As soon as the silver-haired girl appeared on the stage, an undeniable tension rippled through the room. Every boy sat up, suddenly alert, as if her entrance had set off a silent but powerful alarm.

The girl looked a couple of years older than me. She was wearing a grey skirt, a black blazer, and a white dress shirt. Though she was undeniably beautiful, it was her hair that captivated me the most.

"Good morning, everyone!" Her silver hair swayed from one side to the other as she stopped in front of the mic. "My name is Amelia Laurent and I am your student council president. It is my pleasure to formally welcome you to Crestwood Academy."

The moment her lips curved into a smile, a round of applause rippled through the crowd.

"Here at Crestwood Academy, we believe in providing our students with the best possible resources and opportunities to excel," Amelia began. "Whether you're interested in science, athletics, magic, or art, there is a place for everyone in our school. That's why we, the student council, highly encourage our students to join clubs, make friends, and follow their passions."

Her words were followed by another round of applause, and I found myself admiring her poise and confidence. She was a veteran at this. Although she was a little soft-spoken, she managed to captivate the audience's attention with her speech.

Amelia began to speak about the various facilities available to us at the school. She spoke of the state-of-the-art gymnasium, the Olympic-sized swimming pool, the sprawling sports fields, and even the on-campus mall—all of which were designed to enrich our educational experience and foster a sense of community among the student body.

It was clear that Crestwood Academy spared no expense when it came to providing its students with the best possible experience. But at what price?

From a very young age, I came to understand that nothing in this world is free. Everything had a price, even the simplest of things. And this academy was no different. If anything, this school probably embraced that principle. This meant, for all the benefits the school provided, it was equally prepared to strip them away.

"As part of the school's commitment to fostering a sense of responsibility and accountability, Crestwood Academy has implemented a unique program known as the Crown System. I'm sure many of you have heard of this system, correct?"

I glanced around and saw that most students were nodding their heads.

"For those who don't already know, crowns are the currency we use at this school. By using crowns, you'll be able to buy a wide range of items available on campus, ranging from snacks to cell phones. It's crucial to understand that certain essentials, such as food, water, and the school uniform, are offered free of charge. However, keep in mind that food and drinks are only complimentary in the cafeteria..."

Amelia took her time explaining the basics of the Crown System, detailing what expenses were covered and which weren't. Though she didn't explicitly state it, her message was clear: it was important to be mindful of spending habits.

"I'm sure many of you are wondering if there is a way to track the number of crowns you possess. The answer is, yes! All this information can be found on the Crestwood Wallet app, which you can easily log into using your school ID cards... The same process applies when making purchases. Just swipe your ID card at the register, and you're good to go. It's a simple and efficient process designed to streamline your shopping experience."

Amelia waited for a couple of seconds before continuing.

"It is important to note that all students will receive a base allowance on the first Friday of every month. However, the amount of crowns you receive may vary depending on your performance. In other words, those who perform well will see an increase in their allowance, while those who underperform will receive less."

A subtle murmur rippled through the crowd as the implications of the Crown System sank in. But Amelia wasn't finished yet.

"As I mentioned before, your performance is a key factor in determining your monthly allowance. But what exactly does the word 'performance' entail?"

The student council president paused, allowing the question to hang in the air before answering.

"Performance covers a wide variety of aspects of your life here at Crestwood Academy. This includes your grades, which serve as a reflection of your academic diligence and dedication to your studies... But performance isn't limited to just academic achievement. It also encompasses your participation in extracurricular activities, such as clubs, sports teams, and school initiatives."

As soon as Amelia mentioned extracurricular activities, I felt a knot form in my throat. While I was confident in my academic abilities, the prospect of participating in activities beyond the classroom was daunting. Risky to be more precise.

"Although there are a lot of elements that impact your performance, the most important factor is your ranking."

I leaned forward slightly, eager to hear more about this crucial aspect of the Crown System.

"Every student at Crestwood Academy is assigned two ranks. These numbers are updated at the end of every month. There are two types of ranks every student possesses, both based on the number of crowns you possess... The first is your grade rank. This rank provides a measure of your standing within your grade."

I glanced around at the other first-years, wondering where I would fit into this hierarchy.

"The second type of rank is your school rank. This chart ranks you against every student at Crestwood Academy. To put it simply, it provides a broader measure of your overall standing within our school community," she explained.

I listened intently as Amelia explained the significance of these ranks, and how they factored into your monthly allowance.

"Depending on how high you rank in one or both of these charts, your monthly allowance can increase exponentially. However, students who rank low in either or both charts may see their allowance decrease significantly."

