It's time for Towa to take on the role of hero for a bit! The next short story will be the final one for CS1, and explore Towa's escape from Thors in the aftermath of CS1's events. It might take a while because I need to play CS2 through quite a bit to get the information I need to make sure such a story lines up with canon. Anyways, thanks reviewers! I'm also excited to dive into fleshing out their arc in CS2 as well! And for that one guy who wants to see Towa's hair down more... I, uh, kinda think you've got the wrong impression as to what kind of story this is. Though, never fear! Once we finish CS4, there will be plenty of such scenes... You just gotta wait for Hajimari to come to the west!

Rean x Towa: The Lost Chapters

A Short Story Series by Novem's Natural Roll

New Minor Event 2: Love Unspoken – Part III

Takes Place During: Trails of Cold Steel I – Finale

Second Draft

Towa takes in a deep breath, closing her eyes and clutching the file folder in her arms close to her chest. Her lungs feel like they'll explode, but still she doesn't release it. Standing outside the door to Thors Military Academy's conference room, in an empty hallway, she should feel alone… but doesn't. In her heart, she hears her friends cheer her on. The student council. Rean. Their voices assure her not just that she can do this, but of her goal. To protect this school and its happy days until the final possible moments. With that thought, she expels the breath explosively, and fixes her determined green eyes on the closed doorway. Feeling the support of everyone behind her, she opens it and steps inside.

Not everyone is yet present. Principal Vandyke sits at the table's head, hands folded in front of him and an expression of serious difficulty on his face. Instructor Beatrix sits to his side, looking pensive until she glances Towa, and gives her a reassuring smile… one the young girl is able to capably return. A few of the other teachers sit around the table, anxiety written all over their faces all the way down the line until reaching Instructor Makarov, ever the uncaring sort, wearing an expression like he simply can't wait for it all to be over with. The only ones with certain expressions at the table are Vice Principal Heinrich, and Student Council President Towa Herschel.

They have a brief staredown with each other, then with a subtle yet declarative power move, Towa sits just across from him – even though it leaves her staring into the noontime sun cascading through the windows – to assure him she'll be making her stand. He doesn't outwardly react, but they both know that the challenge is made. As she flips through her folder of examples of what the student body had accomplished that year, and he considers a book listing the names and histories of noble houses, the unspoken tension between them sizzles like a bolt of lightning sparking across the middle of the table. President Herschel isn't one for conflict, but she knows this is one of the times to be brave. Even after a few minutes have past and the rest of the faculty have filed in, neither seems to have lost their strength of will, and the meeting begins post-haste… with Principal Vandyke spreading his hands onto the conference table's surface to signal its start. Everyone pays him rapt attention, including the two combatants.

"Welcome everyone." His voice is both regal and warm, authoritative and inviting… but also layered with no small degree of concern. "I believe we all know what this meeting is about. With the destruction of Garrelia Fortress by Crossbell and what will surely be escalating political tensions with both them and the Calvard Republic, there is a tremendous chance that the Empire will soon be facing war.

"As a military school, there is an incredibly high chance that if a war does indeed break out, many of the young men and women here at this school face a role in that conflict. And thus, there is a great likelihood that many of them will soon face their deaths in battle… or at the very least, separation from their families in the face of travel restrictions. And as their instructors, many of us also face similar circumstances.

"With that in mind, we are here today to discuss not just what our curriculum in the coming weeks will entail… but if we should have a curriculum at all. Whether or not we should send the entire student body home until such a time that it is clear that this nation does not face armed conflict. The board, considerate and busy as they are, has granted us the authority to determine these things. While I may have been a military officer before, here we are part of a collective team, and thus I refuse to make a unilateral decision that effects all of you.

"While as a group we must make a decision that ultimately effects everyone, I want to assure you all that you and all of the students will be able to make an independent decision of your own about what you will do, and you and they will face no punishment should you decide on leaving. When things clear up, you will all be allowed back with open arms to resume wherever you left off.

"Now, I'll open the floor to commentary. You are all free to share your opinion on this, whatever that opinion might be, so that we can all consider it and vote on what our decision will be. Together."

Rather than standing to make her own speech, Towa looks to Vice Principal Heinrich. She wants him to speak first, so she can respond. Her stare isn't malicious or difficult, just expectant. He notes this, and accepts her challenge, clearing his throat as he stands.

"As the Vice Principal, I suppose it is my responsibility to offer the first opinion. I say, we should send all of the students home immediately. It is important to the nobles in particular, for if their parents are called to service in any sort of large-scale conflict, many of them will be left in charge of their household in the interim. This is very important since this school contains students from households both important or otherwise: from the Great Four's scions like Hyarms or Albarea to the scion's of minor houses like Schwarzer or Bellead. If they become trapped here on the school campus due to extenuating or sudden circumstances, them being separated from their families could very well impact the Provincial Armies contribution to the war effort, as well as the province's supply lines to that effort. And of course, I'm sure the families of both noble and commoner alike would be very concerned to be cut off from their children."

Principal Vandyke nods at him.

