Introductions

I answered the test with the guise of an obedient student and in a matter of 2 hours I completed the exam, I was about to pass it but a doubt came to mind, something that told me not to reveal my whole hand just yet and so I went back to the test and erased a few dozen answers for after all if I perfect this exam, things may prove problematic both from the schools ever watching eye and my soon to be jealous classmates. Ah the irony of how the unimpressive will always strive to feel important and the special will always seek to fit in, I imagine myself as the latter in some aspects, after all there are only a handful of students my age who knows as much as I do but then again take that away and I'm just like everyone else hence I can't afford to be proud.

By the time I finished it was about 8:30, just in time for the opening ceremony which I must go to in order to understand this school and in understanding it I may pass the test that Father has given me, I still hold on to the hope that a test is all this is and that I can come back if I can ace it like every other test he has given me, him and that man.

I figured that instead of going to the entrance to check the map I might as well follow the majority of students who seemed to be going to one place, I could only assume this was the assembly hall. It was slightly awkward walking alone as almost everyone walked with their integrated groups, like a bunch of wolves in a pack and especially in a place like this, your pack will ensure your standing in the social hierarchy. I was at a disadvantage as I was a transferee and it's the second year now where the social hierarchy is probably already cemented in the class, if so will I still be able to become king? No I don't shouldn't be the king in a foreign environment, plus there's something suspicious about that man Desmond Lubov so I need to keep my eyes peeled for any uncertain developments that may befall me and doing that while I dominate the school is simply too much of a task for me with very little advantages. I should be satisfied with being one of the king's lackeys, at the very least it will keep me away from the dangers of the forsaken in here, I barely been 3 hours here and I could already see the bullying of the weak, zero tolerance to violence my ass! This is just the same as any other wild delinquent school only that the faculty are hypocritical enough to call it otherwise, what else could you expect from a place that accepts spoiled brats and greedy power chasers while at the same time removes anyone capable of fighting back who isn't one of the higher class.

Before long I arrive in the assembly hall and the crowd was still something of 300 but more and more were coming and basing at the mere size of the hall I would assume some 2000 or so people will be arriving before long, I simply wait seated around the end most corner and fair enough in around 10 minutes, people started flocking until the assembly hall was filled, I felt like I was going to choke from the mere number really, I feel nauseous in big crowds like this, but still I will survive it's still well air conditioned after all and the noisy hall became silent from the arrival of the principal.

As if the whole class suddenly turned to stone, no noise could be heard not even the cough or scratch of someone. It became deathly silent that I could hear my own breathing and even that I felt conscious of doing, something about this school that I just can't point a finger on. The Principal started with a hearty cheer which immediately defused the tensed crowd.

"Is it on? Ehem Ehem. Welcome all to the first semester of your stay here in the Duvangelie University, first and foremost I would like to congratulate you all in passing the exams and lasting a year in here, despite the lazy faculty" Desmond Lubov is a master of controlling the mood of the crowd even in a number as huge as this, that alone should have earned my respect, after all only someone who has his house in order will be able to hold It when it all falls down but the shrewdness of him is something I can't agree with, it's like this whole school is a reflection of his scheming mind.

The Principal went on in his joking self-deprecating manner, and even calling out some teachers to get a laugh and in a few examples actual students that are present here. I thought about what he was doing then I finally realized, he wasn't just making humorous observation but making an example out of the students and teachers he found were misbehaving, the thing about it is that it was in such a light manner that anyone can pass it off as playful teasing from the joker Desmond but anyone called out and laughed at by 2,000 students would naturally be embarrassed and to further that, I realize why it was that the tension was so thick earlier, if you look around there are cameras everywhere, peering eyes of the faculty, and of course that of the Principal himself, we were constantly being watched, observed, and any mistake no matter how small would inevitably be called out one way or another, and this is just the first line of defense of this school, I'm sure it gets worse along the way. By doing what he was doing, Desmond was not only shaming the disobedient but at the same time uniting the school by having a common enemy.

This is not just an opening ceremony, it's a public lynching and a warning to those wise enough to see it. Before I even noticed, the lynching was over and though anyone mentioned would drop their ranking in the social hierarchy, they will survive for this school thrives in students who have hope in this school, misguided hope that if they're not careful will turn them into obedient sheep, I know this mention all too well. The speech was over after a few words of wisdom, nothing out of the ordinary and then came performance of the music club followed by the dance club. I have to admit that I was captivated by the symphonies played by the orchestra composed of only the 3rd years, so Desmond showed us the stick, now it was the carrot, he presented the best of the third years as if to tell us that if we obey their rules and act accordingly, we too will be like the dignified seniors. Alright this was a better school than I thought, I'll bite. Maybe this won't be so dull after all.

