The main hall of the Department was now a maze of stalls, still visited by late arrivals such as Arun. This was the site where they would apply for the cultivation high's.
Students would fill a list with their preferences in order. Then, they would go apply at the stalls. The applies will be accepted/declined, most trough automated standards, others trough discussions of recruiting committee for the ones who gathered attention. The accepted/denied file would be sent to the department. Finally, an advanced computer would calculate these factors and display the results on the hologram displays accessible from different viewing halls.
" Haven't you guys already applied? "
" Yeap, but the viewing rooms are boring... and there's nothing like assisting an friend. "
" The store might close if we don't hurry you up "
" Woaah I really feel like I'm being driven... "
" Oh, no Arun, quite the opposite, you're being dragged. "
The stall of the Divine flame. One of the first stalls and undeniably the largest one in its part. No more than a dozen attendees were taking applications. Fortunately there was no que as it was quite late in the process. Unfortunately students that were not a friendly bunch.
" Oh would you look at who I found here? It's none other than the fool, Arun! Are you looking in awe at this stall? Good, you can't even dream of entering here, let me drive you to the place you belong, let's see, maybe out of this section, towards the slums? " the young man and his cohort started laughing.
Arun smiled brightly and asked: " I'm sorry, but I don't believe we've met, why should I care about what you just spat? "
" Oh? That's to be expected from an ignorant fool. I was there that day, went William put you in your place. "
" Huh? Such a day existed? We certainly have different memories of that event. Anyway, I will be going now to enroll now, mister lapdog."
Eileen posted herself in front of the underlyinh throwing a sharp look: " There are others wishing to enroll. Get out of the way, your wasting the space. "
It was clear that neither him or his troop dared to speak up to the best fighter amongst the students, they took off. However, while they were crossing Arun, he heard a whisper.
" Of course you dont remember the 'scene', it hasn't happened just yet. And just so you know, I'm Adam."
" Huh "
" Something happened? "
" It's nothing to worry about... probably "
" Huh "
" What are you standing there for? Hurry up! "
And so, Arun's applying spree started. He went and dropped his file to every school with a forging department. This went smoothly, although he could hear some snickers from the attendants here and there. After around half an hour they finished their trip.
" That should be the last of them. We should be heading to one of the monitor rooms now. "
" Wait, aren't you going to apply some normal high- schools as well? In case you don't get accepted? "
" Already did. " Arun closed off an hologram. Together with the old age the telephones have become obsolete as well, replaced with holographic armbands. These armbands had access to everything it's counterparts had and more. " They still take online applications. I did it while we were moving around. "
" Oh, that's what you were doing on your armband! And I thought that you were procrastinating for once! "
" What does that even mean? " Arun asked puzzled.
Bohdi smirked. " Oh, it means when you're now doing anything productive for a time. You should try it sometime, I've tried it too recently and now I can't stop it "
Arun shuddered " Sounds like an addiction, I am too busy to do that... "
" Ha... yes Arun, there is no need to listen to my brother, he has become a sloth recently. "
Eileen made the remark in a joke-like fashion but he could feel a blade hidden within, Bohdi could feel it too.
They still haven't resolved their problems, Arun thought bitterly.
***
" Are you sure? " A man with green eyes, long hair and unkept beard was looking at a paper. " He doesn't meet the standards, even for us. This time, we got more applicants as well, there are options with higher markings. "
" Bah! Half of them just want to say they attended a ' cultivation high-school '. Useless folk. This kid tho... he had a glimmer in his eyes "
" Glimmer or not, his results in forging are sub-par, even for normal highs... we're going to be the laughing stock if we receive a student with such low markings! "
" I don't care what others think, those fixated geezers they see as ' first place ' couldn't notice a talent when they saw one. My old friend, Dan told me that his construct was quite the interesting one as well. "
" But... "
" Enough already!! Kid, are you questioning my judgement? "
" No, apologies master. " The middle aged man bowed in a hurry.
" Than accept him already and stop wasting my time. "
" Right away... "
***
Although calm at the surface, the three friends feelings could not have been more different. Arun was jumping and backflipping under his skin in anticipation, Eileen was confident in her results, and Bohdi... well, he just didn't care.
15 minutes, 10 minutes, 5 minutes, the time remaining ticked as the holograms stayed off.
Arun started rapidly tapping his feet. 3 minutes. 2 minutes.
" Are you nervous Arun? I thought you didn't care about the results that much. " (Eileen)
" I said no matter which academy I will still become the best. I still care, it's the next 4 years of my life, you know? Where, just where I wonder? "
1 minute. Arun's energy raised to the point Eileen and Bohdi worried he might start doing backflips for real.
30 seconds. 15 seconds. 0 seconds.
Truthful to their promise, the projections were brought to life. From top to the bottom the results started showing.
Eileen - Crimson Battle God's high
" Congratulations Eileen! That's the best school in the country! "
" Well, that's to be expected " Bohdi murmured.
" Mhm, thanks " Eileen nodded, unsurprised.
William Xu - Divine spear high
" That's also to be expected, unfortunately "
" The sister school of Divine flame, best in the region when it comes to fighting. Wonder why he hasn't applied for Battle God, he has the qualifications... "
" Don't say it sis, if I hear more about that guy I might just puke "
Bohdi - Blue flame high
" What? " both Arun and Eileen were surprised.
" There's no way, there must have been a mistake, you're scores are at least enough to get you in a middle-class cultivation high. " Eileen tried her best to deny reality
" Oh, no, I put it as my first preference. "
Eileen.was stunned for a moment as her feelings of shock and disbelief were gradually traded for anger.
" Bohdi! That's the worst cultivation high, I heard that it has technology from the last era even! "
" Which means that I am going to have an easy 4 years ahead of me and a cultivation high on my CV! Even if it's the worst of the best, it's still one of the best! "
" Why, why would you do that?? You little ungrateful...! "
" Eileen, stop " ( Arun )
Eileen was stunned yet again.
" Why are you, you of all people, taking his side? "
" Because I can't understand him. " Bohdi twitched.
" I believe if you have an ability, especially so great as Bohdi's, you should make the most out of it. So I cannot understand Bohdi, so I cannot comment to much on Bohdi's actions. But I will say this." Arun locked on Bohdi's eyes
" If you continue down this path, you might regret it one day. "
In fact, this was half a lie as Arun knew all this had something to do with his sister outshining him, but he judged that this was the best he could do for now, and it did seem to have an effect.
So his eyes turned back to the screens, and just in time for:
Arun - Blue flame high