The moment it was announced that the principal himself would be giving the orientation, a ripple of excitement surged through the crowd. The atmosphere changed instantly. What had felt like a standard beginning now carried a sense of importance. Whispers filled the air, and eyes lit up with curiosity. Shay and Rei were no exception. They exchanged eager looks, their nerves now mixed with anticipation.
To reach the main campus, students had to pass through a gatehouse, a transitional structure standing between the outer entrance and the inner school grounds. It was a compact, cubical building, pristine white and gleaming under the ambient lighting. Its surface looked polished, almost sterile, like it was scrubbed daily to a shine. A metal arch above the front entryway displayed the words "South Gate" in clear letters.
This gatehouse served as the only walking passage from the school's massive outer gates to the core campus. Shay and Rei joined the stream of students filing inside.
The interior was simple but striking. The walls on either side were lined with posters. On the right side, there was a vibrant collage: announcements of upcoming tournaments, cultural events, bold motivational slogans, and images of award ceremonies, each poster bursting with energy and ambition. The entire right wall felt like it was alive, buzzing with activity and competition.
But the left side was different.
A single, large poster dominated the space. It was a detailed map of the school campus. Shay slowed his pace. Curious, Shay pulled out his ID and compared the map etched on it. The difference was obvious. The map on his ID showed the broader layout of the city, highlighting major structures and zones. But the wall map was far more intricate. It revealed every building, path, training arena, residence hall, cafeteria, and even lesser-known back routes within the school grounds.
He wasn't the only one drawn in. A few other students had also paused to examine the map, murmuring to each other or silently memorizing routes. Shay looked around for Rei, expecting to see him nearby, but his friend was gone. He scanned the crowd again, but Rei was nowhere to be seen. Did we get separated?
Shay turned back to the poster and noticed a small label marked You are here. It pointed to the bottom edge of the map, the southernmost entrance of the school, labelled as the South Gate. The map was encircled by a thick boundary line, forming a large circle that represented the entire campus. Along the outer edge of the circle, other gates were labelled in each direction: North Gate, East Gate, West Gate. Beneath the southern boundary, a few hostel codes were printed H4, H5, H6 giving an idea of which dorms lay in the southern zone of the campus.
Then something caught his eye. In the heart of the map was the word "Library," boldly marked at the center of the campus. A broad pathway ran directly from the South Gatehouse to the library, flanked by icons that looked like lawns or open greenery. The path stood out a straight, clean route, unlike the more twisted paths elsewhere.
As Shay absorbed the layout, he noticed the students around him suddenly pick up their pace. Many had spotted the same path and realized it led straight to the assembly hall where the orientation would be held. Without wasting another second, they rushed ahead, eager to grab good seats.
Shay took one last glance at the map. Then, slipping his ID back into his pocket, he joined the stream of students pouring into the heart of the campus.
As he broke into a light run with the crowd, the scenery around him unfolded quickly. On both sides of the path stretched green lawns, neatly trimmed and dotted with small, evenly spaced trees. A few benches were placed under the shade, giving the area a peaceful and inviting look. Despite the size of the campus, Shay noticed there were no senior students in sight. The place felt reserved, as if the campus had opened its arms only for the new arrivals today.
Strange… where are the older students? But he didn't dwell on that thought for long. Eager to reach the assembly, Shay focused on the path ahead. He passed by a few unfamiliar buildings on his right, catching only brief glimpses of their names and designs, but chose not to slow down. The Library was his destination, and for now, nothing else mattered.
Shay reached the library building and paused for a moment, taking in the view. It stood tall, a massive cylindrical structure with five distinct floors. The glass walls shimmered in the sunlight, reflecting the activity around it. At the top, a dome-like crown completed its futuristic design.
He began walking toward the entrance. A short flight of stairs led to the ground floor, and as he climbed them, he noticed students forming a line to ascend further. Near the staircase, a poster caught his attention. It listed the layout: ground floor, first floor marked as the assembly hall, second and third floors designated as library study areas, and the fourth floor for library staff.
But something felt off. There was no mention of the fifth floor, even though Shay had clearly seen five levels from the outside. That's odd. There's definitely a fifth floor... so why isn't it listed here?
He glanced around, half-expecting someone else to notice the same inconsistency. Yet no one seemed concerned. Most students were too busy rushing along with the crowd to question anything.
At last, Shay reached the assembly hall on the first floor. It was a large circular chamber with a wide stage at the front, and rows of seats arranged to accommodate hundreds. Shay found an empty spot and sat down, eyes drifting toward the platform ahead. The stage stood elevated, with a podium at the center, flanked by chairs and tables where several adults, likely faculty members, were already seated.
Seemed like Shay had arrived just in time. The moment he settled into his seat, the grand hall fell into a hush as the Principal of the school stepped onto the stage. His pace was unhurried, yet every movement carried a quiet authority. He appeared to be in his seventies, with a long, snow-white beard that tapered neatly to his chest. A pair of round glasses balanced on the bridge of his nose, and though his frame was lean, he stood tall and composed, easily over six feet.
Without touching the microphone on the podium, he began to speak.
"Welcome, new students. It is my great honour to greet you on your very first day at this institution."
His voice rang clear and deep, filling the entire hall with no need for amplification. It was immediately clear to everyone present: this was no ordinary man. He was Astarch of Orionis, a name that echoed through history for his incredible contributions to power and knowledge. Even in age, his presence was overwhelming, a lion whose roar had not faded.
"My name is Aeon Falk, and I am the principal of this school," he continued, his voice steady and rich. "Today, I will be sharing some basic insights about this institution and your life here moving forward. Usually, this part is handled by Miss Patty Crew, our vice principal."
