Liliana settled into her first few classes easily enough, with no small amount of hidden excitement. In her previous life, she’d barely had a chance to enjoy something as normal as going to classes with others her age, thanks to the health issues that had eventually taken her life. While she was no stranger to learning in general, being able to sit at a desk and take notes as a teacher talked about their chosen subject, quietly whispering to friends, was a novel experience she relished.

Liliana had watched coins change hands when their World History teacher, Professor Clintone, had assigned an essay due at the end of the first week on the founding of the Cista queendom. Emyr had simply lifted his hand behind him, laying his palm in front of Marianne, and the princess has reluctantly placed three gold coins in the boy’s waiting hand. Liliana wasn’t sure when the bet had been placed, but he’d evidently placed one with Alistair as well, who more easily parted with his own gold.

Their next class, Math, had a surprise quiz that would allegedly not have an impact on their grades, but was instead being used to assess the class’ general level of understanding. Spell, Skill and Ability Fundamentals, which was apparently commonly shortened to simply Fundamentals according to the professor, Emerson Reviee, had no homework or surprise tests. They instead were given an overview of what they’d be learning over the year. The closer the clock got to the start of Battle Training, the more the students began to shift excitedly.

“Do you really think we’ll have to fight today?” Marianne whispered during the short break they were afforded between classes. Liliana was going over her notes from the previous classes, though she’d been staring at the same paragraph for three minutes now.

“If you’re not careful, you’ll jinx us again,” Liliana responded as she closed her notes with a sigh.

She really wouldn’t be taking anything else in with so much excitement rushing through her. She did hope that the next class wasn’t theory, and instead practical. If nothing else, it would give her a chance to be rid of her nervous energy.

“Do you want to place another bet?” Emyr asked with a smirk as he played with a gold coin, running it over his knuckles.

“No, I’d rather not lose more money today,” Marianne said with a sniff, turning away from the boy. Emyr shrugged his shoulders and turned to Alistair.

“Ali?” Emyr asked. Alistair sighed, but nodded.

“Five on practical,” Alistair said. Emyr gifted him with a lopsided grin, and Liliana watched with no small amount of amusement as Alistair’s skin darkened slightly before her brother turned his attention to his notes.

Maybe I should bet on how long it takes those two to confess. Liliana thought with a secretive smile as she twirled her pen around absently before chiding herself for picking up on Emyr’s less reputable habits.

“If we have a practical I want a rematch, Rosengarde.” A voice called out and Liliana almost dropped her pen as her head turned to look at Zir’elon, who had gotten up and made his way to their corner. His voice was calm, perhaps a touch playful, but Liliana had seen the anger on his face when he lost. His pride had been bruised, and she didn’t think it was something the boy was used to.

“You already had your fight today. Give someone else a chance.” Liliana stepped in before her brother could speak up.

She couldn’t really help it. Zir’elon rubbed her wrong much as Diana did. Besides, she’d been watching the boy, perhaps more closely these last two days, and had seen how the prince seemed to be trying to build his own miniature court here. Case in point, he had two others trailing after him now, Dunstan and Remrence.

“Oh? Were you jealous of your brother? Did you want a chance to show off too?” Zir’elon’s eyes shifted to Liliana, and she smirked when she saw the distaste flash across his face for a moment before it was hidden. So he’d been updated on her situation then, but was likely playing nice for now. Likely because her own political standing was unknown and her closeness with Marianne made her more of a threat.

“You’re not a tank. I thought you might appreciate a sparring partner whose fighting style matches yours a bit better,” Liliana said with a casual shrug, as if she truly didn’t much care about what happened. She would privately admit to wanting to knock the prince down a few more pegs, though.

“Well, if we get paired, I promise to not go too hard on you, Ms. Rosengarde.” Zir’elon said, a touch of patronization to his voice as he looked down at her. Liliana just smiled up at him.

“Much appreciated, Mr. Kastrioti,” Liliana said with a nod of her head. Apparently, she sounded differential enough to appease him, and Zir’elon strutted off, head held high.

“’Much appreciated’? Really?” Emyr asked, his voice taking on a mocking falsetto as he mimicked her. Liliana threw a piece of balled up paper at his head for the slight.

“If it means he underestimates me, what do I care?” Liliana asked with a huff.

“Why did he seem so confident?” Alistair asked, as he turned to look at his sister. Liliana smirked devilishly at him.

“[Deception],” Liliana whispered happily and her brother widened his eyes before quickly checking her stats himself.

“Level 102? Really, Lili?” Alistair asked with a sigh as he blinked away the information.

