Chapter Text
Ami Eschenbacher was sitting in the train, minding her own business, as it took her from Grenville to Trista in Erebonia. She was wearing a red blazer uniform top with a short pink pleated skirt, along with a pair of white knee-high socks and a pair of red sneakers that matched her top. Humming to herself, Ami was oblivious to another student sitting nearby in similar attire, though this person wore a short lavender-colored skirt and ankle length socks with white sneakers. There were other students in the train car, but most of them wore a green blazer as opposed to Ami and the unknown student’s red blazers.
Minnie Liang sat at the window seat, watching the scenery change as the train sped on its way to Trista, Erebonia. Nerves ate at her as she fiddled with the rim of her short lavender-colored skirt. She was uncertain what to expect at Thors Military Academy, after convincing her parents to let enroll. She grew up in Calvard, so she was unfamiliar with everything in Erebonia, and it had been only two years since they moved to Bareahard. Minnie wondered why her parents chose Bareahard, the verdant city full of nobles, as she hated the two years she lived in Bareahard because of the nobles’ way of life.
The train announcement suddenly came, announcing the stop of Trista. Ami and Minnie picked up their bags and disembarked the train, not taking notice of one another, though Minnie did pick up on two other students with a red blazer. Minnie figured they may become classmates, but she didn’t want to be too presumptuous, so Minnie stayed quiet as she walked through Trista.
Minnie felt that Trista had a homely, cozy vibe to it, as Minnie made her way through to Thors Military Academy campus. Following closely behind was Ami, who was making a lot of glances at Minnie because the two sported the same red blazer that was different from the majority of the students in Trista. But nerves ate at Ami about approaching the other student, though she realized she had to if she wanted to find out more about this new student. Mustering her courage, Ami sped up to Minnie’s side and tapped the girl’s shoulder with one hand.
“Um!” Ami said nervously.
Minnie jumped and stopped walking to look to the side where her shoulder was touched. “Uh? Yes?”
“I… I see that you’re also wearing a red jacket, so I was wondering… if you were also here for Thors Military Academy,” Ami said.
Minnie nodded. “Um… Yes. I did notice that most of the other students wore green or sometimes white, which I assume are for the nobles.”
Minnie sounded stiff when she said the word “nobles,” but Ami let it slide. “Y-Yeah, heh… Um… Wanna walk the rest of the way together?”
Minnie tilted her head to the side, thinking for a moment. “I…suppose.”
“Oh! Where are my manners?” Ami said, interrupting herself. “I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Ami, Ami Eschenbacher. My dad’s the baron of Grenville.” She bowed with her hands holding the rim of her short skirt.
“Oh,” Minnie said stoically. She realized that meant this Ami person was a noble, which was not pleasant news for Minnie, but decided to introduce herself anyway. “My name is… Minnie Liang. I grew up in Calvard.”
“Oooh! I could tell!” Ami said enthusiastically.
Minnie merely nodded. “Um… I guess let’s get to Thors then…”
The two girls walked side-by-side toward the campus in silence, which made things a bit awkward for the two. As they walked toward where Thors Military Academy was, Minnie and Ami spotted a blue-haired girl in front of them with a butler. The girl bade the butler farewell and continued her way to Thors Military Academy, but what Minnie noticed was that the girl was wearing the same red blazer, just with a teal green short skirt and holding a rather large object on her back. Ami noticed the same girl, and assumed it was another noble, considering the girl was just talking to her butler.
A few more steps ahead, Minnie and Ami spotted a long green orbal limousine with a blond male stepping out of it. The chauffeur was opening the door to the blond teen and talking to him, though it seemed like the boy was dismissing the chauffeur as he exited the limousine. He said his farewell to the chauffeur and continued his way in the same direction as Ami and Minnie. The two girls noticed that the boy was also wearing a red blazer, just like the two of them.
‘Pft, another noble, huh,’ Minnie thought. ‘I hope I’m not stuck with too many nobles…’
As Minnie and Ami made their way to the campus entrance, a short brown-haired girl and a chubby boy were standing at the entrance. The girl was wearing a green blazer and the chubby boy had a yellow jumpsuit on, stopping the two girls before they could enter.
“Hi! Welcome to Thors Military Academy!” The girl greeted the two. “Are you two Minnie Liang and Ami Eschenbacher?”
