Chapter 2: The Arrival and the First Duel
Travelling by train was something Ivan rarely did, but always had a pleasant experience and memory. Using the train to get to the Academy was no different, and he appreciated the high quality and comfort the Japanese provided.
Being seated next to the window, opposite of Chifuyu, the only thing left was to talk and kill time that way.
"So, the Academy. Anything I should know that is crucially important?" he started. "Barring you, there is only one other IS pilot that is a guy."
"That's reassuring. You know his name?"
"Of course I do. He's my brother." she answered nonchalantly. Ivan had a more surprised face. "You didn't hear the TV news?" she asked, and Ivan pondered before answering.
"No. I don't watch TV much or read the news." the words flow honestly and without care.
"You better change that. As an IS cadet representative, you'll be expected to know more information of world events and act more responsible compared to the rest of the students."
Ivan didn't like the idea of more obligations, be they clear or implied, thrown on him.
"I thought this was a school to train and improve pilots, neutral as it can be." sheepishly he worded his thoughts, but Chifuyu provided more clarity.
"In theory, that it should be, and I make sure the students I teach know well and learn proper behavior. However, you're older than most, and you'll be starting at year one. You're a cadet representative of a large alliance, and while I don't expect you will be put in important positions, I do expect you to be well informed, in case of interviews or situations where you will need to act quickly."
Ivan certainly lacked that perspective on himself, or to be more precise, what he presented as of now, and the calm but strong explanation provided by Chifuyu illuminated what he could and should do.
"Guess I can't play ignorant guy, eh?" he responded, weakly smiling. "Trust me, that won't get you anywhere in most places. Least of all here."
"Speaking from experience?" Ivan inquired. "Second hand experience. Ichika can tell you tales from his own experience."
"Ichika is...?" Ivan asked slowly. "My brother. The only other IS pilot that is a guy." Now Ivan understood better. He connected the dots.
"Got it. Thank you. anything else I should know? The program, where something is, how are the students?"
"We teach students the basics of theory and practice for the IS, alongside core subjects that are in other highschools. Seeing as you finished highschool, you won't need to attend those classes." Ivan smiled at the last statement.
"However, I do encourage you to take additional classes related to piloting the IS." An eyebrow rose. "Encourage? You're not...forcing me or giving me an obligation?"
"No, that isn't up to me or anyone else. Ours is to follow the program and adjust it if need be. More of an advice on my side. Some of the students study hard and fight harder."
"Cadets?" he asked. "Usually cadets, can be others as well. Best be prepared."
"You're talking like I'm entering an arena." he jokingly remarked.
"Depending on your opponent, it might be more than just an arena."
The train started to slow down, and both of them prepared to disembark. The Academy before them was a large, white building with many glass windows. By the way of how well maintained and clean on the outside it looked, it gave impressions to the man like it was built a week ago.
Walking onwards, before the entrance waited a woman, wearing a yellow dress, large eyeglasses and green hair. Ivan has seen many a people and signs that were hard not to notice, but this one lady took the cake. Looked young too. Another student?
With whatever confidence she could muster, the lady approached them putting her hand forth.
"Greetings Hedervary-san. Welcome to the Academy. My name is Maya Yamada, I'll be one of your teachers for your study session while enrolled here." the statement came out as structured, practiced but lacking in fluidity.
He shook her hand firmly at first, then his grip slightly weakened, his eyebrows narrowed in a confused way.
"Teacher? Apologies, from the way you look, I thought you were another student. Maybe a member of the student council."
She blushed, covering her face and mumbling words that Ivan either couldn't hear or understand. "Not even five minutes at the Academy and already you're making trouble. With the staff, no less." Chifuyu reprimanded, though by the looks of it, it seemed like she was poking fun at him. His expression told a different story.
"I'm not here to cause trouble. It's just that Maya looks so young, she could easily pass as a student and no one would suspect her." Ivan tried honestly explaining. Chifuyu pressed forward.
"So, compared to someone like me, she looks young?" she asked, a bit more seriousness returning. Ivan pondered a short time, trying to construct an answer.
"Yeah..." the answer came out with half the confidence. "You're saying I look old?" he quickly blinked several times, trying to figure a way out. "No, you look and present yourself as mature and older. Older, but not old."
"The implication is that Yamada doesn't present herself as such, and may not be for the job?" Ivan was even more confused now than before. Luckily, Maya started giggling, indicating that this was all a joke that he didn't understand. He calmed down, then got irritated.
"You were pulling my leg all this time?" he looked between the two teachers. "Chifuyu did." Maya provided clarification. "I didn't get where it was all going from the start, but later with the questions I got it. It's a habit of hers, to poke fun in that kind of manner." He looked back at Chifuyu. "Why?"
"It gets boring around here, and it makes people more honest. Draws them out of their comfort zones." the answer sounded like another joke, but in every joke, half a truth.
Or all the truth, in this case.
"Now, if you're done hitting on the teacher, time to show your room." Maya blushed again, though not as intensive as before, and Ivan's eyes had a scowl. "I'm not hitting on a teacher!"
"Why, not your type?" Chifuyu asked with a mischevious smirk. Ivan didn't understand anything anymore.
"No comment." he responded, and carried his bags, following the teachers where he needed to be. A short while later, there he was, room (insert number here).
"Here we are. Here's your keycard. Your roomate will also be having the same keycard. Keep it safe, and if you lose it, notify us immediately for your own safety."
"Roger that. I guess my roomate will be Ichika?" Ivan made an educated guess and was proven right when Chifuyu nodded. "Makes sense. Boys with the boys, if possible."
"I need to go on a meeting. If you have any questions, Yamada sensei will answer them." with that, Chifuyu departed down the hallway.
Making sure Chifuyu was out of vision and earshot, he asked Yamada "Is she...known to be like this? Serious, but then being a jokester in her own way?"
Yamada had a surprised look at first, before composing it back to normal. "No, no. In classes, she is strict business 100% of the time. You'll see soon." Ivan didn't know if he should feel relieved or tense. Chifuyu looked like the type of person to whom 'strict business' prompted images of hard military professionals, seldomly wasted words and high demands from themselves and others.
"That's good to know. So...about me and the Academy. Does anyone know I'm the second male pilot?"
"The staff know, the members of the council as well. The students will know formally tomorrow at introductions."
Ivan caught the word formally. "Formally? What do you mean, formally?" Maya adjusted her glasses before clarifying.
"Tomorrow the class and the rest of the Academy will know. However, if you meet students before that, well, you meet them before the time. No issues."
"There won't be problems? The girls won't come at me with pitchforks and torches?"
Yamada smiled before providing explanation. "No, but if they have, they can deploy their IS."
It was a joke. It was meant as a joke. He understood it was a joke. Whatever his mental faculties were telling him, his feelings were opposite of that, and so was his face, growing a bit paler, his eyes a bit emptier.
Maya noticed this and provided assurance of safety. "I don't think they will do that, it was meant as a joke. However, you have an IS of your own. If they draw first, you have every right to defend yourself. You can call me or the other teachers in case you need help, whatever it may be." her smile waned but didn't dissapear, and the message and promise of protection gave him a warm feeling of being welcome and acknowledged.
"Thank you, professor. Good to know I can rely on the staff." he said with a smile, probably the first time she saw him smile, and turned towards the door.
