The ecstatic freshmen followed Juniper into the massive lobby, full to the brim with framed paintings and art pieces. Walking towards the elevators, photos of the practicing lawyers decorated the walls across from them. Juniper pressed the elevator button to go up.

       “So, those art pieces in the lobby that we just passed by? About thirty percent of them were gifts, but Mr. Nexus is a huge art collector. They were pretty pricy but a worthwhile investment. Plus, he made up the costs after winning a case against a negligent middle school two years later.”

       "Oh, yes! I heard of that! Fallow v. Treuken School District. The teachers were caught locking disobedient students in gymnasiums after hours and told their parents they were skipping school,” Mark replied.

       “Correct! Right on the money. Two wrongs don't make a right, and had they thought that ahead of time, the lawsuit would be nonexistent.”

Tenny and Blake looked at Mark in disbelief. Turns out he can be smart when he wants to be. That certainly explains how he got into Vellichor.

The elevator doors opened. The group entered and went all the way to the back. Juniper pressed for the second floor.

After eight seconds, the group exited the elevator, Juniper leading the trio down a red carpet hall surrounded by landscape photos of the firm. Reaching a silver door, Juniper typed in a code, pulling the door open. The group saw a flurry of golden cubicles, proceeding further through the room.

       “Good afternoon, Aria! Good afternoon, Georgette, Phil!"

The employees nodded back with smiles, returning Juniper's greetings. They wore either burgundy or indigo uniforms, the material looking nothing less than pure quality.

       “When an employee is hired, they have their choice of an indigo or burgundy ensemble. The silver selection is only available for our lawyers. The three colors represent each partner, and since Alistair Glint is the firm's founder, his silver color represents those under the tutelage of law schools and their passing the BAR. Indigo represents the artistic Nathaniel Nexus, and Burgundy represents Titus Wenge, which matches his last name.”

       “How is that?” Blake asked.

       "Well, wenge is an expensive and exotic hardwood, and it is also the name of a dark brown, almost similar to the reddish brown that is burgundy. It's also our most popular color here. Alright, onto our lawyers' independent offices!”

Juniper led the group into a new door past the cubicles, every employee working through stacks of sheets miles high.

The group walked down a complete turnaround of a hallway. Golden walls that showed reflections of every item and every person who walked down it. A reflective marble ceiling and holographic floors. It was as if it were another universe. It captivated Tenny, Blake, and Mark. Juniper smiled at them.

                                

“I suppose you're wondering why it looks this otherworldly? Mr. Nexus, being the artist he is, suggested to Mr. Glint that they should make the lawyers who get accepted here feel like they crossed the finish line. He wanted to simulate and have them relive the feeling of passing the BAR every time they walked down this hall. Gold walls, rainbow floors, and just an atmosphere that tells them that all of their studying paid off. That they've earned it.”

The group exited the hallway, entering the center of a new room. Two giant, steel elevators sit smack in the middle. White-tiled epoxy floors with specks of gold, and reflective wooden desks are shining. Nothing short of inspiring to Tenny. Juniper pointed down one of four halls to the new room.

       “Down that way is our kitchen. We have an assortment of healthy foods in the fridges and snacks on the racks. Anyone can put whatever they like in the fridges, but the food must be labeled. We have two microwaves in case people are in a rush to get back to their desks, and the microwave could already be occupied. We also have cases of water and coffee for our lawyers and employees to grab and go to any time of the day. It can get pretty crowded in the morning. Alright, this way.”

Tenny, Blake, and Mark are having a good time as if they have a free pass to look at what the future entails.

Down this hall, it was wider than the others to accommodate the large number of offices.

       “The good thing about this hall is that you can always tell it's the Hall of Lawyers, as we call it because it's much wider than the rest. Four hallways in this area can be like a maze, so it's good to have a landmark. They also have a few emergency exits close to each other, as well as stairwells. In case the elevator gets too crowded, which can happen when the work day is over. The good thing about pulling all-nighters, though, is that you can have the elevator all to yourself.”

