"Can you tell me what to expect already?" I typed, fingers dancing frantically across the sleek surface of my phone with barely concealed panic. Tiny typing bubbles appear at the end of the chat I stare, pressing my lips into a thin line, hoping she won't drag this any further.
Eave: As tense as it can get when the worlds of aloof, arrogant heirs and rugged, street-smart survivors collide– the not so subtle condescending looks, the knowledge-gap clash, blatant mockery, assertive confident, challenges, the brazen fury of the hot-heads, organised assaults, thinly-veiled threatens and everything in between, of course!!!
I sigh slumping into my seat in frustration smiling despite myself. It's been thirty minutes since I boarded this bus, chatting with Eave through most of it.
Since we couldn't converse openly in public, the AVA chat was our best bet. Luckily, I already placed an order for a portable sound channel.
Eave–I type furious deleting it after a thought.
I look at her text again, sighing in defeat–at least, this was something.
Moving my gaze away from the dimming screen, eyes trailing the design of the floorboards careful not to breath too loudly for what felt like the hundredth time since I boarded.
I didn't dare look up.
Did not dare to meet their gaze
The sheer weight of fifty pairs of eyes prickled against my scalp.
Curious, malicious, mocking, cruel and predatory gazes swarm my senses, pinning me to the spot, hunched over, not daring to lift my head.
I felt it the moment I stepped in
The feeling from the first day
Just much worse.
Eave's constant back and forth barely grounded me though momentarily. I sigh at the dull ache my hunched pose caused, leaning into the walls my eyes closed.
"I can't believe it's her."
"Look at her, frightened little thing.."
"I can't believe she's her daughter."
"So fragile, I bet she'll break with just a pinch."
Disdainful voices fill my ears, cold, vicious words hurled in my direction. I shudder, flinching at every sentence I catch. My arms wrap around my sides, silently counting for when we would arrive.
"This is just the bus, I wonder how the class will be' I groan internally, dread already slithering it way up my spine.
PING.
I look down at the blinking notification. A small smile curves my lips at the message.
Eave: Why did you stop texting? Ran out of words?
Me: Hmm, you bet. I thought it wise to focus my energy reserves on whatever storm awaits me there rather than bicker endlessly with you.
I reply, my smile widening even as the tension in my shoulder disappears for a moment
Eave: True. So, how does it feel? Going with the flow and all. See, I'm rubbing off you in a very good light, you're not so stiff anymore!!!
I chuckle under my breath, her excitement oozing off her words in waves washing away my fears. My forehead creases at her last words, a frown drawing taut against my cheeks as my brows knit in confusion.
Me: I'M NOT STIFF.
I type feigning annoyance at her words. My fingers tapping the edges of the phone in anticipation for her response.
Eave: Yes, you are. The Language defines stiff as the severe unwillingness to change one's mind, adapt to new situations, too stubborn to give in, as in this context that you are.
Rolling my eyes, I look up to notice a few at the front alighting the bus.
We've finally reach. Sighing in relief, I shove my phone into my bag standing to my feet taking extra care not to bump into anyone.
"Ouch." A painful whimper leaves my lips when I'm roughly shoved aside from behind.
"You could have asked to leave first.." I yell, gritting my teeth as she disappears into the crowd.
"Watch it." A short girl snaps when I nearly collide with her.
"I'm sorry…" The short girl walks off, not paying heed to my apology.
I weave through the crowd, sneers and shouts finding me at every turn.I grit my teeth, focusing on escaping the suffocating atmosphere in the bus.
The sun warms my frigid skin, glinting off the gunmetal grey pants they all seem to be wearing. I look around the transport station where we were dropped off in the depths of the Academic Wing.
Straightening my skirts, I move with the crowd into the amphitheatre of a classroom in the building in front.
The steady buzz of a thousand voices thrums off the walls as I walk amidst the other students through the hallway to the classroom. I step in a gush of warmth wrapped around me, suddenly conscious of the thousands of eyes following my movement.
Rows and rows of desks fill my sight, inhaling briefly I glance around locking eyes with a few curious, delighted and even malicious gaze. Both sides of the amphitheatre teemed with students, the centre holding about a hundred students sitting in a scattered fashion.
I look down forcing my feet forward from the sudden chill that threatens to freeze me on spot. Trying as quietly as possible, I take a seat in the middle, empty by two rows front and back. Settling in my seat, I relax feeling the chatter rise steadily, the weight of their eyes diminishing quickly.
Feeling more courageous, I look through the hall. The podium in front stood empty, students lazing around and others chattering in nervous excitement the hall reeked of.
I avert my gaze, bringing out a book to occupy myself.
"Greetings, Initiate." I look up startled. A young blonde-haired man in blue jeans and blue shirt casually rolled up the sleeves stood at the podium, looking down at us with blazing eyes.
Behind me, conversations quieten, everyone equally surprised straightening out in their seats with a few others smirking smugly.
"I'm Calvin Haze, the Field Survival Instructor." Nodding slightly, he continues pleased by the silence.
"Greetings, Instructor Calvin." They all greet out loud, the halls echoing with the weight of their words, heads bowed slightly in respect.
I freeze for a moment, before bowing with them.
What the hell!!!
That was unexpected.
No one was surprised raising their heads a few breathes later.
'Lucky Implicits they must have briefed properly.' I groan in annoyance.
"As you've all heard, Preambule is so boring, I had to start the session early." He says lightly making the whole hall burst out in polite chuckles and small laughters defusing lightening up the atmosphere.
"Initiation is three weeks away and I was sure as hell, you Initiates were bored too." Leaning into the lectern in front of him, he grins eyes twinkling with delight.
"Yes, we were." They respond with a loud cheer leaving me speechless once again.