The students in the crowd seemed to grow more nervous after hearing that. And I didn't blame them. The pressure to excel was beginning to feel overwhelming, and I wondered how most of us would fare in the weeks to come.

"There are many rules in place to ensure fairness and transparency in the ranking system. For example, in the event that two students possess the same number of crowns, their academic grades will be used to determine their ranking."

It made sense that academic performance would serve as the tiebreaker in such situations. Whether that was a good thing or not, I wasn't sure.

If it came down to it, I guessed it was different for every person. While that sort of rule could be advantageous for someone who was academically gifted, it could be bad for someone more adept at sports.

"If any of you have any further inquiries about the Crown System or any other aspect of life here at Crestwood Academy, I encourage you to reach out to your homeroom teachers later this week..."

Amelia took a sip from her water bottle before continuing.

"Since you are all new to the school, each of you will be starting with the same number of crowns. Because of this, your initial rankings will be based on your entrance exam scores. However, as the school year unfolds, your rankings will naturally change."

There was no doubt that this school's driving force was competition. We weren't just up against students in our grade; we were competing against students from all grades.

This made things more complicated. As freshmen, it seemed inevitable that we'd be at a disadvantage. How could we possibly compete with students who've been accumulating crowns for years?

Unless...

I couldn't shake the feeling that there were still some unexplained elements about this school. Given the school's ethos, it was unlikely they'd give older students such a decisive advantage. I suspected there was a mechanism in place for first-years to compete, and perhaps even outshine their senior counterparts.

"I'm sure quite a few of you are wondering if there is a way to monitor your progress. Fortunately, the answer's pretty simple. To view information about your rank and grades, you will have to download an application called Rank Portal. Just like with your wallet, by scanning your student ID with your camera, the initial login procedure will be complete..."

As Amelia went on to explain some of its features, I pulled out my phone and installed the application. Once the app was installed, it created an icon that had the illustration of the school's emblem with the letters "RP".

I tapped the icon and launched the application. As the login page flashed on my screen, the camera automatically came on. I quickly scanned my ID card with my camera, before turning my attention back to Amelia while I waited for the app to load.

"To put it simply, the Rank Portal app serves as a tool to track your grades," Amelia explained. "Every profile has six categories on display, some of which have letter grades. The categories are academic score, physical ability, magical ability, school contribution, and overall ability... One thing to keep in mind is that this portal allows you to view not only your information but the profiles of every student in the school."

When I looked back at my phone, sure enough, I found a chart that listed the names of every student, in alphabetical order.

Feeling a little nervous, I scrolled through the chart before tapping on my name. Just as Amelia had suggested, a window appeared on my screen with information about me.

---------------------------------------------------------

James Lee [Class 1-C]

School Ranking: 528

Grade Ranking: 78

Academic Score: C+

Physical Ability: B-

Magical Ability: 1st Circle Mage

School Contribution: TBD

Overall Ability: C+

---------------------------------------------------------

I felt a chill run down my spine as I looked over my profile page. Every aspect of my life as a student was on full display for the whole school to see.

Even though I wasn't fully comfortable with my grades being public, there was something else I found more concerning. Just beside my scores, on the right side of my profile, was a clear-cut picture of my face.

As soon as the entrance ceremony concluded, I was going to contact Anthony. If, by any chance, the school had uploaded these pictures to their website, it wouldn't be long before they realized I was still alive. I had to ensure my face remained off the internet at all costs.

"As many of you already know, today is orientation day. Since no classes are scheduled for today, I encourage each of you to take this opportunity to explore our beautiful campus and familiarize yourselves with everything Crestwood Academy has to offer."

While most of the first-years appeared eager to join these tour groups, my mind was simply too preoccupied with this picture matter. All I could focus on was when the ceremony would end.

"To better assist you, student council members will be leading tour groups throughout the day. If you're interested in signing up for a tour, simply make your way to the front of the auditorium once the ceremony has concluded."

"With that," Amelia said, her voice filled with quiet determination, "I bring my presentation to a close. Thank you all for coming, and I hope you have an amazing first year at our school!"

As if on cue, a wave of cheers and claps filled the auditorium. Disregarding the noise around me, I rushed towards the nearest exit and walked over to the side of the building where there were fewer people.

Trying my best to remain calm, I pulled out my phone and dialed Anthony's number.

The phone seemed to ring endlessly before Anthony's voice finally broke through the silence.

"Hello?"

"I think we have a problem," I said, hoping he could sense the tension in my tone.