We students of Dunkelfelger awoke at first bell, changed into more appropriate attire, and then launched into our training. Everyone took part, even attendants and scholars, so we started with a series of light exercises. Only when the apprentice attendants left to prepare our breakfast and changes of clothes did our training become more intense, but compared to what proper apprentice knights went through, it was still barely anything at all.
Because it was my first morning back at the Academy, I concluded my training at the same time as the attendants and went to inspect the gathering spot with my knights. Rasantark had collected so many ingredients the day before, and I feared for how he had left things.
How right I was to be concerned. At least I noticed the state of the gathering spot before the sixth-years’ arrival.
When my inspection was complete, I returned to my room to bathe. Then I ate breakfast with the other students in the dining hall. This was normally when archduke candidates and the dormitory supervisor would make their announcements, so I took the opportunity to explain that our gathering spot needed to be healed.
“We might have Lady Rozemyne’s healing spell, but that does not mean we can act without restraint,” I said. “You took things a little too far this time. I expect everyone here to assist in restoring the gathering spot after breakfast.”
As a general rule, students could spend the time before lessons started however they pleased. It was rare to be told to do anything other than prepare for one’s classes. That, coupled with how much mana the healing spell would require, drew upset exclamations from my peers.
“Wait, Lady Hannelore! Now that the training grounds are open, we plan to spend the morning—!”
“You were the ones who ravished the gathering spot, showing not a trace of consideration for the sixth-years,” I said. “We are going after breakfast, and that is final.”
I understood the others’ concerns—these few days between our arrival at the dormitory and the start of classes were usually reserved for ditter. Still, they had no choice in the matter; restoring the gathering spot would become so much harder when classes started and we had less mana to spare.
Not to mention, it is my duty as an archduke candidate to oversee the gathering spot.
My fists clenched, I surveyed the dining hall. I needed to stay strong.
“I shall reseal the training grounds until the gathering spot is restored. There are matters more important than ditter to attend to.”
At once, the apprentice knights began to whine.
“This can’t be!” one shouted. “You would prioritize something over ditter, even after playing a true game?!”
“No, wait! You have it all wrong!” cried another. “It’s because Lady Hannelore played a true game that she can make such a declaration!”
“Ngh... Not to mention, she was chosen to participate despite her young age. We should expect nothing less! Her wisdom befits her status as the divine avatar’s closest ally!”
“HURRAHHH! PRAISE LADY HANNELORE, THE PRIDE OF DUNKELFELGER!”
Why do they bellow like drunkards? Was our breakfast laced with some foul intoxicant?
I gazed across the unreasonably excited crowd, and my eyes came to rest on Professor Rauffen. He wore an amused grin as he ate his own breakfast.
“Professor Rauffen, what are your thoughts on the matter?” I asked.
“I think you are correct,” he said. “Ditter can wait until the healing ritual is complete.”
Professor Rauffen looked over the students, an intense fire blazing in his blue eyes. Experience had told me he was an expert at keeping the knights under control—especially when he wore that expression—so I elected to leave the rest to him.
“Students!” he roared. “I understand your passion for ditter better than anyone! But we cannot play by ourselves—we should all enjoy it together! Isn’t that right?!”
Um, no. Not at all.
“Shall we not wait for the first- and sixth-years to arrive so we can all play together, our hearts unburdened?” Professor Rauffen continued. “Race to the gathering spot after breakfast. Restore it so you can start brewing rejuvenation potions while the sixth-years are gathering. And of course... spare no effort to prepare the welcoming ditter to be played when the new students arrive!”
“HEAR! HEAR! FASTER THAN STEIFEBRISE!”
That phrase of Father’s certainly has caught on.
Welcoming ditter was meant to light a fire under the new students, both through the excitement of the game and by making them so envious of their seniors’ highbeasts that they would strive to make their own to participate. Any active student could take part, even apprentice scholars and attendants. The tradition resulted in such a severe drain of our stock of rejuvenation potions—before classes had even begun, no less—that I honestly thought we would be better off without it.
Of course, as strongly as I felt, I could never actually put a stop to welcoming ditter. It was a rare comfort for the scholars and attendants not chosen to be knights and, according to Professor Rauffen, made students a lot more invested in their practical lessons.
Our duchy does tend to excel at practicals more than written lessons.
I watched the apprentice knights as they spent the rest of breakfast locked in serious debate, trying to decide their teams. Professor Rauffen had joined in and was advising them on how to better balance the strength of each group. Our dormitory’s obsession with ditter was inevitable when our supervisor was the most excited of us all.
Though I do not mind as long as the gathering spot is healed.
After breakfast, I restored the gathering spot with my fellow students. They were free to do as they wished afterward, but most gravitated to the brewing room to prepare for classes and welcoming ditter. As there was only so much space, many sat in the common room while they awaited their turn.
I, too, headed to the common room. I wanted to ask those waiting there about Ehrenfest’s books. Socializing required me to find out how the new publications were being received in Dunkelfelger and what others thought about them.
“Is it not wonderful how many Dunkelfelger men have taken up reading? It would never have been possible without the publication of A Ditter Story and our duchy’s histories.”
“Lord Raufereg takes no pleasure in studying, but even he seems to enjoy them. I overheard his retainers muttering that they wished for a version of A Ditter Story written in old vernacular.”
“I cannot wait to see what Lady Rozemyne lends us this year. Her love stories are sublime.”
“Lady Rozemyne is an aub now, is she not? Will your trade be with Alexandria or Ehrenfest?”
I paused in thought. In my mind, they were Ehrenfest’s books, but Lady Rozemyne had moved to Alexandria. Perhaps I could trade with both.