"Wherefore, like-minded ones.."He trails, a playful smile on his lips.
"Welcome to the very Seventh Velmora Pre-sessions." He declares with an heroic shout, the hall erupting in excited cheers. I turn, gasping at the sight of students jumping excitedly, shaking hands with grins on their faces, drumming lightly on the desks. Smiling, I look forward, the sight of their warm camaraderie which is surprisingly beautiful.
"Alright." He says, turning to the flat screen behind him as the cheers settle to a faint hush. The screen lights up at the snap of his fingers, a bar chart coming up.
"In the six years, no make it seven…" He starts turning to face us, a grin plastered on his face. The hall goes up in cheers once again, most of the girls cheering louder when he winks.
I chuckle a bit, Sir Calvin really was charming.
He had this boyish charm that made the obvious age gap between us not so glaring.
"..of my experiments." He smirks relishing how much effect he had on them.
"There has been a steady increase in the survival rates during Initiations." He turns pointing to the chart on the screen, the hall now paying rapt attention, some even taking notes.
"Seven years ago, twenty-nine more initiates survived initiations, a hike by 1% to the initial 73% the Consciousness predicted –2982 out of 4,085 Initiates.
"58 more from the originally predicted 51%-- 3,434 out of 6,734 increasing by 1.7% six years ago."
"Five years ago, 303 more survived, a whooping 20%increase out of the predicted 43%--1,672 out of 3890 totalling a sum of 1,975. "
"A true game changer." He turns from the screen glancing through the hall for a few seconds.
"Four years back, 907 more Initiates survived from the predicted 83%--5,395 out of 6500. An exceptional 17% increase.
"1245, 1557 and 1893 more for the last three consecutive years." He wraps turning back to face us.
"Each one more impressive than the last." He smiles, rounds of applause replacing the silence.
"I have a question." A petite girl calls out. Standing up from the back row, her sleek black hair tied in a ponytail with a mauve colored hair band against the chiffon gun metal grey of her pencil mouthed gown.
"Do you get paid for this?" The moment his eyes finds her in the crowd, she speaks up not waiting for permission. Face brightening with a smile, a look of admiration in her eyes.
"Little beauty of the Yues, I do not dare." He replies, voice echoing through the hall, a hurt look on his face.
"In all of Velmora, where is it heard off.." Calvin's voice go solemn, hands spread out.
"...that instructors are greeted with a bow by trainees." Instructor Calvin's voice pitch higher, a privileged look on his face.
In pre-sessions
In pre-sessions
In pre-sessions
Everyone hollers in a fervent chant, the hall breaking out into a feverish and infectious enthusiasm.
"That my dear is more than enough for me." Looking at the petite girl, Sir Calvin bows slightly to her. She sits backs, her head bobbing in unrestrained laughter kindling the almost quenched fire of chants.
The few aloof students in the hall break into smiles,
"That didn't answer the question." Two desks behind me, a girl chuckles coldly.
Right. I look back at Calvin, who was grinning unabashed at the sheer praise.
He didn't answer the question.
So what if he didn't dare.
Velmora didn't seem to play by anyone's whims.
Looking back at the girl, I nod really impressed.
I glance around the fervent chatter, she wasn't the only one.
A few others also had that knowing smile that bordered sneers playing on their lips.
"Alright, alright." Instructor Calvin claps slightly calming the hollering hall.
"This year, I'm looking forward to two thousand more survivor counts." Calvin paces around, hands tucked into his pockets
"And the road to achieving 2000 starts now." He voice climbs higher eliciting an excited shout from the hall.
"Listen carefully, the Initiation Rites serve to evaluate Initiates in the six profound categories acronymized into the word: WIGART." The instructor continues.
"Before we delve deeper into that, you must discuss about teamwork." He pauses, watching us with through narrowed eyes.
"While, it's not explicitly stated that team work is neither forbidden or allowed in the Initiation Grounds. Teamwork has been one of the methods encouraged to bolster survival rates." Everyone listens quietly, occasional scribbles filling the silence.
"So, I will advise you form temporary alliances to see you through the Rites. You can ignore my recommendation, if you feel you can handle it alone." Instructor Calvin smiles softly heading towards the steps of the podium.
"You have the next two hours to decide. Begin." He continues descending down the steps into a side door.
The scrapping of chairs and platter of footsteps fill the hall. The difference between Inherents and Externs save for the disparity in the quality of their clothing and haughty demeanor becoming glaring.
The Inherents simply strolled to their friends and already pre-determined teams and partners quietly. On the other hand, externs were way too noisy with very few exceptions.
"Brothers and sisters from the Gifted Alliance, come join our team."
"The Guild of Heroes welcomes anyone willing to join us."
"The Peaking Sun Sect calls all her disciples.
"The Evercrest Alliance is willing to accept interested Initiates."
Shouts of similar nature nature echo across the room earning sneers and sniffled laughs from the already settled Inherents.
Externs move noisily through the hall to their recruited forces or teaming up with their new friends.
Now, I think about it.
I still have no idea which organisation recruited me. The Commons who took part in establishing Velmora in order to gain equal footing with the aristocratic clans and families set up various organisations that fit their interests
There were four main kinds of organisations involved in Velmora.
Alliances
Factions
Sects
Guilds
Alliances were the weakest in the hierarchy of organizations, they joined hands mainly for mutual benefits and all their activities are benefit driven.
Factions were formed off homogenous history and sense of belonging.
Sects worked with a single, firm belief and ideology aimed at cultivating young commons to take their place in the future.
Guilds were bands of similar professionals who worked together to uplift their profession within Velmora.
Since the Inclusivity Act, the guilds, alliances and factions who weren't so keen on recruiting now took active part in it not to fall behind in the grand scheme of things.