The days went by fairly quickly, and surprisingly, Fie managed to fit in as if she was always an instructor at the Branch. With her laid-back and easygoing personality, she got along with the rest of the student body quite well. When she wasn't having her own class or assisting Rean with his, she would roam in Leeves. The bracer offered the residents a hand when they needed some assistance, becoming familiar with everyone in the small town. In a short amount of time, she became popular with the residents of Leeves.
She enjoyed helping them as much as she enjoyed hearing rumors and stories about her lover. Most of what she has heard were Rean's good qualities, which she already knew. Due to her visits to see her boyfriend, it wasn't much of a secret that Fie was Rean's girlfriend, and oh boy, the townsfolk knew that fact. The older residents would tease her about it as she tried her best not to blush. While she appreciated their compliments, it made her feel a bit embarrassed by it all.
As her first free day as an instructor came, she woke up before six, which was something she had to get used to. While she is happy that her room was next to Rean's, she was disappointed when Rean disapproved of them sleeping together. Though his reason was valid, all about maintaining a proper image as an instructor, she couldn't stop a frown from forming when he told her about it.
That didn't stop her from plotting how to sleep with her lover, though.
After taking a quick shower, she got dressed and decided to jog outside. Making her way downstairs, she bumped into her fellow petite instructor.
"Oh! Good morning, Fie!"
"Morning, Towa." The bracer greeted as she tried to stifle a yawn.
"Hehe, I thought you were still sleeping since it's your free day today." The brown-haired woman giggled.
She had to admit that wrapping herself in her blanket and going back to sleep was tempting, but she had gotten used to waking up early as part of her new routine. "Just gotten used to waking up earlier is all."
"I understand. Are you going somewhere?"
"Going out for a jog," Fie responded. "wanna come?"
"That sounds fun, but I'll have to pass for today." She politely declined; a little bit of guilt tugged her heart. "I have to sort some documents that I wasn't able to check yesterday."
"I know the instructors don't really have the same free day as the students, but do you still have a bunch of work to do?" The instructor chuckled as she scratched her cheek.
"Ahaha... yeah. The documents I have to check are for our field study next week. We won't be having any Soldat Training, so I'm getting it prepared in advance." Towa explained why she had work to be done today.
"Gotcha." The sleepy girl nodded. "So, what are we going to do instead of Soldat Training?"
"I'm not sure yet; I think Rean or Principal Le Guin would know, though."
Fie was grateful to Aurelia for offering her a job here, but she wasn't quite comfortable talking with her one-on-one. Even though she is technically her boss now, she decided to ask about it when Rean's awake instead.
"I'll go ask Rean about it later then."
"Alright, I'll be at the faculty room if you need me." The instructor informed the bracer of her whereabouts.
"Kay, don't work yourself too hard, Towa. I'm sure Rean would agree."
"Of course. Don't forget to take one too, Fie!"
The silver-haired girl gave her senior a thumbs up as both women departed from the dorm to do their business. Towa headed to the academy while Fie started her jog around the town.
Finishing her jog, she decided to have her breakfast in Recette Bakery & Café. Their breakfast sandwiches and pastries were delicious that Fie always made time to stop by. She also enjoyed chatting with Liza. The two usually talked about Fie's current occupation and her life while she was in Heimdallr. The bracer made it a habit to converse with the students who would enter the bakery before leaving.
"Good morning, Fie!" Liza welcomed the bracer. "What can I get you today?"
"The usual egg sandwich and coffee." She replied to the owner.
"Coming right up!"
The older woman poured her freshly brewed coffee into a paper cup before covering it with a lid. Fie could smell the wonderful aroma even with the lid on. Liza then grabbed a freshly made egg sandwich and placed it in a paper bag. She placed the bag and coffee on the counter as she called the girl.
"Here you go, that will be 1200 mira."
Fie took out the exact amount of mira needed for payment and placed them on the counter. "Here."
"Thank you very much!" The owner thanked the young girl. "So, what are your plans for today?"
"Still not sure yet; I might help Rean with some of the requests to pass the time." She knew Rean would get up eventually to check on the list of requests that Celestin has prepared for him. "Other than that, I'm thinking of taking a nap."
"Well, you have been helping us townsfolk since you became an instructor at the academy; I doubt that there will be many requests today from us." The older woman said her thoughts.
"That's true." Fie agreed easily.
"You should enjoy your free day while you can, and if you ever crave something sweet, I'll have your favorite pastry ready for you!"
The bracer smiled at her consideration. "Thanks, Liza."
Preferring to eat outside, she said her farewells as she soon left the bakery to eat her breakfast.
Rean finally woke up, and after freshening up, he went downstairs to get the list of requests from Celestine, who was waiting in the lounge area of the dorm. After giving the list, the butler excused himself to do his duties in the academy. Eyeing the requests on the piece of paper, it consisted of three requests, one from the father of the chapel, one from Sandy of the Cooking Club, and another from... Professor Schmidt?
The instructor was surprised that the grouchy professor's name was on the list, and even more so that he asked for some assistance. Since he completed his test runs in Einhel Keep, not counting his completion of Level X. Schmidt didn't request anything related to the Keep for months. Instead, he would (forcibly) request Rean's help in his research concerning the Soldat Tyrfing and his other projects.
He checked the details regarding the professor's request; the man had a bemused expression as he saw Einhel Keep in the letter, and not only that, it mentioned it being Level [?].
"What in the world could that mean...?"
Putting the mysterious level on the back of his mind, he checked the details for the other requests.
The one from Sandy said that she needed a certain flower from the outskirts of Heimdallr for a dish she's planning to make. That wouldn't be a problem with his orbal bike; now he only needed the details of the mentioned flower. The second one was from Father Henry of the church, requesting Rean's assistance to tell a story about a topic that the children requested. The instructor thought of a few stories to tell, but depending on the subject, his options might be limited.
"Alright, let's do this!" He pumped himself up as he exited out of the dorm.
Deciding to do the Cooking Club member's request first, Rean headed to the academy.
He entered the cafeteria, which was the place that Sandy was most likely to be in right now. His eyes roamed around for a bit as he spotted the redhead already at work in the kitchen. He walked over to her and entered the kitchen area; the girl noticed the instructor entering, so she greeted him.
"Good morning, Instructor! Are you here for my request?"
"Yeah. You said you need a specific flower?"
"Yes, that's right. I need honeysuckles for this dish I'm trying to make." She gestured her arm to the bowl on the counter. The bowl was filled with chicken and spices; a quick whiff was all the man needed to know that it smelled fantastic. "But I only really need the nectar from the honeysuckle."
