Normally he wasn't a deep sleeper, but this time he'd been out like a light since the instant his head hit the pillow, and only now was struggling back to full consciousness. He supposed it was because of the extra sword training he'd done the previous night; with the prospect of meeting the Radiant Blademaster face to face, he wanted to be extra sure he was on top of his game.

For more reasons than one. Jusis's words after Heimdallr had been praying on Rean's mind more and more of late. Much as he disliked thinking of it in those terms, Rean knew that finding a bride was important to someone of his station, however low-ranked his family might be. And he had to admit, Laura was an appealing choice; strong, attractive, highly intelligent, with a calm disposition. If he was to pursue that course (assuming Laura was amenable), it was critical he have her father's approval; he doubted even someone from the Four Great Houses would risk crossing Victor S. Arseid on that particular subject.

Well. Better to put that aside for the time being. He was, after all, going to Legram as a student of Thors Military Academy, not as the heir to the Schwarzer barony. Best to focus on his studies; there would be time for matrimonial considerations later.

"Wakey-wakey!"

The too-cheerful-for-morning voice coincided with a sudden impact on Rean's midsection. "Gah!" he grunted, staring in bleary disbelief at diminutive form on top of him.

"Come on, Rean, let's get moving! We're gonna miss the train!" Millium was practically bouncing with excitement. "My very first class trip; we're gonna have the best time!"

Bizarrely, despite the coughing fit his classmate's antics had caused, Rean's first thought was to wonder what in Aidios's name made Millium think they were going to have the "best time"? Sure, they grew as a class in every field study, but their outings invariably turned violent sooner or later. Something Millium should have known perfectly well, since she'd been along for the near-disaster in Nord.

"Just . . . get off . . . please," he managed to gasp out.

So much for a bit of extra shut-eye. Groaning, Rean hauled himself out of bed (Millium at least had the good grace to let him change in private) and buckled on his sword. A quick look in the mirror reassured him that he at least didn't look half-dead the way he felt.

There was no sign of Millium when he emerged (though he had a dark suspicion as to where she'd gone), so he half-staggered down the stairs to join the rest of his group. "Morning, guys," he mumbled.

"You look like you had quite the wake-up call," Laura said, sounding faintly amused.

"Yeah." Rean rubbed his eyes. "Coffee only wishes it was that effective."

Gaius, naturally, was wide awake. "I have to say, I'm looking forward to seeing Legram. A town of mist and legends, in some ways it sounds a lot like Nord."

Laura smiled a bit wryly. "Any stories you might have heard have likely grown in the telling, though there is undoubtedly a grain of truth in most." She looked wistful. "Still, I wish Fie, Alisa, and the others in Group B could come as well."

"I'm sure they'll have a chance someday," Emma said. "Personally, I can't wait to see Lohengrin Castle." She fidgeted a little. "Old sites like that have always been a source of fascination for me."

Rean had a sneaking suspicion there was more to it than that, but let it pass. "I admit I'm a bit nervous," he said. "It's home to the Radiant Blademaster and all."

"You've nothing to be concerned about," Laura said with a chuckle. "It's true that my father can be very imposing, but he is quite down to earth as nobles go." She lifted an eyebrow. "He has expressed a desire to see you, Rean. I believe he said he wants to see what kind of man you have become."

Rean groaned. "Thanks a lot, Laura. That's all I need, to be even more nervous."

Even Gaius burst out laughing at that. "Really, there is nothing to worry about," Laura assured him, still smiling widely. "There is a very real chance he won't even be there; my father is a very busy man, more than one might expect of a country lord."

Recalling his own childhood in Ymir, Rean had to agree. "Yeah, my dad's usually at home." His mouth quirked. "Partly because he prefers to stay far away from Marquis Rogner."

"Hard to blame him," a tired voice said from behind them, accompanied by plodding footsteps.

Rean wasn't sure whether he should wince or burst out laughing. An uncharacteristically haggard Jusis Albarea had finally made it downstairs, Millium following like an overexcited puppy. Jusis's usual air of dignity was almost entirely absent.

"J-Jusis?" Rean said, unable to keep a chuckle out of his voice.

"Good heavens," Laura murmured.

Jusis made a halfhearted motion with his right hand, as if he wanted to reach for his sword but thought better of it. "Can someone do something about this child?" he asked plaintively. "She's out of control."

"Aw, c'mon, Jusis, you gotta have a little fun!" As always, Millium was unfazed by the noble's irritation. "We're all here, right? Let's go go go!"

Not sure whether to laugh or roll his eyes, Rean stepped out into the early morning light. The sun was just peaking up over the mountains surrounding Trista, illuminating locals just opening their shops, a couple of early morning customers at Kirshe's, and Fie playing with Celine in the park.

The station was a bit busier, if only because of the half-hourly trains to the capital. Quite a few commuters were already at the gates; pretty much everyone who didn't work in Trista proper had jobs in Heimdallr. A strong smell of coffee lingered in the air.

"We have to change trains at Bareahard to reach Legram, right?" Rean said, looking at the posted map. At Laura's nod, he traced one line with a finger. "I suppose it'd be better to take the Kreuzen Main Line than the Transcontinental."

"Right," Laura confirmed. "At Bareahard, we'll need to transfer to a local line, the Ebel Branch Line. There's only one train every two hours, so I'm hoping we arrive early enough to avoid a lengthy wait."

Emma glanced at her watch. "It's 7:00 AM now. We should arrive in Bareahard around 10:30, and reach Legram by noon."

"We'll undoubtedly have work waiting for us as soon as we arrive," Gaius said, "so the earlier, the better."

"Agreed," Jusis said, and looked down at Millium. "Especially since there's always the chance our class problem child will make another scene." Millium just grinned.

Rean suppressed a shudder. It probably wouldn't be too bad in Legram, but the idea of Millium Orion in a major army base like Garrelia Fortress made him deeply uneasy. On the other hand, he supposed she'd behaved herself well enough during her brief visit to Zender Gate. On the other other hand, there was no way to be sure Garrelia's commander would be as accommodating as Zechs Vander.

"I didn't expect to run into you guys here," Alisa said from behind them.

Elliot glanced at the map. "You all ready to leave?"

"Nah," Rean said with a brief shake of the head. "It's another twenty minutes or so until the next train to Bareahard."

"You're all going to the Jurai SEZ, right?" Millium piped up. "I've never been there, but it sounds kinda fun!"

Machias sighed. "Neither have I, and it's going to be quite a long trip, longer than yours even."

"Yeah," Fie said. "Gotta cross the entire Lamare Province to get to Jurai, way up on the northwest coast."

Which, of course, meant crossing Duke Cayenne's domain. Rean had never met the man directly, but he'd seen him at one of the few official functions the Schwarzer family had attended. Always extravagantly dressed, the de facto leader of the Noble Faction came across as something of a fop, but even then Rean had known there was something sinister beneath the surface.

"Well, it's not often you get to go on a nice long trip like this," Crow said, breaking Rean's moody thoughts. "But worry not! The hours will just fly by as I teach you all how to be as cool and popular as I am."

Alisa shot the second year a look that Rean was a little too familiar with. "Yeah, no thanks. I think I'll take a nap instead." She looked up at a station announcement. "That's our cue. See you in two days."

"See you at Garrelia Fortress," Emma said.

"Take care and be safe," Laura added.

Rean sketched a brief salute. "Elliot, Machias, watch yourselves. And Crow," he narrowed his eyes, "at least make a token effort at staying out of trouble."

Crow grinned. "No worries! If you hear about it, it means I wasn't at the top of my game. One of these days, Rean, you'll thirst for my life of adventure."

"Riiiiiight."

