"You're smirking, Sharon."
Sharon covered her mouth as she giggled. "Aren't I always smirking, my lady?"
"Don't think anything can escape from these eyes," Irina Reinford replied. An ironic remark, considering that her eyes were currently covered by her tinted lens. "So? What did that daughter of mine ask you to do this time?"
"Oh, you'll understand soon enough." Another giggle escaped Sharon's lips as the lights in the auditorium began to dim. "Not knowing is part of what makes a good surprise, no?"
The Reinford chairwoman let out a small hum as President Towa's voice echoed through the speakers, "Thank you for your patience, everyone! Next, our academy's very first Class VII is proud to present a concert. Please give them a round of applause!"
As the audience responded with their enthusiastic clapping, the red curtains of the stage rose to reveal Rean, Alisa, Gaius, Laura, and Elliot with their respective instruments.
First song: BURN
A single spotlight shone onto Elliot as he put his violin to his chin and his bow onto the string. He wore a relaxed, yet confident expression on his face, ready to play a tune he had practiced so many times, he practically knew it by heart. His arm moved, and a crisp melody cut through the silence of the auditorium, gradually lulling the audience into a sense of calm as the rest of the lights began to turn on.
Then, with the suddenness of a sharp gale, Rean slammed down on the guitar, signaling the presence of himself and the other instrumentalists. Laura, Alisa, and Gaius followed suit with their respective instruments, and the energy of the auditorium became electrified. Machias and Jusis stepped forward to the center of the group, and after a nod to each other, they activated their ARCUS units. The faint glow of their combat link was almost completely unnoticeable under the bright stage lights, and most of the audience was none the wiser that such a thing was created.
"Hmm…" Irina Reinford narrowed her eyes.
Sharon smirked silently. As expected, nothing could escape the discerning gaze of a chairwoman possessing intimate knowledge of one of her products.
"For all the lost hearts out there, can't seem to find their way out
Caught inside a hurricane that won't let go."
"Justice has its hands tied now, a never-ending sorrow
And the future seems too difficult to see."
Machias and Jusis took their turns singing the verses. Until a few days ago, the idea of a member of the Four Great Houses singing a duet with the son of Governor Regnitz would have been laughed or scoffed at for its absurdity. Machias and Jusis knew this, however, and so the two of them had resolved to practice until any notion of embarrassment regarding their performance was shed in favor of unwavering confidence.
"So get rid of all those tears, believe there's hope
There is a light, it shines there!"
"Your faith can break the chains of the darkness, it's been waiting for so long."
"So let it shine and guide the way!"
As the duo sung their first combined lyrics in preparation for the chorus, the strength of their ARCUS link caused their voices to magnify. What would have been two voices clashing with one another and vying for dominance became two halves of a greater whole, completely washing over the audience with an energy most of them had never felt before.
"A bright light I see, a brand new day. Let's go ahead; now go, and lead the way.
My heart ignites, live as if I'll die today!
In the confusion, take it all the way. Keep moving forward; just believe your way!
The sky is tall, life is just the game we play!"
The song transitioned to the break section, where Rean briefly took center stage with a guitar solo. Alisa, Gaius, and Laura continued their playing their respective roles of rhythm guitarist, bassist, and percussionist to perfection, and after a few measures, Elliot even returned on his violin to round out the instrumental. By the time Machias and Jusis came back in for the final chorus, every member of Class VII that was on stage was playing together.
"This is the light we shine to guide the way
And deep inside it's burning, it shows
Our hope, it glows!"
The two vocalists held their final note, and Elliot set aside his violin to close the piece with a somber piano solo on an orbal keyboard. The auditorium soon erupted into cheers, clearly won over by Class VII's performance.
"Ah, if only my wife and niece were here to see him now…" Governor Regnitz said, beaming at his son with pride. "Hm, I should have brought a recorder with me tonight."
Rufus Albarea, who was seated to the left of the governor, chuckled in amusement. "Knowing our Chairman of the Board's penchant for the arts, I'm certain he has already taken measures to preserve this landmark performance. Shall I ask the staff to give you a copy later?"
"Oh? Then might I trouble you to do that for me?"
"There's no trouble at all. I was already planning on ordering multiple copies. One for myself…" Rufus then looked ahead a few rows, where Lea was sitting next to Princess Alfin and Elise. Even as Jusis departed from the stage, her gaze followed him. "…And another for the young miss who I accompanied today."
"I see your love of teasing isn't limited to just your little brother, haha." Governor Regnitz then leaned in and whispered, "Or perhaps…this is your way of welcoming a potential sister-in-law?"
"As entertaining as that would be to witness…" Rufus shook his head, almost looking regretful. "It is doubtful that union will come to pass. Voltaire may be an old family friend, but House Albarea would be found dead in a gutter if we allowed a Remiferian to join the ranks of the Erebonian elite. Considering Jusis' own…circumstances, we need to tread carefully. Very rarely do nobles get to play favorites and expect all parties to emerge from the aftermath unscathed."
"Hm. A fact that I am also familiar with." Governor Regnitz subtly clenched his fist. "Elevating foreigners to seats of power is dangerous no matter which side of politics you are on, so I can't argue against your father on this one. Still, she was the one who helped Class VII rescue my son from prison. If I may be a bit biased, that courage to stand up against injustice is commendable. I hope she continues to carry that courage with her, no matter that path she ends up taking."
"I hope so as well…" Rufus quietly muttered to himself.
The applause of the audience gradually died back down as Class VII prepared their next number. Elliot pressed a button on his keyboard to change the sound settings, and after a nod from his bandmates, he began to play the opening notes for the second song.
'This one's for you, Mom.'
Second song: Gyakkou no Flugel
A melody of electronic notes blared through the auditorium. The spotlight shined down on Morgan, Fie, Emma, and Millium, who were all kneeling on the floor with their backs against each other, their hands held together in a praying motion. One by one, each of them stood up in time with the beat and twirled to the side, starting with Fie and then Millium. Morgan, who was directly facing the audience, turned once to reveal Emma, who finally unveiled her new look to the rest of the school. Nodding at each other, the two vocalists stepped forward together and began moving in time with the beat.
"Can you hear it? That music playing passionately? Unleash it into the heavens!
"Can you hear it…? The pulse of new life beginning? Let love fill up your heart!"