"If that's the case, don't the stores in Leeves sell honey?"
"Yes, they do, but I tried it once, and the flavor just wasn't right." Sandy cupped her chin as she sighed with disappointment. She immediately perked up as she continued talking. "But I heard that the nectar from the flower is different from honey! I would get the flowers myself, but I have been so busy."
Rean chuckled as he got a rough idea of her plan. "Alright, I think I know what to do. Find the honeysuckles, take the nectar from the flower, and give it to you, right?" She nodded enthusiastically.
"It's okay if you don't take the nectar yourself, Instructor. I'm completely fine with doing it on my own."
"Don't worry about it. It's the least I could do after being away for so long." He reasoned. "Besides, you looked really eager to make this dish; I'd be happy to save you the trouble."
For some reason, the redhead already knew that it would turn out this way. That's just how Instructor Rean was.
"Thank you very much, Instructor Rean!
He smiled and accepted her thanks.
Sandy then began explaining to him that the honeysuckles she's looking for aren't the normal ones. Saying that honeysuckles can be found everywhere, but the spot in the outskirts of Heimdallr was unique because it blooms red or white ones that are rare in Erebonia. From her research, it says that the septium veins cause the change in color; but also produce the special nectar.
After taking down notes for future reference, Rean said goodbye to his student before leaving the cafeteria.
The instructor then made his way to the hangar to get his orbal bike.
Entering the building, he spots Mint doing maintenance on his Tyrfing (after Schmidt and Makarov finally allowed her to do it daily). He noticed familiar sets of hair before realizing that they were his students. He remembered that they would be doing extra Soldat Training today, he was a bit disappointed he couldn't watch over their training, but then again, he might still be able to get a glimpse of it after finishing the requests.
The students noticed his peering eyes and turned.
"Schwarzer? What are you doing here?" Ash asked with a brow raised.
"Do you have a request here, Instructor?" Altina followed with curiosity in her tone.
"I just came here to fetch my bike. I have to go to the outskirts of Heimdallr for Sandy's request and I figured going by bike would be easier."
"Oh! Is the request about Sandy's dish?" The instructor nodded for his answer. "Take me with you, Instructor Rean! I've been dying to taste her dish for so long, but she said it wasn't ready because she was missing an ingredient."
"But our first match is between you and Musse." Black Rabbit reminded the pink-haired girl, causing her to groan.
"I will be fine, Juna. You can leave poor me here all alone and have fun with Instructor Rean..." Musse said with mock sadness. She was basically guilt-tripping her.
"Fine!" The Crossbellian stomped her foot as she straightened herself. "Please tell Sandy to reserve some for me—" She heard a cough from the rest of her classmates. "I mean for us. Please, Instructor?"
"Of course." He chuckled as he scratched his cheek. He never knew that Juna could get like this over food before. But with the way she was talking, he knew it would be a really delicious dish. The instructor looked over to his fellow swordsman. "Kurt, could you watch them for me? Or ask Fie to do it. I really would supervise this myself, but—"
He was cut off by Kurt, already understanding what he was saying. "Of course, Instructor. You can leave it to me, and good luck with those requests."
He was proud to say that Kurt was like a protégé of his. They may not be from the same school of swordsmanship, but the two swordsmen have a special bond of their own. "Thank you."
The others wished him good luck, yes, even Ash, as he grabbed his orbal bike and left the hangar.
Pushing his orbal bike into the plaza of Leeves, he spots his favorite person in the world, taking a nap on one of the benches. He couldn't help but crack a smile; memories from his Thors days resurfaced as he watched the girl enjoying her nap. Rean planned to not disturb her slumber, but as soon as he passed her, she woke up.
"Sorry, did I wake you up?"
"Nope. Just happened to wake up." Fie said as she sat up on the bench, rubbing her eye with her gloved hand. "Are you heading somewhere?"
"Yeah, I'm going to Heimdallr for a request. Sandy needed a certain type of honeysuckle that can only be found in the outskirts, so I'm heading there with my bike." The black-haired instructor took out his note to tell his lover more detail. "She said that the red or white ones are special."
"Oh. I think I remember finding one during a request a few years ago. I think I wrote some information in my notes." She recalled when an idea came to mind. "Can I come with you, Rean? I think I can help with the request."
The instructor smiled; he would have asked her regardless if she was awake earlier, not only because she was a member of the Gardening Club, but because he had a feeling Fie had stumbled upon the flower during her time as a bracer. "Of course, Fie. Hop on in."
"Thanks, Rean."
Rean took his seat in his as Fie followed, wrapping her arms around his waist. A slight heat flushed his cheeks at their close proximity. He can't explain why this always happens to him, despite them being together for some time now. As if Fie could read the man's mind, she snickered from behind.
"Are you blushing?" She teased with a smirk.
"...no."
"If you say so~." The petite girl rested her head in her lover's back.
The sound of his heart beating fast was as obvious as the blush on his cheeks. The only thing that saved him from further embarrassment was that Fie couldn't see his face, and if she did... he doesn't even want to imagine what she would say. Actually, he already had a good idea what, and it would only deepen the blush.
"L-let's get going then."
"Right!"
The only thing keeping her awake was the sound of Rean's heart; it was going at a rate that even she could feel it from behind. Of course, the man wasn't aware of that fact, but he was aware of the blush he had earlier, which has now died down. As the gentle breeze blew past the two, they were nearing their arrival at the Vermillion Capital.
As the couple entered the streets of Heimdallr, Rean took out his ARCUS before opening its map.
"I think it's around in the area of Himmel Cemetery."
Fie peeked over his shoulder to get a look at his ARCUS. "Yup, it's around the area with those big trees. I'll tell you when we're there."
"All right." The black-haired instructor pocketed his orbment. "By the way, what kind of request did you take that you saw the honeysuckle?"
"Just the usual extermination request." She answered simply. "I think I fought a giant spider monster, like the one we fought a year ago. It was definitely weaker compared to the last one, so I was able to beat it on my own. When I was collecting some of its materials, I saw a red honeysuckle."
"Did you keep the flower?"
"Yup, but I gave it to Edel as a present. She was really excited when I gave it to her. I took down some notes before giving it to her, though."
"Haha. I can imagine." Rean chuckled; it wasn't hard to imagine the look on the olive-green woman's face when she received the gift. "But I don't think the spider was weaker."
The girl raised a brow in confusion.
"I think it's because you got stronger."
"Ah..." She didn't expect that. Fie knew she was strong, but when Rean is the one who points it out, it was like it held a completely different meaning. The girl promised herself that she'll get stronger to protect her family... and the most important person in her life.
