Hey guys! How's everyone doing today? We're now hallway done with the prologues with the last prologue being the whopper of a chapter that is Rean's perspective of everything from when he first wakes up from his month long nap to the journey to Bareahard. Until we get there, this chapter will be about characters other than the members of Class VII and what they've been up to/their thoughts during the turbulent period that is the Civil War. Plus the next part in my agenda to make Alfin and Elise good characters as well as introducing and establishing Cedric and Kurt as important characters a whole game ahead in the timeline. Hope you guys enjoy it!
As always, I enjoy any comments, except for those that are just full of negativity and not constructive at all. Just give me something to work with instead of just "It's bad." I also appreciate any positive constructive criticism since I'm always looking to improve my writing and storytelling capabilities. Thanks for reading this story! Virtual hugs and cuddles to y'all.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything except any OC's that may come up, any world building that has not yet been officially stated by any medium, and any plot points/structures that have not been used in the games or Drama CDs.
Warning: No beta, we die like Rean's ability to understand anyone's feelings for him.
Prologue: The Struggles of the Horned Lions
XXXXXX
S.1204
The sounds of blades striking and clashing against each other rang out in the chilly October air. The citizens of Ymir took the sounds in stride, going about their business as usual despite the small yet ever present reminder of the Civil War that raged outside their mountain home.
That reminder could be found in the front yard of the home of the Schwarzer barony that governed the town. Two young pre-teens sparred against each other under the ever-watchful eye of Baron Teo Schwarzer. One pre-teen was the Crown Prince Cedric Reise Arnor, one of the two jewels of the empire. He was dressed in simple clothes consisting of a long sleeved red shirt with a cream jacket and casual black slacks.
He thrust his saber forward at the other pre-teen, his ever-present companion, Kurt Vander of the famous Vander military family. Kurt was also dressed simply in a light blue button up shirt underneath a grey vest with fingerless gloves and black jeans. Kurt crossed his dual blades together to catch the other's strike.
The two boys pushed off each other and continued their clash of blades.
Off to the side, Toval was coaching Princess Alfin and Elise on the finer details of arts casting.
"Make sure you're already visualizing the art you want to cast before you activate the quartz. That will help drastically shorten your casting time."
"Yes!" The girls called out as casting circles appeared underneath them not a moment later. A rock spire shot up from the ground in front of Elise and then a fireball cast by Alfin was launched at it, smashing it into pieces.
The girls grinned triumphantly at their achievement.
"Good job!" Toval praised with a clap, "Now do it thirty more times! We need to work on your energy consumption and conservation."
The girls groaned dejected as Lady Lucia Schwazer giggled from where she was gardening with a perfect view of everything that was happening.
"H-yah!"
With a shout and a twist of his blades quickly followed by a sharp shove forward, Kurt knocked Cedric's blade out of his hand and caused him to stumble and fall onto his back with a grunt.
Cedric rubbed his aching back with a groan and looked up when Kurt held his hand out towards him.
"Are you alright, your highness?" Kurt asked in concern.
Cedric smiled wryly as he took Kurt's hand. "How many times have I already told you not to use formalities, Kurt?"
Kurt pulled him up and then scratched his cheek nervously. "My apologies, your, I mean, C-Cedric. I suppose old habits die hard."
Cedric gave him an unimpressed look. "Am I not your friend before I am your prince, Kurt?"
Kurt chuckled sheepishly. "Apologies Cedric. I suppose I've just been feeling on edge lately."
Cedric gave him an understanding look and was about to speak when Teo clapped his hands to get their attention.
"That was a nice bout, you two," the baron complimented, "Kurt, your style of fighting relies on speed so be sure to make clear concise movements in order to cut down on unnecessary motion."
"Yes sir!" Kurt stiffly said.
"And Cedric, your form is coming along quite nicely but your strength and stamina still fall short. Be sure to complete all of your exercises twice after we're done with sparring for the day."
"Yes sir," Cedric said with a groan at the thought of how exhausted he'll be by the end of the day.
Teo nodded with an amused smile. "Good. Now take ten and then we'll get back into it."
The two boys nodded and the baron left to go check on Elise who pouted indignantly at his overprotective hovering. Alfin and Toval laughed as they watched Elise shove her chastised father away from them and towards a fondly exasperated Lucia.
Cedric walked over to the nearby bench and dropped down onto it with a satisfied groan with Kurt joining him right after.
"It seems I still have a long way to go," Cedric said.
Kurt hummed. "Considering you never learned anything beyond basic self defense, I believe you're progressing in your court fencing at a great pace, Cedric."
