CHAPTER 10 - THE FIRST DAY 2

{Talia}

Princess Talia Stone walked through Rosevale's halls beside her mother. She made sure to keep her back straight and her face neutral, as always.

"Remember," her mother said for what had to be like the fifth time, "Professor Nazraya values precision above all. Answer quickly, correctly, and without hesitation."

"Yes, Mother."

"And maintain proper distance from the scholarship students. They'll try to use you for advancement."

"Yes, Mother."

"Especially that commoner who—"

"Who scored first in the assessment?" Talia kept her voice level. "I'm aware."

Her mother's lips thinned.

"An anomaly. The headmistress should investigate."

Movement caught Talia's eye.

Sure enough, across the courtyard, that commoner, Aegis Starcaller, stood with the loud redhead from dinner. They were laughing about something, Aegis's white-blonde hair catching the morning sun.

[How did she beat me? A... a mere nobody with no training. No resources. No bloodline.]

The redhead said something that made Aegis throw her head back and cackle. So undignified. So common.

So irritatingly confident.

"Talia."

She snapped back to attention.

"My apologies, Mother."

"Focus. First impressions matter." The Duchess of Stone adjusted Talia's collar. "Professor Nazraya's recommendation carries weight for advanced courses."

"I understand."

"Good." Her mother's smile was sharp. "Make me proud."

She swept away, leaving Talia alone. The princess exhaled slowly, then headed to class.

Advanced Magical Theory was held in a circular room with tiered seating. Talia claimed a spot in the second row. She figured this was close enough to show engagement, far enough to maintain dignity.

Students filtered in. That painter girl was one of them. Several mid-tier nobles. And then...

Starcaller strolled in like she owned the place, uniform slightly askew, still grinning from whatever joke she'd shared outside. She scanned the room, made eye contact with Talia, and had the audacity to wink.

"!!!"

Talia glared.

[Insufferable.]

Starcaller took a seat three rows back, next to the painter. They exchanged quiet words that Talia couldn't catch.

More students arrived. The room filled with nervous energy. First class, first day, first chance to prove themselves.

The door slammed open.

Professor Nazraya entered, and the temperature seemed to drop. Black hair flowed past her shoulders. Red eyes surveyed the room like a predator sizing up prey.

Talia shifted uncomfortably.

[The hardest test of the day is at the start. Wonderful.]

"Advanced Magical Theory." Nazraya opened, her voice cutting through the whispers. "Some of you will fail. Some of you will wish you had."

Silence.

"Let's see who actually belongs here, shall we?" She pointed at a trembling boy. "You. Define mana resonance."

"Um, it's w-w-w-when magical energy—"

"Wrong. Next."

"I-ba-ba-ba-ba-"

"Wrong. Next."

She moved through students like a scythe through wheat. Basic questions that should have been easy became torture under her scrutinizing gaze.

Then she turned to Talia.

"Princess. Explain the three principles of sympathetic casting."

Finally. Talia stood, voice clear.

"First, similarity. Like affects like. Second, contagion. Objects once connected maintain that connection. Third, hierarchy. Greater concepts encompass lesser ones."

"Adequate." Nazraya's praise felt like criticism. "Though you missed the practical applications."

Before Talia could respond, another voice spoke up.

"She didn't miss them." Aegis hadn't even stood. "The question asked for principles, not applications."

The room held its breath. Nazraya's eyes narrowed.

"Did I ask for your input, Miss...?"

"Starcaller. And no, but accuracy matters in academic settings, doesn't it?"

[Is she insane?]

Nazraya smiled. It wasn't a reassuring smile.

"Then by all means, demonstrate your accuracy. Explain why traditional mana theory fails to account for blessing-based magic."

"Because traditional theory assumes magic comes from within." Aegis finally stood, casual as discussing weather. "But blessings are external power sources granted by the gods. They don't follow internal mana rules, they impose their own logic on reality."

Nazraya tilted her head, still smiling.

"Continue."

"Take fertility blessings. Or, well, curses," Aegis's grin turned wicked. "They enhance biological functions beyond natural limits. Traditional theory says that's impossible without massive mana expenditure. But blessings bypass that through divine authority."

Several students blushed. Talia kept her face neutral.

[How does a commoner know advanced magical theory?]

"Interesting." Nazraya circled Aegis like a shark. "And what would you say to scholars who claim blessing magic is just refined mana manipulation?"

"I'd say they're jealous they weren't blessed themselves."

Someone gasped.

Nazraya laughed.

She... actually laughed.

"Bold. Stupid, but bold." She returned to the front. "Five points to Miss Starcaller for accuracy and audacity."

[Five points? On the first day?]

"Now." Nazraya waved her hand. The board filled with complex equations. "Copy these. We'll discuss practical applications after I see who can actually write without drooling."

