Summit's Rule Book (8th Edition)
…
[1] Every law, regulation, and tradition imposed and preserved by the Student Council or the Summit Government since its foundation shall be upheld by every student under its jurisdiction.
[2] Every society has its own societal hierarchy, and the Summit Academy is NOT any different. Based on the established social order, there are four kinds of students within the academy's own fortified society.
(A) Royalty: The heirs of the Seven World Corporations.
(B) Noble: In any way has a "deep" connection with the Seven World Corporations.
(C) Commoner: Those who submit to either the nobility or royalty or those who are simply ignored by both due to the lack of interest. No connection with the Seven World Corporations in any way.
(D) Slave: A person in debt to nobility or a commoner who caught the interest of either nobility or royalty; someone who tends to do the errands of those at the top of the hierarchy… no matter the cause. The perceived punching bag and trash of the established society.
[3] Every student will receive the same amount of "Summit Credits (SCP)", approximately 100,000 points at the beginning of the academic year and half of this amount monthly henceforth. One SCP equates to one (1) Summit Dollar (SD), the socially accepted worldwide currency. Every need and want, such as food and beverages and entertainment under the jurisdiction of the Summit Academy, will be free for every student except for the technological products directly produced by the Seven World Corporations, such as the Rift Disc, AI-powered Earpiece, etc. Spend it wisely.
[4] Every commission provided by the Summit Government (Student Council) is voluntary. By achieving the desired result, appropriate rewards will be credited to the right student.
[5] Summit Phones, advanced cell phones that are a few years away before they are officially released to the public, will be provided to every student with a designated and standard identification number (contact). Losing it will cut the monthly SCP generation by 75% for two months.
…
Aeon continued to silently read the rule book that blatantly reminded every student of the existing hierarchy, something that could not be challenged in the current world, and even in the next generations to come due to its deep and solid foundation that spanned hundreds of years since the Post-War Era.
After a while, before the first professor arrived, he finished reading a few sections of the rule book before gently closing it. Aeon then glanced at the girl exuding cold vibes on his right side, who was also scrutinizing the absurd contents meant to be followed in this grand society.
"Hello?"
However, Aeon felt like he was talking to the chilling air that bizarrely manifested into a human body.
"Um, Yuridika?" He coughed a few times before slowly leaning his head towards her. "What are you read-"
In the next moment, Aeon just sensed his head being pushed away by a fair tender hand.
"Are you a pervert?" With her azure eyes under a pair of platinum-rimmed eyeglasses depicting stillness similar to an undisturbed dim sky, Yuridika glared daggers at the man sitting at the edge of the classroom near the sturdy windows.
"Wh-what?" Aeon was flustered, his amethyst eyes met hers.
"Stay away from me or I'll kill you." Without brakes, Yuridika frankly threatened him, shutting Aeon for good-
"I was just going to ask you something and this is what I get. Sigh, I bet no one has a crush on you."
…or not.
Hearing Aeon's mumbling, Yuridika clenched her fists. But the former finally averted his gaze, proceeding to analyze the remaining contents of the Summit's Rule Book amidst the gradual arrival of a few classmates running late just like their morning professor.
"Your name is Aeon, right?" Yuridika softly queried. However, the man in question neglected her; whether or not he pretended to hear her was something only he was aware of. She then added, "I will remember that name."
"You got it wrong." Aeon, without sparing her a glance, replied. "It's not Aeon."
Yuridika's azure eyes squinted, one of her brows slightly raised whilst suspiciously looking at her seatmate.
'Did I hear it wrong? I am pretty sure before he was punched yesterday, he told Cain his name…' Yuridika pondered.
A few seconds later, sensing the usual silence of the icy girl, Aeon continued, "It's Aeon."
"Hey…" Yuridika's atmosphere seemed to freeze what was around her. "Are you trying hard to become a comedian? Because you would fail miserably."
"I know. I'm just trying to light up the mood. It's early in the morning, and we're already at a bad start; that's a mood killer.
"Now, can you answer my question then?"
Listening to him, Yuridika contemplated, 'Right, entertaining or reacting to this brain-dead will only dampen my mood. I shouldn't have reacted strongly and focused on what's necessary.'
"What do you want to ask?" Yuridika replied as she casually flipped the pages of the academy's rule book, her eyes now fixated on it.
"You see, someone texted me yesterday. It's around six in the evening. I'm just wondering if it's you." Aeon recalled the message from an unsaved contact number, which was identified to be sent from one of the students of the academy due to its unique identifier that starts with [342-xxxx-xxxx].
"No. Stop dreaming." She replied, nudging her eyeglasses.
"The text says she misses me."
At that moment, Yuridika's composure seemed to shake, but successfully unable to show it.
"Is that so? Good for you then." She paused flipping the rule book for a second before glancing to her left side, where Aeon's nonchalant countenance was fixated on his own rule book. She then let out her ever-icy voice, "Aeon… I'll say this just once, watch your back."
"Okay?" Aeon replied casually with his lips slightly arching.
At the same time, the morning professor finally arrived.
***
"Good morning, Class 3-A. I believe this is our first time meeting each other since yesterday was only for the Welcoming Ceremony, which after that was the academy tour. Of course, our school is so vast that the time given yesterday was not enough to explore everything." With a proud expression and delightful voice, the professor's gaze swept around the classroom.
