Unmei Force Solitary Legends: Eternal Embers
Chapter 3: Laevatein Cup Preliminaries
Responses to reviews:
-Of course, Richard said that ALL of Squad 7 will be part of 'Polar Star'. In fact, this will cause a certain amusing event to occur near the end of the story, and it will be quite glorious.
-The rebel turncoat's fate was left ambiguous, and you don't know who the turncoat's identity was. Who knows, maybe that was Sigrid himself, who defected early, before he would have done something he would regret. Besides, what's a rebel soldier being spared? All I can say is that the turncoat is duly punishment, but said punishment isn't fatal.
-True, which is why Richard and the others aren't so reluctant to fight against Gallia's former men, mostly because of the fact that these rebels basically signed their death warrants by turning against the nation for a mere racial dispute. Of course, they have their own reactions to this. Gus and Sanae will squarely refuse to execute the rebels, because of their optimistic and idealistic views, Marisa is ambivalent on the opinion, as she knows that the rebels deserve execution or a life sentence for their actions, although she won't condemn all of them. In Reisen's case, she'll put a bullet through the heads of any rebels who try to surrender, faking or not. And then there's Richard, who's got a different way of dealing with things, which is actually more cruel than execution itself. He'll force information out of the rebels, and if they're smart enough to spill before someone as terrifying as Richard, they'll have a good chance of coming out alive, otherwise, they'll be either condemned to a slow and agonising death by his hands, or a quick and painless end if their resolve snaps at last. Of course, he'll be able to mostly tell if the rebels are lying or not, so any attempts to plead for the latter with forged information won't work at all. Generally, he will execute most rebels that surrender, given that they're mobilised for battle. He will show some mercy to the non-combat personnel, since the blood of the Darcsens and the sin of rebelling is not truly on their hands.
-Oh, trust me, the Gassenarls will find themselves trounced by both Lanseal led by Richard and the others, as well as Squad 7 as Polar Star. In fact, once again, this causes a deviation in the storyline.
In Class G-7's homeroom...
"Class, this month sees the preliminary rounds of the Laevatein cup." Brixham addressed the class students, with Richard's team waiting by the sides.
"The Leva-what, now?" Cosette asked back.
"A tournament, Cosette. Classes face each other in mock combat. It's a good test of class performance and one of Lanseal's oldest traditions." Brixham answered back.
"That sounds pretty cool!" Avan exclaimed.
"A tournament amongst classes in a school... Interesting." Corrin remarked to herself.
"Oh, it sounds like a real blast. I can't wait to lose miserably." Erik growled.
"Seriously, bro. How's a guy supposed to fight if he knows he can't win?" Joachim moaned at Avan.
"I'm sorry?" Richard asked, cocking a eyebrow at the beanie-wearing student.
"The other classes will demolish us... It's going to happen no matter what we try-" Morris was about to complain.
"NOT ON OUR WATCH!" Marisa shouted back, slamming her hands on the table, startling Brixham, and some of the students by the front seat. "Don't think that just because you guys are not the best in this school, doesn't mean that you're definitely going to lose. You don't win a fight with such a negative attitude. Learn to have some faith in yourselves, all of you! We didn't teach you all to fight like proper soldiers, just so that you would be looked down by others who won't end up doing as well as you guys will when the year comes to an end!"
"Sorry, instructor, but the others are not exactly wrong." Noel answered back. "The other classes soundly thrashed our classes in the preliminaries each year t the Laevatein Cup, and it hasn't stopped at all. In fact, there's a record for the quickest loss against each class."
"Then all the more reason to turn the tables on them." Marisa crossed her arms with a scowl. "I don't care what you guys think your chances are going to be, none of you are quitting on our watch. We're going to see to it that you all win this cup and rub that victory in the faces of those who look down on you all, mark my words."
"Wow, Mari seems to be quite heated about this topic." Isara remarked. "I never seen her like this, other than when she curses out Rosie back then."
"Back then...?" Cosette asked back.
"Let's just say that Rosie and Mari didn't have the best of relations to each other." Isara answered back. "I'll leave it at that."
"I see..." Cosette muttered back.
Elma noticed how Avan was in a thinking pose, before she then decided to address him. "Avan... what are you thinking?" She asked him.
"Oh, Elma. I was just thinking about the cup... If we win this, then it'll be like Mari said, the rest of the academy will be forced to respect us." Avan answered back, before turning to Brixham. "Ain't that right...?"
"Well, it's most likely they will, considering the abysmal track record of this class..." Brixham stated.
"Then let's do it! We've gotta win, guys! Let's show them we're the best!" Avan shouted to everyone.
"That'd sure be nice. Yeah! So long as we're in it, let's reach for the top!" Cosette declared with passion as well.
"There's no sense in competing otherwise. This once, I'll agree with you, Avan." Zeri answered back.
"I have no intentions of backing down from this. If they think they'll earn a effortless victory against us... Even if most of you have no spirit or belief in our chances... I will still fight with my fullest power all the same." Corrin stated.
"I won't yield either...!" Elma exclaimed. "Even if it may just be us and a few of you... We'll do our best to win against them all!"
"I'm going in as well. I will tell you all that you aren't forced to fight, but the more of you that will fight with us, the better our chances of winning this will be." Isara stated. "Think of it like war... You don't win battles by sitting around afraid of what is to come."
"Heh heh. Such passion from our newcomers." Brixham remarked. "Well, I have a little present for you all in light of your determination and passion to win. Head down to the R&D building to collect it, after this lesson."
"After this lesson...?" Richard remarked. 'I should come and see what this might be... And I hope that Isara might come as well... After all, she might be happy to see a tank. I'd doubt that she would drive a tank again, but she'd be happy to be near something familiar to the Edelweiss.'
As true to Richard's thoughts, Isara seemed to show interest about what the 'gift' might be, as she devised plans to head to the R&D department as well.
Inside the R&D department...
Avan made his way inside the large building, as it was filled with work equipment and many varieties of gear. He then looked around, searching for the gift that Brixham mentioned earlier.
"I wonder if it's food... Man, I sure hope it's food." Avan stated, before he was smacked in the back of the head by a light hand. "Oof! Who did that-"
Avan then turned around to face the perpetrator, which was a fairly cross Isara. "Avan, sometimes I wonder what kind of logic you go with. What kind of person would store food in such a work-related place?" She asked him with a incensed tone.
"Isara... Oh... Uh... Heh heh..." Avan chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "I suppose that I'm getting used to the food here too quickly. I was hoping that there was some kind of exotic food that was given to us. I usually get this kind of stuff back in Mellevere where I live. Still, yeah, sorry for that dumb statement."
"Hmmm... Fine, but don't try to say such careless things next time." Isara sighed back.
"Oh, wow. You're the chair of Class G-7?" A female voice rang, before a female figure came out, with brown eyes, long dark-brown hair that has been parted to the sides, in the form of large bangs that fell down to her shoulders and necks. She was also dressed in a fairly worn-down grey engineer outfit, and she had a blue bandana around her forehead, and a metal spanner in one of her hands.
"What? Oh, you're the girl who's always in here, huh?" Avan remarked, turning to face her.
"Wait, you met her before?" Isara asked, stepping out to see the girl herself.
"Yeah, I sort of did. Although we never did get the chance to meet each other formally." Avan answered back.
The girl then noticed Isara, before she dropped her spanner out of shock, and her eyes widened greatly. "No way... So it's really true, the driver of the famed tank Edelweiss, is right here in Lanseal, as part of Class G-7..." She remarked with shock.
"I suppose that you might have some knowledge on it. Indeed, my name is Isara Gunther, former driver of the Edelweiss." Isara answered back with a gentle nod. "Now, I'm just a simple student here, hoping to learn in order to earn a place in the militia as a proper tech specialist of the army."
"Well, you're pretty darn humble." The girl chuckled to herself. "I'll be... If I knew that you'd be here, I'd willingly give you the sweet baby of a tank that the class has, and the role of tank operator to you."
"Wait, we have a actual tank!?" Avan exclaimed with surprise.
"Heh, you strike me as the dumb lunk sort. I wonder if you're really class chair. Of course you'd ask me that." The girl answered back. "Anyway, my name's Lavinia. Lavinia Lane. I'm your class's tank operator."
"Wait, if we had a tank... Then why wasn't it prepared for our sortie earlier...?" Isara asked back.
