Thors Officer School, ToCS1 Outside the Fairy Tale
A/N: And we finally begin the first Field Study, after over 80,000 words of setting stuff up. I hope I don't run into scope-creep. I do want to finish this project at some point. As always I would like to thank everybody who followed, favorited and reviewed. Some additional notes can be found at the bottom of the chapter. After all, we get Professor Rean's POV again.
Chapter 9 - City of Parallel Justice Saint-Arkh
Machias didn't like to impose on people, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
"So, you want me to look out for in-depth references to evidence law and court martial procedures?" Rosine was scribbling into her cadet notebook.
"Yes please. Class VII will be housed right next to the Aulic Council, but knowing my luck, I won't get the opportunity to attend the seminars and talk to the lecturers."
Alan chuckled. "Look at you Machias, preparing contingencies to secure your top student spot. Seems like Thors life is rubbing off on you."
He chuckled back. "Seems that way. And thanks a lot, Rosine. I won't presume that you have the same academic focus as I, but sharing your transcript will be the next best thing to being present."
The short haired blonde smiled tenderly, a sight that made Machias heart skip a beat. "You are welcome."
Alan narrowed his eyes, his posture slouched. "And how come you still look so energetic after all the retrofitting work? I feel like keeling over and hitting the hay any minute." He looked out the train window. "I mean, Valestein is called one of the demon instructors for a reason, but does it make such a difference for her to be your main instructor?"
Rosine finished her notes and looked up, her beautiful blue gaze brimming with curiosity.
He raised his right arm and flexed his fingers. Now that Alan mentioned it, he didn't feel fatigued at all, even though he and his classmates did as much physical work as every other first year. There were quite some aspects at Thors that he found much to his liking, but the way almost all instructors pushed the cadets irrespective of their social class was certainly on top of his list. "I should be exhausted..."
His friend from Odins sighed. "Except you aren't. Man, Machias the bookworm being all tough. I guess gone are the days when I was the one to drag your ass out of the fire during monster hunting assignments beneath Heimdallr."
"Don't sell yourself short, Alan. I might have more stamina now, but I still wouldn't trust myself when put in a life combat situation."
The brown haired youth shrugged. "Who would really? Especially if it's not against monsters but fellow human beings?" He scowled. "Or fellow Erebonians..."
Machias thoughts turned to Class VII's combat monsters - and to a certain silver haired girl in particular, who disassembled both his assault rifle and his trusty shotgun quicker than he ever could, despite him having used those weapons for over two years.
And after she finished her maintenance, both firearms shot like they were newly bought from a store.
"I think we'll be ready for whatever these field studies throw at us, considering the combat aptitude of some of my classmates."
"With someone as strong as Rean, I can understand your confidence."
Machias blinked. "You know Rean?"
"I didn't tell you? I put out a request for the cadet committee to give me some pointers for sword fencing." Alan grimaced. "You already know about Patrick," he almost spat the name, "and Friedel does nothing to rein in his escapades. So to catch up to the pompous ass I finally decided to ask for help." He scratched his head. "My girlfriend might have something to do with it when I vented my frustrations to her in my last letter and she scolded me - and stop rolling your eyes, Machias. Even you couldn't find any fault with Brigid and her family."
"Yes, yes Mr Schneider. I concede that I was being a distrustful prick to her. Satisfied?"
He folded his arms grinning, while a blush dusted his cheeks. "Completely, bossman."
Machias pushed up his glasses. "Never ever utter this accursed nickname in front of my classmates."
Rosine giggled at their antics.
"Okay. To go back to my story, my request was answered by Rean and he went straight to the point and sparred a few rounds with me ."
"So you fought against his eastern sword technique?"
"Not at all. He used a rapier and Court Fencing, although his style was unorthodox. Totally strange rhythm, if that makes any sense. No matter, he trounced me and after that we reenacted our practice fight step by step, while he pointed out my weaknesses." Alan scratched his head. "Though even that was strange. He never corrected me on my technique, said that my form was more solid than his. It was more the way I should approach a fencing fight mentally and to actually understand the deeper purpose of the various techniques." He shrugged. "The next time I fought Patrick, I landed my first clean hit on him. I still lost the overall match, but seeing his smug grin disappear was worth it. Since then our matches always end up being close, so he has even stopped talking about 'lucky shots'."
"And if you keep at it, you will grasp victory at some point."
"Hah, thanks for the vote of confidence Machias, but yeah, I feel our gap closing with each session."
"To think that Rean could teach so well..." Rosine spoke up, "even in a style he doesn't specialize in. This sounds very impressive."
Machias concurred. He wasn't surprised however. Laura all but treated him as an equal in what she called the 'Way of the Sword' and even a layman like him had heard of the strength of the Arseid Style.
Though until he witnessed the real deal, he assumed the rumors to be the usual...self-fellation that nobles indulged in all the time.
"As I said, he's strong. I wouldn't want to face him when he's wielding that exotic sword of his, but I heard about the duel he got sucked in against Angelica Rogner. That must've been one crazy fight." His friend turned towards him. "You don't happen to know some juicy details, do you?"
"Afraid not. Duels between nobles isn't exactly high on my list of priorities."
Alan arched both his eyebrows and Rosine tilted her head.
"Okay, that particular duel might have piqued my interest." He raised his hand and almost let his index finger and thumb touch. "But only a little. Besides, gehenna would sooner freeze over than Rean saying anything to elevate himself. Fie was much more curious about the duel, but her attempts to make him talk ended in failure. Except his one line of 'I lost the match, so it wasn't much', it was like her trying to wring blood from a stone."
Machias didn't say it out loud, but seeing her frustrated was nice for a change. He usually wasn't much for schadenfreude, however since the little imp started to warm up to him she never missed an opportunity to needle him.
Emma called it good-natured teasing though.
"Good for you, Machias," his friend declared.
He furrowed his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"
"Alan is obviously glad for you and how well you are getting along with your new classmates," Rosine mused, her lips forming another one of her trademark tender smiles. "I think he was worried about how you were faring given the little contact Class VII had with other classes until now."
The brown haired youth scratched his head. "You got it in one, but are you some kind of mindreader?"
Rosine's smile became a touch enigmatic. "I simply listened to the voice of your heart."
"Right," both young men mumbled simultaneously. They looked at each other for a second, before looking away, embarrassed.
"Just to make it clear: I might get along with most of my classmates, but there is one pompous ass who can go choke on a pom."
Alan rolled his eyes. "As much as I would like to hear more, especially the dirt you got on the Albarea hot-shot, I really need to turn in now." He stood up. "See you tomorrow and don't stay up too long, bossman."
