Chapter Four

Freja, the headmistress of the academy, took her seat at the front of the table. The entire staff of the academy had gathered there in the conference room; this was a very serious matter.

Freja was a young Elvaan woman with long black hair. Her eyes, although such a dark indigo that they were nearly black, were comforting; being around Freja always gave people a warm, kind-hearted feeling. Unlike the rest of the academy staff, however, she wore a special suit of armor; it was made of very rare, very beautiful white-colored steel known as molybdenum. The molybdenum was pounded into sheets and plated with luscious gold and tied with silver threads. The suit had thick, tan colored cosciales, held together by silk cloth and rare kinds of buffalo and bugard leathers. She wore orichalcum and platinum gambieras on her feet; and monopolas made from adaman and gold on her hands. On her head, she wore a brilliant zucchetto made from gold, copper, and darksteel, coning up into an orichalcum point at the top, slicked back to resemble a feather. Her whole ensemble was known as the Barone set, and only the most talented dragoons had the honor of wearing it.

"Now, I am sure you have all heard about the attack on Hunt, one of this year's graduating students, which occurred earlier today." Freja began; her voice was warm and friendly, yet deadly serious. "This was no ordinary assault; Kuraude, Chiku-Biku, Gir, please give us the details of what happened."

The three of them stood up and explained what each of them had seen.

"Hmmm…" an old dragoon Hume with a long white beard spoke. "So… do you think he might be the next one?"

"Perhaps," Freja replied, "we'll send Kain and his friends to the tower as their final mission; that should prove whether or not he really is the next in line…"

There was a huge mob of students gathered around the bulletin board in the main hall of the academy. The teams and assignments for the final mission had been posted, and everyone wanted to see what would be in store for them.

"'Kain, Trice, Garaku...speak with headmistress Freja for your assignment.' Hey! We're on the same team!" Trice said excitedly after reading the board.

"Who's that Garaku guy?" Kain asked.

"He's the one who told Kuraude about your fight with Hunt."

"Great, we're teaming up with a snitch."

"Don't say that! If it wasn't for Kuraude, you would've killed Hunt! Nearly did anyways, he's still in the hospital."

"Well, the board said to talk with Freja, better get going then."

Kain and Trice arrived in the headmistress's office; Freja and Garaku had been waiting for them.

"Ah, good, you're all here, now we can get started." Freja announced as she sat at her desk. "Now, it has recently come to out attention that a powerful villain by the name ofKakeshi has been hiding out in Delkfutt's Tower on Qufim Island. He is thought to be very dangerous, and is a threat to the peaceful society we live in. your assignment is to travel to the Grand Duchy of Jeuno and contact the dragoon corpse branch located there in the Tenshodo, they will provide you with further information. Are there any questions?"

"Once we arrive in Jeuno," Garaku asked shyly, "how will we get to Qufim?"

"There is an underground passage from Port Jeuno that connects to the island. Do not worry though," Freja handed Garaku a large, tan colored envelope, "all of your directions and maps are included in here. Well, most of them anyways, it is up to you whether they are the best routes or not."

"How will we find the Tenshodo and the dragoon corpse?" Trice asked.

"That information is also included in the envelope." Freja replied, "well that is really all I can tell you for now, the rest will come to you in time. You three will need to utilize everything you have learned while you have attended my academy if you wish to succeed; and when you do, you shall all be honored as full-fledged dragoons! You shall depart for Jeuno tomorrow at 6:00, so get some rest tonight, you'll need it."