"Oh, that. Well, to be fair, the tank works in terms of mobility, but me and my team just finished making the cannon and machine-gun for it." Lavinia answered back. "Of course, no-one's stupid enough to drive a unarmed tank onto the battlefield. Either way, I heard a lot of rumours about you Class G-7 kids. None of them are good at all. Just mind your p's and q's with my tank, or they'll be calling you Black-Eye, class chair. Got that?"
"Gah!" Avan blurted out, seeing the intense glare that Lavinia was giving him. "Fine, alright! Well, my name is Avan Hardins. Nice to meet ya."
"Hardins? As in..." Lavinia remarked, as her eyes flashed with a hint of recognition, before she then shook her hand gently. "Never mind. Anyways, best of luck and all of that. Anyways, you take your time to find a name for the tank, and if you have any questions about it, just come and ask me, got it?"
"Got it! Thanks, Lavinia!" Avan remarked, before he then left the building without saying another word.
"So... about that offer I made earlier..." Lavinia answered back. "I think that it would be-"
"No need, Lavinia. I'm sure that I'll perform fine on the battlefield as I am. I think that I've found my talent as armoured tech." Isara declined. "I think that it's best that someone else operates the tank. Although I do have a question... Since this is the R&D department, will you also be responsible for the maintenance, refitting and development of our own gear?"
"Yep, all of it! Just a problem though, although most of the work just needs some pay to gather the materials needed for upgrading our own equipment... You'll need some special materials for other kinds of stuff, although said stuff is worth the effort of gathering the materials for." Lavinia answered back.
"I'll be sure to bring any materials that I come upon, for your use, Lavinia. And I hope that Avan will make sure everyone will do the same." Isara nodded, before she then took her leave.
"Huh, so this is what she's really like." Lavinia commented to herself, before cracking a grin. "Heh, this is going to be a interesting year, to say the least."
With the scouts of the class...
The scouts of the class were separated from each other, as they were placed onto a training field, with various forms of terrain, ranging from hills to cliffs, as well as tall grass to sand. They were moving around, looking for certain items that have been scattered to the field. When some time had passed, the first ones to complete the exercise was Helmut, who made his way to Gus, who was waiting for them on top of one of the larger hills on the field, handing over a black medallion.
"Good work, Helmut. I suppose that this kind of search and retrieve exercise is quite easy for you to do, right?" Gus remarked with a smile. "To be fair, it would have taken me quite a while to find that, and you're not much slower than me. That's a good thing to say."
"All I did was complete my task as ordered." Helmut answered back. "What do you wish for me to do right now?"
"Take a break. We need to wait for the rest to finish their own searches." Gus responded back.
"If those are your orders." Helmut answered back, standing and watching with Gus.
After a while, the second person to complete the task was Lotte, who looked fairly dirty from crawling around for the search of her medallion, which was azure blue.
"'Local Reporter Finds Hidden Treasure!' How did I do?" Lotte asked Gus.
"Pretty well, considering that you made it before par time." Gus stated. "Now, take a break like Helmut has. Don't mind him, he's fairly resilient to fatigue, as it seems."
Lotte looked at Helmut, before she then shrugged, and walked around the hill, using her camera to look around the scenery, and even snap a few shots for her own use later.
The next one to complete the task was Melissa, who didn't manage to take Gus by surprise, since she was out in the open for him to see.
"Ah, Melissa, I suppose that you managed to find your medallion as well? You passed the test." Gus answered back, while Melissa handed him her forest-green medallion.
"Heh heh, don't think that I'm good at stealth, I'm good at noticing things too." Melissa remarked, before she then sat down cross-legged, as she looked towards a particular direction, with a fairly eerie smile on her face.
After Mellissa came Avan, who looked very tired from all of the searching, although he pulled out the bright orange medallion that he was tasked to find.
"Phew... Never thought that I went around the field several times to find this one, right underneath my feet..." Avan huffed. "Did... Did I manage to do good, instructor?"
"Not exactly fast, but you managed to do it quickly enough that you deserve praise for getting it done in time." Gus stated. "Although if that's your problem, you'll need to improve your perception."
"Got it loud and clear!" Avan shouted, before he then stopped by the edge of the hill, and pulled out a small handbook, and cracked it open to read through it.
The last one to arrive was Nichol, who took a fair while to get to the hill in time, with the purple medallion, although he looked like that he was almost dying from exhaustion.
"Ha... Ha... Did... Did I pass...? Did I... fail...?" Nichol asked back in between pants and wheezes.
"Cutting it close there. You did have a good idea where your target was, but your stamina leaves much to be , well done nonetheless." Gus criticised Nichol, before whistling to gather everyone in front of him. "Everyone, the drill is over. I'm sure that this will be a welcome break from all of the military exercising that you all have to go through, although this activity will help you all in future drills. Now then, everyone dismissed."
Inside the Home Education classroom...
Richard slowly entered the room, as he decided to check on his own students for a while, starting with the home education classroom, where he expected to find Marion inside the class. When he came in, he noticed that Marion was already having a quick conversation with Avan, as she was knitting some simple lacework quite carefully.
"Hey there, Marion. Whatcha working on there? It looks pretty intense." Avan asked Marion.
"Oh, good day, Avan. How nice to see you." Marion smiled back to the class chair. "This is just some simple lacework. I'm knitting a gift for my mother."
"Wow, I didn't know you had such girly hobbies. I'm really impressed!' Avan remarked, as Richard swallowed the irritation building in him, knowing that Avan meant no offence with the statement, however derogatory it could be interpreted by others.
"Hee hee. Well, I am a girl, after all. We have been known to act girly." Marion chuckled lightly. "You always make the most unexpected observations, Avan. It's so sweet."
"Yeah? I've just never seen anybody make lace before, that's all." Avan answered back.
"I only know what I learned from my mother. I fear my work is a poor example." Marion replied, before she then noticed a button on Avan's coat that was almost loose. "...Oh, goodness. It looks like as though that button is coming loose, Avan. Shall I reattach it for you?"
"Wow, you don't mind? Yeah, that'd be grea-" Avan was about to say.
"ME TOO, ME! OOH, ME!" Joachim shouted loudly, interrupting Avan, and surprising him, as the beanie-wearing student was right between him and Marion.
"Gah! Joachim!? What gives, man?" Avan answered back with a irritated tone.
"No fair hogging her all to yourself, Avan!" Joachim grumbled.
"What!? For one thing, you're crazy, and for another, I'm so not!" Avan retorted back.
"Hee hee hee. Watching you is more fun than a day at the theatre." Marion giggled gently.
"Hey Marion, you look a little under the weather. Are you feeling okay?" Joachim asked her, his mood turning into a jovial one. "If you ever need anything, I'll be your knight in shining armour! Just ask!"
"How about you properly set an example before you go doing that." Richard stated, finally deciding to come in, and approach the group. "Joachim Osen, wasn't it? I think that I don't approve your behaviour at this moment."
"Wah!?" Joachim exclaimed, seeing Richard here. "What are you doing here, I thought that you guys were on break or something!?"
"It's an instructor's duty to also check upon his students from time to time." Richard answered back, eyeing Marion, who was just as surprised about Richard's arrival, along with Avan, who was shocked beyond belief, and then turning back to Joachim with a heated glare. "And here I see a student of mine making a ruckus and a fool of himself."
"Oh come on, it's just words, man..." Joachim moaned. "You don't have to be so uptight..."
"Well, if you didn't shout out loud, and attracted the eye of almost every student in this class, I wouldn't bother coming in to step in to stop this nonsense." Richard answered back. "You're pushing the class rules a little bit too far, Joachim. I'll let you off with this, don't go around shouting whatever you like in a organised class, and one more thing, rein that playboy attitude of yours in. It's most unneeded in this academic environment. I won't repeat that to you, so keep that in mind, or you'll be punished by me, and that is one thing you would not like to deal with."
"Jeez, alright, instructor. I got it, I got it..." Joachim answered back with a dejected tone. "You're such a killjoy..."
Richard didn't say anything to that, before turning to Marion, and inspecting the work-in-progress lacework in her hands. "From what I heard, you do have a liking to knitting such things, do you?" Richard asked back. "To be fair, I'm actually surprised that you managed to knit lacework with this kind of quality and precision."
"Well... Thank you, instructor Rain..." Marion answered back, as she felt a lot more comfortable when Richard looked a lot less strict and terrifying than just before. "I suppose that being a part of a house of nobles has left with some skill in this kind of skill."
"Heh, looks like that Joachim wants to play a game of doctor with you." Avan joked with a gentle 'Heh.'.
