Chapter 40: The Teleportation Gate
"Natalia Polaris," announced a man holding up an ID card.
"Yes," replied the girl seated in the wheelchair. Her expression had shifted from casual to serious as she addressed one of the officers in charge of the Teleportation Zone.
"And you?" the officer asked the young man standing behind her, returning the card to Natalia, who promptly tucked it into her side bag.
"Well, I just joined today. I still haven’t gotten an ID," Asher explained.
The officer’s frown was slight but noticeable. "Please wait a moment for confirmation," he said, then walked toward a black-haired middle-aged man and spoke to him quietly. After some discussion, the man typed something on his holopad.
"Why are you so serious now?" Asher leaned closer to Natalia’s ear, his breath tickling her skin.
She quickly covered her ear, a slight shiver running through her. "Shh!" She pressed a finger to her lips, shushing him with flustered urgency.
"Okay?" Asher replied, ’amused’ by her reaction, then fell silent.
"CONFIRMED!" they both heard. The officer returned with a professional smile. "Transport tickets cost 50 points each."
Natalia nodded, briefly glancing at Asher before returning her attention to the officer. Remembering that Asher still had no ID—and therefore no ’money’—she spoke up. "Deduct it from my card."
The officer collected her card once more, and they were directed forward. The teleportation system wasn’t just about convenience; the fees were designed to control student movement. Only elite-ranked students could afford daily travel between locations, though it would eventually drain their resources. Lower-ranked students rarely bothered, limiting their trips to weekends when the gate was free.