CHAPTER 6 - WELCOME TO THE ACADEMY 3

The prefect dragged Aegis through Rosevale's halls like a criminal. Stone corridors, floating lights, the works.

"First night and already in trouble." The prefect smirked over her shoulder. "Hope you're ready to grovel, commoner."

Aegis kept her mouth shut. No point antagonizing someone who probably had connections.

[Great. Not even twelve hours in and I'm already getting hauled to the principal's office.]

They climbed a spiral staircase that made Aegis's legs burn. The prefect stopped at an ornate door.

"The Headmistress is waiting." She knocked twice, then left.

"Enter," came a voice from inside.

Aegis's HUD flickered:

[CRITICAL CHOICE NOTIFICATION: Headmistress Encounter]

[Outcome Affects Reputation and Scholarship Status]

[Fuck.]

She recalled this moment from the game. If your entrance test scores were too high, you'd get called into a meeting with the Headmistress. And, if you fucked this dialogue up, you were just expelled. Game Over, just like that.

Aegis pushed open the door.

The office screamed "I have too much money". There were books everywhere, floating quills, and a desk worth more than a mansion. Behind it sat Valdris herself.

Silver hair in a tight bun. Sharp cheekbones. Impatient eyes. Purple robes with gold trim that probably cost a fortune. Every ring on her fingers looked magical enough to vaporize someone.

"Miss Starcaller." Valdris didn't look up. "Sit."

Aegis sat. The chair felt like it was made to be deliberately uncomfortable.

"Do you know why you're here?"

"Someone's crying about the commoner already?"

Valdris finally looked up. Her eyes were gray and cold.

"Cute. But no." She set down her quill and leaned back. "I've been reviewing your entrance exam scores. Perfect marks in the three main subjects: Theoretical Magic, Combat Theory, and Political History."

"Thank you?"

"I wasn't complimenting you." Valdris stood and walked around her desk. "Tell me, Miss Starcaller, how does an orphan with no formal education achieve what most nobles can't manage with a lifetime of private tutors?"

[And, here we go. The 'you cheated' accusation.]

"Natural talent?" Aegis kept her voice steady.

"Natural talent." Valdris stopped in front of her. "That's somewhat convenient. Or perhaps you had... assistance?"

"What kind of assistance?"

"A few possibilities come to mind. Perhaps, the kind that involves bribing examiners. Or stealing answer keys. Ah, perhaps you had someone on the inside feed you information." She stopped right in front of Aegis, looking down at her. "So, Miss Starcaller. Which is it?"

Aegis took a moment.

[Think. You can't be too defensive, can't be too cocky...]

She also couldn't take too long to answer. So, she said:

"With what money?" Aegis met her gaze. "I couldn't afford bread most days, let alone bribe anyone at Rosevale."

"Money isn't the only currency." Valdris circled her chair like a predator. "Perhaps you offered... other services?"

Aegis's jaw clenched.

"Are you seriously suggesting I whored myself out for test answers, headmistress?"

Valdris's brows twitched as if she seemed genuinely surprised that Aegis would even challenge that possibility.

"I'm suggesting that perfect scores from a nobody raise questions."

"Then let me answer them." Aegis stood, matching Valdris's height. "First, which examiner would risk their career for a commoner's bribe? They'd lose everything if caught. Second, whose answers could I have stolen? Which noble scored perfectly for me to copy from?"

Valdris's lips twitched.

"Go on."

"Third, if I had inside help, why stop at the three main subjects? Why not ace everything and guarantee my spot?" Aegis stepped closer. "Your suspicion only makes sense if you believe perfection itself is suspicious. If you think no commoner could possibly match noble intelligence."

"Careful, girl."

"Or maybe..." Aegis took a breath. "Maybe this isn't about my scores at all."

Valdris's eyes narrowed.

"Explain."

Aegis stood up and paced around the room.

"Everyone knows what they say about people like me." Aegis straightened her shoulders. "Those of us with the Fertility Goddess's curse. Unnatural. Corrupting influences on proper society."

The office went very quiet.

"You think I'm discriminating against you for your nature?" Valdris's voice was dangerously soft.

"Aren't you?" Aegis pressed on. "A commoner with perfect scores is bad enough. But a cursed commoner? One who might seduce your precious noble daughters? That must terrify you."

"..."

There was a beat of silence. Aegis wondered if she'd gone a tad far, as Valdris was certainly not the type to immediately get on her knees and beg for forgiveness.

