"Not yet."
Willow turned sharply, her boots scuffing against the hard floor as she moved quickly, hoping that he hadn't seen her.
But luck was never on her side. Call it Karma.
She collided with a female student in a crisp blue jacket, who immediately shoved her back. Willow hit the ground with a soft gasp, clutching her tablet tightly to her chest to keep it from slipping.
"Oops," the student said flatly, looking down at her. "Are you okay?"
Willow swallowed hard, narrowing her eyes. The girl was spotless, polished, and the glowing B on her wristband confirmed it. Grade B also known as an enforcer. No wonder. Her tone was patronizing, her expression untouched by guilt.
Willow got to her feet and muttered, "I'm fine."
She was about to move past the girl when the one person she wasn't ready to face spoke up behind her, "Do we have a new enforcer?"
And just like that, Willow's body turned cold.
"I'm not an enforcer," she mumbled, already turning to leave. But before she could take a full step, a firm hand wrapped around her arm and yanked her back.
Her breath caught as she was pulled face-to-face with him.
Ezrik Venye.
Those emerald eyes locked onto her with unsettling curiosity. "You're a first year student."
He then glanced at the girl beside her. "First years haven't been classified yet, right?"
The girl's face flushed pink as she nodded, batting her lashes in a way that made Willow's stomach twist with secondhand embarrassment.
"Y-Yes! I heard classification is today."
Ezrik's eyes returned to Willow, slowly trailing over her from head to toe. She instinctively tightened her grip on her tablet, pressing it against her chest like a shield and avoiding his gaze.
This was bad. She didn't want attention, especially not from him.
He stepped closer, closing the space between them.
"Are you lost?" he asked, leaning in.
Now that she saw his face up close, Willow couldn't believe how soft and angelic his features were. They were so much different from his deep, disarming voice.
"Yes," she breathed, taking a step back.
But he followed, closing the distance again.
"Oh?" he murmured, snatching the tablet from her hands. His expression darkened.
"Does that give you a reason to wander without your leash?" he asked coldly.
Willow was stunned. "What?"
Then without warning, he grabbed her by the collar and yanked her forward.
A startled yelp escaped her lips. "What are you..."
Ezrik smiled. "I understand that you're new here, and that's the only reason I'm letting you off with a warning," he whispered. "Next time, don't roam without your leash. I prefer some distance when I pull someone in. Grabbing your collar feels too personal."
Willow swallowed hard, resisting the urge to scream in his face. Her heart was racing, but she didn't stop herself from glaring at him.
Of course, this was the arrogant Ezrik Venye. One of the most powerful mutants in Nexus Academy. One of its rulers.
He finally released her collar and casually brushed off an invisible speck of dirt from her shirt before handing back her tablet.
"One of the enforcers will take you to the test hall," he said. "You'll be classified there. So... we'll know what to expect from you, and you'll learn what you should and shouldn't do."
He turned to the girl beside Willow. "Lila,"
Lila bowed slightly. "Yes." She nudged Willow's arm and turned on her heel. "Come with me."
Willow tightened her grip on her tablet. She could feel every stare pinned to her back. It was barely an hour into Nexus, and she was already humiliated by Ezrik, no less.
It was definitely Karma.
Without saying a word or sparing him a glance, she followed Lila, who led her to a separate building crowded with students in red jackets like hers. At the entrance, Lila cast her one last condescending look before walking off.
With a quiet sigh, Willow pressed a button on her tab, shrinking it into a compact, wallet-sized device she slipped into her pocket.
The moment her eyes landed on the doors, they slid open, and all the students began walking in.
She followed quietly, unable to shake the humiliation burning in her chest. What made it worse was that she already knew what grade she would be assigned.
At the front of the hall stood a blonde woman, sharply dressed in a fitted red suit. Her smile was elegant and professional.
"Welcome to Nexus Academy," she began. "I'm sure most of you are aware of what today holds, but allow me to explain. You will all be classified into ranks that determine your titles, positions, and privileges within this academy..."
Willow tuned her out, clenching her fists. Nexus Academy was no different from the world outside its walls. The only distinction was age. Here, it was the younger generation carrying the weight of power. The cruelty and hierarchy were the same.
There were four grades at Nexus. A, B, C, and D.
Grade A students were known as the Ascendants. The top one percent. Elite mutants with unmatched abilities, they ruled the academy and held nearly all privileges.
Ezrik was one of them.
