A different sort of Welcome

The hovercraft came to a stop and an announcement blared on the loud speakers in the sitting compartment.

"WE HAVE ARRIVED KIDS. WELCOME TO THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. KINDLY GET DOWN FROM THE HOVERCRAFFT."

Some people let out a loud cheer while others smiled brightly.

They had finally arrived!

No one could deny their excitement. They had arrived without any trouble and finally, they would be able to personally enter into one of the six best schools for awakened!

In an orderly file, the students left the sitting compartment and walked towards the exits.

"So this is the Imperial Institute," Damien murmured as he walked off the exit ramp, looking around.

As far as the eye could see, burgundy colored buildings were laid out in neat rows.

Students in similar uniform as theirs moved around below with confident gaits and strides.

The school was like a small city!

Where the hovercraft had landed was the school's landing zone which was situated quite high.

Other hovercraft had similarly arrived and students poured out in droves.

"Move from the landing zone!" hollered the man who had pulled Damien up earlier.

He had been the last to exit the hovercraft and his huge sword was still hanging at his back. The two people who had also come to deliver announcements in the sitting compartment were with him.

Another person in nano armor and built for war silently followed them.

Students scurried away as the three people urged them to leave the landing zone.

The students exited the landing zone and came across the first layout of humongous buildings.

The four people who had come out of Damien's hovercraft moved in front of the horde of students. They were joined by similarly dressed people from other hovercraft.

The new students quietened down to listen to what they had to say.

The silent man in nano armor stepped forward and swept a fierce gaze at the multitude in front of him. 

"I am Riley, a battle instructor here. I will tell you what you're supposed to do now you have arrived.

First of all!

Let me make this clear to you. You will not be coddled here. No one will take your hand and lead you around like a baby! You are now an awakened and a student of the Imperial Institute! 

So if you came here assuming that you will be guided around, given a little tour, blah blah, I suggest that you get that out of your mind RIGHT NOW!" his voice boomed, causing the students to reel back in fright!

The man sneered at this.

"Look at you pathetic sniveling pansies, shaking in your little boots because of a mere shout. Scared pussies like you would merely serve as fodder to aliens!" he said viciously.

With a smirk, he looked around.

"Oh so you're angry that I called you pansies huh? Well, tough luck! Until you prove yourself in this institute, I will keep seeing you as pansies and scared little pussies! Nothing more, nothing less!

Is that clear!" Battle Instructor Riley yelled, looking at the new students cowering in front of him.

"Yes sir," the students answered softly.

"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" Battle Instructor Riley yelled.

"YES SIR!" the new students shouted.

"That was weak as fuck but I guess I'll have to take it like that. Hopefully you'll improve during your stay here but I don't have much hope for you.

Now you may be wondering; how do I find my way around?

The answer is simple.

YOU FUCKING WALK EVERY INCH AND BREADTH OF THIS INSTITUTE TILL YOU CAN FIND YOUR WAY AROUND BLINDFOLDED!" Riley roared.

"If you get lost, tough luck. You rediscover yourself and you continue looking around! That's how it's done.

You have a week to acquaint yourself with the school premises, go for your student ID and find a residence.

Going for your student ID is compulsory and I don't think any of you pansies are man enough to sleep outside so you'll need to sleep in a room, like the weak.

After this week, the Vice Chancellor will see to your official introduction and orientation then lessons and life here truly begin.

Now move your asses and start roaming around the Institute!

If you get lost, you find yourself again!" Riley yelled loudly.

The new students quickly scattered as they chose different places to go. Those who had formerly sat in isolation in the hovercraft were now grouping up with people.

It was quite comical.

The new students were all soon roaming the Imperial Institute like lost sheep, looking lost and befuddled as they roamed aimlessly amongst the multitude of buildings.

Surprisingly, the students they had spotted when they had been on the landing zone were almost nowhere to be found.

Neither hide nor hair of them could be seen.

Slowly and painstakingly, an hour passed.

Of course, after trudging aimlessly looking around at buildings in a place as huge as the Imperial Institute, despair soon settled in.

Damien, Austin, Zane, Mindy and Brianna walked down one of the pavements, looking at the sign on each door as they aimlessly wandered around the Imperial Institute.

