Into The Multiverse

Chapter Three

Venturi

"Five minutes before we arrive at our destination," announced by the pilot. I just learned that they go by the pseudonyms Arrow and Cross.

Sounds like a crossbow. Bigla akong natawa dahil sa naisip dahilan para magawi nang saglit ang paningin sa akin ng katabi ko kasabay ng mahinang pagbulong nito. 

"Napakasama talaga ng ugali." Mabilis akong sumilip sa labas. My sight is welcomed by a set of massive buildings na napapalibutan ng isang force field. Sa unang tingin ay iisipin mo na isa itong pribadong town dahil sa lawak.

We landed in front of the main building. Ito ang pinakamalawak kumpara sa iba. A holographic person of a typical butler image wearing a waistcoat and trousers greeted us two after stepping outside the vehicle.

"Welcome to Pioneer Academy. We are informed of your arrival. I am Ikarus, the personal assistant of School Director Deviant. Follow me," he said and leads us the way. As soon as we entered through the entrance, the thrill of the futuristic concept of design greatly fascinates me. I am in awe of how everything looks modern and advanced.

The floor is tiled with matching light shades na nag-ienhance sa synchronization nito sa geometric walls. Anyone would think twice to step on it. I slowed my pace to further enjoy what was happening, not until I looked back on our tracks only to find out na nag-iwan ng maduming footprints ang sapatos ko mula sa entrance ng lugar. What the fuck.

My eyes wandered around the place for a few seconds. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag matapos masiguro na kami lang ang tao ngayon sa hallway. Kumapit ako sa braso ng katabi at binilisan ang paghakbang na parang hinahabol ng pinagtataguan na bumbay.

The blended features of the place include monochromatic color schemes and coordination between neutral backgrounds and bright accents to create a spaceship effect. "The director is waiting inside," he informed after reaching a well-designed metal door with a panel. I figured out that it has an automatic function after it slid open using a built-in sensor that scanned us from top to bottom in one go.

We made our way inside while roaming our eyes around the interior of the office. Hindi ganoon kalaki ang pinagkaiba sa concept ng design sa hallway. But you can easily tell that the School Director knows how to appreciate artworks based on a few surrealistic paintings expressing dream-like visuals that are properly aligned on the wall of his private office.

He stood up from his office chair and greeted us with a welcoming smile and friendly gestures. "Come, make yourselves comfortable." He motioned us to sit in the guest area of his office with two curved couch in an opposite direction and a levitating coffee table in the middle. He introduced himself as the School Director after offering a handshake na magalak na tinugunan ng kasama ko.

He sat in front of us. I noticed two sealed envelopes on the table. "Inside the envelope, you will find papers containing necessary information about the academy. Signing the contract means that you read, understand, and agree to the terms and conditions of Pioneer Academy," he clarified and pointed to the holographic envelopes.

I am the first one to reach and unseal the envelope, bumungad sa akin ang contract. Masiyadong maliit ang font size, nakakaduling. Lumingon ako sa katabi ko. Makikigaya nalang ako kay Pheere. "Nakakatamad magbasa," komento ko sa isip.

As if sensing my hint of hesitation, the School Director ensured us. "Personal living costs of Pioneer students are already covered by the annual payment provided by the parents. Otherwise speaking, the academy will provide everyone with free access to food, study costs for learning materials, and accommodation for utilities such as pod room, water, oxygen, and electricity bill." Upon hearing the magical word free, I immediately scanned the contract para hanapin kung saan ako pipirma. Nang mahanap ay walang pag-aalinlangan kong kinuha ang ballpen sa lamesa at pinirmahan ang contract. I am certain that I felt my cheeks burn after clapping like a kid who just fulfilled an achievement for the first time out of excitement. Nakalimutan ko pa na may kasama ako.

My entire body could barely hold itself together with the anticipation. This is a dream-come-true event. "What? They said free food," I reasoned out after witnessing how my good friend raised a brow at me, questioning my decision na pagsign sa kontrata. "I am no longer capable of dealing with your imprudence, Venturi." Shaking her head in disbelief, she signed the contract after reading the terms and conditions pati narin ang student manual. Muntik na akong makatulog sa paghihintay sa kaniya. Ang daming alam nito may balak din naman palang pumirma. Imprudence pang nalalaman. Ano ba 'yun?

