Chapter 48 - Insecurity

6.17.1206 - Saturday (Field Exercise Day 1)

After a long and hectic night in Raquel, Towa was eager to welcome everyone back as they returned to the Field Exercise Camp.

Upon returning to camp, everyone went their separate ways for the night. Seeing as it had been a while since they last hung out, Towa invited Angelica to her cabin so they could catch up on old times.

"It's been quite a while since we've had any old fashioned girl talk y'know." Angelica noted as she entered Towa's cabin onboard the Derfflinger.

"Sorry we haven't been able to meet after graduation." Towa replied as she sat down on her bed.

"Don't apologize, it's not your fault our schedules never let us. Plus I'm sure a certain underclassman has kept you company in my absence." Angelica teased as she stood by the guest bed.

"Still, I should've called or messaged you more often." Towa argued.

"You do realize that most of my time has been spent driving my orbal bike, right? Despite what my father, George, my driving instructor, and the military police would have you believe, I'm a responsible driver. Which means that I'm not looking at my ARCUS for the majority of the day." Angelica responded.

"Okay then, I'll look over my schedule and look for times when we're both free so we can have a video call." Towa replied.

"Jeez, you haven't really changed a day since Thors." Angelica teased.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Towa questioned.

"Even back then you were always so quick to drop everything for us." Angelica explained.

"Have I?" Towa asked.

"You almost screwed up your first day as a member of the Student Council because of me, Crow, and George's antics." Angelica recalled.

"Haha! I'd completely forgotten about that." Towa replied.

"Yeah, you really saved our bacon that time." Angelica commented.

Angelica quickly turned to face the door. She could sense a certain someone listening in on the conversation.

"Hmm? Is that Rean I sense lurking out there?" Angelica teased.

"Oh? Heehee. Why don't you come in, silly?" Towa added on.

"Haha, looks like I underestimated you two. It seems like you've really been sharpening your martial arts skills, huh, Angelica?" Rean greeted as he entered Towa's cabin.

"Yeah, I went and visited a bunch of different schools that have connections to Taito. I think I've pretty much packed my head full of kung fu by now." Angelica revealed.

"No wonder your movements are so sharp now." Rean complimented.

"Teehee, you were able to meet with your master again, right? The one who first taught you Taito?" Towa asked.

"Yeah, he's from Calvard, so it's pretty hard to get over there to see him. But I was able to talk with him about quite a few things while I was there, so it was a good trip." Angelica answered.

"Umm, well, I don't really understand anything about martial arts, but were you able to finish your cross-continental motorcycle trip?" Towa continued.

"Nah, I haven't been able to get everywhere just yet. I went around Liberl, Remiferia, Ored, Leman, and Arteria. Then from there, I was able to make it to the central eastern part of the continent. But eastern Zemuria's kind of a tough nut to crack." Angelica explained.

"Eastern Zemuria… I've only heard stories. It seems like the desertification has gotten worse and there's less and less land where people can live…" Towa noted.

"That's why there's been such an influx of immigrants moving into Calvard. Actually, Master Yun, my teacher, is there right now." Rean added on.

"O-Oh, is that so? Towa replied.

"Just what I'd expect from the founder of the Eight Leaves One Blade school. I asked the local guild branch out there, and they said it'd take me half a year to get to the east by land. I was worried about what was going on at home here, too, so unfortunately, I had to give up on heading that way." Angelica explained.

"Master Yun said something like that in a letter he sent me. 'The dragon veins are nearly depleted' those were the words he used." Rean revealed.

"It seems like they have a lot to deal with over there, too. If the Empire wasn't in such a state, I would have loved to go there and help, too." Towa noted.

"I was actually talking about this with George, too. If it's even possible to use our technology to support eastern Zemuria and stop the desertification there. Once things are finally settled and done here in the empire, it might be something for us all you guys from Class VII to look into." Angelica suggested.

Rean and Towa stared at each other as they processed Angelica's suggestion, before nodding in agreement.

"Teehee, you truly are something, Angie. But you're right, We've gotten help from a lot of people from other countries." Towa commented.

