Leon and Noah were ready by 7:30, they grabbed their bags and headed for the door.

  Jay was waiting at the dorm entrance.

  "Hey, hold up a second."

  They stopped. Jay looked serious.

  "Before you guys head to class, there's something you need to know. Something they don't mention in orientation."

  "What is it?" Noah asked.

  Jay glanced around, making sure no one else was listening. "It's an unofficial rule, but everyone follows it. Higher-ranked students can give you orders. Any higher rank—D3, D2, D1, doesn't matter. If they tell you to do something, you do it."

  Leon frowned. "What kind of orders?"

  "Anything. Errands, fetch their stuff, clean up after them. Sometimes worse." Jay's expression darkened. "If you refuse an order from another D student, it might not be terrible. But if you refuse someone from C region or higher? That's when things get bad. The higher the rank, the more power they have."

  "That's insane," Noah said. "They can just order us around?"

  "Welcome to Valorian." Jay shifted his weight. "Look, you won't run into many C or higher ranks since you're in D facilities. But you will have D3 students in your classes. Same sections, mixed together. They can and will look down on you."

  "So what, we're just servants?"

  "No, but you're at the bottom. D3s outnumber D4s, but not by much. Most orders are just annoying—go get my lunch, carry my books, that kind of thing. You can try to avoid the ones that cross the line."

  Leon felt his stomach twist. "And if they don't?"

  Jay hesitated. "There have been... incidents. Girls being ordered to comply with sexual demands, that kind of thing. The academy established a professor committee to handle severe cases. They intervene when things get really bad."

  "When things get really bad," Noah repeated flatly. "What about before that?"

  "It's complicated. The committee will help with D or C rank issues, usually. But if someone from a higher rank in B region or A region is involved?" Jay shook his head. "Those students have serious family backing. The academy's less likely to interfere."

  "This place is fucked up," Noah muttered.

  "Yeah. But it's reality. Just... be smart. Pick your battles. And watch out for each other." Jay checked his phone. "You should get going. Don't be late on your first day."

  They thanked him and headed out, joining the flow of students moving toward the D region academic facilities.

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  "You think he's exaggerating?" Noah asked as they walked.

  "I don't know. Hope so."

  The walk took fifteen minutes. The D region academic buildings were large, modern, but noticeably less impressive than the glimpses they'd caught of other regions. Two main buildings stood side by side—one for D3 and D4 students, another for D1 and D2.

  Leon and Noah entered the D3/D4 building, following signs to their assigned classroom. Room 203, second floor.

  Inside, the classroom was spacious enough for about fifty students. But what Leon noticed immediately was the seating arrangement.

  The front half of the room had nicer desks, better lighting, more space between seats. That section was labeled with small placards: D3.

  The back half had standard desks, more tightly packed. D4.

  Students were already filing in. Those with D3 IDs naturally took the front section. D4 students headed to the back.

  Leon and Noah found seats in their designated area. Around them, other D4 students settled in, most looking nervous or uncomfortable with the clear division.

  A few D3 students glanced back at the D4 section, expressions ranging from indifferent to subtly contemptuous. But no one said anything.

  At 8:00 AM exactly, the professor entered. An older man, professional demeanor, carrying a tablet.

  "Good morning. I'm Professor Williams. Welcome to Introduction to Economic Theory."

  The class began normally enough. Professor Williams went through the syllabus, expectations, grading criteria. He treated all students the same, directing questions to both sections without apparent favoritism.

  Leon started to relax slightly. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

  The morning passed with two more classes—Business Foundations and Strategic Analysis. Different professors, similar dynamics. The D3/D4 split was present in each classroom, but on this first day, everyone was focused on understanding requirements and expectations.

  No incidents. No orders. Just normal classes.

  At lunch, Leon and Noah headed to the cafeteria with several other D4 students they'd met. They found a table, and Emma joined them along with a few others from their dorm.

  "How were your classes?" Emma asked.

  "Not bad, actually," Noah said. "I thought it'd be worse based on what Jay told us this morning."

  "First day," Emma said. "Everyone's still figuring things out. Give it a week."

  Around them, the cafeteria was filling up. The conversations were typical first-day stuff—complaining about professors, comparing schedules, discussing the reading load.

  But Leon noticed another trend emerging.

  At the next table over, a group of guys were talking loudly about the D3 girls in their classes. Rating their looks, discussing who they wanted to ask out.

  "Did you see that girl in Economics?" one of them said. "The blonde with the D3 card? If I could date someone from D3, man, that'd be something."

  "You'd be bragging about that forever," another agreed.

  Similar conversations were happening at other tables. Girls discussing which D3 guys were attractive, how dating someone from a higher rank would be "such an upgrade," the social status it would bring.

  Noah rolled his eyes. "Already?"

  "Status obsession," Emma said. "Some people think dating up is their way out of D4. Like it'll magically make them more important."

  "Does it work?" Leon asked.

  "Rarely. Usually the higher-ranked person is just slumming it, has their fun, then moves on. But people keep trying."

  Leon listened to the conversations around them, the desperation in some voices, the calculated strategy in others. Everyone trying to figure out how to climb even one step up the ladder.

  "Leon? You okay?" Noah asked.

  "Yeah. Just thinking."

  "Don't think too much on the first day. It'll drive you crazy."

  Leon nodded and finished his lunch. Around them, the cafeteria continued its noise.

  Classes resumed in the afternoon. More of the same—lectures, syllabi, expectations.

  By 5:00 PM, Leon was exhausted.

  He and Noah walked back to the dorm together, both quiet.

  "First day down," Noah said.

  "Yeah."

  "Wasn't terrible."

  "No. But Jay's probably right. Give it time."

  They reached the dorm, headed to their room, and collapsed onto their respective beds.

  Leon stared at the ceiling and tried not to think about how long four years suddenly felt.