“A… rocketship?” Astra said, his mouth hung open in awe. “It sure looks a lot funnier than any ship I’ve ever seen.”

  “That’s because it’s designed to go to space,” Aunt Caroline replied with a light laugh. “Honestly I don’t know much about how it all works. Isn’t really my field of expertise, you know? But I will say that up there, in the vast beyond, it’s a whole lot different than being on a planet. Lot more dangerous, that’s for sure.”

  Indeed, the humongous structure before Astra’s eyes was covered in great big metal slabs as if to serve as armor, kind of like the ones that the Knights of Greyhorn wore except a lot larger and more smooth. If Astra wasn’t told beforehand that it was a ship, he would’ve assumed it was the space agency’s building itself—that’s how gigantic the rocket was. Like a peerless tower rising above all else in the land.

  The true headquarters of TASA was instead the glass facility in front of the ship. Astra and Aunt Caroline excitedly bounced up the steps leading to its door, before heading inside and being greeted by a wide open lobby. It wasn’t all that busy compared to the Astral Tower, but the few people that were inside looked quite fancy with their dapper suits and sharply trimmed dresses. Astra in comparison stood out like a sore thumb. He wasn’t wearing his overalls this time and instead opted for a more stylish outfit: a red tunic, boots, and a dark blue cape. Emily said in her letters that such fashion was all the rage these days.

  However, the people walking around the space agency were a lot less colorful, forsaking bright and vivid hues for a more subdued palette of blacks, whites, and greys. It wasn’t just them. The entire building was decorated similarly with glossy floors of marble, crystal chandeliers, and walls so dark Astra thought he’d be sucked into them if he stared for too long.

  The boy hadn’t even left the planet yet, and already the environment felt so alien—in a good way! Astra liked visiting new places. Before, his world had been limited to the confines of what was around the farm, so now that he was out here, in this adventure of discovery and unknowns, he couldn’t help but feel overjoyed knowing that there was still so much left for him to explore.

  “Have you ever been to space before, Aunt Caroline?” he asked while gawking at the station’s modern architecture.

  Caroline tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Only a few times for work. I didn’t take a snazzy rocketship, though. There's a more affordable option for us employees of the Tower, but… well, let’s just say it’s a lot rougher. Imagine entering a wrinkle like we did to get here, only more violent, and it makes your head spin, and it guts your bowels until you’re left wheezing and panting on the floor while yesterday’s lunch comes spewing right out. Yeah, not a pleasant feeling. That’s why I try to avoid business trips if I can help it.”

  Aunt Caroline continued to rant about the Tower’s many difficulties as the pair approached the front desk. There, an elegantly garbed lady took Astra’s ticket, inspected it, and then marked the front with a big purple stamp, before taking the boy’s luggage and then placing it on a floating disk that soon whizzed off somewhere behind the staff area. Apparently the rocket Astra was taking had a separate area for storage, so he didn’t need to worry about lugging it everywhere with him—how neat!

  After that, the receptionist lady asked him a few questions, such as his destination, his name, and a few other clarifying details; then she recorded his answers into a silver mirror, like the ones used at the Taurus capital. It took a bit before the inquiry finished. When Astra was finally all set and confirmed for departure, the lady tapped on the mirror’s screen and, to his surprise, a miniature model of the space station soon popped out right before him.

  “Woah!” he said, trying to touch it. His fingers passed right through. The model wasn’t actually real, just an image conjured by light, but nonetheless the boy was most impressed by these cityfolk and their newfangled technology.

  “Hehe, first time seeing a 3D projection?” the lady said, her voice still classy despite the flutter of amusement she regarded the rural countryboy with.

  “3D? What’s that?”

  “Three dimensional. It’s a new industry pioneered by the inventors at Geminique Incorporated. We just recently started implementing it with all our stations here at TASA—fascinating, no? With this, we can give you a guided tour right at the front desk, and there are also panels scattered throughout the building that’ll conjure a map just like this.”

  The lady explained the general layout of the station and where the boy first needed to pass before he could enter the rocketship. The whole process was much more complicated than he expected. Did he really need to go through three separate security checkpoints before even making it to the main hall?

  “I know it’s a bit tiring, but we take safety here very seriously,” the receptionist said. “Don’t worry. You’ll fly right through it, as long as you aren’t carrying any weapons or contraband. You don’t happen to have any explosives on your person, right child?”

