Royal Reboot: Level up, Your Majesty!

Queen vs Queen Bee

1

Eydis took the end seat at the long ten-person table, next to Natalia, who was already deep in conversation with Colette and Birgit. Her plate made a dull sound against the wood as she set it down. Eggs, hash browns, some toast she didn’t remember grabbing.

She picked up the coffee, took a sip, and immediately regretted it. Bitter. Over-extracted, possibly scorched. Drinkable, but only just.

Her eyes wandered as she scanned the dining hall. It was certainly designed to impress, with exposed merbau beams curving high above in the style of an old chapel. Coloured light from stained-glass windows filtered down onto the polished mahogany panels.

She watched the spacious room fill at its own lazy pace as students drifted in, half-asleep and half-interested. Understandable, since it was barely seven. Coffee and warm bread tried their best to lift the mood. Butter helped. Still, something about it felt unfinished.

Bland.

A Cerberus statue would certainly elevate this place: something hulking and majestic beneath that gaudy chandelier. Or better yet, candles flickering unevenly.

Let the shadows speak.

Her lips twitched despite herself.

A fork waved into view. “You’ve got that look,” Natalia said, squinting.

Eydis blinked. “What look?”

“The ‘scheming something ridiculous’ look.”

Eydis considered that. Then nodded. “This place could use a Cerberus sculpture.”

Colette sputtered into her tea. “Pardon?” Her French accent clipped the word cleanly as she lowered her cup. With skin that seemed to drink in the light, she was unlike anyone Eydis had ever seen in her own world.

Natalia snorted. “You have to be joking.”

Birgit pushed her glasses up, studying Eydis like she was trying to solve for X. “Wait. You’re not joking?” Her voice was soft, precise. German maybe.

Eydis jabbed at the eggs. Rubber. Possibly plastic. She frowned. “This school’s got an identity crisis.”

“Our academy is quite prestigious, you know,” Natalia said around a mouthful of food. “I don’t think a mythological beast fits the vibe.”

“Prestigious how, exactly?” Eydis asked. “Because it’s definitely not for the food.”

Colette set down her tea cup. “Have you forgotten? There are three cliques here: Gifted, Talented, and Elite.”

"And the difference between Gifted and Talented?" Eydis asked.

Just as Colette was about to reply, a voice cut in sharply.

"Oh, look! If it isn’t the loser table.”

Tiffany.

Eydis didn’t bother turning. The sound of synchronised laughter trailing behind her was enough of a giveaway. So was the cloying perfume. 

Tiffany strolled right up to their table. Eydis met her gaze, smirking. Colette and Birgit exchanged glances, shifting uncomfortably. Natalia, however, was already in fight mode.

She slammed her fork down. “Don’t think we’ve forgotten what you did to Eydis yesterday.”

Tiffany folded her arms. “And what do you plan to do about it, ginger?”

Natalia stood, voice rising. “I’ll take it to the Dean. You’ve gone too far.”

Laughter sparked nearby, not cruel, just resigned. Everyone knew how that would play out. Tiffany had a way of staying untouchable.

Eydis sighed inwardly. Wrong move. Sweet, sincere Natalia was playing by rules that didn’t exist here. It should have irritated her. Instead, she found the earnestness of it almost… unexpectedly refreshing.

Tiffany leaned in close. “Report me? And what proof do you have? Unless, of course, you want everyone to know what a clumsy little oaf your precious loser friend is.”

And with that, she shoved.

Natalia stumbled back, but Eydis was already moving. She caught her just before impact, an arm braced around her waist. 

The tray, however, was not so lucky. It flipped, its contents scattering across the table and splashing onto her skirt.

Tiffany stepped back, hands on her hips. “Oops! How clumsy of you. Try not to trip over nothing next time.” She tossed her hair and left, her entourage trailing behind, giggling.

Colette and Birgit rushed to Natalia, whose face burned with anger and humiliation. She blinked rapidly.

