Chapter 3: Orientation Day at the Astraeus Academy

It was orientation day, and Xavier only had an hour left to reach Astraeus Academy. He changed into the best clothes he had—just a plain shirt and pants—and rushed out the door. There was just one problem.

He had no idea where the academy was.

No map. No phone. Nothing.

Standing outside the Nexus Tower, he looked around like a lost puppy. Cars sped by. People walked past, too busy to notice him. He raised a hand, trying to hail a taxi.

One finally stopped.

“The Academy,” Xavier said.

The driver raised an eyebrow. “You sure? That’s a long ride.”

Xavier nodded. “How much?”

“Hundred twenty.”

Xavier frowned. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the only cash he had—eighty dollars. “I only have this.”

The driver clicked his tongue. Looked him up and down. Then sighed. “Fine. Get in.”

Xavier hopped in, clutching the money like it might vanish.

The ride took nearly forty-five minutes. The city outside looked unreal—tall buildings, flying drones, digital ads floating in the sky. Everything felt too futuristic, too advanced, like he’d stepped into a different world.

The taxi pulled up outside massive steel gates guarded by men in black armor.

“This it?” the driver asked.

Xavier nodded and stepped out.

Security stopped him right away. He quickly pulled out the letter from the academy. They scanned it. A green light blinked, and the gates opened.

The first thing Xavier saw was people. Thousands of students, walking, talking, laughing, staring at their maps or phones. But beyond that—

The Academy.

A tower so tall it vanished into the clouds. Buildings floating midair. Roads curled around giant trees with glowing leaves. The air buzzed with soft hums from hovering drones. This wasn’t a school.

It was a city.

Xavier followed the stream of students toward a massive glass dome—the main conference hall. A sign flashed above:

WELCOME TO ASTRAEUS ACADEMY — ORIENTATION DAY

The inside was even crazier. Rows and rows of curved seats stretched to the ceiling. Over fifty thousand students could fit inside. Xavier found an empty spot in the middle. Just in time. The lights dimmed.

A hologram exploded into life above the stage, showing scenes from the academy—space missions, robot duels, massive scientific breakthroughs. The sound system was perfect. Not too loud, not too soft. Every word was crystal clear.

Then, a tall man walked onto the stage. The Dean. His suit was jet black, and his voice carried like thunder.

“Welcome, esteemed students, to Astraeus Academy,” he said. “You are now part of a legacy. A future built on knowledge, courage, and change. Here, you won’t just learn. You’ll evolve.”

Applause echoed. The Dean stepped aside, and the department heads took turns showcasing what each field offered. Holograms popped up showing cybernetic limbs, AI breakthroughs, and even simulated alien worlds.

Xavier watched, wide-eyed. It felt unreal.

And then came the ceremony. The top ten scorers of the entrance exam were going to be announced. One by one.

The excitement in the air was like static. Every student held their breath.

“In tenth place, Maximillian Hart.”

“In ninth, Leonardo Kane.”

“In eighth, Isabella Rover.”

“In seventh, Tilor Charles.”

“In sixth, Victoria Sterling.”

“In fifth, Benjamin Miller.”

“In fourth, Sophia Montgomery.”

“In third, Riley Thorne.”

Xavier didn’t pay much attention. He wasn’t even sure why he was here. He hadn’t studied. He didn’t know the subjects. He just… answered what felt logical. There was no way he—

“In second place, Lucas Blackwood.”

And then, silence.

The announcer’s voice cut through the air.

“And in first place, with the highest score in the entrance exam…”

A beat passed.

“…Xavier.”

The crowd went still.

Then, an explosion of applause.

Students looked around, confused. Who was Xavier?

A spotlight turned on and landed right on him.

His heart stopped.

’Me? Wait… no, this must be wrong.’

The Dean smiled. “Xavier, would you please come on stage and share a few words?”

Xavier’s legs didn’t move. His chest felt tight. His thoughts were a mess. He wasn’t ready for this. A speech? In front of thousands of people?

He couldn’t even remember what he had for breakfast.

But he had no choice. He stood. Walked down the steps, slowly, carefully, like the floor might vanish under him. His hands were cold. His vision blurred.

He reached the stage.

Looked out.

Thousands of eyes stared back.

He took a breath. Opened his mouth.

Nothing came out.

His head spun.

And then—

Darkness.

He collapsed.

Gasps filled the hall. Professors rushed toward him. Medical staff appeared from the side doors.

The orientation lasted a week, with fifty thousand freshmen arriving each day. Xavier was scheduled for the last batch.

He woke up about an hour later in the hospital, surrounded by the soft hum of medical equipment. A nurse walked in and spoke gently but firmly. “Xavier, you need to head to the enrollment center to get verified and finish your remaining procedures.”

Xavier nodded, still a little dazed. He made his way to the center, the weight of everything that happened pressing on his chest. As he walked through the packed halls, he caught the stares, the whispers.

