A breeze whistled through the quiet streets of Trista, its gentle touch plucking the lino off the spring trees. The snowy flowers blanketed the steps leading up to the prestigious military school. It was still early morning, yet the clear sky forecasted a long and fruitful day as the very first ringing of the campus bell signified the start of the academic year.
The newly-appointed student council president gazed at the familiar scenery. She waved at the first batch of students walking towards the front gates. Brushing her hair of any tangled knots, she affixed a pleasing smile to her face as she greeted the oncoming freshmen.
"Welcome to Thors Military Academy!"
Her eyes wandered over the many faces of her students. Most of them had the distinctive green uniform denoting them as part of the commoner class. She herself wore the same colors, although she did not reserve any kindness towards those that wore the white uniforms. She welcomed them all once again before a member of her committee guided them to the campus auditorium.
The girl plastered up another smile towards her next wave of students. All nobles, she winced in her thoughts. Her heart raced when she realized the hand she was shaking belonged to the son of a count. Her brow crinkled when a gang of delinquent rich kids leered at her.
She let out a sigh. It was evident from the quaking of her knees that she felt nervous. The girl clutched the hems of her skirt and stood her ground. She was just going to have to get used to the attention.
When she first enrolled here, all she had ever wanted was to graduate at the top of her class. Being thrust into the role of student council president… may have been a miscalculation on her part. Apparently, she had made herself look -too- good.
The reluctant teen accepted the position regardless. It was for her benefit after all. She reasoned that it would be a suitable challenge for her, considering she had not even bothered to join a club.
The last of the latecomers trickled in just as the school bell rang, indicating the change in hour. The girl glanced over the lino trees again as a smile pursed her lips.
"President!"
She turned to see a spritely young girl walking up to her. The president recognized the girl as the elected vice-president of the student organization. Her strained smile hid the fact that she could not place a name immediately on her fellow council member. She nodded to the girl as her mind panicked. Okay… think carefully. It started with an L…
"Livie… correct?" she said, praying to Aidios to not embarrass herself on her first day as their superior.
"Yup," Livie said. Her long black hair framed her green uniform as she motioned towards the auditorium. "The students are all accounted for! All that's left is the welcoming ceremony. You got your speech ready?"
Ah, right. My speech. She was supposed to go after the principal and before their special guest. That meant that she was going to introduce this mystery person to her students.
Which meant that she would have to improvise on the spot. In front of some very important nobles. And all of her instructors. No pressure.
"I got it. Thanks for the concern," the president bluffed.
"And by the way… you don't have to call me president when it's just us," the girl said as she glanced away. Red suffused her pale cheeks. Did she ever mention that she hasn't made a single close friend yet?
"Aww, awesome! Looking forward to working with you then, Claire!" Livie exclaimed. She held out a hand towards the sky blue-haired girl.
"Wish me luck…" Claire Rieveldt failed a grin as she reciprocated the kind gesture.
Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
'Arise O' youth, and become the foundations of the world.'
Claire closed her eyes as she listened to the familiar speech. Those were the words her benefactor had said to her.
Her world froze that one fateful day.
She cried and cried. Yet as she did so, she turned a deaf ear to the cruelty of it all. She was lost. Powerless. She lay mute and still while time played ever onwards.
Then he appeared.
He turned her life right-side up. He taught her how to stand on her own two feet. He showed to her that she could wrest control of the threads of fate back into her favor if she just waltzed.
And she did. With her hands, she got her revenge. She then left it all behind soon after.
Claire swore her loyalty to the man. Indebted to him. Which was why she had accepted wholeheartedly his recommendation to enroll in Thors, his Alma Mater.
That thought reminded the student president of her current predicament. She was next.
And she still had no idea who their mystery guest was. Where are they?!
The student council was responsible for making the entrance ceremony go off without a hitch. And as her first assignment, she wanted it to be perfect. She hoped, at least.
"Go forth, my students. The world awaits the great things you will one day accomplish." Principal Vandyck finished his speech to warm applause by students and faculty alike.
His elderly smile radiated of friendliness and passion as he turned towards a quivering mess of a girl shaking in her seat. "Now allow me to introduce to you a very… special student."
Claire gulped.
"She may be quite the sight for those of you who are familiar with her. Nevertheless, she has shown a remarkable aptitude and exceptional leadership skills that far surpass those of her age."
Stop-
"I am certain that she will be a great asset to us all in the upcoming year," the principal continued. "Truly, I could never be more proud. As such... I would like all of you to give a round of applause for your new student council president."
Principal Vandyck stepped down from the podium and gestured towards the silently mourning teen.
The praise was fine; Claire was confident in her abilities. What was not fine, however, was the former army general-turned-principal stacking unrealistically high expectations for her and her limited social skills. So much for making friends…
Claire thanked the boisterously grinning man as she stood in front of the entire student body. The commoners amongst the students cheered while the nobles clapped. Her instructors nodded in approval.
