Chattering and the clattering of utensils filled the immense cafeteria space.
Cole, a bit overwhelmed by the noise and size of the cafeteria, walked downwards, glancing around.
Tables upon tables filled the room, some already occupied by many people laughing vividly, while others remained quiet with fewer people.
Cole walked past each table, getting some brief looks from technologists, whom he avoided eye contact with.
Cinder was nowhere to be seen, most likely in her dorm.
Cole continued down the path up to a counter displaying a variety of mouth-watering food.
"Wow! This looks delicious," he thought as he walked to the counter looking for a server.
Eventually, he saw a dark-haired, tired-looking man return to the counter and with a sigh, he asked Cole, "What do you want?".
Cole looked at the food display and chose a salad that seemed to be glowing for some reason. "Must be my imagination".
The server held out his hand and sighed, "That'll be 60 essence".
Cole blinked. “This costs money?”
"Were you born yesterday? If you're not looking to buy, then leave," the server said with obvious annoyance.
Cole, disappointed that he didn't have any essence, asked the server before he left.
"Where can I get food then?".
With visible irritation, the man gestured to a long line forming to the left. Cole followed the direction and saw a queue of students, each holding a tray.
"Thank you", Cole replied and slid away quickly.
Standing at the back of the line, Cole started to think about which mentor he wanted to choose. He had to submit his form before classes started; otherwise, who knows what could happen?
Just as he started his train of thought, he heard whispering between the two wizards in front of him.
"Did you hear some wizard already picked a fight with a 2nd Rank technologist? I heard he's dead now". "What an idiot".
2nd Rank? Cole didn't know how the academy system worked yet, but he knew at least not to pick fights with people you didn't know, especially those more experienced then you.
Eventually, Cole received his food, a greasy portion of meat and boiled vegetables. It looked very unappetising.
He then turned with his tray, looking for a table to sit.
He found a table with the least amount of people on it and sat down.
There were two people already chatting to each other across the table who looked up as Cole sat.
“Mind if I sit here?” he asked.
Both looked up. A girl with long brown hair and gleaming amber eyes smiled warmly. “Not at all! I’m Hazel, and this is Luka.”
“Cole,” he replied, taking a seat.
Hazel radiated confidence and energy, while Luka seemed quieter, his gaze thoughtful, his words sparse. Cole relaxed slightly for the first time since entering the cafeteria.
After the exchange came a brief moment of silence between them.
Cole seized the opportunity to ask about the rank system.
"I heard that there is a system in the academy about rank? Is that true?".
Hazel swiftly replied, "Yes, there is, it's not just the academy, but it's for everyone, wizard and technologist."
"People have to achieve goals and study to achieve new ranks; it's how the hierarchy functions here.
Interesting.
Cole recalls the rumours he heard about a Rank 2 technologist. He asked, "How many ranks are there?".
Hazel replied, "I'm not sure, nobody really knows, but I know there are at least five, maybe six".
So the 2nd Rank isn't even that high in the chain; we must act cautiously.
Switching the topic, Cole asked which mentor she and Luka were picking.
Hazel, as always, replied with passion. "I think I'm going to choose Mentor Theo".
Seeing Cole's barely noticeable judgmental look, she quickly continued, "Not necessarily only for the essence he gives out to starters, but because I think being able to use your environment and survive is necessary".
Luka then spoke for the first time since Cole sat, "I'm going to choose Mentor Stella".
"You seem confident with your answer", Cole replied.
"Yes, I plan to master illusions and control the atmosphere as a powerful skill". Luka added.
Hazel then asked, "What about you?".
"I'm still not sure," Cole replied. "I don't want to choose a technologist mentor, and I feel something is off about Mentor Theo. Mentor Jax seems like a feasible option but I'll have to think it over".
"Fair enough", Hazel said.
After finishing his plate, Cole stood up and said goodbye for now and exited the cafeteria.
He returned to his dorm on level six and unlocked it. It was awfully quiet around; everyone must be in the cafeteria having breakfast still.
Still, something seemed off; he couldn't help but feel an eerie vibe.
He unlocked his door, and that's when he started to hear voices.
They were quiet at first but grew louder. Many voices started to fill his head, and people started appearing out of thin air.
They were translucent figures, and they started to rapidly approach him.
All of a sudden, the surrounding dorm hallway crumbled, and a vast dark platform appeared, replacing the carpet floor, and a figure that wasn't translucent appeared in the corner of his eye.
He couldn't quite make out his face; however, it seemed that whoever that person was, they were controlling the figures.
Just as the translucent figures started to close in, everything stopped.
All the figures disappeared, and the opaque figure stared at him before vanishing.
Then Cole jolted awake.
He was lying on the floor in the dorm hallway.
What just happened?
Before he could gather his thoughts, he looked around to a small crowd of peers gathered around him.
As soon as they realised he wasn't dead, there was a wave of mixed reactions.
Laughter, disappointment and annoyance filled the air.
Extremely embarrassed, Cole shot up and ran into his dorm and locked the door behind him.
With heavy breathing, Cole slammed his back against the wall, sweating.
What just happened, he knows it wasn't a dream, that doesn't just happen.
Could someone be messing with him or is he going insane.
Just then he heard a knock on his door.
ns216.73.216.175da2
and then Add to home screen.