Stars and Swords

Blue Maiden

The next day, the students awoke to the sound of the academy bells, signalling the start of the second day of the Preliminaries. Today's tests were for practicals, namely Formal Etiquette, Combat Basics, and the written exam for Introduction to Tactics. As it does everyday, groans of students waking up to face another day can be heard all over the quarters. Showers can be then heard all over the bathrooms being turned on full blast. some even singing under them, much to others' chagrin. Around sunrise, recruits start packing the mess hall full, which is no small feat considering the size of said hall.

Scrolls of parchment and opened books dot the many tables of the mess hall, all recruits eager to get a little more studying in before the exams begin, while others opted to concentrate on their meal, thinking its nutrients will help sharpen their focus in the upcoming tests of the day. Off in the distant set of tables, Oren and his gang can be seen laughing about something while Baz chows down his meal savagely. Holos and his friends meanwhile, were discussing what could come up today in the tests.

"Combat Basics is today..." groaned Alec.

"How is one going to get stronger as a knight if you disdain learning it?" piped up Franz.

"Beside, we gotta prove those wackjobs wrong." reminded Holos. "I did hear one of the newest Knights in The Order is gonna be testing us today, I wonder who he may be?" he womdered.

"One of the Knights of Polaria?" Franz gawked.

"I did hear the same too for Formal Etiquette." piped up Alec. "And its a Valkr too, so I heard." he continued.

"A Valkr testing our etiquette? They are sparing no expense I see..." mused Art. "Though, they I guess could send for two total, given there's nothing major going on..." he went on.

"And pray to The Celestium they may never be all needed." said Holos sagely. "From what I heard from the Headmaster, they are intended as the last hope if a war as severe as the Great War of old ever comes to pass." he said.

The four boys went on with their meal discussing the upcoming tests and preparing themselves.

By midday, the exam hall was incurring quite a line. Pairs and groups of recruits are practicing etiquette amongst themselves when their instructor for the subject in question came into view along with a stately woman in an electric blue dress, fair skin, blue eyes, and brown hair adorned with a star hairpin with an attached pink ribbon to it.

"Recruits!" the instuctor called everyone's attention. Already, some are murmuring amongst themselves, clearly knowing who their guest for the exam is. "Today, your etiquette will be tested by the first Valkr herself, Soura Bluesky." she declared, gesturing to her guest. "Ms. Bluesky, any words you would want to impart to our youngins here?" asked the matronly instructor to the younger woman.

"Hello, recruits." began Soura "Today, the Academy has called on me to test what have you learned so far about proper knightly etiquette. Combat prowess is one thing, but etiquette is quite a different battle altogether where it is fought with a different weapon: grace and wit." she said, "May you today prove to have etiquette befitting a Knight of Polaria." she finished , curtsying as she did so.

Holos was silent the whole time, trying to not say or do something foolish. Here she is, a friend from childhood, not only is she testing him and he rest of his class today, but is part of an organization everyone in the Academy can only dream of. Finally, Franz spoke up.

"Holos...you were deathly silent the whole time." Franz observed, "Do you perhaps know her? Ms. Bluesky, I mean." he clarified.

"She attended the same school with me once...her, Asuka, and Tennor..." Holos began, "Never expected to see her...so beautiful, so eloquent." he quietly gushed.

"Hey Holos...are you perhaps...in love?" asked Art, feigning innocence.

"Wh-what?!" yelped Holos, flustered. "I did NOT say ANYTHING of the sort!" he retorted, "It's just...after all those years..." he stuttered.

"I would not blame Holos." piped up Alec, "She is quite a woman." he dreamily sighed. "All the more reason to do better in the practical!" he gushed.

"On that, I'll agree." Art nodded, going back to poring over his notes about greetings. Soon enough, the line was back to practicing their manners harder than ever. Soon, the instructor began calling out names to begin the practical examination. The test was to how to introduce oneself and conduct a conversation. Stammers and stutters can be heard echoing throughout the test room which actually is just another classroom. Students came in and went out of the room with varying reactions. Art went in first among Holos' group, heaving in and out before he went in.

"Wish me luck, friends." he said to his three other friends, as he exhaled. All three did the same, and soon Art was off. It took a few minutes for Art to be tested by Soura, and soon, he was out. Art's face wasn't a clear indicaion of how things truly went in there.

"I do hope my effort was enough." Art exhaled, after a few tense moments.

"How'd it went, Art?" asked Alec.

"Holos was right to be enthralled, she is beautiful." stated Art. "I did manage to keep it together somehow." he hastily clarified.

"I mean, she was already cute when I last saw her..." mused Holos.

"Holos, you aren't helping your case, ye know..." suggested Alec, to which Holos just sighed.

A few more recruits were called in to face their test. Soon, Holos was called in for his examination.

"Hey, good luck in there, man." said Franz, patting him on the shoulder once. Holos didn't say anything, but was appreciative of his friend's gesture. Alec and Art just nodded at him, wishing him good luck too silently. The walk to the examination room was quite short, but tense. Past a certain point, the crowd got distant and by the time he was near the door, he could only faintly hear them. He then opened the door to reveal Soura sitting immaculately, waiting for the next student with a dignified smile.

"Holos!" she greeted the silver-haired boy warmly., "Haven't seen you in a while." she says, nodding.

"It has been long, Soura." said Holos, bowing as he said so.

"Shall we meet after this?" she asked Holos.

"You are far too kind, Valkr. I am just a recruit." exhaled Holos.

"Well then, she we begin your test, old friend?" Soura asked, smiling as she said so.

"I am ready, Valkr." said Holos determinedly.

The examination began in earnest. Soura opened, and Holos answered with dignity, as how their lessons taught them. Later on, Soura started playing more and more complicated situations, to which Holos mustered his best, having to improvise his way out of the various situations Soura put him through. Finally, the test was declared ended.

"You did well Holos." she said to the silver-haired boy, who got flustered a little. "You are still the boy of my youth." she smiled warmly. "Meet me later after the tests." she told him. "We have so much to discuss...as old friends." she finished, gesturing Holos out of the door to conclude the examination. Holos can only smile as he went out of the room to make way for the next examinee. Holos then walked back to the crowd where his friends waited.

"Hey, how did it went?" Franz asked eagerly.

"Hold yourself, Franz, let him take a minute." Art said cooly. Alec waited tensely for Holos to talk.

"She says she wants to meet me after this day's tests." Holos spoke finally after a few moments.

"Any clue why?" piped up Alec.

"She...probably wants to catch up. It has been long since we last saw each other..." Holos said, staring off into the distance blankly.

The examination soon finished after 30 more minutes or so. To conclude, the instructor thanked Soura for today's effort and reminded results will come next week after tomorrow. The students began to disperse into the training grounds to start to face the second practical examination of the day: Combat Basics. Oren and his lackeys are sniggering with glee at the prospect of their favorote subject up next.

Holos meanwhile, was about to meet another face from childhood.