Like with Machias and Jusis, Morgan and Emma were connected via an ARCUS link. The sensation of having shared senses helped to make sure the two of them were stepping in perfect sync in addition to amplifying their singing. Fie and Millium each stood on one side of the stage right behind the vocalists, also linked together via ARCUS, though given how much they had practiced together along with their natural combat instincts, they almost didn't need it. In fact, all four of them were working so well together that one might consider the existence of a four-way ARCUS link.
"Long ago, far away… on that day when the stars turned into music.
The moment the wind swept through our hair, you and I wrote that beat into a song.
And now our dreams open the door
To the end of a world we've never seen before!"
Morgan and Emma each stretched out their arms towards the audience, almost like they were literally inviting them on a journey to that new, unknown world. Fie and Millium, meanwhile, swayed from side to side with their hands on their forehead, almost like they were trying to search for something that was a long distance away from them.
"Yes, just believe! We'll create history with a light unknown to even God.
The shower of backlight shines upon the future
Shall we fly there together?"
Just feeling—on those days you can't fly, weighed down by feathers soaked in tears, make a wish.
And I'll support your right hand… With my power, too…"
The two vocalists turned to each other and lightly tapped each other's palms before twirling in place and raising their hands towards the ceiling.
"When we're together, our singing hearts become our wings!"
As Morgan and Emma held their last note, all the instrumentalists stopped playing briefly save for Elliot, who played a single note progression on the piano that made it sound like chiming bells. Alisa and Laura eventually returned on rhythm guitar and percussion, followed by Gaius on bass, and finally Rean with another guitar solo. Elliot then changed the settings on the keyboard again, reverting it to a classical piano sound. The sudden tone shift from electronic to classical was so that when Morgan and Emma returned on vocals, their singing would be more poignant.
"I'm sure, that you… And I are like the wings of a single bird.
Since even in the distant past, with our hands connected… we were soaring high in the vast skies.
And so… we live… right now… As we head beyond a tomorrow we've never seen before!"
The brief moment of piano accompaniment ended with another thunderous entrance from Rean on the guitar, heralding the final return to the chorus.
"When we're together, our singing hearts become our wings!"
"Soaring higher, even higher than the Sun!"
Morgan, Emma, Fie, and Millium slowly returned to their original starting positions, where they assumed the kneeling prayer pose they began the song with. The instrumentalists gave one final flourish to end the song. The spotlights went out on cue. The audience responded with thunderous applause.
"I never imagined I would get to hear that tune again…" Elliot's sister Fiona whispered, wiping a tear from her eyes. "Do you remember, Dad?"
"I do…" Olaf Craig whispered back. "I only ever heard it once, right before she passed. Perhaps this is Liana's way of showing me a sign…"
"That brings us to the end of Class VII's performance," Towa announced over the speakers. "Thank you all for coming out-"
"ENCORE!"
A high-spirited voice from near the front of the auditorium called for an encore. One voice became two, two became a row of five, and the row of five grew until it became the whole audience.
Towa was so awestruck by the unanimous call for an encore that she briefly forgot the words she was about to say. Thankfully, she was saved by the timely appearance of a lone spotlight, shining down onto one Crow Armbrust.
"Ladies and gents, you've been a wonderful crowd. And we've heard your cheers loud and clear. So without further ado, I give you our third and final song."
With a snap of his fingers, Crow shifted the spotlight from him to Morgan, who nervously took a step forward away from the rest of her friends.
Even though they had rehearsed many times in the past, there was something about Morgan being all on her own that made her feel uncomfortable. Normally, the knowledge that her classmates would come to sing along with her would put her mind at ease, but after her experience of getting separated from them in the old schoolhouse, those feelings seemed to have multiplied. Instead of raising her microphone and singing right then and there, she hesitated.
As Morgan scanned the audience, she spotted some familiar faces. There was Alfin in the front row, looking at her with excited and expectant eyes. No doubt she was the one who called for the encore. Olivert, who was seated next to her, gave her an encouraging smile. She also recognized other people she and the rest of Class VII met over the course of their field studies. Rufus Albarea, Lea, Governor Regnitz, Elise, Victor Arseid, Toval, Chairman Irina. Finally, in the far corner of the auditorium where the light failed to reach, there was Vita, dressed in her Misty disguise. Their eyes locked, and Vita nodded her head.
'Feet apart, knees slightly bent, back straight, shoulders back… Alright. Let's do this.'
Morgan took one more deep breath and began to sing.
Third song: I Swear
"I swear... I wanna steer my way
Sora o meguriyuke ba
We'll be there... kitto aeru kara
Yakusoku no basho e…"
When Crow mentioned that the tune was something everybody had heard, he wasn't kidding. She had only gotten a few words in before people started cheering and clapping, and by the time the rest of Class VII came in to back her up on vocals and instruments, everyone was swaying to the music.
And that was when Crow, in typical Crow fashion, surprised her with something unexpected. "Everyone, join in!" he shouted, holding his microphone out to the audience.
Morgan was able to keep her head on track as people in the crowd joined her for the chorus. Still, that didn't stop her from stealing a glance at Crow. The second year smirked and gave a small shrug before joining the rest of their class in the song.
"I swear ...
donna tōku ni i te mo
tado ri yuke ba
kitto kana de rareru kara
aoi uta."
Morgan raised her hand up, reaching towards the sky that lay beyond the ceiling. She wondered if her homeland truly existed in that space Celine had called "The Beyond." Perhaps, if she sang loudly enough, could her old friends hear her? No matter how far apart they were, no matter how faded the memories of her childhood became… She hoped they were still out there somewhere.
"I'll be there...
ayu misu sumu michi wa
nanairo no wa
zutto wasure nai yō ni
mata aoi sora ao gu."
'Father… Mother… Everyone…' Morgan thought as she was met with a standing ovation. 'I think… I think that I'm going to be okay. Even if I may never remember everything, even if we never see each other again… I've found a place to belong to now.'
Sneaking onto the school grounds was child's play for Vita. The festive atmosphere and sizable crowd made for the perfect environment to move about the town freely, and despite being something of a local celebrity as Misty, all it took was a simple tip of her hat and a look in the other direction to keep people from recognizing her. And for those certain individuals who might use more…magical means to detect her presence, Grianos was flying far above the campus grounds and out of sight to give her a bird's eye view. Inside the auditorium was where things got a little more dicey, as Vita could sense Celine's presence from the second floor of the auditorium. As such, she had to resort to standing up the whole time in the back of the building lest Celine start looking at her funny. Fortunately, the cat didn't notice her presence so long as she kept her mouth shut; thus, Vita was able to comfortably watch Class VII's concert in its entirety.
