Chapter 19: Graduation
STERN brought me back to the academy just in time for graduation day. Apparently, he’d done everything he could to ensure my attendance.
I’d put on the ceremonial uniform Stern gave me. It was a little tight across the chest.
I felt nauseated; my fingertips were numb. Stern might’ve forgiven me, but will everyone else?
We dismounted our horses at the gate. I took a deep breath. No one’s looking out the windows. That was all the answer I needed. The dorm windows were closed, as though shutting me out. On the day I brought an injured Stern back from Eisberk, everyone’s head had been poking out the windows. They’d waved.
“It’s okay,” Stern reassured me.
It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s all going to be okay. I pushed the thick, tall gate open with trembling hands. It had never felt so heavy. It opened with a dull creak.
What I saw before me took my breath away. Cadets stood on either side of the doors, also clad in ceremonial uniform. They were all waiting for me.
“Welcome back, Bern,” said Felzen, extending his hand.
“Welcome back, Bern.” Kraut beamed as several other welcomes resounded.
A warm feeling welled up within me, my eyes tearing over. “Thank you!”
Thank you for forgiving me.
“Come on, why you cryin’?”
“Took you long enough.”
“Bet you’re glad you could make it in time.”
Hands reached for my downturned head, cuffing it good-naturedly. It was nice to know that our boundaries remained the same.
“‘Thank you?’” Felzen gazed into my eyes, an unreserved smile on his face. “Let’s try that again.” It’d been too long since I’d seen that familiar tanned skin, his red eyes. “Welcome back, Bern,” he repeated.
I smiled. “It’s good to be back.” There was still a place for me. “It really is.” Tears streamed down my cheeks.
“’Course it is.”
“You’ve saved our asses more times than you can imagine.”
“It’s about time we return the favor.”
Warmth spread throughout my chest. “Thank you, everyone!”
They grinned.
“Sorry it took so long.” Stern caressed my back.
I shook my head. We made it in time for the graduation ceremony. I couldn’t ask for more.
“Would the graduates please gather?” Kraut announced, and we assembled in front of the auditorium as instructed. The graduation ceremony was about to begin.
✦ ✦ ✦
❄❄❄
THE master of ceremonies announced its start. Graduation would double as a commissioning ceremony. Students stood row by row as we walked through the auditorium. Thunderous applause resounded up to the building’s tall ceiling. Soft, spring sunlight streamed in through the stained glass windows as though congratulating us.
First, we sang the kingdom’s national anthem, followed by the school anthem. Our elegant performance of the former sharply contrasted the emotional rawness with which we choked out the latter.
Then medals, marked with our graduation year, and officer capes were handed out. Our names were read off one by one alongside all of our achievements over the past three years. Afterward we were each informed of our new station as division insignia were pinned to our chests.
Stern was first. He was commissioned to duty with the Seventh Division, down south where Elfenbein was posted. Felzen was assigned to the Fourth Division, up in the north.
We’re all drifting apart.
Because I had just barely passed the minimum attendance requirements, my name came very last: “Bernstein von Eisberk.”
“Yes!” I rose, walked forward.
“You went up against a foreign threat, displaying remarkable bravery, and successfully defeated it. In light of this accomplishment, I’m assigning you to the kingdom’s Central Readiness Force’s female knights division as its first member.”
I saluted, about-facing as the auditorium erupted.
The insignia adhered to my uniform had blue wings, likely a unique design made for the newly established division. Upon receiving my white cape, I finally started to feel like I was no longer a cadet but an officer.
After the principal’s congratulatory address, Kraut presented the farewell speech, to which Stern replied, speaking on behalf of our class. When the ceremony officially ended, we ran up to the second-floor balcony, as was tradition, while the non-graduates rushed out of the hall.
I glanced down and saw a large crowd of people massed in front of the auditorium, ready for the hat toss. It was customary for new graduates to throw their cadet caps from the balcony, and some even tucked notes inside. I tore up my student identification card and scrawled a message, inserting it into my hat.
“What a crowd.” Felzen smiled, as did Stern.
