"Très désolé, Grand méchant loup!"

He felt a hand tore open his flesh, letting in the pure silver to boil and burn his blood as he fell on the hard and cold metal floors of the burning zeppelin.

"Huff and puff and blow me!"

Then the scorching pain came, as his heart were burnt as well by the tooth.

But somehow, he didn't mind the searing pain. Instead, he tilted his head and gave a big wide smile, like had been woken up to a wonderful dream. A dream he had long wished for, a dream so grand and magnificent, he felt like he should've told it to a friend.

For once... and at last,

He was free.

Free from the bondage of an oath, and shackled by the chains of loyalty and servitude to The Major.

For once in what felt like a lifetime... he was able to rest. No longer fighting as a soldier in a grand war forevermore. No longer in a dream so twisted it turned to a nightmare.

Does he hate him? Maybe… maybe not. In the end, he was a man he could respect by his ever burning ambition for war and to fell the ultimate monster of mankind.

As the growing blue flames swallows what was once been the Haupstrumfuhrer of Millennium into a distant memory, the last thing that passed in his dying brain was a satisfied and sincere thought for the one that had ended his legacy.

'...That is a good one, frenchman. But I think you could've done better.'

Then... nothing.

Just pure pitch black darkness as ashes remain.

But then as oblivion came, it also goes as fast as it came.

And it was replaced by something foreign yet... so close. Feelings he had never felt before, and his eyes widen to see something ahead of him. Visions? Dreams...?

...Memories?

Of a grand war... that turned the whole city asunder... or was it a one way slaughter?

Underneath the madness of it, he saw… something. Something so ancient, so terrifying, so…

RADIANT.

It turned his moment of death upside down as it came back like boomerang.

A broken tablet sat near him lifeless, with bullet holes shot with precision and intention, as a gun still aimed directly at him.

The barrel stood still with smoke as a finger pushed the trigger down.

The land stood still as rain poured gently.

Two wolves watched each other. A white stained black against a black stained white.

Afraid to do what's next. Afraid of each other, and yet,

One looked with guilt and pain. The other with mercy, forgiveness, and willingness of the fate ahead of him.

Then it all flashed.

Flashes. Flashes. Flashes of memories he doesn't understand. People he met, loved, yet were unable to recall.

The fuck is this?

The fuck is that?

The fuck are those?

He felt like he was flying.

Soaring through the cosmos in a sea filled with stars and angels.

Then… calmness. And a voice filled with regret and nostalgia as he saw himself on a train.

…It was all my fault.

My decisions, and everything they caused.

It had come to this for me to finally realize you were right all along.

"It was not your fault."

A beautiful pink colored sunset lit up the pale blue sky as the train continued on moving. He blinked, and a woman in a bloodsoaked white military uniform sat in front of the wolf with her face hidden by the rays of sunset.

So forgive me for being so bold, but I must ask for your help.

"Say the word and I'll do it. I'm always ready to help my students."

A small, painful, guilty, and melancholic smile formed on her lips.

…Hans Sensei.

You'll forget these words, but it won't matter.

Her voice carried so much pain, yet filled with so much hope. Hope for a better tomorrow. Hope for a better future.

Hope for everything but herself.

Even without your memories, you'll probably make the same decision in the same situation.

Therefore, I believe what matters most are the choices we make, not the experiences we have.

There are choices only you can make.

"...I understand."

Then the glimpses of a faded truth came back about the people he had never met before...

Never… or will meet?

A short pink haired girl with her friends.

A short horned white haired girl who had been working too hard without breaks.

A club who is on the brink of disbanding.

Students who needed guidance because of their failing grades.

A princess who had been deceived and manipulated to the point of insanity.

A forsaken girl who begged for his help to rescue her family.

A squad of once elite soldiers turned to homelessness.

And finally...

The black stained wolf who had lost everything.

I've spoken of responsibility before.

I didn't understand it then, but now I do.