"Also, to clarify, when I said you looked young, I meant that however old you may be, you look younger. You seem to look after yourself well."
"I know, don't worry. Orimura-sensei meant nothing serious back then."
He slowly started to open the door. "I am aware. Still, wanted to make myself clear. Have a pleasant day." he nodded in gratitude and entered his room.
The room had comfortable colors, mainly brown wooden floors and white walls. Two beds and two desks, in addition to a door leading to the bathroom. He noticed a bag and some stuff on one of the beds, which indicated that someone already settled here. Or planned to.
"Anyone home?" he asked loudly, to make sure he would be heard.
And heard he was.
"Who is that? And what are you doing here?" he heard a voice of high volume, belonging to a girl, coming from the direction of the bathroom door. Not what he expected.
"I'm Ivan Hedervary, cadet representative of the Balkan Alliance, and the teachers told me this was my room. I can safely presume you're not Ichika Orimura?"
A moment of silence passed.
"I was supposed to be roomed with...roomed here." she said, and corrected herself. "In any case, I'm done showering and my clothes are on the bed. Could you leave the room?"
Ivan spotted there was an object resembling a light wooden wall between the two beds, serving as a visual barrier.
"There's this...wooden wall thingy between the beds. I'll go to the other end and start unpacking, so I'll be turned with my back to you. Will that suffice?"
Time passed yet again in moments without any of them speaking.
"Alright. But if I catch you trying to peek..." her voice was lower, but the strength was not lacking.
"I peek, you slap. Don't worry, I won't. Didn't come here to cause trouble." He moved to the bed, and started to unpack and whistle to fill the silence in the room.
The whistling didn't persist for long.
"Do you have a habit of whistling?" the question, which would have sounded neutral from anyone else's mouth, sounded more annoyed coming from the girl. The image it conjured in Ivan's mind was of a samurai warrior on guard duty, being annoyed by the person they were guarding.
"Sometimes. It helps me focus, and I thought it would beat dead silence in the room. Would you like me to stop?"
Another moment passed before the peace was broken. "Just lower it down, okay?" the request was gentle in nature, but seemed like she was putting effort into trying not to be rough in asking.
"Roger that." he smiled and attuned his wind instrument to a lower volumen.
"Done." was all he heard from her after a minute or so. Standing up and turning around, they finally met face to face.
The girl with the long raven hair wore, what he presumed, the standard IS uniform. Mainly white, with red stripes going from the shoulders down to the sleeves, and a similar pattern on the skirt. The girl seemed to have some sort of training regime, as he judged her to be strong.
From her perspective, the guy appeared serious, despite his easygoing demenour so far. Tall, of medium built, short dark hair and cleanly shaven. Black pants, black T-shirt. Nothing special.
"I will sound like a parrot on repeat, but I want to make my introduction properly. Ivan Hedervary, cadet representative of the Balkan Alliance. From Croatia." he extended his hand.
"Shinonono Houki." she replied, giving a firm grip, with more force than what he usually expected.
"That the usual uniform at the Academy?" he smirked lightly.
"Yes. Something funny about it?" she responded seriously, her eyes showing no sign of relaxing.
"Just the stripes at the sides. Reminds of Addidas tracksuits and postman uniforms. And some police officer uniforms as well." he answered, still with a smile on his face.
Her frown relaxed, her eyes having an inquiring look, a bit confused. Her mouth slightly open, wondering what sort of uniforms would be made like that.
He noticed her bewildering gaze and waved his hand.
"Old stuff my uncle and grandfather used to tell me in stories. Meant no offense, just got reminded of my younger days."
Before either of them could break silence again, the door of the room opened.
It wasn't a mystery who it was, as there weren't many male IS pilots around the world.
"Houki?" were the first words the lad spoke upon entering the room, and that was enough to make her mellow out, if only for a bit.
"Hello...Ichika." she spoke, now feeling warmer, friendlier, more relaxed.
"Ivan Hedervary of the Balkan Alliance. I'm a cadet representative, but don't let that intimidate you. As far as I'm concerned, we both start at square one." he smiled and offered his hand. Ichika shook it well, radiating a level of enthusiasm.
"Orimura Ichika. Just a student. I'm sure you received some basic training before you got here."
"Trust me, while I can pilot it better than those that never stepped into it, other cadets will surely make circles around me." Ivan proclaimed and went into a hearty laugh, with Ichika joining him with his own. Houki smiled more.
"You two...know each other?" he asked, waving his hand between the two.
"Since childhood, but we haven't seen each other once the IS was introduced to the world." Ichika replied.
That was unusual. Wouldn't they keep contact in some way? Phone, email, letters if need be? Ivan noticed Houki feeling uneasy, and he wasn't sure why, could only guess.
So he guessed it would be good to excuse himself and give the two friends some time to catch up.
"I need to...check some stuff with the administration, to make sure I have all I need." he said, putting his hand on Ichika's shoulder as assurance.
"Might take a while. See ya!"
And with that, the tall Slavic lad left the room.
/ / / / /
The room felt awkwardly silent, but not for long. Houki made several steps towards Ichika. "It's been a long time..." she spoke.
"Six years." he added. Six years, it seemed longer. Felt like an eternity. Yet now they were here, watching eye to eye.
Ichika felt happy, like a piece missing from long ago was finally found. Houki felt mighty shook up. She was feeling divided between joy and shock, between being happy to see him, and feeling like it was a dream that could end any moment.
"When they put us in the protection program, I was slowly growing to accept that I wouldn't see you anymore."
She looked into his eyes intently, focused and holding herself from breaking down.
"I didn't know that." he finally added. Houki had surprise in her eyes.
"As a kid, I didn't know what was going on. Why you were leaving, where, with who. I asked Chifuyu-nee, and she told me you were going somewhere safe. That it was needed." he spoke calmly, but his eyes were starting to shine, slowly watering up.
"I asked if I can go to keep you safe. She said I can't, that it's not how it works." he gulped before continuing, struggling to keep the words flowing.
"I asked if I did something wrong, if I can make things right." A tear escaped his right eye, going down the cheek. Voice slowly, but steadily crackling.
Houki always saw Ichika as a boy that could endure any burden given to him, but understood their seperation left a toll on both of them. It was just their behavior that was different.
"She said no. That I didn't do anything wrong. That life sometimes goes the way you don't want to, and you can't do much but accept." His voice started to break. He wanted to be strong, to tell her his side of the story, to be the shoulder to lean on, but it felt like he was losing a grip.
Houki closed the distance between them, wrapped her hands around him and tighly squeezed him, putting his head on her shoulder.
She didn't let go. She couldn't let go.
"It's alright now. I'm here. We're...here." she whispered gently, her voice taking another form and feel entirely from what Ichika remembered.
"Come hell or high water, I'll be by your side. I won't let anyone tear me away from you." She squeezed him tighter. "I promise."
The promise was a mixture of a lot of things; happiness, melancholy, pride, uncertainty. She didn't expect to see Ichika in this state, but felt glad she could offer help in whatever way was possible.
"I know. And I'm grateful for that." he uttered after letting the tears flow and finding comfort in the old friend, once thought to be never seen again.
