Tides of the forgotten

The corridor leading to the practical hall was dimmer than the rest of the ship's interiors. The lights were recessed into the ceiling, casting pale shadows along the metallic floor. The air smelled faintly of damp steel and sterilized compost. Saurai walked silently beside Bryn, whose soft steps occasionally squeaked against the polished surface.

"Hey… what level is our teacher, anyway?" he asked, lowering his voice.

Bryn scratched his head. "Level? Oh! You mean her Rank Card?"

Saurai nodded.

Bryn tilted his head thoughtfully. "She's a Level 4-A Instructor. That means she's certified to lead biology-related practicals, especially agricultural ones. Don't underestimate her just because her rank seems low. it's actually pretty high for someone on this ship."

He suddenly stopped and looked around cautiously, as if someone might overhear. Then he leaned in and whispered, "Main ship. I even heard she's related to the royal family. I think she used to be stationed on Artemis-1 before transferring here a year ago."

Saurai blinked. "The main ship? That's the central vessel of our country, right? The royal family and all the bigshots live there."

"Yup. It's much closer to the Wailing Reef Zone." Bryn's expression turned distant, his voice dropping again. "Rumor has it she lost her fiancé in a monster drive near the Deep Bloom. After that, she left the front lines and focused on research and teaching. She used to be top of her combat unit. But after that huge loss, she's been… well, you know." He gestured vaguely.

Saurai tried to remember about wailing reef. He didn't know much about it, but the Wailing Reef was said to be a mysterious place where Artemis-1 was currently stationed. Even though it wasn't classified as a war zone, many of the strongest nations had positioned their elite military forces there for reasons unknown. Countless warriors had lost their lives in that region, earning it the name Wailing Reef.

That explained her cold, almost cutting demeanor in class. Saurai felt a pinch of guilt for judging her so quickly.

As they paused before the dome's sliding entrance, Saurai's thoughts drifted back to earlier his quick responses, the way he effortlessly pointed out the inconsistencies in the data models. The realization hit him like a splash of cold water.

He had stood out.

Not too much, but…

He bit his lip.

This wasn't his old world, where knowledge was admired in quiet circles of scientists and experts. Here, among children trained for survival in a floating society, being too sharp could draw attention and not always the helpful kind. He needed to slow down, blend in, and learn. At least until he understood the rules of this world.

"I shouldn't have pointed out that data discrepancy," he muttered.

"Huh?" Bryn looked at him.

"Nothing." Saurai forced a smile. "Let's just not end up being target practice in tomorrow's session."

Outside the Dome

The sunlight filtered through skyglass panels above, casting soft shadows as they walked back toward their class. Bryn was cheerful again, arms behind his head as he whistled off-tune.

Saurai carried the sample clipboard tucked under his arm, filled with hand-drawn notes.

"Hey, Saurai."

"Hm?"

"You're really good at this plant stuff."

Saurai smiled. "Just… feels natural."

As they rounded the corner into the hallway leading to their floor, a loud voice cut through the air.

"Oi! Fatty!"

Bryn groaned. "Nooo… not now."

A girl in a pristine Class 1-A tag on uniform approached them, her confident steps clicking against the metal floor. Her shoulder-length hair was sharply cut, and her eyes were a piercing shade of teal. She stood with one hand on her hip and an amused smirk on her face.

Saurai's first impression: Bossy. Sharp. Dangerous.

"You walking your snail pace again?" she said, eyeing Bryn's slow gait.

"I walk at a normal speed, thank you very much," Bryn said, cheeks puffing. "And don't call me 'fatty' in front of people!"

"I call you 'fatty' even in front of the mirror, bro."

Saurai chuckled quietly despite himself.

The girl's eyes snapped to him.

"And who's this?"

"This is Saurai," Bryn said quickly. "He's in 1-E with me. My best friend."

Saurai gave a soft smile at Bryn's remark, touched that he called him his best friend. It felt good to have one in this known-yet-unknown place.

She gave Saurai a once-over. "Hmm. Average height. Hair like a half-burnt sea sponge. Eyes… okay, I guess. Not bad. Average. You're average."

