Imperial War Academy |Year 2|[FT/Fan-T][OPEN][IC]

[Ministerial]

Vaans was tired. He had to do physical exercise and labor, something Vispers cannot do very well. Vispers had a very thin layer of skin that could be damaged very easily so they wore bandages around every inch of skin. Vaans had worried that the bandages would be damaged, but that did not seem to be the case. He set up the room and a desk in his dormitory. The admins did not take his medical equipment and he was happy for that. "Now what classes do I have to go too?" Vaans looked at his schedule, "Oh...I'm late". Vaans scrambled to put on his coat on and took out a small silver case of scalpels and stuck it in his pocket. He ran out of his dorm towards Room 4231.

---

"You're late student, Vaans" a drone said as it hovered over Vaans, "Please get into one of the available pods and leave your coat and belongings outside." Vaans looked towards the pods, before giving a drone his coat, a case of scalpel, his gun, and a pack of cigarettes. He felt bare and cold without his coat. When Vaans entered the pod, blackness enveloped him as the doors slid shut. A blue screen appeared illuminating the dark cramp room.

There was an introduction, and then, Slaine found himself in a suit of unfamiliar armour. He looked around and saw a downed ship. "Equipment, what equipment do I have?" he thought. He checked around for any weaponry or medical supplies. He found a small container with bandages, scalpels, rubbing alcohol, med gel, thread and some needles. "Excellent" He checked and found a flare gun and a rifle. He heard a voice go through his helmet.

"Everyone okay?"

Vaans raised his hand and shook it violently.

"Ja, am here!" He shouted in a cheery voice into the internal comm. Then, he started to laugh. He sounded very stupid and he thought that was funny.

[Castle Crashers]

A lot had happened.. over the past week. Maybe too much. Although even saying that a lot had happened was probably not enough.

Slaine had managed to recover from his wound pretty easily, due to the help of the academy's medical staff. But he continued to act like he used to, as if the incident of that day had never happened.. not giving any signs to recognize Elaine anymore, and he didn't even recognize his sister.. the robotic Slaine was back. And when Laura asked them about that, the doctor said that it was normal. It was normal of human beings to lock off the memories associated to a trauma.. so they just had to give him time.. probably.

But just how large was that trauma, to make him close off nearly his entire life of memories?

And of course.. he didn't seem to notice that his pendant was missing.. so it remained in Elaine's possession. Not even the pleas of his sister had managed to make him change his behavior... as he started to treat both Thracian girls with the respect he was supposed to in accordance with the Military Index. And Lise seemed to drown into depression and darkness more and more with every day which passed...not seeming to care that she had been punished with more physical training due to her.. mistake. But ever since that day, Lise never carried her pistol again.

And then, a few days later... Laura was called back to the Holy Empire by a direct order of the Imperial Court War Council, the Supreme High Command of All Thracian Forces. Of course.. she never said it, and Slaine obviously didn't say it either. But for such a call.. there was only thing which could possibly happen. The Martial Court. But Laura was a soldier above everything. So she said nothing.. and just disappeared one day. A shuttle of the Tophat Empire was going to take her to the border, where a battlecarrier of the Holy Imperial Fleet was going to wait.. to take her back to the Empire. And that was the last they heard of her.

---

And after a pretty monotone day, the students were brought to what seemed to be another military simulation. Slaine at least entered his black pod without looking back.. while Lise looked at Elaine for a few moments, before also entering. And not before long, after an introduction made by a female AI voice.. the simulation began.

Both Slaine and Lise appeared in what seemed to be a basic firecaste armor, with basic equipment, although unlike the others, both of them seemed to be armed with the same type of black veranium blades usually used by the Thracians for close combat due to their really light weight and ease of use. They seemed to be a in a crashed ship, and Lise seemed to be at least a little worried about this.. but Slaine remained perfectly calm. Nothing unusual, simulation or not.

"Affirmative.", the blue eyed boy answered in his usual voice, as he looked at Lise to check if she was okay, but in the way a soldier would look to check if his superior officer was okay. Cold, and uninterested.

And Lise said nothing. She didn't exactly care anymore.

After Slaine returned to his robotic self and Laura left, Elaine retreated back into herself, seeing that now she really did have no one. Her plan had failed, and her brother was missing, and now...Slaine's sister was here, always judging her, always watching her. And, quite honestly at this point, the princess had contemplated suicide more times than she could count. Every hour, every day, every week, she thought of it. If she had no one, she had no reason to live anymore. The only thing that really kept her on the fence between death and life was the hope that Alexander might be alive, or the knowledge that somewhere deep inside, the Slaine she knew was still there...but...both of those seemed so impossible. Now, she...was simply planning the perfect moment to leave the wretched life she'd been given. If she didn't have Alexander, and she didn't have Slaine, then she had no one. She had nothing. She had no purpose.

The princess glanced to her pocket, knowing that even in the simulation, the pendant she'd given Slaine so long ago was still there. She'd never had a chance to return it, and now, it...seemed pointless. It was all she had left of him, really, because with Laura gone...she had no control over his collar, and no way to spark the recognition he'd had...and now she felt as though that loss was Lise's fault, because she'd shot him. Fool. She thought spitefully as the simulation loaded. If I die, or she kills me, I'll make sure she comes with me to Hell. She thought, and she didn't respond at first when Wiking spoke. After a moment, she gave the ok.

---

The simulation loaded swiftly and smoothly for Anne, loading at nearly the same moment that Wiking had, seeing that she'd entered her pod when he had. Within moments, her environment had been loaded, the detail of the crashed ship and the forest around them almost breath-taking. She smiled a little and observed the armor she'd spawned in, along with the rifle and the estimate of ammo she'd also been given. Then, she looked to Wiking, the look in her eyes enough to stimulate the thought of her ears standing up on her head underneath the helmet. "I'm good!" She answered. "So what should we do now?" She questioned with a curious tone. "Build shelter? Prepare for enemies?"

[The Northern Chinese Provinces]

From the vastness of space, and from a planet a very long way away indeed, a singular spacecraft appeared. It was not very large--maybe twenty to thirty feet in length at most--to the point where an onlooker would be amazed at the fact that this vessel had just crossed several hundred galaxies at three times the speed of light. And yet it had. A computer, programmed with knowledge of the position of every star and sun in the mapped universe, had calculated the route the vessel would take. It then made minute changes in the direction of the craft to ensure that during its little "world jump" that it did not collide with anything. Of course, there was the risk of something unexpected turning up in the intended course, but those odds were slim; and besides, why ever forfeit one of the fastest means of travel in existence?

The little spacecraft approached the looming mass of the Academy, docking with it slowly and carefully. The docking was controlled by hand, as one could not trust the navigational computer with such a complicated task. As the hatch in the vessel connected with the door to the Academy, four little prongs with foot-like pads attached to them extended out of the hull of the spacecraft and latched onto the side of the Academy, ensuring that there would be no accidental disconnections. The hatch opened, and a figure stepped into the airlock. There was a thud as the heavy door closed behind her, and a whooshing noise as the airlock returned air and gravity. The door to the Academy itself opened, revealing a girl.

She looked like she was 15 or so, although in reality she was two years older than that. She was beautiful in a rural sense, not too striking but not too plain. To be sure, however, she was no simple town beauty. Her uniform, with its high folded collar, red-and-gold insignia, and its utilitarian but weathered look, showed the mettle with which her constitution was created. A tricolored cord hung at the left breast pocket, connecting a large medal to the uniform itself. The medal was round, and showed a white twelve-rayed sun on a background of deep blue. Inscribed in a circlet around this sun were words in a script incomprehensible to those who did not know its origin: "為康春花，義勇團長，貳陆叁玖年". She carried a plain cloth bag, which was stuffed full of things that jangled about as she walked.

As she began walking around, she clutched her admissions papers tightly enough that they became very crumpled--the only outward sign that she was nervous. And who could blame her? The only school she had ever known was the one in her house, where her mother had taught her how to read. There were only fourteen or so people of her same age where she came from, and she was not used yet to crowds. What she was used to, however, was war, and it was what she expected this school to lead her to.

[Danceria]

A lot had happened.. over the past week. Maybe too much. Although even saying that a lot had happened was probably not enough.

Slaine had managed to recover from his wound pretty easily, due to the help of the academy's medical staff. But he continued to act like he used to, as if the incident of that day had never happened.. not giving any signs to recognize Elaine anymore, and he didn't even recognize his sister.. the robotic Slaine was back. And when Laura asked them about that, the doctor said that it was normal. It was normal of human beings to lock off the memories associated to a trauma.. so they just had to give him time.. probably.

But just how large was that trauma, to make him close off nearly his entire life of memories?

And of course.. he didn't seem to notice that his pendant was missing.. so it remained in Elaine's possession. Not even the pleas of his sister had managed to make him change his behavior... as he started to treat both Thracian girls with the respect he was supposed to in accordance with the Military Index. And Lise seemed to drown into depression and darkness more and more with every day which passed...not seeming to care that she had been punished with more physical training due to her.. mistake. But ever since that day, Lise never carried her pistol again.

