Apex85: Alright.
I'm currently coming up with ways to kill several characters. I won't name names, but...they're notable ones, that's all I'll say.
Oh most definitely. Real big surprise indeed.
Glad you get where I'm coming from. There is a lot of pointless antagonism when it comes to nobles, don't ya think? Nobles turn their noses up and shit-talk Rean, and many others, for no good reason as it is.
Yep, that's why it was there. Someone needed to call them out. And since Rean got hurt...well, Fie had some shit to say. Yeah, it probably would have been grounds for some extreme disciplinary action at least, that's for sure.
scrubsergeant: That seems a bit much, but thank you regardless. The fact that a chapter means that much to you is quite a compliment, so yeah, thank you. :)
RedBurningDragon: Pretty much.
No, no, she is not.
We'll see.
Oh most definitely. I'm doing my best to come up with them now, and thinking up names for'em too.
Manu259: Glad you see things my way. I agree that he would talk with him after, but extenuating circumstances and just coincidence led to that conversation never really happening. What you said is exactly right though, the scolding definitely played a part in Rean's tendency to reign himself in at all times.
Yep.
I gotcha. Don't worry, even if it was a complaint, I wouldn't mind. Appreciate the clarification though.
I mean, it's pretty obvious who spoke the line and you can probably take a rough guess as to the circumstances. I more just wanted to point out that I plan on doing more with some of the other members of Class VII's pasts as well.
Most definitely. I've got at least two planned, and who knows, I may or may not come up with more. The second one is definitely funnier in my opinion, but that one's a little ways away compared to the first so, eh.
Cool, cool.
Thank you for the review, and here's the next one.
Jose19: Thank you. I liked that part too.
A lot of things. I think Rean and Fie have some striking similarities in their backstories and circumstances, and fantastic chemistry. That's just the first two that come to mind. I don't give a flying fuck what the so called 'canon' pairing is, and I don't think there are any real reasons for the game to push Rean toward Alisa. So yeah, I respectfully disagree.
I can agree with that to some extent. I think chemistry is a decent reason, but I, personally, don't think there is much chemistry at all between Rean and Alisa, which is just one reason why I don't agree with that pairing in any way, shape or form.
Good to know, I guess. Emma is my least favorite, excluding Alisa who is definitely my least favorite, but I can see why Emma would be your favorite, along with Laura.
Yeah, approaching spoiler territory, so let's not go there. But yeah, I agree.
Once more, allow me to thank all those who reviewed, and allow me to thank those who have added this story to their favorites and alerts since the last update as well. huntermartin9414 and Nonexistent Existence, thank you!
UPDATE
Touch-ups. Nuff' said.
Please read, review, and enjoy.
ACT I - CHAPTER II - PART V
...
After having made a short stop to collect the pink salt, the five students returned to Bareahard posthaste. As they were now once more within the bounds of the city, they allowed themselves a moment of respite.
"The sun's almost fully set..." Rean commented; the sky a shade of deep purple with splashes of orange about.
"I do believe we've finally finished our field study activities for the day." Laura remarked. "Once we return the bath salt to our client, at least." She amended.
"Thank goodness for that. I'm exhausted." Machias let them know with a sigh.
"And I'm starving." Fie interjected.
"Whatever that strange flying object was, it doesn't seem to have come anywhere near the main thoroughfare, at least." Jusis noted.
"Fortunately not." Laura concurred.
"The city wouldn't be this calm if it had." Machias added.
"Yeah, it's probably long gone now." Rean put forth.
Yet even still, he couldn't help this nagging feeling in the back of his mind.
Doing his best to ignore it, he continued, "We should head back to the hotel before it gets too dark." He pointed out. "There's a lot to put in our daily reports, after all."
"Indeed." Machias agreed with a nod.
"We can figure out how best to summarize the day's events over dinner." Laura remarked.
All five teenagers in agreement, they moved to report the success of their final task.
...
After turning the pink bath salt over to the two pompous noble teens, wrapping up the last of their tasks for the day, Group A returned to the hotel.
Only to be stopped at the entrance, as a grey, extravagant looking limousine pulled up behind them, attracting their attention and piquing their curiosity. They turned, from where they stood on the steps, to look at the vehicle.
"That's...Father...!" Jusis spoke without thinking.
"What!?" Machias exclaimed, only to be ignored as the blond hurried over to the limo.
As the usually aloof noble came to a stop in front of the furthermost door to the back of the automobile, the window was rolled down, revealing the face of one Duke Albarea.
"I'm terribly sorry for not coming to greet you, Father." Jusis apologized. "Although I'm here but for a short time, I, Jusis, have returned to-"
"Enough." Duke Albarea interrupted him, not caring for his prattling. "As I informed Rufus, you may do as you wish while you're here." He let his progeny know. "However, you will do nothing that brings shame upon myself, nor upon the Albarea name. After all, your days of uselessness are behind you, are they not?" He queried his son coldly.
Unbidden, images of Jusis' childhood flashed before his mind's eye in that moment.
"You worthless child!" The Duke screamed with fury, backhanding his youngest son across the face, knocking the child to the floor from the force of the blow.
In spite of himself, the young Jusis began to cry, from the stinging pain consuming his face, and the regret for angering and flustering his father. He hadn't meant to upset him, he'd just let slip some of the things his father had told him about the imposing man that was visiting them this day. He didn't think it'd be such a big deal, his father was always right, so the things he said were always correct, right? So why was he so mad that his son would repeat some of them to the face of the very person he'd said them about?
"How dare you embarrass me like that! And in front of that damned Osborne!" The Duke's expression was one of anger, and frustration, his chagrin worn openly for any and all to see.
He was not a father disciplining his son in this instance, rather, he was a noble punishing a brat who'd dare to speak out of turn.
"You're petulant, dimwitted, lack any grace, hell, you can hardly even hold a sword yet!" The Duke lambasted his bastard.
