Chapter Text
Enough” said the old Hermit. “If you continue at the pace you're going at you will just injure yourself”.
He Stopped the Boy’s blade before it had even reached him.
The boy said “But Ma-” The Hermit said, anticipating the boy's response, “I’m not dismissing you Rean, nor am I disappointed with you.” The Hermit said “You have so much potential within you but at the same time you won’t let yourself move forward”.
Rean looked at his teacher bemused and thought to himself “But that's impossible. I keep myself busy all the time, not to mention I always make sure to complete my drills no matter how bad the weather gets”.
His teacher turned around and said “The Eight Leaves, One Blade style is one of the greatest sword styles in all the land. Once you attain mastery over it you will reach a level few could hope to rival. Just look at Cassius Bright and Arios Mclaine for example.” The Hermit turned around and saw that Rean was not only still confused but a shadow of doubt began crawling up Rean’s face. “The boy’s probably demeaning himself right now. I don’t blame him though, the path to mastery is just as much as reaching inner peace as it is sword skill, and considering his mental hangups…”.
“Rean” the Hermit said, snapping Rean out of his downward spiral. He addressed the boy kindly “Know that I can see the great abilities you possess even if you don’t acknowledge them. I am stopping your training not because you have failed in any way but rather because I am unable to help you progress right now. Know that in time as you continue to grow you will progress in your way and be able to master the Void style on your own.”
The old man upon seeing the boy begin to protest adopted a more serious tone and stated with all the gravitas he could muster “Rean Schwarzer!” The boy immediately straightened up and stopped his misgivings from showing on his face “I grant you the rank of Beginner in the Eight Leaves One blade style”.
4/1 1204
“Man, these classes are tough! Especially Instructor Lysandre’s class.” Elliot said. Rean nodded his head and said “Yeah, but what throws me off the most is how… hyper he is. I mean he’s probably the most energetic person we know at Thors right now.” Gaius and Elliot both nodded in perfect harmony. Gaius said “I’m just glad that his lectures are so in-depth. It helps me understand more about Erebonia.” Rean then exclaimed, “Speaking of which do you guys want to go to Kirsche’s and eat dinner?”
As the trio headed to Kirsche’s they continued talking about their impressions of their instructors -“Instructor Valestein’s pretty brutal when she wants to be”. “I’m still a little sore from today’s warmups”. “We may have some tough teachers but at the very least I doubt anything big is going to happen this year”. “Hopefully if Adios wills it”- when suddenly
“Hey is that Fie over there?” Elliot said. Sure enough, Fie was sitting on the bench looking bored out of her mind. Elliot turned back to the other two and asked “Should we invite her to eat with us?” Both Rean and Gaius nodded at Elliot. Elliot turned back around and called out to Fie “Hey Fie, do you want to-?” Elliot blinked, rubbed his eyes, and looked again “Where did she go?” He thought out loud. Rean was the first one to see her, “She’s over there by the dorm, I think she wants to go sleep” He said kindly. Gaius patted Elliot on the back and remarked “We’ll get her next time in the meantime let's just enjoy our dinner” Elliot brightened up and the group continued to walk towards the Restaurant.
“It is a bit strange though”. “Most other classes seem to get along fine, but within our class, you can feel the tension in the wind.” Gaius reached the door to the Restaurant first and opened it, letting the other two in “We’re only a group of nine, and we’re here together for the next two years. What’s stopping us from all coming together”. “Cutting straight to it, huh Gaius” Elliot remarked nervously, the boys reached a table and began to sit down, then Elliot stated “Well I think it's mostly because we have so many commoners and nobles mixed into one class and told to interact as equals. That's not something most of us are used to because of how strong both factions are. Not to mention they both fight like cats and dogs”. “Not to mention the fact that we have the children of some of the most powerful people in Erebonia. (Elliot coughed into his hand) This class might as well be a proxy war on its own. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that nothing bad happens these two years but I don’t know if I can do anything for a situation as volatile as this”.
Before Elliot and Gaius could fully digest what Rean had said the door opened revealing Laura, Emma, and Alisa. They were talking amongst themselves when they saw Rean, Elliot, and Gaius. “Hey guys, do you all want to eat together” Rean asked. “We would be happy to” Emma responded, shooting Alisa a look before the new trio sat down with the boys. It was a bit awkward initially but as the conversation kept going the group started meshing together far better than before.
“Gaius, although I am a swordsman it doesn’t mean I can use all manner of weaponry without any issue. At most I can use a broadsword and a gun” Rean said, shaking his head. “But all I’m saying is that it would be amusing if you tried to use a spear, I mean I’m sure Laura would be up to the challenge.” Gaius taunted and then started drinking some water. Laura finished chewing before saying, “Well the Arseid technique covers a wide range of weaponry. I would be willing to spar against you, Gaius but don’t be disappointed if you happen to lose.” Gaius smiling confidently said, “I gladly accept Laura, so how about this Sunday.” Laura offered her hand and Gaius shook it. Rean then said, “I’ll referee then, it would be interesting to see both of you fight like this.” “Well since you're already available…” Laura began “Why don't you spar with both me and Gaius with your Tachi”. Rean enthusiastically agreed when suddenly
“Rean, back me up here,” Elliot said.” Oh no, mister what you said was completely wrong” Alisa began staring at Elliot with fire in her eyes. “Don’t get me wrong croquettes are ok, but they’re not ‘the greatest snack of all time’” Elliot said in exasperation. Emma then interjected “But at the very least they’re up there right” Emma said sweetly although the tinge of menace Rean heard in her voice made him sweatdrop. “Well, Rean what do you think” Alisa completely forgot that she was supposed to be mad at him. “Yeah Rean what do you think” Laura said covering her mouth in order to hide her rapidly growing amusement. “Well, I don’t like Croquettes”.
Gaius immediately started choking on his food as he saw the look on both Emma’s and Alisa’s faces. Laura was fighting a losing battle to stop herself from laughing but as soon as she saw Gaius’ reaction she surrendered to her giggles.
Sara was walking back from her septum collection duties (read slaughtering the local wildlife) to the dorm when she decided to look inside Kirshe’s for a moment. She went near the windows as quietly as she could and saw how most of her students were in a group laughing and interacting with each other. She quickly became nostalgic for better days in the past. “It's so nice that at least some of these students are getting along with each other,” she thought. However, those feelings of nostalgia were immediately quashed with a devious idea. She noticed Rean in the center of the group and then the gears started working. She quickly put two and two together and realized how she could cut a huge chunk of her work in half. “Good job Sara, all we need to do is enslave the wunderkind and this year is going to be pretty easy,” she said to herself and started walking to the dorm to get some shut eye.
Side story:
Fie quickly entered the dorm intending to avoid the others and get a nap. She saw Jusis. Jusis saw Fie. They both gave a nod and, without saying a word, went upon their business. “This is why she’s my favorite,” Jusis thought to himself. “This is why he’s my favorite,” Fie thought to herself. “Man everyone in this class is weird” Machias-who was sitting in the common area and saw this interaction- thought to himself.