915.M41

Officio Prefectus Schola Progenium

[RECORD EXPUNGED]

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

"Contemplation is the womb of treachery."


It had been nearly a week since that first fateful meeting in the courtyard, and things have only gotten more punishing. Instead of sword drill, Ciaphas had decided that Louise's largest issue was a severe lack of any real body strength, and the exercise regime he had come up with absolutely brutal, especially when one takes into account the work being done throughout the day as well.

But Louise did not quit, she most certainly complained- but she did not quit. And the results had started to show, small at first but with the potential to turn into something larger. Instead of getting immediately pummeled she was able to last a few seconds longer on the training grounds, using her size and speed to her advantage she has even managed to win her first match, much to the losers annoyance.

She had even begun to pick up in the academics field, with a few quiet pointers from Ciaphas and an immense amount of studying and trial and error on her part. Speaking of the boy, she had even managed to start tolerating him, though she wouldn't admit it. It was nice to have someone to talk to.

The questions he'd ask were a bit odd though, mainly repetitious things such as where she was from, small things about her family, if she had any siblings, but occasionally something more strange questions would be asked such as, had she ever killed, where was she transferred from, how many moons did her planet have, and others along that line.

Overall though, she has found Cain to be acceptable company. He could be rather crass at times, and she always felt like he was just a bit off, but he was alright to talk to and could even make her smile on the rare occasion. She had started to see him, though she'd never admit it, as a friend - and something vital to keeping herself sane in the hellish reality she had found herself flung into.


"The enemies of mankind are many - and you will likely face several of them throughout your lifetime in the Commissariat. Maybe one day you'll even get lucky enough to retire! But - that is a long time from now, and a future I doubt many of you will see."

Louise frowns, and glances around to see many of the other cadets with expressions of surprise and offense on their faces. The new instructor had only been there a day, but already students had come to despise him. A veteran commissar of over two dozen campaigns, with the war wounds to prove it, Commissar Trubold had already proved a harsh taskmaster. Constantly shouting and glaring at the cadets with an expression of utter contempt, as if they were worth less than than a fleck of dust on his boot.

"From the hated alien, to the mutant, and to the heretic there are many you will face throughout your career. Most dangerous of all however is the arch-enemy. Beware the heretic for his forked tongue will tell many lies. Trust in no one, but yourself and The God Emperor in Terra!" Commissar Trubold shouts, slamming a fist against his desk.

Several cadets jumped in their seats, Louise however not being one of them. Constant hours of training by someone not afraid in the least to play dirty had started to have an effect on her to say the least.

Commissar Trubold, however was not impressed. Walking around behind his desk, he removes a large sack from beneath it and reaches into it, withdrawing a mangled green head tusk two risks coming from the corners of its mouth, and face contorted in rage even despite being long dead.

"This, my dear cadets - is an ork. As violent as they are stupid, these Xenos are not to be underestimated in battle. Of course when compared to the holy human form, several massive flaws are obvious, but that is neither here not there. These creatures have their own dangers, despite their stupidity they all possess a certain base cunning that is not to be taken lightly. Many a green Commissar has been taken unaware because they weren't paying attention! Always watch your surroundings, always be on guard! Why I'll have you, when I was your age..."

Louise groaned, rubbing her temple with her left hand as she realizes the old Commissar has no intention of stopping his rant anytime soon. She had not been entirely sure what to expect when she had learned about their new class, but certainly nothing near to whatever this was.

For almost an hour more she listened to the old mans rambles, some of which was admittedly useful information on hellish creatures that inhabited the galaxy, but most of which was nonsensical grumbling and stories of the aged Commissar's experiences and travels. At least he didn't seem to assign any out of class work. Or any work at all now that she thought it.

"And remember! Always be prepared for the treachery of the aliens, lest you fall as many before you." the old Commissar shouts, slamming his fist on the table once more as the announcement for the end of the day rings throughout the Schola.

Louise found herself exiting the room with a speed that was fairly atypical for the girl, silently dreading the next day. Overall the Schola had been fairly strange, especially compared to the Tristainian counterparts. Punishments were swift and draconian, and instead of learning key things that young nobles were taught such as advanced mathematics, the arts, or etiquette they were taught things such as what to say to keep a wavering squad of soldiers from retreating, when it was appropriate to execute someone, how to most swiftly kill a trained guardsman and other things along that line. Of course there were other things, and some of the 'core' components of an education were taught, but it was all so... strange. Questions were discouraged, and even punished, everything was strictly regimented and curiosity was stamped out brutally by the hands of the Abbots.

Fraternization as it was called, was punished most severely. A pair of cadets a year younger having been caught 'alone' together had been flogged and beaten within an inch of their lives by furious Abbots in front of the entire Schola. While such things were looked down upon quite heavily in Tristain, the punishments would never have been so harsh, especially with the children of nobility.

Of course, she mused to herself that was where one of the biggest differences were. Nobility. The Imperium obviously had nobility, their Emperor being the prime example, and then from there it appeared things differed planet by planet, that was still something she struggled to wrap her head around. The Imperium wasn't just a country inhabiting some unknown part of her world - it was a galaxy spanning Empire sustained by hate and the overwhelming might of its armies. It shattered the very foundations of her faith - how could her belief in the Founder remain strong after everything she had heard and seen in the past few months. Not to mention if anyone knew her beliefs she would be killed, and viciously at that. It was a blessing the two faiths were similar, at least in some aspects - enough for her to survive. But the similarities were what scared her the most, was everything she had known a lie? Was the faith of Brimir just a remnant of the Imperial Creed, adopted after loss of contact with the Imperium? Had Halkegenia once been apart of this terrible force, before losing contact and regressing into what they were now? She didn't know, and that terrified her, because what would happen when the Imperium came back for what they lost.


