Obei gave the receptionist a small, tired nod. "Thank you," he said genuinely, as well as a bit breathless. "Really."
She returned a professional—almost warm—smile as he stepped away, pushing through the glass exit door that led deeper into the campus interior.
The door shut behind him with a soft click.
He froze.
"…I didn't ask where I'm supposed to go," he muttered. "Or what my schedule even is."
As if offended by his doubt, the bracelet on his wrist chimed a single, crisp tone.
A soft blue display flickered to life above the band, projecting a compact holographic interface. Lines of text scrolled into view, neat and perfectly organized.
His class schedule.
{¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯}
GENERAL EDUCATION
Courses:
Mathematics
Literature
Science
World History
Time:8:00 AM – 12:30 PM (Mon–Fri)
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Courses:
Conditioning & Endurance
Track and Field Rotation
Time:1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Mon–Fri)
EMPOWERED SPARRING
Courses:
Basic Combat Integration
Narrative Ability Application
Time:3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (Mon–Fri)
FREE TIME
Days: Saturday & Sunday Only
Recreational Options:
Fencing
Archery
Art Studio
Chess Club
Robotics Group
Optional:
Rest
Personal Training
No activity at all
{_____________________________________________}
Below that, a blinking notification appeared:
DORMITORY ASSIGNMENT: Building C — Room 217
Map route available. Tap to navigate.
Obei exhaled a shaky laugh.
The bracelet chimed again, projecting a glowing arrow that pointed to a hallway.
"Alright," he murmured, adjusting the strap. "Guess I'm going this way."
Building C wasn't far—just a few turns through clean walkways lined with trimmed hedges and softly glowing path lights. As he approached, the shape of it emerged through the trees, and Obei stopped walking.
It didn't look like a dorm, It looked more like a resort.
Six stories tall, wide and spacious, with balconies wrapped in dark wood paneling and warm lantern-style lights glowing along the exterior. The glass windows reflected the sunset in gold streaks, and the entrance was framed by two tall stone pillars with ivy braided around them. A fountain trickled calmly at the front, the sound adding to the strangely serene atmosphere like the world outside wasn't burning.
"Dorms... right." Obei muttered under his breath
The bracelet guided him directly to the sliding double doors. As they parted, a rush of cool air greeted him along with the scent of cedar and something faintly citrusy.
The lobby opened up like a hotel's. The floor polished, soft chairs, a reception desk, and a wide staircase leading up toward the higher floors. Students lounged around the space, some chatting, others scrolling on their own bracelets.
Standing behind the reception counter was a man who looked like he had been carved entirely from disapproval.
Old with thin sharp features, a perfectly ironed vest, and pointed nose that made him look like a hawk surveying its territory.
His name tag read:
HUBERT — DORMITORY MANAGER
Hubert's eyes narrowed the moment Obei stepped inside.
"You must be the new arrival." he said, voice clipped.
Obei blinked. "…Yes?"
Hubert's heels clicked sharply as he stepped around the counter, posture painfully upright.
"Obei Draven. Building C, Room 217. Second floor, east wing." He spoke as though reading the words off Obei's soul instead of a roster. "Before you take another step, you will hear the rules of this facility."
Obei straightened instinctively.
Hubert raised one finger thin, bony, extremely judgmental.
"Rule one NO girls past the threshold of these dormitories. Not past the door, not into the hall, not up the stairs. This building is male housing. That will remain so."
Finger two.
"Rule two CURFEW is precisely eight o'clock in the evening. I lock the doors at eight-o-one. I do not unlock them. If you are late, you will sleep outside. If you attempt to climb the balcony, I will know and I will reprimand you."
Finger three.
"Rule three NO use of abilities indoors. None. I don't care if your powers conjure sparkles or summon gods; if you activate them in this building, you will find yourself cleaning bathrooms for a month."
Finger four.
"Rule four Absolutely NO drugs. And NO pets. Not even small ones. Not even ones you insist are harmless. If it breathes and you feed it, it is not permitted."
Hubert dropped his hand, eyes critical enough to peel paint.
"Do you understand these rules young man!?"
Obei nodded quickly. "Yes, sir."
Hubert leaned in slightly.
"Excellent. Try not to cause me trouble. Most don't last three days without breaking one of these rules. You may think your smart or clever, that I might not know what your doing but this is my domain. I see everything. EvEryTHING."
Without another word, he pivoted sharply and returned behind the desk, leaving Obei standing awkwardly in the lobby.
"Right, Good talk."" Obei whispered tightening his grip on his backpack as he headed towards the stairs.
The journey to his dorm room was uneventful.
Even though clusters of students lounged near the entrance laughing, arguing, showing off tiny sparks of their abilities when they thought Hubert wasn't lurking. The staircase leading to the upper floors was practically deserted. Each step muffled under soft carpeting, and the air grew quieter the higher he climbed.
By the time he reached the second floor, the noise from below had faded.
A long hallway stretched out before him, warmly lit by overhead sconces that cast calm amber glows across the beige walls. Each door was marked with clean metallic numbering, the faint smell of laundry detergent lingering in the air.
"205…, 209…, 213…"
His bracelet pinged once, highlighting the correct door as he approached.
217.
The door frame was dark oak, the number engraved.
Obei exhaled slowly, the weight of the day pressing deeper into his shoulders.
"…Here goes," he murmured. tapping his key-card against the scanner. A soft beep answering the key-card.
The door swung open to a room that was… surprisingly nice.
Warm light flickered on from motion sensors, revealing a space far larger than he expected. A modern studio layout clean, polished, comfortable.
A full-sized bed sat against the right wall, navy sheets neatly folded. Across from it, a desk with a built-in lamp and a sleek chair waited beneath a mounted digital screen. A small kitchenette occupied the far corner: mini-fridge, electric burner, sink, storage cabinets. To the left, a door slightly ajar revealed a private bathroom with tiled floors and a glass shower.
Obei stepped inside slowly, almost suspicious.
"...This is nicer than I imagined."
He set his backpack down beside the bed and crossed the room, running his fingers over the smooth surface of the desk. Everything smelled faintly of wood polish and fresh linen.
His bracelet blinked once, a soft notification ringing.
WELCOME TO ROOM 217.Orientation will begin tomorrow at 7:30 AM.Please rest.
"Rest," he repeated to himself, letting out a quiet laugh.
He wasn't sure he knew how, not with everything he'd been through. Monster trees, Monster people, Fires in the distance..., people rioting..., His system screen…, Hubert declaring war on pets…
Still, exhaustion finally began to drag at his limbs.
He wandered toward the window and pulled back the curtain.
The campus stretched below him soft pathway lights tracing arcs through the greenery, distant buildings glowing like settled lanterns. The world outside the Initiative felt like a slow illness. Always present, never ending.
But here… here felt strangely intact like a bubble. He knew it was a fragile one.
He stood there for a few seconds longer before stepping away.
The bed dipped beneath his weight as he sat down, elbows on his knees. The necklace they'd given him had a cool metal touch with embedded runes shifting against his collarbone. A Tier Two protective device. A life-saver in a world that shouldn't need one.
His mind replayed the fog, the tree creatures, Kara's shaking hands, The praying ladies cries, His saviors worries.
Remembering what Nicole said to him "Training to survive," he murmured. He lay back slowly.
The room was quiet. Safe. Eventually, his eyes fluttered closed.
Sleep didn't come easily…but it came.