Fie resumed sitting as her eyes were glued to his back.
"Um... is something wrong, Fie?" He asked, worried why she had gone silent.
"Thanks..."
"Thanks? What are you thanking me for?" He really needs to get a clue sometimes. Fie was slightly annoyed but continued anyway.
"I got this strong because of everyone, especially you..."
"Ah..." It was Rean's turn to go silent. He already knew that he was one of the reasons for Fie's strength; it was impossible not to notice it. But being reminded of the fact made him really happy. "Ahahaha... well, this got a little awkward."
"No kidding." Fie snickered as she soon returned to wrapping her arms around him. "But it's the truth."
"I know, Fie. I know." With a smile, his hand moved to stroke her hair. The comfort of his touch relaxed the nerves in her person as she rested herself behind Rean.
"We better get going before I fall asleep." She said as a yawn escaped her lips.
"You're right. I'm going to go a bit fast, so hold on tight, Fie."
He could feel her arms tighten around him. Nodding to himself, Rean revved up the engine as they drove off to find the special honeysuckle.
...
As Rean smoothly parked his bike, the two arrived at their destination.
The bracer got off the bike and immediately searched the area. Ignoring the monsters roaming around, she looked all over for the honeysuckle. Since Fie was covering the right side of the area, Rean started searching on the left. The trees were indeed big: while other flowers were blooming underneath them. The bountiful blooms had a variety of colors but no honeysuckle in sight.
Fie strolled over as the monsters began retreating. Was her presence already enough to scare them away? She didn't think much of it as they already left. Her gaze fell as she saw a white blooming flower in the middle of a tree. It had no other flowers around it and had a certain shine that made it stand out. The girl grinned as she walked closer.
"Bingo."
She inspected the honeysuckle first before taking it out.
Taking out her bracer notebook, she flipped through the pages before landing on the page with a picture of a red honeysuckle. Despite the flower being a different color, Fie was positive that it was the same type, albeit white instead of red.
"Looks like you found it." Came Rean's voice as he approached Fie. "It's a white one."
"Yup. I'll extract the nectar." She took out some of her tools from her bag. "Can you go and find if there are more flowers like this, Rean? Red and white ones are fine."
"Got it. How many should I try to find?"
"One or two more should be good."
"All right then, I'll see if I can find some." And with that, Rean started to search for more.
Because of Fie's friendship with Alisa, she was able to obtain the special equipment needed to extract nectar from flowers rather easily. If she used the old-fashioned method, it would take an hour or so to extract the nectar. With Reinford's special syringe, it would only take three minutes or even less to extract the syrup.
Without damaging the form of the flower, the bracer gently pulled the stem at the bottom of the flower. As she pulled, beads of glistering nectar were attached to the stem. She inserted the needle of the syringe in the honeysuckle's stem as she began extracting the golden syrup.
The silver-haired girl was only able to fill half of the syringe. She hoped that Rean would be able to gather at least two more so they can be used for cooking.
Her gaze fell to the dripping leftovers of the honeysuckle's stem. Curiosity getting the better of her, she waited until a bead of nectar would fall to her finger. She took a quick sniff and was surprised at the scent, it was sweeter than normal, and it had a strong floral aroma.
Noting all the information on her mind, she finished her observation by tasting the nectar.
"Hmm. Sweet and has a strong floral taste... this is basically still honey." She mused.
Hearing footsteps from behind, she turned around to see Rean holding one red and white flower.
"Were you able to extract the nectar, Fie?"
"Yeah, and your timing is perfect." Rean tilted his head, slightly confused. "I was only able to get half of the nectar, and we need exactly two more if we want to fill a jar full of this stuff."
"Well, I got two, but I'm still not sure if these are the right ones."
"No, they are." She placed the honeysuckle on the ground as she took out her notes. "The one I extracted earlier is the same one you have right now, while that red honeysuckle is the one I found a few years ago. See?"
Fie showed Rean the picture of the red honeysuckle. The man looked at the flower he had in his hand before looking back at the photo.
"You're right. Here you go then." The black-haired instructor gave the flowers to the girl.
Fie took the flowers off his hands. She transferred the nectar in her syringe to a bottle before repeating the procedure to the other two. After the extraction was finished, she was able to fill the bottle full of the syrup, completing the first request.
"Sandy should still have some left after using it on her dish. Depends on how much she'll use, though." Fie informed as she gave the bottle to her partner.
"I guess we're done here. Did you take some notes of the white honeysuckle?"
"Oh... I haven't yet."
"Do you want to take some notes before we head back? Or are they basically the same?"
"They're the same, the colors are the only thing that's different." She stated.
"Ah, I see."
"But it wouldn't hurt to take a picture for future reference."
Rean nodded his head as he took off to ready the engine of his bike, leaving Fie to let her take some pictures.
After snapping a few, she returned to Rean, who was looking at his ARCUS as he waited for her return. She showed the pictures to her boyfriend, telling him that it still looked beautiful despite it being pulled from its stem. He chuckled at her enthusiasm; he was always glad when she was having fun, especially when it comes to her hobbies.
Taking her seat, the two headed back to Leeves.
"Wow! You managed to fill an entire bottle of nectar?! That's amazing, Instructor!" Sandy exclaimed as she admired the bottle that was now in her hands. She opened the lid of the container and took a whiff. "This is definitely the one thing missing in my chicken dish!"
"Ahaha. Thanks, but it was all thanks to Fie that we managed to get that much. Her knowledge of flowers really came in handy." He gestured his hand to his lover.
"No need for that. I was just doing my part as an instructor of the academy." She brushed Rean's praise off with a cool response, but she couldn't hide the red hues on her cheeks. "Besides, if Rean didn't find the other two honeysuckles, we wouldn't be able to fill that bottle up."
"You know that isn't true, Fie."
"It is." She gave him a half-lidded look.
"Hehe, you two are so cute!" The redhead's sudden compliment caused the young couple to blush. "To settle your argument, it was because of both of your efforts that you managed to get the nectar. So thank you, Instructor Rean and Instructor Fie!"
"Ah..."
They were not sure if Sandy was doing it on purpose or not, but their blush deepened as they tried to calm themselves. The silver-haired instructor hummed in agreement with the student's statement, trying to keep her cool. The black-haired instructor, on the other hand... was chuckling awkwardly as he scratched his cheek.
Feeling that the awkward atmosphere was kind of her fault, Sandy dismissed it by prepping the kitchen.
"I'll start cooking right away. You can sit back and relax, Instructors!"
