09/01/3122 YDB – September 1st, 3122
Archer entered the rented apartment set up for him. He quickly tossed all his bags to the side and walked straight over to the simple bed and laid down. After a long nineteen-hour flight that had to make a landing halfway over Archer made it to the country of Castor. In which after a two-hour-long briefing of key information happening in the country and the academy, Archer was led to the city of Astron where the academy is located. This was a six-hour-long drive in which he had to spend another hour giving one final report and debriefing key information.
Needless to say, Archer was a little tired. His mind was groggy as he was sleep deprived. He couldn't even sleep on the plane as he had to finish signing all the paperwork needed on the plane to hand over to the bureau when he landed.
He was tired and yet he knew that he had work to be done. He had made a few notes and had key information on key suspects to watch over. But he would like to be more prepared, but he wanted to sleep even more.
Too tired to think straight. Archer thought internally as he pulled out his phone and checked the time.
5:02 am
He would love to sleep until afternoon tomorrow… or today. But unlike most schools which started on the second day in the month of September, Trinity Academy began on the first. It was mostly just orientation. But still, it started at eight in the morning.
Ah, school starts at eight. Eh, I could get a nap in at least. Archer thought as he set an alarm to wake him up at seven. Cool. Archer said as he lazily took off his jacket and pulled his blanket over himself. Worry about everything tomorrow when school starts. He thought as he fell asleep.
***
The ever-so-annoying phone alarm sounded as seven o'clock rolled around and Archer groggily fluttered open his eyes, instinctively turning off the alarm. Oh right. School. Archer remembered as he came back to the waking world. After a minute of preparation, he forced himself up from his bed and moved to the bathroom.
After splashing his face with some cold water, he went to grab his toothbrush only to remember it was still in his bag. Giving a tired sigh he dug through his still unpacked bags and found his toothbrush and toothpaste.
Once his teeth were clean he checked the time and saw that only eight minutes had passed. Okay. Time for breakfast. He thought as he moved into the kitchen. Only to find the fridge empty.
"Ah. Right. Rented place. Need to buy groceries. At least they gave silverware." Archer said out loud as he grabbed a clean glass and filled it from the water dispenser. Draining it he quickly rinsed it and put it on the drying rack. Putting on his school uniform he looked around the place, noting what he would need to buy later.
"Okay. Time for school. Do I need to bring anything? I mean, it's just orientation." Archer wondered as he looked over to his school backpack he had prepared.
"Why not? Who knows, eh?" Archer decided as he grabbed the bag, "Now. Do I wait a bit or just go… it's a twenty-five-minute walk. I can look around the place for a bit." He said as he headed out and locked the door behind him, yawning as he did.
***
"Well. The first day of school began. Things look normal." Mariel said watching everything through an orb.
"Yes… it's just that something feels off." Sariel said watching as well.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know. Something just doesn't look right."
"Could it be the other champions that got chosen?" Mariel said focusing on the other people that their fellow deities selected.
"They are acting rather differently." Sariel said nodding her head in agreement, "But it's not that exactly. I feel like we're missing something."
"Maybe we wait a bit and it will reveal itself."
"I suppose." Sariel said nodding her head as she focused back on Archer, "I hope you can figure this out by yourself."
***
Man, more sleep would be great. Archer thought as he walked down the street using his phone to try and navigate around the city area. I need to get used to these streets. He thought looking around.
Though finding the school itself was not hard to do. The thing was a massive multi-structural area. A large amount of land was flattened for this school, and it was completely walled off. The main building itself was six stories tall. Archer was surprised to see that there were no additional defences aside from the brick walls and iron fences, however.
Isn't this a school that houses the future of humanity? Archer thought to himself as he walked. No defences, magic or otherwise. At least put some cameras around the place. Archer then recalled the details of how often fights would break out in this school, and how the lack of cameras was there to give the kids 'freedom'. Archer did not like the implications of that.
He walked next to the school fence for a good eight minutes before he finally reached the main entrance. As he moved closer to the gate he noticed more and more people his age pass by him. Fellow students, he presumed from the school uniforms they wore.
It was quite the varied expressions on their faces, some looked excited, others with worried and nervous looks. Some were glancing around taking in the area as if for the first time while others navigated around the city directly to the school with familiarity.
Okay Archer, remember. You will be in the lowest tier of the school, which means while the bar is low, I still need to pass enough tests to not flunk out. Archer thought as he passed by a couple of other students giving them a friendly nod as he did so. God am I sleepy.
Walking up to the gates he saw a couple of people in school uniforms with an orange armband with the acronym SMC on it. They seemed to be checking clipboards and the IDs of each student entering the place.
As Archer made his way over to the gate a woman with long black hair tied in pigtails and glasses blocked his path. She looked at him directly with a serious look on her face.
"Where is your ID?" She ordered.
"Oh, uh." Archer said realizing half a second later what she was asking. He really was sleep-deprived. I have to get used to the lack of sleep again. He thought to himself as he took off his backpack and began to dig through it.
