Chapter 5: You, look at me

“Ugh…”

I stretched, enjoying a refreshing morning for the first time in a while.

Was it because I skipped training yesterday to pack?
I felt light enough to fly.

For the past year, a burning pain tormented me every night after training.
I ended up sleeping with Mother, unable to bear it.

It felt pathetic to need my mother at this age,
but what choice did I have?
It’s better than being burned alive.

Hugging Mother made the pain subside.

I’ll have no one to hug at the academy, so I’ll need to adjust my training intensity.
It would have been great if I could stay in Sister’s dorm.

Still, the thought of finally seeing Sister excited me.

I couldn’t sleep last night,
so I reread all the letters we exchanged before finally drifting off.

I quickly got ready and
left with my remaining luggage and a mountain of Sister’s letters.

“Ellie, are you leaving already?”
“Yes! The entrance ceremony will be starting soon.”

As I loaded the carriage,
Mother and Father came to see me off.
Most of the luggage was already loaded yesterday,
so I carefully placed the remaining items and Sister’s neatly wrapped letters inside.

“I’ll miss you both!”
“Oh, yes. Our beautiful daughter, going off to the academy, all grown up.”

I hugged them, and
my pent-up emotions overflowed.
This body was too emotional.

Since regaining my memories, accepting these parents was difficult.
Yet, they waited patiently, supporting me through thick and thin.

I could never repay their kindness.

I poured out my gratitude and guilt
in their embrace before finally leaving.

****

Rumble, rumble—

With nothing to do in the moving carriage, I thought about the future.

Before entering the academy,
I’d trained enough to protect myself.
I was confident in this.

Even at the academy, filled with talented individuals,
there’s a difference in skill.

If I was so weak that I doubted myself,
I would have meekly applied to Lily Academy’s “public property” program. Though I doubt such a program exists, even at a place like Lily Academy.

I no longer had to worry about being kidnapped or overpowered,
but I needed to be wary of cunning individuals who smile to your face and stab you in the back.

Even I couldn’t easily discern such people.
If they got close and gained my trust,
they had numerous ways to incapacitate me.

From my past life knowledge,
drugs like potions or sleeping pills, or
ambushes when I was off guard, were common.

I found them entertaining then, but
now, the thought of being a victim terrified me.

Since judging people’s intentions was difficult,
I decided to repel everyone from the start.
If they persisted, I’d show them the difference in strength.
Making an example of someone wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Feeling relieved,
I lay down in the swaying carriage, enjoying the warm sunlight and falling asleep.

****

“Ugh…this feels weird.”

My lower body felt empty and airy.

I didn’t consider this.
Or rather, I deliberately erased it from my mind.

The fact that I had to wear a girl’s uniform at Lily Academy.

I knew students had to wear uniforms, but I couldn’t imagine myself in one.

I’d been wearing shorts and comfortable clothes,
but the skirt felt like a confirmation of my female identity.

Despite the chill, the short skirt
was more comfortable than pants and suitable for wearing when alone.

“Wow…”

In the mirror, a cute little girl in a pretty uniform gazed back, her eyes sparkling.

I didn’t know why I still looked so young,
but looking young is a good thing, so I dismissed it.

It was time to head to the entrance ceremony.
I checked myself one last time and left the dorm.

The weather was surprisingly warm, like it wasn’t winter just a few days ago.

Excited, I passed through the academy gates.
Beautiful buildings, arranged like a grand, intricate work of art, greeted me.

“New students, please come this way for guidance!”

I approached the crowd, where several signs offered directions,
including one pointing to the auditorium for the entrance ceremony.

I had some time before it started, so I decided to take it easy.
I paused by a window, admiring the academy’s beautiful scenery.

Lily Academy was unexpectedly lovely.
The students seemed friendly.

But I remembered the warning about hidden dangers beneath this peaceful facade.
I mustn’t let my guard down.

“Sigh…nice weather.”

Despite my resolve, the warm weather and gentle breeze relaxed me.
I found myself gazing out the window excitedly.

Suddenly, a hand touched my head.

“Y…you shameless hussy! What do you think you’re doing?!”

Startled, I lashed out at the student behind me, forgetting my surroundings.
She trembled, her fists clenched white.

Having successfully subdued the pervert, I headed to the auditorium.
As expected of me, I didn’t flinch and responded perfectly.

Still, I didn’t expect such a sudden approach.
If she had any intention of subduing me, I would have been helpless.

A chill ran down my spine. I entered the auditorium, on high alert.

Everyone was staring at me strangely.

Feeling their gazes,
I walked with heavy steps, as if wading through water.
It felt like being naked in public.

The thought that everyone here might be targeting me sent shivers down my spine.
I needed to be more careful.

“That concludes the entrance ceremony. Students, you are free to unpack in your dorms and explore the academy.”

Lost in thought, I snapped back to reality at the announcement.
I’d missed the principal’s speech and teacher introductions.
It’s fine; teachers aren’t that important.

From my numerous entrance ceremonies, both in this life and the past,
they were always boring.

I headed to my assigned dorm.

In her last letter, Sister said to meet her under the big tree in front of the dorms after the ceremony.

Excited, I rushed to my room and unpacked.

I had, of course, requested a single room.
Who knows what might happen sharing a room with others.

Finished unpacking, I eagerly opened the door,
bumping into someone about to enter the next room.

A beautiful blonde student.
Her sharp, brown eyes gave her a cold impression.

Mesmerized by her beauty, I stared,
and she walked straight towards me.

Up close, her long hair, loosely tied to one side, and slightly unbuttoned uniform, revealing a hint of cleavage, gave her a carefree vibe.

Kids these days have no sense of modesty, I grumbled internally, trying to calm my racing heart.

But then I noticed the piercings in her ears and a thick gold chain necklace.
Something felt off.

She looked like a delinquent, with bleached blonde hair.

She scanned me from head to toe and stopped in front of me.

She was a head taller, making me look up.
Her presence was intimidating.

“Eek…!”

Even facing the knight captain hadn’t been this intimidating.
A primal instinct made me tremble, my head bowing involuntarily.
Did I offend her somehow?

After a tense silence,
a cold voice came from above.

“…You, come with me.”