And then, a few days later... Laura was called back to the Holy Empire by a direct order of the Imperial Court War Council, the Supreme High Command of All Thracian Forces. Of course.. she never said it, and Slaine obviously didn't say it either. But for such a call.. there was only thing which could possibly happen. The Martial Court. But Laura was a soldier above everything. So she said nothing.. and just disappeared one day. A shuttle of the Tophat Empire was going to take her to the border, where a battlecarrier of the Holy Imperial Fleet was going to wait.. to take her back to the Empire. And that was the last they heard of her.

---

And after a pretty monotone day, the students were brought to what seemed to be another military simulation. Slaine at least entered his black pod without looking back.. while Lise looked at Elaine for a few moments, before also entering. And not before long, after an introduction made by a female AI voice.. the simulation began.

Both Slaine and Lise appeared in what seemed to be a basic firecaste armor, with basic equipment, although unlike the others, both of them seemed to be armed with the same type of black veranium blades usually used by the Thracians for close combat due to their really light weight and ease of use. They seemed to be a in a crashed ship, and Lise seemed to be at least a little worried about this.. but Slaine remained perfectly calm. Nothing unusual, simulation or not.

"Affirmative.", the blue eyed boy answered in his usual voice, as he looked at Lise to check if she was okay, but in the way a soldier would look to check if his superior officer was okay. Cold, and uninterested.

And Lise said nothing. She didn't exactly care anymore.

After Slaine returned to his robotic self and Laura left, Elaine retreated back into herself, seeing that now she really did have no one. Her plan had failed, and her brother was missing, and now...Slaine's sister was here, always judging her, always watching her. And, quite honestly at this point, the princess had contemplated suicide more times than she could count. Every hour, every day, every week, she thought of it. If she had no one, she had no reason to live anymore. The only thing that really kept her on the fence between death and life was the hope that Alexander might be alive, or the knowledge that somewhere deep inside, the Slaine she knew was still there...but...both of those seemed so impossible. Now, she...was simply planning the perfect moment to leave the wretched life she'd been given. If she didn't have Alexander, and she didn't have Slaine, then she had no one. She had nothing. She had no purpose.

The princess glanced to her pocket, knowing that even in the simulation, the pendant she'd given Slaine so long ago was still there. She'd never had a chance to return it, and now, it...seemed pointless. It was all she had left of him, really, because with Laura gone...she had no control over his collar, and no way to spark the recognition he'd had...and now she felt as though that loss was Lise's fault, because she'd shot him. Fool. She thought spitefully as the simulation loaded. If I die, or she kills me, I'll make sure she comes with me to Hell. She thought, and she didn't respond at first when Wiking spoke. After a moment, she gave the ok.

---

The simulation loaded swiftly and smoothly for Anne, loading at nearly the same moment that Wiking had, seeing that she'd entered her pod when he had. Within moments, her environment had been loaded, the detail of the crashed ship and the forest around them almost breath-taking. She smiled a little and observed the armor she'd spawned in, along with the rifle and the estimate of ammo she'd also been given. Then, she looked to Wiking, the look in her eyes enough to stimulate the thought of her ears standing up on her head underneath the helmet. "I'm good!" She answered. "So what should we do now?" She questioned with a curious tone. "Build shelter? Prepare for enemies?"

For one of the newer recruits, their entrance and welcome into the academy was as silent and orderly as the vastness of space. Protocols were followed, doccuments signed, consent given, and nods exchanged between superior and student, and the drone directed her to her quarters.

Even the initial introductions proved minimalist, as she realized that she needed to be proactive in the social scene in order to be noticed. But at least now she can observe in peace, and analyze who she should learn from, and who was incompetent.

---

The opportunity came when a standard survival simulation, but unlike the ones the T'Vaaz underwent, this one was mentally simulated. Simulation technology was not unknown amidst the T'Vaaz, but it was kept at a minimum for close combat and mock battlefields. All survivalist training was done in the real universe, complete with being hurtled planet-side in a wrecked craft.

Nalli would stagger forward, seemingly spamming in slow motion, as the simulation took a moment to analyze the alien brain and it's emphasis on muscle memory and physical control. "I would recommend finding a vantage point, either in the trees, or in the vessel itself, and we wait until the hostiles arrive." She suggested as she took in the scene, gauging the height of the trees and their durability. "If they are wild animals, they will not go to the downed craft, and we stay out of their way, and they will give up. If they are smugglers or armed, we have the element of surprise and box them in the craft."

It was a common technique for most group survival missions, the team would use the terrain and not interfere with the wildlife until determined that they were neither hostile or inedible. The infamous "Tale of the Escadons of Lithald III", the omnivorous semi-mobile plant that enjoyed a symbiotic relationship with the fleet-footed Entalopes which baited the larger predators to the Escadon, who would devour them, and provide fruit and increased plant growth for food nearby. Besides, their rations will hold, for now...

[Tracian Empire]

A lot had happened.. over the past week. Maybe too much. Although even saying that a lot had happened was probably not enough.

Slaine had managed to recover from his wound pretty easily, due to the help of the academy's medical staff. But he continued to act like he used to, as if the incident of that day had never happened.. not giving any signs to recognize Elaine anymore, and he didn't even recognize his sister.. the robotic Slaine was back. And when Laura asked them about that, the doctor said that it was normal. It was normal of human beings to lock off the memories associated to a trauma.. so they just had to give him time.. probably.

But just how large was that trauma, to make him close off nearly his entire life of memories?

And of course.. he didn't seem to notice that his pendant was missing.. so it remained in Elaine's possession. Not even the pleas of his sister had managed to make him change his behavior... as he started to treat both Thracian girls with the respect he was supposed to in accordance with the Military Index. And Lise seemed to drown into depression and darkness more and more with every day which passed...not seeming to care that she had been punished with more physical training due to her.. mistake. But ever since that day, Lise never carried her pistol again.

And then, a few days later... Laura was called back to the Holy Empire by a direct order of the Imperial Court War Council, the Supreme High Command of All Thracian Forces. Of course.. she never said it, and Slaine obviously didn't say it either. But for such a call.. there was only thing which could possibly happen. The Martial Court. But Laura was a soldier above everything. So she said nothing.. and just disappeared one day. A shuttle of the Tophat Empire was going to take her to the border, where a battlecarrier of the Holy Imperial Fleet was going to wait.. to take her back to the Empire. And that was the last they heard of her.

---

And after a pretty monotone day, the students were brought to what seemed to be another military simulation. Slaine at least entered his black pod without looking back.. while Lise looked at Elaine for a few moments, before also entering. And not before long, after an introduction made by a female AI voice.. the simulation began.

Both Slaine and Lise appeared in what seemed to be a basic firecaste armor, with basic equipment, although unlike the others, both of them seemed to be armed with the same type of black veranium blades usually used by the Thracians for close combat due to their really light weight and ease of use. They seemed to be a in a crashed ship, and Lise seemed to be at least a little worried about this.. but Slaine remained perfectly calm. Nothing unusual, simulation or not.

"Affirmative.", the blue eyed boy answered in his usual voice, as he looked at Lise to check if she was okay, but in the way a soldier would look to check if his superior officer was okay. Cold, and uninterested.

And Lise said nothing. She didn't exactly care anymore.

After Slaine returned to his robotic self and Laura left, Elaine retreated back into herself, seeing that now she really did have no one. Her plan had failed, and her brother was missing, and now...Slaine's sister was here, always judging her, always watching her. And, quite honestly at this point, the princess had contemplated suicide more times than she could count. Every hour, every day, every week, she thought of it. If she had no one, she had no reason to live anymore. The only thing that really kept her on the fence between death and life was the hope that Alexander might be alive, or the knowledge that somewhere deep inside, the Slaine she knew was still there...but...both of those seemed so impossible. Now, she...was simply planning the perfect moment to leave the wretched life she'd been given. If she didn't have Alexander, and she didn't have Slaine, then she had no one. She had nothing. She had no purpose.

The princess glanced to her pocket, knowing that even in the simulation, the pendant she'd given Slaine so long ago was still there. She'd never had a chance to return it, and now, it...seemed pointless. It was all she had left of him, really, because with Laura gone...she had no control over his collar, and no way to spark the recognition he'd had...and now she felt as though that loss was Lise's fault, because she'd shot him. Fool. She thought spitefully as the simulation loaded. If I die, or she kills me, I'll make sure she comes with me to Hell. She thought, and she didn't respond at first when Wiking spoke. After a moment, she gave the ok.

