The comcry kept pulsing, but Instructor Ignatius didn't answer. Tori let out a little grumble and tried to quell her excitement. To be fair to Instructor Ignatius, he was either assisting with the arrival of the first-year students or working on a lesson plan. Tori slid her finger across the crystal and debated on calling Master Ramos.
She shook her head and flipped the comcry closed. Master Ramos had his hands full with the installation of the crystal pillars. It was best not to bother him. Tori rushed back out of the garden and fell back on her picnic blanket.
She flipped through her notebook to an empty page and scribbled down everything she could remember about the process, including doodling a simplified version of her visualization in order to show Instructor Ignatius later. If there was a way to utilize the terracrystal like they did carnelian and ice calcite, it could improve the lives of the villagers.
Not to mention cheer up Instructor Ignatius with another idea to work on.
Tori continued to wait under the tree and after a while, began to eat her lunch. It took some time for a few students to come by. She figured they’d be busy moving in and then getting to know their roommate.
As she saw a few first years in their uniforms approaching, she rose to her feet. There were two students and she guessed that they must’ve been roommates who were out together to explore the campus, just as Ilyana and she had done when they first arrived.
“Hello!” Tori lifted her hand and waved. “Good afternoon! Welcome to the Sword Association of Lycée du Soleil’s training and practice grounds!”
Once she had their attention, they walked forward and politely greeted her. She made small talk: asking where they were from and if they were academic or niche students. She welcomed them and tried to casually slip in her sales pitch about the Sword Association. Afterwards, she gave them directions to get elsewhere on campus.
Despite being in an out of the way location, she received a good handful of students and, aside from trying to lure them into visiting the Sword Association’s booth on orientation week, told them what other facilities were nearby.
“We missed the tours this morning,” a set of girls said as they looked at their map, where they had scribbled out a line to get to their classroom, only to end up at the training grounds. “I didn’t know they had them.”
“I would’ve come earlier, too.” The girl’s roommate looked at Tori. “Senior, do you know if they will have more tours? I asked the instructors at the check-in tables and some of the other student guides, but they didn’t know what we were talking about. Several of the students in our dorm had taken one this morning, though.”
“Ah, the two tours this morning were unofficial. It’s just that a few students caught me and my roommate outside the gate and needed assistance. We had time before we were to report to our positions for the day, so we took them on a tour,” Tori said with a weak smile.
“Are you going to do more?”
Tori shook her head. “I’m afraid not. Once a student guide is at their location, we can’t leave until we’re relieved later this evening.” Their shoulders dropped and they looked disappointed. “But your classes aren’t too far from here! Let me show you....”
By the time Instructor Rosemund came to find her and relieved her, Tori had finished most of her snacks and counted a total of twenty-three students who had come by. It was more than she expected. After folding her picnic blanket back into its bag form and putting her things inside, she slung it over her shoulder and headed back to the dorm.
She didn’t make it too far; Ilyana had come to find her, slightly out of breath having run from the greenhouse.
“Why did they assign someone there?” she said, flushed and annoyed. “I only had one student come up to me the entire time and they wanted to ask about a gardening club! Everyone else saw the greenhouses and then turned around and left before they reached me!”
Tori chuckled. “It’s probably because it’s so far out there, they’re worried about students getting lost.”
“Did you get any first years?”
“A few.”
Ilyana sighed and ran her hand through her hair as she fell into step with Tori. “I cut through the central courtyard on the way here and I don’t know who opened their mouths, but I’m afraid the rumors of you being a mean-spirited snob who bought her way in have resurfaced. I wanted to stop them, but they got away.”
Tori shook her head and patted Ilyana’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. I still have that reputation in the south and an entire lifetime of it isn’t going to disappear after a year. The rumors will die down, I’m sure.”
“Just in case, we should get JP to poke around and spread word that the rumors are just that,” Ilyana said, confident. “And I’m sure he can find out who brought the rumors up again.”
“JP has better things to do than spread information on a rumor that’ll be forgotten in a few days,” Tori said. “He and Sonia have to do an exhibition ride during orientation week, and they have to wake up early to prepare. Besides, the first years will talk with other people and learn that what they hear isn’t always true. If it gets too bad, we’ll step in.”
“I still want to know who opened their mouths, though....” Ilyana wrinkled her nose.
