Chapter Text
Jusis idly stared at his reflection in the limousine’s window, his crystal blue eyes tinted with indifference. He watched as they passed by the flittering Lino flowers and through iron gates toward their destination. As the vehicle rolled to a stop, Jusis heard the driver’s door open and felt it fall shut. He leaned back in his seat as he waited, his own door opening shortly. He closed his eyes and let out a sigh, steeling himself, before grasping his swordcase and exiting the limo.
His perfectly buffed shoes stood solid on the grey cobblestones of the courtyard as Jusis scrutinized the location that would be his residence for the next two years. The white bricked building before him rose tall and stout into the sky, battle worn from the numerous years of weathering and imparting knowledge to countless students who walked its halls: The renowned Thors Military Academy.
Many of the students were dressed in two vastly different attire. They were, of course, to distinguish the classes of each student – plain green uniforms for the commoners that were contrasted with the pristine whites adorned with golden threads and purple sashes of the Nobles. Jusis, however, wore a different uniform, a vibrant red – one that he saw a surprising lack of other students wearing. He stood out, not only from his attire, but by being ushered conspicuously to the front steps in a green limousine. All of which drew the attention of a fair number of other students, who stared at him with great interest.
Jusis closed his eyes and huffed through his nose silently hoping that they would not recognize him. They would eventually; they had all heard of him and the significance of his surname that held a high standing and profound power in Erebonia– Albarea. One of the Empire’s four Great Houses, the Albareas were a proud family that sat at the pinnacle of the Noble class. Jusis was the youngest in the house, junior to his older brother, Rufus, and his father, Duke Helmut Albarea. Jusis’ mother had past many a year ago when he was just a young boy. As he grew, Jusis had been shaped to reflect the mannerisms exhibited by his brother and father – confident, dignified, stalwart.
He reminded himself of those traits as he dismissed his chauffer with a curt nod, and he watched as the limo drove away. He took a deep breath through his nose; a feeling of freedom flowed through him like the fresh, clean breeze that ruffled his hair as it blew past. Finally, he was liberated from the oppressive atmosphere that accompanied the unrelenting expectations of his father.
His thoughts were interrupted by another approaching vehicle. From the driver’s seat stood a respectable looking older gentleman with a grey mustache dressed in a blue tailcoat. He opened the back door and a young woman – her hair long and striking blue in hue – stepped out of the vehicle. She wore a red uniform, the same make as Jusis’, and carried a long and large case with her that most women would have struggled to carry. Her golden eyes met with Jusis’ and she gave a warm smile and nod towards him. Jusis returned the gesture, albeit with a less radiant smile.
Jusis began to follow the flow of students making their way into the large auditorium. As he neared the entrance, a hefty boy in a yellow suit and a tiny young girl, dressed in green approached him.
“Hi there!” The girl beamed. “You’re wearing a red uniform, and with that bright golden hair, I would presume that you are Jusis Albarea.”
Unease knotted Jusis’ stomach; his hopes of not being recognized straightaway were dashed.
“You would be correct,” Jusis quietly replied through clenched teeth. The boy in the yellow jumpsuit gave a smile that made his cheeks wrinkle his eyes shut.
“Great! We figured that was you getting out of that snazzy limousine over there. We wanted to be sure to welcome you to the campus.”
“Please, I would prefer to not have any special treatment during my stay here at the academy,” Jusis said curtly under his breath. “I wish to be regarded as a normal student.”
“Oh, don’t worry! That’s not why were here,” the girl’s bright green eyes shined as she smiled. “Well, it kind of is, but that’s a long story. Oh, by the way, I’m Towa Herschel – the Student Council President. And this is George.”
Really? With her stature, Jusis assumed she was a fellow first year. Was she actually a second year?
The brown-haired boy stepped forward.
“Unfortunately, we’re going to have to confiscate your weapon until after the opening ceremony.”
Ah, so that’s what this was about, Jusis realized.
“But of course. How unthoughtful of me; I should have left it with the remainder of my luggage.” Jusis handed over his case.
“Yeah, we apologize for the inconvenience, but we’ll make sure to get it back to you,” the sandy-haired girl reassured him.
“Much obliged,” Jusis nodded before walking past them and through the double doors.
As Jusis made his way through the chairs that aligned the lively auditorium, he spotted two others in red uniforms. Two boys – one with spikey black hair and the other, who was slightly shorter with bright amber hair – were already seated together in their chairs. Jusis caught eye of another girl in red in the row in front of the two boys; her long pink hair worn in an elegant braid sat over her shoulder and her bright blue eyes were hidden behind somewhat oversized glasses. It somehow fit her.
Jusis took a seat in the middle of a row and quickly became flanked by students in green uniforms. The girl with the long blue hair sat in the row in front of him. Of course, all of those dressed in white were privileged enough to get the first two rows exclusively. For once, Jusis was thankful he wasn’t up there in a white uniform, automatically announcing that he was a Noble; although his current red one wasn’t helping him to not stand out.