Taking a moment to lower his voice and soothe some of his anger, the older blond man's tone went ice-cold. "Useless child, you are unworthy of the Albarea name. And without that, you are nothing." He repudiated the boy imperiously, all but terrorizing the poor kid.
Ten-year-old Jusis could do nothing in response but sob harder.
"Of course, Father." Jusis finally responded to his sire, tone all but dead in that moment, lacking almost all emotion.
The images started to fade then, thankfully.
"Please be ever mindful of your position and what you represent." Duke Albarea reminded his child, tone neutral.
"Yes, Father." Jusis assured his father with a nod, the emotion slowly returning to his voice. "Umm...would it be too much to ask for you to introduce yourself to my classm-" He began, attempting to request his father meet his peers, tone almost timid and yet apprehensive at the same time.
"I have no time for pleasantries." Duke Albarea denied his son outright, not even bothering to preamble. "Should I require anything of you, you will be contacted." He informed his youngest son curtly, before the window was rolled up and blocked the man from view entirely.
Jusis stepped back then, as the limo proceeded to drive off.
"What was that all about?" Fie bluntly queried.
"I find myself curious as well." Laura admitted.
"That was the almighty Duke Albarea, was it?" Machias thought aloud. "The head of one of the Four Great Houses, and the man in charge of this entire province..."
"Indeed." Jusis confirmed, as he walked back over to his classmates. "And by some strange twist of fate, my father as well." The faint note of bitterness in his tone caught the others off guard.
Machias and Laura quirked their brows at this, but said nothing.
Fie simple acted as if she hadn't heard him.
Rean, on the other hand...
"Jusis...?" The affable swordsman spoke his classmate's name with concern.
"I've spoken out of turn." Jusis spoke in realization of his error. "Forget I said that." He asked of them with sincerity.
"Today's workload has made me hungry. Shall we return to our rooms, then find something to eat?" He changed the subject entirely, returning to his usually collected and aloof manner.
"That sounds good to me." Laura replied, no intention of pressing her fellow noble on this clearly sensitive issue.
Machias remained silent, sharing Laura's sentiment.
"Starving." Was all that Fie said in response, her tone childish in nature.
Jusis could not help but laugh out loud at this.
After the group took some much needed showers and a short rest, they adjourned to a restaurant in the central plaza for dinner.
The head chef, apparently, was fond of Jusis and the group received a table outside with a nice view as a result, as well as some of the best dishes the establishment had to offer.
Needless to say, they enjoyed themselves.
...
"Aah, the breeze here feels wonderful." Machias commented.
"The food was delicious as well." Laura added.
"Definitely." Fie agreed.
"I can see why this restaurant is so popular with the nobles." Rean said then "Do you dine here often, Jusis? I mean, what with the warm reception we received, I assumed..."
"I do." Jusis confirmed. "The chef has been good to me since I was a child." He explained. "I was practically raised on this food."
"Hmph. How typical. Even in their dining habits, you nobles subsist on unnecessary luxury." Machias remarked with a shake of his head. "Though I can't deny the quality of the food."
"It wasn't just tasty, but...warm, too." Fie opined. "It reminded me of Lucia's cooking."
Rean chuckled at this. "I'll be sure to let Mom know that. I'm sure she'll be delighted to hear you said so."
Fie simply nodded her head at that.
"I wonder what Group B is doing right now." The bespectacled academic wondered aloud suddenly.
"I'm sure they're hard at work over in Saint-Arkh. Considering it's Elliot, Gaius, Alisa, and Emma, I'm certain there's nothing to worry about." The affable swordsman said in response to his friend's musings.
"Mm." The stoic ex-jaeger hummed in agreement.
"You're right." The aloof noble spoke. "I'm confident that Group B gave their absolute best in all of their tasks today." He continued. "But can we say the same? That we could have done no better?" He posed to the group as a whole.
"And who's fault is that?" The silver-haired maiden queried rhetorically, a tad biting in her tone, as she glanced between both Jusis and Machias.
The class VP began to look quite uncomfortable at that.
"I concede the it was our failure that proved most inhibiting to our group's performance." The blond noble owned up to his part in the mess. "That said, surely you know we weren't the only ones at fault. You two are partially to blame as well." He asserted, pointedly shifting his gaze between both Fie and Laura.
"I...I cannot deny your claim, it is completely valid." The well-spoken swordswoman conceded immediately, looking abashed. "We failed to keep our link established, just as the two of you did."
"Yeah, I suppose you got us there. Still, even after our's got cut, we helped. It took you two so long to regroup that the fight was nearly over by the time you rejoined the fray." Fie bluntly reminded them.
"Touche." Jusis replied evenly. "Yet, my point still stands."
"I just want to state, for the record, I recognize the fact that we screwed up and do not share Albarea's sentiment about the two of you." Machias made this clear. "Though, I do have to say...it's really strange to see you two acting like this."
That comment got the two females of the group to cast their gazes his way.
"What I mean is...normally you two are so unflappable. Giant monsters, our instructor's wacky antics, combat in general, you two are always calm and collected. But not only were you flummoxed earlier today when your combat link was severed, you also struggled against the creature we fought against. You did the same with the three fiends we fought down in the old schoolhouse earlier this month." Machias prefaced, before saying, "That's not like you two. You've been acting like...well, for a lack of a better comparison, you've been acting a lot like the two of us." He was, of course, referring to his rival and himself.
"Hmph. Speak for yourself." Jusis interjected, earning himself a glare from the class vice-president.
Neither Fie or Laura had a response to that, simply glancing at one and other, before looking away entirely. Not avoiding looking at one and other, rather just not wanting to meet the other's gaze.
After a few moments, it became clear Laura and Fie weren't going to broach the subject. Since that was the case...
