rakuen | On the platform: Meet the new characters!

As you all crowd onto the platform and peer through the thick fog that chills the air, you are met by four girls and five boys. One of the girls is a somewhat humanoid grey-skinned, finned alien, but the rest all seem human. All nine are in uniforms that would match if not for the colour differences - skirts and trousers, waistcoats, and light summer shirts that seem totally inappropriate for the dense fog. They're all sodden and cold, and most are irritable. Each has a beret with a crest pinned to the front - three depicting a shield on green, the other six a sword on red.

At the first lull in the chatter, one sickly-pale, shield-crested girl speaks up, cutting through your conversations with her cold, soft voice.

"Attention, please."

She explains that the nine of them are the current prefects of Rakuen, representing the two schools on the island. Nanami, she points to herself, Yuri and Lelouch of Fortitude; and Santana, Flynn, Feferi, Gino, Nephenee and Kevin of Conquest. She doesn't care to explain why the prefects in red and white outnumber those in green and black two to one.

Santana interrupts, "Yeah, yeah. Look, come over when your name is called so we can all get inside." They all move to stand in two groups some distance away from each other, and the two that spoke read off names from their clipboards.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Yeah, well. She's a formal person. Hmph.]

I was afraid of that. [A pause.] My name is Ishizu Ishtar. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir.

Golbez. The same to you.

Have you been informed yet of this city's workings? For that matter, do you know which school you've been assigned to?

Aside from the obvious island climate of the area, I know nothing.

[Stares for a moment.]

I was intending to wander around and figure things out myself, but perhaps speaking to someone really would be better.

In that case -- this city is called Rakuen. You've been assigned as a student or a teacher at one of the two schools, Conquest and Fortitude. Every week, a number of residents of each school are chosen to do battle against the opposing school, using those who have not been chosen as the weapons.

[ He gestures to her bag. ] You should have been provided with a manual that will explain the system. It's rather complex, so I recommend reading it as soon as you can.

[She doesn't seem to be fond of the idea of fighting. Really.]

And we must fight?

We must. The punishments for refusing are not worth the trouble.

[Eyebrow quirk.]

I take it the punishments are explained in this guide I have to read through?

Some of them are and some of them aren't. The main one you should be aware of is the warning penalty, which takes the form of an incapacitating headache. It's surprisingly effective. And if you find yourself unmoved by it, the staff will not hesitate to attack others to force you into compliance.

Hm. I suppose there isn't any point in fighting it, then. Very well.

[Looks around briefly.]

Is there anything else I should know about before I attempt to figure out which of these... schools I belong to?

Not particularly. The first step is in figuring out where you've been assigned. [ He gestures to the prefects over... there, wherever they are. ] Those women have lists of the new arrivals, split up depending on the school they belong to. Once you know that, you'll be allowed to wander the city freely for the rest of the day. The announcement of next round's fighters won't be until tomorrow afternoon.

[She nods, peering over at where the prefects are.]

And as far as communicating with others within the city?

There are machines called computers that make that possible. If you prefer a portable device, those are for sale at Rakettear, the official shop in the mercantile quarter. [ He never bothered with those, though. He doesn't really consider it an important subject. ]

[The way he refers to computers makes her gaze soften a little, bBecause d'aww, he must've been from a time where they didn't exist. Suddenly, mental image of the Pharaoh attempting to figure out how to work a computer.]

Right. Thank you, Golbez. I greatly appreciate the help and I owe you for such.

It's quite all right. It's for the best to make sure everyone is as informed as possible.

If there's anything else?

[She shakes her head and offers yet another respectful bow.]

I hope to see you if you need anything that I could possibly help with.

On the platform: Meet the new characters!

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