She smiled when Emma took the stage alongside Morgan. Her younger "sister" had grown up very nicely, and the combination of letting down her hair and removing those bookish glasses turned her into a head-turning beauty. Ah, if only her mother could see her now…
She locked eyes with Morgan before her solo, giving her a reassuring nod. When the encore number was over, she nudged her head towards the door, signaling to Morgan to meet her outside. And so, as subtle as she came, Vita slipped back into the shadows and out of the auditorium.
And that brought her to the current moment: standing in front of the fabled old schoolhouse.
"An old schoolhouse on the outskirts of the academy, whose origins remain unknown even among the current faculty…" Vita remarked. "Those who get locked inside are never heard from again, for the interior shuffles with each lunar cycle…"
Vita heard the sound of footsteps coming closer from behind her. She turned around and smiled at the newcomer. "…Sounds like the makings of an intriguing horror novel, don't you think?"
Morgan, freshly changed into her red school blazer, let out an uneasy laugh. "I don't think the world is ready for that story yet."
"Key word being 'yet.'" Vita winked and stuck her tongue out, indicating that she was just teasing. "I heard your class won the Best Attraction award. Congrats. That was some fine singing."
"Thanks, but honestly? Even though we were aiming for the first place finish, it feels weird getting all of the recognition. All of the other classes and clubs had some really solid attractions. In a way, we all worked together so that everyone could enjoy themselves."
"Fresh off a victory, yet still as humble as ever. Well, that is one of your more adorable traits." Vita took out a small book from her tote bag. "Here. Your book, as promised. Everything is as it was when I first got it from Grianos."
Morgan took the book from her and hugged it close to her chest. "Thank you. This is really important to me."
"If I may ask, who is this 'Robin, Grandmaster of Ylisse'? The term 'Grandmaster' refers to someone in a high-ranking position, so I'm assuming they were someone important."
Morgan opened the book to the first page to look at her father's handwriting. "Robin is my father. He was our country's war tactician and second to the country's leader in influence." A momentary look of wistfulness flashed on Morgan's face before she closed the book shut. "But that's all in the past now. This book is all I have left of him."
'So you've lost a parent as well…' Vita's expression briefly turned into one of sympathy, but she quickly masked it before Morgan could notice. "Right. Just to be on the safe side, I tried casting a few revealing charms to detect any lingering jinxes or hexes. A cursed object is usually one of the most common ways to contract a curse. Very novel concept, I know. Fortunately, I couldn't find anything out of the ordinary. Just to clarify, you didn't bring it with you on any of your field studies, correct?"
"That's right."
"And yet you could still feel the effects of your anathema when outside of Trista?"
Morgan nodded. "I was able to activate it while I was in Legram, as well as a few times after that."
"So that crosses off it being proximity-based, too-wait, activate?" Vita raised an eyebrow. "Your curse is something you can use at will?"
"Well, with enough concentration, I can. Although it sometimes flares up in other ways, like when I try cooking things."
"That's…oddly specific. But at any rate, I think we can safely rule out the book being our culprit. That doesn't explain how it reacted with you, however. Do you think you could try activating your curse? I want to see if we can see that same symbol from before."
Morgan closed her eyes and concentrated. She tried to tap into her negative feelings, recalling the anger and fear she felt when Grianos tried to forcibly take her father's book from her. Then, she opened her eyes and pointed her finger at Vita.
Yet nothing happened.
"Do you need another moment?" Vita asked.
Morgan tried a few more times to muster up her curse, and each attempt resulted in the same conclusion. Even though the chill of the night air was beginning to settle in, she couldn't feel the specific chill that came with her curse activating. "I'm sorry. I can't. I think it's because I have to really make myself angry in order to do it, and it's hard to do that towards someone I think of as a friend."
Vita snickered. "The one time friendship turns out to be a detriment instead of a benefit… I suppose there are worse problems out there, haha."
Morgan laughed as well. "But you know…" She held out her hand with her palm facing upwards. "If all you need is for me to activate something, there's something else I can do."
Before Vita could open her mouth to speak, Morgan's body suddenly began to swell with magical energy. Flames danced to life all over her body, yet they did not appear to singe her skin and clothes. At the same time, a faint icon of swirling lines converging into the center glowed above her father's book.
Vita's eyes shifted between Morgan and the book. "Incredible…" She leaned in closer to inspect Morgan's flames, enamored by their unique violet hue. "I've never felt any magic like this before. What else can you do?"
"A lot more than that." With a more confident smirk, Morgan proceeded to show off her other skills: Galeforce, Aether, and Rally Spectrum. With each skill she performed, a different icon would appear above her father's book. Galeforce was identified as a bolt of pink light firing across a violet background, Rally Spectrum took on the appearance of a rainbow tilted on its axis, and Aether was composed of two ribbons, one orange and one yellow, joined together under a bright star.
"Just as I am trying to solve one conundrum, I end up discovering an entirely new one along the way…" Vita said once Morgan had finished showing off all of her skills. "Morgan, just where did you come from…?"
Morgan, having sat down on a nearby bench to take a breather, gulped. She knew that Celine had instructed her to keep her coming from the Beyond a secret, but Vita was also a witch like Celine. Surely this information would be useful to know, right?
"...Think you can keep another secret?"
"Of course."
Morgan invited Vita to sit down next to her on the bench. "Being a history buff, I'm guessing that once you saw the name 'Ylisse', you tried to do all sorts of research on it…only to find no records of it ever existing. Is that right?"
"That's…" Vita slowly nodded her head. "That's right."
"There's a reason for that." Morgan leaned into Vita's ear and whispered, "How much do you know about a place called the Beyond?"
The witch let out a small gasp. She looked past Morgan, as well all around her to make sure the coast was clear. She even reached out to Grianos to make sure no one was in the immediate vicinity before whispering back, "How do you know about that? Did Emma tell you about it?"
Morgan shook her head. "It was Celine, actually. She…she had a hunch that I came from there. I know it sounds crazy. Heck, I only just learned about this last night. But given everything that's going on… I think it's the truth."
"I never would have imagined…" Vita looked down at her right hand. "No. Perhaps I knew instinctively from the start. From the moment we first shook hands, I had a feeling that you were different from anyone I had encountered before."
"Is there anything you can tell me about it, Vita?"
The witch shook her head before turning her gaze back to Morgan. "I'm afraid there's not a whole lot I can say. It was always a taboo topic to research. What I CAN tell you is that the Beyond is not a place; rather, it refers to the entire space that exists outside of Zemuria's borders, where the laws of the world fail to reach."