"We'll just have to try and make up for our shortcomings today in the day we have left." Rean filled the silence. "Besides, we had the chance to catch sight of a far bigger problem." He brought up, getting their collective attention.
"Yes, that's true." Laura agreed.
"First we find out taxes are rising throughout the province, then we find out the military is being expanded on a grand scale..." Machias reiterated the facts. "Don't even try to tell me the two aren't related!" He exclaimed then, gaze locking onto Jusis, much more fervor in his voice then a moment ago.
"I have no intention of denying it." Jusis acknowledged the correlation between the two openly, with the caveat of averting his gaze from the others. "But you're only looking at one side of the coin." He continued, closing his eyes for a moment.
Opening them back up, electric-blue met forest-green as he made eye-contact with Machias. "Exactly how many Achtzehn tanks do you think the Imperial Army has under their control?"
"W-Well..." The bespectacled teenager hesitated, taken off guard by this question.
"A hundred or two, I'd guess." Fie supplied.
Jusis nodded his head at this. "Precisely. The Imperial Army's military capabilities are enormous. This nation has one of the most powerful armed forces on the continent." He stated. "And roughly seventy percent of it is under the Chancellor's control. Tell me, how is the Noble Alliance supposed to counter that?" He inquired pensively, almost rhetorically, gaze sweeping across all four of his classmates in that moment.
Silence overcame the group of five then for a number of moments...
"Considering both sides are comprised of Erebonians, it all seems so wasteful..." Rean remarked discontentedly.
'Not that war is something particularly productive in the first place.' He thought to himself.
"I concur." Laura vocalized her agreement, of a similar mindset to her fellow swordsman. "Our own countrymen should not be steeling themselves to go to war against each other. It is completely senseless." She expostulated, clearly distressed at the thought.
"Senseless or not, doesn't change the fact that it's going to happen eventually." Fie stated matter-of-factly.
"Pardon?" Laura queried, brow furrowing in confusion, full attention now on the other girl.
"If they're dead set on fighting, not much can stop them." The silver-haired maiden elucidated. "They're certainly not going to listen to some students, that goes for either side."
"That sounds like nothing more than an excuse not to try." The blue-haired swordswoman responded bluntly. "When one's country is stricken with unrest, it is the duty of anyone with any sense of honor, let alone those in positions of power, to quell it; calm the people before strife can take hold and infighting begins. You must always intervene before lives are lost." The noble-born girl spoke in such a way, so confidently and clearly, it was as if she was orating.
This manner of speech irritated the stoic ex-jaeger, the young girl feeling almost as if she was being preached at, a noticeable frown forming on her face.
"Take it from me, when people get it in their heads that their only option, their only way out of whatever situation they find themselves in, is to fight, they will. You can't reason with them, blackmail them, bribe them, or even scare them into backing down. One way or another, they'll fight, and it'll be bloody." She expounded her previous point, keeping her irritation from leaking into her tone.
Brow furrowing further in aggravation, Laura allowed some heat into her voice. "Those are nothing more than the words of one with a defeatist attitude and a pessimistic view of the world. I never took you for someone with such a weak disposition." She remarked with frustration.
"That kind of thinking is detrimental to a peaceful and harmonious way of life. One must always strive to better themselves and assist those around them, especially their countrymen. What you are spouting is antithetical to that way of life. Even if it is as you say, futile, someone still has to try!" She proclaimed passionately.
Frown deepening into a scowl, Fie was quick to rebut. "That's a great ideal to have, but it isn't realistic. For every person who thinks the way you do, there are ten others who are wise to the ways of the world, and know all too well that it doesn't work like that." She argued.
"The world isn't black and white, there are many shades of grey between. I'm sure you already know that. My point is this, people fight, people kill, it happens all the time. Even now, there are people somewhere in the world fighting and killing each other, and it could be over just about anything. And I know, from personal experience, that once a conflict like this has begun brewing, nothing short of complete surrender of the opposing side will stop them from going to war. Good and evil, kind and cruel, it doesn't matter. All the best intentions in the world won't stop this from happening, that's a fact. Unless you have the ear of the Chancellor himself, or the ears of the patriarchs of the Four Great Houses, your position of calming the people and quelling the rumblings of war is nothing short of naive." She explicated, visibly agitated.
"I think that's the most I've ever heard her say at once, or...ever, for that matter." Machias said dumbly, genuinely bewildered.
"I'd call you stupid for bringing that up right now, but I can't help but agree. Fie is usually a girl of few words, to see her getting riled up is...a bizarre sight, that's for certain." Jusis found himself begrudgingly agreeing with his rival.
Rean sat back and watched, opting to remain silent.
'This is the first time they've been open with each other since Laura found out Fie used to be a jaeger, back when this whole thing started. It might be good for them to finally address their grievances with one and other.' He reasoned.
Laura looked rather affronted by Fie's words, the expression of offense on her face a new and unusual look for the noble girl.
"I am not naive! You are simply jaded!" The sword maiden retorted. "You speak of war and death so openly and freely, but even having once been a jaeger, surely you know taking someone's life isn't so easy. The people of this country aren't as weak-willed and unscrupulous as you make them out to be!" She maintained her stance on the people of her country.
"I am not credulously suggesting war doesn't occur or won't occur in the future, neither am I saying that people won't continue to die for a myriad of reasons; the people of Erebonia no exception. I fully understand these facts and possibilities, and I accept them. Conflict and death do not scare me, however, we must not simply idle and allow such events to transpire! My own sense of justice would not allow me to! If at all possible, stopping the conflict building beneath the surface of our country should be our number one priority. You don't really seem to care, though. And I am immeasurably vexed by your fatalistic attitude on the matter!" She laid out her feelings on the subject openly, her emotions completely unrestrained, evidenced by the way she slammed her hands down on the table as she abruptly stood from her seat.
