Father Piccelli

March 13th, Imperial Year 879 
Cartethene Academy Training Grounds

Phoebe's ice magic is always a delight to see.

"Haaah-ya!" Phoebe shot a thin strand of ice from her fingers, and the shard impacted itself upon a target, freezing it as it turned into a beautiful crystal shard. It was lovely, just like her.

I've always considered myself lucky to be friends with such a beautiful girl like her. Well, I admit I'm not so bad myse-

Smack!

I had of course, completely neglected to notice the fact that I had been locked in quite a fierce duel with my sister, Hannah. Her training axe impacted my head, and my helmet went flying off. I dropped my spear.

"Gotcha!" Hannah gave me a smile. "You see distracted today. Am I catching up to you?" 

"Just having a bad training day today." I grabbed my training spear and staggered up. "Besides, how many other seniors do you see training this close to graduation?"

I looked around and immediately bit my words. Quite a few more than I'd expected.

"A lot?"

"Yes yes, so maybe not everyone. But, I'll try harder this time." I positioned my weapon so that it pointed straight at her. "Another go?"

"So eager to beat up his own sister. Shame on you, Jason. I thought you were a knight?" Rayne sauntered up to me, his arms crossed. "Hello Hannah, my dear." He gave her a wink.

"Rayne, if you're trying to flirt with Hannah, I will have to be the one dueling you instead."

"I thought we were friends Jason? I don't see why a family alliance between the Thame and Fiorenzo family is such a bad thing."

You're really asking for it today, aren't you, Rayne?

"Alright Rayne. You and me. Duel. Right now." I put my finger on my neck and drew it across my neck dramatically. Only then did I notice there were quiet a few eyes on us. I grinned

"Isabella, look!" Said Viola, one of my classmates. "Jason and Rayne are going to have a duel!"

Hmm, perhaps I had drawn more attention than was optimal. No matter, as long as I didn't lose, this wasn't a bad thing.

Uh, as long as I didn't lose. I appreciate the attention, but the pressure is mounting.

"Win conditions?" Rayne asked me as I threw down my spear and replaced it with a training sword.

"Swords only. As for the scoring, I'll let you decide."

"A single tap then, best out of three."

Oh god, this is actually somewhat embarrassing. Despite what you're thinking, I've never done anything like this before. Especially when taken into account that Thame family nobles specialize in being a "mounted heavy peltast", so horse archery and spear throwing, not melee duels.

"Good luck you two!" Isabella shouted from the crowd as Rayne dreamily waved back. "May the best fighter win!"

I gave Isabella a (hopefully) charming wink and a salute, to which she merely waved back with a friendly smile on her face. Out of the corner of my eye however, I could see a not-so-happy Phoebe looking at me with a look of annoyance.

I really am no better than Rayne, am I? Well no matter, her angry face is cute to look at. I gave her a wink as well, to which she responded with an exasperated, but somewhat relieved sigh. 

I spun around my blade, as Rayne powered up his crest, channeling the energy into his blade. We may not be casters, but a good enhancement boost can mean the difference between defeat and victory if your dueling skills are equal. Despite my lineage, my magecraft skills are unfortunately, quite pathetic. Good mana reserves and a decent-ish understanding of magecraft theory mean nothing if you lack a good crest capable of significant magical output. 

"Alright!" Hannah shouted, as she had, for some reason, positioned herself as the referee of the conflict. "Any words to one another?" 

"May thy blade, chip and shatter." Rayne said jokingly, as he gave me a small salute. Darn, that was a good one. But as my brain wracked itself for a good response, I noticed that the students were no longer looking at us anymore, and only too late did I discover Father Piccelli walking down the now-parted crowd of students.

"Have I interrupted you at a bad time, gentlemen?"

Rayne immediately stood back and shook his head.

"Oh, no Father Piccelli. We were uh, simply messing around." Rayne stood back, his blade lowered.

I too, set my blade back.

"F-father. We were simply..."

Father Piccelli laughed with the kind of manner only a man his age could do.

"A duel? Over a woman perhaps, Rayne?" He turned his eyes to me. "Or perhaps did our dear Jason do something unexpected?"

