Unmei Force Solitary Legends: Eternal Embers

by Xovercreator

The day of Cordelia's coronation as Archduchess has finally come upon, although it has sparked a new conflict in Gallia. The same team that saved Gallia once, returns to come to its aid once more, this time as instructors of Lanseal Academy, with several additions as students. Read on to see how the Gallian civil war unfolds...

10. Chapter 9

Unmei Force Solitary Legends: Eternal Embers

Chapter 9: Siege of Lanseal

---

In the headmaster's office...

"Hello there, Juliana..." Kluivert stated, as Juliana was gathered in the office, with Foerster, who stared at the class chair without any flicker of emotion in her cold eyes. "Thank you for coming."

"Of course, sir. What is needed of me?" Juliana responded back.

"I wanted to introduce you to someone." Kluivert answered back, gesturing towards Foerster. "This is Doctor Foerster. She's making advances in an exciting new field."

"Hello." Foerster intoned.

"Juliana Everhart. Pleasure to meet you, Doctor." Juliana replied back.

"Mm. This one looks promising." Foerster commented, as she looked away from Juliana to Kluivert.

"I... beg your pardon?" Juliana asked, confused about the matter.

"Juliana, Lanseal has partnered with Doctor Foerster in her research. Exceptional students such as yourself are asked to aid her in the work." Kluivert clarified for Juliana.

"Aid her how exactly, sir?" Juliana questioned the headmaster again.

"In the form of a special mission. A crucial one and a high honour." Kluivert explained. "I suspect I'll be asking you to participate soon, so I wanted to meet you."

"I... I see." Juliana answered back.

The door seemed to be left open, as Elma was looking through the door, hearing the entire conversation, as her eyes met with Foerster's own, and it made her feel a sense of dread that frightened the disguised demoness, as she covered her mouth to avoid giving herself away.

'This... This person... Foerster... She exudes a aura of cold malice around her...' Elma thought to herself, as she rushed away from the office. 'I have to warn Richard about this... Juliana... She's not going to end up well with someone like her!'

---

In the classroom...

"Alright, all the votes have been tallied!" Avan exclaimed, standing in front of the class. "Can I have your attention please? For this year's summer feast... we're going to reenact the battle that started the legacy of Squad 7... Operating Cloudburst!"

He then pulled out several leaves of paper, before looking through them. " First up, playing the part of Lieutenant Gunther! With 22 votes..." Avan stated, before the student chosen for the role surprised him greatly. "Wait, ME?! Uh, next is the heroine, Sergeant Melchiott. 14 votes give it to Cosette!"

"Whaat!? Are you CERTAIN you're not mistaken, dear? The role was made for me!" Anisette complained.

"I'll do my best, guys!" Cosette remarked.

"Squad 7's idol, Rosie goes to... Ooh, a close one! With eight votes, Lotte!" Avan continued to announce the roles.

"Woo hoo! It's an honour, dudes!" Lotte cheered.

"Next up... we've got to have our Largo here, he's the big guy with the lance... With 13 votes... It's Reiner!" Avan stated.

"I'll be glad to fit into the role." Reiner responded back with gratitude.

"Next up, we've got our dear instructors at the start of the war! With... almost every vote except himself... The one to play Rain is... Zeri!" Avan declared.

"What the!? I never expected that I was garner such popularity for my choice in this role." Zeri admitted. "No matter, it fits me well, considering my synergy with the instructor."

"Next up, is the headstrong scout who's got everyone's back... With 14 votes, it's Nichol!" Avan announced the next actor and their role.

"I'll... I'll do my best!" Nichol stated, trying to gather courage in his voice.

"For Mari, who is happy to blow tanks without any restraint... With 19 votes, it's given to Noel!" Avan stated.

"Heh heh, the role kinda fits me." Noel commented with a light chuckle.

"And next up is the sweet engineer of the team, Sally! With ten votes, the role is given to... Sofia!" Avan said.

"How fortunate." Sofia smirked back. "I'll do my best to fit into my role, like the other actors."

"And last of all, the one to play Remi, the always-accurate sniper... With 16 votes, it's Melissa..." Avan remarked, before he shivered a little. "Ugh, and I can see why."

"Heh heh... This is going to be fun." Melissa remarked creepily.

"Alright then, the roles of the imperial troops have been chosen as Instructor Rain and Gus, since they know the imperial response for the entire battle." Avan concluded his announcement of roles. "And finally, the one to play the narrator of the story... 20 votes in, and it's Coleen!"

"Thank you, everyone." Coleen thanked everyone.

"I'm penning the script. Wear extra socks, because they'll be knocked off!" Lotte boldly declared.

"It's our one big holiday here at the academy. I'm so excited, you guys!" Coleen added.

"Me too!" Cosette spoke with cheer as well.

The class then dispersed, as Lotte was about to make her way to the break, before she was then snagged by Richard from behind.

"Hello, Lotte, I would like to have a long TALK with you." Richard spoke with a eerie grin on his face. "Considering that you're involved with the script of the play... And considering how eccentric you make your story on that little newspapers of yours, I don't think that I can let you be, without setting a few bounds. After all, you wouldn't want to make our battle a mockery at all. Let me tell you what exactly happened in the battle. How you spice it up is up to you, but remember, I'll be watching and reading over your script while you plan it."

Lotte gulped audibly, before she was then dragged into one of the classrooms, resisting the urge to scream in terror, as she felt like Richard was a demon dragging her through the gates of hell.

---

In the back of the courtyard, several days later...

Richard and Avan were walking together, as they were talking with each other.

"So, Avan. You feel like you're ready for the role of being Welkin Gunther?" Richard remarked, as he was smirking. "I am obliged to warn you, Welkin's a weird one, but he's quite smart and tactical, much like what you want to become. He's got a lot of knowledge that he used well in the war against the Empire."

"I think I'll manage whatever lines I'm given." Avan stated. "That reminds me... Recently, I saw Lotte around, and she was looking like as if the world crashed onto her, and her spirit was crushed. Do you have any idea what might have happened to her?"

"Nope. I don't know what kind of person would be able to bring her down to such a sorry state." Richard remarked sweetly, with a sweet grin to hide his malice. "Either way, I'm sure that she'll cheer up eventually."

Suddenly, they heard the sound of Aliasse groaning audibly, which attracted their attention, as Avan and Richard rushed over to where she was, as she was collapsed on the floor, holding a watering can, where her growing lion's paws were.

Richard then rushed over to her, as she turned her over, as her head was burning up, and she looked like she was in pain. Richard then placed a hand over her forehead, as he could feel the abnormal heat radiating off it.

"She's gotten an fever... A severe one at that." Richard declared. "Hey, Aliasse. It's Rain. Are you alright?"

"Rain... Avan... So hot... Back to... Mama..." She could barely utter in her sickly state.

"Your mom? What, the lady in the glasses from before? All right, We'll take you to her. It's in the old campus, right?" Avan replied back.

"Nh... Uh huh..." Aliasse breathed, before she handed Richard a rusted key. "Here... Room key..."

"I'll move ahead." Richard told Avan. "She needs to get some medical treatment and rest quickly. If you think that you need to go after me, then I'll keep the way open for you to come after us. Just don't do anything stupid, okay?"

"Okay." Avan answered back, before Richard then nodded, and ran through the campus, reaching the old campus building quickly.

He then descended into the building, before he then looked around for Foerster, although he didn't find her at all, to both his relief and irritation. Eventually, he made it inside the lab deep inside the building, as it looked like a medical examination room, with all kinds of tools strewn around, some of them even caked with blood, which made Richard feel a boliing rage build up in him, as he knew what those tools were for.

" Room... My room..." Aliasse muttered softly, as her eyes were barely open.

"Ssh, Aliasse. We're back at your room. Let me lay you down on your bed, and get you wrapped nicely." Richard answered back, as he laid Aliasse on the table, and pulled out one of the white clothes to blanket over Aliasse, and then giving the sick Valkyria girl rubs on her fore-head to soothe her. "Now, all I have to do, is find some medicine for you."

Richard then searched the various cabinets in the lab for medicine, as it was quite hard to find them, with the many bottles of questionable liquids laying around. However, Richard managed to find a bottle of fever medicine, as well as a clean enough spoon to feed Aliasse the medicine with. He then came back to Aliasse, who was breathing softly.

"Aliasse, I need you to do something for me. Say 'Ah' for me, I promise that I won't hurt you." Richard told her gently.

"Aah-" Aliasse opened her mouth, before Richard placed the spoon of medicine in it, as Aliasse swallowed the medicine, although it was hard, with how bitter and sour the taste was. However, Richard helped her cope with it, as she pat the side of her head, and rubbed around her neck, allowing her to finish swallowing it. "Urgh... Tastes bad... Just like what mama usually gave me... "

"It's alright, you're going to be better." Richard assured her. "Now sleep... Sleep and you'll be much better when you wake up."

Aliasse fell into sleep quite quickly, as she was snoring gently. When Richard was sure that she was deep enough in sleep, he took the chance to look around for any of Foerster's files, before managing to find a clipboard.

"Bingo. 'Project Valhalla' right here." Richard read through it carefully. "Leon Hardins... Juliana Everhart... Avan Hardins... Elma Delacour...!? Karin Novengar!?"

Richard then lowered the clipboard, before he then clenched his fists so tightly in anger, that his knuckles crackled. "Oh, that sly whore..." Richard swore. "...When I get my hands on her, she's going to die a slow and painful death for even thinking that she'll have the chance to convert Corrin, and even Elma."

Suddenly, he heard the sound of Avan coming down, accompanied by his voice. Richard then looked at the clipboard in his hands.

"No... I can't have Avan knowing that his brother has been used. Not yet..." Richard answered back, before he then yanked Leon's page out of the clipboard, and burned it to ashes quickly, just in time for Avan to come in, as the student was shocked coming into the room.

"Wh-What is this place!?" Avan exclaimed.

