Chapter 2: The Monastery
It didn't take that long for Dimitri to return, at least in Hakuno's opinion. However, he didn't return with Annette and instead came back with an older man wearing a brown overcoat and round glasses. "This is her Professor Hanneman," Dimitri said, gesturing to Hakuno.
Hakuno got off the ground as the professor introduced himself. "Hello, Miss Kishinami. I am Professor Hanneman of the Officers Academy in Garreg Mach Monastery." His eyes seemed to twinkle as they were drawn to the Command Spells on her hand. "May I take a look at your hand?" he asked eagerly.
Hakuno just nodded and held out her hand, with her palm facing down. Hanneman's eyes widened as he caught a glimpse of the marks. He began to mutter to herself and trace each line of the Command Spells gingerly.
Hakuno and Dimitri exchanged a confused look. "Um… Professor?" Dimitri finally spoke up after a minute of silence between all of them. "Do you recognize the Crest?"
Hanneman glanced up from his research. "Well… no," he admitted. "It certainly looks like a crest, but I've never seen this pattern before. Nor have I ever seen a Crest pronounce itself like this upon the skin. Did Miss Kishinami perhaps display any unusual strength? Or any strange skills?"
"She did utilize a type of magic I've never seen before," Dimitri answered.
"Interesting. What was it called?" Hanneman asked.
"Code Casts," Hakuno answered for Dimitri.
"I've… never heard anything of the like," Hanneman muttered. "Where did you say you were from?"
Hakuno opened her mouth to explain, before closing it again, finding that she really couldn't. Computers and virtual reality were clearly a foreign concept to these people. She wasn't even sure if she was on Earth and likewise if the Moon Cell existed here. They might just call her crazy once she told the truth…
Luckily Dimitri saved her from having to explain. "She has amnesia, Professor," he said. "She couldn't even remember the continent she was on. I believe the bandits might've attacked her and she lost her memory then."
"Amnesia, hm…?" Hanneman rubbed his chin, before looking at Dimitri. "In that case, let's ask the surrounding villages if anyone recognizes her. If not, then we'll bring her back to Garreg Mach, so I can use my tools in order to determine what her Crest is."
"Is that alright with you?" Dimitri asked Hakuno.
Hakuno just nodded silently.
Xxx
Of course, they never did find anything that recognized her in the surrounding villages. Not only that, Hanneman noted that the clothes she had been wearing (her school uniform) weren't something that was usually worn on a daily basis by commoners nor any sort of uniform he had seen outside of the monastery.
Of course, Hakuno couldn't very well explain where she had gotten it. She had asked if there were any computers in this world only to be met with a whole bunch of stares.
So, in the end, they were forced to bring her back to the monastery. It was a three-day-long journey where Hakuno was kept, or confined in her opinion, in her carriage. Not that she minded. The previous fight had exhausted her, so she spent most of the trip sleeping or just admiring the world around her.
One morning, she had been admiring a small stream, sticking her hand into the water with childlike wonder, when Dimitri had found her. "What are you doing?" he asked.
Hakuno stood up from the ground, wiping her hand dry on her clothes. She had been given some new ones by Hanneman, who got it from the villages they passed. "I was just…" she hesitated, realizing how silly she was about to sound. "I've never seen a real river, before."
She felt a little guilty when Dimitri just looked sympathetic. "Oh. Because of your memory?" He shook his head. "However, I'm sorry to be the one who breaks this to you, but that tiny stream is nothing compared to an actual flowing river."
Hakuno's eyes widened. "They can… get bigger?"
"Yes." Dimitri nodded. "Though I hear nothing can compare to Derdriu, the Aquatic Captial."
"Derdriu?"
"It's the capital of the Leicester Alliance," Dimitri explained. "It's a rather popular tourist destination here on the continent and I hear it looks magnificent."
"Leicester Alliance?" Hakuno recognized the name before but was unable to connect it to anything within her prior knowledge.
Dimitri glanced at a nearby soldier and waved him over. "You wouldn't happen to have a map, would you?" The soldier nodded and handed Dimitri a rolled piece of parchment, before bowing and running off.
