Unmei Force Solitary Legends: Eternal Embers
Chapter 6: Laevatein Semi-Finals
In Randgriz...
"Whoa, I never knew our capital was so huge!" Avan remarked, as he was being escorted by Richard, who decided to escort the student with Brixham.
"First in Randgriz, I take it?" Brixham remarked with a smirk.
"You'll get used to it. When you're officially in the army... This place will most likely become your new home and station." Richard added.
"Yeah! So this is where Cor- Archduchess Cordelia lives, right?" Avan asked, correcting himself mid-sentence.
"That's right. We're on our way to a brief audience with the Archduchess now." Brixham nodded back. "You should feel honoured. She's decorating you for your work escorting her."
"Wait, I'm going to get a medal of honour like Rain did before!?" Avan remarked with shock, before his mood soared in excitement. "Oh yeah, now this is something I really look forward too!"
"Avan, I'll only say this once. You represent not just our class, but also that of the academy." Brixham warned Avan. "Do not embarrass us with any gaffes in front of the Archduchess."
"Don't be too stiff though, Cordelia's not exactly a harsh person. You can relax a little when you're speaking with her, along with a small group." Richard responded back, taking in the sights of the city. "The capital looks far better than it did before. I expected that it would have taken months for Gallia to recover from the Imperial attack on it all those years ago."
"It actually took less than two months to rebuild all that was destroyed." Brixham responded back. "Still, I suppose that this is familiar grounds to you, as you enlisted for the militia here, correct?"
"Yeah, and it was within these streets that we saved Archduchess Cordelia." Richard nodded. "It was a fairly tense moment, but the chance to speak with the future Archduchess at even terms was a pleasing opportunity. Not to mention that she managed to repay the debt to me."
"How so?' Brixham asked back, curious about Richard's past in Gallia.
"That's a secret between Squad 7, me and the Archduchess herself." Richard smirked back. "Have fun trying to pry that secret out, everyone keeps their lips tight about this matter, because this is more or less a national secret in terms of secrecy and information security."
Soon, Avan noticed Jarde coming over, flying over to him, while Brixham and Richard conversed some more. Wordlessly, Avan guided the small bird into his pocket, as the bird quietly waited inside of it, not chirping or fluttering inside of it.
"It's time for your audience." Brixham noted. "We'll get you changed into formal outfit, and then head for the castle."
Inside the castle...
Avan was now wearing his formal uniform, including the blue officer's cap, while Richard and Brixham were changed into their field suits from the previous war, as they were moving along the hallway to the throne-room, which was quite large.
"Whoa, this room's massive! You could run laps in here for exercise." Avan remarked at the room itself, before noticing that Brixham was quite tense. "Hm? Why so tense, Brixy? It's not like you."
"Avan, reasonable people get a bit nervous around royalty. You're just odd." Brixham responded back, before turning to Richard, who seemed to be calm and unaffected. "And in Rain's case... the Archduchess is more or less a distant friend of his, and he is not easily cowed. So that is why he doesn't seem tense, while I am."
"Avan Hardins, step forward!" One of the men called out, moving the door open, for Avan to walk up to the throne, where Cordelia was seated.
"Yes sir!" Avan responded back with a crisp salute, before slowly making his way up, as Cordelia stood up.
"Avan Hardins, and esteemed soldiers of the Lanseal Academy Class G-7." Cordelia declared with a bold tone fitting for royalty. "For your exemplary service, I hereby grant you Gallia's Medal of Honor."
The medal was presented before Avan, as he took it, and pinned it to his formal outfit. "Thank you, your Highness!" Avan responded back enthusiastically. "I know that the whole class would be just thrilled to hear that, if they were here."
"Hee hee. It pleases me to see you as exuberant as ever." Cordelia chuckled.
"Yup! I might not be exactly cultured or smart, but I've always had pep!" Avan exclaimed.
Suddenly, Jarde came flying out Avan's pocket, which surprised everyone, especially Avan and Cordelia.
"Gah! Jarde, I told you to stay hidden!" Avan exclaimed, before Richard caught the Gallian swift.
"I see... He must have been longing for you, Avan." Richard remarked, looking at the bird, before doing a apologetic bow to Cordelia. "Apologies, Archduchess Cordelia... Avan has a pet bird, which he does not wish to part with for too long, as the bird had the same sentiments. Hopefully you'll forgive this intrusion."
"My, how darling!" Cordelia chuckled lightly. "Is this truly your pet, Avan?"
"Yes, ma'am. His name is Jarde, and a Gallian swift." Avan responded back.
"Rain... Could you put little Jarde into my hands?" Cordelia asked, as Richard did so. She then petted the bird gently across the head, as he let out a series of happy tweets. "I welcome you to Randgriz, little Jarde. I pray this war will soon end, so all Gallians, man and beast, can know peace. Know that I, too, will be fighting for that end, in every way I am able."
"Yes, ma'am! But I hope you'll leave the dangerous stuff to us!" Avan declared with determination.
"May your allegiance to Gallia never fail, Avan Hardins. Godspeed to you." Cordelia blessed Avan, before she then dismissed him and his adult escorts.
Inside the library...
Avan, Zeri, Cosette, Isara and Elma decided to hold a study session in the academy's library, as they had books related to their studies piled in front of each one of them.
"Sigh... sucks we've got to spend the day working on this report assignment..." Avan sighed deeply. "Even with all of these classes, this stuff really hurts my head."
"Don't you try to speak like that, Avan." Zeri frowned. "I'm unfortunate to have been stuck with you, so that I have to check if you have been doing all of this right..."
"I'm sure that you'll be able to make up a proper report." Isara added. "Avan, you need to learn how to create your own reports, since you're a commander, who will serving under a few superiors. Reports are vital for the battlefield, especially when the information within them could be the very thing separating victory or defeat."
"Hey, this is a library. If you want to chatter, do it-" Juliana remarked, holding a book in her hands, walking over to the group. "Oh, it's you lot from Class G-7."
"Hello, Juliana." Isara responded back gently. "Sorry if we caused a disturbance in this library. We were just doing some studies with each other."
"Hi Juliana..." Elma remarked with a slightly timid tone, and a warm smile.
"What're you doing here?" Avan asked.
"I'm here to borrow a book for my own studies. If you would be so kind to soften your voices, you are not the only one-" Juliana remarked, before Zeri's eyes fell upon the book in her hand, as he was shocked.