“I’m going to change. And I am reporting this.”

Natalia turned sharply on her heel before the others could stop her.

Eydis watched, fingers tapping against the table in thought. The entire display had been… predictable. Another petty flex of social hierarchy, nothing she hadn’t seen before.

And yet…

The slight tremor of Natalia’s fingers. The way her eyes had glistened with the threat of tears she refused to shed.

Eydis narrowed her eyes and pushed her untouched meal aside.

It seemed she had an errand to run.

Leaning casually against the doorframe of Natalia’s dorm with arms crossed, Eydis said, “I need a list of Tiffany’s inner circle.”

Natalia reacted with a slight jump, her hands freezing on her skirt. “What—how did you even find my room?”

“It wasn’t difficult.”

“I locked the door,” Natalia grumbled.

Eydis didn’t blink. “Locks are mostly symbolic.”

“They’re not supposed to be,” Natalia muttered, tugging her blazer closed with a huff before shaking her head and asking, “Can I have a minute?”

Eydis stayed where she was.

Natalia’s cheeks flushed. “You mean now? While I’m changing?”

“I don’t see the issue.”

“The issue is you standing there not seeing the issue.”

“We’re both female. That makes it irrelevant,” Eydis declared, a statement she instantly regretted as the memory of Astra, the love poem, and the kiss flashed through her mind, reminding her that gender was not the singular determining factor for attraction in this world.

She sighed, turned around, and pulled the door shut. “Humans...”

The sound of rustling clothes followed, and Natalia’s voice, now softer, spoke from behind. “It’s not about categories. I just get… self-conscious.”

“You’re assuming I belong to one,” Eydis said.

“I didn’t—look, forget it,” Natalia mumbled. “You’re over Astra, then? She looked upset last night.”

“She wasn't exactly waiting up when I got back," Eydis replied. "Do you think I could request a private room?"

"Private room?” Natalia repeated. “Only two people get that. A-Class Gifted council members. Athena and Theo. President and VP.”

She paused. “Wait… Astra’s A-Class, isn’t she? And on the council?”

“Are you telling me or asking me?”

Natalia shrugged. “Okay, fair. It’s just… kinda weird she didn’t request one. All done.”

Eydis turned around to face Natalia. “Gifted. What exactly does that mean here?”

Natalia tied her red hair into a quick ponytail. “There are three categories: Elites, Tiffany types. Rich families, legacy admissions. Then the Talented, like you. Tested in. Earned it. And finally…”

"The Gifted?"

"Yeah. People with… abilities.” Natalia hesitated on the word.

Abilities. So, magic. That explained then. "Are you Gifted too?"

Natalia stiffened visibly at the question. "How did you...?"

"Your reaction to the Eye was different," Eydis said. "You weren't scared. And considering how Tiffany treats you, I'm guessing you're hiding it."

A muscle in Natalia's jaw twitched. "Gifted students go to regular classes, but we also get training. Control, surveillance, that kind of thing. They track us.”

“Sounds intrusive.”

“It is,” Natalia replied flatly. “They define us by how dangerous we might be.”

“But it must help,” Eydis said. “Against people like Tiffany.”

Natalia’s usual bubbly exterior faltered briefly.  “I don’t like being labeled,” she muttered. Her gaze dropped. “I’m more than a set of stats or a potential threat—“

“Or a possibility,” Eydis replied without missing a beat, her expression softening into a small, genuine smile.

Natalia blinked, caught off guard before clearing her throat and refocusing on the original topic. “Right. Uh. Tiffany’s group.”

She reached for a thick volume on the shelf and handed it over.

St. Kevin’s 2049 Yearbook.

Eydis flipped through the pages, scanning efficiently. Natalia pointed out names, faces, and lines of connection.

A slow smile tugged at the corner of Eydis’s mouth.

Information. At last. Something solid. Something she could use.

Natalia studied her in silence. Her expression gave nothing away.