Hey there guys! How's everyone doing today? Here is the Heimdallr field study chapter and by Aidios is there a hella lot going on in this chapter. Lots of revelations, lots of characters who aren't Rean getting some development and spotlighting, Olivert being Olivert, and our favorite peacocking creeper of an enforcer finally making his grand appearance. As for the lore, well, some of it will be dropped and most of it will still be withheld but feel free to theorize and imagine what exactly it is I have planned. I'm always interested in hearing what you guys think about what's going on and what you think is going to go on.
Like always, I enjoy comments, in fact I thrive off of positive comments and love constructive critique ones cause it shows an author that their readers are actually paying attention and enjoying their work. Thanks for reading this story! Virtual hugs and cuddles to y'all.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything except any OC's that may come up, any world building that has not yet been officially stated by Falcom, and any plot points/structures that have not been used in the games/drama CDs.
Warning: No beta, we die like Rean's ability to comprehend a girl's feelings.
Chapter 8: Heimdallr, the Vermillion Capital
XXXXXX
7.24 S.1204
~ Field Study Day 1 ~
When Jusis slowly awakened after a refreshing night of rest, he spotted Fie sprawled out at the foot of his bed staring at the ceiling in poorly disguised frustration. He frowned. "Must you really hide yourself in my room whenever there is a conflict you do not wish to face?"
Fie glanced over at him. "I'm not hiding," she brilliantly retorted, offended that he would dare to say such a thing.
"Then why are you in my room all dressed and ready to go instead of downstairs with some of your group members who are, no doubt, already awake?"
"Would you believe me if I said it's cause I wanted to wait for you?"
He gave her an unimpressed look. She sighed, pushing herself up and off his bed. "Alright, fine. I'll head down and see what happens. I'm not making any promises again though."
"If Rean can pull off another miracle then you won't have to," he calmly remarked.
Fie hummed. "True. Guess I'll see you at the station."
"Of course," he said, nodding to her as she left his room. "And if I find you hiding again, we will have words."
Fie threw a hand up to show she heard him and closed his door with a click loud enough to betray a temper tantrum despite her calm composure. Jusis chuckled to himself at her little display of childishness and set about getting ready for the day.
XXXXXX
The four members of Group B stepped outside of their dorm and were surprised to see the four members of the experimental Class VII waiting for them.
"Good morning everyone!" Towa greeted.
"How's everyone doing? Anyone need their ARCUS checked?" George asked, lifting his tool bag up and playfully shaking it.
"Good morning!" Emma cheerfully returned with a bow of her head in greeting. "Are you all here to see us off on our field study?"
"Why else would we get up so early in the morning on a Saturday?" Angelica remarked with a wink, "Though I certainly don't need any reason to see you lovely beauties any time of the day."
"Angie," Towa said in warning but she merely waved her off with a smirk.
"Is this send off going to be a regular thing with you guys now?" Alisa asked as she gratefully handed her ARCUS over to George.
Crow shrugged. "Sure. Might as well make it a tradition or something, especially since it seems like field studies where insane things happen are just gonna be the norm for you guys."
"I like the sound of that!" Towa agreed, "It'd be nice to be able to wish you well and hope you all come back to the school safe and sound."
"Awww, thanks guys. You're all too sweet," Alisa said before looking dismissively at Crow. "Except for you Crow."
Crow huffed and puffed his chest out dramatically. "I am deeply hurt by that remark, Alisa. Deeply hurt." Then he grinned slyly at her. "How about giving a lil kiss to make me feel better?"
Alisa bristled indignantly as she blushed heavily at his words. "I'll give you something to feel hurt about if you keep saying things like that."
Crow nervously chuckled as he edged away from the fiery girl. Towa, Angelica, and George took that as their cue to focus their attention on Alisa, Gaius, and Emma as a riveting conversation was struck on the upcoming Summer Festival. Meanwhile Crow pulled Jusis aside for a chat and definitely not because he was trying to put some distance between him and the still angrily glaring Alisa.
"You been doing okay these past few days, Jusis?" Crow asked, eyeing his junior in genuine concern. "I heard about how the old school house has been messing with your senses."
Jusis nodded gratefully for the senior's concern even as he eyed him skeptically for it. "Yes. It was only a minor headache. Nothing I couldn't manage."
"That's good," Crow nodded, pointedly ignoring the skepticism of his junior. He grinned slyly and threw an arm around Jusis' shoulders to pull him in close as if he were about to tell him something confidential. "Now lemme tell ya all the spots you guys gotta hit while you're in Heimdallr."
Then he proceeded to ramble on about all the best places to go in Heimdallr during their field study with particular emphasis on locations that provided entertainment, which teenage military academy students really shouldn't indulge in. Jusis half-heartedly listened as Crow crowed about some gambling ring that was definitely on the 'up and up'. He wasn't trying to ignore the slacker but the recent events at the old schoolhouse had left its imprint on him.
Now that he'd been more exposed to whatever mysterious power was hidden within the dilapidated building and linked with Crow, he could feel something distinctly off with the senior. However, what was confusing was not the strange presence Crow was now giving off but how familiar it felt. It reminded Jusis of the faint sensation of connection he'd only felt before from one other person.
Unfortunately, it wasn't likely he'd get answers anytime soon from that person. After all, he'd had to cut her out of his life once he'd made his resolve to leave all those years ago and she had no reason to seek him out once all was said and done.
So he decided to brush it off for now and return his attention to whatever drivel Crow was now spouting about. Unfortunately, he chose the worst time to focus as the senior had begun to give him unsolicited advice on how to pick up chicks.
"Or dudes if that's the way you swing," Crow reassured with a wink and a smirk, "Either way, I'll be your wingman during the summer festival if you'll be mine too."
Jusis blushed darkly. "I'd highly appreciate not being involved in your 'playboy' ways." Then he looked at him flatly in disapproval. "And you better not let Alisa hear that or else she'll become jealous and find ways to enact divine retribution upon you."
"Why would she get jealous?" Crow asked obliviously, only for it to click immediately after he said that. He blushed and waved his hands in denial. "Wait! Why do you think I would care about how she'll feel?"
Jusis smirked, enjoying the fact that the tables had turned. "Oh, no reason."
Crow sighed and shook his head in exasperation. "Man, you really do remind me of my old friend. She used to love messing with me just like that."
"She sounds like someone I'd love to meet one day," Jusis said with a thoughtful hum.
"Maybe…one day," Crow said as he grew nostalgic, "Who knows. Stranger things have happened. Case in point, all the shit that happened at the old schoolhouse not too long ago."
Jusis snorted in amusement at that. Then the conversation between Group B and their seniors drew to a close as it was now time for them to head to the train station before departure.
"Take care everyone!" Towa cheerfully exclaimed.
"Stay safe out there alright?" George added with a nod of his head.
"And don't forget to hit all those spots I told you about," Crow said with a cheeky salute that had Jusis groaning in exasperation, Emma laughing nervously, and Alisa grumbling petulantly. Gaius merely nodded and smiled with zero intention of following through with whatever Crow was talking about.
"We'll see you all later," Angelica said with a sly wink that confused everyone except for Jusis considering Crow basically admitted that he and the other seniors would be at the festival as well.
Alisa noticed that he wasn't as confused as the rest of them and tried to press him for answers as they made their way to the train station. However, Jusis slyly told her to ask Crow instead if she was so curious. She immediately backed down with a blush staining her cheeks from when she made eye contact with said senior as soon as his name was mentioned. Jusis chuckled at her reaction and quickly jumped out of her reach when she made a grab for him in retaliation. Emma and Gaius watched the two in amusement as Alisa chased Jusis around the park and into the train station.
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Jusis idly chatted with Alisa, Gaius, and Emma as they waited for Group A at the train station. They didn't wait long as their wayward classmates soon arrived with Rean leading the charge. By the time they all reached the platform, the speaker announced the arrival of the train to Heimdallr.
"At least we won't be waiting long," Jusis idly commented.
"There's a train that goes to Heimdallr every half hour so we just got lucky with the timing," Emma explained.
"You know, I've been to the capital a few times but it's still pretty unfamiliar territory," Alisa remarked with a look of uncertainty.
Rean nodded with a sigh. "Same."
"Not to worry. Elliot and I are ready and willing to explain more about the city on the way there," Machias reassured them.
Elliot chuckled nervously. "It's a pretty big city so we'll have to figure out where to start before we can even begin to explain anything."
The train arrived at the platform, cutting their conversation short. They piled into a train car, divided themselves by group, and sat in booths across the aisle from each other. The train soon departed from the platform and they were off to Heimdallr.
"Alright, it's not going to be long before we reach the capital so let me give you a quick overview," Machias said. "Heimdallr, among other things, is the capital of this country. Which means it's the home of the reigning emperor, His Majesty Eugent Reise Arnor III."
"Even children know that," Jusis interjected, giving Machias a flat look. "We need useful local knowledge, not a regurgitation of a travel brochure."
Machias clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Heimdallr is divided into sixteen main districts. Each district's about as large as a whole town in any of the Empire's provinces," Elliot explained, jumping in before another fight could start. "All in all, the city's population hovers around 800,000 people. It's the continent's biggest city!"
"For comparison, Crossbell is known for being a thriving center of trade but its population only numbers at 500,000 people," Emma chimed in. "Meanwhile, to the south, Liberl's capital only numbers at 300,000 people."
"Wow. I can hardly even imagine that many people in one place," Gaius remarked in awe.
"The Republic's capital is pretty big as well but I don't think it's quite as big as Heimdallr," Fie idly remarked.
"Huh, interesting," Rean muttered.
Fie raised an eyebrow in question when Laura gazed at her intently. "Something up?"
Laura shook her head. "It's nothing. I was just wondering what sort of tasks we may be asked to do in such an expansive city. I can hardly hazard a guess."
"Oh..." Fie looked away from her and out the window.
Rean, Elliot, and Machias all mentally sighed at the tension between the two. They were already dreading the cold front they would need to deal with for the entirety of their field study if they couldn't get the two girls to thaw out somehow.
"Now I understand how annoyed everyone must've felt when Regnitz and I were actively up in arms against each other," Jusis muttered.
"It certainly wasn't easy dealing with you both, I'll admit," Gaius quietly agreed.
"I wonder where we'll be staying or who our point of contact is," Rean said, trying to break through the tension, "Maybe we'll be staying at Elliot or Machias' house."
Elliot chuckled. "I doubt it. My house isn't big enough to put all of us up. But Machias' dad is the governor so maybe we'll be staying with him?"
Machias shook his head. "That's even less likely. Dad spends most of his time in his official residence so I doubt anyone's going to be in our family home. Instructor Sara did say there would be a guide waiting for us at the station but she didn't exactly say who."
Alisa gave a put upon sigh. "Honestly, she never tells us anything, does she?"
"That's Sara for you," Jusis shrugged. "She finds great joy in being coy and mysterious."
"Even though she's as coy and mysterious as a clam," Fie deadpanned.
"Fie!" Emma protested in defense of their instructor as the others laughed. The tension from before dissipated as the train to Heimdallr sped away.
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Class VII walked off the train and onto the Heimdallr station platform, looking around for any indication of who was going to be their point of contact.
"Exactly on time," a cool, female voice said as if on cue.
They all turned and were surprised to see Captain Claire Reinveldt stand before them in all of her RMP uniformed glory.
"Huh? Claire?" Rean asked, eyeing her incredulously.
"You're the captain of the Railway Military Police if memory serves me correctly," Laura said.
"That's right, I'm glad you remember me," Claire said, smiling gently at them, "It's been three months since we last saw each other. How have you been doing, Rean?"
"As well as can be expected," Rean responded, chuckling nervously as he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly under her judging scrutiny.
"Oh? Is that so?" Claire said, her smile taking on a deadly edge that had him inching away in fear for his health and safety. "Did you know that your father enjoys keeping your uncle appraised of your activities? As such, the Chancellor has told us many…interesting stories."
