[A/N:read carefully for easter eggs]
[Illustration]
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As I stepped out of the main building, the expansive campus greeted me. Cobblestone paths stretched ahead, leading towards a cluster of impressive dormitory buildings
Constructed from robust stone, these buildings stood tall with their steeply sloped rooftops and elegant arched windows. Banners adorned the turrets, proudly displaying the colors and symbols of noble families affiliated with the academy. Behind the noble dormitories, the commoners' dorms lined up, holding their own charm, even if they couldn't quite match the grandeur of the noble accommodations.
The total student body numbered around five to six hundred, encompassing all years and levels. Each step I took led me closer to a specific dorm building. While not as large as some of the others, it possessed a distinct charm of its own, nestled a bit farther back in the lineup. This particular dorm building exuded a certain rustic elegance.
Stepping inside, the foyer revealed a warm ambiance. Soft lighting illuminated polished wooden floors, with exposed wooden beams crisscrossing the ceiling. The corridor was bathed in a soft lamplight that cast a warm glow on the wooden floors. It was a place steeped in tradition and comfort, promising to be a haven during my time at the academy.
'You like this place? There are bigger dorm buildings outside,' Blaze commented, not quite grasping my thoughts.
"Hoho, do we have a new first-year here?" A sweet but aged voice chimed from my left, drawing my attention.
Turning, I saw the warden walking up to me, holding a kitchen knife in her hand. With a round face and hazel eyes, she had a petite height, her silvery hair in a bun due to old age.
'She looks vicious,' Blaze observed, and while I agreed, I knew she wasn't as bad as she appeared.
"Yeah," I responded, and she simply nodded, motioning for me to follow her to her desk by the corridor leading to the common room.
"But I think the entrance ceremony is still ongoing, so don't tell me you left it halfway," the old lady pulled a quill and paper from the desk, offering it to me to fill in my name.
"Well, there wasn't much else to do, and I thought it would be better to secure a dorm room in the meantime," I explained, taking the key from her. My room was on the second floor, the only one on that level in this two-story building.
"Though the principal might have already mentioned it, let me say it again: welcome to the academy. I hope you become a great mage in the future," the old lady smiled. I chuckled, thanking her before leaving.
The dorm housed a mere eight rooms, each reserved for a first-year student. The doors were adorned with nameplates, and the common area had plush sofas and a crackling fireplace.
Upon reaching the second floor, my annoyance reached its peak as I was greeted with an unexpected sight.
"..." I stood there, my facial expression reflecting my irritation, a single thought echoing in my mind: Could this room be taken by someone else? But then again, why would the warden provide me with the key if it was?
"Ugh! Why won't it open!" The girl in front of me grumbled, her attempts to insert the key into the lock proving futile.
"Excuse me," I ventured to interject, only to have her eyes briefly glance at me from head to toe before returning to her task.
"What?" I inquired about my confusion.
"Are you talking to me?" She questioned again, her attention now fully on me.
"..." It took me a moment to formulate my query, my gaze inadvertently drawn to her striking features.
Her face was petite, featuring high cheekbones, a slender nose, and expressive sapphire eyes. A cascade of platinum blonde hair flowed straight down to her waist, and her blue robe signaled her senior status. There was no denying her beauty, but...
"This is my room," I informed her, displaying the key as evidence.
"That's not possible-" Her words were cut short by the arrival of someone rushing up the stairs, a familiar voice calling out.
"Madam Vexa! Where were you?" The voice resonated with familiarity, and as I looked closer, I realized it was Cecelia, the blue-haired female knight.
"I'm here to claim my room, but it simply won't open!" Vexa sighed, clearly exasperated.
Cecelia's response was swift and to the point. "This isn't the building you're supposed to be in. The second-year dorms are located elsewhere, not in this building."
Her statement left Vexa taken aback, the realization dawning upon us that a simple misunderstanding had led them to the wrong location.
Her statement hung in the air for a moment, a mixture of surprise and chagrin settling over Vexa. It was clear that a simple misunderstanding had led them to this situation.
