The female instructor stepped forward again, her clipboard tucked under one arm, voice carrying with crisp clarity.
"That concludes the assessment for this cohort," she announced. "All results have been recorded and forwarded."
A faint shimmer passed over the drones as they powered down and drifted back into their standby pattern.
"Your rankings will be posted by the end of the day," she continued, eyes sweeping the rows with a cool professionalism that didn't invite questions. "Along with provisional track placements, developmental recommendations, and the required briefings for those of you who scored above twenty percent."
Several students straightened at that, the ones who'd earned those coveted higher numbers trying not to look smug.
The instructor's tone sharpened just enough to cut through swelling egos. "Until then, you are free to explore the campus. Get acclimated to your dorms, familiarize yourselves with any open classes or extra curricular activities, and read through the course catalogue you received at registration."
She tapped her clipboard lightly.
"For those of you eager to get ahead…" Her eyes flicked over a few nervous faces near the back. "The campus offers work opportunities. Completion of these tasks will earn you Campus Credits. These can be exchanged at the school treasury for supplies, supplemental training modules, Catalysts, consumables, and if you can afford them specialized Artifice-provided tools."
That stirred some real interest. Even the students who scored poorly leaned in slightly.
"Your bracelets will display available tasks," she added. "Some are simple. Some… less so. Choose according to your capability."
She nodded once. "For today, you are dismissed."
A ripple of motion spread as students began shifting, breaking from their neat rows into loose clusters. Conversations ignited instantly some excited, some bitter, some hushed and speculative.
Obei remained still for a moment, letting the noise wash past him.
Around him, the courtyard buzzed with energy students comparing results, planning routes through campus, grouping up, or avoiding each other entirely.
Obei exhaled and stepped forward, ready to disappear into the crowd.
He thought about his next move feeling embarrassed about earlier, he decided to look for ways to increase his performer tier.
Remembering how the instructor spoke about catalysts he decided to look it up on his bracelet.
His bracelet immediately chimed to the treasuries page, It was strange that everything about the bracelet seemed far more advanced then what he had seen outside. Not only that, but no information about the outside seemed to be accessible from the bracelet.
Returning back to his initial thought process he looked through the mapping setting directions for the treasury.
The path to the Treasury was swift. The treasury was on a more fortified side of the campus. wide stone walkways, polished bronze fixtures bolted into the corners, and surveillance cams perched like metal ravens on every overhang.
Two security officers stood at the front of the Treasury building, armored in the Initiative's matte-black uniform plated vests, reinforced boots, stun batons at their belts, visors reflecting nothing but the visitor approaching.
As Obei stepped forward, both guards tracked him with silent, professional attention. One gave a curt nod and stepped aside, allowing him through the double glass doors.
Inside, the atmosphere shifted instantly cooler, quieter, like a bank. The floors were a white-gold marble, veined faintly with silver. Transparent display panels floated in the air, showing rotating images of artifacts, catalysts, and specialized gear far above anything Obei understood.
At the front desk sat a blonde receptionist, her hair pulled into a neat bun with a silver pin shaped like a small quill. She glanced up at him with a bright, practiced smile.
"Welcome to the Treasury," she said warmly. "Are you looking for assistance finding something?"
Obei hesitated. "Uh… I'm not here to buy anything," he admitted. "Just wanted to get information. About catalyst pricing."
Her expression softened not out of pity, but a kind of knowing professionalism.
"Of course," she said. "Take a seat for a moment."
He lowered himself into a plush chair opposite her desk. She tapped a few keys on her terminal, the screens lighting up around her.
She tilted her head slightly. "Do you know your advancement requirements yet?"
Obei's chest tightened. He could feel the embarrassment prickling under his skin.
"No," he said quietly. "Not really. I… didn't know I had any."
Her smile didn't falter there wasn't even a flicker of judgment.
"That's completely normal," she reassured him. "If you focus on your holographic interface, not the bracelets' but the one you saw when you first awakened. And focus on the Performer Tier, it should display everything you need. Requirements, and thresholds."
Obei let out a slow breath, relieved she wasn't laughing at him like some of the students earlier.
Following her instructions, he quickly found the requirements to advance to the Second Tier.
ADVANCEMENT REQUIREMENTS
• 10 Liters — Tier One Beast Blood• 5 — Tier One Verdant Cores• 1 — Tier One Wooden Sigil
The requirements looked quite intimidating, he wasn't familiar with any of the names. With how quickly everything had progressed so far it was hard to believe that the treasury would even have any of the necessary items. And if they did how would they know what it was.
He looked to her, probing for information. "You wouldn't happen to be carrying Ten Liters of Tier One Beast Blood, Five Tier one Verdant Cores, and One Tier One Wooden Sigil would you?"
"Actually we do happen to carry all of that the beast blood is a common catalyst used by all, the verdant core, and the wooden sigil seem to be tied to your specific Mutation. Would you like me to give you the pricing of each item separately, or would you like me to tally it up for you?" She replied with a beautiful smile.
"I'd appreciate it if you could tally the total for me, I'd like to get a rough idea on what I'm working towards." he replied.
The receptionist nodded before typing.
Obei sat patiently before a chime resounded from his bracelet.
TIER ONE ADVANCEMENT MATERIALS
Tier One Beast Blood — 10 Liters• Standard rate: 40 Credits per liter• Required total: 400 Campus Credits
Tier One Verdant Cores — 5 units• 150 Credits each• Required total: 750 Campus Credits
Tier One Wooden Sigil — 1 unit• 200 Campus Credits
Estimated Total Required: 1,350 Campus Credits
The receptionist smiled once more, "Would you like me to help you with finding anything else you may need?"
He closed the interface and looked back at the receptionist. Her polite, expectant smile hadn't changed.
"…No," he said, rising from the chair. "You've already helped me with what I needed. More than enough, honestly."
"I'm glad to hear that," she said.
He nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. "Right. I'll… probably be back. Eventually."
She gave a light, almost amused laugh.
"Most students are," she said. "Good luck, Mister Draven. Your Tier won't raise itself."
He huffed a quiet breath that might've been a laugh if he weren't still overwhelmed. "Yeah. I'll keep that in mind."
He wasn't overwhelmed by how much the catalysts cost but, more at the fact that even though Nicole had said that they'd only recently been going through cases of Narratives. It felt as though they had everything prepared from the start.
With that, he stepped away from the desk. The marble floor echoed softly under his boots as he made his way toward the double doors, the displays of rare artifacts and catalysts shimmering on either side like unreachable stars.
As he passed through the security gates, the guards gave him the same silent nod they had on entry unfazed, unreadable.
Outside, the campus air hit him again warm, bright, busy with students moving like currents across the walkways.