Now that I knew Crown Prince Worst was going to be at the Academy, I didn't want to go. It was bad enough that I would have to see him for the rest of my life and deal with that cocky attitude . . . couldn't the Gods have granted me a Crown Prince Worst free four years for the time being I was in school?

But. . . it was my first time ever attending a school and getting to be around people my age. Getting tutored was fine education wise - my father had only gathered the smartest academics in Cronia to be my royal tutors but they couldn't fill that desire in my heart for friends. 

I wanted friends. They always appeared in the books I read, a trio of good friends, laughing together, eating together, killing monsters together.

Going to this school was my first chance at having this, and despite the dark stain that was Crown Prince Worst, I would not let it ruin my opportunity to have the best school life ever.

I packed with excitement in my heart once more.

                                                 *********************

I stood outside the gates of the Academy, where a sizable crowd had already gathered. They were all dressed like me in the Academy uniform, a white blouse fitted under a black blazer lined with red, the crest of the Academy visible on every breast pocket. Guys wore black slacks and all the girls had on black skirts, the ends sitting neatly above the knee. 

The welcoming letter which had arrived after the party had instructed that the incoming First Years must be present in front of the gate by 12:00 PM sharp and I had arrived just in time.

The steel gates of the Academy slowly crept open, revealing a tall girl with short pink hair. She was wearing the Academy uniform as well.

“Welcome, First Years,” she shouted, her cheery voice rising above the crowd’s murmur.

“My name is Sarin and I’ll be your tour guide today.” Her face held a welcoming smile, her brown eyes lighting up as she surveyed the crowd.

“Oh, just look at you soft things,” she squealed, shaking her gloved fists in delight. “You guys are so cute, I could just eat you up.” She took a small nip of the air as if to prove her point.

Okay...

Sarin clapped her hands and a roll of paper appeared out of thin air, hanging midair held by invisible strings of magic.

I couldn’t help but marvel at the magic she had performed so casually. Mortals usually didn’t have magical powers, so this was the first time seeing something like this.

“Now, I’m going to take attendance, so when you hear your name just give a cheery little shout.”

“Mariam Alder.”

“Present.”

Sarin gave a little swish of her wrist, and Mariam’s name vanished from the list

“Next is…Draxel Aren.”

“Yo.”

Another swish.

“Francis Aren.”

“Here.”

Swish.

And so it went until every name was called and the attendance sheet which had arrived filled with black ink was now clean, bone white as if it'd never been used.

Sarin gave a light blow to the hanging roll of paper and it erupted into a flutter of light, paper wings, an army of dry butterflies taking to the skies.

The students ‘oohed’ and ‘ahhhed’ which seemed to please Sarin who stood watching her creations get swept up by the summer wind, she gave a light wave of her fingers.

“Bye bye,” she called to them and then turned her gaze to us.

“Alrighty, First Years," her voice chirped. "Since everyone is here, let’s start the tour.”

She turned on her heel and started walking up the inclined road.

“Leave your luggage, just bring your bodies,” she called out, not bothering to look over her shoulder. 

“And for Cron’s sake don’t get lost.”

Everyone scrambled after her.