"They say rank defines order.
I only saw chains."
The first light of dawn spilled across my face.
To everyone else, it was just another ordinary morning — but for me, it was the beginning of something new.
A new chance, a new life, a reason to make my parents proud.
It felt like the start of something greater. Something better.
The air was cool, brushing lightly against the curtains, carrying the soft hum of the city below. The world outside glittered with the constant flicker of neon and data screens — the glow of a system that never slept.
This is a world that runs on technology, and in it, status is everything.
Not your kindness. Not your effort. Just your wealth.
People see how rich you are before they ever look at who you are.
Since childhood, teachers have drilled into us that money, fame, and merit are the foundation of equality.
It's fascinating — how they can call that justice.
Everyone wears a wristband: a glowing indicator of class and worth.
The bands are scanned before entering any shop, train, or public place.
The unpleasant sound of a lower-class beep can turn every head nearby.
Disgust. Pity. Contempt.
Even silence carries judgment here.
The poor are forced to live in narrow alleyways and fading apartments,
while the rich rest high above the smog, behind glass walls and gold-tinted windows,
enjoying their "penthouse view" of a world they no longer touch.
Even students aren't free from it — each school uniform color-coded by class, each student labeled before they even begin.
I was lucky enough not to be part of the lower system.
Lucky — what a strange word.
Why am I even thinking about this?
Maybe because I hate it.
Or maybe because deep down… I know it deserves hate.
"Louissss!"
A voice broke through my thoughts — probably Mom.
"Shit, I'm late for schoo—" I stopped.
"Oh, right. High school's over."
I sighed and sat up. The morning sunlight painted everything in a pale gold hue.
The marble floor reflected it like liquid, and the quiet hum of the house felt almost too perfect.
As I walked down the staircase — a beautifully curved design that fit the golden ratio perfectly — I could hear the faint murmurs of servants below. They were moving faster than usual, almost nervous.
The smell of warm food drifted up to meet me, sweet and buttery.
Breakfast was being prepared differently today.
Something about the air felt charged.
Today… something was going to happen.
"Oh, sweetheart! I made your favorite breakfast!" Mom called out with a smile.
She had arranged everything herself — pancakes, crisp croissants, and fresh buttermilk.
She never cooked anymore. She didn't need to. But today, she did.
For me.
For a moment, I just watched her. Her eyes shone with excitement and pride, her hands trembling slightly as she poured the syrup.
As I sat down, she kept glancing at me, as if she already knew what was coming.
I ate quietly, every bite heavier with the silence in the room.
Today was Result Day — the college assignments.
After breakfast, I opened my laptop. The screen's soft blue glow lit the entire table.
The world around me seemed to pause.
No sound. No motion. Just the spinning circle on the loading screen.
Mom stood behind me, barely breathing. Even the servants waited silently at a distance.
And then — boom. The result appeared.
---
Name: Louis Everett
Gender: Male
Age: 18
Percentage: 97%
Chosen College: N/A
Assigned College: Aureveil Academy
Date: 7/7/2002
---
"Aureveil Academy?"
I blinked at the screen. "Am I dreaming?"
"Congratulations, Louis!" Mom screamed in joy, her voice echoing through the hall.
"Thanks…" I murmured, still staring, trying to process it.
Aureveil Academy — the most prestigious institution in existence.
Built on an isolated island, hidden behind a misted horizon.
Every year, only 150 students are chosen from across the nation.
Each receives a scholarship, an opportunity that could change their entire life.
But the academy has its rules.
Once you're accepted, all contact with the outside world is cut off.
Every student is moved to a secure dormitory on the island.
Special phones are provided — devices that track every step, every word, and every point you earn.
"So, are you happy, Louis?"
"Yes, of course, Mom."
"Pack your things, dear. It starts tomorrow."
"Sure."
I smiled, trying to sound confident.
Inside, my heart raced — not with fear, but something strange.
Excitement? Hope? Unease?
I couldn't tell.
As I packed, one name surfaced in my mind — Evelyn.
Would she be there too?
She was one of the few capable of getting in. Smart, composed, and unreadable.
Since childhood, I'd admired her — not just for her intelligence, but for the quiet way she carried it.
The kind of brilliance that never needed to prove itself.
Before I could think further, Mom dragged me out for shopping.
All day we moved from one store to another — clothes, watches, shoes, accessories — everything a "perfect student" would need.
I smiled through it all, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Aureveil.
What kind of place cuts you off from everything you know?
Why does the government praise it so much yet never allow cameras inside?
The questions stayed silent, hidden behind the joy.
Later that night, after dinner, I climbed up to the rooftop.
The city stretched below me — glittering towers, bright screens, people reduced to dots of light.
A world divided by invisible walls.
The wind carried the faint hum of advertisements and electric rails.
Somewhere, far away, I could see the academy's island — a faint shadow beyond the horizon, half-swallowed by mist.
Tomorrow, I'd be there.
Tomorrow, everything would change.
Or maybe… everything would finally begin to break.
—— Louis Everett
That morning, everyone thought they were chosen for merit.
No one knew they were chosen for the game.