Stepping through the mansion gates, I realized how big it was. When I first saw it, I thought it was close, but girl, I was very wrong. The distance seems to be greater than what eyes can see. I can guess that a spell was used for such effect, which makes me wonder about what can such spell accomplish when pushed to the limit.

I admired the scenery while walking; flowers were blooming, exuding an indescribable aroma; bees were buzzing, collecting pollen; trees were swaying, the rustling of leaves singing a song; and birds nesting, their chirps mixing into a melody with the nature song, calming the heart. The last rays of sun shining, painting a picture resembling a paradise.

I couldn’t help but inhale a breath of air, cleansing my soul. It felt much better than drinking the president brew, albeit missing the taste.

A five-story building with a facade of red bricks, dark vines clinging on it. Students were growing exotic plants on their balconies, adding a mysterious atmosphere.

Stepping inside, what appeared before me was a large hall, red carpet covering the floor with orbs floating; emitting light. I saw that many girls were sitting on sofas and talking to each other. They glanced at me and started whispering, probably talking about my eyes.

Ignoring them, I went towards the counter, an old lady sitting behind it, her white hair cascading downwards, and her skin wrinkled. She was sleeping on a chair, the moment I approached, she opened her obsidian eyes, staring at me, eyes seemingly devoid of emotions. She was the dorm administrator.

“You are the little girl called Cassandra?” She said.

“How did you know?” I replied with a question, startled.

“Nobody else in this academy got such eyes other than you.”

An illuminating orb lit up in my mind, I understood that by now, probably most of the workers, instructors, and even elders know about me. It was weird being known without knowing anybody else.

She extended her hand and gave me a key, saying, “You are quite unlucky to attract the president attention, he changed your room a while ago. I have no idea what is he thinking by doing such action. Your room is number thirteen, the other girl is already there.”

I took the key, and she slowly shut her eyes. Throughout our conversation, she never exhibited any emotions. I thought about what she said about the principal changing my room, wondering about what is he up to.

I looked at the key, or more appropriate to say that it is a card. It had a symbol which I assumed to be number thirteen as per the lady words. Even though I did not like her attitude, I thanked her and left.

The first year students rooms were on the fifth floor. I walked up the stairs and reached the fifth floor, searching for the room with a matching symbol. I stood in front of a plain wooden door with the same symbol. Unable to find a keyhole, I took out my card, it shone with a golden light, transforming into a key and unlocking the door by itself then returning to my hands.

I wondered if this was to prevent unwanted individuals from entering. Pushing the door, I entered the room. It did not have anything impressive, just two beds, wardrobes, and illuminating orb embedded into the ceiling. I felt something soft touch my feet, looking downward, nothing was visible except a wooden board. I crouched and placed my hand on the floor, feeling something fluffy in my hands. It was probably some kind of a transparent carpet.

Walking toward the window, a lake was visible through it; orbs of azure light flying on its surface. Students were sitting around it while reading books, painting a picture of serenity. I had the feeling that the whole dormitory was created to calm the mind.

The sound of water running came from behind a door, I assumed it was my roommate using the bathroom, taking a shower. I sat on a bed, taking off my shoes and stockings, feeling the carpet with my feet gave me quote a pleasurable feeling. The comfiness of the bed only served to increase my pleasure.

I sighed softly, enjoying the feeling while waiting for my roommate to finish ‘mushrooming,’ as I called it. Eventually, the door unlocked and my lips twitched.

A girl slowly walked out, red hair, perky bottoms, and flat chest. I instinctively facepalmed myself. The sound of footsteps halted, she must have noticed me, and the sound of a door slamming shut echoed in the room. I already saw plenty enough, adding that to the previous meeting, not a good start.

The bathroom door opened once again; the girl came out glaring daggers at me. Looking at her adorable figure, I couldn’t help but smile. She was the first person I met with a smaller build than me. I looked at her green eyes and opened my mouth to speak. Without giving an explanation, I darted into the bathroom and shut the door behind me.

I heard a “Wait!” before shutting the door, some noises passed through the walls but were indecipherable. I could guess that she was cursing me, and for some reason, I really didn’t want to deal with her currently, I just wanted to take a bath.

Taking off my clothes, I lied in the tub as it started filling with water. Lamenting my luck at meeting that old man, if it is as the old woman say, he’s the mastermind behind this arrangement.

I put soap in the water and then took out the stone tablet Kyra gave me, deciding I shouldn’t waste my time as I wanted to learn how to read before the schedule arrived. It won’t be pleasant having a schedule but unable to read.

Following the instructions Kyra gave me, I chose the Northern language and the tablet started to glow with white light as symbols appeared on it. Tracing them with my fingers, mana flowed into my body, coursing through my veins and reaching my brain, only to dissipate right before entering.

Startled, I tried to several times, only to end up in failure. The mana kept dissipating, and I was unable to remember the strokes by repetition as if something was blocking my ability to learn this language. I chose a different language, only to yield the same result.

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I felt disappointed, unable to comprehend why I was unable to learn. A voice suddenly echoed in my head, distant and old, calling to me. Sleepiness overcame me, and the warm water did not help. I tried to get out of the tub, only to find myself falling on the floor. Slowly, the world turned dark.

***

It was a familiar scene, the same nightmare that I had as far as I remember. I felt an extra presence, a white-haired figure in the distance, seemingly asleep. Only her back was visible, but it was enough to make me shudder.

Fear that came from the depths of my soul emerged, I could not recognize this figure, but I was sure that if ever comes the day that we meet, one of us will cease to exist.

An old voice resounded behind me, expelling the fear from my heart. “You will face eventually, but not now.”