The next several weeks went by in a blur for Louise, learning about far off places in the galaxy, strange and wondrous creatures - and how to slaughter them being a couple of the many things she and gone over. And then at night she would train with Ciaphas, she had finally started to get to a position she was able to hold her ground, Ciaphas complimenting her as a natural. Angered cadets had started to stop seeing her as an easy target on the training yard after she had thrashed cadet Fawks when he had come for her again, much to Cain's silent amusement.

"Congratulations, you almost managed to catch me off guard there." Ciaphas says, grinning at Louise who gives a at least for her fairly good natured huff in response.

Ciaphas may have she was a 'natural', but it sure didn't feel like it when she sparred with him. The longest she has ever managed to last was forty seconds and that was because he had sprained his wrist the day prior, but overall she was doing better and she knew it. She felt more fit than she ever had in her life, even if she didn't really show it. Cain had mentioned that she would never be able to go toe to toe with someone through sheer strength, but she could very easily make up for that in speed and intelligence. Of course she had scolded him for insulting her in response, as her status as a noble demanded, but they both knew she didn't mean anything by it.

Louise crossed her arms and glared at him for a few seconds before she turned away, mainly to hide her smile. Ciaphas meanwhile had hung up his training blade and sat down on his preferred bench. After a few seconds hesitation, Louise did something she hadn't done before and went to sit next to him.

"Finally realized that I'm not going to jump up and strangle you to death if you get within a few feet of me?" Ciaphas quips, causing her to slightly flush.

"Shut up, I'm a noble you know, it's not exactly everyday a commoner such as yourself gets graced by my presence." she responds with, though she didn't put any real meaning into the words.

"And anyways, I'm just tired and it would've been more of an effort to sit elsewhere, this was just convenient is all."

Cain just smirks and says, "As you say, my lady." before adopting a more proper seating posture and continuing, "I think we've dodged around the point long enough."

"Pardon?" Louise says, turning towards him with a look of confusion.

"Our deal," he says, "It's about time we dispense with the 'filler' so to speak."

"I - oh." she says, her face mildly falling, before she sighs. "Very well then, ask me what you want to know and I-I will try to do my best to answer."

Cain nods and then begins a line of questioning entirely different to the usual, instead of basic things such as what her life was like before she arrived, or simple things about her life and family, this time the were much more bizarre.

"How did you get here?"

Louise hesitates for a few seconds before answering, "I - well." she pauses before sighing and telling him everything. Everything about the academy, and what had happened. She figured he deserves to know, at the very least because of how much danger he was in by simply talking to her. She knew the Imperium would not see the magic of nobility in the same light as someone from Halkeginia, the best she would receive is suspicion and shunning and the worst, well she didn't want to think about that. She nearly broke down in tears when Ciaphas started looking at her with more suspicion, his hand even unconsciously moving to where a sword would be before he jerks it back - but she saw, and for some reason it hurt more than it should've.

After she finishes he remains silent for several minutes, leaving her to shift anxiously.

"So..." he finally says, breaking the silence and causing her to jump slightly. "This 'magic' of yours... it requires some sort of... tool? For it to be utilized?"

"I - yes... that's correct." she whispers, not having it in her to lecture him on the intricacies of wands and what they mean to mages. Not that she really thinks he would have cared either way.

"And... this magic of yours, only the 'nobility' are capable of using it?" he continues,

"Yes." she says, not making eye contact.

"I see..." Cain says, letting out a soft hum before clapping his hands together.

"And no family history of exploding heads, general lunacy and random bleeding from the nose and eyes?" he asks.

She looks up at him, half expecting a smirk, but found he seemed to be dead serious.

"No, of course not..." she reply's with.

Cain hums again, his features seeming to relax before he leans back.

"Well, I suppose it would be too late to simply cut all contact and pretend I don't know you." he says, causing Louise to glare at him before he continues,

"And I haven't exactly gotten the feeling that I'm in danger by being in your presence." he turns and looks at her with a critical eye, before smirking, "Not that there's exactly a lot to be afraid of afraid of, but still..."

"You dog!" she shouts, standing up and starting to try to punch him - fairly ineffectively as he quickly jumps back and starts laughing.

"How dare you talk to me like that, getting me al-all." she cuts herself off, turning away to hide the tears in her eyes before running off, letting him know nothing of just how relieved she was.


Guess who's back, back again.

You know I've had a very strange day so far, kinda felt like I was floating for a bit, I dunno. Kinda funny though.

Anyways, some whacky things occur this chapter, but I'm pretty happy with it.

Poor Louise though.

As much as she tries to be strong, she's still absolutely terrified. The Imperium isn't exactly for the faint of heart.

Anyways, we'll probably have a time skip soon - not exactly much else I can think up of for the 'cadet' arc and writing thousands of words of filler is a very effective way to speed run myself into writers block.

I feel the 'reveal' could have been done a bit better, but overall realistically some level of creative liberty is needed to not just have poor Louise beaten to death by an Abbot and I need the magic for the future, so bear with me!

As always, feel free to leave a review, they really do help sustain an author. And even if I don't respond, I do read all of them.

See you next time.