It was then that a middle-aged man in fancy purple garb tapped on the microphone on the stage causing a high-pitched reverb to echo through the hall. The still standing students found their seats and the room quieted down as the man with a rather unpleasant snooty accent started the ceremony. A few minutes later, a man of large, imposing stature with an all-white beard and hair took his place behind the podium. His deep voice rang out with absolute command over the attention of all students in the room. Jusis had not recognized him at first, but he knew exactly who this man was – the former great general VanDyck; however, he was now known as Thors reigning headmaster. He proceeded to welcome the new students and go into the history and mission of the academy and ended his speech with the school’s creed – “Arise, O youth, and become the foundation of the world.”
The room erupted in applause and the anxious tension in the air seemed to dissipate. Students were asked to consult their handbooks and go to their assigned classrooms. However, Jusis’ book was blank. As the other students filed out of the auditorium, only a few remained, all dressed in the same red uniforms. They were understandably confused when a woman in a yellow dress and long blue coat stepped forward. Her vibrant pink hair was flipped up into a messy pony-tail and her overly casual posture was not very inspiring.
“I’m sure you are all fairly confused right now, but no fear; all will be explained. But first, I would like you to all join me for a special orientation exercise. If you’ll follow me.”
Jusis watched as the lackadaisical woman sauntered out the doors of the hall. Jusis looked at the pink-haired girl in front of him who, obviously perplexed, gave him a shrug and headed towards the exit. Jusis shook his head at this nonsense but decided to follow the other students in red.
The lady led them through the school grounds and down a long path in the back. At the end of the path was a large, very dilapidated building. It looked centuries old and Jusis wondered if it should have been condemned long ago. The woman held up a key and proceeded to unlock the front doors and walk inside. The black-haired boy shook his head and held up his hands in a shrug.
“I guess we should follow her.”
Jusis let out a short, hmph, but entered the building along with the rest of the students. The inside was a large, dark room – save for the few windows that illuminated the dust flitting through the stuffy air. Jusis subconsciously wiped the imagined accumulation of dust from his shoulder as he filed in with the students in front of an elevated stoned brick platform. The woman stood atop the rise and proudly crossed her arms in front of her large chest.
“Now then, let me welcome you all to the old, original, Thors schoolhouse. Here is where we will hold our first extracurricular exercise!”
“Um, excuse me, I don’t mean to be rude, but….who are you?” The shy pink-haired girl timidly inquired.
“Oh, crap! I totally forgot to introduce myself,” she cleared her throat into her hand. “My name is Sara, Sara Valestein – and I get the pleasure of being your instructor for the new Class VII; which means you’re going to be seeing me all year.”
“Wait, what? You’re our instructor?” a blonde girl with long flowing hair and scolding red eyes piped up. “And what’s class VII? I thought there was only five classes here in the academy; two for the Nobles and three for the commoners.”
“Yes, and you would be correct,” the instructor continued. “At least up till last year. There have been some sliiight adjustments to the class structure this year. You are all a part of a new type of class, Class VII to be exact!”
Jusis heard the red-head boy behind him whisper, “Why did they skip to seven instead of six?”
“…And Class VII is a very unique class; you were all specially selected based on your merits and entrance exams, regardless of your social standing. So, congratulations!”
“Wait, regardless of social standing? So, we’re the first class combined with commoners and nobles,” the blue-haired girl inquired.
“Yep-ta-mundo,” Sara smiled. “Don’t you feel excited?!”
Jusis and his classmates stayed eerily silent and confused.
“I mean, I guess so,” the red-haired boy concluded meekly.
“Aw, c’mon guys. Show a little enthusiasm!” Sara clapped her hands together with an idea. “How about we go around the room and introduce one another! Let’s start with you,” she pointed at the tall, striking boy with tanned skin and dark brown hair.
Jusis suspected from his appearance that the boy may be foreign, if the braid in his hair and tattoo down his forearm were any indication.
“I am Gaius Worzel. I hail from the Nord Highlands.” Jusis had presumed correctly. “I’m grateful to have the opportunity to join Class VII here at Thors.”
“Oooo, tall, dark, and handsome. This one’s gonna be a lady killer.” Sara stuck her tongue between her teeth and winked. “Okay, onto you, with the cute pink hair and glasses!”
The girl fiddled with the front bottom of her uniform jacket and looked like she wanted to shrink into it. “I-I’m Emma Millstein,” she stated in a soft, nervous voice. “I’m pleased to meet everyone.”
“Excellent miss top-of-the-class scorer!” Her gaze shifted over to Jusis. “And how about you, pretty boy; care to introduce yourself,” she asked in a sultry voice.
Jusis let out a hmph, casually looping his one thumb through a beltloop and cocking his hip. He felt all the eyes turn to look at him when a cocky voice rang out.
“Ha, like he really needs an introduction…”
Jusis turned his head and noticed a particular set of green eyes; ones that, despite being hidden behind framed glasses, were glaring daggers at Jusis.
Jusis’ breath caught in his throat. That…it-it couldn’t be. Those glasses, the scowling face, a messy mop of spiky green hair... There was no mistaking it.
It was him.