Allie stood before the grand entrance of Mars Speed Academy, gazing up at the magnificent structure. The sunlight of Olympus City reflected off the academy's glass curtain walls, creating a dazzling glow that seemed to welcome the new student. Although the air still carried a hint of the iron-rust scent of Martian dust, the purification effect was quite good, creating an almost fresh smell, vastly different from the pollution in the slums.
Allie took a deep breath, tightened the straps of her backpack, and stepped into the campus. The grounds were shaded by green trees and adorned with lush flowers, exuding an atmosphere of high technology at every turn. Floating holographic screens drifted in the air, displaying various school information and announcements. Students zipped around the campus on hover boards or wearing the latest roller skates, full of youthful energy.
"Allie! Over here!" a familiar voice called out. Allie turned to see Fiona waving at her. Today, Fiona was wearing a vibrant sports outfit, her fiery red hair shimmering in the sunlight, her green eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Fiona!" Allie hurried over, and the two girls embraced tightly.
"I knew you'd come!" Fiona said with a smile. "Come on, I'll take you to complete the enrollment procedures."
She took Allie's hand and led her towards a modern building. Along the way, Fiona enthusiastically introduced the school's various facilities.
"That's our main teaching building over there, with the most advanced virtual training systems," Fiona pointed to a silver high-rise. "Oh, and that's our outdoor training field, you're going to love it!"
Allie listened intently, nodding occasionally. She had never seen such advanced facilities and felt both excited and a bit nervous.
Soon, they arrived at the Student Affairs Center. A smiling staff member greeted them.
"Hello, welcome to Mars Speed Academy," the staff member said. "Are you Allie Raine?"
Allie nodded, "Yes, I am."
"Great, we've received your application and letter of recommendation," the staff member operated on a holographic screen. "Your grades and roller skating skills are excellent. The school has decided to offer you a full scholarship."
Allie's eyes widened in surprise. "A full scholarship?"
Fiona winked at Allie from the side, "That's fantastic, Allie! I told you you could do it!"
It was obvious that Fiona had pulled some strings behind the scenes. Allie hadn't taken any entrance exams, so where did these grades come from?
The staff member nodded with a smile, "Yes, this covers your tuition, accommodation, equipment fees, plus 100,000 gold for living expenses. Now, let's complete the enrollment procedures."
Allie silently wept inside. She had wasted her bracelet; if she had known about the scholarship, she wouldn't have sold it!
Over the next half hour, Allie completed various forms and identity verifications. Finally, the staff member handed her a small device.
"This is your student identity recognizer, also your pass within the campus," the staff member explained. "It will help you access various facilities and can be used for on-campus expenses."
Allie took the device, feeling its weight. This small gadget symbolized the beginning of her new life.
After completing the procedures, Fiona eagerly led Allie towards the dormitory area.
"Guess what?" Fiona said mysteriously. "I applied to be your roommate, and it was approved!"
Allie looked at Fiona with delight, "Really? That's great!"
They arrived at a modern dormitory building. A massive semi-spherical air exchange unit was integrated into the top of the building, the entire structure silver-white and gleaming in the sunlight.
"This is our dormitory," Fiona introduced. "Each room is equipped with the latest smart system that can adjust temperature, humidity, and lighting according to personal preferences."
They took the elevator to the 15th floor and walked to a room at the end of the corridor. Fiona placed her palm on the recognizer beside the door, and it slid open silently.
"Welcome to our new home!" Fiona said excitedly.
Allie stepped into the room and gasped. This was no dormitory; it was a luxury suite! The spacious living room had comfortable sofas and a holographic TV, while the open kitchen was equipped with various advanced cooking appliances. Two independent bedrooms were located on either side of the suite, with a shared bathroom in the middle.
"This... this is too luxurious!" Allie said in amazement.
Fiona laughed, "Of course, this is how comfortable it is when you have connections up top. Haha, come on, I'll show you your room."
Allie's room was on the right. As they opened the door, a faint scent of lavender wafted out. The room had a comfortable large bed, a spacious desk, and a smart wardrobe. What attracted Allie most was a small corner by the window where the latest roller skate maintenance equipment was set up.
"I prepared this especially for you," Fiona said. "I know you like to maintain your skates yourself."
Allie looked at Fiona with emotion, "Thank you, Fiona. You're so thoughtful, and the scholarship too. I know you arranged it."
Fiona waved her hand with a smile, "Don't mention it, we're friends. By the way, are you hungry? Let's go to the cafeteria for some food, then I'll show you around the school."
