Barrowmere University looked less like a university and more like a fortress built for the rich.
Black Gothic towers rose behind iron gates while security guards checked incoming cars. Sedans, limousines and armored SUVs filled the circular courtyard as students stepped out beneath the university crest.
Every uniform carried a number.
Rank One through Rank Five.
Everyone knew what those numbers meant.
Then four black cars stopped at the entrance.
The courtyard noticeably quieted.
Sion stepped out first, followed by Verrick, Brannoc and Tellan — the only four Rank One heirs in the university. Twenty-five, untouchably wealthy, and almost never seen apart.
Verrick glanced toward the enormous building.
"Another year in hell."
Brannoc barely looked up from his phone.
"You say that every year."
"And every year I'm right."
Sion walked past them.
"Move."
The four disappeared inside without acknowledging the students watching.
Minutes later, Rank Two's Golden Boy arrived.
Orrick Harrowgate caught a football thrown toward him and tossed it back to one of his teammates.
"Practice at five?"
"Five-thirty."
"Coach said five."
"Coach lies."
His teammates laughed.
Then Orrick suddenly stopped.
A girl stood several meters away with a Rank Five insignia stitched into her uniform.
Orrick stared.
"Imrie?"
She turned.
"Orrick?"
He crossed the courtyard immediately.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
Imrie gave a small nervous laugh.
"Nice to see you too."
"That's not what I meant. Why didn't you tell me you were transferring?"
Imrie looked down.
"I didn't know if you'd care."
Orrick's expression hardened.
"Don't say stupid things."
Nearby students were already whispering.
Rank Two's Golden Boy and a Rank Five charity student apparently knew each other.
The bells rang before anyone could ask questions.
Forty minutes later, the welcome ceremony was over and students poured into their first lecture hall.
Even there, the hierarchy followed them.
Rank One sat at the front.
Sion. Verrick. Brannoc. Tellan.
Rank Two occupied the rows behind them, with Orrick and Venetia among the university's Golden Class.
Rank Three followed.
Then Rank Four.
Rank Five sat at the back.
Imrie lowered herself into a seat beside Anouk, another Rank Five student she had met during the ceremony.
Anouk leaned back.
"Nothing screams equality like literally putting us at the bottom."
Imrie glanced toward Orrick.
"I noticed."
The professor entered.
Conversation faded.
"Welcome back."
He placed several folders onto his desk before looking toward the still-open door.
"And apparently we're not finished with introductions."
Heads turned.
Orrick looked up.
Imrie followed his gaze.
Venetia stopped whispering to the girl beside her.
Even the Rank One table went quieter, though none of the four men looked particularly interested yet.
The professor glanced toward the person waiting outside.
"You. Come in."
An empty seat waited somewhere in the room.
Where it waited depended entirely on one thing.
Rank One — beside Sion, Verrick, Brannoc and Tellan.
Rank Two — among Orrick and the Golden Class.
Rank Three — among the famous.
Rank Four — among the scholarship students.
Rank Five — beside Imrie, Anouk and the university's so-called charity cases.
The entire room waited.
The professor:
"Before you sit, tell us your rank."