S1 EP2 - V(1) Aproria

Violet

Woah... today it's actually my turn... but...

Mom stands at her pedestal just like every year. And behind her sit our eight teachers. She has fitted herself into the black and red costume as usual and adjusts her glasses. She also wears an updo, so that she looks strict to others. But she is a real sensible person. But somehow you have to gain respect...

And now she begins her speech after clearing her throat...

"Welcome to Aproria. My name is Director Reeva Foster. You are among the chosen few who have the honor of attending this academy."

"Every year the same speech", I whisper annoyed to Finn over. He smiles and nods.

"Watch out... " He waits for the right moment and then joins Mom's speech.

"We are living in a wonderful time of peace, with few uprisings. And it is your task, as future guards, to keep this peace."

"Psht. Finn, Violet, shut up now", Monika interrupts our fun.

"Sorry!" we both whisper over to her. She always has to be such a bummer... Finn looks over to me briefly and rolls his eyes. I return his gaze, amused. Immediately we feel Monika's gaze on us, which is why we rather pull ourselves together.

"Now it is our task to provide you with the necessary knowledge and training. Let's get to the end." Yikes? Already the conclusion? Nice! Finn and I exchange relieved looks. Even Monika looks a little relieved. Hah, I knew she was bored as well! She must have memorized the speech even better than we do.

"You will meet in small groups right away. The information can be found at the entrance on the bulletin board. Please visit the board immediately after the end of this event. When you get to know your group leaders and teammates, you also get your timetables. At 18:30 we prepare dinner for you. You are dismissed."

The students get up and leave. Especially the three of us want to leave quickly. But Mom still has something to say.

"The Fosters please come to me immediately." O-oh...

"Violet, I noticed that earlier. You will bear the consequences later. Join your group now." I'm lucky...

"Finn, you help with the cooking for the whole vintage." Haha! The look on his face!

"Monika, you are free because you can behave."

"But I also have to go to my vintage!", Finn quickly interjects just as Mom is about to turn around.

"Good try, your school year doesn't start until morning night."

"Crap."

Hach, I'm looking forward to the time with Cleo! I'm so glad I don't solely know the teachers... but that's kind of weird though... Almost all the teachers have seen me grow up... I hope this won't affect my grades too much... I am now in the room for group seven, led by Mr. Freed. We got one of the nicest teachers. As Mr. Freed and I nod at each other, my stomach begins to tingle. I am now officially enrolled in Aproria...

"Hi there. I am Mr Freed. For the next two years, I will be your contact person and also your communication teacher. I will teach you a lot about languages and understanding. Eh, just introduce yourself and say where you come from."

"Hello, my name is Violet Foster and I come from here, from Neu Versys." I even grew up in these building complexes... haha... Of course, I sat down next to Cleo and lean a little in their direction.

"I'm her cousin Cleo Mido and I'm from Harea." I think it's so cool that we can finally see each other more often! Happily I grin at her and she reciprocates my smile with a giggle.

"My name is Grey For- eh Morce and I'm from Tentra, Sector 3. I'm happy to meet you." Wow.. He must be one of the people with a scholarship... hardly anyone comes from Tentra... But this year we have some people from difficult backgrounds thanks to the new funding program.

"My name is Luke Dasher and this is my little brother Jay B. We are from the blossoming lowlands of Palais." Jay B finishes chewing something, swallows it down and greets us all. Boah... if I had done that I would have gotten a punishment lecture from Mr. Freed and Mom afterwards. And I'm already getting a punishment... Would probably have to help Ai in the kitchen....

"Jay, please don't eat in my class."

"'S'cuse me, I was just so hungry."

"In a bit, there's going to be something... So, what about you?"

"Kuro Yahama from Kritor." Woah... so cold and monotonous... Why are all Kritoreans like that?

"Eh, my name is Ivory Steppelton. I'm from Gurun. It's between Harea and Kritor." You can literally feel the affectedness... That someone from Gurun also made it here, although Gurun is not a kingdom... these people are not very popular... Why actually?

"Nice... to get to know you. Let us move on to the next point. You may wonder why you are such a small group."

Cleo and I look at each other for a few seconds, then we turn to Mr. Freed, grinning, "Nope."

"You know the system from an early end, it doesn't count. So, you're divided into small groups, -" You can hear something like chips breaking out of Jay's mouth. Mr. Freed takes a deep breath in and out to calm down. He's so on the hit list....

"Because you can learn and work better! And now you have to come up with a name for your team. You have 15 minutes for it." We all sink into intense thought and silence. All these years I have been thinking of various names as suggestions, but now none of them will come to mind....

"You can talk to each other, you know."

I glance over at Cleo, who is already eagerly waiting for me to start communicating. She signals to me with her eyes that she is also having a hard time thinking of something, to which I nod my agreement.

"Remember, the longer you need, the later you come to dinner. Just say something..." Uff... he's pretty pissed off by now...

"Whaaaat?! Guys, we have to try harder!", Jay startles. It's precisely because of you that he's so pissed off...

I glance at the clock. It's 6:36 p.m. Ivory's grumbling stomach interrupts the silence for a moment. She smiles embarrassedly and apologizes.

"Seven maybe?" suggests Grey. He's kind of cute... He seems shy... and he's smaller than Cleo.

"Alright! Who else is in favour of it?", Jay is of course the first to agree. He would also have agreed if we had called ourselves 'the chips'...

"Yes, why not?", how could you disagree with him?

The rest agrees as well, which is why we all look over at Mr. Freed expectantly.

"Hard to believe. The first suggestion actually gets taken. Good, you may go eat."

Immediately everyone jumps up and follows my shortcut to the canteen. Well, all except Kuro. He takes his time. Is clearly Kritorean...

"Is there anything left?" asks Jay, representing us, quite out of breath.

"You guys are even the first..." Ah... Ai is always so serious too... I smile sheepishly and fall in line appropriately. As I do, I notice that Jay and Ai both have dark skin, blue eyes, and blonde hair. They could be related... Luke, on the other hand, is also blue-eyed, but has fair skin and brown hair. They must have very different parents....

My gaze remains on them for a bit during the lunch break....

"Haha, you're just hopeless Jay B.," Luke laughs at his brother who has had a double portion put in. Usually Ai doesn't make exceptions... Not even for me... Did he get sympathy points because of his looks? I turn over to Ai, who grins mischievously at me. Okay... it was just to tease me....

It gets dark and everyone heads to the dormitory building. All except us Fosters. We have our own house. I sneak over to the living room and see Mom reading paper-newspaper.

"Mom, can't I move in with Cleo and Ivory?"

"Okay."

"Well, I'd like to- What?! That easy?"

"You know where to find your lonely mother... Now hush."

"Oh, Mom!"