"It's what Aliasse calls her room." Richard answered back, before gesturing to Aliasse. "Be quiet, Aliasse is sleeping peacefully. You don't want to disturb her."

"Here?! How can you live in a place like this?" Avan exclaimed, although he did lower his voice, before noticing the clipboard in Richard's hands. "What's that in your hands."

"Take a read. And maybe you'll find the reason why I don't trust Foerster as far as I can throw a stone, and that's extremely far." Richard responded back coldly, handing the clipboard to Avan, who quickly read it.

"'Project Valhalla'?" Avan remarked. "What? This... This is a photo of Juliana! And Elma and Karin as well!"

"Looks like the doctor is hiding things from us." Richard snarked, before Foerster herself entered the lab.

"You two. Avan Hardins and Rain Craider, yes? What are you doing here?" Foerster asked, before she then looked around, seeing her lab disturbed. "And what have you done to my labatory?"

"O-Oh, it's you. Aliasse almost passed out behind campus with a fever." Avan answered back.

"And I did my job of bringing her back to her home, if it's fit to called one. Oh, and possibly your own." Richard responded back with a frigid tone, and putting the latter statement with a mocking tone. "I laid her on bed, gave her medicine for the ailment. A very simple task, even with how difficult you make it with your lack of proper supplies here."

"A fever? She didn't show any signs of illness. Her physical condition is slipping. That will delay further experimentation." Foerster remarked coolly.

"No shit, Agatha." Richard snarled. "What did you expect her to be? Just pop back up as if nothing happened? Valkyria can get wounded and sick all the same as a normal human. It's the fact that they recover quickly from them. You're very fortunate that she didn't suffer any long-term damage, because of her special bloodline. You know, if she's a test subject of yours, you are obliged to ensure that she remains healthy. Her physical condition is meant to be a primary concern about you, since her condition correlates to what you can put her through. As expected, you're not only a immoral researcher, but an incompetent one at that. Unless, you purposely put her out, injected a solution to induce fever on her, and observe the results."

"Wait, what!?" Avan exclaimed in horror, hearing what Richard finished his statement with.

"Was that all? I'd thought maybe Avan was next in line." Foerster responded back, not answering Richard's accusation. "Well, either way. I have research to get back to. You know the way out."

"Oh, Foerster, Foerster... You clearly don't understand." Richard replied back, wiggling a finger side to side. "I think that you misunderstand me. I don't need your understanding, I don't need your approval, and I most certainly don't want your attention or interest. All I wanted right now, is for you to right here, so that I can give you two words to tell you. Want to play the guessing game for them? Oh wait, I'm sorry, you're too busy and educated to waste your time with such childish games. I'm sure that your research would actually matter at all. Alright then, I'll make this brief and simple for you: FUCK OFF."

"I'm sorry?" Foerster remarked, as her eyebrows creased.

"What, the great and all-knowing Clementia Forester, is actually asking someone to clarify something to her?" Richard responded back with a mocking tone, before he barked in cruel laughter. "Ha, I never thought that I would be able to see that day! Well then, let me return that question, Forester. Why should I dignify you with an answer? I'm sure that with that brain of yours, you can figure out the reason, or are you so single-minded that your own experiments is the only thing that 'vast' mind of yours contain. Do I really have to explain myself?"

"If you are just here to heckle me, then your insults are in vain." Forester stated. "Leave, before I get someone to drive you off."

"Oh, and who's going to make me? There's only one person that has close to any authority to command me, and he certainly won't help your pathetic ass!" Richard spat at Forester. "And as for my insults, I don't need you to care about what I say. You know what's so funny and amusing about this, is that you think your lack of emotion and sociological capacity means that you're some fortress of mental fortitude. Believe all you like, but disinterest and lack of emotion is so sad and pathetic when its used to counter one's insults. I thought that I might have prodded some buttons on you, so that the world-burning whore inside of you reveals itself in the ugliest way possible. But why do that, when it's utterly amusing to see that you're too pathetic to even make a counter-response to what I have to say? It's not like I'm wrong, and unlike you, I don't have a reason to lie out of impulse. Sure shows how easily you turn your colours."

Foerster's eyes creased, although she didn't show any emotion, while Avan was shocked to hearing those venomous words from Richard. He decided to quickly answer the question burning in his head.

"Just a second..." Avan stated, getting between them both, holding Foerster's clipboard of 'Project Valhalla'. "Why do you have a picture of Juliana Everhart?And one of Karin and Elma!? You thought I was next in line? For what? What goes on down here anyways?"

"My work involves gathering data on gifted students like you and them. There's your answer. Now leave us." Foerster answered back. "And take this nuisance of a instructor with you."

"Suit yourself, continue those experiments that will only end up reaching a dead conclusion." Richard sneered cruelly. "Oh, and by the way, if you think of trying to escape Gallia, just know that there is no way out. Unlike where you came from, you're under very close watch here, so don't think for a moment that the leash around your neck has loosened, even though you've changed owners. If in truth, that leash is far tighter... Tight enough to strangle you to death with a single yank if needed be. Also, let me catch your little test subject in life-threatening danger by your own neglect of her care, and you can kiss her and your future research goodbye, and when that happens, there's nothing in this world that will reverse that outcome, save for a bullet through your skull. Let us leave, Avan."

Richard then wrapped a arm around Avan, dragging him out of the laboratory in a hurry, and moved outside of the old campus building.

"She's got some sort of special mission... But is it the same one that my brother went on?" Avan stated to himself. "But what is it? And why is Elma, Karin and me chosen for candidates for it...?"

"Don't concern yourself with it. It's just mad theorising from a deluded woman who lost all sense of reality." Richard assured Avan with a gentle smile. "But if you still want to know, leave it to me to investigate all this, with my friends."

"Alright, I'll trust you, instructor." Avan nodded back, before they then made their way back to the main campus.

---

At the rooftops of the building...

Richard decided to take a smoke on the campus rooftops, as his encounter with Foerster left him in a fairly sour mood, as he was breathing and exhaling his smoke quite deeply.

"Enjoy your much undeserved life, Foerster..." Richard growled to himself. "It's going to come to an end soon. You won't have the chance to run to the Federation when I'm done with you."

Suddenly, he then heard the sound of footsteps, as he turned around towards them, as he saw Anisette standing on the edge of the rooftops, as there was a despaired expression on her face, as the action shocked Richard, as he slowly made his way towards her.

"Mother, Father, do forgive your darling Anisette for leaving you behind." Anisette muttered quietly under her breath. "Your little angel is setting sail for heaven..."

Before she could even jump, Richard grabbed her, and threw her on the ground, before pinning her down, to stop her from moving.

"I-Instructor!? D-Don't stop me, darling! Just let me dieeeee!" Anisette wailed, as she tried to struggle off Richard's hold on her. "E-Either way, my life is over-"

Before she could finish her statement, Richard struck her across the cheek with a very powerful slap, as it stunned her.

"Anisette Nelson, I will not accept this kind of suicidal behaviour! You are CLEARLY not in the right state of mind!" Richard roared in her face. "I order you, as your instructor, to explain yourself this instant, or so help me, you're going to spend a week thrown in solitary for this stunt!"

"Instructor... I..." Anisette whimpered, before she began to tear up. "Ugh... My sister... My sister is coming here to see me!"

"Edy Nelson, is it not? You two share a good familial bond from what I known. What distresses you about that?" Richard asked back firmly.

"Because she didn't want to come over just to visit me! I... I promised that I would have a campus-wide concert prepared for her!" Anisette shouted back in frustration. "She and I took an oath to become idols together. But my natural clumsiness has made all progress in dancing impossible! She sent me a letter to ask how my routine was coming along, and I... I panicked!"

"What was your response...? Unless... Ah, I might be able to deduce this. You wrote the fact that you've been headlining every academy event with your skills." Richard deduced.

"And that every night of my campus concert series was sold out... Hff..." Anisette sniffled back. "Ooh, if she finds out that it was a lie, I won't be able to face another day! The only solution left for me is to cast myself from this roof and atone with my own death! I rather die than live with the fact that I've failed my sister!"

Richard was silent, before he then stood up. "Get up." Richard told Anisette harshly, as she did so. "So you rather give up, than try to strive matching your sister's expectation? Anisette, as your instructor, I did not train you to be a part of Gallia's future, so that you could be crushed by a simple adversity like this."

"But... my sister... and I..." Anisette whimpered.

"Stow your fear, and screw your courage into your very heart!" Richard barked back strongly. "How long dd you have, until Edy arrives here?"

"A... A month." Anisette reluctantly answered back. "But I won't be able..."

"I will." Richard replied back. "You might not believe it, but I have learned how to dance before. I can teach you how to do the basic footwork. You're a good shocktrooper, so you're not as hopeless as you seem, you just need to convert your own experience to that talent of yours. But be warned, I will not be gentle with you, I will strive to push you past your limits, like I do in the class drills. You WILL be dancing like a rising star, by the time Edy arrives, and I will see to it, even if it makes you cry and beg for mercy from me."

"I-I suppose that does make a certain sense... if you believe that it can work." Anisette muttered, before she then wiped the tears from her eyes. "I... I never thought that the strict instructor who fought in the war, would be able to teach dancing to someone like me."

"Trust me, you learn a lot of things in your travels around the continent." Richard smiled back gently. "And when you think about it, war is like a dance by itself, except that this number is a bit more... lethal and competitive."

"Heh... You're right. I'm willing to be taught as much as needed to be good enough to dance." Anisette chuckled back, her mood lightening up, before she then made her way to exit the rooftops. "Instructor... Thank you... thank you for stopping me from doing something I could have regretted."

"No problems, helping troubled little girls like you is like a habit for me." Richard smirked back.

---

In the hallways...

Gus was rushing to the class that he was assigned to supervise over, as he got caught up speaking with a few of the students from the other classes, as they wanted to hear some war stories from him. On the way, he collided with someone, as the impact knocked them both onto the ground.

