Some time after the magic evaluation ended
The students returned to the outer hall.
The sky had begun to dim, and the evening wind carried the remnants of tension that hadn't fully settled.
An academy staff member stood at the front, speaking in a tone so professional it felt almost artificial.
"Tomorrow, you will begin orientation for the academy facilities. Your status here has been assigned according to your respective divisions. Your biographies and majors have been recorded and cannot be changed without reevaluation."
Some students nodded.
Others… had already lost focus.
The explanation ended faster than expected.
As if everyone wanted to leave as soon as possible.
Blane stood there with a drained expression.
Aider looked at him, confused. "What's wrong with you?"
Blane let out a long breath. "My head… is filled with the number three."
Aider nodded seriously. "Same. I feel dizzy too."
Blane turned. "Because of grade 3?"
"No," Aider replied casually. "I heard grade 1 and 2 are more common."
"…I think we've talked about this before."
Beside them, Cillian closed his eyes for a moment.
It felt like a curse.
He muttered inwardly, flat.
Why are they always around me…
He opened his eyes and looked at both of them.
"Since when are you two close?"
Blane and Aider answered at the same time
"Me? Him? Not a chance."
"Blane and I have been friends-"
Cillian cut in flatly, "Since when."
"four hours ago."
"…Makes sense."
Without realizing it, the crowd began to disperse.
Students moved in different directions.
Some headed straight to the dorms.
Some looked for groups.
Others… already seemed to be planning their entire social life for the next five years. Impressive, for people who just arrived.
"Cillian."
The voice came from behind.
He turned.
Alyssa stood there, her fan raised halfway to cover her face.
Beside her, Sarah gave a small wave.
"So, you already formed a group?" Sarah asked lightly.
Blane answered quickly, "What do you mean-"
Alyssa ignored him. "How was your result?"
Cillian looked at her briefly.
Alyssa narrowed her eyes. "Don't tell me…"
Cillian exhaled softly. "No need to say it. We're the same."
Silence.
Aider stared at them.
Blank.
Even more blank than usual.
"…Weird," he finally said.
Cillian glanced at him. "If I'm not mistaken, you have a younger sister."
Aider instantly lit up. "I do!"
Sarah smiled. "Call her over."
Aider immediately scanned the crowd.
"Ah! There she is!"
He waved energetically. "AIDA! OVER HERE!"
A green-haired girl approached hesitantly.
"What is it, big bro…"
"Come meet them."
Aida stood in front of them.
Awkward.
Very awkward.
"These are my friends," Aider said proudly.
"Sarah Angles," Sarah introduced politely.
"Alyssa Magnus."
"Blane Evalin."
"Cillian Magnus."
Aida looked at each of them.
When her gaze reached Blane,
She froze.
Her face turned red.
The world around her seemed to turn into some absurd flower garden.
"I-I'm Aida!" she stammered. "Aida Erizon! And this is my brother… the idiot."
Aider immediately protested. "Hey-"
Blane muttered, "Just like the brother."
Cillian nodded once. "Agreed."
Aider looked at both of them with exaggerated emotional damage.
After a while, they parted ways.
Cillian, Blane, and Aider headed toward the male dormitory.
The building towered high.
More like a watchtower than a place to live.
Blane looked up. "This is a dorm?"
Aider grinned. "I heard it has six floors."
Cillian stepped inside first. "Let's just go in."
Inside,
The long lines… were gone.
Only a few students remained.
Blane raised a brow. "Lucky."
Cillian took a small breath. "At least one thing went according to plan."
"Your life sounds too easy."
"I wish."
They approached the staff desk.
"Name."
"Cillian Magnus."
The female staff checked the list.
"Alright. Room 19. Third floor."
"Thank you."
Cillian took the key.
He immediately turned.
Quick steps.
Clearly intending… to escape.
"Blane Evalin."
The staff checked again.
"Oh. You're in the same room as Mr. Cillian."
"Mr."
That word was clear enough.
