Trinity
May 16, 2025 at 12:00 PM
It wasn't entirely clear how much time had gone by since Ja'vassa had left the office, but even with the directions from Arona, it had taken long enough that the sun had already begun to set. Despite the time it had taken, he didn't seem particularly bothered by it and found himself admiring the strange patterns in them.
"You know.. I'm sure my companions might be a bit disappointed to learn that I hadn't reached our destination, but I can't say I'd mirror their emotions. Unexpected as it might've been, it's hard to deny that this is a beautiful place so far." Ja'vassa stated as he glanced back towards the tablet in hand.
Arona briefly appeared on screen, flashing him one of his usual cheerful smiles. "I'm glad you're enjoying your time in Kivotos so far, Ja'vassa-Sensei. I think you'll be happy to know that Trinity is just as beautiful as the rest of Kivotos. It's one of the oldest academies in the city and the students within do their best to preserve their history."
Her explanation caused Ja'vassa's own smile to widen slightly; knowing that the citizens of Kivotos did so well to preserve their history made him happy, especially since that meant there would be plenty of opportunity to study the land in its fullest. "Skyrim was a beautiful province. Towering mountains, lush forests, glistening rivers.. there were few places in the province that weren't awe inspiring, but Kivotos.. there's a beauty that's hard to describe here. I know Rin mentioned I'd be helping the students with their problems, but I can only hope I'll have some time to explore this place."
Just as Arona was about to respond, her cheerful smile was briefly replaced with a look of surprise. "Ah! We've finally arrived at Trinity. Given how late it is, you probably won't have a chance to meet with the Tea Party, but I can send a message to Nagisa and see if she's willing to arrange a time to speak with you."
A soft sigh escaped the Khajiit's lips as he arrived at the academy's gates.
"Thank you for getting me this far, Arona. I'd suspect we likely would've gotten here on time had I not gotten myself distracted." Ja'vassa chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "But, you weren't kidding when you said Trinity is gorgeous. The sheer size of it is mind boggling... it puts the College of Winterhold to shame."
Arona couldn't help but giggle, a playful smirk crossing her face. "You've only seen a small fraction of what Kivotos has to offer, Ja'vassa-Sensei. Gehenna is just as large; Millennium is relatively large, too, but I'll let you find that out tomorrow."
The prospect of a school that was just as large as Trinity, and the mention of other large schools made him both nervous and excited. Though, given how late in the day it was, he suddenly remembered that he'd probably need to find somewhere to stay for the night. "Uh... I don't suppose camping out in the middle of the city is frowned upon, is it? I guess I could always return to SCHALE and come back here early the next morning." Ja'vassa asked, his ears twitching nervously.
"I suppose you could camp out here, but it might draw a few strange looks. You still have the card Rin gave you, right? There should be a few hotels nearby that you can use. Don't... don't tell me you don't know how to use a credit card, Sensei..." Arona asked, a slight frown crossing her face.
An awkward chuckle escaped him in response. "Arona... the sword I carry isn't just for decoration. We're still using basic gold coins for payment, and rely on horse-drawn carriages to get from city to city on cobblestone roads." Ja'vassa admitted, rubbing his chin slightly.
It took several moments for Arona to respond once more, her mouth slightly agape as she listened to him. "I... I had no idea your home was so backwards, Sensei.." She admitted, but a determined smile quickly returned. "Don't worry! I'll help you with it and make sure you find a safe place to sleep tonight!"
As the two went back and forth, a student approached them with a somewhat cheerful smile glued to her face. Though Ja'vassa's appearance was a bit strange, she noticed that he seemed to be a bit lost. "Are you looking for someone?" The girl asked, carrying a strangely adorable backpack behind her.
Turning to the source of the voice, Ja'vassa nodded in response. "Yes, I was told I might want to meet with the Tea Party." He replied, briefly flashing the lanyard Rin had given him earlier in the day.
Taking a moment to examine the badge, the girl's smile widened slightly. "Oh! You're the new SCHALE advisor that the Vice President mentioned in her post earlier. It's nice to meet you, Sensei. I'm Ajitani Hifumi!" She replied, looking up towards him curiously. "Unfortunately, you're a little late here. The Tea Party has been dismissed for the day, but I can help you if you need some directions."
