The Dustbin
Day 2: Roll Call
25th of the Great Tree Moon, Friday, Evening
"... An unfortunate array of circumstances, but sadly, I'm afraid Lady Rhea's decision is final."
Karna crushes his own face with both of his gloved hands in front of a sharp-dressed, green-haired man with a goatee.
"Because of course an upstart mercenary would end up being the Professor here then me, an Honors Graduate at Faerghus's Mage Academy, Head Researcher of the Adrestian Empire's Magical Theorem Studies, and a bearer of the Lost Crest of Noa from the Alliance." Karna pointed out in a slightly dejected tone.
"I understand that you're... confused of what's going on." The green-haired man stated. "But first, as I said before, I need you to calm down-"
"I HIT MY HEAD ON MY WAY HERE! GIVE ME ONE GOOD REASON WHY I SHOULD BE IN THE FIRST PLACE, SETETH!"
Seteth sees Karna's red-amber eyes glowing from his hood.
But before anything can occur, the door behind them opens, revealing a lime-green haired woman with a divine presence to her.
"L-Lady Rhea!" Seteth bowed to the woman.
"What troubles our applicant, Seteth?" Rhea spoke out in a serene tone.
She looks at the stressed Karna to get her answer.
"... Does this look like the face of a man who doesn't need help?" Karna spoke out towards Rhea. "Forgive my rudeness, but I had a really, really bad day today."
"I understand your plight, Sir Yuga." Rhea calmly replied. "But first, I need you to cool your head for a moment."
She then reaches out towards Karna's arm, grabbing him by his wrist.
"UNHAND ME, WOMAN-"
*SLAM*
"... Evidently, she can handle me just fine." Karna mumbled as he caressed his sore wrist. "Seriously, that woman can kill a bear with that iron grip of her's..."
Karna begins to contemplate on just what kind of figure Rhea had underneath those robes.
He then looks around outside of the Archbishop's chambers, glancing around at the dimly-lit halls of the monastery.
"... To hell with it." Karna spoke out. "My application already null and void, so might as well explore before I make myself scarce."
Karna then begins to walk around the halls, with only his trained eyes being his guide in the dimness.
"All doors are locked, as expected." Karna mentally noted. "But seriously, why to I keep finding random crap on the halls?"
First, an array of scattered notes outside an office door, then an empty wooden flask stinking of aged booze right outside of halls that he just got kicked out of, and-
"... Somebody better find these before I burn them out of spite." Karna thought in disgust as he scuttled away from a drunk woman collapsed onto the floor. "And what's her story, I wonder?"
Karna sniffs the air around her, smelling booze.
"... Forget what I said." Karna thought. "She's a just hot mess of a woman."
Karna quickly tries to make himself scarce before something happens to him with that woman.
"Well that was a close one..." Karna sighed out after he exits the main building.
He then looks around to find himself in front of an artificial body of water, with a greenhouse next to him.
He then continues to look around the empty area, with only the company of cats prowling about at night.
"So this must be the first-floor residence..." Karna noted his surroundings. "... Sparring Grounds, Classrooms, Steamhouse, and even a space for commerce."
He then spots a hidden figure running away from him.
"Hm?" Karna mumbled. "Who's there?"
He ran after the shadow around the corner, only to find himself where the stables were at.
"Damn, slippery one, ain't it..." Karna clicked his tongue. "Well at least I know that someone other then the Archbishop whor-, I mean... ugh... I hate today-"
*THWACK*
A sharp blow strikes behind Karna's head.
As his consciousness faded, a thought occurred.
"... This is going to be a running gag, isn't it? If so, damn it all, I'm buying a helmet."
*THUD*
"...ey... he's waking up?"
"Want me to get water..."
Karna slowly opens his eyes, his vision still blurry from the blunt impact given to him.
In his eyes, it presented a rather... alarming view.
