Chapter 24 : The Crown That Divides.
1463 Words
Chapter 24 — The Crown That Divides
The council chamber doors opened slowly.
Ariana stepped out into the cold stone corridor, the heavy silence of the tower pressing against her thoughts.
Behind her, the seven members of the Elite Council remained seated in their thrones, their decision already made.
The Elite Crown Selection.
Lucas walked beside her, his expression darker than usual.
For several moments, neither of them spoke.
Finally Ariana stopped walking.
“You knew,” she said.
Lucas glanced at her.
“Knew what?”
“That something like this would happen.”
Lucas exhaled slowly.
“I suspected.”
Ariana crossed her arms.
“So you just watched me walk into a trap?”
Lucas smirked faintly.
“If it was a trap, you walked in confidently.”
“That’s not the point.”
Lucas leaned casually against the wall.
“The Elite Crown Selection only happens when the council wants to reshape the academy.”
Ariana frowned.
“Reshape it?”
Lucas nodded.
“Every few years, they choose someone powerful enough to dominate the academy.”
“And that person becomes the Crown Holder.”
Ariana raised an eyebrow.
“And that’s supposed to be me?”
Lucas studied her carefully.
“They’re testing whether you’re a threat.”
Ariana looked down the long corridor.
“And if I win?”
Lucas smiled slightly.
“Then you won’t just be a student anymore.”
“You’ll be the most powerful person in Elite Academy.”
Outside the council tower, the morning campus had become unusually crowded.
Students gathered in groups across the courtyard, whispering excitedly.
Rumors spread like wildfire.
“They’re announcing something huge today.”
“I heard the council called a special assembly.”
“Maybe a new competition.”
“No way…”
Suddenly, the massive digital screens around the campus flickered to life.
Every student turned toward them.
The academy crest appeared first.
Then a deep voice echoed across the campus.
“Attention students of Elite Academy.”
The courtyard instantly fell silent.
“This announcement is issued by the Elite Council.”
Lucas and Ariana stepped out of the tower just as the message continued.
“This year, the academy will hold a special event.”
The students leaned closer to the screens.
“The Elite Crown Selection.”
The courtyard exploded.
“What?!”
“That competition hasn’t happened in years!”
“Only the strongest students get invited!”
Vanessa Cole stood among the crowd near the fountain.
Her eyes slowly lifted toward the tower.
“And there it is,” she murmured.
Her friend looked confused.
“What?”
Vanessa smiled slowly.
“The real game.”
The announcement continued.
“This competition will determine the next Crown Holder of Elite Academy.”
Images flashed across the screens.
Past champions.
Legendary students.
Some now famous CEOs.
Some political leaders.
Others whose names had become global legends.
Lucas glanced sideways at Ariana.
“See?”
“This competition creates monsters.”
The voice continued.
“This year, five students have been selected as candidates.”
The courtyard grew tense.
“First candidate…”
A name appeared.
A tall boy stepped forward proudly from the crowd.
Students cheered.
“Second candidate…”
Another name appeared.
More whispers spread.
“Third candidate…”
A girl from the advanced class walked forward confidently.
Then the voice paused.
“Fourth candidate…”
Vanessa Cole’s name appeared on the screen.
The crowd erupted.
“Of course she’s in!”
“She’s one of the strongest students!”
Vanessa smiled sweetly as students gathered around her.
But her eyes remained focused on the tower entrance.
“Now for the final candidate.”
Lucas muttered under his breath.
“Here we go.”
The screen changed.
And Ariana’s name appeared.
ARIANA REED
The courtyard fell into stunned silence.
Then chaos erupted.
“What?!”
“A first-year student?!”
“She just arrived!”
“That’s impossible!”
Vanessa’s smile slowly faded.
Her eyes sharpened as Ariana walked down the tower steps.
“So they chose you,” Vanessa whispered.
Lucas leaned toward Ariana.
“You just became the most talked-about student in the academy.”
Ariana looked at the shocked crowd calmly.
“I figured.”
The council announcement continued.
“The Elite Crown Selection will begin in three days.”
