Registered

3rd August

It was a Tuesday morning, and Yuki had been waiting outside Naomi's house for over 30 minutes. He was growing increasingly frustrated and contemplated leaving. Just as he was about to give up, he heard a window creak open above him. Looking up, he saw a dishevelled Naomi in her nightgown, half-asleep and clearly caught off guard.

Yuki couldn't hide his annoyance, "OI, WHERE WERE YOU, I HAVE BEEN WAITING HERE SINCE 30 MINUTES." Naomi, still groggy, stared at Yuki for a few seconds before panic washed over her face. She hurriedly shut the window, leaving Yuki perplexed.

Why was she so surprised?

After a brief moment, Naomi emerged from the house, hastily dressed in a white t-shirt and green shorts. Her hair was a mess, a clear sign that she had rushed to get ready and not keep Yuki waiting. However, his frustration was still palpable.

"Do you even know how long I have been waiting?" Yuki complained., trying to contain his anger.

"How long?"

"30 minutes! I woke up at freaking 6 AM!" Yuki tried not to sound angry but barely managed to do so.

Naomi had an obviously confused look on her face, "But why? Like I didn't say we have to leave this early in the morning."

"What?"

"What?"

"………"

Both Naomi and Yuki were really confused. After a short moment of awkward silence, the realisation came to Yuki and he yelled in despair, "WHAT? I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO WAKE UP EARLY?" The sudden scream scared Naomi, she decided it would be better to calm him down instead of messing with him.

"Uhh… well it's just b-better that you woke up early now i-isn't it… early bird gets the worm they say… n-now we can get your registration done quickly and then… you will have time to e-explore the place maybe." Naomi stammered, trying to smooth over the situation.

Yuki was still trying to suppress his anger but his face clearly said otherwise, "Hmph, Fine, now just take me there…", Wait… now that I think of it, it's a good chance I shall not miss, she always keeps messing with me, it's time I give some of it back to her. Yuki grinned. "...and, as a punishment for not letting me know earlier, you will have to carry my luggage." he added, his voice laced with intensity.

"Uhh… fine", Naomi looked around and spotted a bag lying in the middle of the street. It appeared empty. "Where's your luggage, though?" she asked, puzzled.

"Huh? Can't you see, it's right here!" Yuki pointed at the bag with conviction

"That's your luggage?" Naomi raised an eyebrow. "What exactly is in that bag?"

"My clothes and some books." Yuki stated matter-of-factly.

Naomi couldn't help but chuckle, "Oh, that's all your luggage you decide to carry to a new world huh?" Naomi returned to her original tone. "Isn't that too much to take with you? We should carry a moving company." she teased.

"Shut up. If you don't want to carry it just say it." Yuki groaned, maybe it was just impossible to mess with her.

"It's too much to carry for a small girl like me you knooow." Naomi teased.

Yuki made a grumpy reaction and started walking, "Wait, where are you going?" Naomi questioned.

"What do you mean where? To the gateway of course!" Yuki said with a puzzled expression.

Nomi raised an eyebrow. "You don't expect me to come like this do you? You boys can go anywhere with any clothing but I can't do that! I'm gonna go get changed." she stated, with a touch of annoyance. She turned and headed back into the house.

Yuki didn't even attempt to stop her. He knew it would be futile. He stood there, feeling clueless and baffled, waiting for Naomi to return.

What did she mean by you boys? I thought that's how everyone was! Yuki started thinking about his own articles of clothing. They were pretty simple as you would expect, his simple blue t-shirt with leaf pattern and brown cargo pants. He wore anything he found comfortable and didn't even think of colour combinations. He was wearing black and red sneakers with blue and white socks. As for accessories he simply had nothing. Maybe I'm just a simple minimalist man… no I'm not, I just don't care. He thought while remembering his wardrobe, a lot of T-shirts, different kinds of pants and some belts that came with the pants…

While he was thinking deeply he didn't realise how much time had passed, Naomi had already gotten ready and came down. Her brown top cinched to her waist with whites running down all over. A mustard yellow skirt hung down to her knees and her choice of shoes, bellies with a slight heel, added a touch of sophistication and further accentuated her graceful posture. The shoes perfectly complemented her skin tone, creating a cohesive and harmonious look. The small star-shaped earrings that adorned her ears added a subtle sparkle, bringing attention to her face. Yuki couldn't help but notice how her brown hair flowed effortlessly, framing her face in a way that perfectly complemented her outfit. Well, she does have a defined sense of fashion.

