Chapter 4 || Teamwork

Chapter 4: 4 || Teamwork

Torin gripped his desk tightly, his body trembling. "A-a... part-time job?!"

The room immediately fell silent.

The wall behind Code 11 lit up, screens shifting into a pyramid that extended further upward.

"There are four floors in the pyramid which are occupied by you—the Grents, the Servitors, the Aspirants, and the Perfects."

Ding! Ding!

Every phone in the classroom buzzed at once. Screens lit up.

Code’s gaze snapped to his phone.

His profile updated... and at the bottom, glowing faintly in silver light, was the letter M.

Gasps erupted across the room. Some saw P. Others R.

Code 11 stepped to the board, she picked up the marker on the desk. With a stroke of her finger, she wrote words on the board.

PRIMALS

"Primals...?" Ivy asked.

"Yes," Code 11 replied, her tone dripping with finality. "Each of you belongs to a generation—marked by the alphabet you see. Each represents one letter. If you see ’P’ in your profile... then you belong to the P generation."

The air in the room felt heavy, almost suffocating.

Even Ivy, usually the one who never stopped smiling, couldn’t hold it this time.

Her lips parted slightly, but the words came out shaky. "Primals... generation...?"

The room was seconds away from breaking apart completely—voices rising, chairs shifting, panic spreading like wildfire.

Then the boy in the front seat of the fifth row stood up.

Code glanced at him.

Black hair, forest -green eyes, calm expression that didn’t match the chaos around him.

"Everyone, calm down!" he called out, voice cutting through the noise.

"We can get through this together! Even if we’re not from the same generation, we’re still here for the same reason. We understand each other’s struggles... so let’s work together as a team."

No one responded. Everyone just sat still.

Then—

From the fourth row—third seat, Meira raised her hand. "Code 11."

Ivy turns toward her. "Meira, that’s rude."

Meira shrugs. "She told us to call her that, so I don’t see the big deal."

Code 11 replies calmly, "It’s fine. I don’t care what you call me. So, what is it?"

Meira asks. "Is there a way for us to leave the Grent class? I mean, can we be promoted into a Servitor? Cause I don’t think I can remain being a Grent till I graduate."

The girls around her nodded in agreement.

"Of course," Code 11 answers.

"Through your rating. Like I said before, you’re all one-star students. To become Servitors, you must reach two stars. That can be done through academic performance and sports."

Torin leans forward. "What about our part-time jobs? Won’t that also increase our rating?"

"No." Code 11 said, her tone steady, "the part-time job is mostly there for you to earn currency within the academy. "

Torin lowered his head.

Code 11 continued. "This is your first day. You’ll receive your academic schedule soon."

Her gaze swept across the room. "Good luck, Grents."

Then she turned and left, sliding the door shut behind her.

Silence settled immediately.

Aria stared at the desk, her thoughts tightening in pieces.

’Slaves... ratings... and Primals...’

Her eyes drifted across the class again—each face tense in its own way, pretending not to be afraid.

Code, however, remained still. Calm. Unreadable.

He looked across the room quietly.

’Everything that just happened... it’s already changed them.’

Then, as if something in the air shifted, Ivy stood up.

Her voice was soft at first. "Everyone..."

Heads turned toward her.

She lowered hers slightly. "I’ve been thinking about what Riven said... and I think he’s right."

She lifted her gaze again. "We should support each other. Work as a team. That’s what being classmates means, isn’t it? If we stay together... we can figure this out. We can reach the top."

Her hands clenched briefly. "No... I know we can."

Riven looked at her, a small smile forming. "Thanks for backing me up, Ivy."

"It’s nothing," she replied quickly, then turned back to the class. "So... what do you all say?"

No one answered at first.

Then Juro stood, adjusting his glasses with quiet certainty. "I’m with you, Ivy. And I agree with Riven as well. I also don’t plan on remaining a Grent forever."

"I said that already, four eyes."

Meira spoke without looking back at Juro. She just focused on her phone.

Juro frowned."My name’s Juro."

Meira still didn’t bother looking at him."If you say so."

Juro sat back down.

One by one, others followed.

Caden, Torin and Ken. "We’re in."

Lily raised her hand slightly. "Same."

The girl behind Riven gave a small smile."I’m with you, Riven."

Riven turned to her."Thanks Yua."

Yua’s smile widened.

Riven exhaled, relieved. "Good... I’m glad we’re a on the same page."

Across the room, Code watched Ivy’s relieved smile, then Juro calmly sitting back down like nothing had changed at all.

Riven let out a small breath and looked around the room.

"Since we’ve all agreed to work together... I think it makes sense we introduce ourselves. At least properly. We’re going to be stuck with each other from now on, so we should know who we’re dealing with."