The kind offer caught Ja'vassa off guard slightly, but he smiled in response. "That'd be very kind of you, Hifumi. I'm just looking for a hotel or somewhere to stay for the night. I'm afraid I got a little distracted on my way here earlier." He admitted sheepishly.
"Don't feel bad for it, I get distracted often myself." Hifumi assured him, motioning for him to follow behind her. "But I know some hotels nearby. You're not from here, are you, Sensei?" She asked, examining him with a somewhat curious expression.
"No, I'm not. I've only been in Kivotos for a short while now." Ja'vassa responded as he'd begun to follow behind her.
"Do you mind if I ask where you came from? It's not often I get to see people not from Kivotos. Are you enjoying it so far?" Hifumi asks, having about a million different questions in mind, but figured it'd probably be a good idea not to bombard him with too many just yet.
Noticing the curious glimmer in her eyes, Ja'vassa chuckled softly. "I come from a place known as Skyrim, though my arrival here is a bit of a long story. So far, it's been nice; Kivotos is beautiful. I haven't spoken with many people yet, but everybody's been rather friendly so far. You, Arona, Rin.. it's been nice." Now, it was his turn to ask a few questions. "So.. what do you and your fellow students do when you're not in class? There seems to be no shortage of things to do here."
Hifumi nodded at him, though interested in hearing the story, she figured there'd be time to ask about it later. The sudden question about her caught her off guard slightly, a light blush dusting her cheeks. "Ah.. I'm not the most fascinating person. I don't do a whole lot outside of watching anime and attending Momo Friends events. I guess I'm just an ordinary student.."
Though he had no idea what anime was or what this Momo Friends was, Ja'vassa seemed curious. "I can't say I have any clue what either of those things are, but there's nothing wrong with indulging in your hobbies after a long day of hard work. There's nothing wrong with being ordinary either, you've easily shown me how sweet you are by not even hesitating to help a lost stranger out."
The sudden praise caused the blush on her cheeks to deepen slightly, though she smiled nonetheless. "Th-Thank you, Sensei... that means a lot to me. Maybe if you get some free time in the future, you could join me for a few episodes of Momo Friends? It's an adorable show, I think you'd enjoy it. You don't have to, of course.."
Ja'vassa smiled at the idea, almost purring slightly as he spoke. "That sounds like a lovely idea. Next time we have some free time, perhaps we can meet up at the Trinity gates. I'd love to indulge in the things you love."
The blush on her cheeks had since disappeared and was replaced with a brighter smile. "Really? Thank you, Sensei! I'll look forward to it." Hifumi replied cheerfully, a slight pep in her step. "Here we are! The closest hotel to Trinity. Depending on how early you wake up, I'd be glad to help you get back to the academy in the morning." Spinning slightly to face him, her eyes sparkled with a certain joy.
"In that case, I'll be sure to get up bright and early to meet with you, then. Thank you for your help, Hifumi." Ja'vassa hummed as he'd step up to the hotel entrance. "Stay safe and I'll see you around."
Hifumi nodded happily, waving towards the Khajiit as she walked off. "Goodnight, Sensei!" She called out.
As the two separated, Ja'vassa entered the hotel and with instructions from Arona, he was able to successfully book a room for the night. Once in his room, he took a moment to change out of his traveling gear and into something more comfortable before settling in to write out the letter to Relumara as he had promised before arriving in Kivotos.
"I have arrived on the other side of the portal safely, though I hadn't arrived in the Deadlands as planned. I dropped into a place known as Kivotos and have been enlisted as an advisor of sorts. I'll remain in Kivotos for a little while longer and I'll send over any relevant information I find."
The letter was short and sweet, but that was typical Ja'vassa. As he set the letter into the Void Storage, he'd settle into the bed sitting in the center of the room. Despite his own excitement to continue aimlessly wandering about the Trinity district, he figured it'd be about time to get some shut eye; he'd need plenty of rest before he'd meet with the Tea Party.
