Chapter 34: Mechbeast Basics
Jethro followed the other new tamers through a slender corridor that had projections embedded in the ceiling, showing constellations of data streams concerning things like the campus maps, class halls for upcoming lessons, and various announcements.
They arrived at a lightbeam doorway.
As they approached, the light rippled like water and the door retracted in four various directions. Jethro thought it was a dramatic way to open a simple door.
But the reason for the theatrics became apparent the moment he saw the class hall.
It was a large cybernetic amphitheater illuminated by ambient lights and designed with rows of ergonomic, slate-gray seats descending towards a central dais.
Instead of walls, curved screens defined the shape of the room, reaching from the ceiling to the floor, displaying ecosystems, diagrams and labels of various mechbeasts, including descriptions on devices essential for mechbeasts such as aether chips and cultivation modules.
There were no air conditioning units that Jethro could see, yet the air was very cool and filtered. And even with everything mostly made of steel, the room still smelled like ozone and herbs.
"House Faction! This way!" a student with a Steel Sparrow bellowed, gesturing towards a corner of the hall.
Kekius practically vibrated. "Come on, Jethro! Aren’t you excited? It’s our first lesson!"
Jethro pursed his lips. "Yeah, but why do we all have to sit together?"
"I told you that things get competitive, didn’t I?" Kekius beamed. "Factions just stay together. That way they can work as a team."