Allie nodded and followed Fiona out of the dormitory. They came to the central cafeteria, a huge circular building with a transparent dome on top, allowing sunlight to flood the entire space.
"Our cafeteria offers various cuisines from the binary star system," Fiona explained, "and everything is made with the freshest ingredients."
Allie looked at the dazzling array of dishes, unsure what to choose. Finally, on Fiona's suggestion, she selected a Martian specialty mushroom soup and a Mercury-style energy bread.
The two found a window seat. Allie carefully tasted the mushroom soup, and a rich flavor immediately burst in her mouth.
"How is it? Delicious?" Fiona asked.
Allie nodded, "It's amazing! I've never eaten anything so good."
Fiona smiled, "Then you're in for a treat from now on. By the way, have you chosen your elective courses?"
Allie shook her head, "Not yet, I'm not sure what courses to take."
"Don't worry," Fiona said, "I'm a second-year student, I can help you. But first, tell me, which skills do you want to improve the most?"
Allie thought for a moment, "I want to improve my speed and agility."
Fiona nodded, "Then I suggest you take 'High-Speed Skating Techniques' and 'Extreme Turn Control'."
Allie carefully noted down these suggestions. Just then, she noticed that the students around them were looking at them and whispering.
"Fiona," Allie said softly, "why is everyone looking at us?"
Fiona looked around, then laughed, "Oh, don't mind them. They're probably curious about you, the new genius skater. You know, the video of you at the underground race has spread all over the school."
Allie's eyes widened in surprise, "What? My video?"
Fiona nodded, "Yeah, everyone's been guessing who you are. Now that they've seen you in person, of course they're interested."
Allie felt a bit uncomfortable, not used to being the center of attention. Fiona seemed to sense her unease and gently patted her hand.
"Don't worry," Fiona said softly, "you'll get used to it soon. Come on, after we finish eating, I'll show you our training grounds."
After lunch, Fiona took Allie to the school's main training area. It was a huge indoor space, as large as several football fields. In the center was a complex roller skating track, surrounded by various training equipment and simulation devices.
"This is our main training ground," Fiona explained, "it can simulate various terrains and weather conditions. Look over there," she pointed to a giant control panel, "we can set different training environments through that."
Allie looked at everything in awe, her heart full of anticipation. Just then, a tall figure approached them.
"Fiona, is this the new student you mentioned?" a deep male voice sounded.
Allie turned to see a muscular man with dark skin standing there. He had short, stiff black hair and eyes as sharp as an eagle's.
"Yes, Coach," Fiona replied, "this is Allie Raine. Allie, this is our head coach, Mr. Jackson."
Coach Jackson looked Allie up and down, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. "I've seen your race video, you have potential. However," his tone suddenly became stern, "here, talent is just the foundation. What really determines how far you can go is your effort and perseverance. Understand?"
Allie straightened her back and looked directly into the coach's eyes, "Yes, sir. I understand."
Coach Jackson nodded, "Good. See you on the training ground!" With that, he turned and left.
Fiona excitedly patted Allie's shoulder, "That's great! The coach rarely trains new students personally. Looks like he has high hopes for you!"
Allie took a deep breath, feeling both nervous and excited. She knew that starting tomorrow, her new life would truly begin.
Back in the dormitory, Allie began to unpack her belongings. Although she didn't bring much, each item carried her memories and dreams. She carefully placed her beloved roller skates on the maintenance station, then started looking at her course schedule.
It was packed.
Basic Courses (Mandatory for First and Second Year):
Roller Skating Physics, Roller Skating History and Culture, Basic Skating Techniques, Skate Equipment Maintenance, Sports Physiology, Roller Skating Safety and First Aid
Specialized Courses (Electives for Second and Third Year):
High-Speed Skating Techniques, Extreme Turn Control, Aerial Technique Training, Long-Distance Endurance Skating, Team Tactics and Cooperation, Competition Rules and Refereeing...
Monday to Saturday, 6 AM, Exclusive Coach Team Training 2 hours
Allie Coach Jackson's Team
Just then, Fiona knocked on her door. "Allie, are you still awake?"
"Yes, come in," Allie replied.
Fiona walked in, carrying two steaming mugs. "I made you some hot chocolate," she said, "thought you might need some comfort drink."
Allie gratefully accepted the mug, "Thank you, Fiona. You're so kind."
Fiona sat down on Allie's bed, "So, how are you adjusting to the new environment?"
Allie took a small sip of the hot chocolate, feeling the warmth spread through her body. "To be honest, I still can't believe all this is real," she said softly. "Everything here is so... incredible."
Fiona nodded understandingly, "Trust me, you'll soon come to love it here."