"My 'attitude' on the matter is simply me being realistic. People inherently have an 'us' versus 'them' mentality. And when people inevitably fall into it, and tension and festering hate and resentment are thrown on top of it, it's only a matter of time before some kind of battle breaks out. Big or small, doesn't matter. Skirmish or war, doesn't matter. People will fight and people will die. It is stupid and painful to think otherwise, especially for someone like you. That's a big reason why jaeger corps even exist in the first place!" The silver-haired maiden contested, allowing herself to show her own aggravation as her tone became heated.
"Human animosity is a hell of a thing. Trust me, I've had to bloody my hands because of it more times than I can count." She added then bitterly, almost snidely.
"Fie." Rean called her name in a cautionary manner, letting her know she was skirting the line of going too far.
Face contorting in anger, Laura found herself with more indignation than she had ever felt before, and in turn, more than she could possibly handle. As such, she snapped off. "Of course you would say that! All you know is war! Excuse me for not taking advice on preventing conflict from someone who grew up thriving on it! It would be rather backward to listen to counsel on keeping the peace from a girl who prospered from the deaths of those around her!" She remonstrated vehemently, shocking all those present.
Fie recoiled at that, as if she'd been struck; hurt written all over her face and emanating from her body language.
Machias, eyes wide with surprise, found himself gaping at Laura's sudden outburst.
Jusis' surprise was evident as well, eyes just as wide, mouth slightly ajar.
"Laura!" Rean called her name with authority. "That was completely unnecessary!" He rebuked her harshly, his anger broadcasted by his narrowed eyes and body language.
Laura herself almost recoiled at that, as the gravity of what she had just said hit her. "I-I...I didn't...I shouldn't have..." The usually well-spoken swordswoman found herself stammering then, guilt flooding her as she came to grips with the awful things she'd said, remorse overcoming her anger in that moment.
Before the situation could escalate further, or deescalate for that matter, "Ah, the travails of youth! How noble and beautiful they are!" Came an eccentric voice, cutting into the very heated and tense dispute.
All eyes went to the owner of the voice then, the teenagers laying eyes on a man with light skin, eyes a shade of yellow, and long violet colored hair styled with bangs and a long ponytail in the back. His attire was that of a very noble-like white suit with accompanying purple scarf.
Recognizing him immediately as the gentleman they had bumped into twice earlier that day, they quickly quieted and calmed their schism, so as to not embarrass themselves, and more importantly, bring shame to their school, as seeing some of it's students act in such a unruly way surely would.
As such, Laura sat back down, and the entirety of the group projected a calm and collected facade.
"Baron Bleublanc, I believe?" Rean addressed him directly.
The man known as Bleublanc, standing two or so arge away, approached them then, stopping just at the edge of the table they were gathered around.
"Haha. It's such an honor that you would remember a mere baron!" Bleublanc said with gratitude. "I see you've completed a hard day's work already. How splendid!" He gushed.
"Yes, nearly." Machias confirmed, recovering from his previous state without missing a beat, just as the others had. "We still have our reports to write up, but those aside, we're done."
"What about you?" Fie inquired, once more her disinterested self, only the faint traces of sadness visible in her eyes.
"Alas, I have yet to be blessed with the fateful encounter I seek." Bleublanc lamented. "The search for beauty is filled with perils and obstacles...yet that is precisely what makes it all so beautiful!" The baron flipped his hair back in a somewhat exaggerated manner then.
The three boys of the group sweatdropped at that, the girls too busy putting up a front to be affected so.
"Well, I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay." Jusis offered pleasantly.
"Haha. I most certainly will." Bleublanc assured. "Though it truly is a pity that the clear air of this verdant city should be tinged, if but faintly, with the scent of steel..." He commented offhandedly.
The aloof noble's eyes noticeably widened at these words.
"I'd heard that Duke Albarea was a man of many interests, but I was unaware he counted playing with fire among them." Bleublanc rambled on. "I don't condemn him for it, though! For only by playing with fire can one create fireworks! Would you not agree, my friends?" The flamboyant noble queried the teenagers in a leading manner.
"I don't like your implications." Machias responded, eyes narrowing.
"And I find this line of conversation repugnant!" Laura suddenly vociferated, visibly miffed, taking everyone by surprise once more.
Realizing how she had reacted and how that might reflect on not only the academy, but her father as well, the well-spoken swordswoman decided it was best to make a hasty exit. "My apologies. I should not have raised my voice so." She apologized for her outburst, tone much calmer than before, as she stood from her seat once more.
"If you'll excuse me, I think I shall turn in early tonight." She politely excused herself, before pushing her chair in and making to leave the outside dining area of the establishment.
"Oh, please do pardon me, young lady! I meant no harm, I assure you." Bleublanc tried to convince the young noble girl.
"I understand. I am sure you meant nothing by it. I am sorry for how I reacted. Today has just been a long day. Even still, I'm tired and wish to adjourn to my room. Goodnight, Baron Bleublanc." She brushed him off as politely as humanly possible, before continuing on her way toward the hotel.
Those left behind collectively watched after the blue-haired girl as she walked away for several moments. Until, that is, the flamboyant man turned back toward the four students and spoke directly to them once again.
"My apologies for upsetting the young lady. Furthermore, I wish you well on your remaining day here. May you reveal to me the beauty I seek by its end!" He exclaimed jovially, clearly unaffected by what had just happened. "Be it the lovely luster of success or the sad splendor of failure..." He added, as he bowed like a proper gentleman, before taking his leave.
...
"Grr...who does he think he is?!" Machias thought aloud, once the noble was out of earshot. "This is why I can't stand nobles!"
It took him a second, but he quickly realized his folly of indirectly insulting Rean and Laura. "Er, I mean, most nobles, at least." He amended his previous statement, a tad embarrassed.
"Hmph. I thought you might say that." Jusis said then. "If it makes you feel better, though, I have my doubts as to whether that man truly is a noble to begin with."
