Weird Interaction
Getting to his dorm room was pretty easy, and Mike got the chance to get a proper look at the Academy for the first time.
Beatrice had shown him out of the building to the outside, and he was immediately taken aback by the appearance of the school.
The place was massive.
If he didn't know any better, he'd say that it looked almost like a small city. The main walkway stretched out far ahead, clean and smooth between his feet. It occasionally branched into side paths lined with sleek signs that glowed gently.
On either side, buildings of varying shapes and sizes rose into view. Some resembled high-rise apartment complexes, towering with rows of smooth glass balconies, giving off a soft, ambient glow, as though they were mimicking natural sunlight. Others were shorter but far stranger in their shapes. Curved domes, tilted spires, and angular towers that seemed to defy conventional logic and architectural designs. One building looked like a coiled spir, each floor rotating just a few degrees from the one below it.
There were alsonopem areas. Large courtyards dotted with benches, fountains, and holographic sculptures and statues that occasionally shifted form. Some students were lounging under structures meant to provide shade that floated slightly above the ground. Their positions adjusting to the angle of the sun without any visible mechanisms.
Far ahead, he saw what looked like classroom halls. Simple rectangular structures. Some had transparent glass walls, showing glimpses of the interior, while others were intentionally opaque and private. A few were surrounded by practice areas, ranging from elevated platforms to sand filled pits and metal arenas. Mike assumed these were for the more physical classes.
He passed a long glass tunnel suspended between two buildings. Acting like an aerial bridge connecting what looked like different wings of the Academy. Inside, he could see figures walking m, talking, and some gesturing to floating screens in front of them.
However, not everything was sleek and modern. He noticed a few older-looking buildings, with brick exteriors and moss covered tiles, sitting quietly between their futuristic neighbors. It gave the place an odd sort of charm, a strange mix of traditional and futuristic architecture intentionally sown together.
He also noticed drones buzzing overhead gently. Carrying supplies, delivering packages, or cleaning the surroundings. There were also some vertical gardens on the walls of nearby towers, and students gathered around them, tending to the plants or simply relaxing.
The air was clean, and despite its size, there was a strange sense of order and balance.
'It feels like its own ecosystem.' Mike couldn't help but marvel at everything he saw. Calling it impressive was an understatement.
Moreover, these were just the parts he could immediately see. With his sharp senses, he noticed there were more structures in the distance, and he even saw the occasional ship fly by some ways away from his position.
As for how he knew where he was going. Well, Beatrice had sent him a map of the school and pinned where his dorm was supposed to be.
After a while of walking, Mike found himself approaching one of the large apartment complexes. He wasted no time and quickly went over.
The entrance reminded him of what one would find in a hotel. It was sleek and clean without giving one an oppressive feeling.
When he walked in, he noticed other people moving about. Similar to him, they were using their watches to guide them, so they most have been new students as well.
Mike hummed and looked at his watch. His room was D36 on the 6th floor.
Nodding to himself, he looked for a way to ascend, and he soon saw an elevator, though it closed just as it noticed it, meaning it was already occupied.
He went over to it, waiting for it to return.
However, after standing there for a good five minutes with nothing happening, he realized that it wasn't coming down.
He frowned and scratched his head, unsure of how to proceed.
He then heard some footsteps behind him and sighed. He noticed someone had been staring at him about half the time he'd been standing in front of the elevator, and he hoped to get on it before he was approached. Alas, his lack of knowledge for how most things worked seemed to be intent on being his downfall.
"What are you doing? Just call it down." Mike spun to see the person that had addressed him, and he was temporarily taken aback.
She had braided Crimson hair that reached her back and bright Amber eyes. Her skin was slightly tanned from what was visible, and she wore a simple black jumpsuit that wasn't overly fitting but still did a great job at accentuating her figure. She also had a few freckles on her face, and right now, she was staring at Mike like he was an idiot.
'Pretty.' He blinked before she suddenly snapped her fingers in front of his face.
