Valmont Series - Inheritance Code

Chapter 2.2 - Syntax Awake

The corridor unfolded around them in elegant, silent choreography.

Each step triggered the kinetic glass beneath their feet to glow softly, illuminating a silver pathway that seemed to materialize just ahead, then fade behind them. It was like walking through a living interface.

Aria adjusted the slim strap of her shoulder bag, eyes darting.

Where were the students? The advisors? The welcoming committee?

This didn't feel like any school.

This felt like... entering the nucleus of something that didn't need to explain itself.

"Where is everyone?" she muttered.

"Protocol states orientation is private," Hermes said cheerfully from ahead, his movements fluid as he glided just fast enough to make them keep up. "Avalon prefers... curated introductions."

Before Aria could ask what that meant, they arrived.

The corridor ended abruptly, opening into a vaulted atrium that seemed carved entirely from glass and pale stone.

Everything here glowed faintly—white, silver, soft blues—without obvious light sources.

It felt weightless. Almost holy.

At the center stood two circular platforms, softly illuminated from below.

"Step forward," Hermes instructed smoothly. "Academic Placement Verification."

Aiden didn't hesitate. He moved first, stepping onto the platform to his left.

Aria followed slower, half out of suspicion, half out of stubbornness. The platform lit up the moment her foot touched the glass.

Without warning, thin beams of light scanned them from head to toe.

No sound. No vibration.

Just the faintest tingle across their skin as data began compiling in midair.

Aria tensed. "Seriously? Not even a 'good luck'?"

Hermes gave what could only be described as a diplomatic shrug.

"Academic Placement complete."

Aiden's data finished first.

LANCASTER, AIDEN – Academic Placement: Level 8. Preliminary Acceleration Track Approved.

He barely reacted, though Aria saw the faint flicker of satisfaction in his eyes.

Hers followed moments later.

LANCASTER, ARIA – Academic Placement: Level 6. Standard Track Confirmed.

Aria stared. Level 6?

Standard?

Her throat tightened. Back in Sydney, she balanced straight A's between runway calls, photoshoots, and essays — and still made it look effortless.

Here, that barely got her off the baseline.

It made sense, though.

Aiden had always been different.

While she perfected essays between runway calls, he built AI modules from scratch. Ran machine learning experiments for fun. Filed provisional patents. He didn't just study — he produced.

If Avalon rewarded momentum and invention, Level 8 was practically carved in stone for him.

Hermes, ever attuned to emotional responses, detected her flicker of displeasure.