"So someday, we have to make sure we're not just contributing to the Empire, but to the entire continent of Zemuria." Rean added on.

"Heehee, right? You gotta dream big." Angelica replied.

"Right." Rean and Towa said together.

After that was all said and done, Rean took a seat beside Towa on her bed as the three of them began to reminisce on their time at Thors for a few minutes.

"Well, I should probably continue my inspection of the Derfflinger now." Rean said as he stood up.

"Good luck with that Rean. Make sure to get some shut eye once you're done." Towa advised as she got up to hug him.

"Do you want me to come back later?" Rean quietly asked Towa.

"N-Not tonight. I-If Angie saw us, she'd tease us even more than Principal Le Guin." Towa quietly replied.

"Alright then, sweet dreams." Rean quietly replied.

With that, Rean wished Towa and Angelica a good evening, before exiting Towa's cabin.


"You do realize that I could hear everything, right? Is this guest bed usually taken, or do you two just cuddle up close on your bed?" Angelica teased as Towa sat back down on her bed.

"W-What a-are y-you t-talking a-about!?" Towa nervously responded as her face began to heat up.

"Haha, I didn't realize you two were that far along in your relationship. And here I thought you two were a good pure patient couple." Angelica continued teasing.

"A-Angie! T-That's n-not w-what R-Rean m-meant!" Towa yelled as her face only got more red.

"Alright then, explain." Angelica replied before taking a picture of Towa in her embarrassed state with her ARCUS.

"O-Okay, it's nothing of that nature. It's just that whenever I sleep alone, I always have the same nightmares." Towa admitted.

"Is it okay if I ask what they're about?" Angelica asked in a much more serious manner than before.

"It's fine. For the longest time I've been having these nightmares where something bad happens to Rean and Valimar. After Rean came back from North Ambria, I haven't been able to sleep well unless he's there with me. We were able to sleep in separate rooms at the Branch Campus Dorm for the first few months, but after the situation with Azure Siegfried, he's had to sleep every single night in my dorm room." Towa explained.

In truth, Towa was scared that Rean would die because of her. Everyone close to her always met the same tragic fate. Her family, her friends, and now she feared for her lover. She wanted Rean by her side at all times just to assure herself that everything was okay.

"So that's why you were concerned when we all left for Raquel earlier. You must've been worried that Rean wouldn't come back tonight while we were in Raquel gathering info on the jaegers." Angelica commented.

"That's one of the reasons. Angie, do the tabloids in those other countries talk about Rean's love life?" Towa questioned.

"Speculation was never on the front page, but some of them had weekly panels giving updates based on who from Old Class VII they saw hanging out with Rean and New Class VII during their Field Exercises." Angelica answered.

"Be honest with me Angie, am I even mentioned in those tabloids?" Towa asked.

"Now that I think about it… no." Angelica admitted.

"Just like the ones over here…" Towa mumbled to herself.

"Wait, was that why you were so opposed to Rean going with Sara and I to Raquel earlier?" Angelica asked.

"I-I mean, you know what type of establishments are in that town. A-And with Rean's status as a national hero, there's no doubt that someone would try to get his attention…" Towa admitted.
"Towa Herschel! Do you really suspect that Rean would do that type of thing!?" Angelica yelled.

"No! I know Rean wouldn't do something like that! B-But what if he decides to end our courtship upon finding someone more worthy of his status?" Towa responded.

"Worthy of his status?" Angelica repeated.

"I feel like there's a reason why no one suspects me of being Rean's girlfriend. Compared to everyone else in his social circle, I'm a nobody. He's friends with an heiress, a fellow noble, a Bracer, a witch, and even a princess! What am I compared to them?" Towa continued.

"Do you want the honest answer, or do you want the Rean answer?" Angelica asked.

"The Rean answer is probably something meant to make me feel better, so give me the honest answer." Towa replied.

"Trick question, they're the same answer. You were the best Student Council President Thors has ever had, you were the captain of the Courageous during the civil war, now you're a teacher at Thors' branch campus, and you're the love of his life. With a resume like that, it's only a matter of time before he proposes." Angelica answered.