"What...?" Machias questioned, confused by that.
"Something's not right about him, that's for sure." Fie opined, voice a tad lower and monotone than usual.
"Yeah, something about him feels off to me, too." Rean voiced his own suspicions. "But what's even stranger...is that he knew we only have one day left here." He pointed out.
"Y-You're right!" The bespectacled youth exclaimed in realization.
"We told him of our field study, but never once did we divulge how long we intended to remain here." The blond teen added.
"Between him and that kid atop that flying silver object...we've been crossing paths with a lot of strange people today." The stoic ex-jaeger remarked, still rather muted in comparison even to her usual demeanor.
A number of moments of silence passed between the four then.
...
"Well, regardless, tomorrow's the end of our stint here." Rean mentioned. "We can't let ourselves get distracted. We still have a lot to do." He told them.
"Indeed." Jusis concurred.
"We should return to the hotel and begin work on our reports, then." Machias put forth.
Fie simply nodded.
Thump...thump...thump...
Corpses of all shapes and sizes were strewn about, littering the battlefield: a terrain of nothing more than rubble and scorched earth; blood was splattered and smeared in every possible direction, the entirety of the war-torn patch of land painted red.
Body aching, muscles on fire, exhaustion had long since set in.
Thump, thump...
The sole living being among all this death, was a silver-haired child, barely eleven years of age.
This kid was surrounded on all sides by twisted and maimed carcasses, the state of them ranged: missing limbs, decapitated heads, holes blown in their abdomens, guts literally torn out and strewn about, some even lacked their skin entirely, having been flayed alive.
It was a complete horrorshow, the stuff of nightmares. And yet...this young one felt no fear.
Crimson liquid covered the young one's hands, running down from the items they grasped so tightly. The ruby substance also dripped from the youth's face, a trail of it running diagonally across; the origins of the dripping substance being from where it stained their hair.
Thump, thump, thump...
In spite of all the carnage around her, this eleven-year-old girl found herself incapable of tearing her eyes away from the one spot just in front of her. Orbs of striking lime-green, she stared, catatonic in her state, at what lie before her.
A lone cadaver...that of a young boy, even younger than her, maybe nine years old at most. Unlike the other bodies all around, no severe disfigurement or horrible maiming had befallen him. No, his death was clean in comparison, two simple stab wounds centered on his chest.
The weapons that took his life?
They lie in the white-knuckled grip of the child-jaeger, blades of the gunswords bathed in blood, his blood.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Her heart pounded away.
In the boy's hand, an unlit match, and on his body, a belt of dynamite wrapped around his stomach.
Her heart felt like it was in her throat, her stomach was queasy and wanted nothing more than to empty itself of its contents. Her mind was moving at a snail's pace, and her body hurt and ached all over. All of this though, was drowned out and smothered by the overwhelming feelings of disgust and hatred she felt...for herself.
Footsteps, the sound of footsteps reached her ears then.
"It's time to go, Fie. Our work is done here, the battle is finished." One voice said to her.
"Are you okay?" A second voice inquired.
"Any serious injuries?" A third voice further questioned.
"We should get moving, it would be foolish to stick around here any longer." A fourth voice gave it's two cents.
"Here Fie, I'll help you up." A fifth voice said kindly.
A few hours after dinner...
Fie's eyes opened at once, as if she had simply been blinking instead of sleeping.
'I haven't thought about that job in a long time...' She thought to herself as she sat up in bed, attempting to force down the resurfacing feelings of revulsion.
The memory, played out in dream format, had awoken the ex-jaeger from her slumber. And now, it was doubtful she'd be able to get back to sleep, at least for awhile.
"Shouldn't go waking Laura up." She said to herself with a sigh. "Best figure out what to do till I can get back to sleep..." She continued, as she got out of the hotel bed across from her classmate's.
"Maybe Rean is still up..."
...
Just down the hall, in the boys' room...
"Can't get to sleep?" Rean queried from where he lie in his own bed.
"I could ask you the same." Jusis replied from his bed, to the left of the one Rean was in. "You aren't going to tell me the bed's too hard for you, are you?"
"I wouldn't dream of it." The affable swordsman responded with a laugh. "I've never slept in a bed this high-class in my life. Not even back at home." He added.
"And yet you're the son of Baron Schwarzer..." The aloof noble said to himself with a shake of his head. "You've not lived the life one might expect of a boy from a noble family." He stated simply.
"Yeah, that's just how my dad is. 'A lord should live like his people, not above them.' That's how he always put it." The black-haired boy told him.
"I see..." The blond teen paused then, before following up with, "It sounds as though you have a good family."
"Yeah. I'm very thankful for my upbringing." The raven-haired teenager said with a small smile, not that the other participant of the conversation could see it.
A brief moment of silence passed between the two then.
"Aren't you going to ask?" Jusis suddenly questioned. "I assumed you'd be curious about that brief exchange with my father earlier."
"I wasn't really sure you'd want me to bring that up." Rean admitted. "You obviously get along really well with your brother, but...I didn't get that same sense with the duke. Almost the opposite, in fact." He put forth. "Has he...always been like that?" He inquired.
"As far back as I can remember." The fencer answered honestly. "I suppose he just has little respect for a son born to a commoner."
"What?" Came Rean's eloquent response, sitting up from his prone position in the bed and finally looking over at the second party of the conversation.
"My brother and I have different mothers." Jusis disclosed, tone even. "He was born of my father's legal wife...a noble who still lives to this day. My own mother, however, was a commoner...and she passed away eight years ago." He further confessed, only the slightest trace of sadness contained within his voice. "In other words, I am his bastard son." He summarized.
"I had no idea...wait, so was the chef we met earlier..."
"He's my uncle, on my mother's side." He informed. "Perhaps that's why he's always been so good to me...or perhaps he's simply compelled to treat me as I 'deserve' to be treated, being the son of the duke." He entertained that thought with a hint of bitterness.
