As the days went by, both Thomas and Lissa had went through their daily routine as Students. On Thomas’ Part, he had constantly proven himself to be a capable student despite his lax personality. As evident on various lessons as he able to answer them well enough and his combat prowess is just as remarkable with his only flaw is his reliance on strength rather than speed. According to his Classroom Advisor, Professor Thalia Pryce, for all of his skills all of it was wasted due to his lack of enthusiasm.

“I don’t get it,” Professor Pryce asked him after classes that afternoon, it was Lunch Break and all of the students went their various things. His Classmates Ester and Yvonne went to eat lunch together, Thomas was about to eat lunch too but as he was about to leave Professor Pryce had stopped him leading him into this situation.

“You’re a top student, possibly the best one since this Academy’s founding right alongside Ms. Ikross from Class A and yet you lack the motivation.” She asked in a mildly exasperated tone for a brief moment Thomas felt guilty since from her reaction alone it was likely that she has high expectations for someone like him.

“What seems to be problem?” She asked him worriedly, Thomas just remained silent. What else would he had said? That he was just forced by his family to join the Academy without even disclosing any official reason other than he needs to?

“It’s alright,” She told him with a reassuring smile. “You can tell me whatever problem you have, I am your Advisor after all.”

“I mean if I were to be blunt.” Thomas said as he explained everything towards her, this then led to her reassuring smile replaced with a worried look. “And you’re fine with that?” She asked him after learning everything.

“I mean, between choosing the option of living the life of a Wealthy Noble near the Exavis and Axis Border and the life of a Soldier being able to see the World,” Thomas told her with dry smile. “I’d say either it’s a fun life either way well.”

“I see,” She frowned as she excused Thomas and left, but as he stood up she spotted something that fell out of his pocket. A braided cord bearing a Red and Magenta color as it fell out of Thomas’ sleeve.

“Oh hey Orphen you dropped something.” She said picking up the cord.

“Ah sorry about that,” Thomas said as he took the cord she looked closely at the cord as Thomas wrapped it around his left wrist next to his watch.

“You’re an Axian by birth?” She asked him.

“Uh yeah that’s what my family told me.” Thomas smiled as he finished tying the cord but it was replaced with a look of mild confusion. “I’m sorry but how did you know?”

“Ah well I read somewhere that Axians Parents would gift their new born with braided cords,” She explained as she looked at his cord one more time. “Both Colors represent the parents, the color selection depends on what the message that the parent is giving.”

“Really? That’s the first time I heard of it,” Thomas answered with a sad smile. “I just thought it was a gift from my parents. I never got the chance to meet them on accounts of being a War Orphan during the Axis Conflict and according to my adoptive parents this Cord was the only thing I have when they found me and since then I’ve kept around it for good luck since it reminds me of them.”

“Oh,” Her smile was quickly replaced to one with guilt. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine to be honest now that I know that this cord is possibly the last words my true parents have told me before I got separated from them feels…nice to be honest.” Thomas gave her a reassuring smile. “But still though,” He continued as he pondered the words that she told him. “I can’t help but wonder what these colors are meant to tell me.”

“Not even a letter explaining about it when you were adopted?” She asked.

“Not even that.”

“Well,” Professor Pryce jokingly said. “Maybe the Red is meant to represent Determination and the Magenta is meant to represent Compassion?”

“Maybe.” Thomas chuckled as he nodded. “Thank you either way but I need to get going.”

“Alright I’ll see you in our next Class then.” Professor Pryce said as he walked away. As soon as he was out of the classroom he let out a sigh as he went to the Cafeteria as be bought lunch, normally he would go and eat lunch but as he was about to sit down at a random location he spots Lissa who was quietly eating lunch.

“Hey there,” Thomas smiled as he sat across her. “Mind if I share a table?”

“Unfortunately yes,” Lissa told him with an irked look earning an amused smiled from Thomas. “Now now, I’m only here to have lunch. No need to be abrasive” Thomas chuckled as he began to eat lunch.

“Actually there’s actually something I wanted to ask you that’s why I came here.” Thomas said with a sheepish smile. “I’m not taking you on a date if that’s what you’re going for.” Lissa told him with an exasperated sigh earning an amused laugh from Thomas.

“No it’s not about that, though I’m flattered that you assumed that I will.” Thomas teased her earning a mild glare from Lissa. But his teasing smile quickly vanished and was replaced with a more somber look, earning a curious glance by Lissa.

“Why did you actually no that’s not a proper way of asking,” Thomas said in a low voice. And then he cleared his throat. “What’s your goal for being a Soldier in Axis? I mean surely you didn’t come here on a whim right?”

Lissa remained silent and then she sighed as she finished her meal.