"What do you mean by borders?" Morgan asked. "We have airships now. We can fly past the Zemurian continent, can we?"
"Were it so easy…" Vita said vaguely. "Since ancient times, there have been tales of sailors who try to go past the borders, only to be enveloped by a blanket of fog and get sent straight back to where they came. By the laws set by this world, no one inside Zemuria can venture into the Beyond, but things from the Beyond can enter Zemuria. Such interference from the Beyond manifests as inexplicable phenomena, and these phenomena can range from small in scale to world-changing events. Do you know of the Salt Pale from North Ambria? That one is the most notable example in recent years."
"The North Ambrian disaster…" Morgan said. "Olivert, Alfin, and Cedric told me all about it. A giant pillar of salt suddenly appeared and laid waste to North Ambria. If that's not the definition of inexplicable…"
"Indeed. And that brings us to you. If what you say is true, that you are from the Beyond, then that means you aren't safe here. If your true nature gets leaked to the Septian Church, they will stop at nothing to keep you under lock and key. You'd be lucky to see the sun again if one of their Gralsritter got their hands on you. And, of course, that's saying nothing about what the current ruling powers might think once they realize what you are…"
Morgan frowned. "The Imperial family trusted that I would know how to use my power for good, and I've demonstrated that to them multiple times."
"Yes. If nothing else, Prince Olivert rarely misses when it comes to judging character. But I'm not talking about them; there are others in the political regime that may be interested in using you for their own gain. I think you know who specifically I am referring to."
Morgan nodded her head. There was only one other person with an influence that could rival the Imperial family. "But why would the Chancellor care?"
Vita let out a small snort. "Between the two of us, he knows a lot more about the world than what he lets on. But even if he didn't have any immediate plans for you, I'm sure that the last thing he'd want is an equivalent to the Salt Pale running loose and possibly derailing his plans."
That statement sent a chill down Morgan's spine. Not the kind associated with her curse, though; just an ominous shudder at the thought of being compared to an unnatural disaster. "So… What should we do now?"
Vita hummed to herself. "Morgan, may I take a look at your father's book again?"
Morgan looked hesitant for a moment, but she eventually nodded her head, relinquishing the book without much complaint. Vita briefly peered through the contents of the book, almost like she was trying to locate any traces of the symbols that had appeared when Morgan used her skills.
"To start, Morgan, I would strongly suggest that you keep this with you at all times from now on. For whatever reason, you and this book are linked to one another. What we don't know yet is if the connection goes both ways. If someone tries using magic to bring up a skill, what effect might that have on you? It could end up hurting you or, at worst, causing irreversible damage to your ability to use your current skills."
Morgan gulped. That certainly sounded like a real possibility. "But…there's no one else who knows about this, right? If anyone else tries reading it, they'd think it's just a regular old book."
"True, but even if no one else could tap into this book's special properties, one look at the front page would be enough for some people to confiscate it. Other witches, for example. Or a certain shadowy organization that's starting to become more active lately."
"Ouroboros…" Morgan hissed. "How do you know about them, Vita?"
Vita's expression remained impassive. "I've had a few run-ins with them in the past. Let's just say that…walking in the shadows of history as a witch makes certain encounters inevitable. But back to your book. When you use a skill, the book reacts by highlighting the corresponding symbol. If your anathema also caused your book to react in the same exact manner, then we can assume it fulfills the same criteria. In other words, this curse of yours might actually be a skill."
Morgan nodded her head. She had a feeling that was the case ever since Legram. To hear someone confirm it after all this time… Well, at least she was prepared mentally to accept that.
"And if that's the case…" Vita continued. "Then we can't remove it through conventional means. We'll need to tackle this from the perspective of using skills; ergo, we need the book. We lose it, and we lose our best shot of curing you. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal." Morgan motioned for Vita to give her father's book back, but the witch kept it out of her reach. "Hey, what gives?"
"There's one last thing." Vita's voice lowered to a level Morgan had not heard from her before. "If I'm going to help you remove your curse, then I need you to promise me that you won't go to Emma, Celine, or my old master for help."
Morgan blinked. "Why?"
"Why? I think I already explained why my relationship with the Clan isn't the best. They know my magic signature too well, and it's already taking everything that I have to keep myself and Grianos hidden. If they find out I was helping you, well…" Vita lowered her head. "I doubt I'd be able to find you anymore."
Morgan fell silent. A part of her felt guilty for not giving a decisive answer at that moment. Here Vita was, risking her safety trying to help Morgan find a cure. Surely that was deserving of her trust. But then again, Emma was also trying on her end. But was that worth risking her friendship with Vita?
Off in the distance, the sounds of people making their way to the academy field for the bonfire dance could be heard. The orange glow of sunset had already made way for the darkness of the night sky, signifying the imminent end to the academy festival.
"The day's already over, huh? How quickly time passes…" Vita sighed. "I'll let you ruminate on my proposition for a little longer, in that case."
To Morgan's surprise, Vita placed her father's book on her lap. "Wait, now you're just giving this back?"
"You said it was important to you," the witch replied, stretching her arms above your head. "And it's the end of the festival. Far be it from me to keep you from enjoying the fruits of your hard work. In due time, however, I will be back to hear your answer. How does…five days sound?"
Vita snapped her fingers, and a moment later, Grianos came down from the sky and perched itself on her arm. She affectionately stroked his neck before turning back to Morgan. "Let me leave you with this: Erebonia is at a turning point in its history, and the seeds of civil conflict have already been sown. I intend to see all of it unfold as it happens, so I can't guarantee that we'll be able to talk again like this. Time is of the essence, and for both of our sakes, I hope you make the right decision. Until next time, Morgan Daraen, ye mysterious lass from afar."
Vita lifted the arm with Grianos still perched on it. The bright blue bird cawed, and both witch and familiar slowly disappeared into azure-colored mist, completely removing any trace of their existence. Thus, Morgan was left on her own with nothing but her thoughts, her father's book, and the chill of the encroaching night.
"But even if he didn't have any immediate plans for you, I'm sure that the last thing he'd want is an equivalent to the Salt Pale running loose in the country."
"Me? Another Salt Pale?"
