost at least then I won't be alone" Alisa laughed softly at his response and the two set off towards Thor's Military Academy. The town of Trista wasn't particularly big or busy, but it certainly had its fair share of charm and things to do. But it did contain anything a student could want, like the Septian Church located near the academy main building, Brandon's General Goods store, Keynes' Bookstore, Boutique – Le Sage, Kirsche's Café Inn a personal favourite among the students and finally Micht's Pawn Shop found in the back corner of Trista.
As Alisa and Rean were walking they came across a few other students in red, who were all headed towards the academy. Although one of the boys in red happened to stand out among the rest, as he towered over the students and he had tanned skin. Which made him stand out amounts the sea of other students. Both Rean and Alisa agreed he must be a foreign exchange student.
As they were about to head through the main gates a large green limousine blew its horn at them, so in response Alisa and Rean moved out of the way. The limousine then pulled up and a middle-aged butler got out and opened the rear door of the limo. To a reveal a brilliant blonde-haired boy with azure eyes climbing out of the limo, he too was wearing a red uniform. However, unlike Rean he trousers where green plaid, while Rean's were black. The butler then handed the boy a wooden case and he thanked the butler, before heading off towards the academy gates.
Alisa and Rean looked at each other and then back towards the blonde-haired boy. Then Alisa spoke up "What's a noble like him doing in a red uniform, I thought nobles wore white"
"I thought so too, now I'm just more confused" Rean replied, with that they both carried on towards the main gates of the academy. Where yet again they came to a stop as two students approached them. Both clearly second years, the first one was a well-rounded boy wearing a yellow mechanics uniform, with a hat and goggles, he has brown hair and brown eyes. The second student was a short girl who wore the green commoner's uniform, she has brown hair done up in a low pony tail with a blue ribbon and light green eyes.
They both explained to Rean and Alisa, that they need to take there weapons off them and that they would be returned to them before long. After that they took the weapons and headed off into the campus of the academy. Both Rean and Alisa shrugged their shoulders and headed for the auditorium.
The assemble went on for what seemed like an eternity, with teacher after teacher introducing themselves and what subjects they taught finally getting to the principal of Thor's. A tall well-built and muscular man in his later years, named Vandyck. He had long grey hair and grey facial features. The assemble was finally ending with Principal Vandyck's closing words "Arise, O youth
and become the foundation of the world" "Though much has changed between now and the time of Emperor Dreichels, I hope this credo will serve as a guide and an inspiration to you during your two years at this academy. Go fourth, my students. The world awaits the great things you will one day accomplish." Once the assemble concluded all the students were instructed to head towards the classrooms designated in their guide books, so after all the other students had filtered out of the room.
It left only the kids in red, dotted around the auditorium. Rean was now even more confused than he was before. So Rean decided to introduce himself to the closest student in red, as Alisa had been given a seat away from him. "Hi there, my name's Rean Schwarzer. It would appear were both in the same boat here"
The boy he introduced himself too was slightly shorter than Rean, he had bright orange hair and green eyes. "Nice to meet you Rean, my name's Elliot Craig, do you… know anything about what's going on here?" Elliot replied in an honest tone.
"Can't say that I do I'm afraid, as we weren't given a guide book, so I'm just as lost as you are" Rean replied, however before they could discuss the matter a further, they were interrupted by someone saying "Hello! Can I get the student's in red's attention please?" the woman voice had an immature but flirty tone to it, while sounding rather mature.
"I'm your homeroom teacher, and we'll be going over your curriculum." "Now I realise that you will have a lot of questions, but would you please hold off on them and follow me." With that the fuchsia hair coloured instructor turned away and made for the door once again.
One by one the students in red slowly made there way out of the room to follow the fuchsia-haired instructor. Both Elliot and Rean set off after the rest of the students, however they were promptly stopped as Alisa came up behind them to walk with them. "Just where do you think she's taking us to, this is far different to any of the other classes" Alisa said.
"I honestly wish I knew, oh and allow me to introduce Elliot Craig" Rean said as he turned around to face Alisa.
"Nice to meet you Elliot, I'm Alisa" Replied Alisa as she turned to simile at Elliot
"Yeah, nice to meet you too… I think we should be catching up with the others now" Elliot said in response, Rean and Alisa nodded their heads in agreement. They all then set off in chase of the students, who had all now left the auditorium. The instructor lead them across the school grounds, past the student union and the main campus building. Down a side road which lead to a forested area around the back of the campus. In the centre of the forested area lied a large stone building, with a red roof and tall clock tower.
All the students filed into the large entrance room, while the instructor walked up onto the large stage at the side of the room, she then turned to face her students. She coughed really loudly to gain her students attention then said "Well first things first. My name is Sara Valestein and I'll be your homeroom teacher for this year. Now before I answer any questions how about you introduce yourselves."
"Hmph, I guess I'll go first, I'm Machias Regnitz" Machias huffed out, clear fed up with not been informed. He then turned around and faced his fellow students, then asked "If you all don't mind might I ask what social standing you come from"
"Oh, how petty" The blonde-haired boy said in a dismissive and bored tone. This seemed to enrage Machias as he turned to face the blonde-haired boy and say sarcastically "Why it would appear a noble scion has left his family mansion and come to educate the unwashed masses, oh please your lordship. Would you bestow your name un to us."
