Ple-Sen
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Essay
I spent the summer, like most other students, at Alma. Specifically, continuing my studies at NAILS. And I must admit that the summer of 3996 truly turned out to be full of a wide variety of very intense events. But let's take them in order.June greeted us—the so-called "veterans" of NAILS at the time—with an increase in enrollment. Guests from distant lands could finally merge into our collective. The event itself was joyful, providing an opportunity to get closer to representatives of other cultures, but it was marred by events already known to you. Instead of learning understanding, instead of expanding their horizons, a certain percentage of students—fortunately not too many—decided to learn something else: the ability to gather into metaphorical mobs with pitchforks and torches. Alas, my attempts to bring some reason to the initiator of this action led nowhere. But I hope your words were more convincing to them. Or at least will become more convincing as they move along their life path. Fortunately, I don't recall any particular conflicts on these grounds since then.
Other significant events of the first week of June were the opening of the sports complex and the tower of trials, where for a good hour each student brutally tortured a mannequin specially prepared for this purpose. Perhaps this was the first instance where students did not oppose one another, but were all part of a single team. Such were the conditions of the trial—although Mr. Chaber awarded us points based on personal success, the efforts of everyone were taken into account for the successful completion of the task set before us. And we even passed this nominal trial, only to meet a real one. A trial in the form of ten thousand slats, the method of distributing which we had to determine ourselves. Whether we passed it or not, I am still not entirely sure. On one hand, it was decided to divide the slats equally. It seemed as if the spirit of camaraderie won. On the other hand, such a decision was the result of people simply being tired of arguing.
The following week had fewer significant events, although I enjoyed Mr. Teet's lecture on Lunir. Such stories about distant lands, as well as the peoples inhabiting them, sometimes evoke a desire to one day set out on a journey across the world, despite all the associated dangers. Especially in our tense times. The swimming Competitive held by Miss Sedge also stand out in my memory, although I cannot say the memories are joyful. It was even somewhat awkward to earn such a low score, considering where I come from. Also worth mentioning is the miniature Tournament conducted by General Mandragora between newcomers and opponents of their choice. But the only thing that made it stand out, perhaps, were the echoes of last week's conflict.
The third week greeted me... with a vacuum cleaner. This marvel of technical progress arrived from the future as a gift for my birthday, which had not yet occurred. All thanks to a trio of charming time travelers—Nirianna, Varvara, and Bella. A very unexpected gift, but no less useful for that. It saves a great deal of strength and time, which in another situation would have gone toward routine chores. And the cleaning process itself becomes somehow more cheerful when you try such an ingenious invention in action. And it looks especially funny in comparison to another event of the third week: the basket-ball Competitive. This time, something that should have been fun and quite interesting turned out to be terribly drawn-out and exhausting, as if I had accidentally wandered into a world where everything was backward. I didn't even expect that the first match would exhaust all participants so much that they simply wouldn't get to the next one. I almost feel sorry for those kids who were really looking forward to these Competitive. We at least managed to play, while they only got to sit in the spectator stands.
In the fourth week, I don't recall anything particularly significant. Of course, except for one of the most significant dates of the year for me—my birthday. And the second gift I received, from a neighbor, turned out to be no less unexpected than the first—a "Hummingbird" record, authored by you. Alas, due to my lack of a gramophone, I have not yet been able to fully appreciate the gift. It remains a surprise alluring in its mystery, awaiting its hour.
July became a month full of surprises, perhaps for every NAILS student, for very obvious reasons. But I see no need to delve into the main event of the month, especially since I simply observed the events from the side. Better I'll tell you about our trip—Varvara, Nira, Bella, Cassia, Claudia, Ladia, Chloe, Shea, and Shera—to an entertainment resort. The group was quite impressive, ten people in all, but in reality, we quickly split up. A quartet consisting of Nira, Shera, Bella, and Cassia, for example, decided to visit the shooting gallery, from which they returned with almost a whole bag of prizes. One could even joke that the skills acquired at NAILS have already come in handy in their lives. The silhouettes of Shea and Chloe were lost in the bathhouse steam, reappearing before our eyes only toward the end of the walk. As for quartet number two, consisting of me, Vara, Claudia, and Ladia, we decided to visit the "Lair of Horror." A very curious and atmospheric attraction, whose main feature follows from its name. But instead of immediately scaring us with walking corpses jumping out from around corners and bodiless cardboard ghosts, the attraction employees chose a more subtle approach. They lulled our vigilance with harmless, or even absurdist, images. I won't describe them—you have to see it with your own eyes. And then... then all sorts of things started. At first, realizing the nature of the attraction, I mostly played along with the employees, but I must admit that gradually certain doubts began to creep in. The costume designers worked too well. The actors got into their roles too well. Ladia was so impressed that she asked us all the way "Is this all really fake?". And at the end, out of fear, she actually fainted. Fortunately, not for long. Even one of the employees admitted they had overdone it a bit. But I was pleased to see such dedication to their work. It's clear they do what their hearts are set on.
August turned out to be full of joyful events for me. Here you have attending your classes, among which gymnastics and music lessons were my favorite. I'll find something to surprise my father with after completing my studies, ha-ha! I also enjoyed the lesson on operating another fruit of high technology—the camera. Thanks to it, a very educational discussion on different architectural styles even broke out between me and my teammates, Dinorsis and Ixora. In essence, it turned out as two lectures in one. But the very first week was also significant, during which I diligently searched for a gift for that same Ixora. In the end, my choice fell upon an armor stand that had just arrived at "The Rainbow" and, judging by my friend's reaction, I didn't go wrong with the gift. As she said herself, I "took pity on her armor, which is only happy to be honored in such a way." Perhaps such gratitude was even more pleasant than receiving a gift from her a month earlier.
Toward the end of August, Nira and I decided to visit the resort again, visiting the bathhouse with an exhibition hall. The set of exhibits surprised me greatly, although I cannot say that I found each of them equally impressive. Perhaps the most impression on me was made by the formidable and majestic dragon skeleton. Although I would be lying if I said it didn't evoke mixed feelings in me. As for the other items in the exhibition, while I found some of them curious, they still didn't compare to the Lunir one for me. But that one alone was worth the slats spent on the ticket.
And the conclusion of August, and summer in general, was the second full Tournament. To be honest, after my previous results and observing the progress of my peers, I wasn't counting on much. But one victory was followed by a second. A second by a third. And before I knew it, I found myself in the semifinals with our class leader. Moreover, the opponents I faced were worthy; I couldn't call any of them weak or inexperienced. And yet I overcame them. However, my skills were not enough to defeat Gideon; I failed to tear first place from his tight grip. Regardless, I can't say he didn't deserve it. And I personally saw nothing shameful in such a defeat, as this time he was one of the favorites. Perhaps I'll even manage a rematch this autumn. Maybe even in the final. But I won't get ahead of myself.
That is how I spent this summer. It was full of both warm moments and difficult experiences. But in the end, I am here better than I was before. And perhaps that is the most important thing.