"No, that can't be." The diffident swordsman denied with a shake of his head. "I don't blame you for being a little cynical, but there's no need to be quite so hard on yourself."
"I suppose you're right." The noble-born boy conceded.
"I'm sure you have your differences...but you do get along with your brother, right?" The dark-haired teen inquired for clarification.
"You could say that. He's treated me well ever since I was taken in eight years ago. He was the one who taught me my swordsmanship, and who trained me in the ways of court etiquette." The regal boy apprised.
"Haha. I knew it."
"Pardon?"
"There's just something...honest, I guess you could say, about the way you fight." Rean opined. "It shows that whoever taught you was someone you really trusted." He further presumed. "When we first met this afternoon, I had a hunch he might have been the one."
The second party in this discussion went quiet then.
"What's wrong?" Rean inquired.
"Hmph. Nothing. You just keep reminding me how...unlike a noble you truly are."
He chuckled at that. "Yeah, I get that a lot."
Another moment of silence then.
"Are your injuries from this afternoon on the mend?" Jusis suddenly inquired.
"Yeah, for the most part. They still ache to be sure, but all in all, I'm fine." Rean answered honestly. "It's not what's keeping me up, if that's what you're wondering." He assured him.
"That's good." Jusis said with a nod.
Another few moments of silence passed then, only these felt much more uncomfortable than the others.
"Still, from where I stand, you are something of a danger to yourself." The aloof noble stated bluntly all of a sudden.
"Am I...?" Was Rean's simple questioning response.
Finally joining his classmate in an upright position, Jusis sat up in his bed and turned his gaze to his fellow male. "On the day of the entrance ceremony, when the trap door opened up beneath us...you acted instantly to protect Fie. There wasn't even a moment's hesitation." He recalled clearly.
"In most cases, one would reflexively act to protect himself. It's part of man's natural survival instinct. Yet you put another before yourself, not even pausing to question the validity of that decision." He encapsulated the adopted noble's behavior. "From what I understand, you did the same for her again during your first field study, after having already done so for Elliot. And now, once again, you do it, only this time, it was for us." He rattled off his understanding of his classmate's reckless activities.
"I'm sure most people would see these as acts of selflessness and sing your praises for them...but to me, it comes across as...abnormal. Perhaps even twisted." Jusis candidly and rather brusquely put forth his opinion.
Taken aback, Rean couldn't help but laugh out loud at this.
"I...I don't really know how to respond to that." He admitted. "I wasn't expecting you to see through me so...clearly." He confessed.
'He doesn't seem to have realized anything more than this.' He mentally reassured himself.
"I owed you as much, for having seen through me first." Jusis retorted with a ghost of a grin.
"I do have to correct you on something, though." Rean said then.
"Yes?" The blond replied with curiosity.
"The times I protected Fie...they're different. I didn't put myself in harms way for the same reasons with her. I...it's not that Elliot isn't my friend, and it isn't like I didn't want to keep you guys from getting hurt, because he is, and I did. I didn't throw my body in the path of Grunoja, or that monster today for some arbitrary reason and you guys just happened to be the ones who benefited from it, though I can see how it might be perceived that way. I genuinely didn't want anyone to get hurt. Though I'd be lying if I said that was only reason for my actions. And I'd also be lying if I said I wouldn't do it for a stranger just as readily as I did it for the two of you. Fie though...it's not the same. She's...special." Rean expatiated on the matter, allowing himself to be open with Jusis, at least on this.
"Is this the part where you confide in me about how madly in love with her you are?" Jusis inquired teasingly, his amusement abundant in that moment, a mirthful smirk gracing his face.
"W-What!?" The incredulous look the swordsman gave him at those words only served to increase the blond's amusement. "What on Earth would give you that idea!?"
"Forget it." Jusis shook his head then, letting the other boy know he'd drop it.
Drop it he did, as silence descended upon them for the umpteenth time. It was the most pleasant silence of the bunch, however, as it was clear to both parties, they'd formed a bond this night.
"Still..." Jusis started, breaking the silence. "...even with the instances regarding Fie serving as an exception, the point stands. Perhaps more so, even. You need to be more cognizant of the effects your actions have on those around you." He advised his new friend. "If not for your health, then for your...reputation? That selflessness of yours can just as easily be perceived as arrogance, after all." He counseled.
"I know it can. And you're not the first person to tell me that. 'What's the point of saving others if you can't spare even a moment to save yourself?'" He recited these words from memory. "That's what my old master always used to say to me."
"Was it, now?"
The two teenagers shared a laugh then.
Little did they know, that the third occupant of the room had heard their every word.
His back to them, turned over on his side, Machias appeared so sound asleep that he was dead to the world. He'd desired to join in the whole discussion, but found himself not wanting to intrude on such personal matters, especially as they concerned more than his friend, relating to his rival as well. His sense of guilt was also a determining factor in keeping him from speaking up, the awful feeling having not faded much at all since Rean had protected him from the monster.
'I'll bring it up with them sometime tomorrow.' He decided then, before closing his eyes and finally attempting to sleep.
"I suppose we both have some things we need to work though." Jusis capped their conversation with this remark.
"I suppose you're right." Rean acknowledged, as he swung his legs over the side of the bed. "That said, I could use some air." He said as he stood and moved to collect his uniform. "I'll be back in a bit. After all, can't stay up too late, otherwise we'll be dead to the world tomorrow."
"I'd hate to be so tired as to limit my potential." Jusis agreed as he lied back down.
"Hear, hear." Rean retorted with a pinch of mirth, as he moved to the most private area of the room and changed into his uniform.
...
After changing and wishing his new friend goodnight, Rean had opened the door leading into the hallway, only to be met with the sight of Fie standing there, similarly dressed in her uniform.
