As I rose through the floors, I began to smell myself. Agh. Yuck. I smelled of cold beans. I was definitely going to have to make a pit stop at a bathroom unless I wanted to drip food all over Mister Subaru's office. I pressed the 169th floor button. Speaking aloud since I was alone. The pressure from earlier having built up in my mind, "Fuck. It'll just be easier to stop by my room. Finding a bathroom without directions could take hours."
A voice behind me spoke up, sending a crawl throughout my skin as I was startled suddenly, "Yes, that might be smart. You're a mess, If I do say so myself." I turned in aims to find out who had escaped my notice. Nobody was there, though. I addressed the hidden individual, knowing invisibility was well within the realm of possibility in the world I had become a part of, "Show yourself. I won't speak to a wall."
The person who had spoke appeared to melt out of the air in the faint elevator lighting. A mischievous smile on her face as she observed me from a distance in the confined space, "Everybody's talking about what you did in the combat room, you know. Those that were awake, anyway." She didn't move, but that expression told me everything. Another woman. And her intentions seemed questionable as well. Will I ever meet someone who doesn't seem to want to either flirt or beat me to a pulp? She leaned against the walling. Her eyes fixated on me as I tried to listen for the ding, "Some might call it stalking, but I couldn't help myself. After so many stories in one morning, you have to see for yourself, James. It's James, right?"
I nodded. Answering her cautiously, "Yeah, that's me. What about you? You know so much about me, but you haven't introduced yourself yet." She laughed, amused. Those eyes crinkling slightly as she kept them fixated on me.
She spoke again, a mostly neutral tone addressing me as she eyed me up and down, "My colleagues call me Victra. Just call me that." She got up from relaxing in her spot as the elevator ascended still. Floor 103. This building Is too big ... "You look like a prude, James. I just wanted to get a look at our new student ... " She smiled, vanishing into a spell again. Her power was obvious. I sighed, and turned to the numbers as they rose with our floors.
Finally, I got off at floor 169 as the elevator dinged and opened. I hadn't seen the woman go, but then again, she was invisible. Nothing to do about that. The doors began to close as I got out, and I made my way to my room to clean up and change. The beans smell had started to seep into the fabric. I sighed, unlocking the door by handprint and going inside.
The lights were on, how weird. Though nobody seemed to be in the living room. I prepared myself to run into Leslie or Melanie in my room, but they weren't there. Phew, "Why are the lights on, though?" I questioned aloud as I began to undress. My genital hadn't changed. I guess there was no limit to the time of effect my powers had. That seemed unfair, but I wasn't about to complain.
Quickly pulling on new pants and a shirt, then finishing my change, I threw my clothes in the wash and headed out again. Shutting the lights off on my way out. "Time to meet the boss, again."
After the ride up, which only took about a minute, I stepped out of the elevator doors and into the Lobby. Leslie glanced at me curiously from her desk. A smile on her face as I looked at her briefly. We both probably thought the same thing because neither of us said a word as I passed into the CEO's office.
The door opening on its own as I entered, "Sir, I'm sorry but I wanted to ask-" I stopped, mouth agape as Subaru ... was moaning! The CEO was leaning back in his seat. Gasps coming from his erotical expression as he was completely unaware of my entrance. Is nobody in this building without shame?! Maybe this whole world was just lewd now. The CEO blinked, looking at me as he tried to calm down, clearing his throat. I heard a giggle from below his desk as he spoke, trying to look professional. "C-come in, James! What can I do for you?"
I tried not to avert my gaze as I spoke. Knowing full well what had just transpired, "Sir, I need directions. Do you have a map or pamphlet you give to students? This place is huge ... " Even the headmaster ... this academy is turning out to be a lot more than I was prepared for.
He nodded, carefully pulling out a drawer to search. He brought out a tablet-looking device that was rather small and handed it to me. I took it, being forced to get closer and receiving a wiff of pheromones as I took it from Subaru. The lewd CEO spoke, apologizing, "I should have given you this when you first came up here. I'm ... A-Ah ... I'm sorry, Mister Pierce. Hopefully this helps."
I nodded and excused myself quickly, knowing the CEO had more on his mind than to appeal to a student. Exiting swiftly through the automatic glass doors as I passed Leslie, who seemed engrossed in her job, I made for the elevator and pressed floor 169. I still needed to grab my supplies which I had conveniently forgotten when I'd went down to clean up, "So much walking around ... " I complained as I began to descend.
