Shiro Academy

Roleplay Library Unsorted RP
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1

The 1 Infinite Loop government established Shiro Academy in 1783 to serve as its general staff school. But each branch of the 1 Infinite Loop armed forces abandoned the academy over the next 150 years out of a desire to operate its own separate war college. As a result, the 1 Infinite Loop government transformed the academy into a public research university in 1953, allowing only the small Looplite Space Force to continue using the Cupertino campus.

Despite its mostly civilian status, Shiro Academy bore the brunt of 2003 Pax bombardment of Cupertino as a result, and relocated to Garneldo, the capitol of the Tilden Isle territory of the Federated Alliance, to continue operation during the reconstruction of the original campus. The 1 Infinite Loop government reopened the Cupertino campus in 2010 but decided not to close the Free Pacifican campus out of a desire to increase revenue without raising tuition.

Shiro Academy thus continues to operate a second school far from its original home at Tilden University. Constructed during the 1980s to become the school of the children of elite Free Pacificans that’d become rich from the technological boom, Tilden University collapsed in the early 1990s, when the tech bubble burst. From 1992 until 2005, when Shiro Academy negotiated to rent the large majority of the campus, only 1% of the campus was actually utilized. Nowadays, Tilden University only uses three buildings, while the rest of the 50+ structures are maintained by Shiro Academy.

A combination school, Shiro Academy has programs for elite high school students, regular college students, regular graduate university students, and military cadets. Regardless of program, those enrolled at Shiro usually live in the same dormitories, and often take courses taught by the same world-renowned professors.

The dormitory that serves as the setting for this story is commonly known as the Wachin Dormitory. A five story structure, Wachin Dormitory is the Southernmost residence hall on the Shiro Academy campus, the closest to the Pacific Ocean, and it faces South towards the ocean. The dormitory features a bath house, located in the courtyard formed by the “L” shaped dormitory, and a parking lot on the North-Western side of the building. A circular driveway is located on the North-Eastern side of the building.

((Please note that the below image is of the fifth floor, where our characters are all going to happen to live. The first floor features a lobby instead of the kitchenette, bathrooms, and communal area. To make up for this, the first floor also features a small computer lab where several rooms would be located, and a small lounge in the place of several other rooms.))

2

Matthew Terrus (Junior) showed up at 7:30 AM, along with six other resident advisers, to setup the lobby of Wachin Dormitory for resident move-in. The seven student staff members put up decorations, setup tables, and carefully laid out registration packets over the next half hour. By 8AM, when the Campus Police unlocked the main doors, the seven staff members were ready for the influx of new students.

The seven staff members believed themselves ready, anyways, but that quickly proved completely untrue. Dozens of “early-bird” families arrived by 9AM, trying to move residents into the dormitory before the rush, and by 9:30AM any semblance of order disappeared.

Terrus, relatively cool-headed, kept his table somewhat organized as the small building lobby became packed. As more students arrived, he continued to wave and call out, trying to get the attention of anyone listening.

“Fifth floor residents, over here! Fifth floor, register here!”

3

“Aha, that much? Åvo…” The T-shirt and shorts clad young lupine sitting in the back of the taxi idling outside of the campus grounds began to automatically mutter to himself in his native tongue as he sifted through a stack of unfamiliar bills and tried to work out the right amount. “Aa, te-, san-, get-, urek-san!” Beaming with excitement at his small mathematical victory, he proudly presented the correct fare to the considerably less excited driver. The driver muttered a muted thanks as an instinctive courtesy, but it was uncertain whether his passenger had actual heard him, because the moment he had handed over his payment he had dashed out of the vehicle.

Out of the car and with room to move, Okë Omakta, took a much needed stretch after the long journey. After so much time encased in one crowded vehicle or another the scent of the fresh morning air was invigorating, as was the sensation of the breeze flowing through his coat of white, gray and black fur. The coloration accurately indicated that he hailed from Rykkovaa’s easternmost region of Novajot, as did the icy blue eyes with which he now stared eagerly through the pair of glasses perched on his muzzle out at his destination. Surrounded by a natural spectacle pattern of lighter fur which enhanced the artificial ones he wore, they served as both an ethnic and personal identification, the phenotype being unusual even among the population associated with it.