"I told you not to use the nickname again!"
His friend ignored him, while his brain ignored the fact that he was now left alone with a very pretty woman sharing his compartment. Rosine was also someone he knew from his time in Odins though they were in different classes and didn't encounter each other much during extracurricular activities. Thors changed this and he was glad for it. While it was important to get along with his immediate classmates, he considered it important to establish connections outside of Class VII.
"This truly is a lovely evening."
Machias scratched his head. "Yeah, it really is...," he trailed off, unsure how to continue the conversation.
Rosine smiled sweetly. "Say Machias, do you plan to stay in the military?"
"Actually no. Me attending Thors is more to get away from Heimdallr and dad's sphere of influence."
Her face fell. "Oh sorry, I didn't want to..."
He shook his head. "There's no need to apologize. Me and my dad get along fine. He was the one who warned me about his growing influence in the first place."
Rosine tilted her head questioningly.
"You see, he is the Governor of Heimdallr and the first commoner to ever reach such a position. In a way, the Regnitz name already made history." He sighed. "On the one hand, I'm proud of my dad for his accomplishment, but this kind of prestige casts a shadow, whether he wants it or not."
Both her brows rose in understanding. "People approach you based on your fathers reputation, instead of your own merit."
Machias sighed. "Exactly. Odins was quite a smooth experience. Too smooth arguably. I made errors in judgment which should have resulted in serious consequences, like it did with students who committed similar mistakes." He folded his arms. "But all I got was a slap on the wrist."
"I see." She put a finger to her smiling lips. "Then, if I may ask another question?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"Who or what is the ultimate arbiter on what is right or wrong?"
His reflexive answer was to claim the law. But as he felt himself being engulfed by the calm atmosphere of the woman before him, he realized that such an answer wasn't accurate. He agreed much like his father that this nation needed reforms. In other words, he wanted the current laws to change.
What were the implications? Were laws merely an expression of what the legislator considered right or wrong? So if he or any other politician were the ones to change the law, did that make them the ultimate arbiter?
Machias didn't feel comfortable with this conclusion. He didn't think anybody could be trusted with such power.
"I... don't know the answer to your question."
"I see." She tilted her head again. "You are a good and earnest person Machias." She stood up gracefully. "It might be presumptuous of me, but I wish you to stay just the way you are."
His throat became dry. "Thank you?"
"You are welcome. And pleasant dreams."
It took him several seconds to snap out of his daze, the beating of his heart juxtaposed against the silence of the lonely compartment. Well, he had pictured an intimate chat with Rosine to go a little different, but their talk was still nice all things considered. Her aura of calm and tranquility hallowed the very air around them, giving him the feeling of sitting inside a church or confessional.
She would make an excellent sister. Her becoming part of the military almost seemed like a waste.
Machias left his seat and went in the direction of car 3 where the sleeping compartments were. As he was about to leave the current car, he encountered a familiar scene on his right: Rean Schwarzer was sitting together with Major Claire as well as Fie and Elliot. The RMP officer was chatting amicably with the black-haired youth, her smiling demeanor at odds with her fearful moniker. Fie simply watched with her usual apathetic expression while Elliot looked outright uncomfortable. When he looked to his left Machias immediately understood the reason for his classmate's discomfort. There were four other first year cadets in the neighboring compartment.
Three commoners, one noble. All male. Yeah, there were things universal across the social classes indeed.
"Hey, Machias. Nice to see you!"
He turned to the redhead while a cold shiver ran down his back. Seemed like the other four cadets were staring daggers at a certain oblivious guy. Unfortunately, he was standing right in the line of fire. "Evening Elliot. Major Rieveldt, Rean, Fie." He nodded curtly to each person he addressed. For a moment he entertained the thought of greeting the remaining persons, but the tension was thick enough to be cut with a knife.
He also got the impression that the cadets beside him were neither interested in social niceties nor polite rituals at the moment.
"Are you heading for sleep?" Elliot asked with a hopeful tinge in his voice. Even Fie turned towards him with a smidgen of interest.
"Yes, it is starting to get late and considering we share one sleeping compartment..."
The redhead nodded a tad too hastily. "Right you are. Coming Fie?"
"Sure."
Machias turned to the black-haired ladykiller. "What about you Rean?"
He scratched his head and glanced at Major Rieveldt, a slightly flustered look on his face. "I think we'll finish our discussion first."
"We will Rean, but after that you should head to bed like your classmates. The exercise resumes tomorrow at 5:30 am."
"Roger, Major Claire. And sorry for keeping you up so long."
"There's no need to apologize. I always enjoy our conversations."
Aaaand that was their cue to leave. "Goodnight," Machias mouthed with Elliot and Fie following close behind. Just when he stepped out of car 4 he saw the other male cadets scrambling to take the freed up seats.
"Phew." Elliot closed his eyes. "Sometimes I wonder whether he's oblivious or simply has thick skin."
Fie wrinkled her nose. "I swear, horny teenagers."
Machias decided that discretion was the better part of valor. If he were asked though, he would state that Rean Schwarzer definitely had thick skin. Even now he held mixed feelings for the adopted noble. But between that slanderous article published in what could only be called a 'gossip magazine' and Rean's helpfulness in introducing him to the cadet committee, he was perfectly willing to accept the black haired youth as the rare kind of noble who didn't had his head up his ass. The way woman seemed to flock to him was a little worrying though. To think he and Alisa Reinford were a couple before...
All three entered their sleeping compartment to find Emma inside. She was already wearing her sleeping clothes, a tasteful purple nightgown that reached her ankles and couldn't quite contain her curves. When she heard them entering, she looked up from a thick book with exceedingly little letters.
"Oh, you are back already?"
Elliot scratched his cheek. "Well, I think it's pretty late all considered. Did we disturb you?"
"Oh no, not at all." She closed the book. "I was just doing some light reading."
The transformation of Erebonian civil law - a dialectic dissemination. Machias bit back his reply, but even for someone like him this was most definitely not light reading in any shape or form. And looking at where she put the cat-shaped bookmark, she had already plowed through two-third of the treatise. Machias had never met a reader quite as voracious as Emma Millstein and while he had been all confident and pompous during the start of term, being confronted with her staggering intellect during the last few weeks was starting to intimidate him.
It was only a little, but as the uncontested king of exams at Odins it was still a novel experience.
"So... I guess we should prepare for bed and all." Elliot's discomfort was written all over his face.
Fie rolled her eyes. A moment later she was already stripping out of her cadet uniform.