"That's not what I meant! Do you think that Marion LIKES being forced into combat?" Joachim yelled back, before he got a glare from Richard, which caused him to lower his voice. "Hello? Beautiful heiress to historied house, pure and fragile as a lily! She wouldn't kill a fly! And you expect her to be fine out in the field!?"
"Actually, it really isn't that bad..." Marion answered back with a frown on her lips. "And about what you said about me-"
"I'm sorry, Joachim, but this lily is tainted." Richard answered back with a cruel smirk, placing a arm around Marion. "She was one of the few people who got to experience her first kill. Not only that, but she's deadly with a gun. Wouldn't kill a fly, huh? Well, maybe not, but she won't hesitate to gun down any rebels who get in her way."
"Wait, WHAAA-!?" Joachim was about to say, before Richard decided that enough was enough, and grabbed Joachim by the collar of his jacket.
"Alright, it seems that you have no intentions of calming down at all." Richard told Joachim with a unamused and cross tone, while the student struggled to get out of the tight grip that the black-haired man was holding him with. "Joachim Osen, perhaps some time in a quiet and alone place will allow you to cool that head of yours down."
"Wait, wait, wait! She seriously-" Joachim was about to say, before Richard shut the class door behind him, leaving Avan and Marion alone.
"So... Did you get scouted before coming here, Marion?" Avan asked Marion.
"Oh, no. I applied. Father consented when I explained it was for Gallia." Marion smiled back.
"Well, if you DO have any trouble, let me know. We'll figure it out. After all, that's what a class chair got to do." Avan answered back with a confident wink to emphasise his point.
"A-All right. I will... thank you." Marion answered back, with some embarrassment in her voice. "If you'll excuse me, I should- Oh wait, what am I saying, I forgot about that button of yours. Here, just sit still there, I'll fix it for you."
Avan let Marion work on the hanging button, as she used some blue thread and weaved it through the coat and the holes in the button, until it was weaved back on, looking like as if the button was completely new.
"Woah, you're so good at this!" Avan remarked, seeing how well the re-stitching of the button went.
"Right then, I suppose that I should take my leave." Marion answered back, before the school bell rang. "I suppose that my instructor won't be returning here, and we'll be seeing each other soon in the drills."
"See ya later then, Marion!" Avan stated, as the two of them packed up, and then went to their next classes.
In the school hallways...
Gus was walking through the school hallways, holding some books, as he looked around, absorbed by the scene of the students around him, who were going about their daily school life with eagerness and passion.
"It's been quite a while since we've actually been inside a school..." He remarked to himself. "I wonder if the school where Richard and I used to study in, and the friends in it are doing well. Looking at this scene... It reminds me of the times back then."
As Gus was deep in his own thoughts of reminiscence, he didn't notice that he was on collision course with Lotte, who was also not paying attention, as she was scribbling something in the small notebook that she was carrying.
Although the two of them were walking fairly slow, when they hit each other, they knocked each other to the ground, as Gus's book fell out of his grip, and scattered themselves on the floor, while Lotte's small book and pen clattered to the ground near her.
"Urk..." Gus moaned, before he then noticed who he bumped into. "Lotte...!? Are you alright, I'm sorry for bumping into you, I was just..."
"Watch where you're going, you clumsy-" Lotte was about to chew out Gus, before she got a proper look at him, as her expression changed into one of surprise. "Instructor Teller? I never thought that we would bump into each other here, literally, dude!"
"Well, I was just making my way to have a read of some books." Gus stated, before he then moved to pick them up one by one. "I suppose that I was daydreaming about something too much, and I ended up being unaware of where I was going. I hope that I didn't do anything to hurt you, or cause you inconveniences."
"Aw, no. It's alright, dude." Lotte answered back, as she quickly collected her pen and notebook. "Still, good thing that I didn't bring my camera out. I could have cracked the lens dropping it when we bumped into each other."
"Well, could I at least ask what you were writing inside that notebook of yours?" Gus asked back. "I think that considering your nature... It must be some interesting events that you plan to write in the newsletter that you usually leave for distribution for the other students to read. The 'Lotte Insider', wasn't it?"
"Yep, that's right! It's THE official source of all the latest on Lanseal! It's intrepid writer- that's me, dude- gets all the dirt, first!" Lotte answered back.
"Yeah, I suppose that it's fairly popular, although there are a few students who are not too happy about it." Gus answered back. "Just a while ago, I found one of the January Issues ripped to pieces and thrown on the ground. Rain found that out, and was about to hunt down the student responsible for the littering, and I disposed of it. That's how I know that not everyone is happy with what you write."
"Hmph, I won't let that get to me, dude! So long as there is a audience who reads my newspapers, I won't ever stop writing the truth out!" Lotte declared.
"Well, you'll be happy to know that you have a strong supporter amongst the instructors and staff." Gus smiled back, before gesturing to himself. "I usually take a good read. The fact that you wrote Rain to be the 'bane of misconduct and misbehaviour' is quite amusing, considering that you caught him meting out punishment for other classes, who believed themselves 'privileged'. It's even got a chuckle out of Rain himself."
"Really!? I'm that popular with you!? That's brilliant, having you on my side makes me feel more comfortable writing out much more articles." Lotte exclaimed with stars in her eyes.
"Anyway, about the stuff you were jotting in your notebook..." Gus muttered.
"I'm hot on the trail of my next big scoop." Lotte answered back, before she then did a flourish. "Lanseal's Seven Wonders! I was going for the ghosts in the gym next."
"Seven wonders...? Interesting." Gus answered back, placing a hand on his chin. "I suppose that there is some paranormal rumours about this place, however militaristic it might be. I'd say that this is what makes it seem more like a actual academy than just an military institution, in my opinion."
"I know, right dude?" Lotte nodded back energetically. "I've spent my days here hard at work unravelling those mysteries. Of course, the first four mysteries were sadly only hoaxes. But I know the last three will be scoops fit to stop presses all over Europa!"
"You believe so, do you?" Gus asked with amusement. "You know, I can see why you look up to Irene Ellet a lot. How about I help you out? I suppose that connecting with the students might help pass time here, and give me a few memorable moments here."
"Ah! I was just thinking of expanding! Welcome aboard, my editor-in-chief!" Lotte answered back enthusiastically.
"Actually, if I'm going to be the editor-in-chief, would you mind if I added a editor's letter section? I feel like that it would help the students in this academy with their own social problems."
"Why not? You'll be a great help to making my paper even more popular than before!" Lotte stated, before she then grabbed Gus by the hand. "Come on, let's hit the road. Truth waits for no man, dude!"
"Alright, alright, calm down there. I'll accompany you." Gus chuckled lightly, before he followed Lotte to find out about the fifth mystery of Lanseal.
Meanwhile, in the school hallways...
Marisa was making her way through the ground floor hallways, before she then noticed that Noel was walking by herself, humming a jolly tune to herself, as she was holding a photo in her hands. The blonde girl decided to give Noel a bit of a surprise, as she walked around to get in front of her, before she then raised a hand to greet her.
"HEY!" Marisa exclaimed, as Noel's eyes snapped open, and she noticed Marisa in front of her, as she jumped back in fright.
"Aieee!" Noel screamed, before she then saw Marisa was in front of her, as she quickly stopped her screaming. "Oh... Ms Shine... You scared me there... When did you get in front of me...?"
"You were humming along with your eyes closed for the moment." Marisa answered back with a playful smile on her lips. "I just wanted to give you a bit of a fright. Hopefully, it didn't scare too much out of you. Still, that's a cute scream you have."
"Really? Well... That's... embarrassing to hear." Noel chuckled awkwardly, with a slightly timid expression on her face. "But please don't startle me like that, I could have screamed a lot louder if you came from behind. It's a basic girl rule."
"I second that rule!" Marisa exclaimed with a smile. "By the way, that photo in your hands... Is that why you were in your daydreams just then?"
"Oh... yeah. This is my mom." Noel answered back, turning the photo for Marisa to see, as it was one of a fairly younger Noel, smiling in front of her mother, who was a woman with long black hair.
"Well, she's a real looker, I'll have to say. She almost looks like that's she built for nobility." Marisa chuckled.
"Heh heh, thanks. What's your mom like?" Noel asked back.
"My mother... well, she's a pretty doting one. She's a bit strict at times, but her care is one of the warmest that a child could ever have." Marisa answered back, before she then frowned. "It's just that..."
Noel then noticed where the topic was going, as she felt guilty for prying on Marisa's 'life', as she moved forward to give Marisa a pat on the shoulder.
