Chapter 2: Aetheria

<p>Scenery flashed by, revealing the world of District 5. Ryan peered out the window of the PV, admiring the magnetic levitation train speeding past them. Ryan had no clue how it worked. The train was graceful, yet fast enough that you weren't quite sure if it just flew by or if it never existed in the first place. Ryan had only ridden the maglev once. The ride was surprisingly smooth but crowded. It can be a pleasant ride or a fight for survival, depending on where you're standing in the maglev.<br/> The homes of District 5 were numerous, with the residential district consisting of either rows of neatly placed homes or, every now and again, a lonely apartment complex. It seemed more congenial than his past district, but that didn't make it better. It felt heartless, left without the soul of a lower district or the charming streets of the wealthy in a higher one. Looking down at the district streets, you would see a semblance of a pattern molded by subpar city planning. There were more affluent places in the district, but Ryan had no plans of visiting.<br/> The traffic was the same. Almost everyone felt like they had a place to be and had to be there now. "We're coming up to the station. Get ready." Ryan had adorned his school uniform, knowing there would be curious eyes and mouths at the station, but it was inconvenient to change later.<br/> "Here," Mary stopped the car at the closest station. She waved Ryan goodbye, causing him to shy away as she blew kisses. Central Station held up to its name. Rivers of people flowed in and out of the station, some coming from distant districts on a business or pleasure venture, some taking a quick ride for time's sake. Ryan dodged people who moved like mindless drones, not caring where they were walking, and stepped over some loose items on the floor, including a precariously placed piece of gum. Murmuring danced in the air relentlessly as voices constantly battled themselves into destruction.<br/>He entertained the idea of getting a quick bite but moved on. Pancakes were enough. As Ryan neared the ticket scanner, he pulled out his cell phone, which held his ticket. The ticket scanners were aligned in a curved row at this side of the station. Ryan watched as the person ahead of him scanned their ticket. There was a click, then the scanner's gates opened. Ryan glanced at the booth holding an array of employees, some helping people with their tickets and with directions, others lazily checking for who didn't pay. Ryan scanned his ticket and moved deeper into the station.<br/>Ryan checked his ticket, "I need to go to Platform 7." Ryan got lost for a moment but reoriented himself after he found a map of the station. Ryan hurried down a set of cement stairs to Platform 7, which was partly outside. Out of curiosity, he glanced around, looking for other possible Aetheria students. Still, he only saw an unidentifiable crowd of people he would never see again outside the station. The sky was blue, a blue so intense that the clouds were scared away. Ryan stared at the sky until he heard a soothing voice say: "Train 135 from Newport is arriving."<br/>The train flashed into existence and then spontaneously stopped, hovering an inch or two off the ground. The exterior was sleek, with windows lining every cabin. The doors began to slide open, presenting the inside of the train. People began to flood inside. Ryan squeezed through the crowd, his new attire rubbing against strangers' clothes. He was lucky and found a seat inside.<br/>As Ryan sat down, a part of him wanted to get up and leave. It would be so easy. Ryan glanced at the open doors. Tapping the edge of his seat. Despite the urge, Ryan stayed put, watching as the doors closed. He couldn't go back anymore. What was he so scared of anyway? Ryan whispered words of encouragement in his mind, combating any seedlings of worry or anxiety. "Train departing to Aetheria Station." Ryan glimpsed at the speakers. Even the train station was named after Aetheria.<br/>The train ride wasn't too long, and Ryan only got a few glances, mostly of surprise. When he arrived, he completed the same process he did to get into the station but backward, coming across the same issues plaguing Central Station. Here a few students were sharing the same uniform as him. He assumed most probably took the luxury maglevs. The other Aetheria students moved quickly through the station, trying to separate from it. Ryan followed after them, not wanting to do any more navigation.<br/>Outside, a charming chain of vegetation surrounded the station, accompanied by restaurants and shops built into the station's curved front. Ryan ignored them all and followed in the direction of his peers. As they detoured to the left, Ryan noticed that he was traveling on a path that was leaving not just the station behind but also civilization. Ahead of Ryan was a sprawling field populated sparsely with trees. Behind him was an urban settlement. Construction had seemingly stopped. That is where Aetheria began. The students before him seemed to loosen up, their shoulders relaxed.<br/>As Ryan walked, he was slowly encompassed by nature, the number of trees grew, and the only sign of human life was the pounding steps of students. Only students of Aetheria were visible, and the occasional parent who was perhaps too excited to be at the school. There were multiple pathways throughout Aetheria, branching in and out, creating a maze of its own. Throughout Ryan's walk, he saw no vehicles, only differing pathways. Most were decorated pavers; some were made of cobblestone, and a few were made of brick. There were also rogue objects and small buildings hidden throughout the campus. Most notably, he found a well and a statue of a faceless woman. It was as if he was walking through a park or garden, not a high school campus.