It has been apparent since ancient times that conflict is a natural byproduct of diverse groups of people. Invariably, when you bring together individuals with different backgrounds and perspectives, conflict is inevitable.

As sunlight bathed the white room, a swift finger silenced the blaring alarm clock before it could fully ring. This morning was different—no lingering snooze allowed. Inhaling deeply, the boy pondered for a moment, his voice barely a whisper, "Today is finally here." He yawned and stretched, as he got out of bed.

The fifteen-year-old boy sighed happily as he glanced across his room, his jet-black hair swaying with every motion, while his bright blue eyes sparkled under the sun's gaze. A radiant smile spread across his face as he exclaimed, “Today is the day I’ve been waiting for!"

With an excited grin on his face, John leaped out of bed and launched into his invigorating morning exercises. These exercises were a daily routine for him, and he completed them in no time.

Taking a moment to absorb his surroundings, John surveyed his sparsely furnished room. The room housed a bed, wardrobe, study desk, and chair. Its traditional cooling system and large windows gave the room a cozy atmosphere.

His eyes wandered to the three doors in his room, each leading to different parts of his personal space. Yet today, only one door filled him with excitement.

"Time to gear up. It's my first day of school!" he exclaimed, punching his fist into the air.

As he readied himself, John felt a mixture of nervousness and excitement. Months of anticipation now culminated on this day, and a twinge of unease coursed through him.

Dressed and armed with his bright smile, John cast a final glance around his room before venturing out. Closing the door behind him, a wave of excitement washed over him. This day marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life, and he couldn’t wait to see what it had in store for him.

With a skip in his step and his signature smile, John walked confidently out of his room, eager for the adventure that awaited him.

In the vast, beautiful compound, an elderly man was jogging vigorously, his body drenched in sweat despite the cool weather. It was just another day for the sixty-seven-year-old, who was known to be a bit eccentric and unconventional in his ways.

Standing silently in the compound, John watched his grandfather go through his exercise routine, with a loving smile on his face.

“Grandfather is at it again, huh?” he mused fondly.

Dr. Matthew Lucien, the sweaty old man, was John's grandfather, and the young boy watched him lovingly as he ran past.

Despite being sixty-seven, Dr. Lucien possessed a strikingly youthful and handsome face and John couldn't help but think that no one would ever believe he was a Ph.D. holder.

John wore his school uniform, an elegant and stylish outfit that perfectly reflected the prestigious academy he attended. He wore a black blazer with matching trousers, a crisp white shirt, and a royal blue tie, with the school's golden badge proudly inscribed on the blazer, creating a nice contrast.

"Grandfather, I'm leaving!" John yelled to his oblivious grandfather, who was so immersed in his workout, that he didn’t notice John calling out to him.

Dr. Matthew Lucien slowed down almost instantly, snapping out of his daze, and approached John. His entire body dripped with sweat, and his breath was a little ragged, but a smile remained on his face.

"A-ah? How long have you been standing there?" he asked, chuckling. "Didn’t see you at all until you called for me."

"It's not my fault that you're a fitness addict," John mumbled, hiding a smile. His eyes suddenly popped wide open as he watched his grandfather draw nearer. "H-hey! Don't come any closer. You reek!"

Dr. Lucien laughed heartily, patting John's head as he passed by. "It's the smell of hard work, my boy. Remember that," he said.

John stared fondly at his grandfather, feeling a sense of pride and admiration. He knew that Dr. Lucien had accomplished a great deal in his life and that he had done so through hard work and determination.

It was a lesson that John could never forget.

"So, you're going to school already, huh? You have everything you need?" Dr. Matt asked, in a seemingly casual tone, trying to hide his pride and excitement in his grandson.

"Yeah!" John replied, beaming with confidence.

"You sure?" Dr. Matt persisted, wanting to make sure his grandson was fully prepared.

John rolled his eyes again but couldn't help grinning. He knew his grandfather meant well, even if he could be a little overprotective at times.

For a brief moment, they stood there in silence, taking in the moment. The sky was clear and beautiful, the birds chirped happily, and it felt like nothing else in the world mattered.

"Alright, then. Have fun at school. Do what you need to do." Dr. Matt finally said, feeling a little lump in his throat as he spoke.

