Dark opened the door to his dorm room.

  The room was dark, stuffy, and completely silent.

  He reached for the light switch.

  When the lights came on, the true state of the place was revealed.

  “Seriously… what a filthy, dusty place…”

  Dark sighed, running a hand through his hair.

  “I wish I had maids like the strong students’ dorms.”

  He slowly walked toward the bathroom.

  “I just want to relax with a hot shower… it’s been days since my last one…”

  A few minutes later, Dark left the room.

  He was now wearing the new Verya Academy uniform.

  He glanced at his reflection in the glass of the door.

  He frowned.

  “Why doesn’t this look good on me like it does on everyone else?”

  He lightly squeezed the sleeve of the uniform.

  “Damn… I’m too skinny…”

  Suddenly, his phone vibrated.

  Dark picked it up.

  “Ah… it’s Lavin.”

  The message appeared on the screen.

  Lavin:

  "Dude, hurry to the central hall. The director wants to say something."

  “An announcement?”

  Dark tilted his head.

  “Wait… didn’t he come back way too fast?”

  He scratched his head.

  “That old man… he could’ve at least arrived earlier.”

  Dark left the dormitory and walked through the academy grounds.

  A soft breeze crossed the vast green fields.

  In the distance, the towering buildings of Verya Academy dominated the horizon.

  Dark looked around with a faint sparkle in his eyes.

  “I’m really here… aren’t I, Master?”

  He gently clenched his fist.

  “I’m going to become someone… just like you were.”

  His voice softened.

  “I just… hope this isn’t a dream…”

  His expression turned more serious.

  “Like the one I had today…”

  He closed his eyes for a moment.

  “That voice… I was sure it was calling me…”

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  Dark stopped walking.

  “And it sounded…”

  Heavy breathing came from behind him.

  “Haa… haa…”

  Dark turned around.

  Asami was there, bent forward with her hands on her knees.

  Her face was slightly flushed from running.

  “Were you running?” Dark asked, extending his hand.

  “Yes… it seems something important is about to happen in the main hall…”

  Asami accepted his hand.

  Dark helped her stand up.

  He blinked.

  “Soft…”

  Asami froze.

  Her face instantly turned bright red.

  “T-That’s not it! I just take good care of my hands!”

  She started speaking way too fast.

  “You know how it is! I-I’m a pure girl!”

  She looked away, completely embarrassed.

  “I have to take care of myself…”

  Dark smiled.

  Still holding her hand.

  “Let’s go, Asami! We have to get there before it starts!”

  He pulled her along and started running.

  ---

  Inside the academy’s main hall…

  Lavin waited impatiently beside Ingrid.

  “They’re taking way too long…”

  Ingrid crossed her arms.

  “Tell me about it… Dark is so careless!”

  Her tone was irritated.

  “It annoys me!”

  Suddenly, Asami entered the hall.

  She was supporting Dark by the arm.

  Dark looked like he was about to die.

  “What happened?!” Lavin and Ingrid asked at the same time.

  Asami scratched her cheek.

  “I found Dark and he dragged me into running…”

  She laughed awkwardly.

  “But… he can’t really run very much.”

  Ingrid sighed.

  “Yeah… Dark was never good with physical effort.”

  She started walking to help him.

  But Lavin got there first.

  He supported Dark.

  “Still alive?”

  Dark answered weakly.

  “Shut… up…”

  Lavin laughed and helped him to a seat.

  Soon everyone settled down.

  Dark looked around.

  “Seriously…?”

  He sighed.

  “Why am I sitting so far away from my friends?”

  He was mentally complaining when he noticed someone beside him.

  A girl.

  Her hair was white with slightly golden tips.

  Her amber eyes had a gentle glow.

  The academy uniform she wore was different.

  More elegant.

  White and gold.

  Almost… noble.

  She looked at Dark and smiled.

  “Um… may I sit here?”

  Dark turned red.

  “Y-Yes! Of course!”

  She sat down.

  Then turned to him.

  “Aren’t you the super weak guy who hangs around Ingrid?”

  Dark stayed silent for a second.

  “I am…”

  His tone dropped.

  The girl widened her eyes.

  “Ah! I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have said that!”

  Dark sank into the chair.

  “It’s fine… I really am weak.”

  He shrugged.

  “That’s undeniable.”

  She thought for a moment.