"Take care, guys," Elliot said. "And try not to drive everyone crazy for the next two days." That last was, of course, directed at Millium.

"Okie dokie!"

Machias closed his eyes in seeming pain. "Why do I not find that the slightest bit reassuring?"

"You took the words right out of my mouth," Jusis said darkly.

It's rarely a good sign when those two agree on something.

With nothing better to do, Rean took the time to mentally review some of their recent classes. Class VII's coursework was more grueling than ever before, but he barely noticed anymore. If anything (he couldn't help chuckling at the thought), he was starting to share Laura's relish for the challenge.

With five minutes to go, they picked up their tickets. "Oh, you guys are heading out?"

The voice was male, and definitely familiar, but Rean couldn't quite place it. A glance over his shoulder, however, quickly jogged his memory, and not in a good way. A tall, lanky redhead, dressed in expensive civilian clothes yet with a definite military air about him. Lechter Arundel.

Millium trotted up to him. "What're you doing here, Lechter? Miss me already?"

Lechter grinned. "Sure did. I'll be back in Crossbell starting day after tomorrow. Might never have the chance to see you again in this lifetime, so I dropped by to say hello."

"Nah, you'll be fine," Millium said. "No way you and Gramps will die that easy."

"Hey, the old man might scare off the Grim Reaper, but I'm pretty weak," Lechter said.

Laura leaned in close. "Who's he?" she asked softly.

"Captain Lechter Arundel of the Army's Intelligence Division," Rean said tightly, keeping his eyes fixed on "Scarecrow."

"We saw him during our field study in Nord," Gaius said. "He's supposedly the one responsible for negotiating with Calvard to prevent war from breaking out, but. . . ." From his tone, Gaius didn't trust the Ironblood, either.

Emma frowned slightly. "He doesn't look like someone who would specialize in covert operations."

Lechter patted Millium on the head. "Well, I'm sure this little drop of sunshine has 'suspicious' written all over her, but I hope you get along."

"Boo!" Millium said. "You know I'm a little angel! Unlike you."

I think I'm with Millium on this one. She really is a "little angel" compared to Arundel.

"I wouldn't flaunt something like Airgetlam in public," Lechter said. "You have any idea how much overtime we have to put in covering up for you?"

A chime from the PA system saved them. "Passenger service bound for . . . Bareahard, arriving on Platform 2."

"If you'll excuse us, Captain," Rean said.

Lechter waved a hand. "Sure thing. Oh, I'd prefer if you refer to me as 'secretary' instead of 'captain' in public. I am technically a government secretary, after all."

Yeah, and I'm the President of Calvard.

"If you'll excuse us, Mister Secretary," Laura said. If she felt any unease, she hid it well.

"You'd better bring me back a souvenir from Crossbell!"

Well. This was certainly an unexpected homecoming. Laura wasn't entirely certain why Legram had been chosen as a field study location; her father's position notwithstanding, it was (like Rean's hometown of Ymir) too small and remote to have much impact on current events. The only logical explanation she could think of was the town's historical significance, as the stronghold of Lianne Sandlot and the Eisenritter so long ago.

Regardless, she had no intention of complaining. Even though it was only for a couple of days, it would be a delight to see her home again, especially with some of her classmates in tow. Granted, it was, as she noted earlier, unlikely that her father would be home at all, but she would at least be able to show the others the more notable sights.

Millium, for her part, was so excited she could barely sit still. "Wow, it's like a sea of green out there. Hey, Jusis, why is the wheat all green?"

"Wheat, barley, and rye are all cultivated in the Kreuzen Province," Jusis said in a tone of deeply strained patience. "Each is grown in its season; the greenery you're seeing now is the fall wheat crop."

The young girl nodded absently. At times like this, it was easy to forget she was an Intelligence operative. "Hey, there's a weird scarecrow! Heh, it looks just like Lechter."

Jusis looked like he was on the verge of a migraine. "Well, at least she's enjoying herself," Rean ventured.

"At times like these, she's like any other child her age," Laura agreed with a chuckle.

"Only thirteen," Gaius mused. "That's a year younger than my brother."

That prompted the very odd thought of Thoma Worzel attending Thors. It certainly would not have been out of the question; Fie was only fifteen, after all, though her background was unusual in the extreme. And as Prince Olivert had said, Thors desperately needed new blood, so to speak.

No matter. Any such notion was speculative; they had more immediate concerns. "I suppose this is as good a time as any to tell you more about where we'll be conducting our next field study." Laura's gaze grew distant. "Legram is a small town in the southeast of the Empire, situated on the shore of Lake Ebel. My father, Viscount Arseid, governs the town, which is technically part of Kreuzen Province."

Gaius frowned slightly. "That sounds familiar. . . . Isn't that the province Jusis's father oversees?"

"Largely in name only," Jusis said, his expression unreadable. "However, Legram is known for being a particularly self-reliant region. I doubt Viscount Arseid has any real interest in the authority of his liege lord."

Laura shrugged. "I can't really deny it. My father can be a little too, how should I put it, free-spirited at times." Her eyes narrowed. "But I can't help but feel your father's governance has issues of its own, particularly where taxation is concerned."

A brief grimace touched Jusis's lips. "It's not as though I'm unaware of that," he said, half to himself. "To say nothing of that incident during our field study in May."

The incident in question being, of course, Machias's illegal arrest. Something Laura was fairly certain still troubled them all. Factional disputes were one thing; that kind of escalation was something else entirely. She knew her father had been deeply disturbed by the affair.

"Sorry," Gaius said. "I seem to have touched on a sensitive subject."

Laura shook her head. "You've nothing to apologize for."

"Exchanges like these are the daily bread of the nobility," Jusis agreed. "I count us fortunate that all of Class VII's nobles are able to get along so well."

"And that none of us look down on commoners," Rean said. "Still, while it's true the Four Great Houses wield immense power, it's up to each individual feudal lord to govern their respective regions. Each has its own tax statutes, which makes things even more complicated. It's one of the few things that can start my dad ranting."

Emma sighed. "It's quite convoluted, though I hear the Imperial government is trying to unify all regions under a single tax system."

"That's one of the main points of contention between the two factions," Jusis said with a snort. "My father's stance on the matter is, 'Hell will freeze over before I consent to it.' And honestly, I'm not certain I can blame him." Which, given his family issues, was a strong statement indeed.

Laura pursed her lips. "I can understand the Reformists' point of view. Still, each region has its own traditions and customs. Attempting to normalize them all under a single system seems rather insensitive."

Gaius whistled tunelessly. "The more I learn about it, the more confusing it gets."

"It's not an issue with a clear-cut solution, that much is for certain," Emma said.

Millium looked from one to another. "Boooooooring," she said. "Don't you have any more cool stories about Legram?"

And just like that, the tension was broken. Even Jusis seemed faintly amused. "I suppose a couple of students discussing taxation isn't going to solve anything," Rean said with a laugh. "To me, though, one of the most famous things about Legram is the Arseid school."

Millium immediately perked up. "Isn't that the thing Laura's dad teaches?"

"That's the one," Rean said, nodding. "The Arseid school of swordsmanship is the style passed down by the ancient knights of Erebonia. It's one of the two most famous martial styles in the Empire, the other being the Vander school. I've heard there's a training hall where students from all over the Empire come to train."

"Indeed there is," Laura said, please at Rean's knowledge. "Several students are there at the moment; the rest are scattered throughout the Empire."

Gaius raised his eyebrows. "And Laura's father instructs them all?"

"He does," Emma said. "Viscount Arseid is the current head of the Arseid school."

"Oh, oh! Doesn't he have some super-cool title or something?" Millium piped up. "The Radiant Blademaster? He sounds crazy strong!"