"Yeah!" John replied, eager to get going.

Without wasting another second, John darted off toward school. Dr. Matt watched him go with a mixture of pride and sadness. His little grandson was growing up so fast.

"This kid… he'll run out of breath too quickly," he whispered to himself, chuckling softly.

As he resumed his jog, Dr. Matt's thoughts turned to his beloved grandson. He may have been a little eccentric, but he was a good person at heart, and there was nothing he wouldn't do for his family.

I hope you find what you’re searching for…

John's eyes widened in amazement as he took in the grandeur of the school premises before him. The extensive compound spanned a massive twenty acres of land, with numerous buildings and structures dotting the landscape. It was like nothing he had ever seen before, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sheer size of it all.

As he approached the imposing gate, it automatically opened up, scanning him to verify his identity before letting him in. John couldn't help but marvel at the power of modern technology. It was impressive that there was no need for any security personnel to verify his identity.

"Modern technology sure is nice," he muttered to himself, impressed by the state-of-the-art technology.

As he made his way through the compound, one or two students brushed past him, but they paid him no attention as they went about their business.

Glancing toward a particular student who seemed to be just as amazed as he was, John felt a sense of kinship with the red-haired boy. They both took in the amazing expanse of the campus grounds, marking their first time attending such an amazing school.

If the boy hadn't checked his wristwatch, gasped, and quickly ran ahead, John would have considered talking to him.

“A shame…” He whispered though he remained positive.

He would get the chance to meet more people, anyway. Besides, the boy seemed to be about his age, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they ended up in the same class.

“That would be nice,” John murmured, inhaling deeply.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of trees and the lovely aroma of blossoming flowers. John couldn't help but smile wider with each step he took. This was going to be an incredible experience.

Even though it was already 8:21 AM and classes commenced at 9:00 AM, there was a general assembly scheduled thirty minutes before class. John knew he couldn't be late, so he quickened his pace and headed towards the main hall.

Spanning twenty acres, the entire school was so vast that walking or running through it in just nine minutes was impossible. Yet, that didn't worry him. The High School campus was a smaller section of the general school compound, and a large chunk of the land was used for residential and administrative facilities. He knew he could easily get to the main hall and then head straight to class without any problems.

As he walked past the beautifully landscaped garden that surrounded him, he couldn't help but feast his eyes on the beauty of the environment once more. The school was truly breathtaking, and he felt a sense of excitement and anticipation for what lay ahead in his new academic journey.

John's heart raced with excitement as he stepped into the Main Hall at precisely 8:30 a.m., the designated time for the general student assembly to commence. As he gazed eagerly at the sea of identically dressed students in their black blazers, blue ties, and shiny golden badges, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

Despite the number of people present, the hall was completely silent, giving off an intimidating and elite ambiance that slightly unnerved him.

As he made his way toward his assigned line, John couldn't help but admire the immaculate appearance of his peers. They all looked elegant and sophisticated, with their new uniforms and shiny shoes.

With the aid of signs that indicated where each group should stand, he easily found his classmates huddled together in a tight group. However, even without the indicators, he was confident he wouldn't have had any trouble.

"Ah! That boy…" John's eyes caught sight of the boy with red hair, the same one he had seen near the gate not too long ago. However, they were in different lines. 

"I guess we won't be in the same class, after all."

Still, that didn’t faze John in the slightest.

Just as he joined the line of about twenty students, a middle-aged man stepped onto the stage and greeted everyone in a clear and confident voice.

"I am Charles Richardson, the founder and Principal of this school. It brings me great pleasure to see you all gathered here for the start of a new term, and I sincerely hope you have an enjoyable stay in this institute."

John watched everything—the way the principal's dark gray suit firmly clung to his lean body, and even how his luxurious shoes were firmly planted on the ground—with a smile on his face. However, his excitement didn't stem from those things.

This was the first time John had ever heard an address like this in person. It was his first time standing in line for a general assembly, the first time he was attending an actual school.

The fact that he was right there was enough to make his heart race uncontrollably.

“I see…” He spoke in a barely audible tone, watching as the man on the podium continued.

“This academic institute accepts only three hundred and ninety students per academic session and only fifty for High School. And so, I would like to commend the new students for their grit and determination. Amongst the millions who strived to get in, only you fifty have been chosen.”