✳ ✳ ✳

The duo reached the storeroom, or rather, the gateway. They stood right in front of the door of the storeroom, Yuki; mentally preparing himself, Naomi; waiting for Yuki to mentally prepare himself. Yuki took a deep breath and entered the storeroom with Naomi, with every magical travel, his headache lessened.

As they arrived, a woman of captivating presence awaited them. She exuded an air of grace and elegance, her every movement seemingly choreographed with utmost precision. Her Asian heritage was evident in her features, which held a timeless beauty. With an ageless charm, she appeared to be in her early 30s.

Tall and statuesque, she stood a few fingers taller than Yuki, her figure seemingly sculpted by a master artist. Adorned in a traditional Hanfu, she effortlessly embodied both tradition and sophistication. Her attire was a stunning ensemble, capturing attention and evoking a sense of awe.

The intricate details of her Hanfu commanded admiration. A crimson Ruqun (襦裙), adorned with delicate white collars, graced her form, secured by a sleek black cincture. The flowing red skirt, part of the Ruqun, displayed exquisite line art of white roses, creating a mesmerizing visual tapestry. Draped over the ensemble was a resplendent black Shan (衫), its design echoing the delicate beauty of the skirt, but with red roses in lieu of white.

Her ebony hair was elegantly swept up into a flawless bun, meticulously held in place by a golden Ji (筓) hairpin adorned with intricate carvings. The upper portion of her hairstyle was artfully arranged, accentuating her features with delicate precision. In her hand, she held a delicate folding fan (折扇), its design mirroring the captivating motif of her Hanfu.

Completing her ensemble was a black cincture, adorned with a sleek sheath that held a gleaming Dao. The harmonious combination of her attire, accessories, and poise created an aesthetic that was nothing short of breathtaking.

As Yuki's eyes took in the sheer beauty and grace of the woman before him, he found himself captivated by her presence. Her appearance was a testament to timeless elegance, an embodiment of beauty that transcended the boundaries of time and culture.

The only way her appearance could be described as aesthetic.

"G-Good morning Miss Yuan." Naomi greeted the lady.

"Good morning Miss Sasaki." She greeted Naomi back in a sharp tone, then looked at Yuki and asked, "You must be the new pupil Miss Sasaki told about, Mr. Tachibana right?"

"Yes, I'm Tachibana Yuki, pleased to meet you Miss Yuan." Yuki responded.

"Good, both of you follow me." She commanded.

Yuki and Naomi did as she said. Yuki wanted to ask Naomi many questions like 'How is she allowed to carry a sword in here?' 'Why does this lady look so strict?' 'She won't kill me right' et cetera, but the presence of the lady was so strong that Yuki was scared to do so. He was surprised that even Naomi, who wouldn't miss a chance to tease Yuki, stayed shut. They were travelling to the mainland of Avalon through the long bridge connecting the mainland and the gateway, Yuki didn't notice it before but while he was walking on it he realised that he was walking on a rainbow, it didn't surprise Yuki after the events that happened with him in the past few days. Miss Yuan told them that the small landmass with the Dome(or gateway as Naomi referred to it) and the long rainbow bridge connecting it to the main landmass of Avalon was called Bifröst.

Yuki didn't realise that he was already on the other side of the Bifröst, the bridge looked like it was a few hundred metres long but they crossed it in a matter of seconds.

Miss Yuan led Yuki to a small building nestled near the grand castle. Inside, a desk awaited them, adorned with various official documents and forms. Yuki couldn't help but feel a tinge of anxiety as he realized the gravity of this moment—the formalities that would solidify his place in Avalon.

Curiosity compelled Yuki to question why he couldn't fill out the form himself. With a chilly demeanour, Miss Yuan explained, "We don't allow the pupils to fill out the form themselves. There is a risk of mistakes due to their unfamiliarity with the process." Her response sent a shiver down Yuki's spine, leaving him with an uneasy feeling about the system in place.

"Now, let us begin with the questions," Miss Yuan declared, her tone commanding attention. "What is your first name?"

"Yuki," he responded, trying to maintain his composure.

"Last name?"

"Tachibana."

"Where did you come from?"

"Kanto, Japan."

"And finally, your birthday?"

Yuki hesitated for a moment, grappling with the significance of this question. His birthday held a deeper meaning, which he wasn't ready to divulge so readily. Nevertheless, he mustered the courage to answer truthfully. "August 6th, 2004."

