Morning came quickly.
Jay woke at his usual time and went through his morning routine—light stretching, controlled exercises, and movements designed to keep his body alert and responsive.
Every motion was smooth and practiced.
Habit ingrained over years.
As he continued
Knock. Knock.
Jay stopped.
His eyes shifted toward the door.
A female Aurelian staff member stood outside, posture straight and expression professional.
"Good morning," she greeted.
"Good morning."
She lifted a neatly packed bundle and extended it toward him.
"I've been assigned to deliver your uniform."
Jay nodded and accepted it.
Without another word, the staff member turned and left.
Jay closed and locked the door before placing the uniform carefully on the bedside table.
Then he headed toward the bathroom.
When he returned, he picked up the uniform and unpacked it.
Without hesitation, he put it on.
He stood before the mirror.
A young man with black hair and clear blue eyes stared back at him.
His features were sharp and composed. Beneath the refined uniform, however, were traces of a life that didn't belong to an ordinary seventeen-year-old.
Old scars crossed his body faint reminders of injuries and battles long past.
If someone saw them without knowing his history, they might wonder what kind of life had left those marks behind.
Jay adjusted his collar.
The uniform was exceptionally well-made.
A black coat trimmed with fine golden borders rested neatly over a crisp white shirt and black tie. The Aurelian insignia—a golden sun rising above an island was embroidered on the right side of the coat.
The black trousers carried the same golden trim, completing the formal design.
Even the shoes had been fitted perfectly.
Everything felt precise.
Deliberate.
Jay studied his reflection for another moment.
"…It's good."
He checked his device.
7:40 AM.
"Hm."
He turned toward the door.
"I should head to the waiting hall."
The hall already contained several students when Jay arrived.
Every one of them wore the Aurelian uniform.
The atmosphere was noticeably different from the previous morning.
They were no longer applicants.
They were Aurelian students.
Some admired each other's uniforms openly. Others adjusted their collars or sleeves, clearly pleased with how they looked.
A few had dark circles beneath their eyes.
Apparently, excitement had been stronger than sleep.
Aric stood among them, chin raised and a confident smile firmly in place.
Neva stood nearby, silent and composed. Her posture was perfect, her white hair tied neatly into a ponytail. The dark uniform only emphasized her cold, untouchable presence.
Mira stood with a confident smile, her golden hair flowing freely over her shoulders. Her golden eyes seemed to catch the light reflected from the uniform's golden trim, drawing more than a few curious glances.
Moriko, meanwhile, kept adjusting her skirt with visible irritation.
Whenever she noticed boys staring, she clicked her tongue and looked away.
She was clearly not impressed.
Then....
A loud voice cut through the murmurs.
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
Rey stepped forward dramatically, spreading his arms wide.
"I give you the privilege of witnessing greatness."
Silence.
Every head turned toward him.
Moriko immediately covered her face.
"You're dead…" she muttered.
A few students struggled to suppress their laughter.
Aric scoffed.
"Greatness?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Who? You?"
He laughed openly.
"There will only be one ruler here."
He pointed toward himself.
"And that's me."
The atmosphere tightened.
Rey slowly lowered his arms.
For a moment, he simply stared at Aric.
Then
He raised one hand.
And gave him a thumbs-up.
"Oh, that's great, man. All the best."
The hall erupted in laughter.
Even several students who had been trying to maintain their composure couldn't hold it back.
Rey scratched the back of his head as though nothing had happened and casually walked toward Moriko.
She stared at him.
Coldly.
If looks could kill, Rey would already be buried.
He immediately changed direction.
And stopped beside Jay instead.
Jay watched him silently.
The entire exchange had been interesting.
Aric's pride.
Rey's carefree nature.
Moriko's irritation.
The students' reactions.
Jay filed each observation away.
Everyone reveals more than they realize.
Before he could observe anything further—
Footsteps echoed through the hall.
The laughter died instantly.
Vega entered.
"Students."
Her voice was sharp enough to command the entire room.
"It's time for departure. Follow me."
No one argued.
The students followed Vega through the academy grounds.
Eventually, they arrived before a massive building.
It was ancient in appearance yet perfectly preserved, its architecture imposing enough to make the students instinctively lower their voices.
Vega stopped.
She turned toward them.
"Before entering, hand over your personal devices."
Confusion immediately spread through the group.
Several students exchanged glances.
Their phones and devices were their only connection to the outside world.
Their families.
Their homes.
Their lives beyond Aurelian.
Vega seemed to anticipate their thoughts.
"I know what you're thinking."
Her expression remained cold.
"That is precisely why we're taking them."
She paused.
"There will be no contact with the outside world."
Her gaze swept across the students.
"No exceptions."
She extended her hand toward the collection tray.
"Hand them over."
Then her voice hardened.
"Or leave this place now with your device."
The students fell silent.
One by one, they began placing their devices onto the tray.
Jay hesitated.
'What about the mission?'
'How am I supposed to contact them?'
For a moment, his fingers tightened around his device.
But resistance was meaningless.
He stepped forward and placed it on the tray.
Vega looked toward a nearby staff member.
"Destroy them."
The words landed heavily.
Several students stared at her in disbelief.
The staff member simply nodded and carried the devices away.
No one questioned her.
Aurelian had made its position clear.
From this moment forward—
the outside world no longer existed.
The students entered the academy.
What they saw left them momentarily speechless.
Vast halls stretched in every direction.
Intricate artwork covered the walls. Enormous libraries disappeared into distant corridors. Classrooms lined the polished pathways, while ancient architecture blended seamlessly with advanced technology.
It felt less like a school
and more like an entirely different world.
Yet Vega offered no explanation.
She continued walking.
Eventually, they reached a grand hall containing rows of chairs facing a raised podium.
Vega turned.
"Be seated."
The students quickly obeyed.
Once everyone had settled, Vega stepped behind the podium.
"I believe you're all aware of Aurelian's ranking system."
The students nodded.
"Good."
She tapped the podium once.
"Then we won't waste time."
The massive screen behind her flickered to life.
"Every action during your entrance examination was evaluated."
Her eyes swept across the room.
"Your performance in all three stages was analyzed."
A pause.
"Your decisions. Your adaptability. Your physical ability. Your judgment."
She tapped the podium again.
"Everything."
The atmosphere grew tense.
"Based on your overall performance, you have been divided into four groups."
Students straightened.
"Group A stands at the top."
Vega's voice remained emotionless.
"Group D stands at the bottom."
A few students clenched their fists.
Vega continued.
"These rankings are temporary."
Her eyes narrowed.
"They can change at any time."
A beat.
"Your future performance will determine where you stand."
The screen flickered.
Anticipation surged through the hall.
Some students leaned forward.
Others held their breath.
Aric's smile widened.
Neva's eyes sharpened.
Mira sat completely still.
Rey whispered something to Moriko, who immediately told him to shut up.
Jay simply watched.
The screen went black.
Letters appeared.
GROUP A — RANKINGS
The room became completely silent.
A single number appeared beneath the heading.
1. —