“Lord Guan. Good luck on your journey, traversing the life of a university student. I may take my leave.” Maison bids her farewell after she escorts me all this way.
“Yes of course, Maison. I won’t take this for granted. And I will make this a ‘worthwhile’. Every speck and tinge of it, Lady Anda’s and Kehinan coffers won’t go to waste.” I promise her.
“So long, Lord Guan!” and right away, she then really takes her leave while I am waving my hands before the gates have closed.
Lüadenstadt. University of Inglovian Occidental. It is a pretty huge campus, indeed. They say it is a satellite academy. I don’t know, really, what is the exact definition of being a ‘huge campus’, nevertheless. Well I, for one, am seeing a larger establishment than the rest I have seen so far. Three times the size of the royal villa in Kehina. Equal the length, maybe distance-wise, to Eisschrein. I am relatively ignorant about this.
“Damn, this is so huge. And bustling, for a school like this!” I nearly let my inner thought for a second out of my head.
Oh right! I do forget that I am now here in Inglovia. It is no wonder why there are many people despite being an educational establishment. Lüadenstadt! My first ever school that I attend. I am getting excited now and at the same time, nervous since it is my first time going on such a long journey into unknown territory. I know I have been here before in this supercontinent, however, Inglovia is too vast to walk by foot itself. Some would say it will take a whole decade to circumvent the entire nook and cranny of this supercontinent-nation.
“Newcomer?” as one perhaps of the students of this school approaches me with a kind welcome.
“Yes, nice to meet you. You can call me Clef!” I turn around where I respond to the call.
“A lowborn, hmmm? Do-”
“Yes, I do have a patron. His name is Lord Anters. He is from Fort Quogsagihaxee’e.” as I show him the proof of my credentials.
“Lord Anters? Lord Anters of Dormitiar?! You are one of my clients also. It is a pleasure to meet you, Clef! My name is Sevesters. Also, I am a Dormitiar.“ he expresses himself, by stating that he is also one of my indirect lords.
“What relationship do you have with Lord Anters, Lord Sevesters?” I ask, which he cuts me off.
“You can just call me by my name - Sevesters.” he suggests.
He then clears his throat, as by answering my question: “By the way, he is my uncle. He is a minor patrician who sponsors,... I would not say he solely sponsors the development alone in Fort Quogsagihaxee’e. Of course, he is one of the participants of the venture. Originally, we are from San Alphonse.” he adds, as there is an oozing sensation of happiness when he is speaking.
“I see.” I reply.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Alright, Clef. What practice do you wish to learn on these grounds?” Lord Sevesters asks.
“Business.” I answer in a rather slightly confident way.
“Business? What a coincidence, really? You may be on a trip. Well, whilst, I am doing business courses too for the past years. Two, to be exact.” he exclaims.
“I am very grateful, indeed, that you bothered yourself as the only welcome committee upon my arrival.” whereas I initiate contact by a handshake.
“The pleasure is mine, Clef. Don't sweat it.” Lord Sevesters shakes my hand with leisure and a smile casted upon his face.
He let go of my hand, where Lord Sevesters proposes himself to follow him. As of course, I do accept his proposition to go with Lord Sevesters since I am still new here. And he introduces me to sort of stuff - like the ‘cafeteria’; but they (the people in this University) call it ‘canteen’ which I find it strange since a canteen should be a small and portable water dispenser, and also stuff similar to ‘workshop’ where it covers a plethora of students who are concocting alchemic works and tinkering things such as equipment of arms and armors. Isn't that building supposed to be a 'laboratory space'.
“By the way, you see. There are branches in the military here in this western part of this,... well, as the name suggests: University of Inglovian Occidental. We have the ‘Military Academy’, the ‘Naval Research College’, the ‘Alchemic Division Academy’, and the ‘Arcana Scholastica Academia’. However, the latter has ceased to exist since the current incumbent abhors the practice of it. Well, there is to it as far as we can see. There is nothing we can do about it.” he sighs.
Lord Sevesters clears his throat once again to rectify himself: “I mean we had those institutions before the ascension of the Caliph-Grand Emperor.” and then he shrugs his shoulders for they had little to close to nothing to do with it.
“Such a shame.” I reply.
“Indeed.” Lord Sevesters agrees with my sentiment.
As walking and minutes later pass by, Lord Sevesters brings me to the dormitory. We walked down to a deep forest and as we were approaching towards the light. A thin ray of light. It is like Kehina! But to be fact and I don’t want to admit this, this sleeping quarters is far better than the men’s royal dormitory - in Kehina, of course. Based on how far we are, the design is glistening as it is like resonating towards the array of the sun. This place looks neat and stylish. For a satellite university, this is way more extravagance! I won't be fazed if the main campus - University of Inglovia is way better than here. As far as I could remember, that establishment has been around five hundred (500) years. This campus is so damn good, what more could I expect if I am to be transferred to the core department. Sounds like a dream. Keep dreaming, Guan…
“Keep dreaming, Guan…” as I accidentally exhale something on an impulse, the words from my mind.
“Were you saying something, Clef?” Lord Sevesters catches me mumbling to myself, as for my response: a shake of my head.
Right! I realize that my name now is ‘Clef’ and ‘Guan’ like what I used to hear in Kehina… as long as I am within Inglovia’s borders, I should be careful not to reveal my identity to the public. But jeez, … that was close. Maybe, Lord Sevesters has hearing problems or some sort of. Thank Lady Wellicia! I am sorry Lord Sevesters, nothing is personal. It is not that I am trusting you so much, in fact, I am indebted to you since you are the uncle whose sponsorship has put on me.
“Here we go… Welcome to the men's dormitory!” right before we enter the sleeping quarters, Lord Sevesters presents to me the building itself with pride.
And thus now my life begins anew.