Valley A&M Academy

After touring the airship, and speaking with the nobles, Will, Elizabeth, their families, the king, crown prince, Bradley, Rupert, and Kurosawa returned to the manor.

"So ends a long day," said Marcus.

"Yes, what a historic moment for the kingdom!" said Duke Francis vont Whitby.

As everyone looked celebratory, the king looked pensive. Something did not sit right with him.

Nobles who passed up rewards from the king did so for two reasons either due to their guilt or corruption.

The king knew Will's sin was avarice and greed, why would he give up such an opportunity?

Will's reputation was split. To the commoners, he was a pious, fair-minded, philanthropic, hero, and inventor.

To the nobles, he was a greedy upstart, who challenged conventional thinking. The nobles disliked his piles of gold flipped chivalric code on its head. As a Baron, he earned more deference than an earl.

From a commoner's perspective, not take credit fees into his pious, philanthropic persona. However, to the nobles his deception was unchivalrous.

Yet, Will carried more about cultivating his appearance among the masses, than his noble compatriots. The king had never seen such a noble.

After washing up the everyone sat down to dinner. The king sat at the head of the table, seated to his right was the crown prince.

The king's left set Will and Elizabeth. Next to the crown prince was the duke and duchess. James and Helen sat next to Elizabeth.

Marcus sat next to his mother. Bradley set next to the duke, and Rupert set next to Bradley. Kurosawa ate at the end of the table.

"Bradley and Rupert," Will cheered.

The dinner was festive, everyone laughed, ate, and drank.

When dessert and tea were served the king, stood to stop the conversation. Immediately everyone froze, the waitstaff was terrified to move.

"Before I take my leave bed, I wish to congratulate Bradley, Rupert, and Will on creating the first airship.

The names of you three me shall be embedded in the history books for eternity," the king pause.

"The H.M.S. Remus Albus Fermion IX long may she fly!" the duke cheered.

"Long may she fly," everyone repeated and clinked their glasses.

No one why vehicles were female, but weirdly on Earth and Terra wagons, ships, and now airships had feminine pronouns.

"William vont Ballard, Lord of Games, kneel and I shall offer you a second chance at an award," the king asked Will.

"Your majesty, may I consult my city manager?" Will asked.

"Yes, you may," the king was surprised Will did not have an answer prepared.

"Kurosawa come now!" Will commanded on bended knee.

"Yes, my Lord Baron," Kurosawa answered bowing.

"What does our city lack, that Guidon and Yorkshire have?" Will asked.

"An academy, my lord," Kurosawa bowed again.

"Then your majesty, I ask your permission to build an academy," Will said.

"An academy!" the king said surprised. He never expected such a request.

"What academy would you build that does not train mages, knights, or scholars?" the king asked.

"Kurosawa, what do you suggest?" Will asked.

"My lord, I do not know?" Kurosawa said caught off guard by the question.

"Your majesty, I wish to build an academy for commoners," Will answered,

"For commoners!" every noble shouted simultaneously.

"Yes, your majesty for commoners?" Will answered.

"And, what studies would you educate commoners?" the king asked curiously.

"Agriculture and soldier training," Will answered.

"Agriculture and military?" the king was impressed.

"Why those two?" the king asked.

"Your majesty, this kingdom's most important resource is grain. Almost our entire kingdom's economy comes from agriculture. Yet, we do not devote learning to our most important commodity.

Second, the kingdom just lost over a million soldiers in the war. The majority of the king's army is made of peasants. If we can better train our enlisted soldiers then we can advance our military. Your majesty," Will said.

In Fermion less than 90% of the populace could use magic. That meant education was exclusive to the aristocracy, magic commoners, or the geniuses like Kurosawa.

Education was a resource like any other. Moreover, the virtue of an educated population provided many several benefits, most of all educated people were financially better off. Slowly, over time, Will would increase the number of departments. The next departments he would add would be business and economics; and art and music.

"Very well my Head Steward shall draw up your charter. I leave two days, you shall have your charter before then," the king said.

"What do you plan to name your academy?" the princes asked.

"Your highness, I shall name it the Valley Agricultural and Military Academy, or the Valley A&M Academy. They'll be a Farmer's College, and a Warrior's College," Will answered.

"Do you have a headmaster, in mind? the duke asked.

"No, your grace," Will answered.

"Do you mind, if I help out with this project? It intrigues me," said Duke Francis.

"Your Grace, I would be honored if you were responsible for the entire project? Will answered honestly.

"Excellent, then you, Kurosawa, and I shall meet in the library after dessert," the duke said giddily with excitement.

After dinner, they met in the library. The duke was quick to also invite Grandmaster Thaddeus to join them.

Will noticed a change in his master's behavior and appearance. Instead of sparring, Elder Thaddeus had him spar with other knights. Elder Thaddeus would ten-issue corrections from the side.

