A Set of Expectations

"Share our goals? I apologize, but would it not be more reasonable for you alone to inform me of your intentions so that I may assist you? I feel our positions of squire and knight, even if it is only such a relationship by label, incentivize me to assist in the completion of your objectives over mine." Titanyana seemed put off by the suggestion, but Donovan payed it no heed. She had let down her guard, and he was fully committed to exploiting the opportunity to make a positive connection to her.

"Maybe you feel that way, but I feel that we should share our objectives precisely because our knight and squire relationship is only a formal one. To be completely honest, I feel like I'm not really paying you. The Sanctum is taking care of your pay right?"

Titanyana nodded cautiously.

"I have no idea what they are paying you, how they are paying you, or how you feel about it. At the same time I can't help but feel that my existence as someone you need to train is robbing you of the chance to make a name for yourself otherwise." Don pushed the cored lump of metal off of the chair (which now lacked a backrest) and took a seat on it. "I would like to know exactly it is you want to do so that I can feel like I've repaid you for your services when I help you accomplish them."

Don looked at her disbelieving expression. Was his suggestion really that unorthodox?

"Does that sound a bit too selfish?" Maybe the thought of his good will being no more than a means to ingratiate himself didn't resonate with her.

"Not at all. I just didn't expect your to be so cavalier about such an arrangement. You do realize that you are already the only reason I am still attending the academy, right?"

"I wasn't aware of that fact, though it doesn't change my stance."

Titanyana remained in a state of disbelief.

"Do you know how the academy functions?"

"I don't know the details, but I think I get the general idea. 128 armies consisting of a varying amount of smaller units are frequently pitted against each other in competition for the express purpose of allowing participants at every level to train and express their abilities. Aside from the army on army tournaments held every other month, save the break months, there are frequent competitions of varying types that seek to more intimately display the strengths of those who might not be as eye catching or important during the main events. Students are free to use the facilities and train under the instructors as they please to further themselves." Don recited what the Marshall told him about the academy.

"Okay, what do you know aside from the general overview?"

"Eeeeeeh not much, but enough about that. We can deal with the boring minutiae later, for now I want to hear what you want." Don pointed his finger with a smile on his face. Personally, he didn't think that this forced smile was going to help much, but Diana assured him that facial expressions like this were important when talking to others. This might not have been the best time for one, truth be told, but he was making a sincere attempt.

Hopefully that sincerity would break through her walls.

He was met with a sharp exhale, not hostile judging by her facial expression but certainly not anything that signified 'happy'. Judging from the way her hand moved to scratch behind her ears, it might have been something close to an annoyed or exhausted sigh, but he wouldn't be able to tell for sure until she gave a verbal response.

"Fine. I'll bite. I think its about time we took a break as well." She took her time getting into a position with her legs crossed on the gravel. "Should I start with my personal goals?"

"Go right ahead!" He had no idea what exactly she meant by personal goals. Did she have other tasks here? Ones she might not want to do?

"Okay. One of my primary objectives is to establish myself among the elites of the swordsmen of this school, enough so to receive a formal title of address."

"What's that?"

"A title of address? I suppose they are something along the lines of established titles whose holders are recognized to have accomplished some great feat. 'Dragonslayer' is an example of such a title, I think you can gather what it means, and I believe the Marshall has title of 'Vaunted', so it would not technically be improper to refer to him as 'the Vaunted Marshall' or maybe 'Marshall the Vaunted' in conversation. The Sanctum's academies have some titles that are of extreme value, most belonging to the military academy."

"Is that so?" Donovan had not received such information, though he felt like that sort of thing could have been referenced in the past. "Do you mind if I ask which one in particular you are looking to get?"

"Hmm, if I had to choose then I would like to receive the title of 'Blademaster' or 'Vanguard' though I'm not particularly picky. The best title would probably be the designation of recognized excellence, 'von', though I admit it is unlikely I'll even get a shot at earning it." Titanyana's ears drooped at the mention of this.

"What's so special about 'von'. It doesn't sound particularly exhilarating."

"Maybe to you, but to warriors and those in positions of high power it is a sign of their having been recognized as the geniuses they believe themselves to be. It is not the Grand Elders that have the honor of bestowing this title, but the Arboreal Maiden. Because of that, you can only really receive it if you attend one of the academies, though I hear she hasn't given to that title for some time now." Her tail, which had slowly been swaying from side to side fell limp at that detail. "Simply put, it would solve all of my problems."