Dimitri unfurled the map and laid it onto the ground in front of Hakuno, beginning a small lecture on geography for her. Hakuno learned that there were two countries within the continent she was currently in. The Adrestian Empire to the south, the Leicester Alliance where she currently was, and the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus. All this information only solidified one obvious fact for her.
She had somehow been transported to another world. She wasn't sure how the Moon Cell had managed it, but in the end, it was really an undeniable fact.
Dimitri continued to lecture pointing out the capitals of the Adrestian Empire and the Leicester Alliance before he stopped his finger over the capital city in the north. "This is Fhirdiad, the capital of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus." Another second of silence passed between. "My home."
Hakuno's eyes widened. "You live up north?"
"Well not at the moment," Dimitri admitted. "And while it is colder and icier than the rest of Fódlan I would say it has made the people who live there stronger as a result."
Hakuno, however, grasped onto a certain word that Dimitri had said. "Icier? You mean like…" Again, she paused as she felt a little silly, but barreled on anyway. "Like snow?" she asked, her voice falling to a whisper.
Dimitri blinked, before looking sympathetic again. "I assume that you've either forgotten snow or you've never seen it before?"
Hakuno just nodded.
"Hmm…" He glanced down at the map on the ground, before looking back at Hakuno. "In that case, it's decided. After your memories have returned or you find your family, I'll send you on a trip around Fódlan so you can experience everything you want to."
Hakuno blinked. "N-No," she protested. "Y-You don't have to do anything like that!"
"Nonsense." Dimitri shook his head. "It's the least I could do after you helped us during that bandit attack!"
"B-But," Hakuno desperately protested. "I can't accept money to just go on vacation. Don't you need it?"
"Money is no object, especially to someone who's a friend," Dimitri said firmly.
Hakuno paused, just as a soldier, the same one who had handed Dimitri the map, came running up to them. "Is something wrong?" Dimitri asked him.
"Well, not exactly, Your Highness,' the soldier said, bowing. "It's just that the rest of the Blue Lions and Professor Hanneman need your presence. They are planning to draft a report on what occurred near the eastern church."
Dimitri frowned and stood up. "Of course, I'll be right there." He glanced at Hakuno, who was still silent. "We're almost to the monastery, so you should get some rest." He turned to leave.
"Thank you."
He paused and turned back around. "Sorry did you say something?" he asked, but when Hakuno just shook her head, he turned back around and left with the guard towards the front of the caravan, leaving Hakuno smiling softly at the map they had left behind.
Xxx
The monastery was a lot larger than Hakuno had imagined it as. She had thought it would be about the size of the church where she upgraded her Servant, but it was so, so much larger than that merely small church. Of course, it was the only reference she had, but Garreg Mach Monastery still astonished her.
Hanneman had pulled away from the caravan and carted her off towards the building in the middle of the area, so she didn't even get a chance to truly take in the sights. She did see a bunch of people a little older than she was, wearing similar uniforms, which made her think that this was some sort of school. Priests and priestesses also walked around, side-by-side the students and there were soldiers posted at every nook and cranny. "What is this place?" she asked Hanneman as she followed him into a long hallway, where even more people milled about chatting or just reading.
Hanneman looked back at her with a surprised look, before nodding gravely. "Ah, right, your memory." He waved vaguely at a nearby wall. "We're in Garreg Mach Monastery, where the headquarters of the Central Church. It is also the site of the Officers' Academy, a place where we train nobles and commoners who have the burden of carrying the fate of this continent on their backs," he boasted.
"A school?" Hakuno asked curiously.
"The most prodigious school in the continent!" Hanneman said with a nod. "Why the price to attend itself could cost a village their entire life savings!"
"And…" Her voice died and Hakuno snapped her head behind her, her eyes meeting another pair of pale green ones. She was staring at a young man, clad in light black armor and a black jacket thrown around his shoulders. He dark turquoise hair and a face that betrayed no emotion.
When she caught him staring, he didn't look too bothered by it, but after a while turned back to the book he had been reading. "Who's that?" Hakuno asked the professor, pointing behind her.
Hanneman glanced at where she was pointing at. "Oh, you mean Professor Byleth?" he said. "He's a new professor to the school. Only recruited about a couple of months ago, but already he has the makings of a perfect teacher!" He chortled to himself, as Hakuno glanced back behind herself to see that Byleth had disappeared.
