- 1st August 2138, Early Morning, GCA Campus Apartments, GEI Central -
An intense knocking on the door raised me from my slumber. I still felt weary. I must have slept for a number of hours.
I got up and walked to the door, the sound of knocking still ringing in my head. I opened the door to see the imposing miserable figure of a man radiating with some sort of unexplainable power. A loose-fitting belt affixed to his waist bore a solitary singled-edged sword, sharp to a razor's edge. It was constructed of various minuscule interconnected fibers of metal, forming a beautiful latticework pattern. He had a somber face that looked to be jaded by circumstance. The sort of face you'd see on a soldier that'd lost every one of his brothers. Long unkempt jet-black hair framed his face with scruffy stubble sprawled along his lower face. He wore a black robe with white stripes running down the sides. Upon more thorough inspection, the robe was embroidered with a shimmering gold pattern of interconnected cogs and dials. He had a backpack strapped to his back with a myriad of unexplainable devices hanging from it. The man declared something in a language I did not understand, before uttering some choice words in English.
"I don't have much time". He said, a concerned look in his eyes. "Don't trust the Priestess in White."
Before I could even move my lips to speak, my perspective shifted. My gaze lay upon my apartment's grey and blue latticed ceiling, comfortable. The time readout 7:23am. Was that a dream? It'd felt so genuine. Morning blue rays of sunup casting upon my skin. I tried remembering what had happened prior, but I couldn't focus. It was as if my mind was in a fog. I couldn't think straight. I felt disoriented and confused.
I'd awoken, disoriented. My head felt as if it'd been struck repeatedly with some sort of blunt implement. Gradually coming back to my senses, I recalled what had happened.
"[10th unique object scanned... Rank-Up is commencing...]"
All I could hear was ringing, It sounded like the bells of those churches from years past.
[Exalted Sight: Rank II Attained. Scanning proficiency increased.]
Requiring something to test on, I entered the bathroom of my apartment. Gazing into the mirror I triggered my Singularity, same as always. Though instead of a simple yellow flash, it erupted with what looked like a fire. A divine golden flame licking with orange and purple embers. The shape of the flame was like a vague mimicry of the human eye, staring back at me with intense intrigue.
================
[Name: Erik Graham]
[Age: 16]
[Singularities]:
-[Exalted Sight]: Rank II
-[???]: Dormant
[Attribution]: Conjury/Phenom
-[Rank]: B
-[Affinity]: Spark/Gravity
[E-Signature]: 055GS
================
Nothing seemed unusual about the readout. Ergo, I focused my mind on the entry for my singularity. Doing so revealed some fascinating information.
================
[Exalted Sight]: Rank II
-[Rarity]: S
Allows the holder to identify
and analyze objects and their
properties.
"Yes the eye, it do be
sparklin'."
================
Like that wasn't already obvious? Nonetheless, more power is under no circumstances something to complain about.
-------:-
My InfoComm lit up with a flash, notifying me that all students were to assemble in the main campus hall for an introduction. Seems like things were finally getting into gear.
After dressing in my uniform, I groomed myself a little to make sure I didn't look too scruffy for the occasion. Setting out to the grand hall. An enormous mass of students migrating like birds during the winter.
The girl's uniform looked similar to the boy's, though instead of trousers, a pleated skirt lay upon their collective waists. Striped ebony gray and blue, with mary jane styled shoes. The route to the main hall looked akin to a factory assembly line, cookie-cutter facsimiles of one another in clothing.
Walking in front of me was a rather scrawny and pale boy, nervous in demeanor. He had clipped flaxen hair, with blue framed glasses. Averting my eyes from him, I felt my foot connect withsomething as I walked, an InfoComm. Picking it up I powered it on, navigating to the profile page. It read out: 'Nathan Archimed' with a picture of the weedy boy I'd just spotted.
Gazing at the crowd of people, I felt urged to use my Singularity. Doing so, the resplendent eye-shaped flame materialized in front of my eye. What looked like flames licked around the boy from earlier, though nobody around him seems phased by it. Perhaps this was something only visible through my sight. It revealed to me what I was looking for, like some sort of targeting system.
================
[Name: Nathan Archimed]
[Age: 16]
[Attribution]: Conjury
-[Rank]: B
-[Affinity]: Aqua
[E-Signature]: 127A
"weak in body, weak in
mind, strong in will. Likes
eating mango as a snack"
================
I abruptly dismissed my eye before too many people saw it, experiencing a twinge of pain. Causing an event on the first day of school was not something I wanted to do. Peculiar things like that were the perfect fodder for the monster that is school gossip.
Catching up with Nathan I handed him his InfoComm.
"Nathan, you dropped this," I said in a reluctant tone.
I didn't particularly want to talk to him, but I didn't want anybody to think I was rude and unapproachable either.
"Bless you, sir. I didn't even realize I'd lost it." He said with a smile.
"Yeah, no problem," I said before quickly walking away.
He was clearly surprised that I'd noticed and was thankful that I'd picked it up for him.
Not wanting to be late for the assembly of students, I upped the pace of my walking.
-------:-
The room was immense in scale, crammed chairs in rows like soldiers with hundreds of students filtering in. I found myself a seat near the back of the room, out of the light that encompassed the stage and surrounding area. Alastar, the headmaster stood at a podium with around 20 people behind him. Each person looked powerful or knowledgeable in some way, they must represent the staff of this place.
Tapping the microphone a few times, Alastar started reading from a sheet of paper in his hands.
"Welcome all. I... am the headmaster, as you all know. I'd like to formally welcome you to our family. I'll leave you with Mrs. Hochfrau for the rest of today's proceedings." He announced, before using his gnarled staff to teleport out of the hall with a brilliant and enchanting flash of familiar cerulean.
As the Headmaster left, the school's faculty all turned to look at the fresh students, like a gardner gazing upon his sprouts. Some looked upon them with warmth and kindness, while others simply looked upon them with a sense of judgment. Regardless, all of the students felt a sudden weight upon their shoulders, as if the expectations of the school were now upon them.
A rather tall and imposing woman then stood in Alastar's place. She was wearing attire akin to what an office woman would wear on a casual Friday. Though general attention from the students was directed towards her ample bosom. Though busts aside, her stern manner of speaking in combination with her sharp glare quickly corrected misplaced gazes. In an authoritative tone, she began reciting a frankly boring list of rules and regulations.
"...and that's the rules. We will presently move onto a general overview of what is to be expected of you children." Her authoritative tone never faltering.
"This is an esteemed institution to hammer you unpolished, useless casters into something more useful. Somebody has to deal with the constant threats that eye this great nation of ours. Whether that be abnormal wildlife or insurgent groups. Do you understand?"
A resounding "yes ma'am" filled the entire hall. She possessed a commanding presence and an air of authority that demanded respect.
"Now let's get started, you runts," she said, striking her hands together. The sound reverbarating through the room.
The room subsequently filled with the sound of people getting up from their seats and moving around. Like waves crashing upon the coast.
What an introduction!
-------:-
My InfoComm directed me to a classroom on the smaller side. Enough to fit around 20 people. Although It looked as if most of the seats were already taken. I recognized a few familiar faces, taking a seat between a shy-looking girl and Siska, the childish force of horror from yesterday.