"Argh!" Gus exclaimed, before he then hissed. "Damn it, not again...! Look, I'm sorry that I have accidentally hurt-"

When Gus got a closer look at the person he knocked down, as it was Nichol, the words died in his throat. "Nichol? Are you alright?" Gus asked back.

"Yes... I'm fine, instructor." Nichol responded back, before getting back up, and dusting himself off.

"I was in such a hurry that I didn't look carefully about where I was going." Gus admitted. "Are you harmed in any way?"

"No. No, sir, I'm alright." Nichol responded back softly, as he looked fairly down.

"Nichol, are you sure that you're fine? You look like that you're much less... spirited than you usually are." Gus asked back firmly.

"...It's nothing to worry about, sir. It'll pass." Nichol tried to assure Gus with a weak smile, although Gus wasn't convinced.

"I see... Either way, you should tell me about your sister. There has been several... distressing rumours about your relation with her." Gus responded back. "I'm sure that you're glad that you have a sibling to take care of you, right?"

"Something... like that." Nichol responded back, deflecting the topic, and turning away from Gus slightly.

"Nichol!" Francas's voice could be heard, as she stomped towards Nichol. "So this is where you've been. Just shooting the breeze, were you?"

"Franca-" Nichol was about to say, before Francas interrupted him.

"I said to hurry back to class, didn't I?" Francas told him coldly. "Why can't you even follow through?"

"Francas, please calm down, he was engaged with-" Gus tried to explain, before Nichol bowed his head down.

"I'm sorry..." He muttered gloomily.

"You're always been this way! No matter what I ask, you can't get it done." Francas berated her own brother strongly. "At this rate, you'll be a useless man all your life! You should be ashamed!"

"Francas! Enough!" Gus exclaimed strongly. "This is not how you treat your brother! He is not at fault about all of this, I was the one who collided with him. I was concerned about his own well-being."

"Excuse me when I say this, instructor, but this is family matters. How I treat my brother is not of your concern." Francas responded back. "Instructors are not supposed to interfere with personal affairs."

"But this is a serious matter!" Gus argued back. "Your berating is affecting his own motivation and mental health-"

"Instructor, please... It's fine." Nichol interrupted.

"But, she-" Gus muttered.

"Please..." Nichol pleaded, as Gus sighed deeply, and shook his head.

"Nichol, get a move on. And stop shuffling your feet when you walk!" Francas scolded Nichol, as she walked away.

"If you'll excuse us." Nichol nodded back, before he then followed after her sister.

"I seriously doubt that these two are at good terms with each other. It's more like a one-sided relation to me... But... I'm sure that Francas must have a reason for doing all of this... But I hope it's a reasonable one..." Gus answered back. "Never have I seen such a dark contrast to the ever-lasting bond between Richard and Heiwa..."

He then walked away, as he made a note to discuss Francas with Nichol in a later time.

---

In the back of the courtyard...

"I'm flattered and all, but I can't go out with you. I'm sorry." Coleen remarked, as she was speaking with a student from another class, who was dejected at her rejection.

"N-No, it's alright. I understand." The student answered back. "That's too bad though. I knew it was a long shot asking someone as pretty as you are. I'm no match."

"It's not like that." Coleen shook her head.

"Either way, I feel better that I told you how I feel though. Thanks for listening." The student answered back, bowing towards Coleen quickly, before leaving.

Coleen then waited for a while, before she then sighed. "Instructor... Must you be listening around here?" She remarked.

As Coleen expected, Marisa came out of the shadow of the trees, as she was fairly calm.

"Huh, I didn't do anything to attract your attention." Marisa remarked. "I was actually planning to just pass by, but then I heard about what was going on. Turns out that you're having a bit of problem with dating people, or is it the other way around, that they're trying to date you. I usually see some of the other students near you, and that number increased by a lot when Class G-7 claimed the Laevatein Cup."

"I really wonder why they always feel the need to do this." Coleen mumbled.

"Oh, come on, you've got far more men chasing after your tail than anyone else in this academy." Marisa remarked with a peppy tone. "They just want to clarify their feelings with you."

"Is that how it works when you like someone?" Coleen asked back with genuine curiosity. "I wish I knew. I'm no good at this stuff."

"Evidently. You're such a sweet flower untouched like this." Marisa agreed. "Seriously, not a single person makes you want to confess your feelings to?"

"Not really, no." Coleen answered back. "So when these boys ask me out, I don't know how to respond."

"Aw... How pure of you. You're worried about breaking their hearts by not matching up to their expectations." Marisa cooed. "But I see what you mean, I wouldn't want to marry just any boy if I were you. I would want to find my fated partner."

"Is that so...? That's what I think about all of this, at least." Coleen answered back. "I should get going, see you, instructor."

"Take care, and hope that you'll find someone that you feel like that you feel a sense of love for." Marisa advised Coleen, before the pink-haired lancer left the courtyard.

---

In the drill grounds...

"Alright, listen up, maggots!" Calvaro declared, as the entirety of Class G-7 were gathered in the grounds. "Today, we're doing physical aptitude tests! Hardins, we'll start with you. Grab a shot put and throw it as hard as you can!"

"Alright, here I go!" Avan exclaimed, before he took his place on the spot, before picking up the weighty shot-put ball, before throwing it quite far. "RrraaAAAH!"

"Nice distance there." Zeri noted, impressed by Avan's result.

"Heh, thanks. I've always been pretty handy with a shot put." Avan chuckled.

The turns of the class went one by one, as Corrin was one of the few people that actually beat Avan, who was actually quite hard to beat for most of the class, and Isara managed a decent throw. Elma, however, considering her frail physique, couldn't throw as far as most of the class did, as her ball dropped only a few feet ahead of her.

She was dejected at her result, as she was about to slink back to the class. However, after her was Raymond, who picked up the shot put ball, and hurled it so far that it beat everyone's result by a astronomical margin, even surprising Calvaro himself. Elma saw this, as she was astounded by this.

"Whoa...! So strong!" Elma exclaimed with awe.

"Holy whoa! Is it even possible to throw that far!?" Avan blurted out with shock.

"It is if you're Raymond. Given his build, I'm not terribly surprised." Zeri responded back. "Not that he gets much of a chance to flex that muscle as a engineer."

"Ooh, he's done throwing! Yo, Raymond! Hey!" Avan called out to Raymond, who approached them, with Elma walking over as well.

"Um, w-was there something you needed from me, Avan?" Raymond asked back timidly.

"You're amazing, man! That has to be some kind of world record!" Avan exclaimed with passion.

"N-No! No,no,no! It's nothing special." Raymond quickly denied, shaking his head strongly.

"But you're really great, Raymond!" Elma chimed in, as Raymond turned around to see the little girl beside him. "You must be born to be really strong like this, and with a large body like this!"

"Y-yeah, that's true." Raymond agreed. "I really don't do any special t-training on the side."

"That's amazing. It's almost a waste to have you on engineer duty." Zeri remarked, before Elma pouted at him, which the Darcsen noticed. "What's wrong, Elma?"

"Raymond is a good engineer! He's just trying to learn how to be a good one, and he's learning quite well!" Elma argued.

"Easy there, Elma." Avan tried to calm Elma down,before turning to Raymond. "So, how's a guy your size get by on the food they serve in the mess hall?"

"You really have a flair for frivolous questions, don't you, Avan?" Zeri sighed, as if expecting the question.

"Hey, I was just curious!" Avan shouted back, offended by Zeri's statement.

"Well, wh-when it's not enough. I cook for myself. I-I always liked Home Ec..." Raymond answered back.

"Wow, that's really great to hear! You must be a real good cook! I can't wait to invite some people to come and eat your cooking!" Elma exclaimed with a excited grin.

"And count me in as well!" Avan shouted.

"Oh, s-sure! It's nothing fancy, Elma, Avan... But it'd be my p-pleasure." Raymond agreed with a faint smile.

"Your personality, and your body make for a odd mix, don't they-" Zeri was about to say, before he was jostled on the side by Elma, who looked quite cross.

"What's wrong with someone being like that!?" Elma exclaimed back. "He's just like this."

"No, it's okay, Elma. I get that a lot. S-Sorry if it disturbs you two." Raymond answered back.

"No reason to apologise, man! Anyways, I'll look forward to that, Raymond." Avan stated, before turning to Elma with worry. "And you seem like you're a little bit too hot in the head there. Might wanna cool down there."

"Yes, yes... Sorry." Elma apologised, after she realised that she was behaving impulsively.

"And great throw again. Here, let me shake hands with a shot put legend!" Avan said, as he put his hand out to shake.

"Heh, s-sure...!" Raymond agreed, before he then clenched Avan's hand, although a little too tightly, as the sound of creaking bones could be heard.

"AaAAaUGH! Broken hand! Broken hand!" Avan cried in pain, as he tried to get his hand out of Raymond's crushing grip.

"Ah!" Raymond exclaimed, before he then released Avan's hand, which was swollen by the giant student's grip. "S-Sorry! I'm sorry! I've always been bad at controlling myself..."

"Heh heh, like a stand-up routine." Zeri chuckled to himself, before the class dispersed, all while Elma looked at Raymond with some worry in her eyes, as she felt a bit bad for his current situation.

---

In the classroom...

Morris then made his way to Corrin, who was reading through her books, before he then gently cleared his throat to get her attention. "Um, Karin... Can I, er... Do you have a minute?" He asked her.

Corrin turned to him, as she laid her book down. "I'm listening carefully, Morris." She answered back. "You can tell me whatever you need to."

"You... You noticed me immediately? I'm surprised that you did that, people don't notice me easily, it just happens..." Morris remarked.

"Well, I'm not exactly someone who doesn't look carefully at her surroundings." Corrin stated. "So you don't need to worry about being ignored by me."

"That's a relief... I wanted to ask a favour of you, Karin." Morris responded back, before he then bowed his head. "P-please make me your student! I'll do anything!"

"Morris? Please raise your head, you don't need to be so formal in addressing me. I'm no different to you as a armoured tech." Corrin replied back. "Tell me, could you at least tell me what you were expecting to learn from me?"