Putting that behind her for now, she asked Hanneman, "Where are we going?"
"We are going to see Lady Rhea, the head of the Church of Seiros" Hanneman explained. "I need to check with her if may stay in the nearby orphanage." He shook his head. "Usually there would be no such problem, but it seems that there's some sort of trouble. Catherine would like me to check with Lady Rhea first."
Hakuno just nodded. "Do I need to do anything?" she asked, figuring that Lady Rhea was some sort of authority figure that she probably shouldn't upset.
"No," Hanneman tightened his tie. "Just stay silent and if you're asked to speak then do so. Otherwise, I'll do the talking." He placed a hand on her shoulder, just as they reached a set of staircases. "Don't worry," he said kindly. "I'll make sure we'll find out where you belong."
Hakuno felt a twinge of guilt but just nodded. All she could do was go with the flow. If she was left on the side of the road, then she would be lost within this new world.
They ascended the staircase in silence before they found themselves in front of a pair of large doors. Hanneman pushed them open and gestured for Hakuno to follow him inside, which she did.
Inside there were only three people. A tall green-haired man with a stern face who also had a goatee and a woman dressed in elegant looking clothes and a lighter shade of green hair. She had a serene look on her face that made Hakuno feel immediately at ease. An older man with a balding head and dressing in priestly attire stared at Hakuno for a second before smiling.
Hanneman bowed and Hakuno copied his gesture.
"At ease," The woman said giving the two a soft smile, before turning to the old man. "Tomas you may leave."
Tomas bowed. "Of course Lady Rhea." He left the throne room, closing the doors behind him.
The woman looked at Hanneman still with the same gentle smile. "Hanneman, I assume your class's mission went well?"
Hanneman nodded. "They were only a few complications, but the Blue Lions handled it all spectacularly!" He gestured towards Hakuno. "Though as my correspondence said we found a young lady who no one in the surrounding area could recognize. I decided to bring her back here under suggestion by Prince Dimitri."
Hakuno's eyes widened and she stared at Hanneman in shock. Dimitri was a prince? Is that was Ashe and Annette had referred to him as "Your Highness?"
"And you chose to bring her here?" The dark green-haired man asked.
"Yes." Hanneman hesitated. "Was there something wrong with my decision, Seteth?"
"Yes, of course!" Seteth snapped, harshly. "We recently uncovered a letter concerning a plan to assassinate Lady Rhea! And yet you bring someone who no one can verify even exists without thinking twice! If this girl ends up being the assassin, then you would've brought her straight to her target-!"
Lady Rhea cleared her throat and Seteth fell silent. "What is your name?" she asked kindly, directing her question towards Hakuno.
"Hakuno," she replied a little quietly, before clearing her throat and saying a little more firmly, "Hakuno Kishinami."
"Are you an assassin sent to kill me, Ms. Kishinami?" Lady Rhea asked as Seteth narrowed his eyes.
"No." Hakuno shook her head side to side. "I could never do something like that."
"Hmm…" Rhea frowned, placing her finger to her chin contemplating her words. "Hanneman your correspondence mentioned that she had some talent in magic, correct?"
"Yes." Hanneman nodded. "Dimitri also mentioned she knew some magic that he couldn't recognize and imbued him with greater strength. And her crest..." He shook his head. "Well, it certainly is a conundrum…"
"In that case," Lady Rhea said with a gentle smile. "Do you mind having her join the Blue Lions? You are the Blue Lion's professor after all and it would give you plenty of chances to investigate her crest."
"Wha-?" Seteth could only stare at Rhea.
Hanneman hesitated. "You wish to have her join the Officer's Academy?" he asked. "She's a little young… though I suppose that isn't anything new…" He shook his head. "Regardless, if Ms. Kishinami has no objection, she is free to join the Blue Lions and enroll in the Officer's Academy."
"Well, Ms. Kishinami?" Lady Rhea smiled at her. "What is your answer?"
