Chapter 5: The Verdict

The next day after his first class, Clive was summoned to the Directors office.

when he arrived there, he saw Klay waiting in front of the door with a serious expression and he appeared to be thinking about something.

" good morning instructor " Clive greeted, making Klay snap back to reality.

" oh you're here, let's get inside, Director Beniford is waiting for you, " Kaly said as he opened the door.

Just like when Clive visited the director's office, Director Beniford was staring at the space outside his office window.

" say, Clive, what is important, the present or the future? " Director Beniford asked without looking at Clive and Klay who are standing side by side.

Klay looked in Clive's direction and saw Clive's serious face as he thought about how to answer the director's question.

Klay already knows the meaning behind the question, and he is looking forward to Clive's answer since it will change his life forever.

" Present," Clive simply said.

Director Beniford revealed a smile before turning over to face Clive.

"And why is that? " Director Beniford asked.

" My future depends on what my current self does, so instead of living in anxiety and being fixated on the future, I would rather give it my all to face the things right in front of me " Clive explained in a serious and resolute tone.

" I see, then I shall tell you what the verdict about your case is "

" you already know that I have met with the nobles who funded the academy and the academy heads yesterday, and one of the issues that we tackle is the commotion you caused, " Director Benford said.

Clive continuously gulped as he nervously listened to the director.

" the nobles wanted to cut off both your arms and send you back to your home planet " The Director revealed the noble's verdict to Clive.

Clive started to sweat when he heard the verdict that the nobles came up with, he just silently stood where he was as he processed the director's words.

" but I made a suggestion " Director Beniford added.

Clive looked up and he met the eye of the Director.

" and it is to send you to one of the frontlines of the Hellion Empire " Director Beniford revealed the suggestion he made to Clive.

Clive's eyes widened, he didn't expect the Director to come up with such a notion.

After a few minutes, Clive realized the intent behind the notion that the director made, other people may not realized the meaning behind it but to Clive, it is as clear as the day.

" so will you accept the noble's verdict or will you go to the frontlines " Director Beniford asked seriously.

" I'll go to the frontlines, I'll rather suffer or even die at the battlefield than spend the rest of my days as a cripple," Clive said with a serious face.

Klay and Director Beniford already expected such an answer from Clive which is why the both of them didn't seem surprised.

"Are you sure? your life will never be the same and as you said, you may even lose your life " Klay asked.

" yes instructor, I'd rather spend my days there, plus I won't go down without a fight " Clive confidently said. his answer made Klay smile.

" if that is your decision I will arrange everything, so after your class today you pack your things," Director Beniford said.

"Also tomorrow, the academy will release a statement regarding your expulsion but it will not contain any information about you being sent to one of the empire's frontlines so it is better for you to not tell anyone about it, and I suggest you don't attend your classes starting tomorrow " The Director added.

Clive nodded and after a few more words with the Academy Director, he and Klay left the office.

" Let me walk you to your next class," Klay said.

Clive didn't say anything and the two of them started walking when Klay said something.

" I'm sorry " 

" what do you mean sir? " Clive confusedly asked.

"I couldn't do anything to help you " Klay answered.

"It's fine sir I know that you are only doing your job," Clive said and then he smiled at his instructor.

Klay didn't say anything anymore and they just continued on their way.

...

Clive is now inside the classroom, he sits beside Lisa.

"Hey, are you free after class?" Clive asked.

" yes, why? " Lisa answered.

"I want to tell you something," Clive said and he turned his head at the front looking away from Lisa who was now blushing.

what does Clive want to say to me? is he going to confess his feelings toward Me, does he like me? wait, why am I being like this, do I even like him that way for me to feel like this?

Lisa started to imagine a lot of things if only Clive could hear her thoughts.

...

Clive and Lisa are now on one of the many viewing decks in the academy, since they cannot go outside the academy without the proper suit and permission from the academy, they can only go to the viewing deck to talk in private.

" so Clive, what it is that you have to tell me? " Lisa asked with a red face.

Clive looked at her face wondering what was wrong with her, her face had been burning since earlier inside the room.

Clive shook his head and started talking.

"I'm leaving, " Clive said. his words made the blushing Lisa snap into reality and immediately turned her head towards Clive, they were sitting on a bench side by and it made their faces get closer.

" Well, technically I am being sent somewhere " Clive added without looking at Lisa's direction.

" is it because of what happened at the training grounds? " Lisa asked.

Clive nodded and didn't say anything.

" where are they sending you off? " Lisa asked.

" I can't tell you that " Clive answered.

" is it dangerous there? " She asked another question.

Clive just shook his head telling her that he couldn't answer her question.

"Why did you tell me this? " Lisa asked,

" well you are the only person I consider as my friend here so I thought it is only appropriate for me to tell you about it, even though I cannot divulge more information about it " Clive explained, he then faced Lisa he gave her a genuine smile that she has never seen before.

Lisa stared at Clive's face they stayed like that for a few seconds before they both felt awkward and quickly turned their heads away.

*cough *cough

Clive fake coughed to kill the awkwardness, they then continued talking about other stuff for a few more minutes before they left since it was already getting late.

The boys' and girls' dormitories are in opposite directions, When they are about to part ways, Lisa looks at Clive.

"Will we see each other again? " She asked.

" of course " Clive answered with a smile on his face.

... 

The next day Clive didn't go to class, he just stayed in his dorm room packed his stuff, he dressed neatly since he already received a message from Klay.

He also cleaned up his room and arranged everything just like how they used to before when he first came here, memories from his first year at the academy started to replay in his head, and although not all of them were good he still cherished those, he learned a lot even more than a graduate student from a regular pilot academy from anywhere.

*knock *knock

He heard a knock on his door and he knew that it was time, the door automatically opened and he saw Klay waiting for him.

" good morning sir " Clive greeted the man.

Klay nodded.

" did you pack everything you will need? " Klay asked.

Clive just nodded and they went on their way toward the director's office, he had been to the director's office a lot these days.

...

Inside the director's office, Clive and Klay are reading some information about where Clive will be sent, it is called Veltar 128 a dwarf planet located at the edges of the Hellion Empire's territory, and next to it is the border of the Valerian Colonies which is also one of the sponsors that funded the academy and is a colony that is on par with the Hellion Empire and New World Republic's strength and power. 

Veltar 128 is the former territory of a kingdom but it is now being used by the two massive colonies as one of their many battlefields.

Clive is only given the name of the location where he will go and the time of his departure, the academy will send him there along with the reinforcements that the Hellion Empire will send.

" be careful out there, " Klay said, he wanted to send Clive there himself but he could not leave his job at the academy, and the director advised him not to do it to avoid any more unnecessary attention.

"Additional information regarding your deployment to Veltar 128 will be given to you on board and your duties will be explained to you once you get there, " Director Beniford said.

Clive nodded.