I wake up to the sound of our housekeeper bot whirring around.

"Good morning, Varolen," Mynx beeps, a blue pixelated smiley face visible on its screen. "What would you like for breakfast today?"

"Um..." I hesitate for a moment. "Onigiri? With some omurice?"

"Will do. Please get dressed and brush your teeth as soon as possible. Your parents await you downstairs." Just as the bot exits the door, they add," Happy birthday!"

I get out of bed with the enthusiasm of a snail. Not that I'd know how snails move when they're enthusiastic, but I'd predict it would be something along the lines of slow.

The first thing I do is open the white cloth window blinds and admire the city below. My family might not live in a mansion, but we live in a tall building with just as many features.

The sight of Feroline usually calms my jittery nerves down. Today, it's not working.

The colorful domino-like buildings seem to stand more menacingly this morning, bronze windows shining like glaring eyes.

The sky is a light cotton blue, with only a small wisp of cloud.

I tear my gaze away and proceed to the restroom right next door. As I brush my teeth, I avoid glancing in the mirror.

I already know what I look like. Scruffy dark hair, a mole on the nose, and a few traces of acne on my cheeks. Wary brown eyes and chubby cheeks. Skinny frame that looks nothing more than skin on bones.

The bathroom doesn't look as terrible as me, though. The bathtub is built into the ground, making it look like a large rectangle with a spout. The mirror is gilded with silver, and the sink is made of smooth granite.

I wash my face, make no attempt to comb my hair, and make my way back to my bedroom to get dressed. As I do, I briefly scan my desk.

My review sheets from yesterday are in a pile, most likely organized by Mynx before they woke me up. In another pile are my old tests, scores in red pen peeping out.

Perfect scores all around.

On the right side of my desk, a transparent box with silver gravel sits, where my robotic chick resides. My pet waddles up the little ramp into the second floor I gave it. Its habitat is more colorful than half the city.

Next to the box is a series of twisted wires. It forms a half finished dragon, mouth open in a snarl.

In the center of my desk sits a pile of books.

I glance around the room quickly and shove the books back under my bed. Mynx must've dug them out when they were cleaning my room.

If my parents knew, they would never approve.

It's the year 2150. They'd say it's a waste of time. Everything is online now, why bother with paper?

Personally, I find paper comforting to work with. At least those can't be stolen by any hackers.

I stuff my wire dragon into the drawer too, where it lands with the rest of my creations that my parents won't see.

You might wonder why my parents seem to disapprove of these things. Come with me, I'll show you.

I check my phone as I go downstairs to the living room. The aroma of egg and rice hits me like a wave as I settle down on the cherrywood cushioned chair.

Notifications scream at me from the screen.

12:01 AM. Rel: Bruh the teacher can't take crap seriously these days like wtf man I was just joking just let me fricken be goddam someday I'm gonna kill myself and it's all gonna be ur fault cuz ain't no way i'm putting up with this anymore this mf needs to get their brain checked

12:01 AM. Rel: dude Tekkular gave me the worst rolls to ever fricken exist can you believe that

12:02 AM. Rel: It's like nothing works out for me bro like c'mon life get yourself together...

That message ends off in a "Tap to see more."

Below that message is another one from a different person.

11:07 PM. Ceres: Yo Var can you help me with homework real quick? I know it's due next week but I wanna get it done now pleaseeeeee

11:30 PM. Ceres: Var? Wya?

It doesn't end there.

10:56 PM. Ria: hello how's ur day

I slide my phone back into my pocket. I'll just deal with them later. It's fine.

Mynx rolls towards me with food on their tray. "Here's your breakfast, sir."

At that moment, my parents came down the stairs as well.

"Good luck on your Test," my father says distractedly, slumping on the red sofa. He turns on the TV without looking at me once.

"Happy birthday!" my mother cries, hugging me. "Good luck on your Test! Do you want anything for your eighteenth?"

