It was a typical day at Thors Branch Campus, a day filled with endless paperwork, training sessions, and the occasional existential crisis. Instructor Rean Schwarzer, the Ashen Chevalier himself, was immersed in a mountain of documents that seemed to have no end. His Class VII students, ever eager and curious, had taken it upon themselves to explore every nook and cranny of the campus in search of excitement.

"Hey, Instructor Rean! Look what I found in the storage room!" Musse Egret, the enigmatic and flirtatious member of the new Class VII, burst into his office holding a dusty, ancient-looking map. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, a clear sign that whatever she had discovered was bound to lead them into some form of trouble or grand adventure—probably both.

Rean looked up from his paperwork, raising an eyebrow. "A map? Musse, we've been over this. Last time you found a 'treasure map,' we ended up in that haunted mansion with the sentient floating

chocolate bars and ferret infested furniture."

"Oh, Instructor, you're always so serious!" Musse teased, waving the map in front of his face. "This isn't just any map. It's a map to the lost city of Atlantis!"

The room fell silent for a moment, the words hanging in the air like a fog of pure absurdity. Then, as if on cue, Rean's other students filed into the office, drawn by the promise of an adventure.

"Atlantis? In Antarctica? That doesn't even make sense, hell why not throw in fricking space frog sargents?" Juna Crawford said, arms crossed and an incredulous look on her face.

"Well I mean there WAS a time when there was green grass and no snow in Antarctica. It's true! Look at these inscriptions," Musse insisted, unfolding the map on Rean's desk. "They're written in an ancient language that matches the legends of Atlantis. And the coordinates lead to a specific location in Antarctica."

"Well, if the map says it's there, it must be true," Kurt Vander added with a hint of sarcasm, though there was a gleam of excitement in his eyes.

Rean sighed, knowing there was no stopping his students once they had their minds set on something. "Alright, fine. But if we're doing this, we're doing it properly. I'll contact the necessary authorities and prepare for the expedition. Class VII, pack your bags. We're going to Antarctica."

Two weeks later, Class VII found themselves aboard a high-tech airship, courtesy of Prince Olivert and the Reinford Group. The ship was equipped with all the latest gadgets, including a state-of-the-art snow cruiser designed for navigating the harsh terrain of Antarctica. Rean, Musse, Juna, Kurt, Altina, and Ash crowded around the cockpit, their faces pressed against the windows as the icy landscape of Antarctica came into view.

"Look at all that snow! It's like an endless white desert," Ash Carbide remarked, his usual bravado tempered by the sheer scale of the frozen wilderness.

"I am overcome with what is known to some as emotion. My mental and visual sensors tell me it is beautiful, but also incredibly risky," Altina Orion observed, her voice as monotone as ever. "We must exercise caution and tame it like the wind"

Musse, ever the optimist, clapped her hands together. "Oh, this is going to be so much fun! I can already picture the headlines: 'Brave Students of Thors Branch Campus Discover Atlantis!'"

Rean chuckled, despite himself. "Let's just focus on finding this supposed city first. We have no idea what we'll encounter out there."

After a smooth landing on the icy expanse, the team disembarked from the airship, bundled up in thick, fur-lined coats. They began their trek across the frozen wasteland, following the coordinates on the map. The journey was arduous, with biting winds and treacherous ice, but Class VII pressed on, their determination unwavering.

After several days of trudging through the snow, the team finally reached the location marked on the map. Before them stood a massive ice wall, glistening in the pale Antarctic sun. Embedded in the ice were strange, ancient symbols that matched those on the map.

"This is it," Musse declared triumphantly. "The entrance to Atlantis!"

Rean examined the symbols, tracing them with his gloved fingers. "It looks like some kind of puzzle. We'll need to figure out the correct sequence to open the entrance."

Juna groaned. "Great, another puzzle. Just what we needed."

Kurt stepped forward, his analytical mind already at work. "Let's see... If we align these symbols according to their corresponding legends, it should trigger the mechanism."

With the combined efforts of the team, they managed to solve the puzzle. The ice wall rumbled and slowly parted, revealing a hidden passageway leading deep into the glacier.

"Well, here goes nothing," Rean said, taking a deep breath before leading the way into the icy depths.

