Chapter 1 - Week 1
Ariadne closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the gentle end-of-summer air. Somehow, against insurmountable odds, she was finally here at the academy.
DeVore Academy was one of the most selective schools in the entire world, and very few were ever accepted into its secretive folds. No one even knew what happened behind the great and ancient stone walls that surrounded the campus with dark ivy. The very sky was barely filtered through the dense, overhanging and entwined branches of trees, giving the campus an ethereal feel in the deep green light with dampened sidewalks and ivy climbed buildings.
The men in the school all dressed the same - deep blue jeans or slacks and a green polo with the school's grand crest of a crowned lion with a scepter. The women wore dark blue miniskirts and polos of their own, but the neckline of these sloped gracefully and dangerously low.
Ariadne noticed right off the bat that everywhere she looked, the beauty of the people was thrust towards her. Curving breasts, long legs, broad, muscular shoulders, piercing eyes, perfect hair... all surrounded her. Perhaps the rumours were true - DeVore Academy only accepted the creme de la creme of the human population into its esteemed grasp.
The woman who led her towards her dorm was a tall, shapely brunette with a revealing blazer over her polo. She called herself Isis, and spoke with a smooth voice that reminded Ariadne of silk curtains drifting in the wind.
"You will be staying in the left wing dormitory. We call this the Proving grounds. Here you are given a chance to prove you belong here. You have a week of trials to earn your stay. This will involve sports, intellectual challenges, and you will be faced with rather.... unethical situations, but stand fast and you shall remain, and when you graduate with a degree from DeVore Academy, the esteem that comes with that will assure you the grandest jobs available."
Ariadne listened, her eyes taking in the campus grounds. Everyone looked so proud and strong, born leaders in an environment built to hone in on their skills. She was nervous, terrified of going back to life before the academy, a life of utter bore and meaningless droll. She couldn't fail.
As she settled into her room, a furbished room larger than the one shed had at home, she sighed and looked over the pamphleted schedule Isis had given her before departing. The first event was an all girl's event, listed only as "appearance briefing." The time was listed aa that afternoon, so she pulled on a pair of sweats and a tank top with a purple pull over, a nice contrast to her lightly tanned skin and blonde hair, and walked out of her room, staring at the map. She didn't realize until it was too late to turn back that shed run right into another girl. Falling back, she cried out, "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. Are you alright?" The girl regained her balance. She was slender, with pale skin, jet black hair, and bright blue eyes. She laughed and assured her that all was well, introducing herself as Andromeda. "You can call me Rommie for short. Are you headed to the first briefing? I'll show you the way."
The two girls walked to the building listed, joined by about 18 other women. They were led by a woman who looked like the black version of Isis, all legs and breast, with silky black skin and deep brown eyes and fill lips, to a grand hall with chandeliers and tables with mirrors in a classroom formation. The woman introduced herself as Denali, and the girls were led to their tables. Denali stood at the podium and suddenly spoke with a booming and commanding voice.
"Alright, class. STRIP."
Ariadne paused, eyes wide, with a disbelieving stare. Did she hear that correctly? Beside her, Rommie began to take off her clothes without a care. At her stare, she said, "What? we're all women. Don't be such a prude." Ariadne began to strip, suddenly self conscious as the others around her began to expose their perfect bodies. She wasn't self conscious before, but now in the presence of so many other beautiful women, she wondered if she was only considered hot because she had been so in comparison to other less fortunate women.
As soon as all the women were naked, they were ordered into their uniforms. To Ari's surprise, the uniform came complete with silky white thongs, laced white pushup bras, and the skirt and polo. They were informed that outside clothes would be forbidden the first two years before they'd choose their official majors and be sent to other degree-specific outposts, where outside clothes were allowed. They were given short shorts and tank tops for sleepwear and sent to the next room for physical activities.