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to pry into such a sensitive topic. I read about what happened to the village that you and your friends have came from." Noel answered back. "To be fair, my mother is gone as well, but she passed away peacefully."
"Well, I guess that makes us same on one aspect, however depressing it might be." Marisa chuckled lightly, her smile returning. "I hope that we'll find more common about each other, ones that actually are quite interesting and exciting to have. Come on, you shouldn't frown like this. You're the one who always smiles through everything that happens, right?"
"Yeah, I suppose that you're right, instructor." Noel answered back, as she smiled again. "I shouldn't be dwelling on my late mother... Instead, I should be thinking towards what my future would be."
"Speaking of which, what encouraged you to enrol here?" Marisa asked back. "I recall that you have been scouted, but I doubt that you would come here for just that reason alone."
"Well, I just simply wanted to become a solider for Gallia. Maybe even become a decorated army officer if possible." Noel answered back.
"Don't worry, you'll get there with my teachings, and the support of everyone here." Marisa ensured Noel.
"Heh heh, thanks! I plan to give it everything I got!" Noel smiled back.
"Now then, how about you come with me, we can share a drink with each other, and talk about other things." Marisa suggested. "Sounds cool for you?"
"Yes please!" Noel answered back, as the two of them made their way to the mess hall to enjoy their free time.
Inside the school courtyards...
Elma was making her way through the courtyards, as she took a seat on the large fountain in the centre of it, as she was wandering about to see if there were any of her fellow classmates to speak with. She did find that there was the Darcsen girl in her class that seemed to be quite meek and reluctant, which seemed to make the disguised demoness seem to connect with her to some degree. However, each time that she tried to get in contact with her, the Darcsen would be the first to leave with great haste, and any attempts to track her down ended up failing.
Elma could only sigh in disappointment, that she couldn't help her, before she then heard something in the distance.
"Hey, what gives!? You were the one who asked ME in the first place!" A young male voice shouted in outrage.
"What was that...? That didn't sound like anything good... I have to go and check!" Elma exclaimed, before she then stood back up, and rushed towards the sound of the voice. "It's from behind the class building..."
Elma then arrived at the scene, as Sofia was being confronted by one of the male students from another class, as she looked fairly malicious, with the cruel smirk on her lips.
"Aww, you think that meant you stood a chance? That's adorable." Sofia mocked. "Tee hee! Let me fill you in. I don't go out with common trash like you."
"Hey! Just who do you think you are!?" The male student snarled, before grabbing Sofia by the collar with both hands.
"What, are you going to hit me? I'll scream real loud for you, and you'll get expel-" Sofia was about to say, before Elma rushed towards them.
"Hey! Both of you stop it!" Elma shouted, as Sofia and the male student turned to her.
"Another one of you? Back off, girly!" The male student shouted at her. "This is between me and her! Don't interfere!"
"If you keep on doing this... I'll shout!" Elma exclaimed with a furious expression. "You'll be caught and there will be disciplinary action for both of you!"
The male student glared at Elma for a moment, before she then released his grip on Sofia. "Ugh, consider yourself lucky this time, you harpy." He growled at Sofia. "But you keep this up and some guy really is going to break that pretty face!"
The male student stomped away, while Sofia watched him leave with a unamused expression.
"Ugh, even his threats are a sorry cliche." Sofia stated.
"Why did you do all that to him, Sofia...?" Elma asked back.
"Well, you would have to know what happened between the two of us before you say that, little girl." Sofia chuckled back. "Heh, after all, this is something advanced for a kid-"
"I know what you did, Sofia." Elma answered back sternly. "But why...? Why did you have to toy with his heart like that? He didn't even look like a bad person at all, so why-"
"If you know what's best for you, you would shut up about that." Sofia threatened, the smirk disappearing from her lips. "I hate people like you, preaching about males as if they're all saints. People like you are the reason why... Forget it, it's nothing to you. Goodbye."
Sofia turned to leave, as Elma tried to call out to her. "Sofia! Wait!" She shouted to no avail, as Sofia left quickly, and made a few turns to throw off Elma.
Elma looked around for Sofia, before she then sighed. "...This truly reminds me of what Ashmedia is like with other people... Except Ashmedia was a lot nicer with the people she went with..." Elma said to herself. "I don't know why she would act like this. Perhaps... I can find someone to talk to about her."
Elma then made her way back, before she bumped into Coleen, who was returning after her lesson. She then made her way to the pink-haired lancer
"Coleen, could I ask you something?" Elma asked her.
"Sure, go ahead. I'm sure that you have something urgent to ask of me. Don't worry, I'll help you as much as I can." Coleen smiled back.
"Sofia... Could you tell me about her?" Elma responded back with a concerned expression on her face.
"Sofia, huh... Hmm, we both started here at about the same time, but haven't spoken much." Coleen answered back.
"Do you know anyone who would be friends with here?" Elma continued to question Coleen.
"Hmm, I wonder if she's really close with anyone at all..." Coleen muttered with a frown. "I don't remember seeing her with any group of folks consistently."
"I see..." Elma answered back, with a solemn expression.
"You seem to be quite distressed, Elma..." Coleen answered back. "Did something happen to her, and was it between the two of you...? It had to be something bad, right?"
"Coleen... I..." Elma tried to say, before she then shook her head. "I don't know how to deal with her. I saw her playing with the hearts of a male classmate from another class, and it turned ugly. I tried to stop it, and I managed to do it. When I confronted her about it, she said that she hated people like me. I don't want to let her continue being like this... I feel that there's a reason why she's hurting people."
"Oh, Elma..." Coleen stated with a sympathetic tone. "If there is anyone I can do to help you... I'll make sure you'll know. For now, I think that you should let this matter go. If it didn't cause a ruckus between the classes... I'm sure that it'll be ignored eventually."
Elma didn't say anything in response, as she then walked away from Coleen, as the lancer watched her leave the courtyards.
And in the distance, Sofia watched the two of them together, and although she didn't hear what they were talking about, she felt like she had a idea about what Elma was doing.
"Elma Delacour... hm...? What a troublesome girl she is." Sofia remarked to herself. "I hate her naivety, truly I do. She's only going to end up with a shattered heart with that kind of attitude. Better to shatter people's hearts, than to be the one shattered. I can only pity her innocence, despite all she knows."
In the mess hall...
Corrin was enjoying some well-cooked steak, as the taste of meat seemed to invigorate her spirit to face the rest of the classes for the day. She slowly finished it, before she then let out a satisfied sigh, and picked up her plate to place in the washing racks. Along the way, she bumped into Alexis, who was just finishing her meal as well.
"Oh, what a coincidence." Alexis remarked with a faint smile. "It seems that we're seeing each other outside of classes and drills."
"Indeed it is." Corrin answered back. "I wonder how you're dealing with school life now."
"I am mostly satisfied with it." Alexis responded with a gentle nod. "I suppose that this is the first time that we've spoken one-on-one."
"Yeah, I think so. Would you like to join me for the break?" Corrin asked back.
"Gladly, I in fact have something I'd like to ask you about." Alexis stated. "I find that you're well adept at using that war-pick of ours offensively. Not only that, but you've registered yourself to become a Fencer. Did you train for combat elsewhere before coming here?"
"Well, I was a bit fond of using swords. It reminds me of being like an ancient warrior, despite the times now." Corrin admitted. "Plus, fighting with it, reminds me of my old home, where I practised using such weapons as part of a hobby. Turns out that this hobby becomes a major skill in military combat, which is something that surprises me to this very day."
"Your home, eh?" Alexis stated. "I assume that you've practised alone, and yet you're this capable. I wonder what would happen if we were to spar against each other, rather than being sparred against instructor Rain. We might stand to gain a lot of experience from such an exercise."
"Well, if that's what you offer. Although... Why haven't you asked any of the other... Oh, I see what you mean." Corrin replied back. "Still, do you usually train outside of class drills?"
"Some, but I'm alone, so it's limited to weight training and running." Alexis stated.
"Interesting. If you wouldn't mind, I would like to join you for that." Corrin nodded. "You have my full support on that."
"Heh, I thought that you might be interested. I'll see you after class on the drill ground." Alexis answered back. "If we both find it enlightening, we can have it at certain periods of the school week."
"Alright, if that's what you wish." Corrin smiled back. "I look forward to training with you, Alexis."
Inside the campus store...
