As I approached the receptionist, I noticed the tension in his body language as he frantically searched for something.
"Lost something important?" I asked.
"Oh, thank goodness! Yes, my ID card. I would have been in deep trouble if I had lost it," he replied, relieved, as I handed him his card.
"Isn't it possible to get a replacement ID?" I asked curiously.
"Unfortunately not. Security is a top priority here, and losing an ID can lead to serious consequences, including losing your job," he explained as he scanned his card and opened the lift's door.
"What's next on the agenda?" I inquired.
"First, I'll take you to your locker, link your ID to the appropriate locks, and then show you to your classroom," he replied.
"I didn't realize that was part of the receptionist's job," I remarked.
"It's not, but since you are a special case and no teacher is available this morning, I am the best person to guide you," he explained.
As the doors of the lift opened, I could hear a faint wave of noise as students had rushed to their respective classes.
I followed his lead as we navigated through the empty corridors bustling with the sounds of the classrooms, the scent of chalk and textbooks filling my nostrils.
We arrived back at the reception area, which doubled as the entrance for the senior sections. The receptionist led me to a compartment of lockers located behind the counter.
I handed him my ID and he scanned it with a vacant locker and set it up for me.
"Currently, your class's first period is English," he informed me, "so you can pick a grammar book or proceed without it, as you can solve assignments upon requesting your teacher."
I rummaged through my bag and pulled out a grammar book and a pen before placing my bag in the locker.
The receptionist continued, "Next time, don't bring a bag, instead send someone to place your books in the locker. You can then take the specific book you want to your home. There won't be any burden of packing bags and stuff."
I simply nodded in response. As we spoke, a stunning girl with long, flowing white hair and piercing brown eyes entered the locker area, gracefully opening her locker to retrieve a grammar book.
[The third case file, pertaining to Ambra Romano, records her as being declared deceased on April 4th, 2020, only to inexplicably return to life the following day. This incident occurred in the aftermath of a suicide attempt, raising the possibility of a dissociative identity disorder (DID) diagnosis] Vulture announced.
"Is she running late or something?" I asked the receptionist ignoring his prompt.
"Not really. She's an introvert but fiercely independent at the same time. She never appreciates it when boys stare at her or try to hit on her, and unfortunately, these kinds of incidents tend to occur in this area quite often," he responded.
"But you mentioned that safety is a top priority here," I pointed out, raising an eyebrow.
"True, but it's primarily focused on ensuring physical and emotional security for those with wealth and power. Those without tend to receive only minor physical security measures. I'm sure you understand," he explained.
"Forget about that, this is normal in schools, you'll get used to this, now let's move to your class", he said as he gestured for me to follow him.
"Sure, go ahead",
Apparently, this muddlehead of a receptionist brought us back to Block B. On the way, he explained a few things, more like promoting the infrastructure by praising the grounds of facilities here.
Throughout the academy, there were various common areas and facilities for students to relax and unwind, including a student lounge, a cafeteria, and a gym.
The academy boasted several state-of-the-art common areas, including a spacious student lounge, a well-equipped cafeteria, and a fully-equipped gym.
These facilities were designed to cater to the needs of the students, providing them with ample opportunities to relax and rejuvenate after rigorous academic sessions.
As we approached our classroom, labelled as 11A, it was evident that the academy did not follow the elitist system of sectioning students.
Every student at the academy was deemed elite in some way, and the same was reflected in the infrastructure of the institution.
As we reached the classroom, the sound of a female teacher's voice emanated from behind the closed door. It was apparent that the day had begun, and it was time for me to attend my first class at the academy.
The receptionist stood before me, since he was shorter in stature than me, he did not obstruct my vision. He knocked three times on the closed door, and a voice could be heard from within.
"Come in!", the voice called out.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside the classroom. It was adorned in light brown themes, with wooden panels lining the walls.
Speakers were installed in the corners of the room, and there were two smartboards and a chalkboard at the front of the room, facing the podium.
"I have a new admission under your guidance, Ma'am," the receptionist announced to the teacher.
The teacher was an older woman, in her fifties, and her presence commanded respect and admiration. She wore a brown coat and blue jeans, which contrasted with her partially white hair, a testament to her age and experience.
"At this time?" She asked with a quizzical expression on her face.
"He is a special case, and the details will be revealed to you during the break," the receptionist explained as he gestured for me to come in.
I stepped into the classroom and felt every student's eyes turn towards me. The room was well-lit with natural sunlight shining through the windows. The walls were decorated with posters of famous writers and poets.
"Hello there, I'm Mrs Jenkins, your English teacher and homeroom teacher for this class. Could you please introduce yourself to everyone?" she asked.
"My name is Kael," I replied.
"Wonderful, Kael, please take a seat wherever you'd like," she said, gesturing to the empty seats in the classroom.
As I walked towards the students, Vulture alerted me with two notifications on my AR glasses.
[The first case file relates to James Thompson] the notification read.
[The second case file relates to Ethan Reynolds] it continued.
I realized that James, Ethan, and Ambra were three of the four cases recorded of individuals who had come back to life, and they were all present in this class.
As I looked for a seat, I decided to occupy the last seat in the window row, next to Ambra Romano.
I sauntered over to her bench and positioned myself beside her, all while she gazed absently out the window. Giving the bench a tap, I caught her attention.
"Mind if I join you?" I asked.
She didn't respond with words, only a slight nod and a turn of her head, but I took that as my cue to settle in next to her.
As I settled into my seat, Mrs Jenkins looked at Ambra and said," Ambra, since Kael is new here and two months have already passed, could you please help him cope with the syllabus after the classes?"
Ambra turned her head towards Mrs Jenkins and gave a curt nod. Mrs Jenkins continued, "Wonderful, thank you, Ambra. Now, let's begin today's class."
She proceeded to introduce the lesson for the day and handed out a worksheet. I looked over to Ambra and noticed that she had already begun working on it, her pen moving swiftly across the paper.
The class went on for an hour, and as Mrs Jenkins concluded the lesson, she assigned us some homework.