Jade quickly donned her workout outfit, finding comfort in its familiar snug fit. "Snug as always, if nothing else, I suppose," she mused, appreciating at least one constant amidst the whirlwind of recent events.
Stepping out the door, Jade was taken aback by the transformation of the previously empty halls. Now, they buzzed with life and activity, with people bustling back and forth. They carried folders and engaged in conversations as if everything was perfectly normal, a stark contrast to the solitude she had grown accustod to.
Jade thought to herself, "It's not too many people though, a good 20 people in total going in different directions. But I have never seen any of these people since I have been here. What in the—"
Her internal musing was abruptly interrupted as a hand landed on her shoulder, accompanied by a voice that remarked, "You must be new here, just after." The sudden contact and the implication of the statent jolted Jade
Turning around, Jade's gaze fell on a hand unlike any she had seen before. It was vibrant orange, adorned with lines of fur that extended up to the shoulder, leading to a face that looked surprisingly human under a hood. The person's eyes were a striking orange, matching the vibrancy of their hand, and they offered her a bright, friendly smile.
"I—I'm... I'm sorry, who are you exactly, and what do you an by 'new'? I have been here a little bit already, actually," Jade stated, her voice tinged with nervousness. She couldn't help but look the person up and down, her surprise evident at the sight before her.
"This is your first morning after the ritual, is it not? That's why you're able to see us now, right?" The person, still smiling, placed a finger on Jade's chin, gently turning her cheek as if to get a better look at her.
Jade, still trying to grasp the situation, replied, "Yes, but why wouldn't I be able to see you normally in all your… orange or redness?"
The person laughed softly, their amusent clear. "They really don't explain anything anymore, I suppose."
Jade's confusion only deepened, her hands clasping together as she tried to make sense of his words.
"Oh, well, pretty much as I understand it, normal humans overall can't see us. After we go through the ritual, we lose the ability to be seen by normal humans until you pass so promotion test or reach a furthered state where you can control your own soul," he explained.
Scratching the top of her head, Rosa seed contemplative. "I'm not entirely sure how it works. After the ritual, everything really becos just mission after mission. You have little ti to stop and think about it," she admitted, a note of resignation in her voice.
Shifting the tone, Rosa brightened and extended her hand, introducing herself with a warm smile. "But I guess none of that matters at the mont. The na is Rosa Yuisui! It's a pleasure to et you."
Jade, reciprocating the gesture, shook her hand. "It's a pleasure to et you as well, Rosa. The na is Jade."
Curiosity getting the better of her, Jade asked nervously, "By the way, is the fur real?" Her question, tinged with a mix of curiosity and apprehension
Rosa, a bit shocked, stated, "Oh, yeah, though it was only active when I was powering my 'ability,' but these ears seem to always be here, so I wear a hood to avoid any weird looks," taking off her black hood to reveal little stubby ears in the form of mini fox ears.
Jade clasped her hands together tighter, unable to help but think, "Don't ask to pet. Don't ask to pet. Oh my gosh, those look so adorable."
Rosa studied Jade for a mont. "You sure do look nervous. You okay, girly?"
"Y-Yes, I actually have to be off. Though it was a pleasure to et you, I hope to find out my ability soon," Jade said, giving a bow before turning around and walking down toward the path. Rosa called back out to Jade and stated, "Yes, the ears are very soft by the way. I'll let you pet them soti," giving a smirk to Jade.
Jade, her cheeks flushed with embarrassnt, gently slapped them as she turned away from Rosa, offering a shy wave before continuing down the hallways. The sound of her footsteps echoed softly against the polished floors, mingling with the distant murmur of voices from nearby classrooms.
As she walked, Jade couldn't help but notice the absence of others with fur-like features. It sparked a curiosity within her, prompting her to muse silently, 'What a bubbly personality. Every day I'm here, though, I get 1 or 2 questions answered, and 6 more seem to pop up.'
With a sigh, she finally reached the designated spot that Gojaro had ntioned. Pushing open the door, she was t with the sight of the white-haired Gojaro skillfully swinging a massive claymore through the air. The tallic clang of the blade reverberated in the training room, accompanied by the faint scent of oil and sweat.
Jade's gaze wandered around the room, taking in the assortnt of weapons neatly arranged on a sturdy rack. The gleam of polished steel caught her eye, alongside the intricate carvings adorning the handles of so of the swords. A faint breeze brushed against her skin, carrying with it the faint scent of leather and tal.
On the rack, an eclectic mix of weaponry stood proudly, ranging from sleek bows to gleaming swords, and smaller, mysterious implents that piqued Jade's curiosity.
Noticing Jade's entrance, Gojaro paused his workout, setting down the sword with a clatter. "Ah, you're here. You were a bit late, so I started working out a bit."
Jade, still feeling a bit bewildered, replied, "Sorry, I got a bit delayed by all the new faces outside. And this lady nad Rosa was definitely not sothing I was expecting to see, to say the least."
Gojaro, giving a bit of a chuckle, stated, "She sure can be a bubbly person."
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