Richard and Gus came into the campus store, as it was the first time they went there, since they heard that there were new staff there. The two of them looked around the small store, as there were shelves of products, from simple snacks to fresh produce, and from simple stationery to books on the academy curriculum.
"Huh, this place has everything inside of it." Richard remarked. "Then again, it's the only store inside of campus. I wouldn't doubt that the people running it would be unprepared for the needs of most students."
"Yeah, I would have to agree, considering that all students reside within campus. It wouldn't be a wise choice to have little stock with this many students inside of it-" Gus was about to say, before his nose caught onto the scent of freshly baked bread, as he sniffed the air a few times to confirm the scent. "The scent of freshly baked bread... Do you smell it, Rain?"
Richard sniffed the air as well, as he could detect the scent of bread as well. "That scent... This isn't just simply ordinary bread." Richard answered back. "I know the scent of this brand of bread. That fairly aromatic smell... It could only belong to one person..."
Richard then rushed towards the origin of the wafting smell, as he found Alicia herself, who looked fairly older than she was when the two of them last saw her, and she was dressed in casual clothing, with a white baker's apron on the front of her body. She then noticed Rain and Gus, as she gasped loudly, and almost dropped her bread where she stood, while Richard was just as shocked.
"R-Rain...!? You look so much different than you were two years ago!" Alicia answered back.
"Alicia, you beautiful woman!" Richard exclaimed with great euphoria, as he rushed forward to hug Alicia, leaning forward so that he didn't touch her tray of fresh bread, as the former officer of Squad 7 let out a surprised yelp when she was caught in his tight embrace. "I knew that we would meet each other again! How are you doing these days!?"
"R-Rain... please let go, I don't want to accidentally ruin my bread by dropping it...!" Alicia exclaimed back, as Richard did so quickly. "I had a feeling that you were here with Gus, since I could hear the two of you talking. I didn't know exactly, until you popped up right in front of me."
"Heh, we all change after a year or two." Richard chuckled lightly, before Gus came in, and Richard wrapped a arm around him. "Hey, Gus, say hi to Alicia, it's been a while since the two of you have met!"
"It's nice to see you after so long, Alicia." Gus answered back. "I apologise if we couldn't get the others to come with us, and meet you again, but I assure you that we'll make sure they all know that you're here. Isara will be most glad if she would meet someone that she recognised."
"No, I'm fine to just meet the two of you for now." Alicia answered back with a smile. "Would you like to try some of my bread?"
"Yes, ma-DAM!" Richard hollered, before he then took one of the bread loaves, and took a big bite out of it. As he chewed on it and swallowed his bite, his expression creased up with awe and joy. "MmmmmMMM! Your bread tastes even more beautiful than it did two years ago! You really have been doing some work on your baking skills!"
"Hee hee, you don't need to flatter me so much. I just got my baker's certification, but I'm glad that you're here to enjoy it." Alicia chuckled lightly. "Since you're old friends with us, and instructors here, consider any meals with my bread to be free, as a sign of goodwill and reunion."
"Much appreciated." Gus answered back.
"Hey, Alicia. Here are the sourdough rolls." Another familiar voice rang, as Richard snapped his head in the direction of the voice, as it was Welkin, who was dressed in a brown leather coat and white shirt. He then noticed Richard looking at him, as he did manage to involuntarily drop the sourdough rolls in his arms, as Gus dived to catch them before they hit the ground and become too dirty to eat or sell.
"Holy shit! You're really here, Welks!" Richard exclaimed, before he then gave Welkin a powerful slap on his back, which made the former tank commander stumble forward a few steps. "Come on, you're really surprised that I enrolled here as an instructor with my friends? Then again, you wouldn't expect us to return after being gone for so long without a visit back to you guys!"
"Ah ha, it's Rain and Gus... What a happy coincidence." Welkin chuckled lightly. "How are the two of you doing? And what about the others?"
"We're doing mighty fine!" Richard exclaimed back with a slap on his chest. "We found a class of people who are shining diamonds under layers of rock, so to metaphorically speak. They're Class G-7 and they've been growing as soldiers as well as one could be taught! We're all happy and fine with our work, and Isara is truly excelling at her studies here! She's a armoured tech, and boy, is she a real good one."
"Hehehe, that's the good old Gunther spirit to you, Rain." Welkin smiled back, before he turned to Gus, who stood up holding his bread. "Thank you, Gus."
"No need for thanks, it was just helping out an old friend." Gus responded back with warmth. "Speaking of which... are you two-"
"Yup, we got married. Just recently, in fact." Alicia answered back, before Richard then clapped loudly.
"Congrats, congrats! You guys really deserve each other, considering how close you two lovebirds were!" Richard shouted with joy, as Welkin and Alicia blushed heavily at the statement.
"Sorry for Rain, he's just simply happy to see you all again." Gus said. "By the way, who motivated you both to come over here and become a part of the campus staff?"
"I decided to take up teaching. Although I'm not a instructor like the rest of you. I have my own way of teaching things, as you all have your own." Welkin answered back. "And Alicia decided to come with me, and bake for the campus as well."
"The headmaster is letting me sell my bread here at the shop." Alicia added.
"You guys are so lucky down here, even-" Welkin was about to start, before Richard placed a finger on his lips with a devious smirk.
"Oh, I definitely know what you're going to say... All these species of beetles around here is envious, isn't it?" Richard asked back.
"Well, I went bug-watching at noon, and next thing I knew, it was deep in the night-" Welkin explained.
"HA! I knew it! Classic Welkins, you really are a aficionado for beetles and animals!" Richard barked with hearty laughter. "Well then, I suppose that dear Alicia wasn't happy when you came home late."
"I was really worried sick about him!" Alicia yelled with a mock-outraged expression. "You shouldn't let yourself be too absorbed in your hobbies!"
"Ha ha! I did apologise for that, Alicia." Welkin chuckled.
Richard then looked around the store, before he then gestured at Gus, who went over to the store door, and quickly closed, locked it, and turned the store sign over to indicate that it was closed. Alicia and Welkin were puzzled by this gesture, as they then waited for Gus to turn back, as Richard's expression turned stoic.
"Alright, now then, since the reunion is over for the time being, onto more serious matters." Richard answered back. "You've heard about the war ravaging through Gallia itself...?"
"Of course, it's terrible that the nation has turned against itself, when they realised the truth about Cordelia..." Welkin answered back. "Not to mention all the atrocities that the rebels have been doing to the innocent Darcsen populations. I heard some news about you spear-heading the defence of Arlem with the others... And I also heard about the fact that there was also another force supporting you."
"Well, that organisation is actually 'Polar Star'." Richard responded back. "Have you recently received any letters issued from Cordelia herself?"
"Not for all we know." Alicia shook her head.
"Then I suppose that I should give you early warning about everything that is occurring." Richard responded back. "When I came to Cordelia herself, moments before the official coronation ceremony, we both predicted clearly that civil war would erupt, should she continue with her coronation as Archduchess. And considering the laws of the nation, we couldn't call upon you and the rest of Squad 7... Or so the rebels will think, in their arrogance. I devised a plan with her, that would keep the masquerade of her being a respectful and honoured archduchess who refuses to stoop to the same level of the rebels that are against her, and still keep a mobile force that is strong enough to counter rebel operations. That mobile force is 'Polar Star', and who it comprises of... is the former members of the militia, especially people from the now famous Squad 7."
"So.. It was you...?" Welkin asked back, as Richard nodded back. "I guess this makes sense... You always seemed like you had a good plan in your head, and everything you did had created great advantages for all of us. Still, the fact that you convinced Cordelia in-person... I'm surprised that she even let you in the coronation ceremony, even if you were famed for being part of our militia squad."
"I guess that she decided to use me as a shining example, which she did, in order to win people over, against Darcsen discrimination." Richard responded back. "Still, I should give you fair warning... As you were the commander of Squad 7, Welkin... You're likely to be called into battle in the early stages of this civil war. So I hope that you've made your preparations. We'll need your help, and our former squad to turn the tables against the rebels, before it's too late, and the situation worsens. As for you, Alicia... I know that this is a sensitive topic... But do you have your Valkyrian powers still...?"
"...I do." Alicia answered back with a ominous pause. "I know that this power might be considered to be savage... but I know that this power doesn't exist to destroy, but also to be used to protect and assist. That's what you have told me two years ago, and I have kept it close to heart."
"I'm relieved to hear that, but also slightly sad to hear that as well." Richard answered back. "Hopefully you won't have to be forced to use that power of yours, but if push comes to shove... I hope that you'll make the right choice."
