Book 1 – Second Chance
Chapter 8 – Opening Ceremony
The carriage stopped just before the gates.
“We’re here. One you pass the gates, present your papers, and head into the main building. The guards there will guide you on where you need to go” said the Madam.
“You’re not coming with?” asked Albi.
“Hmph, just be grateful I even bothered escorting you up to this point. I’m too busy, I can’t go inside with you.” Said the Madam arms locked, and looking towards the green hue tower.
“Right. Thanks for all your help so far. I really appreciate it. Pass my thanks to Captain Haler as well”.
With that Albi left the carriage, and started heading towards main gateway.
‘Alright, Bailey. It’s time for you to come out now’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean you should take control here. The first time it happened we were in a rather awkward situation, and you probably felt overwhelmed. Now however, everyone’s focusing on the ceremony, no one will bother looking at you. It’s the perfect time for you to get used to being in control around others’
‘A-Are you sure? What if I mess it up. I’m not exactly used to being in control around others’
‘I’m positive. And if anything happens, I’ll be right here with you. It’s about time I start helping around here’
Albi suddenly stopped moving, and started to wobble.
Just before he hit the ground Bailey started to stabilize themselves.
‘Phew, that was a close one. Imagine falling down on our face first day of school’ said Albi jokingly.
‘Not helping Albi…’
‘I’m just joking with you. It’s fine. Who cares if we fall, big deal. But we do need to work on our timing however. We should practice switching more until we can get it down flawlessly’
After stabilizing herself, Bailey made her way through the main gate after presenting her papers to the guards. She kept heading towards the main building taking in the sights as she went. The atmosphere within the academy felt noticeably different from the outside. It felt cool, and warm at the same time. A perfect temperature for relaxation, and the air was the cleanest she’s ever breathed in. More so than the green hill where they first landed. After reaching the main stairs she started to ascend them only to be stopped by yet another group of guards.
“Papers” one of them said with a straight expressionless face.
‘Security is rather tight here’ thought Bailey as she handed in her papers, and was escorted inside.
…
Meanwhile in the carriage, the driver turned around, and opened a blinder into the carriage.
“Madam, are you okay?” the driver asked.
“Yes… It’s been over two decades, but I still can’t bring myself to enter the academy…” said the Madam her body releasing a green vapor.
“Please calm yourself yourself, Madam. We are still within their grounds. Whatever they did to you, and the late mistress will be repaid in blood. I promise you that just as I promised her.” Said the guard, while rubbing the red inscriptions on his right arm.
“Phew. You’re right. All in due time. Who knows, maybe this kid Haler picked out can be of help as well. It still confuses me as to why he asked me of all people to help them. He’s far too cautious to do something like this…I’ll have to ask him about this when I meet him next.” Said the Madam as she took a deep breath, and turned her gaze towards Bailey who was entering the inner hall of the Academy.
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…
In the main hall of the Academy
“Walk through that door, and keep this paper with you. After the opening speech, you will go through the Pore Opening ceremony. Once your pores are open, your spirit’s affinity will attract this paper, and it will take your imprint. Hand it over whenever you finish that stage, and your imprint in our records will serve as your permanent identification while here in Ura, or any planets with connections to the Tri-Path Alliance. Good day to you, and good luck.”
After informing Albi, and Bailey of this, and gesturing towards a door the guard proceeded to move back to his post at the front gate.
Bailey walked to the giant 5 meter door in front of her, and stood in front of it.
‘Well, here goes nothing’ thought Bailey as she opened the door.
“You’re LATE!” a sudden loud shout reverberated through the hall before Bailey could even take in the sight in front of her.
The entire hall turned around to look at Bailey.
‘So much for no one will bother looking at you, Albi…’
‘No wonder there wasn’t anybody outside when we first got here. But how should I know we would be late? We started heading here as soon as the sun started to rise… …’
“I said you are late girl! Why are you dozing off! I don’t care what background you come from, the Tri-Path Academy is a meritocracy first, and foremost!” said the female officiator zealously.
