Kai followed Miss Deyvinne and the rest of the conscious students to the dorms. The female dorms were addressed first as Miss Deyvinne handed out keys to the girls, sending them off to their rooms. The boys followed shortly after, each receiving their keycards.
When Miss Deyvinne reached Kai, she paused briefly, smirking before handing him his keycard. It was gold in color, and the number on it read 701. Kai glanced at the card, wondering if there was any significance to it, before tucking it into his pocket and following the others.
Kai made his way down the pristine, well-lit hallway toward room 701. The gold keycard felt unusually heavy in his pocket, a stark reminder of how out of place he felt in this environment. Stopping in front of the door, he slid the card into the scanner. A soft chime sounded, and the door slid open with a quiet hiss.
Stepping inside, Kai froze, his eyes widening as he took in the sheer luxury of the room. The first thing that caught his attention was the massive floor-to-ceiling window that spanned the far wall, offering a breathtaking view of Nova City's glittering skyline. Below, the city pulsed with life, its neon lights casting a faint glow into the room.
The floors were made of polished white tiles that shimmered under the soft lighting, and a plush rug sat in the center of the living space. A sleek, modular couch with adaptive cushions hugged the wall, while a low glass table with holographic controls sat in front of it.
To his right, the kitchenette was unlike anything Kai had ever seen. Its surface was a seamless stretch of glossy black, with appliances that appeared only when summoned by voice or touch. To his left, a wall-mounted display—large enough to rival a theater screen—dominated the space, with holographic projectors floating menus and options in mid-air.
The bed, positioned in an alcove near the window, looked more like something out of a luxury resort. Its mattress adjusted to a person's body with subtle movements, and its headboard emitted a soft, ambient light. Next to it, a sleek nightstand housed a console for controlling the room's temperature, lighting, and even the window's opacity.
The bathroom was equally extravagant, with a rainfall shower that projected customizable holographic scenes—tropical forests, starry skies, or even gentle rain over a mountain lake. There was a tub that seemed to fill itself automatically, its waters infused with softly glowing, fragrant oils.
Kai stood awkwardly near the door, feeling as though he had stepped into another world. He wasn't used to this level of luxury; back home, his living arrangements had been simple, even barebones. He glanced around, almost afraid to touch anything.
"Guess I'll have to get used to this," Kai muttered, setting his bag on the couch. Despite the surreal opulence, the bed looked inviting, and exhaustion was beginning to creep in. For now, he decided, he'd rest and deal with everything else tomorrow.
Kai stirred awake, blinking as the soft glow of artificial sunlight crept through the translucent window shades. For a moment, he thought he was dreaming—this wasn't the cramped, worn-down space he was used to. His bed was too soft, the air smelled faintly of lavender, and the hum of the room's systems was eerily quiet, lacking the ambient noises of his old neighborhood.
Sitting up, he rubbed his eyes and glanced around, the pristine room once again catching him off guard. The massive display on the wall flashed a gentle reminder:
7:30 AM – A.M.I. Orientation: Training Hall B
Kai sighed, shaking his head. "Right. This is real." He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, the plush rug beneath his feet reminding him, yet again, of just how out of place he felt. Back home, his mornings began on a lumpy mattress in a drafty room. Here, he felt like an imposter in a palace.
He moved to the kitchenette, where a holographic prompt appeared as soon as he approached. After fumbling with the controls, he managed to get a steaming cup of coffee, which he sipped as he stared out the massive window. The city below looked alive, its sleek towers glinting in the morning sun.
Shaking off the lingering unease, Kai dressed in the uniform provided to him—a sleek black suit with silver accents that he thought made him look more like a security guard than a student. He grabbed his keycard and headed out.
The halls of the dormitory were just as polished and high-tech as his room, with other students filing out and making their way toward the elevators. Kai followed the flow, keeping his head down but noting the ease with which everyone else seemed to navigate this new world.
Upon reaching the training hall, he paused, taking in the sprawling space. It was massive, with walls lined with advanced equipment and holographic training dummies flickering into place for demonstrations. Rows of students were already gathering, each looking more confident and composed than Kai felt.
A sharp voice cut through the hum of conversation. "Alright, recruits! Line up!" It belonged to a tall, stern-looking instructor wearing an A.M.I. badge and exuding an air of authority.
Kai hurried to find his place in the lineup, his mind racing. He wasn't sure what to expect from his first class, but one thing was certain—he'd have to adjust quickly if he wanted to keep up.
The instructor, a tall, imposing figure with a crisp uniform and a scar running across his cheek, paced in front of the lined-up recruits, his polished boots clicking against the sleek floor. His sharp gaze swept across the room, silencing any lingering murmurs among the students.
"Welcome to the A.M.I. training program," he began, his voice carrying the weight of authority and years of experience. "You are here because you have been chosen, recommended, or dragged into this by someone who sees potential in you. Let me make one thing clear—potential means nothing without effort. You will either rise to meet the standards we set here, or you will be sent packing. There are no exceptions."
He paused, allowing his words to settle over the recruits. "For the next month, your primary focus will be on foundation-building. Some of you come from nothing, others from privilege—it doesn't matter. Here, you all start at the same level. Our job is to strip away your weaknesses and forge you into individuals capable of handling the challenges this organization faces every day."
The instructor gestured to the advanced equipment and training areas surrounding them. "Your training will cover three main areas. First: physical conditioning. The tasks we face often push the human body to its limits. We will ensure you can endure—and surpass—those limits. Expect grueling hours of combat drills, endurance tests, and strength-building routines."
He paced a few steps, his gaze sharp. "Second: technical proficiency. Each of you will learn to operate the tools and technologies unique to A.M.I., from advanced weaponry to tactical support systems. If you can't figure out how to use your equipment, you might as well turn in your badge now."
His voice grew even more intense as he continued. "Finally: teamwork and strategy. You may have skills as individuals, but out there, that means nothing if you can't work as a team. We will train you to think, plan, and execute as a cohesive unit. You'll be paired with others in simulated missions, and trust me—you'll quickly learn the consequences of failure."
The recruits shifted nervously as the instructor's words hit home.
"You will be tested, pushed to your breaking point, and then pushed further," he said, his tone softening slightly, though his eyes remained steely. "But those who make it through this first month will have earned the right to continue. You will have proven that you belong here, among the best."
The instructor stopped pacing and stood with his hands clasped behind his back, facing the recruits directly. "Remember this: what you do here is not about personal glory. It's about the lives you will protect, the threats you will neutralize, and the legacy you will uphold. The A.M.I. does not accept mediocrity. Do not let us—or yourselves—down."
With that, he stepped aside, nodding to a pair of assistants who began distributing schedules and assigning recruits to their training groups. "Your first session begins in fifteen minutes. Dismissed."