As Zane stood at the threshold of Class 1-D, he took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for whatever awaited him inside. Just as he was about to step through the door, a voice called out from behind him.
"Could you move, please?"
He turned around to find a girl standing there, her expression a mix of impatience and grace. As he caught sight of her, Zane felt momentarily mesmerized. She had long brown hair that cascaded down her shoulders and striking green eyes that seemed to shimmer like emeralds in the light. Zane recognized her instantly; it was Emma Hyndham, one of the heroines from the novel and the first girlfriend of the protagonist.
"Oh, um, sorry!" Zane stammered, quickly stepping aside to let her pass. He was surprised at how flustered he felt in her presence. "Please, go ahead."
Emma smiled politely as she walked past him, her confidence radiating. Zane watched her enter the classroom, captivated by her beauty and poise. "Get a grip, Zane," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. He couldn't afford to be distracted, especially not by someone who had a pivotal role in the story.
After a moment of collecting himself, Zane followed her inside. The classroom was a mix of chaos and energy, students already chatting and settling into their seats. He scanned the room for a spot that would allow him to blend in and remain unnoticed.
With a sense of determination, he chose a desk in the far corner, as far away from the main group as possible. He preferred the solitude, away from the thrumming energy of the other main characters. They were a magnet for calamity, and Zane had no intention of getting caught up in their whirlwind.
As he settled into his seat, he could see Emma from the corner of his eye, laughing and chatting with her friends. Her laughter was infectious, and he couldn't help but steal glances at her. Despite his resolve to keep his distance, he felt an inexplicable pull toward her—a connection he couldn't quite understand.
Zane pulled out his notebook, trying to focus on the blank pages in front of him. He needed to establish his identity in this new life, separate from the characters he had read about. But the more he watched Emma, the more he wondered what role he would play in this story and how his choices would shape the path ahead.
Just then, the classroom door swung open again, and a commotion filled the air as the rest of the students poured in. Zane took a deep breath, ready to face whatever challenges awaited him in Class 1-D. He was determined to carve out his own destiny, even if it meant navigating the complexities of sharing a classroom with the protagonists of a story he thought he knew so well.
A moment later, the professor walked in, a middle-aged woman with sharp features and an authoritative demeanor.
"Welcome to your first day at the academy!" she announced, her voice commanding attention. "I am Professor Aria Selwyn, and I will be your instructor for this semester."
Zane shifted in his seat, feeling the anticipation in the air. She continued, "I will call your names in order of your ranks, so please respond when I do."
As she began calling names, Zane felt his heart sink. The ranks were announced with a sense of reverence, and he braced himself for the inevitable moment when his name would be called.
As the professor began the roll call, she called out names in ascending order, starting with the lowest-ranked student in the academy.
"Rank 1904, Zane D. Everhart."
Zane felt the weight of countless gazes fall upon him. He could hear the whispers and sense the disdain from his classmates. To them, he was just another weakling, someone barely scraping by at the bottom of the academy. He stood up briefly, giving a short nod before sitting back down. The whispers didn't stop, but he tried to ignore them.
The roll continued, and Zane watched as the other students were called.
"Rank 10, Charles Haldwin."
A boy with dark brown hair and sharp features stood up, his eyes briefly scanning the room before sitting down again, a look of indifference on his face.
"Rank 8, Jin Oliver."
Zane recognized the name. Jin was the protagonist's best friend—a key figure who would stand by Aiden through thick and thin. Jin had short black hair and a mischievous grin as he gave a playful salute when his name was called.
"Rank 7, Selena Ardell."
One of the female main characters stood up. Selena had long silver hair and pale blue eyes that shimmered with confidence. She was known for her intelligence and strategic thinking, traits that made her a formidable ally.
"Rank 6, Ethan Wright."
A male side character, Ethan was tall with sandy blond hair and a relaxed posture. He didn't seem to care much about the attention, casually sitting down after his name was called.
"Rank 5, Kara Winters."
Another female main character, Kara had striking violet eyes and auburn hair. She stood gracefully, her presence commanding the attention of those around her.
"Rank 4, Emma Hyndham."
Emma, the girl Zane had let into the classroom earlier, stood up. Her captivating green eyes and brown hair made her a standout presence. Zane kept his gaze away, knowing too well the role she played in the story.
"Rank 3, Leon Valtor."
Leon was Aiden's rival. With his fiery red eyes and jet-black hair, he had an aura of arrogance. The rivalry between him and Aiden would be one of the central tensions in the story.
"Rank 2, Celestia Larkins."
Celestia's presence was commanding. Her long silver hair and blue eyes gave her an ethereal beauty, and Zane could sense the attention she garnered from everyone in the room. She stood tall and elegant, her title as the imperial princess unspoken but known to all.
Finally, the professor reached the top rank.
"Rank 1, Aiden C. Misel."
Aiden stepped forward, his silver hair and sharp blue eyes radiating confidence. He had the bearing of someone born for greatness, and Zane couldn't help but feel the weight of his destiny as the protagonist.