They released each other from the embrace and established visual contact again. Despite the teary eyes, they were happier. Like the admittance of anguish removed a burden that was carried for too long, without them having any say in the matter.
"So...I've read that you won that national kendo competition. Congratulations! You definitely worked hard for it." Ichika added, tears slowly drying away.
"How did you find out?" Houki asked, her face smiling and surprised.
"Read the newspaper. I don't watch TV much, and I prefer to acquire information at my own pace."
Houki just chuckled at the explanation. "Something funny?" Ichika inquired.
"You sound like a old man talking like that." It was Ichika's turn to laugh.
"And you still sound like a tomboy full of energy. Never change, Houki." He moved to unpack his things.
"So how did you end up here?" he asked, referencing how she got into this room.
"Oh? I probably missed the updated rooming schedule. Found out when your roomate arrived here unexpectedly. Mistakes happen." nonchalantly she replied. She seemed calmer.
"Happens to the best of us." smiling, he added. "Regardless, it's good to know you're here. I fell less lonely."
Houki smiled at that. A characteristic smile unique to her, since she was usually serious.
And serious she slowly became again, remembering the old promise.
"Ichika..." she started, "remember, before I went on the competition, we...I made a promise to you?" Ichika's movements slowed down, as if to pay more attention.
"That's true. Continue." Did she make him uncomfortable?
"The promise was, that, if I won the competition, we would go on a date." She paid more attention to him, trying to read his eyes, with little success.
"I think it that's true." He...thinks? Is he trying to avoid giving a direct answer? If so, why?
"Sorry, am I causing you any discomfort?" she asked. She wanted to be honest and good to him, and that meant searching for the truth, no matter how hard it was.
"No, no. My memory is just messy about that. Sometimes I forget things, without intention to do so."
He approached her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm glad to have you to remind me. I know I can trust you." He went back to sorting his stuff. For several moments, there was silence.
"So..." Houki said.
"So...?" Ichika questioned for clarity.
"So, am I getting that date or not?" she voiced the question with uncharacteristic ease. Ichika started to wonder if this was the same girl he knew from so many years ago.
"Well, I uh...you see..." he struggled to give a clear, direct answer. It was obvious he didn't expect this, or thought much about it.
Houki closed the distance again, and took his hand in her own two.
"Ichika, be honest with me. That's all I ask." She had a serene smile that instilled confidence in the young lad.
"I...I don't want to hurt you, Houki."
"You won't. And I won't hurt you."
Ichika sighed a bit more relaxed. He tried collecting his thoughts (and his feelings) in regards to the idea of dating Houki.
"You see, I never gave...I..." he sighed again, frustrated. "I don't know. I know there was the promise, but I have less clarity now than when I had in the past."
To say Ichika was confused was to undersell it. It was like an unclear mix of mass, where there was care, tension, happiness and agitation.
"Well, what did you think back then?" Houki asked, sounding more like a mentor than a fellow student.
"Back then, I would have accepted it. I was a kid, and I saw the world in a simpler way."
She let the answer hang for a moment. "And now?"
"Now I'm...now I'm at the Academy. I haven't seen you in a long time. I don't know how this will go. I don't know if this can work here and now."
His answers were clearer, but only added more questions to be answered. Houki was dying to get to the bottom of this, but knew better than to pressure her friend on the first day.
So she opted for a more diplomatic solution.
"Thank you for being honest. I want to give you a...suggestion." she carefully offered, and considered her next words.
"Rest on this. Think about it, but not too hard. I want you to be comfortable with whatever decision you will make when you make it. And when you do, if you want, we can go on that date."
Ichika felt like it was his older sister offering him advice, and not a childhood friend. Houki seemed the same as in the old days, and so different. Was this all caused by seperation? Does one grow more careful, appreciative, of the things and people they thought were to be lost forever?
Whatever it was, he would ponder on it later. "Sure. Sounds good. I just don't know when you'll get the answer."
Houki smiled. "When you're ready, no sooner or later. Just be true to yourself." 'And to me.' she added mentally.
"I'll be going now. Thank you for your time, Ichika." With that, she picked up her bag and went for the door.
"To be clear, when I say date, I mean as in...boyfriend and girlfriend type of date." the latter half she spoke with less security, but not lacking in clarity.
Ichika showed more seriousness on his face.
"It's a date, Ichika. Not a marriage proposal." she assured with a smile.
"Since when did you become so blunt?" he asked, genuinely surprised with all the new information and her different approach. Houki pondered a bit, before answering.
"I guess I always was. Just changed in how I do it. Hope it doesn't disturb you." It was Ichika's turn to smile.
"Not at all. Glad to have you again." That warmed Houki's heart. She opened the doors and slowly went on.
/ / / / /
As she exited the room and calmly closed the door, she leaned agains the wall near the door, breathing a sigh of relief.
That took a lot of energy and concentration out of her. After the kendo championship, after the seperation, after beating the last opponent so hard he broke down crying, she swore she would do better. Be better. Not just for herself, but for Ichika as well.
She wouldn't cause him harm or discomfort, she would give him room and time, be a shoulder to lean on and accept whatever was to be.
She would prefer to accept what she wanted with him, but was aware some things cannot and shouldn't be forced.
"So, how did it go?" a voice broke the silence and her inner contemplation. It made her jump with a jolt.
Opposite of her, slightly further away stood the tall Slav lad. It was a miracle she didn't notice him, his dark clothes contrasting clearly agains the light walls of the hallway. Was she so worked up her mind that she didn't register him, or did he have some ghosting abilities?
"You worked as a spy before coming here?" the words were enveloped in ice as she spoke. She didn't mind newcomers, but felt like he was encroaching on her privacy.
"No." he answered. "Never did. Just had a curiosity about it all."
He moved towards the door. "Apologies for the inconvenience."
Houki started her determined march to the administration.
That was awkward, she thought to herself.
/
The formal introduction that Yamada told Ivan was next day. They (Ichika and Ivan) were to introduce themselves and take their seats before the class started.
Ivan approached the front and center of the classroom and gave his best attemtp at introducing himself.
"Hello everyone. I'm Ivan Hedervary and I'm the cadet representative of the Balkan Alliance. I have some basic training, but I'll still need to learn a lot about this IS machine. Hope we get along and you have plenty of patience along the way." He made a small bow and walked to his place.
"That was simple and straightforward." one of the girls commented.
"Sounded professional but tried to go easy. Think he was in a gang?" another added. Ivan was weirdly surprised with that comment, wondering where they would get that idea.
"Are all men from there this big? Sure they didn't mix him up with another pilot?"
What was that last remark supposed to mean? And was that a British accent?
"Good day, classmates." Ivan noticed it was Ichika's turn to introduce himself. "My name is Orimura Ichika. I...relatively recently found out I can pilot an IS. I don't know much about it, be it in practice or theory. I hope we all have pleasant memories along our way. I'll be in your care. Thank you!" he bowed deeply, at least in comparison to the other male pilot.
"A bit basic, don't you think?" Seemed like more comments were on their way.
"Bland but honest. Neither here nor there, truth be told." That one sounded like an old lady would say.
"Boring, but I get him. Not easy being the only guy at a girl's academy." That one sounded reasonable. Maybe too reasonable.
"Did you bore them to death?" Chifuyu appeared to Ichika's left, almost undetected. Ivan was a bit surprised with how...nonchalant she was.
