In hindsight the decision to wait around for Sara was a terrible one. Even if Fie believed her to be a reliable person – which she most certainly did not – given the scope of everything that was going on in the country she was sure that getting a clear picture would take a lot of time.

Fie was used to scouting small battlefields and fortresses. Trying to scout out one of the largest countries on the continent? Yeah. She was glad it wasn't her trying to figure everything out.

Fortunately there were two things that kept the long afternoon waiting around bearable enough for her to resist the siren's call of a nap. First was the big lunch they all shared. As much as it annoyed her that Laura was getting better as a cook she could at least take some satisfaction in the fact that Rean still had her beat and it wasn't even close. Add in contributions from Gaius, Jusis, Alisa, and pretty much everyone except Millium (because nobody was in the mood for that much salt)...

Yeah. It was a good meal.

The second thing was seeing how everyone acted. It definitely wasn't the old normal, but it seemed that her classmates was now in somewhat lighter spirits than they had been right after everything that happened. Rean especially looked less like a walking corpse as he chatted amicably with anyone who wanted to have words with him.

She would keep an eye on him, of course. She knew Rean. The guy had a bad habit of taking on everyone's burdens with no regard for his own well being. Most people would see that as admirable, but Fie knew that there was a limit to how much he could take before cracking under the burden. Yesterday had come damn near close and even if the worst had seemingly passed she had a feeling the world was gonna be throwing more stuff at him soon enough.

Fie couldn't carry that weight for him, but she was damn well gonna make sure to help him out as best she could.

"Aww. It's cute seeing you stare at Rean like a forlorn lover."

The silver-haired girl rolled her eyes, "Figures. The one time I stop waiting for you you show up."

"You were waiting for me? That's so sweet! But I'm sorry to say that I'm into older guys and not younger girls."

The newcomer's last remarks were loud enough to draw all eyes towards them, "Instructor Sara!"

"How did you even get in here?" Machias asked, "I've been watching the door the entire time!"

"That's why I used the window!" On one hand it was annoying that Sara managed to sneak up on her like this, but on the other it was funny seeing the more serious members of the class glare spitefully at the obnoxious adult.

Hearing Alisa growl in impotent anger made her decide that it was more worthwhile in the end.

"And here I thought it was only Fie who missed me. Do you all love me that much?" The teacher pretended to wipe away tears from her eyes, "I never thought I would live to see the day when my beloved students would come to care for me the same way I care for them!"

"I... I'm not so sure that is the case."

"What Laura is trying to say but is too nice to actually say is that none of us care about you." Fie drawled out with a grin, "We just want to know whatever you found out."

Sara glared at her, but the smile she adopted a few seconds later sent a chill down Fie's spine, "Sure. I found out lots of good stuff. It's a long story and I'm feeling thirsty, so think you can go grab me a drink from my room, Fie?"

"Hell no."

"That's a shame. I don't think I'm gonna have the energy to talk without a a little something to warm me up."

So it was a standoff then. Fie returned Sara's smug look with a glare of her own. There was no way she was gonna do what the old woman wanted, "Um... I can go it?" Emma kindly offered.

"Nah. It's gotta be Fie. She's the only one of you kids who knows how I arrange my room. Plus she's faster than the rest of you."

Was she trying to turn her family against her like that? There was absolutely no way. No amount of curiosity about what was going on could overcome the bonds they had formed and the ordeals they had faced together!

"Um... Fie?" Why was Rean of all people speaking to her with that apologetic look on his face? "I think... I think you should do what she says."

No way! Betrayed from the one she the thought she could trust the most! With wide-eyes Fie glanced around the room and found herself looking at many pairs of equally apologetic eyes. A few of her classmates couldn't even look her in the eyes.

"You better hurry up. Don't want to let your boy toy down, do you?"

Oh how she wished she could punch Sara in her stupid smug face, "I'm gonna spit in your drink." She warned even as she slowly began approaching the stairs in defeat.

"Joke's on you! I might be into that!" Sara cackled in delight as Fie began climbing up the stairs, "I need something strong! Get me a bottle of Marion's Rum!"