"Wait, that's...!" Zeri remarked, quickly rising from the seat, and pulling the book up with Juliana's arm, which flustered the pink-haired noble student, as his eyes were lit up with excitement. " This is Theimer's thesis! It's been out of print for ages. I've been searching for a copy forever. I had no idea we had one here!"
"Father's thesis...!?" Isara exclaimed, before she then rose up, and took a look at the book. "No mistaking it, that's a thesis that my father wrote!"
"B-back off, both of you!" Juliana exclaimed with a blush in her cheeks, seeing the eager Darcsens surrounding her. "Now that you both know, please leave me be."
"Wait, this guy Theimer is someone famous right? And he's Isara's father?" Avan asked the group.
"Theimer was a Darcsen engineer. One of Gallia's top mechanichal geniuses. He served as General Belgend Gunther's right arm in the First Europan War." Zeri responded back. "It was also stated in the records that Theimer birthed a daughter, Isara, who was adopted into the Gunther household."
"Woah... So that's why Isara was a great engineer... But why did she go for armoured tech then...?" Cosette remarked, before shaking her head. "No, I should be speaking about something else. He designed the tank the general used, too, right?"
"That's correct." Isara confirmed. "It was the Edelweiss, the tank that led Squad 7, with my brother Welkin inside of it. It's actually quite coincidental that daughter and father both worked on the same tank that fought two entire wars."
"I'm a bit surprised to see you reading a reference penned by a Darcsen, considering that you aren't exactly fond of them." Zeri said to Juliana.
"A good commander needs a broad base of knowledge." Juliana admitted, as Isara turned to Avan with a 'you see?' look on her face, with some smugness in it. "This thesis is widely regarded as revolutionary. It's a masterwork. I see no need to allow the author's race to affect that objective assessment."
"I see." Zeri nodded back. "When you're done reading it, I'd love to hear your thoughts about it."
"E-Excuse me?" Juliana answered back, as her blush grew, as if she was embarrassed by the statement Zeri made.
"I've always had an interest in his work and working philosophy. I'm sure that your insights would be illuminating." Zeri answered back.
"...If you would ask me so humbly... I suppose that I can grant you that." Juliana coughed gently, in a attempt to dispel her own embarrassment. "However, I've talked enough with you all. I will take my leave."
Juliana then make a quick exit, as she didn't look like that she wanted to continue the conversation at all.
"Aand, she's gone." Avan stated. "Well, at least she's a little nicer than how she treated us anywhere else."
"I guess that she reads up on a whole bunch of stuff in her free time." Cosette stated.
"I guess that she's a fairly studious commander then... That means that she's not to be underestimated on the field of battle." Isara remarked. "You know what that means, Avan."
"Right, right, I got it." Avan sighed deeply. "Jeez..."
Inside the hallways...
Richard decided to take a while to relax, as he decided to do a light jog around the campus itself, as students seemed to be surprised to find a instructor jogging along past them.
"One, two, one, two..." Richard repeatedly muttered under his breath. "Nothing like a jog to keep myself warmed to teach the drill sessions in a while."
Suddenly, he heard the sound of a fight, then the sound of a fist striking flesh hard, as well a pained cry.
"Hrraaugh! My toof...!" A muffled male voice sounded, as if their mouth was slightly muffled. "You brok' my toof!"
"The hell...!?" Richard remarked, before he then made his way to the scene. "A fight... here...? Something tells me that I might know who's responsible."
Suddenly, he found himself in the back of the campus building, as Erik was surrounded by several class students from different classes, as one of them was reeling back, covering his mouth, as there was blood leaking from the bottom of it, and Erik was in a boxing stance, with one of his fists covered with some blood, presumably from the retreating class member.
"Hmph. Serves you right for talking a bigger game than you can deliver." Erik mocked, before taunting the students with a 'come-on' gesture. "All right, who's next? I'll aim a little higher this time. Who wants a nose job, free of charge. Of course, you can all rush me, and I'll just beat every single one of you to a pulp if you dare."
"R-Run! He's going to kill us allll!" One of the classmates, who was completely spooked by the threatening aura that Erik was emanating from his threats, as the class students immediately ran off without looking back at all.
Erik then sighed, as he relaxed his stance, and straightened his jacket out, before shaking the blood off his fist. "Waste of my damn time... If they couldn't fight, they should have stayed home." Erik growled.
"Erik Kampmann!" Richard exclaimed with a furious expression, as Erik turned to him. "Explain yourself! What are you doing here!?"
"Ugh, so the instructor caught wind of this." Erik groaned. "I suppose that you saw the end of all of that, when these pansies ran off."
"Did you start this fight, Kampmann?" Richard asked the question dryly.
"Heh, no." Erik responded back. "These bastards ran right up to me, thinking that they're able to take me on, looking to beat me in. I obliged to their challenge. Not my fault that they were so weak that a single good punch to the mouth knocked two teeth out of one of them, and they ran at first blood. Pathetic, if I say so myself."
"Fine, I suppose that you were merely committing self-defence. However, why did you have to go so far to provoke them into further fighting?" Richard replied back. "Are you trying to get yourself expelled for continuous cases of violence!? And the fact that you're smashing the face of other students in, is dragging your reputation down into the mud-"
"Aw, can it with the lecture!" Erik snarled back. "Even if you're my instructor, I'm not obliged to tell you about my business! The only reason I go to your drills, is because there's elbow room for me to get away from others, and I can train alone. Don't go thinking that you're some sort of guardian to me."
"You're my student, Kampmann. And your actions have consequences far beyond you. Even if I could care less about your violent tendencies, this will stop before you end up ruining things for your own classmates, or the next time I catch you, there will be severe punishment." Richard responded back coldly.
"Feh, to Hel with all of the other classmates, they don't seem to give a damn about me." Erik scoffed, and before Richard could retort, he spoke again. "I don't need that sentimental drivel from someone like you. You might have fought in the war, but that doesn't give you reason to lord over me as you damn please. Stuff with all that teamwork drivel, and team spirit! Hearing people act like as if friendship and teamwork is the answer to everything makes me want to break things. If you don't want that pretty face of yours broken, instructor, don't bug me again about all of this. I don't give two damns if you're god or not, you try this again, and I'll start swinging those fists right onto you."