Rean flinched and looked like a crop muncher caught in the orbal headlights. "I-Is that so?"
She leveled an unimpressed stare at him. "Care to explain why you thought it was a good idea to insert yourself into an investigation during the middle of the armed crisis in Nord?"
"It was for a friend?" He sheepishly responded.
She shook her head in exasperation. "I swear, like father, like son."
"Well at least you're not comparing me to Uncle Gil this time so I count that as a win," he said with a sigh of relief.
"Oh, I'm not done yet," she flatly remarked, "I've heard some even more interesting things from Millium regarding your interactions with your fellow classmates at Thors."
"Ummm, it's not what you think it is?" Rean weakly rebuked.
Claire raised a hand to her head in disbelief. "Honestly…you're somehow giving your uncle a run for his mira considering all the mishaps that occurred when he was your age."
"Hey! I'm not that bad!" Rean vehemently protested.
She leveled another unimpressed stare at him.
"Okay, maybe I'm a little bad?" He reluctantly conceded.
The other members of Class VII watched the exchange between the two like they were rare exhibits in the capital's prestigious museum.
"At least he's somewhat aware of how oblivious he can be," Machias said with a sigh.
"Yeah and here I thought he was a concrete wall when he was actually a brick wall instead," Alisa deadpanned.
"What's the difference?" Elliot asked in confusion.
"One's easier to chip away at then the other," she responded.
"Oohhh, got it," he nodded in understanding.
Rean coughed to try and bring the conversation back on track. "Anyways…since you're here, Claire. Does that mean you're going to be the one assigning our tasks for this month's field study?"
Claire shook her head. "No. I'm just here to provide a place for you to talk to the person who is. He should be here any moment now...Ah! Here he comes."
"Perfect timing, indeed," a smooth, intelligent sounding voice said.
Machis looked over Claire's shoulder in surprise. "No way..."
The rest of Class VII followed his gaze to see Governor Carl Regnitz making his way over to their little group.
"Dad?" Machias cried out, staring at the smiling Governor with an incredulous expression.
XXXXXX
Class VII sat around a long table in the briefing room of the Railroad Military Police Command Post. Claire stood guard by the only entrance into and out of the room while Governor Regnitz sat at the head of the table. Before Governor Regnitz could even begin to brief them on their field study, Machias shot up and slammed the table with his hands. He immediately shot off demands for an explanation on how his father ended up as their point of contact considering his position in the imperial government.
The Governor revealed that he was also on the Thors Military Academy board of directors which surprised them all but did make logical sense when they thought about it. He then went on to explain how their three days would be spent fulfilling the tasks of the citizens in Heimdallr. The third day coincided with the Summer Festival and thus special tasks would be given that day.
He stated that the two groups would each be given one half of the capital to cover, with Group A covering the districts east of Vainqueur Street while Group B covered the districts to the west. After the end of his briefing, he handed both groups a key and a note containing an address. Jusis' eyes widened in recognition when he saw the address they'd been given.
The Governor gave his leave before Machias could voice anything else. He watched his father leave with a conflicted expression and gritted teeth. Meanwhile, the rest of Class VII couldn't help but voice their opinion of the governor. They were all impressed by his abilities but were more surprised by the easygoing attitude he had. Machias half-heartedly accepted their words as Claire escorted them out of the building and back onto Vainqueur Street.
Most of Class VII was surprised by the sheer vastness of the city. They all noted the orbal trams that traveled through the streets and sat ready for passengers nearby. Then they looked down the middle of Vainqueur Street and saw Valflame Palace all the way at the end. After oohing and awing at the impressive sight of the Imperial Palace, the two groups split off to head to their lodgings for the duration of the field study.
Alisa, Gaius, and Emma were somewhat hesitant as they boarded the orbal tram for Vesta Street. Alisa had only been to Heimdallr a few times when she was much too young to remember everything. Gaius and Emma had never been in the city itself, only passing through to get to Thors. Which was why the three of them were surprised when Jusis confidently led them off the tram at Vesta Street and guided them all down the road to an empty building with the faded image of the Bracer Guild's emblem stamped above the door.
"A Bracer's Guild?" Alisa asked, looking a little astonished.
"So that's what this place is," Gaius said, eyeing the building with growing curiosity, "But it seems deserted."
"That's because Bracer activity was significantly reduced after the attack on the Imperial guilds two years ago. Now only a few are still in operation throughout the Empire," Emma explained, "Though I do wonder why considering how much good the Bracers have done for the country. Even I know how invaluable they are despite how remote my village is."
"It's because the Imperial Government felt threatened," Jusis scoffed.
Gaius looked at him thoughtfully. "What do you mean by that?"
Jusis let out an annoyed huff. "After the Hundred Days War, the Intelligence Division labeled Cassius Bright, an S-ranked Liberlian Bracer though he was an army Colonel back then, as a high class threat considering his part in forcing the Empire out of Liberl. When the guilds in the Empire came under attack, certain circumstances forced the Bracers to reach out to him for help. He managed to quell the conflict but his actions convinced the government and the Four Great Houses that Bracers were either obsolete or a threat to the country. Then all it took was a bit of pressure and many guild branches in the Empire were shut down despite protests from the citizens."
'And that's not even factoring in how this was all just a ploy by the society to prevent Cassius from interfering with the Gospel Plan. Then there's the fact that the Chancellor worked with the society just so he could finally rid himself of the guilds,' he bitterly thought to himself as he was reminded of the talk he had with Olivert after the irritating charades at Hakken Gate.
Alisa frowned. "Well that doesn't sound fair. Shutting down the Bracer guilds just because of the actions of one man who isn't even from the Empire? And he was only trying to help out too!"
"Indeed. I find it rather strange that the government would punish the Erebonian Bracer Guilds simply because they felt threatened by a Liberlian Bracer," Emma commented.
Jusis shrugged. "That is the unfortunate nature of politics."
Alisa looked at him in concern, hesitating before she asked, "Still...your mother was a bracer right? So this place must hold a lot of memories for you."
"And I suppose Rean told you that," Jusis dryly said. He waved off her attempt to apologize. "It's fine. I never actively tried to keep my heritage a secret and I don't mind everyone knowing."
He looked at the building with a nostalgic expression. "But yes, there are many precious memories tied to this place. My mother brought me along whenever she had business to attend to in the Capital or just to have a place to stay for a while. All the bracers who lived and passed through here treated me like family. It was a very lively and loving place."
"Jusis..." Emma muttered sadly.
He shook his head. "I believe that's enough reminiscing for today. We should get settled in and set about completing our tasks for the day."
"Good idea," Alisa nodded in agreement, handing the key over to Jusis. "We can also explore our half of the city and get our bearings so we don't get lost."
"Sounds like a plan," Gaius said as he gestured to the front door, "Shall we?"
Jusis stepped forward to unlock the door and the four of them entered the building. As he walked into the lobby, memories flooded through his mind as he took in the sights, scents, and feel of the interior. The others headed upstairs to give him some space as he allowed the nostalgia of returning to an old home to wash over him.
Alisa, Emma, and Gaius soon returned after setting their things down and they all congregated together to look over their tasks.
Field Study Day 1
Assigned Tasks
Task: Monster from the Depths (required)
Client: Instructor Olivier Lenheim
Hello ladies and gentlemen of Class VII! I am Olivier Lenheim, a music instructor at St. Astraia Girl's School. Alas! There is a terrible monster lurking underneath this lovely school of innocent maidens. Please come and defeat this beast before it can prey on the lovely flowers blooming in this illustrious academy.
Task: Celebration Collaboration (required)
Client: Owners of Foresta Inn, Lafite Bakery, Herschel's Shop
In preparation for the festival, all three shops have decided to collaborate in baking a special treat that is unique to Heimdallr. However, we need help in gathering and preparing the necessary ingredients. Please stop by the Lafite Bakery and speak to Blanche for more details.
Task: Antiquity Search
Client: Director Ravan
Our special display for the summer festival requires a special item that has unfortunately been placed somewhere deep within the depths of our storage room. It would be of great help to us if you were willing to offer assistance in our search for this item. Please come by the museum for details.
Task: Whip into Shape
Client: Aurier Vander
We are planning to have our students volunteer for patrol during the summer festival. However, I would like to ask for your assistance in making sure their skills are up to par if possible. If you have the time to spare, please stop by the Vander School's headquarters.
"Quite the variety of tasks," Gaius said.
Alisa whistled, highly impressed by the variety. "And they seem to be all over our assigned section for the field study as well. Machias' dad sure knows what he's doing."
"The question would be where to begin and what we should prioritize," Emma remarked, "All of our tasks seem to carry equal importance even though only two are required for completion."
"From what I can tell, two tasks are in Leica, one is in Vesta Street, and one is in the Sankt District," Jusis mused, "If we also wish to gain our bearings in Heimdallr, we should start in the Racecourse District and then work our way up north to the Sankt District."
Alisa eagerly nodded. "Sounds like a good plan. Let's do it."
"Let's take a few minutes to freshen up and prepare first," Emma suggested, "It seems like today will be a long one and we should take care not to burn ourselves out before it's even over."
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After following Emma's suggestion, Group B headed out to explore the western half of the capital. They started at the southwest district, Racetrack Plaza, where they marveled at the horses racing in the large coliseum and were taken aback by how rowdy and 'passionate' the audience members were as they gambled their mira away.
Next they stopped by Leica District, also known as the academic district and where Emma's eyes sparkled as soon as she caught sight of the Imperial Museum. There was no stopping her from dragging them over with unexpected excitement which was just as well considering it was the location for one of their tasks. Director Ravan greeted them in the large lobby and led them down into storage while profusely offering gratitude for their help.
When they arrived in the storage room, Alisa and Jusis balked at the rows upon rows and piles upon piles of antiques shoved haphazardly together in the massive room. Gaius muttered a quiet prayer to the winds for strength while Emma looked like she'd found paradise.
Director Ravan stated that the item they were looking for was a large painting of Dreichels the Lionheart that was placed in an elaborate gold frame and completed on the day of his coronation as Emperor. Then the director immediately rushed off to take care of more preparations for the festival.
Before anyone could even begin to comprehend the sheer enormity of the task before them, Emma flitted off. She practically dived into the antiques, gleefully examining each item while treating them with immense care and spouting off facts at a rapid fire pace. The rest of them watched in jaw-dropping amazement at the speed with which Emma categorized and organized everything within her reach. It barely took an hour before she managed to find the requested item and the three of them had to bodily drag her out of the storage room else they would've been stuck there for the rest of the day.
Only after the director graciously thanked them and gave Yellow Pendulum accessories as their reward, did Emma snap out of it and profusely apologize for her embarrassing behavior. They all waved her off, finding the apology unnecessary. Though Alisa had some fun teasing her about her fangirling tendencies when it came to academic knowledge much to Emma's embarrassment.
Then the group went to the Vander School nearby where they were guided by a haughty student to where Aurier Vander was supervising other students doing drills. She warmly welcomed them before getting right down to business, requesting that they spar with the students to test their skills for the Summer Festival patrol.
They agreed to her request, intrigued by the prospect of testing their abilities against the swordsmanship style that protected the royal family. She guided them over to a group of students who looked rather haughty and arrogant. The student who guided them earlier was also in the group.
The two groups were pitted against each other for a quick bout and the Vander students mockingly taunted them as they stood before each other in the arena. Group B was quick to wipe the smirks off their faces, completely sweeping the floor of them with minimal effort. Aurier gave quite the terrifying lecture with a scarily polite expression before thanking Group B for their help and giving Proxy Puppet accessories as thanks for their assistance. As they left, they collectively winced from hearing the pained cries of those once arrogant students as Aurier whipped them into shape.
