Chapter 3: Officers Academy
After a peaceful night of rest, Audrey woke up not to be in a hospital bed and right by a heart rate monitor like she had expected. But instead in her room back in Garreg Mach.
Damn, so this is all really real?! Isn't it?! Audrey thought.
She then rubbed the last of the sleepiness out of her eyes before getting up out of her bed and stretching. Audrey then pulled out her phone as she began to document everything in which she had experienced in her notes app. She then put on her shoes as she left her room to go have breakfast in the dining hall.
But while she was walking, she decided to pull out her cell phone as she began to take video and photos of different parts of Garreg Mach so that just in case she were to return to Earth then she would at least have proof of this whole experience and her family wouldn't think that she is insane and try locking her up in a mental asylum.
After having a hearty breakfast in the dining hall, Audrey remembered how Seteth had ordered her to attend a faculty meeting regarding the Officers Academy so she began to head to the building in which Seteth's office was located and soon entered it. After a while of mindlessly walking, Audrey arrived at a room which had a sign on its door that read, 'Faculty Meeting Room' on it. So Audrey then opened up the door and there on the other side, she saw a long brown wood table with at least four people sitting there.
One person was male, appeared to be in their mid thirties, had short brown hair and a short mustache as well. Another person was also male, appeared to be a lot older than the previous person as this guy appeared to be in his early fifties, had a mustache and had gray hair as well. Another person was also male, but this time appeared to be a lot younger than the previous two guys as this person appeared to be around Audrey's age as he had beige hair and for whatever reason, wore a mask as well.
Who does this guy think he is? Batman or something? Audrey thought.
Finally, the last person was female, appeared to be in her mid-to-late thirties, had brown hair and even wore orange makeup as well.
The four people all turned to face Audrey and she felt that now was the time to introduce herself to her new colleagues. "Um… hey guys, my name is Audrey and um… Seteth just hired me here as an assistant professor at the Officers Academy. So yeah" Audrey introduced herself.
"Well… Audrey it is so great to meet you, I am Professor Manuela Casagranda. I teach the Golden Deer and I also run the infirmary here at Garreg Mach. So if you ever get hurt out there then come to me as I will patch you up real good" Manuela introduced herself with a wink. "Hmmm… Seteth never told me about you so I suppose that you were only hired here just recently" the older man began as he put a gloved hand on his bearded chin. "Oh well… my name is Professor Hanneman von Essar and I teach the Blue Lions. Also, forgive my for asking but do you have a crest by any chance?" Hanneman curiously asked as Audrey had absolutely no idea as to what the man was talking about.
Great, now more stuff that I am expected to know. Audrey thought.
Before Audrey could try and muster up a response to Hanneman's question, Manuela immediately cut in. "Did you really have to ask her that? I mean look at how uncomfortable she is?!" Manuela said as Hanneman said nothing in response.
Pretty soon, after an awkward period of silence, the door to the room opened up as Seteth walked in and all the way to the other side of the table in the room. He looked around to make sure that everyone was here and his eyes stayed on Audrey a little longer than everyone else before moving to the others in the room. "Alright, so it appears that everyone is here so we may begin" Seteth said as he then cleared his throat before beginning to speak once more.
"So before we get into what we were planning on discussing here, I must introduce to us our newest assistant professor here at the Officers Academy. Her name is Audrey," Seteth said before beginning to move on to the meeting's main topic.
"So now sinde that is out of the way, we can all now move on to what I have been planning to discuss with you all today" Seteth began. "Of course imperial year 1179 is beginning to come to an end and imperial year 1180 is just on the horizon so as one class graduates, another class takes the previous class's spot. I am sure that you are all aware of the fact that this year will be special as to how we will have the heirs to Fodlan's three respective nations all in the same class" Seteth said as nods from all around the table abounded.
