Chapter 4: Academy Days (1)

The ARKS Cadet Academy is the premier education institution for those who wishes to join ARKS. Compared to just join ARKS directly, those that graduated from this academy were more likely than not have better foundations. Putting aside the obvious advantage in how to use Photon Arts or Techniques due to the training, they're also taught of the many intricacies within ARKS, such as the varying classes available within ARKS, how to create a new class, procedures for urgent quests, etc. Such things are typically picked up by those who join ARKS directly, but more often than not, it's after some time they've joined.

Cadets will be educated for three years, and at the end of the third year, they would be sent to Naverius for a field exam. Granted, said field exam is within a controlled location, with spatial locks and senior ARKS operatives standing guard. Hence, it's more of them experiencing their first combat with sylvants or just basically non-ARKS beings. Even then, the chosen sylvants are mostly low-threatening ones. Once a cadet passed the final exam, they will be given two choices:

First, they could join ARKS immediately, with them having to undergo the Certification Mission. The benefit here is that they don't have to go through the typical exams that one would usually have to go through if they want to join ARKS but didn't attend the cadet academy prior.

Second, they're allowed to postpone their joining of ARKS. This applies to those with complicated circumstances. While normal graduates can postpone joining ARKS as well, however, they'd have to go through a single exam before they're eligible for the certification mission. Those under special circumstances, however, are allowed to be like those who picked the first option: joining ARKS and undergo the certification mission without having to deal with the entry exam first, it will simply be a matter of joining ARKS at a later date. Of course, they'd have to get the permit from the academy's director, Regius, for the approval of the special entry.

It's already a given that he'll chose the 2nd option. It's to match the prologue of Episode 1, in which he did the certification mission alongside Afin and the ensuing events that will kick in. For the remaining years, he intends to go along with Maria in her many endeavors to disrupt and dismantle Luther's operations. However, he must finish his tenure in the academy first for that to be a thing.

This was his first day. Regius was just about to enter the classroom when he saw Josua who had just arrived as well.

"Okay. I'll go in first, and later notify you when it's time for you to go in."

Regius said, nodding at Josua before he entered the classroom.

The said classroom was similar to an auditorium of universities, in which they have elevated seats, around 5 rows of seats, with each rows separated by a single elevated step. And on the large desks that span the rows, with gaps between them for students to go and fro, they have interactive displays that replaced the needs for traditional books and paper. The displays can also be interacted like those floating holographic ones used by many ARKS operatives.

The class was filled with a lot of students, which the room can contain up to 50 students at full capacity of those 5 rows of seats. The seats goes something like (3-4-3), in which 3 seats then the gap and then 4 seats (you get the meaning for the rest?). As to the current amount of students within the classroom, it was amounted to around 40.

Regius went to the front of a large display that replaced the functions of a blackboard (or whiteboard). He gazed upon the students present within the class. They were all students that were in their final years of tenure within the academy before graduation.

"First of all, I'm proud to see young people such as you all being here."

He said, pausing a little before continuing with his speech:

"All of you here are the best of the best. Many of those that were alongside you had left, for various reasons. Some have given up, while some lacked the guts to continue."

"Be that as it may, however, you all have proven what it takes to be a proper ARKS operative. This is your last year here, and as you all know, it will be the last stop before you decide to join ARKS upon graduation. For lasting this long, I applaud you all."

"However, don't get complacent! The things you've learned here will only provide you with a slight advantage over those who went to ARKS directly. As such, never let up with your studies and training!"

Regius exclaimed while applauding the students. The class was filled with a lot of clamor. Some felt excitement, pride, fear, or annoyance. Be it for their final year, or because they simply hated long speeches and the such. But before they could keep going on with their own things, however, Regius gestured with his hand for them to be silent.

"This year, however, we will be having a new face joining us here."

He said. But before he continued, the students became rowdy. Who would want to join this late? It was already the third year, the final year!

"No way! Somebody's transferring in at this time of the year?!" One student exclaimed.

"You tell me! This is the first I've heard of this!" Another one said.

Regius sighed, and then gestured with his hands again, asking them to quiet down.

"I know you're all surprised. Even I was, truth be told. But our newest cadet, while young, has quite the potential and experience. Please, come inside."

He said before calling Josua over to come inside the classroom. Josua prepared himself, with a deep breath to exhale his nervousness (if that's a thing). The classroom's door opened automatically, and he entered the room. He then went to the side of Regius.

"Cadet, introduce yourself."

Regius said to him. All of the students were looking at Josua. His tall height, coupled with the non-expressive look on his face, became the main attraction for the time. He sighed quietly before nodding at Regius and slightly straightening himself.

"Cadet Josua, reporting in. Born and raised here, currently 16 years old. Pleased to be of your acquaintance."

Josua said with a monotonous tone and a flat look on his face. The students started getting rowdy once more after he finished his introduction.

"He's 16? He's still young!" One student said.