---

The simulation loaded swiftly and smoothly for Anne, loading at nearly the same moment that Wiking had, seeing that she'd entered her pod when he had. Within moments, her environment had been loaded, the detail of the crashed ship and the forest around them almost breath-taking. She smiled a little and observed the armor she'd spawned in, along with the rifle and the estimate of ammo she'd also been given. Then, she looked to Wiking, the look in her eyes enough to stimulate the thought of her ears standing up on her head underneath the helmet. "I'm good!" She answered. "So what should we do now?" She questioned with a curious tone. "Build shelter? Prepare for enemies?"

Although Slaine remained quiet.. his attention seemed to be attracted by the princess. Of course, it wasn't like anyone actually knew what he was thinking. He wasn't in the same bad state he had been.. before they had tried to help him, so he was much more like he used to be before the entire incident with Alexander's disappearance. Of course, he had never question why he had ended up shot, or why Laura had to leave- he didn't seem to remember the entire incident. But he had managed to realize that something had happened. By the way the princess.. and the knight who claimed to be his sister, acted.

"Princess.. is everything alright?", the blue eyed boy asked in his usual monotone voice, looking a her.. maybe with just a string of concern..

[Castle Crashers]

After Slaine returned to his robotic self and Laura left, Elaine retreated back into herself, seeing that now she really did have no one. Her plan had failed, and her brother was missing, and now...Slaine's sister was here, always judging her, always watching her. And, quite honestly at this point, the princess had contemplated suicide more times than she could count. Every hour, every day, every week, she thought of it. If she had no one, she had no reason to live anymore. The only thing that really kept her on the fence between death and life was the hope that Alexander might be alive, or the knowledge that somewhere deep inside, the Slaine she knew was still there...but...both of those seemed so impossible. Now, she...was simply planning the perfect moment to leave the wretched life she'd been given. If she didn't have Alexander, and she didn't have Slaine, then she had no one. She had nothing. She had no purpose.

The princess glanced to her pocket, knowing that even in the simulation, the pendant she'd given Slaine so long ago was still there. She'd never had a chance to return it, and now, it...seemed pointless. It was all she had left of him, really, because with Laura gone...she had no control over his collar, and no way to spark the recognition he'd had...and now she felt as though that loss was Lise's fault, because she'd shot him. Fool. She thought spitefully as the simulation loaded. If I die, or she kills me, I'll make sure she comes with me to Hell. She thought, and she didn't respond at first when Wiking spoke. After a moment, she gave the ok.

---

The simulation loaded swiftly and smoothly for Anne, loading at nearly the same moment that Wiking had, seeing that she'd entered her pod when he had. Within moments, her environment had been loaded, the detail of the crashed ship and the forest around them almost breath-taking. She smiled a little and observed the armor she'd spawned in, along with the rifle and the estimate of ammo she'd also been given. Then, she looked to Wiking, the look in her eyes enough to stimulate the thought of her ears standing up on her head underneath the helmet. "I'm good!" She answered. "So what should we do now?" She questioned with a curious tone. "Build shelter? Prepare for enemies?"

Although Slaine remained quiet.. his attention seemed to be attracted by the princess. Of course, it wasn't like anyone actually knew what he was thinking. He wasn't in the same bad state he had been.. before they had tried to help him, so he was much more like he used to be before the entire incident with Alexander's disappearance. Of course, he had never question why he had ended up shot, or why Laura had to leave- he didn't seem to remember the entire incident. But he had managed to realize that something had happened. By the way the princess.. and the knight who claimed to be his sister, acted.

"Princess.. is everything alright?", the blue eyed boy asked in his usual monotone voice, looking a her.. maybe with just a string of concern..

She casted him a glance before she looked back to where she'd been looking; a space on the interior wall of the crashed ship. "Fine." She answered blankly, nearly no emotion in her voice. It was different than his monotone, though; it was more empty, more sad. Where he sounded like a robot, she sounded like a broken doll. She noticed now that he once more addressed her as princess rather than her actual name, but now she felt that there was nothing she could do to fix that. She didn't want to repeat everything she'd worked for over and over again if she simply ended up where she started...

[Tracian Empire]

Although Slaine remained quiet.. his attention seemed to be attracted by the princess. Of course, it wasn't like anyone actually knew what he was thinking. He wasn't in the same bad state he had been.. before they had tried to help him, so he was much more like he used to be before the entire incident with Alexander's disappearance. Of course, he had never question why he had ended up shot, or why Laura had to leave- he didn't seem to remember the entire incident. But he had managed to realize that something had happened. By the way the princess.. and the knight who claimed to be his sister, acted.

"Princess.. is everything alright?", the blue eyed boy asked in his usual monotone voice, looking a her.. maybe with just a string of concern..

She casted him a glance before she looked back to where she'd been looking; a space on the interior wall of the crashed ship. "Fine." She answered blankly, nearly no emotion in her voice. It was different than his monotone, though; it was more empty, more sad. Where he sounded like a robot, she sounded like a broken doll. She noticed now that he once more addressed her as princess rather than her actual name, but now she felt that there was nothing she could do to fix that. She didn't want to repeat everything she'd worked for over and over again if she simply ended up where she started...

Slaine remained quiet after that... unsure on what to say. It was obvious even to him that there was something wrong with the princess.. but he couldn't quite realize what. Something had happened to her. She was acting far too.. like he did. Like a soldier had to act. But not quite. Was she.. sad? Did something happen? Did he do something wrong? Maybe it was the way she addressed her? He knew that in accordance to the Index, he was supposed to pay the necessary respect to her rank.. but she had also told him to call her by her name.. which could be an order? Was it one? Was it why she was sad?

"I'm sorry.", the blue eyed boy answered as if he believed that he had done something wrong.. before he hesitated for a short while."..Elaine."

[Castle Crashers]

She casted him a glance before she looked back to where she'd been looking; a space on the interior wall of the crashed ship. "Fine." She answered blankly, nearly no emotion in her voice. It was different than his monotone, though; it was more empty, more sad. Where he sounded like a robot, she sounded like a broken doll. She noticed now that he once more addressed her as princess rather than her actual name, but now she felt that there was nothing she could do to fix that. She didn't want to repeat everything she'd worked for over and over again if she simply ended up where she started...

Slaine remained quiet after that... unsure on what to say. It was obvious even to him that there was something wrong with the princess.. but he couldn't quite realize what. Something had happened to her. She was acting far too.. like he did. Like a soldier had to act. But not quite. Was she.. sad? Did something happen? Did he do something wrong? Maybe it was the way she addressed her? He knew that in accordance to the Index, he was supposed to pay the necessary respect to her rank.. but she had also told him to call her by her name.. which could be an order? Was it one? Was it why she was sad?

"I'm sorry.", the blue eyed boy answered as if he believed that he had done something wrong.. before he hesitated for a short while."..Elaine."

She looked up again, her purple eyes meeting his blue ones as he said her name and apologized. "For what?" She asked, curious, though it was easily hidden by the emptiness in her tone. "There's nothing to apologize for." As he'd said her name, she realized that it didn't get her as excited and hopeful as she'd been before. There was something wrong with it, something missing...and it was probably because she knew that it didn't really have meaning like it did the first few times. He was just doing what he was told to do, what she'd told him to do. It only made her realize how truly dead she felt inside, and it couldn't help but spark a prick of irony in her mind. Perhaps this was what her father had wanted all along, for the mindless boy in front of her to tear her apart, even if neither of them could realize it at first...but now, she was beginning to understand, and now, she just wanted it to end. She wanted it to be over, even if it meant her father would win. She was sick of heartbreak and crying and feeling this way, and she was ready to die. She knew doing so in this simulation would be pointless, but once they returned...she knew what she would do. She'd been planning it now, and now she realized it needed to come sooner than she thought.

[Tracian Empire]

Slaine remained quiet after that... unsure on what to say. It was obvious even to him that there was something wrong with the princess.. but he couldn't quite realize what. Something had happened to her. She was acting far too.. like he did. Like a soldier had to act. But not quite. Was she.. sad? Did something happen? Did he do something wrong? Maybe it was the way she addressed her? He knew that in accordance to the Index, he was supposed to pay the necessary respect to her rank.. but she had also told him to call her by her name.. which could be an order? Was it one? Was it why she was sad?

"I'm sorry.", the blue eyed boy answered as if he believed that he had done something wrong.. before he hesitated for a short while."..Elaine."

She looked up again, her purple eyes meeting his blue ones as he said her name and apologized. "For what?" She asked, curious, though it was easily hidden by the emptiness in her tone. "There's nothing to apologize for." As he'd said her name, she realized that it didn't get her as excited and hopeful as she'd been before. There was something wrong with it, something missing...and it was probably because she knew that it didn't really have meaning like it did the first few times. He was just doing what he was told to do, what she'd told him to do. It only made her realize how truly dead she felt inside, and it couldn't help but spark a prick of irony in her mind. Perhaps this was what her father had wanted all along, for the mindless boy in front of her to tear her apart, even if neither of them could realize it at first...but now, she was beginning to understand, and now, she just wanted it to end. She wanted it to be over, even if it meant her father would win. She was sick of heartbreak and crying and feeling this way, and she was ready to die. She knew doing so in this simulation would be pointless, but once they returned...she knew what she would do. She'd been planning it now, and now she realized it needed to come sooner than she thought.

