Personal A/N: This story means a great deal to me. It has given me an outlet for my COVID & job-related stress, got me back into doodling, and helped me discover new things about myself. I've had (and continue to have) fun exploring these characters and I have learned a lot while writing this.
My sincerest hope is that you enjoy reading it. Thank you for clicking on it to give it a try. :)
Beginning of the Fall Semester:
His backpack was a boulder and Gren an overeager puppy hauling it across campus.
But carrying each of his text books in his backpack, in addition to his notebooks and laptop, was his typical weight workout for the first day of class, and he was expected to do the same routine tomorrow for the first day of his Tuesday/Thursday classes. Gren didn't even mind the fact that he would probably have some minor back pain later that evening from carrying the books: better to have them and not need them, than to need them and not have them.
Of course, it would be a little easier if the humidity would ease up or if his class, which ended at 11:00, was closer to the class he TAed for, which started at 11:30, instead of at the opposite end of campus.
But there is nothing I can do about that, Gren smiled to himself with a half-shrug.
Mid-August meant humidity and the class being on the opposite end meant that he could admire the greenery and artwork scattered across campus as he continued to maintain his self-proclaimed 'speed walking record'.
Gren glanced a peek at the black bag dangling from his right shoulder; at least he wouldn't need to carry recording equipment around tomorrow. Unless...maybe he could drop it off in Dr. Fen's office tomorrow morning? It would be easier to pick it up for Wednesday.
No…it wasn't like he had keys to Dr. Fen's office, and Gren was fairly sure it was against university rules to make an extra set of keys. Besides, recording the class was Gren's idea, one he truly believed would help his fellow students, so if it meant carrying a little extra weight around campus then so be it.
Taking in a deep breath, Gren put all of his nervous/excited first day flutters to use and increased his walking speed to get to the communications building.
It was hard to believe, but it was already the fall of his third year at Queens' Unity University, near the border of Katolis. Being in the accelerated masters program in Katolis Sign Language and Deaf Studies meant that Gren would spend five years in college but come out with a Master's degree in addition to his Bachelor's degree. When this semester finished he would be exactly halfway done with his program and one step closer to his dream of working for the government as an official interpreter.
In fact, the summer had been amazing for getting him one step closer to his goal. While he had technically known General Amaya since his Junior year of high school from the KSL Youth Outreach and Recruitment Program, and she had been his mentor as he applied and entered college - always available through texts, a video call, or a meal - this summer he had had the opportunity to work with his hero.
The summer internship allowed him to get his first round of security clearances in order to interpret for some of General Amaya's lower-classified meetings. Gren hoped not only to be an interpreter, but ideally in diplomatic work. He wanted to do his part to help bring people together, which was why he chose Queens' Unity University.
Queens' Unity was about an hour away from the historic 'Breach' between the human kingdoms and the magical lands of Xadia.
Even though the 'Orphan Queen' had long ago established peace between Katolis and the Sun Fire Kingdom, bridging the former divide between elves and humans - creating what they now called 'the great peace' - there was still tension among the various elf communities and the outlying kingdoms on the human side. Katolis, Duren, and Lux Aurea had to act as a bridge between the groups both geographically and politically in promoting peace and understanding.
Over the summer, Gren worked in the area just outside the former breach, an ideal location for many military bases, concealed by dense woods. The nearest city, Aditia City - named in honor of the Sun Fire Queen as a symbol of good faith, was a bustling area of commerce, tourism, and learning. It was also where many government centers were located, besides the capital.
Conveniently, Aditia City was where Gren lived, and it was only a half an hour's walk to campus. (Well, a 'half an hour's walk' provided the shortcuts Gren knew and his speed walking record - of course.)
Nearly out of breath, Gren walked into one of the older, smaller classrooms in the university on the bottom floor of the communications department building. Dr. Fen was already in the front and grunted a greeting to Gren with a nod - an improvement from when he first TAed for the professor last semester, and a huge difference from when he took his class freshman year.
Teaching was Dr. Fen's 'retirement job', his way of 'giving back' to the community. Although, from a student's point of view, he was not exactly a 'sought-after' teacher. To most he was a bearded grumpy looking man with a comb back.
When Gren first took Dr. Fen's class, he had heard many of his classmates whisper comments about his not-so-sunny disposition, and due to his former military career, he was extremely strict about his classroom code of conduct to a potentially intimidating level. But Gren didn't mind a bit of grump because Gren loved Katolis Sign Language and loved helping his fellow students learn it, so when the opportunity arose to TA Dr. Fen's class last semester, he took it.
Not that Gren particularly felt like he helped a lot, mostly in grading homework and the rare visitor to his office hours - typically before the midterm or final, but Gren hoped it helped. For as much as Gren loved Katolis Sign Language he wanted to help encourage that love in his fellow students as well. Bonus that the money earned from being a teaching assistant was enough to cover his basic expenses and allowed the extra money he earned over the summer to be put in a six month CD and applied to his expenses for next semester.
Gren made his way towards the back of the classroom, plopped his backpack on a chair and placed the recording equipment on the desk, quickly unloading it. He set up the tripod, adjusted the camera and zoomed in on the teacher. Gren had proposed this to Dr. Fen at the end of last semester; his idea was to record the lectures and post them on Dr. Fen's website for students who were unable to attend. Seeing the professor's facial expressions and arm movements were important and Gren wanted to make sure everyone could access the material at their own time and pace if needed.
With the equipment set up, and another ten minutes before the official start time, Gren decided to go around and introduce himself to the students who came into class early.
