Chapter 11: Orchid academy
Alex found himself seated in the back of the taxi, a vehicle his uncle had specifically sent to transport him to the academy. The journey, now spanning around thirty minutes, seemed to stretch on endlessly. As the taxi navigated the roads, the monotony of the trip began to wear on Alex's patience. He gazed out of the window, attempting to alleviate his boredom by counting the passing trees.
However, this diversion proved temporary, as fatigue set in after reaching the two-thousandth tree. Letting out an exasperated sigh, Alex shifted his attention to the driver, who, to his surprise, was clad in a military uniform. Puzzled by the incongruity of a military personnel driving a taxi, Alex's curiosity compelled him to seek an explanation.
Fixing his gaze on the driver through the rearview mirror, the man seemed aware of Alex's scrutiny. "Do you need anything?" he inquired, his eyes never leaving the road.
"No, I just wanted to ask a question," replied Alex, seizing the opportunity for conversation.
"At your service; ask away," the driver, identified as Gray, responded.
"Firstly, what's your name?" Alex inquired, aiming to establish a connection.
"Call me Gray," the driver offered.
"Gray," Alex repeated, pausing for a moment. Eager to glean information about the academy and hoping to alleviate his boredom, he continued, "Do you know anything about the academy you're taking me to?"
"I'm just following the given location; I don't have details about the academy," Gray replied, focused on completing his task.
Disappointed by the lack of information, Alex resigned himself to the tedium of the journey. Resting against the taxi seat, he resumed his contemplation of the passing landscape, counting trees as a means of passing time.
After fifty minutes of this seemingly interminable voyage, the taxi finally came to a halt. "Finally," Alex thought, relieved. He swiftly exited the taxi, taking his bag with him, only to find himself standing in an unfamiliar and seemingly desolate location.
Confused, Alex turned to question Gray about their unexpected stop, but the taxi had already sped away. Gray's distant shout reached him, explaining that he was instructed to wait at this spot for further transportation.
Perplexed but with no alternative, Alex found a boulder by the side of the road and settled onto it. To his surprise, he realized that the seemingly isolated spot was situated near the edge of a cliff, adding an element of precariousness to his wait. The boulder provided a vantage point overlooking a sparse forest with few trees.
As he waited, five minutes later, a portal materialized out of thin air. The abrupt appearance startled Alex, causing him to lose his balance and fall off the boulder. Swiftly recovering, he composed himself as two men in military uniforms emerged from the portal.
One man, in his mid-twenties, sported striking blue hair and a muscular physique. The other, in his early thirties, had long, black hair cascading to his shoulders. Recognizing them, Alex pondered their presence in military attire, a mystery yet to be unraveled.
'I hope this isn't a military school, but if it is, maybe it's an opportunity to grow stronger,' Alex contemplated, his thoughts intertwining with the mysterious system guiding his journey toward newfound power.
"You must be Mr. Red," the man with a vibrant shade of blue hair exclaimed. "Please, follow us." With that, they both pivoted and strode purposefully toward the portal. Reacting swiftly, Alex snatched up his bag and trailed them into the portal, an ethereal blend of blue hues with traces of delicate white swirling like a tide pool. The portal sealed briskly behind them.
Upon entering, Alex was momentarily engulfed in a blinding ray of light, rendering him temporarily sightless. Gradually, the light dissipated, and his vision was restored.
What unfolded before Alex's eyes left him astounded—an expansive gathering of students, akin to a colossal arena.
The vast expanse accommodated the numerous students aligned in meticulous rows, organized into four columns, each comprising approximately 50 students. Glancing upwards, he discerned the spectator seating where an audience would typically observe events. The arena's roof was adorned with dorm-shaped transparent glass, mitigating the sun's radiant impact.
"Join them in line," a voice instructed from behind. Turning, Alex recognized the source as the blue-haired individual who had escorted him here. Thoughts flitted through his mind about potential dress code infractions, yet he dismissed them, noting the man's boldly dyed hair. He assimilated into the line of students, observing a peculiar hush—a silence so profound that even the cadence of breath seemed absent.
Surveying his surroundings, Alex noticed the rapt attention of all present directed at five figures on a platform elevated two feet above the ground. Clad in identical military uniforms, these figures commanded attention, distinguished only by a man in his forties at the center, adorned with two stars on his right arm.
In the intricate hierarchy of military insignia, stars served as indicators of rank and authority, a system prevalent at the upper echelons where influential figures wielded power.
The central figure, Sergeant James, advanced to the forefront. His features, a testament to experience, comprised brown hair, black eyes, a muscular build, and a commanding presence.
"Welcome to Orchid Academy," Sergeant James proclaimed, pausing to survey the assembled students. An eerie stillness pervaded the arena, reminiscent of a desolate wasteland. Resuming, he declared, "Today, before you can enter the academy, you must undergo a test. We will promptly initiate the evaluation of your respective ranks. Do not move until called forward. Understand?" The affirmation was a synchronous nod from the assembled students. For Alex, this resonated as a reminiscent echo of his previous encounters in military school.
'Just great,' Alex mused sardonically. The inevitability of such trials was anticipated, yet the reality unfolded with a gravity that heightened his sense of irony.
*******
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