Laura felt the faintest touch of chagrin at the memory of numerous losses to her father. "It may seem unseemly coming from his daughter, but his strength is, frankly, inhuman. I would place him easily among the three strongest people in the Empire."

"He sounds like an incredible guy," Gaius said.

Rean looked a bit nervous. "I've heard rumors about his strength myself."

"As I understand it," Jusis said, "he acts as a combat instructor for both the Imperial and provincial armies. Though I hear he spends quite a bit of time away from home as a result."

"That is unfortunately the case," Laura said, sighing. "As I told Rean earlier, he may well not be in Legram at all." She looked at the boys. "Speaking of the Arseid school, I have a favor to ask. Would you be willing to demonstrate your styles for the students there?"

Rean smiled. "I'd be honored, though I'm not sure how much they'd really learn from it."

"I'll be glad to," Gaius said. "Though I'm a bit puzzled that you'd ask me; Rean and Jusis at least use swords."

"The Arseid school is not limited to the sword, though that is obviously the most prominent," Laura told him. "There are students who wield spears and even bows. As your skill with a spear was good enough to impress a member of House Vander before you even enrolled, I think the students will find it most edifying."

Gaius inclined his head. "In that case, I can hardly refuse."

"Hey, what about Lammy?" Millium protested. "He's just as strong."

Laura chose her words carefully, not wanting to offend her newest classmate. "True, but it is all brute strength. From what I have seen, there is really no technique involved."

Millium looked away, muttering about the unfairness of it all, but didn't dispute the point. Laura couldn't help sympathizing; she knew how frustrating it could be to be left on the sidelines. Hopefully seeing Legram would brighten Millium's mood.

"I wonder if we'll see Lohengrin Castle," Emma murmured.

"The castle that came up in Instructor Thomas's class last week, right?" Rean said. "The stronghold of the Eisenritter."

Laura was relieved to see Millium's eyes light up with interest. "Weather permitting, it can be seen quite clearly. Mist surrounds it much of the time, but," she smiled, "such imagery has its own appeal."

"That does sound kind of neat," Rean said. "Hard to resist an air of mystery."

"Sure is," Emma said. "I was just thinking it would be nice to be able to apply some of what we learned in class to our field study."

Jusis glanced out the window. "We'll see soon enough; we should reach Bareahard before long." He looked pointedly at Millium. "We'll be changing trains as soon as we arrive, so be ready." The Intelligence agent stuck out her tongue.

"I will be," Rean said. "It's a shame we won't be able to stick around; I'd have liked a chance to see Rufus again."

Jusis shook his head. "In all likelihood he would be much too busy, and it hardly seems appropriate for me to return after I declined to over the summer." He trailed off, a darkly thoughtful look on his face.

"Something wrong?" Rean asked.

The blond noble sighed. "I'm concerned about the Noble Faction's lack of activity. Things have been too quiet of late."

"Maybe they've decided to lay low for a while," Millium suggested. "That terrorist attack in Heimdallr really did a number on things."

Jusis snorted bitterly. "Neither side is the sort to allow something so trite to get away. More likely they're biding their time, and whatever the leadership's faults, they are far from stupid." He made a vague brushing-aside gesture. "Dwelling on this would serve no purpose. We should be concentrating on the matter at hand."

"I agree," Laura said. "Of this you can be certain: even if Father is not home, we will have a great deal of work in Legram."

"In other words, just another day in Class VII," Rean said with a wry smile.

Changing trains in Bareahard went without incident, though Rean half expected a less than amiable encounter with the Kreuzen provincial army. A short while later, they were on the Ebel Branch Line, one of the least-used rail lines in the Empire.

Millium had dozed off for a while, but was now watching the changing scenery with great interest. Rean honestly couldn't blame her; there was something magical about the region, a sort of mystical stillness found almost nowhere else in Erebonia.

The change was like flipping a switch. In an instant, they were enveloped in fog, so dense it was a wonder the train could stay on the tracks. It gave the surroundings an eerie feel, not necessarily bad, but definitely a sense of the ethereal. Almost as if they'd crossed into another world.

"Wow," Millium breathed.

"It reminds me of the stories of the Lance Maiden we heard in Instructor Thomas's class," Emma murmured. "Her strength was such that there were rumors she was a changeling."

Jusis grunted. "Such fanciful tales grow in the telling; this most likely stems from the mystery surrounding her death. Although," he amended after a moment, "after that spider in Nord and the undead dragon Rean's group faced in the Heimdallr catacombs, it is difficult to simply dismiss stories of that sort out of hand."

Rean shuddered at the memory. Not normally an arachnophobe, the demonic spider had given him nightmares for weeks afterward, and while the zombie dragon hadn't been as viscerally horrifying, that was largely because the more mundane issue of his sister's abduction had been at the forefront of his mind.

Apparently Gaius was having similar thoughts. "Speaking of the spider," he said, looking at Laura, "are there any legends of such creatures in Legram?"

"Only insofar as they were exterminated by the Lance Maiden and the Eisenritter," Laura said with a chuckle. "There was probably no safer place to be during the War of the Lions."

"I'll just bet," Millium said, flopping back down. "Did some extra reading when I heard we were going to Legram; turns out the False Emperor wanted to consolidate his position before trying to take Lianne Sandlot's home ground." She grinned wolfishly. "Too bad for him, he got smashed first."

"And the Empire was better off for it," Jusis said with a snort. "Even leaving aside the matter of treason, by all accounts Orthros Reise Arnor was an insane megalomaniac even by the standards of the time. I shudder to think what he would have done to Erebonia if Dreichels hadn't stopped him."

Further conversation was cut off by a train announcement that they were nearing their destination. Rean stood and checked his sword belt, hiding a smile at the eager look in Laura's gold eyes. She looks almost as excited as Millium, even though she tries to hide it, he thought, and led the way off the train.

It was like stepping into the past. Laura had a tendency to get downright poetic about her hometown, and Instructor Thomas gave her a run for her mira at times, but even so, it wasn't enough to prepare Rean for seeing the lakeside town of Legram, once home to the Lance Maiden herself, firsthand.

The dense fog that had greeted them so abruptly on the train was still there, covering the town like an ephemeral blanket. A number of residents were visible, but only in silhouette, phantoms in this timeless place. No orbal engines disturbed the stillness, only the occasional sound of a horse-drawn cart, and even those were muffled by the fog.

What could be seen of the architecture was pure Middle Ages, the only trace of modernity Rean could see being the orbal lamps that dotted the streets, waypoints in the mist. In the distance, visible only because it was on higher ground, was what he presumed to be Laura's home, the seat of House Arseid.

"This is incredible," Millium said, for once nearly at a loss for words.

"For once we agree," Jusis said, moving with unusual care. "Is that the Saint's castle?" he asked, pointing off to the left.

Laura stepped up for a better look. "Indeed. It's quite a sight when the fog clears."

"Welcome home, my lady."

Rean jumped and almost went for his sword. Someone had practically materialized out of the mist, so skillfully he hadn't sensed them coming. Sternly ordering his heart to slow down, he found he recognized the newcomer. It was the same butler he'd met on his first day in Trista, the old man (and likely master swordsman) who had accompanied Laura that day.

"Hello, Klaus," Laura said, smiling a bit wryly. "I see your proficiency in the art of concealment is as strong as ever."

Klaus shook his head. "Not at all. My age is catching up with me, I'm afraid. Watching you grow up is one of the few pleasures left to me."

"You do yourself a disservice," Laura said, turning to her classmates. "This is Klaus, a longtime retainer to House Arseid and acting master of the Arseid School."

"I can see that," Gaius murmured. "I couldn't sense him coming at all."

Klaus bowed. "I am honored to meet all of you. Especially you, Lord Rean." He smiled. "His lordship and I have heard much about you, especially your prowess with the sword."