"So, I have been thinking about having the three house leaders all go on a field trip to Remire Village located over in empire territory as some sort of exercise to get to know each other and to maybe train with one another. So which one of you will be willing to take the students on the trip?" Seteth asked. "I will do it, headmaster," one person said. "Professor Craven, thank you for volunteering," Seteth replied. "So I plan on having the trip be at least three days long and I suppose a good date will be the 22nd through the 24th of the Great Tree Moon. Do any of you agree with this date?" Seteth asked. Nods from all around abounded. "Great, well then let us discuss curriculums for the upcoming school year" Seteth said.
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Thank goodness that is finally over. Audrey thought as she could not believe that she made it through all that without even falling asleep.
Right before Audrey could get up and leave just like everyone else, Seteth signaled for her to stay. "So Audrey, I have just made my decision that you will be working with Professor Craven in the Black Eagles House and I will be sure to let the good professor know about this arrangement. You will start your work here on Friday, the fourth of the Great Tree Moon" Seteth said before going into his pocket and retrieving five gold coins.
"Also, this here is 5,000 gold" Seteth said before handing the gold to Audrey. "Use this wisely to buy a weapon and some new clothes at the marketplace" Seteth said as Audrey just nodded in response. "So that is everything today, you are dismissed" Seteth said as Audrey then left the room.
Once she left the building, she began heading to the marketplace. Eventually, she arrived at the marketplace, as there she made her way through the massive crowd to try and find a stall where they were selling clothes. Sure enough, she found a stall with a wooden sign that read 'Betsey's Boutique' as the stall was being run by a middle aged silver haired woman in an elegant looking blue dress.
"Hi, um I would like to buy some clothes please" Audrey said as she looked around to see what was there. "Great, well what are you looking to buy? A dress for a date perhaps or maybe even a tunic?" Betsey asked as Audrey scanned through her clothes. "I am fine with a tunic," Audrey replied as Betsey then pulled out a red and green pair of tunic and trousers and there was some armor on parts of it. "This may be a boutique but that does not mean that we don't have outfits here that aren't suited for combat. So will you be choosing this outfit?" Betsey asked. Audrey scanned the outfit before nodding, "yes". "Alright well that will be 3,000 gold" Betsey said as Audrey handed her three of the five gold coins and in return, Betsey handed her the outfit. "Have a nice day!" Betsey called from her stall as Audrey began walking to another stall, this time one that appeared to be selling medicine bottles, armor and even weapons as well.
The stall was being run by a red haired merchant with her hair tied up in a ponytail and she appeared to be in a grateful mood. "Welcome to Anna's shop. What are you looking to buy?" Anna asked. Audrey scanned as her eyes then landed on an iron sword leaned up against the stall. "I guess I will choose that sword over there" Audrey said, gesturing to the sword. "Ah yes, this sword is a beauty as it is forged by only the greatest blacksmiths in the kingdom" Anna said. "That will be 520 gold" Anna said as Audrey then handed her one gold coin and in return, she got five gold coins and two bronze coins. "Come back soon!" Anna called out as Audrey began walking away from the stall then from the marketplace and back to her room. Once she arrived at the latter, she began unchanging as she put on her brand new outfit and even strapped the sword around her hip.
Wow I never thought that my tunic would fit on me just like that considering how I did not explain what side I wanted to that merchant in the marketplace. Audrey thought.
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Libraries always fascinated Audrey as ever since she was a kid, she always loved just how many books there were and how it was a good place to study. So when she remembered that Garreg Mach had its own library, she instantly wanted to check it out to see what books this place had to offer as maybe she could learn more about this world.
While making her way to the library, she stopped to see Flayn skipping towards the library as well as the two then both faced each other. "Oh hello Audrey, were you heading to the library as well?" Flayn asked. "Actually yes I was Flayn, I mean maybe it will be a good way to learn about this worl-er… land better" Audrey replied. "Great, well allow me to join you" Flayn cheerfully replied as Audrey followed her into the library.
Overall, the library was nice as all the books were neatly tucked into their respective shelves and there were candlesticks lit at every single table. There were at least two stories to the room and there was also a giant globe placed in the center of the library. Audrey looked around as she noticed many students all sitting down and studying. She just shrugged it off that the students were studying for some big exam.
