The holidays were a rare time for Guardian schools and their fledgling protectors. For many of the students, it would be the first time in what must have felt like ages of struggling and suffering since they could return to some sense of normalcy.
Some had not faced such hardship before, knowing only the best life had to offer, handed directly to them from the end of the silver spoon.
These coddled and catered to students were the first to regret their decision to come to the Academy, but honoring their family's legacy that binds them to their duty was the price they paid for the status they held.
Giving them no say in the matter of attending.
While others were more familiar with how difficult life could be, whether they were forced to handle more responsibility such as using the money from the Quests they completed to provide for their family, or taking care of their siblings as orphans.
To them, being a Guardian was as much about duty as it was about providing for their basic needs.
What both groups of students shared in was their longing for some rest after the events of the Carnival, away from all that was asked of them since stepping on the campus grounds of Trinity Cross Academy.
And this desire for relief came in the form of the holiday break.
For the first holiday break of the year, students were given three weeks of time-off for them to do with as they pleased, while those who had no plans to leave the school would still be accommodated as the facilities would still be staffed throughout the entire holiday period.
As the rest of Class 1F had already left the campus by the afternoon of the last school day, all but two remained. Reiss much to his dismay had to participate in all the preparatory meetings that were working towards structuring the next term of school, binding him to the campus far longer than he would have liked.
This duty was generally reserved for those more enthusiastic of the staff, however the Headmistress took special care to leave it in the hands of him, Salazar and Dr. Arturion for their behavior during the Cross Gardens Tournament. It was clear that no one was above the Headmistress' authority.
The other member of Class 1F was dragging the last of her luggage out of her room as she made her way to the tram station. Occasionally she would check her Notebook, but her expression was unbothered each time she did.
Leaving the campus and heading eastwards brings the students and any Guardians to the third stop available via the tram station.
The Voix-Glissaint Station catered to Guardians exclusively as well as those aspiring to the role.
Since they only sell high end products, it is difficult to afford for most students, motivating them to take on Quests and other work as Guardians as they find value in learning to do things on their own.
Depending on your class' standing in terms of points or ranking, you may be privileged to receive a discount as is one of the benefits afforded to those with a higher class status.
These most sought after locations were:
-> Rola's Boutique;
-> Ellaphrie Essentials;
-> Schnee Cafe;
-> Font and Featherine Confectionaries;
-> Victor-Marron's Bookstore and Antiques;
-> Glissaint Archway Theatre.
The Glissaint Station, deceptively named so was akin to a scaled down shopping district, meant to have a variety of stores that can offer the students whatever they need without having to travel far from the campus-controlled facilities.
From high end fashion all the way from High City's designers to confectionary stores offering candies and coffees through authentic Faltarien cafes, there was nothing that someone would find uninteresting about what the station had to offer.
However access to the Station is restricted to either ranked students or those with sufficient Class points.
After the Carnival, the option to go to the Glissaint Station appeared in her Notebook but she was far too busy to explore it let alone even notice it since the exam week soon followed the closing of the Carnival.
Seeing off the Security Guard of the estate, she descended down into the tram station and took the trip east into Deep City.
Once Tersia arrived, her eyes were again on her Notebook expecting a message but nothing came of it, the hopeful sea blue glow that would accompany her sterling eyes faded by some measure each time she checked, with the hint of melancholy below the surface.
She eventually found a bench near the Schnee Café for some shade.
While she would have liked to be out of the intense summer heat, the inside of the café was already filled to the brim and felt now drive to be seated by herself in such a lively place, and so she instead made a place for herself on what empty space she could find within the patio area as she was met with an unlikely sight.
Tersia passed along her order to the waiter when she happened to notice a trio of Class 1A students leaving one of the stores, as they were accompanying Princess Charlotte who she only noticed as they were about to enter the car that had just arrived for them.
From out of the vehicle stepped out a figure who made way for the Princess to enter. As she did, Heimrill followed, making sure to be careful with all of her things she had purchased.
Before the last of them had entered, they took a few steps away from the car to exchange a few words with the stranger.
It was then that she realized who the familiar student with him was,
'Vauntuss?' While she couldn't make out what they had been talking about, Tersia noted the nods the stranger would continuously give in response to Vauntuss, until he was eventually satisfied, sending him off to the car.
The interaction lasted only a few moments and ended with Vauntuss staying behind as the convoy left without him.
He stood there for a while with what felt like a silent frustration before unclenching his fist and lifting his head to look around. His gaze was caught by the patio area that Tersia was seated by, and before long he began to walk towards it.
