By mid-July, the once-quiet Academy had become bustling with activity.
The new class of students arrived from all over the world, each hoping to significantly improve their overall abilities through a year of advanced study.
Of course, the fact that Academy students enjoyed comprehensive protection from the North Star government under the Apocalypse Rules was also a major draw.
In the previous year, many students had only managed to survive the Rules thanks to the immediate aid provided by the government.
For example, when the Blood Plague Virus ran rampant during the sixth Rule, the government immediately supplied Academy students with the highest-grade protective suits, sparing the vast majority from infection.
In contrast, those living in the Gathering Points outside the Academy received no such treatment. Many didn't get government-issued protective suits until midway through the Rule, and even then, they were of a lower grade.