For now.
"Did the best I could, Chifuyu-nee." the boy meekly replied, standing as confidently as he could.
The older sibling gave him a light karate chop on his head. From the reaction of the boy, Ivan deduced the 'hit' didn't have much force and was done in jest.
"While I'm here teaching, it's Orimura sensei, got it?" she smiled in way that made it clear it was easy going in nature, but serious with the message.
Ichika lightly rubbed his hade, in pretend hurt acting. "Of course, Orimura sensei. I apologize."
The apology was uneccessary, but how Ichika was raised, seemed like it was ingrained in him to act like that.
Then came the deluge.
"Oh my god, it's Orimu sama!"
"Are you our teacher?!"
"You're my idol, Orimura! Step one me, please!"
Ivan heard of people obsessed of other people, and he heard squeels of fans before, though that was usually through a video.
It was the first time he would both see and hear both in action, and the high volume and pitch of the voices annoyed him more than any heavy machinery or yelling could.
"Alright, I get it! She's the best, and we'll probably have her if we don't annoy her! Now can you please tone it down? I doubt Orimura sensei came here just to hear blind praises and borderline fanaticism." he spoke loudly, but without shouting.
Sitting more to the middle, now the attention was squarely focused on him. He didn't want this, and made a mental note to think a bit longer in the future to avoid such odd moments.
He looked around. Most students were Japanese, though he spotted other students coming from around the world. Several Europeans or Americans, if he had to guess.
"Sorry for that. Didn't mean to be rude. I just don't...tolerate loud, high pitched noises very well."
He got some weird looks, some nods, and he thinks a smile from another girl not wearing a standard uniform.
"If we're done with distractions..." Chifuyu proclaimed, "let's get straight to the point. I'll be your teacher for the first two years. I won't sugarcoat it; I will train you hard and I will demand a lot. I don't care if you will hate me or love me. What I care is that you understand what is expected of you and that you meet those expectations as pilots."
She paused for effect. Everyone paid attention in silence.
"I'll give you my all and want the same in return. If you don't understand something, ask and I'll explain or show. If I ask something, you reply. Even if you don't know or say no, you answer. Understood?"
"HAI!" the classroom roared in response. Seemed Chifuyu had a reputaion beyond the education facility Ivan was attending.
"Good. Before we start, it is imperative that a class president is elected. Any volunteers? You can nominate someone if you think they're up for the task."
"I nominate Orimura Ichika!" a girl shouted. Ichika wasn't amused.
"With great gratefullness, I must decline. I don't think I am up for the postion." Ichika politely and patiently explained.
"Your rejection is noted and discarded." his sister, now teacher, calmly stated. "Those who are nominated cannot refuse the position."
Ivan gently smiled to Ichika, not to mock, but to express sympathy for the trouble ahead. Seemed like everything...
"I nominate Hedervary Ivan!"
...wasn't going to go easy.
Ivan rose up from his place, turning to the back of the room.
"Alright, who's poor attempt at humor was that?" he asked like it was a joke, but the voice he used showed he was anything but entertained.
He noticed a long orange sleeve rise in the air, belonging to a girl wearing, what he presumed, was a Pikachu outfit.
He wondered if today was an exception for uniforms, and if that was her usual attire when off the school ground.
"Okay. Two questions. Who are you, and why me?" he rubbed his temple and the bridge of his nose, trying to organize his thoughts and preparing to receive the answers.
"Why not?" the girl cheerfully replied. The answer was definitely an answer.
"I missed your name." he asked with cold politeness inherent to a man whose patience was slowly drying up.
"Honne Nohotoke."
So far, it was Ichika and him up for the election. He started to move the gears in his head, thinking what Chifuyu mentioned before.
"Orimura sensei, you said anybody can be nominated for the position, right?"
"Correct." she spoke matter of factly. Ivan looked back in the direction of the girl he just now met.
"For the position of class president, I nominate Honne Noho...toke..." he struggled pronouncing her full name, but managed. He moved his sight around the room, looking for another candidate that would catch his eyes.
He spotted a blonde girl with a blue headband.
"You!" he spoke louder, pointing to the girl in question. "What's your name?" despite him trying to make it seem neutral, it sounded like an interrogation.
The blonde girl had a shocked look in her eyes. Did he surprise her?
"You...you don't know who I am?" the delivery sounded like he offended her. Somehow.
"No, I know your name. Just wanted to mess around." Ivan replied in a deadpan tone.
"I just got here today, I can't know everyone immediately. You name, pretty please." The 'pretty please', despite the forced inclusion, softened his roughness.
She rose up from her seat, having a regal aura about her stature and demenour.
"You're talking to Cecilia Alcott, England's cadet representative and head of the Alcott family. You do well to remember that." she had a noticable, high class British accent and an arrogance to match.
Ivan would have no problems remembering her.
"And her. I nominate Cecilia Alcott for the position of class president." his tone reverting to a more serious yet easygoing feeling, Ivan felt like some burden of POTENTIAL leadership was removed. He turned back, facing the British lady.
"There we go. Two girls, two boys. Two cadets, two regulars. Balanced, as it should be." he spoke this statement full of confidence with a smile indicating satisfaction (and smugness).
With more candidates, the votes would be split, and there was a chance that he (and Ichika) wouldn't need to be presidents.
Now the class could...
"I sincerely apologize, but I cannot stand for this."
...continue.
Or not. That was also an option.
"The fact that a cadet representative of my caliber, of a great country as England, is forced to entertain the IDEA of a male president in this class, at this acedemy, is a line I cannot allow to be crossed."
It was the British aristocrat. He wondered if the stereotype about Brits being arrogant, upper class posh folks was true, and he was about to find out.
"It is embarrasing enough that I must attend this facility in a backwater country, but to be represented in class by males as well?" her accent accumulated more of that arrogance and hurt honor Ivan associated with the Brits.
"If you REALLY want to be technical", Ivan retorted standing up, "our fellow students will cast the vote to choose who will present us all. With two ladies and two boys at the ballot, the choices are fair and still leaning towards your favor, especially since you're a cadet representative."
Her eyes widened at, what he imagined, a logical conclusion to her favor.
"It is the principle, the principle of the matter!" she stated, pointing her finger accusatively to him.
Ivan could have sworn she came from a family of politicians.
"What, that a class is led by a male IS pilot, compared to a female IS pilot? Yes, it is probably better that a woman is chosen for the task, as they can pilot the exoskeleton without a doubt. However, this is an election. A democracy, if you will." his tone carried a peaceful wish that tried to resolve the issue diplomatically.
"Speaking of democracy, it helps your chances of being elected if you don't insult the majority of the demographic that is attending the same class as you, that could vote for you." He motioned his hand around to make the point.
"Backwater country, eh?" the last word he spoke reminiscent of a rural lad going easy through life.
"How can you say Japan is a backwater country?" this time, Ichika spoke up, having a less than pleased expression on his face.
"It was the Japanese that invented the IS, and it was the Japanese that built this Academy, financing it as well. If it weren't for that, you wouldn't be standing here." he spoke with confidence, and it gave the impression like he was an emperor whose honor was insulted, who patiently explained the error of the ways of the offender.