"S-Still, I feel like I'm only holding him back." Towa continued.

"Towa, you and Rean are a match made in heaven. He's the only person I've seen who's able to get you to put down your work and get some rest. While you're the only person who manages to get through to him and help make sure not to do everything himself. Heck, both of you seem to balance out those workaholic tendencies you both have. I don't think I've ever seen either of you smile as brightly as you two did when your families and I approved of your courtship." Angelica explained.

Towa sat quietly as she processed what Angelica was trying to tell her. Maybe she was overthinking things. She knew that Rean loved her as his one and only.

"Haha, you're right, Angie." Towa said as she thought about all the time she spent with Rean.

"Good to hear. If it makes you feel better, as your best friend, I would've already taken care of Rean if I suspected him of doing something like that to you by now." Angelica replied.

"You wouldn't seriously harm Rean, right?" Towa questioned.

Angelica sat silent, unsure of how to answer Towa's question.

"Angie…" Towa continued.

"I wouldn't do anything fatal, just permanent." Angelica bluntly answered.

"Angelica Rogner! Don't threaten my boyfriend's life!" Towa yelled.

"Even if he hurts you by being a scumbag?" Angelica asked.

"He would never do such a thing to hurt me!" Towa answered.

"Good, we're on the same page then. Glad I was able to knock some sense into you." Angelia replied.
"I suppose you did. Thanks Angie, I feel like you really helped ease some of my worries." Towa responded.

"That's what friends are for. Want me to go to the guest cabin? Sounds like you need Rean's company more than you need my company." Angelica asked.

"You can stay here. I can go one night without being wrapped in Rean's arms." Towa answered as her face became a slight shade of red.

"Sounds good, I'll go get us some drinks from the vending machine- oh wait!" Angelica said as she stood up.

"Angie? Did something happen?" Towa questioned.

"Oh sorry to worry you, I just remembered that I got you and Rean something while I was in Raquel earlier today. I left it in my bike's glove box. I'll go get it real fast." Angelica revealed as she exited Towa's cabin.
"I wonder what Angie got for Rean and I? Oh, I should go get us some drinks from the vending machine. I could go for some milk right now." Towa said to herself as she got from her bed and exited her cabin.


Towa quietly made her way down the train compartment and bought some drinks. A bottle of milk for herself, and a soda for Angelica.

"Alrighty, milk and soda acquired without waking anyone up. Good job Agent Agent Herschel, now to get back to my room." Towa whispered to herself.

As she walked back to her cabin however, Towa noticed that someone had left the door to the dining car. She would've left it alone, but then suddenly she overheard some familiar voices coming from inside the dining car.

"I mean, it won't hurt to check on who it is." Towa whispered to herself as her curiosity got the better of her.

Towa imminently froze upon seeing Rean sitting in between Sara and Claire inside the dining car. It looked like they had been drinking for a while. It was as if one of Towa's biggest fears had become a reality.

"Haha, I told you that beer was on me!" Sara drunkenly joked.

"We all thought you were joking." Rean replied as he took a sip of his light beer.

"Honestly, after what we talked about outside this really hits the spot." Claire noted.

Towa took a few steps back. She wanted to run back and lock herself in her cabin, to never go back out as her world crumbled before her.

"S-Snap out of it Herschel! Don't run, stay and listen. Don't make assumptions, this could all be a misunderstanding. I did walk in mid-conversation, so I'm probably missing vital context." Towa thought to herself.

Towa quietly walked back to the door to continue listening to Rean, Sara, and Claire.

"Still Rean, thanks for the idea of drinking together." Claire continued.

"Hey now, during my inspection of the Derfflinger I noticed both of you looking glum by yourselves. Speaking from personal experience, it's better to relax with friends. Although, I blame Sara for getting the drinks involved." Rean explained.

"C'mon you two, these drinks are great!" Sara drunkenly yelled.

"And that's why I chose to drink something light." Rean replied.

"Haha, I forgot that you could drink now." Claire commented.

