"Test 3 will take place tomorrow. From here you will be escorted to your various dorms, houses etc. Where you can practice your elemental spells for test 3. In test 3 you will be battling it out with your fellow students. Only elemental spells are allowed to be used. As such use this time you have been given, wisely. Your ranking is further determined by these results. "
When the official finished talking he escorted everyone out of the building in a row. Once everyone was outside more officials came. They stood apart from each other and they each called a rank forward. Since Lucas had "Rank E" potential he went to the official that was calling all the Rank E's. Once all the Rank E's were gathered the official began walking and all the students followed. While on the way to their dorm. The official was giving them a tour of Reckwerth Academy. He pointed to a to a large building that had an old architectural design and said, " That's the Academies library. This is where you will gain access to new spells, where you can research certain things that confuse you and more. However, you do need a student card. Then you will be able to see information based on your clearance level."
After he was done explaining he walked on and the students followed him. While walking past other building the official explained its purpose to the students. But there were also some building that he walked past... Lucas wondered why he never said anything about them but he guessed maybe that's classified as guards stood in front of those buildings. But soon the tour was done and they had reached their dorm. From the outside, it was nothing fancy but it wasn't bad either. It had hints of modern architecture.
" This is where you will be staying. The bottom floor is the Dining Halls. Where you will get your breakfast, lunch and dinner. That will be all." After the official began walking away. But before he could one girl out of a bunch spoke up and said, " Sir, where will the girls be staying...?"
The official furrowed his eyebrows and then said, " Here..."
Shocked by what the official said the girl said, " Here as in here! As in this building, with the boys...?"
Still furrowing his eyebrows the official said, " Yes the dorms at Reckwerth Academy have no gender restrictions. Of course, the bathrooms are separate but other than that, females can sleep in the same room as males. "
Angered by what the official said the girl said, " What, no ways! I'm not living in the same room as a boy!"
All the other girls in her group nodded their heads in support because they felt the same way.
This time the official lost his temper and said," Look woman. Don't shoot the messenger. I don't hold any authority. I'm just telling you how it is. If you have a problem with this go speak to the people inside. But really you should blame yourself for not being talented enough to make it into your own house. " As he said that he walked away. He no longer wanted to be a part of this conversation.
Once the official walked away and the reality had set in that the dorms are mixed gender. Most of the girls were angry, sad, scared. Whereas the boys couldn't seem to wipe the smiles off their faces. This only fueled the emotions inside the girls.
Lucas saw all the commotion about the dorms being shared. And it didn't bother him one bit. At the orphanage, he stayed in a house with 12 other boys. And for the past month, he lived in the forest with Layla Palmer. If he was able to keep his cool with someone so beautiful nothing could tempt him. Realizing that this had nothing to do with him he left the group and started walking into the building. Once he got the building he opened the doors and walked into the building.
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And just like the official had said. The first floor was the dining hall. There were many tables. Mostly four-seater tables. But there were 8 seater tables and the single tables were along the walls. They had a trayline. But it was currently empty and nobody was in the kitchen.
Once the students saw that Lucas had gone inside the building they decided to go inside too. They wanted to practice their spells asap. So they entered the building and looked around but many weren't impressed with their surroundings. It was at this moment that the students that took test 2 in another venue arrived. The dining-hall/cafeteria was full now.
When the new students arrived a door opened and several adults walked into the cafeteria. They were the people in charge of keeping order in the dorms and enforced its rules. When they entered the room all the student's attention was plastered on them. One of the officials used this opportunity to speak.
" You are all gathered here. But please find a seat." She then waited for everyone to find a seat and then continued, " As you can tell, this dorm is mixed gender. However, sexual offences of any kind are harshly punished here at Reckwerth. So do not try your luck, be you, male or female, you will be judged to the full extent of the law." She then smiled and then said, " Now that's out the way let me explain the living situation. The lower your ranking the lower your status. The lower your status the lower the floor you live on. The lower the floor the lower the quality of the rooms. Hope that makes sense. Now, can all the E Rank Alpha no elements stand up? "
When Lucas heard her announce his results of test 1 and test 2 he stood up. But when he looked around nobody stood up but him. From this, he could deduce that in terms of ranking he was dead last.
When the official saw that only one person stood up she continued and said, " Can all the E Rank Alpha 1 elementals stand up." Once she said that many other people stood up. She called them to the front and made them stand in four rows of approximate length. Lucas was in the first row as he stood up first. She then took the first person of each row and said they would be living together. She then said to Lucas, " Since you are dead last, the people in your group are sleeping with you in the first bedroom on the second floor. Take the stairs, the elevator is reserved for those of higher status."
So Lucas began walking out of the cafeteria. When he did the rest of the group followed him. So together they walked out the cafeteria. And then walked up the stairs. Since they lived on floor 2 there wasn't a lot of stairs they had to walk up. They eventually got to the door that said floor 2 and simultaneously looked up the flight of stairs that still continued upwards. And they unanimously thought " One day!" while clenching their fists. After that, they opened the door and walked in and then closed the door. They were now looking at a narrow passage with a lot of doors close to each other on each side. Since they were staying in room one their room was on the right of them.
Lucas opened the door for the rest of the people and then walked into the room. It was a very small room. There were four single beds placed next to each other. They had the function to become bunk beds if they wanted more space. There was no bathroom in their room just a small extra room with a mirror and a sink. Just enough to check yourself up in the morning. And to change your clothes in private.
Once the reality had sunk in and the students realised that this is their room they will be staying in. They became annoyed and agitated. Except for Lucas as this was the norm for him. In fact, having a private changing room was a plus.
" Ugggh, this place is disgusting. How can they expect us to live in a place like this?" A boy said.
" I know right! Like it's sooo revolting." A girl said.
" Two guys and two girls. What could go wrong...?" A girl said.
" At least the place is nice and clean," Lucas said.
When Lucas said that. They looked at him with confused faces. Then the one girl said, " Does this not bother you?"
Lucas then said, " Not in the slightest. Where I'm from this is normal for me. In fact, I would say this is an upgrade." After Lucas said that he gave the place another once over and then smiled.
When they saw his reaction they all thought that he was probably some poor person from the sticks (1). At that moment everyone looked at him with sympathy but also with condescension.
1. The sticks - The sticks in this setting would refer to someone who lives outside of the Kingdom's walls. They were usually families and tribes of lower status.