Interviews

Dom sat at a large antique oak desk in a side room of the main campus building. The building was well lit and Dom gazed around from the comfortable green leather chair that he was sat in. The walls were cladded in a dark brown wood and their was a large window behind the desk that looked over the lush campus grounds, in the distance Dom could see his own Dormitory. At the side was a tall book case, filled with aged books that had been collected religiously by the rooms owner, one of the senior lecturers at the academy.

He had been sat here for a few minutes, having been let in by one of the smartly dressed staff for his interview with the Central University. He was currently looking at one of the many paintings on the wall, an image of some flowers that had been painted a couple hundred years earlier by an unknown artist at the time that became famous after their death.

There was a gentle knock at the door to the room, that was then pushed open as an elderly man walked in. He wore a dark grey suit and a white shirt, with a matching grey tie. He was elderly, but he looked healthy with his hair combed back and a gentle smile on his face. He walked in gentle but purposeful steps.

"Hello Mr Lazarus." The man said as he walked towards Dom, who quickly stood up and shook the mans outstretched hand. The mans grip was strong and Dom politely squeezed back. "My name is Dr Pellistri, I am a lecturer at The Central University, I primarily teach History and often come to Academies across the Western Kingdoms for induction interviews, to make sure that we are bringing only the brightest and the best in to our University."

Dr Pellistri released Dom's hand and walked around the desk and sat in the comfortable green chair that was behind it, matching the one Dom had sat in. As Dr Pellistri sat down, so did Dom, mirroring his movements, a technique he had been taught by Kai earlier.

"I have seen your results, which I must say where very good." Dr Pellistri said, "Straight A grades and even an S grade in Tactics. You have definitely hit the necessary grading to join The Central University, however so do many other people. As I said, we only take the brightest and the best in to our University. So why should we take you?"

Dom was taken back by the direct question so quickly in to the conversation, expecting at least some form of gentle conversation first to lead them in to the interview. He quickly composed himself and thought through his response, before taking a deep breath and responding.

"I am a diligent student, who has worked hard to achieve what I have achieved." Dom started, "I have not rested on my laurels and have fought hard at every stage of my studies. I have pushed myself to my limit and beyond, and I will continue to do so that I can become someone to be proud of."

Dr Pellistri was silent as he listened, not taking any physical notes, but just listening. He tilted his head slightly and gently smiled at dom.

"Who is it that you want to make proud?" Dr Pellistri asked. "Your mother or your father?"

"My mother." Dom replied seriously.

"Yes, your mother." Dr Pellistri replied with a smile, "The Mighty Hero of Riverside! I must say that I have read your last paper, and must stand by with what you had wrote, your mother did make the correct decisions that day, even though many people would disagree. Her and her soldiers sacrifice we were able to save thousands of lives and eventually helped us turn the tide of the war."

Dom felt proud at the words of Dr Pellistri and wanted to thank him, but the Doctor continued.

"However, you can not expect to succeed in life just by living off your mothers sacrifice. If may have helped you get your scholarship in to this academy, and it will also get you a scholarship in to The Central University if you are successful. However, if we are to talk about parents, your father leaves a nasty taste in the mouth." Dr Pellistri continued, "An intelligent man, with so much potential, who has ultimately become a stain on our nation. The Lazarus family are well respected in the tales of old, from the founding of our Kingdom to our historic wars, to think that you are the last of the line, and that you have to follow in the footsteps of your father is a sad moment for the country."

"I am not my father." Dom replied sternly, wanting to understand what Dr Pellistri's issue was.

"No, you are not." Dr Pellistri replied seriously, "He received straight S grade's and had every centre of education fighting to have him join them. If not for him falling for your mother, I have no idea where he would have gone. You are also not your mother, she had similar grades to yourself, but she was a strategic thinker who could see things that others could not. I like your grades, and I even like you, but why should we select you over the other thousands that have applied?"

"I may not be my mother, or my father. But I am knowledgeable, I learn things quickly and I am a proud citizen of the Western Kingdom." Dom argued back, his temper starting to flair. The last few days of his mind being in World Conquest Online and seeing the things he had seen were starting to get to him, and he was mentally exhausted.

"I may have been a bit harsh on you Mr Lazarus." Dr Pellistri apologised, "but I can see your passion. Tell me, if you was a leader in the Western Kingdoms, what would you change."