“Good evening, Senior Tori! Senior Ilyana!” Two girls passed by and one of them waved at them enthusiastically.
She and Ilyana both waved back and gave them smiles.
“Who are they?” the girl’s companion asked.
“They’re the seniors who gave tours this morning. Senior Ilyana is ranked first in the second year and Senior Tori is ranked fourth. And they’re roommates!”
“Oh, they’re roommates!”
Tori chuckled as she and Ilyana turned a corner and headed towards the east dorm. A few more students greeted them on their way. There were a few students loitering around the front of the building, including a few they recognized from earlier that day.
“There they are!” a boy gasped and pointed in their direction.
Tori raised a brow and Ilyana tilted her head, unsure why they were pointing at them.
“Seniors!” The small herd of students seemed to come towards them, and Tori stopped in the walkway, reaching out to stop Ilyana as well. “Seniors, will you be doing any more tours?”
Ilyana furrowed her brows. “The sun is going to set soon. I’m afraid we can’t.”
Once more, the students looked visibly disappointed. “Everyone has been asking about the tours. You’re the only two who know about them.”
Tori smiled helplessly. “It’s because we did them on a whim. Lycée doesn’t have official tours. We just had time and thought it would help.”
“Senior, what about this weekend? Will you be able to do more tours this weekend?”
Tori and Ilyana looked at each other. Student guides didn’t need to return to their position after the first day of move in, but they were asked to wear their sashes and continue to walk around campus to help any lost and confused first years. And they could do so with a partner, so that was their plan.
Ilyana drew in her lips and shrugged. “I don’t mind.”
Tori took a deep breath and nodded. “All right. Let’s make a schedule.”
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“How many tours did you two do this weekend?” Captain Messer asked Tori as she roped off the exhibition area.
“We did one per hour, stopping for two hours for lunch, and ended when the commons opened,” Tori said. “And then we did three more yesterday, so ten.”
She and Ilyana had made three fliers to put on the announcement boards at each dorm and in front of the administration building. It listed the days and times they planned to do a tour and capped it at a dozen students each, which was a manageable amount. They included a signup sheet with the administration building flier so students could figure out amongst themselves what time slot to go on.
When the two came to check on it after breakfast, they were surprised to find nearly all slots filled for the first day and the remaining three slots on the second day each about half filled.
As Tori had heard, many of the other student guides were confused and didn’t know what tours the first years were speaking of, but they were quick to figure it out once they saw the fliers and Tori and Ilyana’s names mentioned, so as not to confuse the first years.
There were a few students who had been on tours the day before and accompanied their roommates.
“Your tours are immensely popular. I’m sure all of the first years know who you two are now,” Captain Messer chuckled. She rubbed her hands together, deviously. “And with you two both here today, I’m sure we’ll get more than our fair share of interested first years.”
Tori shook her head as she spread out the information pamphlets on the table. She and Tiff, another second-year academic student, were going to staff the table; calling over any vaguely interested looking first years, answering questions, and signing people up for the Sword Association.
During orientation week, most groups wore what they’d wear during their activity, so everyone in the Sword Association’s exhibition area were in their usual training clothes. The exception was Ilyana, who was volunteering to help with the pinecone challenge. They decided to put it up in between exhibition matches, so any student interested could try it.
Also, it was the most popular activity at the Spring Festival, and Captain Messer hoped it would lure more people in.
“Captain, the Sword Association isn’t short of people,” Tori said.
“I know, but we always lose people through the year. The more we sign on now, the more who will be retained.”
“Captain, I think we’ll have enough pinecones for the day, but we should have a day to gather them before the festival,” Ewan said as he arrived with three other students, each with a large basket of pinecones.
“Noted,” Captain Messer said. She looked around and sighed, throwing her arms down in frustration. “Where are Gabriel and Esteban? They’re supposed to be the first ones to do an exhibition!”
“I’m here, Captain! Sorry!” Dark-haired Esteban came running forward. “Gabriel’s still changing, he’ll be right here. He had a problem with his roommate.”
“Again?” one of the other students setting up the exhibition ring asked as she looked up. “I thought he was going to request a dorm change this year.”
“He’s tried, but he still ended up with Alvere!”
