Aeon Nether & Idol Effigy

Chapter 24- 3 Months

<Gif of Clone Troopers from Pinterest>

The kit was grey and had Idol Effigy written vertically on one side of it. It took ten minutes for everyone to return to the class.

"Welcome back~! This is where it all begins..."

The happy-go-lucky voice pierced through the air like one of those annoying intros those video makers do online, only more annoying.

It was a voice that was similar to what I imagine joyful nails on a chalkboard would sound-like. This disturbing sound led me into analysing the returning crowd.

We all ended up looking like failed clones who were born with defects and placed on the shelf as potential stars for the future. Something that sold us for being different from the functioning clones and a way to package us up as potential unique individuals seemed ever present in the vertical Idol Effigy words on our kit.

"Yep, the unique selling point is already rearing its head..."

What else was I meant to expect? My voice already leaked out my point of view. Luckily no one would be watching my individual stream at this point. Afterall, with 1.2 billion streams running, who'd be watching mine? If anything you start watching after the initial 3 months if not when the chosen 500 students are finalised for the second year of the show.

But thinking back to the uniforms. Numbers on the active wear might have been a better approach. However I doubt this show will divide us up by ranks anytime soon to give to the contestants as gifts. Honestly it did seem a bit too extravagant to even give these uniforms out to the 1.2 billion participants in this audition stage.

In this wasteful grey sea of people we all were led to stretch for a bit to start and end the dance training. The sea continued to stretch like this each day for the dance classes. Mimic one movement after another in a silent wave to the melody of the week.

"And a 1! And a 2! Hold it~"

The first week's assessment was what was considered an easy dance. The choreography was simple and the test allowed people to draw their charms out in different ways to make up for their dancing skills. It was all monitored by an out of body ability that was attached to an AI system, which evaluated us all. The first half of each class was ousted from the training class on the Sunday before the last week ended. Each receiving a review and marking from the test with one word, provided by the AI.

My word was passed.

The second week started and ended faster. This time the choreography was over complicated and difficult to complete. The advantage of this week was given in it allowing people to change ten moves. Although I had some choice to choose from due to what I was capable of I chose to play it safe and change the acrobatic moves into easier moves I'd be able to perfect for the AI moderator.

It was an option most people chose and one of the first times the instructor showed her real personality by mistake. That being full of sneering in front of people who can't do the moves she trained most of her career learning to do. It was pretentious in how she'd look down at our schooling that didn't require us to learn dance to a level she found acceptable to make a living in it.

"Tch- You had a week and you're still unable to do something different to show your worth? Everyone has had dance lessons once or twice before. You shouldn't have half-assed it like this."

After the second week's eliminations came the third. This time seven different choreographies were taught in the week, each choreography was in a different style/genre of dance. None of them required the candidates for the show to give a great performance. Each dance must just be done to an acceptable level as judged by the AI. Which wasn't such a high level at all. In fact from the result of the eliminations in the third week it wasn't strange to only have one style of dance that could be called acceptable.