"Erik, is that what you really think about all of this!?" Richard shouted back, getting quite heated. "You think that you can walk right through this war as if you're a damn one-man army? That's utter horse-crap right there! You think that I won this war alone by killing the Imperial Crown Prince? If it wasn't for Squad 7, I would have never taken him down. You act like as if teamwork is the bane of your own existence, but without it, you're floating towards hell in a boat without a single paddle in sight! Are you so conceited that you would rather have everyone hate you than at least try being damn nice for once!? Every damn student in the class either fears or hates you, save for a few exceptions. Is this what you really want to do with your future, Erik Kampmann,, to continue throwing insults and punches to everyone who wants to-"
Suddenly, Erik threw a punch right at Richard, as the black-haired instructor weaved to the side to dodge the punch, which was surprisingly fast, as Erik seemed to look quite incensed, his eyes burning with rage.
"You shut your mouth right now! I don't have a damn thing to talk about with you!" Erik roared back.
"Erik, calm down." Richard responded back. "Throwing punches at me isn't going to fix anything. You don't want to force me to take drastic measures to stop this. You really don't..."
"Oh, you're holding back on me, is that it?" Erik howled in bitter laughter, before he then started throwing a flurry of punches at Richard. "Well then, you're only serving to piss me off further! Go ahead, let's see how long you'll last by keeping yourself so disgustingly pacifistic!"
Richard didn't say anything, as he swiftly dodged the way out of every punch that Erik threw, whether it be a jab, hook, cross, uppercut. Eventually, Erik began to resort to other fighting moves, using kicks and even trying to grapple Richard, although every attack he threw only at most skimmed across his skin, as Richard could feel the force behind each attack.
"Why. Won't. You. Fight. BACK!?" Erik growled, hurling furious strikes with each word.
"I don't need to harm you to stop this childishness." Richard responded back. "But you seem to be quite good at fighting bare-handed. I'll give you that, maybe that's from the years you had been brawling for. However, no matter how much you throw, I'll just dodge it. You'll tire out eventually, and then I'll just drag you back to class myself."
"IN YOUR DAMN DREAMS!" Erik roared, as he accelerated his own attacks again, with the sole intent of pummelling Richard in any way possible.
Lotte caught wind of the fighting, before she then made her way to the back-campus, as she was stunned at the scene in progress, at how Richard was coolly dodging each attack that Erik threw at him. She decided to stealthily snap a few pictures, before retreating, as she didn't want to be caught by either of them.
Erik was beginning to slow down, as Richard predicted, before the blonde-haired student was reduced to an exhausted state, as his blows began to turn flimsy and slow. Richard then took the moment to catch Erik's fist, and push him to the ground.
"See, you're done." Richard remarked. "You can't win every fight by taking it head-on. Now that you've had your fun with all of this, it's time to stop."
Richard then reached a hand out, as Erik looked at it. "You look pitiful being knocked down like this." He stated. "Let's pretend this never happened, and that you've learned a lesson from all of this."
Erik took the hand, as Richard lifted himself up. However, Richard's eyes were not fully on Erik's arms, as he used his other hand to smack Richard with a wild hay-maker, which managed to slam Richard's head to the side, as he staggered back slightly. Erik then immediately rushed forward.
"Who's pitiful now! That'll teach you to-" Erik mocked back, before he then threw a straight, which was caught by Richard, who used much more force this time, which unsettled Erik. "...underestimate me?"
Richard raised his head, as Erik saw that Richard's eyes were filled with a cold kind of fury, as if he was most unpleased. There was the slight bruise on his cheek where Erik's punch landed, although Richard didn't seem to care at all.
"...That's a pretty good punch you made there. Shame that you had to throw it in a cheap situation." Richard spoke back dryly, as Erik tried to wrench his fist free, only to fail, as Richard started using his strength seriously, locking Erik's hand tightly. "Now then, I suppose that since you managed to get a good hit on me, it's only fair that I give you one of mine."
Before Erik realised it, Richard's other hand clenched into a fist, and smashed itself right into the centre of his own stomach, as the punch managed to be powerful enough to squash the organ through both flesh and muscle, as Erik reeled back, as he gagged strongly. When Richard let go of Erik, the blonde stormtrooper staggered back, before he then immediately covered his own mouth, his cheeks filling up with his own vomit. He then fell down on his hands, as he puked again and again, while Richard stared at him coldly.
"This is why I told you to stop, because if you tried to hit me... I wouldn't be so nice to let that slide." Richard responded back. "Let this be your second lesson, don't pick fights that you don't know you can win. Your headstrong attitude will only end up bringing you lots of disaster. Look at you, a single punch to the gut from me, and you're reduced to emptying your own stomach out without end."
Erik moaned loudly in agony, before he dry-heaved a few times, as they then turned into forceful coughs. He was then suddenly seized by Richard by the neck, before Richard conked him out, with a hand-chop to the top of his head, hard enough to send Erik into unconsciousness, as he slumped in the black-haired instructor's grip. Richard only shook his head, before slinging Erik over his shoulder.
"...You're really as aggressive as you were in the game's story..." Richard muttered to himself. "Well, I hope that this encounter teaches you a lesson about the fact that your own strength won't get you through everything."
He then walked to class, hoping that Erik will wake up, when he drops him right by the door.
In the classroom...
"EC 1935, the East Europan Imperial Alliance crosses the Gallian border." The teacher of the history class recounted, as Gus was beside him, deciding to supervise this class. "The military superpower quickly gained ground in the opening hostilities..."
He then flicked his head towards Helmut, who was intently listening. "Helmut. Perhaps you'd like to read us the rest?" He asked the Empire student.
"...All right." Helmut responded back stoically. "But a dramatic reversal saw the Empire driven back to the border by the combined forces of the Third Militia Regiment, their efforts spearheaded by Squad 7 of the regiment, which managed to down the Marmota, and eradicate the enemy commander, the Crown Prince Maximilian, thus crushing the Empire's invasion of the nation."
Gus only sighed, as he noticed that the history teacher was intentionally forcing Helmut to recount the Empire's failures, defeats and short-comings, although he didn't say anything. However, the same could not be said about Avan, Zeri, Cosette, Isara, Elma and Corrin.
"He did it again! How can a teacher be that cruel to a student?" Cosette remarked.
"Huh? Is it because Helmut was a Imperial?" Avan asked Cosette.
"Indeed, as I can see." Corrin answered back. "Every time the Empire has a historical loss in the previous war, Helmut is called upon to recount upon it. What frightens me is that he recounts it with such detail, as if that he was demeaning his own nation... or that he was forced to, in order to avoid being suspected of harbouring ill intentions."
