- 31st July 2138, Noon, Hoverbus Depot, Dawnport -
I should not have understated the proclivity of my parents to bootlick constantly. They'd held multiple office parties 'in my honor', this was blatantly for their further success. Evident by the fact my father had been promoted the day after his boss heard about my enrollment in the GCA.
Thankfully I'd escaped that. I was standing at the HoverBus Depot Complex on the out edge of Dawnport. The HoverBus was the 'future of transport' according to the GEI... They were actually just gestalt old-age buses fitted with hover suspensors powered by EX-Energy. Though this did do a part in eliminating the friction from wheel to road. The bus I was to ride was specifically for students, to transport them directly to their student apartments at GCA. As instructed, all I'd packed was my digital ID card and grandfather's pocket watch. An important keepsake.
Two other people were waiting at the same stop as me. By their lack of belongings, they must have been students as well. I didn't recognize them from my back in Dawnport General, however.
-------:-
I finally saw the bus coming down the street, around 20 meters long with two stories to it, hovering a few feet off the ground. It was akin to a ninja in loudness, not even emitting a faint hum, unexpected for Hover technology, which was usually very loud. I supposed that was a testament to the insane budget the GEI has. It stopped in front of me, I boarded intending to find a seat away from other people, flashing the security guard my ID card for him to scan.
"Details confirmed, please sit at seat 4B and don't make too much of a ruckus." the guard said, in a stern tone.
So we don't get to pick our seats? I suppose that means my plans of peaceful solitude are thrown out of the proverbial window. I mused.
As I claimed my seat, fourth from the back at the window, I spied the two other students boarding the HoverBus. Thankfully neither of them approached my seat, one taking one somewhere upstairs and the other sitting near the front of the bus.
The girl near the front had pale skin and verdant green hair that reached down to her dainty shoulders, styled in loose waves. I recollect her having vivid green eyes when I saw her boarding. She was wearing a green and white dress that matched her flowing hair. Reaching just below her knees, with white socks and fancy shoes that seemed to have metal inlays to them.
She must be one of those rich kids, based on her attire.
For an apt comparison, I was wearing some simple jeans and a shirt with a picture of a dog emblazoned on the front. Completely casual, even my shoes were unassuming black sneakers. I don't know if I felt relieved or outdone by the girl's profound sense of dress.
I did, however, wonder how strong she was. Curiosity got the better of me as I obscured my eye with my hand. This was to soften the glare the bright flash would have inevitably reflected on the metal surfaces of the HoverBus.
================
[Name: Eliora Fleming]
[Age: 16]
[Singularities]:
-[Alleviation]
[Attribution]: Conjury
-[Rank]: B
-[Affinity]: Lumen
[EX-Signature]: 226L
================
A Lumen user. I've heard they're rather valuable for support, with their various buffing techniques. I shouldn't get on her bad side when we inevitably interact.
From what I could tell, she wasn't anything exceptional. But her Singularity did interest me. I'd have to wait to see it in action, though a 6 in conjury was pretty impressive. I'll have to see how the other students compare.
From the distance, I couldn't deduce what her personal object was. In my month of waiting, I'd figured that knowing somebody's personal object can provide a swift impression of the sort of person they are.
The HoverBus was equipped with the latest in transportation technology. It was capable of zipping down the road at speeds that would make even the most experienced drivers dizzy. The various metal inlays on the bus glowed brightly as it floated its way down the road. Despite the speed, it was a smooth and comfortable rise. As we reached the edge of Dawnport I noticed 7 more people had boarded the HoverBus. Thankfully none of them had been assigned the seat next to me... Yet.
The route this particular Hover bus was taking should be to GEI Central, the capital city through a few towns and cities along the way.
The bus hovered through a grassy and mountainous landscape. It was admittedly beautiful, with the blue sun shining down on the green hills and the snow-capped mountains in the distance. The Neo-Terran sun was blue, compared to the yellow sun experience on the home planet of our species. This didn't have much of an impact on anything. The sunsets were a beautiful cobalt color and a majority of people seemed to prefer that when shown images of earth in the past.
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The next stop was in a wholly rural-looking village. Odd, because a majority of prominent casters lived in the cities. The security guard looked confused as a scruffy young lad boarded the HoverBus. He was about to be kicked off before he showed the guard his ID card for scanning. At which point the guard suddenly saluted.
"Sorry sir, Your seat is 4C, next to the boy with black hair." He said in a manner akin to that of a cowardly soldier obeying an experienced commander.
"Naww- don't slog it. I came 'ere straight from the farm! I shoulda cleaned m'self up." the boy replied in a rather odd accent, patting the guard on the back while laughing.
I felt a tad sympathetic for the security guard. He looked terrified.
Despite still being in Scientia, seeing a farmer boy wasn't too unusual. Some families refused to follow the directives issued by the GEI and continued farming after moving to Neo-Terra. Stubbornness from what I could tell. Typical of those living in rural areas. I didn't harm GEI's 'cause' so nothing came of this reckless defiance.