The pad was truly something else. It gave a detailed layout of every floor and labels with directions like some car GPS might so one wouldn't get lost. I easily found my way to the classrooms after popping by my dorm to grab my stuff. It was a tall door with a strange numerical number designating it.
The translation system in the tablet told me this was where I needed to be. Room three, home room. The noise coming from behind the door was rambunctious to say the least, so the teacher must've not arrived yet. I took the handle and opened it, the massive door lighter than it should have been as I entered to a full classroom.
It was white, like everything else, but there were posters on the wall and a clean board to my right. Everyone was staring. I began to enter, looking around for any familiar faces. There was Melly, and Sesly. Lily too. I didn't know anyone else in the room, but that was fine. I was grateful for just three.
The space was massive for a classroom. But then again, everything seemed to be in this academy. I spotted a silvery sheen shaped most familiarly as a books pages seemed to flip on their own. Eyeing it carefully, the figure appeared to turn towards me. Suddenly becoming visible. It was Victra! "Hello, James. Take any open seat, we'll begin when the bell rings."
As much as it pained me, I needed to seem like I belonged. So, I took a seat next to Melanie. Sliding into an open chair. Maybe she knew I would? It didn't matter. Though, an open seat next to the CEOs daughter who'd recently tried to straggle you into sex was no coincidence. I sighed, looking at her skeptically, "You're so clever, Melly."
She merely looked up from what she was doing and gave me a mischievous grin, accepting my words with kindness before pointing to Victra, our teacher, "The bell's about to ring. Did you bring what you needed?"
I nodded at Melly and pulled out the materials she'd warned me about. The bell went off just then, like she'd said, and Victra took her place before the board. She picked up a black marker-like writing utensil and began to write. Speaking as she went on, "So we have a new academic in our class today. James Fantasia."
The whole class began to murmur to each other as I got my things out. Placing them on my desk. I thought, yeah. I'm a new student. So what? Maybe my new friends had been gossiping about my powers and they thought I was full of myself. Ignoring the fresh gossip spreading around the classroom, Victra began to teach. Most of the details went past me so I had to jot things down. Five minutes in, someone's head popped up behind me. He seemed to be hunkering down to avoid being seen as he spoke, "Is it true you kicked Chasey's butt in sparring?"
I almost blanched at the question. How did it go from a freak accident to brutalizing a bully. I shook my head as I responded quietly, "Whoever told you that Is spreading gossip." Instead of appearing disappointed, the student asked a follow up question. Giving me a curious look, "What happened?"
I kept my eyes focused on the teacher as I spoke. My words meant for the curious student beside me, "I don't know. One moment she was strutting around, the next she was hanging from a ceiling lamp. Leslie, the clerk at the top says I did it, but I honestly don't know." I paused, realizing I hadn't gotten the guys name yet, but turned to find him gone back to his friends. I guess that's the end of their interest in me. I turned my attention back to the teacher. Planning on going back to my notes when a voice came to me. It was like ... like that dream. The dream last night. A chorus of symphonic voices echoed in my ears as I tried to focus on the teacher. They spoke to me clearly now. Their words almost malicious, "This world is your play ground, James ... your reality ... stop playing with these fools around you. You, James, are meant for better things ... "
I shook my head, getting up out of my seat. A sea of energy, seeming to appear out of nowhere. It raged around me without my say so as I yelled into the air. Wanting the voices to stop, "Leave me alone! I'm not your puppet!" The energy exploded, a shockwave of chaos rolling through the classroom as people ducked for cover.
Some getting blown into the wall, some using their abilities to shield or save them self's or others. But ... when I looked around, the place was trashed. The energy wave seemed to have short circuited the power in the room because the lights were flickering faintly. Pages floated down from the air, a desk had been blown back. Had I really done all that ... ?
Victra turned to me. A look bordering on abhorrence. She was beyond shocked at my display, not to mention the damage I'd done. I guess she was still trying to process everything because she stuttered at me, "Ah ... James. I think we need to see the Headmaster. Come along ... " the class gawked. Staring at me as I followed hesitantly. Everything felt like a blur. Like I was walking through a fog as I trailed behind Victra on our way to see Mister Subaru. So much for fitting in ...