"It shames me that he would be treated like this." Isara answered back. "Despite being an enemy of him formerly, I don't harbour any hate or discrimination towards him. Although we know better to not force each other to socialise, regarding our backgrounds after the war, he is still a genuinely good person, loyal to his duty."
"He came here just after the peace accord was drawn up, apparently." Zeri added. "Long story short, he's insurance."
"What, like an hostage?" Avan asked back. "What do you mean, Zeri?"
"To the empire, this treaty just pushes their agenda back a little while. So it's only natural we'd want some leverage to keep the peace going." Zeri explained. "Well, that's Helmut. Word is, his family has direct ties to the imperial bloodline. He's the perfect choice for a hostage: It threatens the order of the Empire, if one of their nobles was to be killed off."
"That's... That's horrible." Elma remarked with genuine pity for Helmut.
"That's not the worst of it. This information was made public in this school." Isara said. "It's no wonder that Helmut is discriminated the same way as Darcsens do, although for different reasons. Except Helmut has nothing to help his reputation at all. His nation was responsible for several disasters in the country."
"I see... Then if that's how it is, I'll go talk to him next-" Avan was about to say, before Corrin covered his mouth.
"Be quiet, you're attracting attention from the teacher!" Corrin warned, although it was in vain, as the teacher already had their attention on them.
"You, in the back! Care to share the pressing matter you've been discussing amongst each other?" The teacher asked with a irritated tone.
"Professor, forgive us, Avan was just curious about something." Corrin quickly said to placate the teacher. "We won't do it again."
The teacher grumbled, before he then continued teaching. However, beside him, Gus had his eye on Helmut, as he was able to hear the conversation, despite how far away in the back of the room it was.
'If that's how it is... Then I'll have to speak with him myself eventually.' Gus thought to himself. 'Even if he was the enemy... Surely there's a way that we can reach a mutual understanding between him and the others...'
In the back of the courtyard...
Marisa was laying in the back of the courtyard, as she decided to take a quick nap away from the students, hiding in the shade, as she had her arms crossed behind her back, and she was breathing gently, and she was deep enough in her own sleep, that she started dreaming.
"I'm invincible... Heh heh heh... Master Sparks for days here..." Marisa giggled gently. "I'm going to blast every single one of you away with each one of these!"
However, her dream was interrupted by the sound of a loud shout, and something hitting the ground hard enough to make the ground tremble a little, surprising the blonde witch-turned-lancer, as she shot up on her feet, and immediately put her fists up, as if expecting a fight.
"Hah!? W-Who's there!?" Marisa exclaimed, as she snapped around, looking for whatever created the racket. "Whoever you are, don't think just because I just woke up from a nap that you can take me on. Come out and face me, you sneaky bastard!"
Suddenly, there was another cry,as Marisa was able to realise that it was from a male student, one that was familiar to her. She walked over to the source of the voice, who was Reiner, as he was lifting weights, with a impressive amount of weights for a academy student like him, as he was working hard at doing reps with it.
"Reiner? What are you doing? Your training has caused quite the commotion." Marisa asked Reiner, who noticed her, as he lowered his weights slowly, this time without causing the ground to tremble.
"Hm? I could ask you the same thing, instructor. What were you doing back around here?" Reiner asked back.
"I was just taking a nap. Teaching is quite a mentally taxing ordeal for me." Marisa responded back with a nod.
"Ha ha, looks like even our instructor has her limits." Reiner replied back with a jolly tone. "I was just working out. Every bit of strength training counts, for me to wield my lance easily like you, instructor."
"Well, to be fair, I never expected you to go this far with your training. You must be quite dedicated." Marisa remarked.
"Yes, I'm in no shape to beat the rebels just yet." Reiner answered back.
"That's nonsense. You're already as good as it is, considering that you're able to carry that lance so easily, and be able to remain this strong." Marisa complimented the student lancer. "To be fair, your body looks far stronger than it looks. Even if you were that buff, you shouldn't be able to lift such weights."
"But I'm not much compared to you, my instructor." Reiner humbly responded back. "I should tell you something. I applied here myself. My town was rich in ragnite ore. Every time a war broke our, it'd be among the first spots to get hit. This time around, it cost me one of my best friends."
"Oh... I'm sorry to hear that." Marisa responded back with a sympathetic tone. "In all honesty, you're not alone in that sentiment. Many of us has lost a loved one because of war itself. And to see that you strove to be stronger, so that you won't let such a thing happen again to anyone else... You're a unique kind of man, Reiner."
"Thank you. As for my town, you need not worry much about it. My closest friend stayed to hold down the fort." Reiner stated, before he then smiled with determination. "We swore to each other we'd fight for peace in Gallia, for our town."
"That's nice to hear. What's your friend like?" Marisa asked out of curiosity.
"His name is Sigrid. He's smart, as I am strong. Real good on his feet." Reiner detailed about his friend. "Knowing he's keeping our home safe lets me fight with a clear head here. Which means I've got no excuses not to work as hard as I can! Because my job now is to beat the rebels and win back peace for everybody."
"You've got my respect and support on that." Marisa agreed. "If you want to push yourself further... Then expect me to do the same. Just because I'm a veteran of the war, doesn't mean I can't improve further. Who knows, I might get to the point where the very presence of me on the field will send rebels to their knees, begging for mercy from a ruthless goddess of lances like me."
"Ha ha ha! You sure know how to joke, Ms Shine." Reiner laughed at Marisa's bluff. "Now then, I'll just continue training."
"And I'll go somewhere else. I've napped long enough. Meet you at the drill grounds in the next period." Marisa replied back, before she then left the area, leaving Reiner to his training.
In the library...
Elma was inside the library, as she decided to take some more moments to study, as she wanted to ensure that she was fully prepared for any assessments that might come her way, borrowing practice question booklets, and several different books for each subject. She then went to work, as the quiet and serene environment resonated with her, as she worked hard on studying.
However, she was interrupted mid-study, when she heard chattering nearby, as she decided to see what the commotion, since she wouldn't be able to study well until the talking came to an end. When she leaned over a bookshelf to see, she saw Magari talking with a male student from another class, as she listened intently to him.
"Yeah, but it couldn't hurt to get out every once in a while, right?" The male student told Magari. "I lucked into a pair of concert tickets. Maybe we could go over the break!"
"I'm sorry... I'm just not interested." Magari politely declined, shaking her head gently.
"Ugh, fine. I give up." The male student spoke with a irritated tone, before turning to leave. "I'm not going to beg. Another girl will go with me then."
Elma then walked over to Magari, who noticed Elma, before she then looked away from Elma slightly.
