St. Freya High School was founded in 2000 by Theresa Apocalypse and is a school to train Valkyries.
Even with its intended purpose, Theresa made life there like a normal school with the heavy inclusion of combat classes, strategic learning, and Honkai energy control.
So those who intend to continue their career as a Valkyrie could still protect those whom they cherish, or choose a different career to pursue in a life of normalcy.
Out in the very open of St. Freya's bridge entrance, with the sun up and running, lay a red-haired lady sitting on one of the paired benches.
It was Himeko Murata, one of the teachers of St. Freya High for 3 years, and the future Captain of the Hyperion.
Her teaching and current combat uniform consisted of A white, short-sleeved button-up shirt, fitted and partially unbuttoned, with a shortened red coat covering it. Black shorts, along with high-high, skin-toned stockings with dark thigh straps.
Even as the heat of the sun grazed her skin, it didn't stop her gloved hands from drinking down a can of beer.
It was the perfect spot to cool down from all the work, plus she wouldn't hear the nagging of Theresa drinking on the job. Though the distance was quite far from the main building, it was worth it for the peace and quiet.
As the bitter flavor of ale hit her tongue, she couldn't help but let out a satisfied moan.
"Ah, that's the stuff!... How stacked do you have to be to build an entire waterfall for the school? Gramps must love spoiling that little Teri."
With her mind drunken and spirits high, nothing could shoot Himeko's mood down...Unless she was caught red-handed by Theresa.
Her drunken thoughts dulled and turned sober as sudden footsteps rang into her flustered ears. With her hands, she quickly jugged the entire can. It was crushed into a flattened paste, and within the blink of an eye, thrown into the nearest trash can like a baseball.
Himeko swiped the sweat from her forehead and turned to face the people coming over. It was well beyond school hours; it could have been a student or teacher, but no matter what, she couldn't be caught drinking.
'Maybe it would have been a good idea to drink from my balcony.'
"Gramps did thy witness that? She devoured that beverage in a second. Such thirst is only reachable when my mouth lusts for your blood." A childish voice with a sweetish tone muttered.
"Luna, I don't think it's a bright idea to speak and talk about that topic in public, especially in front of a teacher."
'My pay is definitely getting docked...'
As her gaze lingered on the arrival of two people, she started to blink her eyes rapidly.
"Are you okay, Miss? Are you worried about me snitching on drinking on the job? Don't worry, I won't tell, but I don't know about Gramps."
"I think she's just shocked that the Overseer of Schicskal showed up in front of St. Freya without any notice and caught her drinking a Rud Light."
Himeko's body tightened, hearing this, and a sheepish but nervous smile was plastered on her face. Her hand started to rub on the back of her neck, on the sensation of red-handed heat.
"...Is there anything I could do to not...Wait a minute, Gramps?" She took a look at the crimson-eyed child standing by Otto's side.
'Theresa, what is with you're Grandfather being called an old man...Don't tell me he made another.'
Otto lightly gripped Luna's shoulder and gently slid her in front of his legs as if to properly show her to Himeko.
"This is my adoptive Granddaughter, her name is Luna Apocalypse, and she'll be attending St. Freya for a week before making her decision whether to stay or not."
Himeko digested the info before replying, "Is there any reason why you're telling me this?"
"Well, I am forcing you to look after her and give some extra lessons, after all, Ragna did teach you, didn't she...I am sure you're method of teaching is similar to hers, isn't it? One filled with humanity, virtue, kindness, and beauty."
It wasn't a tone of mockery but understanding and admiration toward her mentor.
"Oh, a legendary figure...Was she the strongest Valkyrie?" Luna asked.
"She wasn't the strongest, but one with the kindest of souls," Otto answered.
Fond memories started to simmer into Himeko's mind. Her teacher, Ragna Lothbrok, was the Valkyrie she wanted to be, protecting all that she cherished with a smile brimming with beauty.
Though she is gone, her lessons still shine through many Valkyries, or at least rubbed her in some way, shape, or form.