<br/>"This place is huge." He said under his breath. He had not seen any real facilities besides what looked like a storage unit and had been going through the pathways for quite some time. His legs were starting to ache a little. As more and more people appeared on the nearby paths, the students in front of him began to get excited as they pointed toward the treeline. Ryan peeked through the trees and felt his mind collapse momentarily.<br/>In an area cleared of vegetation stood a building that was nearly as big as his old high school, and if the pictures matched up, this was only the auditorium. The auditorium had a Gothic design, elaborate stone carvings, and pointed arches. The building, made of gray brick and other pale materials, came directly from the past with its scope and decorative details. It was as if it was trying to embody the concept of education from when it was first established rather than just providing education. "What the hell." Ryan approached the massive piece of architecture, enchanted by a similar dormitory that was placed nearby.<br/>Ryan checked his phone. This auditorium is where the headmaster would give her speech. He could skip the speech, but judging by the campus size, he would prefer not to.<br/>Ryan found himself caught in the storm's center. Students poured in from all directions, all wearing the same outfit as him. Earlier, he predicted he would arrive late but considered otherwise after arriving. He tried to count all his peers but gave up after one hundred. Ryan moved through the crowd as silently as possible, trying to slither into the auditorium.<br/>It was similar to the train station in the sense that there was a crowd, but everyone funneled inside smoothly, thanks to the sheer size of the entrance. As he entered, he couldn't help but think he was making his way through the gates of a castle, waiting his turn to be admitted inside to take a glance at royalty. All it took was one more step, and then he was inside.<br/>Numerous rows of red velvet chairs, along with a grand stage, greeted him. There were lights above, ensuring the pane windows weren't the only thing illuminating the auditorium. Right below the lights were elevated seats for esteemed guests or if the auditorium ran out of space. Ryan's body was tense as he sat at the far left in one of the top rows. Sitting as far away from others as possible. As more and more people began to give the auditorium seats a purpose, and the ringing of voices bounced off Ryan's eardrums, he got the impression that he didn't belong.<br/>He didn't recognize anyone but knew everyone here had a strong reason to be, except for him. Four others were like him, but this was a school of thousands. Four were insignificant. They were guppies in a pond full of sharks. Ryan took a deep breath, 'Maybe I'm just overthinking this,' Ryan thought. He didn't break into campus. He deserved to be here, even if all he did was win the lottery. Also, his mom was right. He could always turn tail and run.<br/>As the auditorium filled up above halfway, a woman with a bun and neutral eyes made her way up to the stage. It was now dead silent. She had a young face but an aged expression. "Hello, Aetheria Preparatory." Her voice echoed throughout the auditorium, spreading her cold voice. A screen visible to everyone in the auditorium blinked into life, showing her dissatisfaction. "It seems many students couldn't make it."<br/>Ryan briefly looked around the room. There had to be at least two thousand students.<br/>"I would like to begin today by welcoming you all to Aetheria. My name is Headmaster Vivian." Vivan began to speak about the prestige of Aetheria and the honor it holds. She spoke about the figures who have come here and flourished and how these new students could do the same. She also talked about expectations, procedures, and school policies. It was boring. As other students' backs rose in pride, Ryan's remained slightly arched. Wasn't this just bragging, even if it was true? After Vivan talked about the type of education the students would receive, she mentioned the school's orchestra played clubs and a short song. "Make sure to treat each other with respect." Vivian took a sip of water and cleared her throat.<br/>"Now, I would like to tell you all something I am very excited about. It is a new project mandated by the government for a few elite schools of only the best students. It is called Project Empowerment and has already been tested by the military and researchers." Ryan noticed some students perking up at Vivian's words. Ryan was also listening closely. The tone had changed dramatically.<br/>"Project Empowerment is a way to enhance our capabilities using genetics. I know it may sound dangerous, but it is tested and perfectly safe. If you don't want to be empowered, you can opt out." Vivian paused. "Trust me, if you don't opt into the program, you will regret it. Haven't any of you ever dreamed of gaining unique…abilites? That is the end of my segment. More details will be explained later in the school year. Thank you, Mr. Rodney, the Assistant Headmaster, will finish today by discussing the school facilities and how you can navigate them." Vivian's last words trembled through the audience. The silence was broken, and murmurs echoed through the crowd of students. Then it grew, and then it transformed into applause. A deep resounding applause.<br/>Headmaster Vivian headed off the stage, and a jolly-looking man in a sweater vest took her previous spot. "Hello, everyone. I am Assistant Headmaster Rodney. As you know, classes begin in a few days, though the campus is open early. This orientation will help you…." Rodney began to talk, but it fell on deaf ears. All Ryan could hear was Vivian's voice. Unique abilites? He was staring forward blankly, grasping onto the edge of his seat.<br/>At some point, Rodney stopped talking, and the auditorium clapped again, this time less loudly. As people started to leave, Ryan remained seated, watching the still auditorium wall.</p>