When he finally got to it, he soon realized how popular the café was, with little room available for him to sit, he took the next unoccupied place, which would have him outside while he waited for his next car to arrive.
The shape of the figure seeming unfamiliar, Vauntuss simply asked for a seat beside them.
Surprised, Tersia quickly grew irritated as she berated for his seemingly posh attitude despite the 'hate war' between his class and hers, especially with how he behaved the last time they spoke...
Vauntuss scratched his head before angrily telling her how hot it is standing out in the open and that the shade was all he was looking to enjoy even adding that he doesn't even know who she is, thinking that it would make it clear to Tersia to mind herself.
Angered by such a comment, Tersia stood up and as she took a proud posture,
"I am Tersia Lamiastell of House Lamiastell, Class 1F, don't pretend that you don't remember me."
"After what you did to Erai and Torren, not to mention what you said to Vaceris about us, you'd think I would be so passive as to allow you to be in my company? Don't think I'll hesitate to put you in the dirt again, Vaceris won't stop me this time." Vauntuss was prepared to stand his ground but then he heard her name.
The sound of her last name shook countless times in his head before...suddenly his stature changed.
Tersia was just as thrown off at the sight, as he was now standing at attention without a slight bow as to honor her in some way. He apologized for his rude behavior and ill-knightly conduct in the face of a noble.
Flustered and embarrassed by the sudden change in tone, Tersia quickly looked over her shoulder to make sure that no one bore witness to the scene that unfolded. As her stammering subsided, Tersia pleaded with him to stop, asking him to stop acting so strange.
But Vauntuss refused to stand down, so Tersia offered him the option to go back to the way he was and she would ignore his transgressions. Vauntuss finally complied.
The young knight now stared intently at Tersia until she finally told him to stop, denying him the sight of her twitching eyes as she covered them with her hands, while her eyes darted away from him within a surprising timidity.
He went on to say that he couldn't believe that he hadn't recognize a member of Lamiastell nobility in the same class as Vaceris…
"How could you when your eyes are almost affixed to the sight of Erai or Vaceris whenever our classes interact."
The teased knight raised an eyebrow, with full intention to comment on the mention of the snow-haired Daumier of her class, although he found himself met with no words, with his abrupt pause causing a light smirk to slip from her curled lips.
As the air between the two of them settled with a calm, she invited him to sit with her if he still wanted to, which he earnestly accepted.
Vauntuss sat beside her, but in that single moment, it became obvious to her keen eye that something was bothering him.
Watching how firm his grip was against the armrest and the weighted exhale that was forced out of his after leaning back into the bench, what she saw was a troubled mind, and body that carried it.
Curious, Tersia asked him what was wrong.
Vauntuss responded by asking why she wasn't already home, as surely her house would have already sent someone for her.
She instead chose to answer in the form of a question for him by asking him if whether or not this worried him, though Vauntuss simply expressed that as a knight he was raised on ideals that the nobles and royals are of the utmost importance and as such they must always remain in the company of protection so for her still be at school and unguarded...simply left him feeling unsettled.
To ease the concerned look on his face, she promised to tell him the truth if he stopped calling her Lady Lamiastell, believing she could confide in him since he was a knight after all.
The young man called to the disrespect of actually calling a noble by their first name, though the annoyed look Tersia shared drove that privilege right to call her by a nickname right down his throat.
Seeing the fiery determination in her eyes made Vauntuss eventually give in albeit reluctantly.
"Umm, then what of Lamia?' He blurted nervously. Something which caught her off guard and made her somewhat stutter as she blushed. To hide this, she tries to play it off by calling Vauntuss a hilarious nickname.
"If that's the case, then I'll call you Erie." She remarked. Hearing the name, Vauntuss downright refused, showing no intention of backing down, so Tersia simply let it go.
As Vauntuss calmed down, Tersia slowly began explaining.
"You said you wanted to know right...well I guess it's because I don't really have any kind of say in the matter. Even though I'm a noblewoman of House Lamiastell, my parents actually passed away in an accident when I was much younger so my uncle from my father's side took me in and raised me."
"Though the longer I stayed with them, the more apparent it became that something wasn't quite right."
Vauntuss leaned over with an inquisitive expression on his face as she continued.
"Eventually it became clear that the odd feeling I was having wasn't any sort of paranoia or delusion. I wasn't all that much older than nine years when I stumbled upon them, and ended up eavesdropping on a conversation between them and a few other nobles during a family lunch or at least that is what it seemed like, they preferred to keep away from the eyes of the public."
