Chapter 2.2: Theo

"You look like shit," Craig's voice was loud enough to be heard from across the room, even when he was speaking quietly.

Theo just groaned, glaring at the empty shot glass sitting on the counter. Earlier he placed the small dandelions from garden inside the glass. It was a souvenir from back home in his home district, a trinket from the small tavern he once frequented. "I need a drink."

"Not a chance. Last time we splurged for that bottle of whiskey, you drank the whole thing in two days! You hardly left any for me." Craig still sounded upset.

Theo did kinda feel bad about that. In his defense, it was some pretty damn good whiskey, and he really didn't remember much that entire weekend. He did right a note to purchase that same brand again next time they had the chance.

Craig was much taller than himself, with the muscle to match. Growing up in the Attala district, beneath the shadow of the Goremount, he had spent much of his life looking up to the military bastion and listening to romanticized stories of war. His hair was kept short, his face clean shaven, and many saw him as handsome. With his grades and background, he could've aspired for politics, maybe even found a way in the Kaisers government. Instead, he sought a military career, serving to keep the peace, and working against whatever kept the Goremount fully stocked and supplied with troops.

Theo had asked his mother, who also served the military, multiple times as to why so much was given to the army, an army that was stationary with no one to fight. The only answer he ever got was a long cold stare. He asked his roommate as well, who seemed to think they were needed for things that sometimes ventured close to the cities walls, things other than bad storms and rampant winds. He was unable to elaborate further, but that piqued Theo's interests none-the-less.

"I heard their opening a bar on campus soon, maybe then you can pay me back," Craig said, hoping to lift Theo's spirits.

It did, and Theo was suddenly more attentive. "Finally, something good to look forward to." 

So far, the one thing he liked about campus was the size of the dorms. Their room was built for four, but so far only the two of them occupied it. They liked to hang out in the central living room which came with a smaller kitchen and a decently sized bathroom. A single bedroom was adjacent to the living area, where two bunk beds were installed. They currently just threw all their spare junk on the empty beds. 

A large paned window gave them a miraculous view of the campus grounds, they were able to see the very gatehouse and the road leading to it. Right now, the view outside was better than what was on TV, a ridiculous Lamia soap opera that Craig couldn't get enough of.

Looking out the window, Theo could see a large crowd was bustling, coming inside the campus grounds. 

"Looks like new freshmen," Craig saw what he was looking at.

"Looks like it," Theo watched as the gatehouse started to close. He felt like a prisoner locked in a city within a city. The entire world beyond the curtain wall of Voxsturm was little more than a distant dream. "Ever wonder what's outside?" Theo asked, his voice distant as if speaking to no one in particular.

"You ok over there buddy?" Craig looked at him with concern.

"Nothing…" 

"I mean… You're looking outside right now. Did a vampire drain you dry or something?" It was a silly joke that whenever a vampire drank too much, it left their donors in a stupor. Not that Craig would know of his earlier interaction with one.

"Speaking of vampires," Theo grumbled. "There's this one from class that wouldn't stop bothering me today."

Craig hit the pause button. "Was she hot?" Just the way he said it with his thunderous voice made Theo smirk.

Theo just shrugged.

"What was her name?" Craig asked.

"Don't remember." Theo kept eying the crowd, they were mostly human, with a general mix of elves.

He saw a couple lamia, who were the most distinguishable. He thought he saw someone with a small pair of horns as well. He leaned forward to get a better look, but just as he could make out a whip lash tail, someone knocked on their door.

He turned to look around but didn't feel like getting up.

"Lazy bum, I'll check on it." Craig mocked him while getting up from his couch.

Theo looked back out the window, hoping to spot the succubus in the group again, but couldn't find her.