The school announcer's voice suddenly cut out, creating a shock at Zenith Academy. Students stared at their phones, their eyes wide with disbelief. The breakfast hall, once filled with chatter, now buzzed with furious whispers. “Mandatory? Seriously?!” “Ember Blackwood? And Maya Gupta?” Everyone knew who they were talking about.
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Kael saw the email and raised an eyebrow. He listened to the students around him, thinking, Hmm, things are about to get interesting. He sighed to himself. There goes my peaceful school life. A small smile appeared on his lips. This was new. For the first time, someone piqued his interest. He watched students rush toward the Boardroom, then blended in with them, his strong figure moving quietly.
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In a quiet corridor, a group of girls looked shocked. Ember leaned against the wall, staring at a message on her phone with a frown. What is that old lady planning? Does she want to shut down the school or make it a place where everyone fights? How can these strong personalities work together?
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As Ember thought about this, Chloe, one of the girls with her, called out. Chloe was chosen alongside Ember, not just because her family was wealthy, but also because she was very smart and could gather information well and observe keenly.
Chloe noticed Ember looking quiet and distant. She walked over and asked, “Ember, what are you thinking about?” Chloe tilted her head slightly.
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Ember shook her head and said nothing. Chloe didn’t press her further, but her voice showed some worry. “Ember, what do you think Principal Vance wants? If we’re all in the same class, why were we chosen? Some of them are even worse than us. Won’t the school become chaotic?”
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Ember listened for a moment before speaking clearly. "It doesn’t matter what she wants. I can handle it. We were chosen because this school needs us. As for our new classmates, it's simple: if they don’t bother me, I won’t bother them."
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Ember then turned to Chloe and the others. “Let’s go. We can’t be late for the meeting,” she said, leading the way to the Boardroom while her friends followed.
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Kenji felt angry and embarrassed after what happened in the cafeteria. The new email only made it worse. He was furious at Maya, whose face was stuck in his mind. Now he was stuck in a class with Ember Blackwood, the girl who embarrassed him, and Maya Gupta, the girl he had just threatened. This felt like a cruel joke. His followers kept their distance, sensing his anger. He checked his phone again, hoping for a change in the names, but nothing changed. His jaw tightened. He would not let Maya get away with this. But he mainly focused on Ember.
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When Ember arrived, a crowd had already formed at the Boardroom door. Some were curious to see what would happen. Others were those whose names were on the surprising list, though Ember didn’t know all of them.
The Boardroom showed what Zenith Academy was really like: cold, powerful, and very neat. A large, shiny mahogany table sat in the center, surrounded by tall, dark leather chairs. Serious portraits of past principals hung on the walls, with their accomplishments written on brass plaques. The air smelled of old wood and something a bit clinical.
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As the selected students entered after their last classes, the room buzzed with tension. No one wanted to sit in the head chair. Ember arrived a few minutes late, as expected. She looked around the room with mild disgust and chose a chair near the windows, away from the center. Her eyes moved over the nervous faces, stopping briefly on Kenji, who sat with his arms crossed, glaring straight ahead. Maya, small and anxious, curled up in a chair by the door, trying to blend in.
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Kael entered quietly and took a chair at the back. He looked between the tense figures—Ember and Kenji—and the anxious energy of the other students. This is going tobe interesting, he thought again.
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The sudden click of the door made everyone look up. Principal Eleanor Vance walked in, her heels echoing on the polished floor. She had a strong presence: a fitted dark suit and silver hair pulled back in a tight bun. Her sharp eyes scanned the students, lingering for a moment on Ember. There was no warmth or smile on her face.
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"Welcome," she began, her voice sharp and clear. It wasn't loud, but it silenced the room immediately. "You are here because you represent the future of Zenith Academy. The Advanced Studies Track is not an option; it is a requirement. A requirement to yourselves, to this school, and to the progress we expect."
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She paused and looked around the room, making sure every student felt her gaze. "This program will challenge you. It will make you work with each other and face yourselves. Forget your little groups. Forget your rivalries. In this room, you are all equal. You are here to learn—everyone of you, especially those who think they know it all." She glanced at Ember, then at Kenji, giving them a cold warning.
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Ember leaned back in her chair, showing she was bored, but the tightness in her brows gave her away. Kenji's fists clenched harder under the table. Kael watched everyone’s reactions, a small smile appearing on his lips. He knew this was just the beginning.
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and then Add to home screen.