Rean shot Laura a quick look, and could've sworn she was blushing a little, though it was hard to tell in the fog. "I'm, ah, glad to hear it," he managed. "Laura said her father probably wouldn't be here. Is he. . . ?"

"Sadly, he has many obligations," Klaus said. "For now, please allow me to show you to the manor."

They drew some curious glances, but aside from Gaius's height, most of the onlookers seemed focused on Laura. Not overly surprising, Rean supposed; she was, after all, heir to both Victor Arseid's title and the Arseid School. It would only be natural for her return to be a major event.

The Arseid manor soon came into clearer view, and Rean was struck by the resemblance to his own home. Somewhat fancier, to be sure, and a bit larger, but overall it had the same grand-yet-rustic look of a country noble's home. He only vaguely recalled the viscount, but it definitely suited Laura.

"Quite the commanding view of the town," Jusis remarked.

"Indeed," Laura said. "I believe it was originally built to serve as a stronghold for the ruling family here." She smiled. "Welcome to Legram. I hope you will enjoy your stay."

Unsurprisingly for a man of Viscount Arseid's stature (Rean vaguely recalled Laura mentioning he was close to the Imperial family), the manor's interior was simple yet elegant, a much more homey feel, for lack of a better term, than what Rean had heard of the Four Great Houses.

Judging by the look of wistful envy in his eyes, Jusis agreed. His blue eyes took in every detail of the foyer and staircase as Laura showed them around. As with the exterior, there was a definite rustic air to the place, the home of a man who cared little for the trappings of nobility.

After a quick look at the guest rooms, they were led out to a terrace on the second floor. Millium, naturally, dashed for the railing. "I can see the whole town from here! Well, I could if it wasn't covered in fog," she amended with a lopsided grin.

Laura smiled back, not offended in the least. "This is one of my favorite spots," she said, joining the Ironblood at the railing. "Many times I have found myself gazing out across what was practically my whole world, until I came to Thors. When I wasn't being trounced by Father or Klaus," she added, giving the butler a rueful look. "Incidentally, Klaus, are you selecting our tasks for this field study?"

He shook his head. "I did submit a request, which you will see in due course, but the overall planning has been left to a professional."

"A professional?" Gaius repeated.

Klaus nodded. "You will be given further instructions at the local Bracer Guild branch."

"Of course; I should have known." Laura gestured for the others to follow her. "As I mentioned in Heimdallr, the Guild has operated here for many years; my family has long had a good relationship with them. Since, as Rean once noted, our tasks are very similar to bracer work, it would only be logical for our contact to be at the local branch."

Millium and Jusis both looked just a bit odd. Not really a surprise for Millium, given her connection to Giliath Osborne and Osborne's well-known opposition to the Bracer Guild. Jusis was a bit more of a puzzle; Rean couldn't recall him expressing any opinion on the subject one way or the other, though he was fairly certain there wasn't a branch in Bareahard.

More importantly just then, he was very grateful to have Laura as a guide. The fog made navigation hard enough even for residents; for newcomers it was well-nigh impossible. Rean could see maybe three arge ahead, and that only when the fog thinned a little.

"Lady Laura, welcome back!"

The speaker was a girl of around twelve or thirteen, busily sweeping out in front of one of the local shops. She was gazing at Laura with an expression that bordered on worshipful.

"Hello, Chloe," Laura said with a smile. "I'm afraid I'll only be here for a couple of days, but I intend to make the most of my time."

"If there's anything I can do, please let me know!" Chloe nodded politely at Emma and Millium, then froze as her eyes fell on Rean. A look of profound loathing crossed her face, deepening when she saw Jusis and Gaius. "If I may ask . . . just who are these disgusting cretins accompanying you?"

Laura frowned, nonplussed. "Are you referring to my classmates?"

Chloe's eyes widened in horror. "Oh, Aidios, why must such filth be allowed to fester in sight of Lady Laura's maidenly grace?" Her lips compressed in a grim line. "Listen, you three! Be sure to keep an appropriate distance from Lady Laura at all times!"

Huh?

Gaius, who Rean had only seen offended once before, looked at Chloe warily. "Yeah, I think that's gonna be a bit difficult."

"Irksome whelp," Jusis muttered.

"My apologies," Laura said. "She seems to have misunderstood the situation."

Chloe was not even slightly mollified. "Is there a more loathsome creature on this earth than men?" she grumbled half to herself. "Not all men are like that, of course; Viscount Arseid is a true gentleman. Others. . . ." She trailed off, still glaring at them.

Jusis snorted faintly. "Well, I see the Radiant Blademaster has skewed the standard for aspiring gentlemen in Legram. Aidios help whoever Laura marries."

"You'd have to be in an airship to rise above expectations like that," Rean agreed.

It was a short walk to the guild branch. A couple other residents greeted them, including another of what Rean was starting to suspect was Laura's fan club, or so he judged by the way the young woman glared at Group A's males. He put it out of his mind just in time to nearly collide with the guild sign.

"Strange," Gaius murmured, folding his arms. "I remember the branches in the capital were closed due to political pressure, but this one really is still active."

"The Legram branch continues to operate as it always has," Laura said. "That's why I was so surprised to find the guild no longer had a presence in Heimdallr."

Emma frowned. "Come to think of it, we met a bracer in Bareahard back in May, but I don't recall seeing a branch office there."

"It was closed a year ago," Jusis said with a faint sigh. "Though as I understand it, the pressure came from the duke's household," Rean couldn't help noticing his friend refrained from calling Duke Albarea his father, "not the Imperial government."

"Eh, no surprise there," Millium said. "Bracers are a real eyesore to those well-to-do types. They don't bow to authority, you can't bribe them, they're all about protecting civilians. Give 'em any excuse to lean on the bracers and get them outta the picture, and that's exactly what they'll do."

Jusis's lip twisted. "Choice words from an Intelligence operative. Do you really think you aren't complicit in this?"

Unconcerned, Millium shrugged. "Less us and more Gramps. He started barging into the capital branches himself, telling them what they could and couldn't do."

"Which explains Instructor Sara's frosty temperament toward him," Laura observed, clearly not liking what she was hearing.

Rean didn't like it, either. The more he learned about Giliath Osborne, the more uneasy he was. Certainly he liked Captain Rieveldt, and Machias's dad was decent enough, but the chancellor himself was starting to come across as just as bad as the Noble Faction. Just as responsible for the factional divide that was growing worse with each passing day.

The door opened. "Man, you guys sure know how to poke a guy where it hurts, don't you?" Despite the words, the tone was dryly amused.

Rean found, much to his surprise, that he recognized the bracer. Medium height, blond hair, blue eyes, wearing a white coat, he wasn't exactly the sort who would blend in with a crowd. Rean recalled crossing paths with him in Bareahard if only for the sheer oddness.

"Now there's a familiar face," Emma said.

Laura bowed slightly. "I'm pleased to see you again, Toval," she said, then looked at her classmates in surprise. "You know each other?"

The man shrugged. "Nah, ran into each other a few months back. Nice to see you again, Lady Laura; guess Sara's still keeping your nose to the grindstone."

Jusis studied him with new interest. "I take it you're one of our instructor's former associates."

"Pretty much," he said with a smile. "Name's Toval Randonneur. I'm a bracer with the Erebonian branch of the guild, or what's left of it anyway. Nice to meet you, ladies and gentlemen of Class VII."

Toval, it soon became clear, ran the Legram branch almost solo; there were, at most, two other bracers for the entire region. More surprisingly (though Rean thought it shouldn't have been a surprise), their coincidental encounter in the Verdant City was no coincidence at all.