"Oh, how??," Vexa muttered under her breath, her frustration palpable.
Cecelia offered an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry for the confusion. The second-year dormitories are in the neighboring building. I can guide you there if you'd like."
Vexa let out an exasperated sigh, her irritation still evident. "Yes, please do. And let's hope the room there opens without any drama."
Cecelia chuckled, her amusement apparent. "I'll make sure to inspect the lock personally."
As they prepared to leave, my words slipped out unconsciously, "And is that all you have to say, Miss Vexa?"
Vexa paused, and her next action took me by surprise. She offered a slight bow and apologized, "Oh, and I am sorry for the trouble I caused."
And for some reason her answer impressed me a little, she's a noble right?
"Madam!" Cecelia's voice cut through the air, laced with urgency. "You should not bow down to any commoner, now or ever."She practically shouted.
Vexa's response, however, was unexpected. With a sideways glance and a smile directed at Cecelia, she retorted, "Next time you shout at me would mean your death." The cold declaration seemed to come out of nowhere.
Thud*
The sound of Cecelia's knee plate hitting the ground resonated as she dropped to one knee before the noble girl.
"I-I am sorry," Cecelia stammered in apology.
"..." As I watched the scene unfold, my gaze shifted between the two. A surge of emotions welled up within me, but I fought to keep them in check.
Vexa's gaze met mine, and though I had a thousand things I wanted to say, I held my tongue, not wishing to complicate the situation further.
"I think I can't apologize, but still, it's my fault. I'll take my leave," Vexa finally stated. With that, she turned and left, leaving behind a sense of lingering tension in the air.
I turned my gaze towards Cecelia, who was still on the ground. Countless questions swirled in my mind, seeking answers that seemed elusive.
Slowly, she looked up and rose to her feet.
Letting out a sigh, I shifted my attention towards the door, thinking that the unusual encounter had come to an end.
Click*
"Huh?" My hand instinctively sparked with mana as I glanced back at Cecelia, who, for some reason, had her hand on her sheath.
"What are you doing?" Her voice held an unexpected weight, her demeanor shifting into a state of heightened alertness. This version of Cecelia, the one from the game, was unfamiliar, and I couldn't quite fathom the reason behind her vigilance.
"Umm... I was trying to open the door to get into my room," I explained, letting the mana reinforcement dissipate from my finger.
"Oh..." She blinked, as if awakening from a trance. Standing there for a moment, her hand still on her sheath, she turned and left, descending the stairs.
With a shake of my head, I returned my focus to my room key.
Turning left, I approached the door and inserted the key into the lock. As the key and lock connected, they vanished into the keyhole.
Click*
An audible sound resonated as the lock disengaged, allowing me to push the door open.
'This Academy certainly relies heavily on magical devices,' Blaze remarked.
Indeed, the lock was a prime example of this reliance. It required only one instance of key insertion to remember the owner indefinitely, until the lock itself was changed. The efficiency and convenience of such devices were evident, seamlessly integrating magic into the daily functioning of the academy.
Step*
Stepping into the room,the wooden floor was smooth underfoot, reflecting the room's care.
A neatly made twin bed sat against one wall, accompanied by a small nightstand holding a decorative lamp and books. Across from it, a wooden desk by the window beckoned with natural light.
Personal touches included a colorful rug and a corkboard above the desk, adorned with notes. The open closet seemed spacious enough for my belongings.
Satisfied with my surroundings, I closed the door and let out a full smile. "System," I addressed the entity within my consciousness.
Ever since I entered the auditorium, a peculiar sensation had lingered in the back of my mind.
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System Notification [Muted]
!?!?!?!
The host has been ensnared by a Curse.
Curse: Fate
Caster: Nature
Current Impact: 0.1%
Cure: None
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"I had a feeling something was amiss," I muttered, the realization confirming my suspicions.
Blaze's voice carried curiosity, "But why the smile?"
"Seems like peace is never in the cards for me," I remarked.
My academy life was about to take an unforeseen turn, and I couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get a lot more complicated.
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