"Isn't this a mistake? Shouldn't he be in the first year class?" Another student frowned in thought.

"Heh, maybe he bought himself in!" Another one sneered.

"You wish! No way he could get in like that!" Another said.

Once more, Regius sighed. This was certainly within expectations, but it was still a bit much to see this happening with his own eyes.

"I know some of you question his entry into the third years. However, I can guarantee, that he's not without foundations. In fact, I daresay that he may be superior to some of you!"

Regius said, while underlining the last sentence he spoke. Josua then looked at Regius, with a less-than-obvious dismay on his face.

'What the hell? Is he trying to make them fight me? Dammit, not this trope!'

He thought as Regius looked back at him. While he couldn't tell what Regius' expression was, given that his eyes doesn't exactly betray any look and the lack of visible mouth didn't help either, he could tell that Regius was probably enjoying this.

"Regardless, his attendance today is simply for his introduction. He'll be a part of the class two weeks from now."

Regius then iterated. Some of the students then nodded, while others either frowned or simply humphed. There were also who didn't show any sort of reaction or opinion. The whole introduction ended on a rather typical note.

Josua then sat down on his designated seat, as Regius began his lecture. Granted, Josua wasn't meant to understand it immediately. And he didn't, but he could pick up some things that Regius was teaching, albeit far too random than he'd like.

.....

The curriculum for the third years are more practical, in preparation of them graduating and joining ARKS soon after. Hence, they learn what's considered to be of the advanced curriculum. Things like operating an AIS, doing advanced maneuvers inside it, and advanced combat techniques are a part of this curriculum. The subject of the lecture for the day was about combat against the rarer variants of Falspawns.

The lecture was separated into two parts. In between the two parts, there's a 30 minute break. Students can use that time to go for a lunch or whatever. During this break for the lecture of the day, Josua went to the cafeteria.

Its official name was the Mess Hall. But technically speaking, it's less strict and was more like a cafeteria than a typical military Mess Hall. This institute, after all, is more like a prep school prior to joining ARKS, hence while it does mimic a lot of the things within ARKS, it doesn't, however, follow strict rules. They only lay down the basic rules, and while they do enforce it strictly, they're actually less stringent compared to the actual thing.

The food there was pretty much what you expect: there are some pastas, steaks, bread, veggies, those kind of stuff you'd find at a cafeteria. While they tasted better than the stereotype, however, having tasted the food made at Franca's Cafe, the cafeteria's food might as well be more like MREs than actual food.

'Let's just see if it's as bad as I think it is.'

He thought as he ordered a fettuccine carbonara with an iced tea as the drink. The food came out after 5 minutes or so. He picked the tray up, went around and found an empty table. He sat down with his ordered food. The place was filled with students from various batches, from first years to third years like him.

With some of the noodles on his fork, he raised it towards his mouth and it went in. The flavor of the pasta came through, with the creaminess of the carbonara sauce, combined with the small cuts of bacon to compliment the taste, and the al dente texture of the pasta, it was nothing short of perfect. As he chewed and swallowed, he frowned a little.

"It's great, but..."

He felt the pasta lacked something. It lacked the oomph that he got from the dish at Franca's. It's not to say it's bad, but it simply felt like what you'd get from a vending machine, bar the obviously superior taste and quality.

He then picked up the glass of iced tea and drank. The familiar taste of tea, coupled with the refreshing cool from the ice cubes made it great for washing down his taste buds. While it's like the typical tea, he had no expectations of it to begin with, so any lack of oomph from the tea was negligible to him.

While he was eating his meal, Zeno passed by, accompanied by Echo, who was nagging him. Zeno was trying to distract himself from Echo's lecture while trying to find a seat. When he saw Josua, he felt something was familiar about him.

"Hey, Echo-"

Zeno said, wanting to ask Echo before she shushed him.

"Zip it, Zeno. You're not gonna fool me this time..."

Echo replied before she continued nagging and lecturing him.

His question was drowned by Echo's nagging, and eventually his interest in the matter only lasted for a moment before his attention was sapped again by Echo. They eventually found a table and then they went on with their meal.

After finishing his meal, with only some of his iced tea still in the glass, he spent around 10 minutes to scrutinize on an idea in his mind.

"Hmm... Fluctlight cubes should be able to contain at least the core soul and memories, but..."

He murmured as he juggled on a certain idea that will have an impact on the fate of Xion. He was concerned of the aftermath of that idea, if he ever decided to go with it later on. The idea was to use the Fluctlight cube to store Xion's soul, memories and personality, and later on he'd ask Aki to try and create a body to be the vessel of the cube. Of course, the cube would be made with his Aether powers, given that he doesn't actually know the tech involved in the cube (only the basic understanding and principles).

"But there's also that auracite from patch 5.2 and later 5.3..."

