Glade had walked the path between the Ameter and Doexter sections of Brunnhold many times. However today he wasn't delivering books; he had something much more important and hopefully life changing on his mind. Mentally Glade reviewed the points he wanted to be made known at the interview, and memorized the ways he had formalized to avoid the points he wanted kept a secret. Remember Glade, he told himself whatever you do don't mention that you took Leira wrestling lessons from the Mugrobi astronomer.

Glade was so focused on the interview he would be starting in twenty minuets, that he didn't notice the stick on the road, tripped over it, and ended up sprawled on the ground, with his glasses a dozen centimeters from his face, and his bag upside down with it's contents (two books, a quill, an ink bottle, and a notebook) underneath it.

"Uhg." Glade said as he got up on his knees, while picking up his glasses and straightening them on his face. Got to pick this stuff up fast and get to my interview.

Rhecks had also walked between the two neighborhoods frequently. His sleek, black hair fluttered in the wind, his umbrella made sure his extravagant hair was dry. Rhecks favorite part of his body was his hair. To him, it was the most attractive and most interesting.

He had papers on the war of the book to grade. He was going back to his apartment to get his bag, which he forgot and needed. He was walking the opposite direction of Glade. He was about five feet away from his when he fell, it wasn't a pleasant site to witness. Oh my. Thought Rhecks. I should help him.

The small man Hoxian quickly picked up the older mans items, almost breaking his glasses in the process. He hoped he didn't see it through his blurred vision.

He started helping the man to his feet. He only said one thing in the process. "Are you alright?" It was in a harsh Hoxian accent.

"Eh, yes thank you." Glade said to the young Hoxian man "I was on my way to an interview, and wasn't paying attention." Glade started re-filling his bag with what had fallen out in a particular order. First went in the notebook, followed by the two other books, the ink bottle, and finally the quill, a clean metal nib on a brick-colored feather. He steadied himself, grabbed the outstretched hand, and used it to get back onto his feet. He brushed off the pebbles and dirt from his clothes before saying "Thank you." to the man again. He then reached out an open hand and said "I am Glade Calliphy Decident, astronomy teacher applicant. It is a pleasure to meet you."

Rhecks shook the hand of the man, reluctantly. He did not meet the eyes of the galdor. It was considered rude to meet someones gaze in Hox, unless they had intentions with the other person and, sadly, Rhecks did not have intentions with Glade. He hoped GLade did not see it as an offense. It was just his custom. He wasn't going to conform to a country he considered inferior with their mannerisms.

"Zie Mr. Calliphy. I am Rhecks Tzarki," Not knowing that the man had traveled to Hox and knew a bit about their customs. "I am a Teaching Assistant of history." Rhecks wanted to avoid as much conversation as possible, he needed to grade the papers for Professor Figg. He was not a man one wanted to be tardy for.

Glade took no offense to Tzarki not looking him in the eyes, but feared that he may had offended the Hoxian historian. He had assumed that Tzarki was involved in Static magic, and now that he had been told otherwise, he could not recall what had given him that impression. From the thick accent on the few words that had been spoken, one could tell that Tzarki was a Hoxian native who had immigrated to Brunnhold fairly recently. Glade had learned a little Deftung as he traveled. He had learned most of the Deftung that he knew once when he had been in Hox on Spar Rhavat. As he had listened to the Hoxian galdori, he could not understand what some of them were saying, and asked the scientist he was sitting next to about the language. "Zie Mr. Tzarki, and thank you once again for the assistance, but I must be off." Glade said quickly. He paused for a moment deciding that he had spoken to rapidly, and said "Duertek." to the teaching assistant.

Rhecks had to be off too, Professor Figg needed them. He paused for a second, though. The man had said duertek and Zie, as well. This puzzle Rhecks, not many people knew deftung. Even some Hoxians didn't know deftung, it was becoming extinct.

He wanted to ask the man where he had learned those words, but the papers were calling. The questions would have to wait. Rhecks hoped the man would get the position, he wanted to see him again.

Glade was glad to have made an acquaintance. If he did get hired, he would barely know any faculty members, and no students. The faculty he did know from when he was a student would probably not remember him. There was however one person who Glade hoped did not remember him. He did not know if his Advanced Astronomy teacher still worked at Brunnhold, but if he did, then Glade hoped that he would not remember that his daughter had been heartbroken after Glade said he did not want to marry her.

Glade noticed that students had started to come out of the buildings, and he realized that the period had ended. Glade only had a few minuets left before his interview, and did not want to be late. He rushed into the correct building, and with less than a minuet remaining, he was standing outside the office, knocking on the door three times.

There was a short pause before Glade heard his answer.

"Yes, may I help you?" The voice was young, perhaps fifteen or so and male.

Glade was not greeted by a professor. The young man opening the door was a passive. He was dressed in better kept clothes than many others on staff, perhaps because he was the servant of a professor. His eyes were inclined so their attention was at Glade's neck and not even close to meeting his gaze. He seemed quiet, perhaps even pensive, as though his focus was only vaguely upon the task at hand.

Glade gagged slightly when he saw the passive. They were the most horrible thing at Brunnhold. Struggling to be polite to this lesser being he said "Yes, hello. I am Glade Calliphy Decident, here for an interview to fill the vacant Astronomy professor position."

Not only was there a passive, but it seemed to be an idiotic one. It seemed like it wasn't even paying attention. But that was not important. Glade checked to make sure his clothes were clean, and brushed a small pebble of the side of his shirt while he waited for a response.

"Yes Sir." He replied. "I shall inform madame of your presence."

The passive boy turned, seemingly more lively now that he was facing away from Glade. He disappeared behind the door again and Glade could hear muffled voices before he returned.

