During this unexpected encounter, Mina never had first-hand eagerness, but in some fashion, she was sparked with unexplainable exuberance, leaning toward Nathan with a delightful keen tone,

"So, what brings Nathan to Mina?"

"Mi- Mi- Mina, ho- how are you? I- I-" as usual, Nathan's timidness reigns over his conversation, his words stuttering like rocks hindering the river stream.

Mina didn't mind a bit but smiled. A smile that wasn't habitual, relatively warm and tender, like she met the other half of her soul.

As she rhythmically hopped to Nathan, moved in with their face with others', uttered in her cheerful tone,

"Mina is doing fine, Nathan. What about Nathan?"

"I- I-" Before Nathan could culminate his words, a ravaging bashfulness seized his tongue and muted him.

While Mina casually posed herself too close to him, rendering him with nothing but a desire to flee because of his timidness.

He quickly swiveled his head around, averting the direct gaze between him and Mina.

Meanwhile, Mina just constantly reconnected their mutual gaze, obliviously drilling more unfavorable distress into him.

To a certain point, Nathan was overflowed with abashment, and his tolerance was depleted.

He then dashed away out of bashfulness while his face was enveloped with pure redness, with his palms shrouding that beetroot-like face of his.

As a result of Nathan's out-of-blue bolting, it dumbfounded Mina, enrooting her wits with blankness.

Moments of shutting down later, guilt was left of Mina. As she began to blame herself again for the orientation incident, murmuring in her thought,

*Mina's spirit is now devastated. Not only has she lost her time over a dull-looking notice board, but now the opportunity to converse with Nathan and a chance to apologize to him. Mina is now beaten.*

Mina then glumly sighed, attributing her misery entirely to luck, even though many of the consequence was fabricated through her own doing.

After a period of constant assessment, Mina finally calmed down, reverting her attention to that obscure-looking flyer.

Because of her underdeveloped height, she wasn't ideal for getting that flyer. So, she leaned, tipped her toes, extended her short right arm, and bounced.

Still, the odds of grabbing that paper were futile.

Even after many attempts were made, her fingertips weren't even close to the touch of the paper.

As Mina was once again dejected, but this time with a bit of temper on top.

As she frustratingly puffed her cheeks, glued to the floor, glared at the flyer, and snarled,

"Mina's patience is running thin. Just give it up already, paper! Mina is going to grab you no matter what!"

Once Mina ranted over her defeat, an immediate, powerful wind current whirled around her, stirring the dust and leaves to be circuited of her.

As a delicate gesture of pulling from Mina, the wind abruptly blasted the whole notice board into pieces.

Mina was stunned by the destruction as it exceeded her expectation. The wind was supposed to push down the flyer, not eradicate the whole board.

While all the papers from the board were scattered, levitated all over the place, piling up messes over the hallway.

Once the wind simmered, the papers subtly dropped from the air, with one or two gently landing on her head.

Despite the papers lying on her head, she remained idled, lost herself in the battle among her own mind, and struggled to react to what the subsequent move shall apply.

Under this chaotic display of Mina, Keena, and Konnaugh finally caught up with her, just to witness a massacre attestation.

They were startled and worried, rushed to substantiate that princess's safety, although a quelled laughter can be seen in Keena's demeanor.

"Are you alright, Mina? What went down here? What had caused such a calamitous mess around here?"

Konnaugh instinctively bombarded that dead inside princess with a consecutive number of questions upon his arrival, worrying about her safety that was.

Meanwhile, Keena tenderly removed the flyers from her head with a smirk printed on her face.

Mina then made an inaudible sound,

"Mi-" it was.

In doing so, the indefinite sound bemused them both.

As Keena just plainly quizzed that indistinct sound,

"Mi-? Mi what?"

Mina then brokenly rotated her head, locked her gaze at them, murmured,

"Mina had just pulled off a score of worse things in a single slot. Now she doesn't know what to do."

"So, all this mess was your doing?"

Keena sharply interjected her question after Mina committed hers, and slight gratifications were all over her expression.

The reason is she wouldn't have to answer her crime over the student discipline alone if she was reported against her former ruthless action, which was assaulting Dalius.

Konnaugh then decided to take the initiative and sort up the messes.

"Let's us swiftly sort up the messes. We shouldn't abide others to do our jobs," said Konnaugh while he turned to those papers, picked and stacked them into his arm,

"Also, if we don't clean them up now, we might pose ourselves late in the house room," he added.

Seeing Konnaugh's selfless endeavor, Mina and Keena hastily followed, cleaning this besmirched hallway.

As they were cleaning the hallway, the paper Mina craved for once re-manifested before her keen eyes.

The paper was only a few steps away from her, and eagerness had reigned over her reasoning, craving to secure that paper and forgoing the duty.

Mina then, out of impulse, dropped the papers she held in her arm.