After the ceremony we were released and the assigning of classes were shown in the bulletin board nearby, my heart was pounding as I checked my name…Dassed, Denver, Dullio, ah yes Du *****, I sighed in relief as I was in class A, I usually wouldn't be this tensed but this school isn't like the others that based on grades alone. I checked the classroom location and wasted no time walking towards it. I have to say, I'm rather excited about this for even as the mental torture grits in met that one day I might be abandoned, there's something about the sense of comradery that being in a mass gather grants you, it's a good distraction I can't deny. The classroom as I arrived was rather chaotic, very unbecoming of the star section but perhaps I'm being too hasty and my classmates are rather elite and formidable, well one classmate certainly is formidable…that goddamn girl from the mall, I mean I know it's a small world but this is just bad luck, this girl might reveal my true nature, and in this place that is tantamount to shaming my family name, the name which abandoned me but I just cannot let go.

"Arvior!" The girl immediately noticed me and came forward bringing along her lackey along with her. She certainly is eye candy I have to admit. Her delicate features were very well suited for the attire given by our school, her shoulder length black hair swayed as she walked and her twins bounced slightly in the well kempt black blouse which revealed nothing but the motion itself is seductive in its own nature. Her posture, manner of speaking, everything certainly had an air of elegance to her, and the short skirt perfectly complemented her model like legs, this would be enough but she too was fashionable and complementing her blouse was a cute pink ribbon, as for her skirt were black leggings.

I never observed a girl this much in my life without fair reason, no perhaps her attractiveness was reason enough and I just can't for the life of me understand why she would approach me, a girl who can slow down time for any man who sees her is better off talking to some pretty boy. I grow flustered as her approach seems like an eternity, despite that it was still inevitable. I try to compose myself, I must if I have any hopes of surviving tis social battle, this one moment that will decide where I will stand in the class hierarchy.

"This is the knight in shining armor, I was telling you about" Her lackeys squealed in a slightly annoying manner which was gathering attention, I can't do this! This is the first battle and I'm already sweating bullets, I was the king of Fort Academy damn it! How can I fall to an opponent who isn't even in the offensive? What is this serious tension I feel?

"Come on Nadia, you aren't actually telling us that this guy is some prince charming are you? I mean look at him" A handsome guy with a whole bad boy air to him approached us and following was his lackeys, damn confronted by two bosses at once? The hell kind of tutorial phase is this.

Alright I have to say something…but what? I may not be able to take the offensive towards such a high ranking person but if I just lie down and take it, that would forever cement me as the weakling to be attacked by the betas around him. Alright Desmond I'll be borrowing from your playbook.

"C-come on man, it's the first time a pretty lady is talking to me. J-just let me have this" Desmond used self-deprecation to show a jovial and kind image, I find this manner most effective because it lightens the mood as well as denies my involvement to this girl Nadia without seeming rude about it.

The guy laughed mockingly which in turn then caused Nadia's lackey's towering expectations to drop, making them lose the peak of their interest. RPG basics states that before taking down the boss, take care of the annoying mob first, though a better offensive is going for the head, I shouldn't attack just yet.

"Did you hear that? He just said it's his first time talking to a pretty girl! Ha ha alright guy, since you seem so pathetic in talking to girls I'll take you in my wing and teach ya all about hitting on girls. I'm Jonathan Von Russo, you can call me Jon if you like" Jonathan put his shoulders around me as he extended his hand for a handshake.

Yes, this was never an attack to begin with, it was a statement. "Bow down to me if you want my join my family" this boy is just like Father, he will first size up everyone, showing that they're the alpha, but when it comes to it, they will protect anyone who tries to harm those in their pack. Sure this interaction hurts my chances at the very top but I never wanted that place anyway, the top of the mountain is a slope filled with constant attacks, and meaningless politics, and the only advantage is the ability to lord over those below you, I do not want that, instead I'd rather be king of the hill where it's safer and the fall is less painful.

"Arvior" I shake his hand as I smiled warmly, oh no my hands are sweaty, huh? That's odd so is his.

"Arvior you'd better not turn into another Nate you hear? The world needs less of people like him and more like you" Nadia warned with seeming concern. I jerked back at the sight of her which just made me want to bow down and pledge loyalty to her forever, oh dear what the hell is happening to me? Forget about turning into a womanizer, I'm about to turn into a fanboy…Nadia you certainly are formidable

"I can't ever really hope to be like Jon, Nadia" To this Jon only nodded satisfied in my show of submission. Nadia and the other lackeys seemed concerned for a second that I may just be some water boy cheering on the varsity.

"I mean how could I reach that level of obnoxiousness?" I however make a comeback. The ones around turned to me in shock but in the sheer boldness of it all chuckled. Jon naturally retaliated and hurled insults of his own but I could see that there was no aggression now that I am part of his group, in fact he even seemed happy for a second. Yes, I may be one of his lackeys now but I certainly am no puppy.

And so the first day of school came to an end with the girl from the mall turning out to be big help in putting me in a high place in the hierarchy just slightly below the kings.