EQUINOX || The Catalysts Series, #3

XVIII

"The games are random and we do not know what to expect, but Arcana assured that it's a free for all kind of open competition," Neesha is explaining to the class when Lena enters her homeroom as instructed. "And will consist of some knockout rounds so only the qualifying students will be able to participate for the rest of the five days."

Usual school hours start at 8.30am, so after the approximately 20 minutes introduction from Arcana, students filed back to their respective homerooms as instructed by the digitalised voice earlier. Apparently class representatives are tasked to make sure everyone is indeed present for the compulsory prelims of the games. A professor is also in each class, helping sort out the logistics and overseeing the students; Professor Larkin Burgundy, the famous Combat Training teacher, is tasked with Year 2 Aquila. He has his hands folded behind his back casually, scanning the room with his kindly, wise face.

Every citizen of Leatia has a data chip installed in their system acting as an official identity pass—it contains everything with just the swipe of an infrared scanner, including their basic information and the credit system. The credit system is where points act as a currency in the City of Leatia. From taking the public transport like the Aerotrain to purchasing something in the non-residential districts, points are deducted automatically for the amount worth the item or transaction. There's no such thing as a physical currency like cash, because everything is stored and transacted within the credit system. All one has to do is to walk through the auto gates at the Aerotrain platform, for example, and the fee will be deducted. Points are earned in various ways.

That aside, this invisible, under-the-skin identity pass it also keeps proper tabs you. Students' attendances are taken through this system automatically as they enter academy compound, and once more at every class as long as the personalised desk reads your physical data or, for physical classes, the room reads your signature. There is therefore no need for physical attendance taking, and there's never a proper role call here in Arcane Academy because technology stalks each and every student.

And yet, the Annual Games must be something grand, for every single one of Lena's classmate is present. Lena knows merely participating in this event is—for most of the students here—to die for, but just seeing her class so energetic, united, and settled down is something she doesn't see everyday. While Arcane Academy is prestigious and it's lessons valuable, there's not always full attendance—at least, for the non-physical classes—because some students elect to duel elsewhere on academy grounds during school hours. In fact, duels are encouraged, so there is always something going on with the students here.

Today, even people like the ever complaining Fai is here. He's the mind reader who is never present because of the noise he claims to hear passively. Lucifer who has been in and out of class and inconsistently present these days is also here, sitting silently in a corner. Through the glass window panes, Lena can see that the duelling students from before are now gone, presumably returned to their respective classes to check in. Her classmates are settled in as well, listening to Neesha instead of yelling or thrashing in the adjacent hallway like usual.

Neesha is briefing their classmates, with Professor Burgundy watching calmly.

"After today, only half of the students are able to move on for the remaining rounds," Neesha explains, earning magnified groans throughout the class. She winces. "I know, but you're here to compete, right? It's what we do every year."

There are some protests, but not all are negative ones—some grumbles are about how they might not get to continue competing.

Someone said, "That's unfair! There are seniors who are far stronger—"

"How are we juniors to beat the senior students?" another chimes.

That's right. Lena heard that while only selected students are able to participate each year, there's also two divisions: lower and upper, separating the first three years and last three years. The seniors have been in this academy for much longer than the juniors, went through more hours in different classes, and even begun mastering their specialised weapons. Lena is surprised they do not complain about power scale or ability class, but instead of the seniority and tenure in Arcane Academy.