There was something about outside.
Didn't care what it was. Lived in Port Geo, German national from day one. Never thought about going to the University, that's too stressful for me. It's October 1 right now, my birthday's three days away, sadly I won't have visitors. Except the bar I frequent, the receptionist I greet everytime I exit my fourth foor residence... There's no one else that knows me.
There was this post in the community board the other day, the paperboys were also delievering it around the blocks. Picked one up:
HESIANIC NAVY TO BUILD THE 'NEXT YAMATO'
The Germanic Times - August Evans
After the loss of its warships agaisnt the Lazaro, Hesianic Navy now in the works for building the so-called: "Next Yamato," as said by Adm. Key at September 29 during a press conference regarding its future plans for naval expansion. Gov. Gen. Marisse expressed her lukewarm opinions on the matter, that: "The Hesian goals of thalassocracy will be supported by Germany, however , further missions regarding the middle continent (using) its naval power, will in-effect sever ties with Germanic naval support."
This Adm. Key is a prominent figure here in Port Geo. He's reponsible for so many of the warships that's in the Hesianic fleet and also for the amount of shows the man conducts here in Port Geo. Showing off his mighty ships almost bi-weekly. And mind you, they were all newly made ships. The Hesians were just showing off their quickly ramping industrial prowess.
However, it doesn't mean we're all fond of the man. I myself don't like Hesia. For how controlling an atmosphere it is. I understand its goals (I think I do) but seeing how rapid Adm. Key's constructing his fleet's done made alot of us nervous. What's the man planning to do with that many ships? Nonetheless the: "next yamato." he's talking about.
"Goodbye the good old times." Said the testimonial just below the article.
Indeed, goodbye the good old times. I couldn't have shared the same opinion as the man. Sadly, his name was omitted from the paper. Probably because he was some guy they found on the street, looking for opinions for their paper. And by goodness the German Times could not have found a better person to feature in their article's testimonial.
I have never been involved with Germany's many activities. I've just been living the wave. There's been so many things that (because of Germany) became much more easier. Living's better, cities are better, everything is better. Better than whatever life I've been living up till now.
Got a letter from my mother who lived in the city of Foole, Handerbour. Or... The Germanic region of Handerbour. Said that father was recieving an Honorary certificate from the University of Germany for his fine arts major. "A great event, one that you should come to, son." She says in her letter.
It had been awhile since I used any German transportation vehicle save the bikes and trams that go around Port Geo. So going out was kinda scary for me. Got the courage, said goodbye to my room, went out, got a ticket, and hopped on the Afternoon Train. There were so many people packed into the train, but it didn't feel crowded.
We were in seats, perfect for two. And the style continued from front to back. There were (however) cool cabin things for those that paid more for more privacy. Sat next to this fellow, a Mr. Ebbs. Chatty man. Said alot of things about Betelion, as he himself graduated this Naval Academy somewhere near the Gale Island Chain or whatever.
One section of our conversation piqued my interest however.
I have heard it in passing, but never to this kind of detail. Germany now had an air force. Dragoons? I first thought. But no, not dragoons: "Planes!" He said after drumming up for suspense. "I have seen their planes fly in the sky. They were so fast, lightning fast. Faster than any dragoon in the world. They had sleek metal bodies, they carried deadly weaponry (so I've heard) and their shapes and sizes differed as their guns increased in potency. Truly has German engineering struck a chord within me! This new, this modern era... I thank God for I witness this while I am still alive."
Thank goodness the German Train was fast. But that was some nice bit of information. I never really hop on the recent headlines and news. It took me a week before I realized that the Northern Alliance had declared war on the alliance. The train I got on was only set for the southern bound region of Handerbour, and if I continued with them, I would have needed to rent a cab to Foole (approximately a thirty minute ride). Or I could wait an hour or so in Unchean for the Northern bound route of Handerbour (where it directly crossed Foole). I chose the latter.
I've been to Unchean three times in my life. Beautiful. Port Geo could not compete, even if it tried to become as Urban and gigantically modern as Unchean! The streets were filled with people, cars, things I would not have seen so much of in Geo.
I had the chance to look at the University which was about a street away from the White Manor (which was in-it-of-itself an amazing spectacle). Big place, that school. The schools I've known for most of my life were small places usually even a part of a house that someone fashioned into a make-shift school. But the university was unimaginable, the campus' main building was inextricably tall and large. Perfect for accomodating so many students locally and abroad.
There was a satelite campus in Foole, they're building one in the Ruska region too. Just less small I think. Father took a fine arts major after getting the chance to when he aced the entrance exam. I've heard of his works even from Port Geo. His works were unique, saw one in a gallery, they were exhibiting a set of works from university students. And my father's drew the most attention for how he used the colors so boldly, for how his composition was alien. Cubic.
It's all changing so rapidly. The paintings my father made, the buildings, the warships, that train I rode on, the things the people wore, those cars, those trams... everything in Unchean basically. They weren't things that existed. They all (like magic) appeared. Forgive me for this simile. It is like we've passed an age of innocence.
Took the next train. This one was faster. Newer. Longer by five cars. The seats were more comfortable to sit on, there was also "air conditioning" (the steward said) that was set at a nice tempreture so that we wouldn't sweat and we wouldn't shiver.
It was from this train that I had the ease of mind to not have a chatty person beside my seat.
( * )
I arrived at seven P.M. took a short walk towards my mother's house. Foole was a nice place, possibly better than more trafficked Germanic cities in how neat and elegant its walks were. Felt more breathable than urban Unchean. There was a river that ran straight through Foole and seperated the city in two.
There was a singular bridge that ran across the water and just after that was the Government House and kilometers after that was the supposed Foole Airstrip that housed Germany's newest flying contraptions.
Mother's house was just as cozy and neat as the day I left four years ago. I came and knocked on our door. And mother greated me with a warm, big hug. Father was just behind her. "How are you, been so long hasn't it?"
I kissed my mother's cheek and hugged my father now.
"Yeah, its been long. You got a degree?"
Mother closed the front door and we advanced inside, my sisters were in the kitchen preparing dinner while my brothers were probably in their rooms (I've heard that they were studying to enter the university). "Never really told you, how bad a father am I to not say that!" He grabbed something from a drawer. "Here's some money-"
"Woah, why?" I took it, of course.
"Living in Port Geo has got to be a bit expensive hasn't it?"
"No, not the worst. I've gotten used to it."
"What do you do again?"
"I work for the municipal there."
"Oh, nice, public work? What do they make you do?"
"Just this and that, boring managerial work."
"Ah."
I put the envelope of money into my bag.
Mother forced me onto one of the chairs on our dining table, already busy with food and plates being served at a steady pace by my sisters. "How's life?" Said Sophie, she quickly retreated into the kitchen before coming back with another dish: "good?" Again, fading into the background, reappering with yet another dish.
I nodded.
"Nice." She exited for a final time.
Father and mother were busying me with their countless monologues of their Foole life. Did everything to try and answer each and every question poised my way.
That was when I thought... "This is how life should be, a peaceful life, a life with family, a life with the intricasies of a modern world. An innocent (daresay) unmolested life of simplicity."
-+-
Author's Note
I am very sorry for not posting for such a long time. I don't know when this trend will continue, though I ensure you it's not because of burnout. I am in the midst of an academic boulder right now and I used a BIT of time out trying to study and focus on school. Thankfully, it was a long weekened so I had the time to atleast write this special chapter.
The next one is already being worked on, though I don't know when I would be able to release it since this week is exam week. I also don't want to post something under 2000-3500 words since that's kinda criminal for how long I've been out so I'm planning for the next chapter to be around 6000-7000 words for good measure.
Thank you for sticking around. If you're still here.