REAL WORLD — Ccare
After the skeleton incident, the academy returned to what looked like normal life.
Too normal.
Too clean.
Admission results were about to be announced.
A final verdict.
One that would determine their social and intellectual class for the rest of their lives.
Rose was called first.
The screen lit up.
Newton Class.
No one was surprised. Rose had always been brilliant, always one step ahead of everyone else.
She smiled with relief.
Next came Charles.
His father, Augustus, worked directly under King Isaac.
A respected man. An Einstein Class.
The screen flickered.
Newton Class.
An awkward silence followed.
Charles forced a smile.
— It's not that bad… At least I'll stay with you, Rose.
He tried to believe his own words.
Newton Class still allowed people to approach the higher circles.
To observe.
To learn.
Then Jay stepped forward.
The panel blinked.
Gear Class.
The shock hit instantly.
Rose froze.
Charles felt his stomach twist.
— There must be a mistake, Rose protested.
Jay didn't react.
No anger.
No shouting.
— It's a test, he said quietly.
— A test? My father never mentioned anything like that!
— Exactly, Jay replied.
Einsteins never talk. They observe.
He raised his head slowly.
— The Einstein rank is a closed circle. They know things we don't…
His voice lowered.
— …like the existence of the skeleton.
Silence fell again.
Charles checked the envelope he had received.
— Jay… look at this. There's something else.
He read aloud:
— You are invited to a private visit of King Isaac's Royal Laboratory, accompanied by an Einstein Class representative: Augustus.
— My father… Charles whispered.
Jay's eyes hardened.
— That's where I'll find my answers.
That Night
Jay dreamed.
An enormous stadium.
Thousands of invisible spectators.
He held a spear.
Across from him stood a faceless gladiator.
The fight didn't even begin.
Jay woke up suddenly, gasping.
The Next Day
A private vehicle escorted by Newton guards brought him to the Royal Laboratory.
Augustus greeted him with a smile.
Too rigid. Too rehearsed.
— I'm proud of you, Jay. You've been noticed.
The laboratory looked like a cathedral of science.
Machines beyond imagination.
Lasers so stable they barely vibrated.
Jay suddenly felt very small.
Applause echoed through the room.
King Isaac appeared.
— Here, Isaac explained proudly, our scientists possess seventy years of technological advantage over the rest of the world.
Then he spoke casually.
— Jay, could you fetch a blue USB key from my office? I need it.
Isaac walked away.
Augustus pointed toward a hallway.
Jay entered the office.
The doors shut behind him.
Alone.
Inside the office of the most powerful man in the kingdom.
He opened the archive terminal.
Files appeared.
"Bomb — Eruasert"
"Death Realm"
"Aura"
"Remains"
His blood ran cold.
The destruction of Eruasert…
Had been ordered.
— It's us… Jay whispered.
— We massacred an entire country… not for humanity…
His hands trembled above the keyboard.
Millions of lives… erased by a single command.
His voice shook.
…but for control.
Rage exploded.
— ALL OF THIS… JUST TO CLEAN THE REST OF THE WORLD?!
Suddenly—
The air distorted.
Isaac appeared.
Augustus stood beside him.
They were applauding.
— Touching, Augustus said softly.
— Congratulations, Jay, Isaac smiled.
You are officially an Einstein Class.
Jay stepped back.
— Let me leave.
— Of course, Isaac replied calmly.
You will die… and join the Death Realm.
We will simply create a clone of you here.
Jay's world collapsed.
— You're going to kill me?! People will look for me!
Isaac sighed.
— Augustus… he still doesn't understand.
Augustus looked at Jay.
— I'm a clone, Jay. Like many of us.
Jay stared in horror.
— You're not human…
— We become human when we decide to be, Isaac answered.
Jay clenched his fists.
— I'll expose everything.
Isaac smiled again.
— Those who returned from the Death Realm have spoken before.
— We called them mad.
— The Emperors, however… learned how to dominate both worlds.
Jay whispered:
— And you? Are you dead too?
Isaac chuckled.
— Not yet.
A laser shot pierced Jay's chest.
Augustus looked away.
— He knew too much.
Jay's body collapsed.
In the end…
Curiosity truly was a dangerous flaw.