“Mind your step! We’ll deduct points if you play the fool!”

“Class 1-B, don’t stop halfway! There’s nothing to fear, fools!”

“Fools, don’t look down!”

The air was full of instructions that seemed to have a common theme in mind, but Gaius wasn’t going to think too hard about the phrontistery’s educational policy. Maybe the teachers were stressed too — from what Reinford said, this was the first time the first years actually went overseas for a field trip. If she was right, this whole trip to the conference actually had been caused by Class 1-S.

Class 1-S, which aimed to nurture a bunch of students capable of artificing in combat zones, was slated to subjugate monsters in the eastern parts of the Mortal Light Dynasty, but this goal was changed to the Central Circle once snowpyres were discovered in a passageway there.

Of course, the other teachers disliked the fact that only one class got special treatment. One thing led to another, and soon, the school board decided that the first years would all go to the Central Circle for combat training. Since this required the help of the military, the Pinnacle got involved somehow, leading to the scene right now.

“That has to be the most coincidental thing I ever heard,” Gaius replied.

“Right?” Reinford nodded her head. “Sounds like one of those stories where a man trades an apple for two oranges, and then finally ends up marrying a baroness.”

“There’s such a story?” Gaius asked.

“The Single-Apple Trader?” Reinford replied. “Yes, it is quite popular. Have you not heard of it before?”

Gaius stole a glance at Isabelle, who was nodding, and said, “Probably missed it during my childhood. After all, it wasn’t one that had time for little stories and things like that.”

He glanced at the other members of Class 1-S, who were lining up to enter the ship, and then joined the queue. Placing his hands on Nakama’s shoulders, they began to walk up the ramp slowly, into the Unity itself. Only one — well, it looked like a bay door — was open for the students to walk into, and the first years had already split up into their respective classes.

Class 1-S, as usually, was standing in a distinctly different position. Mrs. Clara had said it herself; they were going to create artefacts in a combat environment. The other classes would simply fight some snowpyres and be done with it. Gaius wasn’t too sure what ‘artificing in a combat environment’ meant, however.

After making a headcount, the students proceeded into a smaller version of their assembly hall. There were enough seats for everyone inside this briefing room, and cold air puffed out at full blast as the last few students skedaddled into their seats.

Oracle Galina walked in moments later. “Students, welcome aboard the Unity. This ship is the first of its line; fourteen others are in commission. In accordance to Earth’s designations, the Unity is barely more than a troop transport, but right here, right now, it’s a weapon of mass destruction.”

And with that, the first years were silenced. Gaius thought back to the huge turrets at the side of the ship, and then wondered what kind of attacks the Unity could put out.

“The Unity is able to output fire on the level of Lords,” the Oracle continued. “Its main guns fire Lord-class attacks, which have been standardised as a highly-penetrative attack that creates explosions up to three hundred metres in diameter upon contact. Similar-rank Deflector artefacts defend the ship too. Capable of carrying up to three thousand soldiers, the Unity will be your main mode of transport to the Central Circle.”

She smiled. “Now that I’ve done the introductions, here are some ground rules everyone is to abide to. First, everyone is to not leave this room unless instructed to. If you need to use the toilet, approach your teachers. Second, no offensive manifestations of qi are allowed here. Any attempts to fight will be treated as treason and dealt with using lethal force. Third, listen to the captain’s order at all times. Her orders, while on this ship, will take precedence over anyone else. Any questions?”

No one said anything, and she nodded in satisfaction. “Very good. Teachers, you may now take over.”

She walked away as a teacher Gaius didn’t recognise took her place. A middle-aged man, dressed in a light-red shirt, cleared his throat. “Now, we will begin the final briefing for all classes. The area you’ll be training at has been formally named — Machia. The rules for this are simple: do not enter alone, do not enter without a teacher, and do not go in unarmed.”

Qi welled out of him to form a small map, which he enlarged a moment later. Pointing to a particularly large space, he said, “A camp for us and the soldiers is already in place here. You might encounter soldiers from the other nations here, so be on your best behaviour at all times. Now, these are the passageways into Machia proper. Assume that enemies can show up when you’re in them; the last thing we want to see is you guys getting killed at the doorstep.”

“Other than that, the specific rules of the camp will be in the papers the teachers hand out to you. Make sure to read them while we’re still travelling,” he said. “Now, we should be beginning to depart.”

A pleasant chime came from the top of their heads a moment later. “This is the captain of the Unity speaking. We are about to depart. All hands, please hold on to the armrests.”

The Unity began to move. There were no windows for Gaius to look out to, but it was the novelty of a flight like this that truly mattered. Being able to transport troops with a vessel like this was ground-breaking, but Gaius now wanted to know how such a construction was possible.

But that was a question that would have to wait after they were allowed to move.

And as the Unity continued to rise, he wondered if he could ask for the chance to learn about its construction.