EROS [Zerg]

"Thank you."

Alai saw a hint of shyness on Eros's fair face and couldn't help but laugh: "We'll be roommates from now on, and it's my responsibility as class monitor to help classmates submit applications, so you don't need to be so formal."

Eros wasn't sure if Alai was just being polite, but the kindness in Alai's words warmed Eros's heart at that moment.

Alai patted Eros on the shoulder: "Come on, I'll take you to get your textbooks and school uniform."

Alai walked ahead, with Eros close behind.

As the two insects passed by a huge, arched building, Alai pointed it out to Eros and explained, "This is the academy's arena, where the female soldiers usually take their combat lessons."

"Those female soldiers?" Eros asked, somewhat puzzled. "Aren't we female soldiers?"

“Of course not, only female insects serving in the military are military females.” A hint of melancholy flashed in Alai’s eyes: “Our Comet Class curriculum does not include practical combat lessons.”

"Our students are divided into five classes: Comet Class, Beginning Star Class, Star Class, Celestial Star Class, and Radiant Star Class."

"The Comet Class is a special class set up by the academy for female insects with disabilities. The Beginning Star Class is full of immature female insect offspring. The Star Class is for adult female insects who have not yet joined the army or have just joined the army without military merit. The students in the Celestial Star Class are all female insects who already have positions in the army. The final Shining Star Class is the gathering place of the most outstanding geniuses in the entire academy. The vast majority of students in the Shining Star Class have already reached the rank of major or above. Their military merit, ability and background are the best among the female soldiers in our insect empire."

As Alai introduced some basic information about the academy, he led Eros to a huge library building.

"This is the library. We pick up our school uniforms and textbooks here. After you get your books, you can apply for a library card here if you want. The college library is open all day."

Eros entered the library and found it already filled with female insects. This library was different from the one Eros frequented in the fourth star system; the number of bookshelves alone was dozens of times greater, and there was even a building specifically for storing documents that could be directly copied into the terminal.

Moreover, every seat was occupied by a female insect, making it nearly impossible to find an empty seat.

Alai noticed that Eros's gaze was drawn to the vast expanse of books, and began to introduce them to him:

"The library here has the second largest collection of books and documents after the Imperial Royal Science Park Library. Most of the books and documents are free to borrow, and the rest can be redeemed with academic credits."

"You now have a student ID card. The academy will allocate credits to you through the StarNet mainframe based on each exam you take and any extra tasks you complete."

"We'll have plenty of time for you to come here later. Let's take your measurements and make your school uniform first, then get your textbooks out. You can familiarize yourself with the environment in the academy this afternoon. Classes start tomorrow, and I'll tell you about the current progress of your class tonight."

Alai's detailed introduction made Eros feel that he was truly an extremely gentle female insect.

The dressing room was a narrow little room behind the library. When Eros went in, he found that there were no insects inside.

“Open that iron door inside and walk in, and it will automatically measure your dimensions,” Alai said.

Eros opened the heavy iron door and went inside. The moment the door closed, blue light shone down on him from above.

Eros looked at the data displayed on the LCD screen in front of him and sighed inwardly at his own lack of knowledge. Even making clothes in the First Galaxy required such advanced technology.

Soon, a brand-new white student uniform was conveyed out of the machine's conveyor belt exit.

The handle on the iron door on the machine was turned, and Eros, who had changed into his school uniform, came out. He was about to ask Alai how the clothes looked on him when he noticed that Alai's expression was a little strange.

"Is there something wrong with it?" Eros asked, puzzled.

"No, no." Alai's gaze remained fixed on Eros, as if confirming something.

“You’ve been staring at me the whole time, and I was starting to think I didn’t look good in this outfit,” Eros said half-jokingly as he walked up to Alai.

"Of course it looks good, it's like a completely different insect, much more energetic."

The Imperial First Military Academy is a military academy where the students' uniforms are similar to those of regular female soldiers in both style and design.

Alai placed his paw on Eros's shoulder, looked him up and down for a few moments, and then said in a somewhat mysterious tone, "Have you ever heard anyone say that you look a lot like a certain insect?"

Eros was somewhat taken aback: "You mean that Lieutenant General named Evanson Eastland?"

Alai exclaimed in surprise, "You know him? I thought you looked familiar just now, but now that you're wearing the school uniform, you look exactly like him."

"Lieutenant General Evanson's portrait from his student days is still hanging on the wall on the third floor of the library."

