I might just be being paranoid, yeah.
I'll look into it if I've the chance I suppose.
The next class was Mr. Nichtmann's, she called it an appointment for reasons unknown.
Let me check the IDs, they probably have the schedule.
I lightly tapped the insignia suspended from my neck twice, a projection shot out shortly thereafter. A little tinkering and I found my time table. I had about an hour before my scheduled appointment, in other words, I had nothing to do.
Around 40 of us whose meetings were yet to begin were lounging around in the waiting room, which was right by the staff room. A good few had left for the dorms or were walking about the hallways.
Sigh, what should I do? Can't sit here idly for an hour. I would go up to someone and talk to them but everyone seems preoccupied at the moment. That Aerié is nowhere to be seen as well.
Oh..? I reckon I could muck around with my powers—or rather power, singular.
What shall I check?
And... I'm clueless. This is so boring. I could check when people's appointments are? This power's really only useful for yes or no questions. What else do I have to do anyways?
"People who have their appointments before mine", I thought as I placed my index finger on my wrist as about 15 people light up in a shade of blue, and the rest were coloured red.
So there's only a dozen or so people I can talk to.
Wait I can just check for the people who want to talk to me or would be okay with me walking up to them... I'm awfully inexperienced.
This time, only 5 people had a glint of crimson.
Finally, something else to do.
Hmm, which of the five will it be...
Doesn't matter I suppose, I'll just pick the closest one.
"Greetings", I said, unsure of what to do next
It's only come to me now but since this is a royal academy I should probably bow to everyone, etiquette and all that good stuff.
I did a somewhat delayed bow before reaching my hand out to the rather reserved man standing before me.
"Ahh, hello there. Feng Mingyun, you?" He said in a slow, pleased tone as a wide, thin smile grew on his face.
Eh!? He's not Rosèlanian? It does make sense that people would flock here from all over, to one of the three most esteemed colleges of vissitudes. Where's he from though?
He was about 5 centimetres taller than me, around 185 centimetres. His hair black with white strands interspersed. His monolids not immediately obvious due to his semi
Shoot, my name.
"It's Ishott Entrigeur, nice to meet you. Where're you from?"
Goodness, introductions are awkward.
"Ah, the Yuxin province, East of Jincheng."
Yuxin... that was in Zhetang wasn't it? Yeah, it definitely is, fairly sure Yuxin is the capital, or was it Jincheng? Eh, Doesn't matter.
"What brings you to Rosèlan? Here for college?"
"Indeed I am. What about you? Rosèlan native?
"Yup, been here for 19 years now."
"My, it's nearly lunchtime, have any idea as to where the refectory is?", He said as he looked down at his ornate silver watch.
"Perhaps you could try the ID?"
I watched as he struggled to find the map.
I opened my own ID.
A few moments of silence passed.
"It's over here", I said while showing him where the navigation was.
"We don't really have such advanced vis technology back home, never caught on I suppose"
Considering my origins, using the ID felt rather natural. Rosèlan seems to be ahead of Zhetang at the very least.
He says it 'never caught on' as if they've got no need for such a thing, unusual.
Huh I've yet to get his ID number.
"I'm off to the canteen now, do accompany me if you would be so inclined."
"Sure," I paused shortly to begin walking along
"Give me your ID number."
***
I finished my lunch and got back to the waiting room. Mingyun finished his appointment and it was now my turn to enter. I was one of the last to go.
"Ishott Entrigeur, enter the staff room.", I heard Mr. Nichtmann call out.
I scurry on over, my mind brimming with questions.
"Take a seat." He said in a monotonous manner.
He was the only teacher around in the staff room.
"Forgive me for asking but am I being surveilled?"
"Ah. I can see why you'd think that. Yes, you are indeed under special observation, it is only natural to be this vigilant."
Fantastic. Doubt anything's wrong with me though, they couldn't possibly keep this up for a while.
"Government policy, I presume nothing can be done. Anyways why exactly am I here?"
"Mrs. Milena and I are your practical vis teachers this year. This is a routine appointment for ability inspection. Do tell me the extent of your abilities."
I found it strange on my last encounter with these people as well, but why do they simply ask you such things? Lie detection perhaps?
"I have only one ability. I can check for something in a twenty meter radius, up to an hour into the past and a minute into the future. Positive answers are denoted by red and negatives in blue."
"All right walk into that chamber."
"What for?"
He sighed.
"Biometric scans. Take off your ID."
Ah.
I made my way to the rather normal steel capsule and walked right out in about half a minute.
"Is that all?"
"Yes. You may leave now."
"Why was it so short? The wait certainly wasn't."
"Other students have more abilities, stronger ones too.", He didn't seem to mean anything by it.
That's that. Back out I go.
"Alright then."
Just as I left the room I felt a strange lack of something. A faint discrepancy.
I'd forgotten my ID.
"Just taking this.", I said while scooping my ID off the desk.
He made a perfunctory nod.
Hm?
He didn't turn my way and I caught a glimpse of a paper he was writing on before putting away and pulling out a different sheet.
I turned to the door and left yet again.
Strange. My entire course was absent yesterday.
Maybe that's why Mr. Unwich was lecturing those people right before I entered his class, wonder why I wasn't grouped up with them. Perhaps my brother knows something?
***
I got back home.
I lazed around for nearly half an hour before grabbing a bowl from the fridge and heating the contents on the stove.
How come they've got the equivalent of a fridge but no microwave?
A little stirring later, I transferred the stew into another bowl and opened up a loaf of bread.
I tore off pieces of the loaf and dipped them in the red sauce, occasionally getting a taste of lightly spiced braised chicken.
Coups was taking off his shoes.
"What're you eating?", He said from a distance.
"Last night's poulé rouge, want some?"
"Ate at work."
"Alright."
Right, the absences.
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