Horetta, Farlands
The Ryccian Empire

"Honey, here are the crops!"

"I'm going, Mom! Just need to finish this..."

My name is Isabella Thurendille. I come from the far-flung, rural world of Horetta, at the northwestern Farlands.

Ever since I was a small child, I was the best in my class. This is not for bragging, but to provide context to my tale. I have all A's, 10.0 excellent GSA (Grading Score Average), and I had a pefect 20,000 on the IHT (Imperial Higher Test) and a near-perfect 2,480 on the AIT (Analytic Imperial Test). At this point in my life, I was applying for college, and, for a farm girl in the Farlands, an university in Anoreta was supposed to be the highest bar a person of my background could ever achieve. Sure enough, I had applied to various universities across the region, but I tried my luck with one. Just for fun, I thought.

"...There we are, sent. This will never work, but, whatever, good practice for other applications, I guess"

"Honey!"

"I'm going, Mom, I'm going!"

And thus, my day continued on as normal. As it should have done.

---

Daonlathas, The Core
The Ryccian Empire's Capital

"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for presenting yourselves. We are to decide on applications today"

The board looked over every application from all over. As the rich Core kids could afford excellent tutors, it was not a surprise to see them get in. Applications from all over the Empire were sent. From The Rim, New Daonlathas, Eastern Region, Kamino, Velpus, Vurbenta, Vonmises, and so many others. Including...what, from there? That backwater?

As one board member spoke in his affluent, Core (OOC: Norwegian) accent, there was surprise.

"Sir, it appears that an Isabella Thurendille has applied from the Farlands world of Horetta"

"The Farlands? Are you certain of this fact?"

"I do not lie. She had a 20,000 on the IHT and a 2,480 on the AIT"

"...Very well, read her essay"

As the essay was read, an unexpected change in the air occured. The wind of opportunity was blowing. And it was directed at...

"All in favour of admitting Isabella Thurendille, state your approval"

"Aye", chanted several members, enough to forge a majority.

"All in favour of giving Isabella Thurendille a fully-funded scholarship, state your approval"

"Aye", stated several voters once more.

"Very well. Isabella Thurendille from Horetta is accepted with a full scholarship. Let us move on"

What a twist.

---

Horetta, Farlands
The Ryccian Empire

"Let me see...university acceptance...Yes! Mom, I got into IAU (Imperial Anoreta University, the best in the Farlands)! And Glowendale (also in Anoreta)! And...let me see..."

Isabella kept mentioning all the universities she was accepted to. They ranged from her planet's only university, Horetta Public University, to the glorious IAU. But there was a last one that would shock them all.

"Imperial, let me see...I'm sure it is rejection"

"Honey, you already got accepted into IAU, that's great already. I'm so proud!"

"I know, Mom, I love you-...what"

"What is it, honey?"

"I'm not going blind, yes?"

Isabella could not believe what she was seeing. It was destiny. It was the brightest light the Empire had to offer.

"No, Isabella, why?"

"...R-r-r-r-r-read...it..."

"Hum...what in the stars...?!"

There was shock among the two. Isabella's eyes began to cry. Her Mother's as well. They could not believe it.

"...C-Congratulations on getting...a-a-a-accepted into...the Imperial Academy...on Daonlathas..."

"..."

"..."

"OH MY STARS! I GOT IN!"

Isabella was crying of joy. She and her mother hugged, filled with excitement and pride. It was unbelievable.

She was going to the capital with a full scholarship. To Daonlathas, the wealthiest city ever made in Ryccia, to the number one university in the entire realm...

I was going. To destiny.