Gallantry and Hesitation (A Final Fantasy Tactics fanfiction)

Chapter III

   Commander Dycedarg called all new cadets to discuss the recent happenings from the Knights of Death, otherwise commonly known as the Death Corps. Under my impression, these anti-aristocrats were just a small time brigade consisting of unruly peasants who sought to overthrow the nobility of Ivalice. Granted, I did have a little bit of respect for the “little guy”, however, small time terrorist functions don’t make it past big time government.

   Dycedarg gave an unruly speech touting his Hokuten Knights and how little our own job meant nothing but peanuts to them. I didn’t understand how newly graduated knights weren’t on the same level as the Hokuten. We were much, much lower than that. Our classification as knights were known as the Northern Sky New Order; better classified as the Gomiten Knights. Understandably, gomiten as one word defines itself as “creation.” New blood. However, the Hokuten had a laugh riot when you break up the word gomi and ten (such as with the Hokuten Knights of the Sky)—it roughly translates to “Order of the Trash”.

   Ridiculous. I was too proud of a person to be called mere “trash”, and I had to prove that to the high and mighty. All of us cadets entered the meeting hall, stood at attention and performed the White Lion salute as both Dycedarg and Zalbaag entered, along with another male knight that I had never seen before. I found that relatively odd that Zalbaag would accompany the Commander for what he considered a lowly group of knights, but I dismissed the thought as we were told to stand “at ease”.

   “It has come to our attention that one of our fellow commanding knights assigned to your squadron, Gustav Margriff, has unexpectedly left the Hokuten Knights. With the sudden change in hierarchy within Gallione, General Zalbaag will be now assigned to the Hokuten Knights instead of the Gomiten. Therefore, we will be assigning a new commanding officer to be your squadron leader.”

   Dycedarg motioned for the back, and boomed out loud enough for his voice to carry through the heavy doors. “Maruko, please enter!”

   The iron doors slowly swung open with a loud metallic moan, and the chinks in armor associated with walking could be heard behind us cadets. We all turned around, and for a brief moment, I caught Reina within our ranks as we peered behind us. An older gentleman wearing bright silver armor and golden trim stepped between our split group and made his way to Dycedarg’s side. The man had dark, straight shoulder length hair and a stern but arrogant look upon his face, brimming with confidence. Now with a bit more of an opportunity to glance over at the girl who caught my eye before, I noticed that Reina was all googly-eyed over the new knight!!

   Jealousy immediately filled my inner being, and I felt my face burning red with anger. Why was I so angry?! However, I didn’t have time to listen to my fuming conscious as Dycedarg began to introduce the new knight.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce your new commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Laguna Maruko. Maruko will be assigned to the Gomiten squadron and will conduct business accordingly. Zalbaag and I wish you luck.”

   Dycedarg and Zalbaag stepped down from the podium and left the hall. Laguna came forth and began to address us himself. I shot another glance over at Reina, who apparently was still smitten with the newly appointed lieutenant colonel. To make matters worse, Maruko’s voice was smooth and also filled with such assertion, that even the most skilled female mediators would swoon over him. I had absolutely no chance with this guy in the picture.

   “Lords and ladies, I have been brought from the Order of the Northern Sky to ensure that the knights of the Northern Sky New Order train and sharpen their skills to become the best. I accept nothing but paramount and elite from all of my students. Therefore, I will accompany the next squadron into battle against the Death Corps. From here on out, I will need three extra bodies, and these three will be the best of your class.”