With that obnoxious voice following her Fie begrudgingly complied, grumbling the entire way. So much for her 'family'. Those bonds she thought they shared? All a lie.

Still, humiliation aside the request wasn't a difficult one and within a minute she had the correct bottle in her hands. Before leaving Sara's room she made sure to trash the bed which made her feel a little better. As much as she wanted to drag her feet back to the others she was just as curious as to what the bracer had to say, so her trip down the stairs was a quick one.

"Good girl." Sara teased once she snagged the booze right out of Fie's hands, "You should consider working as a servant to some classy noble once you graduate. Would be a good job for you."

"Um, instructor? I think you should start talking now." Oh so now Rean thought he could take her side, did he? The glare she shot the kind and heroic traitor was enough to cause the boy to shrink back in his seat. Come to think of it, most of her classmates had taken seats since her forced mission. Decision made the young woman bypassed the few available empty seats in favor of the one she really wanted, "...Ooph!"

"Chairs don't complain." She chastised immediately as she adjusted herself to get comfy. This was Rean's penance.

Sara let out an amused chuckle, which drew all eyes back to her. She must have sensed the combined impatience of the assembled group as she straightened up and adopted a more serious look – Annoying big sister Sara was gone and the A-Rank Purple Lightning now stood in her place, "Well, as you would expect, the situation in Erebonia is really chaotic right now. Where do I even begin?"

She seemed to immediately come up with an answer to her rhetorical question as she continued, "I guess we should start at the capital, shouldn't we? Just like we were told, the Infernal Castle vanished without a trace shortly after we left. Surprisingly nobody in the capital was injured from the whole incident, and it seems as if the memory is already fading from their minds. Most people are just attributing it to a wild hallucination, and that's something the government has been running with as they have made up a story about a gas leak or something."

"Speaking of, Heimdallr is now firmly under the control of the Imperial Government. A ceasefire was declared in the battle outside the capital once the castle appear, and by the time it disappeared... Rufus happened."

Out of the corner of her eye Fie noticed Jusis stiffen in his seat, "The message he sent to the Noble Alliance armies was long and flowery, but the gist of it is that Duke Cayenne had been arrested and that he was using his authority as the next in line to announce the end of hostilities. He claimed that he had been in negotiations with the Imperial Government and they had come to a peace arrangement that would protect the authority of the nobility. We know better, of course, but given most nobles don't know about his true allegiance..."

The nobles would lay down their arms only to find out that the peace that Rufus and Osborne had in mind for them was the opposite of what they had been fighting for. By that time it would be far too late for them to rise up again. One didn't need to understand politics to see the writing on the wall as clear as day.

"From what my contacts around the country have reported, not all the Noble Alliance forces followed that order. Why would they when as far as they knew they were winning? I heard that Generals Le Guin and Bardias have made a clean getaway form the capital before headed westward and I'm sure a few other armies will resist too."

"But it won't be enough, will it?" Emma asked.

Sara shook her head, "Not even close. It's kinda ironic that the only Great House still intact is the one that was least interested in this war to begin with. I'm sure Marquis Hyarms is already negotiating a way out of the war, and after him most of the minor noble families will follow suit to save their own hides. Without them there's no way for the remaining armies to keep fighting."

"So that's it then?" Machias asked despite knowing the answer, "It's almost funny. Had you told me a couple months back that the power of the nobility was about to be curtailed I would have been ecstatic. It's still something that needed to happen, of course, but I can't help but feel a sense of dread about it. I wonder how much Father knows about Osborne's plan...?"

"For once in his life Regnitz asks a good question." Fie and everyone else ignored the indignant cry from Jusis' rival, "Just how much is known about Osborne's survival?"

"Beats me." Sara let them all down with a lazy shrug. Seeing their disappointment the teacher rushed to make an excuse, "Look, most of the people I contacted are either fellow bracers or other people I've worked with in the past. None of them seemed to know anything, but none of them are all that important in the grand scheme of things. Dunno if the higher-ups know anything, but I can at least say the average person is in for one hell of a shock once he announces his return."