"Sara told me you were going to be there, and asked me to keep an eye on you," Toval said. "Said to step in if you got into a tight spot, but to make it look like a coincidence." He smiled ruefully. "That part was a lot harder than I thought it would be."

Rean chuckled. "Asking about underground tunnels while we were sitting at a table a couple arge away was a bit obvious."

"It's a bit late, but we should thank you for your assistance," Emma said.

"Yeah." Rean agreed. "We'd never have been able to bust Machias out otherwise."

Jusis inclined his head. "You may not have assisted me directly, but you have my thanks nonetheless. For all my pretensions, I doubt I could have managed it on my own."

"You're welcome," Toval said, waving a hand. "Sara's already repaid that debt in full, so don't worry about it."

Laura frowned. "I'm grateful for your aid to my classmates. I must say, however, it seems as if the Guild's standing has shifted over the last two years."

Toval's lip twitched. "Yep. Practically every branch shut down after the government started putting pressure on us. Some of us got new jobs like Sara did, others transferred to branches in places like Liberl and Crossbell. We all agreed, though, to come back if the Empire let us operate freely again. Till then, we're just laying low and scarping up a living for ourselves."

"I wouldn't think that too hard," Gaius said, giving the reception are a casual look. "With so many branches closed down, I would think there would be plenty of work for those of you who remain."

"I wish," Toval said with a hint of bitterness. "The RMP handles a lot of stuff we would've taken care of before." He glanced at Millium. "Your little lady's friend in particular keeps herself pretty busy."

The Intelligence agent grinned. "Yep, Claire's a real hard worker; she'd give President Towa a run for her mira. No wonder she's never had a boyfriend."

And there was Millium's chronic lack of tact. "I'm not sure you should be sharing details of other people's private lives without their consent," Emma said in an unusually severe tone.

Toval laughed. "I find enough work to keep the lights on here, at least. Helps that we have the viscount's official approval, so we can hang our sign out openly."

"It's nice to hear how supportive he is," Rean said. "No wonder the people here love him."

Laura smiled, her eyes distant. "He seems to find a lot of himself in the bracers. Self-reliance, pride, a focus on helping others, more than once he's said that if he were free of responsibilities he would join the guild himself."

"I doubt someone who owns territory in the Empire could just up and join the bracers," Jusis said in a decidedly sour tone.

"Yeah, but you can bet the Radiant Blademaster would make S-rank practically on the spot," Millium said. "He'd be the Empire's Cassius Bright."

Rean looked at her sharply. "You know Cassius Bright?"

"Estelle's father, correct?" Laura said. Rean nodded. "A brigadier general in the Liberlian army, as I recall, and a bearer of the title Divine Blade."

Toval chuckled. "Should've figured an Intelligence agent would know about him. Speaking of the Brights, I hear Estelle and Joshua are paying a visit to Thors. How's Renne doing?"

Rean shrugged. "Seems to be adjusting well enough, though she's made friends with one of the more . . . interesting first years." For the sake of his sanity, he kept the details to himself.

"Glad to hear it. Anyway, the viscount asked me to sort out some tasks for your field study." He handed Rean a familiar envelope.

They looked to be what they'd gotten used to over the last few months: helping one of the local shops, a monster hunt, and, as Laura had predicted, a request from the Arseid school itself. Rean wasn't sure whether to be excited or terrified at the prospect.

One thing at a time, he told himself.

Though he would never have admitted it where Machias Regnitz could hear, Jusis had come to almost enjoy the field studies (after Bareahard at least). Troublesome though they were at times, there was something to be said for learning about distant regions of the Empire firsthand.

Stepping out onto the Ebel highway was nothing like going through by train. The fog was even thicker than it was in town, reducing everything save his classmates to vague shadows. He kept one hand on his sword; in such an environment, even the lowliest of monsters could be a significant threat.

Case in point, Rean's sword lashed out with his trademark blinding speed, returning to its sheath before the bisected halves of the ape-like creature hit the ground.

"Always knew you'd be good to have along when the going gets tough," Gaius said, sounding startled.

Even an ambush by a demonic gorilla didn't seem to dampen Emma's sense of wonder. "Still, this place feels downright magical. Like if you stayed still long enough you might see a fairy."

"I often imagined such when I was younger," Laura said. "Come, I see one of the orbal lights not far ahead."

Her eyes had to have been at least as sharp as Rean's to have seen it at all. It had dimmed significantly, which at least explained the ape. A number of lesser monsters had gathered around it, but were easily dispatched. Millium, to her credit, was doing her share.

"That was almost too easy," the Ironblood said as Airgetlam vanished. "This the usual stuff around here, Laura?"

Laura busied herself unlocking the light's hatch. "They're the most common, yes, though they tend to stay away from the main road."

"Thus our present errands," Jusis said, glancing about warily. Their main target was supposed to be much farther along, but only a fool would let his guard down. "I gather this road is not particularly well-traveled."

"Not since the Ebel Branch Line started operating in earnest," Laura said, relocking the hatch. "Few travel on foot these days; what use the highway gets is primarily orbal cars."

And undoubtedly precious few of those, given Legram's remoteness and relative lack of significance. The orbal lights were still necessary, of course; in addition to protecting the few travelers who did use the highway, they helped keep monsters away from the town itself.

They had three more brief skirmishes over the next half hour or so, though nothing the six of them couldn't handle. Jusis relished the chance to vent some of his frustrations; monsters at least he could fell with his blade, as opposed to the political scheming his lord father was so engrossed in.

As is Rufus, he thought unhappily. His letters are increasingly vague and evasive; is there something deeper going on in Bareahard?

"It's kinda weird," Millium broke into his thoughts as they replaced the fifth light. "Fourteen orbal lights all burning out at once?"

Jusis frowned. "A good question," he conceded. "One would think there would be considerable variation, given the likely differing installation dates."

"Maybe Toval set things up that way," Rean suggested, wiping blood from his blade.

"That sounds rather far-fetched," Jusis said. "Then again," he amended, "he is a former colleague of our esteemed instructor."

"Who has a notable habit of arranging such contrivances," Laura said with a wry smile.

Jusis suppressed a shudder, though to be certain he had only been the principal victim of such once, and it had turned out for the best. Poor Rean, now, it was a wonder he was still sane, though Jusis had the impression the country noble in some ways appreciated the direction it gave him.

"Hold up," Gaius said abruptly. "I think I see our target."

It was just barely visible as more than a silhouette in the fog. Somehow both reptile and fish, it was reminiscent of some creatures Rean had described in the Heimdallr catacombs. Which made the armored, saw-toothed beast a worthy foe as far as Jusis was concerned.

"Crocodark," Laura said, drawing her greatsword. "Probably the most dangerous monster known to inhabit this area. Though slow, it is quite strong. Be careful."

Rean was a barely visible blur, his tachi slashing left and then right. It did little to the crocodark's armored hide, but did anger it, and the distraction was enough to give Laura an opening for her heavier blade. Gaius was in right behind her, a support art from Emma boosting his already formidable control of his spear.

"Come on, Jusis, we can't let them have all the fun!" Millium said, Airgetlam appearing behind her.

Jusis drew his sword. "For once, I agree with you. I'll immobilize it with a leg strike; follow with your heaviest attack as soon as I'm clear."

"Gotcha!"

Jusis dashed forward, evaded a clumsy swipe of claws, and drove his blade into the creature's right foreleg. Sidestepping snapping jaws, he yanked the weapon free. "Millium!"

"Come on, Lammy!" Airgetlam's form shifted, resembling a gigantic hammer with a rocket at one end. "Take this, ugly! Gigant Breaker!"

It was hard not to wince in sympathy as the transformed Airgetlam crashed down on the crocodark with a loud crunch of bone. When the dust settled, it lay still, head violently crushed by Millium's attack. It didn't take an expert to know it wasn't getting up again.

