Lucrezia Noin
Winter Break
Lake Victoria Academy, AC 187
Noin watched her classmates leave the school to go back to their families for winter break. She was one of the very few who had put her name on the list of students who would be staying at the academy during the break. Most people had families to go home and visit, but she had no one anymore. Papa wouldn't want her back, and the rest wouldn't want to cross him, even if he hadn't convinced them of how evil she was.
When the last of them had gone, she made her way to the library. Since the tour on the first day of school, she'd been interested in the Mobile Suit Simulation system that was located in the east wing, but hadn't any time to research more than a little bit, though she'd borrowed a few books from the library. But for the next two weeks she had no classes and no appointments to keep. She could spend as much time studying as she liked.
She knew the section where books on the Mobile Suit Simulation were located very well and picked out five of the most dense books from the shelf. There was only one book that was specifically about the Sim, but many others contained as much as a chapter on it. Students were allowed to check out a maximum of five books at a time.
Mrs. Duninghan, the librarian, was very surprised to see a first year student not only still at school during the break, but checking out the maximum number of books and all of them being technical. But she checked out the books without a word and made a mental note of the girl's name. Later, she went back through the computer records of what this Lucrezia Noin had checked out in the past. She was astonished to see that among the books checked out for classes were a large number of technical books, some checked out multiple times. The one that she discovered had been checked out the most was a book specifically covering the training simulator used by LVA. With a frown she decided she'd better let Instructor Ashenhurst know, in case the girl was planning on hacking the system to her advantage. It wouldn't be the first.
It was the fourth day of break and Noin was in the nearly empty cafeteria with a book open in front of her, reading as she ate. She wasn't paying attention to her surroundings much and didn't notice that someone was approaching until the shadow fell across her page. She looked up and was startled to see it was a teacher, and not even one that she had for a class. "Miss Noin, correct?"
She nodded. What on earth could this be about?
"I've been informed that you've been studying quite a lot of technical books from the library since your enrollment here," he stated.
"Yes, sir," she replied. Had she done something wrong without realizing? Were they going to kick her out?
"Perhaps you can tell me what this special interest of yours is all about."
"Er, I was just interested in how the simulator worked, sir," she replied meekly. "If I've done something wrong -"
"No no, Miss Noin. There is no sin in the wish to learn, if there is no less wholesome motive involved," he said. "I am Instructor Ashenhurst. Please come by my office at fifteen hundred hours today."
Noin stared as Instructor Ashenhurst walked away and found that she'd lost any desire to finish her lunch now. Despite his reassuring words, she was terrified of what might await her that afternoon.
Noin waited for only a few minutes outside Instructor Ashenhurst's office before being invited in. The chair she sat in was a bit too large for her, and made her feel all the more small and frightened.
"I've taken a look through your file," he said. "Top grades in every class, and your teachers are much more impressed with your performance than you probably realize. The fact that you are also doing a research project independently is enough to show me that you are an exceptional student, with great potential for even more." As he outlined his idea, Noin's eyes got wider and wider. "It would take a lot of time and dedication on your part, but if you are willing, I'll train you."
"Really?" she asked, astonished.
He nodded. "Are you interested?"
There was no doubting her response. "Yeah! This is great!" she exclaimed excitedly. All nervousness and fear from before were forgotten completely.
Noin followed Instructor Ashenhurst out of the office and saw an older boy sitting on the bench just outside. He had very long blonde hair, but the strange thing about him was the silvery mask he wore that covered about two-thirds of his face.
"You're early, Zechs. Excellent," said Instructor Ashenhurst, "We can proceed to the simulator now, then."
The masked boy, Zechs, stood without a word and also followed to the simulation room. Noin kept catching herself staring at Zechs, wondering why he wore a mask and what his reason must be for not going home for the holidays. Unfortunately, he kept catching her staring as well. Noin averted her gaze and turned red with embarrassment, but soon found herself staring again. He was obviously a student, but no one that Noin had seen before.
When they reached the first Mobile Suit Simulation room, Zechs went through a different door. The one that Noin followed Instructor Ashenhurst through went to a room Noin recognized as the control room.
"Zechs arranged to have additional mobile suit training every afternoon during the break," he said, "He's an excellent student, but too focused to pay much attention to to social part of academy life. I'll show you the basic controls while he practices."
Noin was a caught on quickly and learned more that afternoon than weeks of studying books had taught her. Contesting for her attention as well was watching Zechs' training. Before she'd wondered how something so large and heavy could manover well enough to fight a battle, but now she had no doubts. He was absolutely amazing.. For the rest of the break she would have her lessons with Instructor Ashenhurst at the same time as Zechs' practices.