Some recognized him as the topper. Others remembered him as the guy who passed out during his speech. Girls giggled. Boys nudged each other. But Xavier didn’t pick up on the mockery.

He’d spent all eighteen years of his life in a quiet, honest village. To him, the glances and murmurs felt new. Foreign. Strange. But not threatening. He mistook the chuckles and glances for friendliness.

’Friends… huh? I already miss the village.’

He finally reached the enrollment center and joined one of the lines. A hundred lines in total, each moving at a steady clip. Every ten seconds, another student stepped forward and got processed. Even then, it took nearly an hour before Xavier’s turn came. If it had taken ten minutes longer, he might’ve collapsed again.

As he waited, his thoughts wandered. In his village, friendships came from trust and shared work. Here, everything felt loud, fast, and cold. He wondered if he’d ever fit in. If he’d ever feel seen.

His turn came. The students ahead had placed their fingers in a small device. A tiny pulse, a quick scan, and they were done. Xavier hesitated.

’Whatever that thing is, if it stresses my body, I might pass out again… or worse.’

He stepped forward. The instructor glanced up. “Next,” she said politely.

Xavier’s voice was barely a whisper. “What… what does this do?”

She blinked, then gave a small smile. “It installs your digital pass into your bloodstream. It stores all your academic data in your DNA. No need to carry any IDs anymore.”

His eyes widened. “Does it stress the body? I… I have a disorder.”

She kept her tone calm. “Don’t worry. It’s perfectly safe.”

He took a deep breath and slid his finger into the slot.

Ten seconds passed. A few lines flickered on the screen. Then a green light blinked.

It was over.

No pain. No sensation. Just… done.

’So this is genetic engineering, huh? Guess this is the closest I’ll ever get to it.’

Outside the center, he hoped to find a classmate to talk to. Maybe someone would smile, maybe even say hi. But everyone already had their circles, their cliques. They laughed and gossiped like old friends.

Xavier lingered near the edge of the crowd, catching bits of conversations.

“Did you see that guy who passed out on stage? What a joke,” someone scoffed.

“Yeah. And he’s supposed to be the topper? Total fluke,” another sneered.

“I heard he’s from some village. Probably never seen a drone before,” a third said, laughing.

Someone brushed past him roughly. “Watch where you’re going, man.”

“Sorry,” Xavier said quietly, stepping back.

Lines stretched across the hall, students grumbling.

“These lines are insane. I’ve been standing forever.”

“And the orientation? Total drag. Can’t believe we sat through that.”

“You hear they’re offering new cybernetic upgrades this year?”

“Yeah, but the prices are brutal.”

And then more voices. Crueler.

“I bet the topper’s scared of holo-pads. Probably thinks they’re magic.”

“He fainted on stage, dude. Can’t even stand upright.”

“Did you see his clothes? He looked like he just rolled out of a dumpster.”

“I give him two days before he begs to go back home.”

Xavier’s chest tightened. Their words weren’t meant for him, but he heard every one of them.

’Why do people talk like this? What’s with all the shouting and… mean words? I don’t get it. I don’t like it.’

Back in his village, no one talked this way. People spoke with care, even when angry.

’No matter what, I’m not using those words. That’s not who I am.’

With no money for a taxi—just twenty dollars left—he decided to walk back. He didn’t know the bus routes. But he remembered the path the taxi had taken. His memory was sharp. He retraced it step by step.

Holograms lit up the streets. Flying cars hummed above. The city buzzed all around him.

Suddenly, a sleek black car pulled up beside him.

The tinted window lowered. Inside sat four students. Familiar faces—he’d seen them during orientation.

The boy in the front passenger seat leaned out. “Hey, where you headed?”

“Nexus Tower,” Xavier replied.

“Hop in. We’ll drop you.”

Xavier blinked. “Really?”

The boy smiled. “C’mon, man.”

Xavier got in, grateful beyond words.

“So, you’re the topper?” one of them asked. It didn’t sound mocking. Just curious.

“Yeah,” Xavier said softly.

“Where you from?”

“A small village.”

“Must be a big change, coming to Astraeus.”

He nodded. “Everything feels… new.”

One of the girls pointed to his arms. “No cybernetics?”

“I can’t,” Xavier said. “I’ve got a disorder. My body rejects enhancements.”

They paused.

“That sucks,” one of them muttered. “Most of us got upgrades as kids.”

Xavier looked around the car. The faint glint of metal under skin. A hum when someone moved. Cybernetic implants everywhere.

The silence lingered a bit, but it wasn’t awkward.

Soon, they pulled up at Nexus Tower.

Xavier stepped out. “Thanks for the ride.”

“See you tomorrow,” the boy said as the car pulled away.

Xavier stood there, watching the vehicle vanish into the skyline.

’Maybe I made a few friends,’ he thought, the corners of his lips lifting. ’Maybe tomorrow won’t be so bad after all.’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep