Sup, Terrarian. Watcha doing? Enjoying Journey's End, I hope.
Hopefully, Her Efforts Will Yield Results
The celebration was a touch Yukino appreciated even if she didn't agree to it. The nobles were puzzled with the "humble" way Yukino lives, but made no further comment about neither the house or the quality of the food and ambience. Even Arnold, in a surprising turn of events, made time and arrived just on time for the cake serving and the night couldn't be called anything but pleasant. It almost felt as the usual: Lancelot teasing Arnold, Charlotte defending the flustered prince and subsequently turning it back on the Aqusmea child, the side glances with Marcus when the teens did something that eludes Yukino's common sense, and the half-hearted talks about the future.
In the end, Viscount Aguerel came back with a slap on the wrist and nothing more. The man behaved more modestly than usual, but it didn't take a genius to figure he wouldn't be punished for just throwing a tantrum. A shame, for sure. But it came as no surprise. Yukino couldn't do anything but abandon her efforts of finding evidence of the man being corrupt to kick him out of Marren. Her mood soured for a few days, but work didn't let her dwell on it for too long.
She left town more than once. Being free from the Academy allowed her the ability to see for herself how things were going and where were the errors that almost fractured her plans whole. First to see how the business fared, then to see how the people she employs behaves when they think no one is watching.
John had been right. The slums are full of scoundrels, but once Yukino found one person doing things wrong she couldn't help find another.
And another, and another.
It felt like a nest of ants. Bother the entrance and dozens and dozens skitter around looking for trouble. It didn't help her mood either, but doing things by herself did help correct things. So she'd power through the headaches to see it done.
A whole district got imprisoned.
Some were purchased as slaves. Yukino looked forwards to their change of attitude. Except doing things that way didn't bring her joy. It went against her morals. She couldn't even believe she got away with purposely stripping people of their human rights to make them work, but some things simply have to be done.
Reformation among others. Yukino reasoned their attitude would change when they had to work for absolutely no reward or else.
Blood was spilled. She hadn't seen a prostitution center by herself. That time…
Well, some things are better left unsaid.
It didn't help the slum dwellers were on edge. Upon seeing her magic, some even attacked her on the spot. These fellows must have been under some sort of strange effects, because their desperation could only be compared to her classmates when the horde of monster wolves attacked.
Yukino didn't care of being called the Wretch. But dealing with people so far gone didn't sit well with her either.
So people were arrested, abandoned buildings purchased and streets cleaned now that she regained direct control of her projects. In this way, Yukino's vacations were spent with no outside intervention whatsoever.
The day classes began, Yukino stepped into the academy grounds not as a student but as a teacher. She partook in special tests to clear her of the other subjects taught, so she could avoid the awkward scenario of being both a student and a teacher. One year. One year and the academy could offer her no more.
"Look at you!" Charlotte took her hands in hers when the students were called to the magic training grounds "It's not your style, but you make it work."
"Thank you." Yukino didn't don the uniform, but instead wore a white blouse with a black pen skirt. Boots and stockings covered her legs and a particularly big red robe with golden linings identified her as part of the capital's mages*. The hoodie was the only part that didn't remind Yukino of someone from the previous life.
The irony wasn't lost on her, nor did it make her new position any easier. Hiratsuka-sensei had earned her position as someone you could trust. Yukino could only strive to come close.
"Nervous?" Charlotte smirked, Yukino's face contorted slightly as she tried (and failed) to mirror her expression.
"Ready." She corrected the noble, stepping on the small platform arranged so she could see the whole three years of students staring at the only person their age not donning the uniform. Teachers hung back, some scowling, some curious. In the end, this would be as new for them as for her. They were all leaning on the start line, waiting for the signal.
Yukino took a deep breath and remember her speech.
"Greetings." She levelled her voice, trying not to outright scream at those closer to her. She nodded to Lancelot and Arnold, but missed where Hayama was. Curious "I am Viscountess Maria Theodore. Recently affiliated with his majesty's most trusted guild of mages. As those of higher years might have noticed, the whole academy is here today. This is not a coincidence, as the lord Principal has been generous enough to give me this small space to talk to all of you." In the end, Yukino decided she couldn't talk to all of them by classroom. She needed everyone to understand, to see they were all told the same "From today onwards, I will teach you the ins and outs of magic. The reason I summoned all of you here is simple. To give you a warning. Heed my words, for they will make this transition smoother: Forget everything you think you know. The age of that magic system is over." This brought attention to her words. People that had scoffed were taken off guard and incredulous looks filled the ranks. Good.
Yukino rose her hand. Reached.
Her spirits answered, creating a dome out of pure water that shielded the whole audience with its surface.
"From today onwards, you'll be known as the first generation that mastered this new system. We were taught from a young age that this World is composed of the four primordial elements: Flame, wind, earth and water. This is true. And it is so true those elements are capable of loving. They give their blessings to those who can make contact with their incorporeal forms and allows us to perform miracles we call magic."
The dome exploded, people screamed in surprise. Yukino's spirits recovered the water they created, preventing anyone from becoming wet at all.
"But so far we've harnessed but a fraction of that power. With my guidance, and your personal efforts, you'll rise to become what the Kingdom needs: Powerful mages to bring prosperity and safety to its realm." Yukino rose her hands to either side, putting more weight to her words "Carve this into your hearts! You'll become more powerful. And that power shall serve the Gran Flamm Kingdom like it's supposed to! This is why you've been given your titles and privileges. To serve and uphold our country's power against those who would see it in ruins. With your efforts and, if you choose to make them, your sacrifices, we'll see the Gran Flamm Kingdom stronger than ever."
