Blue Archive - An Otherworldly Sensei

As the warm morning sun bathed the landscape in a soothing, golden light; Ja'vassa looked back towards the Milestone sitting in his office. Uncertainty washing over his features, he wasn't sure what to expect going forward; while he was looking forward to spending more time with his students, the idea of never stepping foot in Skyrim again, outside of extreme situations, was a frightening prospect. Regardless of his second thoughts and worries, it was much too late to turn back now. The decision had been made, aside from the Void Storage, his connections to Sjel Blad Castle were severed. "This is my life now. Once the feared Warlord of Skyrim, now just a humble teacher in a strange land." Ja'vassa muttered, stepping over toward the windows to watch the rising sun. All that was left was to reunite with Hifumi and the others to inform them of their new future together. Given how early in the morning it was, there was little traffic on the street below him, though that could've been a result of the aftermath following Rianra's attack on the city. Using this moment of peace and quiet, he decided that if he was to make Kivotos truly his permanent home, it wouldn't hurt to make the office feel a little more personal. He'd spend much of the morning and afternoon rearranging and decorating the room; weapon racks held the various swords, bows, and spears he loved to use, display cases held mementos of his past adventures, bookshelves were filled with handwritten journals and notes, he even took time to build an enchanter's table and alchemy station in his office. The blending of the rustic, cozy feel of bringing a little slice of Skyrim into the sleek, high-tech appearance of the office was just what he'd need if he were to truly make this place home. Just as he was putting on the finishing touches by building his alchemy shelf over the table, setting both empty and filled bottles of various substances up, several visitors had entered the office. Before any of them could say anything, they stood there in shock; noting just how wildly different it looks from when they came to visit just days prior. As they had done previously, Hifumi and the other students that joined him on his Solstheim trip had occasionally stopped by the SCHALE office to see if Ja'vassa had returned yet, and though they were thrilled to see he was finally, none of them expected to return to see the office in such a state like this. "Sensei... I see you've been busy today." Hifumi greeted as she approached him, holding his golden blade close to her. Though her attention was mostly focused on him, she couldn't help but glance at the objects on display. "So, I take it this means you've come to a decision?" Ja'vassa nodded, inviting them to come sit at the table while he stepped over to the small kitchenette in the office to brew up some tea for them. "That I have. From this day forward, Kivotos will be my home. I've... severed my connections with Skyrim, mostly. The Milestone has been cut off from Sjel Blad Castle, but a connection remains with Clockwork Castle. I want to have a safe place for my students in case of an emergency." Though they were genuinely happy to hear that he'd stay with them, they couldn't help but worry. Fuuka's gaze softened slightly, her tone matching her expression. "Are you sure you'll be alright with this, Sensei? I mean... you're essentially leaving everything you knew and loved behind." She asked him. "It'll... It'll take some time to get used to it, but I believe this is the right choice. I spoke with someone on the other side, and they made me realize a few things. I never would've moved forward with my life so long as I remained in Skyrim. I've done some awful things and there's no hope of redemption, but... I thought I could start over here. Protecting and cherishing the students I've grown to adore on this side." Ja'vassa explained as he'd distributed the freshly brewed tea, joining them at the table. "Sensei..." Serina whispered, placing a hand over his as she sat beside him. "I wouldn't say redemption is beyond you, starting over is often the first step towards redeeming yourself. Regardless, we'll all be here to help you transition. We'll do whatever we can to help you become comfortable and happy here." She promised, squeezing his hand affectionately. "Yeah! We'll help make this place feel more like home however we can." Momoi added excitedly, a confident expression washing over her face. "We'll continue working with Veritas to help get you better acquainted with the technology of Kivotos, while I'd imagine Momiji would be able to help you learn more of the history here." Squeezing Serina's hand in return, Ja'vassa smiled softly. "Your kindness warms this old cat's heart.. I'm glad to know that I'll have such sweet girls to turn to when the days get rough, but try not to worry too much." After a moment, he'd stand up and approach one of the empty mannequins in the office. He was silent, the students watched him curiously as he began to outfit the mannequin with the legendary armor they collected while traveling across Solstheim. Afterwards, he placed Soulrender and Bloodscythe on weapon plaques behind it with a smile. "This'll serve as a reminder of what we did and everything that has happened since the first day I came to Kivotos. From meeting Hifumi for the first time, to the problems with Kaiser, to exploring Solstheim with you, to now... it'll serve as a reminder of what we did and remind me of the future I'll share with you." The girls stared at the shining armor with pleased expressions; their first and only adventure in Tamriel may have been chaotic, but it was an