Before Eros could say anything, Alai pulled Eros up to the third floor. The window in the stairwell was open, and the wind whistled behind them.

If you walk through the corridor on the third floor and turn left, you will see a bright white wall.

This wall displays photos of prominent female insects who have achieved great success during their time studying at the academy since its founding.

“Many of the female insects on this photo have now returned to the Insect God.” Alai pointed to the photo in the third row and sixth column from the top: “Lieutenant General Evanson also passed away unexpectedly last year.”

"Is he Lieutenant General Evanson?" Eros looked up at the female insect in the photo. Her silky white-gold hair was tied back, her violet eyes shone with a spirited light, and a faint smile played on her lips.

Unlike the serious expressions of the female insects in the surrounding photos, Evansen in this photo looks very relaxed. Her exquisite and beautiful appearance and confident and flamboyant expression make Eros unable to take his eyes off her.

It was clearly the same face, yet it made him feel ashamed.

Alai recounts the legendary story left behind by the female insect in the photograph at the academy.

Eros admitted that he looked very similar to the insect in the photo, but anyone with eyes could tell at a glance that they were not the same insect.

Evanson was confident and flamboyant, arrogant in his actions, and came from a distinguished family. His demeanor and speech exuded aristocratic elegance. He was born to be the center of attention, and his open and honest nature earned him the favor of many female insects. Even a tiny being like Eros received much help and kindness from him because of their resemblance.

Eros knew that she was just a female insect who had escaped from the auction house and had only managed to survive by sheer luck. She couldn't even imagine Lieutenant General Evanson's daily life, so how could she dare to compare herself to him?

A gentle breeze brushed against his hair, and the coolness brought Eros back to his senses. He felt he couldn't belittle himself too much, so he raised his head again and swore in his heart to the female insect in the photo: "Lieutenant General Evanson, although we look alike, I will live my own life."

After receiving the textbooks, Eros followed Alai to the classroom, where a dozen or so female insects were sitting scattered about.

"This is our newest student in the Comet class, Eros," Alai introduced Eros to the other students.

A few rounds of applause and "Welcome!" were heard from below, and then nothing more was said.

“Don’t mind them. They usually don’t even look up when other insects come. The fact that they acknowledged us today shows that they quite like you,” Alai said.

Eros knew that Alai didn't want to embarrass him.

"Let me introduce you..."

Alleira led Eros to each of the female insects' seats and accurately read out their names.

Eros noticed that every female insect sitting there looked listless and dispirited.

“I’ve introduced you to all the female insects in our Comet class, except for Galilee. This is your spot.”

Eros put his textbook in the drawer of his desk, and then Alai pulled him out of the classroom.

“The female insect we didn’t see earlier, Gali, is your deskmate. Since this is the only seat left, I’m letting you sit next to him. If you find it difficult to get along with Gali in a few days, I’ll try to find a seat for you.” Alai led Eros out of the school building and instructed her:

“Galita used to be a female insect in the Shining Star Class. He came to the Comet Class because his wings were cut off by the male insect, so never mention anything about the male insect in front of him.”

Eros nodded to indicate that he already knew.

“If you don’t have classes, go out more and spend less time in the classroom. You probably feel how oppressive it is there; if you stay there too long, you’ll become just as listless as them.” Alai looked at Eros and suddenly smiled frankly.

“Actually, I’ve said this to every student who comes to the Comet Class, but the power of words is too weak, and no one listens.”

"I don't want you to end up like them."

Eros felt a strange sense of unease as he listened to Alai's words: "Why?"

Allais gave Eros a deep look: "Because you look like Evanson."

"Before the Comet Class was established, female insects like me who were disabled could not go to the battlefield and no male insects were willing to marry me. If I hadn't been born with a noble title, I probably would have died long ago. Back then, I sat in a wheelchair all day, just like them, listless and feeling hopeless about life."

"But one day, my female father brought me a registration form, and then they put a prosthetic leg on me and forced me to learn to walk and to learn to live independently like a normal insect."

"Later, when I enrolled, I learned that the Comet Class was proposed by Lieutenant General Evanson to His Majesty the Insect King to be an academy class for us disabled female insects."

Alai paused, looking at Eros's surprised expression: "I think you probably don't want to be Lieutenant General Evanson's shadow, but I hope you don't hate him."

"He was truly a good female insect. He did a lot of things to fight for the rights of female insects during his life, which also made him many enemies. He could have avoided all of this and not gotten himself into all that trouble."