Dom felt that this was more of an interview question and contemplated his response before responding to Dr Pellistri. The two of them continued to go backwards and forwards for around twenty minutes, before Dr Pellistri finished his questioning with a smile.

"It has been a pleasure talking with you Mr Lazarus, and I would be more than happy to recommend you a place at The Central University. Many, many years ago, I fought alongside your Grandfather, and in my middle years I even had the pleasure of teaching both your Mother and Father. It would be my pleasure to have the opportunity to teach you now in my later years." Dr Pellistri said, before standing. Dom also stood and they shook hands as Dr Pellistri left the room. The door closed behind him and Dom returned to his seat, awaiting permission to leave the room by the Academy staff.

Dom had started to like the old lecturer and was excited to see his friends and find out if they had been successful in their interviews as well. He was just about to get up and leave the room and check where the staff were, when the door opened again. In walked a late middle aged woman, who must have been in her late fifties, she wore a smart black business suit with red embroidery. She had long red hair that was tied in a ponytail and deep green eyes that reminded Dom of someone he had met before. She elegantly walked in and walked past Dom, heading straight for the green leather chair that she sat in, crossing her legs as she did so.

"Going somewhere Mr Lazarus?" The woman said to him, her voice crisp and clear.

"I'm sorry, I was just about to check on the staff." Dom replied quickly, wondering who this woman was.

"I am your second interview of the day, which I hope you have not forgotten about." She replied, "I am Lady Annabelle Howard, from House Howard. I am acting as a representative from the Isle of Brittany's 100 Sword Peak. What I say to you here, will stay between us, if you speak of any of it outside of this, there will be consequences."

Dom was taken aback, as there was no reason that he could think of that he would attract the attention of a Hidden Sect, let alone a sect that was renowned for being the location for the greatest swordsmen in the northern hemisphere, if not the world. Dom was not a sword user, and his brief experience on World Conquest Online proved to him that he did need to improve with the Sword, but the Spear was his preferred weapon currently. He also wanted to study actual subjects and further his career so Andrew and him could succeed in the Military, as they had always planned.

He was also taken aback by Lady Annabelle Howard's abrupt was of speaking, and wondered what she would say that he couldn't repeat.

"I can see from your face that you are confused as to why I am here." Lady Annabelle Howard grinned, continuing to talk without Dom having chance to reply. "Let's just say that we have ties to your family Mr Lazarus and your education with us was paid for before you were born, as is the education of your own first born, and their first born, and so forth until the Peak's have fallen and the Sea has taken back the land it has given us. I have read up on you, your results and your skills. You are a good candidate who can learn some necessary skills for the unknowns of the future. You must understand, we are not just a Sword Sect. That is our front that we show to the world, we do have students who study within that, but we also train the worlds leading advisors and commanders, or have trained the people beside them. Be them the Western Kingdoms, Combined States or the Eastern Empire, we have ex students in all of them in high ranks, even at the top in some cases."

Dom was shocked at this news, having never heard any of this information himself. A Hidden Sect that had members across both nations on the continent. He was trying to grasp an understanding of the conversation, but she continued.

"Those that join us are a member of our Hidden Sect first, their previous loyalties second to this. We aim to nurture the most excellent people, and direct the world in the right direction. To do this however we will also allow you to study at a mainland University, such as The Central University, as your main place of education. We will train you at those facilities, whilst also bringing you to the Isle's of Brittany for secondments." She finished, looking at Dom with the grin still on her face as she knew that he hadn't had chance to process anything yet. "Any questions?"

"A lot." Dom replied, trying to think of what to ask first.

"Unfortunately, I do not have the time available." She stated with a gentle laugh, "There are some Royals that study here that I need to pass on some messages to from their families. I work closely within the Western Kingdom's hierarchy and do not have much time to waste. You will receive a notification in three days, we expect a response of yes or no."

She stood up and headed out of the room, humming a nursery rhyme to herself as she did so. Dom felt that she was quite a rude noble and he should ignore the offer, but then he remembered what Horatio had said earlier and decided to do some research on it. A couple of minutes later the Academy Staff arrived and let Dom out of the interview room, which he was grateful to see the back off. He headed back towards his Dorm where he bumped in to Andrew.

Andrew had been successful in his interview with The Central University and was excited that they had both been offered places, he was discussing with him how they could set up a new housing arrangement so they stook together when they returned to their Dorm. Dom left his friend, whilst still in deep thought, as he logged back in to World Conquest Online.