Chapter 1: The Dark Mirror's Secret
The screech of tires and the smell of burning rubber were the last things Lusi Mariano remembered. As the princess of the world's most formidable empire, she had lived a life of absolute grace—until that one fatal accident took it all away.
When her eyes snapped open, she didn't see the white walls of a hospital. Instead, she was greeted by a canopy of deep violet silk.
Lusi sat up, her breath hitching. Her body felt different—lighter, yet brimming with a strange, cold energy. She rushed to a full-length obsidian mirror across the room and gasped.
The girl in the mirror was breathtaking. She didn't look like her siblings. She had heard the stories of this family: the first-born boy and his twin sister, along with the third older brother, all shared their mother's vibrant pink hair and their father's sharp eyes. They were striking, yes, but Lusi—or the girl whose body she now inhabited—was on another level. She had inherited the best of her father's regal features, looking like a masterpiece of the Dark Kingdom.
"I'm in the Second Kingdom," she whispered, the memories of this new world flooding her mind.
This was a world where magic and swordsmanship dictated everything. The land was divided among five elemental powers: Healing, Fire, Wind, Nature-Water, and the one she now belonged to—Darkness. It was a place where students mastered the arts of legendary herbalism and intricate design.
But there was a problem. In this world, the girl in the mirror was known as the "Ugly Villainess."
A soft knock came at the door. Her personal maid entered, bowing low. "My Lady, the Duke's messenger has arrived. Your fiancé, Lord Han , has sent his final decision regarding the marriage."
Lusi smirked. According to the original memories, Han detested her. He thought she was hideous and cruel.
"Let me guess," Lusi said, her voice sounding like velvet. "He wants to break the engagement?"
"Yes, My Lady," the maid replied, trembling. "He says he will never marry someone like you."
Lusi looked at her stunning reflection and then at the vanity table covered in thick, dark powders and unflattering makeup. The "ugly" reputation had been a shield used by the previous owner, and Lusi intended to use it too—for now.
"Prepare the carriage," Lusi commanded. "But send the maid I dressed up earlier in my place. Let Han believe he is rejecting a masterpiece . I want to see the look on his face when he finally realizes who I actually am."
As the maid scurried away, Lusi felt the dark magic swirling at her fingertips. Han was only the first. There were others—Adam, John, and Luka and Louis In this world of magic and steel, the reborn princess was no longer playing by the rules. The entrance gates of Aetheria Academy—the most powerful school in the world—loomed like giants. For Lusi, this wasn't just a school; it was the ultimate stage to prove her worth.
The written entrance exams were the first hurdle. While other students struggled with complex magical formulas and legendary herbalist theories, Lusi moved her pen with surgical precision. When the results were posted, a shockwave went through the campus: A perfect score. 100%. Not a single mistake.
But the real chaos began during the Mana Measurement.
Lusi stepped onto the ancient stone platform. As she placed her hand on the crystal orb, the sky above the academy turned pitch black. Suddenly, an image of a colossal, glowing dragon materialized in the air—the Ancient Prime Dragon, the strongest creature to ever exist.
The crystal hummed with a terrifying frequency until it cracked. The professors gasped as the screen displayed the data: [Mana Compatibility: 51% of the Prime Dragon's Essence detected.]
It was unheard of. Most elite mages couldn't even hold 1% of that power. Furthermore, the test revealed she didn't just have dark magic—she held the affinity for all five: Healing, Fire, Wind, Nature, and Water.
However, there was a catch.
"Your power... it's unstable," the Headmaster whispered, sweat dripping from his forehead. "It fluctuates with your emotions. If you get angry, you could level this entire city."
Despite her genius and god-like power, the school made a controversial decision. To keep her "contained," they assigned her to Section C.
In Aetheria Academy, the rules were ironclad: the strongest and smartest were appointed as Section Captains. But there was a higher tier—an elite group of five, a legendary squad formed only when individuals of extreme power appeared.
Lusi walked toward the Section C classroom, her heels clicking against the marble floor.
"Section C, huh?" Lusi muttered, a cold smirk playing on her lips.
As she pushed open the heavy oak doors, the rowdy students went silent. They saw a girl who looked like a delicate goddess but carried the aura of a dragon. She didn't care about the ranking. Whether it was Section A or Section C, she was going to be the Captain. And soon, she would find the other four members to complete the most powerful group the academy had ever seen.
The era of the Dark Princess had officially begun at Aetheria.