"Very well. Your form is complete," Miss Yuan announced, handing over the document to Yuki for his perusal.

As Yuki glanced at the form, confusion washed over him. Miss Yuan had asked only a handful of questions, yet she had filled out the rest of the form herself. It seemed like an intricate process, one he struggled to comprehend. His gaze fixated on the section dedicated to aura, where Miss Yuan had confidently written 'Acrux'. The section regarding affinity, however, remained blank, leaving Yuki perplexed.

The meticulousness of the form intrigued Yuki. Miss Yuan had managed to accurately fill in details such as his height and weight without any measurements. The precision with which she completed the form hinted at a deeper understanding of the pupils and their unique attributes. It was clear that there was a well-established system in Avalon, one that operated with uncanny efficiency.

Examining the form, Yuki couldn't help but feel a sense of mystique shrouding the registration process. His answers were only a small fragment of the puzzle, unveiling the surface of his identity within the realm of Avalon. With each passing moment, he grew more aware of the complexities that lay beneath the surface, eager to unravel the secrets that awaited him.

With a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty, Yuki returned the form to Miss Yuan. Their encounter had left him with more questions than answers, fueling his desire to explore the mysterious realm of Avalon and uncover the truth behind its intricate workings.

"Yes this is completely fine." Yuki stated.

"I see. According to your details, your ID number shall be 1608. We shall generate your ID card now," Miss Yuan stated with a sense of authority. She retrieved a small device from the table drawers, resembling a crystal ball with a compact contraption beneath it. The device was slightly larger than a pocket dictionary in length and breadth but twice the height. Yuki obediently placed his hand on the crystal ball, which emitted a soft, bluish-purple glow. Miss Yuan deftly inserted a card into the lower part of the device, and within moments, it emerged from the other side, bearing Yuki's details and image.

"This is your ID card," Miss Yuan declared, presenting it to him in a traditional Japanese manner. "From now on, you are a student of the Avalon Academy and a citizen of Avalon. Your existence in the Earth realm has been erased. I will provide you with a few guidebooks later, so be sure to read them. They cover the basics of this place. Miss Sasaki will be there to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have. For now, you can explore the surroundings with her. See you later."

With those final words, Miss Yuan left the room, leaving Yuki to marvel at his newly acquired ID card. As he examined it, he couldn't help but notice a peculiarity. While the details in the form had been filled out in Japanese, the ID card itself was in English, with his name written in the Western format of first name first, last name last. It was a small quirk that highlighted the blend of cultures and influences within the realm of Avalon.

"Phew, I didn't expect Miss Yuan to personally welcome you," Naomi sighed in relief. "It's a good thing you handled yourself well, or else she would have annihilated you with just a single glare."

"Her presence was so intimidating that I couldn't help but obey her commands instinctively," Yuki admitted.

"Well, that's Miss Yuan for you," Naomi chuckled, shaking her head. "She has a reputation for striking fear into the hearts of even the bravest souls."

Curiosity sparked within Yuki as he couldn't help but inquire further, "So, who exactly is Miss Yuan?"

"Her full name is Akari Yuan (朱莉媛). She serves as a subordinate to one of the senior teachers here, who also happens to be her older sister. And believe it or not, her sister is even scarier than she is," Naomi revealed, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Yuki's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "How can someone be scarier than Miss Yuan? And I just noticed, Akari is a Japanese name, while Yuan sounds Chinese. How does that work?"

Naomi shrugged a hint of intrigue in her voice. "It's a mystery. There are rumors floating around that their father was a Chinese soldier who had an affair with a Japanese assassin. But, you know how rumors can be. I wouldn't put too much stock in them."

"I see," Yuki mused, contemplating the fascinating blend of cultures within Avalon. "So, that means we have people from all over the world here?"

Naomi nodded, a smile playing on her lips. "Yes, indeed. Avalon is a melting pot of diverse backgrounds and talents. It's what makes this place truly extraordinary."

"If we were to believe the rumors, it could explain Miss Yuan's commanding presence. But rumors are just rumors after all," Yuki remarked, realizing that the truth might remain elusive.

"Exactly. Now that the formalities are done, let's make the most of our time here. What are we waiting for?" Naomi exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Yuki grinned, appreciating Naomi's enthusiasm. "Sounds perfect. Lead the way, my tour guide extraordinaire."