[BEEP! BEEP!]
[It's time to wake up sleeping beauty!]
[BEEP! BEEP!]
Zylus attempted to turn off the constant buzzing noise of his system's alarm.
"I'm tryna sleep, so then I can wake up early tomorrow," Zylus said, completely numb to the situation around him. "Wait, tomorrow, alarm, today, that's today!" He yelled, forcing himself up from his bed.
Jace was already awake, cooking what smelled like scrambled eggs.
"Breakfast is going to be ready soon. You should start putting on your Cadet outfit; it's hanging on the couch." Jace said, "Oh yeah, take a shower first, you stink."
Zylus rapidly went to the shower as he opened his system.
[Time: 7:23 AM]
"I really slept through my alarm, anyway, time I take a nice shower," Zylus whispered, hopping into the bathroom.
As he entered the shower, he spun the handle all the way around, hoping heat would come out.
Brrr.
Absolute cold water had now encompassed him.
"Fuck this shit!" Zylus yelled, spinning it the other direction, "There we go, some heat." He said calmly, resting his back against the shower wall.
Multiple shampoo bottles stood organized row by row on the shower floor, where he picked one of them up and began to rinse himself with it.
"Today's first day I actually get to do something," Zylus said, "Let's see how it goes."
Once he finished using the shower, he turned everything off, leaving the area as he closed the door behind him.
[7:35 AM]
"Ah shit." Zylus said, "You can go without me, Jace. I'll be able to navigate it on my own."
"Alright, see you there then," Jace said, waving goodbye.
Zylus first put on his usual underwear and tank top, then followed it with the common cadet uniform. It was neatly made, designed more for purpose than comfort. A fitted, dark-toned jacket hugged the torso, reinforced at the shoulders and elbows with subtle plating, to withstand training blows. Beneath the jacket, there was a high-collared undershirt. The trousers were built to sustain any environmental damage, with the same color matching throughout his clothes.
"Not enough swag, I'ma add my own taste to it." Zylus said, taking his belt instead of using the one they gave him.
After he finished changing, he began munching on the scrambled eggs served to him. He gulped down entire cups of cold water, just as he realized the time.
[7:50 AM]
[User is going to be late]
"Fuck!" Zylus screamed, scrambling towards the door as he forced his foot into his shoes, creasing the back of it. "These were my only pair of Jordan Fours as well." He said, saddened, as he fully exited his apartment.
"Door locked!" The voice from the doorknob came alive once more, "Hope to see you again soon!"
[7:53 AM]
Zylus began to sprint, knowing exactly where to head, because he had already been to the main area where the cadet course is organized. But this time, they were called to a field, one that was right beside the original building that Zylus entered. Since he knew the direction, he continued to sprint, hoping he wouldn't turn out late again.
[7:55 AM]
"I know! You don't have to remind me." He yelled as he began to exhale continuously right after.
He continued to run until he peered at a glance a couple of meters away. It was a filled turf area, and it was definitely the size of a soccer pitch. And rows of neatly placed cadets scattered the entire area, with one woman standing above it all, Ivy Noctis.
"Her again?" Zylus grinned, "The same girl who healed me at the hospital in an instant."
Back when Zylus was still recovering against Zenos, she came to heal his wounds, and in that process, Zylus could tell she wanted him, and that now made him more eager to work with her today. But he still didn't care much; he wasn't much of a lustful guy after all.
[8:00 AM]
"Attention all Demon Cadets!" Ivy yelled into a megaphone, "You'll each be forming groups of five! So please do that as soon as possible! Thank you!" She finished, lowering the device she used to yell with.
"Finally made it," Zylus bent over, taking a couple of deep breaths, "Let's see who I'm going to group with today."
With that, three others started to walk up to him, and Zylus already knew the drill.
It was Emilia, Frey, and Zenos, all of them ready to team up once more, as if they were fated to group.
Since Zylus already knew what was going on, he didn't even need to ask to join.
"Late again?" Emilia said, "It's fine, at least we found you."
Emilia clearly had now developed a kinder heart toward Zylus, because before, it was nothing like this.
"Hey, bro." Zenos said, handing out his fist for a fist bump, "What are you saying?" He smiled, putting a hand around Zylus.
"Nothing much, but who's gonna be our sixth?" Zylus asked, as Frey also entered the scene.
"I don't know, to be honest, but maybe I should take a picture now." Frey proudly said.
As each of them started to reunite with one another, not like they didn't just see each other the day before, someone began coming out of the shadows.
"I'll do it." Each one of them looked to their right, "I'll join you guys."
"What makes you think you can join? I already turned down ninety-nine percent of cadets," Emilia said, "But wait, aren't you-"
"Yeah, he is," Zylus smiled, "let him join." He said, putting his hand out for a greeting.
It was Michael, Michael Elric. The first man Zylus met as a teenage friend inside the Demon Realm, and now, this entire time, Zylus had wondered where Michael had been since giving him a weapon. And here he was, with white hair now…
"Hey, Michael," Zylus said, "What happened to you? You seem…" Zylus paused, interested, "Strong."
Michael smirked, "Do I now?"