He pondered as he thought of another possible idea as well: using auracite like the ones from Shadowbringer's patches 5.2 and 5.3 (what was shown in the trailer of 5.3, at least). Auracite was known to be able to host the soul of a person, but as to memories, it couldn't. However, with the right modifications, it could also house memories of a person as well.

"Sigh..."

Regardless, it was all simply plans of ideas. Without getting more time to think about it, this would be just him wasting time. As he snapped back to reality, he checked the time and the second part of the lecture was about to begin. He then returned to the classroom and sat down on his seat.

.....

"...Hence when you're dealing with a Goldrahda, you should aim for the rear sac before dealing with it's 'eye' at the front. The rear sac is the main reason why a Goldrahda explodes when they die. Those two are the weak points of that Falspawn."

Regius said as he pointed at a hologram of the Falspawn in front of him. The giant display then showed a notification, telling that the lecture for the day has ended. He turned his head towards the students.

Of course, Josua was already aware of the subject. Given the fact that he already faced that particular Falspawn far too many times during defense missions at the mining base on Lilipa in the previous reality. He'd often blind the 'eye' at the front before going for the rear sac and eventually offing it. The order in which he dispatched it first tends to switch from time to time, depending on the direction he's facing and how many was near his location.

The students then saved their notes onto their virtual comms before leaving the classroom. They greeted Regius before they left the place. Josua waited for the rest of the students to leave before he went up to Regius.

"Tomorrow, you can come directly to my office. The cram will start tomorrow."

Regius said, nodding at him before he left the room.

.....

Once the first day was over, Josua returned to his Personal Quarters (his Personal Room). The sky was (simulated) already red. It was around 5 pm by the time he got back from the academy. As he sat down on a sofa, he then heard his comms ringing. He summoned the display and saw the caller ID: it was Maria.

"Oi, lil' J. Open up, I'm here."

She said with a slightly sassy tone. He then opened the door and let her inside. She brought some food along with her, courtesy of Franca's Cafe. It was Mac 'n' Cheese, with an iced tea for him, while she got an egg salad sandwich with a warm tea as the side for herself. The two then had their dinner in his place.

"So, how was it?" She asked.

"I guess, it's what I expected." He replied, shrugging.

"At least, this way, you'd be less eye-catching. Though I expect that your age is already attracting some eyes, right?" She said, chuckling at the thought.

He could only sigh in resignation. His age, combined with the fact that he's entering the third year in the middle of the curriculum year, and was directly accepted by Regius, were pretty brow-raising. Though it wouldn't raise Luther's personal flags, however, his subordinates may take note.

The two then went on with their dinner. Around half an hour later, they finished their meal. It was scrumptious. Maria stood up, went to a sofa and sat down on it. She gestured Josua to sit across her. She wanted to talk about something.

"You said you wanted to join ARKS." She said, crossing her legs before continuing: "Do you plan to immediately join after graduating, or what?"

"I plan to join ARKS later. As in, I plan to delay joining it." He immediately replied.

"Oh? Do tell." She raised her brow.

"There's a specific reason that I can't explain right now. But for now, let's just say that I want to follow you to gain some field experience beforehand as the reason." He explained.

Maria closed her eyes and furrowed her brows after hearing his words. She was thinking if he had some ulterior motive behind this.

Well, to be frank, she's not wrong, to an extent. The only reason why he's delaying his eventual application into ARKS was to match the events of Episode 1 from PSO2 in the original reality. And also, if this could also be counted as a reason, he does need to get himself used to fighting Falspawns. This wasn't a game after all, and he's not fighting using his avatar while controlling it from his desktop computer. He's fighting with his real body, so he'll directly feel the pressure and whatnot during the heat of battle. Hence, his 'decoy' reason wasn't so much of a lie, and the ulterior motive wasn't exactly of any harm in any way.

"Don't worry. My reasons aren't detrimental or harmful in any way to you." He said to her, summarizing his motive and reason in a short sentence.

"Fine. But this is a matter for later down the line." She sighed, accepting his reasoning. While she didn't believe him fully, she knows that he has no reason to lie at this point. He already told him of his origin, how he got here, etc., so it defeats the point to lie after saying all those things.

By the time the two finished their conversation, it was already night time, around 9 pm. She said her farewell and left. Meanwhile, Josua decided to sleep here. He wanted to try and see on living here. He planned to stay for extended periods of time after he graduated, hence he should try to get used to living here.

He changed his outfit back to his home clothes, and went to the 'bedroom'. It wasn't a bedroom per say, but he made it as his bedroom. It was the same size as the living/dining room he was in (that room functioned as both the dining room and living room). He went onto the bed, that had a green neon and purple color to it. As he lay down on the bed, and pulled the blanket onto his body, he felt the sensation of the bed. It was very soft, and springy as well. You'd never know how it feels because you couldn't feel it, given that one typically plays the game on a PC. Hence, you're limited by the dimension, unless you're an Aether user as well. He then drifted into sleep, and time passed.