Fie watched as some of her more connected classmates adopted thoughtful looks, "I could try and get in contact with Dad? As far as I know he's still stationed at the capital with his division. But I have no idea how I would even ask him something like that."

"Mother wouldn't care." Alisa groused, "At best she would simply acknowledge it for the potential business opportunity before immediately brushing me aside again. Grr..."

"I would not be adverse to head down to Bareahard to inform Father in person. At least that way I could get some enjoyment out of the entire ordeal." Jusis mused aloud.

"As entertaining as that would definitely be, I've got a better idea for all of you." Sara's words were unsettling, especially because she had that glint of amusement in her eyes. Usually Sara's amusement meant bad things for the rest of them, "I want you all to get some good rest tonight because it's been decided that classes will resume tomorrow!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

The silence was deafening. Her words were so unexpected that it took them all by surprise. In all the excitement of coming together to bring things back to what they used to be Fie – and she wasn't alone based on the looks on most of their faces – had forgotten one terrible truth: Restoring Thors meant being forced to sit through boring classes again.

Her despairing groan broke the silence causing an avalanche of annoyed mutterings and other depressed noises.

"Well I for one am glad that we can finally resume classes again. I hope you all have been studying as much as I-"

"Boooo! Machias! Boooo!"

Fie wasn't sure what was funnier: The way Machias got shut down like that, or the fact that for once Jusis freely accepted the high-five that Millium offered after cutting his rival off like that.

"Wait a sec! You're a teacher!" Alisa pointed out, "Shouldn't you be getting ready for classes yourself? Instead all you're doing is sitting there drinking a beer..."

"Rum, actually." Sara interrupted with absolutely no shame.

Alisa let out a frustrated growl before continuing, "You're totally gonna waste our time, aren't you?"

The teacher gave a flippant wave, "Meh. Don't worry 'bout it. I'm a combat instructor, right? I'll just... I dunno... talk about some of the fights you guys did in the war or something? It'll be easy!"

"...That doesn't inspire much confidence, does it?" Fie heard Elliot whisper to Gaius. The tall Nord seemed rather amused in comparison.

"Honestly? You know what the hardest part will be?" Sara's question naturally earned her a lot of blank looks, "It's gonna be finding something for you gremlins to fight during your next combat test! I don't think any combat shell could last more than a few seconds against you kids..."

"Lammy totally could!"

"Oh, I know! Emma!" Sara's question caused the busty-witch to let out a surprised 'eep!' "You know more about cryptids than I do. Help me catch one!"

She seemed almost proud at her brilliant idea. Fie almost felt bad when she got off of her fleshy seat before headed towards the door - although that feeling of regret was less because of Sara and more because Rean's lap was comfy. That each and every member of Class VII began to follow her caused her to grin to herself.

"H-Hey wait! I was only joking! You guys-!" Sara's pitiful cries followed the silver-haired girl out the door.

Payback felt good.

Settling back into the old routine felt weird to Fie. Sure on the surface everything seemed the same. First she would wake up at a stupidly early hour, then sit through dull classes, chat with friends from both her class and the others, do club activities after school, and return to the dorms for the evening. The same as usual.

But there was a tension in the air that no amount of normal could fix. Everyone was on pins and needles waiting for the next update from outside. Class I and II especially seemed to have lost all of their usual bluster as they fearfully waited for updates from home.

And it wasn't just the students, either. Outside of Beatrix and probably the principal it seemed like all of the teachers were just as anxious as the students, which made sense considering many of them fought alongside the Courageous and Class VII. Instructor Neithardt wasn't even back in school as he was still with the 4th Armored Division.

Still, as awkward as things could occasionally be, Fie found herself enjoying the peace and quiet that had returned to her life with the turning of a new year. No longer did she find herself needing to worry about the safety of her friends or the threat of giant robots. Instead the most difficult things in her new routine were struggling to stay awake through the Vice-Principal's class, making sure her newly planted seeds were thriving, and keeping her skills sharp knowing that Laura would definitely be coming after her once things settled in a little more.