He found himself against the wall, with both of his arms tied behind his back with a rough rope that would be used to pin freights to portside, the flooring was aged wood, like that of a tavern's or hunter's shed, the room itself was a mess, with desks and chairs scattered about in a disorganized cacophony of an organization, a lone bookshelf thrown onto its back, lying down on the floor, creating even more clutter, and chandelier above looked like on the verge of falling from its hinges.
As for the inhabitants themselves, they were also equally odd as Karna's current predicament.
Three males and three females, each of them extremely distinct from each other in likeness, sans for their student uniforms, all of which were exactly like the typical student of Garreg Mach would wear, only with most of the golden tassels removed, leaving it as a symbol of loss of prestige.
One male was a short, black-haired youth with a slightly-ruffled ponytailed tied behind his head, a pair of deep purple eyes contrasting greatly with his pale complexion, his uniform's overcoat was slung over his shoulders like a makeshift cape, and in his hands was a large tome labeled "Anthology of General Theorem of Magic, Volume 4".
The other male, by contrast, was a muscle-bound youth with dark-tan skin and short flame-red hair, his face was covered with small scars, his eyes were that of glowing topaz-yellow, his uniform was in complete tatters, as if someone had thrown it into a fireplace as some sort of a sick prank, and instead of black leather shoes, he was wearing thick-looking books with rope tied around his legs like bindings.
And finally, at the dark corner of the room, there was a male of average height, but his facial features were completely obscured by the bandages wrapped all over his face, leaving only a few strands of silver hair and blood-red eyes brimming with hate, his hands and legs were also completely covered in bandages, implying that the mysterious youth was covered head to toe in bandages, as some sort of grand injury has been inflicted upon him.
As for the female cast, there were two similar-looking redheads, most likely being twins, with one twin having braid hang from her left and the other's hanging from her right, both also had coordinating tattoos, with the twin with the left braid having a claw-like mark underneath her right eye, while the other having a wing-like mark underneath her left eye. Both, by contrast to their peers, were wearing their uniforms proper, albeit without the gold laces like the other students.
And finally, sitting on the podium was a short, tanned girl with long, flowing purple hair, her lower half half of her face obscured by a layer of black cloth, her uniform lacked the jacket, the skirt went all the way down to her lower calves with a silt cut upwards on her right side of her skirt, and strapped around her exposed right thigh were a bandolier of throwing knives, with one of those blades twirling around her fingers, performing tricks with it, nimbly manipulating the blade between her digits, all the while, her catlike glare not breaking from Karna.
"... Well you lot look friendly." Karna commented on the odd bunch of youths. "Dare I ask, who are you all, and why have you kidnapped me?"
The girl with the knife flicks the dagger towards Karna, only for the cloaked man to catch the blade between his teeth.
"Hm, guess you're awake enough to not needing to use your hands, let alone, dodge." The veiled girl stated.
"Please, I had my fair share of bandits during my travels." Karna stated. "Always slept with one eye open."
"Didn't stop us from knocking you out like a light." The reading youth pointed out.
"Hilarious." Karna snarked back. "So would you mind letting me go? I have to be out of monastery grounds by tomorrow morning."
Another knife nails right next to Karna's face.
"Give us one reason why." The veiled girl asked with her hand extended outwards.
"Well firstly." Karna went on. "I've no clue who you people are other then surprisingly bloodthirsty seventeen-year olds-"
"I'm 19." The veiled girl snapped.
"Held back?" Karna asked the veiled girl.
"More like forced to attend school later then anyone else." The reading boy pointed out. "She once threatened her previous professor to put her in a class around her age range. She ended up here, Garreg Mach's dumping ground for underperforming students; The Dustbin."
Karna now figures out what was going on.
"... Ah, I see now." Karna stated. "It seems that I now found my place here after all."
"What do you mean?" The veiled girl asked as she retrieved another knife from her band.
"Tell me..." Karna asked. "... Do you lot actually like it here?"
