Elyandra walked through the bustling corridors of the Royal Academy of Magic, her footsteps echoing softly on the polished stone floor. Her mind was absorbed in the intriguing encounter with Celestina in the dining hall.
"I wish I had asked more," she reflected, slightly knitting her brows. "About her being a Saint... about what she meant by 'sharing the same fate.' But the break ended so quickly... and everyone scattered."
A sting of frustration hit her. Information about other Saints was extremely rare and valuable. House Valemortis had always kept her isolated from that aspect of her identity, and the opportunity to learn more had slipped through her fingers.
"On the other hand," she thought, a sigh of relief escaping her lips, "it was a relief to get away from that table. Being the center of so many eyes... it's exhausting."
She mentally consulted the schedule provided to them. The next activity was a campus presentation. It was an opportunity to familiarize herself with the vast estate, its facilities, and its secrets.
Following the previous instructions, Elyandra headed to a large garden that stretched beyond the main buildings. Upon arriving at the indicated spot, she found an extensive class of candidates, all gathered in dispersed groups, awaiting their respective professors. The atmosphere was expectant, and a low hum of anxious conversation filled the air.
Elyandra approached one of the groups forming, being one of the last to arrive at the meeting point. Her presence, even discreet, did not go unnoticed. Some of the students further ahead in the line noticed her, their eyes widening as they recognized the features and unmistakable aura of a high-caste noble.
A murmur rippled through the small group. The sight of a Valemortis—especially one already seen as a Saint—arriving last caused a certain silent stir. Elyandra, with her sharp perception, caught the expressions of surprise and a certain reverent fear on their faces, but she didn't immediately grasp the meaning of that reaction.
In an instant, as if a silent order had been given, the students in front began to move aside, opening an unexpected path for Elyandra. She watched the movement with an expression of complete confusion.
"What the hell is this?" Elyandra thought, her brow furrowed in a crease of disbelief. "Why are they moving away? I arrived last; I should stay at the end of the line."
One of the girls, with a nervous look and a forced smile, addressed Elyandra, making a hurried bow.
— This way, Lady Valemortis. You may pass.
She gestured, indicating the space that had been opened at the front of the group. Elyandra, still processing the strange situation, hesitantly accepted the invitation and began walking through the improvised corridor.
As she advanced, she could hear the whispers of the other students, a constant hum that made her frown even more.
— "...the Saint... so humble... arriving last..." — "...a Valemortis... such modesty..." — "...a high-caste noble... what an example..."
Elyandra's confusion turned into growing irritation.
"Humble?" she thought. "Modest? I just arrived late! Since when did arriving last in any situation become an act of humility? Isn't the basic sense that whoever arrives last stays last?"
Her mind seethed with the contradiction. She, who had always prized order and logic, was being elevated to a position she didn't understand, based on her status and her sanctity. That special treatment left her deeply uncomfortable and exasperated.
Elyandra finally reached the front of the group, her eyes fixed on the ground, trying to hide the blush rising to her cheeks. The unwanted attention made her uneasy, as she always preferred discretion over ostentation.
Looking up briefly, she observed the other groups scattered across the garden. It was no surprise to notice that the nobles she had shared a table with in the dining hall also stood out. Seraphina Vancroft maintained an elegant posture while listening intently to a professor, a group of lower-nobility students following her with looks of respect. Ernest Thorne, with his contagious smile, gestured animatedly while talking to others. Celestina Lyra stood beside a professor, answering questions in a low voice, with other students watching her with deference. And Arvid Eldrune seemed to be debating a point with his group's professor, the others listening attentively.
It was the natural order of things in that world: the high nobility inevitably gravitated to the front, leading not by choice, but by birthright and status.
Suddenly, a low and inquisitive whisper reached Elyandra's ears from a noble right behind her.
— "Hey... that thing on Lady Elyandra's ear... isn't that a Pureblood black earring?"
The question seemed to propagate quickly, generating a new buzz of comments and curious looks. Elyandra heard the words and felt a pang of irritation. It wasn't her "Pureblood" status that bothered her; indeed, it was a trait that granted her undeniable benefits. What exasperated her was the meaning that "black earring" carried: the mark of a commodity, of a valuable property within that hierarchical system.
Before she could utter a word to silence the whispers, two firm hands rested on her shoulders, one on each side. The sudden touch startled her, her eyes widening slightly. A shadow covered the sunlight bathing her.
Slowly, Elyandra looked up to find the smiling face of Armand Velacroix. The professor stared at her with a playful glint in his eyes.
— Hello, Lady Valemortis — Armand said, his voice melodious and engaging. — It seems I will be the professor responsible for this group. I noticed you waited for the other high-caste nobles to choose their groups first; very noble of you.