“Don’t say his name in front of me!” Gabriel, a second year with brown hair and blue eyes, marched from the direction of the practice grounds, red-faced and seething as he gripped a waster in one hand and helmet in the other. “I don’t know what his problem is. He gets mad at everything I do!”
Tori looked over as she grabbed some paper and listened. “Gabe, I didn’t know you were Mr. Alvere’s roommate.”
Gabriel let out a low grumble and gave her a frustrated nod. “I didn’t want to be. He was switched twice at the beginning of last year and I ended up with him. You have no idea how annoying he is! He doesn’t like any noise and has several charms around the room to keep it that way. If I so much as drop a book on my desk, he’ll jump and then glare at me as if he’s going to kill me in my sleep. He won’t let me bring anyone else into the room, even if it’s for a moment. He’s always there and leaves food everywhere. If I try to clean up and throw it away, he yells at me. I don’t even feel as if it’s my room, either!”
“It’s a shame you’re not local,” another student said with pity on their face. “At least you could escape him for the weekend if you were.”
“I may not be local, but doesn’t his family have a manor in the city or something he can go to? He’s a duke’s son, isn’t he? He stays at the dorm unless they force him out. It’s as if he doesn’t want to go home.”
Tori paused in the middle of tri-folding pamphlets they had printed to hand out. Her eyes narrowed a bit.
“What is he going to do when he’s home? Attend social events?” the first student said with a shake of her head. “Everyone knows about his father and mother....”
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
“Okay, we’re losing focus,” Captain Messer said, stepping in and clapping her hands to rally their attention. “Gabriel, put your helmet on and get in the ring. The first years are going to be released soon.”
Gabriel rolled his shoulders to try to relax himself and Captain Messer looked towards the table beneath the tent to see how it was coming along.
Tori gave her a reassuring smile. “If they’re not folded when the first years come, we can just hand it to them, as is. Relax, Captain. We’ll get new recruits.”
Captain Messer let out a low breath. “I want to introduce more people to the art, but everyone thinks that the only people who join are those who have some experience. If we don’t encourage newcomers, we wouldn’t get many people.”
“As a newcomer last year, I was intimidated, but everyone was very nice and helpful,” Tiff said, brightly. “It was also an effective way to release some stress during exams. Lady Tori was very informative when we were starting.”
Captain Messer’s eyes widened. She looked at Tori. “Can you give a camping lecture to the first years to prepare them for their excursion? I remember your group came in third. No other clubs or associations offer something like that, and it may be fitting for us to.”
Tori furrowed her brows and thought for a moment before slowly giving a nod. “I don’t mind. Actually, that’s a good idea. A lot of these students are from cities and households of means; I doubt they really know what they’re doing.”
“And it would show that we’re taking care of our own,” Tiff added. Captain Messer nodded in agreement.
“Then, you two let them know that Tori will give a small lecture on some camping basics this week.”
“At least give me some time to prepare, Captain,” Tori sighed.
“You’ll be fine! I believe in you!” Captain Messer seemed to float away, and Tiff patted Tori’s shoulder comfortingly.
“You’re a good teacher, Lady Tori. And your group came in third last year. You helped my group cross the river.”
“I was worried you would all be swept away.”
Tiff giggled and continued dutifully folding.
The entire association, and all other groups in the area, seemed to count down the time to when the first-year students finished their classes and were released. As soon as they did, Esteban and Gabriel began to spar.
“Lady Guevera!” Tori looked up and gave a smile and a nod at Constantine. “Does your association need any help?”
Tiff leaned over to Tori and whispered. “Lady Tori, he’s good-looking. It would be beneficial to have him here since our guys are...average. We already have Miss Ilyana, we can use a boy, too.”
Tori nodded. “Mr. Zisos, we are looking for someone to attract students!” she said with a wide smile. He gave her a curious look as he came over.
“What do you need me to do?”
“When the pinecone challenge starts, you can call people over. Are you familiar with it?”
“I’m afraid not. I didn’t have a chance to try it during the Spring Festival.”
“Not a problem,” Tori said with a firm nod. She looked over her shoulder. “Ewan! Ilyana! Mr. Zisos is going to help us promote the pinecone challenge. Tell him what it’s about.”
“Tori, do we have a prize for it today?” Ilyana said. “I was talking to Ewan, and we think a down vest would be good, as they’re going to go on their first-year excursions.”
