He felt the bus ride very long. Then he looked out the window and saw a sign that read "Gariland Academy, 18 miles". Good. Almost there, he thought to himself.
Ramza Beoulve turned to see his best friend and "brother" asleep. He was sound asleep alright and curled into a little ball. The young sleepyhead was a little taller than Ramza (when he's awake!) and he had slick brown hair. Ramza gazed at his bro, Delita's hair and then felt his own long blonde ponytail. He loved his hair long and it had taken him years to grow it. Nothing in this world made him happier then to have his own hair long.
Ramza's thoughts then focused to his sister, Alma. How sad the poor girl was to see him go. He remembered how close to tears she had been and her constant reminding him to write and keep in touch. Ramza assured her that he would and in the same, Alma would write to him constantly as well. The two hugged and then Ramza left. It was hard going away.
Teta, Delita's sister, was equally sad. She didn't cry. But she was definatley going to miss him terribly, especially since he wouldn't be around to protect her from any bulllies at her school. For Teta, going to the school was a nightmare, since she was constantly picked on. But she couldn't worry her brother especially since going to the academy meant a lot to him. He dreamed of becoming a top knight and graduating from there. So Teta natrually assured him that everything was going to be fine. To Ramza however, she didn't seem very convincing...maybe she was even pretending. Ramza couldn't be sure.
He then turned his thoughts to the long year he would spend in the academy. Away from Balbanes, his father, from Zalbag, his brother and Dycedarg, his other brother. Especially from Alma, the one he trusted the most. Ramza looked out the window and saw a sign telling them that the Academy was up ahead. He turned to Delita and pushed him lightly on the shoulder in attempt to wake him up. Delita stirred, then went back to sleep. Ramza pushed Delita much harder now, causing him to fall off his seat and land on his butt.
Delita: EY! (rubbing his head and butt) What was that for?
Ramza: (grinning) Sorry bro! It's just that we're about to get there.
Delita quickly collected himself and then sat back down in his bus seat. He looked out the window, then made a face.
Delita:: (groggily) Is this Gariland City? It looks so ugly...
Ramza: Don't say that, Delita! It may be true that the town looks bad, but the academy is said to be the best in Ivalice!
Delita frowned and folded his arms.
Delita: I guess so. I mean, Father did choose this one out of all of them in Ivalice.
Ramza: Yup! I heard it is! And I really can't wait to start off the new school year!
Delita: Do you think we'll make a lot of friends?
Ramza: Of course we will! Especially you! I know how much you wanted more friends.....
Delita: Ahh....even if we don't, at least you'll still be my best bud. Right?
Ramza: Yeah. But I'm sure you'll make friends.
Delita: Yeah. Hey, what was it that you wanted to train for? A chemist?
Ramza: Ha ha. Very funny. You know very well that I share the same ambition that you do. To be a knight!
Delita: Cool. (Looks out window)You know, I'm actually looking forward to spending the year at Gariland Academy, dumpy or not!
Once Ramza, Delita and the other kids got off the bus, they crowded into a giant beautiful building with a giant podium at the front. Several kids crowded near the podium, waiting for rooming lists or instructions. Ramza noticed that several kids from other cities were there for quite a while, meaning that the bus from Igros was the last one to arrive. God, they must have been waiting for us to get our late asses here, thought Ramza.
He took a good look around the building. It sure was anything but dumpy or ugly. He thought it was real nice and pretty big. He wasn't sure he'd know his way around much less find the restroom!
Soon, a male knight, who looked like he was in his 30's got on the podium and tapped the microphone to test it. There was a loud noise and then the thing functioned properly.
Male knight: Good morning students, ladies and gentlemen. Hope you people from out of town enjoyed your trip here!
There was a chorus of groans coming from a lot of kids, including Delita.
Male knight: In any event, welcome to Gariland Academy, the best place to train and learn
academy in Ivalice! I am the males advisor, Mr. Lavion and the knights-in- training teacher. I will be training you male and female squires who are interested
in becoming knights or other warriors.
Mr. Lavion then continued to blab and explain the rules and regulations. Then he introduced Mrs. Lavion, a female knight in her 30's as well as the females advisor. She would also be taking care of the chemists as far as fighting skills.
After introducing most of the staff members, Mr. Lavion finally posted the rooming list for all the out of towners. Everyone crowded around the huge poster that was posted on the wall next to the great room. Ramza quickly skimmed the list to find his name and then was relieved at what he saw. The list read:
Ramza Beoulve #23
Delita Hyral #23
Ramza: Hey Delita, guess what? We're roomates! Whoopee!