  “Then… how about I buy you dinner later?”

  Dark immediately straightened up.

  “Really?!”

  “Yes… as an apology.”

  Dark smiled.

  “I’d love that!”

  Then he realized something.

  “Oh… what’s your name?”

  The girl hesitated.

  She took a breath.

  “Mary Pendragon.”

  Dark smiled.

  “Beautiful name.”

  Mary blushed slightly.

  “I didn’t expect someone to say that…”

  Suddenly—

  A voice echoed through the hall.

  “Finally!”

  It was the teacher.

  “Is everyone here?”

  He crossed his arms.

  “I have two announcements.”

  “First: registrations for the First Year Student Council are now open.”

  Asami leaned toward Ingrid.

  “Are you going to apply?”

  Ingrid made a face.

  “I already said I hate that stuff.”

  “Too much politics.”

  “And second…”

  The director’s voice echoed through the massive hall.

  “In two weeks, Verya Academy will begin a partnership with Stella Academy.”

  The entire hall went silent.

  Dark blinked.

  “Why did everyone get quiet?”

  Mary answered.

  “Because that’s unexpected…”

  She frowned.

  “Usually these collaborations happen in the middle of the year.”

  She looked thoughtful.

  “That’s strange…”

  She murmured quietly.

  “Maybe I should inform my father…”

  Meanwhile, Takumi watched everything in silence.

  “Maybe this will help me…”

  He looked at Dark.

  “…get what I want.”

  Mary glanced in his direction.

  Her eyes flashed gold for a brief moment.

  Takumi suddenly felt a strange pressure and immediately looked away.

  That’s the princess…?

  He began biting his nails.

  “How is that guy talking to her?!”

  His face twisted with frustration.

  “That bastard…”

  The director spoke again.

  “I don’t see a problem in losing a fight.”

  His tone turned cold.

  “But if anyone behaves like a spoiled brat…”

  The air in the room became heavy.

  “I will personally punish them.”

  “Perhaps even expel them.”

  Then he coughed.

  Returning to a cheerful tone.

  “So have fun!”

  “You’re dismissed!”

  The students began leaving slowly.

  No one wanted to disappoint the director.

  ---

  Later…

  Outside the academy.

  Dark sat on a bench watching upperclassmen training.

  Lavin arrived and tossed a bag toward him.

  “Still warm. Donuts.”

  “Just bought them.”

  Dark widened his eyes.

  “How did you buy them?”

  “The nearest shop is far.”

  Lavin raised a finger.

  A small portal appeared.

  “Let’s just say… I have some shortcuts.”

  Dark laughed.

  “Oh… teleportation.”

  “I forgot about that.”

  He took a hungry bite of the donut.

  “It must be really cool to have a power like that.”

  Lavin kept watching the training field.

  His expression looked slightly melancholic.

  “Yeah…”

  he murmured.

  “Really cool…”

  “…if you’re not treated as disposable because you’re your family’s last hope.”

  Dark finished the donut.

  “Hm?”

  “What did you say?”

  Lavin smiled.

  But it looked a little fake.

  “Nothing.”

  “I just said it’s cool.”

  Dark laughed.

  “See?! I knew it!”

  “Maybe someday I’ll get an overpowered ability too.”

  He raised his sword.

  “Only having a sword is kind of boring.”

  Lavin laughed.

  And the two kept talking.

  ---

  Meanwhile…

  In the infirmary.

  Ingrid was sitting on a bed.

  “Asami…”

  “Yes?”

  “My chest hurts…”

  She placed a hand over her heart.

  “And it’s beating really fast…”

  Her face was red.

  “And my face feels hot…”

  Asami placed a hand on Ingrid’s forehead.

  Then on her chest.

  She froze.

  Her eyes widened.

  She fell to her knees.

  “Ingrid…”

  Her mind spiraled into chaos.

  “You’re… in love?!”

  No! Impossible!

  Ingrid would never fall in love like this!

  But she’s still a girl!

  Then who was it?!

  Asami’s mind was in complete panic.

  Ingrid asked timidly,

  “Is… it that bad?”

  She couldn’t even look at Asami.

  Asami suddenly stood up dramatically.

  She grabbed Ingrid’s shoulders.

  “I will help you!”

  Ingrid had no idea…

  that the person helping her…

  was a girl who spent most of her time reading cliché romance novels.