As the group continued to walk through the academy corridors, there was a small moment of silence. Nobody was talking, until Felix finally broke the silence.
"Alright guys, let's tell each other something," he said, grinning.
As Felix spoke, the group slowed, glancing around at the corridors. The academy felt massive, almost alive. Lights along the walls pulsed faintly. Panels shifted and adjusted automatically, and small drones hovered quietly near the ceiling, scanning everything.
"Wow…" Liam muttered, his eyes wide. "This place… it's insane. I've never seen anything like it."
Beatrix walked calmly beside him, her gaze sweeping over every detail. "Focus on your surroundings," she said simply. "Knowing this place could save your life someday."
Raze, as usual, stayed quiet, taking mental notes. The corridors were wider than he expected. They were lined with polished metal panels and occasional observation windows that revealed other students training in combat simulations. 'This is like a city inside a building,' he thought, furrowing his brow.
Felix, however, couldn't contain his excitement. He reached out to tap one of the panels. "Hey, check this out! This screen's showing the weapons lab on Level Three. And those drones! Look at them! They're fully autonomous!"
"Focus, Felix," Beatrix said flatly, though the corner of her mouth twitched slightly.
Liam chuckled nervously. "I feel like I'm going to get yelled at just for breathing too loud."
The group turned a corner and found themselves in a wide hall. A holographic map of the academy floated above the center, displaying every level, training field, and restricted area. Students moved across the floors above and below them, practicing, training, or rushing to their next classes.
Felix grinned, glancing at Raze. "Okay… now, everyone tell me something about yourselves. No cheating."
Raze raised an eyebrow, silently questioning where this was going.
Beatrix leaned against a railing, arms crossed. "Fine. I'll start. I'm Beatrix Emberfall. Emberfall bloodline. I'm… competitive. That's about it."
"Simple enough," Felix said, nodding, then turned to Liam. "Your turn."
Liam hesitated, fidgeting with his bag straps. "Uh… I'm Liam. Not from a bloodline… and I guess I just try to stay alive?"
Felix laughed. "Fair enough. And you, Raze?"
Raze glanced down the corridor, watching the drones drift past. "I'm Raze… that's all you really need to know."
Felix smirked. "Staying mysterious, huh? That's… interesting. Makes me wanna find out more about you"
Beatrix tilted her head, observing him quietly.
Raze felt the weight of her gaze but said nothing, simply following the group as they continued exploring. Each new hallway revealed something more impressive. There were hallways that lead outside to training arenas, virtual combat simulations, and rooms filled with devices he couldn't even begin to understand.
"Man, this place is insane," Felix muttered again, bouncing slightly on his feet. "I could get lost here for days and still find something new every time."
Raze smirked faintly. 'At least I'm not the only one overwhelmed,' he thought.
They stepped into a massive room, walls lined with rows of sleek VR pods. Raze raised an eyebrow, scanning the setup. "Are these… VR pods?" he asked, curiously.
Felix chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Yeah, these are VR pods. I've used ones like this back at home," he said. "They train you… prepare you for what's coming."
Raze looked around, impressed. The pods hummed softly, lights flickering across their surfaces. The technology here wasn't just advanced, it was on a whole other level. After the war, the world had changed. Even something as simple as training or gaming tech had improved far beyond what he'd imagined.
"Guess this is where they separate the weak from the strong," Raze muttered under his breath, his eyes lingering on the pods.
Felix smirked. "Or where the fun really begins."
Liam, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke up. "So… what exactly are these VR pods?"
Felix leaned back slightly, a small smirk on his face. "Well, there's this popular game, and people play it at home and even here at military schools. It's called Awakening Battleground. It's pretty simple. Two players enter an empty arena, and fight until one loses. Sounds easy, right?" He shrugged.
"But it's actually designed to train you."
Raze raised an eyebrow, listening intently.
Felix continued, "The VR pods record everything. Every move, every attribute of your body… strength, speed, endurance, all of it. Anything you can do in the real world, you can do in the game. The only thing it can't replicate is your awakening. That part's still tied to your actual body."
Liam nodded slowly, processing the explanation. "So… it's basically a training tool disguised as a game?"
"Exactly," Felix said, grinning. "Fun, dangerous, and totally exhausting if you take it seriously."
Raze let out a small sigh, his mind already racing. 'Maybe I can use this to test out my full strength when I get stronger.'
Felix walked up to one of the pods and ran his fingers along the smooth surface. A small display screen lit up on the side, showing the message:
[5 Credits per 30 minutes of use]
He let out a short whistle. "Not cheap, huh?"
Without hesitating, Felix swiped the screen and pressed his wristwatch against it. The device beeped as the transfer went through.
[Transaction Complete — 5 Credits Deducted]
A soft ding followed, and the pod slowly began to open with a low mechanical hum. Steam hissed out from the edges, revealing the sleek, padded interior.
Raze watched quietly, eyes narrowing in curiosity. "So that's how it works…"
Felix grinned, glancing over his shoulder. "Yep. Just like home. The only difference is that these ones would probably fry your brain twice as fast."
Beatrix rolled her eyes. "You make everything sound worse than it is."
"Not wrong, though," Liam muttered under his breath.
Felix laughed, brushing it off before stepping closer to climb inside.