Eyes widening a tad; Rean failed to truly react beyond such a minute gesture, rather used to the young girl popping up out of nowhere in such a manner.
Rather than greet her, Rean simply exited the room, Fie backing up to allow him space to do so.
Closing the door behind him, he gave his full attention to the ex-jaeger.
"How much did you hear?" He came right out and asked her, knowing she'd had to have been listening to them, what with how close to the door she'd been.
"A lot." She answered honestly, causing the older teen to sigh. "The first thing I heard was Jusis asking about your injuries, and wanting to hear how you'd respond without me there, I didn't knock like I'd originally planned to." She let him know just how much of their conversation she was privy to.
"Fie, you can't go eavesdropping on our classmates." He chided her softly. "Because it's you, I'm not personally bothered by it, I trust you and I know you don't mean any harm by it. That said, I'm not sure anyone else in our class would feel the same." He cautioned her.
"I got it." She assured him. "I didn't intend to do it in the first place though, only decided to on the fly cause' I was worried." She informed.
"That's not an excuse." He replied with a shake of his head.
She acknowledged this with a nod.
...
"So...I'm special?" Fie repeated his words back to him, tone and expression not betraying her feelings on the matter one way or another.
"Oh...uh...haha, you heard that too, huh?" Rean chuckled nervously, scratching his cheek as he willed a blush to not set in.
"Well, I meant it. My strength is still inadequate, and as frustrating as it is to admit, there's a wall blocking my progress. However, I will surpass this limit. I have to. Protecting you and Elise...it's the whole reason I took up my blade and started down the path of swordsmanship. So if I can't protect you, everything I've done up to this point, all the grueling training, learning to control my emotions...all of it would be absolutely pointless. So, yeah, you're special." He elucidated the meaning behind his words.
"I care about you a lot, you are my best friend after all. That's why...no matter what anyone calls it, arrogance, selflessness, stupidity...I'll always protect you any possible way I can." He vowed to her in that moment, as sincere and heartfelt as he ever was with her.
Fie's heart all but skipped a beat in that moment, a light blush playing at her cheeks. "When you say it like, it's almost like you're the knight to my damsel in distress." She remarked with the beginnings of a grin.
Rean could not help but laugh heartily at that. "Yeah right! No matter the situation, I doubt that would ever happen. You're not exactly the demure helpless type." He opined mirthfully. "And I'm certainly no knight either." He added self-deprecatingly, doing so in a humorous manner for once.
'You sure do seem like a knight to me...' She thought privately.
"I don't know. I don't think I'd mind too much playing the damsel in distress, so long as you were my knight in shining armor." She flirted, her grin changing to a simple smile.
Rean's face took on a red hue then, the blush he'd been fighting coming back full force.
'D-did she just...? No, no, I must be imagining things. She didn't mean that. Fie wouldn't flirt with me. She wouldn't even know how to...right? I mean...why would she? I'm just...' His train of thought trailed off in that moment, as he shook his head.
"W-What...? W-Why would you...? I mean, um...thank you..." He stammered bashfully, truly uncomprehending of the situation.
'Don't make it awkward, don't make it awkward, don't make it awkward! She didn't mean it like that. I know she didn't. I'm reading too much into it, that's all. Fie would never flirt with me! She's just...she's just being affectionate. That's all.' He reasoned with himself, coming to an acceptable conclusion and taking it for the truth.
Not the reaction Fie was hoping for, of course, but it was not unexpected.
'Still, he's really cute when he's embarrassed.' She took the consolation of an embarrassed and cute Rean in stride.
"So...uh, anyway..." Rean cleared his throat in that moment, taking a second to collect himself and allow his cheeks to return to their original color. "I'm guessing you couldn't sleep?"
"Mm." She confirmed with a nod of her head, expression neutral once more. "Bad dream." She elaborated.
'Bad dream? Fie had a nightmare?' He thought with worry.
"Want to talk about it?" He asked her simply, his concern worn on his sleeve.
"I feel like we've had this conversation before. Have we had this conversation before?" Fie quipped satirically, selling it with a quirked brow and quizzical gaze.
"Hardy har har." Rean retorted sarcastically as he rolled his eyes. "I'm being serious here, Fie. It helps to talk about these sort of things." He insisted, pressing the issue as she dodged the question.
"Then why didn't you talk to me about the nightmare you had a few weeks ago?" She turned it around on him. "You were really bothered by it, that wasn't hard to see. But you brushed me off, wouldn't tell me what it was." She stated, the sense of accusation one would expect nowhere to be found.
She wasn't truly trying to say anything by it, only attempting to stall the discussion.
The affable swordsman sighed. "Fie, I didn't talk to you about it...because I have nightmares semi-regularly. They tend to follow a similar pattern and as for what they're about...well, I'm sure you can guess. But I'm used to them. I truly am. Some are worse than others, yeah, but they're nothing I can't handle." He explained to her patiently. "You, on the other hand, don't have nightmares very often. You didn't have them when we were kids, and I'm rather sure you don't have them too much now. In fact, I'm willing to bet you haven't had one our entire time attending the academy, right?" He presumed with confidence.
She just nodded affirmatively.
"That's what I thought." He said with a nod. "I don't mean to be pushy, and I'm not trying to treat you like a kid. I just want to help, that's all." He assured her. "You're strong, Fie. And I don't just mean physically. So when you have a nightmare, I can't help but assume it's something pretty serious." He elucidated.
Fie remained quiet, still not looking too willing to share the details.
"Okay, fine, you win." He gave in then. "I promise to tell you about my next nightmare if you share yours with me. Deal?" He proposed this arrangement to her.
"Deal." She agreed, willing to share so long as he finally did the same.
'Even if it's exactly what I think it is...I want him to tell me himself. To get it out.'
So, Fie proceeded to confide in Rean the details about her nightmare. Or rather, the memory that decided to resurface this night to bother her.
...