Group B then returned to Vesta Street where they met with the bakery owner, Blanche, for the collaboration request. Apparently, the treat the three stores wished to make required ingredients from two different stores in two different districts, Leica and Alto, and some food stalls in Dreichels Plaza. The group opted to go to the plaza first before backtracking in order to continue their exploration while also completing the task.
When they arrived at Dreichels Plaza, they ended up running into Group A. The two groups exchanged pleasantries and the boiling tension between Laura and Fie had dropped down to a low simmer. Then Elliot suggested that the two groups met up for lunch to exchange information and hang out while they could in the large city. Everyone agreed and they split off to continue with their tasks.
Group B went to each of the food stalls in the plaza and were given boxes of ingredients after explaining the request to each vendor. They stopped by Vesta Street to drop off the ingredients before making their way to the Etoile Concert Cafe in Alto and the Lucien Art and Cafe in Leica for more.
Once their load was all dropped off at the bakery, Blanche happily led them through the baking process of their special Heimdallr ice cream cake. The group had a fun time despite the various cooking mishaps and were offered the chance to dig into the cakes they made as a reward. They were also handed extra ingredients and the recipe card for the cake as well.
By the time they stepped back out onto the street, Rean called asking if they were free for lunch. Which was perfect timing as they could also offer some of their leftover ice cream cake to Group A as a free treat.
Both groups gathered in Vainqueur Street's Department store for a late lunch. Group A gratefully accepted the leftover desert and the members of Class VII spoke of their progress through the capital. They exchanged small talk and pleasantries as they feasted on the rich food of the department store cafe.
However, whatever occurred in the time between their accidental meet up at Dreichels Plaza to now, the tension between Laura and Fie was boiling once again. Jusis spent some time trying to pry the information out of Fie but she remained tight-lipped despite prodding from Emma and insight from Rean. All Group B could do was wish Group A well before the two groups split up again.
Group B made their way to St. Astraia Girl's Academy where they were met with multiple girls who eyed Alisa and Emma enviously while salivating at the sight of Jusis and Gaius. The four of them fidgeted uncomfortably under the scrutinizing gazes until a flamboyant blonde man in white dramatically flourished his way out from the academy and introduced himself as Instructor Olivier.
Emma, Alisa, and Gaius gave their greetings, unaware that they were actually speaking to the so-called Debaucherous Prince of the Erebonian Empire. Jusis sighed at the prince's shameless display and idly wondered where Mueller was and if he could please come get his charge under control.
Olivier led the group through the academy where they were met with even more stares from the female students who whispered something about forbidden love and Emma's assets. To say their trek through the academy was highly embarrassing and uncomfortable would be the understatement of the century. Finally, they were led down into an underground passage that was part of a massive network of passages underneath the whole of Heimdallr.
After he gave a 'riveting' pep talk, Olivier bid them adieu before they descended into the depths and made their way through the underground maze. They eventually managed to reach the last room at the end of the maze where an Abnormal Ghoul Frog roared furiously at their intrusion into its territory.
It wasn't difficult for them to make quick work of the monster. Their teamwork allowed their combat links to significantly boost their combat efficiency as they fell into their corresponding roles without hesitation - Emma into support, Alisa into cover fire, Gaius into ranged attacks, and Jusis into close range strikes. The monster quickly fell to their efforts and they shook the dust off before heading back to the surface.
Olivier greeted them with jovial gestures and attempted to serenade them as their reward but Jusis shut that down much to everyone's silent gratitude. They received their actual reward, which was an array of healing items, and quickly took their leave for the day.
By the time they exited the academy, it was almost nightfall so the group decided to grab dinner at the Foresta Inn. A warm meal was greatly appreciated after traversing the cold, damp underground passages of Heimdallr.
Then they returned to the Bracer's guild and Alisa managed to convince Jusis to share a few stories of his time at the guild. He led them all to a hideaway spot behind the counter where a few bracers had decided to place precious memorabilia to form a makeshift time capsule. He pointed out some of the items in the hideaway, telling the little tales attached to each object.
A beat up velvet ring box that spoke of hilarious misunderstandings when a bracer tried to propose to his long time girlfriend in the most convoluted way possible.
A crumpled and tear stained drawing from the unexpected reunion between a bracer and her child after days without contact.
A sign with a picture of a banana crossed out in bright red that was created after a food fight started for no discernible reason and ended with a ban on said fruit.
Various little personal accessories that belonged to bracers who unfortunately lost their lives in the attack two years ago but whose legacies still lived on through the family left behind and the people they helped during their tenure.
It was a heartwarming yet sobering bonding experience among them all. Even though three of them never interacted much with bracers during their lives, the absence of the guilds was greatly felt regardless.
XXXXXX
"Then just like that, I was alone again," Fie said with a melancholic smile.
Laura stared at her silently.
"I...don't know what to say," Machias said, frowning at his inability to comfort his classmate.
"After that, you ended up coming to the academy?" Rean asked.
Fie nodded. "Yup. Just when I was wondering what to do next, Sara and Jusis showed up. They'd been following the situation between Zephyr and Red Constellation. That's how we first met."
"I told them about what happened and Sara tried to drag me to the academy though Jusis was the one who sold the pitch that convinced me to go," she said, smiling softly to herself, "I was introduced to the principal and after that...the rest is history."
"That is quite the history," Laura said, "Listening to your story really brings into focus how limited my view of the world has been." She stood up, brushing her skirt of dust. "But I feel like I finally know 'you.' There's still so much more I want to learn, of course, but at least this gives me a base to build on."
"I am curious to know why Albarea was with Instructor Sara though, wandering in a war torn area together," Machias mused. "Usually a noble of his stature would shudder and faint before even thinking of stepping foot near a conflict like that."
"I don't know the particulars but I'll always be forever grateful that he and Sara came across me when they did," Fie softly remarked.
"And you should know by now to never judge a book by its cover," Rean lightly scolded. "Besides, his mother was a bracer and he was involved in the Liberl conflict two years ago so his reasons might be more simple than you think."
"Yeah, you're right," Machias sighed as he looked out at the nighttime landscape of Mater Park, "You know…I've been conflicted on whether attending Thors was the right decision for me."
"What do you mean by that?" Laura asked, "Do you regret attending?"
He shook his head. "Oh no, I don't mean it like that. I just mean that I've had a very set way of viewing the world and ever since I've gone to Thors, I've been learning exactly how narrow minded I've been this entire time." He smiled gratefully at his classmates and friends. "Despite my reaction in the beginning, I'm glad to be a part of Class VII and I'm glad for the opportunity to get to know each and every one of you, even Albarea. Though you better not tell him I said that."
"My lips are sealed," Fie said with a teasing smirk.
"But there's still something bothering you," Rean prodded, eyeing Machias knowingly.
He nodded with a grimace. "I already told you all about what happened with my big sister but…what you don't know is that incident brought me and my dad closer together than we'd been after my mom passed. Once he saw the interest I had in his work, he began telling me all about it, though he'd make sure not to give the exact details of anything particularly sensitive. I really trusted him and believed that he would never keep anything from me but with everything that I've come to learn in Bareahard and what happened in Liberl and the guilds two years ago…"
"You felt as if he's broken your trust by not informing you of such things," Laura offered.
"Or that you feel betrayed that he didn't trust you with that kind of information," Rean added, "Especially since you're like Emma in that you need to know all the facts before you can form a firm opinion on something."
"Right on both counts," Machias said with a sheepish chuckle. "And while I will admit that I've acted immaturely when it comes to nobles…"
"That's an understatement if I've ever heard one," Fie sarcastically remarked.
"I feel that at least knowing this information, no matter how censored it had to be, would've been more helpful than harmful to my view of the Empire and the Reformist Faction's role in it. At the very least, I wouldn't have been so brainless about my defense regarding its decisions and my view of the nobility," Machias said dejectedly, "But I guess my dad thought otherwise."
"Machias…" Rean muttered sympathetically.
"But it's fine now," Machias resolutely stated, "Because I am a member of Class VII, I can learn from various points of view and form an informed opinion without being swept up by my own prejudices cause I'll have you guys by my side helping to set the record straight."
"Well said," Laura remarked with a proud smile, "While I have also had my doubts about this class, I am nonetheless glad that I could be a part of it."
"Here, here!" Rean said with a fist raised jokingly in the air.
"I'll drink some juice to that," Fie said with a grin.
Then the moment of bonding and camaraderie was interrupted by multiple footsteps running across the park. They turned to see a unit of soldiers rushing over to their location.
"Halt! You are under arrest for public disturbance!" A stern voice shouted at them.
"Well shit, it's the RMP," Fie grimaced, "Better get your mira ready, otherwise this is gonna be a long night."
XXXXXX
Jusis was awoken by his ARCUS ringing annoyingly loud by his ear. He grumpily swiped it up and answered the call.
"This is Jusis Albarea," he grunted out as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.
Gaius sat up in the bed next to him and watched his face go through a wide range of emotions from annoyance to anger to exasperation before finally landing on resignation.
"Of course. I'll be there in a bit," Jusis said before ending the call and clicking his ARCUS shut with a heavy sigh.
"Something up?" Gaius asked.
Jusis shook his head. "Nothing you need to concern yourself about. I'll be back in an hour at most so you should go back to bed."
"Very well. But you'll call us if you need any assistance?" Gaius asked with a pointed look.
Jusis huffed out a laugh. "Of course. But trust me, there's no need for your assistance. Not for something like this."
Off of Gaius' confused look, Jusis quickly dressed and left the guild as quietly as he could. He hopped onto an orbal tram that took him to Central Station where he made his way towards the RMP building.
After explaining the reason for his arrival, an officer led Jusis to a small jailhouse where the members of Group A sans Elliot sat quietly in a cell.
"Oh look, our ride's here," Fie said, drawing everyone's attention to an exasperated Jusis.
"Thanks for coming to bail us out, Jusis," Rean sheepishly thanked.
Machias groaned. "I can't believe I'm relying on Albarea of all people to help me out of this situation...again"
"If you'd like, I can just as easily leave you here as well," Jusis dryly said, "Or better yet, call Instructor Sara. I'm sure she'd love to share a few choice words with you all about this."
Machias hastily shook his head, swallowing thickly before saying through gritted teeth, "No, no, I am completely fine with you providing your assistance."
"I concur," Laura nodded as she stood up. "Thank you, Jusis."
Jusis shook his head. "Let's just go. It's late and as much as I would like to know, I also really don't want to know."
XXXXXX
7.25 S.1204
~ Field Study Day 2 ~
Group B met in the lobby of the Bracer's Guild, ready to start a new day. Even Jusis was energetic despite his slightly disheveled appearance due to Group A's late night shenanigans.
"Are you alright, Jusis?" Emma asked in concern, "You look like you didn't sleep quite well."
"Let's just say the blame lies with Group A and leave it at that," Jusis tiredly remarked.
Alisa nodded understandingly. "I take it Rean's luck strikes again?"
"That about sums up the situation, though surprisingly, Fie and Laura were the main culprits this time," he said.
"I'm assuming that means they've finally found a way to understand each other?" Emma asked with a knowing smile.
Upon Jusis' nod, the three of them sighed in relief.
"It seems the miracle that is Rean manages to work its magic again," Gaius said with a grin.
"That boy, I swear," Alisa said, shaking her head with a wry yet proud smile.
"Now that we don't need to worry about the two of them anymore, shall we dive into our tasks for the day with renewed vigor?" Emma asked, clapping her hands together in delight.
Alisa nodded. "Lets."
Field Study Day 2
Assigned Tasks
Task: Racetrack Plaza Monster (required)
Client: Clerk Amber
I spotted a terrifying monster near the stables just the other day. It slunk away into the underground passages before I could point it out though. Please search for and exterminate it as soon as possible. The horses have been jittery since its appearance.
Task: Art of Music
Client: Owner Nancy
We sent some of our instruments in for repair yesterday and were planning to paint them today but we're so swamped with festival preparations that we are unable to pick them up. Would you mind retrieving them for us if possible? Please stop by the Lucien for more details.