Dusk slowly turned into dawn and as the rising sunlight began to creep into the windows, Ja'vassa had risen with it. As he had woken up, he quickly changed into something clean and ate a quick breakfast of some fresh fruits from his satchel. With himself ready for the day, he'd step out of the hotel, but just as he took his steps outside, he'd remember that he needed to see if Relumara sent him a response yet. Opening up the Void Storage, Ja'vassa grinned slightly as he pulled out the parchment.
"Kivotos? I've never heard of such a place, but given your swift response to us, it seems you're in a safe place. Why would they enlist you as an advisor? It doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but if you're insisting on staying on the other side of the portal, I'll support you. Serica in particular is highly intrigued in the information you'll be bringing us; do be careful while you're traveling in that strange land. Best of luck, my Lord."
As Ja'vassa calmly read the letter, a cheerful voice caught his attention. It seemed he wasn't the only one that was excited to get the day started; folding the parchment up and setting it into his satchel, he was greeted with the bright smile of Hifumi tugging her overstuffed plush backpack behind her.
"Good morning, Sensei!" Hifumi greeted, a slight pep in her step as she approached him. "I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long."
Ja'vassa shook his head, a soft smile crossing his face. "Not at all, Hifumi. I just stepped out a few moments ago. Are you always up this early for your classes?" He asked in response, wrapping his arms behind his back.
"Not always.. I suppose I was a bit excited to show you around Trinity. Since it's a bit early, I doubt the Tea Party will be available yet... but, maybe you could join me in the cafeteria for breakfast?" Hifumi suggested, giving him a slightly expectant look.
Though he had just eaten breakfast a little while ago, the look in her face and the sparkle in her eyes was nearly impossible to turn down. With a soft sigh and light chuckle, Ja'vassa nodded in response. "I can't deny that I'm eager to sample some of the food of this place, breakfast with you sounds lovely."
With his agreement, Hifumi gladly led the way, cheerily chattering on about all kinds of subjects ranging from Peroro and the other Momo Friends, to the classes she was taking, occasionally pointing out various landmarks along the way. Even if much of what she was talking about flew over his head, Ja'vassa took genuine interest in what she was talking about and his own eagerness to check out a few of these landmarks only increased, but for now, he'd have to remain focused on his current task of meeting with the student councils across Kivotos.
After a short, talkative walk, the duo had arrived at the gates of Trinity. "I know I said this yesterday, but.. this school really is gorgeous. It's almost like a palace. I can see why you enjoy it so much, Hifumi." Ja'vassa hummed, taking a brief moment to properly admire the school's architecture. The sheer size of it caught him off guard once more; it made even Sjel Blad Castle seem tiny in comparison.
Hifumi smiled proudly as she led him through the gates. "The students of Trinity are proud of their history and hold to their traditions, and so, we do our best to preserve the beauty of our school. I'm glad you appreciate its beauty as well, Sensei."
The inside of the school was just as beautiful. Everything seemed to have been meticulously cleaned, there was hardly a speck of dust to be seen anywhere. The walls and floors shined, as if recently polished and even the light fixtures seemed to glitter. Even the lunchroom itself seemed to have been decorated to be fit for a queen; he couldn't help but feel as if he was devaluing the school simply by walking through its halls.
Hifumi led him towards the counter where various dishes were put out for students and staff to pick up. Many of the dishes contained familiar ingredients, but the way they were prepared and cooked were completely foreign to the old Khajiit; all of it looked and smelled delicious, however. If nothing else, Ja'vassa knew he'd enjoy the food of Kivotos and after a moment of staring at the colorful array of dishes on the counter, he decided to pick up a small bowl of miso soup and some grilled salmon, soon joining Hifumi at an empty table nearby.
"We've got a little while before I need to get to class.. I think I've talked your ear off enough. Can I ask a few questions about you, Sensei?" Hifumi asked, settling in a seat across from him. "It's not often we get advisors from outside Trinity, so I hope you don't mind me being a bit curious."
Ja'vassa chuckled softly, nodding at her request. "I'll try to answer any question you might have, but I can't promise to have answers for all of them."
