Raphael took his usual seat at the left-most side of the back row, preferring not to be surrounded by classmates with whom relations were rocky at best. A first day brawl in the cafeteria over a comment about the Ammatar had alienated him from most of the group, though it did spark interest in him from a handful of classmates, two of whom were now hard-won friends, one of whom was part of the Ammatar Navy who had come as part of a one-sided "exchange" system.
He was among the first few to arrive to the empty classroom, and most of those already seated gave him a rather hostile glance, of which more were to come when the rest of the students piled in. The students ranged in age from young adulthood to early seniority. The two friends he had who were unafraid to show it sat near him, taking a seat to his right and immediately in front of him.
"And how does today find you, Colonel?" asked the young Imperial Major to his right, his languid drawl drenched in as much sarcasm as it was sincerity.
"Per usual," Raphael said back, slight ambivalence in his voice. He looked ahead to the young Arch Lieutenant seated in front of him. "I'll need you to get some more of that Nepenthe."
The Ammatar spun around in her seat to face him, giving him a wry smile. "Finished it already?" she asked in a heavy accent. "You drink too much."
"Don't make me order you," Raphael replied, two thoughts away from being serious. He saw the officer seated next to her turn at the sound of her voice and give her a slightly disgusted look. "Hey," he called forcefully, causing the officer to turn away and look forward.
The lieutenant looked to her side following Raphael's gaze but saw only the officer staring ahead, and so turned back to Saint giving him a questioning look.
"Nothing," Raphael sighed. "Just get some more soon, ok?" He gave her his best puppy eyes impression.
She laughed and nodded. "Of course, Colonel."
"Let me know when you'll get it and I'll come share a bottle with you," the Major added, adressing Saint.
"Will do," he replied, nodding. "Will do."
The professor walked in, a Divine Commodore well past his bicentennial walked into the room, ending thier conversation as the Marshal Commander seated nearest the door called the room to attention.
"The lessons for this coming week will be an in-depth look into the tactics and practices of the Elder Fleet, both in and off of the battlefield."
Raphael sighed. If this class was anything like what the rest of the academy seemed to be like so far, he was in for some long sessions of anti-Matari laced speeches. He looked at the back of the head of the lieutenant in front of him, and hoped it would not be so.