"I'll consider that, Rain." Alicia responded back.
"Good... Let us wish this civil war ends sooner... This is a war that was created on such stupid principles, and yet it would become crushing to the nation's stability if it persists..." Richard stated, before he then walked over and unlocked the door. "Good day, the both of you."
Richard then left the store, while Gus looked silently at both Welkin and Alicia, who were now solemn from hearing the dire news from Richard's mouth. He opened his mouth to say something, before then deciding against it, before giving them a sincere bow, and then following after Richard.
Alicia and Welkin looked at each other, before they decided to continue on their store duties, to keep their mind off the civil war.
A few days later...
Richard was walking through the school hallways, before he then bumped into Rene and Avan, as the latter looked like that she was in a hurry. Intrigued by the scene, he walked over, while the two of them talked to each other, while Magari was following after Rene.
"Aha! Found you! Yo, Avan!" Rene shouted.
"Mm? What's up, Rene?" Avan asked.
"We, uh..." Rene said, before she then had a ashamed expression on her face. "We... uh... We kinda lost Jarde."
"We've split up to look for him, but we haven't had any luck so far." Magari added.
Richard's eyebrows raised in interest, as he knew that Jarde was Avan's pet bird, which was a orange Gallian swift, small and cute, and became the class pet, after unanimous decision from all classmates. He decided to join in the conversation, being close enough for the three of them to hear him.
"So, you're looking for Jarde?" Richard asked, as the three students turned to him. "If it'll help, I'll search for you all."
"Instructor Rain...? Well, it would be nice to have someone like you helping out." Rene stated.
"Guess I'm not the only one who gets lost on the campus." Avan remarked to himself.
"If he is lost, he must be frightened. Avan, will you help us look for him?" Magari asked.
"Yeah, I bet he'd come if you called him! He's your pet bird after all!" Rene agreed strongly.
"All right, I'm on it. Heh, so much for those amazing homing instincts... Comes from miles away to get to me, and then he gets lost here..." Avan stated.
"Let me come with you, Avan." Richard interjected. "If there are any bird-calls, then I'll be able to hear it and narrow down the direction where the bird might be."
"Alright, lead the way, boss-man." Avan stated, before they then toured around the campus, with Avan calling out Jarde's name frequently, while Richard had his ears closely listening for any response in the form of a bird call. However, there was no response for a hour or two, until Richard finally picked up Jarde's tweeting.
"I hear him... he's towards this direction." Richard answered back, as he guided Avan through the campus, cutting through the back of the class buildings.
The tweeting become louder, indicating that the two of them were heading in the right direction, before they ended up near the old campus building, which looked fairly rundown, and had a bridge connecting it to the main campus. When they got close enough to Jarde's tweeting, they found that the bird, which was a small bird with flipper-like wings, with white around its belly and under its wings, as well as a two-pronged tail, as well as having a blue ribbon tying a messenger bird container on the front of it. It also had a red blush on its cheeks. The bird was being tormented by a short and young individual, who was clad in a black hooded robe that looked far too big to fit them, as their head was obscured by the hood, as they were holding Jarde by the top of his head with one hand, and holding the tail with the other, and stretching him with some force, causing Jarde to let out a series of distressed tweets.
"Jarde!?" Avan remarked, before Richard moved into action, running towards the individual.
"Hey, that's class property that you are manhandling there! Let the bird go!" Richard shouted, as he immediately moved a hand to grab the individual by the shoulder.
However, before he could do that, the individual turned their head towards him, as he could see that there was a girl with light-blue hair and red eyes, which struck a resemblance to Richard, that made him hesitate for a moment.
"You gotta be kidding me, what's a kid like her doing here!?" Avan exclaimed.
Before either of them could react, the girl then chomped down on Richard's lingering hand, as he jolted for a moment, although he didn't react otherwise, glaring down at the girl with unamused eyes. Avan, however, was horrified that the girl just bit the instructor.
"...Biting me... Are you serious?" Richard asked back. "You do know that your teeth aren't sharp or strong enough to even make it hurt."
"O-Oi!" Avan yelled at the girl. "You bit him! I can't believe you just bit him like that- Why did you bite him like that?"
The girl merely responded with hissing and growling, which was muffled with Richard's hand in her mouth.
"If you're trying to bite something off, you can stop trying. My hands have been hardened through combat. You would need a army knife to cut through such skin." Richard stated, before he then lightly slapped the head of the girl. "Now stop it, and return the bird."
"Aliasse, what are you doing?" A female voice was heard, as the girl stopped immediately, as she released her bite on Richard, as Richard and Avan turned to the source of the voice.
"Huh?" Avan remarked, as the girl rushed over to the source of the voice, which was a woman with long flowing black hair, empty black eyes under her square glasses, and wearing a open white lab coat, with a black blouse underneath it, black jeans and sandals on her feet.
"Oh, mama!" The girl, now named Aliasse, said with adoration, as she nuzzled against the woman's side, while Richard glared at her silently, with animosity in his eyes, and a snarl on his lips, while Avan looked at her with confusion.
"You there. Who are you? What are you doing here?" She asked them both, with a emotionless tone.
"Nothing, we just came here looking for our bird, lady." Avan answered back.
"You're back, Mama! Did you finish your errand?" Aliasse asked the woman.
"I did, though it went 18 minutes over schedule." She answered back, before she then grabbed Aliasse with a arm around the short girl, as they turned to enter the building. "Forget what you've seen here, kid. And you also, Rain Craider. For your own sake."
"Gladly." Richard answered back with oozing hostility, as he seized Avan with a arm so quickly and strongly, that Avan was shaken by the sudden motion, as he turned around and stomped away. "Go do what you like, we don't need to interfere with each other's business."
Avan was about to say something, although he was frightened by the sudden change in the instructor, so much that he didn't notice Aliasse sticking her tongue out at the both of them, as Jarde quickly took flight, to return to the classroom.
"Instructor... Who was that person...?" Avan asked, finally mustering the courage to speak. "Why do you look like that you really hate her or something-"
"Avan Hardins." Richard addressed Avan by his full name, allowing Avan to realise that Richard was being deadly serious at this moment. "I will make this very clear. Who this woman is, is none of your concern. All you need to know is that you are NOT to be speaking with her at all. I don't care about your reasons, I don't want you to be seen with her at all. Not even a second. Am I clear, Avan?"
Avan was frightened by the choking aura of authority that Richard was exuding, as he quickly nodded in fright, before Richard let go of Avan, and stomped away. But not before Avan could see that Richard was muttering something under his breath, only able to pick the words 'backstabbing bitch' barely, which confused Avan even more about who the woman with Aliasse was.
The day of the Laevatein preliminaries...
"Avan, the preliminaries for the Laevatein Cup are set to begin." Brixham stated, as he was with Avan inside the briefing room, along with Richard and his group. "Are you prepared?"
"You know it! We're all set to go right here! I even spent a whole night going through Remi's lessons!" Avan exclaimed.
"As your advisor, considering that your class results have been quite exceptional considering how the class performed previously before... I'd say that you have a chance to win this. But it doesn't mean that I would expect complete victory." Brixham stated. "Try to avoid causalities out there."
"Come on, Brixham, have some faith in dear Avan." Richard answered back. "All those clean-up operations, and all those simulated skirmishes, he's cleaned house on all of them without any of his men sporting any wounds of the serious sort. A few grazes, bruises and mild bullet wounds, yes, but all that's easily healed up and shrugged off."
"You heard him, don't write us off like that! I'm telling you, we're going to win this!" Avan exclaimed.
"Then I suppose that there is no harm in asking you a small favour then." Richard answered back. "Avan, I offer you a challenge, one that I consider one that is fair for this kind of match-up."
"What's the challenge then?" Avan asked back.
"Avan, I want to see you win this fight, with a group of 8, excluding Lavinia of course. No replacements, just 8 men and a tank." Richard stated his conditions, as Brixham was shocked to hear such tight conditions from Richard.
"Rain, surely you cannot have such faith in Class G-7's abilities, that they'll be able to clear such a arduous trial!" Brixham argued with outrage.
"I'm not." Richard answered back. "Class G-7 have faced almost equivalent odds on the real battlefields, with much more at stake with losing, than just bruised pride. I have seen Class G-7 in action for myself, and I deem them worthy to complete this trial of mine. They say that Class G-7 is lacking, despite all of the excelling results that they have proven to achieve. If these results on these skirmishes will not persuade them, then dominating a higher class with these restrictive conditions, would prove that Class G-7 have arose from the reject litter, into the rising stars of the academy."
