Marcos was trying to regain as much energy as possible, attempting to stand up again. Fortunately, his roommates—Charly, Aaron, and Elliot—came to his aid.
Seeing Marcos panting, as if gasping for air, they quickly approached to support him. They asked Marcos why he was in that state, and he answered honestly.
"I used my gift to enchant my weapon," explained Marcos, still recovering.
Upon learning the reason, his roommates breathed a sigh of relief. However, Charly began to scold Marcos for his recklessness.
"You shouldn't push yourself so hard. We're still just starting," Charly said with concern.
Marcos could only nod, still tired. Then he remembered that his companions had also chosen weapons and began to observe them.
Elliot had chosen a small, sharp iron dagger. Charly had opted for a long saber. However, Aaron hadn't chosen any weapon.
"Aaron, why didn't you choose a weapon?" Marcos asked, curious.
"I didn't choose a weapon because none of them suit my gift," Aaron replied briefly. No one pressed further, respecting his privacy.
Charly and Elliot began to explain why they had chosen their respective weapons. Several minutes passed until everyone finished discussing their choices.
Lucio observed them thoughtfully and then explained.
"Now that you've all chosen your weapons, you can take them to your barracks. While you train, we've installed weapon racks in each of your barracks. It's now your responsibility to keep them clean and in good condition. If I find even a speck of dust, there will be consequences."
The word "consequences" made everyone shudder. No one wanted to discover what that entailed. However, they perked up when Lucio continued.
"Now, quickly stow your weapons in the barracks, because lunch will be ready in a few minutes. This time, you'll head to the dining hall."
Marcos's group left their weapons in the barracks and headed to the dining hall. It was quite spacious, easily accommodating over 100 people.
Most of the tables were already occupied. Marcos's group found an empty table and patiently waited for their meal. After 15 minutes, lunch was finally served. Marcos's plate had pork with potatoes, just like everyone else's.
Once they finished eating, they joined the other recruits at the location Lucio had indicated earlier.
"It reminds me of a school from my previous world," Marcos thought as he arrived. Although he had seen it from a distance, being in front of this "school" made him reflect.
"Lucio said we'd learn about our gifts here. I hope they can answer all my questions," Marcos pondered, imagining what questions to ask.
A woman emerged from the grand entrance. She wore the typical white instructor's uniform, but with a skirt. She appeared to be in her early thirties, her blonde hair reaching her shoulders, and her crimson eyes radiating determination.
"Attention!" she called out with a strong yet melodious voice, instantly capturing everyone's focus.
"My name is Clara, and from now on, I'll be teaching all of you with gifts," she announced. Then she ordered, "Follow me!"
Marcos and Aaron felt guilty leaving Charly and Elliot behind, but their friends assured them that they would soon be called to their respective classes as well.
In silence, Aaron and Marcos followed Clara. Upon entering the school, they passed by a reception desk where a receptionist observed them without asking any questions.
They found themselves in a long, wide hallway filled with pale yellow doors, except for one at the end of the corridor, which was a light red.
Marcos observed the spacious classroom filled with desks after Clara opened the red door and instructed them to enter. Several windows pointed in a single direction, and the desks formed five rows. Marcos sat in the middle, with Aaron to his left. In front of them stood a table and a chalkboard.
Clara positioned herself in front of the chalkboard, surveying her new students. She waited until everyone was seated before introducing herself properly.
"Hello, everyone! As you can see, I'll be your teacher," Clara began, launching into a lengthy introduction. She explained that they would learn everything necessary about this world: history, gifts, geography, and more.
Marcos felt somewhat nervous, not because of the prospect of learning so many new things, but for another reason.
"I still don't know how to read or write…" he thought, concerned. However, he trusted that Clara and the school would help him overcome that obstacle. After all, he was embarking on a new beginning, and learning was part of it.