"We have good public transportation, a good living standard. We keep pace in many industries and technological advances. So kindly remind me, how are we a backwater country?"
Ivan smiled. Alcott twitched. The girls looked attentatively at the conversation going like a ping pong match.
"True, the invention of the IS further elevated you to new heights, but compared to the achievements of England..."
"UK." Ivan interjected.
"Beg your pardon?" Alcot was bewildered.
"The UK. United Kingdom. Unless you're refering to only part of the UK, or the England back in the medieval ages, you just sound like you don't know what you're talking about." he spoke in a tone like a teacher correcting a student, and he did his best to contain his smug grin.
That didn't help. Alcott twitched less, but her eyes were sharper and laser focused on the tall offender present in the classroom.
"You...the UK, you...I know what I'm refering to!" her voice steadily rose in intensity and anger.
"I speak of English culture, literature, advancements in philosophy, building a state, managing it well, expanding into a greater kingdom and later an empire! A nation whose legacy can be seen and sensed even today across the world! Besides your own marginal and insignificant language, you most likely learnt learnt English next by default, no question about it! And do you know why?"
"You had an empire that spanned across the world, but also the US being a force on its own contributed to that. Music, movies, politics, it was the new lingua franca." Ivan calmly answered, not losing his composure, or taking the insult at his language too hard.
"Correct. And that is the indisputed truth, whether you like it or not. As a commoner, you ought to know your place." she spoke with sharp venom, characteristic of a upper class talking down on someone way below the line of notice or worth.
"And as a noble lady, you should keep your head steady and down to earth, not in the clouds, ruminating on what was instead of what is."
If Alcott had any intention of calming down, that chance flew away faster than a pidgeon avoiding a speeding car on the open road. Ichika and Ivan could have sworn her face started to turn red.
"I mean, it's all fine and dandy, but what else has England done? Your cousine is still perceived as bland and boring, I'm sure if there was a competition, you would win the worst award for it 15 years in a row. And let's not mention football. So many championships, and how many have you won?"
He paused for a moment, and raised his index finger up.
"One. One in all this time. Against Germany, who treated their loss as 'eh, it happens to the best', while you celebrated like you've beaten God."
Alcott was fuming at this point, but Ivan showed no signs that he was finished.
"And the truly ironic part? You invented football! How do you fail so hard at something you yourself created?" he had a grin going ear to ear, dripping with glee of a conscript knocking a knight off a horse.
Alcott slammed her fist on her desk.
"That does it! Nobody insults my country so brazenly and gets away with it! I challenge you to a duel!"
Both Ichika and Ivan were surprised at the turn of events. Ivan decided to check with Orimura sensei.
"Orimura sensei, is this...legal?"
"It will be if you accept. You are being challenged." Chifuyu stated flatly, tone indicating informative indifference.
Ivan pondered quickly and provided the answer.
"Alright, I accept. What are we using? Sabres, pistols? Oh, are we going to use cards?" his last question was filled with enthusiasm and joy.
"That's not what...you're just joking, right?" Alcott switched to a more deadpan tone upon realizing how he was talking.
"I do believe the term is 'pulling your leg', but yes, I am joking. I presume we will do it with our Infinite Stratos units?"
"Correct, and I will show you what a true cadet representative is capable of doing. After all, I did succeed in defeating the instructor at the entrance exam." she proclaimed, her pride soaring high as never before.
"That's interesting. I also managed to defeat mine." Ichika pined in, making Alcott surprised.
"Wait, you've beaten an instructor?!"
Ivan saw an opportunity to one up Alcott, if for nothing else, his own entertainment and to sow a bit of chaos.
"I had to fight another cadet representative to get where I am now." His smug still reigned steadily, not wavering for a second. Alcott's eyes widened in shock, her finger being pointed at him.
"Yes, me. Passed the exam with satisfactory results."
He was speaking the truth.
Technically. From a certain perspective. If some minor details were disregarded.
Regardless, Alcott regained her composure quickly.
"Even so, it is the duty of nobles to help the commoners however they can. Let's talk about handicap."
"Alright, let's talk about handicap. What about it?" Ivan asked in earnest.
"How much of a handicap do you want?" Alcott asked with a smug smile of her own.
"Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a duel, if we mean to fight seriously?" he questioned, peculiar at the proposal.
"For an elite such as myself, I see no problem going easy on my opponent to give him a fighting chance. I am confident in my abilities." There was a mix of honesty and sense of superiority in that claim.
"Fair. I'll need to think what handicap, if at all, I'll take. Do you have any handicaps you demand of me?" Ivan presented the question seriously.
Cecilia dropped her smile, mouth slightly open in bewilderment. Processing the information uttered. Then a smile formed, giving way to a hearty laugh.
Though with her being posh, it sounded like a hearty laugh meant for mockery.
"You...sorry, you asked...haha...handicap, for?...hahHAHA!" The room was filled with laughter, primarily belonging to Cecilia, and some girls joining in.
Ivan felt lost. Out of the loop.
"I'm missing a joke here?" he spoke, trying to pierce the noise of vocal amusement.
"IS combat is different from what you've done, seen or can imagine." Chifuyu's voice asserted itself and claimed everyone's attention without effort.
"The limitation is the IS itself and the skills of the pilot. If you know your IS well, if you can improvise a sound strategy in a short time and execute it, you will have the advantage. This ain't a brawl or test of endurance, though it helps to keep physical training a regular routine." she continued, and concluded the explanation.
"Thank you, professor Orimura." the blonde Brit made a small nod, before turning her attention back to the Balkan cadet.
"As much as you offer of a handicap...flatters me," she contained another laugh in her smile, "I won't need it. An Alcott doesn't need a handicap."
"Very well. Now we just need a time, a place and a bet." he voiced the needed conditions for the duel.
"Arena 2 will be free next week, between 12 and 14 hours. What are you fighting for?" Chifuyu stated the options, and awaited the answer.
"I win and you drop out of the election!" Cecilia proclaimed.
"Deal." Ivan answered dryly and almost immediately. Like it was an obvious answer that didn't need extra time to be thought about.
Cecilia was trying to process this mentally.
"That confident in your victory?" she smugly asked.
"I don't want to be president, and this bet suits me. Even if I lose, I still get what I want." he spoke with a smile on his face, the type that tells it like everything is going according to plan.
Needless to say, Cecilia was at least a bit surprised.
"And your bet?" Orimura inquired, slightly impatient that time was being wasted on, what she perceived, as childish banter.
"Should I win, I'm out of the election." those words came out of Ivan's mouth with the most indifference and lack of care possible.
Cecilia had a blank expression. She didn't understand this man.
"What?!"
"Maybe you didn't notice, but I'm not exactly thrilled to be put in any sort of leadership position." he elaborated. "I don't consider I have the skills, nor the patience, to learn those skills. It would be better if you or someone else take that position, especially if you have the will to do so. With this, I'm making sure all of my bases are covered."
Cecilia continued to stare.
"Then it is set. Take your seats, class is in session!" Chifuyu ordered and the first lecture officially started.
Cecilia's mind still pondered on the unusual bet the man put forth.
/ / / / / / / / / / / / /
The twenty minute break finally arrived, much to Houki's joy, and she went to Ichika's desk. She grasped the study material rather well.
