Singularity Insitute of Studies and Research for the Enlightened, a research and education institution renowned all across the Lyraxia star system, was one of the foremost authorities in the entirety of human civilization when it came to precautionary measures post-enlightenment, specific training regiments, and methods of advancements for awakeners bearing agility-enhancement-related abilities. The experiments and results of the institution had helped many awakeners across the galaxy to better control their powers and safely advance their strength.
Speedsters were among the most disaster-prone awakeners as their fragility and intense maneuvers left them vulnerable to injuries and setbacks, and considering that many of the trace bloodlines present in the human system carried body-enhancement properties, the speed-related issues extended beyond just simple speedsters, and thus was a problem that plagued the awakener community as a whole.
The number of injuries and deaths of not just the awakeners themselves but innocent bystanders because of accidents involving breakneck speeds had piled up, to the extent that at one point in history, the speed-based awakeners were isolated, contained, and prohibited from displaying their abilities in public. They had to undergo and overcome stringent examinations and tests to demonstrate and prove their proficiency before they were allowed to freely wield their abilities. These strict policies had caused many such awakeners to hide their abilities and operate in secret.
The detailed research conducted by Singularity Research Institute produced exceptional results that gave rise to an array of beneficial technologies, including but not limited to multiple iterations of training equipment that allowed the speedsters to become accustomed to and refine their abilities under controlled and secure environments without being burdened by the caution of being the victim of an injury, a detailed and comprehensive 'awakening for dummies' guide one could follow post-enlightenment to not lose control of their powers while inhabiting a weak frame and get splattered on some wall, a series of medications and drugs useful for said agility-based awakeners to sustain their voracious appetite and need for energy, power inhibitors for the law to contain these speed demons that could also double as training equipment, and many more, illustrating the brilliance of the institute and earning the appreciation and acknowledgement of many awakeners across humanity.
Having that achievement under its belt, when Singularity opened its doors to students and launched its education program for both awakeners and non-awakeners, it received blessings from the Solaris royal family and the local awakener community as a whole. The first few years were rather rough as the classy and serious research institute filled with brute scientists wasn't exactly equipped for pre-pubescent children with monstrous abilities running around unsupervised. However, after restricting the student demographic, countless revisions to the program, and changes to the curriculum, the academy had risen from the ashes and spread its wings. Some of the most renowned names across the Lyraxia Star System were trained and educated in the Singularity Awakener Academy and proudly carried the mark of their alma mater.
The Singularity Research Institute-affiliated education facility provided the masses with three distinct courses. The normal education program was a concept that remained unchanged throughout history and across the vast human territory. The students were presented with the compulsory education mandated by the Council of Education under the UCHDP. The curriculum lasted nine years and was compulsory for all citizens regardless of background, for the government believed that it was a crucial component in laying a solid foundation for the children who could gain unbelievable power at any time. The youngsters aged five to fourteen were granted basic education in various subjects such as human history, advanced arithmetics, universal geography, awakener studies, etcetera.
The student body of the primary awakener curriculum comprised of students who had awakened during the mandated education period and thus weren't allowed to mingle with normal children in consideration of the potential risks. As such, these little monsters were grouped and educated in the usual necessitated course and trained as new awakeners simultaneously. The senior awakener program permitted students above sixteen to enroll and indulge in the advanced curriculum meticulously constructed to educate and train the somewhat experienced awakeners yet immature humans and groom them into elite bloodline bearers regardless of the nature of their abilities and identities.
The senior awakener education facility of the Singularity Academy was located in a beautiful four-story white building and operated from nine in the morning to four in the afternoon, with six hour-long classes and an hour for recess. Triton had transmigrated about an hour and a half before the classes would end for the day and had spent thirty minutes or so in the bathroom mulling away, so only one class remained before the school was dismissed, as such, he decided to stick it through to the end.
The teacher had changed upon Triton's return to the classroom, but they didn't ask any questions, nor did anybody else. Being so naturally unapproachable and friendless had turned out in Triton's favor, for he wouldn't know what to do if anybody talked to him. The final class of the day was taught by a middle-aged woman who appeared gentle and accommodating but radiated an inviolable sense of power. However, though Aldred was secretly excited about the proceedings of the class, there was no real substance to the lecture as the curriculum hadn't truly embarked on its journey yet.
The Singularity Academy senior awakener program commences during the third week of Apendia, the fourth month of the year, every year. As the students travel from all over the star system and sometimes even the galaxy beyond, the dormitories, facilities, and the school itself opens their doors on the first day of the month itself so that the students can familiarize themselves with the environment, however, no actual training is facilitated to not let the other students have a late start or feel left out.
x—X—x
"I guess cosplaying Aldred at that one event paid off."
Triton muttered his breath as he walked across a wide and brightly lit hallway, his hands in his pocket, his gait undeterred, and his expression cold. It wasn't perfect, but this was the best Aldred he could pull off without prior notice. He was currently trailing behind a group of students. The classes had been dismissed and since he didn't know where the exit was, he decided to just ride with the river.
"Though that was amazing..." Triton recalled the awakener studies lesson he had just attended. Since the curriculum wasn't in full flow yet, the teachers weren't allowed to get too technical, so the class was just a simple recounting of some of the famous awakeners and their battles. "It looked even better than I could've ever imagined."