Grade B students were called Enforcers. The visible heads of the academy. They were intense, competitive, and elite in their own right, they made up ten percent of the school's population.
Grade C students were the Regulars, the average mutants who formed the majority.
And Grade D… they were called the Dregs. Yes, Dregs. Those born without powers, looked down on, mistreated, and barely seen as people.
"Now, you will all be called in batches for your test," the woman continued, "After which, you'll be assigned wristbands according to your grade and directed to your dormitories."
Excited murmurs erupted in the hall.
Willow stood silently in a corner, watching students' names being called as they disappeared into the building's inner chamber. She wasn't nervous, just tired. She already knew where she belonged. There was no point in clinging to false hope.
She rubbed her neck absently when a girl around her age approached. She had bright indigo eyes and a head of soft black curls.
"Hi," the girl waved shyly. "Are you nervous too?"
Willow blinked. She looked around, then pointed at herself. "Are you talking to me?"
The girl laughed. "You're the only one in this corner. I'm nervous."
"I'm not," Willow replied flatly. Not when she already knew her place.
Just then, a voice called from the front of the room, "Ashar Voss. Payton Drel. Indigo Scathe. Willow Sterling."
"Finally." Willow stepped away from the wall at the sound of her name.
But the girl with the curls lit up and joined her quickly. "Looks like we're taking our test together! I'm Indigo. And you?"
"Willow," she said, forcing a polite smile.
"Nice to meet you, Willow," Indigo beamed.
Willow offered a faint smile. "Nice to meet you too."
The girls walked toward the instructor who stood waiting to lead them. As the boys joined, the man turned on his heel, walking ahead. The group followed him into the inner chamber.
The room was massive, sleek, white, and humming with clean energy. At its center floated a glowing crystal orb, suspended mid-air and pulsing with white light.
Willow swallowed hard. "The Ascendant Core."
According to her research, it was the heart of the grading system. Students only had to place a hand on it to be judged.
The instructor turned to face them, holding a sleek tablet. As his gaze swept over Ashar, Payton, and Indigo, he nodded with approval. But when his eyes landed on Willow, the look twisted.
Disapproval. Disgust. Willow clenched her teeth.
"A ranger and a dreg?" The instructor sneered. "You already know where you belong, don't you?"
Ashar Voss let out a loud laugh, like someone had cracked a joke.
Indigo blinked in surprise, while Payton's brows furrowed as he glanced at Willow.
Willow felt the burn in her chest, her fists clenching at her sides. She hated being dismissed before even being seen.
"I don't know where I belong," she said, voice steady despite the heat in her veins. "I haven't taken the test yet."
Ashar snorted. "You're obviously Grade D. Acting tough won't change that, Dreg."
Willow's glare met his smirk, but he only grinned wider, enjoying himself.
"Well then," the instructor sighed, his attention shifting to the Ascendant Core. "You'll participate in the test."
Willow sighed. "Thank you."
"Ashar Voss. Go first," he said.
Ashar winked at Willow before walking toward the Ascendant Core.
Willow crossed her arms, watching him. What the hell was making him so full of himself?
The core lowered, and Ashar placed his hand on it confidently. The color immediately turned burning red.
Willow scoffed and dropped her arms.
"Congratulations, Ashar Voss. You are in Grade B," the instructor announced, handing him a wristband that glowed with a B.
Ashar slipped out of the room, throwing Willow another wink. She frowned in disgust.
"Payton Drel. You're up."
Payton stepped forward and touched the core. It turned a soft blue.
"Congratulations, Payton Drel. You are in Grade C."
Sadness clouded Payton's face as he collected his glowing C wristband and stepped out.
"Indigo Scathe," the instructor called next.
Indigo glanced back at Willow with a small smile before walking to the core and placing her hand on it.
It instantly turned violet.
Willow's eyes widened in shock.
"Congratulations, Indigo Scathe. You're in Grade A."
Indigo beamed as she accepted her wristband. She waved at Willow as she walked out, but Willow didn't wave back.
She wasn't sure what she was feeling exactly, but it was too close to jealousy.
"Willow Sterling," the instructor said flatly.
Willow stepped forward and placed her hand on the core. It turned grey immediately.
She felt lucky that she hadn't let herself hope.
The instructor said nothing as he handed her the wristband with a D. He only snorted.
Willow met his gaze with a cold glare as she slid the wristband on.
She wasn't planning to stay long at Nexus Academy anyway.