"Are you sure you don't need some help?" Rean asked.
"It's alright, Instructor Rean. Consider it my reward for helping me get this nectar."
"Okay then," Rean conceded his attempts to offer his assistance. "but don't hesitate to call for my help, okay? It is my duty as your instructor, after all."
"Of course!"
Rean walked over to the door when he noticed Fie not following him. "Fie? Are you staying?"
"Yeah, I'm gonna watch Sandy cook. If that's alright with you." She turned to the Cooking Club member if it was okay to watch.
"I have no problems with it. It would nice to have someone besides Instructor Rean watch me cook."
"All right, I'll be over at the tables if you need me." Both girls nodded in acknowledgment.
Rean exited out of the kitchen as Sandy began cooking her new dish.
...
As the two girls worked in the kitchen, the instructor decided to call an old friend. The face of the Special Support Section's Randy Orlando was on display on the man's orbment.
You didn't have to give me a gift, Rean, but I appreciated it! That booze from Calvard was amazing, Lloyd really liked it too.
"Haha. That's good to hear."
Anyways, how are you? I heard you're back at the Branch and Towa told me that things were a bit hectic during your vay-cay.
"I guess I should start from the beginning..."
Rean began to tell what had happened during his break, from the fun moments with Fie (which the Red Reaper teased him relentlessly during his tale) to the ambush from the Ikaruga. The ponytailed man's eyes went wide as plates, shocked to hear the instructor's condition during his confrontation with the ninjas. His concern for his friend was apparent as he began barraging the instructor with questions regarding his body. Rean reassured that he was fine now and that his injuries have fully healed.
Wanting to change the mood, Rean told the S.S.S. member that Fie started working at the academy as an instructor, to the surprise of Randy.
Oh? Didn't expect Sylphid to help the Branch as an instructor. Randolph admitted.
"I can't deny that it is a bit odd, but she has been amazing as an instructor."
With the way you just said that I believe it. The former jaeger gave a smug smirk. Just don't flirt with her too much, especially in front of your students. Weren't you always the one telling me to set a proper example?
"Gah... I haven't been flirting with her too much... right?" Rean tried to convince himself, but he wasn't sure if he had gone overboard. Well, maybe he did...
Whatever you say~.
"How about you?" Rean changed the subject to save him from further embarrassment. "How are the others?"
They're doing good. Oh! That reminds me, I got something juicy to tell you~.
"What is it?"
Well, you see, Noel has been helping us out a lot these past few days... Randy started with a grin. You could say she's just been helping us in her spare time, but I don't think that's the case.
"Okay... What other reason could Major Seeker have in helping then?" Rean questioned as a sigh escaped from Randy. "Did I say something wrong?
I thought you would catch on since you aren't as dense now!
"Hu-huh?!"
There's only one reason why Noel would help the S.S.S even though she's busy with her responsibilities in the CGF...
"And that would be...?"
She wants to see Lloyd! The redhead's voice boomed out of his ARCUS, startling the other students in the cafeteria. Oh... was I too loud?
"Yeah..." The instructor dealt with the startled students rather quickly, telling them that it was just Randy. The other students told Rean to say hi for them before he returned his attention to the S.S.S. member. "Some of your former students said hi, and what's this about Noel wanting to see Lloyd?"
That's because—
The redhead was interrupted by repeated knocks on the door.
Randy! We have a request to deal with some monsters in the B Sector of the Geofront! They've been contaminating the water so we need to deal with them fast!
Alright, alright! Let me just get my gear and I'll head out, Lloyd! Randolph answered from behind the door. Sorry, Rean. I'll tell you some other time. Say hi to Sidney and the others for me.
"Got it. Good luck out there!"
You too. He gave his farewell as he ended the call.
"Now he has me curious..." Rean wasn't one to pry in the personal lives of his friends, but his curiosity was at its peak. Even he was interested in the reason about Noel wanting to see Lloyd. He had an idea during their short time working together, but he didn't want to jump to conclusions.
He felt a tap from his shoulder, he turned around to see his silver-haired partner.
"Oh, are you guys done?"
"Yup, Sandy just finished plating the food so I came to get you."
As if on cue, a pleasant aroma loomed over the cafeteria, catching Rean's attention. "Alright then."
The instructor got up from his as Fie led him to the kitchen.
Rean opened the door as the instructor's nose was drowned in the scent of chicken, spices, and a certain sweetness. It was hard to describe, but it was a smell that made his mouth water. He looked around for the source, his eyes locked into a plate of chicken, shining as if they were gold.
"I present my special honey-coated fried chicken!" Sandy declared her creation proudly. "Uh... I actually don't have a name for it yet."
The two instructors sweatdropped but smiled at the redhead.
"The name aside, this looks great, Sandy!"
"She was really fast while she was cooking, but I could tell she put in a lot of care and attention to her dishes." Fie shared her observation with her lover, causing the student to chuckle.
"Eheheh, I guess was a little too excited to make this dish that I rushed cooking it."
"You rushed it? You could have fooled me." Rean was surprised that the final product was this good, considering his student confessed that she rushed making the food. "I take it you used the nectar we found for the coating of the chicken?"
"Yes! But I think it would be better if you two tried it yourselves."
Both of them nodded at the idea, plus they were basically given permission to eat the food.
The couple each grabbed a piece of the honey-coated chicken. At a glance, it was covered with the nectar of the red and white honeysuckle mixed with some spices. The chicken was also fried in a batter of sorts, presumably having the same spices used in the honey syrup. Fie knew it was the spices from the counter, while Rean discovered it by spotting the bottles of the spices near his student's workplace.
They took their first bite; tongues were met with an explosion of flavors. The sweetness from the nectar accompanied with the slight kick from the pepper created a perfect harmony in the chicken. And the chicken, the outside was crunchy despite it being drenched in the sauce; and the meat was so juicy that its juices burst when they took a bite.
As they continued to eat their food, Rean was able to pick up a few seasonings Sandy used. There was a very subtle sourness from lemons, an earthy flavor from oregano, and the flavor of garlic from, well, garlic.
One would think that the flavors would clash against each other, but the Cooking Club member was able to harmonize the ingredients to create something incredibly delicious.
He found himself eating the meat as if he was a starving beast, and he continued to enjoy the flavors, getting lost in his thoughts in the process...
He took a bite.
And another.
And another one.
And...
"Rean!"
He was stopped as he felt a grip around his arm.
"Fi-Fie?"
"You almost took a bite of the bone." She pointed at his chicken, the meat nowhere to be seen. "You were eating it up like you haven't eaten anything in days."