She glanced at their faces. Some students were slack-jawed. Others were awestruck. The majority were keen. She regretted letting her hair down as over a hundred pairs of eyes stared at the self-conscious girl.
She hasn't even said a word yet. Crap.
Taking a breath, Claire dug deep into herself. She could do this. Public speaking was an art in itself and she was no stranger to mastering complexities. She started her speech.
It went… well.
No slip-ups. No tongue-tied mumblings. And no accidental blurb of her backstory that she would rather be kept hidden. She felt good.
Except now she was done and their next speaker hasn't even arrived yet. She's left standing in front of her audience. With nothing to say, her stomach pooled with anxiety.
Her day was saved when Livie approached her and handed her a note. She read it aloud post-haste.
"It is within my greatest pleasure then, to pass on the lovely stage to a certain resplendent individual," she said, not even bothering to mince the flowery language. "A graduate with honors, along with the hearts of many. This illustrious individual has spent his lonely days toiling away at society, desperately trying to mold its foundation into that of the vision of the legendary Lionheart.
"He had considered this academy his home. His devotion to it, unparalleled. It tore his heart pieces to have left. He spent countless, sleepless nights singing the valorous tales of his Alma Mater.
"But now, he has returned to once again bask in its glory. Revel now, my compatriots, as I welcome you, the one and only..."
"Prince Olivert Reise Arnor~"
A booming male voice interrupted Claire. The lights dimmed as a spotlight shone in the middle of the stage. An opulent chandelier descended from the ceiling. On it was a blonde prince with a rose tucked between his lips. His eyes gleamed as he played a melody on his lute.
Orbal fireworks exploded in the room Rather than paper confetti, red petals drifted down and dotted the auditorium.
Pink eyes twitched.
"Good day my fellow young lions! It brings me great joy to have been invited to partake in this year's grand entrance ceremony," Prince Olivert said. He hopped down from his chandelier as he held up his own microphone.
We didn't invite you. You invited yourself, the student council president clarified.
"Ah… I am overjoyed to see such dreamful youths enrolling in Thors. To say nothing of the ladies~" He winked.
A cadre of female students swooned as Olivert tossed his rose towards them, along with a flying kiss. They squeed.
Claire sweatdropped.
The princely man bowed to the small group of teachers, "And my fair instructors, I see the year has treated you well. You especially, Sir," he said to the principal.
The elderly man guffawed. "It is a pleasure to have you here, your Highness."
"Please, I shall forever be no more than your humble student."
I guess I can leave…? Claire pondered to herself as she stepped off the podium. She winced when the glaring spotlight was directed to her, blinding her momentarily.
Olivert played a chord on his instrument as he approached the fleeing girl with a wide grin. "And lest I forget, thy wonderful student council president! Allow me to congratulate you on acquiring such a noble position. I-"
His florid speech was cut short. Olivert stood in place with eyes widened like glimmering saucers.
"Uhm… thank you, your Highness…" Claire said politely to the staring prince.
She edged to her seat. It was best not to involve herself with the quirky man.
"... angel…" the prince muttered.
"Hm…?"
Olivert fell to his knees. "Are you… an angel?!"
...
"Huh?!"
"You… your name is Claire, am I correct? Are you, perhaps, a cherub in disguise?" he asked. Still kneeling, he moved closer to the bewildered girl. "No… you seem much more than that."
Olivert glanced at her pale cheeks. He moaned as he noticed the womanly curves on her lips. He flushed as he admired her delicate eyelashes. "Your face… it is simply too divine to be that of a lowly angel… Has the Goddess herself finally blessed this world with her presence?!"
"E-eh…?" Claire reeled back. Angel…? Goddess…? Wait, what?
"Oh, please tell me you are!" the prince exclaimed. He took her hand into his as purple eyes gazed passionately into pink ones. "In all my life, I have never met such an exquisite beauty such as yourself! One-in-a-million, as they say!"
Claire could not put a word in as the lovestruck man praised her with overwhelming flattery. Her mind simply stopped trying to make sense of her situation. It instead flurried into overdrive as she tried to control her blush.
The entire Thors student body and faculty spectated the fairy tale scene. The young, dashing prince declaring his love for the commoner girl. The crowd wooed as Olivert kissed her fingers.
Claire gawked. Did she mention that she wasn't used to the attention?
"So this is what they call 'love at first sight'. Heh..." Prince Olivert blazed with desire as he spoke clearly, his voice echoing through the auditorium speakers. "I implore you… Please, go out with me! Become my one and only princess!"
His eyes stormed with passion as he shouted, "I LOVE YOU!"
The stadium roared with whistles and applause. Rose petals danced in the air while cheers bellowed from the audience. They stilled with bated breath as a hundred pairs of eyes gazed at the fair maiden.