"This... This is truly crazy to hear that from you." Brixham stated.
"I have faith in Avan's abilities as well, as well as those of my students." Gus stated.
"If Avan truly has learned from me, the chances of him losing is fairly little, even under these conditions." Reisen answered back.
"So... you think that I can do it...?" Avan asked back, before his passion was ignited. "Fine then, I'll show them the real power of Class G-7!"
"Then I suppose that we'll see for ourselves if you can pull off a miracle like that. I look forward to it. Now go to the drill ground, we'll be watching." Brixham stated.
At the drill grounds...
The battlefield for the cup matches was already set up, as the many classes of Lanseal were already lined up, as they watched as the matches proceeded one by one. Class G-7 was there, as they were looking quite demoralised from seeing the other classes in action, although some of them refused to let their spirit break, as evident from Noel and Alexis.
"Do you really think... Do we really have a chance against another class?" Nichol remarked.
"It's doubtful. We're marching to abject humiliation." Helmut answered back.
"Oi, what are you lot moping about? Don't get all negative on me! We took out a tank by ourselves, didn't we!?" Avan exclaimed at them.
"Avan's right! We can't just give up now! Don't forget all of the fighting we have done up to this point!" Corrin shouted as well. "If we can survive through all that, then we'll have a fighting against all the other classes!"
"That's right! We handled so many rebel battalions!" Avan shouted, his spirit roused further. "What's a handful of men compared to that!? Right? It's foolproof!"
"I wouldn't be so cocky to state that you would believe such logic would be fool-proof." Juliana remarked, as she walked over the class alone, dressed in the gear of a Armored Tech.
"Who asked you, Juliana?" Avan retorted back.
"Unlike the rebel rabble that you have been fighting, the classes here have been trained to fight in organised groups, and are trained to fight under various situations." Juliana stated. "Even with all the work you have been doing recently, you are far from reaching the same level of brilliance that your brother achieved."
"I know, but I'll get there eventually!" Avan exclaimed.
"Like you will. Leon Hardins was one of the most gifted students this academy has known. He was also a commander of impressive skill. And I do not flatter others, unless they have truly astounded me." Juliana answered back.
"So even the princess looked up to him." Avan chuckled.
"Indeed I did, to be fair, we have met before I even enrolled here. I have witnessed that incredible leadership for myself." Juliana stated. "However, all that matters now, is seeing if you are worthy of being considered his sibling or not. I'll be watching this battle, to see whether you'll turn the tables and defy expectations, or prove me true that you are a disappointment."
Juliana then walked away, just as Rodriguez was about to call upon the participants of the next round.
"Class C-19 and Class G-7 chairs to the front!" Rodriguez called, as the two class chairs met by his sides, as the class chair of the opposing class was a boy with short ruffled dark-grey hair and glasses. "Alright, maggots! Listen up! For the Cup, we run a real combat simulation, Gallian Army Rules. You'll be using practice rounds and modified explosives, but they can be lethal if you're not lucky. Make your peace, then hit the field at your respective bases!"
"I still can't believe we got Class G-7. It's like a win by default!" The class chair remarked with a smug smirk on his lips.
"Yeah, just keep talking." Avan retorted with a devilish smirk of his own. "We'll see who's smiling in a few minutes here."
The two class chairs immediately parted and headed for their respective classes, as Avan was already making plans on who to send onto the field.
Zone 2 Team: Elma, Zeri, Isara, Noel
Zone 3 Team: Avan, Lavinia, Cosette, Karin, Coleen
In Zone 2...
The first team were located within the field of containers and sandbag covers, as they slowly advanced, as Isara led the group, with her shield raised. When she felt the pinging of bullets against her shield, it alerted everyone to the presence of enemies in her direction.
"I've found one!" Isara shouted, as Zeri moved into action, and fired upon the attacker, taking them out in a blast of paint from his training weapon.
Elma moved forward, as she noticed some of the enemy soldiers aiming their weapons at her, as she ducked behind cover, as the bullets whizzed over their heads. She waited for the enemy to reload, before she then raised up and fired a few rounds with her hand-gun, which managed to land several direct hits, although not taking down any one of them.
Noel slowly moved forward, as she waited to get a clear shot on one of the enemies, before she then readied her lance, and fired it, as the hollowed lance rocket struck one of the enemy soldiers, and took them out in a massive burst of air that knocked them out soundly.
Isara slowly advanced as well, as she blocked the enemy gun-fire with her shield. She then noticed that there were several anti-personnel mines ahead, as she moved forward as close to them as possible without triggering them, before she then wedged her shield in the ground, protecting her, as she then used the war-pick to crack open the active mines, and disarm them one by one at her leisure. The enemy soldier trying to attack her, decided to charge her, although it proved to be a foolish decision, as Elma and Zeri took him out with cross-fire.
"The mines are clear, we're all set to move." Isara told the rest of them, as the team immediately made a move towards the first enemy camp in the area, as Zeri had the honours of swapping the enemy flag with their own, indicating its capture.
"We've made good progress from where we are." Zeri relayed to the other team through the comms. "How are you doing right now, Avan?"
"I'm doing pretty well, Zeri, we've taken out one of their tanks and all of us are fresh as daisies over here!" Avan's cheerful response rang through the comms.
"Hmph." Zeri remarked, before he then turned off the comms. "We still need to take the other camp in the area, before we can advance to the area where the main force of Class C-19 is."
"Are any of you hurt?" Elma asked back, offering to use ragna-aid to heal their wounds.
"I'm fine, Elma." Isara answered back. "And I'm sure that the others should be fine, since I have managed to cover for everyone here."
"I'll move on ahead, and check for enemies." Zeri offered, before he then vaulted over cover.
As he made his way down, he was suddenly assaulted by a hail of bullets from one of the enemy class's stormtroopers, as he quickly turned around and took them down quickly, although he was left a little bit winded and covered in paint from the attack.
"Tch, an oversight on my part." Zeri remarked, before the rest of the team advanced to where he was, as Elma was about to prepare ragna-aid for him. "No need, Elma. This is nothing at all. I am in no danger of being taken down yet."
"Alright, I understand." Elma answered back, as Isara took the lead again, as she slowly made her way forward, before she was assaulted from the front and her right side by two enemy shocktroopers at the same time, although she did angle her shield to deflect the maximum amount of shots possible, before she then rushed forward and conked the enemy stormtrooper by her right side out, with her blunted war-pick.
Seeing that the other stormtrooper was hiding behind cover, Noel decided to make her move, as she loaded her lance, before firing it at the enemy shocktrooper, blowing his cover up, and allowing Zeri to finish him off. Elma took the base this time, as she checked around for any more enemies, before she then sighed in relief. Without asking about Isara's health, she quickly readied her ragna-aid container, before treating Isara with it, as the Darcsen girl gave her a silent gesture of thanks.
"Come on, the others might be waiting ahead." Noel stated to the group, as they moved out of the zone, and onto the next.
In Zone 3...
The team of four plus a light tank that were situated at the base, looked around the area, as they checked for any ambushes that the enemy class would have set for them.
Karin moved forward, before she then sighted several stormtroopers ahead, as well as a light tank, as she advanced, using her shield to block interception fire, and then took out the nearest stormtrooper with her weapon.
Avan noticed that there was something in the tall grass behind, as he decided to squint his eyes to look closely through the grass, before noticing that there was a enemy lancer hidden in the grass, waiting to ambush Lavinia from behind with a rocket to the radiator. However, Avan already prepared to deal with that, as he pulled out a grenade, and chucked it where the lancer was, and blew him out of cover. Lavinia noticed the lancer, as the mounted machine-gun roared into action, tearing the poor lancer apart with a merciless spray of paint rounds.
She then turned the tank's cannon to fire at the enemy tank, as the cannon round struck the enemy tank, causing visible damage on it. Coleen finished off the tank with a well-aimed lance to the tank's body, as the light tank fell silent, while the tank crew immediately came out of the tank, and fled the field, their equipment disabled. Coleen pumped a fist down, and shouted 'Yeah!' at her accomplishment.
Corrin decided to check out the side-path through the area, as it was a direct path to the enemy camp in the area, as she noticed the anti-personnel mines laid there to deter people entering it, as she went to work on the mines, working slowly while the rest of the ground took the detour around, finding that there were several enemy troops laid in wait there. However, Lavinia already readied her machine-gun, as she tore through the enemy troops, all except the lone sniper who turtled up behind cover.
