"It's my turn! Top three!" Finn said excitedly. Sweat began to bead on his forehead in anticipation, and his cheeks lifted as his lips parted into an uncontrollable smile.
"Impatient, are we?" Ice Hawk swiped his holopad.
_____________________
[Student Profile]
Name: Finn Huxley
Ability: Transformation; grows massively in size, body turns into organic steel
Completion Time: 7:03
Program Assignments: Hand-to-Hand Brawler, Transformation Management
Course Instructors: The Mountain, Effigy/Melion
_____________________
"THE MOUNTAIN?! HELL YEAH! MY ENTIRE STYLE WAS MODELED AFTER HIM!!!" Finn shrieked in excitement as he grabbed his best friend. "Wait, but why do I have two different instructors leading my transformation management courses?"
"Good, you can read," Ice Hawk huffed. "Effigy is a shapeshifter. She'll be helping you master the physical properties of your transformation powers, while Melion the Werewolf will be teaching you more about the mental impact of being a form-changer. Make sense?"
Finn nodded and looked at Atreus, his eyes almost as wide as his smile. Atreus returned the smile and looked back to the screen.
_____________________
[Student Profile]
Name: Aurora Sallow
Ability: Telekinesis, invisibility
Completion Time: 6:21
Program Assignments: Matter Manipulation, Transformation Management (stealth emphasis)
Course Instructors: Psion, Effigy
_____________________
"Now for Aurora. You'll be taking transformation management classes that will bring out the best of your invisibility powers. Effigy has a special course path that specializes in stealth, her being a shapeshifter and all. Excellent work going the extra mile to showcase it to your evaluation proctors despite not actually needing to use it to defeat the enemies. THAT is how you stand out at this school. You all could learn a little from Miss Sallow here." Ice Hawk nodded at her approvingly.
The two Britannian boys both folded their arms and pouted at Aurora, their apparent envy increasing by the second. They had turned what should have been a prideful moment for Aurora into a sour one. She turned red and looked down, her dark hair covering her face.
Atreus noticed and leaned over to Aurora.
"Just say the word and I'll choke them to death right here," he whispered.
"Not if I do it first."
Atreus quickly covered his mouth to keep from letting out a chortle.
"Something to say, Mr. Wolfe?"
Atreus could feel Ice Hawk's glare from behind his thick sunglasses.
"Nothing at all, let's keep it pushing SIR!" Atreus said as his right hand shot up to his forehead in a facetious salute. Ice Hawk shook his head and turned back to the screen.
_____________________
[Student Profile]
Name: Atreus Wolfe
Ability: Absolute vector manipulation
Completion Time: 1:37
Program Assignments: Matter Manipulation, Hand-to-Hand Brawler, Extracurricular
Course Instructors: Psion, To Be Determined
_____________________
'Extracurricular? Sounds like more effort. At least they paid attention to my abilities' name,' the white-haired boy thought to himself.
"Wait, if he's in the brawler course, shouldn't he be assigned to The Mountain with me?" Finn asked eagerly.
"Not sure. Once classes start you should have your answer from a faculty member. Anyways, that's it for course placements. We'll send the rest of the necessary information about your programs to your dorms tomorrow. Speaking of which, let's get you all to the living quarters. Come on."
The students followed the burly blue man out of the arena and across the concourse they'd previously seen from the limousine. The sun was beginning to set, turning the white buildings to a warm orange. The hustle and bustle of students had died down, leaving the beautiful campus as peaceful as it was beautiful. The group walked past a wide building and caught the smell of food being prepared. Finn closed his eyes and sniffed as the scents wafted towards him.
"Gotta be the dining hall. Mmm…steaks…brown sugar-baked hams…with pineapples! Oh! Fettuccine alfredo! And so much more…" He opened his eyes, his mouth-watering.
"You gotta stop doing that bro, it's weird," said Atreus.
"Doing what?!"
"Being able to name all those foods so precisely solely based on smell is NOT normal!" He leaned closer. "You're gonna scare the women off, dude. Cut it out!" he whispered.
The pair laughed as the group strolled past the dining hall and into their new home.
The dormitory lobby had a welcoming feeling. Rectangular tables and couches were scattered throughout the area, all a soft tone of gray. The setting sun shone through the tall windows and created a calming ambiance. A beautiful woman with dark hair was sitting at the desk, her glowing blue eyes fixated on the newcomers.
"Welcome, students! I am Dissera, the android assigned to be the caretaker of dormitory Delta. If you have any questions or are in need of assistance, do not hesitate to contact me." She attempted to smile, but her expression stayed eerily flat as she continued to stare at the students.
"Thanks, Dissera. That'll be all for now," Ice Hawk said as he walked towards the elevators. The android nodded and looked straight forward, her face completely blank.
"Boys, third floor. Ladies, fifth. Your resident assistant is waiting for you up there." Ice Hawk entered an elevator on his own, his body much too big to share with anyone else. The two girls, Brittanian boys, and Altean best friends all got into separate elevators.
"Trey, Dissera is kinda creepy…but kinda hot…I'm conflicted…" Finn whispered as he and Atreus walked into their elevator.
"Did you really just say you're attracted to an ANDROID?"
"SHHH! She might hear you! We don't know what kind of range she might be able to hear us from! There are small microphones she can hear from planted everywhere in the building for all we know..."
Atreus rolled his eyes and smiled.
*DING*
The elevator doors opened, and Ice Hawk was waiting for them, arms crossed.
"Oliver and Nigel, you're room 302. Atreus and Finn, you're room 310. All the belongings you sent have been set up. Rearrange everything as you please, but for the love of all things good don't scrape the walls or break anything. On your desks are electronic bracelets that act as your identification card and your keys to get in and out of your dorm, as well as all student facilities. Hold onto them as if your lives depend on them; they're not cheap. If there are no more questions, I'm leaving."
The boys shook their heads and excitedly rushed to their new rooms.