"Certainly a reasonable take Vice Principal Heinrich, with very true observations throughout. A war would certainly create difficulties in returning home alone the train lines, especially if Calvard adopts a strategy of severing them to limit our military mobility… which is certainly what I would choose to do if I were them."

Instructor Mary suddenly stands.

"If I may…" Both principal's nod in her direction. She folds her arms over her chest, looking quite sad as she speaks. "I also very much resonate with Vice Principal's Heinrich's position. Especially due to his final words. In a time of such tremendous difficulty, it would truly be a tragedy for children to be separated from their families. Moreover, if they do end up facing death as you said Principal Vandyke, it is our only oppportunity to give these students a chance to say their goodbyes before they face their end. One's they might not ever get to deliver should we wait too long. As the one's responsible for these students, I feel it is our responsibility to ensure not just our student's safety, but their emotional wellbeing… so that if the tragedy passes that they do need to join in the conflict, that they can be ready to face the horrors that await them without fear or regrets that might cause them to hesitate in a critical moment. Horrors that I, myself, would never be able to face…"

"Hm…" Principal Vandyke looks down. "A heartfelt take Instructor, one that surely reaches all of our hearts in turn." Most of the table nods in acknowledgement of his prompting. "Still, I am sure there are those here who would argue that things are not quite so dire. The outbreak of war can certainly be sudden, but for all we know… negotiations could drag on for quite a while yet."

"There's more to it than that." Towa declares confidently, suddenly standing.

"Oh?" Vandyke ponders the Student Council President as the faculty, including Heinrich, turns to acknowledge her words. "As the representative for the students in this meeting, it delights me to know that you think you know better than us stuffy adults. Haha!"

Towa flushes even though what the Principal says isn't an accusation, and is quite obviously in good humor.

"N-No, I'd never be that presumptuous Principal Vandyke."

"Don't take it the wrong way President Herschel. After all, teaching you to know better than us is our role, is it not?"

"I-I suppose so."

"Well, enlighten us. What does the youth see that we have all missed?"

Towa clears her throat, takes a deep breath to steady herself, and then looks resolutely around at all of the faculty. Once her gaze settles back on Vice Principal Heinrich, she speaks.

"The concerns you've expressed are certainly genuine, and I'm sure many of the students share the same ones. The thing is, even if we assume all of these dark and tragic things come to pass, that doesn't mean we all want to leave or run away. Rather, we want to do our part to stop them from happening to begin with, and failing at that… we want to do our part to stop them from continuing. Here at this school, we're in a position to do that, and here at this school we're in a position to learn from all of you how to do it better."

"Seems to me you're willing to be quite presumptuous after all, miss Herschel." Heinrich responds. "While you may be the student's representative here, it doesn't mean you speak for all of them."

Towa's about to speak, but she's suddenly cut off by Instructor Makarov.

"That's pretty unfair, don't you think?" He asks, sitting forward in his chair, toothpick flexing up and down in his mouth as he stares down the vice principal with the most bored and unserious glare any of the faculty at the table had ever seen. "We explicitly blocked most of the student body from participating in this whole shindig to prevent a panic, so it's not like they could say it for themselves if they wanted to."

"I have to agree with Instructor Makarov." Janitor Gyler suddenly says. "I know I'm not even close to the most important voice in a meeting like this – little old me as I am – but, I talk to these students every day, some of them even come to me for advice. What President Herschel is saying certainly resonates well with the youngsters I've talked to."

Principal Vandyke shakes his head in the janitor's direction.

"Please, Gyler, you are just as much a member of this faculty as anyone else here. That means your voice is just as important."

"Well, thanks a lot then, though I've said my piece now, haha…!"

"I'm sorry Miss Herschel…" The Vice Principal suddenly pipes in, scratching his chin. "I may have been a little bit too aggressive in defending my position. My only point was that we can't possibly know the mind of every student, even you."

Towa nods.

"And you're not wrong, but the fact of the matter is that Principal Vandyke is already offering everyone the ability to leave if they want with no consequences. With that in mind, I see absolutely no reason why we should force everyone to leave. I think that given the choice to stay or leave, most of the students here will choose to stay, to keep learning and growing so that they can protect their homes and their families when the time comes. Not even necessarily as a member of the military, but in any of the many roles our society offers to help others!"

"Be that as it may Miss President, I do not see why we should trust a bunch of – and I don't mean to demean you or them in saying this – teenagers to make rational decisions about whether they should stay or leave. As adults, it is explicitly our responsibility to protect children such as yourselves from making emotional decisions which you might regret. If war were to break out, and you were never able to see your family again because of it, would you not regret not having been there for them?"

"Of course I would, but I think that being here where I'm in a position to affect change is being there for them. After all, how could I protect anyone from my bedroom? Thors may not be in the midst of the action, but the children and adults here are influential throughout the empire. Being here even gave me the opportunity to attend the Crossbell Trade Conference!"

"An event at which you, Miss Herschel, almost died, need I remind you?"

"You don't need to remind me. It's the reason I carry my orbal gun with me everywhere I go now…"

"So you were traumatized, and if you had your way other students would be exposed to confronting very similar trauma themselves."