  “Nope. Just these two hands and feet!”

  “Then everything will be quite alright. I wish you the best on your entrance exam, Astra.”

  The boy politely bid the lady goodbye and then hurried off with Aunt Caroline farther into the station, where he soon joined a line leading to the security checkpoints. It was a bit intimidating at first, especially with how serious the guards and inspectors were, but just like the receptionist said it really wasn’t all that bad. He had to take his boots off and wait for a strange green light to scan him up and down. It tickled a little bit. Then, when he was done, he rushed off to the next post and repeated the same process—this time with a red light. The final one was yellow; and after that, he finally stepped foot out into the central area.

  According to Aunt Caroline, there were actually multiple rockets spread around the runways. The one next to the station was Astra’s ship, the Voyager, which led directly to Excelsior Academy. The other ones flew to various planets where the nations of the other Constellations lived. For them, you would have to take a wrinkle that’d warp you a distance away. Fortunately for Astra though all he had to do was check in at the main gate and then they’d walk him to the Voyager’s entrance.

  The boy still had a bit of time left before his designated departure, so he went on a little sightseeing spree with Aunt Caroline and marveled at all the different sections and shops around the station. They even had a few places that sold food! Most of them specialized in meat, as Astra’s home planet, Terra, was famous for its animal exports, along with minerals and raw gems. Thus he soon chomped down on a juicy burger made of bigbelly cows and happily filled his stomach.

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  When he finished eating, a loud voice echoed across the station calling for all passengers of the Voyager to head toward the gate. Astra duly obliged and ran over, excitedly pulling Aunt Caroline’s hand and dashing to where a steady row of kids just like him were piling up.

  “Oof, calm down, Astra!” Caroline said with a giggle, before leaning down and patting the boy’s head. “I appreciate you wanting to bring me along and all, but from here on out it’s your time to shine. This is where we part ways, kiddo.”

  Astra nodded, a bit sad, but also thankful that Aunt Caroline took the time to accompany him here. “I’ll miss you!” he said, giving her one last hug. The two said goodbye with grins full and wide. Then Astra left, joining the other kids as they were directed by an attendant outside the TASA building.

  “Good luck, Astra!” she shouted, waving at him as her figure slowly began to fade in the distance. “You’re the boldest boy I know. Go show those fancy teachers everything you’ve got!”

  With that, Astra took a deep breath, and he stoically marched onto the runway leading to his rocketship. Closer and closer, he approached that grand vessel which so towered above him, like a dormant beast waiting to be set free. The other kids weren’t as captivated as he was by the rocket’s design, but maybe their reaction was normal. If anything Astra was the odd one out, just a nobody from the countryside while everyone else were nobles, scions of wealthy merchants, or heirs of families with great influence and power. Even the way they carried themselves exuded high class. No doubt riding ships like these were just everyday occurrences for them.

  Yet, that didn’t stop Astra from admiring the rocket every chance he could. Tons of questions flooded his head. What were those openings at the bottom for that occasionally spat out flames? Why was it shaped like a cone? He couldn’t even begin to imagine how it was possible for such a heavy looking thing to launch itself up into the sky. It didn’t matter if he didn’t quite understand the specifics, though. That’s why he was going to school in the first place—to learn. Maybe someday he’d be able to build a rocket of his very own.

  After a brief stroll, the group arrived at the base of the rocket, where they then had to climb a very long set of stairs to the actual entrance. The higher up they went, the more fierce the breeze was, and Astra held the railings tight as the wind howled against the low, occasional metal groans of the ship.

  At the very top, the attendant opened a giant door and ushered the children aside. “Take a seat wherever you’d like. If you can’t find one on the lower levels, there are plenty more up after climbing the ladder. The shuttle is currently scheduled to be at max occupancy so please do not occupy more than one.”

  Astra was one of the first people inside. There, spherical pasty white halls led to a variety of capsules, where inside was a comfy space just big enough for two seats. Finding a spot in the lower area would’ve been simple enough, but Astra wanted to see more of the rocket, and so he ascended to the upper levels, poking his head around and inspecting every nook and cranny. They were all pretty much the same. Each level had the same amount of rooms, the same amount of seats, and didn’t look all that different from each other. Still though it was quite fun for Astra, and eventually he settled into a nice hideaway near the very top—his seat was even by the window!