The blonde-haired boy seemingly fed up by his fellow classmate replied "Jusis Albarea" "Not that I would expect the name of an arrogant, stuck up hedonist to lodge itself in that hard head of yours"
As soon as he mentioned his name the whole room gasped, and Elliot said out loud "You mean were in the same class as a son from one of the Four Great Houses" Elliot suddenly felt light headed
"You have got to be kidding, I refuse to be in the same class as one of these arrogant, stuck-up hedonists" Machias all but yelled.
Which prompted Sara to clap her hands and say "Anyway, moving on, miss 'top-scorer on the entrance exams' please introduce yourself"
The brunette-haired girl realising that she was been talked to then spoke "I'm uh… Emma Millstein, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Satisfied Sara prompted the next person to speak up.
"Gaius Worzel, a pleasure to meet you all" Gaius said cool, totally unfazed by the still fuming Machias.
The next person to speak up was Elliot "I… Uh, yes… I'm Elliot Craig it's nice to meet you all" Elliot then looked across to Rean, who then spoke up "Rean Schwarzer, nice to meet you all too"
Sara nodded in satisfaction that all the guys had introduced themselves and then said "Alright, if you lovely ladies would like to introduce yourselves"
The first to speak up was a long blue-haired girl, with her hair tied up in a ponytail "Laura S. Arseid, pleasure to meet my fellow classmate."
"Ooooo, Nice, straight to the point, I like it" Said Sara, cracking a big simile in response.
Alisa then stepped forward and said, "I'm Alisa R, from Roer." Sara then wooed and said, "Alisa R, mysterious, again I like it" She then turned to the final girl and quirked her eyebrows waiting for a response.
The short silver-haired girl then spoke up "Fie Claussell." She then said no more only yawning, much to Sara's dismay. Sara then said, "Well that makes nine out of ten, were just waiting on our last member."
Everyone looked between each other confused as to what Sara was on about, however their mussing was interrupted when a sound came from the side of them. All the people present in the room turned to look at the large double doors, where another figure walked though the door. The figure was a long black-haired boy with a braided ponytail, he wore black trousers and a black shirt. With a red sleeveless long jacket with gold trimmings which came down below his knee. He also wore black boots with gold trimmings on the ankle and laces. He wore a golden circlet on his head, reminiscent to that of royalty, he also had heterochromia green and pale green eyes.
"Please forgive my tardiness, I did not mean to be so late." "However, my transport from Heimdallr was late and so I had to speak directly with Principal Vandyck" the heterochromia eyed boy said as he walked further into the room. Sara then turned to face the late entry and said "Ahhh, at long last the final member has arrived."
"Well seen as though you're the last one, would you please introduce yourself" Sara said as she held her arms up in the air, in a theatrical style. The heterochromia eyed boy then came to a stop standing much closer to the other students and stood bolt upright, with his arms by his side. "I am the 3rd Prince of the Kingdom of Languedoc-Roussillon on the continent of Lusitania and fifth inline for the throne, Prince Lucien Chamillevé Roquevès."
There was a collective gasp from the whole room, including Instructor Sara, all of whom were shocked by the fact that a foreign royal was going to be attending Thor's Military Academy.
At this point Elliot had gone light headed and nearly fallen over. Rean, Laura, Jusis, Emma and Alisa were gobsmacked. Machias was trying to formulate a sentence, but nothing was coming out. Gaius was playing it cool. Fie just couldn't careless and Sara was crying in the corner from laughter at everyone reaction.
Machias finally managed to get a sentence formed and he said "This has got to be some sort of dream, commoners, nobles and royalty in the same class. This must be some sick joke" He had to steady himself before he fell over.
"Well class, now that your all here, I think we should get started." "So, we'll get started with a special orienteering exercise" Sara said cheerfully to her students, after finally collecting herself of the floor.
"An orienteering exercise, what does that entail Instructor?" Rean asked as he was pulled out of his shocked state.
"Glad you asked, Reany" "Instead of telling you, how about we just get started!" Sara shouted out as she backed up on the stage to push a hidden button on a nearby pillar. There was suddenly a loud clanking sound and all the students fell through a giant trapdoor which opened underneath them.
As they were all falling down the trap hole, Rean noticed that Jusis was not positioned to land properly, so he used what strength he had in his legs to force himself off the wall of the hole. He caught Jusis in his arms so he could cushion there fall and so that they land without hurting themselves.
However…
Afterword:
Valiant - Thanks for reading the first part of my series based on Trails of Cold Steel, hope you'll be sticking around for it. As it's going to be an interesting ride with the introduction of a foreign royal and a whole other continent. Please feel free to leave a review.
Rean - Hope to see you next time.
Alisa - I bet something bad is gonna happen seen as though you jumped to catch Jusis.
Rean - Well I certainly hope not Alisa.
Alisa - Well, we'll just have to see then.
Valiant - You two are taking too long, we're done here.