The group came to another door needing a passcode. Juniper typed it in speedily with no effort.

They all entered an ivory-colored room, blindingly bright. The frames of the office doorways are gold-trimmed.

A young man with tan skin and a slick-backed ponytail is typing away at his desktop. He is Asher Blackwood, a 31-year-old accomplished lawyer. His office is large yet nearly vacant. White walls and burgundy floors. Hearing something, he turned to see Juniper leading the group of freshmen into his doorway.

       “Over here is our Personal Injury lawyer, Asher Blackwood. He's actually a legacy to Vellichor, so he may have some helpful tips for you.”

He is astronomically busy but decided to spare a moment of his time for aspiring youngsters.

       “Nice to meet you. You guys are from Vellichor as well?"

The trio nodded.

       “Prepare for the all-nighters. It nearly killed my drive a few times, I gotta say. But you should be grateful. That school really expands on every nook and cranny of information. Want my advice?”

Asher lifted a water bottle from his desk, taking a large sip before placing it back down.

       “Quit now if you're not prepared. This is the real world. I don't have any corny lines prepared.”

The group is in a bit of surprise, Juniper trying to find a way to restore this interaction.

       "S-so, Mr. Blackwood, what-”

       “Excuse me, Juniper. We should hear questions from our aspiring lawyers, shouldn't we?”

Juniper fell silent, looking at the freshmen. Blake stepped forward.

       “Mr. Blackwood. What inspired you to work in Personal Injury?”

       “Good question. I'd appreciate it next time if you could take the initiative to ask it on your own.”

Asher sent Juniper a quick glare. He looked back at Blake.

       “You have to toss any timid tendencies out the door if you're going to go in this line of profession. Now, to answer your question, I find it very irksome how many people in this life purposefully fail to take responsibility for their actions. The fact that they think that they're entitled to get away with any selfishness they impose on others. It makes my skin crawl. So, I was pleased to know that there's actually a profession, a job of forcing these selfish nitwits to pay for their mistakes, whether they own up to it or not. Well-paying, too, if I might add. But nothing is earned without hard work. So, I studied my twenties away, avoided many parties whenever they were held, and was called a flake and a killjoy by my best friends for ditching them to study. But…"

Asher sat up straight.

       “Look where I am now.”

Asher gestured outside around the office, and outside the window, where a myriad of beautiful buildings displayed themselves before the group. He looked back at them.

       "Don't let anyone hold you down or prevent you from your goals. Keep the friends who not only encourage you but push themselves forward as well. This life can be your escalator. Escalate others as well because we can help each other while helping ourselves.”

Asher looked to a tearful Juniper, rolling his eyes and sighing.

       “You see? This is why I don't like to discuss these things with you around. I'm not here to make anyone cry.”

Juniper wiped her tears speedily, sharply adjusting her posture.

       “It's no problem! No problem!”

She turned towards the freshmen.

       “So you've heard it here. Keep focused on your studies, stay adamant, and work hard. You may have an office here one day.”

Juniper turned back towards Asher Blackwood.

       “Thank you for your advice. I'm sure they'll apply it and take it to heart.”

       “Of course!” Mark said.

Blake nodded.

       “Thank you for your words. We'll apply them.”

After a moment, the entire group looked at Tenny. They waited to see if she had anything to say. Tenny looked at all of them, in confusion at their stares.

       “Oh, uh, thanks. For everything.”

Asher stared at Tenny, then smiled.

       "She's got the 'planning stare.' You were already visualizing all of your plans for the future, weren't you?”

       "Sorry, that was rude of me-”

       “Don't apologize. That's a key part of aiming for this profession. Keep at it, just not in the classrooms or the courtrooms.”

Tenny laughed and nodded. Juniper waved at Asher.

       "Thanks again!"

Asher nodded as Juniper led the freshmen out of his office. She continued down the sparkling white hallway.