She answered.
"… no."
Silence.
"Pardon me, my dear, I did not catch that. What did you-"
"No." Claire looked up to the man's face.
Her wintery stare exuded a deathly aura. Her face stoned into an icy glare.
The world froze.
Tendrils of ice burst forth from the girl, encapsulating the entire stage. The temperature in the room plummeted as sharp prickles of rime embraced the prince's body and heart. It whirled and tore him to shreds.
"...What…?" Olivert sputtered. "But… why?"
"Simple deduction." Claire gored icicles into the man's soul. "You see a pretty face and you, immediately, are starstruck. You even told me it's love at first sight. Both of those paints you as someone who is extremely capricious, shallow and vain."
She pulled her hand back and wiped the filthy spit off her fingers. "Answer me this. How EXACTLY do you love me? We've only just met. I don't know a single thing about you. Although, I do know now that you're a creep with no sense of personal space. Whoever gave you permission to kiss my hand?"
Olivert gaped.
"What's more, you keep describing me as some sort of angel. Have you ever even seen an angel before? The Goddess? Are you THAT much of a delusional pest that you couldn't see me for my flaws? I am not as innocent as you might believe. I have had blood in my hands. Probably more than you as a prince would ever think to have in your entire life.
"Not only that, you had completely foregone planning and had instead decided to make such a dramatic entrance. Has it ever occurred to you how much of a pain it was to accommodate your so-called 'mystery scheme'? I have spent nights planning for this ceremony, and yet YOU completely ruined all of that all for the sake of your 'fun'. Have you ever stopped to consider how much a failed event such as this would reflect on my reputation as student council president? Are you really that much of an obnoxious person who only thinks of himself?!"
A cold wind howled in the closed space.
"That's why I refuse. No matter how much you ask, I will NEVER date such a selfish, irresponsible, crude and immature brat such as yourself. Good day."
With that, Claire took her seat.
…
His heart shattering into tiny pieces, Olivert moaned. "Ahh… such a wonderful rejection… Truly, you are a gift from the Goddess…"
The Thors student body and faculty sweatdropped.
"And that, my dear Millium, is how our favorite Captain acquired her moniker of 'Icy Maiden'."
Millium cooed in awe, her eyes brimming with excitement. "Woahhhh that was so cool, Claire! Literally!"
"It was nothing," Claire said as she stared at the prince that was candidly spilling her secrets.
"It definitely was NOT nothing, though. I can attest to that." Olivert clutched his heart in mock pain before he went back to savoring his tea.
"I mean, ish waz amaszhing how cold andph cruel you vere."
"Millium, don't talk with your mouth full." Claire wiped the cookie crumbs off the child's face as she spoke. Her eyes narrowed towards the nonchalant prince lounging in his seat. "It never would have happened if His Highness had just learned to keep his mouth shut."
Olivert merely dodged her pointed scowl. "Oh, come now Claire! No need for formalities. Join me and let us reminisce in the wondrous memories of our Alma Mater! I'm sure Millium would be happy to listen."
"Like how you decided to commission a marble statue of me in the middle of Trista?"
"It was porcelain."
"Or that time you filled the academy pool with Grand Rose petals for my birthday?"
"It was grown from the imperial gardens. I assure you those petals were one-hundred percent authentic."
"Or how about that time during the summer festival when you paraded around in a float along with a life-sized caricature of me, knowing full well I was in attendance?"
"Oh yeah, I read about that in one of the Intelligence Division's files. It looked pretty wack," Millium said.
Prince Olivert looked away. "My dear Claire… I have no idea what you are going on about."
"Of course you don't." Claire sighed.
It was… an eventful year, she had to admit. But the less said about the antics of her Thors senior, the better. Some things were best left forgotten.
Enter Millium.
"Ooh, ooh! I have a question!"
"Yes, Millium?"
"Did you two kiss?"
…
The silence was followed by a low chuckle from the prince. Olivert grinned pervertedly as he avoided the small girl's expectant gaze.
Claire refused to respond. Her face dithered to the side.
Millium's eyes widened, "Oh my sweet Aidios… Tell me tell me TELL ME!"
"That debaucherous tale would best be told… some other time," Olivert answered for the two of them. He winked at his former junior.
With a blush blossoming on her cheeks, the 'Icy Maiden' glared.
Fragment Chapter IV - Icy Rose -END-
Or is it...?
Thanks to Ouchanrrul for the idea. You wanted more Thors chapters, here you go. xD
RedBurningDragon - Yes, Millium for me is a cross between Tina and Ruby Rose from RWBY. I just can't help but hear their voices whenever she speaks.
Wuolong77 - Thanks! Glad I inspired someone with that crack chapter. Haha.
Reviews, favs and follows are appreciated. Happy Easter everyone!
See ya.