"I... I don't know.", the boy answered after some time... looking somewhat confused. It might not be his fault. But he sure felt like it was.. for some reason. He had no idea what this was. What he was feeling. Or why he was feeling like that. But he felt.. guilty, was it? Bad? It certainly wasn't a pleasant feeling. But when he looked at her... it hurt. To see her.. acting so similar to him. Broken. Emotionless. And even of course, he wouldn't even dare to question his own situation.. it was bad for other people to act like that. And especially for... her to act like that. And he felt horrible about it, even if he couldn't quite pinpoint the sensation.

"But.. I obviously did something... even if... even if I don't remember it.", the blue eyed boy said after yet another pause. And even if his voice was just as monotone and vague as usual.. there was a small fringe of .. sadness? "And.. I'm sorry for that."

[The Tophat Empire]

They were all alive, and all had called in on the comms that they were alive, that was a start. Worse was that Slaine and Elaine were in the process how having a emotional meltdown. Wiking mentally facepalmed, they where only in a simulation, but it should be treated as life or death, and here they were squabbling. Wiking listened to the suggestions of those that rose them. He quickly checked his HUD watch, they had been in the simulator for two minutes now, they had eight until the hostiles were upon them, and they needed to make a move within three. "T'Vaaz, while your suggestion is sound, i do not think it optimal to dig in. Assuming that whatever we are facing has access to artillery we will be dead within moments. No, I suggest we make haste deeper into this forest for now, From there we can decide what we should do next in relative peace" wiking said on the intercom mentally adding "I hope". Wiking looked around on the ground and saw on it both a large backpack with his name on it, the other students would find a similar fitted and with their name on. In it and on it was everything that a soldier might expect to carry when deployed with full pack gear. It would be no hassle to equip it, as with pretty much all other gear it could be attached with almost no effort due to preprogrammed nanites that bounded to the rucksack, essencaly making it a part of the armour plating, and it could be removed with equal ease. At wikings feet he also saw a black box, around a meter by thirty centimeters, with fattening areas to attach to the armour he wore. On it in High Tauun the words; "Energy Shield Shelter" where printed. Wiking smiled and spoke into the squad-wide comms; "We have a tent" then he waited for a reply to anything he had said.

[Danceria]

They were all alive, and all had called in on the comms that they were alive, that was a start. Worse was that Slaine and Elaine were in the process how having a emotional meltdown. Wiking mentally facepalmed, they where only in a simulation, but it should be treated as life or death, and here they were squabbling. Wiking listened to the suggestions of those that rose them. He quickly checked his HUD watch, they had been in the simulator for two minutes now, they had eight until the hostiles were upon them, and they needed to make a move within three. "T'Vaaz, while your suggestion is sound, i do not think it optimal to dig in. Assuming that whatever we are facing has access to artillery we will be dead within moments. No, I suggest we make haste deeper into this forest for now, From there we can decide what we should do next in relative peace" wiking said on the intercom mentally adding "I hope". Wiking looked around on the ground and saw on it both a large backpack with his name on it, the other students would find a similar fitted and with their name on. In it and on it was everything that a soldier might expect to carry when deployed with full pack gear. It would be no hassle to equip it, as with pretty much all other gear it could be attached with almost no effort due to preprogrammed nanites that bounded to the rucksack, essencaly making it a part of the armour plating, and it could be removed with equal ease. At wikings feet he also saw a black box, around a meter by thirty centimeters, with fattening areas to attach to the armour he wore. On it in High Tauun the words; "Energy Shield Shelter" where printed. Wiking smiled and spoke into the squad-wide comms; "We have a tent" then he waited for a reply to anything he had said.

"Good to hear." Nelli countered, following after him and using her regular voice "Now how are we going to survive long enough to enjoy it...?"

She would be answered by finding a lone dufflebag, this time written in Common T'Vaaz "Emergency Rations: Waterproof". Nalli would deduce that the reason she was able to see her own language would be a result of the simulation peering into her mind. So far, so good. Pressing the group commn, she would holler "Listen up dirtwyrms! We've got hostiles in eight minutes, get as many crates and supplies as you can carry and meet us in the forest, we'll arm ourselves and prepare for whatever's arriving."

Hopefully the common insult to flightless species would be enough to motivate the rest of her team to form up. She would turn to the new "commander", at least in terms of initiative. "I'll climb up and be on lookout, and let you know if there's anything coming." with a great leap upwards, she clambered onto a decent sized tree using her talons to make suprisingly good time. Thank the Holy Empress that Vaal is nearly all cliffs and large trees...

[Tracian Empire]

Seeing that Elaine hadn't replied to him, Slaine simply followed what Wiking had said, noticing a backpack on the ground with his name on it, and taking it, before looking again around, and noticing among the other backpacks, those with the names of Lise and Elaine on them. Without hesitating, Slaine took them too, and brought them back, bringing them to the two girls, before returning to his previous position, waiting for further orders. Lise simply sadly looked at him, before equipping her own backpack.

[Elysian Kentarchy]

Rache

"Anastasia find a good position to set up sniper positions. Keep your eyes open for hostiles. I will gather supplies so you will have to make do without a spotter for the moment."

"Acknowledged Master." She tells me as she runs off for a nearby tree, having immediately picked out a good one for a sniper position. I open a random pack and find various supplies that would be for digging in caves or digging in. Including a rope with a grappling hook.

"Anastasia. Here." She runs back to me and she gratefully takes it from me and returns to the tree.

"Don't worry Rache I will serve as her spotter," another soldier says running by me and up to Anastasia. Her voice is one of a girl I have met before. "Maria?"

"Serventi Maria Irene of the Unified Elysian Empire reporting to the Academy for duty yes sir."

Anastasia groans over the communications. "Maria, what in the name of all the Ancestors are you doing here?"

"Oh nothing much. Now get climbing if you want to get shooting, no point in standing here looking pretty... Oh, I brought a couple friends as well." She says as they both climb up the tree quickly.

"Friends?" I ask.

"Friends but perhaps more than that with everything wouldn't you say Rache?" A familiar voice causing me to pale instantly in shock.

I actually have to rely on my imperial training not to lose my voice in shock and I ask evenly, "Rain. What are you doing here?"

"Oh Adina got mad at me so I decided to come here." She starts on the communications. "Rain Olderen reporting and I will help gather supplies to carry. Flavia Constastius here will help with medicine."

"It is what I am best at." Another voice says.

I know that voice belongs to Flavia Gadeon but why the hell is she here? She was timid to even step out in public, let alone attend a military school full of xenos but I decide that I will grill them when we have time "Well it is good to have you all here so lets gather all we can and get moving. Come on cousin there is much to do."

"Of course Rache." Even though I will complain I know there is few who will have my back more when compared to Rain. Not to mention the last thing I need is her at home killing all the foreign xenos she can.

[Castle Crashers]

Seeing that Elaine hadn't replied to him, Slaine simply followed what Wiking had said, noticing a backpack on the ground with his name on it, and taking it, before looking again around, and noticing among the other backpacks, those with the names of Lise and Elaine on them. Without hesitating, Slaine took them too, and brought them back, bringing them to the two girls, before returning to his previous position, waiting for further orders. Lise simply sadly looked at him, before equipping her own backpack.

She took it without giving anything but a small thank you, because at the moment, she couldn't think of what else she should say to him. There wasn't much to say, anyways. They couldn't talk like they used to because he wouldn't understand...and that only made her more sad. She wished there was a phrase she could say to somehow spark his memory, bring back the Slaine she knew...but alas, she knew even if there was, she'd have no authority over it. So, for now, she would simply have to suffer through his monotone phase and her own emptiness for as long as this simulation lasted...which she hoped wasn't long. This was already becoming painful.

---

Anne picked up her bag without question and trotted over to Wiking. "So, should we just head to the forest or take everything we can carry with us? I imagine that's an important factor..." she stated as she looked around to the others and then back to him. "And...did you mean these packs were tents or that we have an actual tent we'll be using? It's a little confusing, but I hope I'm not just being oblivious..."

[Free Rhenish States]

*Eylert was talking to Anne when the simulation occured. He suddenly felt like his body transfer somewhere else, first it was the intoduction, and then the he found himself near a downed ship. Alone. He quickly noticed something he felt shouldn't be there. He wore a Mark 31 NBC Combat Armor and a MARK 32 Plasma Rifle that appeared in his hands. "Couldnt be better." He said as he smiled to himself and answered to Wiking via intercom calmly, speaking in his usual voice. "Yeah. How about yourself?" Some supplies were also nearby, food, ammo and the medical stuff. He then heard someone shouting that he's here, he couldn't help but giggle. A little. Nevertheless, he was ready.

