Unexpected Friend

Luna stood outside my dorm room, casually leaning against the walls, as her eyes glowed softly in the dim light. This unexpected visitor was entirely surprising to me. Rather than coming off as surprised in such situations, one should remain calm. 

Why is Luna here? It's unusual for someone to visit unannounced. I thought to myself, eyeing her with a hint of curiosity. Is this a casual encounter or something more?

"Lucius," Luna began her voice calm yet carrying a subtle urgency. "There's something you should know." Luna's body was relaxed against my door frame, so I had no option but to listen to her. 

Internally, I weighed my options. Should I invite her in or maintain a distance? I pondered. Information is power, but it's crucial to discern motives. She wasn't someone, I was acquainted with, other than my class and the bus to Aeon. 

Maintaining my composed exterior, I responded, "What brings you here?"

Her eyes, those softly glowing eyes, seemed to search mine for a moment. "It's about the upcoming examination," Luna explained, shifting her weight slightly. "There are whispers that it's unlike anything we've encountered before."

I raised an eyebrow, my analytical mind already in motion. An unusual exam? In Aeon Academy? Interesting. With that sudden information, I looked at Luna and invited her into my room. As she moved to avoid blocking my path, I used my phone to scan and open the door. 

Luna stepped into my dorm room, the dim light casting elongated shadows that danced along the walls. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation. As she settled into the room's confines, her words echoed, "The exam is said to be designed to differentiate between Perennials and humans explicitly."

My internal gears began to turn rapidly. An exam specifically tailored for that purpose? That's a game-changer. What's the academy's endgame here? I was rather taken aback by the shocking insights. This academy was more than just a normal high school. 

"It seems the academy wants to determine our strengths and weaknesses, perhaps to assess our capabilities in different scenarios," Luna continued, her voice tinged with concern and curiosity.

Could this be a way to identify potential leaders or outliers within each group? Or is it about highlighting the disparities to foster unity or competition? 

Yet, there was one factor that I couldn't seem to understand. Why had Luna come to me of all the classmates in our class? According to what I had seen, she could easily make friends based on are personality and looks. What was it that attracted her to me?

Noticing how we were both just standing and talking, I asked her to make herself comfortable and sit on my bed. A person standing had a high chance of rushing and leaving faster, while sitting and talking would give an individual the incentive to talk and conversate. Luna thanked me and sat on my bed, rather plain-looking. It was a simple monotone design, with black and white pillows, along with some black covers.

When she sat down, I made sure to position myself in a way that only my face was visible to her. The reason is, that when you make eye contact with a Perennial, it becomes easier to detect any falsehood or deceit. This is because, despite being a form of artificial intelligence on par with humanity, Perennials were still machines that had been programmed. The eyes of Perennials softly flicker whenever there is a sign of a lie, something even many humans don't know. As I spent most of my life learning and gathering as much information about the outside world, this was a small detail I made sure to memorize. 

Leaning back slightly, I regarded Luna with a calculated curiosity. "I'm intrigued," I began. "What led you to think of approaching me with this information? Have you noticed something particular about my approach or perspective?"

Luna's glowing eyes met mine, their soft luminescence revealing a hint of uncertainty. "In the short time I've observed you, Lucius, you've displayed a depth of analytical thinking that few possess. I thought your perspective might offer valuable insights. Not only that but in class although you remained indifferent to the results of the simple exam, you easily solved many of the workload given to you in our group.," she replied, her voice unwavering. She has somehow managed to see through my facade, Luna has somehow seen through the fake persona I had created for myself. 

Continuing in a calm, composed manner, I asked, "Given the multitude of individuals you could've chosen to share this with, why me, Luna? What is it that you believe I bring to the table in this situation?"

Luna paused, collecting her thoughts before responding. "Your detachment from emotional biases and your ability to analyze situations objectively make you an ideal candidate for understanding the nuances of what's unfolding," she said, her voice carrying a note of respect. I was intrigued by how she observed me, a Perennial with artificial emotions, calling a human unemotional. It was a truly interesting scenario. 

Shifting slightly in my seat to maintain a facade of indifference, I further probed, "Timing, as they say, is everything. Why do you feel now is the appropriate moment to share these insights? Is there something specific that triggered this revelation?"

With a thoughtful expression, Luna replied, "The proximity to the examination and the potential implications for both Perennials and humans alike necessitated urgency. Your insight could prove invaluable in navigating the challenges ahead." I stared at her trying to decipher the situation, that had been brought upon me, on the second day of school.

Internally, I noted her responses, weighing their authenticity against my observations. Luna's demeanor hinted at sincerity, yet her exact motives remained shrouded in layers I intended to unravel. Not a single time did her luminescent eyes flicker. To put it simply, although I had to do some research on what was going on at this school, her responses were sincere and honest. 

With a graceful nod, Luna rose from her seated position, her soft gaze lingering on mine for a moment longer than necessary. "I appreciate your consideration, Lucius," she murmured, her voice carrying a blend of gratitude and anticipation. As she turned to leave, the faint glow from her eyes cast fleeting shadows across the room, hinting at the mysteries that lay beyond her departure. The door slid shut behind her, echoing softly in the dimly lit confines of my dorm, leaving me alone with a plethora of questions and a growing intrigue about the intricate web of events unfolding within Aeon Academy. 

According to the amount of knowledge I had, this situation didn't feel right. As humans and Perennials had, to the best of my knowledge, after many years of conflict in the early stages of human acceptance of machine consciousness, the world had learned to accept AI. Even going so far as giving them their name and image, known as Perennials, to not call them machines. AI gained its own identity, as its unique living entity that started to coexist with humanity.

Still, there was unbalance in society but fairly low chances of conflict to exist amongst humans and Perennials. So, what was this mixed school trying to test by creating such a divide among students? Rather boggling, yet I had an idea as to why this test was being formulated. Although much of the details were still fairly unknown, since this was just the surface of this special exam, from a rumor heard by Luna. 

As I contemplated Luna's revelations, the very purpose behind Aeon Academy formulating a test that delineated between Perennials and humans piqued my interest. It wasn't merely an academic exercise; there had to be deeper motives at play. The academy's decision might be rooted in deciphering the intricate dynamics between Perennials, beings crafted with precision, and humans, who boasted a blend of emotions, creativity, and unpredictability.

Could it be that this test was a strategic maneuver to pinpoint leadership potential or problem-solving prowess among both groups? Aeon Academy has always been about molding the future, and perhaps they believed that by segregating and understanding these distinct groups' capabilities, they could tailor their educational approach more effectively. Such insights would allow them to craft experiences that resonate with each student's unique strengths, propelling them toward excellence.

Yet, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just an academic exercise. In a broader societal context, the academy might be addressing the growing concerns and curiosities of a world witnessing the harmonious yet complex coexistence of Perennials and humans. By deciphering the distinctions, Aeon Academy aimed to prepare its students, like pawns in a larger chess game, for the challenges and opportunities of an interconnected world.

"I began to quiet my mind and found myself experiencing a new sensation - interest. Luna caught my attention not due to her physical appearance, as I lack such emotional attachments, but rather because I am curious about how her mind works. She has the potential to be useful, and as a bonus, it would be easier to learn about human emotions from her than from unstable human minds."

I had wished to lead a normal life, yet somehow I had been pulled into a place of abnormal talents. And already I had been forced to take action, it was rather annoying since I felt there was no benefit in helping these students out. I decided that I would accept Luna's request, ultimately to observe this new game of strategy that had been given to me. To make the situation worse, I still had no idea what was going on. Everything that had happened was too sudden. With questions churning in my brain, I decided to head to the library after class tomorrow.