Are we safer here, in the tunnel, or in the underground field during my 5th period?

  From what I’ve heard about tornadoes, the best way to survive them, aside from staying outside the storm’s range, is to hide in the basement and pray for your safety as the disaster passes over. Standing out here feels like a step away from keeping yourself safe, ironically enough. The realization is only made worse due to the fact that we’re dealing with a magical storm instead of a regular one.

  Then again, this storm lifted an entire chunk of a building into the air. It didn’t destroy the building and just happened to lift up the debris, but actually kept that part of the building intact as it lifted it into the air. Felt pretty targeted too, especially since there’s someone in the eye controlling the storm.

  There better be a good reason why we’re in the storm’s line of sight.

  I turned to look for Mr. Blonde, or any other teacher who looked like they were giving further instructions to the students. That’s when I heard an unfamiliar voice boom. It belonged to the Italian Gangster, and it sounded like he was taking command.

  Everyone turned to him to listen. He made some gestures, pointing in a direction somewhere. When I turned toward where everyone else was looking, I saw more buildings.

  It turns out that the view from the cliff didn’t show the entire view of the whole town, as there was a section you’d never be able to see, as it’d be obstructed by the terrain we stood on.

  The teachers then moved to various positions, standing outside the crowd of students, before commanding everyone to move toward the town. It seemed this time that they were foregoing any need for an organized group, so as long as no one was outside the barrier of adults taking charge. I followed along after hearing whatever verbal instructions they gave, seeing students nervously walk along.

  I heard my summoner say “Nolval” before walking alongside me, taking advantage of the disorganization. It seemed they had the same idea, sticking to whoever they felt comfortable near. Brown-haired boy with Electric Blue. The girl who I threw a dodgeball at and her friend. That blonde girl and the Wind Mage I saw fighting the Vine Mage. Everyone formed their own little group.

  Suddenly, a thought occurred after witnessing the situation. Perhaps this was their way of wordlessly apologizing to the students for dividing them into groups for the sake of efficiency, or simply their way of helping maintain calm over the group. After that panicky fiasco in the tunnel, this felt like a better choice. Maybe not the best, but you can’t ignore emotions.

  We continued onward, the adults scoping the area ahead of us in a radius, even though the very worrying storm in the sky was to our right. The sight of them not paying as much attention to the storm only slightly reassured me, as for them to be worrying about something else to protect us from only made the situation more nerve-wracking.

  The whole group was travelling through a path in a forest between the giant grey door and the nearby town. We could still see part of the storm in the sky over the tops of the trees, obstructing its form.

  I wonder where people have been evacuated to?

  I estimated that the area of the town I saw from atop the cliff was around… a population of 3000 at most. Including the area we were headed to, I’d bump that number up to 4000. Eventually, we reached the town without issue.

  I initially thought my introduction to the town would start with me travelling down the path I had taken with my summoner to reach the school. Life can always find a way to surprise you, even after death.

  The area was a town square with a fountain in the center and a statue on top. The statue itself was posing, lifting their right arm, palm up toward the air. In that hand was a crude-looking flame, carved to give the best impression of a fire. Compared to the real thing I saw moments ago, it at best looked cartoonish, like something you’d see as a clipart if you searched for an image of ‘fire’ or ‘flame’ on the internet. Still, I kept such thoughts to myself, as I felt the statue had a historical significance that shouldn’t be dismissed as “a statue of an old man in a cloak, carrying a cartoonish flame.”

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  There were 4 brick-laid paths leading from the statue outward, all perpendicular to each other. We entered the town on the statue’s left, and the storm in the sky was somewhere between the statue’s left and front. The arrangement of the statue and paths had me wondering if they were aligned with the cardinal directions. I’ll have to ask about that when I get the chance.

  Behind the statue was a large building. It stood imposingly, overlooking the part of town we were in. I think I saw this thing when I was free-falling before my body manifested, but it was less than a minute, so I couldn’t get a proper look at everything.

  The adults guided everyone inside, some entering first and some staying out to ensure everyone in the group would enter. When everyone was inside, they closed the door.

  Turns out there were people already inside, likely those who were evacuating from the storm in the sky. They were all scattered, standing near walls, sitting at tables, or sitting on the floor, looking after those lying on it.

  I noticed the same staff and longsword symbol crossed over each other on a sign being hung by 2 chains, hanging above a clerk's desk. There was a similarly designed symbol next to it with a spherical bottle with a cork in it and a wheat plant. I guessed that you’d ask the different clerks for whatever service is related to the symbols they’re sitting under.

  So, what are we here for?

  The place looked like a refugee gathering, and it felt like we were taking a field trip in the middle of a terrorist attack. I saw Mr. Bleach and Mr. Blonde step up to explain something to the clerk behind the counter.

  What is this place anyway?

  The clerk's desks and symbols up top definitely pointed to something customer-service related. The tables and benches that were scattered made the place feel like a waiting room. Not clean enough to feel like a health clinic, but also not messy enough to feel like an autobody shop.

  There were some nods from the clerk before they went to another room to retrieve something. They came back with a stack of papers.

  Those papers were then distributed to every student here, me included. Wonderful. We might be experiencing the precipice of a disaster, and I still have to read documents.

  The page layout has some blank spaces, meaning I had to sign it. Seriously? You might have tricked me into signing my enrollment form, but I can’t just sign this without knowing what it’s supposed to mean! I bet some parts aren’t even asking my name, the blank lines aren’t even the same length!

  As the sheets were getting distributed, quills and inkwells were placed on the bench tables. Students immediately grabbed quills and began writing on the sheets. I’d be more inclined to write on them if I could actually read, but I can’t. I settled on making a rock and placing it on top of my paper facedown, indicating my spot, before getting up.

  My best bet for information would be the people strewn about the building.

  The sounds of chattering students mellowed out as I walked further away from them. Unlike those clearly dressed in uniform, everyone else wore different clothes. Some looked classy, neat, and expensive, while others looked simple, ragged, and worn. One of the groups had gathered around someone lying on nothing more than a pillow for their head and a blanket beneath that. The only difference was that my ‘bed’ looked more luxurious and comfortable, but I’m sure no one here was worried about comparing sleeping arrangements.

  The person in the bed was a sickly old man, with a younger man clutching the elder’s hand. The younger one was crying, tears pouring into the sheet the man lies on.

  Another person was sitting alone, back against the wall. It was a woman with red hair, ragged clothes, and an exposed midriff. Their gaze was distant. It looked like she was staring at a spot on the floor, but her mind seemed to be in another place.

  The person with the well-kempt, expensive-looking clothes looked agitated. When they saw me staring at them, they barked some words that I’m sure meant “what are you looking at?”

  I guess everyone who was here before retreated to this place for shelter from the storm in the sky.

  What is this place supposed to be if it’s an intended destination for students during an evacuation?

  It didn’t make sense to have students sign up for something in the midst of a disaster. The underground area beneath the school seemed like a more ideal place to hide from the storm in the sky. The terrain could act as an additional barrier in addition to the building if something was thrown that way.

  Unless…

  I looked at the students’ reactions as they signed the paper. It might just be me being unable to understand a thing they’re saying, but I didn’t sense an inkling of nervousness. If anything, they sounded more excited. Why?

  I then recalled what I had experienced these past 3 days.

  Magic fighting, lessons with magic and a crystal, and on-demand magical healing.

  Are these people signing up to fight in a battle against the storm?