Temora was never told anything about her father’s request. She was glad she wasn’t, as if she needed any more pressure. The education system itself was stressful enough.

“It is the opinion among the three of us that you have also meet your father’s expectations. Perhaps, even exceeded them.” The professor’s handlebar mustache rose with a cheery smile. As he held out both of his hands, Temora relaxed hers. The middle-aged man held her by those hands. “I want to offer you my personal mentorship as long as I am able to do so.” Shamel said lifting both of her hands slightly, in an expression of repressed excitement.

“Thank you, sir.” Temora bowed missing a headbutt of the Merited Professor in the process. Barovin rose her own hand up toward Temora with an order paper of some kind, stamped with the seal of the Cloudushen Academe.

“While we know that tuition would never have been a significant burden on you or your family. We feel that, given your consistent record that we would rather have you as a student, than have the gemin. You will be able to attend the college here, as long as you wish, at no expense.” Professor Clandoleka handed the order to Temora. It was a high quality paper certificate bordered and sealed with gold leaf. Ordering a full ride scholarship, signed by Meritus Emmet Gransin; one of the Vice Heads of State.

Temora was awestruck, and now had a much more difficult direction of conversation than she anticipated. This was all great news to most anyone, but for her became a lot to lose if she failed to convince them of moving in the direction she desired. She never wanted to go down the path of academia and into government, and it now appears that a Meritus has eyed her as a political hopeful.

“I really am appreciative of all of this.” She barely squeaked out to the room full of influential people more than twice her age. “I... I have no interest in teaching, or trying to climb the ladder of academia. At least not like this.” Temora’s soft words slowly resonated around the room as excitement bereaved into half-smiles, and one sternly eye prodean.

“Well.” Shamel bellowed, as he broke almost two full beads of silence. “I am here to support you regardless of the path you wish to take. We did assume that you wanted to follow in your father’s footsteps.” He gave generous affirmative nods to his colleges, who appeared to at least indulge in this new line of reasoning.

“What are your goals Temora? What do you, want to accomplish?” Prodean Falken rested in his office’s genuine leather chair, leaning into one side of it, hands clasped, gesturing, defeated.

“Honestly, I wanted to serve a tour in the military. I would be following in my father’s shadow. Just... his more recent footsteps.” She spun around the room slowly as she said this, trying to look at the faces of everyone. Even to the people behind her. “I’ve never really enjoyed the schoolwork, or had any aspirations or daydreams of giving lectures in front of a class of students. I don’t think I could handle that number of eyes on me.”

“Teaching isn’t the only job we do that requires many people being reliant upon a single person. Military options have you filling a leadership role as well. You might find yourself talking to even more people.” Barovin addressed, while she feverishly tapped some kind of rigid card against the admission’s desk.

“I know that. I’m prepared to take on that kind responsibility if I have too I just... feel like I’d serve better out there being actionable. Having an impact.” It took about this long before Temora started to lose the composure she had practiced and built up for weeks.

“You would make a lasting impact on people’s lives as a professor here miss Fayn.” Sovelt leaned up from his resting position to get closer to her eyes from his chair. “I’ve done a few tours myself. I went out knowing what to expect, and I still ended up back here at an admissions desk.” The prodean spoke wholeheartedly. The first bit of concern this man had presented since the interview started.

“I have been on this skyland my whole life. I want to experience something new. I’ve made up my mind about this a long time ago, and I don’t want to end up a desk girl.” Temora was now speaking with her hands, just like she did with her mother. She was self aware about it in that moment.

The three panel members looked across each other, and began to address other concerns. “Someone has to sign off on this, we typically don’t let those of your age on tour.”, one of them primed. “Let alone a young woman such as yourself.”, finished another. “Do you know what the military can be like for a girl of your age?”, extrapolated a third.

Temora responded to them in kind. “I’m sure someone would be willing to sign off on it.” chirped a weak voice. “I’m plenty athletic, I can run the courses, I can do the training.” that voice picked up. “I can handle myself around those kind of men, I’ve done plenty of that already!” she nearly yelled. Then the room was again silent for another bead.

During the pause, Prodean Falken stood up resting his hand along the edge of the desk. Running his hand across its edge as he began to orbit it again. “Lecturer, can you go to Dean’s office and tell him I need to speak to Rosin please?”, the prodean looked up toward Teved from his floor stare.

“Yes, sir absolutely.” Teved turned in place to begin a power-walk through the elliptical room and quickly down the stairs.

“The only thing that is keeping me from denying your request is curiosity. I want to know if you will be as capable of applying yourself in the air as you are on the ground.” he returned his stare to the floor before snapping it back up to meet Temora’s eyes. “The order paper has already been signed by the Meritus. After your tour, you are free to return to classes if you so wish. Of course, there will be some schooling during your outings.”

“Thank you, sir.” Temora reached out her hand toward the prodean who matched it with a strongly gripped clasp.

“Most people join up with the military tours to pay for their tuition. I’m sure you will be happy to know that you’ll have full pay, compared to the rest of the guys out there.” Sovelt smirked as he released from the extended clasp. “You’ll be at the Novice pay grade, but I have a feeling that wasn’t your motivation for wanting to go in.”

“No, sir. I’m just tired of looking out of my window at the ships every morning.”

“You are dismissed. You’re going to make some paperwork for me today.” he finished his orbit into the chair like music had just stopped. Partially happy for Temora, and sad for his next few hours. “Go head down to medical to get checked out, and then run right on over to the barracks. I’m sure Professor Holiday will want to speak to you.”

“Again thank you, sir. Right away.” Temora about faced in place, and power-walked herself on Teved’s path. In reality there was little urgency, as students train all day, but she didn’t want to keep a professor waiting.