"I... I want to be much more manly. And considering that you're one of the most over-bearing people in our class, I decided to learn that from you." Morris answered back. "I wish I could have that cool, and wild thing going like you do."

"Hm, you would have more luck going to Avan, unless there's another thing you needed, that led you to seek me over him." Corrin muttered back.

"That's right. I've always been small, and I'm not very strong." Morris chuckled back, before his face turned serious and determined. "But I want to change that, I want to train my body and get tougher! When I saw you and Alexis training so hard that one time during the class break, I decided that you would be the best person to help me do that."

"So you wish to change yourself." Corrin stated, before she then leaned forward. "I assume that there's a reason why this sudden need to have guidance for all of this?"

"W-Well, there's this... Er, it's kinda... I..." Morris stuttered nervously, avoiding Corrin's gaze, before he then calmed himself down, and turned back to her. "I like this girl, you see. I want to get strong enough to catch her eye."

"I see... If that's all you have for your reasons... I suppose that there's no reason to turn you down. I've got a fair bit of free time in my hands." Corrin answered back. "I'll try to see what kind of times that I can teach you at. I should warn you though, the extra work might occasionally tire you out."

"I'll do my best! Whatever you say, madam!" Morris declared.

"I like that kind of spirit." Corrin smirked back. "Then we'll get started as soon as we can. Meet you in the lunch break."

The class bell then rang, as Morris gave Corrin a thankful nod, before he then left the classroom.

---

Inside the classroom...

"Chief, duuude! Today's the big dress rehearsal!" Lotte exclaimed to Avan, who was sitting on one of the tables, while the rest of the class were fooling about.

"Hey, Lotte. Thanks again for writing the script. Come up with a good one?" Avan asked back.

Lotte looked back at the corner of her eye, as she saw Richard glaring at her from behind, as if he was watching what she was going to say. She shivered slightly, before turning back to Avan.

"Well, the script's done, and I'm sure that it's still going be exciting, with the... changes to it." Lotte remarked. "Look forward to it! It's going to be a real show!"

"Ooh, I will! I'm happy I get to play Alicia! I'm so excited!" Cosette exclaimed, hearing the news.

"Hee hee! Good for you, Cosette. I'll try not to flub the narration." Coleen remarked.

"Alright, everyone gather up! It's time for the dress rehearsals!" Richard exclaimed, clapping his hand together. "Actors, get yourselves changed quickly!"

The entire class moved into action, as they headed to the gym for the dress rehearsals.

---

In the gym...

The non-cast class members were sitting down, acting as a audience to the dress rehearsal, as some of them were helping to set the stage up, putting out cut-outs of trees, bushes and small rocks. Coleen was standing on one corner of the stage, as she was holding the narration lines in her hands, and clearing her throat a few times, in order to prepare. The actors was standing just off-stage, all dressed properly in their costumes, as Avan was inside of a moving model of the Edelweiss, miniaturised for just Avan to fit inside of it.

"Alright, let the rehearsal commence!" Richard exclaimed, as he was dressed like a Imperial commander, in his red uniform.

"Right, let me just begin..." Coleen answered back, before she then took a deep breath, and started her narration. "Squad 7's nigh-impossible orders: to reclaim the Vasel Bridge for Gallia. Fierce leader and nature lover, Welkin Gunther cross the river by tank, thanks to a ingenious discovery. He is aided by Rain Craider, a eager Darcsen private first-class who fights for Gallia with heart and soul."

Cosette, Avan and Zeri then entered the stage, as Avan rolled in, holding up his flare-gun prop.

"Uhh... Hey, I've got it. Let's, uh, cross the river by tank and take them all out?" Avan remarked with a dull tone, dressed in a officer cap and Welkin's field suit. "The, uh, Vass-Veseel River? Has some..."

"It's the VASEL river, silly! And try to put some feeling in it! Welkin would be declaring this boldly, as it's his first official mission!" Cosette corrected Welkin, as she was dressed with Alicia's red hair-dress, and holding a scout rifle prop in her arms.

"How was I supposed to know how I should feel saying those lines?" Avan complained, before he then went back to rehearsing his lines, with much more spirit. "Anyway, the Vasel River has mistlereed growing in it."

"Amazing work, Welkin! Mistlereed only grows in really shallow water!" Cosette agreed with a bright attitude.

"You really need to learn about what's in the script, Avan..." Zeri scolded Avan, before he then cleared his throat, ready to start his speaking part, walking to Avan. "Wait, Welkin, you'll need someone to man the gatling turret on the Edelweiss. I'll take that role and follow you inside the tank."

"Rain? Alright, come with me then." Avan answered back, as Zeri moved behind the tank, as it obscured him, indicating that he was inside of it. "Let's move through the river!"

"And so, the Lieutenant set about crossing the river in his tank the Edelweiss." Coleen narrated, as the tank moved past the 'river' slowly. After it was done doing that, Zeri came out from behind the tank, before he then fired at some invisible targets around his side of the stage. "Their crossing was successful, as Rain cleared the enemies who were caught by surprise with the Edelweiss's intrusion. Now all that's left for Welkin, is to fire the flare signal to indicate the start of the operation."

"Welkin! It's all clear here, get everyone here now!" Zeri told Avan.

"Phew... The Edelweiss sure swims fine!" Avan exclaimed, before he then fired his flare gun prop, as it let off a popping sound. At that moment, Raymond came in, pushing a wooden boat, with the rest of the cast sitting inside of it. As soon as the boat crossed the river, the crew disembarked from it, getting into position, while Raymond pulled the boat back off-stage. "Alright, that's everyone! Ready to move out, squad!?"

The entire cast nodded in agreement, before they moved off-stage from the opposite side. At that moment, the same students got up, as they removed the cut-outs and props of the previous scene, and replaced them with new ones, including sandbag covers, buildings, street-lights and Imperial tanks. The squad then returned through the side, as Zeri was moving beside the tank, only his head poking out, while the others were moving about, shooting invisible targets with their props.

"Squad 7 rushed the surprised enemy with brutality, they did not let up their assault, as enemy after enemy was taken out in their ruthless rampage." Coleen stated, as Nichol then made his way towards one of the ragnite container models, which was made with a metal cage with a blue balloon inside of it, set up near several Imperial tank cut-outs, and some sandbag cover cut-outs, as he aimed his rifle.

"I'm moving up! This should take care of the enemy!" Nichol remarked, as he fired his weapon at the ragnite container model, as Raymond rushed over, popping the balloon with a exploding sound, before knocking the tank and sandbag cut-outs down, to indicate that they have been blown apart.

Melissa then stepped onto a large stool, which indicated a sniper watch-tower. "Heh heh, no-one can escape my eye from here. None of you Imperials are going to make it out here alive." She eerily stated, before firing her rifle several times at random spots, before she then raised her rifle and shot something at the same height as she was. "A Imperial sniper around here? How foolish, I have the height advantage here, you're dead before you even realise it."

Lotte then rushed into the fray, as she sprayed her gun around the stage with a roar. "Go down!" She shouted, before she then rushed to one of the spots, before shoulder-checking what would have been an enemy, and then firing her weapon in point-blank. She then did a blow-kiss to the downed 'enemy'. "Muah! Your camp's mine now~"

The group then pushed ahead slightly, before Sofia pointed at a group of Imperial tank cut-outs. "We got live Imperial tanks ahead of us!" She warned the squad.

"Not to worry, it's time for us to shine, eh Largo?" Noel smirked at Reiner

"Going to take more than a few tanks to faze us at all! Let's wreck them!" Reiner shouted, before the two lancers fired their lances, as Raymond pushed down the cut-outs they 'destroyed'.

Soon, the group managed to reach the camp, which was indicated by a flag-pole in the middle of the stage.

"Good job, everyone, we've made it this far." Avan praised everyone.

"We've done well so far. Now, all that's left is to-" Zeri was about to say, before Richard came into stage, holding a walkie-talkie prop in his hands.

"Command to Alpha Team, command to alpha team! Respond! We heard gunfire. What is your current status?" Richard cried, as Zeri pulled out a identical walkie-talkie prop.

"Let me handle this, guys." Zeri stated, before turning to the walkie talkie. "This is Alpha camp, the sound of gunshots was us driving the Gallian forces off. We're all fine here."

"Good to hear. We'll relieve you guys soon. Over and out." Richard answered back, before he then walked off-stage.

"Wow, you managed to pull the wool over their eyes, Rain!" Avan remarked.

"Thanks, but we need to press the attack. Let's go!" Zeri exclaimed, before the group then moved. However, suddenly, Raymond threw a water balloon over-head at Cosette, Nichol, Sofia and Lotte.

"Mortar! Dodge!" Nichol screamed, although it was too late for Sofia, Nichol and Cosette, who pretended to be blasted apart from each other, except for Lotte, who hopped away from the falling 'mortar' quite quickly.

"Whew, lucky one there!" Lotte remarked, before she then charged the enemy base, where Richard was standing, as he was shocked by Lotte's appearance.

"What the!? How did you get here, Alpha Camp was supposed to be-" Richard exclaimed, before Lotte aimed her gun at him, as he fell down while being mowed by her gun-fire. "Guwah!"

"Heh, don't underestimate this lady." Lotte pridefully declared, before the rest of the group charged through to the base that Lotte was standing in.

"Mission complete, Lieutenant!" Zeri told Avan, with a salute.

"Right then, open it up! Let's see if their tanks can swim like ours!" Avan exclaimed, before Sanae and Gus mimicked the sound of Imperials screaming in their fall into the Vasel River.

"Yahoo! Take that, you Imperial bastards!" Noel exclaimed.

"Let's head back to base. Captain Varrot will be interested when she hears of this." Avan responded back, before turning to Lotte. "And we should also tell her how one of our own bravely pushed to the enemy camp and claimed it for us!"

"Just doing my duty, sir!" Lotte exclaimed, before the group then left the stage.