"Sorry. It should be here." Archer said as he looked through his notebooks, "Sorry. One moment." He said as he looked into another compartment in his bag as she tapped her clipboard impatiently, "Not here either. Oh of course." Archer said as he opened the smaller side pocket in the bag and produced his wallet.
"Here we go." He said with a smile as he saw his ID in the wallet and showed it to her, "I apologize for the wait."
"Hmm." She hummed as she looked at the card before she flipped through her clipboard, found his name, and noted it down, "Good, you can enter."
"Ah thank you kindly." Archer said as he began to rezip his bag, as he did so he took the time to glance around the place, "Would you mind if I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead into the main building, there will be others to guide you to the assembly hall." She said as she read through her papers.
"Why do you have a clipboard? Your compatriot seems to be noting the names of students with a tablet." Archer asked, noting the student on the other side of the gate doing the same thing as her.
"Writing things down on paper allows me to be more organized." She answered curtly.
"Oh, I see." Archer said as he put his backpack back on and headed to the school before pausing and turning back, "By the way. I didn't catch your name."
"Esme Soto." She said as she moved on to the next student that arrived, "ID please."
"Thank you, my name is Archer." He said as he entered Trinity Academy.
Going through the hallways, he followed the trail of students toward the assembly hall. While he was still looking around trying to get the interior of the place down, he was so sleepy that he shambled his way to the hall.
Turning the corner, he saw another student with a well-groomed green-haired bob cut looming over a small, shaking, silver-haired girl.
"You bumped into me you piece of trash." The green-haired boy said giving the girl one hard shove sending her falling to the ground. Her bag and the papers she was holding fell to the ground scattering around.
"S-sorry." She quietly apologized, head straight down it looked like her right hand was trembling. No, Archer looked closer, her hand was spasming. She desperately grasped it with her left to try and keep it still.
"Huh? What was that?" He asked way louder than necessary. It was clear he was trying to make a big scene. Sending some strange message perhaps.
"I'm sorry. What is happening?" Archer asked quietly to another student near him.
"Oh, you don't see her rank?" The student said pointing to the badge on her uniform jacket which had a small brooch and a small artistically drawn letter F as well as the year she was in.
"Oh, you mean the letter?"
"Yeah, she's the lowest rank. F rank. A joke, no idea why they're even allowed into this prestigious school." The student said with a disgusted look on his face, "Serves her right. Her kind ruins the prestige of Trinity Academy."
"Oh, I see." Archer said with a small nod stuffing his hands in his pockets. I suppose I shouldn't mention that I'm also F-rank yet. He then asked, "I don't have my rank listed, nor do you. Where did she get that."
"Ah, first you show the booth there your ID and then they officially give you your rank, then you head into the auditorium." He said pointing to a table at the end with a sign pointing to the auditorium across another hall.
"Oh, I see. Thank you." Archer said nodding along before asking, "So is he not going to get in trouble?"
"No one will bother for an F-rank loser."
"Uh-huh." Archer nodding. I see a problem with this school already. Students all share the same class regardless of rank as well. This will be messy.
Archer watched the green-haired student bullying this poor girl. He wasn't sure how much more of this he could stomach. But he also couldn't make a scene, not yet at least.
Welp. Not the character I wanted to play. But I guess I should adapt quickly. Archer said as he took his hands out of his pocket, but before he could move, someone else intervened.
"Carl. Stop." A big suave-looking blue-haired student said placing a firm hand on the green-haired student's shoulder.
"What? Codrol?" The green-haired student named Simon looked up at the larger student.
"You've done enough." This Codrol said looming over him.
"Wh-what? She's an F-rank loser. She's the one that-" Carl said looking shaken up.
"Leave her alone." Codrol said taking a step forward.
"Okay." Carl said quietly looking down before scampering off.
Archer looked around and noticed the looks of shocked faces. While he was glad that the girl wasn't being harassed anymore, the reaction from the crowd told him that this was normal. Namely this wasn't something that this Codrol would normally do. So why did he do it now?
Man, an extra hour of sleep would probably let me think clearer. Archer complained inwardly as he rubbed his temples. Come on brain think. Codrol. Codrol… Codrol Beish! Right, second heir to a wealthy clothing business behind his older brother. One of those nepo babies that joined this school. There is a list of them they told me. His reputation… no idea. Family is known to be elitist, likely will cause trouble with those of lower standings. So why is he nice to this girl? I mean she is cute, wild-eyed right now, but still, cute. Though I'm not sure his family would approve.
"Are you okay Luna?" Codrol said gently with a warm smile.
"It's you." The girl, Luna said. Not sounding relieved, but surprised and almost uneasy.
"Are you alright? Did he hurt you?" He said.
"N-n-no. I'm fine, I-" She suddenly stopped and fell forward into Codrol's arms.
