REAL WORLD
Kingdom of Erusaert
The Kingdom of Eruasert was drowning in despair.
The sudden disappearance of the King, combined with the presumed death of Rasfi, had plunged the population into a silent chaos. The streets were filled with whispers, the nobles had retreated behind their walls, and the peasants wandered without direction.
Then, suddenly—
A silhouette appeared on the horizon.
A man advanced with difficulty, gasping for breath, his body covered in dust and sweat. His clothes were torn, shredded by harsh weather and hostile roads.
It was Rasfi.
When he finally reached the central square, he lifted his head and revealed a satisfied smile.
— The King is alive !
A stunned silence fell upon the crowd.
— He has taken refuge in the allied Kingdom of Ccare, while searching for a solution to eliminate the radioactive elements at the center of the kingdom.
Then—
An explosion.
Cries of relief. Tears. Cheers.
Rasfi instantly became a living hero.
As announced by the GSJ, the nobles ceased their conflicts with the peasants. Great mansions opened their doors, welcoming the people from the central region until full decontamination and the King's return.
Everything seemed to be returning to normal.
And yet…
A poor child timidly tugged at his mother's dress.
His eyes were fixed on Rasfi.
— Mom… he scares me…
Rasfi's gaze met the child's.
His smile widened.
Too wide.
Too empty.
The child immediately looked away, shivering.
— I'm sorry… the mother murmured, embarrassed. "
He's a hero, sweetheart.
Rasfi did not answer.
He simply kept smiling.
---
Kingdom of Ccare
Inside a prestigious academy, a classroom was bathed in a cold artificial light.
The teacher, Miss Curriet, stood straight before the board. Elegant, dressed in a white coat, glasses slipping slightly down her nose—she had a well-known habit: she only adjusted them when a student asked an intelligent question.
— Today, we will review the hierarchical classes you may enter after your final exam.
She paused.
— Let us begin with the weakest: the Gear Class.
Murmurs rippled through the room.
— If you fail or are not qualified for higher classes, you will become Gears. Simple workers. Tools. You will obey.
Someone else will think for you.
She continued, utterly emotionless.
— Next comes the Machine Class. You will command the Gears. But do not misunderstand—leading does not mean superiority.
— Then, the Lavoisier Class. Versatile, useful, competent… but average.
She sighed.
— The majority of the population belongs to these three classes.
Her gaze hardened.
— Now, the exceptions. The Newton Class. Ten percent of our nation. They work in our most prestigious laboratories and shape the technologies that define Ccare's greatness.
Finally, she smiled.
— And at the summit… the Einstein Class.
The room held its breath.
— One chosen individual per year. An individual allowed to request an audience with the King. To explore forbidden sciences. To wield absolute authority over all other classes.
A student raised his hand.
— Miss… wasn't there once a sixth class?
Miss Curriet slowly pushed her glasses back up her nose.
— Yes. Before the War of All Covetousness.
Her voice turned colder.
— The Special Class. An attempt to merge classes and observe their evolution.
She paused.
— An experiment conducted by the former King. A catastrophic failure.
The bell rang sharply, ending the lesson.
The students left the room, speculating about the next Einstein.
---
Streets of Ccare
The King of Ccare walked alone, wearing a nostalgic expression.
Through his old neighborhood.
No one recognized him.
In a dark alley, two drunkards staggered into his path.
— Hey… what's your class? one slurred, waving a bottle.
The King replied calmly:
— I am the King. I have no class.
The two men burst out laughing.
— Yeah right… and I'm Einstein!
They shattered their bottle and lunged at him.
A flash of blue light cut through the alley.
In an instant, their bodies collapsed, cleanly severed.
The King held a laser sword, capable of cleaving through matter itself.
He observed the corpses without emotion.
— Clean this filth.
From the shadows, Newton-class scientists immediately obeyed.
The King sheathed his weapon.
— I have more important matters… the King of Eruasert, and his so-called emissary.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
— They both interest me.