"No, it's fine," I say hastily. My parents already work hard enough. Eye circles and sallow cheeks are visible on both of them. No need to tax them more.

"How are you feeling?"

I bite into the onigiri and take my time responding. The rice and salmon is piping hot, just the way I like it. "Fine."

"I know you'll get a good score, so don't worry too much about it!" My mother spares a glance at the analog clock on the wall and curses. "I'll get going now- See you later!"

"Bye mom!" I wave as she exits the room.

"Mynx," my father says. "Get me an omelet."

"We ran out of eggs," Mynx replies. "Would you like to have something else for breakfast?"

My father eyes my omurice jealously. "Stupid boy, why'd you use all the eggs? Good for nothing bastard..."

I deliberately avoid his gaze. There's no point arguing back.

"Don't disrespect me like that," my father growls.

"Sorry," I reply with the meekest tone I can muster.

"You got an attitude now, big boy?"

"No sir."

My father sinks back onto the couch, clearly unsatisfied.

"Do you want my omurice then?" I ask.

"Oh, now you're trying to be nice?"

I decide to gobble down the rest of my breakfast before my father admonishes me more. Again, I tell myself. No point arguing.

My eyes drift towards the silver family tree on the wall in front of me.

It bears names of our family from around 5 generations back. The earliest generation is missing a few names. It starts with Liana Yertop, and ends with Varolen Myrk.

Liana Yertop's line fans out into 3 different branches, which in turn fan out into 6. Our family gatherings are rambunctious, to say the least.

Near the bottom of the tree, I see my parent's names. Victor Myrk and Valerie Myrk, maiden name Drusill. They are linked to form two branches.

Me, Valoren Myrk. And my sister, Vienna Myrk.

On each name plaque is the Intelligence score and district of the corresponding person. As I rake the family tree again with my gaze, I scan those numbers.

87. 82. 91. 83. 93. 84. 93. 81. 89. 90. 86. 94. 92. 87. 81. 92. 84.

And so on, within the range 80 - 95.

All of them are either in Math or Science.

I reach the middle of the tree when I see the outcast leaf. On the plaque is the name Robert Myrk, my father's brother, and therefore my uncle.

His score was 79.

No one knows what happened to him. I haven't tried to look into our family history or ask my parents, for fear of what might happen if I did.

I return to the bottom of the tree. My sister, Vienna, has the highest Intelligence score known to all of Omniscern. She is the only one who has ever gotten a triple digit number.

100.

Vienna took the Test 9 years prior. She studied months before her Testing Day. When she returned home, our parents were so happy. My dad had still been himself.

I remember my sister woke me up at 10 that night, long black hair spilling over her shoulder.

*******

"Var," she said softly. "Do you want to come with me?"

"Where are you going?" eleven year old me asked.

"I'm running away."

"But why?" My eleven year old self was immensely envious of her score at the time, and the attention she was getting. "You have everything you want!"

"No, Var, you don't get it-"

"Of course not!"

Silence fell between us.

"The test doesn't mean everything." Sadness lingered in her eyes. "Come with me."

"I... I dunno..."

Silence fell again.

"Even if you don't come," my sister said. "Remember this: When it's your time to take the Test, be careful."

"Be careful? Of what?"

Vienna looked away. The moonlight from the window made the pale skin of her neck shine. "Tell Mom and Dad I said goodbye."

The next day, she was gone.

*******

I have to get a good score. Even if it's just a flat 80.

Then I can help my parents with the never ending financial problems. I can take the burden off their shoulders, and get ourselves a house instead of an apartment.

I can help build their dream life.

And once I get a good score, I'll enroll into Summerstern Academy next year.

That might be a little high, aiming for one of the four most prestigious academies in the entire country. But I'll do it.

I'll get the score, go to Summerstern, study and get my certification, then get a high paying job and help my parents retire early.

But, that begins with me going to school.

I pick up my tablet from the TV table and head out the door.

Again, it's 2150. We don't use backpacks, pencils, or notebooks. Everything's online.