The announcement of the first trial's results came the next morning. My tablet buzzed with a notification just as the sunlight filtered through the blinds. I tapped the screen, revealing a detailed breakdown of Group 14's performance. Our scores were solid, ranking us in the upper-middle tier—safe, but far from the top. It was exactly where I wanted to be: noticeable enough to avoid suspicion, but not so high as to draw unnecessary attention.
The other students, however, were not as composed. As I entered the cafeteria, the air was thick with tension. Whispers of alliances, betrayals, and plans for the next trial buzzed around the room like static. Some students wore triumphant smirks, while others had the hollow expressions of those barely clinging to their ranks.
I grabbed a tray of food and scanned the room. Daichi waved me over, his usual nervous energy dialed up to eleven.
"Ryuto! Over here!"
I joined him at a table near the back, where he was already halfway through his meal. "How'd you do?" I asked, taking a sip of coffee.
"Our group passed, but barely," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "We're in the bottom third. If we don't step it up in the next trial…"
He didn't finish the sentence, but he didn't need to. Falling into the bottom ranks meant more than just losing privileges—it meant becoming a target.
"Then don't make the same mistakes," I said bluntly. "Figure out where you went wrong and fix it."
Daichi nodded, though his fidgeting hands betrayed his uncertainty. Before he could say anything else, Celeste appeared, sliding into the seat across from me without so much as a greeting.
"Morning," she said, her voice light but her eyes sharp. "Sleep well, Ryuto?"
"Well enough," I replied, meeting her gaze. "You?"
"Like a baby," she said with a smirk. "Though I couldn't stop thinking about our little group. So much potential… if properly utilized."
Daichi shifted uncomfortably, clearly unnerved by her presence. Celeste noticed and leaned in slightly, her smile widening. "Relax, I don't bite."
"Not yet," I muttered under my breath, earning a chuckle from her.
"You're sharp, Ryuto," she said. "That's why I'm here. We need to talk strategy."
"Strategy for what?" I asked, though I already had a suspicion.
"The next trial," she said, lowering her voice. "It's only a matter of time before the academy ups the stakes. We need to be ready—not just to survive, but to dominate."
Daichi's eyes darted between us, clearly out of his depth. "Shouldn't we wait to find out what the trial is before making plans?"
Celeste shook her head. "Waiting is a luxury we can't afford. The top-ranked students aren't waiting. They're preparing, positioning themselves to crush the competition before it even begins."
I leaned back in my chair, studying her. Celeste wasn't wrong, but she wasn't entirely right either. The academy thrived on unpredictability. Over-planning could be just as dangerous as underestimating the trials.
"What exactly are you proposing?" I asked.
"An alliance," she said simply. "Not just for this trial, but for the long game. You and I both know the real challenge here isn't the trials. It's the people."
Her words hung in the air, heavy with implication. Daichi looked at me, his expression pleading for guidance. I could almost hear his thoughts: Is this a good idea? Can we trust her?
Trust was irrelevant. What mattered was utility.
"Fine," I said after a moment. "But if this goes sideways, you'll regret it."
Celeste's smile didn't waver. "Oh, Ryuto, I'm counting on it."
The rest of the day passed uneventfully, though the undercurrent of tension never faded. Classes were perfunctory, designed to fill time until the academy's next move. By evening, the campus was abuzz with speculation about the upcoming trial.
As I returned to my room, I found another note slipped under the door. This one was less cryptic than the last:
"Trial begins tomorrow. Midnight. East Wing Courtyard. Don't be late."
I burned the note after reading it, the ashes scattering into the small waste bin by my desk. Midnight trials weren't surprising, given the academy's penchant for theatrics, but the location was interesting. The East Wing Courtyard was rarely used, its secluded layout making it perfect for… unconventional activities.
When the time came, I arrived early, blending into the shadows as I observed the other students gathering. Celeste appeared moments later, her confident stride setting her apart from the nervous crowd. She spotted me instantly and made her way over.
"Ready for the fun?" she asked, her tone light but her eyes cold.
"Always," I replied.
The courtyard's gates creaked open, revealing a row of masked instructors. One stepped forward, his voice distorted by a voice modulator.
"Welcome to your second trial," he announced. "Tonight, you will compete in a series of head-to-head challenges. Your success or failure will directly impact your rank. And remember: in this academy, nothing is ever as it seems."
The students shifted uneasily, the weight of the statement sinking in. I glanced at Celeste, who looked more amused than concerned.
"Let the games begin," she whispered, a glint of excitement in her eyes.
As the first names were called, I stayed silent, observing the matches with detached interest. Each challenge was designed to exploit weaknesses—a physical obstacle course for the weak, a logic puzzle for the impulsive, and a psychological test for the overconfident.
When my name was called, I stepped forward without hesitation. The instructor handed me a sealed envelope and motioned for me to open it. Inside was a single sentence:
"Identify the traitor in your group."
The courtyard fell silent as I read the words. I could feel the weight of every eye on me, including Celeste's. Her smirk was gone, replaced by an unreadable expression.
I looked at the others in my group. Hiroshi, solid and straightforward. Naomi, quiet but sharp. Kenta, jittery and easily swayed. And Celeste, cunning and manipulative.
The real test wasn't about finding the traitor. It was about deciding who to betray.
I smiled to myself. The academy's games were starting to get interesting.