"Thank you, I was scared. So scared." She suddenly said hurriedly. Maybe it was Archer's sleep-deprived brain, but he swore that the voice sounded… off. It was slight, but it didn't sound quiet like her normal voice. Which he knew was stupid, because Archer only heard her speak a couple of incomplete sentences. But still, it felt weird.
"It's okay. Don't worry." He said giving her silver hair a gentle stoke.
Upon contact with the hand, something changed with Luna again and she immediately pulled back, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean it!" She said scrambling to pick up her fallen things.
"No don't worry I'll help." He said with a kind smile. But before he could even bend down, Luna was done picking her stuff up and ran out of the hall. Leaving everyone else completely confused.
Archer realized that he may not remember the details, so he quickly dug out his phone and texted down: Rich nice to girl. Have they MEt? Why Moon birl werd. Archer looked down at his writing wondering if he should erase it and write it down properly. But then decided that he probably could figure out what he meant.
Codrol then walked off with a disappointed look on his face as other students began to whisper amongst themselves. Archer then continued down the hall finally reaching the booth.
"ID." The student asked.
"Ah. Hold on." Archer said as he went through his backpack, digging out his wallet again, "I probably should just leave it in my jacket. There's even an inside pocket and everything." He chuckled as he noticed it.
"Yes, yes. ID please?" The guy manning the booth said impatiently.
"My apologies. Here you go." Archer said digging out his wallet and removing the card from it and handing it to him.
"Eugh. F-rank." The guy said making a disgusted face before quickly making a badge and tossing it to him, "Stick it on your front jacket and leave. Wasting my time."
"I see, thank you kindly. How do I make it stick?" Archer said with a bright smile, already expecting this type of reaction thanks to earlier.
"Just put it over your chest and it will stick." The guy said angrily.
Archer followed his instructions and the badge immediately melded itself onto his jacket.
"Oh, that's convenient." Archer said studying the badge with great interest, "How does it work? I know you can rank up. Does the letter change automatically or?"
"Leave you idiot! You're holding up the line!" He shouted angrily at Archer.
"Oh, I see." Archer said turning back and seeing that a small line had indeed formed, "My apologies."
"Stop bothering me trash." The guy said to the retreating Archer.
Archer ignoring the comment continued down the hall and finally found the auditorium. There several other students were already seated and more students were entering and finding their seats.
As he moved around to find an open seat, he found himself quickly rebuffed by others. Claiming that that seat was taken or being saved by others. Archer noted that everyone who denied a seat to him were all several ranks higher than him. In fact, he noticed that he actually failed to find a single other F rank. Even that girl Luna seemed nowhere to be found.
"Here. Take my seat." Another person said getting up from his seat.
Archer looked over curiously. The person was much taller than Archer, around six feet in height. He had a positive demeanor, light brown hair and more interestingly an A rank marked on his chest.
"Oh, really? I don't want to be an inconvenience." Archer asked.
"No, it's fine. I can find another one. If it were you, you would need to get all the way up at the rafters to find a spot. No one caused a scene here during orientation. So sit." The A-rank student assured him.
Looking up Archer noticed that in the furthest and oldest most disheveled area of the auditorium were a small gathering of students. As, the F ranks. Right. Well, don't really want to trudge all the way up there right now so…
"Okay, if you insist. Thank you, uh? What should I call you?" Archer asked offering a handshake to him.
"My name is Nicholas, call me Nick." Nick said accepting the handshake.
"Thank you kindly, Nick. That's very kind of you to do."
"Don't mention it. I understand that getting that low rank will cause problems. But you made it to the most prestigious academy on the planet. If you keep working hard, you'll get better." Nico said.
"I see. Thanks for the advice." Archer said sitting himself down. As he looked around he noticed a few dirty looks shot at him which he promptly ignored. A few minutes later the entire auditorium was fully filled with students.
"Quiet down everyone as our principal welcomes you all to your first year of school." One of the teachers said introducing a woman who stood on the podium in front of everyone.
She was a tall woman with long navy-blue hair, a mature complexion and equally sharp blue eyes. She was stunning and dressed in a regal blue and black dress suit. She carefully scanned through the entire crowd of seated students before leaning into the microphone.
"Hello students. I am Principal Electa Cowan. I welcome you all to Trinity Academy." She said with a big smile on her face. Catching Archer off guard, he was not expecting such a cheery attitude, "Here you will spend your formative years learning and becoming heroes of the next generation."
I swear I was told that the Cowan's weren't this nice. Maybe I'm misremembering. Archer thought. As she continued to talk.
"Now the journey will be hard and strenuous. Not all of you will make it past your first year before transferring to a different subject. But worry not. As being a licensed hero is not the only way to work in the hero industry. Plenty of support roles or finding other values and trades can be discovered here. What we the faculty want is for you all to grow and prosper while enjoying your youth. All we ask for in return is that you have fun and apply yourself."
As Archer heard this speech he began to nod off. He was sure that this orientation will probably last half an hour or so. With a few more speeches and video packages to show. So he thought it was best to use this time to get some sleep. It's not like he was going to get noticed in this crowd of people.