"But you're still leagues ahead of me, Kurt. Even Alfin and Elise are more proficient in combat than I am," Cedric said dejectedly as he leaned back with a sigh, "How frustrating, to be so behind you all…"
"…Cedric, can I ask you something?"
Cedric looked over to him with an unimpressed look. "Of course. You are my friend after all. You needn't ask if you can ask me a question. Just do so."
"Right. I merely wanted to know…where is this all coming from?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I mean, why are you pushing yourself so hard to learn how to fight?" Kurt clarified, "You know with the way your health is that doing too much can only hinder rather than help."
Cedric was quiet for a moment as he pondered how to answer his question. "And how long will I be able to use that excuse? That I cannot fight just because my body will not allow me to do so," he finally said. He looked down at his sword wielding hand that's already shaking from overexertion despite the day not even being halfway done yet. "How can I grow as a person, as a prince, if I continue to use my weak constitution as an excuse to stand aside and allow others to fight for me?"
He clenched his hand into a fist to stop the shaking. "I don't ever want to feel as helpless as I did that day, Kurt. To see the people I care about put themselves at risk just to protect my weak self. Never again. I refuse."
"Cedric…" Kurt was surprised by the other's passionate declaration but also empathetic to his struggles. Because he knew exactly what he was talking about - that day being the day they escaped from Heimdallr.
In the forest of the road leading to Ymir, Cedric, Alfin, Kurt, and Elise flee from Heimdallr under Toval's guidance.
It was only by chance that this was able to happen. That Cedric happened to visit his sister at St. Astraia with Kurt accompanying him. That Elise swung by Alfin's room to ask her something regarding schoolwork while they were all gathered there. That Toval crossed paths with them as the quartet fled the school through one of the many hidden side entrances once the Noble Alliance invaded the capital.
By the time the sun sets, the group reaches a clearing in the forest that Toval deemed a good enough place to rest. He steps away to gather supplies while Kurt stands vigilant with his dual blades drawn and ready for any sign of trouble.
And trouble soon arrives in the form of a pack of vicious greedy wolves that easily outnumbers the group five to one.
Kurt stays on the defensive when the wolves charge while Alfin and Elise soon back him up with their arts and rapier respectively. Only Cedric remains out of combat due to his poor constitution not allowing him to learn anything beyond the bare basics of self-defense. The crown prince also had no weapons on his person besides a small dagger in case of emergencies.
Soon the girls fall back behind Kurt when Alfin runs out of energy for her arts and Elise's stamina begins to run dangerously low. Meanwhile, Kurt continues to give as good as he's got but even he is just barely hanging on by the time there's only one wolf, the alpha, remaining. His clothes are torn and bleeding scratches are littered across his body.
The alpha wolf growls and with a turn of its head, sees how Cedric is just a bit away from the others and completely vulnerable. It begins to snarl in preparation for an attack. Kurt, realizing what's about to happen, jumps in the way of the wolf's lunge, shouting in pain as the wolf slashes his back. He tries to knock the wolf aside with his blade but it easily bats it out of his hand.
"Kurt!" Everyone cries out in concern for him.
The blade flies through the air and lands with a clatter in front of Cedric.
The crown prince could only watch the scene before him in a sort of dissociative state. He sees his sister and her friend clutch each other tightly but are still ready to fight despite their knees trembling with fear and their clear exhaustion. He sees how his best friend continues to stand at the ready despite being on his last leg and in danger of being killed.
Then he sees the gleaming blade that is just right in front of him.
The wolf snarls again, breaking Cedric out of his trance. It prepares to lunge at Kurt and Cedric, without even thinking, grabs the fallen blade. He recklessly charges at the wolf with a sharp cry just as it lunges towards Kurt.
With as strong of a swing as he can give, Cedric manages to slice the wolf in half, saving Kurt and eliminating the danger that threatened them. He immediately drops the blade and collapses onto his knees as a coughing fit racks his body.
"Your highness!" "Cedric!" Kurt and Alfin cry out respectively in concern.
Kurt limps over to check on Cedric while Alfin and Elise rush over to cast healing arts with what little energy they had left.
"Are you alright?" Kurt asks as he checks Cedric over.
Cedric pushes him away with one hand while still coughing into another. "I'm fine. Kurt, you should…worry about yourself."
"I'll be fine with some healing but what you did was completely reckless, your highness!" Kurt says, brushing aside his concern and berating him all in one go, "You don't have any combat training. What if you had gotten hurt?!"
"But-" Cedric tries to protest only for them to be cut off by a harsh coughing fit.
Kurt calms his anger when he sees the pitiable state his best friend is in. "It is my job as a Vander to protect you, your highness. So please don't ever do something like that again."
