The air in the academy buzzed with restless energy. The midterm academic rankings were about to be released, and every student—whether they cared to admit it or not—was anticipating the results.
Evelyn Mercer sat in her usual seat, flipping her pen between her fingers as she scanned the classroom. Some students whispered anxiously, while others pretended to be indifferent. Lena, seated beside her, had her feet propped up on the chair in front, scrolling through her phone like the rankings didn't concern her in the slightest.
"Honestly," Lena sighed, "it's always the same people at the top. What's the fun in that?"
Evelyn smirked. "You mean what's the fun if you're not one of them?"
Lena scoffed. "Exactly. If I'm not in the top ten, then the whole system is rigged."
A few students near the front of the class leaned in to check the rankings as their professor entered and placed a stack of papers on the desk. "Alright, settle down," the professor said, adjusting her glasses. "As you all know, the midterm rankings determine class standings, extracurricular eligibility, and, for some of you, your family's expectations. So let's get this over with."
The tension in the room thickened as she began listing the names.
"First place... Evelyn Mercer."
No surprise there. Evelyn simply nodded, as if it were expected.
"Second place... Alexander Whitmore."
Evelyn glanced at the blond-haired student sitting three rows away. He met her gaze with a polite smile—though she knew he hated losing to her.
The names continued until the tenth position was called. Just when the students thought it was over, the professor flipped to another page.
"And we have an unexpected new contender in the top twenty this time."
A hush fell over the room.
"Seventeenth place... Lucien Falkner."
Silence. Then, quiet murmurs.
"Wait—him?"
"Didn't he just transfer?"
"I thought he didn't care about grades."
Lena nearly choked on her gum. "Seventeenth?! He barely looks at his books!"
Evelyn's grip on her pen tightened slightly. Too precise. Too calculated.
Lucien, however, didn't react at all. He sat at the back, arms crossed, eyes as dull as ever. It was as if none of this mattered to him.
The professor continued, undisturbed. "Alright, that's all. If you have complaints, take it up with the grading system. Dismissed."
As students stood to leave, some snuck glances at Lucien, whispering amongst themselves.
"Hey, Falkner," a voice called out.
It was Alexander. He leaned casually against the desk, smirking. "Seventeenth place, huh? Not bad for someone who doesn't try."
Lucien slowly turned his head, his gaze unreadable. "...Is that supposed to mean something?"
Alexander chuckled. "It means I'm curious. I wonder how well you'd do if you actually put in effort."
Lucien didn't reply. He merely stood up, slinging his bag over his shoulder before walking past him without a word.
Evelyn watched the entire exchange.
Something about it felt... off.
She had a feeling that if Lucien Falkner ever tried, he wouldn't just be in the top twenty.
He would be at the very top.
And that thought unsettled her more than she cared to admit.
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End of Chapter 9