Saurai blinked. "Thanks?"

"She's my twin sister," Bryn muttered. "Identical in face, opposite in behavior."

"I'm Coral Dalle," she said with a mock bow. "Class 1-A, top of my section. If my brother annoys you too much, just trip him."

Saurai smiled, trying not to show how disarmed he felt by her confident energy.

"Nice to meet you," he said politely.

Coral squinted. "You don't talk much, do you? Silent vibe. Kinda like a mushroom that might be poisonous. I like that."

Saurai had no idea what to say.

She leaned closer to Bryn. "You didn't tell me your new best friend was cute in a weird seaweed way."

Bryn's face turned beet red.

"I'm gonna walk into the sea now," he muttered.

As the siblings argued their way down the corridor, Saurai found himself trailing behind, mind still caught in the greenhouse. The unease he'd felt near the seedlings lingered in his chest. It wasn't just intuition. It was… deeper. A resonance. A whisper.

He closed his eyes for a second and tried to replay the sensation, the subtle dryness, the pulse of low bio-energy, the faded rhythm of life in those plants.

It wasn't something he saw.

It was something he felt.

A part of him an old part was stirring awake again.

And he wasn't sure if that excited him… or terrified him.

---

As the trio reached the edge of the corridor, a hesitant voice called out behind them.

"Um… Saurai?"

He turned to see Kael jogging up, still slightly flushed but no longer shaken.

"Thanks. For earlier," Kael said, rubbing the back of their neck. "You didn't have to help. Most wouldn't've."

Saurai offered a calm nod. "It wasn't a big deal. Just didn't want the seeds wasted."

"They were mostly duds anyway. But… you picked the good ones. They were already sprouting. I don't know how you did it, but it'll help with my germination report, so thanks. How did you find the good ones?"

Saurai shrugged, playing it off. "Lucky guess."

Kael chuckled, the tension easing from their shoulders. "Well, thanks, Lucky. I owe you. I'll buy you a meal in the cafeteria next time."

Before Saurai could reply, a sharp tone chimed from the corridor speaker.

"All Year-One students, proceed to the general lecture auditorium. Cycle-1 announcements will commence shortly."

Bryn groaned. "Ugh, I forgot about that. Today's the general class for first years. I bet it's going to be all boring evaluations and lectures."

Coral smirked. "Maybe they'll announce they're splitting 1-E and dropping you into seaweed-processing."

"Touché," Bryn muttered.

Together, they followed the stream of students, Kael falling in step beside Saurai. The crowd thickened as the six class sections—1-A through 1-F—converged, each group distinguished by their tag on uniforms, patches, and badges. Laughter, chatter, and the clatter of boots filled the corridor.

---

The Auditorium

When they arrived, the auditorium was massive arched ceilings lined with translucent alloy panels that glowed faint blue from embedded bioluminescent wiring. Rows of adjustable seats curved downward toward a central stage, where a tall, reinforced glass screen displayed a stylized symbol: a green anchor entwined with a blooming tree. the emblem of Artemis-5 Ship.

Saurai felt a faint hum from the air recyclers above. The walls were sound-insulated, absorbing every shuffling step and whispered word into a soft hush.

More than 250 first-year students moved like schools of fish toward their assigned cluster zones. Some rushed to the front rows, sitting straight and military-like. Others wandered in, more relaxed. A few lagged behind, already arguing or teasing one another.

Saurai followed Bryn and Coral to mid-left section.

"You know," Bryn whispered as they took their seats, "I've heard we're supposed to get a surprise announcement today. Maybe a new expedition route or a change in zone protocols."

Saurai leaned back, gaze sweeping across the vast chamber as students continued to file in. The true size of the ship began to dawn on him. So many people. So many lives. All floating together on a metal giant that defied the sea.

And he who wasn't even supposed to be here was somehow in the middle of it all.

Whatever this place was, it was more than just a school.

It was a pressure cooker. A crucible.

And something in his gut told him the real test hadn't even begun yet.