“During this competition, the candidates will face a series of strategic, physical, and psychological challenges.”
Students murmured nervously.
“And only one candidate will claim the crown.”
Lucas folded his arms.
“Sounds simple.”
Ariana glanced at him.
“It’s not?”
Lucas laughed quietly.
“Not even close.”
The voice continued.
“The final winner will gain authority within the academy second only to the council.”
Gasps spread across the courtyard.
“That’s huge.”
“They’ll control student leadership.”
“They’ll have influence over everything.”
The voice paused again.
“And those who fail…”
The atmosphere turned cold.
“…will lose their place in Elite Academy.”
The courtyard fell silent again.
Ariana narrowed her eyes slightly.
“Lose their place?”
Lucas nodded.
“They’ll be expelled.”
Across the courtyard, Vanessa watched Ariana carefully.
“So,” she murmured.
“We’re finally on the same battlefield.”
Her friend looked nervous.
“Vanessa Ariana might actually be dangerous.”
Vanessa’s lips curved slowly.
“That’s exactly why this will be fun.”
Her gaze sharpened.
“Because the Elite Crown Selection doesn’t just test strength.”
“It exposes weakness.”
She glanced at Ariana again.
“And everyone has one.”
Later that afternoon, Ariana walked through the academy gardens.
The noise of the campus had grown even louder.
Students everywhere were discussing the competition.
Lucas followed beside her.
“You just jumped straight into the academy’s most brutal event.”
Ariana sat on a stone bench.
“You make it sound exciting.”
Lucas laughed.
“Oh, it is.”
He sat beside her.
“But it’s also dangerous.”
Ariana studied him.
“You still haven’t told me why you helped me.”
Lucas leaned back slightly.
“Maybe I’m curious.”
“About what?”
“Whether you’re really like your parents.”
Ariana’s eyes narrowed.
“And if I am?”
Lucas smiled faintly.
“Then this academy is about to change forever.”
Before Ariana could reply
A shadow fell across the garden path.
Vanessa stood there.
Her eyes glittered with challenge.
“Well,” she said smoothly.
“Looks like we’re competitors now.”
Ariana stood slowly.
“Looks like it.”
Vanessa stepped closer.
“You should know something about the Crown Selection.”
Ariana waited.
Vanessa smiled.
“Only the strongest survive.”
Her voice dropped.
“And I don’t lose.”
Ariana met her gaze without hesitation.
“Then this will be your first time.”
For a brief moment, the air between them felt electric.
Lucas watched quietly.
Then Vanessa laughed.
“Oh Ariana…”
She turned and walked away.
“You have no idea what kind of enemies you just made.”
That night, Ariana returned to her dorm.
The campus outside buzzed with excitement.
But something about the atmosphere felt darker now.
More dangerous.
She placed the Crown Selection announcement card on her desk.
Five candidates.
Only one winner.
Her thoughts drifted back to the council’s revelation.
Her parents.
Their disappearance.
The truth that had been hidden.
Ariana clenched her fists slightly.
“If this academy destroyed them…”
Her voice was barely a whisper.
“Then I’ll expose everything.”
Suddenly
A message appeared on her phone.
Unknown number.
She opened it slowly.
Only three words were written.
“You’re being watched.”
Ariana frowned.
Then another message appeared.
“And not by the council.”
Her heartbeat quickened.
She typed quickly.
Who is this?
The reply came instantly.
“Someone who wants you to survive the Crown Selection.”
Ariana’s eyes narrowed.
Why help me?
The final message appeared.
And this time…
Her breath caught.
“Because your parents were trying to protect something.”
“And the council will kill to keep it hidden.”
Ariana stared at the screen.
Then one last message appeared.
“Tomorrow night.”
“The old library.”
“Come alone.”
The phone screen went dark.
Ariana slowly looked out the dorm window toward the shadowed academy buildings.
Somewhere inside Elite Academy…
Someone else knew the truth.
And they were reaching out to her.
Ariana whispered to herself:
“Who sent that message?”
But deep inside the academy…
A hidden figure watched the glowing screen of another phone.
And whispered quietly.
“The queen has entered the board.”
- Writer
