September 14, Unified Year 1886
Posdamnt, Imperial Heartland
Hahn Estate
"Are you sure you're twelve Franz?"
The blonde by his side asked him, eyeing him with those sapphire eyes, and at once, he had half a mind to tell him the truth. That he was actually nearly 80 years old and was much his senior. But of course, that would be just another one of the many things that could give him a permanent stay in a refuge for the insane if it were to ever leave his mouth. Instead, he simply responded as usual.
"Positive."
The blonde looked at him with a deadpan face before bringing up their fair hands, rubbing at their excessive hair as they countered with their own quip.
"…Sometimes. Sometimes I truly wonder."
The boy had been labelled similarly to himself. 'Precocious', in a way that they were much more articulate and intelligent than much of their peers, most especially from a younger age. While Franz had a reason that was more attributed to an atrocious play of fate, the bundle of wonder that sat next to him was natural.
Gerald von Hahn was 'Nobility', but not one that was connected to blood like the Schnantzern house. Instead, the title was bought through the strategy of the Imperial Chancellor, the Hahn family becoming another member of the political landscape on the side of Conservatism.
Gerald himself was one who couldn't wait to mature enough to jump into that hellish environment of politics, much to the confusion of Franz himself. He didn't quite understand the draw, neither in his previous life nor in this one, but he would never dispatch its necessity. It was yet another reason he had decided to build a relationship with the boy.
After all, networking is extremely important. Especially so with someone who is looking to enter the Foreign Office.
"Hey Franz. Why are you joining the military?" Gerald asked this flippantly as he placed his hands behind his head, leaning back on the bench they sat upon.
The brown orbs of Franz slowly gazed around the garden within the land of his acquaintance as he responded nearly immediately.
"Why else? To protect my family." He spoke, not even looking towards the boy to his left.
"I'm sure you know how dangerous our position is, my friend." The boy responded back, without even changing his tone nor dropping the smile on his face.
Franz tilted his head slightly as he turned towards the teenager, understanding where he was coming from. The Empire was surrounded by potential enemies, with countless different territorial disputes popping and melting at the seams of stability.
Despite the relative peace the Empire had grown in, conflicts continued to happen at various borders, only being done away with the cover of unstable politics and the wish for solidity.
"All the more reason, Hahn." Was his simple answer as he looked away once more to the chirping of the birds. Before the boy could even speak up, he asked his own question.
"How is our West?"
Gerald stopped leaning back as he moved his arms, placing his elbows on his legs, his face earning its first amount of solemnity throughout their entire conversation.
"The usual. You already know of the various 'incidents' that continue to occur, especially around the Elsass-Lothringen area." He spoke neutrally as he flicked his hand about a small amount.
Franz simply nodded as he integrated himself into the small discussion, leaning back and placing his elbows on the wood behind his back. Gerald took that as a sign to continue as their mouth moved.
"Behind the scenes though, its getting messier by the month. The Parliament of those Francois is being overtaken by the Radical Right, and while they are focusing on economics, they are also clamping down on the Church and have intellectuals in droves waving pitchforks at a certain entity." He placed his hands on his knees as he glanced over at Franz.
"…I imagine this mystery entity is the Empire." He responded with a raised eyebrow, getting a nod in response.
"Of course. Obviously, Supreme High Command isn't pleased with either, and foreign relations between our two nations continue to get worse, against all possibility. Its truly a miracle beyond proportions for two countries to despise each other this much and still coexist next to one another."
Franz nodded at the statement, puckering his lip slightly. Many things did not make sense in this world, really. The Empire was much more powerful than it had any right to be, most especially with the 'resources' it apparently holds.
The Rus Empire, a long standing public ally of the Francois, had been entertaining an increase in Socialist and Communist values much, much earlier than should have been possible. The Kingdom of Ildoa was still allied with the Empire, even despite the fact that the two nations should have a period of aggression, especially with the potential dispute in territory still held.
Even with all of these extra instabilities, the boat was still sailing. The only issue was for how long it would continue to stay afloat.
"Truly divine. I suppose the only thing keeping us from ripping out their throat is the threats everywhere else." He finally spoke, shaking his head.
A grunt came from the throat of his peer, a bitter response following suit.
"Mostly our friendly Tsar in the East. However, due to that, the Commonwealth is continually checking in as a matter of fact, as is expected." Gerald waved his hand again as he leaned back himself, taking his arms from his knees.
"Of course. Can't have a possibility of another hegemony appearing in Europe after all." Franz spoke with disinterest as he itched his palm, a snicker coming in response to his quip.
"They wont have a choice. Our Empire wont falter." The determination in the voice of the young man was overbearing as any other Imperial citizen. He couldn't hold it against the teenager to being overtaken by the Nationalism of the State.
