Academy of Death

The Welcoming Lunch

Everyone filed into the dining hall. We lumbered down the corridor, waiting in line to enter the lift that would take us to the lounge on the fourth floor.

Hundreds of intelligentsia crowded the lift, and I was just one of them. There were plenty of lifts in the building to get us all to the top floor. Taking the stairs would deplete our energy reserves.

I looked around, hoping to see Lanzo, but he wasn't there. He might choose to join the first group. He was now savoring the delectable fare.

"Hey, do you want to live there for the rest of your life?" I was jolted back to reality when a red-haired boy who had once argued with Marin admonished me. I boarded the lift with the other twenty intelligentsia. I didn't have to nudge other people's bodies because the lift was larger than usual.

As the lift door slid open, we walked out in order. The crowd moved in unison down the corridor toward the lounge at the end.

I gaped in awe; it resembled a palace hall rather than a dining room. Why did I get the impression that the rooms in this academy were massively and lavishly designed? How did they pay for it all?

The tables and buffets were set up perfectly. The servants went about their business, providing whatever the visitors needed. It was unlike the maids in the dorm, who wore brightly colored uniforms with red accents.

What was strange was that the levels affected our position in the room. Their tables were near the big door for the sophomores in the right corner. The Seniors (third and fourth-year intelligentsia) sat in the back. And the new intelligentsia (freshmen) sat on the left side of the room, with the buffet on the right.

"Dylanesa... let's take a seat over there," Marin advised me to take a seat near a group of blond girls. I obeyed her hesitantly, placed the tray of my meals on the table, and rested my hip on one of the chairs.

The food flavor made my mouth water: mushroom soup as an appetizer, beefsteak for the main course, and cupcake for dessert.

"Hi, Can we accompany you?" Marin greeted them enthusiastically. And they didn't seem to mind, ignoring us while conversing with one another.

"In the corridor, I came across a handsome young man. I'm looking for him in this room. But he hasn't arrived yet." The gossip was started by a girl with slanting eyes across from me.

"Well, I'm curious what he looks like," said another girl with hazel eyes.

"Do you know what his name is?" Marin unexpectedly entered the conversation.

"Who are you? We are not conversing with you."

"My name is Marin." I admired this gray-eyed girl. She confidently introduced herself to those who didn't even acknowledge her presence in their midst.

"You succeeded in ruining my mood." The girl with slanting eyes surged at her feet and took her steps away.

"One thing you should know is that we are all competitors here, so don't act like we can be friends!" Marin was warned by the hazel-eyed girl. She, too, left, following her colleague.

"Do you think I just made a mistake?" Marin looked at Dylanesa.

"No, they just couldn't see how nice and kind you are."

"How thoughtful of you."

Marin, on the other hand, was an energetic, cheerful, friendly, nice, and attractive young lady. She was also quite chatty. She was too open about her personal life, her family, her father, mother, and brother, as a new friend. She was far too domineering over me, who merely listened to her.

"Please tell me about your parents and siblings. I'm excited to hear about them." Her request had rendered me speechless. I didn't know what to say about my parents.

"I have no brothers or sisters."

"So you're your family's only child. That's fantastic! Your parents must adore you and devote their entire attention to you. It's wonderful that you don't have to fight with your brother or sister over toys, food, or clothes." I smiled wryly, trying to hide the sadness in my heart. I placed my knife and fork on the table.

"My… My parents are no longer alive. Before coming here, I lived in an orphanage." My hoarse voice reflected my sadness.

"I'm really sorry to hear that, dude." She gently rubbed the back of my hand. Marin's words didn't bother me, so I forced a smile on my lips.

"Good morning, Miss." We were approached by a waiter. "I'm curious if you like the food." Both of us nodded.

"The food is fantastic!" Marin made a remark.

"Thank you very much. You can contact me whenever you need assistance."

'Sure,"

That humble lanky waitress resumed her work. My eyes kept searching for Lanzo, but in vain. That boy didn't show up until after lunch.

Before we rose from their seat, the servant's head thanked the entire intelligentsia. That big, burly man also apologized for their blunder in serving us.

I assumed they were some of the people in the academy who treated me well. This academy appeared to be horrible after learning how cynical and curt some of the students I met today were. But, knowing that the academy still had thoughtful people like the servants, it wasn't so frightening.

Marin and I chose to be the last ones to leave the room. We didn't want to get into another fight with the others.

The majority of the intelligentsia had gathered at the bus stop. Marin and I parted ways in the hallways because she had something to do with administration. I walked toward the bus stop, but an urge to pee stopped me. I dashed back into the nearest building in search of a toilet. As a new intelligentsia, I was unfamiliar with the area of this academy, so I had to sprint around to find the restroom.

I inquired of a staff member I met in the corridor. His explanation was too complex for me to understand. He rushed through his description of the location. I just jogged here and there, attempting to locate the restroom based on his directions.

Finally, I saw on the board that I needed to take the right turn to get to the next block. And the toilet was just right in the central building's first-floor niche.

When I got out of the toilet, I felt relieved. My eyes were drawn to a boy whose pasture matched Lanzo's torso. That young man strolled outside. I ran after him on the spur of the moment. I lost track of him because he moved too quickly. I came to a halt for a brief moment. My limbs were no longer able to walk. I was too exhausted.

Footsteps suddenly appeared behind me, but I had no time to turn around. My consciousness was stolen when a force struck my shoulder. Everything around me darkened.