>>5438844Forests still surround Silverport.
Noises of wildlife and the occasional nap helps distract her from moments when her ears still rang. It does give her a pretty good excuse to sleep on Jess’ lap, though.
Even at new years, the facilities in west of the academy are populated. While the structures remain largely the same, many have their purposes changed.
When the cult was revealed to the public, roughly a third of parents and students disappeared shortly after.
Effects of that still remains to this very day.
The island next to the academy, which once exclusively served as apartments for students and staff became classrooms and storage.
Most restaurants are basically small mess halls, with relatively cheap food and basic utensils and seating.
Even the once glimmering white walls and main tower have become quite dusty and desecrated with cracks and stains.
The one thing that has remained the same all throughout these years are the recreational potion stores - where stressed out students escape from reality briefly by drinking, hallucinating from potions, and engaging in one night stands.
That, and also the way people dress.
While the students have to wear scholarly robes as a uniform, they tend to wear them open faced when outside of classrooms. Both male and female students show a lot of skin, wearing shorts which show most of the thighs. While most don’t wear shirts, the males have scarfs around their shoulders and the females wear cloth wraps around their chest.
Alongside their muscular arms and legs are multiple swords and daggers adorning their hips. Pine notices that even their scabbards have less sophisticated patterns now.
Despite the reduced funding, the students seem to be less stressed out. When Pine and Jess visited the entertainment facilities, most people are spending time with their friends and loved ones, hanging out and drinking together as opposed to staring at ceilings or walls while they lucid dream for a few hours.
Perhaps the smaller size of competition and expectations has made the people happier.
After spending most of their first day exploring the enter districts and markets, Pine and Jess end up at the beach.
The setting sun that illuminates the giants and serpents unloading objects from merchant ships will make for an interesting painting.
(Cont)