Delita walked up next to Ramza and glanced at the list.
Delita: Hey your right, bro! Alright!
Ramza high fived Delita and the two proceeded to thier room to go and unpack.
Once the unpacking was done, the teachers and staff had let the students spend the day resting, unpacking or touring the campus. Ramza had decided to nap for a little while while Delita went out to tour around the place since he had already had a good amount of sleep.
Delita walked by the gym and noticed how well air-conditioned it was. It reminded him of elementry years, when he was forced to participate in several sports involving teamwork. He hated it. Kids always picked him last. Then when they did, they usually blamed him if the team didn't win. He really hated it. No one liked him and kids never wanted him to be on thier team. Unfortunatley, the instructor always made Delita participate, which is why Delita dreaded P.E. everyday. The other bad part was that he was always sent to a different team than of Ramza's.
He hated those memories.
Delita shook his head, took a deep breath, and walked inside.
He took note of several boys playing basketball and enjoying themselves. They looked to him like they were having a ball. Then, to the far left of the gym, he noticed a young man with light brown hair waxing the floors misrabley. He looked about Delita's age. And he looked very tired.
God knows why that kid is there, Delita thought to himself. Then he noticed the basketball players began to crowd around the boy. They certainly didn't look very friendly.
Player 1: Well, well, well..poor guy's first day here and he's already in trouble. Ha ha ha....
Player 2: Yeah! Can't you do anything right? (Laughs)
Boy: (Barely audible) Go away!
Player 1: Why should we?
Boy: You jocks don't get it do you? You ain't got no brains to understand, so I won't bother.
The angry basketball player grabbed the boy angrily and held him against the wall.
Player 1: Heh heh heh heh...Not so tough anymore, eh?
Delita gasped suddenly as he recognized that bully's voice. No doubt about it, it was Andy. Andy Zuckerman. Delita and Ramza's arch rival since elementry.
Delita couldn't believe it. How could an asshole like him have made it into the academy? How did he manage to follow him and Ramza all the way here? It just didn't make sense!
Delita then remembered how cruel Andy used to be to him...how awful he used to humiliate him in front of other kids...the cruel jokes Andy played on him....
Delita grabbed his head and shook the awful memories.
The boy was now pinned against the wall and was gasping for air. The other players, whom Delita recognized as Andy's gang of populars, stood around the boy, taunting him cruely.
Player 2: (Joseph) Hey, freak, no one makes fun of our leader or us!
Player 3: (Mark) Yeah, just for that , Andy here's gonna make you squeal like an animal!
With that, Andy slammed the young man against the wall. He yelled out in pain.
Boy: Ah! Help me! Help me!
Delita knew he outta rescue him. Quickly, he ran over to where Andy was.
Delita: Let him go, you bastard!
Andy dropped the young man and faced Delita. Delita turned to the boy and nodded for him to run. The young man didn't have to be told twice. He ran off quickly.
Andy: Well well well....Delita Hyral, isn't it?
Delita: You damn right it is! What the hell are bastards like you doing in such as high society academy?
Andy: Ha ha ha..I should be asking you that question, you commoner bastard.
Delita: (grabs Andy by the collar of his shirt and pull his face up to his) You'll pay for that you scum, I swear, I'll make you pay.....
Joseph, Mark and Steve began to move toward Delita. But Andy motioned for them to wait.
Andy: Don't worry boys, I'll handle this.
Then Andy turned his face to Delita's and lowered his voice.
Andy: Well, go ahead and kill me, beat me up. That way, you could get expelled and show the nobles just how low and filthy commoners really are.....
Delita grunted and hesitated. What Andy said was true. What would the people say when they know how big of a mistake it was to let in a commoner? How would his bro Ramza feel? Moreover, what would Father and Teta think? No, he couldn't risk all that he's had all his life, all the luxuries and comfort of a real family.
Andy: Well-----?
Delita slammed Andy angrily against the wall of the gym and let him go. Andy and his little gang ran away quickly without another word. Then, Delita furiously punched the wall.
Delita: DAMN, THAT BASTARD!!!!!!
Without another word, he stormed off.
Next episode: Episode 2: Another Encounter
Author's Notes: Sorry that this took a little longer than I thought! Hope your enjoying this series so far and I hope to keep updating on this more often.