After letting the ammo clip of her gun run out, she let the rest of the team take cover behind her tank, as the sniper rose up with rifle at the ready, trying to find any targets to take out. However, he could only see the tank, and he was confident that his rifle was too weak to damage through tank armour. He then noticed that Corrin was coming his way, having finished disarming the mines on the path, as he fired a sniper round at it, but Corrin blocked the shell, before smashing the war-pick overhead, knocking the sniper down to the ground unconscious.
As Avan was about to capture the base, the comms buzzed on, as Zeri's voice rang through it. "We've made good progress from where we are. How are you doing right now, Avan?"
"I'm doing pretty well, Zeri, we've taken out one of their tanks and all of us are fresh as daisies over here!" Avan answered back, as he took down the enemy flag and replaced it with the class's flag.
"Hmph..." Zeri's voice was heard, before the comms fell silent again.
"Alright, everyone, the class chair is just ahead! We take him out, and this match is good as ours!" Avan rallied his squadmates, before they made their way to the next area.
Inside the enemy main camp...
Avan and his team were the first to arrive at the battlefield, as they were on a straight path to the enemy main camp, where the class chair of Class C-19 was, wielding a sniper rifle, as he noticed them arriving, and quickly ordered his men to intercept the squad, with the shocktroopers, and the other light tank moving into action.
"Man, they have another one...!?" Avan exclaimed. "Ain't gonna matter, we're going to take them all down!"
"Let me handle the advance, the enemy anti-personnel mines are too low in ordinance to even damage this thing!" Lavinia told Avan, as she slowly moved the tank forward, as the enemy soldiers tried to fire at it, with all bullets having no effect on it. The anti-personnel mine exploded when they were tread upon by the tank, but it didn't do any noticeable damage to it, not even the treads.
Avan took the chance to shoot down the enemy shock-trooper, whose attention was directed at Lavinia and her tank, as he took him out with a single shot to the back of his head, knocking him out cold. At the same time, Coleen was already advancing, as she slipped past the enemy tank, which was preparing a cannon round to fire at Lavinia in close range, before then firing a lance rocket right at the exposed radiator, disabling the tank, as the tank crew opted to remain inside, worried about their safety if they moved out.
Eventually, Lavinia pushed forward, as she rushed through the sandbag cover of the enemy main camp, much to the horror of the class chair, as he quickly backed away. When he saw that the tank's cannon was aimed at him, he was immediately struck with deathly fear.
"W-Wait! Hold your fire! We sur-" The class chair pleaded, before the cannon round was ejected from the tank's turret, slamming into the class chair directly, sending him flying across the field, before he landed on the ground, his glasses blown off his head, and completely in pieces from the explosive force of the tank shell.
The rest of the enemy class noticed that their class chair was annihilated by Lavinia, as they quickly dropped their weapons in surrender.
"We surrender! We surrender! Please stop!" One of the remaining enemy class soldiers exclaimed in terror, presumably the class's second-in-command. "We get it, you beaten us, we're sorry for looking down on you all!"
"That's the match! Winners: Class G-7!" Rodriguez exclaimed the results of the match.
Zeri, whose team just arrived at the field, heard the announcement, only scoffed, although there was a slight smirk on his lips, due to him being fairly impressed that Avan managed to take out the enemy class chair before he could even arrive at the field.
"Hmph... I suppose that Avan's not so bad after all. Perhaps that's why he's a little like his brother." Zeri remarked to himself.
The two groups then moved back to their classes, as the rest of Class G-7, who witnessed the whole match, were a combination between shocked and ecstatic.
"It's like I'm dreaming. We actually won, and so easily...!" Morris remarked with joy.
"Woo hoo! We did it! Supreme victory for the under-dogs right there!" Joachim shouted as well.
"Nice going, Avan! We made it through the prelims!" Cosette remarked.
"That was just a warm-up! See, we didn't have to worry! With all of us working together, we'll be able to beat all of the classes in this cup!" Avan declared with pride.
"Well, well... It seems that I am humbled by your performance." Juliana remarked, as Avan turned to face her.
"Now do you think that we're a class of rejects!?" Avan shouted back.
"Perhaps I was wrong indeed to say that there was no hope for this class. Within less than a minute above our time taking down the same class in mock combat, you claimed victory." Juliana answered back. "That is a commendable achievement considering our status here."
"Wait, does that mean... It only took you three minutes to beat the guys we just fought!? No way..." Reiner remarked with awe.
"It is only fair that I lead by example." Juliana remarked. "After all, I intend to be the one who will win this cup for my class. I will tell you this, Avan Hardins, victory in war depends on an able-minded commander. Without a talented leader to guide them, soldiers cannot draw upon their fullest potential in battle. It's only in the hands of a master that they are able to achieve victory through the best outcomes."
"That's wrong!" Avan objected strongly. "You can't just treat soldiers as if they're pieces on a board! Even if there has be a leader for soldiers, doesn't mean that soldiers are almost useless without them!"
"That may be true, considering that command is delegated between you and that Darcsen." Juliana remarked. "Either way, I'm merely stating my opinion on the matter. If you wish to say I'm wrong, then I will not stop you, but you do not have anything that can deny my words. In fact, I feel certain that your brother felt the same about his men."
"No way! Not Leon..." Avan answered back.
"She is not wrong, Avan." Zeri stated. "No matter how brilliant the commander, a weak squad is still weak."
"Oh? And what do you mean by that, Darcsen?" Juliana answered back with a frown.
"My name is Zeri." Zeri responded back tersely.
"Very well then, Zeri. Considering that you Darcsens are supposed to be famed for your ingenuity, tell me, what makes you think that the commander is not all in battle?" Juliana asked back, with a mocking tone.
"Class G was successful today because Avan chose the right people for the battle, with their talents being used to maximum efficiency to crush the opposition." Zeri answered back. "Since I have watched your battle, your leadership is remarkable, but with so little care about your men, I sincerely doubt that you would be able to draw the most of the talents of your soldiers, with that attitude of yours."
"How dare you!" Juliana snarled back, as her expression twisted with anger. "Fine then, if you think that you and Avan are more capable than I, the future head of the Everhart family, in leading our men, then we shall see when we finally meet against each other on the battlefield! Mark my words, Zeri, don't you dare let yourselves get defeated, I will personally defeat you and your class, to prove that you are wrong! My leadership is all my class needs in order to achieve victory!"
Juliana then turned to leave in a hurry, as Avan turned to Zeri.
"Wow, man! I'm kind of surprised to hear you stick up for me." Avan exclaimed back.
"It is only fair, considering that you have led us to victory smoothly." Zeri answered back. "Don't think that this is a sign that you are to rest on your laurels, so to speak. If you slack off, then you will end up being crushed by the other classes in the following rounds, and shame yourself in front of Juliana, who will be expecting our defeat."
"Well... Thanks, I guess?" Avan asked with a confused expression, puzzled about how to respond to Zeri's backhanded compliment, as well as scratching his head.
Suddenly, they heard the sound of clapping, as Richard came over them, with a proud expression on his face.
"Well done, Avan... Truly, you have proven yourself capable." Richard answered back with a smile. "Against an entire class of soldiers, you have managed to bring them all down with only a handful of soldiers and a single light tank. If you were to be drafted for war now, you would be a fairly good squad leader."
"That's right!" Avan exclaimed. "I can't possibly fail expectations set by our own teachers and instructors! I'm going to be like my brother, a real good leader of men!"
"I believe you will." Richard answered back with a smile, before he then turned to the rest of Class G-7. "Alright then, listen up. The reason why a few of you had only been deployed, was due to a wager formed between me and Avan, much to your adviser's objection. The wager stated, was for Avan to defeat the enemy class in the cup, with only a handful of soldiers, to prove our tactical superiority. As expected, Avan had pulled through and succeeded. And I have not stated the reward to him. So I'll tell it to you all now: For two weeks, all of you students are exempt from military drills and exercises, meaning that you will have a temporary break for you all, although you will all still require to study for your academic subjects. If you wish to train still, then meet any of us instructors, and we'll arrange a drill session for anyone who like to participate as well."
Almost a good half of the class erupted in joy and relief, while some of the other half were fairly satisfied and relieved to hear that, and some of them were slightly disappointed about not being able to train. Out of all of them, Avan was the most joyous, since he found that being forced to study tactics with Reisen was mentally draining.
And thus... another month passes at Lanseal.