The great dining hall roared with chatter until the bell tolled.
Dong… dong… dong…
Silence swept the hall.
Every student rose from their seats, eyes fixed on the front platform where the steward stood with a scroll in hand.
"The Union recognizes lineage," he declared. "Tonight, all new students will be called by their assigned number. Each shall announce the number of their parent, along with the parent's title. Let all know where loyalty is born."
One by one, names were called.
"Student 10021."
A boy stepped forward, chin high. "Son of Number 438, Minister of Commerce."
"Student 87542."
A girl bowed. "Daughter of Number 1201, General of the Second Legion."
Whispers trailed after each declaration. Rank and power carried weight—even here.
Finally, the steward's voice rang out:
"Student 99979."
My legs stiffened. My heart hammered. Slowly, I walked to the center of the hall, where hundreds of eyes pressed into me.
I swallowed hard, my voice almost shaking—but I forced it steady.
"Son of Number 99978… Minister of Transportation."
The hall erupted in murmurs. Some smirked. Others raised brows.
A servant whispered too loudly:
"99978? That's almost the bottom."
But before shame could drown me, the steward raised a hand. His tone was sharp as iron.
"Every number stands under the same banner. The Union does not measure by digits, but by loyalty."
His eyes flickered to me, lingering longer than to the others. Almost… testing me.
I turned, walked back to my seat, and sat.
My servant leaned close, voice quiet.
"Do not let them see weakness, Master. Numbers shift. Today low. Tomorrow—higher than all."
I clenched my fists.
For the first time, I believed it.
---