Task: The Perfect Gift Definitely Exists
Client: Commander Brighton
I promised my children the most amazing gifts as a reward for their participation in festival preparations. However, I have neither the time nor the cultured taste to pick the perfect gifts for my darling children. I would greatly appreciate any assistance you can give. Please come to my house on Vesta Street for more details.
"This is certainly a lighter load than the one we received yesterday," Gaius remarked.
Alisa nodded. "That means we'll have an easier time completing these tasks. Maybe we'll even have some time leftover to fully enjoy the sights of Heimdallr before the end of the day!"
Emma giggled. "You seem really eager to sightsee, Alisa."
Alisa sputtered. "W-Well that's because we won't have enough time to come visit once we get back to school. Especially with the Summer Festival happening tomorrow."
"Then we should complete our tasks as swiftly as possible if we wish to indulge in some free time," Jusis said with a small, teasing smile.
Alisa puffed her cheeks out as she blushed and looked away with a huff. The three of them laughed at her embarrassment before she sputtered out protests and shoved them out of the guild to start their day.
They made their way to Commander Brighton's house where the stern military man broke into tears over not being able to find the perfect gift for his children. After giving him their reassurances that they'd help, the man swept them all into a backbreaking bear hug before letting them loose onto the streets. It took a moment for them to gather their bearings before the Commander's wife, Simone, gave them the details of their children's likes and dislikes.
Given the Commander's words, they assumed his children were very young, around five years young, when in fact, they were actually fourteen and uninterested in the toys of their youth. Thankfully, their interests were easy to shop for. The daughter enjoyed the arts and the son trained his body like there was no tomorrow. The group set off for Vainqueur Street where a thorough combing of the department store yielded a beautiful oil paint set and a guide for body builders.
When they brought the items to the Commander, he initially rebuffed them, scolding the group for their poor taste in gifts. However, Simone intervened, giving her husband a glare that he cowered before, and graciously accepted the gifts in his stead. She gave them some Aerial quartz for their reward before sending them on their way as she gave her husband a stern talking to.
After that whole ordeal, the group made their way to Leica District where Nancy, the owner of the Lucien Art and Cafe, calmly asked if they'd be willing to pick up some instruments from the Rieveldt Company while she frantically decorated. They accepted and made their way to the music store where President Morgan greeted them and handed over the instruments without much trouble.
The group carefully transported the instruments back to the cafe and Nancy invited them to stay and paint an instrument that would be placed on the wall like a piece of art that people could play. They gleefully accepted and had a lot of fun painting their individual instruments.
Gaius chose to paint a Nord sunrise landscape on a cello. Emma chose to paint various shades of purple on the frame of a harp. Alisa chose to splatter a variety of colors all over a violin. And Jusis chose to make thin swirling designs with varying shades of blue on a flute. After they finished, Nancy gave them some food as a reward for their hard work.
They graciously accepted the offered treats and snacked on them as they left for their last request at Racetrack Plaza. When they arrived, Clerk Amber frantically rushed over and quickly filled them in on the details of the request. They followed her lead towards the stables where they entered a door that led down into the underground passages. Amber wished them luck before racing off to help calm the frantic horses.
The group trekked through another maze of passageways but this time it was much more expansive than the one under St. Astraia. At the end of the seemingly never-ending maze, they were met with a Great Sharkodile that immediately rushed towards them upon their arrival. They quickly drew their weapons and engaged in battle, put at a slight disadvantage due to having been caught off guard by the monster's swift attack.
Alisa and Emma were key in keeping the monster at bay while Gaius and Jusis flitted about striking at critical points all over its body. It was a tough battle but they soon triumphed and the monster was defeated.
They took a moment to catch their breath before backtracking to the stables where a grateful Amber greeted them. Apparently all of the horses calmed as soon as the monster was defeated. She gave them multiple handfuls of sepith crystals and ran off again before they could protest. All they could do was shrug and leave the racetrack while debating what to get for lunch.
XXXXXX
One satisfying meal later, Alisa received a call from Governor Regnitz asking for their help in completing a task in the Garnier District alongside Group A. They were all rather surprised by the request but nonetheless accepted since it was the Governor asking for their help.
They quickly made their way to Garnier where they met up with Group A and got dragged into a jewelry theft investigation. Apparently, Phantom Thief B, a notorious thief in Erebonia, had stolen the Crimson Tiara and requested the members of Class VII to embark on a scavenger hunt to recover it. The name of the thief immediately set Jusis on edge though only Fie and Rean noticed his reaction.
The storeowner handed them a card with a riddle on where to go to find their next clue. Many eyebrows were raised but all they could do was collectively shrug and head off for their next destination. They ended up running all around Heimdallr looking for clue cards.
First they went to Dreichels Plaza where a card was hidden at the base of Dreichels' statue.
That card led them to Vesta Street where a card was hidden under one of the tables in the Bracer's Guild building. Everyone could practically feel the tension coming off of Jusis. However, any attempts to probe him about his well-being were met with an ice cold defense.
Another card led them to Mater Park where a card was hidden under a bench inside the greenhouse. Jusis was on edge the entire time it took for them to figure out the clue. He could feel Bleublanc's gaze and smug grin aimed at them even though he could not visibly see the irritating enforcer.
The card led them to their next destination in the Port District where a harbor worker used the crane to lift a box and help them find the last card. Some of them took a moment to marvel at how Phantom Thief B managed to get a card under a heavy metal container but Jusis was more interested in getting this whole charade over and done with.
The card then led them to a lone orbal tram that had been parked at the Port District Stop ever since their arrival. The conductor allowed them entrance where they found the Crimson Tiara in a briefcase inside.
"So the tiara was really in there?" The conductor asked with an awestruck expression, "Now I'm wondering if the last passenger who stepped off was Phantom Thief B himself. I don't remember there being any unusual passengers though."
Machias sighed. "I see. So you have no idea who Phantom Thief might be, then?"
"To have done so much and yet left no trace of his presence...He must truly be a master at covering his tracks," Laura mused.
Jusis glared at the conductor. "You have no idea."
"At least we got the tiara back though," Elliot said. "So I suppose that's good enough."
However, Rean, Fie, and Gaius were clearly troubled about something and joined Jusis in scrutinizing the conductor.
"W-Why are you looking at me like that?" The conductor stuttered nervously upon noticing their gazes.
"Enough with your idiotic games, Bleublanc," Jusis harshly barked, taking an aggressive step towards the conductor. "Your Phantom Thief B persona is just as tiring as the rest of you."
Everyone turned to Jusis in surprise before whipping their heads to stare at the conductor in shock.
"W-What?" Machias exclaimed.
"Excuse me?" Alisa shouted as her eyes widened in surprise.
The conductor chuckled. Then his laughter grew in volume with an edge of hysteria. A lavender light covered him and Baron Bleublanc appeared in his white coat, feathered mask glory. "This! This savory taste is why the unripe fruit in the midst of ripening is the most delectable of all!"
"Wait...aren't you that baron we spoke to back in Bareahard?" Emma asked.
"And that's the mask of Phantom Thief B!" Machias exclaimed.
Bleublanc bowed before them with a wide grin. "Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am the Phantom Thief Bleublanc otherwise known simply as Phantom Thief B. Baron Bleublanc is simply one of the many names I've adopted during my pursuits."
"And as lovely as it is to finally meet the illustrious Class VII of Thors Military Academy, it is even more lovely to see the Blazing Demon's protégé again. It's lamentable that his presence no longer carries the beautiful balance you provided as his ever present shadow," he said, his smile gaining an indecipherable edge as he stepped forward to grasp Jusis' hand with a gentle grip. "Though I suppose I should be calling you by your new moniker now, Celsius was it?"
He lifted the hand to place a delicate kiss on the back of it and Jusis quickly snatched his hand away with a disgusted expression. Rean stepped forward to stand protectively in front of Jusis.
"What do you want, Bleublanc?" Rean sternly asked.
"And that is the question of the day, isn't it? As I highly doubt someone of your stature would spend his time indulging in the petty dalliances of grand theft," Jusis hissed venomously.
"P-Petty dalliances?" Machias muttered indignantly behind him.
Elliot nervously laughed. "I don't know if stealing an armored tank could count as petty."
"So I'm guessing he's one of them?" Fie asked, cluing into who exactly Bleublanc was but still having doubts considering what she'd been told about the society. Jusis nodded and that was all the prompting she needed to stand at the ready for any signs of the situation going south.
"Must I truly have a motive behind my actions?" Bleublanc playfully asked. "Does such talk truly interest you?"
Rean took a moment to think about it before he shook his head. "No. We don't really need to know. You were caught committing a crime so there's nothing more that needs to be discussed."
"A crime that will not go unpunished!" Laura boldly proclaimed.
Bleublanc laughed. "Oh! What spirited youths you are."
He then disappeared in a flash of bright lavender light. They all looked up to see him reappear on the top of an archway nearby.
"What?!" Gaius exclaimed.
"How did he do that?" Alisa asked.
Bleublanc chuckled. "Just a little trick I like to keep up my sleeve. Regardless, you all have provided me with plenty of sport and more than enough entertainment for one day. And to you, dear Jusis, I hope I can one day see again the beauty you can bring to this wretched land."
"Over my dead body," Jusis growled. Fie placed a comforting yet restraining hand on his arm. He shook it off but nodded gratefully to her regardless.
Bleublanc grinned as he bowed extravagantly to them. "Ladies and gentlemen, until we meet again. I bid you adieu!" Then he disappeared in another flash of bright lavender light.
Laura clicked her tongue in distaste. "That's quite the 'little trick' he has there."
"He might still be nearby. Let's search the area," Emma suggested.
"Don't bother," Jusis interjected, "Bleublanc may be as flashy as they come, but if he disappears from a scene, he disappears from a scene. No amount of searching will help us find him."
Fie frowned in annoyance. "I hate to agree but Bleublanc's definitely on a whole different level."
"Well that's frustrating," Elliot sighed.
Alisa nodded. "Yeah but...how does that guy even know you, Jusis?"
"And why was he calling you...what was it...a shadow? Celsius?" Machias asked with a suspicious glare.
Jusis sighed and shook his head. "My first encounter with Bleublanc was in Liberl when we were investigating a 'ghost' that had been causing trouble in Ruan."
"And I'm assuming the ghost was Bleublanc?" Rean asked.
"You would assume correctly," Jusis said. Then he gazed off to the side, expression completely closed off. "As for those names…they were picked up during my travels. Nothing more."
Machias opened his mouth to demand answers but Rean stopped him with a firm shake of his head.
"I am curious about something. Back in Bareahard, you said that he was a dangerous criminal," Emma said, "However, besides his thievery and escape tricks, I don't quite understand how dangerous he can be."
"And as I've said before, he may not look like it but Bleublanc is indeed a dangerous individual," Jusis firmly stated, "Besides a few encounters with him, I couldn't tell you much beyond that he was part of the group that instigated the Orbal Shutdown Phenomenon two years ago."
"Wait, seriously? Him?" Alisa asked in disbelief.
"As strange as it may sound, I believe you Jusis," Gaius said, "The winds that surrounded him and the way he was able to influence them, it was unnatural and disturbing to say the least."
"Well if there's no chance of us finding him and it's not safe to confront him either, then there's no reason for us to stand around here discussing what little we know. We might as well go report the incident to City Hall and return the tiara to the jewelry store," Rean suggested.
Jusis nodded, eager to put this entire incident behind him. He swiftly made his way to another orbal tram stop with Fie following after him. She lifted a brow at him in question, knowing that he'd lied about his knowledge regarding the enforcer. But he shook his head, silently telling her that it wasn't a good idea to reveal anything about the society to their clueless classmates. Ignorance was bliss after all and she could only reluctantly concede to that point.