"A little warning would be appreciated!" Machias shrieked as he felt the heat rising in his cheeks.
"Don't be a wuss!"
Perhaps it was the subtle mockery behind Fie's deadpan voice or the utterly clinical detachment of her movements, but neither he nor Elliot looked away like proper manners dictated. As the layers of clothing were removed one by one, he got an eyeful on slender limbs and a lithe figure being bathed in pale moonlight.
And the scars.
He felt surprise at his lack of surprise. The testament of strife written across her body felt like part of the riddle that was Fie Clausell's history. For a moment he entertained the possibility of the scars being a sign of abuse, but something in her posture, her very demeanor, disabused him from the notion. Besides, as a firearm user he recognized bullet wounds when he saw them and there was only one place a person got those.
A modern battlefield.
Elliot opened his mouth, however Emma shook her head slightly, which silenced him. Machias also swallowed his curiosity, while Fie climbed to the top of the bunk bed above her fellow female classmate.
He felt the tension dissipate. "Let's prepare for bed ourselves, right?"
"Should I turn away?" Emma offered.
"Don't coddle them," the silver haired devil interrupted, her apathetic expression replaced with a predatory smirk that never bode well for whoever it was directed at. "This is all part of military training. No need to be shy."
So even if Emma, bless her heart, looked away, Fie certainly wasn't. This kind of payback, while irksome, was also expected. Machias sighed, shared a commiserate look with his fellow male and began undressing.
The whole affair was over quickly. He glanced over to the silver-haired devil while pulling the sheet over himself, but the expression plastered on her face was the very definition of bored. It was as if she had already seen her fair share of half-naked guys and compared to those past experiences, she found them wanting. Emma turned off the light and after some murmured 'good nights', the compartment fell silent.
Machias closed his eyes, but sleep eluded him despite the late hour, his mind going to strange places. Most of his stray thoughts circled around the various attractive woman he dealt with on a regular basis now. It was strange really. He had considered himself above these things during his time at Odins, far too focused on being the best, rushing through his time at school with iron determination. The day for him to enter the political arena alongside father couldn't arrive early enough back then. However his dad had been a little worried about him sacrificing his youth. He even called him a 'late bloomer' sometimes, although Machias liked to retort that having Patiri as a childhood friend had tainted his perception of girls forever, banishing any idea of actively wooing them.
Perhaps it was this new environment he found himself in, an upset of calcified routines and seemingly proven assumptions. For all intents and purposes, Thors was a detour. After he graduated with honors, the Imperial Academy was all but waiting for him. Their prestigious political courses were the obvious and direct route to advance.
Remember, young Machias, the straight path is not necessarily the best one. By the goddess, it certainly isn't natural.
It was sometimes hard to tell whether Instructor William Herschel was talking about the matter at hand or his favorite research topic. He taught both history and economics at Odins despite being an astrophysicist by trade. He was also the former director of the Imperial Museum. One of the Empire's few true polymaths, the man's knowledge was impressive in both deepness and breadth. He could easily switch from talking about macro-economy to epistemology and using both as preparation to delve right into political philosophy.
It was arguably Instructor Herschel's subtle influence that nudged him to study law, for Machias learned under the man how the judicative in Erebonia was slowly but surely deteriorating, disrupting the checks and balances established under the Imperial Constitution.
A constitution fashioned by Dreichels the Lionheart himself.
What a coincidence then, to meet his favorite instructor's granddaughter, the current chairwoman of the Cadet Committee, who also proved to be an outstanding individual.
And just like that, his meandering thoughts gravitated right back to attractive women and his inability to ignore them. He tossed under his blanket, trying to find a more comfortable position, while his mind incessantly conjured images of these beauties.
Was this what the Priests at Sunday School called hormones? Thinking back to Fie's snark about horny teenager, Machias had to admit that he squarely belonged there now. He doubted what he felt was love. In fact, he was hesitant to even consider it crushes. When people fell in love, it ought to focus on a single person instead of the emotional confusion he was experiencing.
Though thinking back on cousin Elsa's 'big love', being this devoted to another person involved some dangerous pitfalls.
And she certainly fell hard.
Perhaps he should talk with dad about it, although he was dreading the teasing that was sure to follow. Patiri was completely out of the question. He wasn't even sure whether she had enough of a mind to properly use a phone, what with her focusing every waking moment on cementing her dominance as the queen of delinquents.
Perhaps he could ask one of his classmates for advice? Alan seemed like an obvious choice, but his devotion to Brigid was about as absolute as what he remembered from his cousin. A queasy feeling settled in his stomach, a fear that his friend might judge him for lusting randomly after women.
Though could he really call it random lusting?
Arrrgh! It was all so confusing.
Finally, inspiration struck him: He could ask Rean. The guy was about as nonjudgmental as they came. He also had experience. Machias just needed an opportunity to talk to him in private, away from prying eyes and curious ears.
Yes, it wouldn't do for a third party to know about his worries. Or Aidios beware Mr High Noble Lordship. But he thought himself a good judge of character and Rean struck him as a person who valued and respected discretion.
With his resolution firmed and set, Machias drifted into fitful sleep.
Laura carried the crate into the supply tent. The inside was bustling with activity, but Alisa kept everything going, directing the other cadets on how the various materials like weapons, sepith, ammunition, EP-capsules, maintenance tools and spare parts needed to be arranged.
The swordswoman went to the temporary supply coordinator. "Alisa, where does this one go?"
"Let me see." She looked at the list. "Okay, the serial number on the crate is OG-2564. These are dedicated marksmen rifle, Reinford model SR-0012-M 'Arbalest'."
She furrowed her brow, then pointed to the far corner on the left. "Put it beside that stack. The neighboring crates should all be filled with spare parts. Check if they are numbered SP-0348 to SP-0355. The part that needs replacement the most on these rifles is the scope."
"Aye, aye ma'am," Laura called with a smile. She had been worried for the Reinford heiress for some time as she struggled to connect with the other Class VII members, but since that 'revelation' last week a major barrier had been broken. Thinking back, Rean tended to shift around the little groups which had crystallized since the start of term. And by doing so, it seemed he unwittingly denied his former girlfriend opportunities to socialize and mingle.
As she put down the weapons crate at the correct spot, she heard a familiar voice shout across the Exercise Camp.
"You call this a goddess-damned supply tent? All I see is a mess that would do two rampaging Rhinociders in heat freaking justice. Get up your asses and arrange this place properly or I'll ask the principal to send you weak-legged landlubbers to the Imperial Navy for your next field exercise. And yours truly will be there to whip you into shape. Chop-chop."
