Noin peeped into the lecture hall, properly dressed in the Academy uniform with the lion emblem of the Treize faction, wondering if she had gone to the right room. Otto, a Treizist, saw her and greeted her warmly, inviting her to sit beside him. As soon as she walked into the room, the Treize cadets noticed her bandaged forehead and asked her what happened, since no one knew of the incident the day before. All the Dermailists turned their head away uneasily at the question.           "Nothing. I flopped and hit my head last night." Noin said with an embarrassed smile.           Normally, the Dermailists would no doubt take the opportunity to make fun of their opposition for the occasion, but they were strangely silent for the time being, fearing that Noin would reveal their defeat the day before by a newbie. Noin glanced over the crowd, the two boys who fought with her were not present, still kept at the medical sector perhaps.           Zechs Merquise walked into the room with his usual composure. He was a bit surprised to see how well Noin had blended with the other Treizists. 'Even better than the leader of the group.' He thought to himself sarcastically.           The instructor and the department head walked in just as the bell rang, holding a stack of files and papers. All the commotion stopped and everyone was quiet within seconds. The instructor coughed once and commenced talking. "I'm giving you back the test results you did during the first week. The program and class of which you're eligible will also be announced."           The department head placed the stack on the table and took out one of the folders. "Is Lucrezia Noin present?" After seeing her raised hand, he continued. "Please come with me to the office to do the tests that the others did during the first week."           Otto and the other Treizists winked at Noin encouragingly. She smiled back and followed the man out.           The stout man handed her a batch of papers. "Don't worry, these tests are just used to help us understand your ability better so you can be properly placed in the right group. You'll perform the physical exams tomorrow. The other students finished these tests within a five-day period, doing one or two each day. You can definitely complete them in one day though. Sorry about the rush but all the programs will start next week so it's essential that we have your results by the day after. Feel free to take a walk in the garden outside when you get tired from all the writings."           Noin eyed the thick pile of papers and nodded, sighing silently. * * * * * * * * *           Noin stretched her back lazily as she returned to the office to complete the last three tests. She was surprised to see a youth with well-groomed golden brown hair standing beside the desk, flipping through the ones she had finished.           "Excuse me sir, but may I ask who you are?" Noin asked politely.           "Did you write these tests?" the youth smiled at her, his voice was soft and soothing.           "Um, yeah."           "Oh, how rude of me not to introduce myself to a lady first. Sorry about that. My name is Treize Khushrenada. I am instructing the advanced mobile suit training program." he bowed gracefully, as a gentleman would bow to a lady.           "I am Lucrezia Noin. So you are the one that His Excellency named the faction after."           "You can say that." Treize smiled. "From these tests I see that you're very intelligent and bright, not to mention well-rounded. If this trend continues for the last three tests, I am sure your marks will be as high, if not higher, as Zechs', who holds the highest score in the history of the Academy."           "You mean Zechs Merquise?"           "Even though he rarely social with others, his abilities are well recognized by all. He will be one of the few people to enter the advanced program this term." Treize replied gently. "You are not too bad either. I hope I'll be able to see you in the program. But before you continue with the tests, there is a question I'd like to ask you."           "What is it?"           "It shows that you're a peace-loving person from the personality test, so why are you in the Academy to learn about wars and combats?"           Noin was quiet for a few seconds, then she replied. "Because I want to see peace in the world, and this can grant me the capability to make a difference."           "You are a person with principles. I was not implying anything when I asked you the question, but if one lacks principles and a strong will, one is only a killing machine however powerful one is."           "Sir..." Noin suddenly realized that even though the young man in front of her seemed like a pretty flower from a greenhouse, he was able to look through her, as well as the subtle connection between war and peace.           "What happened to your head? A matter of principle?"           "...I flopped and hit my head, Sir."           "Did you hit your head against the Leo suit in the 3rd combat simulation room?"           "Sir!!" Noin tried but failed to conceal her astonishment.           "Lucrezia, I know everything that has even the slightest relation with MS within the military."           "...Sir, please call me Noin. Gender is not a factor on the battlefield."           "I understand." Treize looked at her. "Please continue with the tests. I believe I am searching the wrong room. Maybe I should try the staff room. I'll see you, Noin."           "Please take care, Sir."           After Treize left, Noin picked up the remaining tests and pondered. 'I don't want to score too high on the tests and stand out, so I guess I'll just have to flunk these. It's true that I don't know much about mobile suits and history anyway. As for computer... well, no one probably expects a kid like me to have any genius in the field.' she commenced writing after making up her mind. * * * * * * * * *           All the cadets were already dismissed after the afternoon classes when Noin went and looked at other students' marks on the bulletin board. She quickly found Zechs Merquise's name, right on the top of every subject except biology and computer. Ramio, who was second overall, had much lower marks.           "You've finished the tests, Noin?"           Noin turned and saw Otto walking toward her. "Yeah. It was pretty tiresome having to write all these papers at once."           "Too bad you couldn't stay in class with us. The advanced MS program instructor Treize Khushrenada came!"           "Instructor Treize? I met him in the office."           "Really? That's awesome! He's very famous. Everyone wants to be instructed by him, but he has very high standards. Zechs and Ramio are the only ones chosen from the test scores."           "Just two people? No wonder it's an advanced class. My marks won't come out until the day after, but I will know which program I'm enrolled in before next week so I won't miss anything."           "The Dermailists were thrilled at having Ramio entering the advanced program. They went to the lounge in the Dermailic quarters to celebrate right after class. We would have done the same for Zechs, but he was out of view before we could talk to him."           "He seems to be alone all the time. Why is that?"           "That's because he never takes off his mask, thus creating a wall between himself and other people. You can even say he does it intentionally to alienate himself from the rest of us. He also gets nauseous when a stranger nears him."           "Is that so? No wonder he always keeps some distance from me."           "Don't worry, he'll get used to you in no time." Otto patted Noin on the back. "Good luck on your physical exams tomorrow." * * * * * * * * *           Noin walked into the classroom with a light heart because she had unbandaged herself that morning. The Treizists greeted her, and she sat beside Otto after returning them a smile. Zechs was sitting at the last row as usual. The instructor entered the room with a grin which scared everyone.           "I've posted the latest marks on the bulletin board... Don't worry, nothing's changed. I just added the mark of the new student." the instructor continued and everyone released their breaths. "Oh, Lucrezia Noin?"           "Right here."           "I have a book for you here. Instructor Treize would like you to finish reading it during the weekend before the program starts next week." the instructor beamed.           As soon as these words were uttered, everyone in the room stared at Noin with shock. No one expected the new student to gain the privilege of being mentored by Instructor Treize, not when the person in question was only 12 years old. Even though Zechs was also 12 years old, he studied for two years since his enrollment into the Academy at ten before he was admitted. How did "he" do it? "He" just got there supposedly without any previous military training.           "Instructor Treize?" Noin glared at the basic MS manual in her hand, thinking. 'No way! I'm sure I flunked the last three tests and held back on the physical exams... Did he know it?' * * * * * * * * *           Most students spent their weekends with their family, and those that came from the colonies stayed with their friends or went out in groups. The otherwise busy Academy became very quiet and lonely during the weekends. Noin took a walk to the lake with the MS manual in one hand and an apple in the other. She looked up at the huge tree beside the lake, and within seconds she was sitting on top of the tree trunk, reading leisurely.           She was so absorbed in her reading that the book almost dropped down to the ground when her hands slipped as someone addressed her. "What are you doing up there?" She looked down through the leaves and saw a silver mask facing her.           "Oh, it's you. Good morning, Zechs."           "It's dangerous up there. You better come down."           "Oh, ok." Noin grabbed the book and jumped down the six-metre distance without any consideration, only to see a pale-faced Zechs. "Hey, are you alright?"           "Am I alright? Why did you jump down? I thought I'd have to catch you."           "Oops, sorry about that." Noin stuck out her tongue and tried to switch the subject. "Why are you still on campus? I thought I'm the only student left."           "You have no place to go?" Zechs ignored her question.           "I just got to Earth so I'd surely get lost as soon as I leave the gate." Noin sighed.           "So you've decided to stay on campus? You do plan to leave the campus sometime before you graduate, right?"           "Well, I was gonna ask Otto to guide me around, but he's busy this week..." Noin looked at the masked boy expectantly. "Zechs?"           "What?"           "Can you take me out and guide me around? Please? Just once?" Noin pleaded.           "......"           "You've gotten used to me around, haven't you?" Noin persisted.           ".........alright."           "Yes! Zechs you're the best!" Noin hugged him happily. "Just wait for me for a sec, I'll be back as soon as I return the book to my room." She left hurriedly, leaving Zechs somewhat dumbfounded under the tree.           'Doesn't she mind the mask? She's never inquired about it even once... Isn't she afraid of me?' Zechs could very well take off at that moment, but he didn't. Noin was the first one that's nice to him not because he was the top student or the leader of the faction during the two years he's been at the Academy. Suddenly, Zechs was looking forward to the day he'll be spending with the new kid. * * * * * * * * *           The two of them were galloping in the forest just outside the Academy when Zechs commented. "You ride very well for a 12-year-old."           Noin returned with a smile. "I just learned this a few months ago. You're not too bad yourself."           "You hold the second highest marks in the history of the Academy."           "And the Dermail faction people hate me to death for that."           "But they don't dare to do anything. What you did on the first day intimidated them."           "What are you talking about?" Noin asked uneasily, alarmed.           "The 3rd combat simulation room. I was at the medical sector when you were brought in."           "So you knew all along?!" she recalled her "flopping reply" whenever she was asked about the wounds and bandages.           Zechs didn't answer her. He led her to the coastline, where a private elite school was established not far away.           "This place is beautiful! Do you come here often?" Noin was fascinated by the sight.           "The serene ocean and the waves calm me."           Noin smiled at his words. "Is that St. Gabriel Institute over there?"           "I thought you are new to Earth."           "I am, but I have a friend who works near this coast and he told me about it. Can we go over to the school for a visit?"           "....yes."           Noin was going to ride over but she stopped a few paces away. "Maybe not. I'll just go there in my own time."           Zechs just nodded and said nothing, but he knew that Noin was thinking about his nausea toward strangers. They stared at the sea for some time before heading back to the Academy.           After dinner was served, Noin curled up in one of the sofas in the Treize faction lounge reading the MS manual. Since all other students weren't on campus, she could only struggle with the book and tried her best to understand it.           "You've been reading that book for the whole day."           Noin turned her head at the sound, recognizing his voice before she saw him. "Good evening, Zechs. You can't expect me to read through the three-hundred and odd pages of manual in three days."           "That doesn't sound like something a person with the second highest mark would say."           Noin smirked. "How about the person with the highest mark help me a bit, eh?"           "You defeated two Leos on the first day, this basic instructional manual shouldn't pose any problem for you."           "Yeah, right." Noin pouted. "I didn't expect that we have to know all the names and functions of every buttons, not to mention the anatomy of the MS itself."           "So you can pilot a mobile suit, but you don't even know about the basics?"           "I guess you can say that."           "I'll help you. What are you having trouble with?"           "Really? Thanks!" Noin grinned and started the session from page one of the manual.           That night, Zechs lied on bed and stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep. He kept recalling the time he spent with Noin. 'Why was she so trusting and carefree hanging around someone who wouldn't even show his face? How could she smile and laugh so openly with me? Why did the wall I built and maintained for so long shattered when I was with her? Why did I seek her out and offered to help her tonight? Yes. Because she has the innocence and purity which I have always longed for but can never hope to possess. Noin....' ~to be continued~