Meet and Greet [intro #1]

[utopiamods]

As you all crowd onto the platform with your bizarre mix of faces, expressions, clothing and wild theories, you are met by two girls. Both are in uniforms that would match if not for the colour differences - skirt, waistcoat, and a light summer shirt that seems totally inappropriate for the thin layer of snow coating the station platform. Both have a beret with a crest - one's shows a sword, the other's a shield.

At the first lull in the chatter, the taller girl, her uniform red and white, speaks out over the crowd.

"Hey, losers!"

She explains, in short, irritated sentences, that they're prefects, representing the two schools in Rakuen. Santana, Conquest, she says, gesturing to herself with a smile that would be smug if she didn't look so annoyed to be out here. Nanami here is Fortitude, she adds, pointing to the pale girl half-leaning on her other arm. The girl nods.

"We're here to get you sorted and back to campus. If you wanna ask stupid questions, do it on the way. It's freezing out here."

The girl introduced as Nanami interrupts. "When we say your name, please move quickly and quietly to us."

"Yeah, then we can go back to the dorms."

They separate, moving to stand several metres apart, and both pull a list from their waistcoat pocket. Alternating, they start to read out your names.

Comments

[savedbyasong]

Shion smiled again, but when it seemed like she was going to walk away he asked. "Sorry where did you say we were again?" Because there was no such place as Rakuen city. Unless it was on the edge of one of the cities, like West Town was to No. 6. But this train station did not belong to a shanty town.

[effortless]

"Didn't you hear?" How careless. Nanami sighed, quietly, and turned around to face him again. She swayed a little before answering. "Rakuen. A small city on an island of the same name. Home of the battle schools, Conquest and Fortitude, the latter of which you are now a student of."

[savedbyasong]

Shion took another deep breath trying to stay calm, he had already met someone who claimed to be from somewhere other than one of the six cities. "Which is the nearest city?" At least he could work out just how lost he was, perhaps this was some strange seventh city, after all if it was on a island...

[effortless]

"Unfortunately, that would require me to have some knowledge of the relationships between worlds... Which I don't have. However, it is enough to say that the distance does not matter, as you will not be able to reach any of them."

[savedbyasong]

"Worlds?" It came out slightly choked as he stared at her in horror and confusion. "What do you mean?"

[effortless]

"Our information isn't exact, I'm afraid, but that is the closest to the truth we have."

[savedbyasong]

"I don't understand." Wasn't she someone in charge, wasn't she supposed to know what was going on?

"Are you saying there are worlds, more than one world?"

[effortless]

"More than one... No, it would be more accurate to say that the number of worlds is infinite."

[savedbyasong]

"Infinite worlds..." Please excuse Shion, Nanami, he's just going to... sit here on the ground and stare up at you in utter disbelief. He will regain thought in a moment.

[effortless]

"Ah, did I not explain again...?"

[savedbyasong]

Shion shook his head silently, "No... it's... okay I just... I don't understand how there can be infinite worlds." He hasn't got off the ground yet, he's trying to make sense of everything.

[effortless]

"You don't have to understand right now. Or, more specifically, there are more important things for you to worry about."

[savedbyasong]

"Oh," it sounded like something Rat would say so Shion fell silent for a moment. "What do I have to worry about?"

[effortless]

"Settling in, for one thing."

[savedbyasong]

"But I don't want to stay here." He had to rescue Safu and he couldn't do that if he was here.