One by one, the seven cadets from the helicopter stepped through the gate. Eleanor and her companions followed last, unhurried. A burst of white brilliance engulfed her as she crossed the threshold, so intense that her instincts forced her eyes shut.
When she opened them again, she stood in a vast hall. At first glance it resembled the reception of a powerful corporation rather than anything one might call an academy office. Directly ahead stood three large desks in a line, each staffed by a strikingly beautiful woman. They were not the coquettish sort often placed at commercial lobbies, but middle-aged, dignified figures, radiating calm competence. Their white robes lent them an air at once pure and authoritative.
Floating above the desks hung three luminous signs: Reception, Help Desk, and Exchange.