Ichika, on the other hand, struggled to an extent. He understood half of it, and was still mentally digesting the other half. He understood how it all worked, but didn't understand how it was used.
By the way how his head was slumped down towards the book, Houki guessed he was yet to grasp the theory fully. She lightly tapped him on his shoulder to get his attention.
"Can we talk?" bluntly she asked. Blunt, but also warm, caring. Like the Houki he knew from the old days.
"Of course!" Ichika responded, eyes flaring up and welcoming moving away from the book he couldn't understand any better, no matter the effort he put in.
They left the room and moved to higher ground, to the balcony overlooking the Academy. The balcony was spaceous, tranquil in both sound and view.
Ichika leaned on the railing, enjoying the view of sea and trees.
"Did the lecture make sense to you?" Houki broke the silence, trying small talk. She was never good at it, at least in her own opinion.
"I made sense of how it functions," he started, "but the way how it's supposed to be piloted...I get it, in theory, but in practice, if you asked me to imagine it, I couldn't even hazard a guess."
He spoke with irritation, like he should easily grasp the material but is unable to, wondering why he can even pilot the IS.
"That makes two of us." Houki spoke up.
"I get the theory, how it works and how it's built, I partially understand how it should be piloted..." she then put her hands to the sides, indicating a 'I don't know' pose, "but until they put me in a IS, consider me ignorant." she smiled, reassuring herself and Ichika that they're both in the same boat.
Ichika chuckled, appreciating her way of trying to elevate the mood from irritation to self deprecating humor.
"Well, you studied to enroll here. You have that going for you." he stated. And he was true.
"True, but that was all books and written exams. They gave us no practice with the machine." she replied. "Also, didn't you beat a instructor at your exam?"
This point of interest lingered in her mind since the end of the debate between him, Ivan and that British representative.
"You had to have some idea on how to move that machine to beat her."
Ichika looked down the balcony, trying to hide a smile.
"If I told you how it went, you would think I was either lying to you or making a joke." he said, the smile still apparent but better managed as to not burst out in laughter.
"Try me." she voiced it like a demand, but he knew she just showed genuine interest in the story.
"Okay, what I'm going to tell you is the truth. I'm not adding any new details."
Houki nodded and looked into his eyes, paying full attention.
"So, I entered the machine, still trying to figure how it works. Got no clue if it had weapons or any special equipment." his tone sounded normal, but the smile was still there.
"Before I could figure out anything, I hear the siren marking the start of the exam. I see that my opponent, which I later found out was the exam instructor, charging at me full speed." he continued, smile growing and the voice gaining more of a funny property than before.
"I don't know how, but I dodged to the right. She slammed into the wall and I was declared the winner."
They both looked at each other, their lips pursed to contain the laughter that was slowly but surely rising to roar.
"That's it. I didn't leave any details out. That's..." he broke a bit with a laugh escaping, "that's how it happened."
They kept the peace of relative silence, snickering being the only element of interruption of the peace.
Then Houki broke, unable not to laugh at the specifically unusual yet expected and true victory of her close friend.
"Told you! It either sounds like a joke or a lie." Ichika commented, after having a good laugh himself.
"No, no, it's not that." Houki answered, still laughing a bit here and there.
"I believe you. Truly, I do. Because..." before she continued, she snickered out what she could out of the fun she had from this exchange.
"Because that is the victory unique solely to you!" she exclaimed, and then laughed some more.
Ichika's eyes narrowed, looking serious, but in a way he meant it to be funny.
"What does that mean?" he questioned, awaiting an answer, grinning ever so slightly.
After composing herself to laugh less so she can answer him, Houki talked.
"Only you can beat the entrance instructor without even knowing how to use the IS in question."
Ichika assumed a more regal stand, holding his right hand close to his chest and moving his left hand to the Academy.
"Well, of course I could do such unbelievable feat!" he proclaimed like he was Alexander the Great, conquering any and all obstacles on his way.
"I am, after all, the Chosen One!"
Laughter was back on the menu as they both enjoyed their silly remarks, their stupid proclamations of wisdom and, of course, the company they didn't have for six years.
The feeling of being seperated for six years still lingered in the back of their minds, but was washed into silence with the fact that they were both here and now.
And nothing, nobody, would change that. Houki would see to it.
Tabane was the reason they were separated, and seems now like they were reunited by the same reason.
This time, she will make sure that there is no reason for them to be apart.
"Houki." Ichika called for her.
"I thought about...you know. About the date."
Her smiled dropped, though she tried her best to keep it back up.
"And...what thoughts you had about it?" she tried skirting around it. She wanted to be direct, but felt she didn't want to force Ichika to be direct if the didn't want to.
"I thought about it, how it could affect my stay here, and the other students. How it could affect our friendship. If I could even manage it well..."
She was focused on his eyes, hanging to every word uttered, waiting for a conclusive answer.
"And I think...I believe it to be true, that I want to give it a shot."
The sentence seemed carefully structured, but had positive thoughts and good will.
"I want to go on a date with you."
That was it. That was what she wanted to hear. It felt like a dream.
"Are you...sure? I don't want make you feel like you're forced to go out with me." Houki slowly asked, feeling it all being unreal. She didn't expect his answer the next day.
He walked two steps to her, taking her hand into his own two.
"I am sure. If I had any doubts before, they no longer exist." he spoke slowly, assuredly, all the while looking directly into her deep blue eyes.
"All I need is a place and a time."
Houki blushed, lowering her eyes, thinking.
"How about next week? We can take a stroll in the mall, see what's up." she spoke, probably realizing how corny it sounded, but determined to be as bold as she can be.
"Sounds great to me! Hope I can meet your high expectations of quality...miss Shinonono."
Houki made a light, jovial jab with her right hand to his shoulder.
"Just because we're dating, doesn't mean you need to treat me any differently than before."
Ichika made a step back, pretending to be surprised.
"You're saying friend Houki and date Houki are the same person? Color me shocked!" he spoke, and smiled. They both smiled, infact.
"Since when did you become so relaxed and comedic?"
"Since when were you so bold and direct?"
Houki left the question to linger for a moment.
"Touche. Guess we both changed since the last time we saw each other." she conceded.
"Maybe we could talk about it when we go out?" he proposed, thinking of other stuff to ask her as well.
"Would like to."
Ichika checked the time.
"Break's over. We need to get back to class. Don't want drill instructor Orimura to discipline us."
Houki smiled at the remark, but understood the part about discipline was not something she was willing to check by herself.
"We better up the pace, then." she commented, with both of the them leaving the balcony.
/ / / / / / / / / / / / /
The next week arrived and the clash between the Balkan and English (in Ivan's mind, still British) cadet representative was about to take place.
For everyone present, it had a sense of something big happening. Two cadets duking it out in the arena, them showing what they can do? Both fun and exciting, impressive to be sure.
For Cecilia Alcott, it meant showing she meant business, showing just where she stands in comparison to the rest, be they regulars or cadets. A way to increase her prestige and reputation, and assure the homeland that she is the right woman for the job.
For Ivan Hedervary, it was a way to dodge elections, but he was going to do his best. For himself to improve and for the Alliance, to assure Marburg he can be a good cadet here at the Academy.
His IS deployed, he exited the hangar and started slowly flying to the arena, mentally preparing himself to face Cecilia in his first, proper duel.
