Arc 1 P4

Eating somewhere she could avoid unnecessary interaction was what she needed the most. Valerie usually ate home cooked food even when the cafeteria served dishes on par with the Neue family chef.

The courtyard was the place she often ate lunch. Under the shade of the centuries old cherry blossom. Centuries ago, some things were heavily time-gated with trees being one of them. People eagerly waited for spring just to enjoy this spectacular tree show its flowers. Now, seeing trees of different species bloom whenever was the norm. Want a cactus in a very wet environment? A simple order from a plant shop and they'd modify your plant to survive even if you're the most neglectful person in the world.

She poured the contents of a vacuum flask into a cup and savored the aroma of the herbal tea Kaya gave her. It's a hobby of hers to make genetically modify tea leaves and let Valerie note the taste and/or effects it had. She wasn't trying anything weird, thankfully, but her attempts often led to bitter or spicy leaves. In response to the unwanted taste, Valerie sometimes ate candy along with it. Today, she felt the bitterness complemented her food and mood.

"Was it not helpful, after all?" Kaya peered at her friend's inattentive gaze.

"The opposite actually."

"You don't have to butter me up, Val. I can take criticism. You can also say the notes I've compiled regarding the relic Erlingier wasn't helpful."

"I'm not flattering you. It's how I feel."

She didn't need to tell Kaya Feder messed up and played his role too well he ended up spilling out something only select teachers should know. Fortunately for him the announcement covered up his mistake. Not that it mattered anyway. He's been giving too many military-grade relics for Valerie's assignments all because she 'knew too much she got cocky'.

"Really? You've slept through Professor Feder's lecture again today. You didn't even wake up when he slapped your table. Is everything alright?"

Valerie sighed. "If I'm being partially honest, no."

Kaya didn't need to ask how she 'fully' felt. She understood that's about the most her friend could be given her position as a daughter of a politician. It's been ingrained in her system not to give anybody, and literally nobody must know their inner thoughts, doubts, and fears. Everything could be used against them and while it's a little painful not to be trusted, Kaya respected and was content Valerie was willing to be this open to her.

"I see. Oh!" Suddenly, she had a flash of idea. "Val, would you open your mouth?"

The girl complied. She knew Kaya wouldn't put anything weird—

As soon as she did, Kaya fed her. The abruptness of it made her choke which in turn burned her tongue from the hot and bitter tea.

"What gives?!" Valerie said with beads of tears forming at the corners of her eyes.

The girl was trying to hold her laughter. "Shock therapy..?"

"Dammit! I knew you're just looking for a guinea pig!"

"I'm sorry, okay? But believe me when I say I'm just trying to take your mind off those worries. One method was to use shock so I tried."

"Well, thanks to that, I'm sober as f—mmpff!" Kaya stuffed her mouth before she could finish.

While she's feeding Valerie, she's also taking notes. It's not just to deter any unpleasant rumors but also to monitor her friend's health. People often show patterns indicating their health. Patients weren't always honest, so what better way to train than with someone who's trained to be never honest?

After examining her notes, Kaya pulled out a small box from her bag. "These are my new attempts. I redid the chamomile and lavender samples to better suit today's food standards. Not that the past ones weren't any good, mind you."

"Say, Kaya," Valerie said once they're done eating. "This is just a random 3 a.m. thought or whatever, but how do you see Racquel?"

Kaya tilted her head to one side, quite curious by the question. "How I see Racquel… as an aide, perhaps?"

"I mean, yeah, we are pretty high up in the hierarchy so it's obvious. What I'm asking is… you know?"

Kaya's cheeks flushed red. "You mean..! Ow, ow, ow, ow! Stop it, Val!"

Valerie pinched her cheeks. "Not that way. As a person… sigh. Forget it."

"I won't. This conversation seemed important."

"Nah, like I said, just a 3 a.m. pondering kind of thing. Nothing serious."

"We're you asking about the tainted?" Once, Valerie didn't answer, she continued. "Well, I'm educated by the Academy to treat them as helpers, nothing more, nothing less. They're the only one's capable of wielding the relics so they're not essentially slaves…"

She trailed off. Usually, when someone wouldn't end their sentences properly, they're having doubts on the next part. Valerie was taught to avoid saying anything she couldn't say completely. Unfortunately, she's just human. She couldn't be as committed like her father, or grandfather, or her great grandfather, or everyone else up in the family tree.

She felt Kaya was thinking hard on the topic.

The 'tainted' were those who stood on the opposite side of the spectrum. They could only use relics due to the nature of their bodies and not possess the ability to activate them. Valerie and Kaya on the other hand, could activate relics but cannot use them. Even if they tried, they're often too unskilled with the relic they owned.

If the tainted were supposed to be helpers, why were they treated as slaves then? Nobody would outright admit it but society had been gaslighting itself with this norm. Was it the way things truly were? Was it so humiliating to become a tainted that someone with ill intentions could use it to destroy a name?

Despite the chatting and giggling nearby, the two were lost in contemplation.

"It's… not your fault, Val," Kaya said. Despite not knowing anything, her senses told her what Valerie needed at the moment wasn't an answer. Her friend sought comfort.

"…Thanks, friend."

Earlier that day, on a quiet corner of the morning news, the Lumasteria family, a line of excellent surgeons, were stripped off of their privileges after confirming that their son had indeed turned into a tainted. Cause of the transformation was still under investigation.

***

"Following the announcement, I've decided not to change my method for your training."

Wilhelm's hologram looked at each of the students at his class. Being at the order specialization meant conducting classes like this. Among the three fields, order saw the highest enrollees. It's the trend even when he looked at the past data. Antonolov was right. Humanity was stuck in the same cycle even after how many years with no signs of breaking out soon.

"You might be worried, confused even, on what's happening. You're not alone. The faculty shared the sentiment. In fact, if I'm being honest, I'm as lost as you are. However, it's also precisely at these times that we needed to remember our learnings. Moving recklessly would make matters worse, that's why we needed to adjust our orientation and keep our composure. Rest assured, once the faculty have been properly oriented on this sudden announcement, our learning direction will be formally conveyed to you asap. That's all."

"Everyone's excited," Valerie muttered, reading the sentiment of her class. Instead of the distraught, long faces the hologram said, hyped up giggles and murmuring filled the room.

Wilhelm Rañez's classes were perhaps the most exciting one in the whole Academy. It's a hands-on tactical training that's perfectly safe despite how dangerous some missions were sometimes.

After that long briefing, Valerie operated the holographic display in her table. As the other students also did the same, walls emerged from their sides, forming a small room that'd serve as the command center. The wall in front was one-way, allowing them to see Wilhelm's figure as he gave instructions.

"Remember, do not abuse the relic Leash's capabilities. Your performance is recorded and I'll be grading you accordingly. Today may be the same old extermination mission but always put your best foot forward and protect your team's lives. That's all."

With his permission, their terminals glowed green, signaling the start of the operation.