Chapter 10: Speech
So it was that I stood amongst the teachers in front of all the recently admitted students all formed up and waiting for something. Just then did Arthur gently pushed me towards the elevated platform that the teachers had used to put themselves on everyone's sight.
"Go ahead, the honour student should be the one to give the welcome speech right?"
I was so surprised that I couldn't even react before I was already on the steps of the wooden platform. The situation was making me so nervous that I could almost hear my own heart beating in my chest, but even so I had to step forward and do this somehow. And so I walked onto the platform and stopped at around the middle of it.
I instinctively placed my hands behind me, just so I could hide my sweaty palms. Next, I took a moment to breathe deeply and organize some words inside my mind. I could swear that my brain hadn't worked so hard and fast on something ever in my entire life, and when the words were ready, I proceeded to speak aloud in the best immitation of Arthur I could do.
"Brothers, Sisters. I am honoured to be standing in front of you today! We have a long journey in front of us, and I hope you won't dissapoint the name of this fine establishment!!"
I stopped for a moment as soon as I noticed everyone was paying attention, and took another deep breath before speaking out once more.
"That is why I ask of you to put your noble names aside and let your actions speak instead of your tittles! Leave your mark upon this academy, and carve your own names in history!"
It was nothing else than a few words said by a completely regular girl that was just wearing a somewhat expensive uniform. They weren't meant to mean anything big or important to anyone amongst the students present. And nonetheless, in front of me, almost every single person seemed to be hyped up, and when one student saluted me, the rest followed suit.
[ Status Update ]
[ "Commander Lvl 1" has evolved into "Commanding Voice" ]
[ "Inspiring Leader" has been added into your status. ]
The notification that followed suit surprised me, but I welcomed it very much. I looked towards Arthur, as if waiting for further instructions, and he just gave me a salute as well. I nodded and saluted to the rest of the students before stepping off the platform and positioning me by Arthur's side once more.
A few moments later, everyone was dismissed, as classes would start a few hours later at noon. I stood there until everyone except me and Arthur were remaining, and I looked at him with a big pout and teary eyes.
"Why would you do that?!"
"Hehe...Well, you did perfect, miss 'Honour Student'"
"Please don't call me that...I almost had a heart attack..."
"Sorry, Sorry...You can go now, first class is going to be theory so there isn't going to be any pressure on you specifically."
"Thanks, see you later."
"Bye Bye!"
He still seemed to be incredibly casual towards me, and that attitude made me naturally follow along. I could really feel that he had much more charisma than I could ever hope to have, and that somehow was starting to make me feel a little smaller somehow.
Anyway, I went straight to my room. I passed by many students on the way, and at least I could notice that the glares were not completely awful at all, and that made me a little more confident after what I had to do, but still...I could already feel pressure being put on top of my shoulders now that I was the honour student of the school.
"Damn me...Why did I had to try so hard..."
I reprimanded myself once I was laying in my bed, I knew that now there was no escape from this position, so I decided that I would have to continue playing my part until the course is over. And once I started to think about it...What would happen once it was over? Would I be drafted into some kind of Military Service? I remember that followig general knowledge, our nation was in a very drastic and bad spot politically right now.
"Did I just sent myself into war?....God damn it."
I almost started crying due to the fact that I had been so naive. Of course eventually I would have to do it, but I still felt that going straight towards it made me some kind of evil warmonger...
"Well, what's done is done! I should finish writing the information and start studying while I have free time."
I said, deciding to leave thinking for later, now proceeding to sit down at my desk and transcribing the raiming information that Siegfried gave me into my journal. After that, I managed to get my notebooks assigned for each class, and just as I was done, another horn was blown and the call for class was made.
I walked guiding myself with the bulk of students and the map that each of the students were handed of along the other books and notebooks at each desk. First class was "Introduction to Tactics" and it apparently was more or less just what it said in its tittle, an easy to understand yet complex introduction to general terms of tactics and planning.
The topic reminded me of the book I had with me, so I decided to bring it along just in case it proves to be useful. We entered the room and sat down as we pleased, and this is something that really confused me. Even though this was supossed to be a Military Academy, procedures were very casual and there was almost no protocols of etiquette besides the common standards for nobles and all.
I kept thinking about it as we waited for the teacher to enter the classroom, all while reading the book I brought with me from Aard. It was a nice and interesting read, so it was really a great thing to invest my free time in. Besides, I wanted to try real hard to keep my status as first in the class, and it wouldn't be easy without studying very heavily.
The teacher was a young man with short black hair, he was wearing a black uniform decorated with some medals, and he had an intimidating aura around him. I didn't knew if that was the usual or not, so I kept it out of my mind just to stay calm and not on guard.
The class started with him dictating terms I already knew about, but even so I paid close attention just in case he started asking questions. Basically everyone was making notes, but I wasn't since I already had both taken notes of a fairly more advanced level, and a book specialized on it that I had fully read. For some reason, lately, I started to feel almost as if my mind was working at its fullest potential since I didn't forgot anything and information organized itself very easily inside my mind.
It was an odd thing, but maybe the clearance of mind that Siegfried gave me was helping me even now. I still didn't had a certain answer for it, but the origin of this recently discovered mental capacity made me very curious. And just when I was seemingly slowly but surely drifting off the class inside my head, I noticed that the teacher was looking straight at me.
He didn't said a thing, we just crossed eyes for a moment before he continued his class, but I truly felt some kind of heavy bloodlust just from that single moment. Probably it was nothing, probably he just wanted to glare at me for no reason, but the fact that I felt fear strike into my heart just from his sight made me instinctively on guard during the whole class, and I couldn't think about anything else until it was over.
With sweaty hands and a quick heartbeat, I left the classroom put off. I was feeling dazed and the feeling of fear looming over me didn't drop even for a second until I arrived at my room. Just when I closed the door could I finally take a deep breathe and lay on my bed.
"Just what....The hell was that...."
There was another class later, same thing as before but with physical combat and practice instead of theory. There's no need to say that I basically obliterated every single opponent in front of me, but what did surprise me was that once the sparring part was over, many students came around me asking for guidance.
I obliged and taught them a thing or two about footwork since it was where they were mostly lacking, and after all was done, and I was the only one remaining in the courtyard after class, it felt incredibly...Nice to hear those words. It may be just a small detail, just a few words without any feelings behind them, but even so, something about hearing "Thank you" made my eyes tear up a little.
I stood there to train a little before going back to my room so I could go to bed and fall asleep. That night, I had a nice dream. A happy one.
How many nights had I gone without a single one of those?
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
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