Of all the people who could have ended up beside me, the universe chose the one person who seemed to have a problem with me. Violet’s childhood friend, Nicole.

Even though we’d only known each other for a day, it was clear her opinion of me was already less than favorable.

“Good morning... Did you sleep well?” I asked, hoping to ease some of the tension in the air.

“Who said you could speak to me?” Nicole shot me a glare.

“Oh, um... Well, since we hung out yesterday, I assumed it’d be okay to talk...”

“You assumed wrong! Just because Violet brought you along, doesn’t mean we’re friends. Moving forward, I would prefer it if you didn’t talk to me.”

Not bothering to wait for a response, Nicole took out her school materials and placed them on her desk. She was giving me the cold shoulder. Judging by her demeanor, it seemed she had no plans on socializing with anyone else either.

Well, at least I gave it a shot...

Realizing there was no point in entertaining a relationship with someone like her, I began to turn away but then stopped.

“Wouldn’t it be a little weird if we spent the whole semester sitting next to each other without saying a word?” I asked, gathering whatever courage I could muster.

Looking a little surprised by my words, Nicole let out a sigh. “Not in the slightest.”

“Well, I disagree. If things stay as they are, we’ll both spend the entire semester being uncomfortable with one another.”

“Your opinion is of no concern to me.”

Nicole was determined to block me out. She kept her responses brief and to the point. It almost seemed like she was trying to keep our interaction as minimal as possible.

What am I kidding... Of course, she’s trying to cut our conversation short!

“You know, having that sort of attitude might make it difficult for you to get along with people,” I noted.

“What makes you think I want to get along with people?”

Although her response sounded like a question, it was by no means a question. It felt more like a statement. Nevertheless, I had managed to get something out of her. I was starting to make some progress.

“Considering we’re in high school, wouldn’t it be nice to make some friends?” I continued.

“In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t need friends... I’ve already got some.”

Despite the confidence she displayed, I had the feeling she wasn’t someone with many friends. Based on what I’d seen yesterday, it wouldn’t surprise me if Violet was her one and only friend.

“So, you’re saying you don’t need friends because you already have some... If that’s the case, give me the names of two people you consider friends, besides Violet.”

For the first time since our conversation began, Nicole turned her undivided attention to me. She had an icy look on her face. It was obvious my words had struck a nerve.

“Whether I have friends or not, is none of your concern! Besides, even if I explained myself someone like you would never understand.”

“Someone like me?”

“An incompetent loner with lower-than-average intelligence and strength.”

It didn’t take a genius to realize she was referring to my RP profile. Since my grades weren’t top-notch, I could see why someone like her, a top-ranked prodigy, might think that way.

As for being called a loner, it was pretty easy to see how she’d figured that out. Anyone who spent more than a minute around me would quickly see that I wasn’t exactly a social butterfly.

“How ironic,” I said after a moment.

“What’s ironic?”

“Isn’t it ironic that someone as bright as you can be just as much of a loner as me? Someone with lower-than-average intelligence...”

For a second, I thought she’d get angry, but to my dismay, she smiled. It wasn’t a happy smile though. It was the kind of smirk a hunter would make when they spotted their prey.

“You know, that’s rich coming from you.”

“Why is that?”

“You make it seem like we’re alike, but we’re not! The reason I don’t have many friends is because I prefer to be alone. Every aspect of my social life is a result of my own doing... You, on the other hand, have no friends because you’re weird.”

As much as I hated to admit it, Nicole made a valid point. Unlike me, if she put her mind to it, she could probably make tons of friends. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be friends with someone as smart and good-looking as her? I know I would...

What am I even thinking?!

“Judging by your silence, I take it you’ve realized you’ve lost.” Nicole crossed her arms, looking satisfied with herself.

“There’s no need to rub it in,” I muttered.

“I’m glad we’re on the same page.”

Without saying another word, she turned away and started organizing her pencils. In just a few seconds she’d put a halt to my plan. Nicole was proving to be one hell of a challenge.

Glancing at the clock, I noticed there were still a few minutes before homeroom. Since I had some time to spare, I reached into my bag and grabbed the school guidebook. I was halfway through it already.