It sounded exaggerated, but it wasn’t. This wasn’t just your ordinary school, after all.

“However, be reminded that this is only the beginning. As you already know, getting in is one thing, but advancing to the next class is another ball game entirely.”

It took four years to get through High School. Depending on their performance, it was most likely that many of these students would not be present by graduation. 

"You have seen the prospectus and calendar, I’m sure. You undoubtedly understand the busy year that awaits you. There will be a total of four terms per session, each with two weeks of vacation in between. Each term will have ten weeks of activity—tests, and examinations included."

Of course, the students were also told about how—for their summer break, exclusively—six weeks were allocated, rather than the regular two weeks. Needless to say, of the fifty-two weeks in a year, they would be spending forty in High School.

A truly demanding and competitive environment.

“You must strive to be the best, to be exceptional in your various fields. I expect nothing less from the geniuses of this generation.”

This was an academy with an acceptance rate of less than 0.1 percent of applicants. A truly prestigious and extremely exclusive environment where only the best thrived and the dregs were left behind.

That was precisely why he had chosen to come here. It was his ideal environment, filled with the best minds humanity could offer from all over the globe.

It was the best High School in the world.

“Welcome once again to The Richardson Elite Academy. I do hope you have a wonderful time.”

"Hey, everyone! I'm Matthias Archibald, your homeroom teacher for this year." 

With that simple introduction, the classroom came alive as an ordinary-looking man stood before them, dressed casually in a white t-shirt and black trousers. Appearances could be deceiving, yet the students couldn't resist being captivated by his confident smile and handsome face.

The classroom was arranged with precision, desks were neatly organized in five rows and five columns. Each seat was perfectly comfortable and the tables were fixed to the floor. No arguments or disputes would mar the first day of school; where they sat now would be their designated seat for the entire year.

"Welcome to Grade 9, Class B! Although technically, you're all freshmen in high school," Mr. Matthias said in a relaxed and friendly tone that made it seem like he had known them forever.

Teachers at elite schools were expected to be formal and rigid, but here was Mr. Archibald, defying those stereotypes. He was downright chill with everyone, and it was refreshing

"Since most of you are new here, let me explain a few things. Pay close attention," he said, and the students eagerly complied.

"As you know, only fifty students are accepted into our prestigious high school every year. Of those fifty, only twenty-five make it to Year 1. Age doesn't matter in this citadel of learning; your acceptance and class placement are based solely on your abilities, and so is your advancement to the next class."

Silence filled the room, exactly the reaction Mr. Archibald had hoped for. But he had more to share.

"You must have noticed the vastness of our campus and the comfort of your dorms if you're staying in one. Our high school compound is a collection of numerous buildings serving various purposes. The Main Hall, where we were earlier, hosts general assemblies. Lectures take place in the Central Building, which includes this very classroom."

Guided here after the assembly, the students had already glimpsed the wonders Mr. Archibald described. But it was reassuring to have someone explain and solidify their experiences.

"Besides the Central Building, we have a range of facilities on this campus. Sports fields and courts, buildings dedicated to arts, music, crafts, and more. This school embraces and supports all your talents and abilities, whatever they may be. It's an all-inclusive place."

One couldn't help but wonder how much funds had gone into establishing such a remarkable school. How much would tuition cost? How many could afford such an incredible opportunity? But here's the most amazing part—they didn't have to pay a dime!

"You're all here because of your abilities, nothing more. This academy has generous sponsors, and our stakeholders provide abundant financial support to ensure you receive the best education.” The excitement radiating from Mr. Matthias's smile was infectious, filling the students' hearts with immense joy. 

Truly, this was a paradise they had stepped into.

Yes, it was a given that they had to put in the work, but as long as they did all that, they were guaranteed an amazing time. Besides, they were geniuses, weren’t they?

"Guess what? Each one of you will receive an allowance! Your Student Identification Cards can also be used as a currency across the campus, giving you access to all the facilities. And here's a little extra motivation— the top five performers in each class will receive bonuses. But don't worry, we'll start assessing that when the time is right. Just thought you should know," Mr. Matthias revealed, adding another layer of excitement to the mix.