As if on signal, all cadets around Alisa started to work faster. Their makeshift group consisted of members of classes II, III, IV and VII and in the beginning they had a little trouble establishing a clear chain of command. A noble student from class II called Vincent was quick to step forward, though he was willing to defer to Laura as she was from such a prestigious military family. The swordswoman took charge immediately and appointed the Reinford heiress as supply coordinator. There was some initial pushback which she talked down, but at least the other noble student remained supportive. In fact, he seemed more keen on buttering both her and Alisa up. He showered them with untoward praise more flowery than Laura was used to even from some of the foppish suitors she occasionally had to deal with during social gatherings.
Vincent's frolicking ended soon enough as Lieutenant Commander Leuventhal showed herself to be a fearful taskmaster. After bearing witness to several of her colorful... dressing downs, everybody in their group started to come together like the gears of a single well oiled machine.
"Care to explain why the hybrid ammunition has been placed outside, Cadet Sirtis? Has a pom slurped out your brain or how did you forget that gunpowder is worth crap if it gets wet? Put the box inside the tent this instant!"
The quartermaster's voice was much nearer now. It was only a matter of time until their place would also undergo inspection. Laura went out onto the field, the morning sun invigorating her spirit. She walked to car six looking for further supply crates, her steps measured and calm. Despite the LTC's exacting standards, she didn't doubt for a second that the job they did under Alisa's direction would satisfy the demanding woman.
Car six was one empty hall with the seats and partitionings disassembled prior to their departure. Laura had to admit, the work of just moving stuff from one point to another was surprisingly difficult and intricate, requiring impressive amounts of planning and coordination. The lectures held by Major Rieveldt offered a glimpse into the depths of mastery when it came to logistics and Laura was eager to learn as much as she could. Her time at Lokis already drove it home that there was much more to managing the Arseid's territory than merely handing down sword techniques or slaying a monster or two. In fact she realized how father was a little too fixated on the way of the sword, leaving most of the business and accounting work to dear Klaus.
She was loath to consider it, but as the future ruler of Legram she had to face the eventual reality that Klaus wasn't going to be a permanent fixture, always there to pick up the pieces of whatever father and her left behind in their pursuit of swordmastery.
Laura went around looking for a crate filled with radio equipment. Just when she saw what she was looking for, the car door opened. She turned around and found herself facing the one person in Class VII she would rather avoid.
"I...," for a moment, Fie's apathetic expression cracked, showing the vulnerable girl beneath.
The swordswoman folded her arms and sighed. Perhaps it was time to confront the situation head-on instead of evading it, which was unlike her. Well, the white-haired girl's very existence provoked reactions from herself that she was unfamiliar with.
Uncomfortably so.
"I dreamed of smoke and gunfire, torn up corpses and bloody battlefields. I dreamed of mines and grenades blasting people to shreds. There was the thrill of laying down bullet hails, the surge of adrenaline while evading artillery shells, the satisfaction of cutting into the flesh of enemies." She breathed in deeply, hoping that her voice stayed firm. "These pictures, these memories, sensations... were they just a figment of my imagination?"
"Never been to Legram. But I dreamed of a wide lake the color of Sapphirl, a castle resting atop a cliff. The gentle bustle of happy villagers, statues made of stone showing warriors kneeling before a woman in armor." She tilted her head. "Figments of my imagination?"
Laura closed her eyes. So the ARCUS phenomenon went both ways. She should have expected it. Connecting the minds of people to facilitate battle coordination sounded good on paper. Even after she stopped any combat link formation with Fie three weeks ago, she hadn't experienced the intense feeling of oneness with any other classmate since. Yes, oneness. The subtle, gradual merging of minds, though she wasn't completely sure about her theory. It wasn't until Rean correctly pointed out absolutely fundamental safety measures placed upon a duel with unleashed life-weapons that she received the inkling of something wrong within her.
Father had always schooled her on the proper place and time to use power, the importance of a sword that stayed in its sheath. Only in hindsight did she realize how she disregarded his teachings after the humiliating defeat at the hands of Sara Valestein. She let an overblown sense of pride and competition stir up aggression inside her, which could have led to serious lapses in judgment down the road, all the while bonding with the white haired girl about 'showing up' their combat instructor in some future battle.
"I went to instructor Sara three weeks ago and talked about the risk of the combat link altering my personality and mind. She then send me to Colonel Beatrix who took my concerns very seriously." Laura rubbed her forehead in frustration. "I had to tell my experiences several times to craft a proper report for Reinford. Guess there is a legit reason to consider the ARCUS a prototype."
"I see. You figured it out?" Fie whispered.
"Your past occupation? Child soldier seems most likely, though I cannot fathom the circumstances of someone younger than me experiencing... that kind of carnage."
"Experiencing and liking it. Isn't this what really disturbs you, Laura?"
How easily she was seen through. "I cannot deny it."
"Ever heard of Zephyr?"
One of the strongest and most infamous Jaeger corps in Western Zemuria, even rivaling the detestable Red Constellation. She grimaced as several puzzle pieces fell together to form one nasty picture.
"I guess that answers my question." Fie closed her eyes.
Laura exhaled. "One of the creeds of the Arseid School is to vanquish monsters who prey on people."
The silver haired girl balled her fists, her voice turning frosty. "So that's what I am now? A monster?"
"Are reports of Jaegers plundering and destroying remote villages mere hearsay then? Rumors without basis?"
"Those are failed Jaegers. Drop-outs who didn't make the cut."
"I fail to see the difference."
Fie swallowed. "I guess you do." She turned on her heel and left.
The tension disappeared slowly and it was only then that Laura realized how her body was coiled like a spring, ready to leap into action.
"That could have gone better."
When Laura returned from her trip to car six, LTC Leuventhal was almost finished with her inspection. As she put down the radio equipment, she heard the navy officer mutter a brusque 'good job', before she hurried away.
Every cadet beside her breathed out in relief.
"That woman is so scary."
"I was sure she would order us to redo everything."
"Your radiant guidance has helped us brave this most hazardous of challenges, Lady Reinford."
"What are you babbling about, Florald? This was a group effort!"
"Shouldn't you be more respectful?"
Alisa walked beside her which helped blocking out the chatter. "Laura, are you alright?"
"Yes," she lied. "Just a little distracted."
The Reinford heiress frowned. "If you say so. Well, I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but the radio equipment is for Class VII, so you'll have to carry it again. LTC Leuventhal organized a hauling vehicle and the crate is going there."
