Classes began bright and early the following day. Kenneth started his morning early by going for a run around the dorm building before taking a nice long shower and getting ready for the day.
Like promised, they received their course schedules after orientation and his first class started at 9 AM: Introduction to Type Systems.
This was a mandatory introductory class for every student regardless of type. It was important for them to become better educated in each type, class and category available to them. After getting dressed, he stepped out and was greeted with the smell of eggs and turkey bacon. Turkey bacon because Lennon thought they were a healthier source of protein.
Kenneth rolled his eyes. Protein was protein regardless of the kind of meat but he didn't argue as he wasn't the one slaving away in the kitchen. The young man was humming a tune under his breath as he plated the eggs that looked bright and fluffy even from where Kenneth stood. There was a small bowl filled with berries on the side as well as a vitamin C and D patch.
He couldn't help but smile. Lennon Addams was the very definition of a mother hen, always looking out for him. It didn't match his appearance at all, but Kenneth didn't mind. He took a bite of bacon as he greeted him. "Morning."
Lennon turned around, his eyes wide with surprise. "Oh? You're already back?"
"...You noticed I was gone?"
He smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, I'm kind of a light sleeper so I could feel the door opening and closing." He said.
Kenneth frowned. Feel not hear?
Noticing his confusion, he smiled. "It's a Striker thing…or a me thing, I'm not sure. I have sensitivity to these kinds of things."
"I see."
The two then ate their breakfast before leaving the dorms at exactly 8:45. Since their class wasn't far from their dorm building, it didn't take them long to arrive at the Vulcan Building.
"Vulcan," Lennon muttered under his breath, "I wonder who comes up with these names."
Kenneth's gaze lingered on the large silver plaque near the building's entrance: Vulcan Hall, etched in smooth, metallic lines that gleamed faintly under the morning light. The name rolled around in his mind as they stepped inside. Vulcan. Syrus. Echna. Cylix. Even Torelan. All them sounded like they were pulled from a time long gone, names heavy with history, rooted in ancient origins. Maybe it was intentional, like a nod to something older, a reminder of sorts that even amongst all this new technology, this new generation, there are still roots to the past.
The air changed the moment they crossed the threshold. The building felt…different. Less pristine than the dorms and less sterile compared to the other buildings they'd been in. The usual polished marble floors were replaced with darker tiling that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it. The walls were smooth and matte, their subdued colour giving the place a quiet, somber energy. Their footsteps echoed faintly as they joined the flow of students heading towards their respective room.
It was interesting to see a sea of white congregating to the same place. Same rhythm, and nervous composure.
They turned a corner, and ahead of them, bold silver letters glinted against a dark panel: ROOM 1009.
"That's us," Lennon said, reaching for the handle. The metal was cold to the touch, and when he pulled it open, the faint hum of conversation spilled into the hallway.
Inside, a few students were already settled in. The lecture hall was wide and tiered, seats arranged in clean arcs around a central podium. The space had the same sleek and techy aesthetic the academy seemed to favour. Walls lined with soft ambient light, desks embedded with sensors for V Watch synchronization, and an enormous transparent screen stretching across the front wall for projection.
Kenneth and Lennon chose seats near the middle row, where the view of the front was clear but not too exposed. Kenneth took the aisle seat, as always, closest to the door. Around them, the quiet buzz of activity filled the air as students activated their devices. One by one, V Watches lit up in the soft blues and whites, projecting translucent screens above their wrists. Notes flickered to life, assignments appeared in neat lists, and virtual pages turned with a tap or gesture. Kenneth followed suit, flipping open his own interface. It still amazed him how much these devices replaced. No laptops, notebooks, or anything. It was the most convenient tool to exist. Accessible and ready to give its user whatever they wanted at the touch of a button.
They waited for ten minutes, the murmur of conversation slowly tapering off. Then the door opened again.
The man who entered carried with calm authority. His steps were unhurried but deliberate, each one echoing faintly against the dark floor. Shoulder-length black hair fell over in neat strands, parted slightly to the side with a single white streak that caught the light. He was older, mid-forties, Kenneth guessed, with a face weathered with experience rather than age. A faint shadow dusted his jaw, and his expression was composed, though there was a sharpness behind his half-lidded eyes that demanded attention.
He wore the standard instructor's uniform: a navy jacket with white stripes tracing along the shoulders like folded wings, a high-collared black shirt beneath it, and matching navy pants tucked into black combat boots. He sat his datapad down on the podium and took a slow look across the room before speaking. His voice was steady, deep, carrying effortlessly through the space without having to project himself.
"Welcome, class. I am your instructor for this introductory course, Nathanael Barnes." He paused briefly, letting his greeting settle in the room. "You may call me Instructor Barnes."
The hall fell quiet, hundreds of eyes now focused on him. Kenneth leaned back slightly, crossing his arms as he listened, already feeling like today was going to be a long one.