As they walked, the students caught glimpses of various supernatural creatures going about their daily business. They saw fae students tending to lush gardens filled with glowing, iridescent plants. They saw shadeborn students practicing their shadow manipulation skills in a dark, misty courtyard. And they saw luminari students gathered around a brilliant, shining crystal, their faces aglow with an otherworldly light.
Instructor Lucas smiled, noticing the students' wide-eyed wonder. "Yes, St. Aethoria institute is a truly unique and special place. We have students from all walks of supernatural life, and we strive to provide a supportive and inclusive environment for all."
As the tour continued, the students began to get a sense of the school's layout and rhythm. They saw the grand, sweeping staircases that connected the different floors. They saw the cozy, fire-lit common rooms where students could relax and socialize. And they saw the state-of-the-art laboratories and training facilities where students could hone their magical skills.
Finally, Instructor Lucas led the students to a large, ornate door that seemed to pulse with a soft, blue light. "And this," he said, with a flourish, "is the entrance to the Great Hall. Here, you will find the heart of St. Aethoria institute, where students gather for meals, announcements, and special events."
The students pushed open the door, and a warm, golden light spilled out, bathing them in its radiance. As they stepped inside, they were greeted by the sight of long, wooden tables laden with food, and a high, vaulted ceiling that seemed to stretch up to the stars.
As the students entered the Great Hall, they were immediately struck by the sheer scale and grandeur of the room. The long, wooden tables were laden with all manner of delicious-looking foods, from steaming hot meats to fresh, crisp vegetables. At the far end of the hall, a large, ornate throne-like chair sat atop a raised dais, flanked by two smaller, but no less impressive, chairs.
Instructor Lucas led the students towards the throne, where a stately, silver-haired woman sat watching them with piercing, emerald-green eyes.
"Students, I present to you the Dean of St. Aethoria Institution, Dean Calantha," Instructor Lucas announced, bowing low.
Dean Calantha, the head of St. Aethoria Institution, was a fae of unearthly beauty. Her skin was a radiant, porcelain-like complexion, with a subtle sheen that seemed almost otherworldly. Her hair was a wild tangle of silver locks, with strands that seemed to move of their own accord, like living vines.
Her eyes, those piercing emerald-green orbs, seemed to gleam with an inner light, as if they were windows to a realm beyond the mortal world. Her features were delicate, yet strong, with high cheekbones and a small, pointed chin. She was slender, yet statuesque, with a presence that commanded attention and respect.
As the students approached, they couldn't help but stare at Dean Calantha in wonder. They had never seen a fae up close before, and they were amazed by her beauty and her aura of power.
Mohamed's eyes were wide with wonder as he stared at Dean Calantha. He had never seen anyone like her before, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe in her presence.
As the students stood there, frozen in wonder, Dean Calantha smiled, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Welcome, students, to St. Aethoria Institution," she said, her voice like music. "I am Dean Calantha, and I bid you welcome to our community of scholars and warriors."
As Dean Calantha spoke, her aura seemed to grow even stronger, filling the room with an electric sense of anticipation. The students stood there, entranced, as she continued to speak, her words weaving a spell of wonder and enchantment around them.
As Dean Calantha continued to speak, the students found themselves becoming increasingly entranced, their minds absorbing the information like sponges. They learned about the different houses, the ranking system, and the various supernatural creatures that attended the school.
As Dean Calantha finished her lecture, the students applauded politely, still trying to process the vast amount of information they had just received.
Instructor Lucas beamed with satisfaction as the students' eyes remained fixed on her. "Now, it's time for you to meet your fellow students," he announced, sweeping his arm towards a group of 20 students standing off to the side. They watched the new arrivals with interest, their faces a mix of curiosity and caution.
The group was a diverse assembly of boys and girls, all around Mohamed's age, with expressions ranging from friendly to guarded. A tall, blond-haired boy with a disarming smile stepped forward. "Welcome, students, to St. Aethoria!" he called out. "We've been waiting for you. I'm Ethan."
As the two groups mingled, Mohamed noticed a cluster of students near the entrance of the Great Hall, eyeing the new arrivals with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. "Who are they?" Mohamed asked Ethan, nodding discreetly towards the group.