"And thus, peace was restored to the greater Vasel area, thanks to the combined efforts of Squad 7. Their tale only begins from here..." Cosette concluded the play's narration.

Richard then rose back to his feet, and clapped in applause, as did the rest of the group, even Anisette, although she did so reluctantly and grudgingly.

"Well done, well done! Although it's not the best, but I'm fairly convinced that the play was performed well, save for a few hiccups. I'm surprised in fact." Richard remarked, before turning to Lotte. "Now then, Lotte, everyone likes it!"

"They do?" Lotte exclaimed with shock, before she then saw the audience, before she then became prideful, puffing her chest. "I mean, they should! I've got a flair for writing these kind of interesting stories!"

Richard chuckled lightly to himself, not forgetting how many attempts it took for Richard to convince Lotte to write the play as something closely resembling the exact battle... save for giving Rosie some more spotlight, to Lotte's request.

---

In the courtyard...

The entire courtyard was set up for the summer feast, as there were food stalls to buy various cuisines from, and several different attractions set up, including the stage that Class G-7 will be using to perform.

Corrin, Isara and Elma decided to tag along with Cosette and Avan, as they looked around, seeing how jolly the festival atmosphere was.

"Wow, I never knew Lanseal even had this many people! I love a good festival!" Cosette exclaimed. "With all the combat, everyone must be on edge, but they're smiling today!"

"And that's a truly good thing, to have a moment of peace and joy in this war we're in..." Isara remarked as well. "I actually remember when I used to go to festivals like this with Welks when we were younger..."

"There's the stage for Operation Cloudburst. Doesn't it make you nervous, Avan?" Cosette asked Avan.

"Sort of, but I've done a lot to prepare for my role in the play. Bet you that I won't flub my lines once in the real deal." Avan answered back. "But seriously, I'm starving here. I could use some grub to fill me up in preparation for the play. Good thing that you gave me some of your roast beefwich."

"You're welcome..." Cosette stated, before she chuckled at how Avan cared more about his hunger, than the play itself.

"Speaking of which, haven't you noticed that there were several soldiers stationed around the academy, right?" Corrin stated. "There's even tanks with them. I wonder what made the people here take such measures to make this festival secure."

"Not to mention that Rain and the other instructors have gone somewhere..." Elma added.

"Well, I'm sure that they've got their own things to do." Avan remarked, before seeing Elma in front of the popsicle stand. " ...Mm? Hey, isn't that Juliana?"

They slowly walked over to her, as Juliana was going through her wallet to get her payment out.

"Whatever a 'juicy chunk orange popsicle delight' is, I'll take two." Juliana told the stall manager.

"Thank you very much. Here you go!" The stall manager answered back, pulling out two sticks of orange-coloured popsicles.

"Hey, Juliana! Those looks good." Avan stated, as Juliana turned to him.

"Hardins?! Y-you can't have them!" Juliana exclaimed, surprised at his group's appearance before her.

"I didn't ask for them. But I did want to ask you about something." Avan responded back, shaking his head. "It's about that special mission. Do you-"

"Oh, there you all are." Zeri stated, walking towards them, before seeing Juliana. "And Juliana as well."

"Nh!?" Juliana exclaimed, as she froze up, while a blush appeared on her cheeks. "I-It's been some time, Ze... Z-Ze... Zeehhh..."

"Are you alright? Do you need some help?" Zeri asked back, seeing Juliana stuttering like her mind was zapped hard.

"Ze... Ze...!" Juliana tried to spit out Zeri's name, before Corrin sighed, and slapped her on the back.

"Juliana, I know what you're trying to do." Corrin answered back. "Just say it out, you don't need to let it get stuck on your tongue."

"Urgh..." Juliana stated, before she then took a deep breath. "It's been a long time, Zeri... I... I brought one of those popsicles for you."

"Is that so?" Zeri asked, before Juliana offered him the one on her left hand, as they were beginning to melt, as he took it. "I suppose that I should take it out of courtesy for buying it for me. Thank you, Juliana."

Juliana's face lit up red hearing that, as she fidgeted nervously on the spot, before then rushing away at full speed.

"Juliana!" Cosette exclaimed, before she then sighed. "Oh my... It seems that she's really fallen for you, Zeri..."

"She has fallen for me...?" Zeri remarked. "Well, she does seem to be a lot more closer to me lately..."

"Aw man... I really wanted one of those popsicles-" Avan groaned, before Isara walked over and purchased one, before shoving it in his mouth. "Mmph!?"

"Now you can't complain." Isara answered back. "We should find the rest of the class right now."

"I agree... But I don't think that popsicle is enough for Avan." Elma answered back, before her stomach rumbled audibly, which attracted everyone's attention, as the demoness blushed nervously. "To be fair, I'm hungry as well."

"Alright, we'll have something to eat, before we go to prepare for the play." Zeri sighed, as Avan sucked on the popsicle eagerly, enjoying the taste of it.

Meanwhile, with Juliana, she was rushing behind one of the stalls, hiding herself from everyone, as she covered her burning face.

"You stupid, stupid girl... Why did you run like that?" Juliana insulted herself with a regretful tone. "I'm a noble... one of great status... I'm supposed to be the future head of House Everhart... I can't possibly fail to do a simple thing as to confess my love to him, especially when he's a Darcsen commoner!"

Soon, she heard footsteps, as she whipped her head towards the direction they were coming from. "Who's there!?" She demanded.

Richard then walked out, as he was fairly calm. When Juliana saw him, she calmed down as well.

"Oh, instructor Rain..." Juliana answered back. "Did... Did you hear all that?"

"Hear what?" Richard asked back, as Juliana sighed in relief hearing those words. "Either way, I have something to ask of you."

"I... I have no reason to decline, tell me please." Juliana answered back, before Richard then pulled out a tube of green liquid.

"I'd like you to hold onto this." Richard told her. "And take it, if you're starting to feel nauseous or weak on your knees. It's medicine to help keep you focused and fine."

"T-Thank you... But why did you decide to give it to me now?" Juliana asked back with some suspicion.

"Call it a hunch, but you look like that you're not fine for a few days at least." Richard responded back. "I think that you need some medicine to help you, especially with what is coming next. Just promise me that you'll take it. It's a life-and-death situation with your own health at risk here."

"Is that so...? I'll keep note of what you said." Juliana replied back with a nod, as she took the tube of medicine and pocketed it. "Thank you for your care."

"You're most welcome." Richard answered back, before he then left Juliana alone. When he was done, he immediately made for a sprint to the closest changing room, getting into his field suit, and loading his Victoire with ammunition, before then directly gapping himself out of the room.

---

At the top of the bell-tower inside the academy...

When Richard exited his sukima, he was right beside Gus and Reisen, as the former was holding a set of binoculars in his hands, looking around the entire sky with them, while Reisen was loading round after round inside the Tornerre, which seemed to be reinforced, as if prepared to fire special ammunition from it. Marisa was just behind him, as she was maintaining the Petard, to ensure it doesn't fail when she is going to fire it continuously.

"How goes the situation?" Richard asked the both of them.

"No sign of the rebel blimp yet..." Gus answered back. "But I have a feeling that there's not long..."

"You're right about that." Richard answered back, before he cocked the Victoire, placing his ammo bags on the ground for efficient reloading. "Chaos is about to come to Lanseal, in the form of a rebel assault. If we're lucky, we can down the blimp early, and deny them any chance of getting reinforcements other than what they initially sent to the ground."

"The Tornerre is loaded with anti-tank rounds." Reisen responded back. "Considering that, that kind of vehicle won't last long against it, even if I'm the only one shooting at it."

"Don't underestimate the rebels, Reisen." Richard answered back. "They're backed against the wall like cornered rats. There's no telling what they might be willing to do."

"Richard! They're here!" Gus exclaimed, as he could see the rebel blimp floating in the skies, heading towards Lanseal, as it was a large red and grey blimp with the white lion insignia of the rebels, and it was propelled with turbines linked to ragnite-powered engines, as well as having a metal ram installed on the front of it.

"It begins..." Richard muttered to himself, before pulling out his comms device. "WELKIN! Aim for the skies!"

"I'm on it! Lancers, tanks! Focus on hitting that blimp with all you got! Lanseal is counting on us to protect it! Scouts, Stormtroopers, Engineers, Armoured Techs, march into the campus grounds, and secure the areas, as well as preparing a counter-attack on the deploying rebels!" Welkin cried through the comms, before Richard switched them off.

"Alright, the time has come! Reisen, Marisa, with me!" Richard shouted, before he then created a spatial gap for Gus to enter through. "Gus, get down there, and rally the students. Sanae will be preparing to treat the causalities."

"Got it." Gus nodded, before entered the spatial gap, as it closed up behind him.

"Alright, time to get this show on the road!" Marisa exclaimed, as she levelled the Petard, and aimed for the blimp in the distance. "Time to get me a extraordinary kill!"

At the same time, the rocket lance and cannon fire from the gathered members of the Polar Star group, and the combined fire of the trio's prototype weapons was initiated, as it created a massive ruckus of gun-fire and explosions. The blimp was taking heavy damage, as it was not built to withstand such powerful sustained fire from its enemies. However, it managed to reach its destination, as the metal ram broke the spire at the very top of the bell-tower, shaking it, as the trio were forced to cease fire for the time being, until the bell tower stabilised itself.

"Keep firing!" Richard shouted, before the hatches on the blimp opened, revealing the various rebel elites, as well as the artificial valkyria, descending down on lowering ropes, before he then used his gun to shoot down the vulnerable rebels on their descent. "The less that reach the ground, the less work that our students will have to put in to drive them back!"

Marisa and Reisen nodded, as they assaulted the descending rebels, killing a considerable amount of them, while the rest managed to reach ground safely, as they attacked the students below. However, their assault stopped, when the horned leader of the artificial valkyria exited the hatch. And unlike his squad, he noticed Richard and his friends on the bell-tower, as he charged up an beam attack on them.