As Fie finished recounting the dream and how it was, in fact, something that had happened to her in the past, only the faintest glimmer of sadness and regret shining in her eyes to reveal how she truly felt about it, Rean took action.
Catching his childhood friend off guard, for once, Rean pulled the ex-jaeger into a warm embrace.
He found himself overcome with sadness and regret for not being there for her when she needed it, and felt he had to do something, anything. At a loss as to what to do, however, he simply acted without thinking.
Fie attempted to pull away from the embrace, as she said, "I'm not upset, I'm fine, I-"
She was cut off as Rean pulled her back in close.
"That wasn't your fault." He told her then, voice low and quiet, contrasting with its firm and comforting nature. "You did what you had to do. I'm sure you know that, but I wanted you to hear it from someone else." He wasn't reassuring her, rather, he was stating the truth as he saw it. There was no doubt in his words, and he left no room for argument with his absolute tone of certainty. "You didn't have a choice. You were a kid. You hardly knew life outside of Zephyr. All the circumstances were against you. You are not at fault." He dictated to her, far more sure of himself in that moment and the things he was saying to her than he was about anything else in his life.
As he hugged her tightly and spoke to her in such a way, the stoic girl found a lump forming in her throat in spite of herself. "I know that." She managed to say without letting the mix of emotions she was feeling intrude into her tone.
She wanted to speak further, about how he didn't need to worry about her, that she wasn't really that broken up over it. Not so much as to keep up her tough image, rather if not for herself, than for him.
'He has so much crap to deal with, I don't need to add onto it with my baggage. Before he helps me, I have to help him first.'
But the words simply wouldn't come out.
"I know you do. I just wanted to let you know that I know it too." He assured her, as he continued. "I know you, Fie. At your core, you're a sweet, kind, caring girl. You wouldn't cause someone hurt or suffering for no reason. I know that." He emphasized this point greatly.
Her emotions bubbling to the surface began to overwhelm the young girl in that moment, unshed tears starting to prickle at the corners of her eyes. "I-is that true? I don't know. I-I...I've killed so many..." She confessed, the hurt and guilt in her tone heartbreaking for her childhood friend to hear.
"Some deserved it, some were just casualties of war...others were simply rival jaegers that we had to fight...none of them bothered me. I grew accustomed to the death. I didn't feel anything when they died. But...there were a few that stuck with me, that I couldn't stop thinking of, that I could not stop agonizing over for months...just like that boy. They were the ones that got to me." She unbosomed herself, laying it all out with the wave of emotion going through her, continuing to fight back the tears that desired to be shed.
'I will not cry.'
"It doesn't matter." He told her with authority in his voice. "Nothing you've done can change how I see you. It's like you said before, everyone sees people differently. No matter what you've done or what you tell me, it won't change the way I see you. Because I know you. You told me I was special to you, well, it goes both ways. It's like I said to Jusis...you're special to me too, Fie. You were there for me and Elise when it counted, and you've been there for me ever since we started at the academy. It's been surreal, but I can't say I don't enjoy someone trying to look after me for a change." He opened up in turn, attempting to soothe and comfort his best friend.
'Even if I don't deserve it.' Came the unbidden thought; rather than push it down, the diffident swordsman only expanded upon it. 'I really, truly don't. Not if I couldn't see you needed someone to comfort you like this.'
"None of it matters." He reiterated his point one last time, attempting to hammer it home. "You're still you. You are still the Fie Claussell I know, my best friend. Nothing in the world can change that." He stated with such conviction, as if he believed nothing more in the world than these words.
Holding back the tears, the silver-haired maiden struggled to choke back a sob; returning the embrace, she wrapped her arms around Rean.
"You really are the best." She told him, a smile finally returning to her face.
Fie found herself treasuring Rean in that moment, as she found herself doing a lot lately, as the most amazing person she'd ever met. He was her greatest confidant, her best friend, the only family she had left and...
'Something more.' She had already known this, but her mind still brought the thought to the forefront of her mind.
The outskirts of Bareahard
A young girl, roughly thirteen years of age going by her build, rode atop a flying silver object. This girl had short, turquoise hair and warm, amber eyes. As for attire, she wore a white, almost skintight bodysuit that was not dissimilar from a one-piece bathing suit.
More eye-catching than any of this, however, was the alarming amounts of blood that covered her right arm. The limb was almost consumed in the crimson liquid, the ruby substance originating from the nasty gash near the top of her arm, close to her shoulder.
This wound was the reason that, unlike earlier today, the doll-like object moved with great speed. It's objective had changed, as now it was to flee and get the girl as far away as possible from her pursuers.
Panting as she flew through the air on top of the silver contraption, the girl finally spoke. "I think we might've finally lost'em, Lammy." She opined, applying pressure to her wound with the hand on the opposite arm.
...
Below...
The darkness of night covered his movements, allowing him speedy movement without drawing much attention. This was one of the two major factors that allowed Warrick to keep on the trail of the young girl with the silver doll-like contraption, and keep her from escaping his grasp entirely. The second was his reluctant ally, the person in the brown cloak, who cut off her escape routes every time she tried to use them.
They had her circling the outskirts of the city, as it were. And while they hadn't yet managed to pin her down for longer than a minute or two, it was only a matter of time now.
"Don't let her get away, cloak!" Warrick barked at the cloaked figure.
"Call me by my code name, or don't call me anything at all." The figure wearing the brown cloak responded with irritation, the voice noticeably masculine, pegging him as male.
"Fine, whatever. Comrade R it is, I guess." Warrick capitulated with a groan. "Now let's get this brat!"
"It's time to force her inward to the city. She'll have less room to maneuver there, if we can get her out of the sky, at least." Comrade R advised.
"Sounds good to me." Warrick agreed easily enough, predatory grin worn openly. "She's given us quite the run around. But this little chase shouldn't last too much longer."