She wanted to feel some sort of wrath or anger at the man since he was partially involved with Ragna's death, sending her on a mission, but she just couldn't, especially with a child here.
Himeko had gotten over it...Life was a journey that was bitter with the passing of loved ones and sweet with their moments with them. That was how her field of work was, but she still put up her guard against the man.
"There's no need for those flowery words...She was a great teacher, and one day I hope that same Final Lesson can be passed on to my students...Let's move from this, alright? Do you need me to give you a tour?" She politely asked.
Otto waved his hands in refusal, "There's no need, you can drink in moderation, but I don't think this is the ideal spot unless you want to purposely be caught my, Granddaughter."
"Thanks for the heads up! Mind asking me a question of mine...Why does Luna look eerily striking to Theresa?"
"Chalk it up to Fate, as it's such a fickle thing." Done with his words, Otto pulled out a bouquet of roses from nowhere and handed them to Himeko.
The red-haired lady let out a pleased smile, being gifted all of a sudden, "What's the occasion for? Charmed by my looks?" She teased.
"It's none of the sort, Miss Himeko. It's a gift for Ragna's dream and for the one whom I envy."
"Envy?"
"Yes, I envy you, Miss Himeko...I will always forever be a man who'll never turn into a shooting star that briefly shines to warm up every heart but lurking in its shadow till the very end."
Done with his words, Otto moved along with Luna in his hands and passed by the confused and dazed Himeko adorned with roses.
With enough distance between Himeko, Luna asked, "Why did you do that? It was quite strange...Were you close? Did she lose her memory about you and in one attempt to reawaken..."
Otto shook his head with an amused face. "It's none of those strange theories you have, Luna...It was a parting of a Final Lesson to an old "friend," so don't think too much about it."
Luna shrugged her shoulders and continued walking with a musical beat, "Merry-go-round."
'Live Himeko, so you don't fall into the Sea riddled with Bubbles because of me.'
...
In a windowed office, sitting in her chair, Theresa couldn't help but let out a sigh. Her head started to lie on the wooden desk in boredom and exhaustion.
Piles of papers were scattered throughout her workplace, and some reached higher than her head.
"So much work! Maybe I should hire an assistant to help me out and push my work to them, but I wouldn't be any different than Grandpa, but I am still paying them, so it cancels out and is instead morally natural."
To commemorate such a genius idea, her hands reached toward the mini fridge under the desk and grabbed a bottle of Bitter Melon Juice.
Just as she was about to chug down the entire bottle, a knock on the door stopped her tracks.
"What is it now?"
Her desire to drink was apparent, but it was her duty as Headmaster/Principal to do her job and address the person knocking at the door late afternoon.
"You can come in! The door is unlocked."
The door knob clicked as it was being twisted to open and with it flunged open came in a young girl.
Pale whiteish hair with crimson eyes, and those same eyes gazed at Theresa with a noble demeanor, but a rivalrous stare.
The young girl picked up her dress with her fingertips and gracefully bowed.
"Greetings, Madam Theresa, it is a pleasure to be blessed by your presence...My name is Luna Apocalypse, and I have been interested in attending this fine establishment."
Theresa's eyes widen at the similarity between the girl and herself. If given a picture of the two, they would redoubtable appear as twins.
"Luna Apocalypse...Are you one of Grandpa's experiments? Answer me." She quickly asked.
Before Luna answered, a familiar sweet sweet-sounding voice came from behind.
"Does my Granddaughter have no faith in me?"
Faster than her senses could react, a pair of soft arms started to tightly hug her from behind. Her small figure was pulled up from her chair and pressed against his chest in a sweet embrace.
'How come I didn't even notice him sneaking behind me!'
"Grandpa!" Theresa yelled as she was in his soft grasp. Her body wanted to break free from the hold, but feeling the warmth emitting from his body and the scent of vanilla trickling her nose, her resistance simmered. She was now just a grumpy tuna fish in the man's arms.
