Chapter 20: New World

Chapter 20: New World

" I THINK the paleness of the fear I showed

When he, rejected from that conference,

Rejoined me, caused him speak more confident

Than felt he inly.

For the glance he sent

Through the dense darkness of the backward road

Denied the valour of his words' pretence;

And pausing there with anxious listening mien,

While came no sound, nor any help was seen,

He muttered, "Yet we must this conflict win,

For else - But whom her aid has pledged herein - How long before he cometh!"

And plain I knew His words turned sideward from the ending due

They first portended.

Faster beat my fear,

Methinks, than had he framed in words more clear

The meaning that his care withheld."

- Dante Alighieri, Divine Comedy (1320, 2nd Era)

The rest of the day flew by like a dream. The elevator ride down to Erec’s old home came and vanished; his steps through the tunnels went just as quick. He threw open the door to his house, tossed his leather bag with VAL tucked inside his shoulder, and then grabbed his small packed luggage case. Then left for good.

After that, Erec returned to the surface.

To the surface. To a world where every day he could get lost in the bright blue sea above. To his new home, where his every breath brought lungfuls of fresh dry air instead of the same old recycled air that circulated inside the venting systems and bio-caverns miles below.

The smile on his face never slipped away for more than a minute. He reached the Academy campus before the euphoria started to fade.

“I am who I am.” He said and exhaled through his teeth, sincerely hoping that this conversation wouldn’t play out anywhere else in this Academy. Goddess above, have mercy. “Can we—can we get on with this?”

“Oh! Yeah, yea, right this way."

Gwen motioned for him to follow behind as she walked up the steps. Thankfully she left it at that and didn’t dive into his family history any further.

His first steps into the Verdant Oak quarters were, in short, extraordinary. Live plant life crawled on the walls, and more twisting vines spread out of too-many pots that cluttered the entry. They'd opted to forgo artwork or old-world decoration, unlike nearly the rest of the high-nobility. Everything displayed inside was alive. A wide range of dark foliages spouting bright red flowers to off-colored and misshapen mute plants.

The entrance hall spread in three distinct directions. The central path led to classrooms and different rooms set aside for the Verdant Oak classes. Gwen explained that all mandatory classes were in the central Academy building, and each Order housed its electives in their quarters.

If you took your way down the right hall from the entrance, you’d find yourself in the dorms and canteen, the last stop on their journey.

No, instead, Gwen brought him down the left hall. Rooms spawning off the hall contained various purposes, from gyms and training spaces to grease-stained workshops. Some of which required special permission to enter. Erec noted the workshops were open for initiate access and swore to circle back later.

Past the workshop was the quartermaster and the reason they came here first. The man gave Erec an exasperated look through his wiry glasses and got through his work quickly. He took Erec’s measurements, then issued him three sets of Academy uniforms and a single set of formals.

He was also issued the basics such as bed sheets, sundries, and of course, his Order pin.

Erec turned the tiny bit of metal over in his hand; an was oak etched into its surface. It felt heavy but right to hold.

The quartermaster cleared his throat and tapped a finger on a sheet of paper filled with boxes and checkmarks. As they went through the supplies, Erec checked off box after box.

But there was one box still empty—one thing that had yet to be issued; what he wanted the most.

“No Armor?” the man asked with a sigh.

“No, my Markos II, and it’s well... It no longer works; it was a loaner Armor, to begin with, so it never really belonged to me—“

“Goddess above. That’s always a poor omen.” The guy rubbed his temple and walked away from the counter. He pulled out a key to rifle through a drawer. A moment later, he returned to the counter with a black rubber wristband, setting it on the checklist sheet. “If this one ends up like that poor Markos II, I’ll have you run three laps outside the wall.”

“I promise to take good care of it.” Erec reached towards the rubber wristband, which undoubtedly contained an authorization chip.

The quartermaster’s fingers clamped around his wrist, tight like an iron manacle, stopping him in his tracks. “These are not toys. They are weapons of war, with an incomparable ability to kill—treat them how you would a sword, only far better. Because, unlike a sword, your Armor can also save your life.”

“I swear,” Erec said, meeting the severe eyes of the man.

The quartermaster released his grip and sighed. “It’s in Workshop C, Rack 23. Engineers will let you in when you show the wristband. Go collect it and bring it to your dorm so that you can keep it on your personal rack.”

As if Erec needed that explained. Few in his year appreciated Armors and their power quite as much as him. After having the Markos on the edge of falling apart the entire trial, he was damn near giddy for the upgrade. With a quick nod of appreciation to the quartermaster, he checked the last box and submitted his form.

Erec took off to the next stop. To his new Armor.