"By the way, I am Professor Mia. I will handle your Biotechnology. But first, since it's our first time meeting, though I already know some of you, I'd like everyone to introduce themselves.
"Of course, no need for a grand introduction; name, age, and hobby will suffice."
Professor Mia glanced around with a genuine smile on her face. Under gold-rimmed eyeglasses, her pair of amber eyes scanned the classroom; her shoulder-length brown hair slightly cascaded due to the morning winds seeping through the windows' gaps.
As her hands were pressed against the teacher's table as though she was openly asserting her authority over the students, a flood of thoughts surged in her mind similar to a whirlwind.
'I can't believe I can see these famous figures eye to eye. But I feel like someone's missing?'
"Wait a moment. Before we begin, who's the one supposed to be sitting there?"
The students followed Professor Mia's gaze. On Yuridika's right side, and on Leo's left side, which was the central rear of the arrangement seats, a vacant chair was situated.
"Professor, I think-" One of the students opened his mouth, only to be disrupted by a few gentle knocks.
Knock.
"Ah. I am late! I apologize, Professor Mia. I had some errands to finish with the Summit Grand Court. I hope you'll understand."
Standing at the door was a woman of elegance, whose eyes were colored 'pink' like the common cotton candy. Her hair was messy bun and white; her skin was fair and flawless, quite similar to some notable women in this expensive classroom.
"O-Of course, come in! We're just about to start!" Even Professor Mia was momentarily at a loss for words, witnessing the heir of one of the Seven World Corporations, Eurasia Grand Agency.
With the arrival of the last student, the seemingly casual introduction then began.
***
"I am Yura Alperion, 18, and I love doing…"
"I am Yuri Belserion, 18, and my hobbies are…"
"My name's Han Anastasia, 18, and I love exploring and studying medicine."
"Hello! I am Airi Winter, 18, and I love to be the center of attention."
After some time, with only three students remaining, the heir of the Eurasia Grand Agency stood.
"I'm sure that most of you already knew me, so I'll just do this for formality.
"I am Alina Noxan Eurasia, 18, and I like observing people."
Alina's gaze swept past the classroom with her lips slightly arching. Meanwhile, Yura, Yuri, and some of the eyes looking at her were subtly warm… and cold.
"Well, that's all." She then seated.
After her, it was now the daughter of the Grand Marshal, who was the current director of one of the Seven World Corporations known as the Goddess Manufacturer, who specialized in the production of both destructive and highly efficient weapons in this era.
"Hi. I'm Yuridika Akareon, 18, and… I like handling knives and guns."
Before everyone could process what she had just said, Yuridika seated. She then whispered something that only Aeon and maybe Alina could hear, "I also love killing people."
"H-Hey, let me treat you to lunch. Well, I'm feeling generous today." Aeon smiled, his whispering voice reached Yuridika's ears. Yet she ignored it.
***
After some time, the first class ended just like that, without much work apart from the brief discussion regarding class rules and the basics of biotechnology. It was the same for the other professors; they only briefly discussed the basics of their respective subjects and spoke about their own rules inside the class.
Before the end of the day, the homeroom professor of Class 3-A named Amy, reminded them of the Summit Banquet to be held next week; it was something that would test the capability of someone to make connections.
In this world, and maybe even in the forgotten past, connections were everything.
Without it, a person would be just a bottom-feeder of society, working an unfulfilling job like a true corporate slave.
"Hah…!" Aeon stretched his arms wide as he took a breather, his gaze swept past Yuridika, seeing the now empty seat of Alina.
It was a mentally exhausting long day.
After packing everything that was on his desk, with only a pen in the pocket of his uniform, Aeon proceeded to leave along with other students – to each of their own.
On the other hand, Yuridika cast her piercing glare at him from behind; it was as though, at any moment, she would jump him due to his insulting behavior early in the morning.
"Ah, Leo! Where's the restroom?" Aeon's voice echoed across the hallway amidst the sounds of walking.
After receiving a short answer from the seemingly gloomy scholar, which was perhaps due to what had transpired yesterday, Aeon jogged away like his kidneys were about to burst.
Seeing this, Yuridika's sharp gaze remained on him.
***
In quite a spacious hallway where the entrances for both men's and women's bathrooms were located, Aeon traversed whilst catching his breath.
"J-just why is the nearest bathroom so far?!" He grumbled.
Just as he was about to take another step…
Whoosh!
A silhouette lunged from behind him and appeared with a palpable killing intent.
Just as the pair of sharp objects in the silhouette's grasp was about to land on Aeon's right shoulder, he reflexively turned his body with minimal movement, causing the silhouette, whose figure was now becoming transparent in Aeon's amethyst eyes, to lose 'her' balance.
Meanwhile, he caught her wrist holding a pair of silver scissors and pinned her to the wall.
Thud!
"Keugh!"
"Y-Yuridika?!" Spoke Aeon in surprise, finally revealing the figure who attacked him without an ounce of hesitation. "D-Don't tell me…? You really do love killing people?!"
With their noses almost touching, as their warm breath mixed with one another, Yuridika coldly blurted, "Who are you?!"
It was then that before Aeon could complain at the ridiculousness of the situation, a feminine voice from the entrance of the women's bathroom softly reverberated,
"He's my bodyguard, Yuridika."