He was also atypical in terms of stature. Back in his homeland he would have been considered on the short and slim side of things. It wasn’t something he minded. He had always had a good sense of humor about it and it was a state of affairs which he was comfortable with. As such it had been something of a shock when he’d found that among the general population of his new home abroad he was squarely positioned at the opposite end of the spectrum. Some might have been thrilled by such a radical but painless promotion in the department of height, but Okë wasn’t one of them. Instead, he found that standing out in a crowd rather than being hidden in it made him feel incredibly exposed and vulnerable.

But those worries were irrelevant at the immediate moment, not only because he wasn’t in the middle of anything that qualified as a crowd but because he was giddy with excitement. He was about to step onto the campus and find his dormitory before a cry from behind stopped him. He turned around to see the still unamused driver holding a pair of duffel bags. next to the taxi’s opened trunk. Grateful but slightly embarrassed, Okë took his luggage and headed off on his merry way.

Thanks to the academy’s devotion to clearly labeling all points of interest, he found locating the Wachin Dormitory to be trivial. He obviously wasn’t the only one who had been assigned to the place and able to find it, because there was already an impressive and intimidating crowd assembled when he arrived. For an instant Okë despaired of things going smoothly from there on out, until his sensitive ears captured the sound of something shouting a summons for all fifth floor students, a demographic which contained him. Relieved, he navigated his way through the crowd and towards the appropriate table.

“Fifth floor? That’s me. Well, I think that’s me.”

4

“Uh, yes? Yes, here please.” Alvus Fedorov slightly beamed at the absence of a Veranian accent, much unlike his father. He quickly whipped out the cash - he had calculated the distance that would be traveled and the money it would cost in order to achieve that distance in Pacifican currency; he quickly handed the money to his cab driver and opened the door. He swung around to the trunk, where he heard an angry yell behind him and glanced over to find a lupine boy sheepishly grabbing his luggage from an irritated cab driver. Looking away, he grabbed his three seemingly large bags and slung them over his wide shoulders. He breathed in the foreign air after the cab had left, and stared into the sky for a bit as he walked his route, a route he planned after carefully studying the campus map. He lowered his green eyes down and grimaced as he saw the slew of people in his way, all clambering through the entrance of the Wachin dormitory.

With his three bags on his back, Alvus flexed his muscles and slowly started to walk forward. His larger-than-average stature compared to the people crowding the entrance was a definite benefit as people made way for his person; the fact that he was also athletic helped as well; for no one would want to get in the way of this man. As he shoved his way inside, he took his residential papers out of his pocket and unfolded them, only to realize they were upside down. With his bags being held over his back by his other hand, Alvus awkwardly tried to flip the paper around, but was eventually successful when he was suddenly shoved.

“Ug- argh! Stop that!” He quickly swung around and hit several people with his bags, but the clamor was too loud and the crowd too busy for anyone to really notice anything. He looked around for an empty spot, easily achieved with his height, and made his way through the crowd and looked over his information. He laughed inwardly as he read the paper, but he knew it was true - a man of broad and tall stature, with blonde hair and green eyes - much like a foreigner to many, he thought. Many of his traits he shared with his father, including in physical appearance - a thought he was rather proud of. Following in his father’s military steps, Alvus looked at Shiro Academy as the first of many experiences to add to his memory, for perhaps the purpose of bettering the Conglomerate and its understanding.

But for now, his immediate goal was the fifth floor. He looked up, adeptly put his papers away, and strode for the elevator.

OOC: Curious here, since I am living in a dormitory. Where are the stairs? At the very least, there should be stairs for emergency exits in the case of fire or some other calamity.

5

Kieran Yivereru was reading a book on the Medieval history of Vulshain, when his ears picked up the call for fifth floor registration. Kieran was a tall Vulshainian Vulpine with red and black fur. His muzzle and face was covered with black stripes. He wore a pair of blue jeans and blue polo shirt. His mother waved at him to come on. Smiling he closed his book, and gathered his luggage as he and his mother went to the man who had called out.

Kieran had excellent grades from his school in the Celiam Province, and he even had several letters of recommendation from several instructors.

He was an excellent swimmer and horse rider, not to mention he was very good at playing the flute.

His tail wagged as he became nervous. He took a deep breath and exhaled.

Straightening himself up, he and his mother walked up to the human wearing a nametag that said ‘Terrus’.

“Hello, my name is Shima Yivereru. This is my son, Kieran,” Kieran’s mother said, politely introducing both herself and her kit.

“Hello, Mr. Terrus,” Kieran said with a smile.

“Kieran is here to register at Shiro Academy. My husband, Motak, is busy getting some additional things, but he should be here shortly.”