unforgettable experience that'll stick with them for years to come. Midori stood up, taking one of the septims from her pocket; admiring it with a fond expression. "I'm glad you came to Kivotos, Sensei.. you've made a difference in all of our lives despite the short time we've spent together. The trip across Solstheim was only the beginning of the adventures we'll have together, I'm sure we'll have more across Kivotos." She stepped closer to him, soon wrapping her arms around his waist. "So long as we have you, I'm sure there's nothing we won't be able to accomplish. I look forward to our new future together." Tightening her grip slightly, she glanced up to him with a warm, cheerful smile. Returning the embrace, Ja'vassa nods in agreement. "As do I. For the first time in a long time, I finally feel... free. I hope it lasts, it's... a pleasant feeling." He sighs contently, combing his fingers through Midori's hair. "It's about supper time, perhaps I should cook up something for us? Our first proper meal together in my new home." He slowly, almost hesitatingly pulled away Midori's grip and stepped over towards the kitchenette. There wasn't a lot of room to make anything gourmet, but he didn't mind. So long as it was shared with the students he held closest to his heart, any meal would feel like a decadent experience. While Ja'vassa took care of the bulk of the cooking, Fuuka helped out where she could; aiding him with preparing the vegetables, broth, and once everything was readied, she'd help out in setting the table. With their food and drinks set out on the table, they gladly gathered around it and began to enjoy the meal laid for them. Considering the chaos from the last few days, the crazy journey across Solstheim, and the potential for more trouble in the future, a peaceful amongst each other was exactly what they've been needing to help relax. Sipping on his tea, a warm smile remained glued to his face. "Hard to believe it was a little over a year ago that we had just begun to plan out our expedition to the Deadlands... I don't know where our experiment went wrong or why it sent me here instead of somewhere else in Oblivion, but I couldn't be happier." Setting his empty plates to the side, he'd stand up and step over towards the windows. For a brief second, Ja'vassa glanced back towards the Milestone. "I will miss Skyrim dearly. I learned everything that I know there, all of the skills I've developed and treasures I've found, but I look forward to the promise of new adventures, new treasures, and new skills while I'm here... and I look forward to uncovering all of them with you." The girls smiled brightly as they listened to him, agreeing with what he had said. "Tomorrow's a new day, Sensei. For all of us. New adventures await us, and I want to embark on as many of them as I can with you." Momoi replied cheerfully, her grin widening as she stood up. "We'll invite you over to the Game Development Department as often as possible and show you the joys of video games!" She promised. Though Midori hadn't said anything, her excitable expression indicated she felt the same as her sister did. Fuuka giggled softly at her friend's proclamation. "Be sure to stop by Gehenna's cafeteria, Sensei; Juri and I will be sure to have something special for you!" She adds. "Don't forget, Sensei. I still have to properly introduce you to the Momo Friends. I'm sure we'll be able to find time to watch it together." Hifumi affirms, joining him by the window. Momiji smiled brightly at the others before speaking up as well. "Be sure to drop by the library every so often, Sensei. We'll have plenty of stories to swap!" Serina approached him, slightly leaning against his right arm. "I may not be as exciting as them, but I'll always be there if you need a remedy or my company, Sensei." Overwhelmed by the kindness and acceptance from his beloved students, Ja'vassa quickly wiped away the grateful tears forming in his eyes. "You're almost too much for me... this level of support means the world to me. Don't ever hesitate to come to me if you need anything, whether you need to borrow an ear or need someone to hold you, my doors are always open." As they finished speaking, they joined each other for a warm, affectionate group hug. Ja'vassa held them tightly and protectively, remaining silent as he gazed upon them. It would indeed take some time to properly get used to calling Kivotos his home, but with students like these, it wouldn't be such an impossible task. The loss of his family, great battles against legendary foes, engaging in devastating wars, discovering incredible artifacts and treasures, committing great atrocities, everything that had happened since the day he first left Copperstead in his youth, it had all been leading up to this moment. While the sins of his past and the weight of his failures still firmly tug at his heart, there was a chance in this new world that he could shed some of them and properly start over, not as the infamous Warlord that struck fear into the hearts of even the hardiest of criminals, but as an experienced teacher aiding in the growth of his darling students. Despite it only being his first day calling Kivotos his home, he had plenty to look forward to. The promised tea party with Hina, spending a day with the Abydos students, the ramen date with Problem Solver 68, and there was no doubt in his mind there was even more to come. Though, before he could tackle any of those, he'd need to meet with Rin and inform her of the arrangements. For the first time in many decades, Ja'vassa could finally relax a little; feeling a strange sense of peace and contentment that he hadn't felt since the day he married Armani.