That comparison had made Morgan's blood run cold. She didn't appreciate being compared to something as catastrophic as the Salt Pale, but at the same time, she understood where Vita was coming from. She was inexplicable by nature. Anyone who interacted with her long enough could peg her as a fish out of water. An alien, some had even called her. Just a few hours prior, she felt like she had solidified her place in Thors, in this world. But now? She was feeling even more lost.
…
Laura gave Morgan a smile. "I now see what you meant by wanting to reveal who you are, and you certainly went above and beyond my expectations. My promise to support you remains true."
"This is the power that protected me…" Alfin muttered softly. Her tone conveyed feelings of safety and contentment.
"You're going to be fine, Morgs," Crow said, rubbing the top of her head. "You've got good friends."
...
Memories of various encouragements her friends had given her played through her mind as she picked up her belongings and began wandering aimlessly. She didn't have an initial destination in mind; she just needed a place where she could gather her thoughts. She was so caught up in her mind, in fact, that she didn't realize that she was walking towards the academy field until the sounds of cheer and laughter became too loud to notice.
"The bonfire dance…" Morgan muttered, gazing up at the rising pillar of smoke. "Everyone should be there right now, I think…"
"Morgan? Hey, Morgaaan!" a young female voice called out to her.
Morgan perked up at the sound of her name. Sharl was running towards her while waving her hand. Following not too far behind her was a boy wearing loose blue and white garments that Morgan did not recognize, yet his tanned skin and brown hair made him resemble a younger Gaius. Could this be…?
"Hey, Sharl! I'm glad you were able to make it today."
"I feel the same way! You and Emma were really cool on stage." Sharl then motioned to the boy next to her. "Let me introduce you. This is Thoma, my friend from Nord. Thoma, this is Morgan."
The boy named Thoma waved his hand and smiled. "It's nice to meet you, Miss Morgan."
"Nice to meet you too, Thoma." Morgan smiled back. "Gaius always loved talking about his younger siblings. I'm glad I could meet at least one of them tonight. How did you like the festival?"
"It was amazing!" Thoma said excitedly. "I really liked seeing Big Bro's paintings and the horses over at the field!" The boy then reached into his pocket and showed off a shield-shaped charm with the emblem of a stallion emblazoned on it. "I even got this for clearing the obstacle course under the target time!"
Morgan's eyes widened. She remembered the head of the Riding Club's remarks that getting under the target time was difficult for first-timers. Clearly, despite his age, Thoma was by no means a rookie equestrian. "I guess coming from Nord means you know a thing or two about riding horses, huh? Still, that's pretty impressive. I couldn't get through the course on time."
"Really?!" Sharl looked shocked. "But you're so good at everything else!"
"That's because you've only seen me on the job, Sharl. Trust me, you don't want to see me destroy a kitchen when I try to cook."
Thoma laughed. "You're funny! Are you going to join us at the bonfire? Your classmates were looking for you, if I remember correctly. We can go there together!"
In the corner of Morgan's eyes, she noticed Sharl expressing a hint of disappointment, which Thoma didn't seem to notice. The boy evidently still had much to learn regarding matters of the opposite sex.
"Thanks for the invitation, Thoma, but I think I'll pass for now," Morgan eventually said. "It takes two to tango, and I don't have a dance partner yet. You two go have fun; I'll be there later."
"What does 'two to tango' mean…?" Thoma wondered.
"D-Don't worry about that! We just do things differently in the Empire is all!" Sharl hurriedly exclaimed, pushing Thoma along. "Come on! We're gonna miss the fun!"
Sharl gave Morgan a silent look of gratitude before continuing to move Thoma along. Morgan gave the girl a small wave, wishing her the best of luck in her endeavors.
"A performer who doesn't have a dance partner? Now that's irony if I've ever heard it!"
Morgan nearly jumped out of her shoes, not at all enthused about being approached from behind a second time on the same exact road. Her expression softened, however, when she recognized the person the voice belonged to. "Toval!"
"Long time no see, kid." Toval made a saluting gesture with his index and middle fingers. "I didn't expect to run into you here. You know, Sara and the others were-"
"-Trying to find me. Yeah, I heard. A friend of mine came in from out of town to drop off something." She nudged at her father's book in her arms, indicating it was the 'something' in question. "We ended up talking a lot afterwards, and we just…lost track of time."
"Is that right? Well, it's great you're making friends outside of your class."
"What about you, Toval? Are you not going to the bonfire dance?"
"I was actually on my way out, but I figured since I'm here, I might as well do one last sweep around the school grounds. Can't afford to get too comfortable, especially now…"
Morgan frowned. Toval's expression had turned unusually serious for what was supposed to be a festive occasion. "What are you…?"
"It's nothing. Just…make sure you stick with your friends, alright? I think they'll have a lot of peace of mind if they see you enjoying yourself." The blonde haired bracer quickly replaced his frown with an easygoing smile. "And who knows? One of them might just waltz right up to you and ask you for a dance! You won't know if you just keep standing here."
"I guess you're right. Thanks, Toval." Morgan turned around in the direction of the academy field, but not before glancing back at the bracer and saying, "Whatever's going on, I hope you'll stay safe out there."
Morgan didn't stop to see Toval's reaction, but as she brisk-walked away from him towards the academy field, she swore she could hear him muttering, "You too, Morgan."
By the time Morgan finally arrived at the academy field, the post-festival party was already in full swing. The field was filled with students, staff, and visitors alike, dancing either in couples or in small clusters around a large bonfire built with wooden logs, all accompanied by music that was being played on large orbal speakers. Those that weren't currently dancing were either standing in groups near the steps or by a drink stall with a gigantic bowl of fruit punch made by the Cooking Club. Millium, as part of the Cooking Club, was confined to that one area and looked extremely disappointed that she couldn't join in on the fun. Thankfully, Captain Claire was there to keep the girl from being completely lonely.
As Morgan walked down the steps and onto the field, she spied a few more familiar faces in the crowd. Prince Olivert and Princess Alfin were closest to the bonfire, setting the mood for everyone else and clearly enjoying every moment of it. Sharl was instructing Thoma on how to dance, with the Nordian boy looking very awkward at having to hold her waist, all while Gaius kept a watchful eye on them. Alan and Bridget, by contrast, were clearly lost in their own little world, sharing what could best be described as an intimate dance. That caused Morgan to smile. Hopefully, the two of them could become an item by the end of the year.