Cedric shakes his head, his coughing subsiding enough for him to push Kurt's concerned hands away. "No Kurt, I-"
But whatever he's about to say is interrupted when Toval comes barreling back into the clearing.
"What in Aidios' name is going on?"
Then he takes in the scene before him and drops the supplies he gathered to rush over to the injured Kurt and help Alfin and Elise heal him. The matter is soon forgotten as once Kurt is healed and the girls and Cedric take a quick break, Toval urges them to keep moving until they find a safer clearing to rest for the day.
"Now that I think about it, what were you trying to tell me that day?" Kurt asked, "You never said anything about it after."
He waited for a response but Cedric remained quiet. "Cedric?"
Cedric snapped out of whatever daze he was in and smiled sheepishly at Kurt. "Oh! Forgive me, Kurt. I was merely lost in thought." Then he looked away towards where Alfin and Elise were now playfully chasing after each other and smiled melancholically at the sight. "What was it I wanted to tell you that day? I suppose it was something along the lines of appreciating you protecting me but…I'm tired of it."
Kurt was startled by the other's confession. "What do you mean?"
"Exactly that. I'm tired of being the only one who is coddled and shielded, of being told to run away and hide for my own safety by everyone including my own twin sister. I no longer wish to be the one standing on the sidelines or told to stay behind for their safety. Next time, I want to be the one to protect you all."
Kurt was dumbfounded and bewildered by what Cedric was saying, so much so that he didn't even know how to respond.
"Kurt! Cedric! Are you done for the morning?" Alfin called out.
The boys looked over to see the girls walking to them.
"No, we were just taking a break," Cedric responded.
Alfin nodded. "Alright. Just don't push yourself too much okay? I know you said you wanted to change but it'll be no good if you end up hurting yourself while doing so."
Cedric sheepishly laughed. "I promise, I promise. After all, I have my sister walking by my side to remind me, right?"
She nodded again with a smile. "Of course! Just like I promised I would when we talked after Thors' school festival."
"Talk?" Kurt asked, sharing a confused look with Elise who shrugged, also confused.
"Yes," Alfin said with a cryptic smile, "I'm sure you understand Elise, the conviction I gained that night."
Elise perked up in remembrance. "Oh yes! I remember now." She smiled. "There was a lot that happened that night and one of those things was seeing you finally look like an empress to be instead of a princess with her head in the clouds."
Alfin pouted at her friend. "Elise! I'm trying to be serious here!"
She laughed softly. "I'm sorry Alfin. I couldn't help it."
"How does it feel to be on the other end now, sister?" Cedric couldn't help but teasingly ask.
Alfin huffed and puffed in annoyance. "Like you're one to talk. Who's the one who kept gaping at me like a fish while I was trying to have a serious conversation about feelings and such?"
Cedric jerked back as if he'd been struck. "Erk!"
Kurt chuckled at his reaction and Cedric looked at him, betrayed. "Kurt!"
"I apologize, Cedric," Kurt said, amused and unapologetic, "But now you have me curious as to what you and Alfin spoke about."
The twins shared a look that was followed by identical secretive smiles.
"Oh, it was nothing much," Alfin responded nonchalantly, "We just said some things that I think needed to be said."
"Yes," Cedric easily agreed, "And the path we wished to take towards the future we wanted was part of that along with how all of us, Alfin, Olivert, and I, could support each other in doing so. I'm glad we were able to talk because it allowed us to be together at this moment."
Alfin reached a hand out that Cedric gladly took. The twins squeezed their connected hands in support and comfort. "I agree. Now all we need is Olivert and the Noble Alliance won't stand a chance!"
Cedric chuckled and turned to look at Kurt. "But until then, I am firm in my resolve to walk this path, Kurt, even if I get hurt. Because I will never be able grow if I continue to allow myself to be shielded and coddled."
Kurt was taken aback by the conviction in which Cedric spoke but quickly plastered on a supportive smile and bowed his head in acknowledgement. "Very well then, Cedric. I'll do my best to support you on your journey to becoming stronger."
Cedric grinned brilliantly at him. "Thank you, Kurt! I knew I could count on you for your help." Then he turned to Alfin and the two engaged in conversation about their current progress in getting better in their chosen fields of combat.
Meanwhile, Kurt, with his head still bowed, frowned as a conflicted expression crossed his face. And why wouldn't he be conflicted? After all, he was a Vander, a member of the family whose sole purpose was to support and protect the members of the royal family. A purpose he lived and breathed since the day he was born. If said members wanted to be the protectors instead then where did that leave him?
