Welcome To The Academy

Levi felt his nose twitch. He struggled his head but his nose still itched. He reached to scratch it with his hands just to feel a cold creamy substance on his face. He jolted up to hear the laughter of a few boys, probably around his age.

He looked around, he was on a white bed in an orange painted room that looked like it was in a dormitory. The boys kept on laughing, that's when Levi noticed he had a face smeared with toothpaste. Levi's confusion made the boys laugh harder.

"Newbie, has no idea what's going on." One of the boys mocked which made them all laugh the more. They stopped abruptly when someone entered into the room. A man, a young lady and a girl of his age, Levi could see.

"You never seize to humiliate yourself before newcomers." The lady said in disgust to the boys. She was dressed in a white coat. Levi assumed she was a doctor. The boys grumbled their way out of the room with their heads down.

The three visitors turned their attention to the boy on the bed. "Hey there, how are you feeling?" The lady asked him with concern. Levi was confused as to what was happening. She must have read his mind because she said, "You must be wondering where you are. This is the Academy."

The Academy? The one the aged woman directed him about back at the shade? What's he doing here? How did he get here? Levi had so many questions

The lady handed Levi some wipes for his toothpasted face. She was about opening her mouth to say something when the older man cut her off. "It's enough Susan. You've told him everything he needs to know. I came here however for a different reason." He said, turning his gaze to Levi.

The man came forward and stood just before Levi to the left. "What's your name boy?" He asked.

"Levi... Levi Parker" Levi replied as he sat up, "What am I doing here?"

"Well, we brought you here of course." The man said smartly. "I'm Edwin Saunders, the Dean," he said placing his hand on his chest.

"Why did you bring me here?" Levi said feeling insecure as he wiped his face.

"We saw you half-dead in a shade at Mayskeep. We brought you in to save your life" The man replied blankly.

"Well, thank you. I'll be leaving now?" Levi said and he got up. He was surprised to see how strong he was, he never got up so easily from bed like that.

"You would be doing no such." The Dean said looking straight into his eyes. Levi paused, he felt an unpleasant atmosphere in the room. He looked at the lady and the girl. The lady seemed to be avoiding eye contact like she wasn't in support with what was about to happen, while the girl stayed straight and determined.

Levi returned his eyes back to the Dean, "Excuse me?"

"I said you would not be leaving."

"Why not? Would you stop me?" Levi asked agitated.

"Unless you're willing to explain how you were present in the crime scene of a triple homicide of three dead officers, you're not leaving" The Dean paused, "As for stopping you, surely that won't be a problem. Not like you have any choice inside the Academy."

Triple homicide? What was he talking about? Levi didn't even remember what happened. He was stunned.

"I came here to ask you if you remember what transpired." The Dean added, adjusting his pose, "It was a gruesome scene, surely a young lad like you can't do that."

When Levi didn't reply but stood in confusion, the Dean continued, "I guess you don't." He sighed and made for the door. He stopped right under the post and turned, "Welcome to the Academy Levi, you're an ingent now." He looked at the girl, "See to his orientation and everything to start him up." The girl nodded and the Dean made his leave.

The doctor lady only bowed before taking her leave too.

"Follow me, let's find you a uniform." The girl ordered.

---

"The name's Abby by the way." The girl informed. She was dark-skinned and a lot of inches shorter than him, Levi noticed. She had an afro-braided hair and by the looks of it, she was a prominent and well respected academic.

They just left the DressMaker and were walking down a massive hallway. Levi was given a lavender and red polyester sweatshirt and a lavender trouser. A lot of academics were staring at him as they went about with their activities. Some were dressed in his colours, a few in black and red like Abby. It must be a ranking system, Levi thought.

Levi called out to Abby who was outwalking him. "Are you guys sure I'm meant to be here?" He asked her.

"Do I look like the board to you, pretty face?" She kept on walking.

Levi was silent for a bit as they made a turn, "And what did the Dean mean by me being an ingent?"

Abby stopped and turned, "Isn't that obvious? Everyone here is an ingent. If you're an academic, you're an ingent. Simple". Levi didn't like her straight-up attitude.

Before she could turn back, Levi spoke up "And.. where are we going?"

"Don't worry, we're here." She replied and gestured to a door next to them.

Abby opened the door and she stepped in with Levi. Levi was amazed at what he saw, it was a large hall like a school basketball court. But everywhere was hued in red. He could see some students in safety attires and a few staff in white. Levi never imagined these kinds of facilities existed even in this time of the world.

"This is The Den, where you'll discover what your abilities are." Abby announced.

Abilities? Levi thought. What abilities? But he saw for himself, a boy at the testing area began to hover in the air with fire in his palms. Levi was jaw dropped.

Abby noticed his reaction, she smiled. "It's always like this with the noobs."