The room she was given was crisp and clean, a table, chairs, a small kitchenette, some space for storage, a stand probably meant to hold a TV, and a bed. There were no paintings or posters on the wall, and everything except the table and chairs was exactly four feet apart.
She threw her bag onto the bed, deciding to conceal it later, and took a closer look at the room. Unfortunately, there seemed to be no secrets, though she had only been able to reach some parts of the ceiling.
Rei examined her dorm key. Based on the room structure, it seemed she wouldn't have a roommate after all. Maybe it was a private academy then. That had been an unusual entrance ceremony.
She tucked the key into the inside pocket of her jacket, safe and sound, and headed out. She needed to figure out the schedule in this place. Were there even classes? Were there events? Clubs? Rankings? She knew next to nothing and it was infuriating, and it was exciting.
"So you're the second one." Rei was rarely surprised by people, but she was now. She turned toward the voice to meet a blazing blue gaze.
"What do you mean?" The boy pointed at a large frame hanging on the wall. Already, there were four names in the left hand corner, listed under the Freshman Class. The boy's was in first, hers was right after. That answered her question about rankings then.
"Where can we see the rankings for Upperclassmen?" The boy eyed her up.
"We can't. Their frame is on their floor, separate." Rei narrowed her gaze.
"How do you know so much? Your reaction during the entrance ceremony was too fast for you to not be expecting something like that." The boy extended his palm, and she took it, being sure to check that he wasn't carrying more pencils.
"My name's Goman Ress, and my family has been attending Asa Academy for generations. You're a first generation then? Anyone who's had family here should know what Asa Academy is really about." Rei took her hand back, doing only the slightest bow to prevent from exposing her back to this kid. He was danger.
"Egale Reina, but I go by Rei. I don't think any of my family went here, but I wouldn't know."
"Why not?" Rei rolled her eyes. He'd just killed what she assumed was his twin sister, meaning he should understand from the way she held herself. Maybe she had overestimated him, or maybe it was a ploy.
"They're dead."
"Oh." Rei shrugged.
"Do you know where I can find the schedule?"
Goman pointed down the hallway, indicating to take a right at the next corridor. She nodded her thanks, leaving quickly so as to have her back to him as little as possible.
She wondered if this was the kind of place she'd need to always have her guard up. That would make things interesting.
Rei found the schedules in baskets atop a cart. They were separated by last name. She read hers over eagerly, realizing that the schedules had to have been made ahead of time. This meant anyone who passed the exam would have their classes ready immediately. It also meant the academy had done a lot of extra work for nothing.
She read over her schedule.
'Hour 1: Basic Fighting Techniques
Hour 2: Basic Weapon Techniques
Hour 3: Basic Ability Applications
Hour 4: Free
Hour 5: Basic Meditation
Hour 6: Language Studies
Hour 7: Dungeon Studies'
Next to the schedules was a board filled with posters and fliers. Some were sign-up sheets for what were called 'Duels' between those of the same year, others were for clubs and events. There were even some posted jobs for Dungeon runs, and shadowing opportunities to watch Adventurers as they fought.
Rei noticed that almost everything on the board seemed a way, even if it was considered roundabout or odd, to improve upon personal fitness. It would certainly come in handy for anyone who lived in this world, even those who didn't want to become Adventurers.
There didn't seem to be anything down about clubs, though maybe those were only open to the upper years. She kept note of certain things: the duels, the Dugeon jobs, the classes. Those all sounded the most interesting to her.
Glancing at her schedule, she went to explore. It would be best to know where the rooms were so she wouldn't be late, and so she could familiarize herself with her new hunting grounds. It wouldn't do to become an incompetent.
The first year dorms were directly connected to the reception hall and one of the only places on the ground floor. There was also a pool, and a dome-roofed greenhouse with a door leading out into the zen garden.
Outside, there was also a large flat area surrounded by spiked-rocks. It had stony chairs carved in a semi-circle. Rei assumed this was the arena where duels were meant to take place.
The second floor had a gym with weights, benches, bars, and every machine a body-builder could dream of. There was a room in the gym set aside for sports involving balls or mats, which she promised to return to later. She'd caught sight of a few punching bags perfect for Judo.
On the second floor, there were also the sophomore dorms, while the third floor seemed to be mostly occupied with classrooms. The fourth floor was stuffed with the junior and senior dorms, but like all upper year dorms, she wasn't allowed inside.
Rei noticed there was a fifth floor as well, but she couldn't get there either. She assumed it had the admin offices, and maybe a place to access the roof.
She wound back down to her own room, leg still shaking from pent-up excitement. She looked at the blank walls, and clamped a hand over her leg to squeeze her thigh.
It was a blank canvas, a new start.
Rei pulled out her pack, dug out a smattering of brushes and berries. Smashing the darkest colors into dye, she set to work on painting her first piece.