Who was he if he couldn't perform the duties of a Vander?
Off to the side, Elise frowned when she looked between Kurt's obvious inner conflict and the cheerful conversation between the twins. She could guess what was going on in Kurt's head as she had gone through something similar. She wanted to say something but ultimately decided to keep quiet since it wasn't her place to barge in unwanted on people's personal matters unlike a certain older brother of hers.
Instead, she placed a comforting hand on Kurt's shoulder that startled him. He looked at her and she smiled at him with a look that said she understood and would be there if he ever needed help. He nodded to her appreciatively. Then the two watched as the twins chatted happily until Teo called time on the boys' break and the four of them went their separate ways.
XXXXXX
S.1204
Towa typed away on an orbal computer, searching for any and all leads she could find as to where the still missing members of Class VII could be while also conducting a side search for the remaining students of Thors who fled that fateful day.
Meanwhile on a worktable nearby, George was busy tinkering away on some miscellaneous pieces of equipment for the airship that needed repairing and tuning in order to take his mind off things.
Eventually, Towa stopped typing and dropped her head into her hands with a frustrated groan.
George looked up from the orbal machine he was currently working on and eyed her in concern. "Everything alright, Towa?"
"No, I mean yes, I mean," she let out another groan of frustration.
He smiled sympathetically in understanding. "I take that to mean you haven't made much progress on finding them then?"
She grimaced. "Unfortunately no…" She sighed again. "I hope they're alright. I mean, I know they most likely are because they're Class VII and they've proven how capable they are considering the experience they've gained from their field studies so I know survival and combat won't be an issue but…"
"It wouldn't hurt to know they're actually all right with your own two eyes," he finished knowingly.
She nodded. "Exactly. And not just them but the other students we still haven't found who escaped that day as well."
"You have to give yourself some credit, Towa," George said in encouraging admonishment, shaking his head at her self perceived failure, "The fact that you were able to find at least some of the students who fled despite them hiding in completely different parts of the Empire and connected them all together for a larger communication network is an impressive feat."
Towa blushed and waved her hands about in denial. "Oh that's nothing really. It's the least I could do as the student council president. Even if we're not in school anymore, I want them to know that they can always rely on me for help."
"As long as you remember that it goes both ways as well," he reminded her with a pointed look, "You can rely on them too."
She sighed for the umpteenth time. "I know George and I am," she tried to assure him, "But…I just wish that I could find some lead on Class VII. We've managed to locate and confirm the locations of multiple students from different classes but Class VII is the only one where every single member is unconfirmed."
"As much as I wish I could offer something that could help with that, we all know how they can be. I don't think we're going to find any of them until they want to be found. All we can do is be patient and have faith-"
"But I don't know if I can be patient anymore! Not when I don't know what's happened to the people I care about!" Towa cried in protest.
George was taken aback by her sudden outburst. But then he had an 'a-ha' moment of realization on the true cause for Towa's distress.
"This is about Angelica and Crow, isn't it?"
Towa immediately clammed up and after a moment, nodded meekly. George smiled understandingly at her.
"It's okay, Towa. I get it. No one's heard from Angelica since she left for home weeks ago and Crow…" He sighed heavily and shook his head. "I still haven't really wrapped my head around the fact that he's the leader of the ILF, that he's the terrorist C. And then there's that whole thing with the Divine Knights…"
"Did you ever manage to get anything out of the one that was found at the Old School House?" She asked, curious.
For a moment, George was silent to the point where Towa grew concerned the longer he didn't respond.
"George? Are you alright?"
He snapped out of whatever daze he was in and smiled sheepishly at her. "Sorry about that. I got lost in thought."
She nodded. "It's okay, I understand. A lot's happened hasn't it? And I'm pretty sure the both of us have been trying to stay busy so we wouldn't have to think about it."
"Sounds about right," he said with a dry laugh.
"How about we hang out later and talk over some hot chocolate?" She suggested.
He smiled gratefully and nodded. "That sounds nice."
Towa smiled and turned back to the orbal computer, typing away with renewed vigor. George's smile dropped once she could no longer see him and his expression shifted. He looked down blankly at the equipment on his worktable then glanced over at the bins of fire and time sepith sitting off to the side.
A slow smile stretched across his face as an idea came to mind and he pushed the equipment aside to pull out some paper for drafts.
Towa chanced a glance over to George and smiled at the sight of her friend getting himself lost in his inventions. She returned her attention to her search efforts as she hummed cheerfully, not once cluing into the sinister undertone to his expression.
