Chapter 18: Chapter 16 Prussian War Academy Part 1

Berlin, Germany

April, 8th, 1910 

[3rd Person POV]

It is snowing that day when Erika has graduated and applied for to join the Prussian war academy that is so 'prestigious and it's studies so infamously hard but if you pass, you'll get a good position' as one rumor would say

Erika sighed for a moment as she got ready to wear her new official officer uniform that is tailor made to her.

It was a new type of uniform that she could hope one day the army would adapt as she would be the first one to popularize it and further spread its function and uses.

The uniform was dark gray along with the new officer cap and the new Y strap she is gonna wear to kinda advertise it's uses inside the academy as her goal is to popularize their uses and also impress the general officers who are said to be the judges of this year's academy courses.

The uniform that Erika wore had the best wool ever used to make as a fabric, it also has a lot of pockets in front and a proper pants to move around.

Of course the other uniform she has planned to use would be also revealed in dye time as she wants this uniform first to be popular and the officers recognizable at least.

Erika also wanted to get rid of the stahlhelm as early as possible as it would just make you a target. And was proven true in multiple accounts in the great war in her universe and had to replace the helmets in 1917.

After she finished wearing it, she adorned her new cuffed ranks on her neck and shoulder and walked to the mirror.

Erika was shocked a bit as the look is almost the same as any world war 2 uniform in her time. Just more…how to say this, properly utilized.

She also has many different versions of it from dark gray, to blue, and to black. Erika preferred either dark gray and black as she prepared herself then calmed down and grabbed her things that she might need in the academy and left her estate and boarded a car that's escorted by 2 more as this was her private guard that has no name yet. For now, Erika has planned to list some names to give them in the future 

After what seemed forever, she finally arrived in front of the academy and exited the vehicle and told the guards and the driver to go home or wait for me to finish, which would take awhile as I know from history, the classes are long but worth it as she removed her cap and set it inside the car and grabbed her things such as a notebook, pen, and her other reference materials that she could use in class.

She was glad that she got accepted as she walked in front of the desk to confirm her attendance and her application.

While she was waiting, she took a glance around and sure enough, she was attracting a lot of attention just based on her uniform and her movements of a proper officer.

They even wondered if my rank was real or my uniform was legal since I was not wearing a proper uniform of the German army.

Erika just shook her head for a moment as the woman who was manning the desk said the application was confirmed and now you can attend without worry.

Erika smiled as she grabbed her things and the note on which classroom she had to find and again and thanked the woman.

While glancing up and down to find the classroom, another student glanced at her and scoffed at her and her rank as she probably got it by sleeping through her way up the ranks.

Max Dickenburg was one of the minority of people who think the Saintess was just a ruse and a hocus pocus of lies that she made up to gain prestige and popularity.

Even with mounting evidence and testimonies from nobles, they refused to see reason and kept adamantly stating that the Saintess was manipulating them all. Max was also included in that conspiracy and what's worse, she joined the classroom he was in and immediately, he hated such a woman and just concentrated on studying.

After looking around for a minute or two, she eventually found the classroom and joined in.

She took a quick look around as the classroom was half full.

She counted only 12 women, now 13 as she has arrived and with 37 men. She hummed to herself as she sat on the first row to get a better view and understanding on what the teacher might say and prepared her notebook and pen and waited.

Everyone in the classroom went silent as she entered. She was popular for most people in the room, but some small group of people were disgusted that the academy accepted a 12 year old into this prestigious school. The said girl hasn't even experienced war yet, that look, that stares as if she's a veteran of a long battle which completely irked the people.

 As the people were whispering to each other, there was one woman who was beside Erika that was fascinated by her and liked her achievements and deeds to the German empire and felt that, in her mind that serving under Erika was the best choice hence she spoke just enough for Erika to hear beside her.

"Hello, Duchess Erika, how are you on this fine day?" The woman shyly looked away at the attempted weird first communication between her and Erika. 

Erika glanced to her left as she heard those words and we're amused and laughed a bit before introducing herself properly.

"I am quite fine. Thank you for the concern my lady" Erika said, in a gentlemanly way. Which further embarrasses the woman further.

After awhile, Erika was curious on who was the women beside her and asked

"May I know your name of the beautiful lady?" Erika coaxed and teased. Which is in Erika's nature even before she was reincarnated which she can never get rid of the habit.

The woman was flustered for a moment but replied. "My name is Viktoriya Ivanovna Serebryakov. You may call me by my nickname "Visha" if you like…" Visha blushed a bit and looked away.

Erika was shocked at the name, as it was the same as in the anime youjo senki she watched and it could be a coincidence as this is a different universe after all and smiled as she replied after a moment.

"My name is Erika Victoria Von Königsburg of Prussia. A pleasure to meet you Visha." She held out her hand, to which Visha was confused for a moment but realized what she needed to do and Shaked it properly.

"So what brings you here? You seem a long way from home."

Visha sighed and answered Erika's question. "I was moved here by the insistence of my parents since they want me to attend a prestigious war academy and return home after I finish my studies and apply to become an officer for the Russian empire. But I changed my mind and instead to finish my academy course and be an officer for the German empire since I've heard of your exploits and wanted to serve well..serve under you since you inspired me…" Visha muttered ever so quietly.

