Chapter 3: Orientation Day
Xavier's name was announced as the top ranker of the entrance exam. The conference hall erupted in applause, though many students craned their necks, searching for this mysterious topper. Suddenly, the AI system, integrated into the academy's infrastructure, focused a spotlight on Xavier. The hall fell silent as all eyes turned to him.
Xavier was speechless, frozen in place. A speech? He hadn't prepared for this. Heck, he didn't even know he had ranked first place. How could he? He hadn't studied; he had simply used logic to answer the questions. The realization that he was now the center of attention sent a wave of panic through him.
The Dean's voice boomed through the hall, "Xavier, please come to the stage to give your speech."
Xavier knew he couldn't escape this. Slowly, he made his way to the stage, his legs trembling with each step. His mind raced with questions. What should he say? How should he start? How long should the speech be? What should he talk about? As he looked out at the sea of faces, his mind went blank.
He gathered his courage, took a deep breath, and opened his mouth to speak. But before he could utter a word, the mental stress overwhelmed him, and he passed out, collapsing onto the stage.
The atmosphere in the conference hall shifted abruptly. Professors rushed to the stage, their faces etched with concern. Xavier was quickly taken to the academy's hospital, and the orientation ended prematurely, leaving the students in a state of shock and curiosity.
The orientation was a week long, and Xavier was in the last day's batch. Each day, fifty thousand freshmen came.
Xavier woke up about an hour later in the hospital, surrounded by the hum of medical equipment. A nurse approached him, her voice gentle but firm. "Xavier, you need to head to the enrollment center to get yourself verified and complete the remaining procedures."
Xavier nodded, still dazed from the ordeal. He made his way to the enrollment center, the weight of the day's events heavy on his shoulders. As he walked through the crowded halls, he noticed the whispers and stares. Some freshmen remembered him as the topper, while others recalled him as the guy who passed out during his speech. Girls giggled and pointed, while boys exchanged smirks and comments.
Xavier, however, was too innocent to realize he was being made fun of. Having spent all 18 years of his life in a kind and honest village, the behavior of his peers seemed abnormal and foreign to him. He mistook their whispers for friendly chatter and wondered when he would make friends of his own.
'Friends... huh? I am already missing the village.'