Arden's POV
The morning air in Edelweiss was sharper than I expected. Frost clung to the white petals of the courtyard flowers, and mist curled over the marble pathways like quiet specters.
I gripped my bag tighter, adjusting the straps as I walked toward the main hall. My heartbeat refused to calm down. Each step echoed ominously against the polished floors.
Mira caught up to me, her expression unreadable.
"Are you ready for today?" she asked.
I shook my head, even though my voice would have betrayed the uncertainty I felt. "Ready? I don't even know what to expect."
She gave me a faint smile, almost pitying. "That's the point. None of us ever do. But you'll learn quickly if you pay attention."
Inside the hall, students were already lined up. Higher-ranked students moved among us, observing, whispering, noting each reaction. The air was tense, almost electric.
I felt eyes on me the moment I stepped in.
"Number 013," a voice called.
I turned to see a senior with sharp features and dark eyes. He studied me, like weighing a scale. "You will participate in today's first test. Failure is not an option."
I swallowed, nodding. "Understood."
He didn't smile. Didn't even glance away. Then he moved to another group.
I exhaled slowly, but the tightness in my chest didn't leave.
The first test wasn't just mental. It was observation, coordination, and endurance.
I was paired with Kian and Sylvie, my unofficial allies.
"Stay close to the pattern," Kian whispered. "The seniors are watching for hesitation. They'll exploit it."
"Exploit it?" I asked, my voice low.
"Don't ask," Sylvie said. "You'll find out soon enough."
The instructions came silently. Navigate a labyrinth built inside the hall, with obstacles, traps, and riddles. Each correct choice increased your score. Each mistake? Well… let's just say they didn't make it easy to recover.
I glanced at my provisional ID. #013. Bottom rank. No privileges. Everything was harder for me than the others.
I felt a cold shiver run down my spine.
As the test began, I realized I was being watched from every angle.
Shadows moved in corners. Reflections caught in mirrors. Every step I took, every choice I made, was noted, recorded, measured.
I stumbled once. A trapdoor sprung beneath a weak plank. A senior's hand shot out to catch me.
"Careful, 013," he said softly. "This isn't a playground."
I nodded, heart hammering, embarrassed.
The Game is real, I thought. And I'm already losing.
Halfway through, I found a small note tucked beneath a stone.
Observation is key. Fail to see, and fail to survive.
My pulse quickened. Someone was guiding me. Or taunting me.
I pocketed the note, careful not to show it to Kian or Sylvie.
"Keep moving," Kian whispered. "Don't hesitate. Hesitation gets noticed."
I nodded, forcing calm I didn't feel.
By the end of the test, I had made only a few mistakes. Small ones, but noticeable.
The seniors tallied scores in silence. The results flashed briefly on a board.
#013 — Provisional — Near bottom.
I clenched my fists. I wanted to shout. I wanted to run.
But I stayed quiet. This was survival. Survival required patience.
Later, I found myself in the courtyard again. Mist hung low, obscuring the ground. Students passed by in quiet, purposeful steps.
And then I saw her.
A girl. Rank I. Elaria Montclair. The Queen.
She didn't approach me. She didn't speak. She just watched from a distance, standing near the fountain. Her expression was calm, almost unreadable.
And yet… my chest tightened.
I didn't know why. I didn't know her.
But I felt a pull.
A strange, unexplainable connection.
I looked away quickly, trying to focus on my notebook.
That evening, I returned to Room 013.
The faint red ink on my wall had grown. More words. More instructions.
Adapt. Survive. Learn the hierarchy before it learns you.
I traced them with my fingers, feeling a mixture of fear and curiosity.
I didn't know who wrote them. I didn't know why.
But I knew one thing: Edelweiss was testing me. Not just my mind. Not just my body. But everything I was.
And if I didn't adapt quickly… I wouldn't survive.
Hours later, I sat on my bed, writing notes in my notebook. Every observation, every word, every glance from the day was recorded. I had to.
I needed to understand.
Because tomorrow, the Game would begin again.
And I had no choice but to play.