"I’ll start first." Riven steps forward. "I’m Riven Halden. I look forward to working with you all.

A polite round of applause followed.

The girl beside Code stared at Riven.

’It seems the whole class trusts him now. But I don’t. If I want to leave the fourth floor, I can only rely on myself.’

Riven gestures toward the first row. "Let’s begin there."

A composed girl with jet-black hair stands first. "Good day. I’m Neela Vire. I look forward to working with you all."

Another girl— dark brown hair and soft brown eyes stood." Lucy Benette."

Then, a boy with dark navy-blue hair and dull silver eyes leans back in his chair, arms crossed.

"What’s the point of this? I may not trust the masked teacher, but there’s no way I’m trusting any of you."

Caden chuckles. "Don’t mind him everyone. His name’s Ashir—Ashir Vance."

Ashir shoots him a glare. "Mind your business, Caden."

"Let it go, Ashir. Your turn’s passed," Torin says casually.

He stood up." The name’s Torin Graves. Nice working you all."

Caden gave a smile."Caden Myles."

Riven turned toward the next row.

A boy with messy black hair and dark brown eyes gave a short nod. "Thomas Harlow."

Behind him, a girl stood up calmly. Smooth black hair fell past her shoulders, framing a composed face and a pair of dark blue eyes.

"Catherine Hayes. Nice to meet you."

Another boy with sleek silver-blond hair and turquoise eyes, his coat properly buttoned, leaned back in his chair, throwing his legs onto the table with a relieved sigh.

He had broad shoulders and a lean build. He wasn’t particularly muscular or large, but there was a natural sturdiness to his frame.

"Now that the creepy teacher’s gone. I can relax. My legs were already getting stiff under the desk."

Caden sneered."Were you scared of Miss 11... Huegene."

Huegene smirked with his eyes closed."You can think whatever that tiny brain can come up with Caden. It’s none of my concern."

Torin and Ken laughed.

Caden frowned."Scaredy cat."

He whispered.

Riven cleared his throat. "Uh... Huegene, it’s your turn."

Huegene folded his arms still wearing his smirk.

"What’s the need? The Big baby has already introduced me to the class."

Caden stood up."Why you—"

Torin held him back."Let it go, Caden."

Caden huffed, then sat back on his seat.

Riven smiled akwardly."Let’s... Let’s move on."

A boy with messy black hair stood up."Ethan Walker."

Right after him, Ken stood with a confident grin.

"Ken Strathmore. Let’s make it to the fourth floor together."

Riven laughed lightly. "Yeah. We will."

The introductions continued with the third row.

Lily stood nervously from her seat, gripping the edge of her skirt.

"L-Lily Brooklyn..." she stammered softly before sitting back down almost immediately.

Ivy stood with her usual gentle smile."I’m Ivy Draelin. It’s nice meeting everyone."

A calm girl with dark auburn hair spoke after Lily.

"Emma Collins."

It was the next student’s turn. But...

...The seat was empty.

The atmosphere shifted almost instantly.

Caden lowered his gaze to the desk. "...I still can’t believe Ben’s gone."

Code glanced at the empty chair quietly.

’So he’s the one those men dragged out earlier.’

For a moment, no one spoke.

Then Riven clapped his hands together softly, forcing a small smile onto his face.

"Let’s... continue."

Juro stood up. "I’m Juro Kessai. Nice to meet you all."

The introductions continued smoothly.

Meira, still busy on her phone, says casually."Meira Solace."

Code stared at her.

Her hair was a soft golden blonde, falling smoothly past her shoulders in long, neat strands.

A small silver earring hung from her ear.

Then—

A soft-spoken girl with long chestnut-brown hair and pale amber eyes rises.

"Sena Valtier. A pleasure."

Code’s eyes shifted to the side—and meet the cold, sharp gaze of the black-haired girl sitting beside him.

"What are you staring at?" she snapped.

"Nothing," Code replied flatly, unflinching.

She stared at him for a moment before turning away.

Then it was her turn.

She stood up without hesitation, her expression calm and confident.

"I’m Aria Nyre. I’m not interested in teamwork or emotional bonding, and I don’t plan on letting anyone slow me down from reaching my goals."

Whispers immediately spread through the classroom.

Riven gave a small awkward smile. "Well... that’s fine too. But no one’s trying to hold you back. We all want to reach the top in the end."

He rubbed the back of his head lightly. "Since we’re classmates, I’m sure we’ll understand each other eventually. I just hope one day you’ll trust us a little."

Aria sat back down quietly. "...I doubt that."

Code glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

’She really says whatever comes to mind.’