Emma was getting swarmed with a slew of boys asking her to dance. The 'gap' effect clearly did its work, but it left the class president at a loss for what to do with her newfound popularity. Thankfully, Alisa was around to keep things from getting too out of hand. Rean and Laura had found their own dance partners, though to Morgan's surprise, it wasn't with each other. Rean was dancing with his little sister, while Laura was dancing with her father. On the topic of dancing, Elliot had somehow managed to convince Fie to take a shot at it, and while both of their inexperience was clearly showing, they were eventually able to settle into a comfortable rhythm. The only classmates that Morgan couldn't find in the immediate vicinity were Jusis and Machias, though given how popular Emma had become, Morgan figured that they were hiding away from the crowd in their own way.
Eventually, her eyes spotted Crow standing to the side, far away from the crowd. Morgan had expected him to be trying to hook up with a dance partner or at the very least hanging out with Towa, Angelica, and George, so to see him alone and in a rather pensive state was a surprise, to say the least.
"Don't have a partner, my Trickster?"
Crow's eyes widened as she approached him. "Morgs! There you are! We were wondering where you bounced off to."
"I was catching up with a friend," she answered. "And you? You looked like you were having a riveting discussion with that wall."
"Hardy-har. I'm just taking a breather."
Morgan leaned forward and looked up to inspect the trickster's face. "You don't look tired to me. And frankly, you shouldn't, considering that you were the only one who wasn't performing with us!"
"Oooh, busted." Crow sarcastically raised both his hands up. "Yeah, I'm not dancing right now. So what? Maybe I want to spend my evening brooding."
"Well, I think that that sounds very unlike you, my Trickster. It's about as tragic as a farmer who is unable to enjoy the fruits of his labor because he's allergic to them!"
"Heh. Then maybe that farmer should've thought twice before getting himself in too deep with the business…"
Insert song: Waltz for the Moon - Final Fantasy VIII
Before Morgan could comment, the music on the speakers changed to a traditional waltz number. Some people took this opportunity to find new dance partners, while others continued dancing with their current one. Thinking quickly, Morgan took off her blazer and tied the sleeves around her waist. Then, she took her father's book, nestled it in between her waist and the blazer, and knotted the sleeves again to make sure it wouldn't budge.
"Well, no use worrying about the past, right?" Before Crow could question what Morgan was up to, she had reached out and grabbed his hand.
"Whoa! The heck's up with you?"
Morgan, wearing the biggest grin, turned around and laughed. "You, Crow Armbrust, are being formally invited to dance with yours truly! And I'm not about to take no for an answer!"
She continued to drag the protesting Crow through the circle of dancing couples until they found an empty spot close to the bonfire, where the warmth of the flames helped to stave off the cold chill of the October night. It had been some time since Morgan had last danced with a partner, but she remembered the basics well enough to know that she should be placing her left hand on Crow's shoulder and that his right hand should be around her waist. Noticing his lingering apprehension, Morgan decided to take the lead for now and moved in time with the music.
The first few steps were pretty clumsy. Most of Crow's attention was directed to his feet to ensure he didn't step on Morgan while still keeping up with the upbeat tempo of the waltz. Morgan did her best to lead themselves away from the other couples so they could settle into a more comfortable rhythm.
"Eyes on me, my Trickster," she whispered to him.
"I'm looking respectfully, ma'am," he joked.
Morgan giggled. Standing close to him like this really reminded Morgan of how tall Crow was compared to her. She had to crank her neck up just to make sure that he was looking at her.
The background music entered a different stanza, and the surrounding couples were beginning to assume new positions with their partners.
"Shall we take this to the next level, my Trickster?"
"Oh? You sure about that?"
Morgan nodded her head.
"Alright. Don't say I didn't warn you!"
Morgan felt Crow's left hand clasp her right hand tightly with renewed energy, and before she knew it, Crow had taken the lead in this dance. Had he been playing dumb this whole time?
Then again, this much was par for the course when it came to Crow. When thinking about that, Morgan couldn't help but smile. 'If that's how he wants to play…'
She took the first step by removing her left hand from his shoulder. Crow responded by stepping in the opposite direction while continuing to hold her other hand. Then, they crossed over while swapping arms. Now standing in front of each other, they moved again in time with the music. Left foot, right foot. Left foot, cross over again. Crow briefly let go of her hand and swayed to the right. Morgan also moved to her right in a square motion before meeting with Crow again on the other side. Finally, she twirled once into his arms, twirled out, twirled in again, and twirled out with widespread arms before Crow pulled her back in to end the dance.
"What do you think? Do I earn a passing grade?"
"I think you passed with flying colors, my Trickster. Care to have another go?"
"Thought you'd never ask."
The two of them shared two more dances after that. The process of continuing to improve until they were in perfect sync felt electrifying and fun. Each separation left her with pangs of loneliness, but those feelings were dispelled when they made contact again. For a small moment in time, she was able to cast aside all of her lingering anxieties, scattered to the wind like the sparks from the bonfire.
Who cares if she was a being from another world? Should that disqualify her from being able to feel joy and happiness?
They were getting close. Dangerously close. Vita had warned him about it in the past, and once again, the older woman showed that she read him down to the letter.
He would look forward to her reaction when she found out the truth, he had said. Her despair would make their victory all the sweeter, he had claimed.
So why was he continuing to entertain her every whim? All of this would be buried into the earth in a few weeks' time. Was it to clear himself of any lingering regrets? Was it to provide her with one last memory as some form of reward for putting up with his lies?
Crow knew the answer deep inside. However, accepting that would undermine everything he had set himself up to be, everything he had worked for in the past few years.
"Look over there!" Morgan gasped. "Is that…Angie dancing with George?!"
The two of them seated themselves away from the crowd, on a patch of grass in the far corner of the field. They each had a cup of fruit punch in their hands, which really helped to replenish their energy after all the time they spent dancing.
"What? Are you surprised to see Gelica dancing with a guy?"
Morgan nodded her head. "I mean, at a glance…"
"Hey, it's not like she's allergic to the opposite sex. But then again, I can't blame you for thinking that way either. Heck, I'm sure that's what everyone and their mothers thought when they did the same thing last year."
"They danced last year, too?!" Morgan's eyes widened even further, almost like she had become a fish.
Crow snickered into his fruit punch. "Your reactions are always the best, Morgs." That was the truth. "Whew, that takes me back. Gelica's preferences definitely left most of the male first years fearing for their manhood, but George? He came from the boonies, and his mind was always focused on engineering, so he never really cared one way or the other. He treated everyone like a valued customer, and for someone like Gelica, a little honest gesture like that goes a long way. So, she always makes sure to save him a dance. As far as I know, George is one of two guys in Thors who's ever had the honor of sharing a dance with Angelica Rogner."
