Lana looked around the room and noted the other class was not present. She was pondering why while they were getting lunch and 2A was not when it occurred the timing of their processing may have just started before lunch was served so her class got to eat first. They must be out touring the campus right now. She felt a hand on her shoulder "Hey sis!" She turned to see her brother. "Hey Dobin. Do you like your room?"
Dobin shrugged, "I don't have to share my bed and there are no leaks in the ceiling so I can't complain!" Lana laughed. "Mine's not so bad either. I only have one roommate and it's the girl with the bird we tested with. I'm assuming anyway since I didn't see her in there but the room is geared for a beast companion."
Dobin smiled as they got in line to suffer through the meal, hoping the remainder of their day won't be so bad.
As she and Dobin sat down, Lana noticed Logan standing off to the side and watched curiously as she choked down one of the worst dishes she has ever been presented with, swearing when she is in charge of the menu, this recipe will be shredded then burned in the fire. She noted it didn't taste as bad as that in the orphanage but that didn't give her much solace. About a third of the way through her bowl of torture, she noticed Logan being presented with a rather nice looking sandwich and a crystal clear glass of water. Logan sat at the most empty table in the room, which was easy to find since the other class was not there. He appeared pleased with his meal and solitude his chosen seat presented.
"Dobin," she leaned closer to her brother and whispered, "When we get our money cards and after you teach me how to link it to my watch, can I keep your card? I think it would be more prudent to protect your money from the bullies. I'll keep a good record so you know what you have available. In light of the... nutrient presentations here, I will need to buy me another portable kitchen setup like what I had borrowed from the orphanage. I can't suffer through such horrible food!" Dobin laughed but nodded in agreement as his bowl was almost empty. "How can you even eat that so quickly?"
"I'm a growing boy. I'm starving!" he chuckled.
"More the reason for me to prepare our meals. If you'd like, you can eat what you want here then I will grow some good stuff and provide that as well." He nodded then looked at her bowl as his was empty. She simply slid the bowl over to her twin and watched him eat quickly with a disgusted look on her face.
Just as he finished his sister's soup, Dobin noticed the teacher stand up. "Everyone stand up and take your trays to the return over there," pointing as he said it, "then head to that door next to it. Starting this evening, both classes will all be eating at the same time."
Well, that explains that, thought Lana.
There was a mad scramble to get it done as they were excited to see this new world they would be living in for the next two years, longer for those that chose to sign on with the military after graduation. It was one of the reasons the military gave the earth ability. The only way to get the higher books was to sign on. Many even signed on in their first year so they could continue to grow past level 4.
Once all the remnants of the meal were placed in their appropriate receptacles, the teacher led his students out the door and they saw several buildings. As they walked, Nis pointed and explained what they were looking at. "That wall over there to the left has the gate to get to the second year campus and the military base. The second-years have their own campus. There should be no reason for any interaction between them and you. We are heading to this building in the middle, our homeroom and club building. Just to the right is the administration building. The doctor's office is located on the first floor, just across the corridor from the main entrance. It is a requirement for students to participate in a club, preferably a combat-related one to prepare you for portal outings. Now. Most clubs are in the homeroom buildings but not all. Those bigger clubs are separate and will be along the outside wall. The most common combat clubs are Beast Weapons, Elemental Ability, Transformation, and Enhancement clubs. Along the wall, the clubs you will find are Beast Weapons, Elemental Ability and even Agricultural Club is in the back corner over there to the right. For Forger's Club, the classroom is inside the building but the forges are located behind the building on the first floor so those students can practice their craft after hours. There are 4 forges each for first-year students. Also, behind our homeroom building and the headquarters building is the student market. This is where the forger will sell their wares as well as those in the crafting/sewing club, agricultural club, etc. The clubs that produce something will have stalls on the weekends. These will begin to open up in about 3 months to give students time to make things and usually more stalls show up at the 6-month mark as students improve their quality. It is a requirement for students in such clubs to have these stalls as it may be a skill needed once you start your life outside of school. Are there any questions before we enter the building?"
Miraculously, there were no questions so they entered the building. "Classes are easy to find. Even numbers to the right, odd numbers to the left. A is on the south side, B is on the North side. Simple?" Nis continued the tour and seemed to know what would be asked as his directions were thorough. He seemed to have a lot of experience with students. "This means as soon as you enter, our classroom is right there," he pointed to the right, across the hall. Please file in. Your desks have been assigned with your names on them and your course materials are already presented to you. This will include your lessons tablet, money card for those without them, schedules, and the list of clubs which is also available on your tablets to find additional information. While you can hop between clubs, it's best to sign up as quickly as possible to guarantee a slot in the smaller clubs."
Everyone had gotten into the room and was looking for their seat so he went up to his at the front. "You will have an exam halfway through the year and again at the end of the year. There will be two excursions to other planets. These are meant to teach you how to deal with challenges and generally involve combating beasts which makes those combat clubs particularly important. Towards the end of the year, there is an inter-base tournament. Most of the clubs compete with those from other bases. Does anyone have any questions?" Lana did.
"Teacher Nis, if we know what club we want to join already how do we do that?"
"Great question! Okay, first, you can follow the directions in your pamphlet to link your watch to your tablet, and you need to do that with your money card as well, and your watch will prompt you to select a club or you can go on your tablet. Just turn it on and there is a setup. It's pretty simple but in that it will ask you simple questions, give you suggestions on clubs and other activities based on your desires and talents. You can choose a club associated with those suggestions or just choose the club while ignoring the suggestions. Also, if any events come up and you choose the "follow" option of those types of events, you will be alerted when they happen. An example would be if the different classes chose to have a competition between themselves to determine which class had the best fighters. If you chose that type of activity to follow, you'd be alerted if such an event were to occur. Are there any further questions?" There were none. "In that case you are released to familiarize yourself with the campus, the materials you have been provided and get settled in. At some point in this, you are required to stop by the headquarters building and visit the supply store and get our uniforms. You will be required to wear them starting tomorrow morning, every weekday and if there is a weekend class. The supply store is not normally open on weekends, today being the exception. If you need replacements, they must be obtained during normal working hours. As you enter through the main entrance, the supply office is the door to the left of the doctor's office. Anything you need for education such as notebooks, pens and such can be purchased there as well. An alarm will sound for breakfast at 8am. I will see you here in the morning at 9 am. Curfew, meaning be in your room, is at 10 pm. Dismissed."
Everyone gathered all the materials they had been presented and left the room. Some headed back to their rooms while others decided to walk around and find the exterior clubs. There was much excitement in the air as the teenagers were looking forward to the start of their lessons.
Lana and Dobin got their uniforms then went back to her room. He followed so he could teach her how to use the technology in front of her. He was grateful they didn't give her a beast weapon.