Ethan's gaze followed Mohamed's, and his expression turned serious. He leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper. "Those are the Elite Students. They're the academy's top performers, and...let's just say they don't always play nice with the rest of us."
Mohamed's curiosity was piqued. "And what about the others?" he asked, his eyes locked on the group.
Ethan's voice dropped to a whisper. "That's the Hunting Club. They're an elite group of students who hunt monsters in other dimensions. Fearless, skilled, and...super competitive."
Mohamed's eyes widened with interest. "That sounds incredible," he breathed.
Ethan grinned. "Yeah, it is. But like I said, it's tough to get in. You need to be seriously skilled."
Mohamed's gaze narrowed. "How do you know all this?" he asked, his tone laced with suspicion.
Ethan rubbed the back of his neck, looking slightly sheepish. "I've been asking around. I'm interested in joining the Hunting Club, and I wanted to learn more."
Mohamed nodded thoughtfully. "I see."
.....
As the welcoming ceremony drew to a close, Instructor Lucas led the new students to their dormitories. The building loomed before them, its stone façade gleaming in the fading light. The instructor's voice echoed down the hallway as he explained the dorm's layout. "The senior students occupy the upper floors, while you'll be sharing rooms on the lower floors. Each room is assigned to four students, so be sure to introduce yourselves to your new roommates."
As they made their way down the hallway, the students eagerly scanned the doors for their names. Mohamed's eyes landed on a door with a plaque that read: "Mohamed, Ethan, Tyler, and Scott". A mix of emotions swirled inside him – relief at being paired with Ethan and Tyler, whom he already knew, and curiosity about the mysterious Scott.
Mohamed pushed open the door and stepped inside, followed by Ethan and Tyler. As they entered their dorm room, they were immediately struck by its cozy and modern decor. The room was spacious, with four comfortable-looking beds, each with its own desk and chair. The walls were painted a soothing shade of blue, and the floor was covered with a plush, gray carpet.
Mohamed's eyes landed on a boy with messy brown hair and a friendly smile, who was sitting on one of the beds, looking at a book. He grinned at Mohamed, Ethan, and Tyler, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
"So, I see we've got a dynamic trio here," he said, chuckling. "I'm Scott, the resident genius and comedian. Or at least, that's what I keep telling myself." He winked at them, and Mohamed couldn't help but laugh at Scott's carefree demeanor.
Ethan and Tyler also chuckled, and the tension in the room dissipated. Mohamed felt a sense of relief wash over him; it seemed like he was going to get along just fine with his new roommates.
Mohamed smiled and introduced himself, "I'm Mohamed, a Rank C. nice to meet you Scott. I've got super speed, still getting used to it, but it's pretty cool."
Tyler, who had been quietly observing the exchange, spoke up next, "I'm Tyler, also C Rank I've got super strength. I'm looking forward to learning how to control it better."
Ethan, who had been grinning at Scott's jokes, introduced himself last, "I'm Ethan, fire Ability, Rank A... "
Scott, who had been watching the introductions with amusement, grinned and said, "My Ability is Reality disruption Rank S"
The room fell silent for a moment as the others processed Scott's revelation. Rank S was a high rank ability, and Reality Disruption was an extremely rare and powerful ability.
Mohamed's eyes widened in surprise. "Rank S? That's incredible!" he exclaimed.
Tyler whistled. "I've never heard of anyone with reality disruption ability before. What can you do?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Ethan's eyes sparkled with interest. "Yeah, can you show us?" he asked, leaning forward.
Scott chuckled. "I'm not entirely sure what I can do yet. I just found out about my ability yesterday. But I'm excited to learn more and figure out how to control it."
.....
As they delved deeper into conversation, Mohamed's excitement grew. Sharing a room with someone as powerful as Scott was a thrilling prospect. He bombarded Scott with questions about his reality disruption ability, eager to learn more.
The others joined in, sharing their own trial experiences. Mohamed recounted his discovery of super speed, while Tyler talked about the rush of finding out he had super strength. Ethan shared his struggles with controlling his fire ability.
As the conversation continued Mohamed's eyes flickered slightly as he heard the System's ding in his mind.
["Urgent Quest"]
[Goal: Copy 2 abilities]
[Punishment: -- --]
[Reward: 5 attributes point, +30 exp]