XXXXXX
S.1204
Duke Gerhart Rogner sat at his desk completing his mind numbing paperwork with restless energy that he wished to direct towards some productive sparring but alas, could not due to being the Duke of the Nortia Province and a contributing member of the Noble Alliance that was currently engaged in a Civil War with the Reformist Faction.
His attention was soon diverted from a document about funds for a new airship by a commotion occurring outside his doors. He looked up in question as to what could be going on only to get the answer when his office doors slammed open to reveal his daughter, Angelica, in all her dark purple jumpsuit glory as she stormed in with a scowl.
"My lady, please! Your father is not to be disturbed!" Henrik, the head butler of the Rogner Estate, pleaded as he scrambled in after her.
Gerhart sighed more in annoyance than surprise at her entrance and waved to dismiss the protesting butler. "It's alright. You may leave, Henrik."
"But sir-"
"I will not ask again," Gerhart said with a hard glare.
Henrik straightened, more out of habit than of fear, and bowed with a sigh. "Very well then. Let me know if you need anything afterwards," he said before leaving the office.
As soon as the door closed, Gerhart directed his hard glare to Angelica who met it head on with a defiant one. "And what, may I ask, has brought you to my office…again?"
"The same thing that's brought me to your office the last 32 times, father," she responded.
He frowned. "I've already said all I needed to on the matter and will continue to stand by my decision to not withdraw my support from the Noble Alliance."
"How can you still say that with Duke Cayenne leading it?" She angrily demanded, "You know your values don't align with him. I've heard you call that pompous asshole a conniving snake more times than I can count!"
"There is more at play than you know Angelica, things you would never understand," he calmly rebuked.
She growled in frustration. "Of course I wouldn't understand since you never tell me anything! I'm your daughter! The next Duchess Rogner! And yet here you are keeping me in the dark about things that I have a right to know!"
Gerhart scowled and slammed a fist on his desk though the loud sound didn't even make her flinch. "Do not get ahead of yourself! You are not the Duchess Rogner yet, Angelica."
She scoffed and crossed her arms, glaring defiantly at him. "So? That doesn't mean you can hide everything from me. You know I'll find out anyways regardless of whether you want me to or not."
He sighed and brought a hand up to his head to assuage the headache that was beginning to form. "By Aidios, some days I can't help but wonder where you get your bullheaded and stubborn attitude from."
"Why not look in the mirror, father? You're the pot calling the kettle black," she sarcastically retorted.
"You might as well leave if that is all you came for," he waved dismissively at her.
"But father-"
"I will not say this again," he cut her off sharply, "I will not change my stance no matter how many times you storm your way in here and throw a tantrum."
"Well maybe I'd stop if you'd just tell me why! Why are you still supporting the Noble Alliance in waging this stupid Civil War?" She demanded to know with an edge of desperation to her plea, "Don't you see how it's affecting our people? How it's affecting the Empire as a whole? And let's not forget all the other factors involved that make this whole thing stink more than a dead fish left to rot."
Gerhart stayed silent as Angelica continued to rant on angrily about her dissatisfaction and disappointment with her father and how the Rogner Dukedom owed their people more than they owe the Noble Alliance and Duke Cayenne by extension.
When he continued to not say anything, she snarled and balled her hands into white knuckled fists.
"Fine! If that's how you're going to be then I'm done trying to reason with you through words. I'll stop you with force. After all, the only thing you'll truly respond to is strength. That's always been the Rogner way."
Finally, Gerhart responded. With an eyebrow raised in interest, he asked, "Is that so?" He smirked challengingly at her. "You and what army?"
"You'll see. I'll raise an army of the people and start a rebellion against you that will take this province back from the Noble Alliance," she strongly declared.
Then without another word, she turned her back on her father and left.
Gerhart stayed silent as she slammed the doors of his office shut behind her, completely unaware of his proud smile. He looked down to a lone photo on the desk that was of a child Angelica being held by a beautiful woman with the same hair and face as her and whose appearance was frail but the fire in her eyes displayed a strength he couldn't help but fall in love with all over again.
"If only she could see you now," he said with a chuckle, "How proud would she be at the sight of your strong back…"
Then he returned his attention to his paperwork as if he hadn't been interrupted but with eagerness as if he couldn't wait to see what Angelica would do.
XXXXXX
S.1204
Claire and Lechter sat in the middle of a conference room with Rook pulled up on a screen for a video call. The three Ironbloods were in the middle of discussing the current state of affairs during the still ongoing Civil War.
"The RMP will continue to operate as it has before though now that the Reformist Faction has managed to level out the balance of control in the war, we should be able to allow supply trains that are still under our control to visit towns farther out from the established perimeter," Claire reported, clear and concise.
