Pristine Comprehensive University Station
"Abelian Anion. That's my name. Should I call you Phaenax?"
Phaenax's eyes narrowed. The yellow in her pupils, which had seemed to sharpen, faded away as if it had never been there, reverting to lime-green. The ensuing silence stretched on. She fixed her gaze on a single point in the air, her lips twitching as if tasting words for the perfect one.
"Call me Pey."
The response, spat out after a long pause, was cautious. I put on a solemnly grave expression and shook my head.
"You've heard my real name, yet you want a nickname? Where's the camaraderie between classmates? How tragic."
Her brow furrowed deeply. It was the exact face my little sister made when telling me to cut the crap.
"Weird speech patterns aside, this is my name."
A heavy accent punched my name for emphasis. Her lime-green eyes gained more yellow, and her wild green hair puffed up. Behind the fluffy exterior, I felt the unblinking stare of something sleek and scaly.
Pushing away that smooth sensation, I pointed out the oddity.
"For something like that, you sure took your time thinking. Pey? Barely scraped into Pristine, huh."
Truth be told, nickname or not didn't matter, but with nothing else to do, I decided to spice up the boredom.
"Ah, that's... It's my first time being called something short by anyone..."
Her lime-green eyes drifted away from me, stumbling down to the train floor, and her crisp voice thinned to a whisper.
Ugh. Response that makes me wanna bite my tongue.
Wait. This isn't just some grubby teen—is this kid carrying some heavy baggage straight out of a human drama? Bad premonition flashing through my head. Calm down, Abelian. You've got your go-to move for times like this.
"I was the idiot who barely scraped into the affiliated school. How humiliating to get found out."
I dramatically clutched my face and turned away. Well, okay. Truth is, it was a bit embarrassing—maybe a lot. I'd been smug about my detective skills, picturing bullet holes clustered on target... only to realize it was the one next to it. At least a zero would be precise; this was just scattered hopelessness. A total blank exam sheet.
I parted my fingers slightly to sneak a peek at the loser's face. She'd mock me like my sister or pity me like my brother—something.
But through the gap, Phaenax's face was blank. Just those lime-green eyes staring at me. Our gazes met, but she didn't twitch, sending a déjà vu chill of scaly texture.
These suffocating silences are rough.
I casually dropped my hand and rolled my tongue into a sly tone.
"Even if you're mad about your friendless past, that's no way to act~"
Not sure if she was actually mad, but a witty approach might at least flush out a shadow.
"No friends, but I'm not mad."
As if she'd never considered how she came across, she awkwardly posed in thought, then her hand dropped to the sleek armrest between us. Like before, both hands were scarred and callused. At least the other one wasn't bandaged—small mercies.
Pure curiosity wondered what harsh past forged those, but we're just train buddies for now. Skip it.
"So?"
"I don't get you."
"Why would you? We're just seatmates who hopped on the same train. Pey seems trickier than she looks—must be why similars sat together."
Phaenax blinked. A brief silence fell, broken by a muffled scream from nearby—like someone plunged into despair's abyss.
"Please! Save! My paper!"
The words alone painted the disaster. At the same instant, mechanical clicks filled the cabin from all sides. Felt like witnessing sacrifice-forged improvement.
Aha. Crashed mid-work and lost it all. Happens only when you ignore save for way too long.
"Yeah, maybe. But am I a fellow traveler now? You said classmate earlier."
She sighed, and Phaenax replied. Her reactions were kinda bland. At least we weren't clashing hard—call it a win. Honestly, chatting with her felt like crossing rickety bridges a few times...
"Same train makes us fellow travelers; enrollment makes classmates. After? Who knows. What do you wanna be?"
At my question, she lowered her hand from the armrest. Not just dropping her arm—she slowly straightened her torso, sitting bolt upright without touching the backrest. I knew it wasn't dismissal. But was this question that profound? Nah. Half spinal reflex; don't overthink it. Maybe this is how truly smart people process.
I skipped steps with my reincarnation prep course. Live a century, another, and you still won't be Einstein. Memories are just the path walked.