"Please come in." The boy said.

Glade saw that beyond the door was a sitting room, with couches and a small reception desk. A woman was seated before him, ankles crossed, her hands resting in her lap. Her gaze was cool but without malice. She smiled, a small gesture that tugged at the corners of her lips before subsiding.

She was almost pretty, with cheekbones that were a little too harsh and a nose that was straight right until the end, where it hooked just slightly. Her lips were thin and her eyes were sharp. She seemed very comfortable in her skin and she held herself with grace. She did not slump in her seat but instead kept her head high.

"Good day, I suppose you are Mr Decident?" She asked. "I am Professor Graham."

She waited for him to inctrouce himself, as was customary.

Glade bowed his head slightly to the other galdori. "Good day Professor Graham, I am Glade Calliphy Decident. I am honored to be here." Suddenly Glade felt an emotion that he had not felt in months. Working at the Decident Book Store had made his life routine and emotionless, but now he felt a wave of nervousness overtake him. Glade gulped and waited for a response.

Graham nodded and gestured for him to sit, her hand curving out towards the sofa opposite her. The curve of her wrist was like water flowing. Her gestures were soft and almost artful. It was possible that Graham had studied confisalto.

"It is a pleasure, please take a seat." She said, her hand returning to her lap. "I am glad that a fellow astronomer and alumnus has made their way back to Brunnhold. I have asked my servant to provide tea, I hope this was not too presumptuous of me."

She smoothed her hands across her skirt and took a quiet breath in. She let it out, with a small sigh. It was strange to hear, perhaps. This was an interview.

"Perhaps we can discuss your credentials while we wait." She said.

It was a politely-worded non-question.

Glade nodded his head at Graham's gesture and sat down on the right side of the dark purple sofa. Although beautifully made with dark carved wood trim and tight purple fabric, the padding of the couch was not well chosen, and felt like one was sitting on a stack of books. Maybe Professor Graham had intended this to make the guests in her office feel on edge, but Glade was more concerned with the interview than his seat to notice.

"Of course Professor." Glade took a deep breath, and began "For most of my career as a pupil here at Brunnhold I was at the top of my Astronomy class, as well as doing extra reading in books from the school Library and the bookshop my parent's own. I was also one of the first to join the International Society of Air Traveling Scientists, giving and receiving lectures throughout the continent, and learning the astronomical techniques and cultures of other countries. "

Professor Graham listened quietly, her face a smooth expression of attentiveness. She blinked, her features not revealing whether or not she was at all impressed with what Glade was recounting as credentials.

With a gentle movement, she shifted in her seat slightly as the passive returned bearing a tray with two cups, a steeping glass kettle, and some small tart-like sweets. This time, he said nothing as he poured the tea and carefully set the cups in front of their respective galdori before dismissing himself.

"Tell me about your travels, Mister Decident. Those seem to make up a great deal of your experience in the field, do they not?" Graham lifted her cup with a careful, fluid motion, leaving the rim to hover near her lips as she judged its temperature without looking away from the man.

"Yes, of course" Glade said as he lifted his cup of tea, waiting for the Professor to drink first. "I joined the International Society of Air Traveling Scientists in the second week of its existence. I met Mr. Wolk, the chairman of the project, here in Brunnhold at a time when I was working at my parents' book shop, and was interested in his offer of a place to do free research in exchange for giving lectures and trying to convince wealthy patrons to donate money." Glade put down his cup and placed the tips of his fingers together.

"So I left. I have given lectures here at Brunnhold, as well as in the Stacks, and across Anaxas, Mugroba, and Hox. I also spent a large amount of time working on new spells that I tried to create, and inventions. I actually have one here" Glade reached into his bag and pulled out a small box and what looked like the frame for a pair of glasses, except the left side had no place for the lens, and the right side had places for up to three lenses.

"The purpose of this device is to determine the distance of a star or group of stars. These lenses," Glade said opening the small box to reveal it contained twelve tinted lenses about an inch in diameter "go in one of these slots on the right side," he picked up a lens and slid it into a slot "and block out the light of stars. If a star disappears, that means that it is as far away as the lens can block. Multiple lenses can be put in to block closer stars, but it is important to know that the intensity is not added, but multiplied, so if you put the three most powerful lenses together, it will block all light about eighty feet or farther."

Sipping her tea quietly, Graham nodded, before placing the cup and saucer on the tea table before her. Leaning forward, she examined the curious invention closely, before sitting back again.

"Very impressive Mister Decident. You seem to have some experience then, and intuitive. Something which we always need. But..." She pursed her lips, resting her folded hands on her knee.

"What can you do with children in a classroom? Yes, your position is more study and researched based, but we do need you to lead lectures as well. Can you do that, Mister Decident?" The woman knew classrooms. They were very different from laboratories. Very.

"Yes, I agree." Glade said "The most important part of teaching is being able to help the students understand." He knew from his experiences at Brunnhold as a student that some teachers went out of their way to help students, they clearly explained things during lessons, and would give extra help outside of class. Other teachers would just ramble on in the lecture hall, and would leave as soon as class was done, before you had a chance to ask them a question.

Glade took a sip of tea and said "Besides always loving the night skies, I have also always wanted to be a professor. When I was a student here in my younger years, I always enjoyed being a peer tutor, and every time one of my classmates understood something they were struggling with, seeing that spark of understanding always made my day."

"I was also an avid note-taker." Glade continued "I still have my notebooks from all the classes I took as a student. In addition to that I kept one notebook separate from the rest which I used to study my professors' habits; especially the best and worst teachers. I have used these notes to help me emulate the professors I found most helpful when giving lectures during my travels, and to avoid making the same errors my unsuccessful professors made."