"Whoa… this place is… way bigger than I imagined!"
"So... this is the 'college' that you speak of, mortal...?"
Both Noah and Evangeline stood at the entrance of their destination, gazing up at the giant billboard that welcomed them—
'The Eldridge Academy Institution.'
A higher academic institution with its campus stretching as far as the eyes could see...!
Arrays of towering buildings lined up from end to end, with a mix between older, classic gothic architecture from the 18th century to the newer modern infrastructure that radiated high-tech ingenuity...
These were among the many hallmarks that symbolized its prestige—not only for being an institution that seemed to had taught countless aspiring students, but also for its ambition to reach toward the future itself...!
But amidst their grand foundations, they still maintained wide open fields of lush greenery that spread vast and wide. This campus ground was filled with not just students but even educators moving about in every direction.
Evangeline floated beside him, equally in awe, her crimson eyes darting from one magnificent structure to another.
"Wow... to think you mortals nowadays could build such grand places for learning…" she murmured in astonishment, her voice laced with both admiration and disbelief.
"Awesome, right?" Noah grinned ear to ear. "Back home, my high school only had one old building and a measly football field~."
"I see... though what is this 'football' you speak of?"
"Oh, you're interested? Well, it's—"
"Hey~! All of you freshmen~!"
Suddenly, a loud call echoed out, catching their attention!
It was one of the academy staff, waving a megaphone in hand!
But it wasn't just Noah and Evangeline who turned to look—all around them, new students began to gather as well, soon forming a crowd of freshmen along the large main path...!
"Orientation's about to begin, everyone~!"the staff member announced cheerfully, pointing toward a nearby building."Please hurry and make your way to Auditorium Charlie~!"
And as if on cue, the students began to move in unison as they made their way toward the designated hall.
"...Welp, there's our destination," Noah said with a resigned grin, "you wanna stick around for this orientation?"
"...You do remember that I cannot go anywhere else without you, do you not...?"
"Oh, right! Yeah, haha~!" He scratched the back of his neck in amusement. "Guess you'll just have to suck it up then."
"...Your tone when speaking of this 'orientation' makes it sound as though I won't enjoy this experience, mortal..."
Her unamused stare only earned a hearty chuckle from Noah before they both joined the flowing crowd of freshmen entering the premises...
But... unbeknownst to the both of them—
A pair of eyes had been watching their every movement...!
From the rooftop of the main building, a lone figure stood silently amidst the morning breeze... their slit eyes narrowed in scrutiny, following the two among the countless faces below...!
"...Huh?"
A faint chill crept down Noah's spine as he suddenly stopped in his tracks...!
He blinked in confusion, the strange sense of unease brushing past him... as if he was being silently observed from afar...!
He looked around instinctively, scanning the crowd... the buildings... even the rooftop—
But he saw nothing... or at the very least, nothing out of the ordinary.
"Mortal? What's wrong?" Evangeline asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
"...Nothing. Just... thought I felt something weird for a second."
"Really...?"
Evangeline frowned slightly, unconvinced.
"Yeah, must be my imagination..." he shrugged in response, "come on, Eva~."
He resumed his pace, joining back with the flow of his fellow freshmen. Evangeline only sighed before following suit after him.
< | X | >
"—As you can see, our academy has provided more than a thousand scholarships—"
"Mortal..."
"..."
"—We also offer countless programs for aspiring students to explore their ideas and creativity—"
"Mortal...!"
"...zzz..."
"—Thus, I welcome you, future leaders of our society, to our prestigious academy—!"
"MORTAL!!!"
"Huh—?! Wha—?!"
Clap~, Clap~, Clap~!
Noah jolted awake from his peaceful slumber as Evangeline's sharp voice echoed in his ears, just as a chorus of applause erupted all around him!
Blinking groggily, he looked around and realized he'd been sitting at the very back row of the massive, dim-lit auditorium, surrounded by fellow freshmen who were now clapping enthusiastically—presumably at the end of the Chancellor's welcome speech.
He turned toward his ghost companion, who was floating nearby with a pout.
"Good grief, how do you even fall asleep?" Evangeline scolded in disbelief. "Didn't you say this is an important event?"
"Ah, sorry, sorry, I couldn't help myself," he chuckled, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm not really good with long-winded speeches like this~."
Hearing his excuse only elicited another sigh from her.
Noah then turned back toward the main stage of the auditorium, seeing the elderly Chancellor finally leave the podium as the woman MC of the orientation stepped forward with a bright smile.
"—Thank you for your kind words, Chancellor~!"the MC said with cheerful enthusiasm, before glancing down at her cue card. "Next up—! A welcome from the Student Government Association's President!"
As the MC's cheerful voice echoed through the speakers, a polite round of applause followed from the audience—
TAP—!
"—!"
The sharp sound of heels clicking against the stage floor resounded throughout the entire auditorium, instantly silencing everyone...!
Then... it continued—
Tap... Tap... Tap...!
Each step that echoed across the wide auditorium hall was faint... yet distinct—! Carrying an almost commanding presence that seemed to press down on everyone present...!
Tap...! Tap...! Tap...!
And with every approaching step, everyone's heartbeat grew louder—as if their very souls could feel the weight of the figure nearing the podium...!
Even Noah, who had originally planned to just sleep through most of the opening orientation, found himself wide awake—his senses sharpening without him realizing it.
He didn't know why, but... there was something about this pressure that stirred his instincts...!
"Noah...!" Evangeline whispered sharply, catching his focused attention. "Are you sensing it as well?"
"Yeah... but what the hell is this? I've never felt anything like this before...!"
"...It's spiritual pressure."
"...What?"
"Spiritual pressure," she repeated, her voice low and firm as her crimson eyes narrowed in wary focus. "It's the unseen force that radiates from one with immense spiritual energy... the denser their aura, the heavier the air becomes around them, crushing the weaker souls beneath its presence...!"
"For real...?!"
His eyes widened in alarm, already grasping the implication of her explanation...!
He then quickly directed his gaze back toward the large stage before them...
And then—
TAP—!
With a heavy clack of her heel—
The Student Government Association's President had arrived!