"Are we also going to transport weapons and ammunition?"
Alisa nodded. "And the Sepith we got from requisition. It almost seems like we are preparing to fight a war."
"While I prefer to rely only on my personal weapons, standard issue firearms or grenades do have a place on the battlefield. Learning their usage will even help me with my sword training, for I can only find ways to counter these weapons, if I understand their strength and weaknesses."
The blonde chuckled. "Did somebody ever tell you that you have a one-track mind?"
Laura cracked a smiled. "Are you teasing me?"
"Just being honest. Let's go."
They arrived in the middle of the exercise camp only to catch Instructor Sara and Major Neithardt in the middle of a debate.
"I'm coming along on Class VII's Field Study missions, First Lieutenant Valestein, and the decision is final."
"What. Don't trust little old me?"
The Major pinched the bridge of his nose. "I trust you alright Valestein. In fact, I trust you to use every opportunity trying to corrupt our cadets with your drinking habits. I trust you to treat military discipline as an afterthought in the best case and a mockery in the worst. I trust your eccentricities to produce raised eyebrows if we are lucky. However I rather expect the Thors name to be dragged through the mud instead."
"Ohhh, didn't know you cared. But just to remind you, major, as a proper member of the Imperial Army, you traipsing around a city with so many nobles is as subtle as a... what did the LTC call it? A Rhinocider in a china shop? If you need to visit Dreknor Fortress that much to cure your withdrawal from macho-military-displays, just say so, but don't use Class VII's Field Study as pretense."
Neithardt's voice became louder and even some of the other instructors were turning their heads. "For your information Valestein, Saint-Arkh is not Bareahard. Veteran Affairs is neutral ground like Thors and extends its services to all members of the military. And you know as well that the General Staff Office only allowed somebody of your background to teach because of a quid pro quo."
Sara sneered. "The lectures I held are more than enough to fulfill my part of the obligations. I gave the vaunted military insight into bracer know-how. Know-how that you big burly men were feeling too prissy about to develop by yourself. So do your job, major, unpack the paperwork and integrate it all into your oh so proper doctrines. Class VII is my project though, backed by you-know-who, so I don't need an Imperial Watchdog yapping at my heels."
Neithardts expression became as stony as carved marble. "Then I'm glad to inform you, first-lieutenant, that I won't do any yapping. However, I am sure to be watching. And don't think that invoking his personage will allow you to flaunt regulations or the chain of command at your whim. The order was handed down from the GSO through Brigadier General Gneisenau. Deal with it."
Laura looked at Alisa, but her classmate seemed as clueless as her in how to make the two instructors stop their argument. The other members of Class VII gathered around the hauling vehicle albeit tentatively. Just as instructor Sara was about to launch another tirade, a female voice cut in.
"The Purple Lightning and Neithardt the Mighty fighting in public. The free spirit of a Bracer pitted against unyielding military discipline. A clash of contradictions, or is this just the prelude to suppressed emotions brewing beneath?"
The major palmed his face, while the tension evaporated like morning mist. Laura turned to the speaker and saw a lithe woman with reddish hair that turned pink depending on the light. She wore the uniform of a commoner and was furiously scribbling on a simple notebook.
"Cadet Sterling," the Erebonian Officer ground out, "I ask you to refrain from making untoward insinuations and putting them in that magazine of yours."
"Besides, didn't you quit the newspaper club, Miss former club president?" Sara remarked.
Her pencil stopped moving. She then put away her writing utensils with a theatrical flourish. "Ah, my bad. I forgot I already quit. Guess old habits die hard."
Laura blinked. Newspaper club president? Did they actually mean...
"Wait a moment!" Machias called out, "Are you saying that you are the one responsible for that school tabloid?"
"I used to be responsible until last week, but yeah, pretty much. Chief editor, layout design, proof reading, all done by yours truly." She smirked, stepped forward and performed a lazy salute. "Let me introduce myself: Claire Sterling, second year. I'm a Liberlian exchange student and former president of the newspaper club. I specialize in radio- and communications technology and will serve as operator for Class VII's Field Studies. I look forward to working with you lot."
An exchange student? Judging by the curious stares of her classmates she wasn't the only one intrigued by this surprising addition. Guess the radio equipment she was carrying was actually for her. After more greetings were exchanged, Laura along with Rean and Elliot helped Alisa in securing all their equipment to the vehicle, while both their instructors hashed out an agreement now that tempers weren't flaring anymore.
According to their mission program, their whole group would escort the transporter on foot to Saint-Arkh with Alisa driving the orbal hauler. Because the Excercise Camp was about 45 selge offside the nearest main road with nothing but untamed grassland in-between, there was a high chance of monster encounters. As such, almost everybody were checking and re-checking their equipment.
Laura put on her armored long-coat and strapped the Zweihaender to her back. She then took out a pistol from their requisitioned weapons stack. A Reinford 'Hengst' model, the very definition of standard issue. Semiautomatic and orbally powered, the force of the shots was adjustable across seven levels. The bore was 0.8 rege with a capacity of 21 rounds. Easy to use and maintain, it was the perfect firearm for those who didn't wish to tinker with them.
After holstering the pistol, she also strapped three flashbangs to her bandolier, before finally re-arranging her ARCUS. She paused a little to think about a fitting configuration, but in the end decided to keep it simple - mainly body amplification Quartz for orbal attunement. Carnelia for strength, Amberl for hardiness, Sapphirl for endurance and Esmelas for dashing speed. She also added Argem for more accurate perception as well as two modular art quartz, namely the La Crest defensive spell and a Teara. It was a shame the ARCUS didn't allow for Quartz Synchronization like the tactical orbments from Epstein. Instructor Valestein clarified this on their second day, but it was Alisa who explained the reasons behind it.
Seemed like there was a lot going on beneath the surface of this experimental class. She glanced to the exchange student who happened to carry the same name as the RMP major and wondered if her sudden addition was another sign of things playing out behind the scenes. Looking around, most of her classmates as well as the instructors were ready. She noted with surprise how Major Neithardt strapped a vicious looking shotgun to his hip, alongside his traditional military saber. Fie was keeping her distance and Alisa was familiarizing herself with the vehicle controls.
She saw Rean starting a conversation with the strange second year, their demeanor showing them to be acquaintances at the very least. Interesting. She was aware of his peculiar off-hour activities and how those allowed him to meet a multitude of people. In fact, she humored the thought of joining him on occasion, for the errands he did reminded her of the odd jobs performed by bracers. Legram was one of the few territories in the Empire with a functioning Guild House and father always told her to help out as a supplement to sword training.