A shaky smile formed on Elyandra's lips. This man, with his princely beauty and unexpected attention, left her slightly disconcerted.
Lower-caste noble girls witnessing the interaction couldn't hide their looks of admiration and envy. Whispers of "lucky" and "I wish I had that attention" ran through the group.
Elyandra, for her part, mentally rolled her eyes. "Ridiculous," she thought. "He's handsome, I admit. If I were still a man, I'd probably envy him. But hey, surprise! I was a man. I'm not going to fall for a guy's charm, no matter how much of a 'prince' he looks."
With a polite smile, Elyandra reached up to the hands on her shoulders, giving them a light pat.
— Professor Armand — she said, her voice soft but firm. — Sneaking up behind people isn't exactly... delicate. And others might find this situation a bit strange.
The professor let out a low, enchanting laugh.
— Oh, Lady Valemortis, no need to worry about that. After all, you are still too young to be in my sights. — Armand suddenly turned pensive. — But I must admit, I wouldn't mind waiting another eleven years.
Elyandra maintained a tranquil smile, her golden eyes impassive.
— That could be a problem, Professor.
Her voice was uninterested, but in her mind, the situation hit a new level of weirdness. "Eleven years? Is he flirting with a child? How bizarre!"
Armand let out a melodious laugh.
— Oh, Lady Valemortis, of course it was a joke! I have a lovely wife, and even if I didn't, I would never involve myself with someone so young. It would be... inappropriate, to say the least.
He winked at her.
— I was just trying to break the ice. After all, I'll be your professor if you pass the exams, won't I?
Armand led the group to the Training Zone, a vast open space that looked like a stadium.
— This place is used for practical training in magic, swordsmanship, and other activities — Armand explained. — The structure of this place was set up with runes to protect students.
To illustrate, he walked to the center of a fighting octagon. With a soft thud, two enormous slabs of earth and stone rose from the ground. They moved toward him, ready to crush him. The students gasped, but before the stones hit him, runes on the floor glowed, paralyzing the masses of rock inches from the professor.
— This level of intervention can be adjusted — Armand said calmly.
Elyandra raised her hand.
— What kind of magic do these runes run on, Professor?
— Good question, Lady Valemortis. The runes assimilate the magic presented to them and replicate it. They are powered by Energy Stones buried beneath us.
"Ah, I see," Elyandra thought. "So these stones are basically... batteries." The logical simplicity of the concept made a slight smile appear on her lips.
The Glistening Floor
Armand led them into the main Academy building. The interior was dazzling: the floor, made of incredibly pure marble, was so shiny it reflected the students like a mirror.
Elyandra froze at the entrance. "What the hell is this? RayTracing? This floor probably cost a fortune... But wait... I'm wearing a skirt! How am I supposed to walk in there?!"
— Is something wrong, Lady Valemortis? — the professor asked.
— I apologize, Professor. Nothing is wrong — she said with a serene voice. — I was just wondering if such a glistening floor might reflect the students' dresses.
Armand laughed.
— Oh, Lady Valemortis, don't worry. The floor reflects the surroundings, but it was designed not to reflect people. Look at my reflection.
Elyandra looked and saw that Armand's reflection was blurred, a featureless silhouette. Relieved, she stepped inside. The other girls, who had been terrified, followed her lead only after seeing her go first.
Behind her, the whispers started again: — "How kind of Lady Elyandra to test it for us!" — "She noticed our hesitation and used herself as a test subject." — "She is so noble to have noticed the danger of us being embarrassed so quickly."
Elyandra's mind: "What the hell is going on here?"
The Night Encounter
After the tour, it was revealed that they would stay in the dorms for the duration of the exams. Elyandra sat on a bench in a giant courtyard, watching the night sky.
"This place is so big it doesn't even feel like an academy," she muttered. "How big is this world?"
— What are you doing here, Lady Valemortis? — Armand's voice startled her. He sat beside her.
— Nothing special — she said. — Just wanted to be alone for a bit.
— What did you think of the first day of exams?
— It was as expected — Elyandra replied thoughtfully. — But I couldn't help but notice the questions designed to make candidates fail. I found them a bit dishonest.
Armand burst into a laugh that surprised her. For a moment, she felt like she was talking to an old friend.
— Yes, it's true — Armand admitted. — We designed the exam to eliminate candidates who don't have the specific knowledge we seek. We put in tedious questions so you would fail without noticing.
— And was I one of those eliminated by those questions? — she asked playfully.
— I can't reveal that, Lady Valemortis.
They shared a moment under the moonlight before Armand suggested she rest. Elyandra headed to her assigned room: Room 12.
She turned the handle and walked in.
— I'm sorry for being late.
She had been told she would have a roommate. But as she looked up, she saw someone she never dreamed she would find that night.