--
[TJ]: (new house pic.img)
[TJ]: First night at my new home. Feels weird. I'm not used to it.
[Sieg]: Owowowowow!
[Sieg]: That looks so fancy! That bed is so big! And those blankets look comfy as hell!
[Lily]: (OwO)!! Why does that room look familiar? It's like I've been there before, but I just can't remember. Weird.
[TJ]: I moved to an RTO unit at Garland Suites; maybe that's why it's familiar?
[Sieg]: Wha-!
[Lily]: WOT!!!?
[Lily]: Garland Suites!? Are you sure!?
[TJ]: Yes, I can still read properly. Garland Suites, near the U-Belt. The one with about 100 floors. I'm on the 29th floor, by the way.
[Lily]: Dayum! How?? IIRC the min. rent there is at least 1.5 mil geos per month! You moved to a rent-to-own unit, so that's, like, extra expensive then!
[TJ]: 2.5 mil per month, but it includes regular bills. It's a bit much, but it's super nice.
[Sieg]: 2.5 mil per month? Gulp
[Sieg]: Big bro! Do you need a lackey? Raises hand! I'm here! Pick me. Choose me. Love me.
[TJ]: LMAO
[Lily]: When did you get so rich!? I initially thought you'd settle in some dingy apartments at the outskirts of Alma Mater Lane.
[TJ]: Err...promise me you won't freak out?
[Lily]: Uh oh...what did you do? Where did you hide the body?
[TJ]: Not like that.
[Lily]: Then, what?
[TJ]: Promise me first.
[Lily]: Fine...I promise I won't freak out. Now, spill!
[TJ]: It's from MJ.
[Lily]: AHDNRLDORNDOSH!!!!
[Lily]: HAAA!? HER?! SHE'S ALIVE!? WHAT? WHEN? WHERE? WAE?
[Sieg]: Bro...
TJ slapped his forehead seeing Lily typing in all caps. Even Sieg is now concerned.
[TJ]: What happened to not freaking out?
[Lily]: Cancelled! Calm Lily is cancelled right now! I said so!
[Lily]: Explain! What do you mean it's from MJ? Like, she gave it to you? You're living with her? Is she there? Put her in! I've got something to say to that b—!!
[TJ]: Hey. Hey, hey! Relax. She's not here. She hasn't appeared anywhere near me at all.
[TJ]: She messaged me in the middle of the night after our graduation. I read it the next day. I couldn't believe it either. I even called her a ghost.
[TJ]: She apologized for going MIA for two years. Then she gave me a lot of stuff, and I mean a LOT of stuff, as compensation. One of them is a Black Card from the Dawnstar Bank.
[TJ]: Named after me, with her as the guarantor.
[Lily]: (O.O)!!! Dawnstar? You mean that Dawnstar Bank? The world-renowned bank!?
[TJ]: (nodding sagely.jpg)
[Lily]: Wot da hail? When did she become so generous?
[TJ]: THAT'S WHAT I SAID!!!
[Sieg]: Bro...
[Lily]: Wait, no! We're getting distracted by money! No. Don't tell me it's all Gucci now that she shared her filthy wealth with you? No, TJ. That's not how an apology works!
[TJ]: I know. And I haven't forgotten. She knows that too.
[Lily]: As you should. What she did to you was unforgivable.
[TJ]: It's weird. She actually apologized for neglecting me and suddenly became this generous. If it weren't for the fact that the ID keyed her name, I wouldn't believe that this is her.
[Lily]: Valid point.
[Sieg]: Bro...
[TJ]: Yes, Sieg?
[Sieg]: Who's MJ?
[Lily]: (slaps forehead)
[TJ]: (does the same)
[TJ]: Mary Jane (MJ) Whitlock, my older sister.
[Sieg]: Oh. I thought...
[TJ]: that I was the only one left of my bloodline? Yeah, that's what I thought too. The last time I saw her was after the accident two years ago. She hadn't contacted me once until recently. I, too, thought that she was dead.
[Sieg]: And from what I've gathered so far, we...don't like her?
[Lily]: Understatement of the year.
[Sieg]: We hate her?
[TJ]: She's...
[TJ]: It's complicated.
[Sieg]: Got it. But she's like...'Rich' rich, now?
[TJ]: Mhm!
[Sieg]: And she calls this 'compensation'?
[TJ]: Yeah.
[Sieg]: I see.
[Lily]: Anyway...
[Lily]: We'll pay you a visit. Tomorrow, Sieg? If that's alright with you? A housewarming party, if you will.
[Sieg]: Sure. I'm free.
[TJ]: You really don't have to.
[Lily]: Shaddup!
[Lily]: We're having a party, and you're going to host. That's final. (*.*)!!
[TJ]: Yes, Ma'am! (sweating)
[TJ]: BTW, where are you two applying for college?