Curiosity got the better of Laura and she walked towards the unusual pair.
"... going to be waiting at Cathedral Square? Got it, though I hope he's worth the bother."
Rean stroked his chin. "He may need a firm hand to guide him, but I can vouch for the quality of his pictures. As long as he's properly motivated, he's going to turn in excellent results."
Cadet Sterling put a hand on her cheek. "I like excellent results. However, I've also talked with Towa and she elaborated on the dubious basis of his 'motivation'." She raised both her hands and wiggled demonstratively with her index fingers to emphasize the word. "I want him to shoot where I point, not where his fancies take him."
"Well, you might spur him on by promising to pose for his... collection. I don't think he has photographed a reporter yet."
"I still have a long way to go before I can claim to be a true reporter. But you telling me to seduce him with my womanly viles? How very cunning and manipulative of you, Rean. I pegged you for a more straight-laced guy."
He scratched his head. "I was proposing a give and take. His pictures have never been indecent, even before I confronted him and well... pounded it into his head to ask for permission before shooting." He folded his arms. "And after running errands for about two years, one learns how to maneuver around all kinds of client eccentricity to get the job done."
Cadet Sterling chuckled. "You sound like you are more at home in the service industry instead of the military." Both her and Rean turned their heads to acknowledge Laura, their expressions expectant.
"One of the army's credo is that we live to serve, so I don't think Rean's commendable attitude is that out of place." Laura performed a small bow towards the second year, hand in front of her chest. "I am Laura S. Arseid. I have been remiss in greeting you personally until now, but it reassures me to know that we'll have an experienced operator backing us up in the field."
"Wow, you can lay off with the formality. I'm just a random gal from Liberl, no need to treat me like some noblewoman. However nice to meet you, too, Ms Lady Knight."
Laura blinked. She wasn't quite sure what to make of the nickname. Were all Liberlians so easy-going? The woman's behavior reminded her of Crow, but she didn't think it wise to use the second year's blasé attitude as any kind of baseline to appraise other people.
Speaking of the devil, Angelica and Crow appeared in front of their group, both already wearing their combat fatigues.
"Hey, looks like you are all raring to go," Crow noted.
"Claire, please hold back on your teasing." Angelica drawled. "These are my dear underclassmen chickees and they aren't yet used to your unique directness."
Cadet Sterling put an index finger to her lips, expression mischievous. "You know Angelica, you are the last person who should lecture somebody else on their self-control."
The Rogner heir clutched her chest theatrically. "Oh, an arrow, my heart. Your tongue is as deliciously sharp as ever."
The pinkette shrugged helplessly while rolling her eyes.
"Whatever," Crow looked at Angelica with poorly concealed exasperation. "Just wanted to see you guys off. Have fun and don't do anything I wouldn't."
"So are you basically telling us to do anything we want?" Elliot asked. "I mean, there's pretty much nothing you wouldn't do."
"Oh Big E!" The second year wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. "You are learning to sass. To think you've grown so much. Old Crow is feeling proud."
"Hate to break up the merriment, but Class VII is on a schedule and so are you." Instructor Sara interjected. "Especially because Mr Mighty here," she pointed with her thump at Major Neithardt, "Is dead set on being an... observer."
Both second years said their goodbyes and left shorty after. Meanwhile, Sara Valestein placed herself in front of them, her gaze for once dead serious.
"Okay, buckle up kids. We are setting out for Saint-Arkh. Once we leave the Exercise Camp we have 46 selge of flat grassland to traverse until we reach the safety of the main road." The instructor folded her arms. "As you know, orbal engines are big attractors for monsters looking out for an easy snack. As such I expect all of you to treat this as an escort mission with you running protective duty. You can expect grassland poms, hyaenadons as well as vampscamps, so fire and earth arts are the way to go. If we are really unlucky, we might even provoke a rhinocider, so I hope you have prepared armor piercing ammunition." She started to pace. "I want a diamond shield formation and I ask you to hold nothing back if a rhinocider does approach. Their stampede is perfectly capable of flipping around a light vehicle like the one Alisa is driving. In other words, you are holding your classmate's life in your hands. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes ma'am!"
"Good. The time is 8:30 am. Class VII and auxiliary - moving out!"
The beginning of their escort duty was pretty unremarkable. Sure, there was a pack of hyaenadons trying their luck in vain and the occasional vampscamp that poked out of the ground, only to find itself eradicated with prejudice. The poms didn't even dare to approach, so Rean and his classmates soon relaxed their vigilance. He was protecting the rear end of the formation along with Laura and Machias. He had his Hengst pistol at the ready instead of the tachi. The monsters they had encountered were even weaker than the ones during the orienteering exercise, so he thought it prudent to dust off his shooting skills. While Instructor Sara remained tight-lipped about the exact content of their Field Study, he had a sneaking suspicion what they were going to involve.
And if he correctly anticipated their soon-to-be-revealed tasks, his tachi might end up being unfeasible while running around the Old Capital.
Most Erebonians didn't know about eastern propriety. How different blade types and the way they were worn conveyed status, battle readiness or a willingness to talk peacefully. There was a difference whether a sheathed blade was carried with the edge facing up or down, although the tachi was so long that carrying the edge upward prevented any kind of iaido technique. Eastern culture called it a weapon of war, a blade whose only proper place was the battlefield. As such, it was worn with the edge facing downward and bringing it during any kind of civilian interaction was considered a serious breach of etiquette, especially in public.
Of course people in the Empire would be blind to these nuances. However a 138 rege long blade was still a 138 rege long blade. A beautiful weapon to be sure, but still a statement that he meant business, a promise of violence. Wearing the official Thors uniform might ease some tension, but he wasn't going to count on mere reputation when operating in a city housing dignitaries domestic and foreign. There were also the swathes of Provincial Army Soldiers to consider.
On a practical level, a tachi often ended up being an impediment in the tight confines of an urban environment. Doubly so when fighting inside a building, something he learned the hard way. Unfortunately Rean broke his 'civilian' sword at the tail end of his second year at Baldurs, a trusty kodachi that could be hidden beneath a long-coat. Despite Master Ka-Fai being aware of the loss, the man had yet to send him a replacement, so right now he was stuck with a standard issue pistol as his backup weapon.
Rean felt something crawl up his neck and turned, only to find Machias staring at him and becoming flustered at being found out.
"Something the matter?"
His bespectacled classmate cleared his throat. "Sorry, it's nothing really." He glanced at Laura and then sighed.