He took a deep breath, ran his fingers through his hair trying to straighten it up, and walked to the nearest student in the back of the class.
Gren lowered himself to be on the same sitting level as the student to establish better eye contact and a non dominating presence. (He didn't want to be standing over them. Gosh, that would come across as intimidating...)
"Hi, my name is Gren, he/him pronouns. I will be the teaching assistant for this class. If you need any extra help I hope you won't hesitate to ask. My email and office hours are on the course syllabus," he explained, saying the same greeting he had rehearsed last night and on the walk to campus this morning.
The student smiled and nodded a quick "thank you" then went back to looking at their phone. Gren maintained his cheerful expression and moved to the next student, who had a similar response to the first one.
As he continued to move towards the front of the class, greeting each student, there started to be some variation in responses. Some students politely waved him off, or maybe told him their name back, a few seemed a little flustered in his presence - maybe shy or nervous about the class(?), but overall nothing too different from last time he TAed.
Gren looked to the front of the class. Only one student sat in the front row, their dark bun standing up straight in the air and Gren guessed that the student must've been looking down. He grinned as he headed over, wondering if the student was reading a book or browsing through a phone. As he lowered himself next to the student's desk Gren felt his expression turn into a wide smile.
It was nice to see another student bring the textbook to class on the first day, just like him.
"It's nice to see you reading through the textbook," Gren said, trying to tone down his smile to something less strong. The student turned to look at him, his facial expression neutral as he blinked a few times and Gren realized it was probably rude of him to just interrupt his reading like that.
"Yes," he said calmly, "My goal is to read a chapter ahead, if possible, so the lectures are a chance for me to solidify my understanding, rather than to learn something new."
"That's a fantastic goal!" Gren said excitedly. "I try to do the same, but it can be difficult as homework and assignments start to pile up across classes. Oh! But I can help! I actually wanted to introduce myself. Ahem...Hi, my name is Gren, he/him pronouns. I will be the teaching assistant for this class. If you need any extra help I hope you won't hesitate to ask. My email and office hours are on the course syllabus," he said, trying to regain his 'professional' tone.
The student's hazel eyes seemed to twinkled in slight amusement as a composed smile slowly spread across his face, "Nice to meet you, Gren; my name is Corvus, he/him. Thank you for introducing yourself. I'm going to need a lot of help this semester because I want to work for General Amaya after I graduate, and I want to be able to communicate with her."
Gren instantly got excited upon hearing Amaya's name. Naturally, many people wanted to work with her, but Corvus wanting to communicate directly with her, instead of relying on a translator, made Gren admire him already.
"Love your drive! I just worked with General Amaya this past summer and she was incredible! Of course, I will do anything I can to help you!"
Corvus grinned back, "Awesome, thanks!"
Dr. Fen interrupted from the front, "Ahem, Gren… It's 11:29 and you know how I feel about the starting time."
Gren nodded and signed "sorry". He quickly pointed out his office hours and email on the syllabus to Corvus and scurried to the back of the class, ready to record.
Considering this was his first time recording a lecture, Gren felt like it went well.
Now he just had to figure out how to upload it onto his computer…But there were cords for that...It couldn't be that hard...Right?
Once uploaded, hopefully it was in a format that was supported by that free editing software he downloaded…Well...It should be. Gren watched videos online that confirmed it...At least, he was fairly sure...
Gren sighed, why did he volunteer to do this again? It's not like he was the best with computers.
"Thanks for recording these," a voice said as Gren put the camera back in the case.
Oh, it was that student that wanted to work with Amaya...Corvus? Wow, he had notably good posture. Military background perhaps?
Wait, Gren mentally shook his head, what was he thinking before?
Right, helping his fellow students, that was the reason he was taking an unofficial crash course in video recording and editing.
"I hope it will help," Gren replied.
"I think it will," the student shrugged. "Makes me feel better if I can't be a chapter ahead, that I can rewatch the lecture to help solidify the information," he said with a friendly smile.
Gren smiled to himself, as he took down the tripod. "I'm glad," he said softly.
"I wanted to give you my email," the student said as he held out a sticky note. "Just in case it goes to spam," he further explained.
Gren put the folded tripod in the case and took the yellow paper, checking it to confirm his name: Corvus - like a crow.
"Thank you," Gren said then looked at his stuff before deciding to stick it to one of the arms of the tripod. "I'm editing the lecture tonight, so I'll make sure to see it when I open the case," he explained.
Corvus nodded. "Office hours are tomorrow, right? Eleven o'clock? This building?"
Gren nodded, dumbfounded. Considering that no one had shown up to his office hours last semester - except before the midterm and final - to have someone show up on the second day of school was beyond unexpected.
In addition, the manner in which Corvus conducted himself, his tone and how he held himself, he was... remarkably poised, but there was something else…An air around him that made him feel approachable.
"Great, I'll see you tomorrow. Gren, wasn't it?"
Gren regained his composure, "Yes." He fingerspelled his name afterwards just in case: G-R-E-N.
Corvus shifted his weight and placed a closed hand over his mouth like he was in thought, "It sounds like the word grin… which seems to suit you..." he mumbled to himself before nodding once - as if he had committed Gren's name to memory - and looked back at him, "Thanks again, Gren, I will see you tomorrow," he waved before exiting.
"Bye, Corvus," Gren waved with a smile.
Huh, it looked like being a TA this semester was going to be much busier than it had been last semester.
Gren looked at the yellow sticky note attached to the tripod before closing up the case and grinned to himself.
Yet, Gren looked forward to it.