"Well, this is embarrassing..." He didn't realize that he ate all of the meat already. He chuckled sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck. "It was just... so good. I felt like I was in a trance."
"I can't deny that. It was very flavorful." Fie agreed with Rean's statement; she also felt like she was in a trance, although she recovered rather quickly compared to her lover. "Good job, Sandy."
"Hehe, thank you so much. There's still a lot so feel free to have seconds!"
"Thanks, but I think I might lose myself again if I continue eating." He wasn't exaggerating when he said that; he really might lose himself in flavor wonderland. "That being said, Juna told me to tell you to save some for her and the others. I think she might pass out once she tries your dish."
"I don't doubt it." The bracer concurred.
"I was already planning in sharing them with the others, but understood!"
"Thanks again for the meal, Sandy, and great work in cooking these."
"Yup, I'll try making these in my spare time."
"See you later and have a good day, Instructor Rean, Instructor Fie!" The redhead waved her goodbye as the two instructors left the kitchen.
Finishing the first request, the two strolled back to the plaza of Leeves.
"I'll see you back at the dorms, Fie."
"You have another request here?" She asked curiously.
"I just need to tell a story to the kids in the church. I don't know what kind of story they want until I get there, though."
"Need my help?"
The black-haired instructor smiled as he stroked her head. "Thanks, but you already helped me earlier. I want you to enjoy the rest of your free day."
Fie frowned; she wanted to argue about helping him, but she knew that it would be pointless since this was Rean she was talking to. And she would prefer not to use the puppy eyes on him, well, she was considering it.
'I wanted to help you, though...'
All she could do was nod and enjoy the treatment for now. "I'm sure I can find something to do to keep me busy."
"Heh heh, once I finish these requests, wanna have dinner later?" Rean suggested, his stroking hand returned to his side. "Just the two of us."
Her head shot up, she was definitely not prepared for that. Her frown was replaced with a neutral expression, but her eyes showed that she was surprised.
"Where did that come from?"
"Well..." Rean started as she scratched his head. "We haven't gotten a chance to eat together since you became an instructor, I'm happy that the others join us when we eat, but I guess I've been wanting to have dinner with you, just the two of us..."
And there he goes again, pulling her heartstrings as if it was nothing. Each word that came out of him made her heart warmer and warmer; she was happy that he felt that way; it made her want to hug him tight.
But she wasn't going to let herself get flustered this time. Taking a deep breath, she responded coolly.
"Sure."
His face brightened up as he smiled. Aidios, his smile made her heart melt. "I'll see you at Barney's then!"
She nodded her head as she watched him go to the chapel, waving at her as he left.
"Sorry, Rean. But I'm not gonna do anything else until I help you finish those requests..." She mumbled. Seeing the instructor enter the building, she followed him without his knowledge.
As he entered, he saw a group of children; sitting in the pews. Rean saw Father Henry and Rosine in the front and was noticed.
"Ah! There he is!" The man exclaimed as the children turned their heads.
"Instructor Rean!"
"Sweet! The Ashen Chevalier is gonna tell us his story!"
"I'm getting excited!"
Rean sweatdropped; he was surprised at their reactions considering they already met him before. He wondered why they were so excited.
"Calm down, everyone." Rosine quieted the rowdy kids with a single sentence. "Sorry about that, Rean. They just couldn't wait for you to show up."
"I-I see. Sorry, I had to go to Heimdallr for a request." He apologized for his tardiness.
"Oh, it's alright! We understand that you have other requests to deal with."
"Uh, so what do you guys need? All I know is that I was asked to tell a story."
"Talk about Instructor Fie!" A girl raised her voice with a cheery tone.
"We wanna know about your love story!" It was a boy this time that raised his voice.
"Wh-what?!"
Father Henry raised his hand as the children turned their attention to him. "I'll explain it."
"Please do..."
"My apologies for the kids, but they were very curious about your relationship with Instructor Claussell that they were asking me for answers. But since I didn't want to say anything that wasn't true, I suggested that we let you tell them yourself. If it's fine with you, of course."
"I-I'm fine with sharing, but it's kinda embarrassing, and it will take some time to tell everything..." A pink blush painted his cheeks; he certainly wasn't expecting that they wanted that kind of story!
"If you are uncomfortable with the subject, we can change it to love in general. Like your family, for instance." The father suggested, he had no intention of making Rean uncomfortable by sharing something private like his personal life and relationship.
Rean cleared his throat, calming himself as his blush disappeared. "I assure you it's fine. I was just surprised that they wanted to know. Fair warning, it's a long one. Are you guys fine with that?"
"Yes!" The children all agreed.
"Hehe, it'll be nice to hear it from you, Rean. I'm curious, too." Rosine chuckled.
"I'll try my best."
He walked over to the front, facing the kids as he prepared himself to tell his story. The looks they gave were curious and full of anticipation. Rean closed his eyes as he started to recall all of his memories with his special person, the memory of when they first met, the memory of their reunion during the civil war, the memory of their reunion after two years of separation, and the memory of when they confirmed their love for each other during that fateful night before the battle their final battle.
"All right then, it all started when I came to the main campus of Thors Military Academy in Trista. I first met Fie in the park, she was sleeping like a kitten, and that kinda made me want to pet her." The kids and Rosine made an aww sound at that, causing his blush to reappear. "But when I tried to get a better look at her, she woke up and left."
"Were you staring at her?" One girl asked.
"N-no! I was just checking to see if she was still sleeping!" It soon registered in Rean's mind how that may be misinterpreted. "Wait! That wasn't what I meant!"
The kids, Rosine, and even Father Henry laughed out loud as the instructor tried to correct himself.
"Anyway, it wasn't until Instructor Sara made us do an icebreaker that I got to know her name. After that, we bonded during our field studies, and sometimes I would help her out in the garden of our school. I... kind of remember her asking me if I like poking my nose in other people's business." He chuckled as he scratched his cheek at the memory.
"Don't you still do that, though, Instructor?" One of the kids asked in a teasing manner.
"Uh, yeah..." They were technically right.
The blonde sister decided to save Rean from further teasing that the kids would probably do to him. "It just shows that Instructor Rean loves helping people."
"Alright, kids. Let Instructor Rean finish his story first before you all go tease him again." Father Henry said as he signaled Rean to continue.
"I can't deny she was like a little sister to me, and I can't exactly say when I started having feelings for her, but when she told us about her past with Zephyr, how they abandoned her after their leader died. Something inside me just... wanted to stay by her side. To not leave her alone ever again, and to let her know that we are always there for her, that I'm always there for her..." The kids listened as their expression saddened, a sad smile attached to the instructor's face. "Class VII became her new family, and she wanted to protect that family with all her strength. I wanted to do the same for her..."