But then, Valdirs... laughed.

Or, cackled, actually.

"Terrify?" Valdris laughed some more. "Oh, you stupid girl."

"Excuse me?"

"You think you're so clever, playing the discrimination card." Valdris returned to her desk. "Tell me, what gave you the impression I'd be prejudiced against my own kind?"

Aegis's brain short-circuited.

[What?]

"You're—"

"Surprised?" Valdris's smile had teeth. "Most are. I don't advertise it. Bad for politics when half the noble houses think we're abominations."

"But—"

"But nothing." Valdris waved her hand. That new smile remained fixed on her face. "Sit down before your knees give out."

Aegis sat. Her mind raced through every memory of the game. Valdris's hidden route, her backstory, her scenes... None of them mentioned...

"Still processing?" Valdris poured herself wine from a crystal decanter. "Good. Maybe you'll think twice before making assumptions about me."

"I didn't mean—"

"Yes, you did. And, for what it's worth, I don't entirely blame you. It was a decent gambit." Valdris sipped her wine. "Using perceived bigotry to deflect from the real issue. Classic misdirection. Alas, I am many things, but polite is not one of them. Barked up the wrong tree with that one."

"And what exactly is the real issue?"

"The real issue is that I have a commoner with impossible test scores, no background to support them, and enough confidence to walk into my office and try to manipulate me." Valdris set down her glass. "Either you're a very resourceful cheater, a well-trained spy, or..."

"Or?"

"Or you're exactly what you claim. A nobody who happens to be brilliant." Valdris studied her. "The question is, which would be worse for my academy?"

"How is being brilliant worse than being a cheater?"

"Because cheaters get expelled. Brilliant commoners?" Valdris's smile was sharp. "You'd be far more difficult for me to get rid of, should the need arise."

"That's insane."

"Well," Valdris leaned forward, "lucky for you, I find the social order rather boring. So, having you around would be at least entertaining."

"What?"

"Oh, don't look so shocked. I'm cursed, remember? Half the nobles here think I should be living in a brothel, not running their precious heirs and heiresses' education." Valdris's eyes glinted. "So I have a proposition."

"I'm listening."

"Tonight, at 10, you'll take the Assessment Exams with the other first-years. These determine your class placement for the entire year." Valdris steepled her fingers. "If you score anything less than top tier, 90% or above, I'll assume you cheated on the entrance exam somehow, even if I can't prove it, and expel you immediately."

"That's—"

"Unfair? Harsh? Completely unreasonable?" Valdris's grin widened. "Welcome to Rosevale, Miss Starcaller. We don't do fair here."

"And if I pass?"

"Then you'll have proven your scores were legitimate. And I'll have a brilliant little commoner to terrify the nobles with." Valdris stood. "The exams begin soon. Don't be late."

"One question," Aegis said. "Why tell me you're cursed? You could have kept that secret."

Valdris paused at her desk.

"Because I wanted to see your reaction. And it was everything I hoped for. Complete system failure."

"I don't usually react that strongly to—"

"To things that don't match your expectations?" Valdris's smile was knowing. "Interesting trait for a supposed orphan. Almost like you expected me to be different."

"I just meant—"

"Ten o'clock, Miss Starcaller." Valdris waved her hand, and the door swung open. "Try not to disappoint me. I do so hate being wrong about people."

Aegis stood and bowed.

"I-I won't disappoint you, Headmistress."

"We'll see." Valdris had already returned to her paperwork. "Oh, and Miss Starcaller? If you truly earned those entrance scores, tonight should be child's play."

Aegis left, her mind spinning. The hallway felt too bright after the dim office.

[Valdris is cursed. That's... that's not possible. I played every route. I know every character detail. She was definitely not—]

Her HUD chimed:

AFFECTION GAIN: Headmistress Valdris +5

WARNING: World Parameters May Differ From Expected Values

"No shit," Aegis muttered.

She leaned against the wall, trying to process. The Assessment Exams were in less than two hours. But that wasn't what made her head spin.

In the game, Valdris had been a strict but fair administrator, secretly sympathetic to commoners because of her own humble origins. But this Valdris? She seemed... mildly different. Personality-wise, anyway.

Aegis pushed off the wall and started walking.

[Right, no time to think about this.] She narrowed her eyes, stepping through the dimly lit halls. [I have the Assessment Exams to take. And failure is not an option.]