The students remained silent. Looking at each other without reacting at all. Yukino's strength didn't lie in conveying an idea. Seconds passed and nobody moved.
Prince Arnold began clapping, as did Lancelot and then Charlotte. The teachers followed suit, as well as the first years that were even less aware of what was going on than the rest of the school combined. The second years followed suit, and lastly the third years clapped.
It felt meaningless, hollow. Yukino would have to work on that too without outside forces aiding her lacing social skills.
"That went well, don't worry too much." Lancelot placed a hand on her shoulder once lunch came and they found their usual spot in the Lounge.
"Indeed. I was truly moved." Arnold thanked the maids for his croissant and placed it on the table "Speeches are always hard the first times. I'm sure you won't have problems once you get used to it."
"Listen to him." Charlotte chuckled, pointing at the prince with her eyes "He'd know."
Arnold looked troubled, but faced it with enough dignity to blush just a little "Indeed."
"If I went ahead of myself too much, it's fine to say so." Yukino took a sip of her tea. Shanon's came to mind faster than she'd like to admit. That woman knows what she's doing after all. There is a reason she hasn't been kicked out of the house... Well, many. But only one is important.
"That's not the case." Charlotte assured her "Really, it's going to be just fine."
Yukino could almost hear John laughing. He'd know how embarrassed she actually felt, and wouldn't shy away of poking fun of it. Good thing the young nobles weren't as perceptive.
"Come to think of it." Lancelot schooled his features a bit. The shift thankfully distracted the other two from the subject "Erwin contacted me before. Shall I call for him?"
Ah. The illegitimate child.
Yukino successfully avoided him thanks to her workload during the vacations. But she wouldn't be able to do so at the academy. The illness of the lady marquis of the Windhill prevented Hayama to be involved in the gatherings during the break, and the fact Yukino had yet to see him even in the cafeteria felt like a small splinter in the middle of her hand.
She knows it's there, but she can't put it out because she can't find it.
"Oh, why yes!" Charlotte looked positively delighted "By all means do. I told Maria way before but they haven't met. This is as good a chance as any."
"Is that alright?" Yukino asked tentatively "I don't know if the crown prince should show such partiality in the Windhill's affairs."
"It's perfectly fine." Arnold waved her off "The Windhill's matters are theirs. Vincent has shown he can be excellent should he put his mind into it. I'd not favor Erwin in any way."
"Then why is he not with us?"
"I don't know." Arnold confessed "I told Marcus to extend an invitation for him too, but he informed me he didn't find him." The knight in question remained outside. Yukino had voiced her complaints about favoritism towards her from the beginning. But the knight was more stubborn, refusing to go inside because he "is on duty".
She didn't like it. But she'd respect the knight's choice.
"Must be with his mother." Charlotte commented "Lady Windhill barely survived last month. Erwin told me there's rumors she'll stay weak for a while."
Hopefully not. Yukino cringed at the thought she hadn't been able to do more than to procure medical supplies exclusively for Hayama. Which his family could do, and did, but helping just a bit felt better than not helping at all. Or at least, that's what she told herself to pacify the small shaking of her hands.
Yukino felt both reassured and conflicted that she didn't have to face her fellow reincarnator today.
"Well, she recuperated. It should be a matter of time now, right?" Even if worded as a question, the teens knew the prince was dropping the subject with his words. He drank from his cup sternly, looking at them until he finished "In any case, I believe Erwin is well-received here?"
Both Lancelot and Charlotte nodded. Eyes fell on Yukino.
"It is not my place to say." She didn't like shrugging, much less with her new nobility title, so she didn't. But made her words do the shrugging for her.
"That won't do, Maria." Charlotte informed her "That makes it sound like you don't want to."
The lady of the Fatillas had made it her job to teach Yukino to talk less frankly and sweeten her words according to her social teachers. Yukino wanted to learn, the girl had a firm grasp of the noble social circles after all, but this particular subject eluded her as much as magic had before. Except, no one was at risk of dying by being close to her.
Before her etiquette had been praised… For a commoner. Now? Yukino sounded like the most brutish viscountess to ever live.
The irony of being told this for the first time in a banter session with Marcus was not lost to her.
"Excuse me, highness." As if her thoughts reached him, the knight entered the Lounge with his professional face on.
"What is it?" Something must have clicked in the royal's head, because his mood soured a fraction with the interruption.
"Lady Ariel Woodville wishes to see his highness." The table tensed. The prince's mood was ruined altogether.
Arnold's fiancé and Hayama's little sister in this world. To say Yukino was curious wouldn't be too far off. But the Chosen felt something else for the girl she had heard about only by second hand: Wariness.
Hayama was an only child back in the real world. To see him talking fondly of a girl made Yukino feel conflicted. Not because of hidden emotions or anything of the like, but simply because Hayama had no brother instincts whatsoever.
Yukino still remembers the days looking up to Haruno. Days she now remembers with nostalgia-tinted glasses but days that had once brought despair because of the elder Yukinoshita's choice to discard her façade in Yukino's presence.
How cruel, how prideful could someone grow under Hayato? Yukino didn't know. She didn't want to judge either. But she couldn't forget her path was irreversibly changed by him once, in another life.
*Basically, Yukino is dressed like Yue. Except the lab coat is replaced with an Adeptus Mechanicus garb.