The youths exchange confused looks at each other.
"No no no, I don't mean the travesty of a homeroom that you're all in right now." Karna pointed out. "I mean your current predicament. The lack of a proper guidance, respect, and might I add, hygiene."
"... Now that I think about it, I'm starting to get a little tired of this room we have." The girl with the claw tattoo lampshades.
"The dust here is kinda making me a little dizzy..." The girl with the wing tattoo points out.
"Yeah, I kinda miss the out and open fields..." The large redhead sighs out. "The students up there can use the stables while I have to fetch Darius from the wilderness constantly..."
The bandaged boy lets out a low grumble before a cough.
"True." The reading boy stated. "I'd admit that the dimness is not good for my eyes..."
"I really do not care in the slightest of my circumstances." The veiled girl argues. "... But the idea of finally getting the respect I deserve sounds tempting."
"So we all agree, then?" Karna asks.
All of the youths, however, still remain skeptical from their doubtful expressions.
"... Hmm, guess being relegated to this position would damage one's perception of their own prospects." Karna thought. "... No matter, time to apply a little force."
He then forms a magic circle with his bound hands.
"What the-" The reading boy dropped his book.
"[Flux Η]."
Everything sans Karna starting levitating off of the ground.
"WHOA WHOA WHOA!" The claw-tattooed girl exclaimed. "WHAT THE BLOODY ELL'S GOIN' ON!?"
The girl with the wing tattoo starts screaming uncontrollably in panic.
"So this what it feels like to fly on your own..." The redhead stated in wonder. "... Oh cripes, I can't come down. IT'S STARTING TO BECOME A LITTLE SCARY UP HERE!"
The bandaged boy starts flailing and screeching in a feral manner, reminiscent of a wounded animal.
"... Fascinating." The boy with the book remarked as he closed his book while floating midair. "I've never seen this kind of magic during my studies."
The veiled girl tries to throw her knife, but the knife simply floats listlessly in the air upon being thrown, going nowhere towards its intended target/Karna.
"... I think I've played along enough as hostage." Karna remarked as his hands glowed once more. "[Miasma Δ]."
The rope around his arms burn away from the purple energy emitted from his hands, freeing Karna of his bindings with relative ease.
"So..." Karna speaks out with slight smugness. "I take it that you have no objections to my prowess?"
"Prowess of what?" The boy with the closed book asked.
Karna brushes his hair upwards, removing his hood from his head.
"My prowess as your new Professor, of course." Karna answered. "What, were there doubts of me being able to handle six dysfunctional delinquents? Please. If it means that I can work here and use my talents to the best of their intended use, then I won't complain."
The book boy then lets out a loud cackle before stopping to a wheeze.
"... Oh boy." The boy sighed out. "Methinks that you have no idea what you're getting into."
"Well, allow me to take a few hints of my own, then." Karna replied. "The twins are from Brigid, as evidenced by their tattoos below their eyes, the redhead and the knife girl are Almyran in origin, as evidenced by their skin tones and manner of dress, the legging and the veil respectively, although the redhead seems to be nomadic while the girl is more of a city-dweller herself, and as for the bandaged boy, that shade of silver hair sticking out of your wrappings indicate that you might be Duscuran, though with those bandages covering you, you might also be an albino, and coming from you, boy, pale skin, dark hair, you're a native from the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus, and should I take an even more daring guess, I assume that you've also attended the Kingdom's Mage Academy prior coming here, as evidenced by the book that you were reading, which, by the way, I've helped co-author."
"... Wait, YOU'RE KARNA YUGA!?" The boy cried out in surprise. "ONE OF FODLAN'S GREATEST ARCANE MINDS OF THE CURRENT GENERATION!?"
"... I suppose introductions are an order." Karna stated. "As the boy stated, my name is Karna Yuga, and I was supposed to be teaching here, until I fell off of a cliff and was out like a light for two days straight, and I was subsequently replaced by some sellsword with zero academic credentials."