Adulthood, responsibility, obligation... and the choices you make that extend beyond those ideals.

I even understand their implications.

Therefore, Sensei…

Sensei. Teacher. Is he qualified for such a position?

The feeling in his gut went through to his brain. Yes. Yes he is.

He is no longer a soldier.

...You're the only one I can trust.

Only you can free us from this twisted, distorted fate, and find the choices that can lead us to a new reality.

So Sensei... Please…

This… was not an order. This is request. A request he could reject and accept.

A plea for help.

A simple request of a girl who had been burdened by her choices.

He could reject the it. Reject the girl. And return to his dream. To rest forevermore, and return to Gaia herself.

He was in control.

As much as he wanted to do so... something wanted him to accept it. Something pushed him to do so. Was it pity? Was it because… she simply asked?

The captain sat silent for a minutes on end.

Then the minutes turned to hours.

And then… he gave the girl his answer.

A simple, gentle nod.

With that, his world went to white.

And the girl gave a small smile as everything disappeared all around him.

A small murmur came to his ear.

"Thank you."

"...sei. Sensei, wake up!"

"Hans-sensei!"

He jolted awake as a ow rumble left his lips. When's the last time he had slept that soundly?

With a groan, the captain blinked to wipe his drowsiness away, and when he returned to the moment... his thoughts ran wild as he basked upon the alien surroundings.

He was somewhere he didn't recognize. An office, much cleaner and advanced than he could recognize.

Is he still dreaming?

He was dying for a moment ago, he was burning to cinders from his heart pierced by the silver.

Yet... there he was now.

He rubbed his eyes again, and then finally registering the mysterious young woman in front of him who had called his name.

She had long, flowing black hair and a pair of bright blue eyes, hidden behind thin glasses, completed with a white military uniform and a white handgun to wrap it all in a nice bow.

But that's not the strange part.

She has a ring floating above her head that fades from blue to teal and back, and has... pointed ears. An... angel?

The woman sighs. "You fell asleep after I asked you to wait here. I even had some trouble waking you up... I didn't expect you to be so sound asleep."

"…"

He gave no answers to as he stared back at her.

"Well… you must have been having a dream. Anyway, gather yourself and focus. Let me explain the current situation again."

"My name is Nanagami Rin, and I'm a General Student Council officer from Kivotos, the academy city."

A raised eyebrow.

"And you're a teacher that we have summoned here... or so it would seem."

'What?'

The captain immediately stood up, letting his M42 Field cap fall in surprise of Rin. Glaring at the woman with blood red eyes filled with suspicion and uncertainty. Rin stood idle for a moment then cleared her throat to clean the tense air.

"The letter the president had left me said you're… quite... untrusting around strangers. I understand your confusion, sensei… and to be honest I still don't fully understand how you get here. My apologies."

She gave a bow as she continued on speaking.

"However, I would like you to follow me for now, there's something I require your help with."

The silent captain continued on staring. His expression unreadable by his cold, and stony behavior painted on his eyes. And considering the fact that most of his lower face had been hidden by the neck guard, there is no reading him no matter how hard Rin tries.

Thus, he staring match continued between him and the tall elf. Unnerving her even so as the clock continues to tick.

"..."
"...Please."

Rin murmured out. In a small glimmer of hope.

Minutes continued to pass.

Then eventually, a small nod was given, and an intense relief came over the vice president.

"..Thank you sensei. This way, please."

'My heart is still beating... he... he is dangerous.' Rin thought to herself.

Hans hesitated for a moment before he followed, picking up and wearing his field cap back as he stole glances outside the window. Watching the sight of a strange urban city here and there as the black haired elf leads him to somewhere.

After a few moments of silent walking and passing through the reception room, they reached the observation platform, where his eyes were greeted by a breathtaking sight.

"Welcome to Kivotos, Sensei."

Rin smiled as she waved to the city in front of them.