XXXXXX
"Well that was exhausting," Alisa sighed as they walked out of the jewelry store and back into the Garnier District.
"Phantom Thief B was even more unpleasant than I expected. It's a shame we weren't able to bring him to justice," Laura nodded in agreement.
"Next time I see him, I'd like to punch that smug smile off his face," Fie grumbled petulantly.
"You said it," Machias said as he stretched his arms out with a groan. "But we've managed to finish all our tasks for the day and still have enough time left for us to enjoy everything Heimdallr has to offer. As long as Instructor Sara doesn't call us with any other pressing matters."
"Oh! I'm so excited!" Alisa said, perking right back up at the idea of touring the capital of the Empire.
Then Rean's ARCUS rang, interrupting their sightseeing planning. When he responded, the caller on the other side was Sara to which they all deadpanned at Machias for jinxing them. Thankfully, Sara only requested that they all be at St. Astraia's at five pm sharp. She said they were free to spend the rest of the afternoon doing whatever and then she hung up before they could ask for any more information.
Thankful that they didn't have any pressing matters to take care of, Class VII took Sara's suggestion and spent the next two hours enjoying the sights and stores the capital had to offer. They also made a point to stop by and enjoy the gelato stand in Dreichels Plaza where the vendor offered free scoops because of Group A's assistance the day before.
Finally, the members of Class VII rode an orbal tram all the way to the Sankt District where they arrived at the gates of St. Astraia Girl's School just before their deadline. After the bell rang at five pm sharp, Rean's little sister, Elise, arrived to greet them.
She was initially shocked that the guests she was requested to escort were her brother's classmates. After taking a moment to regain her composure, she gracefully welcomed Class VII to St. Astraia before escorting them to their destination.
Along their short trek, the female students of the school peered out and whispered like they had when Group B were there the day before. Everyone was uncomfortable by the jealous whispers of the girls' assets or appearances and the giggly admiration for the guys' 'handsome looks.'
Elise guided them to a building called the Rosen Garten that was an indoor garden. She opened the door and announced their presence to 'her highness.' They were all surprised to see Princess Alfin Reise Arnor greeting them with a sweet smile and a curtsey.
XXXXXX
The members of Class VII hesitantly sipped their tea as they nervously eyed the tension between an apologetic Alfin and an annoyed Elise.
"Come on, Elise. Cheer up! I'm sorry alright?" Alfin said, trying her best to placate her irritated friend. "I was only trying to tease you a little."
Elise huffed as she continued to pointedly look away from Alfin. "Sometimes your teasing can be very cruel, your highness and I don't appreciate it. Besides, don't you have something to discuss with everyone? Please. Go right ahead."
Alfin sighed. "I'm really sorry, Elise," she apologized, looking more remorseful this time. "That aside..."
She turned to face Rean, Jusis, and Laura who all happened to be sitting next to each other. "Rean, Jusis, Laura. It's been some time since I last saw you three. I'm glad you all seem to be doing well."
"Likewise, your highness," Jusis said, smiling at her.
"You've certainly grown well since we last met," Laura nodded to her in greeting.
Rean chuckled. "You saw me not too long ago, your highness."
Alfin waved them off. "Oh please, call me Alfin. I'd like to think we're all close enough to dispense with the formalities." Then she gave Rean a put upon look. "And I highly doubt four months can be considered 'not too long ago'."
Rean laughed sheepishly in the face of her pouting expression.
"Anyways," Alfin said after clearing her throat, "The reason why I called you here wasn't just so I could see old friends. There is someone else who would like to meet you all."
The entirety of Class VII looked surprised at that.
"Who would that be?" Machias asked.
"And why? It's not like we're that famous or anything," Alisa said.
Then the melodious strumming of a lute caught their attention.
Gaius tilted his head in question. "Hey, isn't that..."
"A guitar? No, a lute?" Elliot guessed.
Jusis resisted the urge to have his hand meet his face, biting back a groan as Alfin giggled at everyone's confusion. Laura and Rean's expressions fell in realization and they too, tried to bite back groans of exasperation.
"It seems he's arrived," Alfin said, smiling mysteriously at them.
"I apologize for keeping you waiting!"
They all turned around to see a tall, young man with blonde hair pulled back into a low ponytail wearing an ornate white jacket and holding a lute in his hands. The members of Group B recognized him as Instructor Olivier whom they'd met the day before. However, Rean, Laura, and Jusis recognized the man for who he truly was. Regardless, everyone watched dumbstruck as the man waltzed over to them, strumming his lute.
"I trust everyone has been making themselves comfortable?" The man asked.
"Who's this guy?" Fie asked as she ran a piercing gaze over the man standing by Alfin.
Emma squinted from behind her glasses. "Aren't you the Music Instructor Olivier? We met just yesterday, didn't we?"
"And here I was, wondering why I had a sinking feeling in my stomach the moment we arrived at the academy," Jusis muttered under his breath.
"Same," Rean sighed dejectedly.
"Indeed, dear Ms. Millstein. I do serve as a music instructor in the hallowed halls of this fine academic institution," the man responded, "In truth, I am ever on the hunt for the elusive mayfly we call love...but that might raise some eyebrows in a girl's school. But whose pulse would not quicken, wandering into this untainted cloister of dew-eyed maidens? Ah! The romance!"
The man flicked his hair from his eyes and sparkles seemed to appear around him. Rean pinched his brow at the headache that had suddenly appeared. Laura sighed and shook her head in resignation. Jusis could no longer hold back his groan as he dropped his head into his awaiting hands.
Alfin got out of her seat to smack the back of the man's head, knocking the shameless grin off his face. She cleared her throat before giving him a sugary sweet smile promising death. "That'll be enough of that. Anymore and our guests will start edging towards the exit."
The man smiled sheepishly at her. "I can always count on you to never miss a beat, my dear sister."
Machias' eyes bulged as realization dawned on him. "W-Wait. So this is..."
"Woah," Elliot breathed out in amazement.
"Tis I, Olivert Reise Arnor. Also known by some unscrupulous individuals as the Debacherous Prince," Olivert grandly stated.
"I wonder why," Jusis muttered under his breath, lifting his head from his hands to glare at the smiling prince.
"I also serve as Thors Military Academy's ornamental chairman of the board. It's nice to finally meet you ladies and gentlemen of Class VII," Olivert concluded with a wink.
After dropping that bombshell of information, Olivert escorted them all into a communion room where they were served an extravagant dinner.
"I have to admit, I was surprised to learn that you're the chairman of the board of directors, your highness," Rean said. "I'd heard the chairman was a member of the Imperial family but I never expected it would be you..."
Olivert chuckled. "Please Rean, you know you can call me Olivert. We're practically family after all."
"Oh right! I'd heard the Imperial family had ties to the Schwarzer barony in Ymir," Elliot said.
"Which explains the familiarity with Princess Alfin," Alisa remarked, "If you add in the fact that Rean's uncle is the Chancellor and it's a surprise people haven't clued into all the connections he's got."
Rean laughed nervously at that.
"And I'm not too surprised by your sentiments," Olivert said, "Who would expect the infamous prodigal son to chair a committee at a prestigious academy such as Thors? Though I suppose it's not surprising they'd rather keep it hushed up. It wouldn't exactly be great for the school's image."
Alfin gave her brother a pleased look. "That's surprisingly forthright of you."
"Is it really true that you were the one responsible for establishing Class VII, your highness?" Alisa asked.
Olivert nodded with a surprisingly serious expression. "Indeed I was. You see it's always been tradition for a member of the Imperial family to serve as chairman of the board. At first, I wore the title in name only...but I had a change of heart after my trip in Liberl two years ago."
"You were also in Liberl back then?" Elliot asked in surprise.
"That would put your visit during the incident that occurred there, correct?" Emma asked for clarification.
"Indeed. I'm sure Jusis would be willing to tell you all the juicy details of what I got up to there," Olivert said, grinning innocently at an increasingly irritated Jusis.
"You certainly caused quite the stink in Liberl, Olivier. The incident in Bose comes to mind, among many others," Jusis sarcastically drawled, "I will forever be surprised by the restraint Schera demonstrated in the face of your shameless antics."
Olivert cleared his throat, tugging at his collar in discomfort at the mention of the Silver Streak. "Anyways, all I've done since I returned to Erebonia was inspired by my experience during the crisis in Liberl. As a result, fruitless though they may prove to be, I've set into motion a number of plans...One of which is to bring the winds of change to Thors Military Academy. A gust of fresh air, if you will."
Fie hummed thoughtfully. "Winds of change, huh?"
"I can only assume you're referring to our class," Laura said.
Machias tapped his spoon in thought. "Then the one who decided to throw both commoners and nobles into the same class was..."
Oliver nodded. "Yes, the idea was mine. Though really it's only thanks to a dear mentor of mine that I even had the thought to begin with," he said with a fond yet sorrowful expression.
Jusis looked away, biting his lip to stop the tears that were threatening to rise from the unexpected wave of grief.
"The selected students had to have a high aptitude with the ARCUS units too though," Olivert continued to explain, perking up in the blink of an eye, making everyone think that the brief sadness was just their imagination. However, Rean and Fie knew better as they eyed Jusis in concern.
The conversation continued with Olivert explaining the purpose behind the creation of Class VII with his calm and serious words soothing many of their worries over the place their class had in the world.
He explained how he managed to get away with implementing the idea, having to relinquish quite a bit of control to the board of directors in order for Class VII to come to fruition. He also revealed Sara's previous occupation as an A-ranked bracer known as the Purple Lightning and one of the strongest people in the country. Everyone, barring Fie and Jusis, were quite surprised by the reveal though they did admit that it certainly cleared up quite a few questions they had about her qualifications.
Soon the conversation ended and servants arrived to take their empty dishes away.
"Ah! I almost forgot," Alfin suddenly exclaimed before Olivert could dismiss Class VII for the night.
"Alfin?" Elise asked in growing trepidation.
"Oh? You're going to ask him?" Olivert questioned with a shamelessly encouraging grin.
"Of course I will. Tomorrow I'll be attending a garden party sponsored by the local government for the start of the festival," Alfin explained to the confused Class VII, "Or rather, Machias' father invited me to attend."
"That's the one at the Crystal Garden in Mater Park, right?" Machias asked.
Alfin nodded. "Indeed. Anyway, let's not waltz around the matter. I was rather hoping you would be my dance partner, Rean."
Everyone was completely startled by the request, Elise suspiciously more so than Rean.
"Do you think her highness knows that old saying 'a dance today, a wedding tomorrow'?" Alisa whispered in shock.
"I'm sure that's firmly in the realm of tabloid speculation," Machias quietly sighed.
Jusis shook his head. "Still, there's no denying that many will interpret it that way."
"Woah, woah, woah. Hold on a minute!" Rean frantically interjected, cutting his classmates off before they could make his head explode from embarrassment. "I-I don't think I can-I mean, it would be an honor, but it's like, too great of an honor for someone like me. I-I mean-"
Alisa jabbed Rean in the side to get him to stop stuttering over himself.
He gave her an affronted look but was thankful for her painful help. "Anyway, what I mean to say is I really don't think I'm the man you want. Sometimes I can barely keep from tripping over my own feet."
"Oh? Is that so?" Alfin asked with an innocent tilt of her head. "Elise once told me that she asked you to help her practice the finer points of ballroom dancing. In fact, she says you're an excellent dancer. That you step lightly and very gracefully. Is that not true, Rean?"
"I-I...w-well," Rean stuttered.
Elise glared venomously at Alfin who sighed sadly.
"I understand. It was rude of me to trouble you with a petition like this on such a short notice," she said apologetically, "And besides, I don't suppose you would have much interest in dancing with a little girl like me."
"No, no, no! That's not what I mean, Alfin!" Rean frantically denied.
Olivert whistled, impressed. "That's my sister, all right. She really knows how to twist the knife."
"A-Alfin, please!" Elise cried out in exasperation while blushing in embarrassment.