       “Alright. We've got a big one down the hall. The District-”

A tall, broad-shouldered brunette Defense Attorney, Quinton Pierce, approached Juniper in the group, walking briskly down the hall. Juniper noticed him, not expecting to have seen him at this hour.

       “Oh! Look who we have here! This is Mr. Quinton Pierce, a Defense Attorney-”

       “Not now, Juniper. We have an important conference to get to. Anything not pertaining to that has to stop now. At this moment, tours are off.”

       “Oh, alright. No problem.”

Juniper turned towards the freshmen.

       “Sorry, guys. Tour's off. But, we pretty much got everything covered.”

       "Yeah! It was amazing,” Blake said.

       “Really cool. Seriously, this could be my future,” Mark joined in.

Blake elbowed Mark, laughing.

       "Don't be cocky.”

       “It's fine. He has ambition. Alright, sorry guys, thanks for coming. We greatly appreciate your interest,” Quinton said.

The group nodded as Quinton looked to Juniper.

       “It's a good thing you're here. This could be a good learning experience for you. Come in, but only to observe.”

       "Yes, sir!” Juniper replied, ecstatic.

She looked at the young, ambitious freshmen.

       “I'll be sure to tell Mr. Glint about your visit and the tour. Thank you guys so much for coming, and we'll send you some informational e-mails of our newsletter if you'd like!”

       “Yeah!” the group said in unison.

       "Alright. Just hang on a second.”

She looked for and found her phone, holding it with both hands. Her fingers tapped quickly on its screen here and there.

       “Just type in your e-mails here."

The young assistant handed her phone to Tenny. She typed as fast as she can, seeing as how the two workers were in a rush. Tenny handed the phone to Blake, who typed in his e-mail next, handing it to Mark when he finished. All three are done, Mark returning the phone to Juniper.

       “Alright! Thank you, young students, for coming. The elevator is back down that way, and we passed it. I'll lead you-”

       “Oh no, it's fine! We can find it, seeing as how you have your hands tied,” Blake replied.

Juniper smiled at him, Quinton nodding at Juniper to follow him. She waved back to the group while following Quinton.

       “Thank you for coming! Have a great time at Vellichor!”

Quinton and Juniper walked fast down the hall to make the beginning of the meeting, vanishing out of sight around a corner. Tenny, Blake and Mark went the opposite way, heading towards the two large steel elevators they passed. Blake could hardly contain his excitement.

       “That was AWESOME!”

Tenny and Mark looked at him in shock. Blake hardly expresses himself with such volume.

       "This is unlike you,” Tenny said.

       “Are you really Blake?” Mark asked.

       “Oh, come on! We just got a glance into the future! I've been drawing firm interiors in my notebooks since middle school. This is better than I can imagine.”

       “So, you wanna be an interior designer for firms?” Mark replied.

       “I obviously drew myself as a stick figure in those interiors. I'm aiming to be a Defense Attorney. And hey, at least we're on the right path! Not to mention, we sort of got legal advice that we didn't have to pay for! How are you guys not excited about this?!”

       “Well, this place is huge, and I love the lawyer's offices. The hallway, especially, is super amazing. Wait-! Are we allowed to take photos here?”

       “Good idea!"

Blake withdrew his phone at the speed of light.

       “But Blake, shouldn't we get permission?”

       “I'm sure it'll be fine. If someone saw us, I'm sure they'd think we're like young, excited tourists.”

Blake found the camera app and put it on selfie mode.

       "Alright, guys, gather in!"

Mark and Tenny looked at each other as the two got slightly behind Blake. They smiled for the camera, Mark showing a peace sign.

Blake lowered his phone, looking over the new photo.

       "Alright, now let me get one of the amazing hallways.”

Blake turned around as the two got out of his way, Blake switching the selfie mode off, returning it to the normal camera mode. He held the phone in landscape mode. Lifting it, he saw a very tall man in front of him, obstructing the view of the hallway.

Blake took a few steps back, shocked. The man of great height is Titus Wenge, one of the partners of Glint, Nexus and Wenge.