A massive, technologically advanced urban city that seems to have stretched on to infinity. Then as he looked above, there was… a strange, thin white rings floating above the city. It was… like protecting the city.

And although the city was covered in buildings and machines, there is still nature to be found. The air was clean, the sun felt warm... and a strange feeling of elysion came washing over him.

Paradise.

"Kivotos is a massive city, home to thousands of different academies, and from this moment forth, sensei... this is where you'll be working from now on." Rin declared.

Upon it, a thousand questions plagued his mind of the mysterious yet comforting city he had found himself in. Yet... he felt like it is something he could answer and find about it himself.

So he gave a nod in which she returned with a smile.

"You really are a man of few words. I hope that you can do more in your actions… sensei."

Then, the ding of an elevator came. Hearing the noise, Rin leaves the office and returns to the reception room, with him following close by.

And in there, four girls are waiting for them wearing conflicting uniforms of their own academies.

"There you are, Acting President! We've been waiting! Get the real president in here already!"

A girl, wearing a black blazer, skirt and covered by a white hoodie suddenly walks in and immediately started yelling.

She had purple eyes, and equally purple hair tied in twin tails.

A black circular halo floated above her, and on her back… two black submachine guns were neatly strapped.

"Huh? Who's that tall adult with you?"

Hans frowns in confusion, glad that the greatcoat hid his lips thinking of what is truly... are these students.

"I've been waiting to see you, Chief Officer." Says another one.

This one was tall. Not quite as tall as him but tall regardless. She has long black hair and piercing red eyes almost matching his, a black sailor uniform with JUSTICE written on it that fails to hide her… massive assets, and a long skirt that splits, revealing her hips and a black garter belt that holds her leggings.

Completing her otherworldly look, she had two large, black wings coming from her back and a crimson halo, with a diamond in the center and four sharp additional shapes at either of the cardinal directions.

Her weapon of choice is a heavily decorated black and gold 1914 Enfield bolt action rifle. If he didn't squint his eyes he would think of it as something else.

Hans felt his frown growing even more. Either she was showing off or that she was… airheaded. Yet somehow she reminded him of the monster the major was really trying to kill.

"I'm here to meet with the General Student Council president. The head prefect has terms she would like to discuss." Says yet another girl. This one has pale, pinkish hair, tied in pigtails to hide her pointed ears. She wore an outfit that reminded Hans of a field nurse of a standard young German Fräulein.

And completing it was the red and black circular armband tied around her left arm gave him the flashback of his service back in the Reich.

Her halo is a red ring with four elongated diamonds piercing it, and her weapon of choice? A standard Mauser C96 like the one he owns. Although… hers was decorated red, and her gun barrel is not as long.

"Well... this timing is rather inconvenient." Rin says with a little scowl, her eyes looking off to the side, unable to meet the three girls' gazes. Then, she smiles a sweet… sweet smile,

"Hello, guests that represent neighboring academies' student councils, disciplinary boards, and those who otherwise have too much time on their hands." Her voice is dripping with poisoned honey.

Hans looked at Rin silently. She is… definitely annoyed.

"I am well aware why you irksome-I mean, important representatives have come here today. You're here to blame us for the fuss happening in the academy city. Isn't that right?"

…The captain raised his eyebrow with a small unnoticeable smile on his hidden lips.

"If you're well aware, then do something!" The purple hair girl exclaimed with a small shout as she spread her arms.

"You represent the General Student Council after all! Thousands of academy districts are in panic! Our academy's wind generator shut down just a few days ago!"

"There are also rumors a student under the Federal Corrections Bureau's custody has escaped." The fräulein followed.

"There has been a sharp increase in the number of thugs attacking our students on their way to school. Public safety is not being properly enforced." The final girl spoke.

She wore a gray and black, long sleeved uniform and skirt. Long white hair and what seems like a wing were protruding from the left side of her head and the same red blood eyes as he had and the tall black winged girl.

Her halo comprises two magenta rings, held together by four arrows and her weapon of choice was a rifle he didn't recognize.