As I flipped through the pages, my eyes scanned over the list of clubs available for first-years. Joining a club seemed like a good way to meet people and bolster my monthly allowance. According to the guidebook, students who joined a club would be awarded an extra 300 crowns a month.

The potential for increased earnings didn’t end there. Depending on how high a student ranked within their club, their allowance could soar even higher. Take a club president, for instance. The guidebook highlighted that club presidents could rake in an extra 1000 crowns a month, which was astonishing. They were practically making double what regular students made!

It was becoming increasingly apparent that the pros of joining a club far outweighed the cons. Even so, there were a few factors I needed to weigh if I was serious about joining one.

First, I needed to find a club where I could blend in without standing out. Next, I had to ensure the club had a warm and inclusive atmosphere conducive to forming friendships. And lastly, I preferred a club with few or no responsibilities.

As long as I found a club that met all these three requirements, there was no reason why I couldn’t join it... Whether such a club even existed was another matter altogether.

Just as I was about to turn the page, a subtle shift in the room’s atmosphere caught my attention.

Curious about the sudden change, I looked up and realized the entire class had gone silent. Especially the boys. Everyone seemed to be staring at something—or rather, someone...

Following their collective gaze, I spotted a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes standing by the doorway. It was Violet.

“Good m-”

Before she could finish speaking, a swarm of boys converged around her, their voices overlapping as they bombarded her with questions and compliments.

“Hey, what’s your name?”

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

“The uniform looks good on you...”

Violet smiled graciously, her demeanor calm and collected despite the onslaught of voices.

Much to my surprise, it wasn’t just the boys vying for her attention. Some of the girls had also left their seats to join the discussion.

What in the world is she made out of?

Violet seemed to possess some sort of natural charisma that drew people in. It was a charm unlike any I’d ever seen. Though some might have seen it as nothing special, to me, it was otherwordly. She was doing something I couldn’t even begin to imagine doing.

RING! RING! RING!

Just as the bell began ringing, the doors slid open and a tall man strode into the classroom. He was dressed in a nicely pressed suit and sported rectangular glasses.

With measured steps, the tall man made his way to the front of the class in silence. Noticing his arrival, the students who were standing around, glanced at each other before hurrying to their seats.

“Good morning, everyone. My name is Mr. Lewis, and I have the distinct pleasure of being your homeroom teacher this year. It’s a pleasure to meet you all... Since we’ll be spending the next two semesters together, I hope to get to know each and every one of you!”

Mr. Lewis looked around the room. Despite his youthful appearance, there was an undeniable aura of maturity that belied his years.

“For your first semester, we’ll be covering four core subjects. Mathematics, History, Fundamentals of Magic, and Physical Education. Each subject plays a crucial role in shaping your academic and personal development. Not to mention, as you all should already know, your monthly allowance is heavily influenced by how well you perform at this school. So, please give it your all.”

Mr. Lewis took off his glasses and placed them on his desk.

“Just to confirm, has everyone picked up their student IDs and room keys from the front desk?”

We all nodded in confirmation.

“Has everyone downloaded the Crestwood Wallet app?”

Once again, the entire class nodded their heads.

“Before we begin, I’d like everyone to take out their phones and check your school wallets. You should find that 1000 crowns have been deposited into your accounts this morning. I want everyone to confirm they’ve received their allowances.”

Following Mr. Lewis’s instructions, I reached for my phone and opened the school wallet app. Sure enough, there it was. A deposit of 1000 crowns. Glancing at my balance, I noted it was at 998, which made sense considering I bought a protein shake just before class.

“Is there anyone who did not receive their allowance?” Mr. Lewis inquired, scanning the room.

“...”

“Excellent.” Mr. Lewis nodded approvingly. “Now that we’ve got that sorted, there’s something important we need to discuss. During the next four years, you’ll all have the liberty of managing your finances. Even though you’re all teenagers, this school prides itself on offering its students a hefty dose of freedom. As nice as that may sound now, leniency can also be your downfall... Please be mindful of your spending habits.”