He knew where they were different. He simply wanted to protect his new family and survive, knowing of a potential future that would bring him back to days he would rather not remember. Safeguarding the nation was simply a side effect of this.
Gerald had been raised for only these fourteen years, obviously force-fed patriotism through a Conservative family. He knew no better than to be taken by the line. But he guessed this is where they both had similarities, no matter how much Gunther didn't know of them.
Neither of them had ever had a choice.
A faint smirk graced his face.
"You seem enthusiastic. I'm sure that kind of energy can be used in the Army. Need my help enlisting?" He asked with a raised eyebrow, eliciting a scoff from the boy who hadn't touched a true weapon in his life.
"Me? In battle? You jest. I am a rationalist, a pacifist, romantic lyricist. I prefer to love like a dove than die in a lie." Gerald stated with a dreamy look on his face. In response, Franz couldn't hold himself back from sighing out heavily.
"You are delusional, Gerald." He rubbed his face in pity for the boy.
"Attractive people don't get delusions Franz. You wouldn't understand." The boy waved his hand flippantly, and if he were merely 60 or so years younger, he may have taken the bait. Instead, he simply studied the boy from the top to bottom before he spoke again, standing slowly.
"I'll put in a letter for the Eastern Grubel Asylum. I hope you can get help soon, my friend." He began to walk as he finished, placing his hands in his pant pockets.
His mind counted the paces as a smile graced his face.
One.
Two..
Three…
"W- Wait! You're joking right!?"
Friendship couldn't hurt, he supposed. After all, how else would he be able to get some entertainment from those his age?
April 23, Unified Year 1887
Posdamnt, Imperial Heartland
Urban Center
The cheer of crowds surrounding was deafening and shocking to the untrained ear. Children sat on the shoulders of their Fathers, gazing up to the skies with awe on their faces, mirrored by many of the other people filling the streets of Posdamnt.
Franz sat by his Father inside one of the countless carriages surrounded by the local populace in the main square, his eyes sparkling in an innate sense of shock.
Why, one might ask, was this child much beyond his years so surprised despite their memories?
It was simple really. They had never seen flying people before.
The groan of their equipment was deafening as these soldiers soared over the gathering in an assorted formation, cheers accumulating to a new height as small flags of the Empire waved en masse.
"What a spectacle." He stated, sighing out as he shook his head, leaning back in the cushions. His Father gave a grunt as a rare smile rested on his face, his response brimming with pride.
"Only a small number of the Staff actually knew about its progression. It was only about last week the rest of us found out they had made this breakthrough months ago and were training this showcase force." He tapped his arms as his they lay crossed about his chest.
"Were witnessing a new era in magic, are we not?" Franz asked, his astonishment beginning to wane and make way for concern as he remembered that vision he had been given all those years ago. It seems this world was drawing closer to that woeful conflict.
"Not just witnessing, son. We are heralding it. The Empire is at the forefront, and we will continue to pave the path as pioneers." The older man gave a chuckle as he spread his legs slightly, leaning his head back and staring towards the magical scene in the skies.
Franz gave a noncommittal nod as he watched the fluid yet erratic movements of the soldiers as they danced across the clouds. It was a beautiful showing of their possible power.
From what he had heard, the next on the list was putting those without magical power in the sky as well for prolonged periods of time. His Father had scoffed at the statement when he repeated it, shaking his head, only acceding that nothing was impossible, only improbable.
But with the technological prowess of this world, and what would soon be the globe looking into ways to counter this new and imposing force, he had a feeling that yet another difference would make itself known between his previous life and his current.
But how could their current force be used was the true question at hand.
Simply viewing their movements from his point of view, he knew they would be an unpredictable and maneuverable force. Depending on their combat ability, they could be used in multiple areas. However, he felt attacking and retreating in a quick manner would fit for their style, especially with their speed.
An extremely mobile and flexible unit could be used almost anywhere. He felt that they could be used as a special operations troop specifically, especially with their possible air dominance for the next few years. However, he supposed such thoughts would be nowhere in the minds of this current generation.
If anything, they would probably be used as reconnaissance at this point, maybe supporting orders, if the era was anything to say for it. Radios hadn't appeared yet, so it was all the more likely for such a unit to be used as what he thought prior. Much faster than a soldier on horseback…
Why was he speculating?
"Father. What do you know of them?" He asked, turning his view away from the wonder above him.
"We've decided to name them Combat Mages. Magic attached to the beginning of their ranking, I believe. They'll have an assortment of duties but I know the artillery units across the Empire have been drooling at the thought of such a viable asset in combat." The older man tapped his shoulder slightly as he turned his eyes over to Franz.
"I'm sure they aren't the only ones preying on our newfound abilities." He raised an eyebrow in response.