"Perhaps they wished that I would disappear if they managed to forget that I was ever around."
"Honestly, it was quite sickening." Giving a half-hearted laugh though her expression bore no glee.
"To hear them spinning and bathing in the praise they received for managing the arduous task of "taking me in" and talking about how grateful I should be because of them. Sadly, they didn't feel the same, with my uncle strongly attesting the idea of him doing me any sort of kindness."
"Why would your own blood despise you?" Vauntuss asked as if the very idea was alien to him.
"My uncle wasn't very fond of my father, perhaps it was because he inherited the title of Head of our House or because he embraced relations with the Beastmen instead of scorning them like others in the family."
"So you are Therian, or at least a Daumier?" His eyes finally noticed the outline of fluffy ears she tried to hide with her dark hair.
"It's a little more complicated than that but for a simple answer, yes."
"And your uncle is also Therian? Then, I see. The people of the Eastern Races vary widely, from accepting to disgusted when it comes to the idea of mingling with other races, I've heard disturbing things of what would happen to Beastmen-Daumier in the Far-East territory belonging to the Therianthropes."
"He is, but some people aren't able to accept the differences in others. Whatever it was, it became clear that he hated the fact I was around."
"If that's the case, then why did they insist on taking care of you?" Vauntuss asked with a visible look of frustration.
Seeing the concern on Vauntuss' face, she simply let out a weary sigh, through a sullen smile and said,
"Well, it's probably because I'm the heir, set to inherit the responsibility of leading my family some day, but I'm not of age...thus placing them in the position my parents once held."
While she spoke, the sight of a well-adorned vehicle stopped in front of the café.
The markings on its hood and the doors were the decorated coat of arms belonging to the Crossbane Royal Family, its silverine details and filigree shimmered against the amber glow of the afternoon sun.
A tall and silver-haired gentleman stepped out. With an appearance of an elderly man that wore his greying mane in a hairstyle that resembled the bun-like style of the House, that instead had his hair slicked back as opposed to their traditional knot that relied on one's bangs to bind the rest of their trait wild and unruly hair.
Adorned with a silverine crest on the breast, as well as a silver chain linked to the side of his waist, that was wrapped in a dark blue sash.
All together with the black pants that were paired with a well fitted coat, his visage had him standing apart from even the most noble figures passing by.
"That's quite the appearance they're making. I wonder, if that is the driver, who is the passenger–" What Tersia had said made way for the spectacle that had appeared in front of them.
"Mr. Bluerest?"
"Good day, Master Vauntuss, it is pleasing to see you are well and proper. And you my lady…"
"Good day to you as well. I don't believe we have met. My name is Sorlei Bluerest, the Head butler of House Strum." The distinguished man introduced himself with a bow.
"Well met, sir. My name is Tersia Lamiastell, it's a pleasure to meet you." Tersia said, meeting his well-mannered gesture with an involuntary curtsy, something that surprised both of them.
After their introductions, Mr. Bluerest informed Vauntuss that it was time for them to leave as the family sent him to ensure that he would arrive safely.
"Thank you, Mr. Bluerest, I'll join you soon." After they had finished their quick exchange, Mr. Bluerest started packing the young master's luggage into the car.
"Looks like he's here for you."
Vauntuss approached Tersia,
"It seems like this is where I'll have to depart."
The keen eyed elder noticed how his young master's statement visibly birthed an air of disappointment for them both, wearing if he was just as he had left the Manor.
"Then I wish you a safe journey, sir Vauntuss of House Strum." Vauntuss agreed and before walking off, he stopped and turned to ask her, "Perhaps next time, instead of greeting me with violence, you can finish your story."
"If there ever is a next time, you'll have to tell me yours."
The thought of their next encounter, would it be a battle or maybe another scheme one of their Class Captains would orchestrate to try and get ahead.
'Why would any of this matter, our classes are destined to be at odds…' But what he thought and what he wanted to say fell out of sync the moment he registered her tone.
Vauntuss stopped in his tracks, turning back to say the first thing that came to his mind, he was greeted with the sight the sun-kissed noblewoman as the glow of the setting sun illuminated her visage, with her dark hair fluttering in the wind in a stunning sight...to Vauntuss it felt like he was about to lose something...a sensation.
Fearing that this might indeed be the last of such a feeling, the young knight turned away from the car and walked back to her.