As Audrey and Flayn were both walking through the library, they stumbled across an elderly man who was wearing a white robe and being assisted by a wooden walking stick dusting a few shelves. "Hello there Tomas" Flayn said as Tomas then turned to face the two ladies. "Well hello there Flayn, what brings you here?" Tomas asked. "Well I am just here with my companion Audrey over here. Audrey, this here is Tomas, the librarian here" Flayn introduced as Audrey and Tomas both made eye contact.
I don't know but I just have a bad feeling about this guy. Audrey thought.
"Well, Audrey, it is nice to meet you. Like what Flayn said, I am the librarian here and today is quite a busy day if I say so. I just love seeing these students come here and make good use of the books" Tomas introduced himself before he resumed dusting the books. Audrey and Flayn were both just browsing through many books as Audrey saw read through the many book titles, 'Book of Seiros volumes 1 & 2', 'History of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus', 'History of the Leicester Alliance', and even 'The Nobility of Fodlan'. Audrey ultimately decided on the first book and she then pulled out the book from the shelf.
After reading the book and getting to know more about Fodlan and the religion, Audrey left the library to go head to the training grounds to work on her swordplay.
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As Audrey made her way through the nearly packed training grounds, she looked over to see Dimitri sparring with a blonde haired teenage student with her hair tied up in a long ponytail who appeared to be only a few years younger than Audrey as she wielded a wooden lance.
Eventually, Dimitri emerged victorious as the student was now panting heavily. Dimitri grabbed a nearby canteen and handed it over to the student as the latter greedily grabbed the canteen and began chugging its contents down her throat. "That was a fine spar, wasn't it Ingrid?" Dimitri asked as he wiped a few beads of sweat of his face. Ingrid finished drinking.
"Yes it was your highness" Ingrid replied as Audrey could not believe what she just heard. At this point she just wanted to cry as she saw someone else in Ingrid's place. They were both so alike as they of course both shared the same name but also look very similar as well. The two students both then turned to face Audrey.
"Ah, Audrey, I didn't expect to see you here" Dimitri said. "Yes, your er… highness. Sorry I am still getting used to saying that" Audrey replied. "There is no need to apologize. Oh may I ask but have you met Ingrid over here, she too is a member of the Blue Lions?" Dimitri asked. "No I haven't" Audrey replied as she then turned to face Ingrid.
"Well like what Dimitri said, my name is Audrey and I will be working as an assistant professor at the Officers Academy which means that I may be teaching your house" Audrey introduced herself. "Why Audrey, pleasure to meet you. I am Ingrid Brandl Galatea of House Galatea in the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus. I dream of becoming a knight one day" Ingrid introduced herself. "Um… Dimitri" Audrey began as Ingrid shot a glare in Audrey's direction which both she and Dimitri noticed.
Great, what did I do now? Audrey thought.
"Hey don't talk to his highness like that" Ingrid angrily said. "It is fine Ingrid, honestly I encourage all my peers to express free speech when around me" Dimitri assured. "What was it that you were going to ask me, Audrey?" Dimitri asked. "I was just asking you if um… you could maybe teach me about swordplay since I have never wielded a sword or well any other weapon in my life" Audrey finished. "Well see, I would love to help teach you Audrey. But the problem is that I promised to volunteer in the Dining Hall today and also after that, cleaning the pegasus stables. But I am sure that Ingrid over here wouldn't mind training you, wouldn't you, Ingrid" Dimitri asked.
"No not at all your highness" Ingrid replied. "Great, well then I should be taking my leave now so the both of you have a nice day" Dimitri said before walking off into the distance.
Well, this should be interesting. Audrey thought.
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A/N: Hello everyone, sorry about the long wait and sorry if this chapter may feel a little rushed. I was originally going to expand much more on the library scene but I decided against it because I didn't know how to continue it. Please stay tuned for the next chapter where we will get to see Audrey training with Ingrid. Have nice day!