"Well, Infantry wants them for support on the ground. Medical is fascinated by their healing capabilities when you introduce the jewels we've manufactured. Operations wants to integrate them into every doctrine they've been maintaining. Propaganda very near had a stroke in their mania when they found out we could make men fly, and the Kaiser wants Mages to begin filling positions immediately."
"Immediately?" Franz persisted with interest.
"Immediately." His Father responded, closing his eyes slightly as he continued. "So much so that he has completely done away with restrictions on age as long as your magic power is enough for flight. One could be seven or seventy, but if that condition is met, they are eligible for conscription."
Franz simply looked at the older man for a moment, before his eyes turned away to the skies in deep thought.
Child soldiers… Another on the list of peculiarities of this world. They were surely looked down upon internationally, but he understood that such a rationalist nation wouldn't care about age as long as you could be a tool for the Empire.
He wouldn't say it didn't leave a bitter taste in his mouth, with the experiences he had in memories long past and burnt by the erosion of time. But it wasn't as if he could change anything, not as the thirteen year old scion of a diminished military nobility.
And really, if he could, would he? Most probably not. After all, with the fate that this nation faced, every number counted. Every tool, he supposed, needed to be sharpened.
"So green… How will they integrate?" He changed the topic. His Father obliged.
"Mandatory attendance at the Cadet Corps, no matter how you've joined. Goes on as usual from there. Volunteers may go to Candidate School, conscripts are sent off elsewhere. Personnel wants to groom a healthy amount of officers before some type of conflict begins, hence the focus on commissioning." The man rubbed his cheek slightly as he grasped his jaw.
"That's fair. Anything else interesting relating to it?" He wondered audibly as he leaned back slightly in the cushion.
"If you care." The man shrugged as he looked back to the display above the buildings, watching the flag of the Empire fly behind the men who pranced across the blue. "The man who made all of this possible is one Adelheid Schugel, if I remember correctly."
Franz rose an eyebrow. He had never heard of such a name in his own world.
"Adelheid Schugel?" He repeated, obviously expecting the man to be a bit more thorough.
"That's the name. Newfound pioneer of magical technology. A genius, and of course, mentally ill if I have anything to say for it. From what I've heard, he is a ticking time bomb, and worst of all, one attached directly to the Kaisers' coffers." His Father groaned slightly as he shook his head, his hand still on his jaw.
"At least he brings in results." Franz spoke up, his voice tinged with humor at the reaction of the man.
"Small mercies." Was the response, bringing a snicker from both.
But even with such banter, he couldn't help but furrow his brows. He looked at the eerily familiar figures as he mentally scratched down another mark in his mind.
He knew that conflict would be against the Francois, remembering that foolish blue uniform that seemed ever bright even in the mud. The uniform of the Empire had become quite the same itself as well.
Technology was changing quickly, advancements were happening much too fast. Weapons were becoming more powerful, more versatile, by the month. Mouths were becoming more heated by the day.
Patriotism had nestled itself within every citizens soul, and with it, nationalism has rooted itself like a parasite. Snarls have donned the faces of nations who look upon each other with disdain and fear. He could see it, no matter how much he didn't want too.
The telltale signs of conflict were blaring, especially to one who bathed in it for years.
It was inevitable.
He could only hope that time was on his side.
But if his years had taught him anything with the mistakes he had made, the lessons learned in the blood of his aides and peers, it was that hope was blind and deaf.
The cheers peaked.
AN:
I'm so horrible, I literally uploaded next, next month.
Not my biggest nor proudest chapter by far either, but content nonetheless!
Wow, writing fanfiction when you should be finishing a large assignment due in a few days is definitely something you shouldn't be doing! Right? Right?
Anyway, we finally have magic. The Empire opens a new era of technology much to the fear of literally everybody else in Europe as everybody picks up and begins to fight for supremacy.
Unfortunately for them, the Empire has Schugel. Unfortunately for the Empire, they have Schugel. The young Walking Disaster is taking his first steps and is already making waves, what a beautiful display.
Anyway, I actually had a good bit of fun writing this one, actually putting in a good amount of dialogue compared to my sorry excuse for worldbuilding that I have covered up as the mad ramblings of an old man.
Probably going to have him volunteer at 17 in 1891, go through the six months of cadet school and two full years of OCS, which would have him at 19, maybe even 20 depending on the month in 1893 or '94. That should take a handful of chapters as well.
Probably have one more chapter bringing in the other characters for a nice run before we switch up scenario, solidify them rather than having them just be one chapter side characters which would be dumb and stupid and dumb.
Anyways, I truly enjoyed writing out of my ass for a good amount of time, and my respect for my fellow writers continues to grow.
I hope anybody who is still possibly reading this enjoys it, and I hope you guys have a good Halloween!
See you next upload,
Kelpten.