The marble courtyard of Concorde Academy shimmered in the early light, polished tiles catching the glow of sunrise like glass. A sea of two hundred students stood neatly in uniformed rows, murmurs rippling beneath the heavy silence. Today marked the start of a new academic year—but not just any year. Today was the day the rankings would be revealed.
Parents and guardians filled the surrounding balconies, some cheering, others filming on their holopads. Among them stood a rather massive group, regal in appearance: the Astra and Feilds families. Adeline Astra-Feilds, clad in her military uniform, stood tall beside Matthew Feilds in a sharp dark suit. Beside them were uncles, aunts, cousins—Jules, Mika, Elisé, Zoé, Charles, James, Mary, Penelope, and even stoic Dimitri Smirnov. All had come, not just for the ceremony, but to witness one boy in particular.
Logan Astra-Feilds stood among the crowd, his expression unreadable.
A gong sounded. The students fell silent.
The Headmaster stepped forward, flanked by faculty in deep navy robes. Behind him, a massive digital screen flickered.
> "This year," the Headmaster began, "we break tradition. No longer shall the rankings be whispered behind closed doors. Today, every student shall know where they stand. From Rank 200 to Rank 1."
Gasps erupted across the crowd. Even the parents leaned in.
The screen buzzed, then displayed the first name.
> "𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝟸𝟶𝟶 — 𝙴𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚅𝚊𝚕𝚎"
A boy in the back winced as his name lit up in gray.
> "𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝟷𝟿𝟿 — 𝚂𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚛𝚊 𝙱𝚕𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚎"
> "𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝟷𝟿𝟾 — 𝙺𝚢𝚕𝚊 𝙼𝚒𝚛𝚛𝚎𝚗"
The list continued, names flowing like a slow, inevitable current. Reactions varied—some slumped, others quietly celebrated.
Ranks 200–161: Class D — Lower Tier
160–101: Class C — General Tier
100–51: Class B — Honor Tier
50–21: Class A — High Tier
20–8: Class S — Elite Candidates
The tension thickened as the numbers rose.
> "𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝟷𝟻 — 𝙻𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚃𝚊𝚢𝚕𝚘𝚛."
> "𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝟷𝟸 — 𝚅𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚗𝚎 𝙻𝚎𝚎."
> "𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝟿 — 𝚂𝚢𝚛𝚊 𝙲𝚑𝚎𝚗."
> "𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝟾 — 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚢𝚗 𝙲𝚛𝚘𝚜𝚜."
The screen flickered.
Silence.
The Headmaster raised his hand.
> "The final seven names shall not be announced here."
> "They shall be enthroned."
A golden insignia pulsed onto the screen—a large number 7 encased in light.
> "Behold: the Lucky 7."
The courtyard transformed. Seven thrones rose from the main stage. Spotlights danced. The crowd erupted in whispers.
> "𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚔 7: 𝙺𝚢𝚕𝚎 𝙲𝚛𝚞𝚣."
He stepped forward, emotionless, and took his seat.
> "𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝟼: 𝙰𝚕𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚛𝚊 𝙶𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎."
>"𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝟻: 𝙽𝚒𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚣𝚘𝚗."
>"𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝟺: 𝚁𝚘𝚋𝚒𝚗 𝙷𝚒𝚔𝚊𝚖𝚒."
>"𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝟹: 𝙽𝚒𝚔𝚊 𝙳𝚎𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗."
Cheers and scattered applause filled the air. Then:
> "𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝟸: 𝙻𝚘𝚐𝚊𝚗 𝙰𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊-𝙵𝚎𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚜."
The courtyard stilled.
Logan's family erupted in cheers. Adeline saluted. Matthew gave a proud nod. Zoé wiped a tear. Beatrice the bunny squeaked from Mika's arms. Along with the Denverson.
Logan moved with calm grace, climbing the steps to his throne, robes swaying. His face betrayed nothing.
And finally:
> "𝚁𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝟷: 𝙰𝚗𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚠 𝙳𝚎𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗."
He stepped up, confident and bright, the crowd roaring as he took center seat. The gold robe settled on his shoulders like a crown.
The Headmaster spoke once more.
> "As tradition, the President and Vice President shall now lead the school oath."
Andrew and Logan stood.
Andrew: "We, the students of Concorde Academy, swear to uphold honor, discipline, and unity—"
Logan: "—to strive beyond limits, guide our peers, and protect the integrity of our name."
Together: "We are Concorde. We rise together."
The crowd thundered.
And so began the new era of Concorde Academy, with the Lucky 7 at its helm, and two hundred hearts brimming with ambition, envy, and hope.