"Oh crap, time to bail!" Richard exclaimed, seeing the enemy's artificial lance glow brightly, pushing his friends through another sukima, as they fell into it, just before the blast destroyed the bell-tower entirely.

---

At the same time, on the ground...

Suddenly, Avan and his group heard the sound of cannon-fire and gunshots, accompanied by the sound of a series of explosions nearing them. It also caught the attention of many students, who saw the damaged blimp fly its way into campus grounds.

"What... What is going on!? What is that thing, and why is it being attacked!?" One of the students remarked.

"Huh, what's what-" Avan asked, before he then looked up and saw the blimp. "Oh geez!"

"It's a blimp! And it seems to be in the rebels' colours!" Zeri exclaimed. "They're attacking the academy directly!"

"Wait, up there!" Elma exclaimed, pointing at the bell-tower, as there were several figures on top of it, as they were shooting the blimp furiously. "Someone took position in the bell tower to attack the blimp!"

Soon, the blimp managed to impact the bell-tower, as the spire on top of it broke apart, much to Elma's horror, as the students were panicking.

"The bell tower! It's coming down! Let's get outta here!" A female student cried in horror, as the students ran away.

Soon, various soldiers dressed in blue entered the grounds, as the students froze at the sight of them, before they saw the Polar Star insignia on their clothes.

"Go! We'll cover you guys! You guys are in danger standing around here!" The leader, who was Vyse, cried, gesturing strongly at the students. "Men, cover the kiddos!"

His squadmates complied, as they spread out, and took position in the various parts of the courtyard, using the stalls and fountain as cover. Vyse then rushed over to Avan's group, looking at Isara.

"Glad to see that you're fine and kicking, Isara." Vyse smirked back. "I'm glad that you and your friends didn't get caught in all of this too late."

"Vyse... You're here!" Isara exclaimed with joy. "Where's my brother?"

"He's busy manning the Edelweiss and barking out orders for the rest of the group." Vyse quickly answered back. "Look, we can deal with that later, for now, let's get you and your-"

"No way! We're not going anywhere!" Avan shouted back. "Help us get to the classrooms! We'll get our gear, and get set to fight against them! If you find anyone, tell them that Class G-7 has a call to arms, and are to go to the briefing room, once they find their gear!"

"What, are you serious? You trying to fight against these rebels in your own academy?" Vyse exclaimed in disbelief. "Kid, I can't guarantee that I can protect you all until you can get your stuff to fight, better you stay low until we take care of it."

"No, let us handle this." Isara argued. "I've learned a lot staying around here, and so did the rest of my class. We're the most experienced class in terms of combat experience and skills. We can help to drive the rebels back."

"Geez... If that's what you say, Isara." Vyse sighed, before he then barked out towards two men. "William! Fredrick! Form up with me! We've got some fighters that need their gear! We'll make a charge for where their gear is!"

The two soldiers complied, as they formed a triangle around the group, as they made their way through the courtyard, as quickly as possible without being careless. The student group could watch, as the blimp deployed rebels, as the Polar Star soldiers and the group in the bell-tower were gunning down the descending rebels without mercy. Vyse also did the same, holding a machine-gun in his hands.

Soon, they managed to make it to the doors of the main campus building, before Vyse bashed the doors open, as they entered the building.

---

Some time later...

"Emergency! We're under attack by a rebel squadron of unknown size!" An announcement rang through the speakers in the briefing room. "I repeat, we're under attack by a rebel squadron of unknown size!"

"Finally decided to bring the fight to us..." Avan growled, as he was fully armed, as Vyse and his men stood guard on the other side of the door, ensuring that any of the Class G-7 students are covered, when they made their retreat to the rendezvous point inside the briefing room.

"It's to be expected..." Corrin stated. "The rebels won't let us remain safe for long in our own main base. Perhaps they have been planning this attack for a long time, if not for more than a month. Only choice here, is to defend the academy with all we got."

"I hope that there are no causalities from this..." Elma remarked with worry. "This is truly terrible."

"Yo, Hardins!" Erik exclaimed, as the rest of the stormtrooper class arrived behind him. "Your friends told us to gather here. We're at the ready to drive these bastards back!"

"Lotte here, with the newest news on the block!" Lotte shouted, as she arrived with the scout class. "And ugh, is it a real scandal, 'Lanseal Ambushed By Devious Rebels!' Let's make it so that the death toll for us is a round zero, and theirs to be higher than the skies!"

"Avan! We heard the commotion, and did what was asked of us!" Reiner shouted, as the lancers then arrived along with him.

"Avan!" Sofia exclaimed, as the engineers followed behind her. "It's terrible! The rebels have taken several buildings around here, they're slaughtering staff and students on sight!"

"Avan. I've arrived here with the remaining students in our class." Alexis stated, completing the class with the armoured techs behind her.

"Guys! I'm glad that you're okay." Avan exclaimed, before Sanae and Gus arrived. "Instructors...?"

"You're all safe and accounted for. That's good. We'll launch a counterattack on the rebels, and reclaim Lanseal from them." Gus stated with relief in his voice.

"Avan, dear, just what is it with those creepy rebel units I saw on the way, and possibly mostly everyone as well?" Anisette asked Avan.

"From what we saw the last time we faced them, I doubt that they're human at all." Helmut remarked as well.

"Those things are bad, that's all I know. But they're not going to be enough to keep us from keeping Lanseal standing." Avan responded back. "Class G-7, let's go and save our own academy!"

---

In the drill grounds...

Richard was duelling the artificial valkyria leader himself, as the two of them traded blows, all while Richard was forced to hop and dodge the beam-fire from the other artificial valkyria rebels, and the spray of bullets coming from the nearby rebel commandos. He was on the losing side of the fight, as the leader was stronger than he was before, and the restriction on his movements, because of the fire he was getting, meant that Richard was fighting at a disadvantage.

"Damn it... I don't know how long I can hold this bastard off!" Richard exclaimed, as he was parrying Dirk's swings with his sword, and blocking point-blank beam shots with his shield, and having no opportunity to move onto the offence. "Son of a bitch... If only I could actually fight at a range with my weapon, I could blast those bastards, but with Dirk locking me down, I can't do anything to take them out first!"

Suddenly, the artificial valkyria leader, Dirk as Richard called him, went for a under-hand swing with his artificial lance, which went through Richard's guard, sending him flying into the air, before he then thrust the lance right into Richard's stomach, causing to hack up strongly, and be knocked flying back, cratering on the side of the stadium that he was inside of.

Richard slowly stood up on his two feet, as he hacked up a glob of blood, while Dirk was charging his artificial valkyria lance. He snarled at the artificial valkyria leader.

"Bastard, you're really pissing me off...!" Richard exclaimed, before he then crossed his sword over his shield. "Fine then, you think that I'm done fighting yet! We're just getting started!"

Richard then began to emanate a golden aura, which made him feel much more powerful than before, as Dirk realised this, quickly firing his artificial lance at Richard, although Richard deflected the beam shots away from him with each flick of his wrist. He then roared as he charged at Dirk with his blade poised to attack.

However, Dirk was attacked first by someone else, as there was a azure beam of light that connected with his torso, knocking him back. There was then a series of quick beam bursts that honed onto the other rebels inside the area, as it scorched them to death, even the artificial valkyria, who couldn't withstand their own attack aimed at them.

"What the..." Richard remarked with surprise, before turning to the source of the beams, which was Alicia herself, as her head-dress was off, and she was dressed in her old Gallian militia outfit, holding her own Valkyrian lance and shield. "Alicia!?"

"Hey, Rain..." Alicia smiled back. "I thought that you would be around here, fighting your hardest."

"Alicia..." Richard muttered back, before he then sighed. "I'm sorry that I had to let you rescue me like that. I'm still fairly fine, just a little bit winded though. I hope that the Valkyrian powers didn't harm your baby inside you."

"Oh, no, if there's something, they're getting much more lively when I'm in this state." Alicia remarked, before she chuckled. "Perhaps the excess of energy flowed to them, and make them quite hyperactive..."

"Heh heh..." Richard laughed back. "At this rate, you might accidentally burst your water when you transform into a Valkyria."

Suddenly, Dirk rose up, as it alerted both of them. He then prepared a lance shot at them, as they prepared their shields. However, at the last moment, Dirk pointed his lance down, before using the beam to propel him over the stadium roof, before he then dropped down on the other side of the stadium itself.

"The bastard... He's trying to run! And he might actually be rushing towards where the students and the non-combatants are!" Richard exclaimed. "We need to catch up to him!"

"That much is clear." Alicia responded back. "Come on, we can rescue the others while pursuing him!"

Alicia and Richard pursued after Dirk, as they quickly left the drill grounds.

---

In the courtyard...

The entirety of Class G-7 were pinned down in the courtyard, as the majority of the artificial valkyrias focused on them, surrounding them from all sides, as wound began to rack among their numbers, with each hit more severe than the last.

"This is insane! It'll take forever to stop them all!" Avan exclaimed, as he fired his rifle at one of the artificial valkyria, who weren't fazed by the hits. "What, are they immortal? But they can still be taken down! We seen that back then and here as well!"

"Rrgh... I took a hit to the leg..." Reiner remarked, as Elma was tending to the laser burn on his leg.

"Heh, heh..." Noel huffed with a weak smile, as she slowly loaded another rocket to her lance. "This might be tough, even for us..."

"Sit tight, everyone! I'll get everyone patched up!" Cosette exclaimed, as she treated the students with medicine and ragna-aid. "Avan, Elma and I are running out of our supply of ragna-aid, and we don't think that we'll have the chance to procure more!"

"Take mine!" Sanae exclaimed, throwing several canisters of un-opened ragna-aid to them, before she then used her side-arm to take down one of the artificial valkyria with a series of head-shots with her side-arm. "You girls need it more than I do!"

