The Adventurous Vagrant

Alumni Homecoming (1)

Since I'm back in my hometown due to the awarding ceremony, I get to relax and enjoy once again the reposeful post-quest phase of my life as a full-time adventurer.

And by the way, SPO2 Blackfire has just sent me a drawing of the entire Tactical Strikers Team plus me, right after the awarding ceremony.

Wow... I didn't know she's a quite capable artist in her spare time.

Guess everyone has their own hobbies to preoccupy with in their own downtime.

And as for my own downtime...

I can create things out of random junk I find.

But this time, I'm doing this outside a quest.

To protect this drawing and to properly display it in my humble abode, I need to create a simple picture frame.

I search my satchel for the necessary materials and tools.

And in that depository of items, I find the following: Some pieces of oak rods that were presumably rejects from manufactured rods and staves, scrap cardboard, a transparent sheet, a bottle of leftover wood glue, popsicle sticks, some rolls of twine, and large clothespins that were dropped to the ground due to strong gusts of wind that blew away some sun-dried laundry.

Alright, let's start!

I lay down the drawing and find out that it's not quite as big as I've thought. It's the size of a typical sheet of handmade writing paper.

I then sandwich it between the transparent sheet on top and the cardboard on the bottom, which are both slightly larger in size.

“Produ Lakab Lagarr.”

I cut the oak rods (which were all planed flat when I first acquired them) down to the dimensions of the layered drawing using a handsaw I personally summon.

And then, I glue together these rods to make two frames, utilizing butt joints. One will be used on the front, and the other will be used on the back.

Using more wood glue, I stick the front and back frames to the sandwiched drawing, clamping them afterwards with the large clothespins. I also make sure to wipe out any glue squeeze-out.

Once the glue dries after 24 hours, I can make the attachment that allows the picture to be hung from the wall.

I take several popsicle sticks and glue them to the framed picture such that there will be places to tie in the twine at the top-left and top-right corners. Once again, I use the clothespins as clamps.

The glue dries again after another 24 hours, and it's now time for the finishing touch: Tying the twine into the frame's popsicle stick hanging implement.

Good.

I can now hang the drawing into a corner of the house that looks so plain, but has a hook ready.

There, it's done!

A crowning achievement for Walter Deschantes the craftsman.

I then hear a knock on the door.

A messenger comes to greet me again, with a letter from... the Royal Academy?

“Good day, Mr. Deschantes. In case you didn't know, or forgot already, the Royal Academy is having a huge celebration.”

“OK, I'll take the letter.”

“Much appreciated. Thank you.”

As the messenger leaves, I promptly open the letter to reveal the following.

Dear Alumnus,

You are cordially invited to the Lebenswasserheim Royal Academy's 100th Annual Alumni Homecoming and School Festival this 26th to 29th of Frostmonth, 1019 CE at the Royal Academy's grounds.

As we are hitting a milestone in academic excellence that best encapsulates the values first set forth by our kingdom's founder, we have lots of fun activities perfect for alumni of all ages! Whether it's for the future of research of products and services that will benefit humanity as a whole, or the simple discovery and enjoyment of hobbies that many of our present and former students are engaged in, everything is here! This homecoming is a celebration of the many experiences we have all enjoyed in the four corners of the classroom and beyond – a celebration of the culture of creativity that makes our beloved kingdom peaceful and prosperous for many years.

For this special occasion, we have an open-house policy, where everyone inside and outside the kingdom is welcome. Of course, peace and security of all our students, alumni, and other guests who will be participating is one of our top priorities.

We all hope to see you at the festival and celebrate everything the Royal Academy stands for: Making our children excited for tomorrow.

Yours faithfully,

Gloria du Bautiste

Overall Principal

Lebenswasserheim Royal Academy

Well, why not go for a nostalgia trip?

Royal Academy, here I come!

Though I've visited the Grand Library of the Academy a few weeks ago.

26th of Frostmonth, 1019 CE.

The inaugural day of the Royal Academy's biggest event.