Talia copied mechanically, mind racing. That commoner had just earned points from the hardest professor at Rosevale. Worse, she'd done it by defending Talia's answer.

[I don't need defending. Especially not from the likes of her.]

Twenty minutes later, Nazraya called for responses.

"Princess. Question four."

Talia stood again.

"The mana conversion rate for element-to-element transmutation follows the Goldwright Principle—"

"Which states?" Nazraya interrupted.

"Energy loss equals the square root of elemental opposition multiplied by—"

"That's wrong."

Talia's stomach dropped.

"I... what?"

"Miss Starcaller. Correct her."

That commoner had the gall to look sympathetic.

"The Goldwright Principle was disproven last year. Current theory uses the Silverton Scale. Energy loss equals elemental opposition divided by caster affinity."

"Precisely." Nazraya's smile was sharp. "Five more points. Princess, do try to keep up with modern scholarship."

Talia sat, face burning. Mother would hear about this. The consequences would be... unpleasant.

[She... She HAS to be cheating. No commoner knows cutting-edge magical theory.]

Class continued. Nazraya was brutal, picking apart every answer, every assumption. Only Aegis seemed to thrive, answering questions with infuriating confidence.

Finally, mercifully, the bell rang.

"Read Chapters one through five by tomorrow." Nazraya gathered her materials. "And Princess? See me after class."

Talia's heart sank. Other students filed out, whispers already starting. She caught fragments:

"Destroyed," "commoner showed her up," "mother will kill her."

She waited, hands clenched, as Nazraya approached.

"Relax. I'm not going to eat you." The professor's voice softened slightly. "Your answers were textbook perfect. That's the problem."

"I don't understand."

"Magic evolves. Textbooks don't." Nazraya tilted her head. "Stop memorizing and start thinking. Dismissed."

Talia fled.

---

{Aegis}

[Well, that went just about perfectly.]

Aegis stretched as she left the classroom, extremely pleased with herself.

First class, first impression made. Nazraya was crucial for several routes in the game, including Aegis's favorite one, and establishing herself as the professor's favorite would pay dividends.

[Uwaaaah, I'm so glad I spent all that time reading the game's wiki like a nerd, hehe.]

"That was mean," Lune said beside her.

Aegis was genuinely confused.

"What was?"

"Showing up the princess. She looked upset."

"She'll live." Aegis glanced at Lune's notebook and froze. "Is that... me?"

A perfect sketch stared back—Aegis mid-argument, eyes bright with challenge. The detail was incredible, from the slight smirk to the way her hair fell across her shoulders.

Lune blushed. The image shimmered, transforming into a landscape.

"Your illusions are getting better," Aegis said carefully.

"I... I draw whatever I want. It's not that serious." Lune closed the notebook.

Her HUD flickered:

[RELATIONSHIP UPDATE: Lune Solana]

[❤️🤍🤍🤍🤍]

[Status: Acquaintance → Curious Interest]

[Note: Subject finds you fascinating.]

Aegis's eyes widened.

[... That so?]

"Aegis Starcaller."

The voice made her freeze. Princess Talia Stone stood behind her, yellow eyes blazing. This close, Aegis could see the fury beneath that perfect composure.

"Your Highness." Aegis gave a mock bow. "Lovely class, wasn't it?"

"Walk with me." It wasn't a request.

Lune looked between them.

"Should I—"

"Go ahead." Aegis waved her off. "The princess just wants to chat."

They walked until they found an empty alcove. Talia spun, backing Aegis against the stone wall.

"Ack!"

"How are you doing it?"

"Hehe, doing what?" Aegis kept her voice light despite her racing pulse.

Her favorite girl was pushing her against a wall. In real life. Crazy.

"Perfect entrance scores. Perfect assessment. Now perfect answers in class." Talia leaned closer. "No commoner has that knowledge. You're cheating."

"Cheating?" Aegis laughed. "How? Divine intervention? Secret noble bloodline? Ooh, maybe I made a deal with a demon."

"This isn't funny."

"It's a little funny." Aegis tilted her head. "You can't accept that maybe, just maybe, I'm smarter than you."

Talia's jaw clenched.

"I've had the best tutors since birth. You... You've had nothing!"

"And yet here we are." Aegis let her eyes drift down Talia's body, then back up. "With you pressed against me in a dark corner. Careful, princess."

Aegis leaned in as much as she could under the pressure.

"People might talk~"

Pink dusted Talia's cheeks. She stepped back quickly.

"You... H-How dare...!?"

"You're rather beautiful when you're angry."

Talia's mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.

"You—what—how dare—"

"Just an observation, Princess. Please don't take me so seriously. I am, after all, just a commoner." Aegis straightened her uniform. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have another class to attend."

She walked away, leaving Talia speechless behind her.

As soon as she was out of sight, Aegis breathed a sigh of relief.

[One down, five to go. This is going to be a very interesting day. All according to keikaku.]