Chapter 46: Arrival of weapons
Zephyr groggily woke up and stared at the glass ceiling of the dorm in silence. Back on Earth, he had a habit—every time he woke, he’d lie there and stare blankly at the ceiling, letting his mind drift in silence. It was a strange comfort, a moment of stillness before facing the world. Now, it was the same—but instead of plaster or concrete above, it was crystal-clear glass and a sky that bled purple.
He turned his head sideways and blinked slowly. The dorm, once filled with soft chatter and movement, was now noticeably quieter. Only boys remained. His confusion lasted just a second—until the large double doors at the far end of the dorm creaked open and out came the girls, wet-haired, towels around their shoulders, chatting and giggling.
Realization hit—morning bath rotation.
Without another thought, Zephyr sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, only to pause. At the foot of his bed, marked clearly with the number 50, was a small black box. Sleek and almost reflective, it sat there quietly, unnoticed since last night. Curious, he reached out and placed his palm on the top.
Click.
The box gave a gentle mechanical sound as it unlocked, followed by a faint hiss as cold air swept over his feet like a ghost. Inside was a neatly organized kit— a rolled towel, mint-green shampoo, sleek black toothbrush and toothpaste, soap in a hardened glass casing, and even small bottles of face and body wash. It was cold to the touch, likely refrigerated to keep it fresh.
Zephyr blinked in slight awe—this academy was still ridiculous.
Grabbing the essentials, he followed the sluggish trail of boys all making their way toward the bathhouse doors. Everyone looked half-awake, dragging feet and mumbling under their breaths. It wasn’t just him—morning fatigue had its grip on the whole dorm.
Behind the wide twin doors was the bathhouse.