Genius of the Generations (A Project: Eden's Garden x OC Story)

Prologue: The Genesis of Bonds and Trepidation

(Matteo POV)

There it stood before us, an enormous tree, its leaves glistening in the light in a cluster of orange, red, and yellow leaves hanging from above and coating the floor around its base.

"A sight to behold, isn't it?" Toshiko chirped.

Damon looked unimpressed at Toshiko's proud response.

"...Let's not get too excited, it's only a tree," he said.

"I'm not even sure we can say that," the noirette replied.

"Care to elaborate? I don't quite get what you mean?" Wolfgang asked.

It wasn't soon after the girl picked up one of the leaves from the ground and crushed it in her hand. There wasn't any of the expected crunching or tearing you'd hear when stepping on leaves in a city park, or anywhere else, which could only mean...

"This is a faux tree," the girl concluded.

Toshiko recoiled in shock, saying, "Impossible! How could someone possibly manufacture a tree of this size?"

"If it's real, explain why the leaves don't make any noise when I break them."

Toshiko stood silent at the black-haired girl's argument, deciding to concede.

"Why the hell is there a huge fake tree?" Grace asked.

"I'd be hard-pressed to find a school with an installation like this..." Wolfgang stated.

"You'd be hard-pressed to find it anywhere. I feel like you'd only see this in a museum or something," Damon said.

"Well, it wouldn't completely surprise me if this was put on display at Eden's Garden Academy," I said.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, if we are in fact at Eden's Garden Academy, which is still up for debate...this is sorta like the Tree of Knowledge from the story," I explained, "This kind of symbolism would make for a fitting choice of aesthetic, especially considering how grand the school claims to be."

"Well putting that aside for now..." Wolfgang started, "...It would appear the others from the train are here."

"This should be everyone, counting the ones we met in the courtyard," the bespectacled girl stated.

"Indeed," Toshiko confirmed.

The black-haired girl was silent for a bit, pondering to herself.

"Is something wrong?" Toshiko asked her.

"If everyone from our train car is here...where are the other people who were on the train?"

"T-That's a good point. There were other people right?" Damon asked.

"Of course. The academy said it reserved that train for its students," Wolfgang answered.

"Yeah, but did you actually see anyone?" Damon pushed.

"...I didn't leave our car, but I know Ms. Madison did."

Grace turned to Wolfgang, confused by his statement. "Huh?"

"You mentioned leaving for the bathroom, remember?" Wolfgang reminded her.

***

It was back when they learned the door had been locked when everyone was onboard the train.

"Damn, the car is locked up as tight as a prison!" the man, now known as Jean, shouted.

"Huh? But I left to take a piss like an hour ago!" Grace exclaimed.