My consciousness returned to me after the strange encounter with Lumina's sister, Melanie. In a curtain partitioned infirmary room, the sound of birds and footsteps echoed in the air, reaching my ears. I sat up and the curtain opposite the right side of the bed opened up.
It was Alesha, her look of worry replaced by sudden relief as she threw her arms around me and expressed her joy that I was awake. Her white flowing hair reminescent of mine, druped over her back as she embraced her brother. When I had passed out from the battle, it had been exactly ten minutes. The supervisors gave me a passing grade for holding my own and going toe-to-toe with a divine knight for ten minutes. My sister, worried that I had fallen back into a coma rushed to help me, along with the infirmary staff.
My sister's classmate and best friend, Leticia Savant was there with her. She expressed her opinion about how we looked alike as siblings. This shocked me, since I had asked Alesha to be more private with that information.
Wondering if any other person knew, my fears were confirmed when Alesha said the entire school realized it after she ran to keep me company. I slumped over, my entire strategy to lay low, destroyed by that stupid knight.
The thought of what Melanie said about Lumina not being able to handle the situation alone, left me in contemplation. I was checked out of the infirmary after my condition was confirmed to be just exhaustion. I knew I had to revisit the in-between.
For now, my only goal is to manage hiding from the public eye. This meant, no unnecessary displaying of power and absolutely no public interaction with influencial nobility. I bid my sister goodbye, using the mental scope pendant to assure her safety.
At the public notice board, the hustle and bustle of eager candidates rang loudly. I went closer, drawing all manner of attention to myself. Deep down, I wanted to slug the knight so hard for forcing my hand. I looked over at the bulletin board and saw my name.
" August Grimmseley Black -
written: 2nd
practical: 1st
class: 1A"
To be honest, I was not surprised. The questions were rudimentary in the theory test and the battle with the Divine Knight only tested my ability to hold back my strength. An equal dual of full force would have ended up in a victory in my favor. I turned away, ready to head to the dorm registration room in the administration block, to get my accomodations finalized. With gazes still glued to me, I felt immensely uncomfortable. In my past life, I was a shadow, a waning existence, ignored, maltreated for sport and hated. The attention I received felt unsettling in this world, almost unnerving.
I lowered my head, hands in the pocket of my uniform's coat as I navigated the onlooking crowd of fellow candidates. Once at the door, I heard a loud, attention commanding voice. It was that of a girl. Perhaps even a girl my age. She called out, but my attention was elsewhere. I turned the door knob attempting to leave, when I noticed the door was frozen at its hinges. I turned around slowly, a look of displeasure on my face as I addressed my caller in a melancholy tone.
" What do you want?!".
The magnitude of my displeasure shocked most of the candidates. Before me was the daughter of the Noble House Terafania, and here I was, not even giving her an ioter of attention.
The shock on her face was visible, a mixture of growing curiosity and slight annoyance. I tried to turn around and leave, when a sharp female tone called out from beside her.
" Hey you!, where are you going? Lady Aliyah called upon you and even got your attention with magic. How dare you show such disdain to her!!".
At this point, the whole hall turned to look at the commotion.
I knew this was not a good sign, the girl before me was identified by my Analysis Skill as, Shuna Marcoff. And as far as I knew, what she was trying to do was called mounting.
I knew this very well in my past life. Insignificant pawns looking for the attention of higher classed chess pieces, try to take advantage of other pawns, ergo, Mounting.
I decided to avoid the attention of stupid nobles that might interfere with my plan and escape the spotlight with a demeaning apology.
I took the standard noble etiquette, ninty-degree bow and gave the most insincere apology of my reincarnated life.
Although being humiliated was standard for a meek fool such as myself, this time felt different. My heart grew heavy, the weight of sheer annoyance plucking at its strings.
Was it the result of my new powers? Had I grown horns to resist bullying now?
To not shame my household, I clenched my left fist and held the clench with my right hand. The clench was tight enough for my slightly grown fingernails to cause an injury. As a drop of blood fell on the ground, it met the stunned gaze of Aliyah, mixed with hints of shame and baffle.
I turned around afterwards, head still lowered and with a slight wave of my injured hand, melted the ice with a low tier flame spell. The hall was still silent, the murmurs of students hinting at mockery. The so called genius was too scared to stand up to a higher ranking Nobleman's daughter.
Shuna approached Aliyah, trying to better her stance in order to force a good relationship. Her attempts however, were only met by a blank and practically lifeless expression from Aliyah.
She stepped out of the hall as well, looking at the figure of August as he walked away, hands in his pocket and burdened by heavy thoughts.
She wondered whether he hated her for what Shuna had done on her behalf.