Even more of concern for Will, Elder Thaddeus rarely left his cottage next door. It was certainly an entertaining image for his Home Debut guests to see his gargantuan manner, next to Elder Thaddeus' small cottage.

Kurosawa unrolled a map of the city. There was still plenty of available property.

"Here in the center pentagon, next to the Administration Building and churches, why is this large space reserved," the duke asked.

"The Baron asked me to reserve it for the Church of Pontus. When the church rejected our invitation, the space remained reserved," Kurosawa said.

"This place shall do nicely! Will any objections?" Duke vont Whitby asked.

Will shook his head no.

"Will, I believe your academy is just what this kingdom needs to protect our economy and borders. And your city is the perfect place for this academy because that is also the central focus of this city's trade and defense," the duke praised.

"I agree disciple, you hit the mark. A country that does not focus on farming Is like a bare old tree with only branches and no leaves," Elder Thaddeus complimented.

"Thank you for your praise. Farming strategies and technology are evolving, we must rise to meet future challenges.

Moreover, the training of military talents is a long-term process, and cannot be achieved overnight. Therefore, we must begin the process of developing talents for the kingdom from now on.

In addition to farming and weapons trading, I want to offer adult literacy and mathematics classes," Will said.

"My lord, I am deeply moved by your speech. Very few lords, feel the same as you. As a commoner, I know too well the options for education are dim. I offer you my undying loyalty," Kurosawa knelt on both knees and kisses Will's hand.

"Thank you, dear friend," Will said consoling Kurosawa.

"This kingdom is filled with families that possess a great talent. We could quickly build an effective Academy as long as we appoint loyal people in the right positions," Elder Thaddeus said.

"Grandmaster Thaddeus speaks the truth. To open a Farmer's, and Warrior college in this territory, we must set up basic classes, intermediate classes, and advanced classes.

The basic class shall focus on adult literacy, mathematics, reading, writing, rudimentary farming, or basic weapons classes.

The Intermediate class shall discuss more complex farming tools and strategies, as well as spare.

And the advanced class shall teach people advanced farming technology and innovation and squadron command skills," Duke Francis thought out loud.

"Wonderful! Following the idea of his Grace, we shall cultivate talents quickly and set up a new echelon for training talents," Will said.

"A three-year academy, why not four years like the other three academies" Elder Thaddeus asked rubbing his chin.

"Nobles would feel slighted, this gives them a sense of superiority," the duke said sadly.

"Your grace's idea is excellent. But, where shall we find the faculty?" Kurosawa asked.

"We cannot ask commoners to teach commoners," said the duke scratching his head.

"I can find the agriculture faculty if the duke finds the Headmaster, military faculty," Elder Thaddeus said.

"I hope that in the future, the Valley A&P Academy can become the cradle of our kingdom's farmers and enlisted officers," said Will.

"Kurosawa, I shall hand you the academy's blueprint before I leave. Although, I think a design similar to the Royal Academy is preferable," Duke Francis said thoughtfully.

"I recommend the student in the Warrior College, be addressed as Corp, instead of cadet, but we keep the same year insignia as the Knight Academy.

I also recommend the Corp uniform be as follows: Short-sleeve tan shirts with two breast pockets and black pants. The insignia was placed on the epaulets.

Citation cords are worn over the wearer's left shoulder, with the insignia also worn on the wearer's left collar, and rank is worn on the right collar. Any medals should be worn over the left breast pocket.

A black jacket, black belt with brass buckle, and tan boots should company the ensemble," Will suggested.

In Fermion, magic users could be knights or mages in the military, but only non-magic men could join the army. Non-magic women were forbidden to join the army. That meant no women could enroll in the Warrior's College.

"I like your idea, Baron! The Valley A&M Academy's flag shall be a golden tower on a mithril shield, as your gate angels," Elder Thaddeus suggested.

"Yes, and under the shield, it should say, 'Always Faithful.' To remind the students of their eternal commitment to the success of our great kingdom!" Will said.

"Yes, this is good!" the duke said excitedly.

"We almost have everything planned out. What about guilds, should we allow them?" Kurosawa asked.

"Let's wait, and have the guilds reach out to us first," Will cautioned.

"I think we're done?" said the duke!

"When words of this get out, the commoners shall migrate here in even greater numbers. You might even get, commoners from northern Albania, or beastmen?" Elder Thaddeus said.

"The more the merrier," Will said.

"In less than ten years, your city may rival the size of the two capitals," Duke vont Whitby said.

"And when that time comes, I'll build a mighty castle for his majesty, King Roland Godwin, Fermion III.

Like a bomb going off in his mind, Duke vont Whitby realized Gadreel might be the capital of a unified Fermion-Albania, Fermania! The epiphany made the duke fall backward on his posterior in shock.