“I’m fine with that. Announce it!”
Tori made a mental note to inform Henrik later. He and Albert had their things checked and sent to their dorm rooms, but weren’t actually coming until mid-week. Henrik was at Lions Gate East, organizing products to be sold for the First Year Excursion. They thought of doing a predetermined set of equipment based on what items they used on their excursion the previous year.
They had full sets for a group of six individuals that included cookware and various tools, and individual sets that could be built à la carte. They were of the same quality as what they had used, and full sets were priced almost at cost for Lycée students. Any additional items were 10% off.
Lions Gate East was a good distance away from the Academic Quarter, but from Albert and Henrik’s research around the area, most shops had a small handful of equipment at most. For the majority of stores, they only had basic equipment, such as tents or sleeping rolls. They simply didn’t have space to store the merchandise and since there were multiple stores in the area selling them, they each didn’t bother to sell more than a few for fear of being left with excess stock.
It would be even more limiting if someone swept up their stock before the students had a chance to.
Camping equipment wasn’t cheap, especially for merchants who didn’t normally sell it. Lions Gate had access to Daybreak Garden, a team of skilled textile workers, and volume discounted materials. Their products went from the craftsmen to consumers directly through their store and there was already a stock available, as they had storage space.
All they had to do was advertise what was available. If they didn’t sell out, then the products would be sold through the year or stored for the next. As long as students were exposed to Lions Gate, they would become potential customers that recognized the brand.
“Ewan, Miss Agafonova, and...I don’t know who you are, but you, the blond,” Captain Messer shouted, looking at Constantine. “What are you three doing standing around for? We’re going to start the pinecone challenge next!”
“Just stand here and shout out what we discussed,” Ilyana said as she pointed at the entrance to their exhibition area. “When they come, send them to me and I’ll get a line started.”
Constantine nodded and he, Ewan, and Ilyana split up like a team after a huddle.
“We are about to start the pinecone challenge in five minutes!” Constantine spoke in a clear voice, attracting the attention of onlookers around the exhibition area. He had a bright smile and opened his arms, making him stand out at once. “The Sword Association of Lycée du Soleil proudly presents the Pinecone Challenge! Test your skill and see how many pinecones you can block with a wooden training sword. High scorers will be listed on our scoreboard and the one with the highest score for today will get a down quilted vest, courtesy of Lions Gate!”
Nice plug, Constantine. Tori gave him an approving nod.
Several first-year students came to watch and ask, but the first participants were upperclassmen, eager for a chance to try once more. While the students were waiting for a turn, they came by the information table and Tori did her best to sell the association to prospective students.
“Yes, our after-school schedule is very flexible, and we actually encourage students not to attend during exam weeks. However, the grounds are left open for those who want to come and de-stress a bit to take a break from their studies,” Tori told a small group of first years. She handed out a few pamphlets.
As she turned to get a few more, a familiar piece of paper was placed on the table in front of her. The application to join the association was filled out and Tori did a double take as she saw the name at the top. Her head shot up, unwilling to believe that the person submitting it was who she thought.
It had to be a joke.
“I’d like to join the Sword Association.” Fabian’s cold eyes met hers and Tori’s jaw dropped.
“I’m sorry,” she said as she shook her head a bit. She furrowed her brows and looked at him as if she’d misheard. “Can you repeat that?”
Fabian took a deep breath and pushed the application form closer. “I said, I’d like to join the Sword Association.”
“Why?” Tori couldn’t stop the word, dripping with disbelief, from coming out her mouth. Tiff had to elbow her. “I mean, I see. This is a surprise, Sir von Dorn.” She tried to collect herself. “You didn’t join last year.”
He shot her a glare. “Are only first year students allowed to apply?”
“No, no, of course not. We welcome students from all years,” Tori said. She picked up his form and scanned it. She really didn’t want to approve it, but had no legitimate reason not to. “Let me confirm that everything is in order with the captain and Master McDouglass.” She gave him a tight-lipped smile and turned around, gripping his application in his hand.
She marched towards where Captain Messer and Master McDouglass were standing, watching the equipment piled beneath a tree.
Master McDouglass saw her approaching and eyed the paper in her hand. He raised a bushy brown and grinned. “Something the matter?”
“We don’t have any restrictions outside of academic probation, do we?” Tori asked as she handed the application to Captain Messer.
