Chapter 2: New Encounters
After receiving his class and card stating he's been enrolled in The Blade, Bell spent the next few hours choosing which classes he would like to join.
He sighs with relief, the countless choices taking a toll on him. "So many classes, I swear I think I can hear my brain rattling. At least it's finally over."
Folding his class schedule, he walks away from the booth and scans the room for an attendant. Frowning because everyone is wearing the same uniform, he notices a thin man standing against the wall, peering at the students lined up. Thinking to himself that the man might be an attendant, Bell walks up him and taps him on the shoulder.
"Excuse me. Is there anything else I need to get done before I head home? I just finished getting my class schedule."
"Hm, do you have any intention to join clubs or a sport? You can always join one later but you can get ahead of the game now if you would like to spend another hour or so." He says sternly.
"No, I think I'll just end up waiting until school starts then. Thanks for your help!"
"Of course." He says with a sigh.
No doubt that man has been standing there much longer than Bell has even been in the building. Chuckling sympathetically, Bell waves goodbye and strolls towards the exit. "Man, I'm absolutely starving. I haven't even had breakfast yet. Maybe I can stop by the Hostess for lunch!" He says to himself with a grin.
The Hostess has been his favorite restaurant for as long as he can remember, and each time he goes he's always greeted with beautiful and kind waitresses.
As he's strolling down the street, he sticks his schedule in his pocket and smiles softly. Bell very much enjoys days like this, with something important to do in the morning but a very hearty day off for the rest of the day. Despite the fact he hasn't been at school for a few months since finishing Junior High, he's hated the stagnancy of the summer day. It's basically just sleep, wake up, eat, play video games, watch movies, practice against a dummy every now and then, more sleep, etc. Such is the life of a boy who didn't have many friends in Junior High.
"Come to think of it, I didn't have any real friends. Just a few people I talked to every now and then." He thinks to himself.
Almost as if it was scripted, three of the people he was just thinking about are walking directly towards him, seemingly unaware as they talk amongst themselves.
"I mean, it is orientation day, after all. May as well see if they want to come with me."
"Hey! Joshiro, Kyle, Percival! How's it going?" Bell says, waving with a smile.
The boys look up and hesitate, before waving back with smiles on their faces. "Hey, haven't seen you in ages Bell! No less whiter than you were before though!"
The one who had said that was Percival, a neatly combed brown haired boy standing 5'3" with yellow eyes. Kyle, standing on his left, has black hair in a military cut, and stands as 5'8" with black eyes. Bell always felt a little intimidated by his size; however his sweet nature can quickly alleviate any stressful encounters. The boy on Percival's right goes by the name Joshiro. He is as tall as Percival and has green hair with red eyes. Unfortunately, he doesn't like to take care of his hair, so Bell tends to make a mental remark of how it looks like a lump of vines.
"Ha-ha, very funny. At least I don't look like fresh manure from a corn farm!" Bell remarks with a smile, giving Percival a fist bump, following up the others soon after. "I was about to head over to the Hostess of Fertility before heading home. You guys want in as well?"
"I dunno, last time I was there Mama nearly threw me out the window. I suppose I shouldn't have been so vulgar when I saw her bowl of chili. It just didn't look very…appetizing, you know?" Kyle says with a shudder.
"I'm up for it. Also I still can't believe that happened! The look on Percival's face was priceless. Nobody expects the nicest guy in the group to liken someone else's cooking to chunky vomit!" Joshiro says, laughing very loudly and pointing at a blushing Kyle.
"No need to make me feel even worse about it, I already took an ice bath at home to cleanse my mistakes."
Percival lets out his own stifled laughter, and coughs softly. "Ahem, yeah I'm up for it. That orientation was boring as hell. Might as well convince Mama to serve me some alcohol while I'm at it."
"Then it's settled, let's go! Also, I'd like some more detail about the event, Kyle!" Bell says with a grin. He always was a big fan for gossip.
"Welcome! Oh! Is that you Bell!? Come right this way!" A young gray haired waitress says with a grin.
"Heya Syr, I'm with some friends this time, so we'll take a table."
"Ho-hoh? So you don't need me to keep you company this time? But I know how much you love-!" She says with a smirk.
"Hahahahaha! I have no idea what you're talking about!" Bell says, laughing aggressively and throwing Syr a pleading look.
"There, there, silly Bell. Table for four, I'll be right back to take your orders." She says before skipping into the back.
"DAMN! This is hella good Mama!" Kyle shouts with stars in his eyes. Right after his shout, he immediately begins shoveling the food into his mouth.
"Careful not to choke. Anyway, Bell, what school did you end up getting into?" Percival says, rolling his eyes.
"The Blade, I heard it was a prestigious school so I was just like, 'why not.'" Bell says while shoving a forkful of noodles into his mouth.