People are lining up left and right, waiting for the gates to open right after His Highness gives a speech and cuts the ribbon that will signify the formal start of the festival.

At 10 ante meridiem, the gates finally open.

Right at the entrance, I can see students wearing different variants of the same uniform. They're handing me pamphlets that advertise their class exhibits, which are one of the greatest highlights of the festival.

As far as I know, the school uniforms for each level (elementary, high school, senior high school, and college) haven't changed a bit ever since my graduation there five years ago.

The male uniform consists of a white buttoned-down shirt (with colored accents depending on the school level) and navy blue trousers, while the female uniform consists of a navy blue blazer on top of a white sailor top plus necktie and a waist-high pleated skirt (with the color of the necktie and the skirt dependent on the school level).

To prevent those... uh... peeping perverts from getting their fill, all skirts worn by female students are magically enchanted to stay put in the event of strong wind gusts or forced lifting. That enchantment can only be deactivated at will by the girls in their own private time.

Belle was ecstatic at that kind of anti-upskirt technology the Royal Academy employs, as she was extremely wary of those perverts inside and outside the school premises.

Now let's see what the pamphlets say...

“Witness our figurine exhibition at the Grade 7-A Room!”

“Treat yourself to a mini piano and violin concert led by Victor Gerard Camules and Mary Rose Nineapa of Grade 12-D!”

“Be entertained by the cute little platelet mob from the students of Grades 1 to 3!”

Augh... so many promising entertainment options, so little time.

Especially for my growling stomach.

I browse through the handful of pamphlets I received; and thankfully, one class converts itself to a combined restaurant and maid cafe.

Hungry belly?

Go treat yourself to...

Covington Restaurant and Maid Cafe

Our Treats for the Royal Academy School Festival

Them Affordable Things

Your Plain Old Burger: 30 guintos

Crispy Chip-Fries and Vanilla Ice Cream: 45 guintos

Chili Dog: 50 guintos

Spaghetti: 50 guintos

Burger Steak with Rice: 50 guintos

Seeing Double

Double Peach Mango Pocket Pies: 49 guintos

Double Soda Cream Floats: 49 guintos

Double Crispy Chip-Fries: 65 guintos

Double Chili Dogs: 95 guintos

Double Spaghetti: 95 guintos

Value Meals

Beef Jerky, Fried Rice, and Sunny-Side Egg with Lemon Iced Tea: 85 guintos

Tropical-Style Grilled Hamburger with Chocolate Soy Milk: 89 guintos

One Piece Fried Chicken with Crispy Chip-Fries, Rice, and Lemon Iced Tea: 99 guintos

One Piece Fried Chicken with Macaroni Soup, Rice, and Chocolate Soy Milk: 99 guintos

Roasted Pork with Creamy Sauce, Rice, and Lemon Iced Tea: 109 guintos

Four Rivers Grilled Chicken with Chili and Garlic Sauce, Rice, and Chocolate Soy Milk: 109 guintos

Note: All value meals come with a free serving of Vanilla Ice Cream.

Brought to you by Grade 9-G

Alright, looks like I'll go there.

Fifteen minutes later...

My tummy got so full from the meal I ordered: Four Rivers Grilled Chicken with Chili and Garlic Sauce, Rice, and Chocolate Soy Milk.

My eyes even got their fill from a cute girl wearing an equally cute maid outfit.

I wonder how Belle would look in one, huh?

Desiring to avoid the huge crowds of people, I enter an sparsely-crowded hallway in the college campus of the Academy.

Once I'm out of the hallway, I'm greeted with...

Explosions.

Swords and spears clashing.

Random dialogue.

People screaming in pain or panic.

Explosions and dialogue.

All at the same time.

I try my best to dodge those explosions; and when I meet a seemingly hostile person, I push him out of the way – since I've got no time to summon my weapons and do battle myself.

And in the midst of all those explosions and dialogue, plus people dropping like flies left and right...

I can hear a piercing shout from a distance.

“CUT! CUT! CUUUUUUTTT!!!”