The black-haired swordsman was sure there was more than 'nothing' here, but if Machias was unwilling to talk the polite thing to do was wait.
He scanned the grassland again, but aside from the Ki of his classmates and instructors, he didn't feel any overt life sign, much less hostile ones.
"Say Rean?"
He turned to Laura. "Can I do something for you?"
She smiled. "It's a little embarrassing to admit, but due to the bustle last week, I failed to do research on our Field Study location. I've heard about Saint-Arkh of course and that it was Erebonia's capital for some time due to a cataclysm in Heimdallr. But aside from that my history knowledge is woefully lacking."
Rean stroked his chin. "This is pretty old history to be honest, so even current research isn't clear on a lot of things. Fact is that Emperor Astorius II was forced to flee Old Heimdallr due to a very special monster roaming there. There's a lot of debate on what it was exactly, but scholars agree that it's the basis of the folklore surrounding Vampires or the concept of the Living Dead."
Laura arched an eyebrow. "I might have heard something similar in Sunday School."
He chuckled. "Yeah, here in Erebonia they like reading the folklore to scare children. But to get back to Emperor Astorius II. He went and chose the current Saint-Arkh as capital in the year 270, although it was merely an important trading hub back then, much like Celdic today. As you know, both Kreuzen and Sutherland are called Erebonia's Big Granaries. Archaeological diggings suggest that the land around Saint-Arkh was in fact the first area in Erebos, Erebonia's old name, that was extensively used for agriculture. It might have been one reason the Emperor decided to settle here. Back then wheat was a centralized currency due to the fact that the fractured lords in Erebos all minted their own coins."
"Wait, wheat as a currency?"
Rean scratched his head. "Well, don't ask me how this was integrated into Dark Age economics. Towa might know a thing or two, but as I said, this is old history. Government documents from that time always used macon of wheat as a means to assess the potential income of a fiefdom as well as their precedence at the Imperial Court." He saw her tilted head. "Ah sorry, macon is an obsolete measurement of volume, estimated to be about 0.22 cubic arge in modern metric."
Laura nodded slowly. "This is a lot to take in, but your history knowledge is impressive as always. So when was Heimdallr reclaimed?"
"A century later by Emperor Hector himself, grandson of Astorius II." Rean saw her eyes lit up in recognition. "You probably know about his knights."
"The Twelve Paladins. Their mettle and bravery were second to none." She smiled mischievously. "That is until the Eisenritter claimed the title of Erebonia's strongest Knight Order during the War of the Lions."
He couldn't help but laugh. "You are a fan?"
The swordswoman blushed prettily. "You could say that."
They walked along in companionable silence, while the Southern Main Road appeared on the horizon. Rean focused his senses again. He expected to come up with nothing, but this time a shiver ran down his spine. He looked to his left side.
"Something is coming," Gaius warned.
He saw out of the corner of his eye how Fie took out a marksman rifle plus Septium modded ammunition. Amberl coated armor piercing rounds? The silver haired girl jumped on top the hauling vehicle and went into a prone position, looking through the scope of her firearm.
"Two rhinociders at nine o'clock, distance 550 arge."
"Okay kids, weapons out!" Sara ordered. "Don't break formation yet and assess the surrounding. I don't want us to end up flanked." Their instructor looked up to her protege. "Can you snipe them down?"
"My aim isn't that good. I can only do precision shots at 400 arge... which is now."
Rean could feel the vibration on the ground. He then saw a streak of blue and brown leave the barrel. The stampeding monster on the right staggered, but seconds later it shook off the wound it had no doubt suffered. Elliot, Jusis and Emma were preparing protective arts, while Gaius took out his composite bow. Rean glanced to Laura who had her Zweihaender drawn.
Another gun report aimed at the same rhinocider. It staggered again, though when it recovered, it's charge became significantly slower. Rean holstered his pistol and drew the tachi. He saw Machias fiddling with his assault rifle, his breathing labored as if he was suppressing a panic attack. Laura stepped beside him and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Machias, fear is a normal reaction in this situation." She pronounced every word and leaned towards him, taking care not to stand in his line of fire, so that he could look her in the eye.
"I... sorry, I..."
"Count with me until two and then breathe deeply."
Another shot. This time the wounded rhinocider struggled to get up, leaving a trail of blood in its wake.
That still left another one charging straight at them, its massive silhouette becoming bigger by the second. Rean doubted that Fie had enough time to take out that one, too. The arts users had finished their defensive spells which they mainly directed at the orbal hauler. The cyan-blue of Epstein-Kowalski radiation lit up again as Elliot, Jusis and Emma focused on the second rhinocider.
"Rean, please form a combat link with me." The swordsman turned to Laura who was apparently finished with calming down Machias. His classmate looked much steadier on his feet and joined the arts users with his casting, his assault rifle at the ready.
Fie calmly put the fourth bullet into her mark, not bothering with the other monster. Rean concentrated on his ARCUS and a moment later, the not-quite-mental link slipped into consciousness. In a flash, he understood her plan. Seemed like this wasn't the first time the swordswoman dealt with these walking tanks.
"Friends," Laura declared, "after you initial spell volley, I ask you to stay your hand. Rean and I will follow up on your offensive to put the beast down." She smiled. "We don't want to be subjected to any friendly fire, do we Rean?"
The others nodded their assent and sent ice and lightning at the monster that was now a mere thirty arge away from the hauler. To his relief, Alisa had left the vehicle and was peppering the monster with flaming arrows along with Gaius whose arrows were wreathed in green turbulence. Both archers shot their projectiles in an arc much like artillery bombardment, meaning that he and Laura wouldn't have to worry about friendly fire until they reached melee range. Rean dashed forward with Laura in the lead, both their blades trailing behind them. The rhinocider was still disoriented from the arts volley as well as the arrows, but as soon as it saw the female knight charging, the beast counter-charged.
The movement of her blade was so mesmerizing that Rean almost forgot his own role in their team up. It was the same kind of expert deflection she used against the gargoyle, a concerted spinning motion between body and blade to divert an overwhelming force. The gigantic bulk of the rhinocider rolled off her gentle slash like rainwater from a lotus petal.
Laura side-stepped, revealing the looming silhouette of the armored monster in its full, intimidating glory. Rean stilled the fear gripping his heart, calming his mind to the likeness of a lake surface.
Second Form, Black Thunder.
He lowered his body mid-charge, passing beside the diverted monster in such proximity that he could almost picture its armored spikes ripping him open.