"... Wow. I'm so sorry that happened to a man of your caliber." The boy apologized.
"So that's my story." Karna finished. "So tell me, what are yours?"
"... I'll start." The boy with the book stated. "But first, can you put us down?"
Karna snaps his fingers, causing everything sans himself to crash back to the ground.
The massive redhead breaks through the wooden floor, falling into a deep pit below.
"... Don't worry about him." The boy stated. "Those muscles aren't just for show."
"I'm okay!" The redhead spoke from the pit. "... But it's a little dark here, and I need help getting out."
The twin girls life the massive Redhead out of the rut, with said redhead sweating like crazy.
"... Now then, allow me to lead off." The boy stated. "My name is Byron Amadeus Noa. Former heir of the now-slaughtered Noa Family, 19 years of age, magical prodigy of Faerghus, and the bane of every single teacher that had the misfortune of boring me to death with their lessons that I've already learned. Reason why I'm here? I scared away so many of my own Professors back at the Blue Lions House that literally didn't know what to do with me. So they just dumped me here to rot, all because they couldn't comprehend my brilliance."
"Ah, so he must be one of 'those' students." Karna surmised. "The genius student that always scares off every teacher that he 'learns' under. I'll see to it that he remains... engaged."
"Us next! Us next!" The girl with the claw tattoo hopped up and down with her hand raised.
She then drags her wing-tattooed twin sister to the limelight.
"My name's Sorcha McCarthy!" The girl with the claw tattoo spoke out with spunk.
"... I'm Selene McCarthy." The girl with the wing tattoo spoke out meekly.
"And as you can tell, we're twins!" Sorcha spoke out as she placed her hand around her sister's shoulder. "Been together from cradle to now for 17 years in a row!"
"... We've been forced to accompany the Crown Princess of Brigid under our father's orders, as political hostages." Selene stated. "... As you can tell of our current situation, you can clearly see that it went far-South."
"Yep." Sorcha sighed out in frustration. "One of the Black Eagle bastards tried to blackmail my sis into coercing her into copping a feel all because we're Brigid, but I caught on in seconds, and beat the living crud out of him in the boy's bathroom."
"... Turned out that boy Sorcha beat up? It turns out his father was part of the Adrestrian Empire's branch of Garreg Mach's educational board." Selene sheepishly stated.
"After that mess, we got booted to The Dustbin." Sorcha spat out in distain. "The twat got away scot-free, but in his defense, I snapped his spine like a twig, so he ain't walking ever again."
"... Interesting." Karna thought. "The two are decent enough, but racism once again gets the better of human's minds and forsook the two down here. I'll be sure to vindicate them, for not because it's my duty as their potential instructor, but logic states that whoever responsible must be reprimanded for this."
"Allow me to go next!" The large redhead. "I'm Cyrus Iskandar! The next chieftain of to my fellow nomads back home.. or so I would be if I weren't captured by the Alliance as a trophy by the famed Holst of Goneril. Now it has been roughly 16 months overdue for my rite-of-passage back home, and I'm really worried for my father, who's both ailing in health and vigor, all the more reason why I need to go back home quickly as possible. But sadly, the Alliance sought to make my journey back home difficult as possible, by first sending me here to this infernal academy in order to 'civilize' me. Not agreeing, I've made multiple attempts to run back home, on foot if I must, but it turns out that the guards here are way more vigilant then one gives them for, especially that young gatekeeper..."
"So by all admissions, he's basically a pet to the Alliance. And rather anxious to go back home." Karna surmised. "I've remember taking notes that Almyra's coming-of-age ceremony begins when the child reaches the age of 18, and so, if he states that he's 16 months overdue... 19 years of age. Poor soul. I'll see to it that he graduates quickly as possible so that he may retrieve what is rightfully his."