"That crocodark is croco-done!" Millium said with a grin.

Jusis surprised himself by chuckling. "Not bad for your first monster extermination."

A click and a flash made them jump slightly. Emma stood by the dead crocodark, an orbal camera in hand. "I thought some documentary evidence would be a good idea," she explained.

"Makes sense," Rean said. "Dunno about you guys, but I'm beat, and we've still got that Arseid School request."

Which at least promised to be interesting.

In some ways, this was the part Laura had been looking forward to most. She had so many memories of the Arseid School's training hall, albeit many of them involved being soundly defeated by her father or Klaus. That aside, there was no denying the growing strength and confidence she had felt, which had ultimately led her to enroll at Thors.

Rean, naturally, was looking around in carefully-controlled excitement. For a dedicated swordsman like him, the Arseid training hall must have seemed almost like Heimdallr cathedral. Laura covered a smile; she'd been expecting such a reaction from the moment they learned where they were going.

"Ah, I was hoping you would be here soon," Klaus greeted them. "I trust your other tasks went well?"

"Like clockwork," Rean said. "Your request said you wanted us to spar with the students here?"

Klaus nodded. "Four of the most promising," he said, waving them forward. "I believe a practitioner of the Eight Leaves, an expert in court fencing, a spearman like Master Gaius, and one skilled with an orbal staff would provide an excellent learning experience."

Seeing the anticipatory gleam in Rean's eyes, Laura regretted her inability to participate. Unfortunately, as Klaus's words made clear, her own connection to the school made her unsuitable for this particular exercise. Still, she expected to learn much just by watching.

It was hardly the first time she'd seen her friends in battle, of course, but she seldom had the chance to truly appreciate it. Rean was a delight to watch, as always, but Jusis was quite impressive as well, and it was easy to see how Gaius had caught Zechs Vander's eye. Emma kept to the rear, but was hardly inactive, albeit mostly supporting the other three.

The Arseid School students were hardly amateurs, of course, so the fight wasn't exactly one-sided. In the end, however, the Thors students' greater experience won the day, though Jusis briefly seemed to be trembling slightly with fatigue. Though it might have been Laura's imagination, as he straightened a moment later.

"Man, this is exciting, but it's boring," Millium complained. "I want some action, too!"

"Believe me, I understand," Laura said. "Unfortunately, as a student of the Arseid School myself, I have to remain on the sidelines."

Millium rolled her eyes. "Yeah, whatever. Come on, Lammy!"

The general reaction was just about as one would expect. Emma took a reflexive step backward, Rean rolled his eyes, Jusis covered his face with one hand, and even Gaius looked faintly exasperated. The Arseid students, unaware of Airgetlam, were visibly startled, quite an unusual state of affairs.

Klaus, by contrast, didn't even twitch. "Interesting," he said. "Very interesting. I'd heard about it from Lady Laura, of course, but seeing it firsthand is something else entirely."

"Gotta say, I'm impressed," Millium said. "Not many people would be so cool with Lammy around."

"indeed," Klaus said. "If you wish to join in, Miss Millium," he drew his sword, "then I shall be your opponent."

Laura felt her eyes go wide. She knew Klaus thought highly of Class VII, but a direct challenge was the last thing she had expected. Either he wanted to see how far they could go against him, or he wanted to make certain they were ready for the trials ahead. Knowing him, very likely both.

Which left only one choice. "In that case," Laura said, drawing her sword, "I would like to take part as well." She smiled. "I've been soundly defeated here more times than I can count. Perhaps this is a good opportunity to at least see how far I've come."

"Splendid," Klaus said. "Well, Rean, the three of you and one other?"

Rean glanced at the others. "Up for it, Jusis?"

"Certainly." Looking only slightly annoyed at being teamed with Millium, Jusis lifted his sword in a ready stance. "It will be an excellent test of my skill."

Klaus nodded approvingly. "Well said, Lord Jusis. And please, don't hold back on my account."

"I doubt you'll give us the opportunity," Laura said with a wry chuckle.

"No kidding," Rean agreed. "His stance doesn't leave any openings."

"That remains to be seen," Klaus said. "Now, show me what you can do!"

She didn't even need to look at Rean; the ARCUS link told her all she needed to know. He dashed in low, a sweeping slash intended to throw Klaus off balance, while she followed high, hoping to knock the acting master's blade to the side. Klaus, displaying surprising agility for a man of his age, hopped over Rean's blade, then moved to parry Laura's.

And immediately had to backpedal in order to avoid being smashed by Airgetlam. Unruffled, Klaus ducked under a second swing from the construct's fist, then engaged Jusis in a brief but intense blade lock. Spinning back, he parried another blow from Rean, a smile lighting his craggy face.

"Wonderful!" he said. "I haven't had this much fun in ages!"

Nor had Laura, but sadly it was time to bring things to a close. Rean moved in high this time, his tachi reflecting light as it swung, while Laura struck at waist level when Klaus moved to parry Rean's strike. There was a brief clang, and the Acting Master's sword fell to the floor.

And then, just like that, it was over.

The fight with the Arseid students had been intense, but nothing out of the ordinary for Class VII. Klaus was something else; Rean had to fight not to lean on his sword from sheer fatigue. His teammates (save Millium, who was as energetic as ever) appeared to be in similar straights, though they recovered quickly enough.

"Splendid!" Klaus said. "Well done, all of you."

"They beat Master Klaus!" one of the students gasped.

Laura sheathed her monster of a sword. "I have wanted to do that for a very long time."

"And you performed brilliantly," Klaus said. He looked at Rean. "As did you, Lord Rean. It was an honor to see the techniques of the Eight Leaves firsthand."

For once, Rean decided not to make an issue of the use of his title. Klaus at least used it with genuine respect. "I'm, ah, glad you approve," he said a bit lamely.

Klaus nodded. "I must say, though, I detected a very slight flaw in your swordsmanship. A brief hesitation, a sense of uncertainty." He held up a hand before Rean could reply. "Forgive me, I spoke out of turn. A proper dinner will be prepared this evening; I suggest you rest until then."

After, of course, they reported to Toval for the day. Outside, the fog had finally cleared, revealing a sunset as brilliant as any they had seen in Trista. It cast a warm light on the ancient town, making everything seem even sleepier somehow. Rean actually had to fight to keep from yawning.

"Tomorrow should be largely free of the fog," Laura said. "A clear day in Legram has its own beauty."

"Got that right," Millium agreed. "The lake is sparkling."

Rean was already thinking longingly of a soft bed when they got to the guild branch. Which only brought to mind what he liked least about their field studies: writing the daily report. Sure, it wasn't difficult at all, but it was added tedium when he needed it least.

Opening the door drove such thoughts out of his head. Standing by the counter was a tall, powerfully built man in a blue coat. Somewhere in his forties by the look of him, his hair and neatly-trimmed beard a dark blue without a trace of gray, his dark eyes piercing, his entire demeanor dignified yet kindly, there was only one person he could be.

"Father!?" Laura said incredulously.

"It's been too long," Viscount Victor S. Arseid, lord of Legram, said. "Five months or thereabouts, I believe."

Laura, uncharacteristically, seemed to be at a loss for words. "Yes, but. . . ." She shook her head. "When Klaus said you were busy, I didn't expect to see you while I was in Legram."

The viscount smiled. "I've wrapped up most of those affairs for the time being, so I decided to take the opportunity to see you and your class." He pulled her into a hug. "It's good to have you back," he said, stroking her hair.

"Father, please." Laura's protest was weak. "It's good to be back."

Arseid released her. "These would be your classmates, I take it."