Kieran smiled, although his wagging tail still showed his nervousness.

6

With the engine of the black Ducati Superbike 1198 purring quietly while the guard waited for a confirmation to come, Jordan Carlyle chuckled between himself. Everyone at Hirsch (*) had warned him. And above all Jill had warned him with her last kiss, before disappearing out of the door, running after a scoop or another. «Beware, Mr Fuss-maker», she had told him «The guards at the entrance will not believe you. Dressed like an Hell’s Angel, and with your beloved Ducati making its infernal noise… no, they will never believe you. They will stop you at the entrance door and you’ll start your very first school day having to phone Mr genius saying ‘Good-day Matty-boy, I have a problem at the entrance door’. I’ll bet on it… a dinner at the Blue Marlin. Next Friday». Then, she had gone, her scent still in his nostrils.

Blue Marlin was a new fish restaurant in Tasman City and everyone seemed so enthusiastic about it. Wonderful comments, kilometers-long waiting lists… enough for him to have avoided it like a plague. Not for the cost… that wasn’t an issue. But he hated the idea of having a romantic dinner with Jill with so many I’m-here-because-I-can-afford-it businessmen around them, pretending to discuss matters and technicalities with their counterparts… when, in the end, they were just citing and quoting something they had heard from their own lawyers during an endless meeting or another. And now… Jill was right. And he owed her a dinner. Next Friday. Mission impossible… or not? Chortling, he produced his own mobile out of one pocket.

«Good-day Matty-boy, I have a problem at the entrance door» he laughed.

(*) OOC: Hirsch iso ne of the biggest law firms in Liberty City – the Capital of Free Pacific States

7

OOC: There are two staircases at the end of each hall (they’re barely noticeable on the diagram but they’re there).
IC:
Terrus smiled. “Well, then, you’re in the right place. Welcome to Shiro Academy! I’m Matt Terrus – I’m your RA. I’ve got your room key and mailbox key here. I’ll just need you to fill out these forms to get them.” Terrus handed Omakte an emergency form, a general information form, and an ‘official sign-in’ form.

The young RA barely completed putting the forms down in front of Omakte when the Yivererus walked up. Terrus waved off the “mister” as soon as Kieran said it. “Please, call me Matt! I’m just a student. And welcome to Shiro Academy! I’ll be your Resident Adviser this year. Anyways, I’ll grab your room key and mailbox key. I just need you to fill out these forms…” He provided the Yiverus with the same three forms as Omakte.

Before Terrus could do anything more, his cell phone chirped. Reaching into his pocket, he glanced at it for a second, then looked back to the Yiverus. “Uh, my apologies – this is a professor. I’ll need to take it – just fill out those forms and I’ll be back before you’re done!”

He took a step away from the table to take the call. “Hey, Jordan! How’re you? …you’re where? At the main gate? Why did they…you’re wearing what?” Terrus sighed. “Alright, alright. I’m in the middle of move-in but I’ll call my friend in security…yeah, I’ll see you soon.”

With that, Terrus hung up, quickly sent a text to another person, and then returned to the table, looking to see if either Omakte or Yivereru was done with the paperwork.

The campus police officer looked from the ID to Carlyle then back to the ID. “This is a good fake,” he started to say, but he stopped as a campus police car pulled up. A different campus police officer, this one with several stripes on the arm of his uniform, stepped out. The gate guard saluted. “Sergeant, sir. Can I help you?”

“Wave him through,” the sergeant said, simply. He held up a hand before the officer could object, then looked at Carlyle. “Professor Carlyle, I’m Sergeant Jim Lanchard, University Police. I owe Matt Terrus a favor, so you’re going to follow me to his dorm. If he vouches for you, I’ll be sure to put a note in your security file so this doesn’t happen again. If he doesn’t vouch for you,” the sergeant trailed off, then cracked his knuckles.

“Anyways,” he said, walking back to his squad car, “follow me.”

8

Grinning, Jordan winked at the still bemused campus’ sentinel before wearing back the helmet, its face shield raised.

«Yessir, Sergeant Lanchard!» he chuckled, his eyes shimmering with amusement. Shaking his head, the Sergeant entered the car and drove it near the main building, the powerful engine of the Ducati answering Jordan’s touch over the accelerator as he followed the man to the parking area. When the two vehicles had finally been turned off, Jordan dismounted and then waited for the Sergeant to come out.

«Well… as I do not yet see platoons of guards rushing towards me, I suppose you’re intentioned to keep your word and bring me to Matt» he smiled «Bring me to Matt Sir, I meant» he added immediately after.