"Illegal distribution of tanks, choppers, and other unknown weapons have increased by over 2000 percent. At this rate, ordinary school life in Kivotos will be a thing of the past." The winged girl continued with a nod.

Rin remains silent, listening dutifully to their concerns with wide eyes.

"And what is the General Student Council president doing during such a sorry state of affairs?! I demand to see her right this instant!" The purple haired girl said with passion and rage as she put her hands on her wide hips.

Rin closed her eyes and answered with a sigh. "The president is not here at the moment. To be frank, she's gone missing."

"Eh?!" The purple haired girl yells and the elven girl gasps.

"So the rumors were true..." The winged girl says with a sigh and a head shake. She was… surprised but not as much as the two.

"Allow me to cut to the chase. The General Student Council has no authority because the top administrator of Sanctum Tower has gone missing. We had been searching for a way to bypass the need for verification, all to no avail... until recently." Rin explains with determination.

"You mean… you've found a way now, chief officer?" The winged girl asks.

Rin nods. "That is correct. Sensei here is the answer to our problems." She gazed up at him with hope, and the girls followed also with confusion.

His expression stood distant as he glared at Rin with a… somewhat terrifying aura as the elven vice president kept her calm and professional composure even after feeling such a thing, and his dreadful red eyes piercing into her soul. Causing the hair on the back of her to tingle and rise.

"This person?" The tall one asked, with a little suspicion.

"Hold up h-hold up! This person?! I-I thought he was your bodyguard or something! What is he doing here?!" the purple haired girl asks.

"He does look tough. I trust him." The white haired one spoke with a huffed chest.

"...Whoever this is… I don't think he is from Kivotos." The tall girl said to the white haired girl before she continued to stare back at the captain.

"This is Hans sensei. Not only are they going to be teaching in Kivotos, but he's also been personally selected by the General Student Council president-"

Hans raised his hand to stop Rin from talking, as his glare focused even more.

"…"

The air tenses as he kept his stare, overshadowed by his field cap.

'…Is this my responsibility to do so? To help them? What if I refuse? Then what?'

'…What do I want?'

"Sensei?" Rin asked again as Hans remained still like a statue. Worried and... afraid of his next course of actions.

The echoes of a distant memory came back again as he dwelled long in his thoughts. Then a passing glimpse of a white haired girl in the train kicked back in. The endless wars he had fought in, the endless nights and struggles...

...

'...Maybe... I can see this through.'

Then after what felt like hours.. he nods, and lowered his hand.

Which was another great relief to her as she released a breath she had been holding all this time.

'That aura was of his… ugh…'

Rin cleared her throat. "Hans sensei… is a shy person. He prefers to let actions do the talking. Yuuka, introduce yourself."

"E-Ehh?! Why me-?!" Yuuka complained, but the death glare Rin sent was enough to shut her up.

"Yuuka."

"U-ugh… fine! N-Nice to meet you sensei. My name is Hayase Yuuka. I'm the treasurer for Millennium's Student council! Y-you must remember that name alright!"

Yuuka exclaimed with confidence only to have it break down as her eyes met his.

Millennium.

That name followed him even here.

"Uh- um.. s-sensei?"

Hans continued to glare for a moment longer. Then he shook his head, bent down, and offered his hand.

"..."

"O-oh! Yeah!" Yuuka shakily shook his gloved hand with a blush. His grip… was strong.

The tall one nodded and cleared her throat

"My name is Hanekawa Hasumi, the vice president of Trinity General School's Justice Task Force. Nice to meet you, sensei." Hasumi continued and offered her hand, in which Hans shook.

"I-I guess I'm up. I'm Hinomiya Chinatsu. I'm... the head for first aid division for the Gehenna's Prefect Team. Nice to meet you sensei." The elf gave a smile and offered her hand, in which the captain shook gently.