"Sounds like a plan," Lechter nodded along easily, "As long as the Noble Alliance doesn't pull another Divine Knight out of its ass that is. It takes everything our guys have just to come out the other side whenever the Azure Knight decides to show up. Just the fact that one of them exists is enough to make my heart pound."
"It better be pounding from anxiety and not excitement," Claire dryly remarked.
He winked cheekily at her. "The heart is a fickle thing that does whatever it wants, Claire bear."
She looked exasperated and completely done with him in return. "I don't recall ever allowing you to call me that."
He waved flippantly at her. "Right, right. Sorry. No using your Millium exclusive nickname or else you'll shoot me. I haven't forgotten."
Rook smiled in amusement. "It truly is never a dull moment with you two. Hopefully the war will come to a swift conclusion and we can all finally meet in person."
"I look forward to it, Rook," Claire said with a smile.
"Hopefully it'll be without that tacky mask, yeah?" Lechter called out.
Rook somehow managed to convey his deadpan expression through the covered eye sockets of the mask. "I happen to find this mask quite fashionable and I don't believe you have any right to speak given what you wore during your trip to Crossbell."
"Man, way to hit a guy where it hurts," Lechter sighed before giving him a knowing look, "But then again, that kind of wit and charm is the only way you'll survive the noble scene, right?"
"Lechter!" Claire exclaimed in admonishment.
"What? It's not like the old man's here to stop me from making guesses about Rook's identity and Millium isn't here to overhear anything she shouldn't," he said in his defense.
"But still, Rook has a right to his privacy and it was the Chancellor who agreed to his request to not share his identity until the appropriate moment," she firmly reminded him.
"But when will that be? When the war is over? Or when Erebonia turns its attention towards the East and takes control of Crossbell before the Republic can?"
Claire was taken aback with surprise and looked uncertain. "That's…"
"It's quite alright, Claire," Rook interjected, "I don't mind. It's quite amusing actually."
"I try!" Lechter crowed with a grin.
"As for the reveal, I would certainly hope it to be soon though that may not be the case as I am quite highly ranked within the Alliance," Rook continued, "Revealing my identity before it is time could prove detrimental."
"So you're a double agent, eh?"
"If you wish to be technical about it. Though honestly, I would prefer not to be associated with either faction but alas, that is the path I have chosen and I will do what I must to see it through to the end."
"Rook…" Claire murmured softly.
"In any case, I believe we should only focus on making sure the war ends as soon as possible with few casualties. The rest can only be played by ear now that it is just us four."
Claire looked stricken by the reminder of the Chancellor's death and even Lecther was sympathetic.
"You okay there, Claire?" He asked in concern.
"I'm fine," she said, only to sigh when he gave her a disbelieving look, "I suppose I'm just worried for Millium and Rean. I know they're both capable but the fact that neither of them has contacted us yet, even just to let us know they're alive, concerns me."
"I getcha," Lechter nodded in understanding, "But you gotta remember, they're both a part of Class VII, the so called 'winds of change' that the Debaucherous Prince hoped to create ever since getting back from his little vacation in Liberl and you've heard Teo's stories about their field studies. I think they're more capable than you think."
"I concur," Rook chimed in, "I have had the privilege of engaging with Class VII multiple times over the year and they have become quite known for marching to the beat of their own drum. In fact, I believe Millium's lack of communication may be out of a sense of loyalty and that she is now more a part of Class VII than she is of the Ironbloods."
Lechter snorted at that. "Can you blame her? Given her history, I think the pipsqueak deserves to be more like the pipsqueak she is. Cause even though she is capable, it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth to have someone as young as her and the Black Rabbit as government agents."
Rook nodded in agreement with his sentiments but Claire was quiet and had a conflicted expression on her face.
"Sorry, didn't mean to get you down, Claire," Lechter genuinely apologized, "I betcha anything that Millium knows exactly what she's doing and she'll get in contact when she's ready. Rean too."
She sighed and nodded. "I know but…I just can't help worrying about them."
Lecther looked to Rook, at a loss for how to bring her mood back up, and Rook took that as his cue to speak.
"I understand all too well how you feel, Claire."
She looked at him in confusion. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"I too have someone I care about whose location and well-being is currently unknown to me," he clarified, "A little brother who attended Thors and fled during the invasion."
"Oh Rook…" Claire said sympathetically, assuming that he was talking about one of the regular students who fled and not a certain someone who was traveling around the country and doing his part in helping the people and whom Rook had to cut contact with in order to protect his neutrality. She smiled reassuringly at him. "Well I'm sure your brother is fine. Since he's also a Thors student, that means he's resilient and resourceful."