"Bad news. Another squad incoming." Zeri broke the bad news, as more artificial valkyria arrived at the scene, led by Dirk, as Alicia and Richard were nowhere to be seen on his trail. "And they're with the same leader like before...! A hit from the blue beam from any of them, and we're going to be-"

Suddenly, several of the rebel artificial valkyria immediately charged their artificial lances up, preparing for a laser beam salvo, as Zeri and Avan noticed it.

"Move! Get the wounded to bigger cover! Now!" Avan warned everyone.

Corrin was duelling one of the artificial valkyria, as she swung her blade enough times to break through the protective aura of the opponent, and finished him off with a beheading slice. He heard the command, as she quickly moved behind low cover, and stuck her shield in front for extra protection against the attack.

"Hey, over there. Is that... Juliana?" Cosette remarked, noticing Juliana walking to the field, as she was holding a Gallian version of the artificial lance, with a white oval-shaped shield on the other, as well as several metallic antenna arranged in a fan-like shape on her left shoulder, as well as two large energy tanks connected to her lower-back, and a large glowing ragnite power-unit on the upper back. She also had energy tubes connected to her skin, the glowing energy pulsing through them. Her veins were also bulging along her face, as her eyes were glowing red like the valkyria, as well as the tell-tale azure aura of a valkyria state.

"What!?" Zeri exclaimed, seeing the scene, as Juliana rushed into battle, as she fired a series of laser shots that took out the frontmost artificial valkyria rebels. "Juliana!"

"Leave me!" Juliana cried, her voice layered from the transformation, before she then coughed out some blood.

"You'll be killed!" Zeri cried in horror.

"I told you to go!" Juliana screamed, before she then roared and charged her lance up, before firing a beam burst at Dirk and the artificial valkyria. It managed to take out several of them, although the others fired their own in retaliation, as Juliana readied her shield to block the blast. However, the blast was too powerful for the shield to block, as it was knocked away, severing the energy tubes and screws on it, as she collapsed on the ground, as her aura waned, and her weapon's glow darkened. "So long as I still have air in my lungs... I will defend Lanseal... TO MY LAST BREATH!"

Juliana roared, as she held the artificial lance with both of her arms, as the azure aura around her glowed brighter than ever before, while Dirk charged his own beam blast. Juliana then fired her blast, as it was a massive engulfing beam of azure energy, which connected with the artificial valkyria, obliterating all of them, except Dirk, who was knocked back by the blast, as he just released his beam, which surged towards Juliana, who was unprotected.

However, from above, Alicia and Richard dropped down in front of Juliana, as she was shocked to see both of the legendary superhuman warriors defending her, as their shields held the beam blast back, although it took them everything they got.

"Instructor...!?" Juliana exclaimed in pure shock.

"Instructor Rain!?" Avan exclaimed with a similar reaction. "Even Mrs Melchiott!?"

"Rain!? Alicia!?" Isara blurted out.

"Instructor!?" Zeri shouted out in sheer disbelief.

"Rain!" Sanae cried.

Richard then slowly turned his head towards Juliana. "RUN, YOU FOOL!" Richard screamed at the top of his lungs, before the blast overwhelmed their defences, as they were sent flying by the blast.

Juliana was hit by the beam blast directly, and although Richard's and Alicia's interception weakened it greatly, it was powerful enough to cause her to cry in agony, when it struck her torso, before the beam exploded.

"Juliana!" Zeri cried in horror.

"Rain! NO!" Sanae cried in despair.

"Alicia...!?" Gus exclaimed.

The students then rushed over to Richard and Alicia, while Zeri rushed over to Juliana, who was lying in a crater, as she was de-powered, and unconscious. Avan then rushed over to Richard, who was unresponsive, until the students helped him sit up, back leaning against a wall.

"Hey, instructor Rain...! Dude!" Avan cried, shaking Richard strongly. "You're still alive, right...? Something like that couldn't have killed you right... Please don't let it be true... Your friends still need you... We still need you!"

Richard then slowly woke up, as he rose his head up weakly. "Avan..." Richard muttered gently, before he then violently coughed up blood. "Fuck... It hurts like Hel itself..."

"Instructor... You're alive...!" Marion remarked with great relief in her voice. "But you're injured... so badly."

"I'll make it through this... What about Alicia...? What about Juliana?" Richard asked back weakly, before he then pushed everyone away from him, and slowly rose back to his feet, with blood dripping from the corner of his lips.

"I don't know..." Sanae responded back, before she then cracked open a case of full-power ragna-aid. "Just let me heal you please... You can't have walked away from that blast without breaking a few bones and bruising a few organs badly..."

Richard was silent, before he looked towards Alicia, who looked like that she was faring better than him, unconscious, but slightly injured. Gus was over there with her, as she slowly groaned and woke up.

"Urgh... That really knocked me out hard..." Alicia groaned, clutching her head. "Did... Did we manage to protect the other girl? What about Rain?"

Gus gestured silently at Richard, who was limping over to her, as she was horrified at Richard's current condition.

"Rain... You're..." Alicia gasped.

"Don't worry about me... I've been treated... I won't be dying any time soon..." Richard stated, before looking back at Juliana, who Zeri was holding in his arms. "Worry about her... She's the one who's targeted by that beam of light..."

Meanwhile, with Dirk, he was blasted against one of the more sturdy pillars of the school hallways, as most of his torso armour was destroyed, and his helmet was cracked, although not enough to reveal who was behind the helmet. He was groaning in pain, hunching over. Soon, one of the rebel officers rushed over to him, while the students were distracted taking care of Rain, Alicia and Juliana.

"Lord Dirk! We were unable to locate the Valkyria. We did find a research facility of some sort. We've taken the data from it." The rebel officer reported back.

"Understood..." Dirk answered back gruffly. "Retreat..."

Several ropes dropped from the damaged blimp itself, as Dirk and the rebel officer each took one, fastened it to themselves, as they were being evacuated back inside the blimp's hatches, before the airborne vehicle itself retreated from the damaged academy, while taking fire from the garrisoned tanks, and being dealt more damage, to the point that it would only barely make the journey back to its home base.

"They're moving that blimp! The rebels have beat it!" Erik exclaimed.

"That's... That's fine... I'm glad that this is over... But I dread to think what the death toll and aftermath of all of this is..." Avan remarked sadly, looking at Richard, and the state that he was in.

"Juliana! Look at me!" Zeri shouted at Juliana, as the transformed class chair slowly opened her eyes.

"Urgh..." Juliana groaned, before she then coughed several times, staining her lips with more blood.

"Juliana... What happened to you?" Zeri asked her gently.

"This is their...secret mission. Manmade Valkyrur... Project Valhalla... I wanted strength enough to...fight together with you all. To protect..." Juliana weakly responded back. "But... This power... Such... destructive potential... Perhaps it's... fate that it should be destroyed... by the same... Krgh!"

"Juliana..." Zeri remarked. "Stop it, you shouldn't-"

"I didn't get to tell you how I feel... Zeri, when you thanked me earlier... I was so truly happy..." Juliana smiled faintly. "I've wanted to... for so long... I was... afraid... of you... of what you... meant to me... Heh... I'm a fool. An elite such as myself... to fear something so..."

"Save your strength... I'm here with you now." Zeri responded back, as he screwed his eyes shut, to prevent himself from tearing up, although his tone was wavering.

" Zeri... I wanted to see... the Gallia we sought to build... With you, I..." Juliana whispered back, before she then lifted her hand, and dropped something in Zeri's hand. "Here... Please..."

"Your... bracelet?" Zeri stated, seeing that in his hand was a small bracelet made of string and beaded blue jewels.

"Let it... protect you... for me..." Juliana answered back, with a short breath, as her eyes began to close, and her breathing weakened further. "Take it with you... To your new... Gallia..."

"...Juliana... Hey, Juliana?" Zeri asked back, as he was becoming increasingly fearful. "No, Juliana, please... no...! JULIANA!"

Zeri then sobbed in Juliana's chest, finally broken down, as streams of tears ran down his eyes. Richard then slowly made his way to them, before he then dragged Zeri off, much to the Darcsen's shock.

"Rain...!? What are you-?" Zeri was about to ask Richard, before the latter pressed his ear on the centre of Juliana's chest.

"Be quiet." Richard spoke sternly, as Zeri became silent immediately.

Richard then closed out his own senses, only focusing on hearing, as he listened carefully for any pulse from Juliana. After a while, much to his relief, he was able to hear her heart-beat, although very weak and faint, was there and continuing to beat.

"...She's alive, but barely." Richard remarked, which shocked Zeri.

"What?" Zeri muttered with stupor.

"Sally! We need to get her to medical attention immediately!" Richard shouted to Sanae. "Alicia! Raymond! Get the stretcher ready, so that we can carry her safely!"

"Rain...!?" Alicia exclaimed, before she then understood. "Alright, I'll go get the stretcher."

Alicia then left the area, as Richard pulled out the same vial of green liquid, before popping off the cork on it, and gulping down the contents quickly. He then wiped his mouth, before turning to Zeri.

"Instructor... You're not lying... when you said that she's still alive... right?" Zeri asked, still crushed.

"I'm not lying, you know me better than that." Richard responded back. "It's a good thing that I knew that her body was taking its toll on itself, for some reason. Turns out that medicine I gave her, was the decisive factor between whether she dies or lives. If she had not taken it like I told her, her body will be too weak to maintain itself, and she would have undeniably died. Since she did, her body is fighting to keep living on. However, she doesn't have long. We need to treat her wounds, and fix her body before the damage is either fatal or irreversible."

"Instructor... Oh thank the gods..." Zeri exclaimed, as he collapsed onto his knees. "Please... I beg of you... save her... She doesn't deserve to die like this..."

"She won't. That much I promise you. Sally is quite proficient with her ways of treating others, with the right tools." Richard assured Zeri, before Alicia came back with the stretcher. "Good, Raymond, help me set Juliana on the stretcher."

The large engineer complied immediately, as they carefully pulled Juliana out of the crater, as well as stripping of her armour and gear, and laying her flat on her back, on the stretcher. Richard then let go, as Raymond then lifted the stretcher with Alicia, as Sanae followed them, heading towards the medical ward.