9

“And… done!” Okë declared yet another minor victory as he filled in the final line of the set of forms which he had been handed. The writing was the precise and meticulous kind of someone who was not yet fully familiar with the Latin alphabet. “That’s everything I think…” Putting down the pencil which he had used he took a second to review his work. “Yes, nothing seems to be empty, no, yes, yes. Done.” With a smile he handed the documentation over to the waiting RA.

10

Declan Cooper exited the taxi near the main entrance of the academy, a few days earlier he had just been honorably discharged from his compulsory service with the Alleghenian military. His parents were rich, owners of a small time oil surveying company operating out of Plainview that was well known for picking excellent drilling locations and selling them. He was to take over the business someday, problem was he didn’t know jack about surveying or convincing the oil giants into buying those finds. He was glad to get out of Allegheny for a while, see a different side of the world, unfortunately he wasn’t happy with what he saw.

The sun here beat down on his fair skin, a change from weeks upon weeks of overcast skies back home. What was worse was the people he saw. “Jesus Christ, they let those sub-species canids here too? Maybe this place isn’t what it’s all cracked up to be.” Coming to this melting pot of a nation was jarring for him, he was used to the propaganda about genetic purity that he got back in Allegheny. “Certainly alot of chaff walking around here.” He thought to himself. Declan ran his hand through his brown hair and walked through the door. The RA was screaming out something about the fifth floor. “Thats me.” He walked over toward the table and his heart sank a little when he saw that the canids he saw earlier were also fifth floor students. “Just deal with it Declan, if you don’t bother them they won’t bother you.” He said to himself trying to make himself think it would be ok.

Declan squinted at the RA’s name-tag. “Uh hello there… Terrus. What papers have you got for me to sign my life over to?”

11

Speaking to his mom, Kieran told her his worries. “Mom, I’m not sure about this,” he said in Unonian as he filled out the forms.

Sighing, Kieran’s mother patted him on the head. “Don’t be so nervous, Kieran. You were so happy when you got accepted here. Now, you don’t want to come here?”

“It’s not that mom, it’s just…” He tried to tell her.

“Just what?”

“I don’t know anyone here. I don’t know the customs, laws, or anything else. What if something bad happens?”

Sighing, she patted him on the head, before turning to Matt and said, “Matt, was it? If it isn’t a problem or a bother, could you do me a favor? My son, Kieran, is very nervous about coming here. He was happy to come here, but now, he’s having first-day worries. If you could, just watch out for him, please. He’s very bright and talented young kit, but he’s just worried about not fitting in here.”

Kieran had finished filling out the forms and handed them to Matt, just as Kieran’s father showed up.

“How’s our kit?” Motak said in Unonian

“Nervous. He’s starting to have second-doubts about attending here.”

“What? When he got the acceptance letters, he couldn’t wait to attend.”

“I know, but I have to admit that I’m worried too.”

Groaning, flattening his ears, Motak shook his head, and rested his hand on his son’s shoulder, before saiding, “Listen Kieran, I know you’re nervous and scared, but you’ll just fine here. Just behave, study hard, and you’ll be the first Vulshainian to graduate from Shivo Academy.”

Smiling a little, but still trembling, Kieran said to Matt, “Um…I was wondering when classes begin? I’m taking a double major in both Medieval History and Art.”

12

Iliyana I’kavilunevistere stood in the back of the room, still trying to get used to the rather lackadaisical atmosphere around the room. Perhaps lackadaisical wasn’t the correct word to use, though. She didn’t really get the chance to use English every day, but her schooling in Listonia did teach her how to use it well. Not good enough, though. Especially not good enough to become a foreign ambassador, something she really wanted to do. But, at the same time, she wasn’t much for serving in the Listonian armed forces and was hoping to make it to college in her home town of Cestinglavoiga. It was still unclear how the credits here would correlate.

She was fairly common for a vulpine female of her age. Black hair, red fur of sorts, the typical run-down. Her dress was a typical for a Listonian: a white dress with a black vest type shirt buttoned down. The style of dress was common in Vekaiyu as well, but it ehcoed to a time when the two states were united. That is to say, the style for most Listonians hadn’t changed much over the centuries.

