And Now, Onto the Final Year
2067 Words
In an undisclosed location...
Someone is twitching their fingers as they begin to enact something nefarious.
“Those fascist clans and their enablers will have their day! If we take over this poor excuse of a kingdom, those pesky enablers will be the first to be annihilated. Hahahahaha... After all, to rebel is justified.”
***
Time progresses even further, and we all transition into the third and final year of our stay here at Lebenswasserheim Royal Academy Military School.
Right now, we're halfway into the school year – Godmonth, 1018 CE, that is.
It's been a while, huh?
We all get used to the motions, yeah; as we were all beginners back then.
The final examination for the junior year was a mission where we all infiltrated a thieves' den somewhere in Avaya Prefecture. It was pretty boring and insignificant, but we still finished the mission with flying colors.
What I had feared the most, which was Laika getting all nervous in fear while being surrounded by many cutpurses, thankfully never happened.
I've once read a novel about the knights of a faraway land.
At one point in the novel, due to her own insecurities and apparent jealousy over her male childhood friend getting it on with his female commander (which was just miscommunication all along), a female knight-in-training went reckless in infiltrating a similar thieves' den, and she was surrounded by so many cutpurses.
Good thing her childhood friend arrived in the nick of time; and together, the two held off the cutpurses long enough for reinforcements to arrive. That was the point where the two made up and kissed each other after the fact.
As for the third field examination, there is none, since everyone is expected to give their all in the final examination instead.
Nothing much has changed within our circle in terms of overall personality.
I'm still the fiery and passionate man who listens intently and understands others' thoughts. And still reads novels.
Laika's still the graceful and elegant woman who is fiercely loyal to me. And still has her plushies.
Yulissa's still the peppy, energetic younger sister who loves headpats and face strokes from her beloved brother. And still draws.
If anything's changed, we simply grow older and wiser, our basal instincts and recklessness giving way to judicious thoughts and actions as we learn from our mistakes, little by little.
And as for the other cadets in our immediate circle...
Hershey gets along better with practically every other cadet in this school, especially with the fact that she's now an upperclassman like the rest of us.
This has something to do with one of her stated goals for her entry into the military school in the first place – to become an ambassador of goodwill between Lebenswasserheim and Sardentha; and to an extension, of her fellow feralkins to the humans, elves, and half-elves.
So what's she up to right now?
“Extra! Extra! Read all about it, nya!”
So she's now acting the newsboy, or to put it more bluntly, news-cat?
Alright, I'm gonna take a look at the fliers she's handing out this lunch break.
“Witness Top Feralkin Artist Narciso Ranilio Cohen's First Exhibition in Lebenswasserheim!
“Enjoy his expressionist paintings, on display at Boase Art Gallery, the Poblation, Lebenswasserheim Burghal”
“An art exhibit, huh? As someone who has a casual view of art, maybe I can visit it some time.”
“You should, nya! And maybe invite Yulissa and Joey Ramon, too!”
“OK. Noted.”
“And one more thing, nya.”
“Fire away. I have ample time just slouching around before afternoon lessons start.”
“My friends back at home already heard of my exploits, nya. So I'll strive my best to become a good role model for them. To them, I'm already a hero. Moreso if I'm formally known as the kingdom's first feralkin soldier, nya!”
“That's the spirit! When you first entered this school, you were a bit hesitant. But thanks to the encouraging environment this kingdom has, anyone can achieve their dreams, as long as hard and smart work go hand-in-hand. And one more thing... genius knows no race.”
“Thank you so much for the advice, nya!”
“No biggie. Now continue spreading the good word.”
Yup. In my heart, I know you'll make it.
Hershey Aedoll, I'll look forward to the day you become an actual ambassador.
Joey Ramon is on a steady road to improving himself as a prospective soldier and as a human being.
As I have witnessed his finishing move with my own two eyes, I can feel that the way he channels his inner energy, or what Tsukubans call “ki” – is enhanced via rigorous training.
And indeed, he does train everyday, especially during after-school hours.
His sparring partner? None other than my own precious little sister.
The two frequently hang out more in recent months, and I didn't raise my finger of objection to that. Not even once.
Right now, after dinner time, I visit the training hall to see if he's indeed committed to his personal training regimen (the training hall is open until 9 post meridiem, by the way, as stated in the cadet handbook).
Undoubtedly, he is.
From what I see of his sparring sessions with her, he's slowly adapting her evasive maneuvers, which is hopping from side to side.
Furthermore, judging from the aura I can sense in this hall, he lets his saber become an extension of his own arm, and thus he lets his inner energy – his ki – flow through it, to deliver more devastating strikes.
And speaking of my sister, she 's also adapting his battle methodology, as I can also sense her channeling her ki through her saber.
This is mutuality in action, and I highly appreciate it.
As the two wrap up their session, I give my heartfelt round of applause.
“Oh, Keenan! Hi again!”
“Glad you're supporting us all the way, brother!”
I reply to them both, “It's just part of my job, you see?”
“And...”
Joey Ramon asks me.
“Is it OK if I pat her head and stroke her face like you always do? I mean... I've had months to think about that...”
Yulissa just remains in that corner, her face all reddened by her intensive blush, as I respond...
“Why'd you have to think about that little thing for a freaking long time? It's not a matter of life or death, you know. If you want to emulate the things I always do to comfort her, then I have my full authorization as her older brother to have you do them. Now then... go.”
“Alright.”
He approaches the still-blushing girl and lets his hand, particularly his palm, touch the long and silky-smooth claret hair that defines her.
Slowly but surely, her blush of embarrassment gives way to a blush of unadulterated, reassuring happiness.
Alright... looks like I've taught you well, Joey Ramon Fermoze.
I can happily entrust my sister to you when the time comes.
Bienvenide now stands on his own two feet, his burden of losing his sister early in his life all behind him now.
His military forte is more focused on strategies rather than actual combat, as his partial elf bloodline enables him to sense even minute changes in magical energy that can spell either victory or defeat.
Of course, with full-blooded elf cadets in the picture, he is more than enthusiastic to learn a thing or two from them.
But the big question is...
How's his collection of sister-related media?
It would be a waste if he just threw them away like trash.
Environmental conservation and recycling are some of the kingdom's many priorities, after all.
I know where he resides.
Room 421, Linus Sebastian Basinger Building.
He gave me his room number before, when we were wee freshmen.
“Come on in, Keenan. The door's unlocked.”
I enter the room, and there he is, all alone, reading a novel.
“Where'd your roommates go?”
“Training, of course. I'm in no mood for that.”
“So, I forgot to ask you this...”
“I already know what you'll be asking. I've sold most of my sister-related collection of stuff.”
“Uh... even the... ahem... body pillows?”
“Yes, even those. A more hardcore collector deserves them more than I do.”
“And I know you'll be more willing to... you know... make love to the woman you'll eventually love, rather than just a lump of cotton.”
“Ha ha, you're right. It doesn't matter if she's a full-blooded elf or a half-elf. Or even a human. Dunno if I'll take chances with a feralkin, but a land-type one might suffice. Especially a canine one.”
“W-Wait a sec. You're... exchanging one preference to another?”
“What's wrong with that? As long I have self-control, my preferences are nothing to be sneezed at!”
“Yeah, good luck doing the art of the dog to... you know.”
“Ha ha ha ha ha!!!”
We boisterously laugh at the joke poking fun at his new-found preference.
Oh well, as long as he's still an honorable man, he'll be certain to love a woman the way only he can.
Bienvenide Lumbère, you'll be a great strategist... and a great lover, too.
Now all that's left is Ivanka.
She... how should I put it... progresses like the rest of us seven, but In a wildly different manner.
While she is still as straight-laced as Laika, her words now have a tinge of arrogance.
She even spouts things like “This is not the way a student truly conducts themselves!” or “You dare to be a soldier with that kind of attitude? That's deplorable!”
And as for her battlefield attitude, her aggressiveness manifests more, like there's the small chance she could hurt someone.
And I got to experience that myself when I dueled her last week.
I could feel her aura trying to disrupt mine when we exchanged blows.
Thus, I ask myself... why?
Room 501, Hugh Jeffrey Salazar Building.
That's her room.
Once I knock the door, a voice other than the one I expect greets my ears.
“May I know who's knocking?”
Isn't that... Rita Magdalena Mordio, the cadet whom I've faced back at the tournament?
“Keenan Floribunda here.”
“Oh, I know you. Please come in.”
Like in the case of Bienvenide, Rita's alone in the room.
And... she's the lone roommate of Ivanka.
I then get directly to the point.
“How's she doing?”
“Keenan... how can I explain this... she's getting more arrogant and aggressive... but at the same time... she's... lonelier.”
“How can you say that?”
“As her only roommate, I can sense what she's up to. Right now, she's wandering the capital, since today's Earthday and there are no afternoon classes. She's doing that more often these days. I even tried to contact her via commugrass, but she wouldn't answer.”
“Same goes with me. We're pretty much on the same wavelength... that she's acting kinda strange.”
“Yes. And her habit of reading novels... she's disavowed them altogether.”
“What?!”
“She even sold her autographed copy of The Dragon of Bravery.”
“How could she even do that? I pretty much share the same passion for novels as her!”
“But not anymore. What she's now reading... are the likes of The Absolute Truth About the Masses of Lebenswasserheim.”
Can't say I've heard of that book before. It's not even in the Grand Library, for one.
“Keenan, I'm sorry if I failed as a roommate to Ivanka. It seems... she's not the same woman she used to be. It seems...”
Before she can finish her sentence, she weeps.
And I console her.
I know all along that something changed within you, Ivanka Wallis.
We already have a bond forged, so... why are you straying away from me? And the others, too?
We're almost on our way to become soldiers, so... why are you like this?
Why?
- Writer