"Aw, that's sweet." Morgan looked up inquisitively. "Wait, so who's the other?"
Crow looked at her with a blank stare. The silence allowed Morgan to connect the dots in her head, and once they did, Morgan puffed out her cheeks in an attempt to suppress her laughter. "And what's the story behind that? Did she feel grateful for something you did, too?"
"Pff, maybe for being a royal pain in the ass," Crow snarked, which caused Morgan to laugh for real. It was a wonderful sound amidst all the chatter from the other festival-goers. "In all seriousness? She dragged me out to make sure I wasn't all on my own. Said it was for being partners in the ARCUS test group. Almost…kind of like what you did earlier."
"Really?"
"Really. Took me straight to the middle of the crowd, close to the bonfire. I almost believed she was ready to toss me in there if I couldn't keep up."
"Well, you're here now. I'm guessing you kept up pretty nicely."
"Ha! Not even. We were both a mess. Honestly, I enjoyed dancing with you WAY more."
Those words escaped his lips before his mind could even process it. Morgan awkwardly looked away and took a sip of fruit punch to recompose herself. If this were the beginning of the year, Crow would be congratulating himself for finding a chink in her armor, but now…
"P-Pretty wild ride we've had, huh?" Crow followed up immediately. "On a score from one to ten, how do you rate your first school festival?"
"Ten, without question. I already can't wait for next year's." Morgan then looked down before adding, "Well, assuming Class VII even gets to stick around for next year."
Crow nodded understandingly. "Yeah, you're not the only one feeling that way. Rean and I were just talking about it before you showed up. Being an experimental class has its pluses and minuses. Still…" He raised an eyebrow, eyeing her like he was issuing her a challenge. "That's not going to be enough to stop you, is it?"
She gave him a small smile. "If it is our fate to disappear without leaving so much as a foothold on Thors, then I'll gladly challenge that fate." She looked up at the sky, following the trail of sparks and smoke from the bonfire. She pointed a finger gun at a random star in the sky and shot an imaginary bullet at it. "There's an unknown world out there, and we're going to be the ones to change it. We HAVE to."
"'Arise, o youth, and become the foundation of the world,' huh?" Crow recited the Thors motto wistfully. "Well, as long as you keep that to heart, I'm sure there's nothing in the world that can stop you. You, Rean, and everyone? You're all going to be fine as long as you have each other. So… Make sure you take care of everyone, alright?"
"...Why are you sounding like you're not going to be there with us in the future?"
Morgan was pouting when she said that. Why would she be pouting? "Uh, cause I won't be? There's only about a month left for me before graduation, remember?"
"It won't be the end, though," she argued. "You're going to be the first graduate of Class VII. It's not like you're going to suddenly be a stranger just cause you're heading into the workforce. Or were you assuming that you'll be all on your own after you leave Thors? That we'd shut you out of our lives as soon as you graduate?"
'Yes.'
Crow couldn't bring himself to admit it out loud, and the guilt caused him to turn away from the girl. However, Morgan persisted. "If you thought you were going to get rid of us after you graduate, then I'm sorry to say that you're sorely mistaken. The bonds we've forged over the past year aren't going to break so easily."
He almost couldn't believe the words that were coming out of her mouth. It was the sort of profound encouragement that most would snicker at for being cheesy, but the way she delivered those lines was so earnest that one couldn't help but believe her.
Then, Morgan did something even more unexpected, so much so that it sent a jolt through Crow's body: she reached over and clasped his left hand with both of hers. Then, she raised his hand so that it was level between their faces.
"I can't pretend to know everything that's troubling you right now…" she spoke softly. "But if there's anything I can do to help, you can always talk to me about it. I want to help you, like you've helped me."
Crow made the fatal mistake of looking at her in the eyes. He couldn't feel anything malicious in her intent. Rather, it was filled with an emotion Crow never thought she'd be able to make, least of all to him.
Affection.
"I…I wouldn't place all your cards in my pile just yet," he managed to say. "For all we know, I could end up doing something stupid that could get you all to hate me."
"I think I know you well enough to know you wouldn't do something without a reason," Morgan said. "But if that were to ever happen…" She lowered her voice and intensified her gaze. "I will do everything in my power to stop you and bring you back to our side."
Once again, silence filled the space between the two of them. Despite her calling him "Trickster" for his unpredictability, Crow was now the one who was guessing what Morgan would dare to do next. She had leaned on his shoulder for support. Now she was holding his hand. The next logical step would be kissing, right? Ironically, even though Crow was infamous for his flirtatious habits, the number of times he had actually gone this far, much less with a girl who actually seemed interested in him, could be counted on one hand. All he knew was that he had to find some way to end this as soon as possible. Break her heart now to save them the trouble later on.
"As if I didn't have enough debt I gotta owe a couple of first-years…" Crow sighed. "Alright. I'll hold you to that. In the meantime, I'll try to be on my best behavior."
"Mm. Good." Morgan's voice returned to normal. Her eyes softened to their usual round shape.
"You know, you might wanna be careful of how close you get. If people saw us now, they might think we're a couple."
Once again, he retreated to using the same habits to push others away. He hoped that she would get flustered enough to let go of him. However, she continued defying his expectations. "Oh? And you believe they don't think that already after all that time we spent dancing together?" Morgan answered, smiling candidly. "I say…let them think whatever they want. After all we've been through, we've earned at least one night to fool around. We can always blame the festival atmosphere later."
"Alright, alright. You called my bluff. I've got nothing against that." Crow leaned over, and with his other hand, he playfully flicked Morgan's forehead. "Just don't go missing me too much over the long break, you hear?"
Morgan finally let go of his hand to rub the spot where Crow had flicked her. Even though the separation was what he wanted, a part of him still couldn't help but feel lonely afterwards. For what it was worth, Morgan took the gesture pretty well, as she continued giggling to herself. "Teehee! I think it's going to be difficult for me to do that, my Trickster. And between the two of us…" With a smile still lingering on her face, Morgan laid her head on Crow's shoulder. "I have a feeling you'll miss us more than we'll miss you."
'Ain't that the truth…'
They were close now. Dangerously close. There was no denying it anymore. The walls Crow had built up had all crumbled to the ground, squashing any lingering doubts he may have had about how serious Morgan was.
"Time really flies, doesn't it?" Morgan looked more content than he had ever seen her this past year.