'So that's how it all started.' Rosine thought somberly.
"During the time everyone from Old Class VII was about to graduate, Fie wanted to stay, but I didn't want her to stay for my sake and get in the way of her becoming a bracer. But I guess I really should have been more honest with my feelings..."
Everyone listened to his story, small frowns and sympathetic looks filled the chapel.
As Rean continued, the silver-haired girl was listening in the office of Father Henry. A single tear dropped, hugging her legs as she leaned on the wall. As his story filled her ears, her memories with him flooded her mind. The memory of her wanting to hug the man when she saw how tall and dependable he had become since she last saw him played in her mind.
She lets out a soft chuckle as the instructor began telling the children about the time they spent together during the Summer Festival in Heimdallr. Watching the Mishy stage show together and making their own original bread, she could tell how much Rean cherished those memories from his voice.
Fie noticed that the mood of the children improved as they began teasing him with a singsong tone. She covered her mouth as she giggled; she can already imagine the look on his face. His story made her feel warm and loved; if she wasn't eavesdropping right now, she would have tackled him into a hug, Millium style, of course. Hearing that he was about to talk about the time she confessed to Rean, she leaned closer to hear their reactions. To her delight, the children cheered and praised the girl for her courage. She even picked up the children, scold Rean that he should have confessed right then and there; instead of delaying it. But because of all of the Great Twilight business, it was understandable why the instructor didn't confess sooner.
Knowing that Rean's tale was coming to an end, she decided to enjoy the remaining minutes left.
...
"Thank you for the story, Instructor Rean!" The children thanked the instructor for the wonderful tale.
"Instructor Fie sounded sooooo cute and cool at the same time!"
"Their moments are so adorable. I wish I can find someone like that."
The kids began talking among themselves; the topic about Rean's love life must have inspired them. The cute moments between the instructor and bracer made the youngins cheer and support them even more now; some of them jokingly considered using some of Fie's flirting techniques when they got older.
But Rean quietly prayed that they wouldn't be as cheeky as his lover when they find the person they want to court.
"Thank you for sharing that, Instructor Rean. I feel like that children will consider their romantic partners in the future more seriously now compared to before." Father Henry hoped that would be the case as he looked at the chatting children with a smile.
"I feel the same way, Father." Rosine agreed. "Hehe, it truly was a beautiful story, Rean. I'm glad I was able to hear it."
"Ahaha, thanks."
"Come, Instructor. Your reward is in my office." The older man gestured Rean to follow him and so he did.
As the father and instructor entered the office, the silver-haired eavesdropper was about to make her exit.
"Oops."
"Fie?! Wait... were you listening...?"
She looked away and gave a slight nod.
The swordsman's face met his palm, sighing at his girlfriend. A thought registered as red hues painted his visage. If she had entered the building while he was busy telling his story, did she hear everything?
"H-how much did you hear...?"
Fie slowly turned her head, her own red hues appeared on her face. "...all of it."
"All of it..." He repeated as he covered his face with his hand.
"I'll send your reward to your dorm." Feeling that he shouldn't be here, the father exited out of the room.
"I thought you were going to do something to keep you busy...?"
"I still wanted to help, so I followed you, but when I heard that you were going to tell them about how we became a couple, I sorta... wanted to listen how you would tell them." She explained, her gaze fixed on the floor. "I'm sorry for eavesdropping, Rean..."
Her lips curled downward as she regretted her action.
"Wait, wait! I'm not mad, Fie." He waved his hands wildly before sighing. "I'm just a little embarrassed... I swear I'm not upset."
She looked up; her dewy eyes caused him to take a step closer; a concerned look was plastered on his face. "Are you okay? Your eyes are a bit red."
"I'm fine. Just got teary-eyed while I was listening." She chuckled as she wiped her eyes. "You're not mad at me...?" She asked; her tone was like a wounded kitten that made his heart ache.
Rean pulled her into a warm embrace as he began stroking her silver locks. "Of course not. I'm the one who should apologize; I should have accepted your help to begin with; I was being an idiot."
"Hehe... well, you're my idiot." Fie hugged him tight as she rested her head on his chest. "Thanks..."
"What are you thanking me for?"
"For your story... about how you would never leave me alone."
"Ah, that..." He had no way of explaining that; chuckling did nothing but make the situation awkward for the two. "It's the truth. Just like what you always tell me, I'll always be by your side. Forever."
"And I'll be by yours..."
"Ooh~"
The pair released their embrace as they turned to see the children with smug looks on their faces.
"I am so sorry, you two! I was trying to stop them from looking, but I wasn't fast enough." Rosine bowed her head as she apologized for the rudeness of the children. She placed her hands in her hips as she gave the youths a scolding look. "I told you, kids, not to interrupt Instructor Rean and Instructor Fie, didn't I?"
"We're sorry!" Once again, the kids apologized in unison.
"It's fine, Rosine." Fie waved her hand, dismissing the issue. "Right, Rean?"
"R-right. Just... forget what just happened."
"We'll try!" With a teasing tone, the kids smirked before leaving the church. Rosine sighed before she smiled at the couple before leaving the building to watch over the kids.
"Fie."
"Yeah?"
"It's a bit late to say this, but..."
The bracer took his hand and held it tightly. "Go on."
His fuchsia orbs stared at her lime-green orbs; a gentle smile crossed his countenance as he tightened his grip. "But I want you to know; I'm glad you're here with me."
The corners of her mouth turned up as he said those words. Hearing him say it himself was different from already knowing the fact. Sometimes, she wished he would always be this honest with his feelings, but baby steps, as they say.
"Me too."
Both instructors held each other's hands as they exited out of the chapel.
The two stared longingly at each other's eyes, losing themselves at each other's orbs. The glint of playfulness and mischief adorned her eyes, those eyes that he always loved. Her laugh was a melody that he will never get tired of, and so was her voice. The way she would say his name made him want to say hers in the same way.
As the two descended from the stairs, their eyes picked up the blooming petals of flowers, dancing in the wind as they flew to who knows where. The scene made a certain memory play in their minds as they watch the flowers bloom away. Their first meeting at Trista, the lino flowers blooming, and the time they spent together. The two cracked a smile as they looked at each other.
"This reminds me so much of our time in the academy..."
"Yeah..." Fie breathed as she looked at his beautiful eyes with a blush. "I'm really glad to be here, Rean. I mean it."