Cillian stopped.
Stiff.
Blane smiled faintly. "Oh… is that so."
Aider suddenly leaned onto the desk. "What about me, ma'am?"
"I'm Aider Erizon."
The staff flinched slightly.
Her smile became forced.
"Ma'am…?"
She looked at the form.
"…As expected."
Aider narrowed his eyes. "What does that mean?"
"Nothing."
She returned to a professional tone.
"You'll be sharing the same room with them."
Silence.
Cillian and Blane slowly turned.
"…Don't tell me…"
Then,
Aider froze.
"Nice! We're cocoon buddies!"
He immediately wrapped his arms around both of them.
Cillian said nothing.
Blane said nothing.
Their expressions… identical.
They walked off, with Aider far too enthusiastic.
Behind the desk,
The female staff let out a long sigh.
"So many types of students this year…"
A male staff member approached, yawning.
"My turn now."
He glanced toward the stairs.
"Because of those three?"
The woman nodded.
The man stroked his chin. "The blond one… feels like someone with two sides. Not honest, but wants to be perfect."
"And the other one?" she asked.
"The one who looks dumb? Well… he is."
She turned slightly. "And the white-haired one?"
The man paused.
Then smiled faintly.
"Probably… the most burdened among them."
Third floor.
A long corridor.
White doors with gold patterns.
Number 19 carved clearly.
Cillian inserted the key.
Click.
The door opened.
He stepped inside.
His gaze calm.
Flat.
Inside his mind,
I hope… this can all stay simple.
Unfortunately.
He wasn't alone.
[At the same time]
The third-floor corridor of the girls' dormitory felt noticeably quieter than the crowded hall earlier.
Afternoon light streamed through the tall windows, reflecting softly against the polished marble floor, casting long shadows of students passing by.
Alyssa stood still in front of door number 8.
Her fan was open, covering half of her face. not because of the heat, but to conceal an expression even she did not wish to see.
"The key has already been taken by your roommate…"
The staff's words still echoed in her mind.
"So I have to wait… or rely on luck?" she murmured softly.
She knocked.
Tok.
No response.
Tok… tok.
Still silence.
Alyssa slowly closed her eyes. Slightly annoyed. Slightly… empty.
"How fortunate."
Footsteps approached.
Light. Measured. And… far too elegant to ignore.
"You're still keeping that, aren't you, Lilies."
That voice.
Alyssa turned her body slowly.
Their gazes met.
The Princess of the Empire.
Vynessia Aurellian.
Alyssa lowered her head slightly, her fan still covering her face.
"It is a gift I cannot simply discard, Your Highness."
Vynessia smiled.
Not an ordinary smile, too refined, too controlled.
She stepped closer. The distance between them now only a few steps.
"Then… I could give you something better. Made by-"
Alyssa lifted her gaze.
Direct.
Deep.
For a brief moment, time seemed to slow.
"…She is our final opponent."
Cillian's voice echoed in her mind.
"Keep as much distance as possible."
"…the finest artist in the Empire," Vynessia continued smoothly, as if nothing had happened.
Alyssa bowed slightly, her fingers brushing the side of her dress in an elegant gesture.
"Thank you for Your Highness' generosity."
Vynessia observed her.
For a long moment.
"You're too formal, Lilies."
"You are too familiar with us," Alyssa replied calmly.
A brief silence.
"'Us'?" Vynessia asked, her tone shifting slightly.
Alyssa paused.
"…I mean 'me'."
She adjusted her fan slightly.
"And do not call me Lilies. We are no longer children attending a banquet."
Vynessia's eyes narrowed.
She smiled.
"I see…"
Her tone was light. But something beneath it… was not.
"Oh dear, you made me forget. I should find my room."
She walked past Alyssa.
But before leaving completely, she stopped.
She turned her head slightly.
"There is no need to always hide your expression."
Her smile returned.
"You are still the most beautiful in this Empire."
She left.
Her footsteps faded at the end of the corridor.