"Yeah… I guess it does…" Crow wished he could have been able to fully relish the moment with her. "Ugh, dammit. Of all the guys in Class VII, why did you have to choose me?"
"Your character, your sense of justice, your loyalty to your friends, and your ability to challenge us to become better versions of ourselves. Simply put, it's because you care." Morgan tenderly wrapped her arms around his, firmly anchoring him into that spot, and in a small voice that only the two of them could hear, she whispered, "And I've come to care just as much."
In a moment where he should have been feeling over the moon, all Crow could think about instead was when and where he went horribly wrong.
It had been a long while since the last time Rean had danced this much. He certainly didn't expect to move around a lot that night (Morgan, Emma, Fie, and Millium had that part taken care of), but after rendezvousing with Elise, he noted how some noble boys were eyeing her, waiting for the chance to ask her for a dance as soon as he looked the other way. To put his own mind at ease, he suggested to her that they share a dance as siblings, the same as Prince Olivert and Princess Alfin. Elise looked surprised by the gesture, but she happily accepted.
After that was when things got hectic. First, they were blindsided by the royal siblings, with Princess Alfin insisting that she take "the next spot in line." Rean saw no reason to decline royalty, and of all the potential dance partners, Olivert was at least trustworthy…to an extent. So, they exchanged partners, and Rean found himself the recipient of many sharp glances as he danced with the Imperial princess, who looked like she didn't have a care in the world.
After that, Alisa came forward to say hi and awkwardly thank him for helping to lead her in playing the guitar. Rean briefly wondered why Alisa would come out of her way to thank him before he spied Sharon smirking and nodding from across the field. So, he asked her for a dance, and she accepted.
After that, Towa came over to thank him for his help during the festival, and then they shared a dance.
The pattern kept going until Rean had danced with just about every female classmate and friend he made across the entire school year. By the end of it all, Rean had to step away for a moment to use the restroom and catch his breath. Despite feeling winded, it did touch him to see that there were people that appreciated him enough to want to spend time with him. It further cemented that he really did find his place at Thors, just like he promised his family he would.
By the time Rean returned, the number of people still dancing had dwindled considerably, with the event just about to wrap up for the night. Rean, however, remained unperturbed. Of all the people he had danced with, there was one person that he had yet to share that honor with, and he made sure that he saved the best for last.
Rean scanned the entire length of the field until he spotted her. A gallant figure with blue hair tied into a ponytail.
"Laura."
The blue-haired girl turned towards him and smiled. "Ah, Rean. There you are. I almost thought you had turned in for the night."
"It'll take more than that to make me retire, haha. What were you looking at?"
"Over there." Laura's grin grew wider as she pointed to the corner of the academy field, where a certain pair of students were seated. "It would appear that our Morgan has found herself her match."
Rean squinted his eyes. "Is she…leaning on him? But I thought she hated his guts. Someone pinch me; I must be dreaming…"
"Is that an invitation, Rean Schwarzer?" With a hint of teasing in her voice, Laura reached her hand towards Rean's face and stroked his cheek. He almost jumped out of his shoes at the sensation, but before he could get comfortable, a sharp pain quickly followed.
"Ow, ow! Okay. Not dreaming!"
Laura laughed softly, and despite his cheek feeling like it was on fire, Rean couldn't help but laugh along with her. "You know, I didn't think you'd actually do that, Laura."
"Truthfully, I even surprised myself." Laura was affectionately looking at the hand she used to touch Rean's cheek with. "I suppose this is proof that I've changed since coming to Thors."
"We've all changed. Machias and Jusis went from almost leaving the class to singing a duet, Fie's opened up a lot around us, Morgan's gotten around to hanging out with Crow, and I've found my reason for wielding my blade. Change could be positive or negative, but all in all, I'd like to think we've changed for the better."
Laura nodded her head in agreement. "Tell me, Rean: do you like the path of the sword?"
Rean widened his eyes. It was the same exact question Laura had asked him all the way back in Celdic, when she had first challenged his view on himself. Now that he thought about it, the trajectory his change led him probably stemmed from that moment. At that time, he had given her a satisfactory answer, but it wasn't decisive. Now?
"I do," Rean affirmed. "It's led me to heights I never thought I could attain and to people that I never imagined I could become close with. It's an inseparable part of who I am. And you?"
"I feel the same as well. The path has taught me many parts of myself I didn't even know about, and every new encounter is another step towards improving myself and others. I consider myself blessed that those I've crossed blades with in the past are now among my closest compatriots. And that, naturally, includes you most of all."
"Laura…"
As the two of them stared into each other's eyes, Towa announced on the speakers that the next dance number would be the last. To fit with the mood, the music on the speakers changed to a romantic ballad.
"So it's almost time for the last dance," Laura remarked. "Rean, would you care to share it with me?"
Rean was shocked and, if he were being honest, felt like his confidence as a man took a severe hit. But then again, that was the Laura he knew. Straightforward and honest. "To be honest, I came over here ready to ask you the same thing."
"Oh…?"
"Still, since the guy traditionally asks the girl, I might as well…" Rean cleared his throat and extended his hand to her. "Would you like to dance with me, Laura?"
Laura rewarded him with the most radiant smile he had ever seen. "I would be delighted, Rean."
However, their moment would never come to pass.
Just as they were about to walk to the bonfire, the two warriors felt the surrounding atmosphere change suddenly. People like Alisa's mom, Machias's dad, and Jusis's brother received calls that made them go pale. Military and law enforcement personnel like Claire and Elliot's dad started gathering the VIPs and ushering them away. Towa reluctantly told George to stop the music and ordered the rest of the student council to start cleaning up. Elise came over to say her goodbyes to Rean before leaving with Alfin and Olivert. Laura's dad likewise arrived to bid farewell to his daughter, urging her to remain strong no matter what. His eyes locked with Rean's, and he nodded his head before turning around and leaving.
"I've never seen Father behave like that before," Laura muttered.
"Something terrible must have happened if it made him of all people that serious," Rean guessed.
Rean and Laura reconvened with the rest of their classmates and friends, and together, they watched as Principal Vandyck, Vice Principal Heinrich, and Instructor Sara emerged from the top of the academy field to give an important announcement. The 127th Thors Military Academy festival would end prematurely.
"This evening, Garrelia Fortress, which rests on the eastern border of the Empire, has been destroyed. No, destruction is an inadequate word. An unknown weapon has erased the fortress in its entirety from existence."
The principal urged everyone, students and guests alike, to remain calm, but they fell on deaf ears.