Hakuno was silent for a moment. She was a bit dubious of the prospect. She got the impression that the academy was one to train soldiers or warriors, given what she had seen before. However, she had little other option. She had nowhere else to go, so…
"Yes," she answered. "I would be honored to join the Blue Lions." She didn't really know what that meant, but if Hanneman was the professor, then it couldn't be all bad. Hanneman was a nice man in her opinion.
Lady Rhea beamed. "In that case, Hanneman, talk to Cyril about procuring her a uniform and a room. I would also introduce her to her new classmates." To Hakuno she said, "Ms. Kishinami, I do hope you enjoy your time at the Officer's Academy and make many friends. If you ever have any concerns, do not hesitate to talk to the faculty or come straight to me, understand?"
Hakuno nodded. "Yes… Lady Rhea." She bowed.
Hanneman looked happy, though Hakuno suspected it was because he was now allowed free ability to investigate her Command Spells. "Come along, Ms. Kishinami. Though, may I call you Hakuno from now on?"
Hakuno just nodded, as the two left the room, leaving both Seteth and Lady Rhea alone. Once they had left, Seteth closed the doors, so no one could hear them talk. "Lady Rhea, I cannot accept this," he said, not bothering to hide his criticism. "It was one thing to accept that mercenary into a teaching position! But enrolling a mysterious girl who-!"
"Seteth" Came the stern response.
Seteth fell quietly, only now noticing the change in Lady Rhea's expression. Gone was the once gentle expression, replaced by a harder and angrier one. Though Seteth got the impression that she wasn't mad at him, but rather someone else. "Have a rotating group of guards monitor Hakuno Kishinami, every second of every day," she ordered, without the hint of the gentleness from a mere few seconds ago. "Make sure a Knight of Seiros accompany the Blue Lions from any mission outside of the monastery they go on from now on."
Seteth could only nod. "It will be done, Lady Rhea," he said after a beat of nervous silence.
"If Ms. Kishinami ever takes a step out a line…" Her eyes narrowed. "Kill her."
Xxx
"That is unexpected," Dimitri said. "I would've never expected Lady Rhea to have you enrolled in the Officer's Academy."
Hakuno just nodded silently. It had been a surprise to her too.
After she had talked to Rhea, she had been instructed to change into her new uniform by Hanneman once a young boy named Cyril had given it to her. It was near identical to her previous clothes, though now it was colored a pure black. Then Hanneman dragged her off towards a courtyard and, subsequently, into a classroom with blue banners hanging near the doors, where she was introduced to the Blue Lions.
"Well, if you're really joining our class then I guess we should formally introduce ourselves," Annette said cheerfully. "My full name is Annette Fantine Dominic. Though you can still just call me Annette!"
"My full name is Ashe Ubert," Ashe said. "I'm the adopted son of Lord Lo-!' His face suddenly fell. "I mean… uh… never mind." His smile returned, which caused Hakuno to raise a brow. "You can just refer to me by my first name." With a strange amount of stiffness, he just walked away from the group, leaving the classroom altogether.
"Don't worry about him." The oldest one there, a woman with dirty blonde hair falling over her left shoulder with a bow tied around it, spoke up, giving the spot Ashe left a look full of pity. "He heard some upsetting news once we got back and he's still reeling from it." She blinked, realizing that she had yet to introduce herself. "Oh! I almost forgot! I'm Mercedes von Martritz!"
"It's nice to meet you, Mercedes," Hakuno greeted amicably.
Mercedes stared at her face for a second, before suddenly cooing. "You're so adorable!" she gushed. "Haku, if you're having any problems with school, feel free to come to me to help! I'll be like your big sister away from home!"
Haku? Hakuno could only blink owlishly.
"If you're free enough to help our new classmate, then surely you should be free enough to finish your classwork," the large man with brown skin and white hair said with a shake of his head. Hakuno noted that he had moved away from Dimitri even once during the conversation. He gave Hakuno a skeptical look as if judging if she was a threat. "You can call me Dedue," he said shortly.
Hakuno just nodded.
The boy with black hair tied into a messy bun examined her from head to toe. "You don't look very strong," he said bluntly.