“First of all, who on earth would be in their right mind to just decide to just be a soldier on a whim?” Lissa pointed out, Thomas couldn’t help but wince as he was in fact someone who decided to be a soldier on a whim.

“And second, everyone has their own reasons for doing this be it positive or negative.” Lissa continued as she put down her fork. “As for my goal…that’s a personal matter. Why are you asking me this anyway?”

“No reason,” Thomas faked a smile, though Lissa saw through it but decided not to ask further.

“Anyway,” Thomas continued as he finished his meal. “Thanks for answering my question, I best get going.”

I guess even he has some problems huh? Lissa just quietly watched as he walked away and looks at her watch. Well I still have time, I can go rest and then practice later.

[Axis:Legacy]

"Oh hey you’re here," Thomas said this time lacking the Coat and the sleeves of his shirt have been rolled up as he swung a heavy practice sword in his hands.

“I was going to ask the same thing to be honest,” Lissa commented as she spotted him spar in the training room alone. “I’m going to ask why but I figured I already know what you’re doing.”

“Yeah as you can see I’m practicing a bit,” Thomas said as he swing his practice sword, she quietly took off her coat and placed it nearby and as she rolled her sleeves she quietly observed the way Thomas swung his sword, she quietly notes that Thomas seem to move slowly but as evident from the sounds of impact produced by the training sword on the ground, his attacks are heavier, but at the same time clumsy when used properly.

“Alright fine,” Lissa sighed as she grabbed a light practice sword in her hands and approached Thomas who wiped his sweat as he let go of the sword in hands causing a loud thunk to be made.

“Hmm? What?” He asked.

“We’re going for a spar,” Lissa said as she got into a combat stance. “I’ve never faced someone with that of a fighting style before and I’d like to see how well I can do against you.”

“What are the rules?” Thomas asked with a smile as he grabbed his sword.

“Don’t hold back and the first to be disarmed loses.” Lissa answered. “Are you ready?”

“I’m ready.” Thomas said, his relaxed smile was replaced with a smirk that met Lissa’s cold and stoic look. For a brief moment, the two simply stared and then both of them quickly lunged at one another with their Ki at full effect.

Lissa was the first to strike as Thomas used the flat of his sword to block the thrust Lissa had made causing sparks to fly but Thomas took a step back and swung his sword forcing Lissa to roll to the ground and once more striking Thomas on a blind spot mid-swing forcing him to nearly let go of his sword with his right hand and forcing him to grip the sword with his left hand singlehandedly as he clumsily swung once more with the aid of Ki to reinforce his grip. This eventually forced Lissa to take a step back giving both of them enough breathing space as the readjusted their balance.

Right she focuses on high speed attacks, Thomas noted as he switched stances from gripping his sword with both hands and switched into a one handed reverse grip. I’ll need to adjust my speed against her.

Even with the weight of the sword he’s capable of wielding it with one hand. Lissa observed as she took a deep breath and spun her sword for a moment and raised it on a pointing gesture against Thomas. In that case I’ll need to balance offense and defense against him.

Once more the two of them lunged at one another with this time Thomas finally landing the first blow swinging his heavy sword at her forcing her to anticipate a strike from him but instead he took a step back and reversed his grip once more and swung this time his grip with both hands and swung at Lissa this time forcing her to block it with her sword causing the two of them to lock blades.

“Not bad.” Thomas complimented her with a smile. “Though you lack proper defense and rely too much on speed.”

“Same can be said for you,” Lissa said with an amused smile. “Though you put too much weight on your attacks.”

“I guess for Top students like us we still have room to improve then!” Thomas grinned as he pushed a large amount of weight on his sword causing both of them to lose their grip on their swords and causing both of them to exchange punches on one another only for their Ki to take the blunt of the impact of their blows causing both of them to exchange wide grins with one another.

The of them was about to and attack one another one more time with both of them ready to punch one another, the rule that once one of them have been disarmed had been immediately lost as the two were wrapped in a lust for battle.

“That’s enough!”

Both of them stopped and causing both of them to look at one another with shock as they struggled to move and turned around to find their Arcane and Ki Professor Hathaway Mills with an irked look on his face behind him where the students of Class 1-C staring at them with a half confused and half amazed look on their faces.

“The Bell had rung around ten minutes ago.” Professor Mills pointed out as he as the two of them regained their movements. “Head back to your respective classes now.”

“Sorry sir…” Lissa said in mild embarrassment. “Sorry about that.” Thomas said with a sheepish smile. As soon as the two of them grab their coats and fixed their uniforms and left Professor Mills let out a sigh and returned his attention towards the students of Class 1-C.

“You know, back in the day flirting used to be a lot less destructive. And a lot less painful.” Professor Mills commented earning an amused laugh from the aforementioned Class.