I trailed behind Lanzo with a lot of things piling up in my mind. The girl in the picture was only a tiny part of what this academy held behind its back. I was sure that there were more secrets they kept.

Lanzo brought me to the library. The towering bookshelves grabbed my attention as soon as we entered inside. This fascinating enormous room provided various types of books that I'd never seen before.

"What do you think of this place?" Lanzo spoke to me in a normal tone.

"It's fantastic." I looked around the books on the shelves. As an avid reader, it was the best place ever to quench my thirst for reading good books.

Busying myself with the books in my hand had consumed my time in the library. It was only when Lanzo notified me that I realized we had already taken an hour in the room.

"You can visit the library as frequently as possible later but now let's get back to the hall; the assembly will start in ten minutes."

We marched in a hurry toward the hall where the assembly was about to start. The assembly was kind of Intelligentsia's welcoming ceremony.

The hall was tremendously big with a podium on the stage; a big screen set on the wall just near the dais.

The intelligentsias had gathered in the room and settled at the seat the committee provided for them. Each seat had Intelligentsia's name on it.

A group of Academics stayed on the left and right of the stage in silence, joining the assembly solemnly.

I took a seat in the front row next to Lanzo. It was such a coincidence that that boy sat beside me. But, he was just mum during the opening of the assembly.

The MC began the procession. That red short-haired young woman allowed the head of the academy to deliver a speech on the stage after she greeted all the audiences and read the rundown of the event.

"It is such an honor to have you in our academy," the head of the academy commenced the speech. "This academy is established for those who crave to enrich their knowledge, enhance their skill, and broaden their networking. Not only do we provide you with more opportunities, but we also assist you with your career upon your completion from this academy," he paused. His eyes traveled around the room, catching all the students' faces. "On this occasion, I would like to personally wish you a huge congratulation to get to this phase. Being admitted to this academy is not an easy thing. You have to compete with thousands of other candidates across the continents. And when you make it, it is such a great accomplishment for you. Only those who meet our criteria and standard can sit in the hall in front of me right now."He took a breath before he continued.

"And now I would like to introduce you to the president of the school foundation, Ms. Vermont." He turned his head to the young woman in a striking red long blazer with blond hair and blue eyes. Her crimson red lips displayed a broad smile to anyone in the room while bowing her head.

"She is the only child and the heir of the former late president And she is here to welcome you all," thank you Ms. Veramon," the head of the academy conveyed his gratitude to her and she responded with her sweet smile. "I hope you will enjoy studying in this academy and experiencing the best things during your school life. If you have any inquiries or need assistance regarding academic matters, the academics are always there for you to reach out to." He ended his discourse with applause from the audience and climbed down to his seat.

The MC got back to her position on the stage. She announced the next agenda. It was the time for Ms. Veramont to say her words.

That tall lean woman got on the stage elegantly and confidently. She was in her late thirty but he looked like a 20-year-old girl, too young for her age.

She held the microphone handed by the MC and stared right at the intelligentsia before her. Her lips motioned and a few words escaped.

"Good morning, future generations of the Academy of Haut. I am standing here on the behalf of the school foundation to welcome you to this event as well as the academy. Please enjoy your moments. Thank you."

That was all she could convey before she walked down the stage. After a few seconds, we clapped our hands to give her late applause.

"Doesn't she have more to say?" a girl with ebony hair near me whispered to her friend next to her.

"I guess she doesn't fancy to talk too much." Her friend replied.

"May I have your attention, please?" The MC grabbed our attention as the audience started babbling out. We all concentrated back on her who was now closing the assembly.

Ms. Veramon left the hall followed by her secretary. All eyes wandered to where she went. Her bodyguard had been waiting outside and guarding her to her car to ensure her safety. The sprawling door enables people to see her sliding into the car.

It was no wonder that she paid a bodyguard to protect her; she was one of the most important people to support this Academy to run. The intelligentsias could access education in the Academy of Haut for free. That's why it attracted children from all the continents to study here.

During the ceremony, Lanzo just kept his. mouth shut; he wasn't even interested in the event. He rushed out of the hall as soon as the MC dismissed the meeting.

The crowds of people proceeded out of the room and I was among them who had to patiently wait in line to get out of the building.

"Ouch…" a girl behind her groaned while my body moved forward. She tripped over. That put me in shock. I peeked through my shoulder. The girl behind me was confronting a boy who caused her to tumble. "Can you be careful? We are all in a rush."

"Ups...sorry...I.thought you weren't there as you are too short as a girl," that boy in red hair quipped. That girl wasn't too short, she had an average height, just one inch or two shorter than me.

"What? How dare you…?"

"Can you move guys? You're blocking our ways!" Another boy in the back protested. That girl hissed then stopped arguing.

"You're ok?" She asked me who merely answered with a slight bow that I was fine. "Good. Sorry for the inconvenience. This is what happens when we have to deal with the selfish person."

"It's alright." I cut her off before the boy heard our conversation and induced another fight.

"You are?"

"I am Dylanesa, a new intelligentsia."

"Sorry, I thought you were one of the seniors. My name is Marin, by the way."

"Do I look older?"

"No, I just bumped into a senior who just looked like you." I swiveled because her words startled me. I just saw the girl in the picture who resembled me and her confession struck me with another fact. "It's like she and you have a similarity. I wonder if she is your sister."

"I don't have a sister." I had to see myself for what she looked like.

We were no longer involved in a talk as we had to head to the lounge where we would attend the welcoming lunch.

I was more curious about the girl whom Marin talked about. How many girls in this academy looked like me? And how come?