The announcement spread faster than anything else ever had in Aurikon Academy.
Not whispered.
Not speculated.
Displayed.
---
By the time students began filing into the central hall, the board had already updated.
Names.
Positions pending.
A system—once buried—now restored.
---
Aurikon had always operated under a quiet understanding.
No matter who you were outside its gates—
inside, you were equal.
---
Status?
Muted.
Wealth?
Irrelevant.
Connections?
Invisible—unless you knew how to use them without being seen.
---
That had been the balance.
---
But the student council…
That changed everything.
---
Because hierarchy—
had returned.
---
Clusters of students gathered before the board, drawn in by the sheer weight of the announcement.
Voices overlapped.
Low.
Sharp.
---
"They actually brought it back?"
"Why now?"
"It hasn't even been that long…"
---
Then—
someone noticed.
---
"Wait…"
A finger pointed toward the screen.
---
"…these names…"
---
The murmuring slowed.
Shifted.
Focused.
---
Because it wasn't random.
---
It wasn't just a list of selected students.
---
It was familiar.
---
Recognition came in waves.
---
"Colton Hart…"
"Kaiden Fox…"
"Lynn Mackenzie…"
---
A pause.
---
"…those are the top three from the Honours List."
---
That landed.
---
Eyes moved faster now.
Comparing.
Cross-checking.
---
"Then—Kim Cross…"
---
Another voice cut in.
"She's Silver List. Top tier."
---
"And the others—"
More names followed beneath hers.
Two more students.
Recognized.
Also from the Silver List.
---
"So they're pulling from each ranking system…"
---
"Not just one."
---
The pattern became clearer.
---
Honours List — Colton Hart. Kaiden Fox. Lynn Mackenzie.
Silver List — Kim Cross… and two others.
And then—
---
A third category.
Lower.
Still elite.
Still chosen.
---
More names.
Less reaction.
But still acknowledged.
---
"They're selecting the top three from each level…"
---
"Balanced structure…"
---
"Controlled influence…"
---
It made sense.
Too much sense.
---
Until—
---
"…Kaitlyn Woods?"
---
The name slipped in quietly.
Almost unnoticed.
---
Then—
everything paused.
---
"…Who?"
---
A few brows furrowed.
---
"I don't recognize that name."
---
"No—wait…"
---
"I've seen her before…"
---
"But not like this."
---
Eyes returned to the board.
Lingering.
Searching.
---
Because unlike the others—
her name didn't come with clarity.
---
No defined rank.
No confirmed list.
---
And yet—
she was there.
---
Among them.
---
Kim stood just behind the crowd, arms crossed.
Her eyes had already traced the pattern.
---
"…They're not just selecting people," she said under her breath.
"They're restructuring the system."
---
Her gaze shifted slightly.
"To pull from Honours, Silver, and below… all at once…"
A pause.
"…this was planned."
---
Beside her—
Kacy stood.
Still.
---
A faint glint crossed her eyes.
Gone in an instant.
---
"When did this even happen?" Kim continued. "No notice, no buildup… just—done."
---
No response.
---
Kacy's gaze remained on the board.
---
Kim looked at her.
"…You're not surprised."
---
Silence.
---
Then—
"Student council."
---
Lynn's voice slipped in.
Smooth.
Measured.
---
She stepped forward, eyes scanning the board before settling—
briefly—
---
"All our names," she said lightly.
---
Kim didn't respond.
---
Lynn turned.
Her gaze landing on Kacy.
---
"Do you still think everything I've said is coincidence?"
---
A pause.
---
Kacy looked at her.
Once.
---
Indifferent.
---
Then turned—
and walked away.
---
Kim's gaze hardened.
She shot Lynn a sharp look—
then followed.
---
Lynn remained where she stood.
---
Watching.
---
Not the crowd.
Not the system.
---
But one name.
---
Kaitlyn Woods.
---
---
Footsteps approached.
---
Colton.
Kaiden.
---
They stopped before the board.
Took it in.
---
Colton exhaled softly.
"Well…"
A faint grin.
"…this just got interesting."
---
Kaiden's gaze moved across the names.
Paused—
briefly—
---
Then, in a low, detached tone—
---
"Interesting."
A beat.
"…Wonderful."
---
He turned.
---
Colton followed.
"Let's go."
---
They left.
---
---
Lynn didn't move.
---
Her eyes remained fixed—
on that same name.
---
Kaitlyn Woods.
---
Unplaced.
Unclear.
---
Yet undeniable.
---
"…Interesting," she murmured again.
---
Because now—
this wasn't just observation.
---
It was a problem.
One she intended to solve.