Recovering her poise, Laura nodded. "Yes, my partners in this field study."

"And worthy they seem to be," the viscount noted. "Welcome to Legram, all of you. I'm Viscount Arseid, the lord of this region." He smiled. "Laura has told me all about you in her letters. It's good to finally be able to put faces to the names."

Millium sucked in a sharp breath. "Wow, it's the Radiant Blademaster in person! This is incredible!"

"He certainly seems larger than life," Jusis murmured.

Rean realized, with a start, that Arseid was looking at him. "It's good to see you again, Rean."

That was about the last thing he had expected. "Um, likewise," Rean managed. "I'm sorry to say, though, I didn't even remember we'd met until Laura mentioned it after our first field study."

"You've nothing to be ashamed of," Arseid assured him. "You were just a boy, and I understand your life since has been quite eventful." He looked Rean up and down. "You've grown to be a fine young man."

Rean honestly had no idea how to respond to that. "I'm, uh, honored you think so."

Aidios bless him, Arseid left it at that. "Well, I believe the cook should have dinner ready soon, and you are no doubt hungry from your exertions today."

That was the best news they had heard all day.

Rean had already decided Legram was one of his top three favorite towns in the Empire, along with Trista and his hometown of Ymir. Dinner at the Arseid manor told him he was right; his upbringing had given him a taste for wild game, and Legram cuisine was clearly based on the hunt.

Viscount Arseid turned out to be a very congenial man. Though he carried himself with the dignity befitting his station, he had none of the haughtiness all to often found in Erebonian nobility. On the contrary, he went out of his way to make the Thors students feel at ease, making a point of engaging even Millium in conversation.

"Man, this is delicious!" the Ironblood said. "It's almost as good as Sharon's cooking."

"I know what you mean. Just be careful not to drip sauce on the table," Emma said, unable to suppress a smile.

Laura chuckled. "That's roast wild boar, a staple here in Legram."

"I can tell," Rean said, helping himself to another piece. "I'll have to be careful not to overeat."

Arseid laughed heartily. "It's been far too long since things were so lively here. I think your visit will benefit the town as much as it does you." He glanced at Jusis, who had barely touched his portion. "What is troubling you, son of the house of Albarea? You seem to have brought your worries, but not your appetite."

Jusis sighed. "I see the peaceful life people lead here, and can't help but think of all the trouble my family has caused you."

Arseid waved a hand dismissively. "You man the tax disputes? Hardly new, and you bear no responsibility for it. Laura considers you a worthy friend, that is enough for me."

Jusis seemed to brighten a bit at that. "Thank you, sir," he said, and dug into his meal with a bit more gusto.

Just like Dad, Rean thought. He can make anyone feel right at home.

Arseid took a sip of wine, then set his glass aside. "I understand you fought against Klaus today, and were victorious at that."

"For a given value of victorious," Laura said. "I highly doubt he was fighting at full strength."

Klaus laughed. "Nonsense. You fought with the boldness of young lions. I look forward to seeing just how far you can go."

"Indeed." Arseid looked at Rean. "Hmm. Klaus spoke of a hesitation in your moves, Rean. Almost fear."

Rean hoped his sudden unease didn't show. "Sir?"

Arseid steepled his fingers. "Your master, Yun Ka-fai, is an old acquaintance of mine. I've requested a duel with him on many occasions."

Rean sat up straighter. This he had not expected. "If you don't mind my asking, who was the victor?"

The viscount laughed. "Yet to be decided. Pitting our respective philosophies against each other is so engaging that we always lose track of time. That aside, the Eight Leaves One Blade school borrows from the best of all other Eastern sword styles. The style's philosophy has such depth, it's no surprise anyone who masters one of its forms is called a Divine Blade." His expression was somber, but not unkind. "But you, Rean, there is something that terrifies you, so that its very shadow is enough to keep you rooted to the ground."

For a long moment, there was only silence. Rean gazed back at the viscount, but without really seeing him. What he saw was the past, a giant bearlike monster, a bloody knife in his own hand. A headless, armored golem beneath the earth, his sister lying unconscious a few arge away.

"I didn't expect you to see through me so clearly," he said at last. "But it's helped me make up my mind." He met the Radiant Blademaster's eyes. "Sir, if you're willing, I wish to challenge you to a duel."

This is insane. Completely, totally, utterly, absolutely insane.

Insane or not, it was happening. They had adjourned to the Arseid School training hall, and now Rean stood opposite her father in the central ring, looking nervous but oddly determined. Her father's expression was difficult to read, but he appeared solemn.

"Wow, I can't believe it! Rean's gonna duel the Radiant Blademaster!" Millium exclaimed, but quickly sobered. "Can he win, though?"

"He doesn't stand a chance," Jusis said, his tone making clear what he thought of the whole exercise. His thoughts plainly mirrored Laura's. "Receiving instruction would be one thing, but to duel a master like Viscount Arseid. . . ."

Laura couldn't take it anymore. "Rean, please reconsider," she said, and turned a harder look on her father. "You, too, Father. Stop this nonsense."

"Laura, please stay out of this," Rean said, a vaguely pained look in his eyes.

"This duel is between Rean and myself," her father said. "Please stand aside." He looked Rean in the eye. "Is this truly what you want?"

Rean didn't even twitch. "Yes, sir. I'm honored that you would consent."

The viscount smiled. "I admire your spirit. Now, show me what a swordsman of the Eight Leaves is capable of." Klaus held out a large case, from which he drew a familiar greatsword and swung it to a ready position.

"Amazing!" Millium gasped.

"He can wield a blade that large so deftly with just one hand!?" Gaius blurted in shock.

Laura felt almost numb. "That's Galland-Sharl, a greatsword that has been passed down the Arseid line for generations. It was once wielded by our ancestor, the second in command of the Eisenritter."

Rean's face was noticeably paler, but he didn't back down. His tachi came out in one smooth motion. "Rean Schwarzer, Eight Leaves One Blade Beginner Level, standing ready."

"Victor S. Arseid, Master of the Arseid School, ready."

Klaus raised a hand. "Begin!"

An instant later, Rean was a blur of motion, his sword sweeping up from the lower right. The attack was fast enough that only a trained swordsman would have been able to see it; Laura, who knew full well her main weakness was speed, doubted she would have been able to counter. It was not, however, fast enough to catch her father unawares; he had Galland-Sharl in a guard position almost before Rean had started moving.

"Too slow!" The Radiant Blademaster counterattacked, a descending blow that would have knocked Rean's sword from his hand, had the younger man not retreated with an awkward looking one-handed handspring.

Rean then sheathed his weapon, but not in surrender. Laura instantly recognized the stance, having seen it in their first field study: a technique of the Eight Leaves' fourth form, Autumn Leaf Cutter. His sword whipped out, only to clang once more against Galland-Sharl.

A slight frown creasing his face, the viscount went on the offensive, forcing Rean back with a serious of lightning-quick strikes that belied the power behind them. Rean got enough breathing space to attempt a move from the second form, Gale, but he overbalanced and was soon knocked flying.

"Ouch!" Millium said, wincing.

Laura sighed; Rean's gasps were audible across the room. "This is why I tried to stop them."

"It's not that Rean's weak; we've all seen what he's capable of," Gaius murmured.

Jusis's lip twitched. "It's more that his opponent is so much stronger."

The viscount stared down at Rean, seeming almost angry. "What are you doing? This duel is not over yet. To your feet, at once!"

"Father!?" Laura yelped.

He ignored her. "I know you're capable of more than this," he said as Rean struggled to stand. "If you aren't willing to use your full power," he raised his sword, "then I have no choice but to force your hand!"