"Now, Felix!" The red-haired boy faked a gasp. "You can't go around insulting a lady like that." He winked at Hakuno. "Especially one as cute as her! Tell me how does a table underneath the moonlight-Urk!" He was suddenly elbowed in the gut by the blonde-haired girl, whose hair had been done up in a braid. She jabbed her elbow into the black-haired boy, leaving the two of them reeling from her blows.
"W-What was that for?" the black-haired boy snapped, irritated.
She merely shook her head. "Sorry about that," she said, apologizing to Hakuno. "The one with no sense is Felix Hugo Fraldarius. The flirt is Sylvain Jose Gautier."
"I can introduce myself, y'know," Felix grumbled, massaging his sides.
"Y-Yeah," Sylvain said. "I just wanted to get to know Hakuno better-Ow!"
The girl stamped her foot onto Sylvain's left foot, making him jump away from her and cradle it. She ignored the dirty look from Sylvain and instead focused on Hakuno. I'm Ingrid Brandl Galatea. Just call me Ingrid, though."
"Ingrid…!" Sylvain whined.
"You do this with every girl you meet Sylvain," Ingrid said with a sigh. "I couldn't in good conscience let Hakuno just be another one of your passing flings. Especially since she's our new classmate."
"Why did you hurt me then?" Felix snapped. "I just said she didn't look strong!"
As the three began to argue, Dimitri shook his head. "Well, that's our class. We're a… lively bunch, but you'll find none who work harder within these walls. Since you're joining us as a classmate, we'll be holding you to the same standard as well."
"I'll do my best." Hakuno nodded before she realized something. "But, if you don't mind me asking, what does the academy teach?" She assumed it would have to be some sort of religious studies since there was a church, but if that was the case then she had no idea why Dimitri and the others were out on a battlefield.
The arguing from Felix, Sylvain and Ingrid stopped as they turned to stare at her. Dimitri was quiet for a few moments, before shaking his head again. "Well since most of us are already gathered in the classroom, we might as well have an impromptu study group for Hakuno's sake…"
Xxx
"The Regalia has been found," Thales suddenly announced, coming up from behind Archimedes while the Caster-class Servant had been working.
Archimedes flicked the tiny piece of the Umbral Star he had been working on away from, where, the moment it touched the ground, shattered into pieces and disappeared into the air. "Oh," he said, nonchalantly. "Where is it?"
"She," Thales corrected, making Archimedes raised a brow. "The Regalia-bearer was found in Garreg Mach Monastery by Solon. He mentioned that he could clearly see the Command Spells upon the back of her hand."
"Hm…" Archimedes frowned. "If she has the Regalia… that would be she is perhaps the winner of a Moon Cell Holy Grail War in another world. But then why would the Moon Cell send her to this world? Would she not just go back to her real body once the war was finished." He looked at Thales. "What is her name?"
"Hakuno Kishinami," Thales replied. "She has currently joined the Blue Lions in the Officers Academy."
Archimedes blinked. "The Officers Academy?" he repeated, putting a hand to his chin. "Garreg Mach Monastery? Isn't that where the Sword of the Creator is currently being held?" A thin smile appeared on his face. "How lucky. We can hit two birds with one stone."
Thales nodded. "Agreed. While everyone is busy protecting the Archbishop, our forces will steal the Sword of the Creator and Hakuno Kishinami. The Death Knight is the one in charge of taking the Sword of the Creator." He smiled and snapped his fingers.
The air behind him suddenly blurred and a figure appeared with her head bowed. Archimedes looked a little annoyed. She was young at first glance, wearing very little but a black one-piece and a bit of armor on her arms and legs. She had black hair tied into a ponytail and a pair of golden eyes. However, if one were to look closer, it would become obvious that she was not a human but a mere doll.
"Assassin of Shadows," Thales greeted. "I take it you understand your mission?"
Assassin only bowed her head lower. "Coordinate with Death Knight. Kidnap Hakuno Kishinami," she said in a practically monotone voice.
"As a last resort." Thales smiled cruelly. "If you are unable to locate the Regalia on or in her body, bring her back here."
Assassin nodded. "Yes, Master." She disappeared.
Archimedes snorted. "If she fails…" he warned Thales.
"If she fails then we send a clear message to the Regalia and the Archbishop," Thales shot back. "The Flame Emperor need not know about this. In the end, this has nothing to do with their own goals."