The thud of the fallen papers from Mina's arm prompted Keena profoundly as she was only nearby.

Because Mina reinserted the mess back into the site, Keena was infused.

She then yelled, "What are you doing, Mina?! We have not had much time for more shenanigans!"

Though the yell from Keena was coherent, Mina just blatantly approached the paper and ignored her yell.

Keena then stormed to Mina, grasped her wrist tightly, with her other arm embracing the papers,

"Mina, please stop running off already and heed what I've been trying to say!" said Keena with disgruntlement.

"Keena waits! Mina finally gets her eyes on what she has been fighting for!" Mina wobbled her hands from Keena's clasp, struggling to detach from Keena's detain, and forcefully pushed herself closer to the paper.

"What are you blabbering about?! We're running out of time, you know?!" Keena wasn't thrilled with Mina's implicit answer as she wasn't willing to release her from her own custody, as she exerted more strength to grasp, curbing Mina's aggressive advance.

While they were still tussling in a squabble, the paper Mina aimed for just got blown off, sending it to mid-air, and vanished on view. As Mina just gawked at its final departure, she gasped.

She then turned to Keena, frustratedly squinting at her, and growled.

Meanwhile, Keena wasn't aware why Mina acted in such displeased posture as she finally loosened her grip and asked in an uneased tone.

"Wha- what's wrong?"

"Mina doesn't feel like obliging to answer Keena anymore. Now she has made her angry."

"Well, you're the one who was irresponsible at the time! Don't blame me for acting in such an impulsive way!"

"Keena coulda just apologize to Mina! Instead, pushing the whole blame onto her like she was not at fault here!"

During this intense circumstance, Konnaugh casually interposed himself in the middle of this dispute, attempting to alleviate the situation.

"Come on, girls. This is not something we should dramatize ourselves with, let's us just take a step back and unwind."

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

"Konnaugh was right. We shouldn't bicker over such trivial matters. I'm sorry, Mina... I shouldn't just bawl out at you over such a small thing. Shall we call it a day?" Keena realized her unreasonable anger and apologized.

Meanwhile, that princess simply replied with "Whatever, *hmph*" in an unsatisfied tone while finishing with a huff.

As Mina's groundless rebellious once again brewed more anger in Keena, who unconsciously muttered, "You little..." but ceased before she could finish it, refraining from another piercing tongue being evinced and causing more prolongation onto this argument.

She then composedly continued with a deep sigh to begin with,

"*sigh* Regardless... We shouldn't delay this argument any further and probably get going before we are late."

Konnaugh agreed with Keena with a subtle nod of his head while Mina just totally slighted her, who had not even glanced at her for a fraction, and Keena was embittered by her action.

After a moment of preparation, and right before their return was embarked, Keena suddenly recalled the mess they were supposed to spruce up, asking in an anxious, blistering tone,

"Wait, what about the mess? Shouldn't we be cleaning it before we advance?"

"I already took care of it," said Konnaugh, narrowly pivoting his body, showing the hallway he cleaned.

They were both amazed by the speed at which Konnaugh was capable of clearing up the hallway during their squabble, although it had only lasted minutes.

However, a stack of paper was still resting in Keena's embrace.

Keena then swiveled her head multiple times, trying to pinpoint the rest of the paper stationed, and cluelessly asked,

"Sorry, but to ask, where should I put the rest of these papers?"

"Oh, sorry, I forgot a stack is still in your possession. Just put it right..." Konnaugh held and stretched his word as he slowly scanned through the places, locating the papers he lastly placed. Upon the discovery, he concluded,

"...over there!" pointing to the spot beside the notice board's remains.

Keena then steadily advanced with the papers in her embrace, titled her body to reach the appropriate height, and stacked her portion over the rest.

Once it was done, she straightened her body, habitually wiped her hand with a sweeping motion, turned to them, and hollered,

"I'm done! Let's return!"

"Alright, guys, let's go!" Konnaugh articulated.

Keena then rushed to join them, clipped her hand with Keena's, seizing her from wandering off again, and there they went, advancing to their house room.

***

***

***

An interval of traveling later, they finally arrived at their house room.

The room was guarded by a marvelously crafted ample gate, concealing the grand unknown within, heightening the keenness of Mina and Keena.

The middle of the door was stamped with a crest, symbolizing their house, The House of Lamella.

In the central crest, the focal object was ostensibly to be dragon scales, as lamella is defined as the scale from animated creatures. At the same time, the frame was encompassed with crossed claw marks signifying the passion of the students.

Despite their arrival ensued, the journey was a crude one. Now, they had arrived, the safety was guaranteed, and they could finally rest from the constant battle of worries.

"We're finally here...! Our place of study! Though the gate looks kinda menacing..." uttered Keena, panting in exhaustion as they seemingly sprinted to the locus.

