The next day, Alex made his way to class, trying to keep his mind off the events of the previous night. His secret was growing harder to keep. The Shadow Orb Tay inside him was becoming stronger, but he couldn't let anyone know not yet. He had barely scratched the surface of its power, and until he fully understood what he was capable of, secrecy was his best defense.
As he entered the classroom, he noticed an unusual buzz among the students. Everyone was talking about the same thing: the new Rank System.
The lecturer, Professor Draven, strode into the room, his tall, stern figure demanding silence. He turned to face the class, his deep voice filling the space. "Today, we will be discussing something of great importance: the Rank System. Each of you will be evaluated and assigned a class based on your power level."
Alex tensed up. This was exactly what he'd feared. The ranking system would expose the true strength of every student in the school. For most, it was a chance to show off their abilities, to be acknowledged for their power. But for Alex, it was a looming threat one that could reveal his secret.
Professor Draven continued, pacing in front of the students. "As you all know, the ranking system is divided into several categories. Those with the highest power points will be placed in the Alpha Class reserved for the strongest and most elite Tay users. The second-highest is the Beta Class, followed by Gamma, Delta, and finally the Epsilon Class, which is... let's just say, for those who have yet to prove themselves."
Alex glanced around the room. Aristotle, sitting near the front, had a confident smirk on his face. It was clear to everyone that he expected to be placed in one of the higher ranks—likely Beta, if not Alpha. His first-class Tay, the Morningstar Tay, was one of the most powerful Tay types, and Aristotle made sure everyone knew it.
Sarah, meanwhile, sat a few seats away, looking equally pleased with herself. She had bonded with a Magic Tay, which gave her powerful abilities in manipulation and control of magic forces. She had no doubts about where she would be placed.
Professor Draven began calling out names, one by one, as students were assigned their ranks based on their power bracelets' readings.
"Aristotle Kryos," Draven called.
Aristotle stood up confidently, his power bracelet flashing as the professor reviewed his stats. "Beta Class," Draven announced.
A few students murmured in admiration. Aristotle's smirk grew wider as he sat back down, satisfied but clearly still hoping for Alpha.
"Sarah Valen," Draven called next.
Sarah stood gracefully, holding out her wrist as her power points were displayed. Draven gave her a nod of approval. "Delta Class," he said.
Sarah didn't seem too disappointed. Delta was still a respectable rank, though not as high as Aristotle's. She gave him a quick glance, but Aristotle didn't return it, focused instead on his own victory.
Alex shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his heart pounding as the names were called out. He prayed they would overlook him, that his altered power readings would keep him under the radar. But when Professor Draven finally called his name, a hush fell over the room.
"Alex Vonn."
Alex swallowed hard as he stood up. He could feel the eyes of his classmates on him, especially Aristotle and Sarah. He walked up to the front, extending his wrist so Draven could scan his bracelet.
Draven frowned slightly as he looked at the screen. The numbers were low—far too low for someone who had actually bonded with a Tay. The manipulation Jasper had done to hide Alex's true power readings had worked... maybe too well.
"Epsilon Class," Draven said finally, his voice neutral but definitive.
Alex could feel the sting of judgment from his classmates. Epsilon was the lowest of the low—the class for students who hadn't even bonded with a Tay yet. It was humiliating, but Alex forced himself to remain calm. He couldn't let them know the truth.
As he walked back to his seat, Sarah and her friends whispered and giggled, not bothering to hide their amusement. Aristotle shot him a condescending glance, clearly relishing Alex's fall from grace. To them, Alex was still the powerless kid who hadn't been chosen by any Tay.
But Alex knew better. He felt the Shadow Orb's presence stirring within him, its dark energy simmering just beneath the surface. They didn't know the truth that he had bonded with one of the rarest and most powerful Tay in existence. And for now, that was exactly how he wanted it.
Professor Draven continued with the rest of the rankings, but Alex hardly paid attention. He was too focused on the challenge ahead. Being placed in the Epsilon Class would put a target on his back. The other students especially those in the higher ranks would look down on him, maybe even try to bully him.
But he was ready. He had his secret weapon Shadow Flicker and now that his Tay had hatched, there were likely more powers waiting to be unlocked. He just needed time to train, to master the abilities that came with the Shadow Orb.
As the lecture ended, Alex gathered his things and left the classroom, ignoring the whispers and smirks directed at him. He might have been placed in the lowest class, but he knew that the real battle had only just begun. The day would come when they'd all see who the real powerhouse was.
And when that time came, the shadows would rise.