"I suppose that's that..." Avan remarked. "Jeez, sure am glad that no-one important has died, not even Juliana..."

"You guys... you all deserve a long break for fighting off these odds for so long." Richard remarked, seeing the multitude of rebel corpses in the area. "Do whatever you wish, we'll all too tired to care about regulations and rules at the moment, and you all deserve to get on your beds,and sleep all this exhaustion and adrenaline from all of you."

"What about you?" Avan asked back.

"Me? I've got a matter to settle." Richard answered back with a serious look in his eyes.

Richard then walked away from the class, as Avan didn't seem to trust Richard to be alone, considering his state, as he followed behind the dark-haired instructor, without alerting him to his presence.

---

In Foerster's lab...

Kluivert was frantically searching through the laboratory, as he was quite frantic about something, looking for something.

"It's all gone, every scrap of research, stolen!" Kluivert exclaimed in horror, before he then swiped the table that he was standing in front of in blind fury, knocking the glass and paper on it apart, as the glass shattered on the ground, before he then clenched his face with both hands. "Damn you, Gassenarl! Twice... TWICE you steal everything from me! I-If he puts that data to use, I... Gallia will be... Hah! Ha ha!I've handed it to those traitorous wolves on a platter. Aha ha ha!"

"So your special missions were a front for experimenting on students!" Brixham exclaimed with anger, as he rushed into the lab from behind.

" Heh heh... Ha ha ha ha... What would a rank-and-file man like you know?" Kluivert responded back, as he seemed to be snapped, as there was a insane grin on his face. "If Gallia is to remain an independent nation, it... It needs power enough to deflect the Empire and the Federation alike!"

"But that doesn't justify-" Brixham remarked, before he then placed a hand on his chest, as his expression turned furious. "Human experimentation is unacceptable for any end! We're here to foster a sense of duty in the youth so they may take up arms. Not to transform them into human weapons! War will never disappear. Yes, in order to protect our land, they must fight. But that's just why those who take up arms must not lose their humanity! Fighting without that mindfulness isn't war. It's slaughter! Leon and Juliana would have grown up to shoulder the nation's defence! They would have served Gallia as model officers. You took the only power able to defend Gallia, it's people, and crushed it!"

"It doesn't matter! Only those with true power, like the Valkyria, matter in this war! Nothing else!" Kluivert laughed maniacally, before Richard then came in. "Ah, Rain. I wonder what brings you here. But you've come at a most opportune time, I order you to-"

"Not until we clarify one thing, Laurence Kluivert." Richard spoke darkly, before then wiping the blood off his lips. "What were you saying about power mattering in the war? I heard everything you said, and it's suffice to say that you have a lot to explain for."

"What!?" Kluivert exclaimed, shocked by Richard's words.

"Do you really think that I'm so dense that I didn't know what was going behind the curtains? The moment you create those ragnite-powered devices for the entrance exam, I began to feel suspicious about what is going on in the academy." Richard stated dryly. "And then I see Clementia Foerster, the head researcher of the Valkyria... for the EMPIRE. I've cast off all grudges against the Empire, but one person I won't forgive, is her, after the numerous violations of human rights that she made. Seeing her work in here, confirms my suspicions that there is something amiss about all of this, so I decided to do a bit of digging around. You know that it was my team that exposed Mauritis von Borg, who closely kept his betrayal a secret. A mere headmaster like you is nothing compared to all of that. I found you mostly everything about 'Project Valhalla', and I know who's on the list: Three of my students, two of them which are my personal companions, and the third, the class chair of a promising class. The list turn into energy-fuelled monsters who can barely contain the power in them. What say you, Kluivert?"

"And i would do it again! We just saw those mindless Valkyrur destroy Lanseal!" Kluivert desperately responded back. "Can your romantic ideals hope to defeat them? Preposterous! By all means try, Hubert, Rain. You'll concede your errors with your dying breath."

"Sir..." Brixham muttered before Richard snarled, before he then walked over to Kluivert, and choke-slammed him on the nearest wall with great force, as the disgraced head-master was choking by Richard's tight grip, and he saw that Richard's eye was raised at him, with burning fury inside of them.

"You just don't get it, do you?" Richard spoke in a dangerously low voice. "There's a reason why artificial valkyria research has been banned completely by the order of the Archduchess. Because it's a immoral act that not only violate the subject's human rights, and has high lethality rates, but it also is considering to be as immoral as directly launching weapons of mass destruction on enemy civilian territory: It's classified as a serious war crime to create such things. Yes, I understand the need for excessive force to counter excessive force from the enemy, but at least I am reasonable and moral about it. I don't force awakenings from valkyrian descendants, or transform them into artificial valkyria through painful and harmful processes. Romantic? Please, Kluivert, I should be berating you for being so extremist. This isn't even pragmatism, this is outright insanity."

Kluivert tried to get Richard's hand off his neck, before Richard then chuckled darkly. "And you know what's worst about all of this?" Richard remarked with a twisted smirk on his lips, before he then clenched his teeth with rage. "Foerster's method of creating artificial valkyria does not care about the state of the subject, it taxes on their body severely to even just use that power for a single battle! She draws massive power out of them, at the cost of their lifespan and overall health. Compared to this, the rebels' method of creating artificial valkyria is much more moral! I'll tell you this: When there was an autopsy on what little remained of the deceased Crown Prince, it was found that his own flesh was destroying itself from the sheer amount of power coursing through it. He would have died long before he could see his ambitions realised, when he tried to play god. And you just did the same to many more students, with Foerster's help. All of them... dead because you wanted a powerful army, without caring about the long-term effects. Juliana wasn't the first, but I'll make truly that she's the last, and she'll be the one survivor of this cruel experimentation. I've made absolutely sure she'll survive the process, with the aid I given to her. All just to spite you for what you have done. Brixham was right: You ruined the nation's future for your selfish ambitions, by condemning what would have been the greatest officers of Gallia grown up to a early death."

Richard then finally released his grip around Kluivert's throat, before he then swiped the fire-arm from Kluivert's waist, and then slugged the headmaster with a hook-punch that shattered his jaw, and caused him to fall on the ground dazed. Richard then picked Kluivert up by his hair, and leaned close to his ear.

"Oh, and if you think that you're going to take the easy way out of this, consider that hope dashed on the rocks." Richard told him with oozing venom in his tone. "The only thing that a manipulative and traitorous man like you deserves, is to spend the rest of your life in prison, so that you can see what you have done, and reflect on your actions until you draw your very last breath. Farewell, Laurence Kluivert, with this, you have dug your own grave... Now face it like a man, and lay yourself to rest inside of it."

He then smashed Kluivert's face on the hard ground, knocking the headmaster out, with his nose broken from the impact, leaking blood.

"Brixham... I leave you the honours to take care of this traitor." Richard told Brixham with a cold expression. "I trust that you'll ensure that he'll see justice."

"...I understand." Brixham responded back, before he then picked up Kluivert onto his shoulder, before the two of them left the room.

However, when they made their way out, they saw a frozen Avan, as his expression of disbelief was enough to tell the two that he heard mostly everything that happened in the room.

"Avan..." Richard stated.

"I can't believe it... the Headmaster took Juliana and many more students, and turned them all to monsters..." Avan responded back with a shocked tone. "I can't believe it... I just... can't..."

"Avan... I have to tell you that-" Brixham was about to start, before he saw Richard glare at him, as if he didn't want Brixham to spill the beans. Knowing that it would be stupid to anger Richard, Brixham kept himself silent.

"Avan... I know what happened here is cruel... But this is the end of it, I swear." Richard told Avan with a assuring tone, placing his hands on the class chair's shoulders in a gesture of comfort. "The mastermind behind this, our very own principal, is caught. So Juliana will be the last one who will ever have to suffer through this, and she'll be the one to keep the life that she deserved, which was meant to be ripped away from here, when she was manipulated to do all this..."

"Instructor... Professor..." Avan remarked. "I'm going to finish the fight with the rebels. It's what my brother would have done, if something like this would have happened. If this was because of the rebels... Then I'll prove that we don't need this kind of power from the artificial valkyrias to win this war... So that everyone won't have to suffer like those students inside of Project Valkyria did. I'll prove that Gallia can be kept safe, without selling my own soul and becoming a monster. I swear it!"

"...I know you will." Richard replied back with a hopeful tone and smile. "Come on, Avan... Let's head back to the main campus... We need to prepare for what we do in the aftermath all of this."

Avan nodded, before he then left the area, as Richard stayed behind for a while, until Avan was gone from both sight and ear-shot.

"Rain... Why did you silence me just before...?" Brixham asked back. "Did he not deserve to know the truth about how his brother was... Wait, when I found the document, Leon's page was gone from it... It couldn't have been anyone other than you, if you never mentioned Leon once to Avan just before..."

"I'm sorry, Brixham, but he cannot know..." Richard responded back. "It'll crush him, to know that his brother is turned into a artificial valkyria."

"Why!? What's so important about keeping Leon's status a secret?" Brixham demanded.

"...If I told you, would you believe me?" Richard asked Brixham softly.

"I deserve to know what's on your mind, as much as Avan does."

"...Dirk, the leader of the artificial valkyria unit for the rebels... Back when we first clashed in Leanbluff Forest..." Richard answered back. "I knocked his helmet off for a moment. And do you know who was under that helmet?"

"What are you implying-" Brixham responded back with outrage, before he then realised what Richard was saying. "You mean... no..."

"That's right. Dirk Gassenarl, is none other than Leon Hardins, without memory of his past. I tried to convince him about his brother, but he was too mentally conditioned to even break free. His mind is completely autonomous, only speaking as if he was some sort of servant." Richard responded back. "I cannot let Avan know that his own brother betrayed him, that's why I cannot let him know at all. I'll ensure that Leon Hardins is laid to rest, so that he won't die a traitor in his brother's eyes, but as the hero he looked up to."

Brixham was silent, as Richard then left the building.