How To Survive A Calamity

"Fine, then." After a few days extensive training, Deandra finally gave the go ahead for the group to have the rest of the day off before the Practical Field Experience Exercise would start in a day from now.

There were some sighs of exhaustion and relief, the faces of the cadets, even Deandra's were outlined with stress. But something told me that Deandra wouldn't just sit around fir the rest of the time before the Exercise coming soon.

The rraces of dissatisfaction all over her face wete small but there. She may have given us a well deserved off day for the rest of the time, but Deandra didn't seem like in particular was going to take her own words to heart.

Well, that had little to do with me anyway.

I also think the rest is well deserved, and that i needed some time for myself as well. Following our dismissal, with nothing else more to say, i stepped out of the massive simulation chamber, while looking back at the building.

I stared at the massive structure, and once again I realised.

The praises about Aegis being the foremost and greatest Awakened institution weren't for naught in the end. Standing before me was an enormous proof of that.

Imagine having technology that could replicate any and almost all given circumstances and environment to a near perfection reflection? The possibilities such a structure like this one provided was beyond, truly, amazing. Read exclusive adventures at empire

I recalled my first reaction experiencing the simulation first hand for the first time just a few days ago.

A mix of Magic and technology. Aethoria was crazy, zero doubts.

With a dreary sigh, i shook my head and turned away.

The simulation was something that messed with human senses and perceptions, stimulating corners of our brain for derived effects. Fully immersive experience to various degrees.

There was a certain level of mental strain and mental exhaustion weighed on the brain and mind as a result of that, and repeated exposures would most certainly lead to wearing the brain down until it was nothing.

As great a device the Simulation Chamber was, just like many other things in the world, it yad its own fair share of risks.

That was why even with Deandra's privileges as a Ranker, we were only let the chance to use the Chamber for no more than one hour a day. Even then, for first year cadets, that was too much.

So instead, the simulation chamber was adjusted each time to suit us better.

I sighed again.

And once the simulation was over, an invisible, unknown weight would be taken off the mind leaving behind varying levels of mental exhaustion.

Well, it was a bit of a stretch to say i was exhausted entirely.

Let's just say, as much as an incredible device the simulation was, each time i stepped out of using it, it left me feeling more depressed...

"Hey, Victor!" Just as i was about leaving, i suddenly heard a bright voice call out to me from behind, and turned around.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

A familiar figure appeared before my line of sight, quickly approaching me. A young female cadet with bright and swaying auburn hair and orange eyes.

Chelsea Harper approached me with an easy going, and cheery smile. A similar vibe surrounded her entire figure like an invisible halo.

"Chelsea, is there something you need?" I turned and said first. At the same time, i silently evaluated Chelsea's appearance before me.

For someone stepping out of the simulation chamber after an hour, she seemed rather energetic. There was a stark difference between how she was now, and a few days ago when it was just her first experience.

It was to be expected, however, it had only been a few days but the members of Deandra's group had definitely grown slightly stronger and matured

Although they still whined a lot.

"Have a minute, Vic?" Chelsea tapped my shoulder lightly and walked past me.

I don't remember us being close enough for her to call me that. I restrained a frown, turned around and gave a non-commital shrug.

"Actually, I'm really occupied right now at the moment. You know, last of the class type of shit, so maybe some other time —"

I was about to walk past, when a hand suddenly grabbed my neck from behind dangerously.

"Great! There's this new joint that just opened."

"Hey now, i just said—"

"Just hurry and and come with me already!"

Without leaving me enough breathing space to speak, Chelsea forcefully shut me up and dragged me off to somewhere quickly.

It was the cafeteria.

It wasn't exactly morning, but still considered early, so the cafeteria was currently still buzzing with some certain level of activity. There were a few numbers of cadets hanging around for one reason or another.

Chelsea found a more secluded spot in the area and planted my ass down across from her.

I felt my facial muscles scrunch up into an ugly and resigned expression as i crossed my hands and looked away, while saying:

"What do you want?"

And didn't you say there was a new joint you wanted to check out? This is the cafeteria, right?! Why are we sitting in the cafeteria?!

Chelsea responded brightly in her usual manner, her nonchalant smile almost irritable.

"What, what do you mean what do i want?"

I nodded in perfect understanding and rose up.

"I understand. Then I'll take my—"

"Oi, wait! No, hold on i was just kidding..!"

"Huhh? Let...go of me...!"

Chelsea quickly latched on to my hand annoyingly from across the table and prevented me from leaving

'Goddammit! What is up with this girl?! People are watching!'

"Look, okay, i just need someone to talk to for a moment! Ugh, I promise i won't take much of your, so just...give me...a chance, Vic!"

I tried to pull back my arm, squared my shoulders and raised my chin over Chelsea and said:

"I refuse!"

"Vic!!" Chelsea whined, unrelenting as she held my arm, her loud voice drawing us even more embarrassing looks.

"Ahh, fine! Just let me go already, and I'll hear you out..." I said, and straightened the arm of my blazer as soon as Chelsea let go.

Before i took my sit back, i paused, and turned to look across the wide room and glared at the onlookers.

"What are you looking at?" I growled and proceeded to ignore the gazes and strange lools of the cadets as if nothing ever happened.

"Pffttt." A small laugh burst from Chelsea's lips in front of me.

I stared at her dryly first, and leaned casually against my arm.

"What's so funny? No, rather, are you sure you're okay with this? You might want to say whatever it is you have to really quickly, to avoid any unnecessary rumours from starting."

Chelsea crossed her arms and sat back with a toothy grin.

"Huh? What rumours? I don't care about those, and besides, most rumours hold a certain level of truth to them, y'know?"

"Did you just call me crazy?"

Yes, i now knew about the rumours that call me crazy, i felt offended.

Chelsea laughed it off in amusement, and said, leaning forward playfully.

"Well, from what I've seen, you do seem like a crazy guy. But in a cool type of way. I think, you're pretty chill, Victor."

"Enough with the preludes. What exactly do you want to say to me?"

I was growing tired of Chelsea's teasing, indeed, it was as i thought, she was the kind of personality to often leave others drained and exhausted in the dust the longer they interacted.

That whole cheerful, bright, willfull and energetic attitude was exhausting to deal with. As someone who grew up along side a straight faced and subtle older sister, it was much harder to handle.

Sigh.

Pulling me outside my thoughts, i heard Chelsea's voice cease all of its usual bright and cheerful tone and grow much milder and solemn. The bearing and atmosphere over the table seemed to shift from a lighter tone to a darker tension, i couldn't help but look Chelsea straight in the eye.

And then, the auburn haired young girl said, her voice soft:

"Do you know Nico?" Chelsea asked and i raised a small brow up.

"Who's that?" I responded back with a question.

Chelsea's lips pulled into a small smile.

It was a sad one, as she went on to say next:

"Nicodemus Kodrey."