Her glittering smile returned as she brought up her first question. "I've never heard of Skyrim before.. what's it like? Your outfit is... incredibly unlike anything I've seen here, I doubt I'd even see it Hyakkiyako." Hifumi paused, a light blush dusting her cheek. "Not that it's bad! It's nice, just... different."
At the apparent embarrassment in her eyes, Ja'vassa laughed softly. "Skyrim is a beautiful province of snow and ice, home to lush forests, towering mountains, and gorgeous rivers.. but, we're more than a little... behind Kivotos. Though, the people of Elsweyr, the land of my birth, often traditionally wear my clothing. I haven't visited Elsweyr in many long years, but I still hold onto a few of our traditions.”
Hifumi nodded enthusiastically, taking in the information given to her. "It sounds cold, I'd like to visit someday, but I've never been one for snow. What about Elsweyr, what's it like?" She asked, taking a notebook from her backpack.
"Pretty much the opposite of Skyrim. Home to rocky canyons, arid deserts, and tropical jungles. It was beautiful, and as lovely as it was, I've long called Skyrim to be my home." Ja'vassa explained, a somewhat nostalgic smile plastered to his face, though they'd be interrupted by another student; a serene, beautiful girl with large wings on her back.
"Look at you, Hifumi. Making friends so early in the morning." She greeted; a gentle smile on her face as she and another student joined them at the table.
"With a mysterious stranger nonetheless. Why don't you introduce us to him?" The pink-haired girl asked.
Hifumi's eyes widened slightly at their sudden appearance. "Oh, good morning! Sensei; I'd like you to meet two of our Tea Party members, Kirifuji Nagisa. She's one of our student council presidents and with her is Misono Mika, another of the student council presidents." She explained, a somewhat timid smile on her face; turning back to the newcomers, she'd introduce Ja'vassa. "This Ja'vassa-Sensei from SCHALE, the one the General Vice President mentioned in her post from yesterday."
Their sudden appearance was a surprise, but a welcomed one. Ja'vassa smiled towards them. "It's a pleasure to meet you two. It seems good things happen whenever Hifumi's around. It'll save me the trouble from trying to schedule a proper meeting in the future."
Mika looked him up and down, an almost mischievous smile crossing her face. "I can't say you're what I expected when they mentioned the new SCHALE advisor, but you're much more intriguing. I hope you won't mind us contacting you for some help in the future." She replied with a soft giggle.
"Let's not put him on the spot immediately, Mika. But, yes, I believe we'll be able to rely on you, Sensei. Hifumi seems to adore you already, and that's enough for me. I'm glad we were able to meet today, we'll be in touch with you in the future." Nagisa added, her smile never faded. "Are you intending to visit the other academies later? Or have you already visited them?"
Ja'vassa smiled softly, nodding at them. "I intend to visit Gehenna next, Trinity is the only academy I've been able to visit so far. It's been more pleasant than I expected."
A light scoff escaped Mika's lips, though she quickly disguised it as a small cough. "Be careful with Gehenna, Sensei. The students there can get a bit rowdy at times. I'd suggest you keep a close eye on your wallet, unless you're okay with losing a few credits." She warned him.
"I'll keep that in mind, Mika. Though, it seems it's getting a bit late. I probably shouldn't keep you girls any longer, I'll need to start heading towards Gehenna soon." Ja'vassa stated as he stood up, bowing towards them slightly. "It was nice to see you again, Hifumi; and it was nice to meet you Mika, Nagisa. Perhaps we'll meet again soon."
As they said their final farewells, Hifumi gladly led him back towards the entrance. Her smile never faded away as she looked towards him, "I'll see you soon, Sensei. Maybe the next time you're in the Trinity district, I'll give you a proper taste of Peroro!"
Ja'vassa chuckled softly, nodding at her. "That sounds lovely, I'll be sure to look you up the next time I'm in the area. Stay safe, Hifumi."
As the two finally parted ways, Ja'vassa began to head off towards the Gehenna district with the help of Arona and the directions lit up on his strange tablet. It'd only been a day since he arrived in Kivotos and yet, he found himself oddly comfortable in the city; more so than he had been in a long time. Perhaps their mistake with the initial portal wasn't such a bad idea after all.
