Final Touches

The festival grounds buzzed with activity. After days of relentless preparation, everything was finally falling into place. The last banners were being secured, the holographic projectors were being tested one final time, and the lighting rigs over the main stage flickered as technicians ran system checks. The air smelled of fresh paint, newly assembled props, and the faint metallic tang of active neural interfaces.

Orion stood in the middle of the central courtyard, stretching his sore shoulders as he surveyed the nearly completed setup. It was a strange sight—Zenith Academy, known for its intense academic culture, had transformed into something almost celebratory. Stalls lined the pathways, showcasing student inventions, research presentations, and even game booths. The air was filled with a mix of mechanical hums, the distant shouts of students adjusting last-minute stage placements, and the occasional burst of laughter from a group testing one of the festival rides.

The G-Force Simulator, a project designed by aspiring researchers, was finally operational. The ride stood tall at the far end of the festival grounds, a sleek black sphere supported by metallic arms. It was built to simulate extreme gravitational forces in a controlled environment, originally designed for lucid dream training exercises. Now, though, it was repurposed as a thrilling festival attraction, open to anyone willing to handle the intensity. Orion had overheard a few students debating whether it was safe. Judging by the excited screams from the test riders, it definitely wasn't boring.

At the main event stage, a group of students from the drama club were going through the final run of their annual skit performance. The play was a satire on pre-collapse governments, rewritten every year to reflect modern perspectives on the rise of the three factions. Rin had volunteered as one of the script advisors, and from the way she occasionally snickered while watching, Orion could tell they had taken some creative liberties.

The security team patrolled in groups, earpieces flashing as they coordinated through private holo-networks. Their job wasn't just to prevent fights or disruptions—it was to ensure that no unauthorized neural hacking took place. Lucid dreaming technology had its risks, and during large public events, the possibility of malicious interference was never zero. Some students had already started placing bets on whether someone would attempt a breach.

Over at the food and refreshment section, students assigned to hospitality were busy setting up automated serving stations. Drones hovered above, running checks on temperature-controlled compartments filled with snacks and drinks. Orion spotted Neil leaning over one of the control panels, adjusting the neural interface settings for seamless ordering.

"Why do you look like you're actually working?" Orion muttered as he walked past, earning a sarcastic glance from Neil.

"Because I am actually working," Neil shot back, pressing a few more commands before stepping away. "Unlike some people who just stand around looking important."

Orion smirked but didn't respond. He continued walking through the festival grounds, taking in everything. Despite all the chaos, it was clear that things were finally coming together.

Then, as he passed by the faculty preparation area, he overheard something that caught his attention. Two professors stood near the entrance, speaking in hushed voices.

"—they confirmed the guest list?" one of them asked.

"Yes," the other responded, glancing at his holo-tab. "Both Lucid Nexus and Prime Tech are sending representatives. The entire board is expected to be present for the main event."

Orion's steps slowed. Lucid Nexus and Prime Tech. The two corporations that had revolutionized lucid dreaming. One specialized in the technology that allowed dreams to be explored, while the other handled its practical applications. Their influence stretched far beyond Zenith Academy—they had shaped the entire world after the government's collapse.

If their board members were attending, this festival wasn't just a student event. It was something bigger.

Orion kept walking, pretending not to have heard anything. His mind, however, was racing. Why would both companies send their top executives to a simple academic festival? Was this just a display of support, or was there something more at play?

He didn't have time to dwell on it. As he made his way back toward the organizing booth, his holo-tab buzzed. A second later, he heard similar notification sounds across the festival grounds as other students checked their devices. He tapped the screen, and a message flashed before his eyes:

[Zenith Academy – Research and Combat Division]

Evaluation complete. Results will be announced tomorrow at 10:00 AM.

- Administration

Orion exhaled, locking his holo-tab. The festival was important, but now, the test results were back in focus. Tomorrow was going to change everything.