Once Laurel went past the security stations of the school and finally entered the school grounds, she immediately went to her dorm with the help of the map that was provided by the school.
The first day of school is a late start since it was also the day that the school allowed students to arrive. Students needed to settle into school as fast as they could and go to their classes.
The school also provided a tab where announcements and study materials are posted for easy access. This tab can also be used as an identity verification tool for students within the school premises.
Pins and a school identification card are also provided, which you are advised to wear at all times.
When Laurel arrived at her dorm, all her things were already placed where they were supposed to be. And the things that the school provided are laid on top of her bed.
Curious about her new room, she inspected the place and found out that it has its own full bathroom, a decent-sized walk in closet, a study room, a small kitchen, and then her bedroom.
It was quite a decent place to stay, in her opinion.
Even the fridge is full of food supplies.
Laurel's eyebrow perked up when she saw one of the tupperwares had a note stick on its lid that said, "Good luck in your school, baby."
Laurel mustered up a small smile at her mother's gesture before deciding to close the fridge and wear the school ID and pin.
She then brought a tote bag to place the things she needed and went out of her room with the tab on her hand.
She opened the tab and was immediately welcomed by the security measures of the tab. The tab has hectic security, with it asking for her finger print, face, eye scan, and voice recognition before finally unlocking.
Once she unlocked it, a monotous female rang on the tab.
"Welcome to Scarlet Academy, Ms. Laurel Hayes," the voice greeted.
Laurel's lips can't help but curl up in amusement at the technology that the school possesses. Even though the school only provides normal courses, the security and technology make people think that it offers something more advanced and exclusive.
Laurel couldn't wait to explore all the possibilities that Scarlet Academy had to offer.
"Please check your class schedules in your student's profile and announcements in the school's portal," the voice continued.
Laurel quickly navigated through the tablet to find her class schedule and upcoming events, eager to start her new journey at Scarlet Academy.
Laurel saw an announcement in the school's online portal. It was an instruction to every student to go to the main office for a mandatory orientation session.
"Where's the main office?" she asked on the tab.
"You are currently in the dorm building, Ms. Hayes. Please follow this navigation to reach the main office," the voice responded, showing a GPS-like map on the tablet screen.
Laurel thanked the voice and headed out to find her way to the main office, excited to get more information about her new school.
When she finally gets there, many students are already sitting on the provided seats, waiting patiently for the program to start.
Laurel looked around for an available seat, and when she saw one, she immediately went to sit on it and waited like everybody does.
It didn't take that long for the main office to be full of students, and the program started.
The program was hosted by the vice president of the school.
"Welcome, new and returning students," she began, her voice projecting throughout the room. "We are excited to have you all here and look forward to a successful school year ahead."
Laurel listened attentively, eager to learn more about what the school had to offer.
"As the world has been changing rapidly, our school also needs to keep up with it. We are committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all students, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive and succeed. That's why the new security measures and technologies we have implemented this year are designed to enhance your overall experience and prioritize your safety."
"We would also need to remind the students that they are not allowed to leave the school grounds without valid reasons such as shopping or hanging out. The academy believed that having you all in one place will be much easier to protect you all. We also understand that students need something to make their stay here enjoyable. That's why the academy also provided malls, movie theaters, and restaurants within walking distance for students to enjoy during their free time. This way, students can have a balance between academics and leisure activities while staying safe within the school grounds."
"School IDs, pins, and the tabs should be kept safely. Do not share them with anyone and report immediately if they are lost or stolen. These items are important for security purposes and should not be taken lightly."
The vice president keeps talking about the academy's rules and regulations and many more, like reminders and stuff, before the program is finished and they are dismissed.
"Make yourself familiar with the school grounds for the rest of the day. The classes will officially start tomorrow. That would be all," the vice president concluded before dismissing the students to explore the school grounds.
The students slowly poured out of the main office, some in groups, and were laughing about something while Laurel just went with the flow of the crowd.
They were in the middle, walking out of the main office with students almost exchanging faces from how crowded the place was, when suddenly a commotion was heard behind Laurel.
And before Laurel could even process what's happening, she was already pushed to one of the students. If the crowd was not pressed together, she might have already been on the floor.
"What the heck?" she mutters with a frown on her face as she turns around and sees buff guys in black suits walking through the crowd.
They were trying to make some kind of path while pushing the students away on their path and using their bodies like a fence.
The students around Laurel were murmuring in confusion, and some were even getting angry at being pushed around.
Laurel could feel the tension rising in the air as the buff guys continued to plow through the crowd, creating chaos in their wake.
They don't look like students at all.
Some students wanted to fight back against the buff guys but were scared off by just one glance from one of them.
"Why are hunters here?" Laurel mutters in confusion.
Some students heard what she said, and it made things chaotic even more.
The school was indeed known to employ hunters to make sure the students were safe, but they weren't allowed to be near them as their aura disturbed the students since most of them were normal citizens.
And what's more confusing about the situation is that the hunters are hurting the students rather than protecting them like they are supposed to.
Laurel roamed her eyes around to see if some kind of bigshot was around that the hunters were protecting, which was more important than the students' safety.
She stood strong on her toes to prevent herself from getting swept away by the crowd until her eyes caught sight of a petite woman who was walking on the path provided by the hunters.
Her blonde locks reflected on Laurel's blue ocean eyes as recognition dawned on her.