"Magari... You're here to study, right?" Elma responded back. "I never thought that I would see you in here. Perhaps it was because I never truly noticed you in the library, behind the pile of books that you were studying with. Forgive me if that offended you."
"No, no, it's fine." Magari responded with a faint smile. "I'm glad that you've finally come to see me. I'm sorry for always trying to avoid you. I just simply can't stand being in a crowd of people. Here, however... I feel more at ease. Here, I can finally have a proper conversation with you, without letting my own meekness ruin my chances."
"I'm glad to hear it." Elma replied, giving off a smile of her own. "Mind... Mind if I ask if you have made proper revision for each subject? I would like to ask if you could study with me."
"I finished already with the revision." Magari stated. "I can remember most of the subject content without having to look it up again. Whether it be math formulae, or events in Europan history, I know it all from the back of my head."
"That's... that's astonishing!" Elma remarked with surprise in her voice. "If you could remember this much without having to re-read your subject books, you must have a memory that rivals that of a dictionary itself, mind my metaphor."
"It's quite ironic that I am compared to a book, when I'm quite into them." Magari chuckled lightly, enjoying the metaphor. "You see, everything we're taught in class, every conversation, it's all written in books. Considering that, it makes more sense to me to spend my time here reading. There is so much knowledge I could learn by absorbing every titbit of information in the books for myself. That is why there is no other place I remain in during my breaks."
"Is that so...?" Elma remarked, as she was slightly disappointed to hear Magari's words. "Are you sure that you don't feel alone in here, without anyone to socialise with?"
"...I'm sorry, but I simply don't feel the urge to socialise." Magari responded back. "It's just not in my interests."
Elma was silent, as she decided to leave, while Magari watched her do so, as the Darcsen herself was slightly sad herself, worried that she might have pushed away one of the people who could have been a real friend to her.
Inside the gym...
Isara just finished her physical education class, as she decided to change herself out of her gym uniform, and back into her school uniform. After she was done changing, she walked out of the changing rooms, before noticing Zeri, who was coming towards her.
"Oh, hello, Zeri." Isara remarked. "Is there something that you want to talk to me about?"
"I want to ask you, how did you manage to achieve such academic excellence, that you were able to remain equal to Mischlitt, if not surpass her several times with extra marks awarded due to certain things." Zeri asked back. "All these tests seemed to be easy, yet they are still difficult to achieve perfect scores on. Unlike Mischlitt, you're fairly human, so what was your secret for all of this?"
"There is no secret. I simply have a good understanding of knowledge, and know how to apply it as the teachers and examiners would expect from students." Isara remarked humbly. "I'm sure that you can achieve the same grades as me and Mischlitt, as long as you know how to do the work properly."
"You two really are beyond smart, super-geniuses even." Zeri sighed. "Very well, I'll keep your advice in mind."
"...Stinking Darcsen...!" A male voice slurred in the distance, as Isara heard it clearly.
"Something's happening at the back of the gym..." Isara said, before she then walked past Zeri. "Sorry, I have to check it out."
When Isara came over, she found Mischlitt being surrounded by a group of students who were mocking and insulting her, as Mischlitt didn't react at all, not even a single remark on her lips.
"You wreck the curve on every stupid exam, you gloomy piece of trash!" A male student fumed. "You should stay in your little corner with the other dark-hairs!"
Mischlitt didn't respond back, as another student, a girl walked up to her, and jabbed her in the chest with a finger.
"Yeah! It's bad enough we have to smell you people around campus." The girl insulted her. "Then you go and show off, and bring the rest of us real Gallians down!?"
Isara then shoved herself between Mischlitt and the enraged crowd, with her arms out, and a furious expression.
"Stop it! This isn't our fault!" Isara shouted back. "You can't blame us for your problems! We may have done well, raising expectations of students for teachers, but that doesn't justify venting all of your frustrations onto us, just for excelling in academic subjects!"
"Oh look, a dark-hair comes to the defence of the other!" The male student mocked.
"Don't think just because you're a celebrity in the war, means that you have all the right to strut over us and show off!" The female student roared.
Suddenly, a very angry Richard came over, as he let out a loud 'HEY!', which made the students disperse immediately. After the students were gone, Isara turned to Mischlitt.
"Are you alright, Mischlitt?" Isara asked back.
"It isn't a problem." Mischlitt responded back stoically.
"Why didn't you stand up to them, or least back up Isara just then?" Zeri questioned Mischlitt. "That was petty groundless slander they were hurling at the both of you."
"Darcsens do not retaliate. You both ought to know that." Mischlitt responded back bluntly.
"But that doesn't mean that you can let them bully you like that!" Isara argued back. "I understand that you don't want to cause problems, I wouldn't want that either, but letting them have their way with you will only make things worse! You have to stand up and tell them that they're wrong!"
"That won't help things." Mischlitt countered, as Zeri only scoffed, before he then walked away, having enough of this conversation.
"Is this what you believe, that the only way for you to live, is to be unnecessarily bound by our traditions, and refuse to help bring all of this prejudice to a halt?" Isara asked back, hurt by Mischlitt's indifferent stance to the problem.
"It stems from the Darcsen Calamity. We're all said to have ravaged all Europa." Mischlitt answered back. "Yet there exists not a shred of proof to back it up. It's a myth. Archduchess Cordelia's confession proved that beyond a doubt."
"Then why won't you prove that to them-" Isara responded back.
"That will not work, as I told you before." Mischlitt answered back. "If we confront them with the truth, they accuse us of lying. It is one more crime on the list of transgressions they hold against us. The wall dividing Darcsens and the other races is too high to overcome. That truth will remain until the end of time, as I have seen."
"That's... That's utter nonsense!" Isara exclaimed with frustration. "You can't possibly be telling me that you believe there's no hope in Darcsen reconciliation! Everyone's fighting for it! Sure, the people who hate us is a majority around here, but there is still a minority who respect us as people, and some who actually see us as friends, and are willing to fight to dispel all this prejudice! You can't just abandon all of that help, just because you rely on this logic to convince yourself that there is no hope for a end to all of this Darcsen discrimination that has lasted several centuries too long!?"
"Believe what you will." Mischlitt responded back with a emotionless tone. "I will not say that your efforts are futile, but neither are they based on real events."
Mischlitt then walked away, as Isara was left shocked silent, as she couldn't believe what Mischlitt was saying all of the sudden, knowing her true view about the Darcsen discrimination, a indifferent front to it all.