Alyssa remained still.
Her fan opened again.
Slightly faster than usual.
"…As always."
Her irritation was subtle. But real.
"Always calling me by the name she gave me."
Hurried footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor.
"ALYSSA!"
"Ah, wait for me!"
Two figures appeared.
Sarah.
And Irene.
Alyssa blinked, slightly surprised.
"!?"
Sarah stopped in front of her, slightly out of breath.
"That's not the point, wasn't that Princess Vynessia just now?!"
Irene stood behind her, awkward, hands clasped together.
"Y-Yes… I saw too… you seemed… close…"
Alyssa turned her face away.
"You saw wrong."
Flat tone.
Too quick.
Sarah narrowed her eyes.
Clearly unconvinced.
But before she could press further,
Alyssa spoke first.
"Why are you here?"
Her gaze shifted toward Irene.
Irene stiffened instantly.
Like a student caught cheating before even starting.
Sarah raised something proudly.
A small metal keychain.
Number 8.
Alyssa went silent.
A few seconds passed.
"…Don't tell me."
No one answered.
Only a very honest silence.
Moments later.
The door opened.
The three of them entered.
The room was spacious, with three beds, individual desks, and a large window overlooking the academy garden.
Luggage opened.
Belongings arranged.
The atmosphere…
Awkward.
Quiet.
Alyssa sat on the edge of her bed, fan open- but this time not to hide her face.
More like a shield.
Sarah stood near the desk, clearly wanting to say something.
Irene…
Was still standing.
Not moving.
"If I stay silent… nothing will change…"
She clenched her fists.
Took a breath.
"Um!"
Her voice came out suddenly.
Alyssa and Sarah turned at the same time.
Irene looked at them.
Serious.
Far too serious for someone obviously nervous.
"We… will be together. In one room. For a year."
Alyssa raised an eyebrow slightly.
Sarah waited.
Irene continued, her voice trembling but steady.
"I know… I may not be in a position to say this, but… I hope I won't be a burden."
She bowed halfway.
"So… please take care of me."
Silence.
A few seconds passed.
Sarah glanced at Alyssa.
Alyssa simply raised her eyebrow slightly.
A small signal.
Enough.
Sarah smiled.
She stepped forward and patted Irene's shoulder.
"You're too tense."
Irene looked up.
"Eh…?"
"I may be a noble," Sarah continued casually, "but this isn't my territory. Status means nothing in Aurelthia."
Irene froze.
"…Where are you from?"
"Varkon Republic."
Irene's eyes widened.
"That law state?!"
Sarah smiled slightly.
"Yes, that one."
Alyssa stood from her seat.
She approached Irene.
Then-
She crouched slightly, aligning with Irene's height.
"If you're still obsessed with status…"
Her voice was calm.
"…just consider us equal."
Irene blinked.
"Why…?"
"Magnus holds no territory. No legal authority. No defining noble traits."
Alyssa's fan slowly closed.
"What people admire… is Magnus itself."
She paused.
"…Not me. Not Cillian either."
Sarah suddenly smiled brightly.
"Oh, so it's true? Cillian is your brother?"
Alyssa went silent.
No answer.
Irene straightened immediately.
"The one with white hair and red eyes?!"
Sarah nodded quickly.
"Yes! He-"
Irene unconsciously whispered.
"…He's very handsome."
Sarah instantly leaned closer.
"Right?! I heard other girls talking about him too."
Her tone turned slightly mischievous.
"Seems like your 'brother' is making his debut without permission."
Alyssa opened her fan again.
Covering her face.
"…Annoying."
A thought crossed her mind.
"Then… perhaps I should disfigure his face a little."
Irene shivered.
"T-That's… a joke, right…?"
Sarah laughed.
Followed by Irene.
Alyssa looked at both of the
"…They've already grown close."
Without effort.
Without trying.
"And…"
She turned her face slightly away.
Her fan closed tighter.
"…We are not siblings."