Reinhard sighed as he glanced at the clock mounted on his room's wall. The brass hands indicated 8:02 AM, giving him just under an hour to prepare for his first mission as Herald. He swung his legs out of bed and gathered his academy uniform from where he had laid it out the night before.
The dormitory bathroom was shared among several rooms, and he could hear the sounds of other students going through their morning routines, running water, muffled conversations, and the occasional clatter of dropped toiletries.
The space was clean with white tile walls and brass fixtures that gleamed under the light.
Twenty minutes later, Reinhard returned to his room properly dressed in the academy's attire. The white-black jacket fit well across his shoulders, and the black buttons caught the morning light streaming through his window.
He picked up the letters he had written the night before, folding them carefully and placing them in his inner jacket pocket.
The Mark of the Herald felt heavier than usual as he lifted it over his head, the pendant settling against his chest with its familiar warmth.
He locked his door and walked through the dormitory corridors, passing other students who were beginning their day. Some looked in surprise when they noticed the Herald's mark, while others whispered among themselves about there being a new Herald.
The main building's halls were already filled with activity despite the early hour. Students moved toward breakfast while speaking with each other or others heading to the arena, their footsteps echoing off the marble floors.
Gas lamps shined as the students passed, casting moving shadows on the floor and walls.
When Reinhard reached the center area near the elevator, they had used the previous evening. He spotted Rosaria sitting on one of the benches that lined the circular waiting space. Beside her sat an extraordinarily beautiful young woman with long platinum hair that caught the morning light. She had light-gold eyes and wore a black-white jacket and skirt, complemented by black tights and polished boots that reached just below her knees.
Reinhard blinked in surprise as he approached, uncertain whether this stunning young woman could possibly be his teammate. The question was answered when she looked up and greeted him with a radiant smile that seemed to light up the entire area.
"Hello there, Mr.Herald!" She said with a wave of her hand.
Reinhard returned her greeting somewhat awkwardly, still processing her striking appearance and confident demeanor.
Rosaria looked up from the papers she had been reviewing. "Glad to see you came early, Reinhard. This is your teammate, Marie. She's a third-year student."
Marie's eyes lit up with unmistakable delight as she jumped to her feet, extending both hands toward him. "So you're our leader? Dad told me about you!"
Reinhard blinked in confusion but found himself automatically reaching out to shake her offered hands. The contact was warm and surprisingly reassuring, though he wasn't sure what she meant about her father.
"She's the daughter of the Principal," Rosaria explained as she continued glancing through the papers.
Reinhard paused mid-handshake, his eyes widening slightly as the implications sank in.
Marie seemed to notice his surprise and chuckle. "Yep! He told me to help you, so don't be afraid to ask for anything. After all, another goal of an Inquisitor team, besides completing expeditions, is helping each other achieve their personal goals."
"That's... a thing?" Reinhard asked, uncertain whether this was official policy or Marie's personal philosophy.
"It isn't," Rosaria said dryly.
Marie pouted and puffed out her chest. "Of course it's a thing! Or it should be, anyway. If you can trust someone to watch your back and protect your life, then you should be able to trust them to help with your dreams and goals too."
Rosaria hummed noncommittally while Reinhard found himself chuckling at Marie's words. "I suppose that makes sense... But what if someone's goal or dream is something terrible? Would you still help them?"
Without hesitation, Marie replied, "I'd find out why that's their goal and help them pick a better one."
Her response caught Reinhard completely off guard. He had expected her to say she would abandon such a person or refuse to work with them. Instead, she had implied she wouldn't give up on them but would try to understand and redirect them toward something more positive.
Reinhard stared at her for a long moment, processing this teammate in front of him. Before he finally smiled, the first genuine one he had had since arriving at the academy.
"Then I'm counting on you, Marie." Reinhard says softly.
Marie answered him with a smile as she said. "So am I. This will be a fun adventure."
"The last person is coming now," Rosaria announced as she finally stood up and looked toward the main corridor.
Reinhard glanced in the indicated direction to see a young man with short blond hair and bright green eyes jogging toward them. He wore the same male academy uniform, though his jacket was slightly wrinkled as if he had dressed hastily.
Marie immediately waved her hand and called out, "Joseph! That took you a while!"
Joseph approached with a slightly embarrassed grin, running his hand through his hair. "Sorry about that, Marie, Professor Rosaria, and Herald."
"Just call me Reinhard," Reinhard replied, extending his hand. "Are you a third-year student like Marie?"
Joseph nodded as they shook hands, his grip firm and calloused. "I'm."
Rosaria reached into her satchel and withdrew a thick folder. "The mission details are in here," she said, passing it to Marie, who accepted it with a grin.
"Outside at the main gates, a carriage is waiting for you three," Rosaria continued. "It will take you to the town of Mensis, where the Inquisitor team Cups have gone missing. Your overall mission is to investigate their disappearance and locate them if possible."
All three team members nodded seriously, with Marie slightly bouncing on her foot, Joseph smiling, and Reinhard's fingers twitching.
Marie then snapped her fingers and said. "What's our team name, Rosaria?"
Rosaria says. "Your team will be known as Three Of Swords."
Maria will hum before saying. "Kinda of lame, was it Dad who came up with it?'.
Rosaria nodded, leading Marie to sigh with her lips twitching, and Joseph chuckling.
"I am guessing this is a normal occurrence?" Reinhard asked.
"It's but well, you get used to it" Joseph says while Marie shakes her head.
"He could have just asked me for advice or just had you do it Rosaria." Marie says.
Rosaria extended her hand toward Reinhard, who quickly retrieved his letters from his jacket pocket and placed them in her palm. "He wouldn't listen, so there is no point… Anyway, remember to be careful out there while listening to and relying on each other. Only by trusting each other will things turn out all right."
She paused, her usually stern expression softening slightly. "Now go on, you three. Your first expedition awaits."
Marie cheered as she pumped her arms up before passing the folder to Reinhard. Then she grabbed both his and Joseph's hands. "Come on, let's go!"
Without waiting for their response, she began walking briskly toward the main entrance, practically dragging the two young men behind her. Her excitement was infectious, and despite the serious nature of their mission, Reinhard found himself caught up in her enthusiasm.
As they moved through the academy's grand halls toward whatever awaited them in Mensis. He couldn't help but think that perhaps having Marie as a teammate might make this more bearable than he had anticipated.