“Wait, how long have you had that skill?” Emyr asked suspiciously. Liliana shrugged evasively.

“What even is your level?” Marianne asked next, leaning towards their huddle.

“High enough,” Liliana said with a satisfied smirk as the princess pouted at her while Emyr nodded approvingly at her.

She raised an eyebrow at her friend and his lips tugged slightly in a barely discernible smile, answering her unasked question. So Emyr had a deception type skill too. Likely maxed out if she knew him. It did make her wonder what his real level was and if he was hiding that information like she was.

The door at the bottom of the room banged open, startling the students who had all settled back in their seats. Liliana’s grip on her pen had shifted to one more appropriate for daggers with the sudden noise, but she relaxed it when she saw the familiar uniform on the large man striding into the room.

The man looked nothing like Silas, but he had the same type of no-nonsense gruffness about him that she found herself unconsciously relaxing as his eyes took them in. Liliana was surprised by the fact that he was the first teacher they had who was clearly a beastman, one resembling a lion. Thick tawny hair, or perhaps fur, surrounded his tanned face in an impressive mane. Two small lion-like ears sat perched on his head and a tufted tail whipped behind him. He was large, both in height and stature, though Liliana saw he was not fat. The muscles straining at his uniform asserted that. The man was probably as tall, if not taller, than Zir’elon and Koth’talan. He stood close to seven feet, if not taller. Liliana activated [Identify] as soon as she’d finished physically assessing their most intimidating professor yet.

Léonce Guérin

Age: 84

Rank: 2

Class: Hell Raiser Templar

Liliana had to duck her head and cough into her hand to stop the giggles that wanted to erupt when she read his name. She didn’t think the man would appreciate it, but truly, his name was too funny. A lion beast man named Léonce? Then again, from what she knew of lion type beasts they were rather prideful beings, and while she wasn’t sure how much of that transferred to the beast clans she could hazard a guess they named their children suitably lionesque names as they didn’t think any others would do. Or maybe his mother enjoyed puns.

“Let’s go, you lot.” Professor Guérin growled out at their class before marching towards the door in the back of the classroom without any other explanation.

There was a moment where the class stared after the man, then looked at one another before they all began scrambling to put up their things and follow him. Liliana didn’t stall her group this time, her own excitement overriding her wish to stay out from directly under a professor’s gaze. Though they and the rest of the class had to hurry to keep up. Guérin had not waited on them as they gathered their things and was almost at the stairs by the time they had left the room, and his long legs and presumably higher Speed gave him a distinct advantage over the teens.

The professor did not speak to them as he led the way to the class S training room, but he also did not complain when students began to whisper amongst themselves. Liliana, too suspicious to chance a misstep this early on, had shot her friends glares when they tried to start up a conversation. Perhaps Professor Guérin did not care if they talked, or perhaps it was another test. She’d wait and see before she took his lack of response as permission.

As the students filed into the training room, Liliana noted there was another man there, a quick [Identify] gave her information on him.

Suune Rauk

Age: 27

Level: 230

Rank: 4

Class: Storm Reaver

Liliana hummed almost silently as she dismissed the information, taking in the man. He likely wasn’t a full teacher, probably closer to an assistant than anything based on his age and level. Though reaching Rank 4 was still impressive at such a young age. He was far more lean than Guérin. His skin showed a deep tan, but what caught her eyes the most was his dark hair pulled into a tight tail with electric blue scattered throughout it.

“Looks like a disappointing lot this year, eh Rauk?” Guérin asked his co-worker. Rauk’s eyes scanned them beside the imposing lion man. Guérin had folded his thickly muscled arms, glaring at them as if they were bugs under his boot. Rauk held more control over his expression, but he did not seem overly impressed, either.

“Who knows, all we’ve seen so far are loose lips.” Rauk finally spoke, his voice louder than Liliana expected of such a lean man.

This was a man used to shouting commands. Liliana kept her own face neutral, though many of her classmates seemed to be struggling under the insulting words and gazes. They were a class filled mostly with nobility, children not used to being so blatantly looked down upon. A mix of long ingrained etiquette and a healthy dose of fear for the imposing teachers kept them quiet, for now.

“Alright you sorry lot. Mine, and Rauk’s, job is to shape you into warriors who probably won’t die in five seconds during a real fight. I imagine after three hours of sitting around you’re all ready to burn some energy, and inevitably confirm my assumptions. Rauk will lead you through your warm-ups and direct you.” Guérin barked out, his voice louder than Rauk’s as he addressed them, the hints of a roar tickling the edges of his voice. Rauk might be used to shouting commands, but Guérin was used to being heard and obeyed.