He didn't account for her to say something like that; a blush emerged from him as he looked away. Rean had a wide and warm smile on his face as he looked back at her lover, knowing what to say.
"And I'm glad you're here with me."
"Hehe..."
Their eyes locked into each other once more. The two were in their own world as they enjoyed each other's optics; Fie couldn't help but giggle as Rean's hands tucked a strand of her hair. As the young instructor came closer to her, a... voice interrupted them.
"Dear Aidios, even when you guys are on duty, you're still flirting?"
Rean snapped his head so fast that he looked like an owl, while Fie gave a little glance, her expression slightly annoyed by the sight of the interrupter.
"C-Crow?!"
"Who else could I be?" The slackers asked in a mocking tone. "But man, I should have contacted the others to see this~."
"Teehee, I agree. Rean's charms are irresistible even to Fie~."
"Now, now, Alfin. Let's not tease the couple too much."
"Those voices..."
As Fie recognized the voices, two figures popped beside Crow. A young girl with radiant blonde hair wearing a crimson-colored dress, exposing a bit of her cleavage, and a young man with the same radiant blonde low ponytail wearing an eyepatch on his right eye accompanied with crimson regal clothing stood right next to the Azure Chevalier.
"Prince Olivert!? Princess Alfin!?"
"Hello, Rean! It's so wonderful to see you again!" The cheery princess grabbed Rean's hand as she squeezed it lightly. "You too, Fie! It has been a while since we saw each other!"
She then reached for Fie's hand and did the same. "Yeah, it's nice to see you too, Alfin." Unlike Rean, her surprise was not as obvious as his.
"I-it's good to see two after so long. If you don't mind me asking, do you have a meeting with Principal Le Guin about something?" Rean asked, his surprise fading from the sudden visit of the royal duo.
"As much as I would love to catch up with Countess Le Guin, I have not come to visit her, actually." The prince provided an answer.
"Huh? So what business do you have at Leeves then, Your Highness? If you don't mind me asking."
"Heehee, we came to deliver a present for you," Alfin said as she returned to her brother's side, glancing at Crow with a wide smile.
"What kind of present?" The bracer raised a brow, curious what she was talking about.
"Crow, if you would."
Nodding at the prince's command, Crow took out a purple sheathe from his coat. The two instructors' eyes widened as the slacker had a grin on his visage, presenting the item to the two. "Here ya go, Rean. Your tachi."
"Y-you were able to fix it...?"
"More than fix it~." Crow grinned even further as he gave the sword back to the instructor.
As the tachi was placed in Rean's hand, he immediately noticed a difference in his weapon. The weight was slightly altered; it was somehow lighter than before. Unsheathing the sword, a glint of red and silver was seen in the blade; the shape of the steel was the same as before, but Rean could tell that it was... sharper? The instructor couldn't identify the difference with the point of the tachi.
"Crow this is... amazing!" Rean exclaimed, continuing to examine his improved weapon.
Fie moved right next to Crow, tugging his sleeve.
"Hmm?"
"Thanks for getting Rean's tachi fixed, Crow." Fie expressed her gratitude, a genuine smile stitched in her visage.
"Nah, it was nothin'." The ex-terrorist chuckled as he waved his hand. "Besides, it was all thanks to Prince Olivert here that we were able to get it fixed."
"Ah, thank you, Your Highness." Fie turned to Olivert and bowed to the surprise of both the prince and the ex-terrorist. "I really appreciate you fixing Rean's tachi."
"No need to thank me, Fie. Rean is a dear friend of mine, too. And after everything he has done for us, it would do me no small pleasure in helping in some way." Olivert expressed his joy in helping the young Schwarzer in any way he can. "But it was not just me who helped in restoring his tachi; it was thanks to my friends from all over Zemuria that we were able to make it happen."
"Yeah, we had to go to Liberl at one point, and man, I'm still shocked by how many people know you." Crow shrugged his shoulders, remembering how most of the Bracer Guild addressed him so casually.
"I guess I have to thank them when I get the chance." The silver-haired girl noted to herself.
The trio looked over to the black-haired instructor; he was so mesmerized by the craftsmanship of his new weapon that he was not paying attention to their conversation. The cheery princess watched him with a smile as he performed several slashing motions to get a feel on his new weapon. Thinking that it was the right time, Alfin decided to inform him about the material of the tachi.
"I'm sure you'll be happy to know that your tachi is made from Black Zemurian Ore, Rean!"
"Really?!" His eyes went wide at the information. The same material he found to create the ultimate weapons for his friends, he now possessed a weapon of his own. He was at a loss for words, grateful for the kindness of his friends.
"Crow. Your Highness. Princess Alfin. Thank you so much."
The three were surprised but nodded at his thanks.
"Hehe, you are very welcome."
"Like I told Fie here, it was a pleasure being able to help when you needed assistance." Olivert smiled sincerely. "I'm glad you find the tachi acceptable."
"Yeah, what the prince said. At least you won't be mopping around anymore." Crow's statement earned him laughs from the four. "So, a tachi that fancy should be given a proper name, right?"
"Ooh! Good idea, Crow!" Alfin agreed with the slacker.
"It should be a badass name for a badass man." Fie teased; her grin caused the instructor to blush slightly. To his chagrin, Crow and Alfin were one hundred percent on board with her teasing.
"Haha, I agree with these three. A tachi fitting for our hero, so its name should be filled with the same power and resolve that you possess." The one-eyed prince chuckled.
Rean's cheeks were burning from all of their praises and teasing, but it wasn't a bad idea to have a name for his tachi. He closed his eyes as he remembered all of his memories from his past. The training he had with Yun, the practical exams back in the Main Campus, the battles he fought at the civil war, the times he protected his friends and students, the battles during the Great Twilight, and the battle at Elysium. All of his memories were distinct and different, but there was something in them that they have in common.
It was the fire he possesses. The blazing determination and resolve he always had within, even when he was losing faith in himself, his friends, family, and comrades: would make that flame burning inside him bigger and brighter, reassuring him. He became the light of Class VII, but he was also their fire. The red and silver from his tachi gave the man the final piece for the name.
Rean opened his eyes, knowing the perfect name.
"So," Fie looked at him with anticipation. A smile stitched on her face, knowing he had the perfect name for his tachi. "what are you calling it?"
"Homura."
Fie's smile widened at the name. "I knew it would be a badass name."
"It is Eastern for a blazing flame, a truly fitting name, Rean." Olivert commended the young Schwarzer, theorizing that he might have taken inspiration from his master's Eastern origins.