[The Tophat Empire]

They were all alive, and all had called in on the comms that they were alive, that was a start. Worse was that Slaine and Elaine were in the process how having a emotional meltdown. Wiking mentally facepalmed, they where only in a simulation, but it should be treated as life or death, and here they were squabbling. Wiking listened to the suggestions of those that rose them. He quickly checked his HUD watch, they had been in the simulator for two minutes now, they had eight until the hostiles were upon them, and they needed to make a move within three. "T'Vaaz, while your suggestion is sound, i do not think it optimal to dig in. Assuming that whatever we are facing has access to artillery we will be dead within moments. No, I suggest we make haste deeper into this forest for now, From there we can decide what we should do next in relative peace" wiking said on the intercom mentally adding "I hope". Wiking looked around on the ground and saw on it both a large backpack with his name on it, the other students would find a similar fitted and with their name on. In it and on it was everything that a soldier might expect to carry when deployed with full pack gear. It would be no hassle to equip it, as with pretty much all other gear it could be attached with almost no effort due to preprogrammed nanites that bounded to the rucksack, essencaly making it a part of the armour plating, and it could be removed with equal ease. At wikings feet he also saw a black box, around a meter by thirty centimeters, with fattening areas to attach to the armour he wore. On it in High Tauun the words; "Energy Shield Shelter" where printed. Wiking smiled and spoke into the squad-wide comms; "We have a tent" then he waited for a reply to anything he had said.

"Good to hear." Nelli countered, following after him and using her regular voice "Now how are we going to survive long enough to enjoy it...?"

She would be answered by finding a lone dufflebag, this time written in Common T'Vaaz "Emergency Rations: Waterproof". Nalli would deduce that the reason she was able to see her own language would be a result of the simulation peering into her mind. So far, so good. Pressing the group commn, she would holler "Listen up dirtwyrms! We've got hostiles in eight minutes, get as many crates and supplies as you can carry and meet us in the forest, we'll arm ourselves and prepare for whatever's arriving."

Hopefully the common insult to flightless species would be enough to motivate the rest of her team to form up. She would turn to the new "commander", at least in terms of initiative. "I'll climb up and be on lookout, and let you know if there's anything coming." with a great leap upwards, she clambered onto a decent sized tree using her talons to make suprisingly good time. Thank the Holy Empress that Vaal is nearly all cliffs and large trees...

Wiking took the box containing the shelter and attached it to the right side of his backpack, he nodded as the Avian-esqc student quickly climbed up one of the many thick and tall trees. "Unless anyone objects i suggest we get a move on now. So, tree climbers, how is it looking, you got vision on anything?" he said, before adding "Someone also pick that bag of rations with them, we are going to need it" he said. Turning towards anne he switched to private comms "This pack here" he started, placing his hand on the black box he kept on speaking "Contains a generator that will create our tent" he said.

Over the treetops the students that had climbed it would see a massive forest, only hindered by a few grey spires from the city right in front of them, altho the time they would spend peeking over it would be short. For something was approaching over the sightline, if they used the magnifiers they would see that it was flying craft, no doubt sent to investigate, and take out the students. They would probably the safe in the forest from it, the foliage was dense at the top of the trees, creating a green sea of leaf crowns. Even if that failed, the splinter woodland camo that the armour had been set to carry would make them blend well with the rest of the forest.

[Elysian Kentarchy]

Maria

While Anastasia takes up positions I look to the skies from my position and zoom in on an object coming close to us. "Be advised, hostile ship is flying towards us. Probably trying to find where we are. The foliage should provide us cover but we will need to move soon. If you have any heavy weapons on the ground we might be able to take it down."

"Negative Maria. The upper trees would get in the way of our shot and the last thing we need is blowing up a tree to advertise where we are. We need a more open area." Rache and Rain say simultaneously.

"Why is it when it comes to tactics you two are almost always on the same wavelength?" I ask, exasperated as usual by those two, Rain has enough of a reputation back home while Rache has done little to reign her excesses in while ruler. "You see anything on the ground Anastasia?"

"Possibly but the foliage is too thick to confirm with what wind there is and the approaching ship stirring things up too and I would rather not give away our position by testing it. But everyone be advised, hostiles are potentially nearby on the ground. We will need to move and the sooner the better."

"I think you should take the shot anyway. We will be found out soon enough and taking one or two out will be helpful." I start using the tone I reserve for teasing Anastasia. "Unless you think you would miss. But you would never lack such confidence right?"

"Shut up Maria." She snaps at me. Ah it is good to be with her again, this will be fun and my mind goes to all the possibilities for traps to be set up overnight. Hopefully Anastasia or others would be willing to help. Otherwise I will never get half of what I intend to be done.

[Tracian Empire]

For Slaine... the entire situation was pretty weird. They were supposed to actually.. collaborate? Without any set superior officer? This weird..to weird. They always had.. superior officers. It was vital. Expecting him to fight like this, without any set orders to follow... was a too difficult. And it was against what he had learned. You weren't supposed to help the others. It was every person for itself, with victory being the only the thing that matters.

Since they were all considered to be nothing more that possessions, unworthy of being called humans, fear was what they had to learn. They had to fear punishments and the superiors which administered them much more than whatever hellish monstrosities they had to fight. Initiative, thinking, that was for the regular army. Disciplinary Battalions simply existed to suffer. As cannon fodder. Shock units, existing to be used wherever the fight was the hardest, to protect and guard the regular units. The first to attack, and the last to retreat, that, if they were allowed to retreat. They had to meet their objectives at any costs necessary. There was no wonder that their usual survival rate was somewhere at around 5%. And yet somehow.. he had survived until now. Sometimes, when he was thinking, the blue eyed boy truly thought that he did not deserve to survive.. there were so many who had deserved to live more than him, and they had died. How did he manage to survive this long anyway? He eventually got used to the idea that he was going to die, sooner or later, after all that much pain and suffering. He resigned. Maybe, if he would have been different, all the people he had seen dying would have made him go insane.. but as if he was.. he felt nothing more than a small regret.

It wasn't like the officers were encouraging soldiers to care about the others. Everyone for itself. There was no place for emotions, or remorse. They had to learn to hate the others just as much as they hated their enemy. And since they were.. disposable, the officers usually had a lot of fun with them, in the name of that tenet. Pistol duels with live ammunition. When you had to close your eyes, turn around, aim your pistol, and open them.. only to see another soldier, just as scared as you.. and press the trigger. One of you had to die.. and you merely hoped that the other would. It slowly broke him, piece by piece.. back when he was still able to think... and feel. Or, after the nights in which one of the officers had watched some old movies, they were split into teams, forced to unload their weapons, and mount bayonets on them.

He could still remember one of those days. He was breathing heavily, in line with the rest of his.. team.. looking straight at the soldier on the other side of the field, in the.. enemy team. She seemed to be just a girl from what he could see... probably even more scared than he was. They had no choice.. but even so, when the officers fired the starting shot, and they all started to run.. he hesitated for a second. An unthinkable mistake. He managed to catch up to the others, of course, and in the initial clash, he blocked the thrusting move of the soldier girl in front of him with the side of his gun, using his height and speed to push her on the ground as his bayonet pierced her chest, again, and again, as blood splashed out, again, and again, staining his face, and his hair. Their eyes crossed one last time, on her dying breath.. and then chaos ensured. There was no way to say who was who. Teams were forgotten. You had to kill, or be killed. All while the officers were laughing on the side... training, they called it. Training..

He had been one of the very few to stand on top of the pile of bodies at the end, still sort of alive. But of course, that wasn't enough. One of the officers had noticed his second of hesitation at the beginning.. and he had to be punished for it. He said nothing when they started to beat him.... but that was the time he stopped caring. He had to. To stop caring, to stop feeling. Otherwise.. it would have been too much.

Back to the present, he tried to stop thinking about.. thinking too much was bad. But what did he have to do? What should he do.. it was probably for the best to just stay and wait for an order.. yes, it would be for the best. But as he waited.. he noticed another student he had failed to notice before. He was wearing the same kind of armor as all of them.. and yet, he was also armed with one of the black swords the Thracians were using.. but Lise was in the other side... and Elaine had no sword..?

The armored figure simply continued to walk, as it approached the other Thracians, looking specifically at Elaine.. and seeing that, Slaine tried to step in between them, just as the figure started to speak. "Stand down.. thing."the figure said with the voice of a boy, but one that was speaking in such an authoritarian manner that Slaine instinctively stopped, following the order. The boy laughed, before looking back at Elaine.

"Well, what a strange way for us to meet again.. sister. Or should I say half-sister? My dear traitorous half sister?", the boy said, stopping in front of them.

[Ministerial]

Vaans was surveying the area. He walked through around the group pushing away branches and kicking rocks. "What is going on with the others?" he thought to himself before sitting down on a patch of sand. He opened up his backpack and took out the medical case. "Let's review the equipment we have." "Scalpel, check..." before moving onto the other equipment, he stared at the scalpel. He remembered many good and bad times he had at the medical school, mostly bad.