"Little Rean is becoming a man before our very eyes. As your former instructor, I couldn't be prouder." Sara teased.

"To think it's been two years since you, Millium, and the rest of Old Class VII enrolled at Thors." Claire commented.

"Plus, two years since I first played matchmaker." Sara drunkenly revealed.

"You what?" Rean questioned.

"I suppose there's no harm in telling you now. The main reason why I had you help with the Student Council back at Thors was because I thought you and Towa would make a cute pair." Sara admitted.

"W-Wait, but I thought you had me join because I wasn't in any club at the time?" Rean asked as his face began to turn a shade of red.

"Well, originally that was the plan. But I couldn't help but notice how you had a similar problem like Towa, where you just wanted to help as much as you could even when you should be resting. So I figured, what better way to take care of that problem than by having you two meet and balance each other out. Plus I knew that it would result in a cute couple, eventually. I didn't realize how oblivious you were to Towa's rather obvious crush on you." Sara explained.

"Towa had a crush on me!?" Rean yelled.

"You didn't know? You're courting her, how did you not know that she had a crush on you?" Claire questioned.

"I-I don't know, I guess I assumed she just fell for me later on during the civil war." Rean admitted.

"Didn't you two go on a date in Heimdallr during the Summer Festival?" Sara pointed out.

"T-That wasn't a date, I walked into her family's shop and she volunteered to show me around the city." Rean explained.

"Didn't you take her for a ride with your orbal bike outside of Trista?" Sara added on.

"T-That was a request from George and Angelica, t-they didn't tell me that Towa was going to be in the side car." Rean replied.

"What about that time I walked in on you two in the computer room, and Towa was wearing that skimpy outfit for you?" Sara continued.

"T-That was just a misunderstanding, Towa just put that on because she didn't have a recording of Proto Class VII's School Festival concert." Rean answered.

"What about that two day long date you two went on during the School Festival?" Sara teased.

"T-That-" Rean tried to explain before Claire interrupted him.

"Rean, all of those things sound straight from a cheesy romance book I would've read when I was younger." Claire commented.

"Face the facts Rean, you two fell for each other hard during your first year at Thors." Sara teased.

"Well then, that's news to me. I suppose I am rather lucky then." Rean replied.

"Luck? Rean, it's as if you two were born to meet. If not for me, I'm sure someone else might've set you two up." Sara commented.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Towa's best friend belong to House Rogner? I'm sure she probably could've arranged something between her best friend and a noble who lives in her family's region." Claire noted.

"Angelica's family does hold power over House Schwarzer, but I doubt she would've helped set us up." Rean replied.

"Hey now, no need to sound so humble. You two are a match made in heaven." Sara responded.

"Y-You think so?" Rean questioned.

"I know so. Seriously, before you came along Towa was all 'I'm here purely for the education' her first year at Thors, and now look at her." Sara joked.

"Was she? I guess one look at Rean was enough to convince her to put her education aside." Claire teased.

"H-Hey now, Towa graduated from Thors with high grades in all of her classes." Rean replied.

"Thanks to you helping her with the Student Council work. I'm sure you got her lots of extra study time." Sara pointed out.

"I'm sure Towa would've done that without me getting in the way." Rean responded.

"Getting in the way? Rean, you better not be trying to say that-" Claire questioned before getting interrupted.
"T-That's not what I meant. I feel like the luckiest man in the world because I get to spend so much time with Towa." Rean clarified.

"There you go again with luck. Rean, it wasn't by chance that you two got to meet and fall in love. You two worked hard to make it work even after everything that got in your way. Be it a civil war or being drafted multiple times, you two always pulled through. Hopefully the worst is behind you two now, just got to propose to her. Seeing how relatively peaceful things are right now and for the foreseeable future, maybe you should start looking into buying Towa an engagement ring." Sara informed him.

"For the foreseeable future…" Claire muttered to herself.

"W-Wait Sara, I-I don't want to rush or pressure Towa into doing anything she doesn't want to do." Rean replied.

"Don't be so scared of Towa, if anything, you should be scared of the ring's price tag." Sara teased.

The conversation continued like that for a few more minutes, before Rean was able to steer the conversation elsewhere.


Towa quietly took a few steps back to process everything she overheard.

"R-Rean buying me an engagement ring…" Towa whispered to herself.

Towa nervously looked down at her left hand and imagined what it would look like if she had a ring. She couldn't help but feel her entire face glow red at the thought about having something besides their matching necklaces to symbolize her and Rean's relationship.

"H-Haha, I-I was worried for nothing. R-Rean loves me with all his heart and soul. Now I feel silly for how much of a fuss I gave over all those tabloids never talking about me. Honestly, it's rather hilarious how off the mark they are." Towa said to herself.

Suddenly Towa felt someone tap one of her shoulders. She assumed that it was Angelica, but when she turned around it was none other than Musse.

"Good evening, Instructor Towa." Musse politely greeted.

"G-Good evening, Musse. What are you doing outside of your cabin at this hour?" Towa asked.

"Oh that, I was simply having a meeting with Principal Le Guin, but it seems we lost track of time." Musse answered.

"That's alright, just make sure to get some sleep." Towa advised.

"Before I go, do you mind if I ask you a question?" Musse replied.

"Oh sure, go right ahead." Towa answered.

"Are you and Instructor Rean dating?" Musse asked.

Towa thought about how to best answer Musse's question. She could be completely honest. But then word would get out around town, which would attract the tabloids over to Leeves. After some thought, Towa decided that it would be best to continue to do what her and Rean have already been doing, and lie.

"M-Me and Rean? Oh Musse, w-we're just coworkers. Just a former upperclassman looking over their former underclassman. Haha…" Towa nervously lied.

"Good to know." Musse replied.

"Good to know?" Towa repeated.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to share now, seeing as I finally transferred into Instructor Rean's class. But part of my reason for transferring was so I could get closer to him." Musse revealed.

"W-Wait, you don't mean." Towa questioned.

"Oh I mean it. I'm rather surprised no one has claimed him yet. But everyone else's loss is my gain." Musse continued.

Towa was rather shocked by the audacity of what Musse was implying.

"Well, maybe I should finally get around-" Musse said before getting interrupted.

After hearing everything Rean had to say about their relationship, Towa wasn't about to have some random school girl walk up to her and act like she had a shot with Rean.

"You know Ms. Egret, I could always file a request to have you transferred back into my class." Towa revealed.

Musse took a step back as she felt a dark aura beginning to surround Towa.

"I-I think it's too late to do that." Musse nervously replied as she took a few back.

"Oh? I'm sure I can convince Rean into transferring you back to my class." Towa calmly continued.

"W-Would y-you look at that, I-I should probably head back to my cabin." Musse responded as she felt Towa's dark aura getting bigger.
Towa watched with pride as Musse walked past her and into the dining car, where she went unnoticed by Rean, Sara, and Claire as they continued talking about work, before making her way back to the train car where the students' cabins were located.

"Good work, Mrs. Schwarzer. Glad you stood up for yourself. Never would've expected one of your students to try and play little miss homewrecker." Angelica commented as she walked up to Towa while holding a large book.
"Thanks Angie, but I think you're giving Musse way too much credit. Honestly, this probably wouldn't be an issue if Rean and I just went public already." Towa replied as she and Angelica walked back to her cabin.

"Why haven't you two gone public yet?" Angelica asked as Towa handed her a soda and sat down on the guest bed.

"We just want to live peacefully by ourselves for right now. Whenever we go outside of Leeves, Rean has to always wear the glasses I gave him as a gift to avoid getting recognized." Towa explained as she sat down on her bed.

"That's understandable." Angelica replied.

"By the way, what's with that book you have?" Towa asked upon realizing the large book Angelica had returned with.

"Oh this? It's my gift to you and Rean. Just a simple book filled with advice for passionate lovers." Angelica explained as she handed the book to Towa.

"Thank you, Angie. I'll make sure to look through this book with Rean later." Towa replied.