"Agreed! The name gives you such a fierce and powerful aura. Not saying that you didn't already possess one." The princess opined.
"Heh, can't say I'm surprised you had a good name in mind," Crow stated with a grin. An idea came to mind as he observed his friend's new tachi. "the name is badass, but how about a test run? To see how good you are with that new sword."
"Good idea. The best way to get used to a new weapon is by using it in an actual combat situation." The bracer concurred with the laidback man's idea. "You can fight either Crow or me."
"That's a good— wait! I still have one more request to go through!" Rean suddenly remembered that the last request was from the grumpy professor. Realizing how much time he already wasted here, he could tell that he will be greeted with a not very pleasant expression. "I have to go to Einhel Keep for the professor's request!"
"Will Juna and the others be joining you, Rean?" Alfin asked. "I haven't seen them around."
As Rean was about to answer, Fie decided to do it for him.
"Juna and the others are doing some extra Soldat Training, not sure if they're done, though."
"Oh, I see." The cheery girl placed a hand in her cheek, thinking about what she would do next when a thought crossed her mind. "Olivert, do you mind if we go and watch how their Soldat Training is progressing? I would love to catch up with Musse and the others."
"I don't mind at all. I was just about to head to the academy to have a casual chat with Towa."
"Wonderful! Can you lead us the way, Rean?"
"Of course, Your Highness."
With their conversation ended, Rean led the two royals to the campus, with Fie and Crow following beside them.
The five approached the academy field as a cloud of dust greeted them violently. They covered their faces with their arms; Rean opened one of his eyes to see a Kestrel Beta and Drakkhen II, fiercely battling against each other as both fired their weapons.
"It seems... they are still going at it," Alfin said in between coughs as the dust cleared.
"I must say that their movements have gotten smoother than the last time I saw them pilot their Soldats." Olivert mused, watching the two mechanical giants overpower each other. "I have a feeling it would be a while before they finish."
"Looks that way." The black-haired instructor looked around the field. He spotted the rest of his students; their attention was completely on the battle that they didn't notice Rean's presence. "I don't want them to stop just for a request; they look so into it."
"Tell me about it. Look at Ash; his face tells me that he lost a couple of times." Fie snickered as she pointed at the delinquent's frustrated expression.
"Pfft... sucks to be him."
"Knock it off, Crow." Rean chastised the slacker, a sigh accompanying his words.
"Well, I'll be heading to the faculty room now. Are you fine with watching them with their training, Alfin?" The prince questioned his sister.
"Of course! I can have a chat with dear Altina and the two boys while waiting for Musse and Juna to finish."
"I can accompany you to watch them, Your Highness." Rean offered.
"Oh, that won't be necessary, Rean. Besides, you still have that request from Professor Schmidt, remember?"
It nearly slipped his mind that the professor was expecting him to be there right now. "Ah, almost forgot that."
"You better get to it then." She giggled before moving her attention to her brother. "Take your time with talking to Towa, Olivert. If you need me, I will be with Class VII."
"Noted, dear sister. Well then, I will meet all of you later."
Olivert strolled over to the nearby building, heading to the faculty room while Alfin headed towards New Class VII. Their surprises were apparent as she came closer to them. It didn't take long before the ones who weren't in their Soldats to converse with the princess, the other two's voices could be heard from their machines, likely surprised and wanting to finish their training as soon as possible to catch up with their blonde friend.
"I should be heading soon, too. I'll see you two when I get back." Rean stated as he began walking to the path of the Keep. He didn't make it far as a hand grabbed his shoulder. "Huh?"
The grabber was none other than Crow Armbrust, a half-lidded expression on his visage.
"Are you seriously going to do Old Man Schmidt's request by yourself?"
"Uh... yeah? Juna and others are still having their training, and I don't want them to stop just so they can join me in the Keep."
"Oh, brother..." Crow released his grip as he sighed. "You really are hopeless."
"Huh...?"
"Seriously, Rean?" Fie started, gaining her own half-lidded expression. "Your injuries have fully recovered, but you haven't been in action for a week. Going to the Keep alone is basically asking to go back to the infirmary."
Fie made a fair point, but the instructor still couldn't understand what she was going on about. "I know, I know. I won't push myself too hard. I'll be sure to tell Professor Schmidt not to go overboard with the level this time."
Both annoyed and tired, the slacker and bracer sighed in unison.
"What?"
"Rean, we are right here! We'll join you at the keep!" Fie finally told her dense boyfriend what she was talking about. She honestly was annoyed how he did not understand that.
"Oh... are you guys sure...?" Rean asked hesitantly.
Sighing once more, Crow facepalmed at the instructor. "Do you even have to ask that? You have a long way to go if your girlfriend has to say it out loud for you to get it. Yes, we wanna join you at the Keep. And you do know this is Schmidt you're talking; I have no doubt that whatever level he has prepared won't be a cakewalk."
"There's no need to do things alone, you know. You should know that." Fie emphasized. "I'm your partner and an instructor of the Branch Campus until graduation, after all."
"Hey! I thought I was his partner!"
"No, I am."
As the two began to bicker, Rean couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. The scene was almost like back when he was at the Main Campus; he could see their red uniforms on the two as they began arguing about being Rean's partner. A smile attached itself to his countenance as he closed his eyes. The two noticed Rean's silence; their eyes darted towards the smiling instructor.
"Rean? Are you okay?" The bracer was worried there was something wrong with him. Relief washed over her as he nodded.
"Never better. I think it's time we get going, though." Rean walked ahead before looking back at the silver-white duo. "I'm counting on both of you to watch my back."
"Obviously!" Crow ran up and patted his back. "I'll give you two some alone time, so I'll go on ahead!" He waved at the couple as he headed to the keep.
Rean chuckled as he looked at his silver-haired lover. Grabbing her gloved hand, she could feel some heat rising on her cheeks. "Let's go, Fie."
She smiled as she tightened her grip. "Right!"
So yup, Rean has a Zemurian weapon. Rean's just the type to craft Zemurian Ore weapons for his friends instead of for himself, but now he has his own! Obviously, this won't be a recurring thing... in this fic anyway. I also wanted their weapons to have a change in design, even if it were just a color change, and since I was basing the design with the description of the weapons, that's why it looks like that.
For this fic, there are two more people who have Black Zemurian Weapons, but it won't be stated out in the open like in this chapter. But I think you guys can figure it out rather easily. Also, the name of the Zemurain Weapon was based on the weapon in CS4 since we don't have an English translation of Haji's weapons.
And as you can see, we also have another ship that's about to sail~