It hit three in the afternoon.
"Huff... Huff..."
The students were sitting on the floor. Exhausted. Some of them had never done this much exercise before.
"That will conclude today’s class."
Thomas said while making sure that every student returned their wooden swords to the rack—it would be quite bad if one of them tried to take one with them to the dormitory.
"Does that mean... it’s time?"
One of the students asked excitedly.
They everyone knew what he was talking about—finally playing Innerworld—it was next in the schedule.
"Yes."
Thomas folded his arms behind his back and watched as the student’s face lit up with excitement.
"Annie here will take you to the Game Room. You can also take a visit to the Shopping Center if you so wish to take a good look at the mission board."
Thomas said.
The students looked at Annie. She just waved with a smile. The students then heard Thomas clap loudly.
"That’s the end of the class. Go!"
Students stood up with smiles on their faces and then followed behind Annie out of the training room.
"I am quite nervous..."
Ned whispered to Devon.
"You want to play together?"
Devon asked.
"Sure!"
Ned said with a smile.
’I am new to Innerworld too, so it should be more safe to explore together. I don’t want to die the first day.’
Devon thought.
At that moment, he felt a tap on his shoulder, and he turned his head around—it was Aaron who tapped him on the shoulder.
Jackson was walking next to him.
"Have you made up your mind? It’ll be dangerous to go alone."
Aaron asked.
"I am not alone."
Devon pointed at Ned with his thumb, who sheepishly just scratched the back of his head, and Aaron glanced at him briefly.
"Jackson and I have played Innerworld before. You two are newcomers, right? It wouldn’t hurt to have a guide."
Aaron said.
’There are pros and cons about having them with us. I can’t trust them, so that one is one con, but it is better with four than just two of us.
’No shade to Ned, but I don’t think other players would be too scared to attack him. He’s just not that intimidating.
’Aaron and Jackson, at least, look like they can hold themselves in a fight. I did watch them sparring, and they’re alright—better than most, anyway.’
Devon thought quickly, and then he nodded his head and said, "Sure."
"I am Aaron."
Aaron offered his hand to Ned, who shook it and said, "Ned," with his usual timid and shy voice.
In that moment, Devon saw a shy-looking girl looking in their direction—she immediately looked away when she saw that he was staring.
He approached her.
"Hey, Kate."
Devon said.
Kate flinched, then slowly turned her head around, with flushed cheeks, and gave him a small, nervous smile.
"Y-yes?"
"Do you want to play with us?"
Devon asked.
It seemingly took Kate by surprise, as she didn’t expect him to invite her to play, and she immediately said, "Yes!"
Devon smiled back at her.
’With this, if Aaron and Jackson plan to betray me, I will have Ned and Kate to help me. Number advantage.
’And I already know that Kate also has experience with Innerworld.’
Devon thought.
Kate joined the group. Introduced herself to Ned and others. They didn’t mind having a cute girl to join them.
In that moment, they arrived at the Game Room—there was a bold sign that said "Game Room" above a white door.
"This is where you will play Innerworld. You are not allowed to take helmets with you to the dormitory.
"You’re only allowed to play in scheduled hours."
Annie said, and then without further ado, she opened the door for everyone to see, and they just saw a long hallway.
With many, many doors.
"In each of these rooms, there is a Virtual Reality Helmet."
Annie said and then opened one of the doors, and they saw a room with dark blue walls, floor, and ceiling.
There were soft-looking beanbag chairs with a round white table next to it—five fancy-looking Virtual Reality Helmet stood on top of it.
They could immediately tell that it was the newest model!
"Can we start playing already?"
One of the students asked.
Honestly, most of them were already tired of classes and waiting—they just wanted to hop on and play!
"You can, but first of all, remember to get your game cards."
Annie said with a wry smile and opened the locker where she kept them, and every student took one.
Then, with excitement, the students rushed inside whatever empty room they could find—the students that were planning to play as a group just went into the same room.
Meanwhile.
Devon watched as Nathaniel turned around and left the Game Room—most likely going to head for the Shopping Center to take a good look at the mission board.
’I think it is a good idea to take the easiest missions right away for some easy points, but it’s hard to complete those missions if I don’t know what to do.
’I’ve watched lots of videos and streams about Innerworld, but there are still a lot of things that I don’t know.
’The starting area is especially mysterious to me.’
Devon thought.
"...Shall we go?"
Ned opened one of the doors, and there were enough beanbag chairs and Virtual Reality Helmets for them all.
"This is much better than the one I have at home."
Jackson said as he looked at the Virtual Reality Helmet.
"Same. Mine is all scratched up and old."
Aaron said with a chuckle.
Devon looked at the game card and looked where to put it, and then Kate next to him said, "It’s at the side."
She pointed to the slot on the side.
Devon found it, thanked her with a soft "thank you," and then slid the game card inside the slot—it disappeared inside.
"Do not lose that card."
Aaron said with a serious tone.
"What if someone tries to steal it? I haven’t thought about that."
Ned asked.
They all thought that it would be really bad if they lost their game card, so they already put a reminder on their minds to find the safest possible place for their game card once they were done here.
"Let’s all meet at the Adventurer’s Guild. It should be easy for all of you to find."
Aaron said.
Everyone agreed, and then they put the Virtual Reality Helmets on their heads and leaned back on the beanbag chair.
’...Innerworld, at last.’
Devon closed his eyes, and then he pressed a button on the side of the helmet, and he saw something strange with his eyes.
It was like he was flying through space!