"No, no-"

"May I interrupt this duel with some important knowledge for the seniors? Dante, Isabella, Viola, and Maximo, I expect you to come with me too."

"Is something going on?" I asked. "Er, concerning the graduation ceremony, I presume?"

"It most certainly does, my child." Father Piccelli looked around at the other students, his hand on his chin. 

"What does it concern, father?" Rayne asked, stepping forwards.

"It is news that His Majesty shall be visiting our Academy on the day of the graduation. Furthermore-" Father Piccelli stopped. "No, perhaps you all should to know. Follow me, children."

***

I turned back to see Phoebe struggling to keep up, her face looking down at the ground amidst the cacophony of the crowd, who eagerly awaited as the doors to the crypt began to slowly unravel. I began to head towards her to reassure her, but Father Piccelli was faster. Perhaps it was for the best. Would she even want me making a fuss in front of everyone?

"Not a fan of crowds as usual, I see." He stood by her, giving her the reassuring and gentle smile we all knew Father Piccelli for.

"I...yes, Father."

"Entirely acceptable, my child. A reserved individual is no less valuable than the gregarious. A society cannot solely persist on the outgoing."

"Thank you, Father." 

"My pleasure. Ah, and it appears the crypt doors are finally open." The cryptkeeper called Father Piccelli over, and as I contemplated on whether I should go over to Phoebe, several of my classmates were calling me over.

"Jason, over here!" In contrast to the blob of a crowd that were the younger years, the seniors had all formed up into neat lines. Despite my deliberation, in the end, I headed to the sound of Alex's voice. "Where were you, Jason? We're forming lines."

"Sorry, Alex. I had to...uh, nevermind."

"Come into line please." Calli, who emerged from behind Alex said. I nodded, and headed to the rear of the line just as we began to march into the crypt. The musty air stung my nose, but I ignored it and stepped into the center square where Father Piccelli was. He gave a brief prayer on behalf of the students, and stood up, his robes flowing behind him. There was a large stone chair in the center, almost looking like a throne. A small stone desk, or what I assumed was a desk, sat in front.

"Children, welcome to Cartethene Crypt. Famously created during the 18th year of the reign of Hector I." He raised his arms up, in prayer. "Or so the story goes." Father Piccelli walked to the chair, stopping a short distance from it. "While not entirely false, I am sure the educated ones amongst you will already know that this crypt was created from a natural cave. For those of you who do not, those are the facts."

The old archbishop now peered at the chair and knelt before it, offering another prayer as several priests came out from behind us, doing the same. I followed suit, just as the other students did.

"The chair is the site upon which Saint Leonard, companion of Hector I, had a vision of heaven before the Battle of Cartethene."

"This is the site?" Hannah asked timidly.

"Indeed, my child." Father Piccelli stood up and turned to face us as several priests began to head for the other end of the crypt, unsealing a set of strange crystal shards. "As is the 100th anniversary commemorating the ascension of House Aureol to the throne, there will be a special blessing performed at the graduation." He turned to Alex and Calli, giving them a small wink. "Your uncle must care much about you two."

"Will this be where our graduation is held?" Calli asked. "It is quite a grand crypt, but..."

"The graduation shall be held in the courtyard, as has always been done." Father Piccelli put his hands over the desk, and uncovered it. Inside was a small humming object, which Father Piccelli removed. The object went silent as it was taken from the table. "I merely believe that this can be an educational moment for all." He raised the crystal up, and prayed once more.

"Are we done, Father Piccelli?" Father Simos emerged from the side, holding a smaller crystal in his hands. "We must set up the blessing ritual soon." For some reason, I felt as if Simos were eyeing Phoebe strangely, but I filed it away as my imagination.

"And what may the rush be? There is plenty of time between today and tomorrow, my friend." Father Piccelli laughed and shook his head. "But if you insist, my friend." The archbishop turned to us, and gave a small bow. "You are dismissed, my flock. Remember, the spirit of the saints are with us every day, and shall especially be so tomorrow."

As I left the room alongside the other students, I tried to look for Phoebe once more, but found no such luck in the crowd. And yet, I found myself increasingly unable to think about anything other than the special graduation tomorrow.

Well, perhaps I could do nothing but truly pray for the saints to be with us.

I think they will.