Everyone has gathered in the ship’s main hall as their vessel approaches the ports of Olympia. People from all over the world have formed five groups of forty each to prepare them for the welcome ceremony. However, one group out of the five stands a head taller than the rest.
This is the group of students who scored highest in the entrance exam to Olympia - the most prestigious academy on the planet and its colonies. And in the center of it is a certain white-haired girl called Venus Marigold.
Standing even taller than the tallest, Venus enjoys the honor of being that batch’s top student. Scoring perfectly in every regard, she currently dominates the entire room. Every talk and gossip in the room involves her in some way - whether it is to discuss her academic excellence, to envy her scores, to admire her looks, and even to lust after her body. Whatever it is that they are talking about, it will involve her in some way.
It doesn’t bother her, though. Venus Marigold is locked in her own world away from the talks and the gossip that fills the room she occupies. Her thoughts are away from what the others see as important as her ears only hear the words of her aid, fellow student and the 6th rank Joseph Gavin.
“…and so, my lady, I would advise against you mingling with the other students. It simply is too dangerous,” Gavin said with consummate professionalism.
“I’ve told you, Gavin, everything is under control. I know what I’m doing.”
“But Lady Marigold, your father-”
“My father doesn’t get a say about how I choose to act and neither do you!” Venus said in a firm voice, silencing Gavin. She then took a deep breath to calm herself before speaking again. “You are here to aid me in my endeavor. That is what we agreed upon.”
“I understand.”
Gavin walked away, leaving Venus alone in the middle of a crowd. She looked around, though without leaving the spot she stands on. Soon, however, she felt a cold chill run up her spine. The feeling that one would feel when one feels that someone is watching them. Slowly creeping up to them…
“Hello!”
The voice caused Venus to stumble forwards, nearly tripping on her own foot. Luckily, her experience in ballet saved her from the fall.
“Sorry…” the voice said.
She turned around to see the origin of the mischievous sound that nearly embarrassed her in front of a crowd.
Behind her is a girl of about the same age. Her skin looked darker than what is presumably a copper tan line left by a watch no longer worn would suggest, which led Venus to believe that this stranger spent a lot of time under the sun. “Hello?” Her muscles are lean and toned, which would suggest that this time is used exercising - a rarity in a society overly reliant on an automated world. “Hello?” Finally, a faint gloss suggests that she just finished doing whatever workout she does before coming into the air-conditioned room.
“Hello?”
The voice once again startled Venus, pulling her back down to earth and causing her to stumble backwards and be once again saved by her ballet.
The girl was ecstatic. “Finally! A reaction!” she said. “You’ve been staring at me for so long I was worried for a moment that I gave you a heart attack and you died standing up!”
Venus gathered her thoughts and took a deep breath before speaking in an exasperated tone. “Don’t do that ever again.”
The girl giggled a bit before replying. “Sure, but only if you don’t space out like that in return.”
She sighed both in relief and in disbelief. “So, what can I do for you?”
“I noticed that you are having an argument with that guy, so I thought I’d come over to help.”
“After we have already finished?”
“The room is really crowded… sorry…”
“Well, thank you for caring but there was no problem at all. Just a private spat between two friends.”
“I see… Anyways, I’m Julia August, Rank 10!” She extended her hand.
She figured that this girl would be in the first class, so it came to no surprise. “Venus Marigold. Pleasure to meet you.” She said, taking her hand to shake it.
Which is why she is so surprised to be pulled into a tight embrace - something that would’ve been a pleasant experience for her, especially with such a beautiful woman, if not for the fact that her sweat makes her skin sticky. Thankfully, it’s dry, so there’s not much to transfer.
“Pleasure meeting you, too!” Julia said, releasing her. “See you around!”
She disappeared into the crowd as soon as she spoke, letting Venus sighed a sigh of relief.
“Y’look really drained.”
‘Great.’
Venus turned around to see who she had to deal with next. She’s clearly from the Japanese region of the Gracian Empire if the pin of the rising sun flag on her collar is anything to go by - the fervor nationalism and separatism of the area is nothing to scoff at, comparable to that of the early 21st century Texas. It’s no wonder that the Gracious Military has yet to leave the area even after 68 years of occupation.
“Huh? What’re you staring at? You looking down on me, Yuki?”
Her train of thought is brought to a screeching halt by her rambling.
“I’ll have y’know that I, Sato Mei, secured the 3rd spot in the exam! So don’t think that your first intimidates me!”
That is when the academic realized that she should’ve kept Julia around. “…Sorry…”
“Anyways, I just noticed that you were talking to that Julia girl. She’s a real bitch, ain’t she? Saw how much you hated her in your eyes.”
There is a sudden change in Venus’ face. “Get lost,” she said.
“See, I can still see the- wait a minute!”
“I said get lost. I have no need for your slander or your ramblings.”
“What did you say? I’ll have you know that my brother is friends with the King! I can have you killed right here, right now!”
“The King? Don’t make me laugh. Even if what you say is true, he wouldn’t do something as stupid as kill me. Not even at a close friend’s request.”
“Why you- Are you calling me a liar?”
“No, but I’m calling you a bitch. A bitch who thinks so highly of herself just because she got a little taste of success. Hell, I doubt you got here through your own merit. Now, as I said, get lost. I’ve no need for fools who only know how to bring others down.”
***
A girl breathed heavily as she slept in her bed. The moon illuminated the room from a small window as the ship they’re in gently rocked through the pacific. “You’re mine. Your body… Your soul… Your life… Is mine. Nothing you do will ever change that. You can run. You can hide. But you will always be mine.”
The girl woke up in cold sweat, feeling a chill up her spine as she did. A tear ran down her face as she embraced herself. “It’s just a dream…”
YOU ARE READING
OLYMPIA
General FictionVenus Marigold is a girl shrouded in mystery. Her past, her thoughts, and her entire being is known only to herself. All everyone knew about her is that, one day, she appeared and aced the exam on Olympia, the most prestigious of all academies, and...