“Yes, I’m Minnie,” Minnie said with a slight bow.
“And I’m Ami,” Ami said, also bowing.
“Great,” the girl said happily. “Please leave your weapons with us. You won’t be apart from it for long.”
Minnie was a bit suspicious, but complied and handed her orbal flute that was wrapped with a white cloth to the girl. Ami handed her orbal harp to the chubby boy, who took it delicately. The two then stepped to the side as Minnie and Ami made their way into Thors Military Academy. They stepped inside, unaware that another student was not too far from them and being the last of the students with a red blazer.
When all the students gathered in the auditorium, the principal named Vandyck took to the stage and began his opening speech, announcing the beginning of a new semester with new students. Minnie sat next to Ami, who looked nervous, and patted the other girl on the shoulder.
“It’s okay,” Minnie said. “This is just the entrance ceremony. I’m sure we’ll learn about our class soon.”
“Y-Yeah, you’re right…” Ami nodded nervously, though her expression was unchanged.
Minnie sighed and returned her attention to the principal. He had just finished his speech and told the students to go along to their classes, with the green blazers being in Class III, IV, and V while Class I and II were for the nobles. But that left the rest of the students in red blazers sitting in the auditorium. The students exchanged glances, wondering what was going on when a female voice came through.
“Those in red jackets, please follow me!” The woman said loudly.
The woman instructor had short magenta hair and was wearing a navy blue coat that went down to her legs and a yellow dress that went down to her thighs. She led the way out of the building with some of the other students following her, wondering what was going on. Minnie and Ami exchanged confused glances before getting up to follow the instructor.
The instructor left the group of eleven students in red jackets into another area and in front of a dilapidated building. All the students were confused as to why they were brought here, some mentioning being surprised with the campus having such a dilapidated building. Then the instructor went inside and told the others to follow closely behind.
“Welcome to Thors Military Academy, everyone!” The instructor greeted. “The name’s Sara Valestein and I’m to be your instructor. We’re doing things a bit differently this year around, first off by introducing a new class, where nobles and commoners' status do not exist. It will be called Class VII.”
“WHAT?” A bespectacled boy exclaimed, interrupting Sara’s speech. “You can’t be serious! You can’t just mix nobles and commoners together!”
“Uh, who are you again?” Sara asked. “Why don’t you introduce yourself to the rest of the class?”
“Machias Regnitz,” the boy answered. “You can’t just toss in commoners with those stuck-up hedonists!”
“Heh.” Another boy, a blond this time, grunted.
Machias turned on the blond. “Am I to assume you have something to say? Why don’t YOU introduce yourself to the rest of us?”
“Fine,” the boy said, crossing his arms in front. “The name is Jusis. Jusis Albarea.”
Alarm bells rang in Minnie and Ami’s heads at the introduction, though the reason for both were different. Minnie knew the Albareas were in charge of Bareahard, and one of the Four Great Houses, while Ami realized this meant this boy was related to Rufus Albarea, the one who encouraged her to enroll to Thors Military Academy.
“Whoa… You don’t get any more regal than that,” another boy muttered.
“One of the Four Great Houses…” A bespectacled girl said, mostly to herself.
“And just what do you expect us to do?!” Machias exclaimed. “Want us to bow down to you?”
Jusis did not budge. “I’m not expecting anything. You are merely offering yourself as a kind of entertainment.”
“Well, EXCUSE me!” Machias said indignantly. “I’m not here to be a source of entertainment for you!”
Minnie couldn’t help but giggle, causing Ami and the others to look at her. “Uh… Sorry… Um…”
Machias glared at Minnie. “Why don’t YOU introduce yourself now? I bet you think you’re all high and mighty too!”
“...Minnie Liang,” Minnie responded. “I may have come from Bareahard, but I have literally no drop of noble blood.”
Jusis did a quick glance at Minnie at the introduction, but he regained his composure within a second. He had never expected to meet someone from his hometown here at the very least, but that didn’t mean they were going to be friends or anything. Jusis turned to face Machias again and was about to speak when Sara interrupted.
“Man, you kids are still young!” Sara interrupted. “Don’t let the class system divide you now! Anyway, like I was saying, this will be a whole new class for all of you. And it’s time for your orienteering exercise.”
