The Myth of the Fall

ALAYNA'S POV

1st September '22, 9:38 a.m.

It's disappointing - the eyes, the shock, and the naive illusion of a perfectly balanced social hierarchy. Moreover, it is their blind obedience to the construct which always manages to piss me off. Is your life really that mundane that you have to seek validation from others?

Valterrie Montclair is another story, daughter of Genevieve and Maximilian Montclair who are influential philanthropists and successful entrepreneurs, co-founding a multinational corporation focused on sustainable technologies.

I truly hate making assessments about anyone so soon yet that walk, that look and that blatant disrespect tells me more than enough. She's not blind to her surroundings, that is for sure, no one in their right mind would ask about my grey coat as nonchalantly as her.

Quite obvious that she was an elite of the French branch. No wonder that she is paired with Natalie. The only good thing is that Physics class is the only one all sections share together, which means other than this class we're free from each other's presence. Better yet, physics is only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Ms. Alonso clears her throat, "Very well, then Caleb Smith and Daisy Lawrence, behind them." How mundane. The devil's advocate paired with his female version. Caleb's steps are slow and calculated walking towards her. Reputation, that's all that matters to him. My eyes, though, are trained on his black shirt. Didn't Isaac wear that during the praeconium (proclamation)? Or am I imagining things now?

I can feel him trailing behind me, "Where are we going?" If it was an octave lower, I wouldn't have heard him. Maybe I can pretend that I didn't. That doesn't explain why I glance back at him cladded in a buttoned-down black shirt rolled up to his elbows hug his muscles effortlessly, his dress coat hanging over his shoulders, the glimmer of the bronze medal accompanied by the thin silver chain around his neck and a silver Rolex around his left wrist.

I have to admit he polishes up real nice.

Daisy's petite frame carries an air of confidence and grace. Her wavy chestnut hair and those eyes a unique combination of warm brown, and the other of a striking shade of blue does enough justice to her brains. Lethal. Yet with that delicate pink silk scrunchie around her right wrist is anything but lethal. It is lethal, but more 'kill them with kindness' type of lethal front.

"Let's speed things up, Roman Mayyas with Isaac Blake in the next column." What a pleasant surprise! Not really, it was quite predictable. An upcoming elite paired with an already thriving elite is nothing out the ordinary. It's definitely not like when I was paired with Toby Johnson to surpass him, was it? Shit, I don't want to remember him.

"Following them are Ronan Roth and George Flynn." This is the one which has caught me unsuspected. George Flynn's deep blue eyes have seen the game of elites in its most ruthless form. He runs his hands through his raven black hair, giving a perfect yet unwelcomed view of his intricate tattoo of a guitar on his neck, to ease his nerves while Ronan takes his time - leisurely - in coming to his new seat.

Ronan Roth on the other hand is a man who plays by the books. What makes me wonder is if his grey eyes can remain the same after the next four years in this academy when we fight tooth and nail for the endgame rank. It was already ruthless last year between him and me leading to a tie.

The academy's history knows that such an altercation wasn't observed between me and Toby Johnson for the Summus scholar (high scholar), the highest honour in the Hall of Fame.