"Not sure yet."
After the clicks faded and time passed, Phaenax answered, deliberations done.
"Welcome to the Idiot Club!"
"Count me out."
My warm welcome met cold rejection. Sad day. Half self-deprecating anyway—if she'd jumped in demanding club duties, it'd hurt more. Someone hauls logs, and it's always the first volunteer. Group projects are lawless chaos.
"You'll regret it someday, thinking 'shoulda done it back then.'"
Teased for the rejection, and she whipped her head away. Knew that reaction.
After, we traded nutrient-free banter. Mostly me poking, her face shifting to annoyed—net positive. Successfully killed time; the train slowed smoothly.
No room for more talk before unique music played.
Unlike entering Centaphalas south, it added student reminders. Fewer staff, so recording—but student-voiced? Followed by warnings: no specific magics, fights, duels, or "artistic" graffiti. Reasons for the broadcast.
Unlike southbound, it slowed without much noise or vibration. Come to think, this train looked different. Too much chaos boarding, plus pad's internet hogged my focus—unavoidable. Didn't even notice Phaenax till she spoke.
Dark shadows slid past the window. Blue rectangular mana stones confirmed arrival. Then, light exploded outside. Seamless walls wove like nets, shadows hiding sturdy metal foundations.
As the train halted, half-screen, half-hologram murals popped before the white walls. Mostly panoramic views: unique emblems, squat central building ringed by sleek ones in circles; young and old standing together. Interspersed: folks highlighting tools/gear, logos flashing.
School and corp ads? Doors hissed; another "plenty of time, please stay calm" plea broadcast. Realizing it's recorded...
I stuffed pad and junk into my bag, slung it on, stood. But Phaenax stayed seated, scanning around.
"Not going?"
Her lime eyes met mine.
"I'll wait. Got time."
Might miss the train. Words rose, but she read my face and turned her knees aside. So I headed out.
Come out too late, drag her along.
Stepped into the bustling corridor of bag-grabbers. Felt wrong instantly. No time to react—swept away like paper in a crowd-wave.
Ughhk! Thought less packed than rush-hour subway, but everyone hauled bulky stuff—space tighter than expected! Shoved every which way: cries of "Can't exit that angle!", "Move!", laughter amid the storm-tossed sea.
Regained senses washed ashore. Messy, but on the platform outside.
Fixed crooked strap, brushed footprints off shoes. Then, from the now-empty door, a familiar face strolled out leisurely, unhindered.
Phaenax, who'd been filthier than me, now looked pristine.
"Better to wait, right?"
Most tragic: not mocking, but stating my choice was wrong—her tone implied.
"Invite me next time."
No helping it. Sometimes follow the smarter one. She nodded slightly—as if she'd consider it next time—when an unfamiliar mana wave hit.
"Welcome to Pristine Comprehensive University. To deliver the clearest voice to all, we're using thought-wave magic. If it's unfamiliar, please bear with us. I'm Radian Osiris, your student guide today."
Clear as earbuds—a man's voice, slightly awkward. Sounded student-like. Far off, someone waved yelling "You got this, Radio Sunbae!" A young man awkwardly waved back nearby. Him? Radian Osiris?
He continued.
"Returning students, proceed to the central shuttle as usual. New students and parents: tonight's stay is at Station Hotel at the basin entrance—not on campus. Non-newcomers can only go to the school gate. Spend your last night at the hotel and prepare for tomorrow."
His voice quivered slightly, tension transmitting clearer than sound via thought-wave. But behind it: solid, warm pride in being part of this school.
"Now, look up at the sky."
Everyone's heads tilted. A long blue light stretched overhead.
"See the blue guideline? Follow this light beam safely to the hotel lobby. Here, where knowledge pierces future darkness—Pristine Comprehensive University. The present came from here; the future is yours to shape. This has been Radian Osiris."
Awkward yet brimming with clear pride—the student's intro drew applause from the crowd. Tech pride without losing humanity. That was the school's first impression.