“Do you mean orientation?” The bespectacled student asked.
“Nope!” Sara grinned.
Then, without warning, Sara pulled a switch and the floor underneath the eleven students gave way. Minnie was startled at the new change and attempted to grab onto something, but there was nothing she could do, so she resigned herself to her fate. Though what she didn’t expect was that Jusis had grabbed her hand as the two fell to the bottom level.
Once everyone reached the floor, Minnie quickly withdrew her hand from Jusis’s grip, her face beet red from the action. But that wasn’t as important as the scene unfolding with another student. He had black spiky hair, and he was lying underneath the blonde with his hands up in the air, as though to demonstrate that he didn’t have any ulterior motive. When the two students got up, the boy tried to apologize, the girl slapped him hard across the face.
“Oh…” Minnie said, staring at the spectacle.
“Are you okay, Rean?” A smaller boy asked the boy who was slapped.
“Yeah…” The boy named Rean answered. “I’m all right.”
Before anyone else could add in a word, Sara’s voice came from elsewhere. “Now that you’re all here, it’s time for you to get your weapons and start navigating this old schoolhouse! Your belongings are around the room and it comes with a Master Quartz for you to use. Please install it in your ARCUS units.”
Minnie nodded to herself as she went to the pedestal with her orbal flute, also noting that she had this so-called Master Quartz. She recognized the Master Quartz as Orochi, so she installed it into the ARCUS orbment the school sent her.
Ami found her orbal harp lying on the pedestal, so she quickly grabbed it and felt immediately relieved to be reunited with the harp. With that was also the Master Quartz Cypher, so Ami quickly installed it into her ARCUS unit.
Everyone gathered around in a circle after grabbing their respective weapons and Master Quartz, then decided to split up into groups, though Jusis and Machias left before they were designated groups. The short white-haired girl had also disappeared from sight. The rest of the girls then decided to go in one group while the rest of the boys were in the other one.
Ami and Minnie followed the other girls deeper into the dilapidated building, and as they walked, the others decided to introduce themselves. The girl with blonde hair tied in low twintails gave her name as Alisa R, which confounded Minnie as to why she didn’t just reveal her last name, but didn’t pursue the reason. The blue-haired girl was named Laura S. Arseid, a known name as her father was the viscount of Legram. The last girl was named Emma Millstein, who had come on a scholarship after reaching the top score on the entrance examination.
The group had small talk on their backgrounds, with Minnie being very animated in the talk, though she didn’t usually get along with nobles. But at least it was only Laura and Ami who were nobles in this group, so Minnie felt content to yap to the others. But before the girls realized it, a group of monsters was standing in their path. It was then that they realized they brought their weapons along for a reason.
Laura started the battle by pulling out her broadsword and ran toward the group of monsters, which were like flying felines. With one strike, Laura struck one of the flying felines and jumped to the side to avoid the counterattack.
Minnie pulled out her orbal flute and started playing it, which made the group look at her briefly in confusion. No one had the idea that a musical instrument could be a weapon, but blue notes started floating from Minnie and struck the flying felines.
With that cue, Ami took out her orbal harp and started strumming it, which also startled the group. They hadn’t realized they had two musicians in the group that used such instruments as weapons. Ami’s playing struck down two of the flying felines that Minnie damaged.
Emma pulled out her orbal staff and started casting Aqua Bleed from the staff. It was another unexpected weapon, but it was more realistic than using musical instruments. The spell was cast and damaged the other flying feline.
To finish the battle, Alisa took out her bow and readied herself in an attacking stance. Rapidly pulling the strings, Alisa finished off the flying feline with her bow and brushed part of her hair to the side. Putting her bow to the side, Alisa walked over to the rest of the group.
“Wow, Minnie and Ami are really good!” Alisa complimented the two girls. “I didn’t think you’d be able to use musical instruments as weapons.”
“Heh heh…” Ami said sheepishly.
“It’s nothing,” Minnie said dismissively.
“Oh, it’s certainly something else,” Laura said.
“It’s just a little something from home,” Minnie stated, her face slightly flushed from embarrassment.
“Where’s your home, Minnie?” Laura asked.
“Um…” Minnie looked uncomfortable for a moment before she answered. “My parents live in Bareahard, but we came from Calvard.”
“Wow, that’s pretty far away,” Laura commented.
“What about the rest of you?” Minnie countered with her own question.
“I’m…from a village rather far away,” Emma said.
“I came from Roer,” Alisa answered.
“I’m from Grenville,” Ami replied. “Not too far from here, but I don’t really plan on returning home during breaks.”
“As you know, I’m from Legram,” Laura said. “Shall we continue our way through this place?”
Minnie nodded. “Yeah, let’s go.”
The girls made their way through the old building, downing enemies that came across them for experience. Laura headed the group as she was the one who fought on the frontlines, so it only made sense that she walked first. Minnie kept a watchful eye for potential enemies while Ami chatted with the others.
That was when the girls encountered the boys group. Laura and the others greeted them warmly and the boys wanted to merge the group, seeing as they were girls, but Laura demonstrated that they were fully capable of navigating this dungeon on their own. Before they forgot, the boys decided to introduce themselves to the girls.
“I’m Rean Schwarzer,” the dark-haired boy bowed his head. He was holding a tachi with one hand as he greeted the group.
“And I’m Gaius Worzel,” the tall, tanned boy introduced himself. “I come from Nord, so I’m not an Erebonian.”
“I’m Elliot Craig,” the orange-haired boy said, bowing fully for a moment.
“Hello,” Minnie greeted the boys. “I’m… Minnie Liang. I hail from Calvard, but my parents are in…Bareahard.”
“I’m Alisa R,” Alisa said, avoiding eye contact with Rean.
“I’m Emma Millstein,” Emma said, nodding to the boys.
“And I am Laura S. Arseid,” Laura said, still holding onto her broadsword with one hand.
“Oh, oh, I’m Ami Eschenbacher!” Ami said warmly.
“Well, now that we’ve introduced ourselves, should we continue going through this place?” Rean asked.
Minnie nodded. “Yeah, we just decided that too.”
“I still think we should join up,” Rean said.
“Mmm…” Minnie said contemplatively before continuing. “Yeah, but remember, we still lack a few members of our class. Might be best to continue being split up to search for them.”
“Oh, right, you’re right,” Rean said. “Well, then I’ll see you girls at the end.”
“See you,” Minnie said, waving with one hand.
The boys departed, leaving the girls in their spot. As they took the right path, the girls decided to take the left path. It was wrought with enemies, but they were no match for them as a group. Moving swiftly through the place, Minnie noticed the last girl appear in front of them.
“You are halfway through the dungeon,” the girl said. “And the name is Fie Claussell.”
Without warning, Fie jumped up and landed on a floor higher than the rest of the group. The others tried to call out to her, but she was already out of sight. Sighing and exchanging confused yet concerned glances, the group decided to continue through the dungeon. Not before long, the group entered a new room with a single gargoyle standing on a pedestal. Without warning, the gargoyle came to life and attacked the group.
Laura led the charge by unsheathing her broadsword and leaping up in the air before she landed on the gargoyle. She slashed it across the chest with her sword, then jumped to the side to avoid a counterattack.
Minnie pulled out her orbal flute and began playing. The notes she played formed from the instrument and flowed toward the gargoyle. As the notes struck the gargoyle, the enemy tried to attack Minnie, but Laura jumped in between them and slashed it with her sword to block attacks on the Eastern girl.
Ami whipped out her orbal harp and started playing as well, each note hitting the gargoyle. This time, Ami stayed a bit farther away, having already seen the gargoyle attempting to attack Minnie in retaliation. The notes struck the gargoyle as she played her melody.
Alisa had her bow out and started attacking the gargoyle from different directions, careful of any counterattack from the gargoyle. Her precise movements allowed her to aim and hit the gargoyle as well as dodge the enemy’s strikes.
Emma withdrew her orbal staff and began casting orbal arts. Her first spell was Aqua Bleed, and as she chanted the spell, a bluish liquid streamed out from the tip of her staff and struck straight for the gargoyle’s chest.
Laura jumped behind the gargoyle and slashed it with her broadsword as a diversion from the rest of the group. She struck the gargoyle a few times, and along with the attacks from the group, they were able to take down the gargoyle. But the gargoyle didn’t dissipate; it merely fell down on the floor, unmoving.
Minnie and the others were out of breath from the ambush, clutching their weapons with one hand as the other hand was on their chest, trying to calm their heart from the intense exercise. But before they could get a quick respite, the gargoyle suddenly rose up again.
‘Oh no… We’re out of formation…’ Minnie thought. ‘What are we going to do?’
Before Minnie could finish her thought process, the group of boys, with Jusis in tow, showed up. Elliot began casting orbal arts from his orbal staff, distracting the gargoyle from attacking the girls. Then Rean and Gaius came up from the flank and struck the gargoyle with their respective weapons, a tachi and cross spear. Jusis had his Knight Sword out and he slashed the gargoyle with it after Rean and Gaius’s team attack.
“Are you girls okay?!” Rean shouted after he attacked.
Minnie nodded. “Yeah, you really saved us out there.”
“Don’t be too relieved yet!” Gaius said. “It’s not down yet.”
“Be careful,” Jusis said.
“Don’t forget about us!” A familiar masculine voice came from behind.
The class turned back to see Machias and Fie standing by the entrance. After announcing their entrance, Fie jumped up and struck the gargoyle from above with her Twin gunswords before landing neatly with the rest of the class. Machias pulled out his shotgun and began shooting the gargoyle in the face.
The gargoyle was barely able to stand properly after the coordinated attack, so the rest of the class came together and began attacking it with their respective weapons. While they were landing blows on the gargoyle, a bluish light had started glowing from their ARCUS units, surrounding each other in a warm light. As a finisher, Laura leaped up and sliced the gargoyle’s head off, which tumbled onto the floor and dissipated. The gargoyle itself slowly faded as a result, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
“What was THAT?” Alisa asked breathlessly.
“But that blue light that I saw while we were fighting it…” Minnie stated. “It must be…”
“And that was the glory of the ARCUS unit! Let’s give that girl a prize!!” Sara’s voice came from elsewhere. “Now that you’ve finished the orienteering exercise, it’s time to explain about Class VII and hear any complaints you’ve got. If you choose not to stay here, we can assign you to one of the other classes. It’s just the first day, so there won’t be any missed lessons.”
Minnie gasped. She was surprised at the way Sara was willing to change their class on the first day, but she already knew she was going to stay here. It was frustrating to deal with nobles, but it wasn’t like all nobles were arrogant or bullies, as Minnie’s experiences taught her.
Rean thought for a while. He inconvenienced his adoptive family by choosing to come to Thors Military Academy, and felt this could be a way to find his own path. This was the best way for him to make up for what his adoptive family has done for him since he lived with them.
“I’m here to stay,” Minnie and Rean said simultaneously.
Everyone was shocked at their quick decision, even Minnie and Rean themselves. The two exchanged curious glances and then laughed. They stepped up and wore a determined expression, gripping their weapons in their hands. Soon, the rest of the students, except Jusis and Machias, stepped in front, also deciding to stay in Class VII. But it didn’t take long for Jusis to decide to stay, too.
“And I suppose that’s for Machias to withdraw, as I am here to stay,” Jusis announced.
Minnie was surprised. A noble deciding to stay in a class with commoners, but she was not one to judge. Curious if she’d end up befriending him as he was the son of Duke Albarea, who was based in Bareahard, Minnie dismissed the thought quickly.
“Oh, really now?!” Machias asked indignantly. “Well, I’m here to stay, come hell or high water! I’ll show you that you won’t be getting things handed to you in this class, Jusis Albarea!”
“Hmph,” was all Jusis said to Machias, still facing away from the other boy.
“Well, well, now,” Sara said, impressed. “So all eleven of you accept being in Class VII. Glad to hear! Just so you know, workload isn’t going to be easy at all. And those with the orbal staves and orbal instruments will have to submit a monthly report on their usage.”
“Oh boy,” Elliot said, hanging his head. “Maybe I spoke too soon.”
“I am up for it!” Ami said enthusiastically.
“Eh…” Minnie was indifferent to the announcement, clutching her orbal flute with one hand. “That’s fine with me.”
“No problem for me,” Emma said with a small smile.
In a higher platform and behind the group, the principal and a blond stood side-by-side. They had been watching the fight and were genuinely impressed with Class VII. They were proud of the students having come so far.