Archimedes wasn't convinced. "They won't like this. You have yet to divulge the existence of Servants."
"I don't believe it to be necessary," Thales said. "Regardless of failure, everything has begun to move towards their predestined paths."
Xxx
Dimitri/Hakuno Support C
Dimitri raised his training sword and slammed the flat of the blade against the dummy he had been practicing against. He drew himself back and wiped away some sweat that had collected on his forehead, only to notice Hakuno standing nearby watching him. "Hakuno," he said, turning to greet her. "Are you here for training?"
Hakuno shifted on her heels, looking embarrassed. "N-no," she mumbled.
"Oh." Dimitri studied her face, realizing the problem. "Are you lost?"
She only looked more embarrassed. "Yes," she admitted. "I was trying to find my room."
"Ah." Dimitri looked thoughtful. "If you're willing to wait until I finish my training, I can walk you to the dorms."
Hakuno nodded. "I can wait," she answered. "Thank you, D-" She paused. "Thank you, Your Highness." She bowed her head a little unsteadily.
Dimitri frowned. "You have no obligation to refer to me like that," he found himself saying. "You can just continue calling me by my first name."
Hakuno hesitated. "But everyone else calls you that," she pointed out meekly.
"And I will tell you the same time I told them," Dimitri said firmly. "Within the Academy, we all are students. My title as prince doesn't matter while we are inside the monastery. Here I would like to be treated as you would treat anyone else. We are friends are we not?"
"Yes," Hakuno said immediately before hesitating. "I mean… yes, Dimitri."
Dimitri smiled. "Thank you." He turned towards the training g dummy only to turn back toward Hakuno. "If you don't mind me asking… have you ever held a sword?"
Hakuno was quiet for a second. "No," she answered.
"Hm." He placed his hand on his chin in deep thought. "You do have an affinity towards magic, I have seen you practicing with Annette and Mercedes during combat training. However, you tire rather easily. I suggest perhaps taking up some weapon training to curtail your weaknesses."
She winced. "Umm…" she said, awkwardly. I've never… I don't think I have ever held a weapon before."
"In that case," Dimitri said firmly. "There is no reason to not start now." He handed her the training sword. "For now, just take this and attempt to strike the dummy."
Hakuno took the blade uncertainly and faced the training dummy. She closed her eyes, mentally preparing herself before they snapped open. She drew the handle close to her chest, the sharp tip of the sword pointed directly at the training dummy's center.
Dimitri blinked. "W-wait!" He fruitlessly raised a hand to stop her, but he was too late.
Hakuno drove the sword into the stuffed body of the dummy the tip exiting out of the back of the dummy. She looked rather pleased, but when she attempted to pull the sword out, she found it wedged within the dummy. She struggled to pull it out for a moment, only to lose her grip and stumble backward, falling onto her behind.
Dimitri looked somewhat concerned as he helped her up to her feet and then pulled out the sword. "That's a… rather strange technique to begin with," he mused, looking the blade over. He gave Hakuno a curious look. "Where did you learn it from?"
Hakuno was quiet for a moment, her gaze pointedly directed at the floor. "I don't remember," she said a little quietly.
Dimitri stared at Hakuno with a piercing gaze, but to his surprise, she didn't falter. He sighed. "You certainly are a strange one, Hakuno Kishinami," he said. He spun the sword within his hand before turning around with his back facing Hakuno. "I'll put away the training equipment and then show you to your room." He walked away.
Hakuno looked at the ground feeling a strange sense of guilt.
Hakuno and Dimitri Support C Rank Gained!
Hakuno Kishinami
Gender: Female
Excels in Faith and Authority
Doesn't in Riding, Armor, and Lances
Unique Skill: Moon Cell Master: Grants +3 damage and -3 damage taken to any adjacent Servant
Current Class: Hacker
Hacker Unique Skill: Code Cast Magic
Crit Quotes:
"I will protect my wish!"
"If we have to fight…"
Level Up Quotes:
"Is this what it is like to participate in a real battle?"
"I don't plan on staying on the sidelines anymore."
Nothing to say here but I hope you enjoyed! Reviews and constructive criticism are appreciated!