"Really? No ulterior motives other than that? That's pretty interesting, but to be expected of the best fighter at our school. Finally moving up in the ranks! I like that!" says Joshiro, taking a large swig from his mug.
Percival cracks his knuckles and scratches his head. "The three of us are headed to The Spear. We heard their 3s program is one of the best in the world, despite how prestigious The Blade is. Our goal is to be the best 3s team in the world and take the victory for our sector. Pretty cool, huh?"
"Definitely, that's a lot more than I got planned out." Bell says softly.
The three of them look at him with worry in their face. "What do you mean? You really don't have any motives at The Blade? I thought you were kidding." Percival says.
"Nope, I really don't. To be honest I don't even know what I want from life right now. All I know is I'm bored with my current life, and maybe I can find something interesting in the Underworld. Sometimes it feels like I'm not really living at all…"
"How stupid, is this just a game to you!?" Percival says with clenched teeth.
Surprised, Bell gives him a questioning look. "The Underworld is a dangerous place, and no surprise but you're going to THE BEST school it has to offer. Along with you, there's also going to be countless elites that are going to be there and they have solid, full-hearted goals in mind. Someone like you is going to stick out like a sore thumb. Listen, as a friend and a previous teammate, you need to be less wispy about this. 'Sometimes it feels like I'm not really living at all,' more like you might actually stop living entirely if you take it so lightly. Get your head straight, man. You're better than this."
Bell twirls his fork on his empty plate, thinking for awhile then nodding softly. "You're right, but what's done is done. I'll keep what you said in mind, but regardless of what's going to happen, I'm enrolled at The Blade and I'm going to be going to my first class in less than a week."
Percival falls back into his chair and sighs. "Man, just make sure you don't die, at the very least. Last thing I want going into my high-school life is to worry over a numbskull." Just then, his phone starts vibrating in his pocket. "Shit, we gotta go, we signed up for the 3s club and for some reason they wanted to have their first day of meeting literally right after orientation. We'll catch you later, alright?"
"Yeah, good luck you guys."
Percival nods and the three of them count out their money and place it on the table. A few minutes after they leave, Bell too places his money on the table and gets up to leave. "Thanks for the food, see you guys later!"
"Bye Bell! Come back soon!" Mama Mia shouts with a smile and a wave as she peeks out the kitchen window.
The walk back to his house is a glum one. Hands in his pockets and deep in thought, Bell thinks to himself what he really wants to do with his life. He thinks back to all the times he's held a blade, each time he's engaged in combat with others, each time he's done experiments in class and worked on projects at home.
"Boring, all of it. I might as well balance a golf club on my nose while I stand on a ball, that'd probably be more entertaining. I just feel like I'm not going anywhere. What's the point in getting stronger? What's the point in making a name for myself in the Underworld? All I'm working toward is to extend my life and then what? Continue being bored for eternity" He thinks to himself.
Angry with his life, he kicks a rock into the river. The sun is now setting and he sighs.
"If only mom and dad were here."
When Bell was just four years old, his life went from happy family of three to struggling life of an individual. He never had to worry about food, as in this utopia the fridges were always stocked. He never had to worry about money, as he was always given a basic allowance every week. He never had to worry about being killed, or stolen, as in the Overworld, death is quite literally impossible. That is, unless you die in the Underworld three times. Bell winces in frustration, trying hard to remember what happened when he was four years old. Being the one thing that's genuinely kept him clueless for the past 10 years, no matter how hard he tries, he can never remember what happened on his fourth year. Surprisingly enough, he can remember his first, second, and third, as well as his fifth through fourteenth. But the fourth is seemingly erased from his memory. All he has to go off of is the word of the Gods.
"There's no use mulling over it, I guess. I really want to play some Everworld right now." He thinks to himself.
Day of the Entrance Ceremony
Standing outside the portal to the Underworld, Bell looks at the glowing blue liquid with curiosity.
"So this will take me to the Underworld?"
Touching the portal, he notes that it feels warm, no doubt because of the energy that's flowing through it.
"Here goes nothing!" He says as he steps in.
On the other side, he notices there isn't really anything different. For all intents and purposes, he feels the same. He looks his body over, checks his clothes, etc. Everything is the same. Just as he was going to wonder if maybe it didn't work, a man dressed in full armor taps him on the shoulder.
"School?" He says roughly.
"The Blade."
"Take the portal to the left and say your destination, it'll take you right there."
"Uh, thank you sir."
Bell waits for him to respond, but when he doesn't, he meekly walks over to the portal.
"The Blade!" He says sternly.
Suddenly, he is engulfed in energy. He notes that this time it feels very hot, but it lasts but a moment, and now his vision is greeted with a massive building in the distance, a courtyard, and thousands of students bustling about. Feeling a little overwhelmed, he takes in a deep breath and steps forward.
Then, from the corner of his view, a flashy young man twirls in front of him. "How do you do, newcomer!"