At least Father Stapen made sure the people were well cared for and had rights that were unheard of years ago. She was finally free to practice her religion with those in her community - Yavulism, a blend of Vayan Catholicism and Islam that seemed a little odd on paper, but made a lot of sense to the followers. No headscarves, no required pilgrimages. Just beliefs. But the symbol of the Vayan Catholic cross partially surrounded by the crescent moons sewn on her dress, well, they just looked pretty, and were more for tradition. Cestinglavoiga was big on style, and while it was definitely a fast moving modern city, it didn’t forget the past.

She stepped forward, blinking her eyes and looking over the packets as others came through - a cacophony of species. At least that reminded her of home a bit, though not as big of a presence of vulpines as she was used to. “I am for the fifth floor,” she finally replied.

13

“Mister, uh…” Alvus squinted at Terrus’ nametag. “Terrus! Yes, I am here to sign in for the fifth floor dormitory.”

Alvus took a quick glance around. Definitely quieter than the first floor, pity the blokes who moved in there. There was definitely a very high concentration of lupines and vulpines around, and although Alvus didn’t really see them as enemies, he was rather new to them. Perhaps he should try conversing with one. Alvus was sure they all spoke English in some way or form. Perhaps he should attempt to learn their languages? No, that’s a little too far a jump for a move-in day.

He shrugged a bit to ease the straps of his three large black bags on his shoulder. It wasn’t so much heavy more so that it was annoying - his already large build coupled with almost evenly sized bags made it quite difficult to move around, and even more difficult to traverse past people. As Terrus gathered the paperwork, Alvus brushed down his dark gray slacks and his black leather jacket. Alvus was slightly behind the times in terms of fashion, so he picked something he liked and would be comfortable with.

“Ah, the paperwork.” Alvus took the paperwork from Terrus and moved to an unoccupied corner, where he put down his bags and started to fill out the paperwork.

OOC: Sorry for the questions; is it safe to assume that the rooms are all double occupancy? Or are each for one person?

14

Kieran noticed the red-furred Vulpine vixen walk up next to him, as well as a human man. Their appearances seemed to calm him down, but at the same time they also made him a little nervous as well.

He noticed the strange symbols on the Vixen’s clothes. They resembled crosses and crescent moons. “Hello,” he politely said in Unonian to her with a smile, he then repeated his greeting in English to the human. “My name is Kieran Yivereru from Vulshain. It’s nice to meet you both.” He smiled to both of them, feeling somewhat calmer now. His Celiam Methodist pendant had come out from behind his shirt somehow. The pendant was of a three-bar cross with the bottom one slanted, and with a two-tongued flame on the left side of the cross (OOC: his right, her left).

OOC: He’s trying to be friendly to both Alvus and Iliyana, so maybe y’all would like to be friends with him.

15

“Um, hello.” Alvus quickly glanced up to take a look at the stranger, then glanced back down at his partially completed paperwork. “My name is Alvus,” he said while continuing to fill out the forms. “Vulshain, huh? My father said he’s trying to establish relations with your country. Something about a war with uh, Rigard, Rygard? Yea, Rygard.”

Alvus stopped writing for a bit and looked up. “It sounds pretty serious over there.” He glanced over at the other Vulpine. “Uh…” He glanced back at Kieran, staring at his pendant. “I’m not familiar with that symbol. Could you tell me what that is?”

Alvus took a few short strokes to sign his paperwork, and handed them to Terrus to signify his completion.

16

Kieran’s ears perked up. He had just met the son of the leader of another nation. When Alvus inquired about his Celiam Methodist pendant, he smiled. “Oh this? It’s represents Celiam Methodist, a branch of Christianity that is a blending of Methodism, Russian Orthodox Christianity, and Vayan Catholicism. I can tell you a little more about later.” In response to Alvus’ mention of Rygard, Kieran said, “Yeah, Rygard is filled with canine-haters and terrorists.”

Matok coughed, signalling for his son to hush about that subject. “Um…So, you’re the son of a world leader? What’s that like? Must be exciting.”

17

OOC: Reziel answered the OOC question on the OOC thread – let’s switch the OOC convo to there.
IC:
The Sergeant grunted gruffly to acknowledge the joke, nothing more, then led Carlyle into the building. He pushed his way through the crowd like an expert, leaving enough room for Jordan to follow, then stopped next to the desk. He coughed to get Matt’s attention. “This the guy you’re talking about, Terrus?”

Matt eyed Jordan for a second without any expression then slowly smiled. “Yeah, that’s him. Thanks, sarge.”