He paused for a moment, then gave a warm chuckle.
"But this time, I decided to take the opportunity myself and share it with you."
The students, who might have dreaded a typical orientation, were unusually attentive. The reason was simple. Very few ever got the chance to see Aeon Falk in person. He wasn't just the principal of the school. He was Astrach of Orionis, a figure of legend standing before them in flesh and blood.
"As you all know," Principal Falk began, his voice calm but resolute, "this world runs on powers and the weapons that channel them. Almost everyone possesses one—your parents, your relatives, your neighbours, and soon... all of you."
The hall was silent. Not out of confusion, but awe. A murmur ran through the students. On the first day itself... weapons were already being mentioned?
Weapons... finally, Shay thought, eyes narrowing slightly. Father never showed me his. He has some kind of blunt rock-type weapon. And mother... a chained one, I think? Air-type?
He scanned the stage. Strange. Not a single weapon visible with the principal... or any of the teachers.
Principal Falk continued, taking a few steps to the side as his long robe brushed softly against the wooden floor.
"Your schooling here is divided into three distinct phases," he said. "Phase One is about mastering lending powers and eventually acquiring your own weapon."
Shay straightened. Lending powers... That term stung a little. Father tried teaching me that once. I just couldn't get it right. He gave up, said I'd learn it better in school...
"This phase will last for five years. Most of you are twelve, so by the time you're seventeen, you'll complete Phase One. If you pass, you can apply for Phase Two."
The principal let those words linger in the air.
"Phase Two," he continued, "is a period of government-affiliated tasks and qualification exams. It lasts two years. And if—if—you succeed, you'll be among the few who get into Phase Three."
He paused, eyes sweeping the crowd.
"Only five percent of every generation reaches Phase Three. Just five. But maybe, just maybe... your generation will change that."
A hush followed. Not out of fear. But ambition. Curiosity. The weight of possibility.
Then his tone softened, and with a faint smile, he stroked his long, tapering white beard.
"But don't think too far ahead just yet. Let's begin with your current journey."
The smile widened ever so slightly, as he looked over the crowd one last time.
"And if each of my white beard strands had a voice," he said, "they'd all tell you the same thing—today is the beginning of the best part of your life."
Principal Falk turned slightly, his steps slow and deliberate as he began walking away from the podium.
"I'll leave the rest to your teachers now," he said, his voice still echoing gently across the wide hall. "Over the coming days, months, and years... you'll learn everything you need."
He paused at the edge of the stage, turning back just once.
"For now, head to your hostel rooms. I'm sure you've seen the directions on your ID maps."
A few students looked down at their cards, confirming the familiar layout.
"And one more thing," he added, adjusting his glasses with a subtle tilt of his head. "You'll meet your roommates today. Or should I say... your teammates."
The word hung in the air like a spark.
"These are the people you'll be living with—not just for the next five years, but perhaps... for the rest of your life."
He gave a final nod, then stepped down from the stage.
Yup... time to meet my teammates.
Shay glanced at the back of his ID card, gripping it loosely in his right hand.
Kenoma and Alex, huh? Let's see what kind of people you two turn out to be.
Just as his eyes drifted back to the stage, an older woman stepped up to the podium. Her hair was streaked with silver, and she looked to be in her early fifties, dressed sharply in the school's emblematic coat. She carried herself with grace, but her voice was firm and clear.
"Thank you, Principal, for those wonderful words," she began, offering a warm smile. "I can already see the excitement lighting up your faces."
"I'm Patty Crew, your vice principal," she continued. "And before we send you off to your hostels, I want to make sure you're prepared for what's coming."
She gestured to the ID cards in their hands.
"By now, most of you have probably explored your ID cards. But let me explain a few important things, just to be sure."
Shay looked down again at his card, more curious than before.
"All students are part of a three-member team," she said. "And once formed, these teams are final. No changes, no exceptions. For the next five years, your journey, your tasks, your exams, even your competitions, will depend on the cooperation and unity within your team."
A few murmurs passed through the crowd, some students clearly surprised.
Five years with two strangers... Sounds fun. Shay raised an eyebrow.
"On the front of your ID," Patty went on, "you'll see your basic details: your name, team number, home planet, and hostel block."
She flipped her own card in demonstration.
"Open it from the middle, and you'll find a full map of the campus. Every single path and building is detailed. Use it well—you'll need it more than you think."
"On the back," she continued, "you'll see the names of your teammates, your profile score, and your money score. These two numbers are important."
She held up two fingers.
"Your money score will begin at 1000 points starting tomorrow. You can spend it only within SP1, on food, supplies, even gear upgrades. You'll earn more through tasks, challenges, and exams."
"As for your profile score, it reflects your behavior, discipline, and reputation. Follow the rules, help others, show initiative—it rises. Break rules or cause trouble... well, it'll drop."
Shay could already imagine a few hotheaded students watching their scores fall on day one.
"Lastly, though your card may look normal now, it's fully digital. From tomorrow, it'll activate. You'll start receiving messages, alerts, your daily schedule—everything. Once ID numbers are visible, you can message or call anyone, as long as you've exchanged contact."
She took a step back and smiled.
"Keep your ID safe, it's your lifeline here at SP1," she said with a final nod. "You may now leave the hall and begin your journey. From this moment on, your life at SP1 truly begins."
With that, the students slowly began to rise from their seats, a quiet buzz returning to the air.
Shay stood, slipping the ID card into his coat pocket.
Alright... Kenoma, Alex. Let's find out who you are.