A confused Sorlei left the car as he watched the young man walk off towards her, all the while Tersia was scolding him for his idiocy as he had to be on his way, he had responsibilities as a noble house so he should leave already...but Vauntuss ignored her, continuing to walk towards her.
While still scolding him, Vauntuss asks for her hand and tells her that we should get going,
"What are you doing, where are we going?" She asked, becoming flustered with each passing second.
"Isn't it obvious, we are escorting you home, after all it's what we knights do." He responded as they started walking towards the vehicle before turning to Tersia to end his reply with a comforting smile...an act that caused the young lady to turn flushed from cheek to ear with fever.
While she fell still, in place. Vauntuss took several steps before coming to a halt, asking her what was wrong,
"Do you really intend on taking me home, even though you might be late?" She asked as she stared at her feet in flustered awkwardness.
"Sure I'll definitely be late…"
"Then there's no need to burden yourself, I will be on my own way soon…"
"But I think I'll sleep better knowing that you got home safe. Do you want to spend another night alone in the dormitory? So let's go." He remarked before outstretching his hand for her to grasp.
"If you're afraid to ask for something, to burden someone, then turn to me, and as a knight I'll make it my duty." His sterling blue eyes would be resolute with his intention.
While hesitant at first, Tersia took his hand...choosing to burden someone else for the first time.
"Then I expect to be brought home safely, sir knight."
"As I will, Lady Lamiastell." The two of them tried to mask their joy as they shared a hearty laughter together, unknowingly grasping his hand even tighter, what struck her odd was the warmth that came from his gloved hand.
Mr. Bluerest's eyes gleamed with joy as he saw the young master impart his joy on the young lady, before quickly ushering the two into the vehicle as he rushed over to pack the young lady's bags and eventually set off.
At the time of their departure from Trinity Cross Academy, it was almost 18h30 with the capital city of the Falsetti Kingdom, Voix ta Mon was about three hours from Aria , Mt. Bluerest decided to take the northwestern road so that they could try and get the young lady home as soon as possible.
Voix ta Mon, like the other major cities of the First World, was built upon the ruins of the old kingdoms and nations, those that were still around when myths of the First Races' arrival into this world closer to lived truths and there were no Guardians to protect them, a time most sought desperately to forget.
But for what was known by the common man, beast or elf, the home of this nation's ruler was to the Northwest of its largest city, Aria. Near the Midwest of Melodoria, it is afforded a truly welcoming climate. It is here that the Capital City resides.
The architecture and configuration of the city was designed with the safety of the King in mind, as the Songfall Palace sits at the center of several layers that make up the very fabric of the city. From the outskirts of Voix ta Mon to its epicenter, each concentric layer house members of society with varying relation to the Royal Family
The Capital Square
Is the largest area of Voix ta Mon, housing the largest population of Aria, the common man work in everything from industry and farming to forestry and fishing. Its presence of schools and growing culture bring a lot of travelers to visit and even settle down. This is the layer farthest from the Palace.
The Noble Square
Is home to the fiefdoms of the nobility that serves under the Falsetti Kingdom. Owning a portion of the layer as a symbol of their control within the kingdom, only those that rule territories within Melodorian borders are permitted to dwell within this layer.
The Knight Square
The noble knight houses reside within this region, being the second smallest, the lands within this layer belong to the Knight Houses that serve the Crossbane Royal Family. Acting as the first line of defense for the King, as well as his closest allies.
The Royal Square
Where the royal home of the Crossbane family resides, the Songfall Palace. Being the most guarded layer of the capital city, under the constant and vigilant watch of the knights of the city.
The two of them continued with their exchange, sharing more and more stories and memories on their way to the capital...going on to the point that they had tired themselves out some time into the drive, bringing the cabin of the car to a soothing rumble as the car cruised along ferrying the now sleeping passengers.
Managing to arrive at the capital, Voix to Mon around quite late into the evening.
The myriad of stars now filled the midnight sky as Mr. Bluerest parked the car into the Strum Manor courtyard. After getting out of the vehicle and calling for the aids to take care of their luggage, Tersia and Vauntuss stepped out of the car.
"I thought you were going to escort me home?" Tersia asked as they stood at the front door of the Manor.
"It's already quite late. Mr. Bluerest notified your home before we arrived and asked mother if you could stay the night." Vauntuss answered her as he thanked Mr. Bluerest for bringing them home safely as he took the rest of the luggage inwards.
"You want me…to spend the night, in your home?"