“Report to me after you’ve finished the Pore Opening ceremony. You will be tasked with punishment assignments. That goes for you too! Don’t think I haven’t felt you sneaking about boy!” the officiator turned his head, and looked at a man who was slumped over trying to sneak in. The man looked to be in his early 20s, long flowing black hair, and wore rags for clothes.
“What do you mean m’lady? I’ve always been here. I was just startled by the girl who arrived late, and I wanted to see who dared put a frown on your dazzling face!” said the man without skipping a heartbeat, and with a straight face as if he was stating a fact.
“Good, good. Not only a latecomer, but a liar, and a scoundrel as well. Very well, you will join her in doing the punishment assignments, and they will be doubly so for you!”
“B-But m’lad-“
“Silence! Don’t you dare call me a lady! I am Wuein! Officiator of the 4215th batch of inductees, and an administrator of the academy! You will only refer to me as administrator, or officiator! Triple punishment for you! We will continue our ceremony now.” said the officiator with a look of disdain on her face.
The man looked down, and had a face of someone who was wronged.
‘Damn. Now that’s a character if I’ve ever seen one. Nice lying skills. But he really needs help on his pickup game…He actually said “M’lady”…I mean whatever he said was literally interpreted by us as M’lady…It had to have been bad.’
‘Yea, I’d like to think he said something so stupid, and weird that it capped our interpretation at M’lady…’ said Bailey an amused somewhat sadistic smirk appeared on her lips.
After joining in the ranks, Bailey finally had time to start taking count of the people, and their appearances. In front of her stood roughly 200 people. Most looked to be in their 20s, or late teens, with a few outliers, some in their late 40s, others still young teens. What was most shocking of all however, was that there were weird humanoid creatures in the crowd as well. They were few, and far between, a little more than a handful, but they definitely stood out. There was a creature with a serpentine head, and scaly skin who stood out the most, while there were also two creatures that appeared to be ‘Beastmen’. They had fur across their bodies, stood at roughly 3m tall each, and had what appeared to be feline ears, and a humanoid lion face, with the others all being cloaked, but their giant, or peculiar looking bodies gave the impression that they weren’t human.
‘Holy shit! Bailey! Look! Beastmen! I wonder if they have Catgirls here…’
‘Is that really the first thing that came to your mind? Catgirls?’
‘What? How can you not be excited for this as well? Even if it isn’t your thing, can’t a man at least dream?’ asked Albi.
‘It’s not wrong of you to dream, but wrong of you to dream of the wrong thing! I want to see a Wolfman! A real werewolf looking type!’
‘You have weird tastes Bailey…But hey, who am I to judge? I never kink shame anyone!’
‘Weird? You’re the one that basically wants to see a human with cat ears, and a tail. How is that different from regular humans? Just put on a tail belt, and a cat ear hat’ rebutted Bailey.
The officiator continued her speech, but it wasn’t anything Albi, and Baley haven’t already heard from the Madam, except it was said in a slightly more zealous way, bordering on fanaticism; Thus they decided to zone out halfway through, and continue their debate on which is more superior. Catgirls, or Wolfmen.
“…for the glory of the Tri-Path Alliance!” suddenly shouted the officiator, a bit of frothing started to form on her mouth.
“For those of you who have already opened their pores, stay here.” Said the officiator in a lowered down tone as a slight frown started to form on her face.
‘These miscreants dare open their own pores without having the glorious academy do it for them! Who do they think they are? Do they think themselves superior, or that they don’t need the academy? I bet it’s because they can’t stand our Pore Opening Ceremony! Hmph, I’ll show them the error of their ways, and preach more about the greatness of our academy! I’ll show them that their cowardice shall not be tolerated within our glorious alliance!’ thought Officiator Wuein to herself as she gazed upon the aforementioned group with looks of utter disgust.
“For the rest of you! Break yourselves into nineteen lines of ten people each, and head over to the next room to commence the Pore Opening Ceremony!”