OFF TO ACADEMIA

A new day dawned upon the participants. It was a day that was never like before because, after all, it was the day that they would enter Academia!

Vibrant golden hues painted the daybreak with the typical stunning scenery in the other world. Daybreak revitalized the bodies of the participants, bathing in the glorious shafts of light, peering through the serene clouds of varying outlines clinging to the sky above.

The sky reflected the color of a tranquil ocean. It was soothing to look at.

In Arkhe Town, entities congested the road as soon as daybreak dawned on them, transmitting a sliver of rays through their wooden shutters. Their distinct curtains danced with the warm air. The participants feebly opened the shutters, letting the warmth of the rays bathe them.

However, inside a certain tavern close to the gate of Arkhe town, three humans were detonating wild noises one after another.

Their neighboring tenants who reveled under the soothing rays, fretted as the wild noise pricked their ears. Their most memorable day was disrupted first thing in the morning.

Their temperaments were sour and their eyes were furrowed.

Negligent, the three tenants couldn't care less. The walls in between rooms were opaque and slender, permitting noises to pass through.

*knock knock*

In no time, the neighboring tenants had run out of patients. Knocks reverberating from both sides of their walls had deterred their noises.

But, it was just momentarily...

After a breath, the commotion proceeded. This time, it was louder than last time.

"KEKE! I told you cat eyes, you should take a bath first! I will take a bath later!", a man clad in luxurious brown leather armor exclaimed.

Another man with eyes carved as cats', retorted.

"You go first, I will take a bath after", he blurted and then tapped on his heavy armor, gesturing that it would take him a longer time to unload the heavy pieces.

On the corner laid his main weapons, a heavy steel axe, and a broad shield. He had a large stature and it was clear that he was a Vanguard.

Reluctant, the other man exclaimed some more.

"KEKE! YOU TAKE ---"

However, he was cut off by a delicate voice of a woman. Her blonde hair was silky and moist, bearing witness to her just-freshened self.

"Girth, Han Seo Yeon, stop your needless quarrel, okay?", the woman, Anastasia went toward the opened wooden shutters, peering through the active streets below.

They were on the second floor and the view was scenic.

"Just take a rock-paper-scissor game to decide or whatever", Anastasia had enough of their childish feud.

Apparently, Girth had been afraid of water. It took her so much persuasion to convince him to take a bath the day before.

Han Seo Yeon on the other hand had grown foreign to this hygienic daily habits. Being in the military for years had made him oblivious to this needless pattern. It didn't contribute to their training thus he deemed it needless and just a waste of time.

In the military, he was acquainted with mostly male armies anyways. There was no need to hassle himself with the hygiene.

At the words of games, Girth grinned whilst Han Seo Yeon scratched his head at the furrowed brows of Anastasia.

Instantly, they closed their fist and chanted...

"Rock paper scissors!"

'Paper'

'Rock'

"Yay!", Girth won

"KEKE!", he added.

Reluctant, Han Seo Yeon removed his heavy armor piece by piece whilst Girth leaned on a chair once more, idle.

The room was spacious enough to accommodate four adult-size beds. There were no walls and only closets adjacent to each bed decorated the room.

There was a small bathroom on the corner and a mountain of items littered in the center. They were all C-grade items.

Glancing at the items, the image of Alab drifted to Anastasia's mind.

"Where is Alab?", Anastasia muttered.

The two just shrugged. At the thought of Alab, Anastasia couldn't help but recall their moments a day ago.

They had accidentally encountered each other in Potions Store and strolled through the town. Alab hadn't visited the tavern since.

Now, only 3 hours remained before the admission ceremony commenced. They couldn't be late on their very first day in Academia.

'Where did you go again, Alab?', Anastasia pondered. She didn't worry that he was in danger of some sort since she could peer through the ranking that was updated in real-time.

Alab's name still flashed on the screen.

'He is safe'

As if heaven heard her words, a knock on the door resounded. Immediately, her expression grew vibrant.

"ke! Who is it?!--", Girth scratched his head as he walked toward the door.

But he hadn't touched the doorknob yet when the door was pushed open.

*hiss*

"Alab!"

"Tsk, it was just you, reckless boy. ke!"

Anastasia ran toward Alab whose shirt grew more tattered. However, Alab's eyes were pinned on the items in the center.

He recalled Anastasia telling him that they had been storing their acquired items just for him.

Not minding the cheerful Anastasia, Alab headed toward the items. It came at a good time as he just depleted his stock of items hours ago.

*cough*

Anastasia cleared her throat as she muttered.

"Alab, you should prepare now. The Academia will be opened in 3 hours, we do not have that much time left", Anastasia was dubious about the preparatory time of these boys.

She doubt that 3 hours were even enough for the reluctant Girth and Han Seo Yeon.

*sigh*

'It is a good thing that I readied early'

Anastasia then walked toward one of the beds. A golden box rested on its fluffy surface.

Anastasia took out the items in the box.

"This is our official uniform. It was sent by Academia last night.", Anastasia unveiled a pile of clothes.

First, there was a long-sleeved undergarment with mud coloration. Then, layering it was a coal-tinged blazer adorned with vertical white stripes and a necktie and a trouser with similar coloration. A logo of Academia with an image of the Golden Arch Bridge was engraved on its chest part.

Lastly, black shoes that rather came as a surprise.

'It's the first time I see black shoes since entering this world', Alab figured out that footwear was a rare item in this other world. Not once did he see footwear in item stalls.

Alab just nodded his head to Anastasia as he proceeded to store the items in his inventory.

Han Seo Yeon unwrapped himself from his heavy armor and entered the bathroom amid their discussions.

Anastasia reiterated the rumor that she caught wind of along with the rules in Academia. Seeing that she had piqued the interest of Alab, Anastasia stated.

"I heard that there will be sectioning once we entered Academia. That will be based on our ranking so I guess we will be in different sections.", Anastasia blinked momentarily.

Then, she added.

"Also, Academia is divided into three regions. The outer, middle, and the inner. Each is separated by a magical dome. I don't know about Academia's arrangement but it's most likely that those with a higher ranking will stay in the middle or inner whilst the lower ranking will reside in the outer core."

Anastasia felt glad that her senses were heightened. Her hearing was as clear as bats' in procuring rumors.

Information ahead of time could save them a thing or two. With utmost preparation, they could even ace the upcoming assessment. But, it was still rumors and Alab made sure to just consider it.

"That is all. I guess, we will see later if the rumor is true or not.", Anastasia muttered and then began wearing her black shoes with feeble heels.

Unlike Alab's uniform, Anastasia glowed with luxury. It was clear that she was highly favored by Academia as her navy blue uniform was glossier.

'It seems that Academia favors the higher ranker more', Alab pondered.

An equally radiant navy blue blazer adorned the figure of Anastasia, peeking through the thorax part was the long sleeve as white as snow.

A necktie was neatly tied and the Academia logo was carved in the chest part of the blazer.

Anastasia looked more impressive than ever.

Time proceeded to run until all of them had finished their preparation and Alab had stored all the items. Han Seo Yeon wore a red blazer and a trouser with a stripe of red and a mud necktie.

His clothes were more vibrant than Girth and Alab combined. It was clear that he was on a whole new level.

Girth scorned as he appeared a commoner with his dusky coat. Still, the thought that he was not alone made him feel relieved somehow.

It was evident that they would be in different sectioning. With Anastasia in higher sections, followed by Han Seo Yeon, and lastly, Alab and Girth in the same section.

Alab could begin to feel the storm of power struggles wafting his way...

"Are you all ready, Planet Earth? Let's head now to Academia!", Anastasia exclaimed.