The next morning, Desi and Gazi woke up early, their bodies still sore from the previous night's workout. They exchanged nods, a silent acknowledgment of their shared experience. They quickly got ready and headed to the dining hall for breakfast.
The dining hall was bustling with activity. Students were milling about, chatting and laughing. Desi and Gazi joined the line and picked up their trays. The food was neatly portioned: a small bowl of oatmeal, a boiled egg, a piece of whole-grain toast, and a side of fruit. The strictness of the meal was apparent, aimed at promoting a healthy diet.
Desi eyed the food skeptically. "Is this all we're getting?" he muttered to Gazi.
Gazi shrugged. "Better get used to it. It's probably part of their whole 'real-life training' thing."
As they sat down to eat, a commotion erupted at a nearby table. A group of students was loudly complaining about the breakfast.
"This is ridiculous!" one of them shouted, pushing his tray away. "I need more protein than this. How am I supposed to maintain my gains?"
Another student chimed in, "Yeah, and where's the coffee? I can't function without my morning coffee."
The teacher in charge of the dining hall, a stern-looking woman with glasses perched on the edge of her nose, approached the table. "What's going on here?" she demanded.
The first student stood up, puffing out his chest. "This breakfast is a joke. We need proper food."
The teacher's eyes narrowed. "The meals provided are designed by nutritionists to ensure you get the necessary nutrients. If you have any dietary requirements, you should have mentioned them before. Now, sit down and eat."
"I won't eat this garbage," the student retorted.
The teacher's face hardened. "If you refuse to follow the rules, you will be expelled from this school."
A hush fell over the dining hall. The word "expelled" hung in the air, and every student turned to watch the scene unfold.
The rebellious student faltered, his defiance wavering. "You can't be serious," he said, but there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
"I assure you, I am," the teacher replied coldly. "Now, sit down and eat your breakfast. This is your final warning."
The student reluctantly sat down, muttering under his breath. The teacher nodded curtly and walked away, the tension in the room slowly dissipating.
Desi leaned over to Gazi. "Well, that was intense."
Gazi nodded. "Yeah, looks like they're not messing around here."
After breakfast, Desi, Gazi, and Liam headed to their first class. The hallway leading to the classrooms was lined with polished marble floors and adorned with artwork that screamed wealth and prestige. They finally arrived at their classroom, which was spacious, with state-of-the-art desks and chairs, interactive whiteboards, and a panoramic view of the lush school grounds through floor-to-ceiling windows.
"Wow," Gazi said, looking around. "This place is unreal."
"No kidding," Desi agreed, finding a seat beside Gazi with Liam on the other side. As they settled in, Desi couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. He turned slightly and noticed a girl with long, dark hair and striking blue eyes a few rows behind them. It was Princess Leonor. She seemed to recognize him and Gazi from the gym last night, her curiosity evident as she continued to glance their way.
The classroom quickly filled with students, all chatting animatedly. However, the teacher was conspicuously absent. After a few minutes, a handsome boy with a confident demeanor stood up and walked to the front of the class.
"Hey, everyone!" he called out, flashing a charismatic smile. "Since the teacher isn't here yet, why don't we introduce ourselves and get to know each other better? My name is Billy Stark."
A murmur of recognition rippled through the room.
"No way," Liam said, his eyes widening. "Billy Stark? As in the son of one of the top ten richest men in the world?"
Many students quickly registered in their brains that they should try to be on Billy Stark's good side. A proud grin appeared on Billy's face, thinking he was the leader of them all and they were all beneath him. He scanned the room, looking at the students as if they were his subjects, until his eyes fell on three boys sitting together, talking amongst themselves and not paying him any attention. Billy's irritation grew. He thought they were looking down on him, and that was unacceptable.
Determined to assert his dominance, he strode over to them. "Hey, you three," he called out, his voice laced with condescension. "Why don't you introduce yourselves to the class?"
The boys looked up, their gazes intense and annoyed at being interrupted. However, they quickly masked their irritation, recognizing the need to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Liam was the first to rise. "I'm Liam Blade," he said confidently.
The other students exchanged glances, trying to recall if they had heard of the Blade family. When no one recognized the name, they quickly dismissed Liam as a nobody.
Next was Gazi. "I'm Gazi Ibrahim," he introduced himself. A few students murmured in recognition; the Ibrahim family owned several catering businesses and restaurants. "My dream is to become the greatest footballer."
Leonor, listening intently from a few rows behind, nodded to herself. Now she understood why Gazi had been training so hard in the gym last night. Her curiosity then shifted to Desi, wondering about his reason for the late-night workout. Billy, however, seemed unimpressed, already dismissing Gazi as another unremarkable student.
Finally, Desi stood up. "I'm Desiderio Rossi," he announced, meeting Billy's gaze head-on.