"Kill this child, Vaans" the teacher spoke. "What?" Vaans asked bewilderedly. "I said kill him, by doing this procedure." "But, but I can't do THAT! That's too unethical..." Vaans looked at the small sickly child. "This exam is supposed to train you for this harsh world, plus that child is sick and cannot be cured any longer." Vaans placed his hand on the child's forehead. What the teacher was saying was true, the child could not be cured or treated. "You'll be doing this without anesthetics as well, so take the scalpel and proceed with the procedure" the teacher took a scalpel and handed it to Vaans. "Teacher, what is the purpose of doing it without anesthetic?" Vaans searched around the child's body. "In certain situations, there will be no anesthetic so you need to practice without it." "Alright" Vaans said with a straight face. "I am so sorry" he whispered as the scalpel pierced the child's skin.

There were screams for hours until it stopped abruptly. "Congratulations, Vaans. You have passed the exam and you may now be able to proceed to the upper classes." The teacher said in a deadpan voice. Vaans was breathing heavily and blood was everywhere. The child's body was open to reveal that there was a scalpel right through the heart. Vaans collapsed and he started to cry. "Don't...you think...I could have...just stabbed him...through the throat...instead?" He managed so say though the crying. "You could have done that, but then you would fail the test." the teacher said calmly. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THE POINT OF THAT!?" Vaans shouted. "Like I said, it is to prepare for situations when you realize that nothing can be treated. It may seem unethical right now, but you'll understand the reason, later." The teacher put a blanket over the body and motioned Vaans away. "Now leave, I must prepare for the next class."

"I don't think I'll ever understand that lesson..." Vaans thought to himself. He looked through the rest of the equipment and promptly checked all of them. He stood up and looked around until he saw the blonde boy. "Hey, look! It's Slaine! Why is he so stiff and who are those people?" He could feel a menacing atmosphere coming from the trio. Vaans soon found himself walking towards the trio until he was a few steps right behind the boy. He could see Slaine and a girl from the shoulder of the boy in front of him. Vaans said nothing and just looked.

[Castle Crashers]

"Good to hear." Nelli countered, following after him and using her regular voice "Now how are we going to survive long enough to enjoy it...?"

She would be answered by finding a lone dufflebag, this time written in Common T'Vaaz "Emergency Rations: Waterproof". Nalli would deduce that the reason she was able to see her own language would be a result of the simulation peering into her mind. So far, so good. Pressing the group commn, she would holler "Listen up dirtwyrms! We've got hostiles in eight minutes, get as many crates and supplies as you can carry and meet us in the forest, we'll arm ourselves and prepare for whatever's arriving."

Hopefully the common insult to flightless species would be enough to motivate the rest of her team to form up. She would turn to the new "commander", at least in terms of initiative. "I'll climb up and be on lookout, and let you know if there's anything coming." with a great leap upwards, she clambered onto a decent sized tree using her talons to make suprisingly good time. Thank the Holy Empress that Vaal is nearly all cliffs and large trees...

Wiking took the box containing the shelter and attached it to the right side of his backpack, he nodded as the Avian-esqc student quickly climbed up one of the many thick and tall trees. "Unless anyone objects i suggest we get a move on now. So, tree climbers, how is it looking, you got vision on anything?" he said, before adding "Someone also pick that bag of rations with them, we are going to need it" he said. Turning towards anne he switched to private comms "This pack here" he started, placing his hand on the black box he kept on speaking "Contains a generator that will create our tent" he said.

Over the treetops the students that had climbed it would see a massive forest, only hindered by a few grey spires from the city right in front of them, altho the time they would spend peeking over it would be short. For something was approaching over the sightline, if they used the magnifiers they would see that it was flying craft, no doubt sent to investigate, and take out the students. They would probably the safe in the forest from it, the foliage was dense at the top of the trees, creating a green sea of leaf crowns. Even if that failed, the splinter woodland camo that the armour had been set to carry would make them blend well with the rest of the forest.

"Ah, well that makes much more sense." She replied on the private comms, smiling a little. "But are the tents personal, or is it a big tent that we all share?" She, personally, didn't mind either option, but she decided clarification would be best in the case that she needed privacy or something. They were all going to be spending a whole week together, after all, not that she was complaining...at least with the factor of spending it with Wiking...the others, and the enemies, not so much. She would prefer if this were more of a recreational thing, and that it was just her and Wiking...that sounded so much nicer than this. And, actually, it sounded a lot better were it on her planet. But, alas, they were just here. They could make the best of it.

---

For Slaine... the entire situation was pretty weird. They were supposed to actually.. collaborate? Without any set superior officer? This weird..to weird. They always had.. superior officers. It was vital. Expecting him to fight like this, without any set orders to follow... was a too difficult. And it was against what he had learned. You weren't supposed to help the others. It was every person for itself, with victory being the only the thing that matters.

Since they were all considered to be nothing more that possessions, unworthy of being called humans, fear was what they had to learn. They had to fear punishments and the superiors which administered them much more than whatever hellish monstrosities they had to fight. Initiative, thinking, that was for the regular army. Disciplinary Battalions simply existed to suffer. As cannon fodder. Shock units, existing to be used wherever the fight was the hardest, to protect and guard the regular units. The first to attack, and the last to retreat, that, if they were allowed to retreat. They had to meet their objectives at any costs necessary. There was no wonder that their usual survival rate was somewhere at around 5%. And yet somehow.. he had survived until now. Sometimes, when he was thinking, the blue eyed boy truly thought that he did not deserve to survive.. there were so many who had deserved to live more than him, and they had died. How did he manage to survive this long anyway? He eventually got used to the idea that he was going to die, sooner or later, after all that much pain and suffering. He resigned. Maybe, if he would have been different, all the people he had seen dying would have made him go insane.. but as if he was.. he felt nothing more than a small regret.

It wasn't like the officers were encouraging soldiers to care about the others. Everyone for itself. There was no place for emotions, or remorse. They had to learn to hate the others just as much as they hated their enemy. And since they were.. disposable, the officers usually had a lot of fun with them, in the name of that tenet. Pistol duels with live ammunition. When you had to close your eyes, turn around, aim your pistol, and open them.. only to see another soldier, just as scared as you.. and press the trigger. One of you had to die.. and you merely hoped that the other would. It slowly broke him, piece by piece.. back when he was still able to think... and feel. Or, after the nights in which one of the officers had watched some old movies, they were split into teams, forced to unload their weapons, and mount bayonets on them.

He could still remember one of those days. He was breathing heavily, in line with the rest of his.. team.. looking straight at the soldier on the other side of the field, in the.. enemy team. She seemed to be just a girl from what he could see... probably even more scared than he was. They had no choice.. but even so, when the officers fired the starting shot, and they all started to run.. he hesitated for a second. An unthinkable mistake. He managed to catch up to the others, of course, and in the initial clash, he blocked the thrusting move of the soldier girl in front of him with the side of his gun, using his height and speed to push her on the ground as his bayonet pierced her chest, again, and again, as blood splashed out, again, and again, staining his face, and his hair. Their eyes crossed one last time, on her dying breath.. and then chaos ensured. There was no way to say who was who. Teams were forgotten. You had to kill, or be killed. All while the officers were laughing on the side... training, they called it. Training..

He had been one of the very few to stand on top of the pile of bodies at the end, still sort of alive. But of course, that wasn't enough. One of the officers had noticed his second of hesitation at the beginning.. and he had to be punished for it. He said nothing when they started to beat him.... but that was the time he stopped caring. He had to. To stop caring, to stop feeling. Otherwise.. it would have been too much.

Back to the present, he tried to stop thinking about.. thinking too much was bad. But what did he have to do? What should he do.. it was probably for the best to just stay and wait for an order.. yes, it would be for the best. But as he waited.. he noticed another student he had failed to notice before. He was wearing the same kind of armor as all of them.. and yet, he was also armed with one of the black swords the Thracians were using.. but Lise was in the other side... and Elaine had no sword..?

The armored figure simply continued to walk, as it approached the other Thracians, looking specifically at Elaine.. and seeing that, Slaine tried to step in between them, just as the figure started to speak. "Stand down.. thing."the figure said with the voice of a boy, but one that was speaking in such an authoritarian manner that Slaine instinctively stopped, following the order. The boy laughed, before looking back at Elaine.

"Well, what a strange way for us to meet again.. sister. Or should I say half-sister? My dear traitorous half sister?", the boy said, stopping in front of them.