The campus officer nodded. “We’re even, now. Tell Star I say hello, next time you see her.” He looked to Jordan. “We’ll make a note about your bike but next time you come to work, you might want to try to look a bit more…like you’re at work.” With that, he turned, and left.

Terrus laughed. “He’s a bit of a hardass – don’t worry about it. Anyways, how’s life?”

Before Carlyle got a chance to reply, Omakte spoke up, reporting his completion of the paperwork. Taking it, Terrus quickly reviewed it, then nodded, and handed Omakte his room key and mailbox key. “There’s stairs just through each of those doors and elevators at the end of the halls,” he said, “your room number is on the key. Let me know if you’ve any questions – we’re having a hall dinner tonight in the common area.”

Omakte did not get a chance to ask any questions, though, as Cooper walked up. Terrus smiled at his question, then handed him the three forms. “Not a great amount, actually, just some essential information. If you fill those out, I can give you your keys, and let you get on with it.”

Again, Terrus stopped talking to the person in front of him just in time for another person to step up. “I’m sure he’ll fit in fine,” Matt said reassuringly to the Yiverus, “and I’ll definitely be there to help with any troubles. That’s what we’re here for.” He turned to Kieran. “Kieran, here’s your keys, there’s elevators and stairs just down those two halls. Classes start tomorrow but they’ll keep it light for a couple weeks for you.” He took a breath. “But, if you’ve got any academic questions, always feel free to stop by.”

As Kieran turned to talk to another person, Terrus turned to I’kavilunevistere. “Welcome to Shiro Academy,” he said with a smile, “and Wachin in particular. I’m Matt Terrus, your RA. Anyways, I’ll need you to fill out these three forms, then I can get you all setup. Let me know if you’ve any questions.”

As he spoke, Terrus handed I’kavilunevistere the forms, then took the forms from Alvus. After reviewing it, Matt nodded, and gave him his keys. “Welcome to Shiro, Alvus. I’m Matt, your RA. Let me know if you’ve any questions.”

With all that said, Matt sighed, and glanced at Jordan. “I’m not paid well enough.”

18

Observing Matt with an affectedly mistrustful glance, Jordan pretended a deep frowning «Do not even think at handing me one of those forms of yours!» he laughed. As the younger FPSian grinned in return, Jordan observed the crowd of students darting as crazy ants all around them.

«Wow… thay are so disciplined and industrious. I’m rather sure I wasn’t such a good guy, at their age»

«You weren’t and you aren’t» winked Matt, handing a new form to the n-th student before he had actually had a chance to even ask for it.

«Yes, but at least I didn’t besiege my RAs with questions about keys and forms and stairs and… oh: and spare me any joke about me besieging Jill with anything else» he chortled «And by the way… she send her greetings. So does Arian De Corde. He apologize for having had to postpone his visit here for the fourth or fifth time… he has been sent to the North Pole, doing something extremely useful as checking if the ice is cold or another Archangels’ nonsense. Me… bah. The usual things. Lawsuits. Endless meetings. This whole thing of Hirsch is out of control. FPSians are mad. With all due respect, obviously» he smiled «And you? Is life better, now that Mr Daddy is not Mr President anymore?»

19

“There’s upsides and downsides,” Matt said. “I mean, on the one hand, I no longer get to skip lines at the airport. On the other hand, I no longer have four guys in suits with guns following me around all the time.” He paused. “Not that that was always a bad thing,” he added mischievously, “but it definitely got in the way of my dating life.”

Terrus smiled. “Of course, if I’d known you’d all be leaving just as soon as my Dad retired, I’d have told him to run for another term! I’ve not seen anybody in months!”

The young RA shook his head. “Anyways, how’re you liking the new job, from the looks of it?”

20

“Thank you,” Alvus replied to Terrus. He turned toward Kieran to answer his question.

“Actually, no.” Alvus shrugged. “My father isn’t my country’s leader. He’s the Director of Defense, actually.” He picked up his bags and slung them over his shoulder, again. He frowned slightly as he felt the weight on his shoulders. “I suppose his rank would be a Field Marshal or something similar. DoD Sergei Fedorov they call him. Almost makes me scoff. He’s always working, so there’s never anything fun for me. He does send letters though, so I at least know he cares.”

Alvus adjusted his straps to loosen up a bit. “Celiam Methodist, huh? I’ve heard of it. I don’t know a lot of things about it though. Shame about Rygard; I would have thought that most of us were beyond such trivial things, but… well, terrorism is definitely something, but it confuses me - if they have a standing army and navy, why do they even bother with terrorism at all?”