"The Floating Fortress, Pandora's Ark, is acclaimed for being the first structure of its size created to be completely mobile and independent. Similar to size of Staten Island, the Ark is home to over 150,000 residents, men, women, and children from all over the world. The purpose for establishing the Ark has been and always will be to create a modern Utopia, free of crime, poverty and the rest of the chaos from the outside world.
In the past, kings, tyrants, and other world leaders dreamt of building societies like this one, but none succeeded. Instead, they created war and destruction over the past decades, many times coming close to ending the world itself.
And then came the New United Council of Earth. After years of endless bloodshed, leaving the planet on the brink of destruction, a new era of leadership rose from the ashes of the old world, one that men had never seen before. Seventy-five of the greatest men and women gathered together from every corner of the globe, sharing the aspiration of creating a new world formed N.U.C.E, to find the perfect form of government to lead the world for the sake of its inhabitants.
One of the greatest resource provided to Pandora's Ark and the rest of the world is the world-renown Guardians Guild, the greatest society of heroes ever to be assembled. With the sole purpose of making the world a better place, by fighting evil world wide to protect the innocent, the Guardians Guild sends a message of hope to all.
Another gift given by the Council is their founding of Guardians Academy, the world's leading educational institution for students of all ages. With the aim to gain the highest education, both intellectually and morally, Guardians Academy accepts only the brightest and noble-minded youth who will one day lay the foundation for future generations of heroes and civilians alike. With over 20,000 student residents studying in various programs, hundreds of heroes are born everyday within these walls as they awaken to their true potential.
With these 2 facilities in now operation, Along with other revolutionary innovations in Science, technology, cultivation, and medicine, Provided by the generous labors of the New United Council of Earth, it will only be a matter of time before their influence reaches the entire world and bring mankind together to fight against the forces of evil.
Pandora's Arc, the world's last and only hope."
" What a load of bull****."
Lacey unconsciously said aloud after she read the introduction letter for the new semester.
This message on the screen is the latest rendition of N.U.C.E. propaganda that she had to endure while she attended Guardian's Academy. There is nothing noteworthy about this semester's letter, every season students would receive one just like it, along with their course list for the next couple of months.
Without so much of as a break in between classes, a new semester would start every 3 months. This gave the academy's students the choice to either move forward into the more advanced courses, continue with their regular schedule, or drop out entirely if they can't handle the pressure or sustain some sort of life-threatening injury.
As she brushes through the the rest of the semesters introduction, Lacey finally reaches her course updates.
"Student Name: Lacey R. Fallon
Mantel Ranking-White
15th Semester Course List:
Advance Language Philosophy (M,W,F)
Advance Multivariable Calculus (Cont.) (M,W,F)
Advance Training-Blue Course* (M,T,W,Th,F)
Advance Political Science (T,Th)
Close-Combat Training-Silver Course* (M,T,Th,F)
Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology (Cont.) (M,W,F)
Intermediate to Counterterrorism (Cont.) (W,Th)
Intermediate to Forensic Analysis (Cont.) (T,Th)
*All training sessions above Rank Level White have been endorsed and approved by Guardians Academy Administrators, allowing Lacey R. Fallon to attend on condition that she continues her regularly scheduled physical examinations with Dr. Garfield S. Anthony, Head Physician of the Guardians Academy Health Division."
"What the **** is this bull****!? Silver Rank!! Are they trying to kill me!? ****!!"
Although Lacey is disappointed with the results, she isn't too surprised by the extremity of most of her classes. With the exception of her Close-Combat Training, since the difference between her rank and the course ranking was far too extreme.
In fact, most of the levels in the course list would be considered extreme for the average student in the academy. But, despite her best efforts, Lacey landed in the highest courses available to her, yet again. And worst of all there still was that one issue that never seemed to resolve.
Mantel Ranking-White.
In Guardians Academy, students were ranked based on their measurable power levels and their discipline in using them. Because the level of someone's powers rarely increase on their own, students strive to increase their level discipline.
Every student enter the academy with a white mantel across their shoulders, like a miniature hero cape. As their time goes on, they study and train until the academy promotes them to the next colored mantel, just like belts in certain martial art.
Once they reach Silver Star Ranking, they can graduate no matter what their age is and join into the Guardians Guild if they choose to. They can also stay in the academy to work towards Gold Star Ranking, which was almost impossible for even the best students. If they manage to succeed, they will be automatically promoted to leadership roles after graduation, which could take decades of work otherwise.
But Lacey, who had been in the Academy since the age of 12, never reached her next mantel rank. And the reason was simple; she had no superhuman traits.
She, along with almost half the world's population, was commonly referred to as one of the Old Originals. She never showed any signs of developing an ability and she didn't expect she would anytime soon.
She was clearly a rare case. It was almost comical on how out of place she was here, but no one found it that funny, especially her fellow students, who hated the idea of being placed in the class as someone who would only slow them down.
Lacey was never too fond of the idea of being here either.
She already struggled for her life in the training meant for super-humans, and every year the academy continued to push her course level forward while keeping her marked as weak.
If it wasn't for the fact that she knew the person responsible for putting her through this hell, she would have been 100% sure that she was simply targeted for death, instead she was only 75% sure.
It didn't matter if she submitted her signature for the next semester. The outcome would be same either way, but she decides to avoid the unnecessary struggle this time. She hits the submit key at the bottom of the letter, accepting her fate, almost hoping that there was the chance of ending up with injuries so severe enough that she'd be forced to drop out.
The clock strikes 7 and Lacey gets ready to set off for the day.
During the weekdays, Lacey would only attend her various classes and then spend the rest of the day either studying in her room or recuperating in the medical wing, depending on how good the day was.
But today was Saturday, one of the few days Lacey had plans like a normal human being. She had a special appointment made this day as well.
Grabbing her mantel but not putting it on, she walks to the door, making a mental check list of things to do. She focused on the time at hand and not on the nightmares she's been having or the future crap courses she had to endure.
And for a moment, Lacey thought that today would actually be a normal day.
As she steps out into the hall and barely closes the door behind her, reality strikes.
"Good morning, Lacey" said the sweetly sinister voice that aimed to ruin the rest of her day.
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