The upperclassman chuckled and looked over the application. The smile on her face fell and she lifted her head to Tori and narrowed her eyes. “Is he serious about this? We kept asking him to join last year and he said that there was no use to joining a ‘mediocre group’.”
Tori nodded. “He’s standing at the tent right now.”
“Why would he want to join now?” Captain Messer lowered her arm, still holding the application. She looked towards their information and sign-up tent.
“His ability is questioned by the Imperial Family,” Master McDouglass said. The two young women looked at him with curious eyes. Tori wondered how he knew. He crossed his arms over his thick chest. “I make a point to keep an eye on all ranked swordsmen in the school and am always in contact with my colleagues at La Garda and with the imperial knight cadets. There have been rumors of his transfer and a request to let him join the cadets for weekend training as the imperial couple seem dissatisfied with his ability.”
Captain Messer let out a low whistle. “Aside from Tori and you, Master, I don’t think we have anyone who is on par with him that he can practice with.”
“He may still benefit from daily work on his foundations and increasing his stamina,” Master McDouglass told them. He looked at Tori and nodded. “There is no actual policy we can cite to keep him from joining; however, he did point a sword at you last year. How do you feel about this?”
Tori drew her lips inward and thought for a moment. On one hand, she and Fabian had some issues between them. On the other hand, if she knew Fabian was at the training grounds, then she knew that he wasn’t with Alessa and plotting against her. “As long as he doesn’t do it again, we won’t have a problem. If he tries it again, I’ll do more than break his ribs.”
Master McDouglass nodded his approval.
“If he breaks our code of conduct even once, he’s out,” Captain Messer said in a low voice. “Make sure he knows that.”
Tori nodded and took the application before turning around. She returned to her spot under the tent and put the application on the table. She reached into a box behind the table to take out the stamp and flipped open the ink pad. She pressed the stamp on to the pad and then moved it over the application.
You better not make me regret this, you little shit. She slammed it on the application and seemed to press down hard. She lifted the stamp and looked up at Fabian.
“Welcome to the Lycée du Soleil Sword Association, Sir von Dorn.” She narrowed her eyes as she met his. “Tiff will give you our schedule and code of conduct. Should you break the code, you will be expelled from the association at once. Is this understood?”
Fabian gave her a stern nod. “It is understood, Lady Guevera. Thank you for your time.” He gritted his teeth and moved on to Tiff, who handed him a pamphlet with a bit of uncertainty. He turned around and took two steps before pausing. He gripped the pamphlet in his hand and looked over his shoulder, glowering. “One day, we will have a rematch.”
Tori sneered back. “The day I have a rematch with you is the day you’re no longer Prince Gideon’s knight.”
His face darkened before he turned around.
They watched as he took the paper and left in a hurry. Tiff let out a low breath she was holding in and looked at Tori with confusion. “Why did you let him join?”
“We didn’t have an official reason not to and while we have a personal grudge against each other, I did nearly break his ribs,” Tori said, her slitted eyes watching Fabian’s figure disappear. “Besides, how is he going to be a knight to a prince if he doesn’t practice?” She looked at Tiff, vexed. “I’ve never even once seen him practice.”
“But what if he tries to fight you again?”
Tori scoffed. “Then it’ll be the end of his career as a knight.” Tiff’s eyes widened as the color drained from her face.
“Lady Tori....”
Tori looked at her and jerked her head back. “No, no, no, I mean, he’ll be dismissed from his post. It turns out, the imperial couple does know about what happened and were so angry, they were going to dismiss him then. If he even points his sword at me, all I have to do is call my mother. She and the Empress are friends.”
Tiff nodded, relieved. They continued with their sales pitch.
As soon as the first pinecone challenge was over, Ewan and Ilyana came to ask what Fabian was doing. Ewan looked at her as if she’d lost her mind and Ilyana nearly screamed ‘what are you thinking’?
“Tori, are you courting death?” Ilyana looked pained as she grabbed onto Tori’s arm.
“To live is to court death.” Tori shrugged. “It’s fine. He knows what will happen if he tries to duel me again.”
“You said that he said there would be a rematch!” Ewan ran a hand down his face. “And he went to Osten to train this summer. We don’t know how much he’s improved.”
