"The Academy was not a fairy tale. Most people only discovered it when they arrived there. The castle was considered a living place.

As the original plan failed, they had to resort to plan B, which was a way to promote healthy rivalry. However, things got a little out of hand.

Everyone wanted to be considered the greatest in their dorm, bringing home a glorious victory and being loved by everyone within the limits. When you entered the Academy, the most important thing was to leave with a good reputation.

When Annabell's brothers came back from the Academy and told her about it, her initial reaction was one of outrage:

"You lock up people who have just turned 18 in a college for THREE years. You promote a 'healthy' rivalry with no clear rules and limits. Are you sure this is for the sake of the Land of Wonder and not a test of survival, or perhaps a way to control the population? And what's up with the dorm fights? It doesn't even make sense that it's for the good of the dorm!"

She remained outraged for a week, especially when she heard everyone who left the Academy praising it as an incredible experience that helped them evolve. It just didn't make sense to her - that place looked more like a bomb about to explode.

"Princess Annabell, please pay attention in class. While you may be one of the most important people in the White Kingdom, here you are just a student." the teacher reminded her, bringing her back to the present. She then went on to explain the importance of knowing the right time to approach an animal."

Some of the students from the Lotus dorm laughed at the teacher's speech, but they received ugly looks from other students in the class.

Annabell raised her hand and waited for the teacher's permission to speak.

"Mrs, what criteria are used to determine our grades?" she asked.

"The Academy knows what you will need in the future." the teacher replied. Annabell's brothers had taken classes related to leadership, fighting techniques, and strategies for wars. According to them, it was as if they were still in the castle, and even the times were the same. "Now pay attention in class." the teacher added sternly.

Annabell had been about to ask another question, but before she could, the teacher glared at her with an angry look.

"How about you come show us the material, since you're so talkative?" the teacher snapped at her. Annabell was confused - she had only asked one question. Besides, there were other students in the class who hadn't stopped talking since the beginning.

"I don't think that will be possible." Annabell replied slowly. The teacher's face showed that she was not in the mood to hear Annabell's explanations.

The teacher then pointed to the animal in the center of the room - a mix of a snake and a tiger. These animals were known to be untrusting and didn't usually approach people. The teacher was waiting for the animal not to approach Annabell, so that she could have a concrete reason to say that the princess was not paying attention in class.

However, Annabell calmly sat on the floor and stared at the animal. With a gentle smile, she reached out and called the animal over.

"Come, I won’t hurt you." the animal moved its head from one side to the other, analyzing the princess.

He began to approach slowly, and the animal showed no sign of fear. When he arrived close enough, he rubbed his head on the princess's hand. Annabell smiled and caressed the tiger's head, recalling what the teacher had said during class.

"Offer something to the animal, then bit by bit get closer, try to gain its trust. It should probably take a few days."

"You did not follow the good word given in class." the teacher’s voice was annoyed.

"I do not need to follow your recommendations, Mrs Li. It would be a waste of time." the animal lay on the princess's lap. "I have a strong kinship with animals since I was little, and with practice, it became stronger."

"How good the princess is." Mrs Li appeared to cheer up and opened a huge smile.

"Does everyone's smile here have to be so scary?" the princess thought.

"Today, in the hunting class, Mr Bonk will practice something with archery. You must prevent at least one rabbit from being killed, but you can only catch it when it comes to you. Use your wonderful kinship." Mrs Li said.

"How?" Annabell blinked a few times, staring at the teacher and hoping it was just a joke.

"In the forest, there will be five rabbits. Calm one of them and bring it here. Preferably, the lady should come back unharmed." the teacher pointed to the forest and the people who had entered it with bows. "If you succeed, another 600 points will be added to your house, and if you fail... 800 points will be taken away. And I recommend going soon," the teacher's voice had a false kindness and was accompanied by a completely scary smile.

The teacher didn't appear to be playing with the subject. The students looked curiously at Annabell.

She got up and ran towards the forest. Annabell was really beginning to suspect that she had been placed in some sort of survival test.

When she entered the forest, the princess thought she might find some students and try to explain the situation. However, she had a small impression that kindly asking people there to wait for her to catch the rabbit was not a good idea. As a matter of fact, she didn't even know why she was there.

Teacher Li's idea was simply madness. Stopping to think, it was better to go after the rabbit than to have to deal with the anger of the people in her dorm.

"I'll have to stop a rabbit from being killed and try not to get hit by an arrow. What an amazing day!" Annabell thought to herself.

She heard a faint noise coming from her right side. It sounded like something was cutting through the air. The wind hit her face, and a few seconds later, she felt a burning sensation on her cheek. She became confused, and she touched the place that was burning with her fingertips.

"A princess shouldn't break into other people's classes. " Annabell looked at her fingertips and saw the red liquid. "The rabbit passed behind you, sorry." Ezariel's voice didn't have an ounce of sincerity. His look was like a person who was having fun with all that. "It's better to take care of it. " He pointed to his own cheek, "so as not to get scarred."

Annabell couldn't answer Ezariel. Her mind was totally focused on the blood on her fingers. She knew it wasn't a mere accident.

The princess raised her face and looked at the redhead. The smile on Ezariel's face was small, but it contained some happiness.

" I’ll consider it as... a swap! After all, I’ll have to take the rabbit from you." Annabell wiped her fingers in the blue dress - I hope you don’t get upset.

Annabell turned, didn’t need to be a genius to guess that everything there was worth a point to the dorm. Catching the rabbit would give points to Annabell. Killing the rabbit would give Ezariel points. It may be a futile motive, but now she felt motivated to catch that rabbit.

Annabell saw a white shadow running through the bushes, the two looked. Annabell began to run. Her voice used to calm and attract animals. If there was more than one rabbit nearby, she could take two.

"Hey! Rabbit! Stop running! I’m getting tired, I’ll give you numerous food if you come to me!" Annabell heard a hoarse laugh, not far away.

"You really think you’re going to call him that?"

"With rabbits it may not work, but with tapirs it appears so."

Ezariel stopped running, but Annabell didn’t call. The rabbit ran towards Annabell, he jumped straight into the arms of the princess, who smiled excited. The redhead had an indignant look. From afar a cannon was heard, and it was announced:

"White Lotus Dormitory, 600 points earned in action, Rabbit Protection. Conquered by Princess Annabell"

She fondled the rabbit. If she had a ranking of unusual situations, that would be in the first place. She had just competed for a rabbit.

"Phase two of action with the rabbit, run away from the rabbit. He missed the time and is now angry. Those who can find the rabbit hole in five minutes get 800 points."