Down below I saw Kraut, his arms in the air. Huh, never would’ve thought him the type.
A sea of restless eyes looked on with anticipation. Among them, a girl in pigtails jumped up and down, holding her training sword overhead.
“Toss!” exclaimed Stern, and a bunch of white caps flew into the air before spiraling downwards. A swell of hands reached toward the sky like a field of flowers.
I lobbed mine in the direction of the twin-tailed girl, hoping it’d reach her, only for it to be snatched by the boy in front of her. What a shame, I thought, but then the boy turned and placed it on her head. The two bowed, waving at me. I waved back, the sight filling me with nostalgia.
“What did you write?” Stern asked.
“It’s a secret,” I replied, laughing.
Stern sulked. “Your secrets are the worst.” He shot a glare at me, a shiver running down my spine.
“They really are,” a classmate agreed, the numbers advantage going to Stern.
I shrugged. “I’m too embarrassed to say…” I grumbled, but Stern refused to let me off the hook.
“I’m sure it can’t be that bad.”
“‘To whoever catches this hat, I hope that you too will one day get to toss yours. The view here is priceless.’” Saying it aloud was extremely embarrassing.
“I stand corrected. It really could be that bad!”
Stern put his arm around my shoulders, Felzen placing his from the opposite side. One after another, classmates piled on top of me.
“Watch it! Enough already!”
Cheers sounded from below as the bugle corps played the school anthem. Our shoulders locked together, we sang once more as the graduation ceremony came to a close.
✦ ✦ ✦
❄❄❄
LEAVING the noisy campus, I returned to my dorm room. Some cleaning was in order before it could be passed off to the next generation. Felzen and Stern, popular as they were, were still surrounded by a press of well-wishers.
A nostalgic smell greeted me when I opened the door: Felzen’s scent, mallow leaves, the fragrance of Stern’s lotion. I felt a bit chagrined realizing how strongly scented the moisturizer had truly been to have lingered this long.
I made the beds. Two desks stood side by side, and I emptied mine of all my schoolbooks and stuffed them into my backpack. I opened the locked drawer to check if all my valuables were still in place. Stern’s mirror, the jar of stars, the ribbon Felzen gave me, Zanto’s comedic letters, a pressed flower bookmark from Marlena. Just as I left it.
As I packed, there was a knock at the door. “May I come in?”
Kraut.
“Go ahead.”
He timidly entered. “Congratulations on graduating.”
“Thanks. Stern told me you helped collect signatures.”
He awkwardly shook his head. “It was nothing, really. Everyone signed immediately, explained just how much of a help you’ve been to them.”
“I see. That’s nice.” I was happy to hear that my efforts hadn’t gone unappreciated, even if I wasn’t expecting thanks.
“Would you exchange pins with me?”
Cadets wore pins that identified them as such. It was tradition to trade badges with underclassmen on graduation day.
“You, top of your class, want to swap pins with me?” I asked, laughing.
“Year-ago me would lose it if he found out,” Kraut chuckled.
“He was rather bratty, wasn’t he?”
“My apologies.” He hung his head in shame.
Maybe I went a little too far. “I’m joking, I’m joking. Chin up, come on.” Kraut lifted his head, his gaze shifting away from me shyly. I removed the pin from his collar then pulled mine from my pocket, attaching it in the other’s place. It gave off a dull glow. “Enjoy your last year at the academy.”
“I will! Thank you!” Kraut said as he exited the room.
After wiping down my desk, I looked out the window. People were still hanging around in the courtyard. The curtains swayed in the wind.
A lot has happened over the years, both good and bad. At times I felt weak, at times I felt shallow, but my friends were always there when I needed them. But I’m glad I came here and am standing here today.
“Bern!” Stern raised his arm, beckoning from below.
“Come on down here!” called Felzen, smiling.
“Be there in a sec!” I closed the window and pulled the drapes shut. I bowed to the room as it darkened.
Thank you for protecting me all this time.
Light filtered in through the gap in the curtains, illuminating Felzen’s desk. I locked the door, saluted it, before turning smartly and sprinting down the hall.
Run. Run, so we can all start a new life, together.