"My name is Loraine Eleanoir, and I am honored to stand here as the student council president of this academy."
Once again, cheers erupted for our beautiful student council president. They didn't stop shouting Loraine's name, and in front of me, a human boy spoke to his friend beside him.
"That's the Eleanoir princess I told you about. My brother said she had a hard time being here a few months ago as part of the first wave, and she's very talented in many things—cold and hard to approach." He leaned in to whisper to his friend, but his own volume betrayed him.
"I think I'm falling in love!" Liam whispered in his small voice to me, and I chuckled mockingly.
"That doesn't suit you," I teased him back.
Then the ones who were chatting resumed their conversation.
"Yeah, she's indeed beautiful, but is it true she's a first-year student? How could she become the student council president in such a short time?" He seemed to whisper to his friend, but his voice grew louder as he continued, drawing attention from nearby students.
"You know I can stand here because of dreams and ambition. As Headmistress Claudia said, we must dream as high as the sky and have extraordinary goals!" She stopped speaking after her brief speech, and the boys began cheering like girls at a concert.
Loraine spoke eloquently enough to make me believe in her, answering those who questioned how she became the student council president in her first year. She captured the full attention of the audience with her simple yet mature words. She spoke about the academy's principles—how this is a sacred place where students should feel safe to walk freely. Loraine emphasized the discipline that would be imposed on anyone who harmed another student outside of approved duels.
"Even though I am the student council president, I am just like all of you, and you are just like me. You have the right to be free without intimidation from any race in this academy." Applause followed as she finished her speech.
Despite the many rumors of her being cold, they were true! Loraine stepped back a few steps without waving or smiling like most student council presidents.
The spotlight dimmed, then lit up again, illuminating someone with white hair and a strong appeal to women, followed by girls screaming and cheering for the young man. He ascended the podium, waving his hand and giving a warm smile to them.
"I'm disgusted seeing him climb the podium," Liam snapped, imitating the man's posture while still waving and smiling.
White hair that didn't reflect light, with common brown eyes—I guessed he was the student council vice president.
"My name is Nico Duskbane. I stand here as the Vice President of the Student Council and feel honored to speak before you." Once again, he flaunted his face and waved his hand.
"Is that all he can be proud of?" Liam sneered, annoyed by Nico's constant smiling.
He spoke about experiences and rules in a way that was quite eloquent—not just showing off his looks—until the girls' cheers echoed through the hall. He finished his speech and returned to the back, followed by other council members introducing themselves and their motivations until they finally bowed, receiving applause from many watching students.
***
The student council members quickly got to work, their busiest day of the year, and the toughest in every semester.
After several speeches, they guided the students to their designated test areas, aimed at selecting their dormitories.
Here, dormitories were distinguished through tests conducted on the first day, and after it was all over, they could begin studying and choosing their subjects.
Wein lifted his head, something large passed his vision, not missed by the sun. A shadow appeared with wings spread wide like a king of the skies.
It turned out to be the form of a majestic owl, perched on wood near the test entrance.
That's incredible... Wein thought to himself, truly amazed by the creature's size, nearly four times larger than normal.
Now, it was Wein's turn to enter the room with cream-colored walls, an old but elegant and beautiful building. He immediately stepped onto the carpet inside.
Passing several spots with papers, Wein took a pen and bent down to write on a desk made specifically for temporary writing.
The pen leaked slightly—not as precise as a ballpoint pen but still delivering thick black ink on the white sheet.
Behind Wein, a cold-eyed girl stared sharply at the sheet she was working on—none other than Sherlyn Aurhae.
Sherlyn glanced at Wein briefly, and after a very quick blink, Wein straightened up and placed the pen back.
Wein moved on to the next station, the second test out of hundreds to determine his dormitory.
Now it was the girl's turn to write, Sherlyn using the pen with her slender, beautiful fingers, her writing like the moon in the night sky, captivating several boys behind her.
"Hey, it's my turn!" The large boy pulled the pen from a smaller boy, his intimidating glare making him step aside.
Several student council members quickly intervened, addressing the situation. Wein simply watched and moved forward.
Sherlyn followed Wein's steps, calmly ignoring the conflict. She opened her mouth but didn't look at Wein.
"Truly cold."
This warm room made the mind feel warm too, contrasting the cold outside. The yellow lights and red carpets with triangular patterns stretched along the hallway.
"You observe your surroundings quite well." Wein smiled. They still didn't meet each other's eyes, both maintaining neutral expressions.
"Are you talking about yourself?" she mocked, but her gaze remained flat. They stood behind a few more people before it was finally Wein's turn.
"Do I look like that?" Wein asked, chuckling before speaking again. "You're even colder than that."
Sherlyn's eyes snapped toward him, her face slightly blushing like an apple.
"...What?"
She couldn't believe it, and Wein quickly stepped forward to take his test, leaving Sherlyn barely able to hide her reaction.
This one is easier... Wein thought. He quickly finished, thanks to the fewer questions at station seventy-three.
Sherlyn swiftly composed herself, brushing off any distractions and returning to her cold demeanor that froze anyone who looked too long.
They now headed to station seventy-four...
***
"This..."
"The last test—hurry up, I can't stand here too long." Sherlyn commented flatly, not sounding like a scolding but more like patient advice.
Wein chuckled before starting his last test.
"You become noisy when we're together." Wein teased, focusing on the pen and paper before him.
Sherlyn calmly averted her eyes, indifferent. Several boys behind them felt uneasy watching Wein chat with Sherlyn throughout the test.
Wein quickly finished, offering the pen to Sherlyn. But when he extended it...
Sherlyn refused, asking him to place it on the table instead of taking it directly from his hand.
Wein left the room sulking. At the end of the test stood several student council members, including the president herself, overseeing the process.
Wein saw others receiving thin papers from them. He slowed down, hoping to receive one without needing to be reminded. He even glanced around expectantly.
"Excuse me, this is your test result."
A soft voice tickled Wein's ears. He turned to see an elf girl, her gaze gentle.
Wein took the thin paper, so delicate that ninety-seven percent of light passed through it.
He flipped it over, hoping to find his result.
"The paper will reveal the writing by noon," the elf girl explained softly.