If I included the entrance ceremony, this was the second time we’d been reminded to be careful with our money. I had the feeling it wouldn’t be the last.

“As some of you may have already noticed, regardless of your rankings or entrance exam scores, everyone has received a base allowance of 1000 crowns this month. However, that leniency ends now. Starting next month, your monthly allowances will be directly influenced by your performance and rankings within the school.”

A murmur spread through the class as Mr. Lewis’s words sank in. I could sense a mixture of anticipation and anxiety rippling through the room. For most of us, this would be our first experience dealing with the school’s unique system. The Crown System.

“It’s imperative for you all to understand that the money you possess isn’t merely for personal use. It also represents your standing within the school. Those who manage their finances well and excel in their studies will be rewarded with higher allowances, while those who fall behind may see a decrease in their monthly funds.”

Mr. Lewis made a good point. Just because we were given money, didn’t mean we could spend it without consequences. Since the number of crowns we possessed directly affected our rankings, the amount we could use for ourselves was limited. Very limited. I wouldn’t find it surprising if some students went so far as to save their entire monthly allowance, just to climb higher in the rankings.

“There’s one more way students at this school can earn crowns,” Mr. Lewis continued. “This method isn’t mentioned in the guidebook and has nothing to do with what I’ve discussed so far.”

We all watched in silence as our teacher walked to the whiteboard and wrote the word ‘Duel’.

“Students have the right to engage in duels with one another... These duels are more like bets. One student challenges another with something, and if that student accepts the challenge, then the duel proceeds.”

Mr. Lewis cleared his throat. “Having said that, for a duel to take place, there are several important rules that must be followed. First, the challenger needs to have the parameters of the duel approved by the school. Second, the student who is being challenged must accept the terms of the duel out of their own free will. Coercion is strictly prohibited. Third, there needs to be at least one witness proctoring the duel. This person must be either a teacher or a member of the student council. Lastly, a duel cannot occur unless each student places a minimum of 500 crowns at stake.”

I glanced around the room and saw shock and curiosity on my classmates’ faces. I felt the same way. This revelation changed everything.

“Duels are meant to encourage boldness and fair competition. They are not to be taken lightly. Use this mechanism wisely, and remember that your actions have consequences. Winning a duel can significantly boost your standing, but losing one can be just as impactful...”

“Does anyone have any questions?” Mr. Lewis asked.

To my surprise, Nicole raised her hand.

“Yes?”

“How does one go about getting approval for a duel?”

“Students who want to engage in a duel need to write up a proposal and submit it to a teacher. That teacher would then look over the proposal and let the student know whether their proposition has been accepted or denied.”

In other words, the teachers are the ones who decide whether a duel is valid...

Nicole rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “Is it okay if I ask one more question?”

“Go ahead.”

“I can’t help but feel that the idea of duels raises serious ethical concerns about our school’s commitment to integrity. More specifically, academic integrity.”

“Please elaborate.”

“What’s to stop any of us from climbing the rankings by just winning a lot of duels, while not caring about our grades,” Nicole responded. “Are there any regulations in place to prevent such things from happening?”

Nicole made a very valid point. With the introduction of duels, it was likely some students would focus entirely on dueling rather than their grades. Which made sense. Compared to all the other methods, dueling offered the most when it came to earning potential. Not to mention, duels produced fast results.

Mr. Lewis smiled, clearly impressed by Nicole’s astute observation.

“What an excellent question! In short, yes, there are thresholds. While winning duels can indeed boost a student’s ranking, academic performance remains a critical factor for our school. For example, if a student’s grades fall below a certain point, their ability to participate in duels can be suspended.”

A surge of murmurs erupted across the room. I could see a few heads nodding in agreement, while others looked deep in thought.

“This school values well-rounded students,” Mr. Lewis explained. “Excelling in duels is impressive, but it won’t cover up a lack of academic achievement. Strive to do well in all areas. Use duels as a way to push yourself, not as a crutch to avoid studying.”

Nicole sat back, seemingly satisfied with his answers.

Mr. Lewis gave us all a moment to let everything sink in before wrapping up. “If there are no more questions, let’s move on to the next part of our orientation.”