[Sieg]: You mean where are WE applying, right? You're not thinking of getting rid of us, are you? (stares at your soul)
[TJ]: Tch. There go my plans, I guess.
[Lily]: Hey!
[Sieg]: Hey! ×2
[TJ]: Seriously? Even in college? The past decade isn't enough for you two?
[Lily]: Nope.
[Sieg]: Nuh uh!
[TJ]: I'm calling the police.
[Lily]: Hey!
[Sieg]: Hey! ×2 (again)
[TJ]: LOL. But no, seriously. Where?
[Lily]: Big 5?
[Sieg]: Er, so long as it's not any of those 2☆ collages, I'm good. Big 5 is the best, obviously.
[TJ]: Big 5...
**
Orion Crest Institute.
Hammerwell University.
Veilspire Professional University.
Hollowlight Academy of Applied Professions.
And Thornsreach Professional Institute...
These are the 'Big 5' of the U-Belt. Each one of these universities has been awarded a 4★ Academic Medal by the world government, a testament to their history, foundation, and quality.
Every single one of these schools had a long history. Students who graduated from these places were pros that made names for themselves or, at least, achieved a lot in their lives.
Ask anybody, and they'd heavily endorse the Big 5; this is how great their reputation is. Each year, their doors are flocked with streams of fresh graduates from prep school, yearning to enroll and be accepted to their gates.
There were key differences between the Big 5; some specialized in combat, some only accepted certain classes or people with status, some focused on raising lifestyle pros, and some taught their students to be jacks of all trades.
This isn't some big secret. In fact, the less famous schools in the U-belt emulated this kind of thing too. If it worked for them, how can it not work for others?
Alas, earning a 4★ Academic Medal/Rating isn't easy to emulate. There's a reason they're called the 'Big 5' and why they've lasted and ruled for this long.
**
[TJ]: I assumed that you got offers from all of the Big 5, then?
[Sieg]: Yep.
[Lily]: Sure did.
[TJ]: Same.
[TJ]: Though, actually...well, you see, I've been reading some articles lately...
[Lily]: There you go again.
[Sieg]: (Nerd!) What is it? Have you fact-checked it yet? Don't believe in everything you see online. (Damn, I sound like my mom.) (crying)
[TJ]: Gravepath Institute. Heard of them?
[Lily]: Oh.
[Sieg]: Oh.
[TJ]: Fair.
**
Gravepath Institute. A very controversial school. One that had been making headlines during the past few years.
Honestly, TJ wouldn't blame either Lily or Sieg for feeling unsure about his suggestions. It's fair since he, too, was also unsure.
Gravepath Institute doesn't really have a great reputation. They never had, and probably never will. Most of their methods were...unethical and dangerous.
Besides, they're not on the level of the Big 5, but they're not that far either.
3 and a half ★s is their rating; they reached it a few decades ago but never went further afterwards. And there was a very good reason why.
Their student casualties per year are quite high.
**
[Lily]: I mean...
[Sieg]: It's risky, bro...
[TJ]: Right? That's what I thought too.
[TJ]: So, which of the Big 5, then?
[Lily]: Gravepath
[Sieg]: Gravepath
[Lily]: Gasps! ~Twin...where have you been?~
[Sieg]: ~Nobody knows me like you do, no.~
[TJ]: shoves my body in between this impromptu duet
[TJ]: ???
[TJ]: Hello??? I thought we were choosing the Big 5?
[Lily]: Yeah, but you don't want to go to any, so we won't either. Right, Sieg?
[Sieg]: (nodding sagely.jpg)
[TJ]: You two...ugh!
[TJ]: I wasn't serious, you know? It just crossed my mind because they gave me an invite.
[TJ]: Wait!!
[TJ]: You two got one too?
[Sieg]: Yep.
[Lily]: Sure, I did!
[TJ]: Mind blown!
**
Gravepath Institute doesn't accept applicants.
They work differently from other colleges or universities in the U-Belt. They invite students in and only accept those with invitation letters. Those who wanted to enroll without an invitation will be ignored even if they were to camp outside of the school gates for years.
(Which actually happened once upon a time).
Even the Big 5 weren't this picky. Sure, they prioritize the invited students, but they won't turn down applicants. They have an entrance exam to give applicants a chance to enroll. There were even times when some of the strongest among the batch came from those who didn't receive an invitation.
Gravepath Institute only entertaining invited students was just one of the many controversies surrounding them.
**
[TJ]: Hold on. Even if you were invited by them, too, it shouldn't be enough reason to join them. Again, I was just thinking about it because I received an invitation. I wasn't actually thinking of going there!
[Lily]: You are.
[Sieg]: You totally do.
[TJ]: ???
[Lily]: TJ, we've known each other for so long. We could kind of predict your thought process, just like you could to us. Stop denying it. You were totally thinking of going there, and we already told you that we go where you go. So, Gravepath it is.
[Sieg]: Yeah, what she said.
[TJ]: Sigh!