As soon as she took the stage, every spotlight in the auditorium immediately gathered upon her figure—drawn as if compelled by her very presence!
Silky, luscious black hair that seemed to flow with every step of her black heels...
A dark gray blazer over a white blouse and matching pencil skirt—professional attire that accentuated her graceful poise, yet hugged her figure enough to steal everyone's eyes...!
Tap... tap... tap...!
Everyone continued their silence... waiting for their now dear Student President to take the podium...
And when she finally reached it and turned toward everyone with her head held high—
Her silver-ashen eyes grazed across the entire hall, capturing every gaze with effortless command...!
"Good morning, my fellow students."
Her voice was calm, yet... it carried effortlessly through the vast auditorium!
It was a calm that managed to command every soul within her presence...!
"I am Reina Shirogane, President of the Student Government Association," she introduced herself, bowing slightly. "On behalf of the SGA and the entire Eldridge Academy faculty... allow me to personally congratulate each and every one of you for making it this far."
Her lips formed into a smile... ever so graceful and elegant...
And yet, both Noah and Evangeline found it quite unsettling.
"...The pressure's becoming stronger...!" Noah muttered under his breath, feeling the tension slightly weighing him down. "Is this 'spiritual pressure' thing really all coming from her...?!"
"Indeed... there's no doubt that it all came from this woman," Evangeline replied with a grim tone. "I cannot believe it myself, but her spiritual energy almost matches my own reserve...!"
"...Really?"
"...Are you doubting me, mortal?" she shot back with a pout, clearly sensing his disbelief.
"Well, not really, it's not that I don't believe you..." he quickly defended himself, "it's just that we've only just met like last night, so I haven't seen much of your feats yet."
"Hmph! How insolent! I'll have you know that if I actually unleashed my full power, I could easily rival this woman's mere spiritual energy!"
"Uhuh... well, let's not provoke her just yet, alright?"
Noah turned back to the president, ignoring Evangeline's annoyed huff at his dismissive attitude.
"—I see before me many faces from different communities, regions, even nations..." the SGA President continued her speech, "...and perhaps, even from walks of life far beyond what most would imagine—"
Her silver eyes then swept through the hall once more... as if seeing past the physical—gazing directly into the very souls before her.
"—But here at Eldridge Academy, we value that diversity! For it is through our differences that true progress and true understanding are born!"
She extended her arms wide open—a gesture of warm welcome to all the freshmen—
"Some of you may have come seeking knowledge. Others... perhaps a purpose—whatever your reason may be, know this—Eldridge Academy will guide you—! Nurture you—! Challenge you—! Forge you into greatness!"
Her smile, once radiating with pure warmth to the new students... slowly curled into one laced with slyness...!
"Or perhaps... it will reveal more of yourself than you ever expected~."
"—!"
That smile was enough to put Noah on edge.
"...She definitely knew, huh?" he whispered sharply, eyes narrowing toward the SGA President with suspicion.
"Pretty much so," Evangeline confirmed, her expression matching his wary gaze.
Then... the President's slyness faded—her composed smile returning once more.
"...So, once again, I welcome all of you aspiring students to Eldridge Academy! From this day onward, you are part of something greater... so let's make every step count, okay~?"
She ended her speech with a playful wink, and in that instant—
Clap—! Clap—! Clap—!
The hall erupted into cheers and applause!
Standing ovations, delighted shouts, and bright smiles filled the once-tense auditorium, all directed toward their beloved SGA President!
All of them were utterly captivated by the President's charisma—so much so that it nearly masked the crushing spiritual pressure she had been emitting all along...!
But, while everyone was preoccupied with basking in her greatness—
"...Huh?"
The President had directed her gaze straight toward Noah's spot!
And it was not just coincidence either—she was staring straight into his eyes...!
"What the...?"
There was a moment of tense silence as their eyes met—one wary, the other still smiling with unreadable calm.
But then—
"—?!"
Noah's heart suddenly skipped a beat—!
"Whuh...?"
His vision suddenly grew hazy... the world around him blurring into soft, pink light...
His pulse... quickened uncontrollably—!
Thump... Thump...! Thump...!!!
Each beat of his heart was heavier than the last...!
His breath then became coarse—his gaze locked onto her entrancing silver eyes...!
It was as if her very presence had seeped into his mind... and his thoughts were drowning beneath an inexplicable warmth—
A sweet, intoxicating pull!
"M-mortal...?"
Evangeline quickly noticed her vessel's sudden shift in attitude, and when she saw the dazed expression he was making—
"...So beautiful..."
"N-Noah...?!"
She quickly realized what was happening to him!
"...So gorgeous—"
"Noah! Get a hold of yourself!"
SLAP—!
"OW—!! What the—?! That hurt—! ...Huh?"
The sharp sting on his cheek snapped him out of his trance—his pupils dilating back to normal as he blinked in confusion, staring at Evangeline's worried expression...!
"E-Eva...? W-what's going on—"
"You dummy mortal! You fell for a spell!" Evangeline hissed, her voice low but filled with disgust, before her eyes narrowed toward the stage with venom...! "That cursed woman...! She is using charm magic...!"
"C-charm...?! No freaking way...!?"
Noah turned toward the stage again—toward the woman that supposedly had cast her spell on him—
And there, he saw that same mischievous smile etched upon her face... as if she was fully aware of what she'd done to him...!
Noah glared daggers at the president, wary yet livid by this vixen of a woman...!
But—
"...Is she laughing at me?"
He saw her smile turn even more playful, her supple lips curling as if she was letting out a faint giggle, seemingly amused by his reaction...!
Eventually... the intense pressure that she had been radiating slowly faded away, before she turned around and stepped gracefully off the podium.
The president then shifted her attention toward the dazed MC—still awe-struck by her 'charm.'
"Please proceed with the orientation~."
"Huh? A-ah! Y-yes, Ms. President!"
The female MC quickly straightened herself, before turning toward the equally 'charmed' audience!
"T-thank you for your gracious words, President Reina! L-let's move on with the show, everyone~!"
As the MC continued with the program, Noah and Evangeline kept their eyes fixed on the president's departing figure...
"...Be careful with her, mortal," Evangeline warned in a cold, low tone.
Noah nodded slowly, already making a mental note for himself.
"...I'll try..."