"Yeah, kinda a close call... And it seems we have minutes to spare yet. Before the lecture begins." replied Konnaugh.

"Hey, Konnaugh! Mina does wonder what's hidden before this imposing gate. By any chance, Konnaugh had already seen what's inside?" Mina asked Konnaugh, though captivated by the gate's imposing bearing.

"Actually, we did explore the interior during the orientation. I would say... it's pretty much something you would expect to be built within."

"Then, Mina is more excited than ever!" Mina's eyes beamed as her expectation heightened.

"I suggest you better cool off that misfortune-bringer attitude of yours."

Keena casually inserted herself between their conversations. Worried Mina might commit something outrageous once again during the beginning of their class.

"Mina does not favor your concern, Keena. Mina still hasn't forgiven you for what you did to her." Mina passive-aggressively responded, infusing Keena.

"Stop throwing a hissy fit, Mina. You're just being unreasonable now." asserted Keena, who wasn't thrilled with Mina's overly tantrum.

"Keena is the one being unreasonable." Mina retorted.

"How dare you-" Right before Keena lost her temper and launched a destructive nuke on Mina, Konnaugh quickly posed himself in the middle again, halting them from catalyzing another squabble, and stated,

"Come on, girls, let's just take a deep breath and a step back, and let's just call it-"

During this intense situation, the leverage of words from Konnaugh had lost its grip, as Keena's anger had overtaken her senses, shoving Konnaugh to the side, and went face-on with the princess, venting,

"You're really something else, princess! All you do is get us in trouble, pushing us into the walls of constant problems! Especially with that 'I wannabe missing' behavior, and now I'm the one who is being unreasonable?! You must be kidding us, right?!"

"Mina doesn't like your tone, Keena! All you do is blame Mina on all the occasions! (Though it's true, Mina was the troublemaker) Like you're totally in the right all the time!"

"What do you mean by that?! I've been apologizing to you all these times, and now you are saying I'm self-assertive?!"

"Mi- Mi- Mina!" Mina was now lost for words, realizing she was the one fittest to the entitlement of being unreasonable.

"What do you mean "Mina"? Are you some kind of creature that can only speak with its name?!" Keena replied.

This none-stop bombardment between Mina and Keena slightly aroused some students' attention. Still, none lingered, as time is of the essence in the ground of Dragania. Students don't place themself involved or watch over such trivia arguments unless a fight is brawled out.

On the spur of the moment, under this intensive fight between Mina and Keena, a hum was audible from the hallway behind them, a cheerful and joyous hum.

Konnaugh was first to notice as he wasn't included in this quarrel, instead being completely side-casted by them, and so he was astonished by the sound, deliberating to the source of the hum.

The hum was getting closer and closer while in-syncing with a leaping step sound.

Meanwhile, Keena and Mina are still hassling over the matter, disputing their dissatisfaction with other.

Once that presence passed through the shaded region of the hallway, Konnaugh saw the approach of that Demonkin, humming and greeting them in a high-pitched, frivolous tone,

"Hi, hi, my fellow housemate! It's really nice weather for our first-ever class, isn't it!"

The upbeat greeting from the Demonkin evoked those two sulkies into their senses and shifted their gaze to it.

It was a girl with long silky glistering blonde hair, a pair of large round turquoise jewelry, cheery eyes, a pair of golden lining turquoise horns, a round cutesy face structure, and a height that was similar to Keena but taller than Mina.

Her sudden overwhelming bright, and dazzling appearance dazed them by a gazillion, nicked their vocal to speak, and so the girl proactively added,

"Oh yeah, silly me! Name, Laura! Laura Malforedar Urkon! Nice to meet you guys!"

Her first gleaming impression delivered an ominous sensation down Keena's throat, reminding her of that handful princess, Mina, whose first demeanor was magnificently posed but latterly became a wild, frantic creature.

During this awkward unresponding setting, Mina had the courage to be the first to break the silence.

"Mina! Mina Xuredar Vuzgal!" she introduced herself with her conventional chirpy tone.

While Laura immediately submerged herself in scrutiny, pondering over Mina's name, wondering why such name rang over her ears, as it was supposed to be a prominent one.

A moment of pondering later, she then abruptly exclaimed in a blaring tone,

"Mina! Princess Mina Vuzgal! Daughter of King Elias, heir of the Vuzgaria! Is that really you?!" frightened out of their wits as her response was spontaneous and ear-splitting.

The over-the-top indication of Mina's identity placed Mina in an unimpressed state who then dully responded,

"Yes, Mina is Mina, princess or not, but still, Mina can't deny her title."

Upon hearing Mina confirming her title, Laura was blustered in tears of joy, restlessly shivering as she tried to speak,

"Oh my goodness, it's really you! The princess of Vuzgaria! I heed many words about you and how you are attending Dragania. It is so exciting! I had never thought of having such a privileged encounter between us! I'm just so flustered right now. It is pleased to meet you, Princess Mina!"

