His lesson went by fast, but Rain’s mind was drowning in new information about the different geography, looming threats, and possible “landing” spots in the Mirror. Thinking back on the graph Professor Foilla showed, it seemed that where one appeared in the Mirror wasn’t quite random. At first, over 100 years ago, their starting point was truly random, leaving many to survive their excruciating endeavour on their own or die trying. Moving through the years, supported by data from various scientists, they discovered that the starting point of the newly Blessed shifted, barely sending them to areas inhabited by other humans, almost as if the Mirror wanted them to struggle. In the end, it is all just a theory, and while the numbers of the last decade coincide, it might simply be a coincidence.

  This, however, sparked Rain’s curiosity. Could the Mirror know? Following that, how could it know? What is the Mirror even? Is it an actual sentient entity?

  Rain had been asking himself the questions millions have had for over 100 years. With humanity still left to dry, reaching and hoping for any information to no avail.

  Leaving the classroom, he found himself standing outside the door waiting for Elys and Aerin. With waves of other students passing by him, chatting about the contents of the class, checking their next class, or simply hoping time would pass by fast to do their own training.

  ‘Huh, is this what school feels like then?’

  Chuckling to himself, he found it funny. Here he was, two weeks away from being sent to his death, but somehow it still felt more comfortable than the last few years. He didn’t like thinking about the past. Why would he? There was nothing there for him. With no family and close to no remembrance of his parents, he simply survived for all these years, slowly drifting in life, unbothered by the hideous surroundings of the slums.

  Snapping out of his thoughts, Elys and Aerin finally got out of the crowded classroom.

  “Well, that was somewhat interesting…wasn’t it?”

  Looking to the hallway, Rain noticed that Aerin took up almost half of it. Well, technically, Gael did. The giant wolf was sitting right next to her, while the seas of students took a wide turn around him, squishing themselves to one side of the hallway.

  “Uh, let’s talk outside maybe?”

  Rain suggested. Simply not wishing for some unneeded confrontation between students.

  Standing back on the stairs of the massive entrance, the trio could finally breathe.

  “Oh man, that was way too much information! From the places, to the Shards…the Rifts!”

  Elys plumped down on the stairs, feeling visibly overwhelmed. Rain just slightly nodded to his complaints, since he too felt the same.

  Confused, Aerin spoke up:

  “Really? Most of the things we learned in school, though.”

  Smiling, Rain replied:

  “Well…I bet it would have helped a lot if we had gone to school then.”

  “Oh…you guys are…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. You both just seemed so…”

  Elys perked up, looking to Aerin:

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  “Smart?”

  “I was going to say normal, but that sounds mean in my head, too.”

  Seeing how apologetic Aerin was, Rain intervened:

  “Its fine, Aerin. Normal would be a compliment to us. And yes, we are both from the slums…so there is a lot we don’t know about the Mirror that would be…common knowledge, I guess.”

  “I’ll help you out if you need it! I may not look like it, but I scored pretty high in my exams, somewhat of a prodigy, one might say!”

  Upon hearing that, even Gael sneezed as he looked to Aerin and exchanged looks with the other two, doubting what she said.

  “Alright, maybe not a prodigy, but I was pretty good.”

  Seemingly embarrassed, she flicked Gael's ear before scratching his head.

  “Anyway, what classes do you have now?”

  “Uhh, Astronomy…Rain is your Ancient Inscriptions class now, too?”

  Giving him a nod, Rain pulled up his schedule from his bracelet, confirming the location.

  “Yeah, but it's in a weird room number…U2 B231b.”

  “You’re taking Ancient Transcriptions?”

  Aerin intervened from the side, just as puzzled as Elys when Rain had made his course choice.

  “Yeah, you too?”

  “Oh nono. I took Herbalism. I figured since every environment is radically different, it would be good to know which plants can be used for each place.”

  Standing back up, Elys widened his eyes in surprise before saying:

  “Thats…actually smart…maybe you are a prodigy after all. Rain, the U probably stands for basement. Does this building even have a basement?”

  Walking back inside the now less crowded space and looking around, Rain simply saw the long hallways with classroom doors alongside it, and stairs going upwards at the end of it.

  “Damn, Rain, I would love to help out, but I’m gonna be late.”

  “Me too, sorry, gotta run. See you guys later!”

  With Rain glued to his bracelet, he didn’t even realise his friends had left him standing alone in the middle of the building.

  “Guys, I don’t think it is here, I’ll go ask around for…”

  Finally looking up, he felt as if he were talking to his imaginary friends, with some students giving him a weird side-eye as they hurried past him.

  ‘Great. Now I’m a weirdo.’

  Ignoring that embarrassing scene, he messaged the most overqualified person he knew about this problem. His teacher.

  ‘Teacher, I have a problem, my class is in room U2 B231b, and I don’t know where it is.’

  He had no time to waste, so he decided to look around while waiting for an answer. Luckily for him, the answer came almost instantly.

  ‘Somewhere in the basement of the administration building. Just ask the front desk.’

  ‘The main building? They have classes there?’

  He quickly turned around and walked out of the wide concrete building, pacing towards the main building since he, too, was on the verge of being late.

  Arriving with five minutes to spare. He hastily crossed towards the front desk.

  “Hello, I have a class in room U2 B231b. Where is that exactly?”

  Looking bewildered, the clerk locked eyes with the computer screen, searching for an answer.

  “I’m sorry, there is no room U2 B231b. I only see a U2 B231 and a U2 B232. Maybe it was a typo, just take the elevator down and follow the signs.”

  “Uh, alright, thank you.”

  ‘It really is here…I was training in room 201…Where the hell is U2 B231b?’

  And just like that, after following the hidden labyrinth in the basement area. Rain found room U2 B231. The slightly dark hallway strangely reminded him of home. Littered with old tools, faulty lights, and spider webs. Right next to room U2 B231 was a narrow hallway, a gap in the wall, some might even call it. Barely fitting through it, Rain found a door with a handwritten sign saying: U2 B231b

  In reality, the sign was for room U2 B232, but with the 2 blacked out and written over. Taking a deep breath, he wondered if he was about to be murdered.

  ‘Well, I don’t think the Mirror will allow me to die here, so, oh well.’

  Turning the doorknob, he entered the classroom for Ancient Incriptions.