Meanwhile at the other side of the yatcht, the minutes ticked by, the children's anticipation grew.
They began to hear footsteps outside their rooms, and the sound of doors opening and closing as the academy's staff delivered notifications.
Wren's door opened, and a gentle voice announced, "Lunch will be served in 30 minutes. Please make your way to the dining hall."
Wren nodded, even though she knew the staff member couldn't see her. She got up from her bed and stretched, feeling a bit hungry.
Ashley, on the other hand, was already dressed and ready to go.
She had explored every nook and cranny of her room and was eager to see what the rest of the yacht had to offer. She grabbed her bag and headed out the door, excitement building in her chest.
Kai's door opened, and he stood up, his eyes fixed on the staff member. "Lunch will be served in 30 minutes," the staff member repeated.
Kai nodded curtly and turned to leave, his impatience evident.
Lavinia looked up from her book, slightly disoriented. "Lunch?" she repeated, her voice soft.
The staff member nodded and smiled. "Yes, lunch will be served in 30 minutes. You can head to the dining hall then." Lavinia nodded and closed her book, reluctantly putting aside her reading.
As the other children made their way to the dining hall, they couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation.
What would lunch be like? Would they be sitting with their usual classmates, or would they be meeting new people? The uncertainty was part of the fun, and the children couldn't wait to find out.
The dining hall was a spacious room with large windows that offered a stunning view of the ocean.
The tables were set with fine china and crystal glasses, and the smell of delicious food wafted through the air.
The children took their seats, chatting and laughing as they waited for the food to be served.
As they approached the cafeteria, Wren noticed that the seating arrangement seemed to be random.
The food was served, and the children dug in, savoring the delicious flavors and textures. The conversation was lively, with everyone chatting and laughing.
Wren approached the table at the edge of the window, which gave a great view of the sea and the deck. The sunlight streaming through the window highlighted the dust particles dancing in the air, and the sound of seagulls filled the background. As she sat down, others joined in, including Ashley and Diana, who greeted her with warm smiles. The food was served, and the children dug in enthusiastically, the clinking of utensils on plates filling the air.
Meanwhile, while everyone was eating, Wren was scrolling through her system, her eyes scanning the digital information with ease. The advantage of having the system was that only after you gave permission to others would they be able to view and see your system. She was checking her notifications and updates, her fingers moving swiftly over the virtual keyboard.
"What do you think of white-haired tigers?" Wren heard the unfamiliar boy at the table ask her, and she looked at him, analyzing his face. He looked like someone from the manipulation class, with a keen interest in the subject evident in his eyes. Wren's gaze lingered on him for a moment, taking in his features before responding.
"They are cool, because of how rare they are," Wren briefly replied, neither admitting if she liked them or not. The boy nodded, not ready to end the conversation. "And hybrid of lions and tigers," he asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Ligers," Wren replied, her voice calm and matter-of-fact.
"Yes, the liger," the boy nodded at Wren's word, his smile growing wider. "Cool," she debriefed, taking the vegetable off the plate with her chopsticks and stacking them in her mouth. The crunch of the vegetable between her teeth was satisfying, and she savored the flavor.
The boy continued his query, and Wren replied briefly, her responses concise and to the point. By the time Wren realized she had finished her bowl of salad, she felt a sense of relief wash over her. She placed her chopsticks down and sipped her drink, the cool liquid soothing her throat.
"Are you on some kind of quest, or something?" Wren asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked at the boy. She had caught on to his game, and she wasn't impressed.
"Something like that," the boy wryly said, his smile faltering for a moment. He didn't think Wren would catch him in his act and expose him directly.
"Well, you are really lacking in your manipulation skills," Wren cheekily said, her voice laced with amusement. "If you want to improve, contact Kelvin." She smiled, almost imagining Kelvin's face when he realized Wren was introducing people as students to him.
"You know Kelvin?" the boy asked, his eyes widening in surprise.
Wren nodded and retorted, "We are dorm mates, and he is really great at that field." Her voice was casual, but her eyes sparkled with mischief.
"I know, he is in our class, the topper actually," the boy replied, his voice filled with admiration.
"Oh, well that's a bummer," Wren replied, her tone dry. "It isn't that bad, he is easy-going most of the times. Only when his competitive side isn't activated," the boy added, his smile growing wider.
Wren listened before retorting, "No one is easy-going when their other side is activated. I don't see why you would come to me for help. I barely know Kelvin." Her voice was straightforward, and her eyes seemed to bore into the boy's soul. She wasn't interested in playing games or pretending to be someone she wasn't.