  According to the attendant, the entire rocket was going to be full, which meant that he’d have a seat partner! The thought made him a little nervous, but also hopeful. He hoped whoever came would be nice. Maybe he could even become friends with them! Or at least start a conversation. His paw would always say that first appearances were most important. Thus the boy patiently waited and stilled his restless heart.

  After a moment, a person entered the capsule he was in! Except… after taking a look at Astra, they soon turned away and left. The boy was a bit anxious. Was he scary looking? Or maybe they didn’t want to sit next to someone who wasn’t a noble? In time a few more people would pass nearby, only to then have a funny expression on their face and then promptly departing.

  Astra supposed that, even after all his practice in manners and etiquette, it was easy to see he was from the countryside. And that shouldn’t have been much of a surprise. He only had four months to study after all, while all the other kids had their entire lives to learn, to fit in. Still it was a melancholic realization for Astra.

  Time passed, and the children's rowdy footsteps soon died down as they found their ideal seats. Astra was still alone in his little capsule. However, that would soon change as he began to hear the faint words of someone nearby—a girl, whose tone was very light and refined.

  “Oh my, we have finally discovered an available seat, mister butlers and miss maids! How very fortunate. Let us make haste before it is snatched away by another ruffled gentleman or little lady, whose tardiness and subsequent desperation is likely no lesser than ours!”

  Before Astra knew it, a dignified little girl with dark brown skin and very fluffy pink hair, like a sheep’s wool or maybe a cloud of cotton candy, walked into the capsule, where she was followed by a congregation of flustered servants who fawned over her every step. It was quite the bizarre sight to the boy. Had it been him, he would’ve felt quite suffocated by the servants’ endless pampering, but the girl reacted nonchalantly as if she had long grown used to it.

  “Princess, please reconsider!” one of the butlers cried. “Must you truly ride in this substandard contraption? Oh, how horrid! These spaces are much too confined, not to mention the petty nobility and crass merchant kin who sully the air. And my word… is that a boy of common gentry beside you? This butler of yours shall soon collapse in worry, young missus! Let us return to the manse where we shall arrange a more proper means of passage to the academy.”

  Astra didn’t understand some of the words the butler used, but nevertheless he had a feeling they weren’t all too kind.

  Despite the man's pleading, however, the little girl stubbornly clung to her seat and let out a haughty ‘hmph!’ before turning away. “Now that is quite rude, mister butler! The common gentry are people too, and though I may not know their ways or the little oddities they express on occasion, it is nevertheless the duty of us royals la magnifique to set an example and walk harmoniously among them. To do so I must live as they do, even if it is very confusing at times and really quite inconvenient. But! BUT! My esteemed father says such is my responsibility, as I am now ten years old and thusly have been elevated to the prudence of a little lady. You will not change my mind, mister butler!”

  “Princess…”

  The butler crossed his arms, leaned his head back, and then dramatically fainted. The servants attempted one last time to convince their lady’s mind, but she remained ever undaunted; and so they gradually left the room, their spirits quashed and their hearts heavy.

  The girl sighed and turned to face Astra. “Do please accept my dearest apology for subjecting you to that terrible sight. I love my butlers and maids so very much, but they are quite overprotective and cause me much annoyance some days.”

  Astra laughed. “It’s okay! I think you were pretty cool handling them so… firmly.”

  “Yes, I myself think it was, as you say, a ‘cool’ display as well. Thank you very much for your kind words, mister…?”

  The boy stumbled over himself. “Oh, just call me Astra! You don’t have to call me that mister stuff.”

  “Well it is very nice to meet you mister—oh, um, I mean… Astra. Just Astra. Pardon my slip of tongue there. I am still in the goings of learning the gentry’s manner of articulation so do expect the occasional slight from my lips.”

  He giggled. “Don’t worry about it. You’re taking the entrance exam too, right? That means we’re fellow students! Or students in the making, at least. So you can slight as much as you’d like around me. I won’t judge.”

  The girl’s expression relaxed, and she raised her hand to her mouth in a polite gesture. “Fellow students… what fun! I would very much like to be fellow students with you, Astra. But where are my manners? My name is Lamboclette Woolington S. Ariestocrat. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”