Wednesday Morning As everyone stood around the school courtyard in the freezing cold, waiting for the doors to open so they would be allowed access to their lovely warm classrooms, pupils hugged themselves and stamped their feet for heat, hoping possibly for the first time in their lives (or at least since last winter) they … Continue reading Bluebook Session 8a – Peering Behind the Curtain

Winter had finally arrived at the Claremont campus. Thick frost decorated the grass and the cold, dark mornings had made the students begin to hibernate under their quilts, forcing the staff to start banging on doors every morning to awaken the slumbering ‘beasts’ within. Gustav was still undergoing his extra training, which now included testing … Continue reading Claremont Academy Session 8 – All the Fun of the Fair

The Barony of Carpathia is a small landlocked country sandwiched between Ukraine, Moldova and Rumania that exemplifies the chaotic turmoil in Eastern Europe during much of its history. It has been a playground of various empires, but it has recently emerged from that history as a fully independent state. The first mentions of this territory … Continue reading Carpathia

It had been a very, very, long week, even though it was still only Wednesday. Gus and Chris were walking quietly back to their ‘cell block’ after school, both lost deep in their own thoughts. Chris was focusing on mentally trying to hack his new replacement commlink, though he also desperately wanted to try to … Continue reading Bluebook Session 7a – The Most Powerful Weapon…

“Ladies and gentlemen, I believe that there are three kinds of magic in this world; the first is real, consisting of mystical manipulation of reality, the second type is staged illusion, trickery and misdirection, the third is Arthur C. Clarke magic - technology so advanced it seems mystical. For the next few hours, I intend … Continue reading Claremont Academy Session 7 – Close Encounter of the Third Kind

The following Monday Afternoon (BDL) (Before the Death of his father’s Lawyer) A cloudy, somewhat misty day was the backdrop to Gustav's otherwise smooth and unremarkable school day. He enjoyed the pleasantries, the interesting and well-taught lessons, but he was also slightly irritated by the occasional friendly, yet somehow invasive "Are you OK?" question from … Continue reading Bluebook Session 6b – The Journey of a Thousand Steps

Claremont Academy, outside the Reception Block The driver was tall, easily seven feet, but extremely slim and gangly, his skin exceptionally pale against his grey chauffeurs’ uniform. He seemed more automaton that man, as he reached down to open the limousine door for him. “Salut,” he said, continuing in Carpathian, “I am instructed to transport … Continue reading Bluebook Session 6a – A Touch of Homecoming Sickness

Prequel It was Friday, immediately after school, and the last thing Gus’ needed was a call to Dave Dean’s office – again. Still, since all he had to look forward to that night, was a trip to Wessex and he knew  Chris would coerce him to spend at least part of the evening at that … Continue reading Claremont Academy Session 6 – Things that Go Bump in the Night.

What the hell had they done, or more precisely, what could they have been caught doing? Chris was busy trying to think through everything he or Gus’ had done recently that might warrant both of them being called to Dave Dean’s office immediately after school. Gus hung his head in shame as a sudden realisation rushed … Continue reading Bluebook Session 5b – In Opposition to Isolation

After what had happened in St. Mary Mede during their first weekend away from the school and then the incident with the aliens the following Monday, Gustav was relieved that things had taken a bit of a quiet turn in the weeks since. Well, ‘quiet’ if you believe that helping Bethany on multiple occasions to … Continue reading Bluebook Session 5a – Hey Presto