The afternoon sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple as Elyandra walked back to the dormitories. The euphoria of passing still echoed in her chest, but it was mixed with the exhaustion from the test and the constant tension of maintaining her persona. She thought about Armand's smile, how he seemed to enjoy other people's suffering, and how, somehow, she had managed to get through his tricks.
"Congratulations, Lady Valemortis." The phrase echoed in her mind, a sweet and unexpected sound. That recognition, even coming from Armand, was an immense relief. It meant that all the effort, all the discipline imposed by Dalia, had been worth it. It was validation not only of her magic, but also of her ability to maintain composure under pressure.
As she approached the dormitory, Elyandra saw Seraphina sitting on the stone bench in front of the entrance, absorbed in a book with a dark cover. The twilight light illuminated her black hair and concentrated expression.
Elyandra hesitated for a moment. The previous conversation with Seraphina had been peculiar. She had called her "strange," and the exchange of barbs about actions and knowledge had seemed more like a provocation than a real dialogue. But the idea of hiding from her roommate didn't appeal to her. She straightened her shoulders, her serene smile returning to her face.
— I thought you wouldn't be back so early — said Seraphina, her voice monotone, without emotion. — It came to my knowledge through my professor that Professor Armand's test usually lasts until nightfall for most candidates.
Elyandra stopped at a respectful distance, observing her roommate.
— I was one of the last ones to be tested today — she replied, with her usual serenity. — And I confess it was not an ordinary test.
Seraphina analyzed her from head to toe, her eyes scanning Elyandra's figure with almost investigative intensity.
— You don't look tired in any way — said Seraphina, her tone neutral and analytical. — What was the purpose of your test?
Elyandra calmly analyzed the question. For a moment, a mischievous thought crossed her mind, a small amused sparkle in her golden eyes. She walked over to Seraphina and sat down beside her on the stone bench, just a few centimeters away.
— I wonder what it was? — said Elyandra, without looking directly at Seraphina, copying the other girl's neutral and somewhat distant tone. — I don't remember right now, to be honest.
Seraphina, who was watching her from the corner of her eye, frowned slightly upon noticing the strange way Elyandra was replicating her own manner of speaking. She turned her gaze back to the book, a faint hint of disappointment in her almost inaudible voice.
— Really? I see.
Both remained silent for a moment, until Elyandra let out a soft laugh that she covered with her hand, amusement sparkling in her eyes. Seraphina noticed the reaction from the corner of her eye but stayed silent, observing. While still laughing lightly, to the point that her eyes watered, Elyandra finally said:
— I'm joking, I'm joking! Well, how can I put it… it was quite… dreadful — said Elyandra, with a slight pause, but without losing her smile. She wiped away the tears of laughter.
Seraphina closed the book, turned her gaze forward, her expression neutral but with a hint of curiosity.
— Dreadful? How so?
Elyandra crossed her legs and rested her hands on her knees, her gaze serene and calm.
— Armand is a peculiar professor. Many students who took his test were failed for the smallest possible mistake. I won't lie — I was quite worried and scared. I kept thinking about what I would do if I failed.
— But you passed, didn't you? — Seraphina interjected, her voice carrying a cold logic. — It's also not unusual to be failed by Professor Armand, from what I've heard about him. Didn't you notice that most of the people who were in your group suddenly disappeared?
Elyandra brought her hands to her chin, a sudden thought hitting her. "Now that she mentioned it, I didn't see the nobles who were with me in the second test… But wait, does that mean Eliora was eliminated? No, that doesn't make sense. She contributed as much as I did in that test."
— I hadn't noticed that — Elyandra admitted, a little embarrassed. — I was too focused, I guess.
Seraphina continued, her tone now more informative than inquisitive.
— There's no need to be too anxious. It may not seem like it, but the only test you need to anxiously wait for results is the final one, since the results of this test take time to be delivered to the students.
— The final one's results take time? — Elyandra questioned, confused. — No, wait a moment, do you already know the results of the previous tests?
Seraphina sighed, a subtle gesture of impatience.
— Seriously? You didn't even study how the tests work?
Elyandra looked to the side, a light blush coloring her cheeks.
— Well… it's a bit embarrassing to say this, but my father was the one responsible for that part. I focused on studying other things.
Seraphina continued, without apparent judgment, but with a hint of resignation.
— The results, such as points, are not something we will know. But the test results are issued basically on the same day. Students who passed the stages continue to the next part; those who failed any stage receive letters on the same day saying that their test did not meet the expected results.
Elyandra thought: "So… the tests are not added up to see if I will pass or not. Each test is already eliminatory. I should have seen that before. Mental note: never again leave my responsibilities in someone else's hands…"
— So that's how it works — said Elyandra, her voice lower. — Interesting. I really didn't know that.
Seraphina stared at her, a sparkle of barely contained amusement in her eyes.