"Hm. I'm Morizuki Suzumi. I'm part of the Trinity's Vigilante Crew. The same school as Hasumi." She spoke with determination as she shook his hand with a neutral expression.

Rin sighed and fixed her glasses. "Thank you everyone." She then looked back at Hans.

"Sensei, you're here to serve as the advisor for a club that was formed by the General Student Council president. The Federal Investigation Club: SCHALE."

'Schale? Strange name.'

"This isn't your average club, more like a type of extrajudicial organization. Since it's a federal club, you'll be allowed to register students from any of the academies in Kivotos. Each academy region can perform battle activities without restriction."

"That's… a lot of power isn't it?" Yuuka asked, raising her eyebrow

Rin shook her head in exhaustion. "How the president was able to create an organization with this much power, I have no idea."

Then, she continued. "The SCHALE club room is about thirty kilometers from here. The building is currently empty, but we had to put something in the basement at the president's request."

She put a hand on her chest, with a bow before she reached for her phone. "It's my job to take you there." Then, she punched in something… as a hologram of a short, sharp toothed and pink haired girl came from it, in a great surprise for the captain, but not so much to the others, like it was just something they see on the daily.

The girl yawns as she chomped down on some chips. She wore almost the same uniform as Rin albeit a little modified. And her halo was like a ring of stars almost like a crown.

"Momoka, I need a helicopter to take us to the SCHALE club room." Rin asked.

"The SCHALE club room? That's over in the outskirts. Things are kind of crazy over there right now..." She spoke with a lazy tone, munching on some chips as she wiped her hands.

Rin blinked in confusion. "What do you mean by 'crazy'?"

"A suspended student escaped from the Corrections Bureau and is wreaking havoc. It's a battlefield over there right now!" Momoka explained some more.

"...What?" Rin says in a low voice as she grips her phone with a deathgrip and a frown. The stress was clearly oozing out from her.

"She rallied all the thugs in the area and are destroying everything in their path to get revenge on the General Student Council. I hear they've even got a Crusader Tank!" Momoka explained more as she widened her hands, grabbing another bag of chips as Rin continued to tremble.

"They must be trying to occupy the SCHALE building because they know the General Student Council controls it. Maybe they think there's something valuable inside." Momoka guesses boredly, idly chomping on more.

…Hans is unamused.

"Oh well. The city's already a dump, so I don't think it'll make that much of a difference… ah." Momoka stood up as she put her chips down, eyes glinting at the ping she had just recieved.

"Oh great! The food I ordered is here. I'll talk to you later." She says happily as she ended the call with a smirk.

Rin freezes up with rage as her face darkens from the incredible rage and stress that had been building up since the president's disappearance. Hans swore she was cracking her phone and was this close… THIS CLOSE to throw it.

Immediately, he put a hand on her shoulder and Rin flinched with a yelp.

"S-Sensei?!"

Hans shook his head, and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"...Okay.. I'm okay, sensei. I-It's just a…minor setback. Thank you." Rin spoke for a moment before glaring at the four girls, who had been listening all this time. Flinching in unison upon the deathly glare.

"W-What? Why are you staring at us like that?" Yuuka asked nervously, as a small visible ball of sweat rolled down her face.

"It's so reassuring to have you trustworthy academy representatives with us." Rin says, with a pressuring and terror inducing tone complete hidden underneath a sweet smile.

"H-Huh?"

"We are going to need your help to bring peace back to Kivotos. Let's go." Rin says, brokering no arguments.

"W-Wait, what?! Where are we going?!" Yuuka asks, as Rin begins to walk away.

The girls looked at each other in confusion, then at the adult for an explanation. He looked at them back, shook his head, and followed Rin.

"H-Hey!" Yuuka ran behind them… with the others following closely with a sigh.

At that moment… The captain wonders.

If this is simply his choice to help them or was it orchestrated by someone else. Whatever it is, he liked the idea he could do something else.

…Other than resting eternally.

Edited, 7/4/2024