"Great! I am now welcoming you two as official learners of Pioneer Academy. One of the student assistants will give you a tour around the academy. You may monitor further instructions from the Administration through this student pad," explained by the Director. Extending his arm, he handed us a spherical gadget na nasa kalahati lang ang laki ng size kumpara sa kamay ko and with only one button to press.

The metal door opened revealing a bespectacled student, probably two year ahead of us. "Bakit ninyo po ako pinatawag?" Her right hand touched the temple of her eyeglasses while listening intently to the instructions of the School Director.

"The one on the left side is Ms. Venturi Rouschevlair, beside her is Ms. Phere Leviathan of Monarch's Ancestry. I'll leave them to you." We bid our goodbyes and expressed our gratitude to Director after our brief introduction. I learned that her name is Farah Pocua. Sa tabi lang po. Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili na matawa. I fixed my posture after receiving weird gaze from the both of them.

We entered the Dining Hall. The tables are separated into four different colors of levitating tables in symmetrical alignment representing the four ancestries explained by the student assistant appointed to guide the new students. Una kong napansin ang buffet table sa unahan and a few artificial intelligence round droids na nagl-levitate sa tapat para magserve ng pagkain sa mga estudyante.

The Dining Hall was silenced after our arrival. Mas maliwanag pa ang lugar kumpara sa kinabukasan ko. We walked through the red carpet without minding the attention that the other students are giving us after rising from their seats to give a slight bow of their head as a sign of respect to the leading ancestry.

The green tables are symbolized by a tree. It represents the Mediocre's Ancestry. The students are wearing green-themed uniforms. The right side of their vest shows a silver pin with a tree symbol of their ancestry. The name of their ancestry says it all, they look...normal. Yung pumapasok lang sa school kasi nauto ng magulang na kailangan mo mag-aral nang mabuti para magkaroon ng magandang trabaho.

"Parang ang lungkot ng buhay nila," bulong ko sa katabi. She nudged me on the elbow kaya napasimangot ako. Akala mo naman ay hindi nanglalait sa isip niya. Akala mo kung sinong mabait. Mas masama naman ang ugali.

The blue tables are symbolized by water. It represents the Disciple's Ancestry. The students are wearing blue-themed uniforms. The right side of their vest shows a silver pin with a water symbol of their ancestry. Everyone is smiling, hindi naman mukhang plastic dahil umaabot sa mata ang ngiti nila. Napangiwi ako kasi hindi ako pala-ngiti na tao. You will mistake me for someone na pinaglihi sa sama ng loob dahil sa maikli kong pasensya. We were told that the disciples are being trained to serve the Monarchs eventually. I feel bad for them, their fate is sealed based on social status. That's unfortunate.

The red tables are symbolized by fire. It represents the Tyrant's Ancestry. The students are wearing red-themed uniforms. The right side of their vest shows a silver pin with a fire symbol of their ancestry. Tanginang mga 'to ang sama ng tingin sa akin kahit hindi naman inaano. Habang naglalakad ay nahagip ng mata ko ang pag-irap sa amin ng isa sa estudyante na kabilang sa Ancestry nila. The nerve of this insecure bitch. 

Last, ang ancestry na kinabibilangan namin. The golden tables are symbolized by the crown. It represents the Monarch's Ancestry. The students are wearing gold-themed uniforms. The right side of our vest shows a gold pin with a crown symbol of our ancestry. If based on quantity, the Monarch's Ancestry is outnumbered by the rest. Wala pa kami one-fourth ng total population ng Mediocre Ancestry.

"Walang sinabi ang rebisco sa kung gaano ako kaspecial sa timeline na 'to," I thought internally after realizing how lucky I am to be part of the Monarchs. But it doesn't change the fact of how I am deeply skeptical about my social status in this timeline and the background of our clan. Sa pagkakaalam ko pulube ako eh. I clasped my hands over my mouth after a logical thought came to mind. Holy shit. Kpop idol ba ako rito?