All in all, she had little to complain about. It was a nice feeling. One she wished could have lasted a little longer...

...Instead of the grand total of four days it did.

The first sign that something was wrong came during homeroom that morning. She and the rest of Class VII had been gathered around Rean's desk as usual, with the topic of discussion that morning being news from Elliot and Machias. It seemed that things were finally starting to settle down a bit in the capital and both boys were able to contact their fathers.

Thew news from both sources was about the same – Fighting had all but ceased in Erebonia. The war was unofficially over.

That info, while not unexpected in the least, served as the basis of discussion. It would have been nice had Jusis or Emma had been able to contact their siblings for a differing perspective about the situation, but neither had had any success to that point. Not that Fie could fault them as her own attempts at finding information on Xeno and Leo's whereabouts had been equally fruitless.

It was during that conversation that the door to their homeroom opened and in strolled Sara. Except instead of the usual loud and obnoxious Sara it was a grim-faced and unhappy Sara. She didn't speak at first, but her unusual expression was quickly noticed by all her friends and silently they returned to their seats to await the bad news that was sure to come.

"Well.." The bracer announced after a long wait, "I just finished with a meeting with the principal and the other teachers. Classes for the day have been canceled..." She let out a tired sigh, "...There's going to be a radio address from the capital in two hours."

Yep. Fie could already tell that this was gonna be an unpleasant day.

"Just like last time, the student council will be making radios available to all the classes if you wish to listen as a group. It's your choice, of course, but I would recommend doing it."

She sighed again before looking at them with her dour expression, "I'll be frank with you guys – Whatever we're about to hear is gonna suck. Still, even if we already have a general idea about what's about to happen I want you all to listen to it. The news we are about to hear will undoubtedly affect everyone in this room."

The war was about to go from being unofficially over to officially over. But what should have been a good thing was about to be followed by news of the imminent invasion of Crossbell. And that Osborne himself was likely to be the speaker...

Yeah. Fie would listen, but Sara was right - This was gonna suck.

The others seemed to share the same idea based on the looks in their eyes, but two hours was a long ways away so one at a time she and the others began headed towards the door to kill some time. A part of Fie simply wanted to lay at her desk and take a nap until the appointed hour, but the mood definitely wasn't right for that.

Instead she found herself toiling in the dirt as she tended to her seedlings. Somehow this had become her go-to task when she was feeling stressed. The flowers needed her to tend them to grow, but with that little bit of love they could endure through so much before blossoming into such wonderful things...

It was a comforting thought.

"I take it those are the ones you recently planted?"

"Yup." She answered before even looking up to see the speaker. What she saw... "I don't think most people would go swimming in the middle of winter."

Laura couldn't help but let out a giggle even as she continued toweling off her hair, "And what do you think?"

"That most people are idiots." She answered dryly. A little chill never bothered her, after all.

"That's what I thought." Laura's amusement seemed to fade as she glanced down at her worriedly, "It feels like history is repeating itself again, doesn't it?"

"What, that we're sitting here waiting for the news that we're finally invading Crossbell again?" A nod was her answer, "Guess so, but I doubt it will end with a bunch of soldats rolling into town again."

Fie paused before tilting her head thoughtfully, "...Kinda wish it would, actually."

"And why is that?"

"'Cause I wouldn't mind another delay of the speech. Plus, I bet we could totally win this time even without Valimar. You fought a couple soldats during the assault on the villa, right?"

"I did, but Instructor Sara did most of the work. I see your point, however. Still... I don't think we are gonna be seeing another delay anytime soon."

Fie tilted her head in consideration as she looked at the blue-haired swordswoman. If Laura had already gone for a swim... Her brows rose as she glanced at a nearby clock, "Guess I lost track of time..." Over an hour had passed since she started gardening! "Wanna head back now?"

After putting away her tools she and Laura made their way back to the classroom. Everyone except Millium and Instructor Sara were already in the room waiting. The two were greeted by their friends as they joined the conversation.