Erika sighed and patted vishas shoulders and encouraged her "don't worry, you'll do a lot of great things under me. That I can promise. And look, the instructor is here." She stood up along with the others as Visha realized it as well and stood up last.

You are reading story The Future of a Thousand Years at novel35.com

But one thing for sure, Visha has fully cemented her decision to help Erika and be her right hand woman or anything that she can do. As she also wanted to see what future Erika will bring to this weary hard world we live in.

For now she is listening to one of the instructor's lectures on following military laws.

"When units deviate from the mission plan, should their commanding officer be held personally culpable?"

The instructor finished his words and looked around the classroom and shouted the name "Victor!"

"Yes, Sir! Even if he isn't directly involved, he should accept moral responsibility-"

The instructor got angry and pounded the blackboard with his palm and shouted "I'm talking about the law, you idiot!"

Victor sat down, disillusioned and shamed at not answering the question right while the instructor then shouted "Next! Erika!"

Erika stood up and looked at the instructor as she said this to clarify the question. 

"To clarify the question, are there any senior officers present?"

The instructor hummed and said "well say there aren't."

Then Erika answered the question "A commander who neglected his duties to stop any such deviation has failed in his legal duty. Maximum penalty may I Clyde the firing squad."

The instructor hummed again and said "and if there were a senior officer?"

Erika answered again "As long as the officer in question has not done anything illegal, responsibility lies with the senior officer, as a general rule."

The instructor then grunted and closed his eyes and opened them again and said "Very good."

After that, Erika sat down and continued to answer the instructors every question and theories which even impressed the instructor himself as the bell rang as a sign to move on to the next courses.

"You were so good and badass there Duchess Erika" Visha said, smiling while accompanying Erika to the next class Visha asked.

"What is your goal once you graduate Duchess Erika?" 

Erika hummed as they finally arrived in the next lecture and opened her notebook and replied to Vishas question as she also sat down beside her.

"Mhmm probably be a field officer, and then retire to start businesses all around Germany. Who knows" Erika hintedly smiled as her plans were in motion and slowly but surely, it was noticed by the general staff that were in the upper floors after overseeing the lectures behind the students as they passed by the rooms one by one. 

Ludendorff Said after a quick greeting to each of them "this batch seems promising since the last graduates that's for sure…"

Hans Von Seeckt replied with a grunt "Yes…although I wish the Kaiser doesn't interfere much in our way of training good officers." 

Paul Von Hindenburg scoffed as he grabbed a document about Erika Victoria and scanned through it ever so slowly as the general officers discussed and finally Paul spoke 

"I find Erika promising. Although I fear she is the Kaiser's puppet since she has been given a rank of Oberleutnant. Which is quite high for her in my opinion."

Some of the general officers agreed but Alfred von Schlieffen had another opinion.

"I Believe she is what Germany needs." Alfred spoke.

"Really? Care to explain?" Ludendorff Said, as he drank his coffee.

"From her theories, to her strategies and participating in lectures, she's a textbook ideal officer. But she isn't blind to the ideals of a grandiose hero drama. Nor the political drama. She's also not arrogant as the other noble officers I've seen. So she's quite special. I might even promote her to Captain if she graduates since from what I've heard, she helped our army by a very large margin." Alfred said

Graf Helmuth von Moltke the Younger also said "I have to agree with Alfred here. Her inventions and plans are just…revolutionary and mind boggling that most of the inventions she's made are for the military. And she's preparing our military for what's to come. It shows she cares about us and the soldiers under her command." Helmuth responded with passion as he liked the ideal soldier idea.

Personally, Hindenburg was hesitant to agree..but he. Did agree to one thing is that Erika helped the army a lot for the past 5 years. And that's saying a lot since Hindenburg knew Erika's father.

Hindenburg relented and then said to all of the general staff present.

"If she shows great promise and does everything that checks our books, she can graduate earlier and be given a promotion if need be. Providing if she gives us a reason to promote her. Most of you I already know like her changes. Even I can't deny her changes are revolutionary."

"I have to agree with Hindenburg. Look at her uniform, she's like telling us to produce this uniform for our officers and for the army as well." Erich Georg Sebastian Anton von Falkenhayn said.

"Then can we all agree on this? It's still 4 more years after all." Ludendorff Said with finality.

All nodded as they all stood up and prepared the changes and suggestions made by Erika herself and to be implemented in the army as soon as possible and the Kaiserliche Luftstreitkräfte as well. Which would start a year later as the general staff implementing the changes if they're sure it's effective.

And after a few months in the War Academy, Erika has gained the reputation of an ideal soldier who knows warfare and strategy and tactics to a degree that terrifies even some instructors. Even some of the students who are attending there often asked Erika for help and questions regarding whether it's for an assignment or for something else entirely.

Erika knew her plan was working as she is gaining quite a popularity and liked by future officers which would solidify her position once she finished the academy with flying colors. But for now, she is gonna study hard and hopefully change the general staff's conservative ways and embrace modern warfare that she herself is innovating and giving to them.

You can find story with these keywords: The Future of a Thousand Years, Read The Future of a Thousand Years, The Future of a Thousand Years novel, The Future of a Thousand Years book, The Future of a Thousand Years story, The Future of a Thousand Years full, The Future of a Thousand Years Latest Chapter