Arriving at the academy, the new recruits were all greeted by three instructors as well as three students of the school.
"Welcome to Toleran Academy everyone." A female instructor greeted them with a smile.
"I hope you all had safe travels. First of all, welcome to our esteemed academy. I'm Irina Anderson, overseeing all departments here. I won't keep you long, as I understand you may be tired from your journeys. Our school is divided into four buildings for each Division, including the dormitories for Espers and Fighters. Each of you has been assigned a room, but I must inform you in advance—during your first year, dorms will be shared," she announced.
Groans murmured through the hall, though no one dared voice their complaints.
"Yes, I understand this arrangement may seem uncomfortable at first, but rest assured it's only temporary. This will provide all of you with an opportunity to build bonds and connections with your fellow classmates and future partners. There are a total of eight buildings where you will attend classes. Building Alpha - E is for the Espers, and Building Alpha - F is for the Fighters. Additionally, there are separate buildings designated specifically for each Division. Your respective Division Representatives will explain the layout of the school grounds. It's important to remain within the buildings assigned to your group during school hours; otherwise, you are free to explore as you wish."
Instructor Irina then turned her attention to a student with light brown hair and warm eyes, signaling for him to step forward to begin his introductions.
"Hi everyone, I'm Ezra, a third-year student at the academy and the representative for the Esper Division. Before we proceed to your lodgings, I'll explain a few things."
"As Instructor Irina mentioned, each Division has its own buildings. For the Espers, we have Buildings Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon. You'll see these symbols clearly displayed on each building. It's natural to feel a bit lost at times, but don't worry; the badges you received during recruitment will help you access your designated buildings. There will also be Cyborgs available to assist if you need directions."
Ezra then turned to a girl who appeared to be around the same age, with silver hair reaching her chin and teal-colored eyes. She stepped forward to introduce herself.
"Hi, I'm Neryann Reeves, the representative for the Fighter Division. The buildings you'll have access to are Zeta, Eta, Theta, and Iota. You should receive your schedules soon, so I encourage you to explore the school grounds and get familiar with everything when you have the time. Moving on," her once serious demeanour now more relaxed.
"For your first year, each of you will receive 50 units per month. These can be used for food, supplies, and other necessities during your stay here. There are various ways to earn points that can be converted into units, but those details will be explained later," she elaborated.
"Now, all Espers, please follow me and Nate, and all Fighters, follow Neryann," Ezra directed after Neryann finished speaking.
The recruits hesitated briefly before following the two seniors. More than half of them departed with Ezra and the other senior.
About seventy students remained in the entrance. They all appeared tall, sturdy, and intimidating, clearly fitting into the Fighter Division. Kenneth felt several pairs of eyes on her, as if silently urging her to join the others who had already left.
Ignoring the looks she received, Kenneth kept her gaze straight ahead.
The senior with silver hair and teal eyes named Neryann nodded her head before speaking.
"The rest of you follow me." She said.
They all went in the opposite direction of the Espers. As they were walking towards Building Alpha - F, she could hear the whispers behind her. "Is that girl really in the Fighter Division?"
"She looks so weak and frail?"
"Why didn't she go with the Espers?"
Ignoring them all, Kenneth followed the group into a vast building. Inside, they were welcomed by a spacious lounge area furnished with chairs, bean sofas, board games, and a few concession stands.
Adjacent to the lounge, they were greeted by a smiling dorm mom.
According to Neryann, the Fighters' dormitory was relatively small compared to the Empath's dormitory, spanning five floors due to fewer Fighters compared to Espers.
Despite being labeled as the smallest, it still impressed with its size, featuring amenities such as a recreational room, a mini gym, and a dining hall connected to Building Iota, where most training classes would take place. Private pavilions were also noted, though inaccessible to first-year students.
"I'd advise staying clear from the pavilions since that's where the seniors live. Although the seniors are kind and accommodating, they don't take well to having people barging into their space." Neryann advised them.
"Now Aileen the dorm mom will be giving you guys your assigned room numbers. You will each be receiving a key card that will let you into your rooms."
Aileen then approached everyone handing them their cards. "Please make sure not to lose your cards. You'll need to pay 10 units to have them replaced." Looking at the card she had received, she saw the number 205. Her room was on the second floor.
"You guys can now go to your rooms and meet back here at 1 o'clock for the orientation."
They all started to disperse right then and there and made their way to their rooms. There was a sort of contraption that looked to be an elevator bringing them to their rooms, but Kenneth decided she'd take the stairs.
Arriving at her door, Kenneth swiped her key card over the lock and entered. The dorm room was surprisingly spacious, featuring two large bedrooms, a sizable bathroom, a common area, kitchen, and storage space for their belongings. Being the first to arrive, Kenneth chose the room closest to the door and unpacked her bag.
Kenneth didn't have many belongings with her besides her bag, which didn't bother her in the least. She planned to use the money she earned to purchase anything else she might need. Opening the closet, she discovered three sets of uniforms.
The first set was formal, consisting of a navy blue blazer with the letter F embroidered on the collar and the Academy's crest on the chest. It was paired with a white blouse, a grey sweater vest, and the option of either a black skirt or black dress pants. A black tie completed the dignified look.
The second set was a more casual version with a navy blue and grey cardigan featuring the same "F" logo on the sleeves. The last set provided by the school was a tactical uniform—a black, lightweight, breathable long-sleeve shirt paired with black cargo pants and protective gear, likely meant for training sessions.
Kenneth didn't mind the uniform, having been accustomed to wearing one during her time in the army. However, she couldn't deny a slight excitement at the thought of wearing more formal uniforms reminiscent of those from the anime she enjoyed as a child.
As Kenneth settled onto her bed, she heard the clicking sound of the door unlocking, indicating her roommate had arrived.
She made her way to the door to greet them.