Royal Imperial

And just like that, Eli's life had been completely upended.

His career trajectory with the navy, so carefully calculated and implemented, was gone. Worse, just because he'd been solidly on track to graduate from Myomar didn't mean he would make it in the much tougher environment of Royal Imperial. Even with only three months to go, he could still wash out.

Especially since his time would now be split between his studies and playing word games with Thrawn. An alien who was even more of a fish ashore than Eli himself.

An alien who could not possibly succeed.

Eli knew what Imperial Academies were like. He'd heard all the running jokes about Falleen, Umbarans, Neimoidians, and other aliens. And Royal Imperial, smack at the center of the Empire, would almost certainly be the worst of the lot. Thrawn had as much chance of surviving here as a wounded bird in a nest of blood spites.

When he went down, would Eli go down with him?

He had no idea. But he guessed he probably would.

"You seem thoughtful," Thrawn said.

Eli made a face. The Chiss had no idea what he'd let himself in for. "Just wondering how we're going to do here."

~

Royal Imperial is a tough place.

Mentally, physically, emotionally.

The students there may be mean and biased, rude and racist.

But, in a way, this is people.

Not the place.

I was always fascinated by Universities.

[This is probably why I work in one].

Bubbles dedicated to knowledge and discovery.

Or, well, this is how —romantically— I think about them.

[Yes, the reality is a tiny splash more brutal and disappointing].

But, in a way, I still believe that is what I do for a living.

Studying.

Learning.

Teaching.

So, despite I truly do not like the Empire, I do believe that Royal Imperial is a great institution, probably with a history way older than Palpatine and his reign of terror.

And I would love to be part of it.

Because, sometimes, for changing mean and biased, rude, and racist behaviors you need to start from the inside.

[Photo: the greatest shout out for @outerspaceoutpost for accepting to create for me this aurebesh version of her Royal Imperial set. Thank you so so much!!]