“Wait, you’re leaving us to a Rank 4?” Zir’elon’s voice burst out.

Liliana was rather glad the boy was not close to her, even so, she found herself inching further away. She’d watched the guard practice as Silas led the guards through drills, and she’d seen what he’d done to those who were so dumb as to question an order. Guérin’s eyes settled on the prince and stayed there for a long moment, during which the prince shifted but held his head high. Liliana would give him points for bravery, even if it was stupid bravery.

“Do you think you could take him, boy?” Guérin finally asked, his voice softer now, and even more deadly for it.

“I-“ Zir’elon gulped, “no sir,” he finally said, thought he words sounded like they’d been dragged from him.

“Then he can teach you just fine. If you lot don’t overwhelmingly show yourselves to be abysmal disappointments, maybe I’ll step in. For now, I see no reason to bother.” Guérin said, his voice louder now, and Liliana saw Zir’elon take in a breath when the teacher’s eyes finally left him.

“Alright, ten laps around the room.” Rauk stepped in, his voice raised as it boomed around them. Liliana didn’t wait to hear anything else. She took off. Almost two years under Silas had ingrained an instinctive response to orders said in that tone. Emyr and Alistair followed only a half step behind.

“What are you waiting for? Those three have the right idea! GO!” Rauk’s voice boomed out once more and Liliana finally heard the sound of seventeen pairs of feet hitting the ground as they all began to run.

Liliana kept her pace easily enough, not pushing her Speed to the max but not dawdling either. She knew how to pace herself so her Stamina would regenerate anything she lost. Alistair kept pace with her easily, his Endurance matching or exceeding her own. Emyr struggled to keep their pace, needing to go slower to not exhaust his smaller Stamina pool. Liliana watched with amusement as several of their class took this as a race, and inevitably exhausted themselves before they’d even finished half their laps. Others made the mistake of going too slow, or even walking, and got yelled at for the trouble.

By the time they were done, three students had puked, and been yelled at, five had gotten in trouble for trying to walk or go too slow, been yelled at, and had an additional three laps, and the majority left looked tired and winded. Liliana, Alistair, Emyr, Koth’talan, and Rathwater all looked none the worse for wear. Anya was bouncing on her heels, still full of energy and Nor Dawn, while tired looking, wasn’t huffing like the rest of their class was. Liliana was fairly certain tired was Dawn’s default setting, though, as the girl constantly looked close to falling asleep in their classes.

“I hate running,” Marianne said from where she was bent over, hand on her knees as she gulped in air. Her pale face was flushed a red almost matching her eyes and Liliana smirked at her friend.

“How are you so composed?” Marianne asked between panting gasps.

“High Endurance, and I’m used to this.” Liliana said with a shrug.

When the last of their class, the ones assigned extra laps, joined them, Rauk began them on various different exercises after leading them in stretches. Push-ups, curl-ups, pull-ups, weight lifting and other physical conditioning. Liliana started to get an idea of what he was looking for halfway through the curl-ups. Much like their math professor had set them a quiz to estimate their knowledge, their Battle Training teachers were testing their limits. Stats could give an idea of where they were, but high Endurance or Speed didn’t mean they knew how to ration their energy to prevent burnout. High Strength didn’t mean they knew how to lift weights in a way that prevented injury. They had the stats, but based on the amount of yelling she was hearing, many didn’t really know how to use those stats for anything more than terrorizing dungeon monsters.

I’m going to buy Silas a whole library of cookbooks, Liliana thought as she wiped sweat off her brow and set her weights down. Rauk had corrected her form a bit, with the customary amount of yelling, but he spent far less time with her than with many of her other classmates. Allencourt looked a few seconds away from crying in frustration as Rauk berated her for dropping a weight on her foot, though Liliana noticed he had waited to yell at her until after determining the girl wasn’t injured.

“Alright, gather up.” Rauk commanded, and it was a far more exhausted grouping of students who stood before the man now compared to what they’d looked like at the beginning. Liliana was feeling good. She enjoyed the familiar burn in her muscles, though she didn’t look fresh either. Sweat stuck errant strands of hair to her face and her uniform was damp. She’d need to change before lunch.

“Now that you’re all warmed up, we’re going to start on quick five-minute spars.” Rauk informed them with a vicious smile. That smile grew as quiet complaints floated around them, but no one wanted extra exercises as punishment, so the complaints were kept to low mutters and baleful glares. Liliana smirked, fingers curling into fists as she felt the familiar beginning of adrenaline filling her veins.