The sword came down, but Rean was no longer there. In a burst of speed that put Fie to shame, he had closed the gap, slashing three times in the blink of an eye. Which still was not fact enough to catch the Radiant Blademaster off guard; each strike was blocked or parried, until Rean was forced back.

Laura couldn't restrain a gasp. She'd seen Rean with an aura before, but it was normally orange-red. Now it was a deep and disturbing mix of purple and black, and his normally black hair had turned stark white. Most unnerving of all, his eyes were glowing.

"Is this what Rean is afraid of?" she breathed.

Her father clearly did not share her concerns. "Excellent! This is how it must be! This is the power that slumbers deep within you. As long as you continue to cower in the face of it, you'll remain forever at a standstill."

Rean's only response was a bestial roar and a renewed assault. Again and again he struck, sometimes appearing to attack from several directions at once. Yet every time the Radiant Blademaster was able to ward him off, at times barely moving at all. It was the single most unbelievable exchange Laura had ever witnessed.

The end, when it came, was decisive. Rean overextended himself in his battle madness, and his opponent lost no time in exploiting the opening. "Time to end this," Victor S. Arseid said, finally grasping his sword with both hands. "Radiant Phoenix Slash!"

Galland-Sharl moved faster than even Laura thought possible, though she had seen her father's technique before. There was a resounding clang, a heavy impact, and a pained grunt, and Rean was on his knees, breathing heavily. His hair darkened, and the glow faded from his eyes.

"Rean!" Laura dashed to her friend's side and crouched down.

Millium stood there in awe. "Wow, that duel was craaaazy!"

"It makes sense, though," Gaius said softly. "Why Rean asked the viscount for duel in the first place."

Jusis folded his arms. "You fool, were you carrying a burden like that by yourself all this time?"

There was a certain logic to it, but Laura wasn't satisfied. "Father, there was no need to go that far!"

"Laura, it's okay. I'm a bit banged up, but I'll be fine; he held back." Rean tiredly looked up. "I admit defeat. It was an honor to see the Radiant Blademaster's signature technique."

Arseid smiled. "I think you're finally beginning to understand." He crouched to look the younger man in the eye. "What we call 'power' is nothing more than a measure of one's raw strength. Without knowing how to properly apply it, it has no real meaning." He laid a hand on Rean's shoulder. "However, by denying the power you already possess, you're only shortchanging yourself."

Rean nodded slowly. "You're right," he said, closing his eyes. "I think I'm finally starting to get what my master was trying to teach me about the laws of nature." He sighed. "But . . . I'm afraid that's only going to make me even more uncertain."

"Rean," Laura whispered, uncertain of what to say.

Arseid gripped a bit harder. "That's nothing to be ashamed of. Stand up, dust yourself off, and step forward. Grapple with that fear each day if that is what it takes. Uncertainty weighs on the hearts of all people, but it's far preferable to standing still." He helped Rean upright, Laura keeping close to the young swordsman's other side. "And always remember, you are not alone."

Slowly, Rean looked at each of them, Emma, Gaius, Jusis, and Millium, before his eyes met Laura's. "Yeah," he said. "I'm not alone. Not anymore."

Laura couldn't help a swelling of warmth deep inside at his words.

It had certainly been an interesting evening. Class VII was everything Laura had described and then some. Especially Rean; after their rather one-sided duel, Arseid was impressed by the young swordsman's strength and resolve. With that single hurdle at last overcome, he was sure to go far. Arseid made a note to write to Yun Ka-fai about it when he had the chance; no doubt the Sword Hermit would be pleased to hear of his youngest student's progress.

"It really has been too long," Laura said, gazing out at the sleeping town.

She truly has grown. "How have things been at Thors? There is only so much that can be conveyed in letters."

Laura smiled a bit wistfully. "Better than I could have imagined. Class VII provides just the challenge I need, and I have friends both in and outside of our class who are both a comfort and push me to excel. Friends like Monica and Rean."

"Ah, yes, Rean." Arseid folded his hands. "He walks a difficult path."

"Yes, I see that now," Laura said with a faint grimace. "I once took him to task for holding back, not realizing what was weighing him down."

The viscount shook his head. "You have nothing to be ashamed of, Laura; there was no way you could have known. As it happens, Master Ka-fai wrote to me about him some months ago. While he didn't go into much detail, he did say his youngest student was living in a state of almost constant fear, even if it was beneath the surface much of the time."

Laura's head came up. "That is why you agreed to Rean's request for a duel?"

Arseid nodded soberly. "Exactly. He wanted me to beat the hesitation out of him, for lack of a better term. You of course know him better than I do, but from the looks of things it worked."

"I would have to agree," Laura said slowly. "His entire bearing changed, as if some great weight had been, if not lifted, at least eased some."

"That was the impression I had," Arseid agreed. "However, this is not something he can overcome alone. Make no mistake, I do not undervalue your classmates, but you are uniquely suited to the task of keeping him from losing himself."

She quickly saw what he was getting at. "Because of our shared commitment to the path of the sword."

"Which gives you a certain insight into his psyche." Arseid sighed faintly. "Laura, as you have no doubt noticed, tensions in the Empire are rushing toward a critical point. Always be aware of your surroundings, especially when you reach Garrelia; with the trade conference just days away, that region is going to be a powder keg."

Laura nodded. "I will, Father, and I am certain my classmates will do the same. Instructor Sara's methods may be . . . unorthodox, but they are undeniably effective."

"That is all I can ask." Arseid laid a paper on his desk. "You had best retire for the evening," he said, picking up a pen. "You have a great deal of work remaining."

Laura bowed her head. "Good night, Father."

The feeling of ancient mystery somehow managed to be even stronger at night, even without the fog. It was almost like being at home; at times the air itself felt charged with mana. Undoubtedly Lohengrin Castle was the source; there was, after all, more to the War of the Lions and the Eisenritter than most people knew.

Unable to sleep, Emma had wandered out to the manor's upper terrace, and now found herself gazing across the lake. "So that's the saint's castle," she murmured. A slight jingling drew her attention. "You can't come out right now; someone might notice you."

Soft, high-pitched chuckling came in response. "It's fine," a female voice said. "The Radiant Blademaster might be scarily perceptive, but I doubt he'll notice my little moonlight stroll."

Emma shook her head. "Honestly, I think you're underestimating him. I saw how easily he was able to counter Rean's powers; only someone with the keenest of senses could have pulled that off."

"I suppose so," Celine acknowledged, coming just barely into the light. "Speaking of the boy, hat do you think? I'm not sure how much we can count on him. He seems to have finally found his way past what's been holding him back, but I'm not sure he'll make it in time."

Emma felt a flash of irritation. It seemed they were going over this ground more and more lately. "That's not for us to decide. Our role is to watch over and guide him, nothing more." Her gaze sharpened. "And you deliberately involved an innocent. My classmates are one thing; bringing in someone who has nothing to do with it is another matter. I don't want you doing something like that ever again."

"Fine, fine." Celine didn't sound at all contrite, but Emma let it pass for the time being. "Putting that aside for now. . . ." She followed Emma's gaze to the castle. "I'm sure you've sensed it, but there's something very strange about that place. It's outside of our jurisdiction, but I have a bad feeling about it."

Emma sighed. "I know. We'll just have to nudge Laura toward it, and hope she notices."

The saint's castle, and Rean's mysterious power. Normally Emma didn't mind mysteries, but mysteries of this sort made her very uneasy. There were all too many ways it could go dangerously awry, especially with tensions in the Empire being so high.

"We'll just have to wait and see," Celine said.

"Yeah."

Author's note: Really late for a shorter than usual chapter, I know. Excuse du jour here is a combination of titanic writer's block and hurricane. That said, I'm glad to have reached this milestone; it's of great importance to Rean in a number of ways.

Until next time. ~D.S.