A horrid realization struck as I saw the boy walking towards me... 4B, That was the seat next to me. I knew I wouldn't enjoy this peaceful solitude for long. A pity.
He was wearing ragged clothing you'd expect some old-age farmer to wear, the colors complimenting his tanned skin. Denim Overalls with a checkered shirt underneath. His personal item was rather apparent, a pitchfork akin to those who did manual labour in the past. Most of the organic farming these days was done by automated robots, so it was unusual to see such a primitive tool. His clothes were covered in patches and scruffs of dirt. Though nobody seemed to complain, other than the security guard earlier. Was there something they knew I didn't?
"G'd afternoon mister. Name's Travis, Travis Haber." The boy said in a boisterous voice.
"Oh no. He's one of those extroverted types" I scowled to myself as the guard seemed to be glaring at me
I suppose there's no choice but to go along with things... This boy has already given me several headaches, and I've only heard him speak twice. Though I should exercise caution. That guard seemed rather scared of this boy.
"My name is Erik Graham," I replied promptly. Everyone on the HoverBus stared at me as if I'd done some criminal act by not addressing him with honor and respect.
"Erik? Weird name. Glad t' meet yah!" He shouted, thinking for a moment before asking "What sorta powers d'ya got then? If ya got any."
Considering that a majority of the people on the bus were now glaring at me. It would likely be in my best interest to follow along with this annoying child. Thankfully this may be an opportunity to glean his stats without suspicion.
I pointed to my eye as it gleamed a brilliant yellow, I pointed to my eye as it gleamed a brilliant yellow. Briefly filling the bus with a blinding light.
[Dangerous Entity Detected]
================
[Name: Travis Haber]
[Age: 16]
[Singularities]:
-[Super Luck]
-[Holy Sword: Maishund]
[Attribution]: Conjury
-[Rank]: S
-[Affinity]: Blaze/Lumen
[EX-Signature]: 109LB
================
[Dangerous Entity Detected]
Even my Singularity seems genuinely worried about him. I understand now. Though so far he's not acted arrogantly or negatively in any way, as I'd usually expect from a person of this power. Holding two conjury affinities is uncommon but that seemed to just be a drop of water in the lake for this boy. I completely understand why the bus went out of its way to arrive at this rural village. I'll remain on guard.
"It gives me some basic information about a person when I use it," I said, trying to maintain my composure.
He looked enthralled. "Wow-ee. That's one darn' tootin' ability yah got there pal." He said as he pointed to his wrist. What looked like an intricate tattoo was embroidered on his skin.
"This puppy here is ma' power. It's some sword or sumet'. I wouldn' wanna hurt a soul, so I use it t' cut grass on ol' uncle Haber's ranch."
With a flash of light, Travis summoned what looked like a sword straight out of a fantasy novel. It had a long, broad blade that was slightly curved, and decorated with a resplendent spectrum of different metals. As a juxtaposition, the crossguard was simple and unadorned, and the grip was carefully wrapped in black leather. The pommel was a large, spherical gem that glowed brilliantly with a soft red and white light.
He used this mythical beast of a sword to trim his uncle's grass?? I'm relieved this power wasn't in the hands of some arrogant or power hungry person. At this point, everyone on the bus was staring at us. Even the people on the top floor had left their seats to peer through the staircase.
I hated being anywhere near the center of attention. It inevitably led to problems, in my experience at least. I had an idea.
"Nice sword, but what's your favorite crop? I love cabbages."I said quickly, hoping it'd work.
In a rapid movement that made me jolt a little, Travis dismissed his sword. He turned to look at me like a child who'd been offered a mountain of candy.
"Yee-Haw, I never thought any of ya'll would talk t' me bout farmin'." He said with abundant enthusiasm as he began to list off everything he knew about farming, from soil conditions to harvest seasons.
He didn't seem to stop talking or give me a moment to input. All the others who were watching us seemed to have gone back to their various conversations. A considerable success. I could at long last have some time to myself. Thinking of how to go about getting stronger. Especially with competition like Travis enrolling at the academy.
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Travis still ranting about how much he disliked soil-nutrient run-off or something. It was mentally taxing to try and follow all of his complex farming terminology, to be honest, but after a few more hours of picking up students and listening to Travis. I finally saw GEI Central, the capital city, on the horizon.
A more accurate description would be to say it 'was' the horizon. The previous fields and prominent mountains were completely obscured by a bustling monolith of a metropolis with a colossal GEI branded building in the center. Towering skyscrapers all with intricate designs and glowing EX-Energy grids were dotted around. A continuous stream of HoverBuses and people could be seen, casters flying and everything moving and working together like an array of clockwork. The picturesque streets were full of dazzling Sorcery-fueled lights. The only way to see the gleaming blue sun was to be up high on one of the rooftops. It looked like something out of a science-fiction show, despite the current technological level of Neo-Terra, this was a realm above.
This was going to be an interesting next few years of education...