"How so? Does it come with land or money? The reputation?"

She turned her head up to the canopy, looking off into the red-hued night sky. Donovan wasn't comfortable with this variation from what he considered the norm, a perpetual darkness looming above him. He was assured that this was the exception, that much like the Oberlux the Great Csillacra's main body could hold air in its vicinity. The reason that the blue sky was absent could be entirely attributed to the 'thin' layer of air not having enough space to make it so.

"Great powers would sacrifice almost anything to get their hands on someone that had been recognized by the Great Csillacra for their excellence."

"Vague, but I get it. What do you think your chances of getting a title are?"

"I want to say 'fairly good', but I do not know the strength of my competition and I do not understand exactly what it is I would need to demonstrate in order to receive a title."

"Do you think it might be harder than becoming a general?"

"Of one of the 128 armies? It depends. If you only want to reach that point, it might be possible. If you want to keep that position, probably not." Titanyana took a deep breath. "There is something like an agreement among those that reach the level of division commander that they 'take turns' as the general."

Donovan was confused at why she seemed so downtrodden about this. "Is there something wrong with that? It seems like an excellent way to give as many people the chance to prove themselves as possible."

"Perhaps to someone who has yet to be exposed to it's intricacies, but it isn't nearly as nice as it sounds. Politics play a big role in who and who isn't promoted to the rank of general. Some armies have been controlled by the same collection of nations for generations, not letting anyone outside of their clique above the rank of Brigadier. Even outside of those select armies, there is the expectation that the General will pass the torch after one or two competitions. Rare exceptions do happen in the case that the Division Commanders believe they will achieve greater notoriety under an exceptionally talented individual but I wouldn't count on it even if you do prove yourself worthy."

"I guess I'll have to be careful about which army I decide to join then won't I?"

"Mhm." She nodded her head in agreement. "I have one more thing I'm trying to accomplish here, but I'm not sure I should tell you about it yet. I take it one of your desires is to become a General?"

"Yes, in addition I would also like to become a better with the sword, make some friendly connections with powerful people, and make a name for myself. Outside of the ground forces, I also want to make a name for myself as an admiral."

"Admiral of the Ocean or Commander of the Void?"

"If possible, both, though I'll probably only go down the path of Void. I don't want to spend too much time here after all." Donovan thought about the timetable that the Marshall had put together for him. Once he got to the level of Brigadier he could start a concurrent enrollment path, the workload dropping off considerably at that rank. It would also take some time for ARC to finish a ship suitable for the job, part of the consideration to start with a corvette level dockyard.

"That's mighty ambitious. Do you even have experience with space combat?" Titanyana experienced the amount of time it took to become extremely good at physical combat, and she could see how becoming competent at commanding to any serious degree would be an even more time consuming endeavor.

"If anything, I'm more confident in my ability to move spaceships around than people on a battlefield. I'm a pilot in my own right and I have some experience in directing forces in battle from range. I think it counted as two dominant engagements, though the circumstances could mean it is officially interpreted as a single drawn out engagement." Donovan remembered the attack on the harbor and the slaughter of the shadowing force. The difference between an individual engagement was hard to grasp when in constant contact with the enemy.

"Pilot? Do you mean you are the captain of a small ship?" Titanyana clearly didn't have much experience in the realm of extraterrestrial combat. "If you are so much more confident with your skills in command of a void vessel, why didn't you start with that? I mean, I'm thankful you didn't, I wouldn't be able to attend if you did, I just can't see the logic."

"Honestly, I would have preferred to start there too. I just don't have a ship that I can use at the moment, and the rules say I need to provide or purchase my own equipment."

"Were you unable to purchase one? I know that space ships tend to be quite expensive, but the Sanctum probably could have assisted you." She would know, despite her family being in control of an entire planet they could only afford a handful of smaller vessels used for defense.

"They offered, but I turned them down on the basis that I wouldn't be able to use them. The way they work is way too different than the ones I'm used to, a whole lot less versatile too." Donovan remembered being shown a painting of what a standard void vessel looked like, shocked at their similarities to the biremes of the ancient eras.

"Did your people do something different in that regard?"

"I can't even imagine grouping our ships in the same category." Donovan stopped himself from explaining further, mindful of the fact that Titanyana wouldn't be able to understand some of the differences by virtue of not being familiar with space.

"Really..." Titanyana's attention seemed to drift away from their conversation, towards some imagined scenario in her mind.