He lowered himself even further without losing speed, his body almost prone to the ground with mere rege separating him from kissing the grass, passing the flank of the beast...
all the while positioned low enough that his blade easily slipped beneath the armor to cut at its legs. The foreleg on its right flank was merely slashed, but the hindleg was cut at the tendon as Rean swerved sharply at the end of his dashing technique.
The rhinocider cried out in pain, rising its head in an involuntary movement of suffering and thus revealing it's unarmored throat which was usually close to the ground.
It was a vulnerability that lasted only the fraction of a second, but Laura had already positioned herself to take maximum advantage. She started from a low crouch to perform a beautiful rising slash, her Zweihaender biting deep into the monster's neck, severing carotid artery, windpipe and esophagus in one fell swoop.
It was a testament to the rhinocider's ridiculous endurance that it mustered the strength for one last desperate rush while Laura was regaining her footing.
Rean was having none of it.
He performed another Black Thunder, diving across the beast's left flank from behind, severing the tendons on its other legs. With three appendages hamstrung, the rhinocider was effectively paralyzed, the blood loss finally becoming too much as it collapsed, crushed and suffocated beneath the weight of its own body mass.
The swordsman wiped the blood from his blade and looked around. The other rhinocider laid about thirty arge behind him, apparently killed by Fie's armor piercing shots. He breathed out and relaxed. Seemed like they made it.
He saw Laura mount the defeated rhinocider. She pressed a combat boot against an armor plate at the monster's neck, revealing a narrow patch of skin. The thrust of her blade was quick and merciless, stabbing right where the spine connected to the brain. A moment later all life signs stopped. She jumped down and wiped her weapon.
"A clean death?"
The swordswoman closed her eyes. "Suffocating in its own blood is a cruel and slow way to die. As Instructor Sara taught us, these beasts have a redundant circulatory system. It could have taken up to an hour until it finally succumbed to the wounds we inflicted."
"You have killed them before."
"During my stints as a temporary bracer assistant. I guess this was easy to grasp through the ARCUS link."
Rean nodded. He didn't dare say more, for there were other things he perceived. Much less concrete - flickering sensations and flashes of emotion. All he could tell was that despite her strong front, Laura was deeply bothered by something.
He raised his fist and held it front of her. The blue haired beauty tilted her head. "Rean?"
Okay, this was awkward. "You don't know about fistbumps?"
Laura leaned slightly forward and looked at his fist like he was presenting her some exotic specimen. "I have heard of this... activity? I think a group of young boys in Legram who call themselves the Junior Eisenritter do this gesture among themselves."
"Just raise your hand like I'm doing right now." She complied and he playfully prodded her fist with his own. "That was awesome teamwork. Thank you, Laura."
A smile blossomed on her face that truly reached her eyes, not the reassuring smile she used to put others at ease. Rean nodded. He might not be able to do much, but he could at least make her truly smile to support her through the day. He was making peace with the fact that he was powerless in the grand scheme of things, but he would never stop helping people whenever he could.
They returned to their convoy. Most of their classmates were preparing to move out again, while Cadet Claire was scribbling in her notebook. Seemed like the second year didn't involve herself in the fight like the instructors. Alisa planted herself in front of him, looking him up and down. "Are you okay, Rean?"
He couldn't help but be moved by her worry. "I'm fine, Alisa."
"And here are our other monster slayers." Instructor Sara grinned. "Not quite how I would dispatch a beast like that, but I can't deny the results. But don't let it get to your head. The day is still long and over-confidence is the most subtle killer on the battlefield."
Major Neithardt harrumphed. "To think there would come a day when I have to agree with you."
Machias stepped forward. "Reminds me again to never challenge you two to a fight." He bowed. "Thank you Laura, for helping me get my bearings and sorry that I froze up."
"Cadet Regnitz," Neithardt called out. "Panicking during a life-combat situation can happen to the best of us. The most important thing is that you struggled through it, that you were mature enough to accept help when you needed it and that you contributed. You have nothing to be sorry for in my opinion."
"Yeah, Christoph... sorry, I mean Major Neithardt is totally right about this." Elliot added. "My knees were shaking the whole time, too, but I somehow made myself act."
Gaius put a hand on Machias shoulder. "There is this saying that true bravery is overcoming fear. If we go by that metric, you have proven yourself very brave indeed."
Machias looked around helplessly, before his shoulders sagged. Then a chuckle escaped his lips. "Man, you people are just total saps, but thank you, really."
Jusis sighed sardonically. "How about you accept your classmates kindness with some grace, Regnitz? This kind of overeager masculinity shows that beneath your sophisticated verbiage you are someone who grew up among the rough and tumble."
"Stuff it, Mr Lordship! Who asked your opinion anyway?"
"And before you two lovebirds engage in another one of your spats, let's move on." Sara clapped her hands. "The longer we idle, the more likely we attract additional rhinociders." She gave Jusis and Machias a half-lidded stare. "Thouuugh if you are willing to deal with the beasts by yourselves, I'll gladly allow you to continue your bickering. Deal?"
Jusis gulped. "No deal instructor. We'll move along."
"That's what I like to hear."
Their procession crossed the last patch of untamed grassland without further incident. Once they arrived at the main road, they started to make excellent time. It was just a little after 10 am when Class VII arrived in front of the destination of their first Field Study. Their gazes were drawn to the city wall looming over them in its majesty. Old buildings peeked through, their architectonic style reminiscent of a bygone era. The city guard waved them through without much fuss and soon enough, they were all drinking in the sight of a city that was once said to be of the purest white.
Additional notes
Iaido: The art of sword drawing.
Kodachi: Can be literally translated as the 'little tachi'. A swordtype that is thought to be a companion weapon to the tachi, though historical sources rarely show both weapons worn together, which is in stark contrast to the Katana and Wakizashi.
Historical notes: The bit about wheat being a currency is not without precedent in real life history. Japanese feudal society used so called koku (an obsolete unit for volume) of rice to assess the magnitude of a feudal domain. Furthermore, samurais were sometimes paid stipends based on koku of rice instead of a salary.
The bit about the Twelve Paladins isn't canon at all. But given the tidbits we learn about Emperor Hector in CS3, I couldn't resist the temptation of making him into Zemurian Charlemagne. Besides, I doubt the Eisenritter are the only badass knight order in Erebonia, given the country's long and bloody history.
Black Thunder: The Craft isn't something I pulled out of nowhere. Arios McLaine's ultimate S-Craft in Ao no Kiseki is called Black Emperor and the animation involves a lot of thunderbolts. The man is also a master of the Second Form. Consider Rean's version to be a very tame utilization of the real deal.