In the training grounds...
Avan noticed Aliasse in the distance, as Richard was beside him, with the two of them approaching her, as the young Valkyria girl turned towards them.
"Hey, Aliasse. What are you up to today?" Avan asked her, before he then noticed that there was something on the ground in front of her feet, which was a round soccer ball.
"This round thing. What is it?" She asked them, raising her head towards them.
"That's a soccer ball." Richard responded back.
"Soccer ball? Do you use it to sock someone?" Aliasse asked back, as Avan literally face-faulted into the ground, hearing her say that, while Richard merely smirked back.
"Not really. First, let's start with the term 'soccer'." Richard answered back. "It's actually a sport, where you kick this ball around, trying to shoot it between goal-posts to score points."
"Ooh, that sounds fun. What does it involve?" Aliasse said, gaining interest in the sport.
"Let me show you." Richard answered back, before he then walked up, flicked the ball up, and juggled it into the air several times. "You can do this with the ball, but what you actually do is this!"
Richard then arched back his foot, and hit the ball hard enough to send it flying a few metres in the air, before it landed on the opposite side of the field. Avan was surprised to see Richard pull off such a good kick, and Aliasse was wowed by the performance. Richard then guided both of them to the ball.
"Now you try." Richard answered back, before he then stepped aside, letting Avan be in front of him. "Gently kick the ball, and get a feel of it, and how it reacts to your kick."
"Okay!" Aliasse chirped back, before she repeated Richard's movement, as Avan felt a sense of dread fill his mind, although he was too late to act, as her foot was in full motion towards the ball. "YAH!"
Aliasse then booted the ball hard, as it was far stronger, even in her un-transformed state, as it flew right into Avan's face, pulverising it, as the ball was spinning at high speeds, grinding his face down. When the ball finally came off his face, as if some god granted him mercy, the spiky-haired student fell back, as his nose was utterly crushed, and he was missing a tooth or two, and his face was completely red from the friction of the ball, not to mention the large spray of blood leaking from his injuries. He then fell backwards, and landed on the ground with a thud, as blood pooled under his head.
Richard took the chance to catch the falling ball, as it was covered with large amounts of Avan's spilt blood, as Richard quickly wiped it off, before it could dry. He then looked towards Aliasse, who found Avan's suffering to be humorous, engaging in gut-busting laughter. Richard decided to put a stop to it, as he gently chopped her on top of her head, enough to make her feel it and stop, clutching her head.
"Now now, I know that you're just following me, but I was kicking it hard, not gently as I asked." Richard responded back. "You should tone down your strength. You could kill someone with that kind of kick on something made with material a lot harder than some leather."
"Rain, Avan, I saw the ball being kicked, and I came here to-" Cosette came in, before she then saw Avan bleeding heavily, in his unconscious state, as she let out a mighty shriek of fear. "AAAAHHHH! AVAN!"
"Calm down, Cosette, he's stopped bleeding already." Richard answered back. "All he needs is some time for his nose to recuperate, as well as his entire face, although he'll need something to hold his nose straight, with how broken it has become. Go get some gauzes, to wipe the blood on his face. And then help me carry him to the nurse's office."
"Ah ha... Sorry, I was just surprised." Cosette chuckled awkwardly. "Were you teaching her how to play soccer?"
"Play? What's play?" Aliasse asked, as Cosette froze hearing that.
"Well, that's when you actually do this sport with other people and-" Richard tried to explain.
"Mama says other people are for killing. She says that's what they're for." Aliasse responded back, as Cosette's jaw fell open hearing that.
"That's not true. Your 'mama' means that there are people who you kill, but not everyone." Richard reasoned with her. "She might be just missing a bit of information, or she might be a little bit forgetful. Either way, trust me, I'm a very smart person, and I can teach you a lot of things, things that not even your mama knows."
"But Mama says that she knows everything and she teaches me what I should know." Aliasse argued. "She says that I should learn anything else, as she says it's 'useless nonsense'."
"Well, disregarding that... Did you at least have fun kicking that ball? You sure looked like that, when you kicked it on Avan." Richard responded back.
"Yeah!" Aliasse shouted back with a smile.
"Well, getting together with people and having fun like this, without actually hurting people as bad as you did earlier... That's what playing is." Richard responded back. "It's having fun together with people, and it's far more happier and exciting as all the fighting you have to do."
"Hm..." Aliasse muttered.
"What do you say we get the whole class together to play next time, Ali? You can join in!" Cosette offered.
"Yay! That sounds great! I'll sock them all with the ball!" Aliasse accepted, with a expression of a child in joy.
"Actually, you might need to learn how to properly play soccer, before we start doing that." Richard stated, before guiding Aliasse away with the ball. "Don't worry, it's very easy when you get the hang of it. And I won't be angry if you hurt me by accident."
Cosette then watched Richard and Aliasse move to the far corner of the field, as she sighed in relief, and quickly lifted Avan up, carrying him to the nurse's office, as his blood was soaked by the sand on the field.
In the drill-grounds, day of the Laevatein semi-finals...
The group of instructors were present, as Richard was reading over the letter in his hands, with a slightly smug smirk on his lips. Eventually, Avan noticed Richard's expression regarding the letter, and walked over to meet him. Richard then raised his head, as Avan looked significantly better than he did before, although his nose was still held together by a nose cast.
"So... What's the news, instructor?" Avan asked Richard.
"I have very good news for you, class." Richard remarked. "Turns out that the other classes that we have been arranged against, has all decided to forfeit their matches, on grounds that they refuse to challenge us. Looks like ever since we've been gaining momentum, and completing missions without any causalities, much like a squad I know, and how we crushed Class C-19 in just a little over three minutes in the Laevatein cup, proves to be too much for the other classes to bear, and they cracked under the pressure."
The entire class was shocked to hear that, as they didn't expect that their path to the finals has been cleared up just like that, almost as if there was a divine influence guiding them to victory.
"Woah, dang...!" Avan remarked, with shock. "They really did that. Sweet! That means that we're all set for facing Juliana and her class in the finals-"
"Don't be cocky." Richard retorted back. "There's still the semi-finals to go through. Class B-3 has refused to bow out of their match against us. Consider them worthy gatekeepers to the finals. This class is no joke, and you still will lose, if you don't take this match seriously."
"Well, doesn't matter much to me! Doesn't matter how many classes we got to beat to get there, we're winning this cup!" Avan responded back with passion. "Once we're through this, we're through to the final round! Win that, and we in Class G-7 are going to be the champs, and prove all those other classes wrong, when they thought we're the bottom of the barrel here!"
