The school year commences at Alder Academy, a school that prides itself on having the best minds. It is a prestigious name known internationally, with people from all over the country and even the world wishing to enroll. A school of this stature would need to keep appearances hence uniforms are mandatory. Their colors are mainly white, blue, and gold to give off a more royal appearance.
The classes are allocated according to score and numbered one to four. Top-ranking classes receive additional benefits. Aside from ranking of classes, there is no list showing students' individual scores. This promotes a form of equality and unity, in contrast with the heavily competitive atmosphere. That, however, did not stop students of Class 1 from compiling their own list.
Before heading to class, the students were given sealed letters containing their results and where they placed in their year. After collecting some names, the list was coming on smoothly, but they still had not found out who scored highest. Most turned to the top returning student, Natalia Scarlet, who sat on her desk in this belief. She had placed second. She tore the letter in frustration. Now they had no idea who could have beaten her, but they went on collecting names nonetheless. Meanwhile, at the back of the class sat a quiet young man. A brown skin tone, short black hair, and a devil's grin comprised his appearance.
"I win."
He tore his note as well, then turned to the girl next to him.
"You saw it didn't you."
"Yeah... you scored first."
There was a hint of surprise in her voice, but even more, there was unease.
"Naturally. It could be no one else."
Arrogance radiated from every word.
"Such confidence, but if that's the case then why not show it off?"
Her words were laced with sarcasm.
"Show off? why? Is that what you would have done?"
"What? No, of course not."
"Being honest, it's just more fun to watch them scramble to figure out who it is."
His tone of voice was dastardly.
"That's... ahh, a bit twisted."
"That may be true, but it helps build competition."
"How does that work?"
"It does three things, actually. Firstly, it destroys the notion that the best will always be the best, reigniting the urge to surpass them."
"So you mean they get more motivated to try."
She could agree with him there.
"You catch on quick, I like that. Secondly, they now lack a figure to idolize, without anyone to put on a pedestal, they can't lean back and say it's impossible to beat them."
An air of self-proposed grandeur emanated from his voice.
"Lastly, it can instill doubt. Anyone can lie about their position, and the thought of being left behind by their friends will give them a little more vigor."
"Now I'm starting to feel uncomfortable."
She cringed at the thought.
"You see, I started out trying to be the best, but when I actually got there, things got boring."
He paused.
"It's not like it wasn't satisfying at first; it's just that the whole thing felt pointless after everyone stopped trying. That alone made everything I'd done to achieve it feel empty."
"Okay then."
An awkward response, she didn't have anything to say and didn't want to say more. Her words were a cry for the conversation to end.
"But then, then it hit me. Why not build the competition myself? So from this point on, this school is my chessboard and all who reside in it are my pawns. But as for you..."
He paused and smiled.
"You are my Queen."
His tone was more condescending than respectful.
"Huh? excuse me?"
She questioned whether she had heard correctly.
"My Queen. The most powerful piece on the board, well, apart from yours truly of course."
The teacher walked in just then.
Relief filled her mind this was her chance to escape. She raised her hand.
"Excuse me sir I would like to change seats."
"No, stay where you are. That would just lead to unnecessary trouble."
He was just a stand-in for their homeroom teacher, who was not present at the time, but even still, you could tell he did not want to be there.
"So I'm stuck here."
She complained in a low tone.
"You're trying to escape, aren't you? You probably think I'm crazy, insane, have a couple of screws loose, but I'm sorry to say, you're right."
"Sir!"
"Quiet down."
He responded before burying his head in a magazine.
"Some say the line between genius and madness is thin, but no, I believe that they are one and the same thing. "
"Why do you keep talking like this is some kind of movie?"
A question asked in resignation to her fate.
"A movie? You could say that, my tone is rather whimsical, but I assure you, it doesn't get any more real."
"Whatever you say."
"Shush."
His attention now drawn to the board as first period began.
"Uh, but..."
She lets out a heavy sigh and keeps quiet not wanting to invite any more trouble for herself.
The rest of the day passed by without so much as a peep from him. He said his goodbyes at the end of class and left. She too headed home, thankful that they lived in opposite directions from each other. She arrived early and was greeted by her mother.
"Welcome back Eri. How was it? Your first day, I mean."
"It's not really my first day since I returned to the same school, mom."
"Come on, it's still your first day of high school. So tell me, did anything interesting happen?"
"Not really, it was mostly dull, but there was this one guy."
"A boy? Oh, do tell."
"It's not what you're thinking he just had a weird way of talking."
"How so?"
"He said stuff like how everyone is his pawn or something like that."
"Sounds like a classic case of a superiority complex."
"Away from that now. How was your day?"
Meanwhile, the boy in question stood by his bedroom window, staring deeply into the night sky.
"And so it begins."
He closed the curtains and the lights went out.
The next day, Eri arrived early for class and found him there alone, working on some kind of electrical project on his desk.
"What are you working on?"
"Good morning."
"Oh, good morning."
She realized she may have come off as rude.
"It's a communication device, and it is finally done."
He covers it with a case. Judging by its appearance it seemed to be an old-timey flip phone.
"A cellphone?"
"Yes but that's not all. It's also so much more."
He typed a number, and they heard a ring from his backpack. He took out his smartphone to answer, but there was no number displayed on the contact.
"Perfectly untraceable."
His gaze turned to Eri.
"Do you have a number, my Queen?"
"Well, uh... yeah."
Her reply was hesitant.
"Give it to me."
A command rather than a request, it was a clear exercise of his authority.
Despite her reluctance, she gave it to him. In her mind, it was clear that she wasn't being given a choice and that he was determined. So before he decided to use unscrupulous means, she opted to give it up herself. She still wonders if it was the right choice.
He gave her a call using his smartphone.
"That's my number. You can save me as 'King,' and I you as 'Queen.'"
"No!"
Her reply was firm.
"No, well... okay then."
He paused
"Wait, what do you mean, no?"
"No means no, you have to put a rest to this 'Queen' nonsense. It is cringe and weird. "
She was relieved to finally get that off her chest.
He let out a heavy sigh.
"Very well, if that is truly what you want, then I'll stop."
"That's all it took?"
Her thoughts slipped from her mouth.
"What is your name?"
"My name? Oh, my name. It's Eri. Eri Blue."
"Eri... yes. Our Dearest Queen Eri. It is indeed a lovely name. Truly befitting of one as lovely as you."
"Uh... thanks."
Surprise in her voice and her head turned away from him.
"So what's your name?"
"It's Rev."