25 Departure (2/2)
We reached the next floor, and Dong turned around to face me. He caught me looking at the dozens of powerful portraits lining the walls.
”Those are the previous chairmen of this school. We've got quite a history you know!”
”How long has this place been around?”
”Well, we've been here for at least 800 years. But the archivists downstairs have yet to find a time when we haven't been around in some shape or form.”
Such a long history surprised me a bit.
”This same military school?”
”Hmm… Well, not exactly. We change with the times, following the emperors' needs.”
He clapped his hands together,
”Anyway, there's plenty of time for that later!”
He pointed at the corridor behind him,
”This is where your bedrooms will be for your first three years here. Make sure you don't go upstairs, or you'll get into trouble!”
He started walking down the corridor,
”You will share your room with one of your fellow scholars. This year, there's just you and Davide, so you're stuck with him!”
My heart picked up a bit on hearing that.
”I heard a rumour that you two are already friends, so you should have a good time. But if you have any worries, please come to me.”
He turned and swung open a door. The room inside was a little cramped but had a lovely view over the gardens behind the square. Two sets of beds, desks and cupboards lined the walls.
”And this will be your room! I'll leave you some time to get unpacked but give me a shout if you need anything. Oh, and when the bell rings, please come downstairs.”
With a quick smile, he left the room and shut the door.
It was exciting to have a new independent space, and I wasted no time to throw my chest in the corner and jump on the bed.
With Davide living in the same room, I wouldn't have to worry about cultivating at night. This was an ideal situation.
After a few minutes of lazy unpacking, Davide came in with Dong. He was practically humming with excitement at the prospect of sharing a room.
”Big bro! This is gonna be so fun!”
”I know! This school's gonna be so good!”
No sooner had we started chatting when the bell rung. Davide chucked his chest under his bed, and we made our way downstairs.
The other scholars were sleepily opening their doors in various conditions. Some were immaculately dressed, bright eyed and ready for the early morning. The majority seemed lazier and somewhat dishevelled.
After a few minutes, everyone seemed to have gathered. I counted 25 of us, of which 10 were girls. I spotted Yao Daiyu tucked away underneath the stairwell and walked over.
”Hey, you alright? The chairman was worried about you yesterday.”
She nodded and gave me a little smile. She still seemed nervous, but a lot less on edge than yesterday. Perhaps Crow gave her something to relax.
”Okay everyone, let's go to Hall,” Dong called out.
With those words, the scholars straightened their backs in unison. All signs of fatigue disappeared, and they formed an orderly queue following Dong.
Swept up by their organised behaviour, Yao Daiyu, Davide and I proudly followed at the back.
We marched into Little Yard and were greeted by a mass of kids. We filed up and into the empty hall and made our way to the front.
The crystal was gone, and the platform had been extended. The scholars sat on the platform, facing hundreds of chairs that had been lined up in neat rows.
Once we sat down, the rest of the kids poured in, grabbing seats. It was quite a strange experience, being put on a literal pedestal in front of our peers.
The way the scholars presented themselves and now this… there had to be some pretty steep expectations.
When everyone was sat down, Chairman Liu walked steadily and solemnly down the aisle. Reaching the platform, he sent a crack of his cane reverberating through the hall.
”Let first assembly begin!”