The graduation party was in full swing, the ballroom alive with music, chatter, and the glittering lights of chandeliers reflecting off polished floors. Fie stood near the entrance, a vision of understated elegance in the gown she'd bought for the occasion—a sleek, midnight blue dress with a subtle shimmer, paired with simple silver accents. Her hair, usually free and untamed, was tied back loosely, a few strands framing her face.
She glanced around the room, taking in the faces of her classmates, teachers, and friends. Everyone seemed so at ease, so radiant in the glow of the moment. For her, though, the weight of the day hadn't fully settled until now. She thought back to the ceremony just hours earlier—the speeches, the applause, the bittersweet goodbyes. She could still feel the phantom weight of the cap on her head and the roll of her diploma in her hands.
We really did it, she thought, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugging at her lips. We graduated.
Tomorrow, everything would be different. No more classes, no more training sessions under Instructor Sara, no more dormitory banter late into the night. She would wake up a fully-fledged Bracer, stepping into a role she had dreamed about yet always felt a little surreal.
Her gaze swept over the crowd again, settling briefly on her classmates. Emma was speaking animatedly with Alisa, likely discussing the evening's music or the decorations. Millium was already dragging Altina toward the dessert table, her enthusiasm unmatched as always. Laura stood near her father, exuding a quiet elegance that suited her perfectly, while Rean chatted with Elise and Princess Alfin, looking both proud and a little overwhelmed.
The familiar warmth in her chest grew stronger as she took it all in. She wasn't one for grand events like this—normally, she'd find a quiet corner or skip out entirely. But tonight was different. Tonight was their night, a celebration of their journey and the bonds they'd forged along the way.
Taking a deep breath, Fie muttered to herself, "Alright, let's do this," as though she were preparing for a mission.
With a quiet resolve, she stepped further into the room, ready to embrace the experiences and emotions waiting for her tonight.
Fie weaved her way through the bustling ballroom, her gown swishing softly as she moved. She caught sight of a familiar head of auburn hair near the edge of the room and made her way over. Elliot was chatting animatedly with his sister Fiona, and their father, General Craig of the 4th Armored Division, stood beside them, his towering frame as imposing as ever—but it was impossible to miss the warm smile on his face as he listened to his children.
"Fie!" Elliot beamed as she approached. "Hey, you look amazing! I was wondering when I'd see you."
Fie smirked. "Could say the same. You're not hiding in a corner with your violin for once. Looks like someone's embracing the party spirit."
Elliot laughed, scratching the back of his neck. "Well, it's a special occasion. Plus, Fiona and Dad would probably drag me back in here if I tried to sneak off."
"I absolutely would," Fiona chimed in with a knowing smile, her eyes sparkling. "Tonight's important, and we're all so proud of you, Elliot. It's only right to celebrate properly."
General Craig chuckled, his booming voice cutting through the room like a melody all its own. "You've got that right, Fiona! This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment for my boy here. We couldn't be prouder, could we?"
He clapped Elliot on the shoulder with a hand large enough to make Fie think of a bear paw. Despite the gentle intent, Elliot staggered slightly, grinning all the while.
"Dad!" Elliot protested with a laugh. "Careful, you'll knock me over!"
Fie crossed her arms, a smirk playing on her lips as she observed the dynamic. For someone as gruff and intimidating as Craig seemed at first glance, he was surprisingly doting. The way he looked at Elliot was nothing short of affectionate pride, and Fie could see where Elliot had inherited his warm, earnest nature.
Fiona stepped in, placing a hand on her brother's arm. "Honestly, Dad, don't squash him before he can even enjoy the party."
The group laughed, and Fie took a moment to glance at Fiona more closely. As they spoke, she noticed the gentle way Fiona fussed over Elliot—adjusting his collar when it shifted slightly, brushing a stray piece of lint off his jacket, and smiling with unshakable pride every time he spoke.
She's just as doting as General Craig, Fie thought with an amused smirk.
Fie found herself wandering near the edge of the ballroom, her eyes scanning the room for familiar faces. As the crowd shifted, she spotted a group of Thors Academy instructors gathered in conversation. Well, she thought with a small shrug, might as well say hi.
She approached the group, her movements fluid and relaxed, and as she neared, one of the instructors noticed her.
"Ah, Fie Claussell," Instructor Thomas called out cheerily, raising a glass of punch in her direction. "Come to mingle with us lowly staff, have you?"
Fie smirked. "Lowly staff? You're selling yourselves short, Instructor."
The other instructors turned, smiling warmly as she joined them. Instructor Mary, who taught Home Economics, was the first to step forward.
"Fie, dear!" Mary said, her tone as sweet as always. "It's so good to see you here. You look absolutely stunning tonight!"
"Uh, thanks. You look nice too," Fie said, blinking in surprise.
"You've always been so polite, even if you try to act aloof. I always knew you had a kind heart," Mary went on.
Fie tilted her head, her smirk turning curious. "You always seemed pretty fond of me, even back when I didn't really talk to anyone. I never quite figured out why."
Mary's expression softened, and she clasped her hands together. "Oh, Fie, it's because I could see how special you were from the start. You were such a resilient and resourceful young woman, even when you were still finding your place. Watching you grow into the person you are today has been a joy."
Fie stared at her for a moment, then looked away, rubbing the back of her neck. "Huh. Well... thanks, I guess."
Instructor Beatrix, standing nearby with her arms crossed, chuckled. "Mary's got a soft spot for students like you—ones with quiet strength. She's not wrong, though. You've come a long way, Fie."
Fie gave a small, almost shy smile. "Appreciate it."
Instructor Makarov let out a low hum as he adjusted his glasses. "I'll admit, it's impressive how much you've grown over these past few years. I never doubted your potential, but seeing you embrace it fully is satisfying."
"Agreed. Your adaptability and composure have always set you apart. I expect you'll excel as a Bracer," Instructor Neithardt added with a stoic nod.
Fie raised an eyebrow at his formal tone but nodded in return. "Mm. I'll do my best. Thanks, Instructor."
Fie stayed with the group a little longer, chatting about their time at Thors and sharing stories of her antics in Class VII. By the time she left to mingle elsewhere, she felt a quiet warmth in her chest. It was strange, she thought, how much the instructors had cared about her, even back when she'd thought she was just another face in the crowd.
As she walked away, Fie glanced back at the group of instructors, catching Mary's kind smile one last time. She smirked to herself. Guess I wasn't as invisible as I thought.
Fie wandered through the lively ballroom, catching snippets of conversations and laughter from her fellow graduates and schoolmates. Though she wasn't usually one for mingling, tonight was different. Graduation wasn't just a farewell—it was a celebration of everything they'd shared, and Fie decided to make the most of it.
Her first stop was Mint, who was balancing a plate of snacks and a drink in one hand while gesturing animatedly with the other.
"Hey, Mint," Fie said, approaching her.
Mint turned, beaming. "Fie! Oh wow, you look amazing tonight! Doesn't she look amazing?" she asked no one in particular, her voice as bright as ever.
Fie smirked. "Thanks. You've got quite the balancing act going on there."
Mint laughed, but just as she was about to respond, the inevitable happened—a cookie slipped off her plate, her drink tilted precariously, and she yelped as she scrambled to catch everything.
"Oh, no, no, no—got it!" she exclaimed triumphantly as she managed to save her drink. The cookie, however, wasn't so lucky.
Fie chuckled, shaking her head. "Classic Mint."
Fie spent a few minutes chatting with her before moving on, spotting Rex by the refreshment table, camera slung over his shoulder as always.
"Rex," Fie greeted, leaning casually against the table. "Still attached to that thing?"
"You bet!" Rex grinned, patting the camera like it was an old friend. "This baby's been capturing all the best moments tonight. Speaking of which—can I get a shot of you? You're looking awesome!"
Fie shrugged. "Why not?"
She struck a relaxed pose, and Rex snapped a quick photo, giving her a thumbs-up. "Perfect. Oh, and by the way, I caught the most hilarious moment earlier—Mint almost took out a whole dessert tray. You should've seen it!"
"Sounds about right," Fie said with a smirk, her eyes drifting to Linde and Vivi across the room.
Excusing herself, she made her way over to them. Linde greeted her warmly, while Vivi's mischievous grin was already in full swing.
"Fie!" Vivi called out, throwing an arm around her shoulder. "Come to join our little gossip session?"
"Gossip, huh?" Fie asked, amused. "What are we talking about?"
"Oh, just who's dancing with who," Vivi said with a wink. "Speaking of which, do you have anyone special lined up?"
Linde gently nudged Vivi. "Don't tease her. Fie, it's really nice to see you. I hope you're enjoying yourself tonight."
