Chapter 1 || Grents Class

Chapter 1: 1 || Grents Class

April 4th, 2026

The bus rode gently along the quiet road, windows fogged by the morning chill. Students dressed in the black and silver academy uniform whispered in small groups. Some spoke in low voices, while others buried their faces in books.

Near the back—third seat from the end—he sat alone.

He slept soundly, arms folded and head slightly bowed.

His name was Code. Sixteen years old, with black hair falling in tousled, medium-length layers. A subtle blue-black sheen caught the light, while the fuller crown tapered toward his nape. Feathered locks stuck out around the sides and back, and his uneven fringe hung over his closed eyes, some strands brushing his eyebrows while others fell between them. Longer locks framed his temples, with the ends flicking outward around his ears and nape.

The top button of his white shirt was undone, his silver tie hung slightly loose, and his blazer remained unbuttoned.

He had no social media. No hobbies worth noting. And no friends on the bus.

To everyone else, he was ordinary.

A young girl with soft golden-blonde hair falling neatly past her shoulders laughed as she chatted with her friend beside the window. A small silver star clip rested on the left side of her hair, just above her ear, while a tiny silver earring glinted from her ear.

Her eyes were a striking violet, touched with a subtle reddish-pink tint.

She suddenly looked ahead."Guys... what is that up ahead?"

Every head turned forward.

A wall loomed. Enormous. Solid like a mountain face, jagged and cracked, streaked with dirt and moss. Its top vanished into the sky. It pressed against the horizon like the end of the world.

The bus didn’t stop.

Students panicked.

"We’re gonna crash!" another girl screamed.

"Why isn’t the bus stopping?!"

"I don’t wanna die yet! I’m still too young!"

Chaos exploded. The bus roared forward. But the driver’s seat—empty. The bus was driving itself.

A tall boy with sharp crimson hair stood, adjusting his silver tie.

His eyes burned with determination."We can’t just sit here! We have to stop this bus!"

"Ken, what are you gonna do?!"

A boy with light brown hair and amber eyes spoke.

Ken glared. "Crybaby Caden. Just shut up and let me handle this."

He moved towards the driver seat .

He placed his hand on the wheel, straining to turn it, but the bus only sped up.

The blonde girl spoke again."You’re making it worse, Mr hero."

Ken turned back at her. "Well, princess, I don’t see you doing anything to help."

"Ken! Look out!" Caden shouted.

Ken immediately turn to the road to see the bus was fast approaching the wall.

He whispered."We’re dead."

The wall swallowed their vision.

The students shielded their faces, bracing for death.

Impact. Or... not.

Silence.

Slowly, students lowered their hands. Laughter, nervous and relieved, broke out. They were still alive.

Ken glanced at the side mirror in disbelief.

The wall was still there, looming. Yet somehow... they had passed right through it.

"We’ve arrived." A voice broke out.

All the students looked ahead and froze.

The academy stood before them.

Ordinis Academy towered like a steel fortress. Black-iron gates surrounded its walls while glass panels reflected the pale daylight with an almost clinical coldness. It looked less like a school and more like a citadel built to break the people inside it.

The bus hissed to a stop.

Students sighed in relief, gathering their tote bags and filing out.

Ken stepped away from the driver’s seat."That was a relief."

Caden who had his tote bag on his shoulder handed Ken his bag.

"I’m just glad to be alive." He said.

All the students had alighted from the bus, well except... one.

Code.

His eyes opened slowly, revealing their pale grey colour.

"We’ve arrived already..."

He grabbed his bag and stepped off.

He paused and stared at the looming structure.

’So this is Ordinis Academy. It’s quite huge.’

The wind pulled at his black coat.

...

The courtyard teemed with life.

Students poured from sleek black buses, laughter echoing, shoes tapping against polished stone.

Code glanced at the students around him.

Nervous smiles. Forced laughter. Everyone here wanted something.

A crackle buzzed from speakers hidden above the archway.

"Attention, first-years. Report to the main hall for orientation. Do not wander."

The crowd moved.

Code didn’t rush. He watched.

Students laughing too loud—trying to mask fear.