He knew the IS would protect him, but still felt nervous.
And there she was, soaring high in the sky. Ivan could have sworn he noticed a smirk on her face.
"So, you're still determined to fight me?" There was that combination of superiority and arrogance he remembered about her.
Truth be told, he didn't mind it too much. If someone was really that good (and Ivan wasn't the best at this), he could respect and learn from them.
Plus, he didn't need to interact with her too much, so that helped too.
"That's...why I'm here." the statement was voiced plainly, attempting to play neutral.
"You still have the chance to surrender. Should you do so, you will save yourself the embarrasment of me mopping the floor with you."
Ivan chuckled at the remark. It was amusing listening to this girl, present in the 21st century, sounding like a Victorian era aristrocrat.
"What, and miss the opportunity to test my skill and learn from someone better than me? Not a chance!" he said it merrily, which, coming from Ivan's mouth, was fifty-fifty it sounding like a snarky quip.
"Was that a...compliment?" Cecilia voiced a guess, waiting for a confirmation from the Balkan pilot.
"Yup. You're the one with better training and a better IS, so this will be a useful experience for me."
'And for the Alliance', he mentally added.
"Well, if that is the case, why not save both of us the trouble and surrender? You won't need to participate in the elections, regardless of what you do. And you'll have a chance to see me fight against Ichika Orimura."
Ivan raised an eyebrow (though that didn't matter; the helmet covered his entire face).
"You're going to fight him too?" he asked.
"Of course! Once I'm finished with you, I shall defeat him as well. Thus, making sure the class doesn't have a man as president."
There well still superiority present, but he sensed a bit of bitterness entangling itself with the words.
"Does he know he's next?"
"He will."
There was that smile again. Confident, yet feeling ever so forced, even unnatural. Ivan couldn't figure out why.
"If that is all, let's get this over with!"
"Wait!" Ivan shouted, getting her attention.
"Having second thoughts?" she asked, with sastisfaction enveloping the message, enjoying seeing her opponent hesitate even a bit.
"I want to cash in on that handicap you offered back in class." Ivan politely worded the request.
"Very well. What handicap do you want...peasant?"
Ivan chuckled at that remark. At this point, he saw Cecilia more as a person putting on an act than a snob. He didn't take her seriously, though he meant no disrespect.
He was thankful his IS came with a helmet, as his smile would probably make it apparent he was amused with her behavior.
"Well, if possible, could we..." he pointed downwards with his index finger, "fight on the ground level? Not high here in the sky?"
For context, they were still in the spaceous arena, floating high above ground. Cecilia was as high as she deemed it neccessary, while Ivan was about three IS units in height below her, with some distance away from her where he couldn't attack her in melee.
"What, the cadet from the Balkans isn't confident in his fyling ability?"
It was obviously said to mock and play to her opponent, and she expected a quip from him. However, a moment passed without an answer. Then another, before Ivan simply nodded.
"Are you serious? Is this just another joke of yours?" Cecilia asked, surprise apparent, but less so than in the previous talks.
Ivan shook his head to show he meant it.
"Our arenas aren't half the size of this one, and while the training I received covered flight, I only had about two weeks of training. Barely managed to get it right, and in the fight with the other cadet, we mostly stayed on ground level to focus on combat."
Cecila thought more on this. Sure, other countries weren't as great as England, but she was sure the training facilities were adequate. She wondered more; if this is the cadet that fought the other cadet for the position, how good was the other cadet?
"Am I to lower myself, literally, on your level?" There was sound of offense being taken, though Ivan didn't perceive it as such. He took it as a serious question.
"You said back in class, and I quote you verbatim: 'It is the duty of nobles to help the commoners however they can.' In addition to your claim that you are sure of your skill at beating me even with a handicap." Ivan reminded her of a butler reminding her of the duties, promises and arrangements of the day, and wondered if he did any tasks in the past before arriving at the Academy.
Regardless, he wasn't wrong. It was just that Cecilia didn't expect her words to be cited back at her in any way.
She sighed and accepted the obligation she herself offered not long ago.
"Very well, but only this time. I expect you to improve enough that you can fight regardless of altitude for your next match."
"I promise, I will do my best to be prepared for next time." Ivan expressed his gratitude and started to slowly descend towards the ground, followed by Cecilia.
"Anything else?" she asked, slightly annoyed yet willing to accomodate. That is what nobles did, right?
"Well, if you could give some advice. I figured how to move forward, but I can't figure the strafing and backwards motion. How do you do it? If it's mentally..."
His voice was genuine in asking for knowledge, and Cecilia wondered if this is how other guys, if they could pilot the IS, would act.
Confused. Uncertain. Honest. Open. She almost felt pity for the cadet before her.
"I visualize a triangle or square before me." she started, "then I imagine I want to go towards it, or back. The IS should pick up your thoughts and react accordingly. As for moving to the side, or strafing as you say, it helps if you pretend you are a helicopter or a VTOL, leaning to one side. Does that make sense?"
The cadet was silent for a moment, then confirmed with a nod. He gave her a thumbs up.
"Think I got it. Thanks! Ready when you are, Alcott."
"I'm always ready, Hedervary." she calmly responded and readied her weapons and equipment.
With the confirmation of readiness, the siren blew off and the duel had officialls started.
Ivan summoned his sword and charged for a horizontal swing, but Cecilia backed off with no effort, increasing the distance between them.
"Did you really think that would work?" she amusedly asked at such simple attempt.
"Had to try!" he responded enthusiastically. It was his first proper fight. How could he not be at least a bit enthusiastic?
Cecilia took aim with her rifle and fired several well aimed shot at his torso. The first shot connected, dealing moderate damage, but the rest had less effect as Ivan switched to a shield.
She focused on his limbs while increasing the distance between the two. Ivan tried to close, though the fire and dodging prevented him from making a straight line towards her.
Once she deemed enough distance was made, she summoned her drones (Bits, as they were called) and focused with more firepower on the target.
'Great, as if getting sniped wasn't enough.' Ivan thought to himself. Individually, the drones didn't do that much damage, but with them being deployed so they can shoot him from more angles and aiming for his unprotected limb parts, they were a threat he would need to take seriously.
Cecilia didn't move, however, and this gave Ivan the chance to make the distance shorter, and possibly, engage in melee combat.
Unfortunately, every time he made progress, Cecilia backed away, using her energy rifle to hamper his advance.
"Is that really it? Back off when I get close, then pelter me with bullets and drones, rince and repeat?" Ivan's question mixed annoyance and amusement in equal measure. Maybe he expected something more of an elite pilot?
"Perhaps back in your country you deal with opponents up close and personal, but my Blue Tears reigns supreme and untouched at long range!" the exclamation and answer came with addition projectile fire and suppression.
"And I intend to keep it that way." with confidence she asserted, and proved her point by continuing to make every step Ivan made feel earned.
When the Bits were deployed again, Ivan switched to his crossbow (he swore to God he felt ancient by holding the weapon) and took aim at Cecilia, disruptor bolts loaded.
He pulled the trigger and a surprise shot connected, Cecilia not expecting her opponent to have any ranged weapons. She received minimal damage, but found her movement and weapons to be unresponsive.
"What?!"
Ivan charged as best as he could, trying to slash her with his two handed sword.