The two best friends continued catching up for another hour as they shared stories of what they've been doing since graduation.


Musse quietly made her way to her cabin, before getting stopped by one of her classmates.

"Herschel certainly showed you, Egret." Ash greeted as he stood outside his cabin's door.

"Instructor Towa certainly did. Looks like she wasn't the pushover I took her for." Musse commented.
"Ever plan to throw in the towel? We all know Schwarzer and Herschel are a thing." Ash questioned.

"If there's one thing I am, it's persistence. Once I have my eyes set on something, I don't stop until I get it." Musse answered.

"You're really committed to stealing Herschel's man for yourself aren't you?" Ash noted.

"Oh Ash, Instructor Rean's not what I want." Musse revealed.

"Wait, so how come you're constantly trying to flirt with him in front of Herschel? Isn't your whole plan to play little miss homewrecker?" Ash questioned.

"I guess it won't hurt if I tell you, but I don't want them to be separated. I just want them to go public about their relationship already. Seeing as they're taking their sweet time, I figured I'd try to pressure them into going public sooner rather than later." Musse explained.

"Wait, why do you want them to go public?" Ashe asked.

"Tell me Ash, don't you think it's odd that the press and the tabloids are obsessed with Instructor Rean's love life?" Musse brought up.

"Well, most of the people Schwarzer is rumored to be in bed with include an Heiress, a noble, a Bracer, a witch, and a princess. Why wouldn't the press keep tabs on Schwarzer when so many big names are involved.." Ash pointed out.

"Those are all nothing more than exaggerated rumors from over a year ago, yet they're still treated as big news to this day. Why is that? Who would gain from Instructor Schwarzer being seen as a national hero who's dating so many powerful women?" Musse continued.

"I don't know. You tell me. Sounds like you figured it out a long time ago." Ash replied.

"The same man who bestowed the Ashen Chevalier title onto Instructor Rean: Chancellor Giliath Osborne." Musse revealed.

"What does Osborne gain from Schwarzer being seen as some sort of handsome knight picking up chicks left and right?" Ash questioned.

"A symbol. If the public at large sees Instructor Rean as not only a hero, but a hero who gets the girl, many would want to follow in his footsteps. Fun fact, ever since the press suddenly started reporting on Instructor Rean's exploits in Crossbell and North Ambria, the number of young men enrolling into the Imperial Army has skyrocketed. They see Instructor Rean being a hero who goes home to a beautiful lover, and they want to be just like that. Meanwhile, if the identity of Instructor Rean's lover is kept a mystery that the tabloids constantly report on, then all the single women are free to imagine themselves as the lucky lady who's going to become Mrs. Schwarzer. Which motivates them to support the Imperial Army with food and financial donations. Because to them, they're supporting Instructor Rean." Musse explained.

"So basically, Osborne's been paying the press and tabloids to turn Schwarzer into propaganda so he could increase the Empire's military without actually giving the money to the Imperial Army directly." Ash noted.

"Correct. Now, if Instructor Rean and Instructor Towa ever went public, all of that stops. Everyone will be able to see them happily teach at the Branch Campus, living a comfortable, yet modest life. Which compared to the image of a national hero fighting in war for a mysterious lover back at home the press and tabloids have been pushing, looks rather dull by comparison." Musse continued.

"Which would cause the number of enrollment and donations to plummet." Ash pointed out.

"Hopefully with the next Field Exercise being in Heimdallr, the spotlight will be on them. Which would be the best time for them to go public about their relationship." Musse noted.
With that, the two students wished each other a good evening and entered their respective cabins to get some sleep.

"Hey wait, how did Egret know that our next Field Exercise is in Heimdallr?" Ash thought to himself before drifting off to sleep.


Author's Note

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I really wanted to end the year on a good even numbered chapter.

As for the chapter itself, I hope no one minds the changes done to the Sara and Claire scenes from this segment of the game. I just felt it would be better to have them give Rean romantic advice since they (mainly Sara) helped get Rean and Towa together. Also glad I was able to get the chance to clear up what Musse's true goal is.