sea of time

5

Fortunately they did have a few spare uniforms left at the monastery. Unfortunately, they were too big for Caspar, so he and one of the staff members went out to a tailor, causing Caspar to miss the first day of class. Laundry was only done once a week, so Caspar had to stand perfectly still while the tailor, well, tailored him a uniform for each day of the week and a spare. The second he got back to Garreg mach he practically sprinted to his dorm room and flopped straight onto the mattress.

His moment of relaxation was interrupted by a knock on the door. “Come in!”

It was Dorothea!

“How’s it going?” She politely closed the door behind herself and took a seat at the desk across from the bed.

“Not bad.” Caspar said. “Did you need something?”

Dorothea smiled. “Seeing as you missed the first day, Manuela sent me to get the information she needs to work on your lesson plan. Also, I just wanted to check in on you.”

“Oh, Manuela’s our teacher?” Caspar tilted his head, similarly to a puppy.

Dorothea nodded.

“So what is it she needs to know?”

“What kind of weapon you want to use, how good you are with it, how much you know about tactics, just basic stuff like that.” Dorothea shrugged as if this was what a 9 year old child should know.

“Uhhhh…”

Realization flashed in Dorothea’s eyes. “Oh, yeah. I guess you wouldn’t really know.” she chuckled a little at her own obliviousness. “Is there a weapon you’d prefer?”

“Hmm, well, I think axes are pretty cool! But usually, I just punch things. Also, I know nothing about tactics.”

“Alright, I think that’s pretty much all she needs to know for now. I may as well take my leave, there’s not much left to talk about.” Dorothea stood and tucked in her chair. “Oh, and, Caspar,”

Caspar looked up at her from the bed he had yet to move from.

“Tomorrow I’ll introduce you to someone who can guide you around here. I would help you out myself, but I don’t want men thinking I’m dating you.”

Caspar nodded, and with that Dorothea left.

—————

By the time Caspar woke up, the sun was still rising too.

Well, guess I better make the most of the day before class.

Caspar got dressed into one of his uniforms and decided to explore around the monastery.

“Hey kitty!” Caspar knelt down to pet a small cat in front of his dorm. Once the cat lost interest, Caspar got back up, only to notice two huuuuge black doors to his left. He practically sprinted over to check them out.

Hmm…

He pushed on them, not expecting them to budge, only to stumble forwards a little when they moved. He looked around behind himself, then slipped into the room, when all of a sudden…..

Oh. It’s just a training room or something.

There were only a handful of students there, two boys and a girl by the looks of it. Caspar took a seat on the steps that led into the main section. One of the boys, who had hair the color of a raven’s feathers, was using a wooden sword to somehow slash up what looked like a dummy while the other two argued. Caspar thought the boy who was training looked a bit sad, so he decided to initiate conversation with him.

“Woah! You’re awesome with that sword! Your dad must’ve been a knight, or maybe your brother, or something!” Caspar said, flashing an enthusiastic smile.

The sword the boy was using broke into two on the next hit. The boy turned his head to Caspar. “Excuse me?”

The other two students looked at Caspar, then the boy, then Caspar, eyes so wide they must’ve been the size of dinner plates.

“I said your brother or dad or something must’ve been a knight, because-”

One of the students who was arguing, turned to the boy with the broken sword. “Woah there, Felix, let’s not jump to conclusions, I’m sure he didn’t know-”

“How dare you even mention him.”

The girl who was arguing looked pretty mad too. Well, maybe pretty mad was an understatement. Because Caspar felt like he was on his way to death’s door.

Caspar started backing up “I’m sorry if that was sensitive, I just wanted to compliment you. Now, If you don’t mind me, I’m just going to..”

And with that, Caspar ran for his life. Ran out the black doors, ran past the dorms, turned his head back for a moment, then ran past-Thud.

Caspar stopped in his tracks. In front of his feet layed a boy with silver hair and eyes the color of a granny smith apple, with books scattered all around him.

…

…

Well don’t just stand there, Caspar! Do something!

“Damn it! I’m so sorry man, are you alright?” Caspar squatted down and offered the boy a hand.

“Yes, I’m fine. Are you okay? The silver-haired boy accepted his hand, and brought himself up to his feet.

“Who cares how I feel, I literally knocked you to the ground!” Caspar began collecting the books that seemed to have gotten knocked down with the polite boy. The boy knelt down beside him and gave him a hand.

“Thanks, uh….. I don’t think I caught your name.” The boy chuckled softly to himself.

“Oh! Right! Sorry about that. Ha.” Caspar smiled at him like a dope.

“Right.” The boy looked at him. “So your name is?”

“Oh! I’m so stupid, ha. It’s Caspar.”

The boy’s smile fell. “Hey, don’t say that about yourself! You aren’t stupid, everyone has moments like that!” He smiled again, “My name’s Ashe.”

Caspar felt oddly touched that Ashe cared enough to say that about someone he’d just met. “That’s a pretty name.”

Ashe blushed and looked away. “Oh, um.”

Wait, aw, damn, did I say that out loud?

“Hi Ashie, you know how I was telling you about -” Dorothea, who had just made her presence known, leaned forward from the fishing dock she was coming towards them from.
“Oh, Hi Caspar! I was actually just about to introduce you two!” Dorothea giggled softly.

Realization flashed on Ashe’s face. “Oh! I knew I recognized you from somewhere! I think I saw you walking into Professor Manuela’s office a few days ago!”

Caspar’s shoes were super interesting all of a sudden. “Yes, that would be me.”

“Oh, I’m sorry if that was sensitive. I know what it’s like, I was there once.”

Caspar’s eyes narrowed. “To Manuela’s office?”

Ashe laughed. Caspar swore to never forget that laugh. “No, I meant I couldn't afford nice clothes and other things along those lines.” Ashe’s laugh seemed to have faded. He tilted his head sweetly. "If you ever need any help, just ask me." Ashe's eyes drifted away. "And if you want to be friends, just ask me."

Caspar smiled brightly. "Do you think we could be friends?"

Ashe's laugh returned, albeit a bit softer. "I think so."