Rook smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Claire."
As the two exchanged words, Lechter remained silent as his suspicions grew about the identity of Rook and his newly revealed younger brother.
"How about we move on to other subjects?" Rook suggested, "We have much to discuss before the day's end and I don't believe it will do our productivity, or our hearts, any good if we continue to dwell on the well-being of our loved ones."
"Of course," Claire readily agreed, "What's next on the agenda?"
And here was where Rook looked to Lechter who was distinctly uncomfortable.
"Er, well, that'd be the old man," Lechter said, "More specifically his body. But we can table it for now if it makes you uncomfortable, Claire."
She shook her head in response. "While I appreciate that, we shouldn't keep pushing it off for later or else we might never know the truth."
"I take that to mean we still have no clues as to who took his body?" Rook asked.
Claire grimaced. "Unfortunately no."
Lechter leaned back in his chair with a frustrated groan. "Geez, what a mess. Can't believe the old man's still giving me headaches from beyond the grave. But I still can't help but wonder, who would take his body?"
"I am more troubled by the implications than anything else," Rook grimly said, "The longer this war continues, the more I cannot help but wonder if it is setting the stage for some grander plot. But for what? I cannot say for sure."
The trio of Ironbloods was left to ruminate on that for a moment before continuing their discussion with the uncomfortable thoughts floating in the back of their minds.
XXXXXX
S.1204
On the opposite end of the Empire, at the same time as the Ironbloods were meeting, three men congregated together in the Arseille class airship, the Courageous.
Prince Olivert, Mueller, and Viscount Arseid were holding a strategy meeting to determine their next move as well as preparing as many contingency plans as possible for the future based on the intel they were given. In fact, there were so many contingency plans that the board in the meeting room was completely covered with paper and string connecting to different parts of the board.
Olivert looked particularly proud of the board while Victor was more amused by the prince's pride than actually understanding of the chaos before him in paper form and Mueller questioned every single life decision that led him to this moment.
"And then we shall implement Plan X in the situation that Plan D and G both fail whether at the same time or not, it doesn't matter," Olivert concluded with a flourish and turned to smile at the two men, "Any questions?"
"Yeah, I have one," Mueller said with a scowl, "Why did you waste four hours of my life on over complicated drivel I will never need to understand or remember because my job always boils down to keeping you alive and making sure you don't do anything stupid."
Victor snorted at Olivert's affronted expression.
"Oh come now, my dear bosom buddy," Olivert crowed as he shimmied his way over to the pissed off Vander, "Can't you at the very least humor this poor bard's ingenious planning?"
Mueller gave him a withering glare. "I've been humoring you since I was first assigned as your guard when we were kids. Try again."
"Alright, alright, I suppose we can move on to other subjects now," Olivert nervously conceded.
"Thank Aidios," Mueller breathed a sigh of relief.
"And what is next on the agenda, your highness?" Victor asked with an amused expression.
Olivert pulled out a file from Aidios knows where and proceeded to slap multiple photos onto the already overcrowded board. The photos were of various Thors students who had escaped the day of the invasion. Some photos had green check marks on them while others had black question marks. The ones with question marks were all the members of Class VII barring Laura and Emma who had check marks.
Victor hummed, intrigued. "The Thors students? Then I presume we will be speaking in regards to the ones we still have not found?"
"You presume correctly, Viscount," Olivert said with a wink, "Most of whom we've already found and either established communication with or welcomed aboard the Courageous thanks to the efforts of the talented and hardworking Miss Herschel."
"She truly is one of a kind," Mueller nodded in agreement, "I don't think I've ever met someone as impressive as her who hasn't already allowed themselves to be poached by one government or another and has plans to stay that way."
"Perhaps it is the Class VII spirit within her given how her class was the trial run for both the concept and the ARCUS," Victor remarked.
Olivert grinned proudly like a parent being told how brilliant their child was. "I cannot wait to hand her the captain's position and let the Thors students have the run of the Courageous when the time comes. There's only so much we can get done in an airship as conspicuous as this unfortunately."
Mueller sighed and shook his head in exasperation. "Just as long as you don't give Miss Herschel a heart attack when the time comes for you to hand over the hat."
Victor laughed at that. "I'm sure his highness has it all planned out."
"Indeed I do," Olivert said, "Until then though, we can only stand by as the students follow their own path and support them should they ever need it."
"But that all depends on what Class VII does, won't it?" Mueller pointed out.
And thus, the discussion finally came to the heart of the matter. What to do about Class VII since it had become clear the class somehow became the center and reasoning behind the decisions of the rest of the Thors students and without them, the students would not move as one as Olivert needed them too.