"Yes, but, this is a military academy. Many of us will have to deal with that trauma at one point or another regardless!" Towa looks around at the other faculty as she makes her impassioned defense for school life. "The fact of the matter is, almost half of the students at this academy go on to join the military anyway. Sending them all home because there might be danger won't change that. We'll all face danger, whether or not we run away from it now." Suddenly, she closes her eyes and puts her hand over her heart. "The important thing is that by being here, we can prepare ourselves to face those things. Someone special to me told me something I think is absolutely essential to consider, that we don't grow if we run away rather than facing our problems. Maybe I was traumatized, as Vice Principal Heinrich says, but by being here among my peers I also learned how to overcome that trauma and become a better person." With that said, she bows to them all, a grand gesture which transforms her request into begging. Maybe it is pitiful, but it shows them just how passionate she is about this. "So please, don't make us all go home. I truly believe that we'll all be worse off in the long run."

The room falls silent, all eyes on her. Or, well, all but the one whose mouth that doesn't fail to speak.

"Someone special to you, hm?" Instructor Beatrix comments a little slyly, eyes askance. Towa stays bowing, but her face goes red as she just now realizes how embarrassing her speech had been. Meanwhile, Instructor Heinrich turns away from the table to make a rather smug declaration.

"Just the type of childish nonsense proving why the students shouldn't be allowed a choice here!"

"I would advise that you do not mock the young lady's passion." She suddenly says, turning a glare on Heinrich. He pulls on his collar in anxiety as she drills into him.

"M-My mistake…"

Oh nooooooo! Towa thinks. Please drop it! Agh, why did I say that!? The embarrassment of being characterized as making this impassioned speech over a teenager sweetheart of hers seeps throughout her being. If it wouldn't prove Heinrich's points, and there weren't people watching to think she'd lost her mind, she'd start mashing her forehead against the table then and there in an attempt to work out the shame. As if to save her from this, Beatrix continues, crossing her arms as she does so.

"As the person in charge of handing out the Lionheart Medal of Compassion, a medal Miss Herschel earned in her first year here, I can tell you all how hard she works for this school. I'm sure I don't even need to however, because the point is that you've all seen it, including in the academy festival just yesterday." Suddenly she looks up. "The point of me saying this is that as much as we Instructors have presided over these children, Miss Herschel has as well. She reached out so passionately, worked so hard for this school, that it inspired many of them to greater heights in an attempt to follow her example. By talking to the students, you can see that. I'm sure Gyler would agree…"

The janitor nods in acknowledgement.

"I do."

"With that in mind… whether that determination to grow comes from passion or reason, does it really matter? Does that somehow invalidate the sanctity of their decisions? I don't think so." She looks down again. "Will some have regrets? Surely. But a part of being young is making mistakes, so you can get back up later and try again. If Miss Herschel thinks they should all have the chance to, as she says, face their problems and grow… then I think that's a very powerful argument for why we should allow the students to stay. Childish nonsense, or not, I agree with her implication that they have the right to make their own decision on the matter."

"I-I see…" Vice Principal Heinrich looks away and trails off. "A valid position certainly, even if I don't agree with it personally…"

Beatrix nods. Suddenly, Principal Vandyke clears his throat, and looks to the student council president with a smile.

"Miss Herschel, please stand tall. As far as I'm concerned, and as Instructor Beatrix certainly showed, you are our equal here. You need not bow to us. I appreciate how passionately you have advocated for the other students, you shame us with your belief in the strength of this student body, us whose job it should be to believe in them."

Towa takes a breath to clear the blood out of her cheeks, then rises wordlessly. She nods. Not necessarily because she has nothing more to vocalize, but because she's worried she'll turn everyone's thoughts back to her "special someone". Vice Principal Heinrich looks out the window in the meantime, obviously trying to hide away from the shame he feels Vandyke had just slyly directed at him. Even so, Vandyke folds his hands in front of his face again, and commands even the Vice Principal's attention in the reflection on the window.

"Now that the positions on this have been made clear, I see fit to express my own before taking a vote. One thing that hasn't been brought up is that the government still has yet to make a decision as to how they will respond to tensions in Crossbell, so it may very well be that we are making this decision far too early, and convincing ourselves that things are far direr than they might actually be. With that in mind, I fall on Miss Herschel's side of the debate, at least for now… that each student should be allowed to make their own decision on whether to stay or leave. And as she believes most will choose to stay, I will choose to trust that and say we need to start assembling our curriculum for the upcoming days and potentially weeks, unless of course the vote decides otherwise. At the very least, we should adjourn making that decision until such a time as we know more about the situation and how it might develop."

Many of the instructors at the table nod in agreement with that. Towa sits down, relieved that she seems to have done her job and captured the room. The vote that comes next, though she does end up piling on top of her speech with examples of everything the students had accomplished that year to make sure, affirms her success. Everyone but Heinrich and, almost shockingly, Makarov votes to keep the students there and start working on continued lesson plans. Relief seeps into the Student Council President's heart. As the meeting proceeds to the more procedural parts of the conversation, she looks into her mind's eye, and thanks everyone who helped her become the kind of person who could protect this school… a school she loves even more than she'll admit.