At first, the princess had turned to address the way this newcomer had described Slaine, but it only took her brain a moment more to actually recognize that voice, and it was even further confirmed by the way he addressed her, and the sword that he carried...it wasn't hard for her to tell at all. Her heart seized as she looked at him, fear flooding her system simply from the sound of his voice. His laugh only made the feeling worse, the fear and cowardice associated and wired well into her system from all those memories of that godawful sound. Even though one couldn't see it through her armor, it wasn't hard to tell how fearful she was of the prince standing in front of her. She was practically radiating the feeling. Oh...gods...anyone but him...anyone...anyone but him... But she knew all too well it was exactly who she wished it wasn't. She wasn't even sure she could get the words out of her mouth to respond, the shock and dread of seeing him again so soon hindering her abilities. "...strange indeed...brother. Or would you prefer the term half-brother?" She said, venom laced in her words even if she was afraid of him. She might've even hated him more than she hated her father, or anyone else in her family. He'd tormented her and bullied her for as long as she could remember...and even though she feared him, she was also going to spit as much hatred back at him as he was to her.

[Tracian Empire]

At first, the princess had turned to address the way this newcomer had described Slaine, but it only took her brain a moment more to actually recognize that voice, and it was even further confirmed by the way he addressed her, and the sword that he carried...it wasn't hard for her to tell at all. Her heart seized as she looked at him, fear flooding her system simply from the sound of his voice. His laugh only made the feeling worse, the fear and cowardice associated and wired well into her system from all those memories of that godawful sound. Even though one couldn't see it through her armor, it wasn't hard to tell how fearful she was of the prince standing in front of her. She was practically radiating the feeling. Oh...gods...anyone but him...anyone...anyone but him... But she knew all too well it was exactly who she wished it wasn't. She wasn't even sure she could get the words out of her mouth to respond, the shock and dread of seeing him again so soon hindering her abilities. "...strange indeed...brother. Or would you prefer the term half-brother?" She said, venom laced in her words even if she was afraid of him. She might've even hated him more than she hated her father, or anyone else in her family. He'd tormented her and bullied her for as long as she could remember...and even though she feared him, she was also going to spit as much hatred back at him as he was to her.

"Half-brother would be much better, dear sister. You know how much I love you, but you're a stain on our family's honor.. I don't want to be associated with you any more than it is necessary.", the Prince said, seeming to really, really enjoy this. Even if he couldn't see it, and she was trying to hide it.. he could feel it.. her fear.. she was afraid of him.. is there any better feeling, than seeing people being afraid of you? Controlling their fear... ah, how wonderful it felt.. that's why he loved tormenting people. It was so exciting.. and especially hearing the venom in her voice... oh, how much she hated him.. and how much he liked it..

"And how have you been, dear sister? I was so sad when you left for this academy without telling me anything.. I missed you..", the boy continued."And I heard what happened to Alexander... poor him. But there is no wonder that something like that would have happened, sooner or later.. right/ That's what happens to everyone who is close to you, after all... I mean, look at him.." The Prince looked directly at Slaine. The boy was pretty confused... but from what they had said, he managed to realize that the boy in the armor was probably a member of the Imperial Family, so the blue eyed boy simply remained quiet while performing the usual Thracian military salute. The clenched first over his chest symbolized his will to die for the Emperor, and the bowing obviously symbolized obedience. His obedience.

"The proud Slaine Saevio.. look at how he ended. Pretty bad. I warned him not to get involved with you.. but he was to stubborn to listen. This is pretty fun though..." The boy then looked back at Elaine. "Tell me please, dear sister.. how does it feel to be you? How does it feel to be guilty for all that happened to the people who loved you? Don't you feel horrible?.."

[Danceria]

At first, the princess had turned to address the way this newcomer had described Slaine, but it only took her brain a moment more to actually recognize that voice, and it was even further confirmed by the way he addressed her, and the sword that he carried...it wasn't hard for her to tell at all. Her heart seized as she looked at him, fear flooding her system simply from the sound of his voice. His laugh only made the feeling worse, the fear and cowardice associated and wired well into her system from all those memories of that godawful sound. Even though one couldn't see it through her armor, it wasn't hard to tell how fearful she was of the prince standing in front of her. She was practically radiating the feeling. Oh...gods...anyone but him...anyone...anyone but him... But she knew all too well it was exactly who she wished it wasn't. She wasn't even sure she could get the words out of her mouth to respond, the shock and dread of seeing him again so soon hindering her abilities. "...strange indeed...brother. Or would you prefer the term half-brother?" She said, venom laced in her words even if she was afraid of him. She might've even hated him more than she hated her father, or anyone else in her family. He'd tormented her and bullied her for as long as she could remember...and even though she feared him, she was also going to spit as much hatred back at him as he was to her.

"Half-brother would be much better, dear sister. You know how much I love you, but you're a stain on our family's honor.. I don't want to be associated with you any more than it is necessary.", the Prince said, seeming to really, really enjoy this. Even if he couldn't see it, and she was trying to hide it.. he could feel it.. her fear.. she was afraid of him.. is there any better feeling, than seeing people being afraid of you? Controlling their fear... ah, how wonderful it felt.. that's why he loved tormenting people. It was so exciting.. and especially hearing the venom in her voice... oh, how much she hated him.. and how much he liked it..

"And how have you been, dear sister? I was so sad when you left for this academy without telling me anything.. I missed you..", the boy continued."And I heard what happened to Alexander... poor him. But there is no wonder that something like that would have happened, sooner or later.. right/ That's what happens to everyone who is close to you, after all... I mean, look at him.." The Prince looked directly at Slaine. The boy was pretty confused... but from what they had said, he managed to realize that the boy in the armor was probably a member of the Imperial Family, so the blue eyed boy simply remained quiet while performing the usual Thracian military salute. The clenched first over his chest symbolized his will to die for the Emperor, and the bowing obviously symbolized obedience. His obedience.

"The proud Slaine Saevio.. look at how he ended. Pretty bad. I warned him not to get involved with you.. but he was to stubborn to listen. This is pretty fun though..." The boy then looked back at Elaine. "Tell me please, dear sister.. how does it feel to be you? How does it feel to be guilty for all that happened to the people who loved you? Don't you feel horrible?.."

Nalli, noted the two stragglers, and was about to comment on saving the intimate moments for the locker rooms afterwords. Until she noted the clear confusion on the male's part, and the anger on the female's face. While not hearing the conversation, she decided to do something unusual; intervene.

Picking up a slightly heavy stick, she weighed it in her hand, and angled it. A flick of the wrist, the stick curved it's way to the nape of the male, making an audible snap as it connected with the bottom part of the helmet/upper nape armor plate. While wanting to remain silent, their conversation would be much louder and more distinct than a random stick snapping.

"Hey!" she called over. "Move up with us or get left behind, or do I have to haul your dirt-dwelling arses in order to complete this scenario?" her voice was evidently irritated at the faux-pas of socialization in an unsafe area, and she proceeded to explain why it was unsafe as she walked over to the trio.

"We've got large air cruisers searching the wreckage for us, and you, if you don't have a set of supplies in your hands, you best have a gun and be spotting for us." Nalli looked up at the lean blonde...something about those red eyes seemed...unnatural. Mocking. Vile. She would steel herself and nod at the rest of them. "We've got five minutes to get out of here. No lollygagging. I don't want to be responsible if you die because you broke a nail."

Nalli by no means was a spoilsport, but there was a time to socialize and build the team together, and a time for action. Action time was now, but clearly, any issues need to be resolved as quickly as possible, and decided to try another thing.

A coy grin would emerge across the T'Vaaz's face, as her eyes glinted "Let's have ourselves a little foot-race, because you all are the best of the best. I bet...I can take these containers, carry them, find ourselves some shelter, and set up camp in..." she calculated a feasible time "Less than an hour."

[Castle Crashers]

At first, the princess had turned to address the way this newcomer had described Slaine, but it only took her brain a moment more to actually recognize that voice, and it was even further confirmed by the way he addressed her, and the sword that he carried...it wasn't hard for her to tell at all. Her heart seized as she looked at him, fear flooding her system simply from the sound of his voice. His laugh only made the feeling worse, the fear and cowardice associated and wired well into her system from all those memories of that godawful sound. Even though one couldn't see it through her armor, it wasn't hard to tell how fearful she was of the prince standing in front of her. She was practically radiating the feeling. Oh...gods...anyone but him...anyone...anyone but him... But she knew all too well it was exactly who she wished it wasn't. She wasn't even sure she could get the words out of her mouth to respond, the shock and dread of seeing him again so soon hindering her abilities. "...strange indeed...brother. Or would you prefer the term half-brother?" She said, venom laced in her words even if she was afraid of him. She might've even hated him more than she hated her father, or anyone else in her family. He'd tormented her and bullied her for as long as she could remember...and even though she feared him, she was also going to spit as much hatred back at him as he was to her.

"Half-brother would be much better, dear sister. You know how much I love you, but you're a stain on our family's honor.. I don't want to be associated with you any more than it is necessary.", the Prince said, seeming to really, really enjoy this. Even if he couldn't see it, and she was trying to hide it.. he could feel it.. her fear.. she was afraid of him.. is there any better feeling, than seeing people being afraid of you? Controlling their fear... ah, how wonderful it felt.. that's why he loved tormenting people. It was so exciting.. and especially hearing the venom in her voice... oh, how much she hated him.. and how much he liked it..