"I guess as a fellow Almyran, I'll proceed to go next, then." The veiled girl spoke out. "Back home, I was given the name Topaz the Rattlesnake. Since for the past 19 years since my birth, I was trained as the Almyran Royal Family's hitman, taking out political dissidents that would dare harm the Sultan's heir. Upon hearing that the heir was moved to the Alliance territory, I infiltrated this academy as a student, but my cover was blown, and before I could escape, I was caught, and ended up becoming an actual student in the Golden Deer. In retaliation for this humiliation, I tried to commit suicide with poison, but all of my tools were confiscated by the Church, so I ended up breaking in and only managed to take my knives back before I got caught. Oddly enough, they only let me keep my knives after I agreed to be exiled down here."
"So a royal assassin from Almyra, acting as the heir's hidden guardian..." Karna analyzed. "... I'm only theorizing that she's this open because either I 'passed' her weird brand of test involving knives, or considering that she's already a prisoner of this school, she pretty much gave up on secrecy. Either way, it seems that she's not there to endanger me... for now, at least."
The bandaged boy then walks up to Karna, slouching towards him, in an almost primal manner, akin to that of an animal.
"... Vidar." The bandaged boy spoke out in a hoarse tone.
"He seems oddly quiet." Karna pointed out.
"Yeah about that..." Cyrus spoke out nervously. "... He's down here because he bit off a student's ear during sparring."
Karna looks into his bloodshot, ruby-red eyes, sensing nothing but primal rage coming from them.
"... Something tells me he wasn't always like this." Karna surmised. "Either way, I just hope that I don't end up losing a finger while dealing with him."
With that in mind, Karna looks across the students before him.
"So we have a teacher's worst nightmare, twins who were at the wrong place at the wrong time, an anxious heir desperate to return home, an assassin imprisoned in the confines of the monastery's walls, a borderline feral youth acting more akin to a rabid animal, and me, a Professor that was tardy, and his career and reputation in jeopardy after one, stupid, bandit attack." Karna spoke out. "Quite an interesting group we form..."
Vidar then sniffs his hair like a dog, right before breaking away and hiding back in the corner, scratching his nails against the walls.
"That means that he's okay with you." Byron stated. "Vidar sniffs your hair first before he decides to trust you or not. If he doesn't trust you, well..."
"Ear gets bitten off?" Karna answered.
"... He almost gouged someone eye out with a spoon at the Dining Hall." Selene stated. "... Since then, he's banned from entrance."
"Oh my." Karna sighed out. "And I suppose I'll learn more of you lot as I be with you?"
Everyone sans Vidar nods.
"... Very well." Karna answers. "I'll see to it that I reformulate my negotiations. But first, where's the exit?"
"Over there." Byron pointed upwards.
Karna taps his hand across the surface, revealing a shed-like hatch door.
"... We're literally in a basement." Karna pointed out.
"I heard rumors that this place used to be a dig site for some kind of secret society dwelling underneath the monastery, but the students got caught and the whole place just became a storage before the actual storage got moved elsewhere, and after that, we, kinda took over this place." Byron explained.
"Fair enough." Karna stated as he opened the hatch doors, only to be greeted by Seteth, out of all people.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't drag you out of here and throw you into a downstream river." Seteth glowered in disapproval.
"Two, actually." Karna explained. "One, I can easily get out of here myself as I'm doing right now. And two, about the students down here?"
"What are you implying?" Seteth asked.
Karna smiles.
"... How about we renegotiate my terms?" Karna states.
Seteth pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration.
"... Tomorrow morning." Seteth grumbled. "And this time, I will not be so lenient on you being tardy again. Understood?"
"I won't make the same mistake twice." Karna reassured. "I'll be at the nearest inn and situate myself there until tomorrow morning."
With that said, both Karna and Seteth go their separate ways.
"... Oh, and one last thing-"
"I'M NOT IN THE MOOD RIGHT NOW!" Seteth barked out. "DON'T MAKE ME RETRACT MY STATEMENT!"