As they ventured further into the passage, the walls of ice gave way to stone and metal, evidence of a long-lost civilization. The air grew warmer, and soon they found themselves standing on the edge of a vast underground city, illuminated by a mysterious, otherworldly light.

"Welcome to Atlantis," Musse whispered, her voice filled with awe.

The city was a marvel of ancient engineering, with towering spires, intricate carvings, and flowing waterways that glowed with a soft, blue light. The team explored the city, discovering ancient artifacts and deciphering inscriptions that told the story of a once-great civilization that had thrived beneath the ice.

"Unbelievable," Rean muttered, examining a stone tablet. "The Atlanteans had advanced technology far beyond our own. But why did they hide their city here?"

Altina, ever pragmatic, offered an explanation. "Perhaps they were fleeing from some threat or seeking isolation to preserve their knowledge."

As they delved deeper into the city, they stumbled upon a central chamber, dominated by a massive, glowing crystal. The crystal pulsed with energy, casting a mesmerizing light across the room.

"This must be the heart of Atlantis," Kurt said, eyes wide with wonder.

Musse approached the crystal, her fingers brushing against its surface. "It's beautiful. But what is its purpose? And if it's anything like my heart, it'll melt when Rean Schwarzer shows up"

Before anyone could answer, the crystal began to hum, and a holographic figure appeared before them. The figure, an ancient Atlantean scholar, began to speak in a language that resonated in their minds, translating itself into their native tongue.

"Greetings, travelers. You have discovered the last refuge of Atlantis. Our civilization was driven to the brink of extinction by a great calamity. We hid our city beneath the ice to preserve our knowledge and culture. The crystal you see before you contains the sum of our wisdom and technology. Use it wisely."

The hologram flickered and vanished, leaving the team in stunned silence.

With their mission accomplished and their minds filled with the knowledge of Atlantis, Class VII made their way back to the surface. The journey back to the airship was no less challenging, but their spirits were high, buoyed by the discovery of the ancient city.

As they boarded the airship and prepared for the journey home, Rean couldn't help but smile. "Well, this has certainly been an adventure. I don't think we'll ever forget this."

Musse grinned, leaning back in her seat. "I told you it would be fun! Now we just need to write our report and bask in the glory of our discovery."

Juna rolled her eyes. "Yeah, because writing the report is the best part of any adventure."

Ash chuckled. "At least we can say we did something no one else has done. We found Atlantis!"

As the airship soared into the sky, leaving the frozen expanse of Antarctica behind, Class VII knew they had experienced something truly extraordinary. The knowledge of Atlantis would shape their future adventures, and their bond as a team had grown even stronger.

Musse sat next to Altina, her playful demeanor softening as she spoke. "You were amazing down there, Altina. I don't think we could have done it without you."

Altina's cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "Thank you, Musse. Your enthusiasm kept our spirits high."

Musse leaned closer, her voice a gentle whisper. "I'm really really-REALLY glad you were by my side, Altina."

Altina's eyes met Musse's, a rare warmth in her usually stoic gaze. "Me too. I am now about to load facial blushing pixels"

"What else have you been up to lately Altina?" asked Musse.

"I have engaged in a rap confrontation with Harle from Chrono Cross, you can see it online" replied

Altina.

Rean, observing the quiet exchange from a distance, couldn't help but smile. It seemed that amidst the chaos and absurdity, bonds were being forged and hearts were finding their way.

And so, with the mystery of Atlantis unraveled, they set their sights on the next great adventure, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them with courage, determination, and a healthy dose of humor.

Epilogue: The Legend Lives On

Back at Thors Branch Campus, the news of Class VII's discovery spread like wildfire. The students were hailed as heroes, their names etched into the annals of history. The map to Atlantis was preserved as a treasured artifact, a testament to their bravery and ingenuity.

Rean returned to his office, the mountain of paperwork waiting for him as always. But this time, he faced it with a renewed sense of purpose and a smile on his face. After all, he had led his students on an incredible journey, one that would be remembered for generations to come.

As he sat down to tackle the never-ending documents, he glanced at the framed map on his wall. "Atlantis, huh? I wonder what other mysteries are out there, waiting to be discovered."

And with that thought, the legend of the Cold Steel and Absurd Expedition continued to inspire adventurers, scholars, and dreamers alike, proving that even in the coldest, most unlikely places, there are always new horizons to explore.

The End