Veronica was peacefully dreaming of cinnamon rolls and a world without sadistic dragon princes when...
SKRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
She bolted upright, her hair practically defying gravity. "WHAT IN ALL THE SEVEN HELLS WAS THAT?!"
It wasn't a bell. Bells were supposed to chime softly, maybe even pleasantly. This thing? This thing shrieked like a banshee possessed, its echo clawing through her ears like nails scraping against glass. It didn't ring, it screamed, and each second it dragged on felt like a vengeful spirit was trying to tear through her skull.
Why did magical schools have to be so dramatic?
Across the room, her dormmates were already bustling about as though the horrid alarm didn't faze them. Dresses fluttered in the air, drawers banged open and shut, and the air filled with the faint clinking of accessories. Their movements were quick, precise, like soldiers who had already been through this routine a hundred times.
Karina, already halfway dressed in her tailored uniform, paused at the mirror to adjust her hair. When she noticed Veronica sitting up, dazed and barely functional, she smiled.
"You better hurry," she said, voice sickly sweet. "If you are late to class… well, let's just say the punishment isn't something a human like you could handle."
Veronica stretched her arms over her head and let out a long yawn. Today was her official first day at Draconveil Academy, and she was going to make it count. Everything had to be perfect.
Or at least, that was the plan… until the academy's infernal morning bell shattered her eardrums.
"What is that sound?" she muttered, half tempted to bury herself under the sheets. "Is that even legal?"
"Don't worry," Karina suddenly added with a light chuckle, "I'm sure you will do fine today. After all, it's not every day a human gets into the Dragonspire Class, right?"
A tense silence suddenly blanketed the room.
"Tsk." The sharp sound came from across the room.
It was Lyra. The aloof red haired girl who had barely said a word since they all moved in. She sat on the edge of her bed, arms crossed, expression cool and sharp.
"What would someone who got into the academy through the back door know about anything?" she said, her voice laced with disdain.
"Don't be rude to Veronica," Karina quickly interjected, giving Lyra a pointed look. "I'm sure she has her own qualifications to be here."
Lyra let out a short, mocking laugh. "Qualifications? Please. What kind of qualifications could a magicless human possibly have to set foot in the Dragonspire Class? It's pathetic."
She stood up and left with deliberate steps, her head held high and chin tilted like a queen dismissing a lowly servant.
The door clicked shut behind her, leaving a heavy silence in the room.
Karina turned to Veronica, her expression softening. "Don't take her words to heart," she said gently. "Lyra looks down on everyone."
Veronica raised an eyebrow, though her smile stayed firmly in place. Fake. Everything about you is so fake. Don't pretend to comfort me when I know you are secretly enjoying this.
However she replied softly, "It's alright."
After Karina and Sylfi left the dorm, Veronica took a quick bathe and got dressed in some presentable clothes before she quickly gathered her things. Today was her official first day at the academy and she was already off to a clueless start.
As she stepped into the corridor, the halls were alive with movement. Students rushed past in groups, chatting, laughing, and adjusting their uniforms. The sight was almost dizzying.
Each student's uniform bore distinct colors that clearly marked which class they belonged to: regal white and gold (Dragonspire), deep black and crimson (Shadowmist), elegant purple and black (Beastcallers), blue and silver (Elementara), and cyan blue and emerald green (Spellweavers).
Veronica's gaze lingered on them. So that's how they separate us... Glancing down at her plain outfit, she sighed. She was supposed to receive her Dragonspire uniform today… but no one had told her where to go. Just great.
She approached a passing student, trying her best to sound polite. "Excuse me, do you know where I can..."
The girl didn't even glance her way and kept walking, as though Veronica's voice didn't exist. Heat pricked the back of her neck, but she forced herself to try again.
Spotting another student in green, she raised her hand slightly. "Umm, hey! I'm looking for the Dragonspire Class..."
Still no response.
It was as if she were invisible. Not one student spared her a glance, let alone offered help. Veronica pressed her lips into a thin, irritated line.
Did she have some kind of "Do Not Help" sign taped to her back?
"Looks like everyone's completely ignoring you," Yumike yawned lazily as she popped her head out from Veronica's shadow, floating just beside her.
"I can see that, thank you very much," Veronica muttered, rolling her eyes.
This wasn't good. If she was late to class, who knew what the sadistic dragon crown prince would do to her? She had read what happened in the original plot. That man had creative punishments, none of which she wanted to experience firsthand.
"Of course," System 5060 replied smugly, almost like it had been waiting for her to beg. "I happen to have the complete map of this world stored. You should really be more grateful to me."
Veronica's brows twitched. Smug piece of junk. But at least, for once, the system was being useful.
A moment later, a glowing map appeared in Veronica's mind, like a digital projection, and a small red dot blinked over one of the buildings to the far east of the academy grounds.
"Alright! Let's go!"
She quickened her pace, weaving through the busy hallways. But just as she rounded a corner, the sight before her made her footsteps halt and her eyes nearly pop out of their sockets.
In the courtyard ahead, Evangeline was cornered by a group of supernatural students. They stood in a loose circle around her, their postures casual but their eyes filled with cruel amusement. Whispers, mocking laughter, and the sharp glint of superiority in their gazes made it clear this wasn't a friendly gathering.
What was worse... No one else even tried to intervene. Students passed by, some throwing curious looks, others smirking, but not a single soul stepped forward to stop it.
Veronica's heart skipped. Wait… this scene…
Recognition hit her like a slap. I've seen this before.
This was that scene. The one where the heroine's first fateful encounter with one of the male leads took place.
And that meant... he would be arriving any moment now.