Karna stands there in silent shock as Seteth briskly walks away from him.
"... Jerk."
The Next Morning...
26th of the Great Tree Moon, Saturday, Early Morning
"Greetings, sir!" Karna passed the gatekeeper. "I hope you had a good morning-"
"Can't talk. Can't afford to be late again." Karna mumbled out as he passed by the young gatekeeper.
Karna, reminded of his previous failures, briskly walks towards the Archbishop's building once more, and this time, nothing shall distract him.
The sun slowly rose from the horizon, as Karna continued to walk down the paved stone grounds of Garreg Mach.
Along the way, he makes quick observations around his surroundings.
He spotted Vidar hiding in the foliage, observing the same blue-caped blond youth training early in the morning.
He saw Byron carry an entire pile of books away from the dumpster for himself.
He spotted the Brigid twins scaling the rooftops of the dormitories.
He also spots Cyrus fishing by the body of water next to the greenhouse.
And speaking of the greenhouse, he spots Topaz sneaking away with a bag full of dead plants.
"Hmm. Odd." Karna remarked as he entered the main building and made his way up towards the audience chamber.
As he heads towards the audience chamber, he hears the sounds of cluttering and banging from the infirmary,
Karna ignores the groaning coming from the room, and approaches the double doors of the audience chamber.
He knocks on the door, only for no one to respond.
"Tch." Karna clicks his lips. "Guess I'll simply wait then."
He then sets his massive backpack on the ground as he sits down on the stone floor next to it, waiting for his time to come.
"It's early in the morning." Karna remarked out loud. "Surly, they won't keep me waiting."
Four Hours Later...
"... Tell me why you're like this." Seteth facepalmed as he spoke to Karna.
"Hey, you specifically said that you won't be as lenient the next time that I was late." Karna pointed out.
"Just how long were you here?" Seteth asked.
"... About 4 to 5 hours." Karna answered.
"... Better question, how much sleep did you get last night?" Seteth sighed out.
"Approximately 2 hours." Karna answered. "When you've traveled around the continent with all of its dangers forefront, your body kinda learns how to adapt with much sleep in the least amount of time possible."
"Ugh..." Seteth groaned out. "... There's a fine line between punctual, and just downright anal."
"Regardless, all that matters is that he's here."
In front of the two, the Archbishop, Rhea appears before the two, accompanied by a tanned, blonde woman in her late-20s wearing an ensemble of silver armor and a serrated longsword sheathed behind her waist.
"Lady Rhea!" Seteth briskly bowed.
"... And who are you to be, miss?" Karna asked the silver-armored woman as he got up.
"They call me 'Thunderstrike Catherine'." Catherine greeted. "But please, call me Catherine."
"Pleasure meeting you, Catherine." Karna shook her hand. "Quite an electrifying aura you got there."
"Oh please." Catherine rolled her eyes. "Leave the bad puns to Alois, he's the only good one who likes em."
"Ahem."
The two look towards Seteth, glowering.
"... Don't you recall why you're here in the first place?" Seteth pointed out.
"Now who's the anal one..." Karna rolled his eyes as he entered the audience chambers and into Seteth's office.
The four then gather around and begin their meeting.
"*sigh* Now, if I recall..." Seteth began. "I suspect that you were unfortunate enough to be kidnapped by Garreg Mach's... underperforming students upon your arrival?"
"Yes, that would be the case..." Karna answered. "... But technicalities aside, I got to know them really well."
"Then here's the question." Seteth went on. "What are your opinions on them?"
"... Honestly, they're the kind of students that deserves my attention." Karna answered.
"Oh?" Catherine raised her eyebrow. "So our tardy professor is interested in 'The Dustbin'?"