The teacher asked the class about their favorite historical figure and played footage related to them for the class to enjoy. It started as a light fun activity with videos of simple training regiments, career philosophy, and motivational speeches, but under the constant demand of the class, the teacher relented and showed some exclusive war tape.
What made the experience such an oddity and a treat for Triton was that it wasn't really a 'video.' The classroom dimmed as the transparent windows instantaneously turned dark, spooking Triton and almost destroying his facade. The teacher vocalized her desire to dim the lights and they darkened as well, operated by the artificial intelligence in charge of the building. The 'video' Triton experienced was a real-life almost realistic three-sixty view of the battlefield. It wouldn't be as immersive if everybody could see each other and it was just a projection on the classroom walls, but the reality was far from it.
Triton felt as if he was alone in space and the awakener amidst a fight a mere couple of feet away from him. Although that didn't completely erase the other students' presence and the mental barrier of the knowledge that it was a projection, the experience was euphoric for Triton who had come from the age of guns and knives. To watch humans wield the power to destroy planets was something truly exhilarating for him, and if not for the other students also losing themselves in the experience, his dorky and astonished expression would have been on complete display for the audience as well.
"Now, where do I go?"
Triton had followed the rest of his classmates through the futuristic and complex building, but now that he had reached the lobby and sauntered towards the exit with a crowd around him, he was feeling the weight of his predicament. Triton could tell that the people were conscious of him, for he was walking in an empty vortex as the students huddled together to provide him with space.
'Just what did Aldred do? The book didn't mention much except that Aldred was cold and intimidating, but I don't think it's that bad?'
Triton frowned as he closed in on the huge exit. He was aware of Aldred's residence since it had been mentioned in the novel quite a few times and had even acted as a pivotal plot device in making Aelric hate Aldred because of the difference in their financial status. The problem however was how to get there. Aelric resided in the most basic living dormitory and had never encroached upon Aldred's living space. As such, though it was mentioned, it was always done in passing or amid conversations among the main characters.
As Triton contemplated on how to proceed, he exited the building and was confronted with a strong gale that blew his hair, making his disheveled and radiate a rough charm. The girls that exited the building at the same time discreetly stole glances at Triton as he ruffled his hair to control them. After he was done, he walked forward and finally found himself completely free of the structure, he looked around and absorbed the world of his favorite book, Lyraxia Prime.
The weather was pleasant as the host star of the star system, Lyraxia, smiled down on the Markhram soil, a strong yet inviting wind blew and caressed the faces of the lively students, the warmth that pervaded the surroundings was agreeable and refreshing, and the scattered clouds gave the weather a nice touch. Triton deeply inhaled to embrace all of this and couldn't help but leak a small smile that he hurriedly retracted.
As Triton enjoyed the weather and his vicinity, the issue of his abode was thrown at the back of his head. The students glanced at him bewilderedly but at this moment Triton couldn't care less. His life had gone through some tumultuous changes and his brain had been overexerted for the past two hours, so nobody could steal this from him.
"Sir Allister."
Triton had absentmindedly stared at the sky for five minutes or so before an elderly voice snapped him out of his reverie. Triton blinked as the horror of his situation flooded his consciousness yet again and made the frown reappear on his face. He shook his head to rid himself of the distracting thoughts as he lowered his head and glanced at the figure of an elderly gentleman standing with a respectful posture looking up at him with confusion clouding his eyes.
The elderly gentleman was about 175 centimeters tall and clad in a black suit that weirdly complimented his frame quite well. He had luscious white hair that seemed more like an aesthetic decision rather than a sign of age. He had dull grey eyes and sharp facial contours, his hands were covered in white gloves, and on his feet were pointy formal shoes. He resembled a butler, so Triton decided to treat him as such until something occurred to convince him otherwise.
"Yes?" Triton wasn't aware of what was going on as he had been completely lost for the past couple of minutes, but he still managed to squeak an answer before the silence between the two crossed that fine line of awkwardness.
"Sir, the vehicle is ready." The elderly man said in a low and gentle voice. "If you have any other business, I shall wait for you."
'Oh, it makes so much sense for Aldred to have a butler!' Triton's eyes jumped as his conjecture seemed to have been proven true.
"No, let's go." Triton wanted to sound polite and respectful, but maybe it was just the body that his words sounded cold and detached.
"Yes, sir. Immediately." The butler turned around and began walking without a ripple in his expression which made Triton sigh in relief.
Triton followed the old man to an area meant for parking and gawked at the futuristic-looking vehicle that the old man led him to. The 'vehicle' had no wheels, the contraption floated a couple of inches above the ground and had sharp edges and vertices. The vehicle resembled an inflated modern-day induction stovetop more than anything. It was covered in all black and one couldn't differentiate the windows from the body, the sheer lack of any outward indication of its identity as a mode of transport enthralled Aldred into speechlessness.
The butler disappeared behind the vehicle, a second later the doors somehow retracted sideways even though there was no visible space for them to, and the vehicle descended with a tilt so that it was easier for the passenger to board the vehicle. Even though Triton now possessed an absurdly huge frame, the interior felt amazingly comfortable and spacious. Triton wanted to squeal and scream in delight at anything and everything but somehow managed to restrain himself and just stole discreet glances at the screens and buttons all around him.
'I'll check this out alone later if I can.'
Triton resolved himself as he felt the stovetop elevate and move with every motion of the old man's hand.