"Mina is Mina, princess or not..." said Mina in a plain tone.

After viewing such a dramatic scene, Keena subtly elbowed Mina, whispering in her ear with a funny tone, "Looks like you got a fan."

Mina, who also returned her with a whisper, "Mina is now worried..."

After a moment of Laura flooding herself with bliss upon encountering the princess, she eventually got hold of herself and returned to pique the others' name,

"What about you two?" said Laura.

Upon watching her former reaction, they were both intimidated and veered their gaze at each other, wanting the others to take the lead.

But Konnaugh decided to take the initiative, as he didn't want to perpetuate the awkwardness over a brief introduction.

"Oh, hi Laura, my name is Konnaugh, Konnaugh Detgrona Kortrar, and It's a pleasure to meet you too," he stated.

"Wait! Konnaugh Kortrar, Konnaugh... Konnaugh... Kortrar?" Laura once again placed herself in scrutiny, murmuring Konnaugh's name multiple times.

Until a loud response erupted from her voice, jolting them again in the meantime.

"Wait! You're Konnaugh Kortrar, the son of the legendary merchant, Darcuosa Kortrar?!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah... that's me..." Konnaugh responded in an unfancied tone.

"Oh my goodness! I never foresaw myself having such the honor of meeting and sharing the house with two mighty figures at the time! I'm so happy right now!" Laura exclaimed while trembling in bliss.

Keena then muttered in Konnaugh's ear, asking,

"Wait, I never knew you were the son of Darcuosa."

"It doesn't matter, does it..." Konnaugh replied with a titter.

After again, Laura recollected herself and veered her vision upon Keena, queried in an exciting tone, wondering if Keena was also another prominent figure,

"What about you? You are seen as noble as them!"

Keena responded in a tedious tone, "Well... I'm Keena... Keena Zaran...",

Doubts then stuffed in her consciousness, pondering Laura's unpredictable reaction, whether she was going to over-exaggerate her name like the other two or wasn't.

Unfortunately and unexpectedly, Laura just plainly added,

"Eh... Never heard of you."

The lines from her mouth may be passed like a harmless butterfly, but it implicitly stings like a bee.

Keena was devastated by her lowly peasantry and crumbled, dropping her face-on to the cold concrete as her soul detached from her flattened, worthless, good-for-nothing body.

Her utterly devastated body urged Mina to her aid, stating in an anxious tone while nudging over her soulless body,

"Keena, stay strong! Titles are just words. They don't represent your true character!" said Mina.

However, Konnaugh was simply amused by the functional workflow of the bonds between Mina and Keena.

Minutes before, they were foes. Now they were the shoulder for the others to lean on again. *What a mystifying bond* was the words that frisked his brain.

While at the opposite, Laura just cluelessly stared at them with her lips lingering in a smiling demeanor while her index finger pressed to that soft underlip of hers, wholly baffled by the play.

After a period of this nonsense continuing, Konnaugh vigorously clapped one time with his palms, engrossing their distracted attention, speaking in a solemn and distinct voice,

"Guys, let's postpone our play for later. I think we should probably enter the house room already. There's only a little spare time for us to pick our seats."

Keena then casually rose from the ground, added in an agreeing tone while brushing off the dust and dirt from her uniform,

"Yeah, I believe we had wasted enough time on these trifling shenanigans. I agree we should go in before the moment we arrive. Let's not expand more times on the outside-"

Mina then excitedly inserted,

"Mina can't wait to find what's beyond this door!"

Laura also exclaimed right after Mina,

"Yeah, me too!"

Three of them promptly altered their boggled eyes to her, pondering why she was excited over the entry despite visiting beforehand.

"I thought you've been to our house room during orientation? What's with the excitement?" Keena queried.

"Well... you see, Keenia!"

"It's Keena, by the way..."

"When doing something with someone who shares the same energy, it is much more thrilling when you do it all by yourself! So, I feel more hyped when Mina and I align our energy!"

"It makes zero sense," Keena stuttered as her brows ticked but continued in her mindful tone,

"but I will let it slide..."

Meanwhile, Mina abruptly exclaimed,

"Mina totally can resonate with your feeling, Laura! Mina feels that way too!"

Then they were frivolously air-slapped with each other, restlessly fidgeting on the spot.

"They are really two of a kind, aren't they?" Keena defeatedly uttered at the side of Konnaugh, who just chuckled at their enthusiastic behavior.

Moving on from there, Konnaugh proceeded to the gate, hollering as he firmly pushed open the gate,

"Here we go, everyone! The moment we've been waiting for!"

For the time being, Mina and Laura were simply engulfed with sheer exhilaration as their eyes glistered when the gate gradually unbolted.

Anticipating the unknown within...