Victor looked at the photos on the board. "We were only able to establish Laura and Emma's location in Legram thanks to Klaus."
"And through them, we know that Jusis is traveling around the Empire though his exact location has been pretty hard to pin down," Mueller continued.
"Well he is the son of my beloved teacher and I've been able to see with my own eyes how capable he is, so I'm sure he's doing just fine," Olivert said, more to reassure himself than anyone else.
"But you still can't help but worry precisely because he's the son of your teacher and someone you care about," Mueller said, seeing right through his best friend.
Olivert sighed. "Indeed. But at least I can rest easy in the fact that Cedric and Alfin are safe in Ymir along with Kurt." He looked to Victor gratefully. "All thanks to Toval of course. That man is truly something else. How he has not been promoted to A rank is, quite frankly, an insult."
"Right?" Victor agreed with a laugh, "I've been telling him to just take the damn promotion but he said that if he did, he'll be so swamped with high ranking cases that he won't be able to help those who cannot afford to put in such requests anymore."
"Regardless, I'm just thankful he got in contact when he did," Mueller said with a sigh, "At least knowing my little brother is fine is good enough for me, especially with my father and step-mother's well being up in the air. But I know they can hold their own so I'm not too concerned."
"Such is the way of war, unfortunately," Victor said sympathetically.
"And that brings me to the next subject of discussion," Olivert interjected with uncharacteristic seriousness, "The Civil War and its true purpose."
Mueller and Victor both frowned but for different reasons.
"I don't know, Olivert," Mueller said with his brow furrowed from the uncertainty he felt, "Isn't it a bit much to say that the war's a set up for something even bigger than that? Especially given how one of the major political players was taken out the moment it began?"
"I would be inclined to agree with you, Mueller, if it weren't for the presence of both the society and the introduction of the Divine Knights," Olivert rebutted.
"I have to agree with his highness," Victor chimed in, "The driving force of the Noble Alliance, the start of this Civil War, and the Divine Knights…it's almost as if there is more at work than just the culmination of decades of tensions between factions."
"I…suppose your right," Mueller hesitantly agreed, "Even though I don't like the fact that the damn society is involved and not knowing how just grates on my nerves."
"You are preaching to the choir, Mueller!" Olivert exclaimed.
"Still, there is something more that unnerves me about this war…" Victor said before trailing off with uncertainty.
Olivert and Mueller looked at him in question, prompting him to continue.
"Do you not notice how the current Civil War is eerily similar to the War of the Lions? Then again, it could just be the paranoia from being a citizen of a town as superstitious as Legram that has me thinking in such a way."
Olivert frowned in thought. "No, I think it is not just mere paranoia, Viscount, especially if we are to take the Black Records into account."
"The Black Records?" Victor asked, looking to Mueller in silent question if he knew what Olivert was talking about.
Mueller shrugged, also not knowing what Olivert was saying. "First time I'm hearing of this."
"Apologies, Mueller," Olivert said with genuine regret, "But this was something I decided was on a need to know basis and you never needed to know."
"Until now?"
He nodded solemnly. "The Black Records are the only known records of the hidden history of the Erebonian Empire. Records that are so secret that the Septian Church knows of its existence but not all of its contents. In fact, only the current ruler of the Empire may be allowed to know all of the secrets within the records. I was lucky enough to learn about them when it was still assumed I would take the throne one day." He looked at the board in concern. "And now I can't help but believe that whatever is in those records is replaying itself once again in the present. And that Class VII will be at the center of it all."
A silence settled to let all the information sink in and process.
Mueller released a heavy sigh of discontent. "Well if that's the case, there's nothing we can do about it now except prepare to hell and back and support those kids when the time comes."
"Indeed," Olivert agreed with a grim expression, "It seems the course of history might truly hinge on the role Class VII will take in the war and what they do in the subsequent aftermath of its conclusion."
Victor frowned and solemnly prayed, "May Aidios grant benevolence and allow us to protect those children for just a little longer."
And scene! Finally got all the cast of characters I wanted to cover done and out of the way. Cause honestly, it was such a shame we never got to see what exactly the rest of Class VII plus some of the supporting cast were doing throughout the time Rean was asleep before showing up when the plot demands them too. Also, I thought this was a good time to start establishing the storylines for Cold Steel III and IV as well as bringing in the next gen characters like Kurt and Cedric into the fold much sooner.
Anyways, I hpe you guys enjoyed the chapter and can already see the foreshadowing and future character arcs that I'm trying my best to establish. In the next chapter, we're going to move to the game canon part focusing on when Rean wakes up all the way until he leaves for Bareahard. Until then!