"I can't really imagine Class G-7 as winners, but with everything that happened, and now this... I don't think that it's a dream anymore!" Noel exclaimed with belief for her class.
"A-And I feel more confident after we won that last round so easily!" Raymond added.
"Champions, huh? At first, I would have thought this to be crazy, but now? After everything we have went through...? We're confident that we can win, if we keep our good work up." Alexis remarked.
"When you say it... I can almost believe that we'll really win, Avan..." Nichol piped in.
"So the path to the finals is just past this match." Corrin remarked, before she then smiled. "Avan... Everyone is counting on you, and we'll do everything to ensure we'll win."
"Believe it! Especially now that you guys are getting into it!" Avan responded back to the class, before thumping a fist to his chest. "Mark my words, Class G-7 is going to be praised as the stuff of legends once we win the cup! Now, let's go win this!"
"My, my, a shortcut in your path to glory, and you're this optimistic." Juliana's voice remarked, as Avan turned around to see Juliana smirking. "It would be dangerous for you to assume that your leap to the semi-finals gives you reason to be arrogant, declaring your victory before the match begins."
"You again?" Avan stated. "Here to watch us blaze through this match, and reach you guys?"
"Oh, trust me, I'm cheering you on, despite the fact that I'm not making that public." Juliana chuckled. "After all, you made the other classes bow out in sheer pressure from your deeds. However, Class B-3 is not to be underestimated. Class A fought with blood, sweats and tears to reach the semi-finals. It would be utterly humiliating for you, if you were to be defeated, despite being given such a divine boon, as if fortune favoured you all. I'd be most disappointed myself if you lost here, after all you have declared towards me."
"I hear Class A's already won a spot at the finals." Cosette stated.
"It is true. We've dominated Class D-4 for that very spot. They fell like dominoes from my elite classmates, and my unrivalled leadership." Juliana responded back with pride.
"Please. This tournament has been a forum to showcase our superiority." One of the class A students, which was a dark-skinned man with curled brown hair.
"Wagner, I did not tell you to come here and taunt the members of Class G-7. Show some respect. After all, outside of this cup, they are formidable enemies of the rebels, clearing missions so easily as if it was their daily duties." Juliana scolded her classmate.
"Yes, sorry, class chair." Wagner responded back apologetically.
"Either way, I will be awaiting your victory, so that you'll be our opponents for the finals, to create the match that will determine your worthiness as a class." Juliana answered back. "Win or lose in the finals, it will be fight that will be remembered in the history of the entire academy."
"I'll see you there." Avan replied back stoically, before Juliana left with Wagner, who gave them a heated glare.
"The last of the Laevatein Cup semifinals begins now!" Calvaro declared. "Class B-3 and Class G-7 chairs, front and centre!"
"Alright, let us at them!" Avan exclaimed, rushing to Calvaro's side.
"Heh. Someone's feisty, let's see what you maggots can do!" Calvaro remarked, before the other class chair arrived, as it was a female tank operator, with long flowing blonde hair, and a blue bandana around her head.
"It seems that you and I are fighting for the honour of challenging Class A in the finals." The other class chair remarked. "I'll be honest, I have never expected that many of the other classes are too fearful of your newly gained prowess to dare challenge you. However, we of Class B-3 will not yield, not when victory is close in our grasp. If you wish to earn your place in the finals, then defeat us with everything you have, and we shall do the same!"
"Guess we're the same regarding that." Avan answered back. "Give it your all, and don't regret what comes to happen. I like that kind of attitude to this fight."
"Hmph." The female class chair remarked, before she then turned to leave, as Avan made his way to his class.
"Here we go, guys! Let's do this!" Avan shouted, as the class responded back with a collective cry.
Zone 1 Team: Avan, Noel, Zeri, Elma
Zone 2 Team: Granoro (Lavinia), Nichol, Marion, Karin, Coleen
In Zone 2...
The team of five rolled into the area, as they recognised the area, being the same container-filled area that the group was in, except they were deployed from the middle base.
"Alright, so the enemy got bases to either side of us." Lavinia informed the rest of the team. "As much as I want to take the enemy camp connecting us to the next area, the enemy could slip around from the other base. Better to take care of both bases, before we move ahead."
"I propose that Marion and I take the base towards the left, as there are no enemy tanks on that side." Coleen suggested. "Lavinia, could you, Karin and Nichol take out the base to the right?'
"Right. I can see the enemy towards the path to the right, so only fair that I use my own to take down theirs." Lavinia responded back. "Alright, everyone move out!"
The two teams split up, as Coleen was already loading her lance, which was changed to a mortar lance, due to her class change from promotion. She loaded the mortar shell on her lance, before she then fired it into the air, as it landed down where the enemy stormtrooper was, blowing him out of cover, while Marion took position behind cover. As she wielded a light machine-gun in her arms, as designated by her new Gunner class, she rested the weapon on top of her cover, before then firing a rapid torrent of shots that tore through the enemy mortarer in the distance.
The last enemy on the path, a engineer veteran, tried to move out of cover, in order to shoot Coleen in the head with his side-arm. However, in doing so, Marion readied her weapon, as she took him out before he could have the chance to retaliate. Without any enemy to guard the camp, Coleen easily claimed it.
On the other path, Karin was leading the charge, as she used her shield to block the enemy bullets, before she then drew her large blade, given to her, as a Fencer, although blunted for simulation purposes, and slammed it right through the cover, and striking the enemy engineer down. Nichol moved forward, before he then noticed a enemy sniper aiming for Corrin. He quickly loaded his newly-granted sniper rifle, taking out the sniper with a burst of paint to the head, saving Corrin.
Lavinia moved forward, before she then used her improved tank cannon to fire a high-powered round that disabled the enemy tank. When that happened, a enemy stormtrooper rushed out to greet them. However, Corrin didn't even need to move to block his wild shooting, as she knocked him out with a simple swing. Nichol moved forward to claim the camp, ensuring that the zone was clear of enemies.
Coleen and Marion waited for a while, as the other three came over, before they left the area, as a whole group once again.
In Zone 1...
The four classmates were holding their ground, as Noel fired a lance at the enemy light tank ahead of them, while Avan doubled back to get rid of the enemy scout that was holding one of the camps leading into the other area, where Lavinia and the others were leaving from. Zeri was using his submachine gun to take down a enemy stormtrooper. During the same time, the enemy engineer rushed to the aid of their damaged tank, repairing it with their tools, wiping some of the paint to indicate tank repairs.
