"Urgh, this is so tight" Zeres complained, adjusting the necktie on his uniform. A week had already passed since the end of the trial, and it was now time for the entrance ceremony.

Staring at the mirror, he can’t help but smirk—he was slowly getting addicted to his own face. "Am I really a narcissist as my sister had said? " he shook his head, then he grabbed the last accessory, a coat—then strapped it behind his back.

"Why is it even mandatory, the professor’s will just ramble some nonsense anyway" hissing, he locked his door with a hard thud as he stepped out.

Still, this is going to be hard, he was the only commoner at this time after all. The usual time the commoners will enroll is on the next month; it was a rule no one had ever questioned—which was ridiculous. Zeres knew it was done for the nobles advantage against the commoners, the political system of this world was so rotten than even the ones who had lived at the lowest of the food chain didn’t questioned it.

________________________

’Here goes one unpleasant day’ Zeres thought as he stepped inside the massive Hall, the pillars stretched tall, ancient scriptures etched on the wall and paintings of the humanities history.

"Is that the special admission student? " barely taking steps, Zeres already felt everyone staring at him, some were curious—other’s wary and the most common way nobles react when they saw a pauper; Despise.

Zeres just continued to walk ’till he arrived at a corner ’Well, good luck for your prides pampered brats, I’ll be sure to crash all of your egos.’

"Is everyone here? " all of the student’s head snapped towards the sound, a professor with long curly red hair stood at the wide podium, she wore a witch hat quite carelessly and on her right hand was a magic wand.

Professor Ellysa, the one in charge of Class A, and a mage of the monarch rank—one of the major character that will guide the protagonist on her journey.

"It seems you all are here, well then, let’s begin the entrance ceremony! " her voice, enhanced with mana reverberated around the quiet Hall as every students attention was on her.

"Firstly, we will be briefing you about the rules of this Academy" holding a yellow parchment on hand, she read it loudly "The academy has a system for taking missions and earning credit points, credit points are used as a currency here, everything can be bought by credit points—but not your grades. "

Zeres scratched his ear, it was hurting from the rambling of the professors on stage "How tedious" he sighed, leaning against the tall pillar.

Just then, Professor Ellysa smiled brightly, she raise her hand a slightly, then she announced "Now, let’s have the ’Zenith’ of this year give us a speech."

Zeres’ posture immediately straightened as he stared straight at the podium "It’s finally here" mumbling, he clenched his fist.

A woman with long dark hair moved with effortless elegance, graciously gliding at the spacious hallway set for her, standing at the podium before all of the students, she stared at everyone—her eyes like a molten sun burning everything.

"Greetings, my fellow students, I am Saelyz Hevroen, and as you see—I currently stood here not as an average student, but this year’s Zenith, and I hope that the rest of the students of this batch can confidently declare they are a student of Lunaire Academy, not from arrogance—but by showing your own skills as a gifted. We all have gathered here not for the purpose of entertainment, but for the purpose of finding our own path" after speaking, she left the podium quickly.

"Hmm, not bad—she’s still the same as written in the story" Zeres nodded, Saelyz—the protagonist was never the average sunshine protagonist, far from it; she was a cautious and manipulative woman.

"That’s our year’s Zenith? " students murmured as they scurried out of the massive door. "Yeah, heard she had dual affinities" another chimed in.

_____________

Sitting from afar, a man with golden-blonde locks and eyes as deep as sea stared at Saelyz giving her speech on the podium."Interesting, she’s also the heir to a tower isn’t it? "

"Yes, your highness" a maid beside him answered mechanically, carefully filling the cup another tea.

"Hmm, it seems this year will be quite interesting"

"A dual affinities was it, such a bummer she’s from a tower—if not I’ve already bring her to my side so that bastard brother of mine can taste his own medicine" the man clicked his tounge, slowly twirling the mug as he stared at it.

"Your highness, you’re not allowed to spoke of such details in such place" a man wearing silver plated armor spoke, his voice heavy with meaning.

"I know, I know, I’m just pissed I have to lay low while my brother can form connections here and there"

"Feilres, that’s enough" a woman wearing a cream-colored off the shoulder gown, an emerald necklace hanging on her neck spoke sternly. The man, or Feilres stared coldly at the woman who cut him off.

"Instead of complaining, you should do your best in this academy, your performance will reflect the Royal family, be aware of it—you are a prince of the Mersell Empire"

___________________

Zeres leaned against a tree, his hand stretched at the empty air, he was sensing the mana—but unfortunately, he can’t sense any mana of origin.

"This is more dire than I thought" Zeres clicked his tounge as he sat down, thinking of what will happen tomorrow and in the future, he can’t help but sigh.

Tomorrow will be the start of him being isolated as he’s the only commoner, but he couldn’t care less about that, after all—he just plan to take the smooth path while the protagonists will fight off against the future enemies.

_________________

"I’m not late am I? " Zeres whispered, standing before the door of Class A, he twisted the door knob and stepped inside. It was quiet, only one student was there—and it was a character he’d never expected to see this early. Her dark hair cascaded down her waist, green emeral eyes staring at the window, and the signature mole below her right eye—It was Haslien the saintess.

’Why is she here? Wasn’t she supposed to enroll at the academy at second semester? ’ Zeres’ fist unconsciously clenched, bead of sweats form on his forehead as he stand there frozen.

Sensing Zeres’ presence, The saintess turned her head "What is it? " she asked, her brows arched.

Zeres stiffened "Nothing" he shook his head, then went on the farthest seat, he was regretting his life choices—why did he have to stand there staring instantly at the saintess when its their first time meeting?

Resting his head on the table, he closed his eyes ’but still, why is she here? ’ she wasn’t supposed to appear on the early arcs, she just appeared when the first act had began. ’Is my existence perhaps the reason why she enrolled early? ’ thinking of it, it indeed make sense; there was a sightings of a vampire despised by the church then it even managed to enroll at the most prestigious academy.

’Haaa, things are getting messy’ he sighed inwardly, even yesterday—he had felt that Saelyz’ gaze lingered on him far longer than a normal glance would. And he was even involved in class A, a class for the named characters who’s going to be the center of this generation.

After some time, the door freaked open as a woman with long amethyst-like hair entered, she had a few books in hand as her gaze wandered at the seats, then her gaze arrived at the seat beside Zeres.

Helize, she was one of the named character, a daughter of the Duke Talerin.

’Ohh please for God’s sake don’t seat here’ He can only cry silently in his mind as he prayed that the woman who had just entered won’t seat beside him.

But Alas, fate had other plans, if not for only the woman who had just arrived to seat beside him, there was a new one that entered—the one he wanted to avoid the most. Her long white swayed as she trudged towards his seat, her eyes gleamed with intensity, smiling—she stopped before Zeres.

It was Aeliz Clezen, the daughter of the blue towermaster and the protagonist’ rival.

"You’re the special admit right? " she asked, her gloved hands extended at him "Let’s have a friendly duel later, I heard you manage to kill ten forsaken at the peak of Ghoul rank.

’Fuck, why did she even said that? ’ Zeres glared at her, because of her—his plan for a lowkey life was shattered before him. He could already feel the gazes of everyone on the room piercing through him. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"You won’t backed out will you? " Aeliz teased, her hands still extending towards him. "Fine then" Zeres took her hand, he knew that the situation was completely messed up—it was just the first day but the plot was already messed up beyond repair.