"And how have you been, dear sister? I was so sad when you left for this academy without telling me anything.. I missed you..", the boy continued."And I heard what happened to Alexander... poor him. But there is no wonder that something like that would have happened, sooner or later.. right/ That's what happens to everyone who is close to you, after all... I mean, look at him.." The Prince looked directly at Slaine. The boy was pretty confused... but from what they had said, he managed to realize that the boy in the armor was probably a member of the Imperial Family, so the blue eyed boy simply remained quiet while performing the usual Thracian military salute. The clenched first over his chest symbolized his will to die for the Emperor, and the bowing obviously symbolized obedience. His obedience.

"The proud Slaine Saevio.. look at how he ended. Pretty bad. I warned him not to get involved with you.. but he was to stubborn to listen. This is pretty fun though..." The boy then looked back at Elaine. "Tell me please, dear sister.. how does it feel to be you? How does it feel to be guilty for all that happened to the people who loved you? Don't you feel horrible?.."

Elaine held back the urge to laugh as he explained how much he loved her, but that he simply couldn't be associated with her because of her reputation. Love..? what an idiotic thing to say to someone you take fun in hurting...that isn't love, not even close... She thought, though she continued to glare at him. And he...missed her..? He could only miss her because of the amusement he got from hurting her. With her absence...she could only imagine who he tormented besides her. One of her younger siblings? The citizens? Soldiers? There was no way of telling...but the moment he spoke of Alexander, poking at one of the biggest open wounds she had; what happened to everyone she cared for.

"Shut up..." She muttered, but he didn't stop there. He then directed the statement to Slaine, and what had happened to him. "Shut up..." She said louder this time, but he still didn't stop, directing it to how she felt about all of this. "Shut up!" She yelled, thoroughly done with his attitude. "You don't know anything! You'll never understand what it's like!" She screamed, and as much as she wanted to hurt him or hit him in any way, the fear struck her heart again and she couldn't make herself do it. She wanted to run, to hide, to get away from him...as cowardice as it was. She couldn't help feeling such a way, because of all that he'd done to her.

She wished for nothing more than to get as far away from him as she could...because if she did hurt him, if she did kill him even, she knew they'd come after not only her, but Slaine, and Lise, and anyone else who'd associated with her...Alexander even, if he was still alive, but at this point...she doubted it. She wished she could believe such a thing was possible, but...she was smarter than that, less naive...she knew better. She knew that she was alone now, that she had to fend for herself...atleast for this week, for this simulation. Then, only then, could she finally be alone and die in peace. It would come soon enough. "The only reason these things happen to the people I care for...is because other people cause them...like you, or father..." She said, anger laced deep into her words.

"I can't help the way I am...and neither could Alexander...or Slaine...or mother...or anyone that happened to grace my presence. You punish me for something I can't change; other's choices. They all chose to be with me, to listen to me...and you still believe that this was my fault..?" She chuckled a little and shook her head. "No...you take everyone from me because you believe it'll make me change...you hurt me because you think it'll change my choice of thought...but it isn't that easy. That's like...trying to teach you or Slaine or anyone else in the Empire to ignore the Index. To stop listening to the Emperor...it's more than just a choice. It's what we grew up learning and what we've been born to be like..." She sighed. "Punishing everyone around me can't change the way I am...it will only cause pain, and while you believe pain is good...it only makes me wish to continue to be defiant, to grow worse in my differences...did you really believe that taking everyone from me would be enough to change who I am..? That's...foolish. Idiotic. You aren't thinking."

A girl then appeared and whacked a stick into her brother's neck, which she found amusing, but she didn't listen to whatever she was rattling on about. Instead, she grabbed Slaine's hand and started pulling him away with her, towards where the others were. She had to show her godawful brother that even after everything they'd done to him, the one person she had always cared about and had always been by her side, that she still cared about him. That none of that mattered to her, because while he seemed to be mindless and worthless, she still cared about him. She knew he was confused, and she knew he didn't understand, but it was okay. He didn't need to. Sometimes naivety could be a blessing.

[Tracian Empire]

"Of course you could help the way you are, dear sister.. all you had to do.. was to give in..to accept what you are.. to accept your blood.", Michael said, laughing."You took advantage of the kindness of those around you.. and that's why they all payed.. and that's why they will all pay...until you learn to mend your ways. Until you accept what you are supposed to be..." The Prince then looked directly at her.. with his dark red eyes.. so much like those of Alexander.. and so much like those of their father."You can't die.. of course, you're unfortunately part of our own bloodline... but trust me... I'm good at.. changing people... you'll see.."

But just as he was about to continue... something hit him.

"What the hell?", the red eyed boy answered angrily, turning towards the person which had just.. thrown with a stick in him?"How dare you ruin my wonderful reunion with my little sister? I couldn't possibly care less about this simulation, but be sure, I'm not going to be let behind. You don't have any sort of responsibility towards me, so do something good for this universe and mind your own business." The Prince then giggled."A foot race? What do you think I am, some sort of a low soldier? Go and set up a camp if that's what you can do. I have much more important things to do...stupid.. whatever the hell you're supposed to be.." Michael than looked back at his sister, only to see her walk away, dragging a really confused Slaine after her.."We'll continue our talk soon, my dear sister... really soon.."

The blue eyed boy obviously had no idea what was happening, but he followed the princess as she dragged him towards the others. He remained quiet for a few moments, simply looking at her.. weird. Under normal circumstances, he would have felt really weird to hold hands with anyone.. after all, it was a symbol of trust... but for some reason.. he wasn't feeling like that. It seemed.. normal.. as if he had done it before.

Strange.

"Your h...", Slaine started to say, stopping right as he realized what he was about to say, correcting his mistake. "Elaine... is everything alright? Did that man.. upset you?", the boy asked.

[Castle Crashers]

"Of course you could help the way you are, dear sister.. all you had to do.. was to give in..to accept what you are.. to accept your blood.", Michael said, laughing."You took advantage of the kindness of those around you.. and that's why they all payed.. and that's why they will all pay...until you learn to mend your ways. Until you accept what you are supposed to be..." The Prince then looked directly at her.. with his dark red eyes.. so much like those of Alexander.. and so much like those of their father."You can't die.. of course, you're unfortunately part of our own bloodline... but trust me... I'm good at.. changing people... you'll see.."

But just as he was about to continue... something hit him.

"What the hell?", the red eyed boy answered angrily, turning towards the person which had just.. thrown with a stick in him?"How dare you ruin my wonderful reunion with my little sister? I couldn't possibly care less about this simulation, but be sure, I'm not going to be let behind. You don't have any sort of responsibility towards me, so do something good for this universe and mind your own business." The Prince then giggled."A foot race? What do you think I am, some sort of a low soldier? Go and set up a camp if that's what you can do. I have much more important things to do...stupid.. whatever the hell you're supposed to be.." Michael than looked back at his sister, only to see her walk away, dragging a really confused Slaine after her.."We'll continue our talk soon, my dear sister... really soon.."

The blue eyed boy obviously had no idea what was happening, but he followed the princess as she dragged him towards the others. He remained quiet for a few moments, simply looking at her.. weird. Under normal circumstances, he would have felt really weird to hold hands with anyone.. after all, it was a symbol of trust... but for some reason.. he wasn't feeling like that. It seemed.. normal.. as if he had done it before.

Strange.

"Your h...", Slaine started to say, stopping right as he realized what he was about to say, correcting his mistake. "Elaine... is everything alright? Did that man.. upset you?", the boy asked.

Elaine ignored most of what he was saying as she walked away, but his last statement struck her. She couldn't die? What was that supposed to mean? She was human, of course she could die, and she would...and if that statement was true, then where was Alexander? Why hadn't they found him yet? Surely by now, after searches had been called off and he'd been pronounced dead...surely that wasn't true. Regardless of his words, she knew she wouldn't let it ruin her plans. She would kill herself, and if she couldn't...well, then she'd just have to kill him or something similar. Sentence herself to death, as so many wanted of her. Perhaps being locked away in that godforsaken room again forever would be nearly the same fate.

Either way, she continued on, pulling Slaine along with herself, ignoring her brother's last statement. She knew Slaine was looking at her, but she didn't meet his gaze. She was more focused on getting both him and herself as far away from him as possible. Then, of course, he spoke, which drew her attention. She looked to him as he asked if he'd upset her, and she sighed softly. "I've been upset with him for as long as I can remember, honestly. He's my brother, and I honestly hope that the Emperor never dies so he won't come into power. Gods help us if he ever does...I fear what he would do." She said, looking away again. "...I'm fine, but he finds happiness in hurting me...more emotionally of course, which makes me fear what he might do to you." She glanced at him again before she looked back to the group as they got closer. "...I know you don't remember, and that's okay. I just want you to be careful. He's dangerous."