"Well, this wasn't what I expected," Austin sighed.

"Me neither," Zane said as he scratched the side of his mohawk in frustration.

"To be candid, I don't think this was what we all expected coming here," Damien said flitting his gaze around the surroundings.

"This is bullshit. This place is even larger than our city. How the hell do they expect us to find our way out of this in a week?" Brianna complained.

"What do you think is the meaning of this? What if this is some kind of initiation or something?" Mindy asked.

"Well then they should have told us something!" Austin yelled in annoyance.

Their group passed by another group who were aimlessly wandering like them.

Everyone was tired and frustrated.

What the hell was going on?!

At that moment, they caught a glimpse of a senior student in a similar uniform as those that had been on the hovercraft.

"Hey! Wait up!" Zane called as he ran to catch up with the guy.

The senior turned around in annoyance to look at the group.

"What's the matter? Make it quick," he said with a frown.

"You must be a senior here right? Look man, please just give us a tour of this place or something… if not it, at least show us where to go for our student IDs and a lodging," Austin pleaded.

"Sounds like too much work. Haven't you seen how big this place is? The time wasted on showing you plebeians around, if I spent it in the training room or on a mission, I'd get something out of it. I'll just be wasting time and getting nothing showing y'all kids around. It's not worth it," said the guy and he turned to leave.

"C'mon man, please! How can we make it worth your time?" Zane begged as he followed behind the senior.

The senior paused and turned, as if considering his options.

"Hmm. There's not much you can do for me but I'll be a kind hearted senior and show you were to get your IDs. In return, y'all will pay me 10 CP each," the senior replied after 'consideration.'

"What is CP?" Mindy asked.

"You'll find out soon enough," the senior turned and replied.

**

In one of the largest and most magnificent buildings in the Imperial Institute, a certain lady sat in her office with holographic files in front of her.

Her hair was straight and grey which shown with a metallic sheen that gave of an aura of sharpness.

Her pointed nose and slim face coupled with her narrowed eyes gave off an impression of focus, determination and unwavering concentration!

Her eyes were an icy blue which made those she stared at feel as if her eyes could penetrate into their very souls!

Even sitting behind closed doors, she wore a regal silver and black plate armor which had a high neck. The silver and black armor was trimmed with golden outlines. The armor covered almost her whole body excluding her hands and head.

Leaning against the side of the wall of her surprisingly plain office, a double-edged sword with an intricate silver handle and jet-black blades rested menacingly.

A light knock resounded on the door.

"Come in," the woman spoke.

Battle Instructor Riley entered in respectfully.

"You called for me, Vice Chancellor Monnet?" he asked modestly. The previous boisterous and raucous man who had scared the daylights out of the new kids was nowhere to be seen.

He had become completely docile.

Well it wasn't surprising because he was in the presence of the most fearsome personality in the school; Vice Chancellor Monnet!

Or better still referred to by many as Supreme Monnet!

She was a peak Transcendent awakened with extreme power!

People feared her even more than the Chancellor himself who was an Ascended realm awakened!

That was how fearsome her reputation was.

In the presence of such a monstrous figure, Battle Instructor Riley could only bow his head and be servile!

The woman called Vice Chancellor Monnet raised her head from her work and her hawk eyes pierced into Battle Instructor Riley.

"Yes I did. Sit down, Riley. We have much to discuss," Vice Chancellor Monnet said lightly but her words seemed to carry weight which somehow influenced the very surroundings!

Battle Instructor Riley sat down with a gulp and waited patiently to hear what Vice Chancellor Monnet had to say.

"Honestly speaking, I truly don't see the need for this… culture of extortion," she said as she glanced at her left.

She was so powerful that she could sense and see the new students who were being duped by their own seniors about five thousand kilometers away!

"Hehe… Vice Chancellor Monnet, it is a good way to uh… get them out of their comfort zone and introduce them to how the world of awakening truly works," Battle Instructor Riley explained nervously.

Vice Chancellor Monnet refocused on him again with a raised eyebrow, causing him to shift uncomfortably in his seat.

"Very well. Don't go too far. Is that clear?" she asked.

"Yes Vice Chancellor Monnet," Battle Instructor Riley replied humbly.