Tori’s lips drew into a line and wanted to reply ‘not much.’ She shook her head and patted Ewan’s shoulder. “Then, if I can’t beat him with a sword, he’ll have a chance to see me use a dagger.”
“Tori....” Ewan groaned and she smiled energetically.
She ushered them back into the exhibition area so she could continue her job coaxing first year students to join. At the end of the day, they had a solid thirty applications and most of them were from students who were curious and wanted to try swordsmanship for the first time.
Captain Messer was ecstatic. She noticeably yelled less as they cleaned up the exhibition area and carried everything back to the training grounds.
“I’ve told the student who won the pinecone challenge with fifteen to meet us at the front gate this weekend and we’ll take them to Lions Gate to get her sized for a vest,” Ilyana said as she walked with Tori towards the main gate. Ewan and Constantine followed behind them. Sonia and JP were going to meet them at the gate to go to dinner.
“She was disappointed at first, but was excited when she found out she was ranked first. She kept coming by to check to see if someone had blocked more than her.” Constantine chuckled.
“She and another girl waited until the last person finished and then started jumping and screaming.” Ilyana’s eyes were filled with joy. “She’s very excited.”
“That’s good. I’m glad. The vest will be useful when they go on their excursion.” Tori smiled, just as pleased that today went smoothly. As they walked, Ewan suddenly sped up and narrowed his eyes.
“It’s JP and Sonia.” Tori followed his gaze and saw two figures running towards them, still in their riding uniforms.
“Why are they running?” Ilyana frowned.
Tori pursed her lips. “This can’t be good....”
“Tori!” JP shouted as he reached them. “Good, Ilyana, Mr. Zisos, you’re here, too. We still have to call Henrik and Albert.”
“I’ll call, I’ll call!” Sonia said, out of breath as she reached for her comcry.
“Call about what?” Tori asked. She held out her arms to try to steady a flushed, panting JP. He brushed her arm away and kept pointing towards the central courtyard.
“They just posted a notice on the board...in front of the administration building,” JP said, looking at her. “It has to do with the academic students’ Lycée project.”
Tori felt a cold chill sweep over her.
“What about it?” Ilyana asked. “Are they changing the due date for the report?”
JP shook his head. “Do you already have your budgets set for your projects?”
Ilyana and Tori exchanged looks. “No....” Ilyana said.
“Mostly,” Tori answered, almost hesitant. It felt as if she’d be jinxed if she said yes.
“I have a general idea, but I still need to finalize the finer details and outline this coming semester’s plans,” Ilyana told him. “Why?”
JP looked tired. “They said a budget limit would be implemented starting this semester.”
Tori’s eyes widened and, without asking for any more information, she took off running. She could hear Ilyana shouting her name behind her. Tori could feel a ball of dread twisting in the pit of her stomach as she saw the administration building ahead of her.
There had never been a budget limit for Lycée projects. Anything that was spent on the project was a tax write off for students’ families. Whatever was spent was considered part of the taxes paid. In addition, each project was assigned to a student after careful consideration of their abilities, connections, and the financial situation of their family.
Hers notwithstanding, she was sure.
It was very unlikely that a student would spend more than what they and their family could afford in the three and a half years the project was worked on. She doubted a student’s family would even allow them to get that far. Not to mention that their reports were used to monitor spending for a reason.
She’d already submitted reports with her exorbitant spending, and no one had questioned her, let alone tried to stop her.
Tori saw the board ahead of her and nearly skidded to a stop before she ran into it. A few other people moved away after reading and she could hear them asking each other ‘who can spend that much.’
There was a small wooden container hanging on the board, filled with printed copies and Tori snatched one from the box. She stepped to the side to read it as the others arrived. Ilyana and Constantine also took one each.
JP, Sonia, and Ewan grew quiet as they stood and watched the other three. Constantine furrowed his brow and looked up.
“This is still a massive amount. How is this a limit for most students and projects?” he asked. “This is more than most nobles make a year, isn’t it?”
Ilyana let out a low hiss as she read the amount listed and then turned to Tori.
There was likely only one student, at least in their year, who would be affected by the imposed budget.
The paper in Tori’s hand was crushed as she grit her teeth and began to tremble with fury.
“Well....” she said in an unsettling, amused voice as a cold smile filled her face. “It seems I need to speak to the Headmaster again.”