A loner glancing around nervously.

Two girls whispering, eyes darting like knives.

Someone bumped into him. A tall, broad-shouldered senior.

"Watch it," the guy snapped.

Code met his gaze. Silent. Grey eyes unblinking.

Then he walked away. Not out of fear—because it wasn’t worth the energy.

...

The main hall swallowed the students whole.

Ceilings arched high, banners draped the walls. It felt less like a school... more like the seat of a regime.

The first-years stood lined in neat rows.

They all wore the same uniform—black coats lined with silver over white shirts, with pale silver ties neatly fixed at their collars. The boys wore dark trousers, while the girls wore white pleated skirts trimmed in black.

Code lingered at the back, with one hand in his pocket and another holding his bag.

A voice carried through the speakers—sharp, cold.

The room froze.

"Welcome to Ordinis Academy. Today, I will be assessing you."

There was no greeting. No applause. Just absolute silence.

"This is not a place for dreams. This is a place for results."

Whispers slithered through the crowd.

"You are not equals. Some of you may rise. Others will not."

The voice grew sharper. "Your dorms, meals, privileges—all depend on performance. Fall behind... and you’ll find out what that means."

Eyes darted. Fear spread.

Code’s eyes didn’t move. If anything, he looked bored.

"Your entrance exams are complete. Now, rankings will decide your place."

A chime rang.

A massive screen flickered alive. Names and provisional rankings filled the air.

[Initial Assessment: Provisional Class Rankings]

Kiryuu Alen – Class A

Elise Thornhart – Class A

Nero Velden – Class B

Arlen Voss – Class C

Caden Myles – Class D

Code Warden– Class D

Students gasped. Murmurs swirled.

"Class D? For real?"

"Who are those two?"

Code remained silent, his half-lidded eyes fixed on the screen without much interest.

"Code Warden...? Who even names their kid Code?"

"His parents must be officers or something."

More names were displayed showing everyone’s class ranking.

Then—

The voice from the speakers cut through the silence.

"This academy does not simply sort students into classes. It sorts them into ranks... within the Pyramid."

The word hung heavy in the air.

A ripple of confusion spread through the crowd.

The voice remained calm. "Look at the screen."

The giant screen flickered again—this time revealing a glowing pyramid, tiered from bottom to top. Four words burned across it:

Grents. Servitors. Aspirants. Perfects.

"Grents...?" someone whispered, unsure if they had misheard.

"For those of you still struggling to understand," the voice replied, almost mocking, "I’ll leave that to your instructors."

A hand shot up near the center. "What does the pyramid ranking actually affect?"

The answer was immediate.

"Everything that matters. Your schedules. And of course... your social standing at Ordinis."

A collective murmur swept the room. For some, excitement. For others, dread.

"I believe that concludes the orientation," the voice said smoothly. "Proceed to your floors. Elevators are marked. Class D, C, B, and A—rise accordingly. "

The crowd stirred to life. Students broke apart into groups, moving toward the elevators.

...

Ding!

The elevator slid open.

Code found himself on the fourth floor.

The floor for the Grents.

His black shoes echoed against the marble floor—thunk, thunk—carrying through a hallway that felt almost sterile.

The fourth floor was almost empty. At the middle of the hallway stood a single classroom door. Another door sat at the opposite end and further ahead was an elevator.

Code reached the front door.

Above it was a silver board with a black text written on it.

Class 1-D.

He slid the door open.

The classroom was bright and spacious, with large windows lining one side of the room. Sunlight poured through the glass, filling the room with a soft glow.

Rows of desks were arranged neatly across the floor, each paired with a simple chair.

Students were scattered around—some whispering, some yawning, some already looking dead inside.

No one looked happy to be there.

Code walked in quietly and took a seat in the fifth row, by the window.

The glass was fogged slightly with the morning chill.

He slid into his seat, dropping his bag silently to the floor. Resting his chin on one hand, he glanced around the room.

’The Grent class of the fourth floor...’

He turned to the window.

The sky outside was clear, quiet.

His eyelids slolwy grew heavier.

He muttered."I’m tired..."

His eyes closed slowly.