I woke up to pain.
A sharp, throbbing ache pulsed behind my left eye—like someone was rhythmically stabbing a hot needle through my skull. For a split second, I expected to still see Hel's frost-covered throne, expected to feel her fingers digging into my face again.
But instead, I saw… Alya.
Her head was resting against the side of my bed, ears drooped, tail curled around her like she'd fallen asleep mid-worry. She stirred as soon as I shifted, golden eyes snapping open.
"Mavis?" she whispered, then jolted upright. "MAVIS! You're awake!"
I blinked groggily. "Alya…? Where are we…?"
She leaned closer, her voice soft but frantic. "The infirmary. You've been out for—"
"How long?" I asked, rubbing my aching eye.
Alya hesitated.
I raised a brow.
"How long," I repeated slowly.
"…three days."
I shot upright so fast my head slammed into hers.
"OW—!!"
"OW—!!"
We both recoiled, clutching our foreheads.
"THREE DAYS???" I shouted once the pain settled. "I was asleep for three days?!"
Alya nodded rapidly, tail flicking with agitation. "We thought you were dying!"
"I wasn't dying," I muttered, though considering Hel had ripped my eye out, maybe not entirely false. "I was just—busy."
"Busy?" she repeated flatly.
"…Dreaming," I corrected.
"Uh-huh. Dreaming." Her tone made it clear she didn't believe a word of it, but she let it go with a sigh.
I sagged back into the pillow. "Well… at least I don't have to do the running part of the physical test."
Alya blinked.
Her ears perked up.
"Oh. Right. That reminds me—I have to go tell the instructor you're awake!"
"…Why do you sound nervous?" I asked suspiciously.
She fidgeted.
"Alya?"
She looked like she wanted to flee. "So, um… since you've been out for multiple days… classes have already started."
I felt my soul leave my body.
"CLASSES STARTED? WITHOUT ME?!"
"Yes—uh—technically."
"Alya, I don't even have a uniform yet!"
"Actually, you do. They delivered it while you were unconscious."
"…That's not comforting."
She winced. "Also, you don't have a schedule. Or a dorm assignment yet."
I stared at her.
Then blinked.
Then stared again.
"…What does that mean exactly?" I asked slowly, as if she were explaining the death sentence.
"It means you're not assigned anywhere yet," she explained lightly. "I have to get an instructor to finalize your class placement."
My panic intensified. "But—you and I are still in the same dorm, right?"
The shift in Alya's expression was immediate.
Her ears drooped.
Her tail curled downward.
"No…" she said softly. "We're not."
"Alya—"
"Students are assigned dorms by rank," she murmured, eyes dropping to her lap. "You—well—you ranked higher than me. And nobles go in a different wing. The academy still thinks you're my sister—so they put you where nobles go."
That hit harder than I expected.
I sat there, stunned. "So… who am I rooming with?"
"I don't know," Alya whispered. "But she's… noble. I heard she's from a prestigious line."
I swallowed.
Hard.
"Oh."
Alya fidgeted with her sleeve. "I wanted you to be with me. I really did."
Something about the way she said it tugged at my chest.
I reached out and flicked her forehead lightly. "Hey. It's not your fault. And we still look related, right? So we'll see each other all the time."
She brightened a little. "You really think so?"
"Well," I sighed dramatically, "it's not like anyone would dare separate the great Van Buqeat sisters."
She let out an embarrassed squeak. "D-Don't say it so loudly!"
I smirked.
Then the pain in my eye pulsed again, making me wince.
Alya immediately leaned in. "Does your eye still hurt?"
"Yes…" I muttered, touching the lid gently. "Feels like someone… shoved a star inside my skull."
Alya blinked nervously. "I—uh—don't know what that means, but you're scaring me."
"Trust me," I whispered, "I'm scaring myself."
She opened her mouth to say something, but a sharp knock sounded at the door.
Alya jumped. "That must be the instructor! I—I'll go get your schedule and your dorm assignment."
She scrambled toward the door, but before she left, she turned back with a solemn look.
"Remember—you're Mavis Van Buqeat. My sister. Don't slip up or my father will kill us both."
"Right," I said. "Your sister. I won't forget."
She nodded, then slipped out, closing the door behind her.
Left alone in the quiet room, I let out a long breath.
Three days lost.
A new eye burning behind my eyelid.
A goddess waiting for me to get stronger.
A kingdom waiting for me to come home.
And now… an academy full of nobles who thought I was someone else entirely.
Great.
Just great.
I fell back into the pillows and whispered into the empty air:
"…Can't wait to see how this gets worse."