"Interceptor!" Cecilia shouted, and a short sword materialized in her hand, barely deflecting Ivan's heavier twohander.
Some damage was sustained, though nothing critical. Still, this was too close for comfort.
"Disruptor bolts. Practially no damage, but can disable hit target for a short time." Ivan exposited as he continued his assault. He switched to his mace and shield to keep up the pace and lower whatever damage he would need to take.
Cecilia continued her tactic of kiting and avoiding Balkan's finest while still staying at ground level (as per the handicap).
"I'll admit, you caught me by surprise with that combination, but that is far from enough to claim victory over me!" she proudly and confidently proclaimed.
"I'm happy to hear that! Would be dissapointed with if it were that easy!" he responded, seemingly enjoying the challenge before him.
Once again, the Bits were deployed. Ivan decided to switch to his crossbow again, but this time equipped explosive bolts.
Holding his shield as both an support for aiming and protection, he patiently aimed at one of the drones. While sustaining damage, he squeezed the trigger and let the bolt fly.
Hit confirmed, drone down.
"Bullseye!" he shouted with joy for all to hear, especially Cecilia. She didn't expect him to be capable of long range markmanship. Then again, all IS cadets received some level of military training. Maybe it was his experience from his time in the army?
Most likely. Firing a rifle and firing an IS weapon weren't the same, but if one possesed a good eye and steady hand, the skill was easy to transfer from one to another.
She would need to play this duel differently. Lure him in, give him confidence, then pull the rug from under him.
At sufficient distance, the same song and dance repeated itself; she summoned her Bits and started shooting him from the sides. When Ivan prepared his crossbow to shoot another of her Bits, she unsummoned them and reapplied her rifle to the task. Slowly, but not too slowy, she started to retreat.
Ivan felt the exhiliration of combat running through him, finally managing to decrease the distance that previously seemed so burdensome to beat.
He was so carried away by this feeling, he didn't consider why the distance was so easy to shorten this time.
As he charged onwards, his sword prepared for an overhead swing, he shouted: "You should have kept on running!"
Devilishly Cecilia smiled, as all pieces fell into place.
"I don't run. I lure."
Ivan didn't have time to understand what she meant by that, as two rocket pods deployed and fired rockets at him close range. Each placed at the hips, they were either well hidden or Ivan didn't notice them in time.
Either way, he was blasted away twenty meters, falling on his back. The blast definitely hurt, but both the IS shield system and the additional armor blunted the damage.
'Thank God for Balkan focus on defence', he thought to himself. He never thought he would think that (as he considered a good offense to be the best defense), but there was a first time for everything.
He steadily got back up on his feet, eyeing the opponent in blue from afar. He smiled.
"I'll admit, that was on me. I walked right into that easily. Still, pretty cool. As expected of a cadet representative." he commented.
Cecilia smiled, though this smile looked different to Ivan. It looked genuine. Natural. Easy. Like it wasn't an act, something forced or something other people expected from her.
It was one pilot, complimenting their rival honestly, and the rival acknowledging it with a smile one shows when feeling appreciated and respected.
"I did say I would show you what a true cadet representative can do." she verbally communicated what her smile merely implicated.
"And showed you did!" he confirmed, as he readied himself for his next assault. He put up his shield and readied his crossbow for the next sniping situation, awaiting the drones to appear.
The siren cut through the anticipation of fighting. It felt deafening to Ivan after he got used to the clash and battering of sword and projectiles.
"Time's up! Cecilia Alcott is the victor!"
The announcement echoed through the arena, ending the duel and silencing the weapons that were, not a moment ago, ready to clatter and barrage the field.
It felt unreal for Ivan. For a duel to end like this. Cecilia seemed more receptive of the outcome, but he took that as a given. She won, after all.
He approached her, still deployed in the IS, while slowly removing his helmet to see her without the HUD clouding his vision.
"A bit anticlimactic, but them's the breaks." were his first spoken words after the fight. He extended a hand, still clad in IS armor, if a bit worse for wear.
"Congratulations on your victory. With the handicap and help you gave me, you definitely earned it. England made the correct choice in sending you as their cadet representative."
A week ago, this man argued, talked back and mocked her, with her returning the favor, before issuing her challenge to a duel. He took it in stride, seemingly true, with no ill will.
And now, after a good fight and defeat, he seemed unburdened and honest. She looked for anything deceitful, anything that points there was something more to it than an honest handshake and goodwill.
And, tried as she might, she could not see anything resembling an ulterior motive.
She took his hand, giving him a confident, firm grip.
"England spares no expenses when it comes to her elite." she proudly claimed, wearing her prideful smile absent of any arrogance. It was refreshing to hear compliments without hidden goals, or that sounded like they were mandated from someone else.
"Your parents can be proud to have raised such an skilled, smart and good daughter."
For a short time, one could notice Cecilia's smile slowly fade away, and in it's place, an expression of perplexion nested itself. Her eyes less focused, her lips slightly apart.
Would they be proud? She never thought of it much, always on the move. Always trying to be one step ahead of her relatives, to keep what remained of the Alcott legacy alive and in her hands.
Did she do enough? Was it ever going to be enough?
She regained focus and looked to the pilot opposite of her. He noticed her short silence.
"Yes, they would. I'm sure they would." she finally replied. 'I hope so', she added to herself. She regained composure.
'They would?' he thought to himself. 'Didn't she mean that they are?' Ivan felt uncomfortable with this line of thought, and didn't want to part ways with that being the last message.
"Alcott!" he shouted to the pilot, that was hovering to her end of the arena. She turned, face back to perplexion, but not quite so.
"Thanks! Learned a lot today. Not enough to best you, but I learned!" he pointed the index figure in her direction before switching it into a thumbs up.
He succeeded. She smiled.
"You have a lot of of learning to do before you can even entertain the idea of rivaling me, Hedervary." she stated, a smug smile present on her. Smug, but not arrogantly smug like before.
"But I'm convinced you will get there. Slowly, but surely, you will. And I'll be watching your progress with interest and vigilance."
Was that a compliment from Cecilia Alcott?
"Vigilance? Am I a threat?" Ivan inquired, his smile being the lightest he has made so far, not to mock, jest or be snarky, but honest.
"When you get to the top, like me, there are two groups at which you pay attention in order to keep your position." she began.
"The first group are your peers, the other elites. The same people in your ranks. Equal to each other, yet still vying to be a cut above in terms of respect. Importance. Power."
She made a short pause.
"And the second group are the up and coming, the ones rising from below. Even if they seem distant and insignificant, if you forget them or ignore them, they can unexpectedly arrive at your level, more than willing to challenge you."
She started to move away, back turned to the Balkan cadet. It was somber, and not what he expected.
Nevertheless, he appreciated and welcomed it.
"Stay sharp, Alcott!" he shouted before going his own way.
"Likewise, Hedervary." was her reply, loud enough to hear, but without taking the form of a shout.
She walked away with a peaceful smile upon her, not fully grasping the exchange they just had, and not caring if she would understand it.
Cecilia Alcott felt like a woman seen and understood, if only for a moment.
She wished for more moments like these.
Honest. Truthful. Easy going. With care.
And Ivan Hedervary hoped he said the right thing, and wished he had more wisdom to know if he did.