"Ah, Theresa, I missed you so much!... I am so sorry I couldn't call or write you any letters. As the Schicksal Overseer, there's so much work."
"If you're going to keep on acting like this, at least put me down and we can talk! I am a child anymore."
"Alright! Anything for my sweetie." Otto said as he quickly put Theresa down
Hearing these words, Theresa's face scrunches up into a fluster. Luna looked at the pair with envious eyes...
'How come he doesn't do that to me? Wait, why am I jealous? Don't I drink his blood, so doesn't mean I have the upper hand? I will forever have a piece of him in my stomach till the day I die.'
...
Finished with his pestering, Otto was seated on one of the pair of couches in front of Theresa's desk. Luna joined in as well, sitting by his side in the most royal position she could muster.
"You want her to attend my Academy for a week before she leaves." Theresa, seated at her desk, started talking business.
"Yup, I want to learn a bit before going off on a journey on my own," Luna answered for herself.
"Instead of doing something so reckless, why not stay here for a couple of years until you graduate and are ready for the real world...Although the place looks grand and fancy, it's still a place where people can call their home."
"That depends on whether you can make me stay! Then I'll gladly have my training arc to become a Heroic Valkyrie, traveling the world, exploring new places, and protecting the weak. It's my dream and the dream of the ones I've lost."
"It's a beautiful dream, but if you want to make it come true, you have to work hard for it till the point your spirit breaks and blossoms higher."
"Of course! I'll do anything for that juvenile dream to continue."
Theresa couldn't help but see the similarities between the girl and herself...It made it all the while for her to convince Luna to stay.
To experience the world is to see it through all of its lenses, and so she needed to drill all the lessons that life had to offer into that girl's brain.
The world was beautiful, but being prepared for its harsh reality was necessary.
"You got anything to add, Grandpa...I mean, Mr. Apocalypse?"
"I don't but the way my two granddaughters are getting along so well brings tears to my face."
"Stop acting so melodramatic...We just have a common ground for similar ideals, and I like her dream even though it sounds quite childish."
"Thy stain my dream, but you're appearance is akin to one." Luna fired back with a giggle.
"I am at least four times you're age and Grandpa...Can't you at least find some way to make me grow up and at least look partially my age?"
"I did have that train of thought, but I don't want to attempt anything risky that'll permanently damage you're body. Luckily, in the future, I will find the solution. I promise, so just wait and keep on drinking milk."
As the conversation kept on going, Theresa moved on to the topic of Luna's origin.
Theresa's hands clenched with anger till the point her hands turned white, and her face glimmered with displeasure.
"Those bastards again! How much pain and suffering is that Church of Monsters going to cause before they're put down?"
In her decades of working as a Valkyrie, scenes of blood-stained walls, pale dead people drained of all their life, people staked high, their through mouth and hearts ripped out of their chests flashed before her eyes.
"Now that a decade has passed, that Church has been declining lately, but if pushed comes to shove, I can start wiping out their remnants. I am sure the human body can't survive being hit with thousands of thunderbolts. Maybe I can make them all into my puppets."
Seeing the twisted smile on Otto's face, both girls felt a shock of fear twisting and growing on their spines.
"Sorry about that, you two...Theresa, you know I am not the most moral man, but I promise I won't do anything too bad, alright." He let out a sheepish smile to cover up his display.
"How would I even trust you with just words?" She asked with a look of suspicion
"Faith. Just like I how faith in you that you'll never waver in the face of Destruction."
Theresa let out a heavy sigh from his words, 'This Grandpa of mine!'
"Fine, fine, fine! It's not like I can stop you anyhow! Is there anything else I need to know?"
Otto pulled out a box from the inside of his vest like a Magician and placed it down onto the table laid in front of the couch.
Luna's mouth started to water from the delicious smell emanating from it.
"Do you have a fridge cold enough to store 'Human' blood? I drained about a month of my blood in bloodbags for Luna?"
Theresa stared at the box in a daze and asked herself, 'What is wrong with Grandpa!?'