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It was good. Zenshin looked like he’d make a recovery quickly enough. Rossweine nodded once towards him, noting the transformation in posture that the Valeforan youth had undergone. It was good to have goal indeed, better to have the will to pursue it. He’d go far, if he could sustain what he felt in that moment.

Signar’s stiffer response showed a level-head for one of ‘common’ blood, while Julian was already looking like they were hyperventilating a bit. He could take a more relaxed approach with the Baker boy then, see how that goes for the time being. The position of a prince meant that some artifice would always persist though, no matter how lacking in fame he was. No matter. The two looked like they had already hit it off. They could make up for each other’s shortcomings and gaps in knowledge.

There was still a degree of reluctance that he picked up in Nathaniel’s gaze as the youth turned towards the others. A droplet of malice, crystallized. Perhaps it would slip off as time passed. Perhaps he would have to make his message clearer, or serve as observer and arbitrator of the duel that will come pass between Nathaniel and Julian. If bad blood could not be let go of, it ought to at least be settled in private, under supervision. The Lowenthal child was dutiful though, his every gesture controlled and indicative of his ethics. A Squad Captain as worthless as Rossweine then, felt nothing but gratitude towards the competence of his second seat.

And as for the third seat…

Kaiser Underwall. The Boy from Under the Wall, adopted by the Outride, Sir Kyner Sauvage. He remembered Manegold talking of it, of the stray that House Sauvage picked up, the stray that turned out to be an Aura user. A hilarious story, the start of a fairy tale, really. Like walking out to the field and picking up a diamond the size of your fist. And yet, Kaiser had shown up in the flesh during the duels and had fought in a way that proved his heritage: caught between man-made techniques and beast-like movements, unfettered by societal expectations despite the repute of his House. Of course, also the weirdo who tossed away his sword and wrestled a victory out of his flabbergasted opponent.

An entertaining character, made doubly so when his vocalizations did not match his mood at all. He was mimicking Zenshin, though not out of mockery. Simplicity and frankness would be best then, when speaking with this wolf pup.

[b]“I’ll call you Kai then, and you can call me Rossweine,”[/b] the Prince intoned calmly. [b]“When you have time, you should duel Nathaniel. You two can match each other, and the rest of the squad can learn.”[/b] He tapped his fist against the blue-haired warrior’s shoulder, before turning to take a quick headcount once more.

The well-esteemed Lightbringer passed by during all that, head bowed, eyes low. A stiffness in [i]her[/i] movements, juxtaposed clearly with Kai’s own fluidity and lack of pretense. He would speak to her later, in private. For now, regrettably, he would have to acknowledge Liese’s presence. Marquis Brendorn’s child was, after all, an infamous one. At 16, possessing both the boon of being an Absolute as well as the will and spirit to endure the sort of training that only a Marquis’s firstborn could afford, they were one who possessed plentiful skills and capabilities, and yet sorely lacked in the accomplishments that would grant them any substantial respect. It was without any surprise, then, that Liese brutalized his opponent during the spar, enough so that the proctor had to step in and stop him from continuing.

What was it that Walpurga said again?

Ah, right.

[i]“He’s got a chip in the shoulder deep enough that he’s in two pieces.”[/i]

Tread gently, then.

[b]“Good to have you join us, Liese,”[/b] Rossweine spoke, his expression as serene as always. [b]“It is a shame that I was unable to witness the full breadth of your capabilities during your duel with the Lachant scion, but you will have a wealth of comrades to hone your skills with among this squad, Light Willing.”[/b] A bit awkward, invoking the Light, when its inheritor was right over there. His greetings and readings completed, the Moonkissed Princeling turned towards the Eastern Barracks, stark against the beating sun. It was a good day, and the members of his squad were either entertaining or competent, with one even being both, and if every day were so good, he would have little to be concerned about.

It would likely be the last of those good days.

[b]“Let’s be off.”[/b]

With that, he strode for the barracks, steps bringing him to the front of the squad in the graceful maneuver of one who had never had to witness someone else’s back block his view.