"Thanks, Linde," Fie said with a small smile. "You two seem like you're having fun."
"Oh, always," Vivi said, laughing. "But don't let us keep you—you've got a whole room of people waiting for their turn to chat with you!"
Next, Fie found herself crossing paths with Patrick and Ferris. Patrick straightened his posture the moment he saw her, his expression a mix of nervousness and resolve.
"Fie Claussell," he said, bowing slightly. "I must apologize."
Fie blinked. "For what?"
Patrick cleared his throat. "For my... less than kind words during your first year. Referring to you as a 'Jaeger Tot' was thoughtless and cruel, and I deeply regret it."
Fie studied him for a moment before smirking. "Apology accepted. You've grown up a bit, haven't you?"
Patrick flushed slightly but smiled. "I'd like to think so."
Ferris chimed in, her tone light but teasing. "It's a good thing you have, Patrick. Otherwise, I wouldn't be standing here with you tonight."
"Quite," Patrick said, his cheeks reddening further.
Fie left them to their conversation and soon spotted Alan and Bridget, standing close but not quite touching, as if an invisible barrier kept them from fully acknowledging their obvious affection for each other.
"Alan, Bridget," Fie greeted, breaking their little bubble.
They both jumped slightly before turning to her. "Oh, Fie!" Bridget said, smiling warmly.
"Hey," Alan added, looking a bit flustered.
"You two enjoying the party?" Fie asked, crossing her arms with a knowing look.
"Y-yeah, it's great," Alan said, scratching the back of his head.
Bridget glanced at him, her smile softening. "It really is. It's such a special night for everyone."
Fie smirked. "You know, you two should probably just dance already. Save yourselves the trouble of pretending you're not dying to."
Bridget giggled, while Alan turned bright red. "I-I don't know what you're talking about!" he stammered.
"Sure you don't," Fie said with a wink before moving on.
As the night went on, Fie found herself enjoying the easy flow of conversations, the warmth of her schoolmates, and the shared memories that bound them all. It wasn't often she let herself get swept up in moments like this but tonight was an exception—and she was glad for it.
Fie caught sight of Laura across the room, gracefully conversing with a small group that included Principal Vandyck and a couple of alumni. Even amidst the lively crowd, Laura stood out with her calm presence and radiant smile. Fie decided it was time to check in, weaving her way through the throng until she was close enough to catch Laura's eye.
Laura's face lit up as she excused herself and stepped closer to Fie. "Fie," she greeted warmly, her voice soft yet full of affection.
"Hey, Laura," Fie said, smiling. Without thinking, she reached out and touched Laura's hand lightly. "How's it going so far?"
"Wonderful," Laura said, her fingers gently brushing against Fie's. "Having everyone we care about in one place is truly something special. And you? Are you enjoying yourself?"
"Yeah," Fie replied, her smile widening. "This is great. A little overwhelming at times, but in a good way. I've been chatting with so many people—it's like a mission. A fun one."
Laura chuckled, her eyes shining with fondness. "I'm glad you're having a good time. I've been looking forward to us exploring together later. It's hard not to keep gravitating toward you, even with so many others to speak with."
Before Fie could reply, a familiar voice interrupted. "Well, well," Beryl said, appearing seemingly out of nowhere. Her mysterious aura was as strong as ever, and her dark, knowing eyes flickered between them. "It seems the stars aligned just as I foresaw."
"Beryl," Fie said with a smirk. "Always full of surprises."
Beryl clasped her hands together, a sly smile playing on her lips. "I told you there was a significant energy between you two. And now, here you are, proving my prediction correct. The threads of fate are quite a spectacle tonight."
"Yep, you called it," Fie said, squeezing Laura's hand briefly.
Laura raised an eyebrow, looking amused but unbothered by Beryl's cryptic words. "Fate or not, I'm grateful for every moment we have. Tonight especially."
Beryl nodded sagely. "Enjoy the night, both of you. The stars are watching." With that, she drifted off, her cryptic presence lingering like the aftertaste of a strong tea.
Fie shook her head, laughing softly. "She's something else."
"She certainly has a unique perspective," Laura agreed with a smile.
After a moment of comfortable silence, Laura leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on Fie's cheek. "I'll see you in a little while," she murmured.
Fie nodded, giving Laura's hand one last squeeze before they parted ways to continue mingling. As Fie walked off, her heart felt lighter, the memory of Laura's touch and kiss a quiet anchor in the whirlwind of the evening.