"Hey, eyes on me." She said with some snark, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Ah, sorry. It's just..." Mike scratched the back of his neck, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"I've never used an elevator before, so..." He trailed off, and he felt her disbelief.
"Yeah, right. You've never used an elevator before?" She scoffed. "Are you trying to be funny or something? Well, it's not working. You just look dumb." She said bluntly.
'Ouch.' Mike winced inwardly.
"Yeah... I'm being serious." He forced a cough and looked away, feeling his cheeks heat up. This was more than a bit embarrassing.
The girl narrowed her eyes at him, trying to see if he was lying or not, and after a while, she huffed.
"Are you here on scholarship?" The question took him by surprise.
"Huh? How did you know?" He asked, not expecting to he outed so quickly.
She rolled her eyes.
"Pretty much the only people who go for scholarships are those too broke to pay for the tuition. They tend to wear cheap clothes and lack basic knowledge. Your case is more extreme than what I've seen as I've never encountered anyone who can't use an elevator, but still, it's obvious. You're completely clueless, aren't you?" Mike felt like he was getting stabbed by her words.
Broke, lacking basic knowledge, cheap clothes, clueless.
"... Why did you approach me?" He asked with a strained smile, and the girl huffed.
"Well, I originally just wanted to tell you off, but seeing as you are legitimately ignorant, I suppose I could help." She gestured to the elevator, more specifically, the side panel next to it that held two buttons, an upwards and downwards facing arrow.
"What floor are you heading for?" She asked.
"6." Mike replied simply, and the girl nodded.
"Same as me." She pressed the button with the downwards facing arrow on it and stood back. A few seconds later, there was a small 'ding' followed by the doors opening.
A few people who were already inside stepped out, Mike and the girl making way for them before entering themselves.
She then gestured to another panel inside the elevator, and this time, the buttons were numbered. She pressed the one with number six on it, and a few seconds later, the doors closed, and Mike felt the thing begin to ascend.
"What's your name?" The girl suddenly asked, and Mike turned to her. She looked a bit less snarky now and just observed him with faint curiosity. He felt an odd sensation as she looked into his eyes, but she was mostly looking at the organs and not 'him', like they interested her.
"Um, Mike." He replied, feeling oddly self-aware at her staring.
"Hm, you have big eyes." She commented flatly, and Mike blinked, unsure if it was a compliment.
"Anyway, just Mike? No surname?" She asked again, and Mike shook his head.
"Huh." She seemed to mused for a moment before sighing. "The name is Theresa Agni." She spoke up, and Mike blinked before nodding.
"Nice to meet you, Theresa." He offered a small smile, and he noticed a flash of surprise across her face before she quickly schooled her expression.
"Moderately acceptable meeting you, Mike."
"?"
Mike was about to question that response, but the elevator opened once more, and the two disembarked as others entered the elevator.
Mike looked around for D36, keenly aware of Theresa watching him silently.
'Whybis she so keen on staring at me?' He lamented inwardly as he soon found his room. The doors were simple black wooden doors with a golden plaque that held the number of the rooms. Mike exhaled and turned to Theresa to thank her, then he paused as he had a thought.
"Wait, you said this is also your floor?' He asked, and she nodded.
"But... you're a girl." He said with confusion, and Theresa blinked for a moment before realizing what he meant.
"Ah, these are mixed dorms." She explained simply before staring at him with a deadpanned expression. "You didn't read the pamphlet, didn't you?"
Mike blushed.
"I was... going to read it when I reached my room." He defended himself weakly.
"Uh-Huh." She scoffed before shaking her head.
"Well, whatever. Just... try to be more observant." She shook her head and walked down the hall, presumably to her own room.
Mike let out a relieved sigh and turned to the door. He hesitated for a moment before aiming his watch at the doorknob. A second later, there was a faint clicking noise within, and he knew it was unlocked.
He opened it and slipped in. Closing the door behind him, he took in the dorm room and...
"Wow." His jaw almost dropped.