— You are peculiar, Lady Valemortis. It surprises me that you have come this far, even while being so poorly informed.
That comment hit Elyandra like a stab in the back. She turned her face toward Seraphina, a pout forming on her lips.
— Lady Vancroft, you don't need to be so sharp! — Elyandra grumbled, annoyance in her voice.
Seraphina, for a moment, allowed herself a slight smile, something rare on her usually serious face. Elyandra noticed and became a little confused by the reaction.
— In some way, I like how you behave — said Seraphina, the smile vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. — I will definitely enter the academy. I hope to see you there.
Her voice was filled with surprising ego, an unshakable conviction.
— You speak with incredible certainty, Lady Vancroft — observed Elyandra, surprised.
— But of course. Do you know why? — Seraphina asked, her eyes meeting Elyandra's golden ones with challenging intensity.
The two stared at each other, eyes locked.
— Because this is my current life goal. It is something I want. That is why I am certain I will succeed. — Seraphina raised her hand, holding the book as if pointing it at Elyandra, a gesture that seemed like an accusation. — And what about you, Valemortis? What is your goal?
Elyandra heard that and her face showed a surprised look, practically left speechless.
— My… goal?
The night echoed in silence in the dormitory room. Seraphina slept peacefully in her impeccably made bed, while Elyandra stared at the ceiling, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. She reproached herself for not having had an answer for Seraphina, that simple question that had disarmed her: "What is your goal?"
"What is my real goal?" she thought. "Conquer the world? I haven't thought about that since Siris left. Enter the academy? Well, it was something I found interesting while studying the empire. For a while I thought that would be the best path, but… is that really what I want?"
Various memories from her old life, the man's life, began to return. Days when he would wake up and stare at the ceiling, wondering what he really wanted to do, which path he would take, what he wanted, and whether anything he did was truly by his own choice. But he never had an answer.
A sharp slap to her own face. A sting that made her face tremble, and a cute sound of "Ouch." Elyandra forced herself to focus. "My head is a mess. It's been so long since I left that damn life, why is it still bothering me here?"
She turned in bed, adjusting the pillow to get more comfortable. She continued thinking. "Life goals and the future… it feels like that path doesn't exist… I mean, does it feel like I have nowhere to go? What kind of mental limitation is this?!"
She buried her face in the pillow, tossing and turning in bed like an annoyed cat. Beside her, with a confused look, Seraphina — who had woken up from the movement — stared at her in silence. "Elyandra Valemortis, you really are very strange," Seraphina thought, a slight trace of amusement at the corner of her lips.
Seraphina then turned to the other side, going back to sleep with the same tranquility. Meanwhile, Elyandra stopped, sulking, and thought: "Ignorance is a blessing. Never has a phrase made so much sense. Aaaah! I don't want to have to do anything, damn it! That thought isn't right either, but what the hell do I want to do?"
She pulled the blanket over herself and hid like a caterpillar, sinking under the fabric. "Focus, focus! I'm clearly in an isekai world. I was born into a rich family, full of influential people, I'm a rare little girl in this place. I have plenty of goals, right? Yes, just because I haven't found something I like to do yet doesn't mean it doesn't exist… No, wait! That's the kind of thought I would have had in my previous life, but what the hell!"
The night passed as turbulent as it had begun for Elyandra. In the morning, Seraphina woke up and stretched, her hand reaching for a comb meticulously placed beside her. She brushed her black hair, leaving it with the same noble silhouette as always. Her eyes then looked at the bed beside her and noticed that, once again, Elyandra was not there. A thought crossed her mind: "Potential and discipline — two things she has in abundance, but it seems she still doesn't know what to do with them. What an entertaining person you are, Elyandra."
Far away, Elyandra was once again running at full speed across the campus. She had run so much that her legs were starting to hurt. She stopped, sweaty and panting, staring at the flat path ahead. "Goals… what do I want? Conquer the world? That kind of thought even sounds like a joke, I mean… it's not like I have the power and influence to conquer the entire world." She stood up, looking upward. "I'm suffering from main character syndrome. The world doesn't revolve around me. It's not like I can change people's minds just by saying something."
Elyandra did a few small jumps, stretching, and continued thinking. "I already have a promising future in House Valemortis. If that's not my future, I can follow the path of the Church. I have responsibilities I can't run away from. I have to keep that in mind." Elyandra's face then showed surprise. She remembered the promise she had made to Callen. For a moment, she stopped and thought: "Callen… can I still keep my promise to you? It seems I was immature. The hole is much deeper in reality. Do I have the power to help you? No, I don't. We are children. We don't have enough influence or connections to do anything." Images began to bubble up in her mind. She crouched down, the weight of doubt falling upon her. "I said I would help you, right? Will you be angry with me if I can't keep my promises?" The image of Callen kneeling, swearing loyalty to her, hammered in her mind. "When I find you next time, we'll talk about this properly." She stood up, sighing, and began to head back to the dormitory.