Zach stood, helpless in the corridors.
He stared blankly at the wooden door in front of him, never in his life had he been so nervous to enter his own space. Time passed, and the atmosphere darkened.
"It's evening.." Zach sighed, his hands trembling as he knocked softly.
"C-can I come in..?".. he asked but no answer whatsoever.
He knocked again.. but no answer.
' Ah shoot.. '
Zach couldn't wait longer than he already has. He paused, opening the door slightly, revealing the wooden chambers of the dorm room.
The entire academy premises were like a no tech zone, no phones were allowed, and almost nothing electric was tolerated.
The lamp in the middle of the room glowed softly, ran by sustainable batteries.
Zach's bed was located to the left, his luggage and clothing still scattered across the sheets.
On the left was a crumbled up lady in sleep clothing, her face buried in her knees as Zach slowly walked over to his bed.
' So no talking huh..? '
Somehow he prayed the girl wouldn't notice him as he carefully shifted his clothes.
Lying down on his bed and forcing himself to unseen what he had just seen.
But off course it was impossible... ' pale skin, white.. huh..wait what am I saying?.. sleep dummy '.
Zach had to force himself to go to sleep.
****
The girl crumbled up in the corner sighed...
She had not expected her roommate to be a guy.. at all.
The memory flashed and she winced.
He saw her....
Walked in... stupidly innocent like it was a walk to the kitchen.
The memory was all to vivid in her mind. She reached to grab the towel, and there he was
She screamed.. he ran. Sh didn't even think, just collapsed in utter humiliation.
Her heart raced, but the sheer embarrassment burned deeper than any wound.
'Why couldn't I lock the Damm door?..., Why didn't he knock?.. why do I have to share a room with a guy in the frist place...
She wished this day would just vanish..
"Don't try to apologize.., Don't try to talk to me.. Don't even look at me" she hoped.
The next day arrived quickly...
The early birds sang as the peace was disturbed by a loud rumbling....
" BBBRRRAAANNNGGGG", The bell rang..
Zach jolted out of his sleep...
' wh.. huh..? ' he gathered his thoughts.
Zach instinctively looked over to the bed besides him. It was empty, the sheets were perfectly arranged and clothes were set on the bed.
There was no sound in the room.
"I guess she went early.." Zach thought aloud.
He's gonna have to one day talk to her, it's impossible to continue avoiding what happened, eventually he's gonna have to confront her about it.
Zach gave it a quick thought and quickly rushed to get dressed before the drill sergeant arrives.
Zach reached the classs.
The class was structured like another class, the building was built with wood and graphite with a small window
It didn't like like it was built, it looked more like it was carved out of boulders, rough edges, jagged walls and uneven, flooring.
But this type of structure was one that could withstand any earthquake or disturbances in the air.
Almost all buildings in the academy were bungalows, and the place was litered with tall trees.
The way the facility was built didn't seem like a coincidence, tall tress, short and sturdy buildings and most of all not electrical appliances.
This place wasn't on the internet maps.
Zach could've guessed that the government didn't want it's location revealed, this place contains one of the few permanent rifts that leads to the broke realm after all.
The student had already sat down listening to the teachers lecture as Zach walked discreetly to his seat.
The occasional glances of the students irritated him.
"Wait isn't that the guy that got stripped on the frist day.."
"Yeah.. I heard he had a kids tv show on his boxer shots..."
"What a loser.."
"Quiet.."
Without warning the teacher snapped the book shut with a clap the echoed around the classroom hall.
She slid her glasses up the bridge of her nose with one finger and finally raised her gaze.
Some students were half asleep, some fideling with his pen and others were descreetly chatting amongst each other.
One student raised a hand.
"Ma'am when are we going to actually start training sword fighting.." he tiredly asks.
Zach found it hilarious at first that the frist training the facility decided to give them was basic math problems and solutions.
If you were faced with a battle to the death, with a thryxar?, calculus couldn't save you, nor will Algebra create an alternative solution to your problem.
But now that Zach really thinks about it, calculation is used a lot but not in the way you think.
The way you swing your sword to deal maximum damage, a way to dodge, a way to evade traps and terrains all involve calculation.
But not this kind of calculation, or was there another alternative to learning this.
The teacher fixed her glasses, her face, a bit wrinkled, fell in disappointment as she sweeped back her blond hair dropping the book on the table.
"Now of anyone hear thinks my class is a waist of time"
She raised one hand, palm open.
"..go ahead raise yours.. that's your ticket out.. straight to sword practice.."
The class went silent.
"Let's see how long you last swinging metal without knowing how balance, speed, and timing work..."
Zach had not full understood the teaching system of this place yet but apparently there's three stages in a year.
Sword theory - frist four months
Sword practical - second four months
And the exam period which takes up to two months with two months of break.
"Wow.. that would give us more time to train " one students eyes shone.
The student occasionally raised their hands, and the rest joined them. Very soon the whole class was filled with students raising their hands.
The teacher sighed.
****
It wasn't long before the students received their graduation stamp, allowing them to freely pass on the next stage.
The huge classroom filled with over fifty chairs and tables were barren as silence loomed.
Zach looked around.
There were a handful of people that chose to stay, on the right a blonde haired kid, roughly Zach's age sat arms crossed and eyes closed.
"Idiots.." he cursed.
On the left was a girl with a petite figure, hazel eyes and lustrous black hair.
There were the only three students that actually stayed.
Each of them didn't even talk during lectures, and now that the majority had gone the place felt like a grave yard.
"Can you three come to the front of the class please" the teacher said.
The trio stood up from their seat, which were wide apart directly sitting next to each other".
Threw a quick glance at the blond guy.
His face looked like they were crafted from stone by a talented sculpture... he was good-looking.. too good-looking, the kind that would make anyone that sat near him feel uncomfortable.
Zach wasn't to far off himself, his jet black hair fell elegantly across his face stopping just beneath his eye brows, his dark grey eyes were empty, void of emotions, as his placed his hands on his chin.
"Class why don't we start".
" Yes Miss Lauren.." the brown eyed girl spoke.
The teacher raised a brow.. " How do you know my name ? I don't remember introducing myself" she raised a brow.
The brown haired girl sighed.
"I overheard one of the instructors call you my your name.." she said.
" Hmm.. overheard did you?. But how do you know I'm not married..? " Miss Lauren asked.
"You weren't wearing a ring.. so I figured" she shrugged.
"Not bad... " miss Lauren remarked.
" observation like that saves lives in duels, or just gives you enough time to stab your enemies before they stab you "
Miss Lauren smiled.
"Classes in session"