A conversation that didn't last long as the door opened once again, this time admitting someone who wasn't a member of their class, "Hi, everyone!" Towa greeted as she entered, radio in hand.

"President Herschel, welcome." Machias, ever the stiff, was the one to reply.

Fie felt a little guilty as she stared at the diminutive second year. This was the first time she had seen the girl since that day, and given the sounds of awkward shuffling from around her Fie knew she wasn't alone in that. Even Rean – ever the dutiful gopher – had admitted to them that the student council had been so busy restarting the academy that he had yet to speak with her.

She looked... fine. On the surface, at least. Given everything that had happened Fie was sure that wasn't actually true. Knowing the girl she had simply buried her feelings under the weight of all her work.

"Everything's all ready for the address in a few minutes. I'm sure you guys don't need my help in setting the radio up." She said as she placed the device on Sara's table.

"Y-Yeah. Thanks, Towa." Rean must have been thinking along the same lines as Fie given the way he stuttered briefly in his response. Hopefully he, Angelica, George, and any of Towa's other friends would find the chance to sit her down and talk with her the same way Class VII helped each other out the past few days.

The little president was halfway out the door before she stopped and turned around, "Oh! George wanted me to tell you that preparations for..." For the briefest moment her mask slipped a little, exposing the sadness beneath, "C-Crow's funeral. It's gonna be held next week at Himmel Cemetery. All of you are invited, of course."

"I think I speak for all of us when I say that we will be there." Laura answered, causing Towa to beam her gratitude before leaving.

It was only a few minutes after Alisa set the radio up that the static gave way to a random news announcer person who began talking up the imminent speech from an 'important government figure'. It was the standard droning type that Fie was more than willing to tune out until the actual speech began.

At least the guy wasn't an Anguis in disguise, probably.

She was broken from her bored waiting once the voice on the radio gave way to a surprised crowd over the airwaves from Dreichels Plaza, "My word! The person taking to the podium. It can't be! Is that...?!"

"Greetings, my fellow Erebonians." Unlike the random spectators and announcer none of the people in that classroom were surprised at the deep voice that took over the airwaves, "I imagine many of you are surprised to hear from me again. Allow me to dispel the confusion for you..."

"I, Chancellor Giliath Osborne, am still alive. And now is the hour of my return to you all."

"The assassination attempt on my life left me grievously wounded and unable to protect you all from the crisis that unfolded shortly after. For that, I offer my most sincere apologies to each and every one of you. That terrorists and rebels would align themselves with our external enemies in order to plunge our great nation into such chaos was almost too deplorable to even consider, but that is exactly what they did."

The Blood and Iron Chancellor let out a laugh. It wasn't friendly at all, "If there was one positive from the bullet that pierced my chest it was that those traitors were finally brave enough to reveal themselves openly in my absence. Brave... but incredibly foolish."

"Earlier today I received notification that the last battle on Erebonian soil has ceased. The last of the traitors has been routed to what few bastions they still control, where they will remain until they are willing to lay down their arms. My friends, the war that has gripped our beautiful country has finally come to an end!"

The speech paused for a moment to allow the crowd in Heimdallr to let out a raucous cheer. Why wouldn't the assembled masses do that? To anyone not in the loop it was all good news. The mood in the classroom, however, was completely different. The sense of imminent dread was palpable.

"Thanks to the efforts of the Imperial Army and every brave citizen who resisted the criminals who occupied our great cities, peace has finally been restored to our country. But they weren't alone in their efforts! Today I want to highlight the contributions of two unique individuals who played a critical role in restoring peace and stability to our nation!

Fie stiffened. He was about to do it, wasn't he? She would have paid any price imaginable to shut Osborne up before he could continue his seat, but right now she could do nothing but curse her own powerlessness. For his part Rean didn't seem to react at all to the news. In fact the swordsman's face resembled one of Clara's stone sculptures by how little he seemed to react.

"First I would like to honor the efforts of Lord Rufus Albarea. Haha yes, I can see the surprise on your faces that I am praising the work of one of the Noble Alliance's top commanders, but Lord Rufus has proven himself to be a young man of exceptional intelligence and cunning."