"In all honesty, yes." Karna stated. "I mean, there's a student that was too much for other professors to handle, twin girls that were screwed over by your own educational board, a political hostage that really has a bad case of homesickness, a displaced hitwoman, and a borderline feral youth who once bit off someone's ear. Please convince me that I can feasibly ignore them, at all."
Seteth, Rhea, and Catherine all exchange confused looks with each other.
"Do you call what happened last year?" Rhea asked Catherine.
"Oh yeah, I was the one who had to pull him off of the poor kid..." Catherine scratched her head as she recalled.
"... And your point being?" Seteth pointed out.
"Don't you see?" Karna replied with barely-restrained glee. "I wish to spread my knowledge to the next generation in this epicenter of growth, but help the lowest of low rise up to their fullest potential while doing the former? I'm practically killing two birds with one stone!"
"... An ambitious one, aren't you, Mr. Yuga?" Rhea pointed out.
"And you sure that you're not just doing it for your own credentials?" Catherine also pointed out. "I've seen those kinds of professors, and let me tell you, half of them don't come back here because of me. The other half, I think it might've been that bookish-looking kid."
"Oh don't get me wrong, madam Archbishop." Karna stated. "It's not just for my own credentials to boast towards my peers back at the Adrestian Empire's Magical Scientific Community. No, I'm doing this for everything that this potential endeavor has to offer."
"I assure you, Karna, it won't be like your adventures outside of Fodlan." Seteth pointed out. "You're not just dealing with mere delinquents. You're dealing with the worst of the worst students that this prestigious academy has to offer. Are you sure that you're willing to accept the position as Professor of the Remedial Course?"
Karna just smiles at Seteth's proposition.
"Let's make this more interesting." Karna stated. "How about a binding agreement between the two of us?"
"Explain." Seteth stated.
"Simple really." Karna stated. "I want you to put me under a contract that legally, by law and creed, that I'm not allowed to chicken out of teaching these students, regardless of whatever happens to me during this semester. Basically, I'm burning every single escape boat from the moment I start teaching these students, and only by death, I will be relieved of my duties."
All three of the Garreg Mach staff were taken aback by Karna's borderline suicidal resolve to teach the students from 'The Dustbin'.
"... Please reconsider your words, Mr. Yuga." Rhea spoke out in a stunned tone. "Surely, you really don't tend to put your very life on the line just to teach in our prestigious academy-"
Karan flings himself out of his seat and pulls Rhea closer to him by her dress's collar.
"ARCHBISHOP!" Catherine cried out as she drew her sword.
"... Look into my eyes, Archbishop." Karna growled out. "Tell me, that do you think me, out of all people, would back away from a challenge? I literally have your attack dog's blade pointed to my neck, and do you see me conceding under her overwhelming aura?"
It was true.
Karna was too focused on Rhea's eyes that he flat-out ignores Catherine's emitted blood rage, whereas Seteth was having a hard time breathing under it.
"Yesterday, I've come to a realization that my very golden opportunity was snatched from me by some no-name sellsword after a sting of bad luck two days prior." Karna ranted out as an dark-purple aura emitted from him. "But upon the verge of despair, I've found an even more valuable opportunity in form of those youths that you and your institution threw away. Allow me to reiterate; DON'T TAKE THIS AWAY FROM ME."
Rhea, despite facing the visage of pure desperation, remains composed.
"... You've made your point, Mr. Yuga." Rhea stated. "I shall commission the necessary paperworks for your enlistment to Garreg Mach. Seteth?"
The bearded man slowly gets up, wheezing.
"... Thank you, Archbishop." Karna stated as he let go of the Archbishop. "Also, apologizes for losing my temper. I really never got along with my peers back at the Empire, twice so whenever they doubt me or my propositions."
"I'm watching you, Karna." Catherine glowered at the cloaked man as she sheathed her sword. "Next time, however? Thunderbrand will feed."
"I'm not suicidal enough to get struck by lightning twice, Thunderstrike." Karna replied. "I'll be sure to be on my best behavior, doubly so when the Archbishop is involved."
"You have my permission to roam the grounds, but facilities are off-limits until further authorization." Rhea stated. "After all, you need to focus on bettering the worst students of this academy, correct?"
"I can live with that." Karna stated. "So when's the paperwork coming?"
"My, hasty, aren't you?"
"I think 'anxious' is the proper term." Karna retorted.
About Two Hours (and one Printing Press malfunction) Later...
"Sign here."
Karna takes the quill and signs his name on the line, stating that he's bound for the entire semester to teach the worst of the worst that the Officer's Academy has to offer, with him not being able to quit during his duration of the semester.
"Congratulations, and welcome to Garreg Mach, Professor Yuga." Rhea speaks as she shakes Karna's hand. "So being eager as you are, what is your first course of action?"
Karna caresses his chin before answering.
"... I'm going to need lots of cleaning equipment." Karna stated.
Author's Notes: So, managed to squeeze this one out before second semester starts.
So out dear professor has accepted his position as the Professor to the worst of the worst students of Garreg Mach.
And yes, I did see the Ashen Wolf Expansion Pack, and suffice to say, they will be relevant to this fic's plot.
Just need to buy the damn thing first before I implement them, but hey, their first meeting place is smack dab between the surface and the Abyss, for starters.
So with that said, here are the brief overviews for our students and staff from 'The Dustbin':
Name: Karna Yuga
Age: 33
Height: 183 cm
Crest: Timotheos (Minor)
Proficiencies: [Reason], [Faith], & [Authority]
Demerits: [Swords], [Axes], [Brawling]
Hidden Talents: [Lances] & [Riding]
Voiced By: Koji Yusa (JPN), Khoi Dao (ENG)
Name: Byron Amadeus Noa
Age: 19
Height: 156 cm
Crest: Noa (Minor)
Proficiencies: [Axes], [Reason], & [Flying]
Demerits: [Lances], [Faith], & [Authority]
Hidden Talents: [Faith] & [Riding]
Voiced By: Nobunaga Shimazaki (JPN), Max Mittelman (ENG)
Name: Sorcha McCarthy
Age: 17
Height: 169 cm
Crest: Nil
Proficiencies: [Swords], [Axes], [Brawling], & [Authority]
Demerits: [Reason], [Faith], [Riding], & [Flying]
Hidden Talents: [Bows]
Voiced By: Miyuki Sawashiro (JPN), Gina Bowes (ENG)
Name: Selene McCarthy
Age: 17
Height: 169 cm
Crest: Nil
Proficiencies: [Lances], [Bows], & [Faith]
Demerits: [Axes], [Brawling], & [Authority]
Hidden Talents: [Reason]
Voiced By: Nanako Mori (JPN), Melissa Fahn (ENG)
Name: Cyrus Iskandar
Age: 19
Height: 197 cm
Crest: Nil
Proficiencies: [Swords], [Lances], [Riding], & [Authority]
Demerits: [Axes], [Brawling], [Reason], [Faith], & [Flying]
Hidden Talents: [Bows]
Voiced By: Yasuyuki Kase (JPN), Ray Chase (JPN)
Name: Topaz, "The Rattlesnake"
Age: 19
Height: 140 cm
Crest: Nil
Proficiencies: [Swords], [Bows], & [Flying]
Demerits: [Lances], [Axes], & [Faith]
Hidden Talents: [Reason] & [Authority]
Voiced By: Yui Horie (JPN), Stephanie Shah (ENG)
Name: Vidar
Age: ?
Height: 175 cm
Crest: ?
Proficiencies: [Axes], [Brawling], & [Riding]
Demerits: [Swords] & [Lances]
Hidden Talents: [Bows]
Voiced By: Toshihiko Seki (JPN), Bryce Papenbrook (ENG)
So with that said, what do you dear audience think of this chapter?
Please let me know in the reviews section!