I turned to look, seeing the familiar old man from the bamboo house. “Who is she?” I asked

“You will know when the time comes.” He replied.

“Really helpful, thank you!” I said, rolling my eyes. “You were the one who brought me here, right?”

“Yes.”

“And?” The corners of my mouth twitched the moment I heard his reply. “What is the reason for you bringing me here?”

“It is a simple reason, to help you become literate in this era languages.” He said, expression indifferent. “You could already feel it, the mana is not assimilating to your body, and you keep forgetting the strokes. It is impossible to learn the language with your current strength.”

“Why is that?”

“I do not have time to explain, this time is an exception,” he said, turning his head to the distant silhouette. “You do not have time to waste learning a mundane language, become strong and defeat her. I’ll be waiting for you at the bamboo house.”

A tablet appeared inside the dream, the same one that Kyra gave me. He placed his hand on the tablet and pulled an orb from it, made of a cluster of characters, emitting a blinding golden light. The tablet slowly turned into powder, dissipating, as if it never existed.

I felt a sharp pain in my head, at an indeterminable period of time, the old man appeared in front of me, placing the orb in my head — his finger on my temples as a surge of power filled every fiber of my being.

The orb melted, flowing through my veins. Every rotation, I could feel words being implanted in my memories. Every rotation, the pain increased.

I held my head, feeling that it was going to explode. The pain continued as time passed, I stared blankly at the silhouette, seemingly sitting alone in the darkness, never able to see the light of day.

Light descended from above, expelling the darkness. A pair of eyes stared at me with unwillingness, despair, and boundless killing intent.

***

I opened my eyes, what greeted me was the sight of a floor soaked with blood, reflecting my face. I looked at the sight, enamored by the beauty of blood. A buzzing resounded in my ears, growing louder as time went on. I struggled to lift my hands, only to feel my entire body was numb. Looking towards the door, It was open, but no one was there.

Time passed, the sound of footsteps eventually entered my ears. A soft hand lifted my head, pouring a blood-red liquid into my mouth. I coughed, it tasted terrible. Strength slowly returned to me as numbness faded away.

I focused my eyes and saw my roommate, gazing at me with worry. I couldn’t help but chuckle, the first day in the academy and I was already injured and saved twice. So much for a hero who wants to save other people lives.

“Care to explain what happened?” Turning my head towards the source of the sound, I saw the dorm administrator standing there, looking at me with an indifferent expression.

I opened my mouth, wanting to speak about the nightmare, but no words came out. In the end, I could only squeeze out “I slipped.”

The old woman snorted, looking at me with disgust, turning and walking away. The sound of door closing echoed, leaving me with the girl I ignored twice. I couldn’t help but turn my head away in shame.

I felt something soft slap my chests, startled, I rolled on the floor and covered my chest with both hands, looking at my roommate in horror.

“That felt good.” She said with a satisfied expression.

“You pervert!” I shouted, my cheeks burning.

“You are the one who is staying in her birthday suit for all to see, not me.” She said, shrugging her shoulders. “That makes us equal now.”

Only then did I remember that I was completely naked. I took out a towel from my spatial ring and wrapped myself in it, dying it red with my blood. Looking at her sizing me up, I felt my body heat up.

“Can you please leave for a couple of minutes?” I asked

“Sure.” She replied nonchalantly, took one more glance before leaving.

I looked at the blood staining the floor, and my bloodied face in the mirror, sighing softly. I took out the key from my spatial ring and looked at the symbol, sure enough, I could read the number thirteen written on it. ‘At least I managed to learn the language’ I thought.

Cleaning the mess and mushrooming, I wore my black pajamas and buttoned it. Before leaving, I remembered her flat chest and decided to reveal a little bit of cleavage. Even though I owe her, doesn’t mean I shouldn’t flaunt my assets.

Leaving the bathroom, I saw my roommate lying on her bed, resting her chin on her palm. She was sizing me up, or to be exact, gazing intensely at my chests. Her mouth twitched upon seeing my cleavage. I felt uncomfortable under her gaze, it was a little too intense.

“Don’t be so happy; we’ll see who’ll grow more in the years to come.” She said, her tone betraying her annoyance.

I froze, knowing that I will not grow anymore. I suddenly became irritated. Stomping, I sat on my bed, looking at her and mumbled thanks, not caring if she heard or not.

Laughing, she said, “Where is the confidence you had gone to? If you had a brain the size of your chest, you wouldn’t have slipped!”

“It is definitely better than if the same applied to you, you wouldn’t even have a brain!” Smirking, I said and sat on the bed, feeling tired. “I am tired, let us talk tomorrow. It’s not like we have anything to do in this week.”

“We do have to join a guild tomorrow, but let us do as you say.” She said, extending her hand, “I am Roxanne Sherwood. Nice to meet you, Cassandra.”

I rolled my eyes, another person knows my name, and I do not know theirs.

Giggling, she said, “My father told me about you. Miss Kyra and you visited our shop; it is not that surprising for me to know.”

It ticked in my brain, Roxanne Sherwood and [Sherwood for Fashion], I’ll be surprised if she didn’t know about me after Kyras’ grand gesture at the shop.

I shook her hand, saying, “The pleasure is mine, Roxanne.”

“Okay, let us sleep and talk tomorrow. You almost died a while ago.”

Sighing, I replied, “Tomorrow, then.”

Lying on the bed and pulling the cover, I stared at the ceiling. Today, I almost died twice and entered my nightmare both times. It feels surreal, and I feel that I lost something in the middle of this all. As if something was awakening with me.

Roxanne was staring at me intensely as if I am her prey. I felt uncomfortable, her stare making me shuffle several times. I decided to close my eyes and sleep.

The night went on peacefully, without a nightmare.