章節 5: The Hologram Lady

Immediately the students heard the announcement the lady had just made, murmurs spread like wildfire across the hall.

None of the students had actually attended a military school before, so they couldn't tell if the lady's words were true or not. And then again, military schools don't kidnap children so their disbelief prevailed.

If anyone detested the situation more, it was Max. He had always been opposed to the idea of attending a military school, yet here he was.

"Are we really in a military school?" Ivy whispered.

"I don't know, but my gut tells me so," Max responded.

After everyone had calmed down, the lady's voice echoed once more from the speakers, explaining why they were here against their wills.

[As we speak, your parents and guardians are being informed about your stay here. They will be visiting once a month, starting from the week end. You're not the only ones that were taken. 80% of students from around the globe are being enrolled in one military school or another. We, the Set A department, are pleased to have you all as our students.]

"Not everyone wants to attend a military school!"

"We don't want to be your students; let us go!"

"Let us go, you freaks! We have the right to freedom!"

"Is this even legal?!"

The students shouted at the top of their voices. And just as before, the lady wouldn't say another word until the atmosphere was calm.

Max came to understand how the hologram Lady was operating. She kept talking as long as the atmosphere remained calm, but if it was disrupted, she would remain speechless, causing them all to waste their time in the hall.

A few minutes later, everyone relaxed and awaited the next statement the lady would make.

[We've all heard stories about the impending war with the Demons in the future; well, the future is now. Thirty-two of our Military schools and checkpoints were attacked by Demons. We believe this is a sign that the demons are returning. We have less than a year to prepare you all for this impending battle.

We need your abilities to prevail in this fight, but first, we need to train each one of you to master whatever abilities you possess to the fullest. The government has approved of this, so it's legal.

Our ancestors fought these aliens and banished them to the underworld thousands of years ago, but they've returned, and it's now our responsibility to do the same. They may possess supernatural powers, but we have science.]

The lady on the hologram spoke with determination.

When she stopped talking, Max expected the students to start raising questions and expressing complaints again, but surprisingly, they didn't. They had also noticed how the lady operated.

When the Lady noticed the calmness among the students, she resumed her statements.

[Everyone, look at your left wrist. There's a little screen on the suit; it will be registered to your System Books soon.]

When the statement echoed in Max's ears, he thought he had misheard the last words that said SYSTEM BOOK, but looking at the expressions of the other students, he was convinced that he had heard it correctly.

All the students froze when they heard the words SYSTEM BOOK. They wanted to ask the lady to explain that part, but asking would only delay the answer. They just hoped it was what they were thinking, even though it sounded impossible to be true.

Soon, the lady continued. [You guys are catching on, I like that.] She complimented as she noticed their calm behavior.

[Each one of you will be given a System Book as a gift from the military school, and it's also to say that we're sorry for how we dragged you down here against your will.]

The students all grinned upon hearing that announcement. A system book can cost a multi-millionaire all his fortune, and yet the military school wants to give them out for free?

Max just hoped that this doesn't turn out to be some sort of prank on them. Soon, the lady made the final announcement.

[The door will be opening soon; behind it are military soldiers that will register your DNA with a system book that best matches you. If you still wish to leave, you can speak up, and we will begin with your evaluation procedures.]

Max doubted that anyone would want to leave now that there are system books in question. He would have been more than glad to leave, but having a system book means that he now has a chance to acquire an ability.

When the hologram lady thought they were all on the same page, a voice pierced the silence.

"I WISH TO LEAVE!"

Everyone turned in the direction of the figure that had just spoken, and it happened to be Ivy. Of course, her parents could afford dozens of the system books, so she didn't need that as a reason to stay locked up here.

[Anyone else?] The lady asked, but there was no response.

"Are you sure about this?" Max whispered to Ivy.

"We can protect you, you know." Finn added.

But it seemed that Ivy had already made up her mind to leave. Since she was the only one who wanted to leave, the hologram lady demanded that she make her way to the exit first.

A few minutes later, the single door was indeed opened, and a group of men wearing almost the same suits as the students stood there in unison.

Max and Finn walked behind Ivy because they wanted to see where the men would be taking her. But as soon as Ivy stepped out of the hall, she was directed to the left side of the building, while Max and Finn were directed to the opposite side. They exchanged one more glance before Ivy walked out of sight.

****

Outside the hall was another open hall, but this one wasn't empty. The environment was nothing short of magnificent. There were different rooms that were separated by transparent glasses and mental poles. You could see through every room that the Hall led to.

This hall seemed to be the centre of the military school. Its corridors leads to other departments, sessions, libraries, training grounds, cafeteria and many other rooms.

The technologies displayed there were beyond anything Max had ever seen on television. The entire atmosphere seemed like a world straight out of a revolutionary video game, with its cutting-edge design and advanced gadgets.

A Turnstile checkpoints was few steps ahead, and a single mantrap door was after the turnstile checkpoints. That was where the students were to register their DNA to their system books. Few soldiers, male and female were standing beside every turnstile checkpoints and few beside the mantrap doors ahead.

Max noticed that all the soldiers were each hanging a massive book on their backs. These books were unmistakably System Books. The soldiers' suits were white with green stripes that glowed, whereas the suits of all the students were black. Only Max's suit glowed orange for a reason that remained unknown to him.

Soon, Max noticed a group of five boys forming and one of the boys walked up to a pretty female student with captivating sky blue eyes and an aura of mystery, making her stand out effortlessly. He tried to lay his hand on her shoulders, but the next thing was cracking sounding.

"Arh....gh!" The boy screamed in agony, tapping the female student to let go of his fingers. After breaking two more fingers, she let go.

The female student was actually establishing a record that she's not one to be trifled with during her time here.

The soldiers all heard the scream, yet they didn't move an inch from their positions. 'So much for the military school has a strict rule of never fighting, just training' Max recalled his mother's words and sighed.

****

The hologram lady also appeared in this hall after all the students left the previous hall.

The students were all asked to form three lines and they obeyed abruptly. They have learned that delay happens whenever they're disobedience to what the hologram lady says.