Alfin suddenly perked up, nodding with a look of understanding. "Ah, I see now. How could it not have crossed my mind? Perhaps the truth is that you already have your heart set on someone else? Is there someone you're already courting?"
Elise tensed at the question, a blush growing on her cheeks. Alisa, Elliot, Fie, Emma, and Laura subtly glanced over at Jusis who glared at them all to shut up and not say anything. Fie gave him a peace sign, Alisa smirked, and Elliot and Laura smiled encouragingly. Nobody noticed Rean's gaze quickly darting over to Jusis before returning to Alfin.
Olivert laughed. "Well, do you? I'm positively dying to know the kind of person who has conquered the battlefield of your heart!"
"Wait...I don't...I mean," Rean stammered, trying to come up with a response that wouldn't make the princess of the Imperial Family cry and get him arrested even if he was a family friend.
Alfin suddenly giggled, drawing everyone's attention back to her.
"I'm just playing with you, Rean," she said with a bright and teasing grin, "While it would be fun to have you as a dance partner, I wasn't actually serious about my invitation. You're always so easy to mess with."
Rean breathed out a sigh of relief and the rest of Class VII jokingly mocked him for his poor reactions to handling a girl's feelings. Then they all looked surprised when Alfin turned to Jusis.
"However, I do actually need someone to escort me so as to assuage any rumors or stories that may arise," Alfin said.
"And you were planning to ask me?" Jusis asked, smiling wryly, "I'm not so sure that idea would hold up better than if Rean was your partner."
Alfin shook her head with a knowing grin. "That may be true but think of it as a favor I wish to ask of you. When talk arose of who my partner would be to the garden party, I was rather unsure myself. Then I remembered the tales Olivert told me of his companions during his travels in Liberl and one them would certainly fit the bill for escorting me without causing any unnecessary gossip to arise."
Jusis tilted his head in confusion, wondering who exactly she could be talking about. He lifted his glass to take a sip of his water and nodded for her to continue.
"So...I was wondering if you'd be able to ask Ms. Justina Bright if she'd be willing to be my escort," Alfin asked with a sweet and cunning smile.
Jusis spat his water out, catching everyone by surprise at his un-noble like reaction. He coughed, trying to gather his bearings as Fie slapped him helpfully on the back. "I'm sorry...could you repeat that please?"
Alfin nodded slyly. "I would like to ask Ms. Justina Bright to escort me to the garden party tomorrow. I know you are much closer to your Liberlian travel companions than my brother is so I thought the request would be more well received coming from you than him."
Jusis glared at Olivert who smiled calmly despite his tense posture giving away his nervousness at the other's reaction. "What exactly have you told your sister? And be aware that the severity of your answer determines who I call to discipline you. I'm sure either Estelle or Schera would be happy to come teach you the error of your ways."
"Now, now, Jusis. Let's not be hasty here," Olivert hastily placated, "You owe me a favor, remember? This is me cashing it in."
Jusis glared more harshly at him and for a moment, everyone was worried that they would be witnesses to the brutal murder of an Imperial prince. However, their worries were unfounded as Jusis sighed in resignation and nodded. "Very well then. I'll do what I can though I offer no guarantees."
"That is completely fine considering how last minute my request was," Alfin said, clapping her hands together in delight.
"And don't worry about the details," Olivert said with a grin, "We'll take care of them. You just make sure the guest of honor can arrive and then everything will fall into place."
Jusis sighed as he excused himself from his seat and left while pulling his ARCUS out. The rest of Class VII watched in confusion as he walked away like a man marching towards his death while the prince and princess smiled as if they'd won the jackpot. Rean and Elise sighed in the face of the imperial siblings' antics but at least they weren't on the receiving end of them anymore.
XXXXXX
By the time Class VII walked out of St. Astraia's, night had fallen. After Jusis returned from making the unexpected call, he confirmed that the mysterious Justina Bright would arrive in time to escort Princess Alfin for tomorrow. She graciously thanked him for his help and Olivert assured he would take care of everything.
They spent some time by the gates discussing everything that occurred during the unexpected meeting with the two Imperial royals. They talked about everything from Olivert's reveal about the board of directors to Sara's bracer occupation to the sudden proposal from Alfin.
Alisa teased Rean about how he'll never be able to find love if he's always so flustered in the face of a simple request. Before Rean could retort, Sara showed up with Captain Claire where she delivered the unexpected news that their field study was put on hold in order to fulfill a request from the Governor.
Claire escorted them all to the Railway Military Police Headquarters where she and Sara debriefed them on the terrorist group that had been gaining traction in the background. In fact, one of the members, Gideon, was the same man those who went to the Celdic and Nord field studies faced off against.
The terrorist group was planning to do their big reveal on the day of the summer festival. So the Governor requested their aid in assisting security and going on patrols while festivities were in full swing. Sara gave them the option to either continue their field study as usual or to patrol the festival tomorrow.
Everyone unanimously agreed to assist in stopping the terrorists much to Sara's unsurprise. After a thorough debrief on how to conduct their patrol routes, they were dismissed and sent back to their respective lodgings for the night.
XXXXXX
July 26 S.1204
~ Field Study Day 3 ~
~ Day of the Summer Festival ~
After Group B received the details of their patrol from Captain Claire, they made their way through the western half of the Capital, starting south at Racetrack Plaza then heading north to Sankt District. They questioned everyone they could about suspicious activity while keeping an eye on their surroundings at all times. When they arrived at Dreichels Plaza, they took a moment to get some food and also happened to run into Towa and Angelica who arrived not too long ago.
Apparently Angelica had kidnapped Towa so that their beloved student council president could take a break from all the work she'd been buried under recently. George had come along to keep an eye on the orbal bike and was currently at the orbal factory on Vainqueur street shopping for supplies. As for Crow, neither Angelica nor Towa needed to say anything for them to know that he was at the Racetrack Plaza no doubt trying to convince the staff to let him bet despite the rules against underage gambling.
It was almost comforting in how predictable their seniors could be. After enjoying an impromptu picnic with Angelica and Towa, Group B bid their seniors adieu before doing another round of patrols through their assigned districts. This time going in reverse order from the Sankt District down to Racetrack Plaza where they did indeed run into Crow having the time of his life despite not being able to legally bet.
However, upon closer inspection, Group B saw quite a few Thors students with him in the stands and could only surmise that they'd started some sort of betting pool amongst themselves. After all, if there was a way to enjoy some form of gambling, it was a guarantee Crow would find it. Alisa had a few choice words to share with the senior upon that revelation. It was an amusing sight to watch the flustered slacker being lectured by a girl almost 20 rege shorter than him.
Before Alisa could cut Crow with more than words, Sara called to inform Group B of their special security assignment. In about half an hour, at noon, they would be watching over Prince Cedric while he was in Leica District. She also informed them that Jusis would be sent on a separate assignment that Olivert had specifically requested him for which gave him the excuse he needed to head over to Valflame Palace.
Upon his arrival, an exasperated Mueller escorted him through the endless halls of the palace to a room where Olivert greeted him with an extravagant flourish. There he revealed the outfit Jusis would be wearing for his mission.
Draped carefully on a mannequin was a ruffled blue dress with layers of silk fabric in different shades of blue that tapered off into an asymmetrical flair at the bottom. There were gold trims and decorative stitching around the torso of the dress with the shoulders left bare and flared sleeves attached to the bodice. A pair of blue ballet flats and fingerless blue gloves completed the outfit. On the vanity nearby was a mannequin head with a longhaired wig the exact shade of blonde as Jusis' hair and a decorative blue leather belt with a saber holster attached.
Jusis gaped at Olivert in disbelief while Mueller shook his head as if in agony.
"I am...slightly disturbed by how quickly you managed to prepare this disguise for me," Jusis finally choked out.
"Well you're doing me a favor by escorting my sister and protecting her from any threats that may come her way so this is nothing," Olivert said, waving him off dismissively.
He then grabbed Mueller by the shoulders and pushed him to the door. "Now we'll leave you to get dressed. Let us know if you need anything!"
The door slammed shut behind them and Jusis was left alone in the room with a beautiful dress he wished he didn't have to wear. But duty called and he did owe Olivert one so he reluctantly put the outfit on. His smooth motions betrayed a muscle memory of one who'd worn many such outfits throughout their life. He pinned the wig over his hair and tied it into a side ponytail that curled over his right shoulder. Then he pulled on the gloves, stepped into the shoes, and placed his saber into the provided holster.
He looked into the mirror and saw a young woman with light gold hair and icy blue eyes staring back at him. His breath caught for a moment as the person he saw in the mirror was not himself in disguise but a youthful version of his mother.
"Jusis?" Olivert called out from behind the door. "Can I come in now?"
When he didn't receive an answer, Olivert opened the door in concern before pausing at the sight before him. "Oh...wow..." he eloquently said, "You look...just like your mother..."
"Yeah," Jusis softly said as he continued to stare at his reflection. "Do you...do you think she'd be proud...if she saw me now?" He hesitantly asked.
Olivert smiled sadly as he walked over to pull him into a gentle hug. "I know she would. And I know how much she would've loved to see how much you've grown."
Jusis nodded mutely in his hold before gently moving out of it. He smiled gratefully at the prince. "Thanks, Olivert."
Olivert shook his head. "No thanks necessary. You and your mother are precious people to me after all." Then he smiled brightly at Jusis. "Well then, are you ready to begin your mission, Ms. Justina Bright?"
XXXXXX
Alfin giggled as she took in the passing sight of Heimdallr and its waving citizens as the limousine made its way to Mater Park. "It's quite nice to be out and about like this once in a while." She turned to look at Elise. "Though it would've been nice if you allowed me to doll you up. We would've looked so adorable making our debut together at the garden party."
"We may be close friends but I'm still just a baron's daughter no matter the connections my family may have with yours," Elise gently rebuked, "I can't very well go equating my appearance at the party with that of the Imperial princess, debut or otherwise."
"Oh! You're so old-fashioned, Elise," Alfin pouted, "Both the national and local governments are headed by commoners now. Times have changed! Just ask our well-traveled companion here."
The two girls turned to face Jusis who had been sitting silent and poised. His focus was dialed up to eleven and gaze searching through the windows and out to the streets for any signs of threats.
"Ms. Bright?" Elise asked, drawing Jusis' attention away from the windows.
"My apologies. I didn't quite catch that," he said in a light and gentle tone that helped to influence his voice into sounding more feminine. "And please, call me Justina. I am only two years older than you both."
"Of course, Justina!" Alfin agreed cheerfully. "I was just telling Elise how she should've allowed me to dress her up. Throw tradition out the window and the like. In fact, I really love your dress. Where did you get it?"
"Tradition or no, there are some who have certain preferences for their appearance at certain events, your highness," he said with a reassuring smile for Elise who nodded gratefully, "And your brother was actually the one who chose this dress for me."
"Oooh! Was he?" Alfin remarked with a sly grin. "Then are you perhaps the one who captured his heart back in Liberl?"
Jusis shook his head, struggling to keep his poise in the face of Alfin's sly teasing. "No. That would be someone else entirely. If you wish to know more, you'll have to prod your brother for details. When it comes to the matters of the heart, it is not my place to speak for other people."
Elise nodded firmly in agreement, sending a small glare Alfin's way.
"Oh come now, Elise," Alfin said, unintentionally waving Elise's annoyance off as nothing important, "You aren't still mad I asked your brother to the dance?" She giggled. "Maybe I should invite him to be my dance partner for real next year."
"Your highness! Please, that's enough," Elise exclaimed sternly.
"Oh come, come. I'm sorry, Elise," Alfin smiled apologetically though the genuineness of the gesture was questionable. "It seems there's still a ray of hope for you." She winked. "After all, it doesn't look like he has a girlfriend at the moment."
"Nor has he a boyfriend, your highness. I'm not sure what fantasies you are prone to indulge in, but you mustn't speak so lightly of nor assume to know someone's feelings like that," Jusis interjected in an attempt to save Elise from further teasing as the poor girl looked one wrong word away from bursting into tears. He was also a bit ticked off by her words as well and quietly wondered if it was too late to salvage any part of the princess that hadn't been corrupted by her older brother.
"And as much as Olivert is known for his infamously 'playful' actions, even he will not so mindlessly tease someone when it comes to matters of the heart. In fact, your words could come off as mocking instead of joking regardless of context. You'll also find that many would question whether your friendship with Elise is genuine or not if this is how you treat her on a daily basis."
The two girls looked at him in surprise, though Elise's expression was also tinged with gratefulness.
Alfin's face fell from guilt. "O-Oh! My apologies. I didn't mean for my teasing to come off as mocking or rude. I was just having a bit of fun though I suppose that sounds more like an excuse than an admission of my faults."
"I am not the one you should be apologizing to, your highness," Jusis says, "Though it is good you are aware of it. Then you can grow and learn from your mistakes."
"You're right," Alfin agreed. She turned to face Elise with a genuinely sincere apologetic expression. "I'm sorry, Elise. I didn't mean to make you feel terrible or uncomfortable. You should've told me to stop."
Elise sighed. "I did, your highness. You just never took my protests seriously until now."
"Well then, I promise to do better and be a better friend from now on," Alfin declared.
"Thank you...Alfin," Elise smiled softly. "Now please, the people are all waiting for you to wave to them."
Alfin nodded and turned her attention to the passing crowds, waving as she smiled brightly at them all. Elise smiled as she watched her best friend enjoying herself. Jusis shook his head, smiling fondly at them before turning his attention back to looking for any security threats.
They soon arrived at Mater Park where a guard opened the door and held a hand out to guide all three of them out of the car. Alfin hooked her arm around Elise's and the two walked towards the Crystal Garden with Jusis following closely beside them. Governor Regnitz bowed in greeting and he guided the three of them inside where a large crowd of nobility applauded in welcome.
XXXXXX
Outside the Crystal Garden, Group A watched the proceedings with smiles on their faces.
"So Elise is here too...Looks like she came as Alfin's attendant," Rean remarked.
"Awww. Those two look pretty tight," Elliot said.
"The princess really looks the part though," Fie commented.
"Indeed. That dress of Imperial red suits her wonderfully," Laura nodded in agreement.
"Then that girl in blue must be Justina Bright," Machias observed. "I have to say, I don't know what I was expecting but it certainly wasn't that."
Rean nodded. "Even from a distance, you can tell she's beautiful."
"Oh? Have we finally figured out the type of maiden that can break through Rean's dense exterior?" Fie jokingly asked.
"Alright, I'm going to have to stop you right there," Rean flatly said, "Let's go grab some food and do another sweep of the city."
XXXXXX
Jusis watched as the garden party slowly winded down, smiling at the sight of Alfin dancing merrily with Elise as some of the nobles clapped and cheered them on. Suddenly the doors to the garden burst open just as a section of the floor collapsed underneath itself.
Armored men stormed inside and trained their guns on everyone, ordering them not to move. Then a man walked confidently from behind the men and towards Alfin and Elise. Jusis narrowed his eyes when he recognized Gideon, the man they'd run into at Nord and one of the terrorists that Claire had warned them about. He silently made his way over to where Alfin and Elise were huddled together near the hole in the ground.
Governor Regnitz marched forward to intercept Gideon. "I demand you to state who you are and to remove yourselves from the premises immediately!"
Gideon responded with a smirk as he pulled a gun out and shot the Governor in the shoulder without blinking. The crowd screamed in fear and ran for the doors as the Governor fell to his knees, clutching at his wound to stem the bleeding.
"Good day, your highness," Gideon called out with a mocking bow. Alfin flinched under his predatory gaze. "I do hope you'll forgive me for showing up to this party without an invitation."
Jusis picked up his pace, reaching the girls and grabbing them by the shoulders. They startled under his hands but relaxed when they realized who it was.
"Jusis! Oh thank Aidios. What do we do?" Alfin whispered to him, terrified out of her wits but posture still steady and confident.
Elise was momentarily shaken from her fear. "Wait, Jusis? As in one of Rean's classmates? What-"
"No time for questions. Please get behind me, you two," he quietly ordered, drawing his saber just as Gideon and a few armed men stood in front of them.
The girls hid behind his protective stance and Gideon smirked mockingly at him. "I suggest you stand aside if you don't wish to get hurt, little girl. Our only objective is to obtain her highness. Everything else is just...collateral damage."
"Well that sounds strangely familiar," Jusis drawled, scooting the three of them back towards the hole. He also carefully pulled his ARCUS out and quietly opened it behind his back. The two girls immediately picked up on what he was trying to do and tucked themselves more securely as they followed his motions. "Tell me, you wouldn't happen to hold a grudge against the Chancellor would you?"
Gideon's smirk lost its mocking edge as some sort of realization sparked in his eyes. "Oh? And pray tell, how were you able to guess such a thing?"
"Let's just say I've had my own share of unpleasant encounters with him," Jusis said as he thumbed one of the quartz. His saber pointed at Gideon to discourage him from moving closer. "He can leave quite the negative impression."
"Ahhh, you're a kindred spirit then," Gideon said in understanding, "You've been wronged by Osborne just like us. So surely you would understand why we must take her highness away?"
Jusis shook his head and smiled wryly. "Apologies, but I don't negotiate with terrorists. The ends never justify the means and all."
"A pity. Our cause could always use more fresh blood. Though you look strangely familiar," Gideon mused, "Have we met before?"
"I highly doubt it," Jusis dryly responded, "I don't make it a habit of introducing myself to those who've got a few screws loose in their heads."
"I assure you, I am quite sane," Gideon said, shaking his head with false sympathy. "However, this is where our pleasantries shall end then. Farewell."
"Farewell indeed," Jusis agreed much to Gideon's confusion. Then he held his ARCUS out in front of him and activated the art. "Frost edge!"
Blades of crystallized ice appeared and shot towards Gideon and his cronies. They ducked and covered from the sudden assault. Jusis turned and wrapped his arms around Elise and Alfin before jumping down the hole and into the underground passages below.
Gideon growled when the last blade of ice speared itself into the ground and shattered. "After them!"
XXXXXX
Jusis, Alfin, and Elise ran down multiple passageways, never stopping until they reached a large open corridor with a bridge. He paused at the dark, oppressive feeling that suddenly invaded his senses but the growing sound of footsteps forced them to press forward.
They crossed the bridge and entered a massive chamber with multiple pathways leading out of it. Jusis urged the girls down one of the pathways where they hid within the shadows just as Gideon and two of his armed cronies arrived in the chamber.
"Dammit," Gideon snarled as he tightly gripped his gun. "Everything was going according to plan until that girl interfered. Is she another one of Osborne's damnable Ironbloods?"
"That's far enough!"
Everyone's attention turned to the entrance of the chamber where Rean and the rest of Group A came rushing in with their weapons at the ready.
"What?" Gideon exclaimed in surprise.
Machias fired multiple shotgun blasts at the terrorists, forcing them to turn and run only to be stopped by strikes from Elliot's orbal staff. Laura and Fie ran up to stop their attempts to flee. Soon, the three men were surrounded by the five members of Group A.
"Where are her highness and my sister?" Rean demanded, pointing his blade threateningly at Gideon.
"Your guess is as good as mine," Gideon growled in annoyance, "That damnable girl stole them away before we could bring them into our custody."
Rean visibly relaxed at the confirmation of his sister's safety, though his blade stayed trained on Gideon. "So Justina managed to help them get away."
"Thank Aidios," Elliot breathed out in relief.
"It seems there's more to Ms. Bright than meets the eye," Machias said curiously.
Gideon perked up and looked to Machias. "Did you say Bright? Is that the name of the third girl?"
"What's it to you?" He barked, grip tightening around his orbal shotgun.
Gideon smacked his head as he laughed at the sudden realization. "Oh! I should've known the bracers would find a way to interfere despite their limited capacity. However, I honestly expected either the Zero Artisan or Purple Lightning to appear, not someone connected to the legendary Divine Blade himself!"
The members of Group A looked at him in surprise.
"Wait, Divine Blade who? Zero Artisan and Purple Lighting what?" Elliot asked in confusion.
"We can worry about that later," Fie interjected.
Rean nodded. "Fie's right. For now, we need to take these guys in!"
"I hope you know that we won't come quietly," Gideon said, his posture rather relaxed for a man surrounded by armed and deadly students. "However, I will gladly surrender if you manage to defeat 'him'."
Before they could ask what he meant, Gideon pulled out a strange glowing flute and played a familiarly haunting memory. Suddenly, a dark aura filled the room and swirled towards the mass of bones that had been lying unnoticed near the end of the chamber, close to the passageway Jusis and the girls were hiding in. The bones lifted into the air and slowly came together until it formed a living skeletal dragon that roared menacingly as dark miasma coated its body like a liquid coat.
"W-Wha-" Elliot stuttered with knees trembling in fear.
Rean stared at the dragon in surprise. "It's a..."
"A bone dragon?" Laura finished for him.
Gideon laughed psychotically and uncontrollable as he held the flute up in reverence. "Behold! The demonic flute! An ancient artifact capable of holding even the most powerful creatures from the Dark Ages in its thrall! Now, I'll have you delay your journey to perdition no longer. Farewell, dear ladies and gentleman of Class VII!"
Group A steeled their resolve as the Bone Dragon roared down at them. Jusis held Elise and Alfin back as they tried to rush forward to help. He shook his head, silently reminding them that they'd only hinder instead. The two girls deflated as they could only watch helplessly as Group A engaged the dark monster.
However, their worries were unfounded as, despite the long and arduous battle, Group A triumphed over the dragon as its bones fell apart and the dark miasma dissipated. Gideon panicked and flailed in the face of this unexpected setback and Rean quickly led the charge towards him. He cut the demonic flute in half as Laura, Fie, Machias, and Elliot disarmed the two cronies of their weapons. The three terrorists sat on the floor, dejected and in defeat.
Once it was clear that there were no more imminent threats, Jusis released his hold on Elise and Alfin. The two girls rushed out from the shadows and he followed after them.
"Elise! Alfin!" Rean exclaimed in surprise as he was suddenly met with an armful of his tearfully grateful sister. "You're both alright!"
"Yes," Alfin nodded brightly, "All thanks to Justina's quick thinking."
"Thank you so much for keeping my sister safe," Rean said with such a sincere look of gratitude that it had Jusis involuntarily blushing in the face of it.
He cleared his throat. "It's nothing," he said, still keeping his tone light, gentle, and feminine, "I was merely doing what was requested of me and I don't appreciate terrorists in any capacity."
"Thank you anyways," Rean said, carefully removing himself from Elise's hold and walking over to give Jusis a hug of gratitude.
Jusis tensed within Rean's arms, flushing a bright red in the unexpected embrace.
Fie whistled. "Wow, Rean. Pretty bold of you to embrace a lady before the first date."
Rean quickly released his hold and stepped back with a blush. "W-Wait! That's not what this is!" He stammered and flailed.
Machias sighed and shook his head in disbelief at how utterly oblivious his classmate could be. "If it had been anybody but you Rean, I wouldn't have believed them at all."
"It seems you believe that you've won," Gideon said, drawing everyone's attention. He drew a knife and held it threateningly in Alfin's direction. "You shouldn't turn your backs on those who hold their ideals more highly than their life. I do not fear death, but this operation is far too important to leave a corpse behind. I'm afraid I will do what I must, even if it means harming a member of the Imperial family..."
Suddenly, gunfire and fire arts peppered the ground, forcing some distance between them and the terrorists. A well-built man with an x shaped scar on his face and a machine gun along with a woman clad in a tight scarlet dress and an eye patch jumped from above and landed by Gideon.
