When we left the ship, both Tiago and I were carrying backpacks. There wasn't much inside—mine had ample space, and Tiago only carried the necklace. The backpacks were more symbolic than practical, containing just a few small items like snacks, books, and other essentials. In truth, I suggested we bring them just to create the feeling that we were really going on a journey.
I wore a purple shirt and black pants, and my backpack had several loose straps hanging from it. Tiago was dressed in a yellow shirt and brown pants.
As soon as we stepped off the ship, we saw Colonel Pedro waiting for us with a relaxed smile.
"Hello, Tiago and Alex. Unfortunately, the General won't be able to see you off. It seems he's dealing with a small family issue."
"Wh… How is he?" I asked, a bit concerned.
"No need to worry. It's something relatively… common," he replied, slightly embarrassed, which only made me more curious. Still, since he assured us it wasn't serious, I let it go.
"Well, I've arranged a smart car that will take you straight to the academy. The General has also left instructions for you to keep it as long as needed," he continued, pointing to a sleek vehicle nearby.
I bowed slightly and thanked him. If anything were to happen to the car, I could afford to pay for it—thanks to some jobs I'd done.
"Thanks for the car and the ride."
"Y-Yes, Sir—Pedro!! Thank you for your help!!" Tiago added, clearly a little shy. He had grown close to both Pedro and Master Canel and had even gotten Pedro's contact info. I was really happy about that—it felt like a step forward for his engineering career. I just need to keep encouraging him.
We were just about to enter the car when Pedro's voice called out again.
"By the way, Alex—the main base of the 4th Army is located very close to here. That's why our army holds the most influence in this city. The General's family home is nearby too," he said with a wink.
I simply nodded. It was true that this academy had stronger ties to the 4th Army, mainly because its base was here. But that didn't diminish the presence of other armies. Every major academy—whether on the capital planet or elsewhere—was located near a main army base. This setup allowed for more balanced recruitment and also provided security for the younger generation.
After all, academies like this one raise the "seeds" of the future—military personnel being the focus here at Valerys, but not exclusively. Many other professionals, professors, and talented individuals live and work at the academy too.
As for the last part of his comment, I assumed he was just giving a casual reason for the General's absence. I didn't give it much thought.
Once inside the smart car, it started moving toward the academy.
I lightly tapped my smart bracelet against the car's interface."Andromeda, take over the system."
"Understood, master."
The reason I had Andromeda take control of the car's system was for security purposes. Since we'd be using this car for a while, it was safer—and I'd have more control—with him managing things.
Within seconds, his voice returned."System control assumed. The destination matches the academy's coordinates on the map. All standard functions have been successfully overridden."
"Thank you, Andromeda," I replied with a smile. I then spent some time chatting with Tiago as we enjoyed the ride.
I also asked Andromeda to take a route through the city. As the car was properly registered, it was allowed to travel a bit more freely. This gave us the opportunity—though brief—to observe how this city functioned. It was clearly more advanced than our home planet, more populated, and much more technologically integrated.
…
Before long, we arrived in front of the Valerys Academy building.
The structure was made of beige and black stone, accented with metal features. Its design reminded me of Austrian architecture, with futuristic elements blended in.
At the front stood a large stone archway, and to the left was the parking area where we pulled in.
After parking, we began walking toward the academy. I tapped my bracelet again. The academy's website had a public map available, and I asked Andromeda to download it for easier navigation.
With his assistance, Tiago and I soon found the reception area.
A young woman was standing behind the desk."Hola! Pleasure to meet you!"
I offered her a warm, charming smile."We've already submitted our applications, but we'd like to collect the official registration documents—one for a Mech Engineer track and the other for an Administrative and Military Support role."
The process works by comparing student data to course requirements. The system automatically evaluates grades and performance to determine eligibility. Generally, this isn't a problem, as both of our societies place high value on education.
The receptionist blushed slightly and quickly moved to retrieve the digital registration forms.
Meanwhile, I felt a gentle tug on my sleeve and turned to see Tiago looking uncertain."Alex…? Engineer…?"
"Don't you think it suits you?" I asked. "You've clearly got talent and intelligence. Professor Canel said the same. Your eyes practically light up at the idea."
I smiled at him."But…" Even though he seemed both happy and shy, he was still hesitating.
"You can always transfer later if it doesn't feel right. Why not give it a try? Either way, I'll be supporting you."
He took a deep breath and nodded."Alright, brother…"
I was proud to see him take that step. I knew it was something he cared about. He was smart and hardworking, and his abilities made him especially suited for engineering.
"Here are the forms," the young woman finally said. Digital documents appeared before us like virtual sheets of paper. We filled them out, submitted them, and the system confirmed our acceptance.
"Excellent! You two are Selvagians…" She paused, looking at me with slight surprise—but not shock.
I didn't comment. I know I often come off as a mix of Hight Selvagian and Selvagian traits—visually, culturally, even in behavior. It tends to confuse people.
"Ahem, well, your rooms aren't the same, unfortunately—but they are across from each other, in B-2 and B-4. Please, show me your smart bracelets."
We held them out as requested. She scanned them with a nearby device, and our room access was confirmed.
"Thank you, Miss!"
I smiled again and walked off with Tiago. Even though we wouldn't be sharing a room, we'd be close. That might even help us make new friends and expand our circles.