"Noel, Zeri, move ahead and take care of the enemy tank, will you?" Avan asked his classmates.
"You got that, Avan!" Noel exclaimed, before beckoning to Zeri. "Come on, Zeri!"
Zeri only sighed and shook his head, before the two of them moved out of cover. Zeri was faster, as he took out the enemy engineer before he could retreat away from his line of fire. However, in doing so, the Darcsen took hits from the enemy tank's gatling turret, being hit a few times before taking cover. Noel used that chance to sneak behind the enemy tank, before she then fired her lance into the radiator, taking it out of the match.
However, in doing, she was left exposed to several stormtroopers, and another light tank, as she yelped, ducking under a tank shell that just whizzed over her head, and rolling away from the bullets of the enemy stormtrooper. Zeri rushed in, as he provided support fire for her, allowing her to retreat safely behind cover. However, this left Zeri even more 'injured', as he was on the verge of defeat.
Luckily for them, the team from Zone 1 arrived, as Lavinia moved quickly to where the enemy light tank was, before disabling it with another shot from her cannons, accompanied by Marion firing a horizontal spray of bullets to down all of the enemy stormtroopers. Elma walked towards Zeri, before using the new type of ragna-aid that she was issued, as it allowed her to 'heal' Zeri fully, as Zeri gave his thanks to the young girl's help.
Eventually, the group pushed through the area, to reach the final zone, where the class chair was, as she was piloting a medium sized tank, which was a size larger than the light tank that Lavinia was driving around. However, Avan saw the opportunity, as the enemy was not aware of their arrival yet, and there was a clear line of fire for them to directly bombard the enemy tank, save for a few crates in the path.
"Everyone... Could you trust me with something?" Avan asked everyone.
"Go on, we're listening." Karin responded back.
"Coleen, take out the crates covering the command tank's backside." Avan ordered everyone. "And then, everyone who can fire, blast that tank's radiator with everything you got, before they get the chance to retaliate. We take out their commander, and they'll be likely to lose morale and become willing to surrender. That's what happened in the preliminaries, right? We gotta hit them hard and fast."
"Alright, everyone ready up then... We're going to pull the rug under their feet!" Lavinia remarked, as Coleen quickly adjusted her mortar onto her lance, as everyone took the moment to reload.
As soon as everyone was prepared, Coleen fired the mortar lance, as the Granoro's tank cannon was aimed at where the enemy command tank's radiator would be, as everyone but Karin was aiming for it. As soon as the mortar hit the crates and destroyed them, the enemy command tank immediately started moving, noticing that the enemy has ambushed them from behind.
However, it was a futile effort, as the combined impact of a tank shell and a lance rendered the tank almost destroyed, before the merciless rain of bullets on its reactor finished the job, as the tank came grinding to a halt. Across the field, they watched as the class chair moved out, with her hands up in surrender.
"Argh, damnit, to be defeated in such a humiliating manner..." She complained. "Class G-7, if you can hear me, I officially call for the surrender of Class B-3! We have lost this match!"
"Yesss! We did it!" Avan shouted with joy, before Calvaro's whistle sounded at the declaration of the enemy class's surrender.
"Class G-7 takes the round!" Calvaro declared, as the two classes left the field, and met with the rest of the classes.
"We really made it into the finals!" Cosette exclaimed with joy.
"I am simply marvelled by that final gambit of yours, Avan." Isara remarked with a smile. "You really took the enemy by surprise, and finished the match with a dramatic finishing touch."
"Well, I have to admit, seeing you take down the pride and joy of Class B-3, in such a quick and merciless manner... It brings me feelings of awe, shock, fear and respect, all combined." Juliana answered back, greeting the class. "I suppose that congratulations are in order here."
"Wow, I'm surprised that you just admitted to that." Avan responded back.
"Don't mistake me for me accepting you as my superior." Juliana retorted back. "Only in the finals, shall we see whose tactics and men combined will win the day. I will tell you this, few have managed to gain the right to face us in combat, especially in this cup. And there is a obvious flaw in your tactics."
"Oh? What's that?" Avan asked, curious about Juliana's evaluation of him.
"Your tactics are decent, and you have a good eye on the situation. However, you command far too little." Juliana criticised Avan. "You put far too much trust in your men, so much that you believe that they do not require your leadership to win battles. This is a sign that you are a commander lacking in authority and presence. The only times you have commanded in this match directly, is to form the starting ranks of your squad, and for that risky plan of yours towards the end."
"So? Just because I don't like ordering people around too much, is that a bad thing?" Avan argued back.
"Your over-investment of trust in your squadmates is as dangerous as being an incompetent leader, although the problem isn't obvious." Juliana responded back calmly. "A leader must be prepared to sacrifice, even themselves, for victory. They must lead their men to victory, with their own plans and tactics."
"A leader preparing to sacrifice themselves? That's crazy!" Cosette complained.
"Rain is only but one case of that. He has done such a thing before, and he had gained much from it. Will you deny that?" Juliana countered back.
"You really think Rain would..." Avan was about to say, before Zeri stepped in.
"Let me handle this, Avan, I don't think that you have the right answer in mind." Zeri responded back, before turning to Juliana. "With what you said, that's quite wrong. There's nothing more arrogant and irresponsible than abandoning one's men, even if it does ultimately win the battle at hand. No situation would warrant such a extreme measure, as commanders, especially talented ones, are a rarity on itself. I'll be the first to grant that you're a skilled tactician, Juliana, with what I have seen. But it will take more than mere strategy to beat us."
"That much I know, thanks to the training you have been put through." Juliana answered back. "However, we are Class A, the elites of this academy. We would not simply hand over victory to you. On the pride of future leader of my house, I swear that I will see to it that the cup shall be mine. If you wish to stand between me and it, then be prepared for a fight far more intense than that you had with the other classes, the difference between us and them... is as wide as a chasm."
She then left in a hurry, as Avan was slightly intrigued by her challenge.
"Well, she's confident like me." Avan commented about Juliana's words.
"She's worked hard in her own way to get to where she is, and she's confident. I can even agree with her assessment of you, although it's better than not trusting us to do well." Zeri responded back. "But you seriously need to have a good plan for her in the finals... This isn't going to be a easy fight, even with how well we're doing."
"Well, I guess that I'm going to have to get serious for this one then." Avan smiled back. "Either way, she's going to be in for a treat against us!"