Gideon exchanged surprised pleasantries with the two, revealing them as fellow comrades and terrorists. Then a third man approached, nonchalantly walking down the spiral stairs surrounding the chamber. The third man, dressed head to toe in armor, complete with a cape and a helmet that obscured his identity.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, members of Class VII. Gideon has told me much about you all from his encounters in Celdic and Nord," the masked man said, his voice distorted into sounding deep and mechanical. Then he turned to Jusis.
"And you must be the lovely Ms. Justina Bright," he said, the mechanical smooth voice sending shivers down Jusis' spine. "I suppose it wouldn't be wrong to assume that you are highly skilled considering the legacy of your family name?"
Jusis clicked his tongue in distaste and refused to answer the masked man who chuckled at his reaction.
"Well then, I hope you all would be willing to let us leave without further conflict. After all, the princess is safe and unharmed, is she not?"
"Sorry but you've committed multiple crimes within the past few hours and we won't let you get away for attempting to kidnap her highness," Rean firmly stated.
"What a pity," the masked man shook his head, shrugging. "Then perhaps a wager?"
"What kind of a wager?" Jusis warily asked.
"A duel. If you win against me, we'll gladly surrender. But if you lose, you allow us to leave," the masked man proposed. "I'd ask you, Ms. Bright, but I don't believe I'd be able to face you and fight a fair battle if the rumors of the Bright family's prowess is to be believed. So instead…"
He turned to face Rean, Fie, and Laura. "Wielders of the long sword, great sword, and twin gun blades...Stand and face me, for I shall be your opponent."
Fie clicked her tongue in annoyance as she glared at the overconfident man.
"It seems we have no choice but to comply," Laura said, gripping her blade tightly.
"The RMP and Instructor Sara are on their way so let's try to stall for as long as we can until they get here," Rean quietly suggested.
"If all else fails, I will lend my aid regardless of that man's wager," Jusis added to which the three summoned combatants nodded gratefully for.
Even though the mask prevented them from seeing his face, they could practically feel the smugness coming off of him. He drew out a double bladed saber, surprising everyone.
"What kind of weapon is that?" Rean asked.
Laura frowned. "Another relic from the Dark Ages...a double bladed saber!"
"I am C. That is all you need to know," C proclaimed. "Now...come at me, if you think you're able!"
C and the three members of Group A engaged in battle without another word. However, it was clear that C was the superior combatant as Rean, Laura, and Fie were forced to use all they had just to counter and defend against their opponent's quick and powerful strikes.
The three of them fell to their knees, struggling to catch their breath as C stood tall and unencumbered before them. Gideon, the woman in scarlet, and the well-built man stood by his side as he proclaimed themselves to be the Imperial Liberation Front, and the purpose for their existence - the downfall of Chancellor Osborne.
Just then, Captain Claire, Sara, and the rest of Group B, arrived with the RMP. However, C had another trick up his sleeve. A series of bombs exploded, forcing them all to run out of the chamber as the ILF escaped lest the debris falling from above trapped them all.
Claire and the RMP checked over Alfin and Elise for any injuries, to which they reassured that there were none. After sending a soldier to escort the two girls back up to the surface, Claire and the rest of her unit moved out to search the tunnels.
"Great work everyone!" Sara happily exclaimed, "Group A, you performed admirably and held your own against those terrorists."
"I just wish we were able to do more than just hold our own," Rean sighed.
Laura nodded in disappointment. "Indeed. I knew that there would come a time when I would cross paths with those much stronger than me, but the difference between us was..."
"Way too large," Fie finished.
"Still, it was fine work despite the outcome. You're still students but at the rate you're growing, you'll be able to catch up in no time," Sara reassured. Then she turned to give Jusis a blinding smile. "And you did well in protecting her highness and Elise, Jusis!"
Class VII startled at her words.
"W-Wait a moment," Elliot stuttered in surprise. "J-Jusis?"
"Did I hear that right?" Machias stammered, "Did you just call Ms. Justina, Jusis?"
"Wait, this beautiful girl is actually just Jusis in a wig and a dress?" Alisa cried out in disbelief.
Sara chuckled nervously, trying to play innocent even though Jusis could see the mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oopsie."
Upon that confirmation, everyone turned to Jusis, giving him a once over in his disguise as realization slowly dawned on them and their eyes grew wide enough to risk falling out of their heads.
"JUSIS?!" They all cried out in understandable shock.
Jusis dropped his head into his hands as his face burned red from embarrassment. "Oh Aidios, just kill me now."
"W-Wait, if that's true then what's with all this 'Justina Bright' nonsense?" Machias managed to demand through his stutters.
"Was this some kind of undercover plot that Prince Olivert was privy to?" Emma carefully asked.
Laura shook her head. "I highly doubt it considering Justina Bright is a name I recognize from some of the stories told by bracers passing through the guild in Legram. Though now that I think about it, there was quite a bit of laughter involved whenever the name was brought up."
"What exactly is going on, Instructor Sara? Jusis?" Gaius asked, the only calm presence in all the chaos.
Rean was strangely silent, with his expression steadfast in remaining carefully neutral.
"Weeellll..." Sara dragged out, trying to keep up her 'oops, innocent slip of the tongue' facade that Jusis definitely wasn't buying, "His mother really wanted a girl. So much so, that even though Jusis was born a boy and all, she decided to raise him as both Jusis, the boy, and Justina, the girl!"
"That...doesn't really explain anything," Elliot hesitantly remarked.
"Sara, please stop talking," Jusis gritted out, glaring threateningly at her, "Or else I will freeze all of your booze into permanent ice blocks!"
Sara gasped, completely horrified by his threat. "You wouldn't dare!"
"Try me," he retorted.
The two engaged in a verbal spar, tossing insults and threats back and forth as Class VII watched the exchange in a fascinated daze. Fie glanced over at Rean to see he was still carefully blank faced despite the reveal. Then a thought came to her that had her smiling slyly at him.
"Hey, is no one going to say anything about how Rean thought Jusis looked hot in a dress?" She asked with a shit-eating grin.
Alisa perked up as she gave Rean an examining side glance. "Oh? Do tell, Rean."
That snapped Rean out of his careful control and he dropped his head into his hands, blushing from extreme embarrassment as Alisa and Fie continued to tease him. Elliot tried to pat him on the back in comfort as Gaius offered words of reassurance. Laura sighed while watching the chaos unfolding and Emma's attention was split between trying to help Rean and stopping Sara and Jusis from fighting. Meanwhile, Machias was doing his best not to spiral into a minor breakdown.
All in all, a good yet chaotic end to another field study.
XXXXXX
7.29 S.1204
After that disastrous ordeal with the ILF, the RMP managed to bring the chaos under control and the first day of the festival came to a close. Despite his injuries, Governor Regnitz continued with his duties with renewed vigor, ensuring the rest of the festival passed by peacefully. As thanks for our efforts, we were rewarded time off from both our field study and the academy to enjoy the rest of the Summer Festival.
Alisa made sure to drag everyone of us along to indulge her desire to tour the entirety of the Capital and enjoy everything each district had to offer.
Fie continued to tease me about my 'cross dressing tendencies' along with Rean's reaction to my disguise. Meanwhile, Rean spent his time pointedly looking everywhere and at everyone but me.
Not to say I blame him though as I too spent my time trying to put as much distance between us as possible. It's not like I was trying to avoid him or anything, I just...needed some time to compose myself after that embarrassing reveal that I know Sara did on purpose despite her many claims otherwise.
Before we left for Trista, Olivert invited us to Valflame Palace where he, Alfin, and their brother, Cedric, thanked us profusely for our efforts in keeping Alfin and Elise safe. There was some talk about the Imperial Liberation Front, mainly as to what their aims were when it came to trying to kidnap Alfin and why they wanted to take down the Chancellor.
Governor Regnitz also arrived with Elise in tow to say their thanks and farewells. The Governor was recovering so well that you could hardly tell he was shot and injured in the first place. For a moment, I thought Emma had broken into his hospital room to heal him though she denied doing such a thing when I asked. However, that secretive smile certainly wasn't helping her case at all. Honestly, if only Regnitz didn't have such a fixated gaze, he'd realize the affection Emma was developing for him.
Unfortunately, the gratitude and farewells were soon soured when Chancellor Osborne arrived. As soon as he entered the hall, I felt sick to my stomach from his dark and suffocating presence. Sara was worried but I shook off her concerns, trying to play it off as something that I ate though I know she definitely did not buy it.
Rean was adorably happy to see his uncle and the two exchanged pleasantries as I struggled to keep myself together. Then the Chancellor and Olivert exchanged small talk that everyone could feel the tension behind. Though most were confused by the subtle animosity between the men.
The Chancellor formally introduced himself to Class VII, complimenting our work during our field studies before making a subtle jab at Sara for her former bracer status and current position. Afterwards, he gave a little spiel about the high expectations he had for us while staring me straight in the eyes with a smile that made my stomach roll.
I couldn't tell you how the rest of the conversation went as I was too busy trying not to introduce the floor to my breakfast. But I do remember that Osborne had spoken of the relationship he had with my mother, subtle as the references were.
Aidios. Will my life ever have the normality Rufus wishes I could have had? Or am I forever doomed to a life of conflict and strife?
And with that comes the end of the Heimdallr field study. I had a lot of fun writing this cause I enjoyed how this particular field study really ramped up the plot and prepared us for the roller coaster of a journey we were about to embark on. Also, I added cross dressing Jusis cause if some people can make Rean cross dress in their fics, I can and will do the same in mine but with Jusis cause he is also a very good pretty boy candidate for that. Also, also, there is a fic-canon reason for the cross dressing so take that as you will. And for those of you who guessed correctly what Olivert's favor would be, here's a digital cookie and a high five!
Anyways, there are a lot of minor changes that I made that will be prevalent throughout the rest of the series as well. One change is that Olivert had another mentor who was Jusis' mother and that's why they've got a close relationship besides traveling in Liberl together back in the Trails in the Sky storyline that I swear I'll make another separate story for later in the future. Another is that the ties between the Schwarzer family and the Imperial family are going to be a bit more obvious besides Elise and Alfin's friendship and a throw away reference in the Cold Steel 1 side story. But it's not gonna be a big deal or important or anything. Just a reason to explain why Rean and Elise talk casually with the Imperial family sometimes. Another is that there is a reason for Machias' weird angry-ish attitude with his dad that doesn't ever get explained until CSIII and even then it's like a brief scene or two that doesn't explain anything and then it's never mentioned again.
The most important change, in my opinion at least, is that there will be none of that sister wants to f*** her not-brother energy here. I don't know what it is about Cold Steel but Falcom really got on my nerves with how Elise wants to get with her brother and everyone being encouraging about that for some bewildering reason.
I think it may have something to do with how successful the relationship between Estelle and Joshua is but what Falcom doesn't seem to get is that Estelle and Joshua work so well not because of the fact that it's a not sister/brother romance. It was because of how well developed the individual characters in the relationship are and the journey they each took to get to where they were as characters today. Also, Estelle and Joshua became siblings at 11 when they were already mostly developed enough that it wouldn't be much of a stretch if they ended up falling in love as opposed to Rean and Elise who became siblings when she was too young to remember and he just didn't have any memories at all.
Plus, I will have none of that Alfin wants Elise to get with her brother and if that doesn't work then don't mind if the princess steals her best friend's brother for herself bullshit here. Look, I'm all for the noble character who loves to tease and joke to get a reaction out of someone but there's a right way to do it (cough Olivert cough) and a wrong way to do it (cough Alfin and Musse cough). Like seriously, Elise and Alfin are actually good characters during the 20% of the screen time where their characters aren't tied to Rean in some way. Plus, I'm working overtime to have none of that Rean harem energy in my fic so yeah, end of my long rant. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and look forward to the next one. Until then!
