“... It looked different.”

“Have you ever visited this place?”

“Sorry, forget about that.”

I somewhat expected it, but the King’s Academy looked different from the building I remembered. I didn’t visit the place often back in my previous life, but I could tell that there were changes. For one, there was an entirely new building in the complex. Many of the older buildings had undergone renovations as well.

“Should we go in?”

I nodded, and we stepped into the King’s Academy. I expected something ‘wonderful’ to happen when I stepped inside, but there were no flashy effects or game events. I simply walked past the gate.

“... Too bad…” I murmured.

Maya eyed me from the side. “Sometimes I wonder if you’re a normal person.”

“I guess I’m not normal?” I never actually told her about my reincarnation. I never told anyone for that matter. People simply assumed me as some child prodigy, not aware that my total lifetime was older than some of them.

Not that it mattered, honestly. I got to twenty-five, then was reset.

“We should head into our rooms. Do you remember where yours are?”

“Rendezvous in the cafeteria in thirty minutes.” Maya walked away. The sight of her caught the attention of nearby students, probably because of the horns on her head. Dragon horns in the form of cute accessories were pretty common, but none of them looked as real as her horns.

“I hope she doesn’t get into trouble,” I murmured, before making my way toward the boys’ dormitories.

* ••

“Ahh…” I stretched my hands, my body sinking into the large white bed. A few years before the start of the main story, the academy was a noble only school. Despite all the years that have passed, they still hadn’t renovated the rooms. So, despite being a regular commoner, I got access to a luxurious bed and a large room, way too large for what I know to do with. Even the bed I slept on was larger than the ones my parents used at home.

I closed my eyes, about to float to dreamscape, when my mind imagined the school cafeteria. Maya sitting there alone, eating a huge piece of fish, under the gaze of our schoolmates…

Urgh…

Maya’s horns stood out from the crowd, and it was impossible to mistake it for an accessory. Someone might get curious and bother her

I hope she can make friends.

I couldn’t be around her twenty-four seven. I had no doubts about her being able to fight off anyone that got close, but that was the problem. Even after living in our village for so long, she was still not used to the way humans do things. Dragons value physical strength, and if someone messed with her…

I got off the bed and got changed. Students were allowed to use whatever they wanted in the dormitories and the cafeteria, as long as it still followed the moral conduct. I grabbed some long pants and a dress shirt, rushing down the dorms’ hallways straight for the cafeteria.

It hadn’t been thirty minutes yet, but Maya was already there…

Surrounded by a lot of kids.

She munched on a piece of grilled fish without the slightest care in the world.

“Who is your handler?”

“How did you get here?”

“You don’t deserve to be enrolled in here.”

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Came the sneers from some of our peers. I expected this somewhat. People of this world didn’t go along well with other intelligent species, mainly because of a lack of interaction. The dragons actually treated me in the same way when I first went to their village. They warmed up to me as more time passed.

“Sigh… I shouldn’t have left her.”

“Are you her master?” asked someone on my right. The girl yelped in surprise when I turned to her. “Sorry.”

She had a petite body, only as tall as my chest. Her long silver hair was tied in a ponytail, traveling down to her back, her bright blue eyes shyly looking away.

“She’s my friend.”

“... Friend?” She seemed curious, albeit slightly frightened.

Do I look that scary?

“Yeah. We’ve been together since we were children.”

A childhood friend, if you will.

And the childhood friend always lost. Just my luck, I guess.

“I see… That is nice.”

“Nice?”

“Ah, sorry.”

“No, don’t apologize. You did nothing wrong. Actually, It’s more accurate to say you didn’t even do anything.”

“Should I be doing something?”

“... Why are you asking me?”

“... Umm…” She averted her eyes.

I looked back toward Maya. The people surrounding her were visibly growing intense. She had a flat expression as she munched, but the grip of her fist grew tighter.

“We really shouldn't disturb her…” one of my schoolmates tried to stop the others, but the rest didn't listen.

“A dragon shouldn’t be away from its master.”

“Get out of here.”

A boy with silver hair and blue eyes reached out and grabbed the collar of her shirt.

You’re going too far!

Maya stopped eating, staring into his eyes. “Let. Me. Go.”

“Yeah? What are you going to do about it?”

One moment, I thought that this kid was an idiot. Next moment, he flew into the other side of the cafeteria, crashing into the wall.

“ARGH!” he screamed in pain, a crater left on the brick wall. Surprised gasp rose from around us. Maya gave one sharp stare at him then sat back down, finishing his meal. The other kids stepped away, looking at her in fear.

Do you all really don't know the strength of a dragon?

I mean, I figured something like this would happen, but it was still surprising nonetheless.

Maya lifted her head and saw me. I let out a faint sigh and approached her.

“First day and already making trouble?” I sat down across from her.

“Not my fault.”

“I know.”

It reminded me of when she first lived in this village. The villagers, too, were wary of her. But they didn't go this far.

Guess this should be expected, considering the status of these people.

She took a drink from her jug and stood up. After finishing her meal, she placed her utensils among the stack of dirty plates in the designated area of the cafeteria.

“Let’s go.”

“Where… do you… think you’re going?” The kid from before writhed in pain. Maya turned to me.

“Where are we going?”

“Buying supplies, I guess.”

“Don’t you know who… you’re speaking with?”

The rest of the students there began talking among themselves. I exchanged glances with Maya.

“Someone unimportant?” Maya asked.

“No, if he’s here, he’s probably someone important.”

“How important?”

“You expect me to know?”

Since he was here, that meant he was around our age. He wouldn't have existed during the game’s time.

“How… dare you. You will… see…” A group of students helped him get up and escorted him away.

“Guess we should be prepared for a fight,” Maya said nonchalantly, heading toward the southern gate.

“Let’s try minimizing fights from now. I only have so much mana.”

We continued conversing as we headed into the city to buy supplies.

* ••

Until the end of the day, we didn’t see that kid again. Rumors had begun spreading. By the time we returned, all the students looked at us warily, keeping their distance. All except for one.

“Something you need from us?”

“Eh, ah, umm… I’m sorry!” She was the silver hair girl from before. It seemed that we had caught her attention. She was too frightened to say anything, though.

“Look, you don’t need to apologize for every single thing, okay?”

“I… don’t?”

“That kid that messed with me still hasn’t apologized.” Maya folded her hands, letting out a sigh. “You’re the opposite of him.”

“Is that so…”

“So, anything you need?”

The girl shook her head. “Umm, please excuse me!” She ran off.

“Who is she?” Maya asked. “Your friend?”

“I don’t know.”

“Weren’t you standing with her?”

“That and nothing more.” I hadn’t even known her name, yet.

“I see.”

We bid each other goodnight and headed to our respective rooms.