"He was the only one to understand that I never had any desire to destroy the noble traditions that are the foundation of our nation. My only goal was to punish the traitors who worked with our enemies to create chaos throughout Erebonia and restore the Imperial Family to their rightful place. And thanks to Lord Rufus, both goals have been achieved!"

"By contacting me during the war he paved the way for a peace accord that spared much of this country from the fires of war. It is a peace that works for all sides – The honorable nobles have laid down their arms and will remain in power, while the ringleaders of the insurgency have been imprisoned and will face trial for their myriad crimes. He is a young man of exceptional intelligence and will surely play a significant role in Erebonia's future!"

"If Lord Rufus was responsible for ending the war at the negotiating table, than the other person I wish to speak of won the war on the battlefield..."

Someone in the classroom gasped. It was time.

"I am sure you all heard the stories of the Azure Chevalier." They could all hear the mocking way he used Crow's title, "The Noble Alliance certainly spared little effort in promoting his efforts while they controlled the Imperial Chronicle and other press, didn't they? Unfortunately for their delusions of grandeur, however, we had our own counter to their elite warrior."

"Piloting his own Ashen Knight, this brave young man defeated the soldats of the Noble Alliance at every turn. He liberated Roer and brought Duke Albarea to justice after the mad noble razed the town of Celdic. He single-handily rescued our beloved Princess Alfin from the Noble Alliance's flagship before leading the assault on the Karel Imperial Villa to free His Majesty and the rest of the Imperial Family."

"Later that day he engaged the feared Azure Chevalier in single combat before finally vanquishing the villain and capturing the mastermind behind this entire war – Duke Cayenne. With their leaders in chains and most of their strongholds fallen the remaining nobles had little option but to accept the graciously offered peace, thus ending the war."

"The young man I speak of is Rean Schwarzer. He is our Ashen Chevalier and Erebonia's greatest hero!"

It was impossible for Fie to suppress the furious growl that slipped from her throat, not that she even considered trying. That bastard had done it. He said he was going to turn Rean into a hero and he had done so, in the cruelest way possible.

"That son of a bitch!" Although Machias was the loudest voice, his was not the only one as it seemed like all of her classmates had something to say about those last few lines from the chancellor. Not even Sara could resist a few choice words.

In fact the only person who seemed to remain silent was Rean himself. Were it not for the slumped shoulders and the whiteness of his knuckles as he grasped his desk she would have thought he had been completely paralyzed. Whatever was going through his mind in that moment couldn't have been pleasant, and she had no intention of letting it be-

"As joyous as the news about war's end and heroic champions might be, our great work remains unfinished!" ...Unfortunately for her she was committed to listening to this train wreck of a speech through to the end, "Even if the enemies from within have been subdued there are still those outside this country who wish harm upon each and every one of you as I speak!"

"I am, of course, referring to our neighbors in the east. It was Crossbell who fired the first shot in our struggle, reducing Garrelia Fortress to rubble and giving the traitors cause to act. It was only by luck that the recent instability in that rogue state prevented them from taking advantage of our momentary weakness to strike a lethal blow, but that instability won't last. My countryman, we must strike, and we must do so now!"

"Therefore, with the consent of His Majesty the Emperor, I have ordered the Imperial Army to bring peace and stability to that long-suffering city! It is my greatest hope that under Erebonian guidance Crossbell City can be made peaceful again. No longer shall rogue dictators threaten the peace that we cherish so dearly!"

"And if any other nation sees fit to intervene in our grand mission than they shall not find our resolve wanting! With the might and valor of our glorious Imperial Army backed by heroes such as Rufus Albarea and Rean Schwarzer, I have little doubt that we are about to enter a new age of peace and prosperity across all of Zemuria!"

The radio address descended into pure bedlam as the cheering reached euphoric heights, a sharp contrast to the dead silence that was their classroom. Fie glanced around the room, seeing the same helpless confusion written on the faces of her friends that was certainly on her own.

The war was truly over, but the country was about to enter a new and dark chapter. And Rean was destined to be caught in the middle of it.