The Blueblood Chronicles

1• In which we are introduced to young Darkleer

Our story begins in the dorms of the Imperial Military Academy of Alternia, an elite school for young highbloods who wish to serve the Empress with all of their beings. A school where young highbloods were taught to be highbloods and where the students learnt their places in the harsh, unforgiving world that was Alternian society.

The sun had set an hour or two ago, it was time for the young trolls to get up. The first to be awoken were the Tealbloods, then came the Ceruleans, the Navy Blues, and finally the Violets, the seadwellers who had the luxury of staying in bed half an hour later than their landdwelling counterparts.

Horuss Zahhak awoke from his sleep fifteen minutes before his two roommates, Chiron and Eponaa. He took the time to change into his uniform and brush his long black hair. His hair was perfect, as was everything about him. Horuss was a perfectionist and he refused to present himself as anything else but a clean-cut student for all to see.  His teachers adored him, his classmates looked up to him... He was, indeed, perfection.

He buttoned up the navy blue shirt of his uniform and tucked it in his black trousers before he put on his boots and walked over to his roommates' recuperacoons. He first nudged Chiron for him to wake up, telling him to wake the girl that shared their room. The Academy didn't separate their students by sex as they thought that it was a waste of time and that they should get used to seeing the bodies of the opposite sex sooner or later.

Groaning, Chiron pushed Horuss' hand away and got up, wiping the sopor off his chest before he went over to wake Eponaa. The girl opened her eyes before the boy had laid a hand on her, getting out of the recuperacoon to get out of the room, telling the two boys that she was going off to take her morning shower.

When she was done, the trio cantered down the stairs to get to the grand dining hall where the students were yet again separated by caste. Teals to the far left, then came the ceruleans, then the royal blues, and, finally, on a much nicely decorated table, the violets.

At the end of the hall was a long table where teachers from all highblooded castes sat, and behind them was the large flag of the Alternian Empire as well as a portrait of their beloved Empress. The young trolls saluted the flag and portrait with the side of their fist pressed to their heart before they sang the anthem. Their conviction in their voices ranged from 'I'm doing this because I have to' to full-blown passion and devotion towards the Empire.

When they were done and the headmaster had given them permission, the young trolls sat down and chattered idly at the table. Chiron was the loudest, explaining to his two roommates this vivid dream that he had the night before which had him tossing and turning in his recuperacoon. Eponaa laughed at his descriptions and Horuss just grinned along, sipping from his glass of milk.

When breakfast was over, all the students were to come to the front courtyard where the designated students were to hoist the Imperial flag. They stayed in silence, observing a minute to think about the Empress and what they could all do for Her. Then the bell rang and the students were to retrieve their books for their first class of the day. This morning, Horuss had an hour and a half of political science followed by two hours of Study of the Hemospectrum. The young blueblood had his messenger bag on his shoulder, his heavy books inside as he carried it. He soon arrived in the classroom, taking the second last seat that was available, leaving the last seat to his right.

The teacher soon walked in, he was a plump, middle-aged blueblood. He settled his books on the teacher's desk and excused himself for his lateness. He then took the list of names that was on the desk, calling the students' names.

"Mr. Cronus Ampora?" he called first, his finger tapping the roster.

He waited for a moment before the door of the classroom swung open and a carefree-looking seadweller appeared in the doorway.