Entering, it became evident that this was going to be quite an adjustment from my warm (although patchworky) tent in Subterra. The space was more compact than I had anticipated, with three beds arranged into a bunk. A large window on the opposite side offered a view of the academy's lush grounds, and the morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room.
Caspian and Rowan, my new roommates, were already inside and had claimed the bottom two beds. Caspian was a tall, lanky guy with unruly brown hair and an easygoing smile. He looked up from his book and flashed me a grin. "Hey there, Alex. I'm Caspian," he said, his voice carrying a friendly tone.
Rowan, on the other hand, had a stocky build and short-cropped black hair, giving him a more serious demeanor. He nodded in acknowledgment but didn't say much, his attention focused on arranging his belongings with military precision.
I chuckled, sensing the contrast between my two new companions. "Nice to meet you both. I hope you don't mind me joining your bunk bed party."
Caspian chuckled in response, marking his place in his book before setting it aside. "Not at all. The more, the merrier, right?"
Rowan finally looked up from his meticulous organization and gave a nod of agreement. It seemed like he preferred actions over words.
As we started to unpack and settle into our new space, the initial awkwardness gradually gave way to a sense of camaraderie. We shared stories about our journeys to the academy, our aspirations as adventurers, and our excitement mixed with nervousness about the upcoming training.
Caspian leaned back on his bunk, his long legs hanging off the edge. "So, Alex, what kind of adventures are you looking forward to the most?"
I thought for a moment, my mind racing through the countless stories and images of epic quests I had devoured in books and movies on Earth. "I've always been drawn to the idea of exploring ancient ruins and uncovering hidden mysteries. There's something about untold histories waiting to be discovered that really excites me."
Caspian's eyes lit up with shared enthusiasm. "Ah, a fellow explorer! That's awesome. Maybe we can explore some ruins together someday."
Rowan, who had been mostly quiet until now, finally chimed in. "I'm more interested in honing my combat skills. I want to become a top-notch warrior. To pursue the blade and become one of the seven."
"Who are The Seven?" I couldn't help but ask.
Rowan and Caspian both paused and stared at me in surprise. Soon Caspian spoke up, while laughing: "Wow, you must've grown up in a backwater village or something. They're the strongest warriors in Wardenas."
Woah, it really was like something from a light novel. I couldn't help but admire Rowan's dedication to his path. "That's a great goal, Rowan. I'm sure you'll achieve it, with how focused you are."
Our conversations continued late into that night.
....
Waking up early - before the sun had risen - I quietly crept down from the third bunk and put on my shoes, making sure I wouldn't wake Caspian and Rowan.
Outside, it was freezing. Huffing into my freezing hands, I quickly ran over to the courtyard and stood in front of the fountain. Soon, I heard two more steps shuffling towards me.
"Alex?"
"Yes, Eliza?"
"Why did you want us to meet up so damn early, you fool?" Her words carried the biting edge of cold and exhaustion, and I couldn't blame her.
Before I could respond, I felt a jolt in my shin as Eliza unleashed a swift kick in my direction.
I winced, rubbing my sore shin, and flashed a sheepish grin, which she likely couldn't see. "Sorry about that, Eliza. I know it's early, but I promise you, it's for something important."
Jonas, who had been silently observing our exchange, finally spoke up, his breath forming a visible cloud in the frigid air. "Alex, it must be really important for you to want us to wake us up at this hour. What's going on?"
I took a deep breath, realizing that it was time to reveal my plan. "Listen, guys. I've been thinking about our situation here at the academy. We're not allowed to leave for three whole years without supervision, and that means we can't visit Subterra, see the city, or even explore the outside world."
Eliza's eyes softened, her irritation giving way to understanding. "I get it, Alex. It's tough being so far away from the people you care about."
Jonas nodded in agreement, his expression serious. "But what can we do? Those are the rules, and we can't just break them."
I shared a knowing glance with Eliza, my determination shining through. "That's where my plan comes in. We can't get in trouble if they don't know we're breaking the rules, right?"
Their curiosity piqued, my friends leaned in closer, waiting for me to explain.
"We're going to find a way to sneak out of the academy, just for short visits. Besides, the black market in Subterra might have helpful stuff for our training. We won't be breaking any rules, and we'll be back before anyone even notices we're gone, if you catch my drift."
Eliza raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin tugging at the corners of her lips. "I like where this is going, Alex. But how do you plan to pull it off?"
I couldn't help but return her grin. "I thought you might say that. I've been thinking about it, and the answer is really quite simple. So simple that you're going to be shocked you forgot about this."
"We use the sewers."
....
An alarm clanged and I jerked up.
Looking around in shock, I panicked. Had they realized we had snuck out and met in the courtyard? They hadn't said we weren't allowed to leave the dorms yet. Just the premises. Had they heard our conversation? What was the alarm for then? Was I going to get kicked out?
Feeling dread within me, I looked down and saw Caspian and Rowan looking around in confusion as well. Quickly, all three of us jumped out of our beds and ran as we began to get dressed and look presentable.
All three of us rushed out of the room at the same time, in a panicked frenzy of pushing and wriggling flesh.
Around us, I could see the same occurring in countless other doorways as multitudes of boys ran out of their rooms in confused panic.
Then, suddenly, everything froze.
It was as if a heavy weight had been placed on all of our shoulders, rooting us to the floor.