"Where is the Adarna bird?" Alexandra asked, looking around.
"She just left," I said, watching the red haired woman search around for the Adarna bird.
"What a shame, I was thinking of asking her if she could stay for a while as a guine…guest," Alexandra said, taking a chair as she sat beside me.
I shook my head at her, clicking my tongue.
Alexandra cleared her throat then said, "by the way, I forgot to tell you this but," she paused.
Alexandra's dark eyes glanced at me, then her brows furrowed together as she continued, "while you were unconscious, I took some blood sample on your uniform, so I could find another way to help you instead of finding a light attribute user."
I nodded and then said, "and did you discover anything?"
Alexandra's knitted brows deepened. "I discovered that there's poison on your body, the dark mana in your body is fighting this poison even at this moment, I think…"
"Poison?" I said as my brows knitted.
Alexandra nodded. "Yes, and I found out that this poison is a high grade poison that could kill anyone in a matter of minutes. Anyone who ingest or inhale this poison would die feeling like their heart is being ripped out of their chest, and also..."
"And also?" I urged.
"This poison is odourless and tasteless, and it wouldn't make anyone notice until they have already ingested or inhaled it, what's more, it doesn't leave a trace except if that someone doesn't have dark mana in their body, because dark mana can make the body immune to poison," Alexandra explained.
My heart drums loudly in my chest, thumping hard as I feel anxious in my heart. I gulped then I took a deep breath, calming my heart rate down. "So are you saying that someone poisoned me?" I asked.
Alexandra's brows pulled up together in concern as she looked at me and nodded.
"I see…" I said as I fell in a trance, looking at nothing in particular.
'Who would do this?' I asked in my head as I tried to remember everything from the moment I arrived in this world.
As far as I know, I have not done anything that would make anyone want to kill me.
"Right, one more thing lass, this poison has been flowing in your blood for the past four weeks or so," Alexandra said. "Not quite sure."
Past few weeks, huh.
I glance at Alexandra. "Can you tell me the date today, professor?"
"Today is June 15th of the year 1658," Alexandra said. "Two days before the class starts."
I nodded, then I continued, "how long have I been out?"
The red haired woman then grabbed her chin as she pondered. "You've been unconscious for one day, one night," she answered.
That's almost two days. I'm unconscious for more than 24 hours.
My brows furrowed as I contemplated.
As far as I recall, I arrived at this academy on May 15, 1658. It was the same day I transmigrated in this world. The same day I met Kendra, Professor, Penelope, and Cliopatra. May 16 was the date I met Emilia and Pula; it's also the day I started training.
For 28 days, I did nothing but train, which is equal to four weeks. In other words, from May 16 to June 13; it was nothing but training.
However, it was June 13 that I met the Adarna bird and that crazy Lilith Salvador. It was midnight of June 13th that I almost died.
Counting the days from now, it means the poison started in the month of may.
My eyes widened in horror as I felt my heart thump vigorously in my chest. A certain person slowly came to mind, Lory. This could only mean one thing. Lory already killed the original Nasrin Urduja.
Thinking back, Lory might have already been suspicious of me when she escorted me here to the academy. Lory is probably suspicious why this body is still alive despite being poisoned by a high grade poison.
However, why would Lory kill Nasrin?
As far as I know, Lory is loyal to the Urduja household until she met Kendra. Lory only betrayed the Urduja Clan because she met her half sister Kendra, but the original Nasrin only started murdering people after she fell in love with Cliopatra in the academy.
So Lory has no reason to kill the original Nasrin because those events haven't happened yet, and it won't happen because the original Nasrin is already dead.
Not to mention that Lory hasn't become acquainted yet with Kendra. That means Lory's loyalty should still be with the Urduja Clan.
So what if it wasn't Lory who killed the original soul?
Then who killed the original Nasrin?
Wait, what if it's Lilith Salvador…
The Adarna bird said that Lilith is like me. Perhaps Lilith wanted to kill Nasrin because she also read the novel. Does Lilith hate Nasrin because of the novel?
"There's one more thing that I discovered lass," Alexandra said, getting my attention.
I took a deep shaky sigh as I tried to remain calm.
"What is it?" I said as I turned to look at her.
"I think you're supposed to become an omega," Alexandra stated, staring at me with a solemn expression.
I knitted my brows. I already know this, but Alexandra shouldn't know about this. Did she also discover I'm not from this world?
I gulp nervously as I look at her. "What do you mean?" I said, staring at her probingly.
"The data I gathered showed signs of omega cells in the sample blood I took from your uniform," she answered.
Hearing Alexandra's answer made me heave a silent sigh of relief, because I do not wish for anyone to find out about my real identity. It would only complicate things anyway.
However, I'm curious to know what made this body change to an alpha, so I turn to Alexandra inquiringly.
"So why did it change?" I asked with curiosity visible in my voice.
"The poison and the dark mana have been in a constant battle inside your body, I think it triggered your body to change," Alexandra explained.
"I see," I said, nodding my head.
I now understand why this body is suddenly going to differentiate into an alpha in the future. I honestly don't want to become an alpha.
I would prefer if I could just differentiate to nothing instead. Ordinary is the best after all. Being ordinary means an ordinary boring life.
Boring is good.
Boring is the peaceful life I want. That's why I prefer to become no one instead, but I have no control over this, so I could only accept it. Anyway, the important thing right now is the poison in this body.
With a deep sigh, I look at Alexandra inquiringly. "Will the poison pose a threat?" I said.
Alexandra shook her head. "No, your body has already grown accustomed to this poison because of the dark attribute you have as a mana," the red haired woman said.
I heaved a sigh of relief hearing what Alexandra said.
It seems that I don't have to worry about poisons from now on. That's comforting to know and convenient.
With a probing gaze, I looked at Alexandra and said, "have you told anyone about this professor?"
The red haired woman shook her head. "No, I want to wait for you to wake up before making a decision to tell Penelope," Alexandra said.
My eyes widened as I hurriedly said, "don't…don't tell her about this."
Alexandra's brows knitted in concern. "The academy will protect you, lass," she said.
I sighed. Letting Penelope know about this is dangerous. I don't want to risk it. For now, I want to stick to my plan.
"Lass, you said that you aren't being neglected in your clan, but this poison in your body is…"
"Professor," I called, interrupting the red haired woman. "Please don't tell anyone about this," I said, looking at her seriously.
"But the poison…"
"Please…" I repeated in a begging tone.
Alexandra let out a sigh. "Alright, I won't," she said helplessly.
I smiled as I sighed in relief. "Thanks professor."
"But, I need you to learn how to use weapons from now on," Alexandra said firmly. "You can't refuse, lass."
I opened my mouth and was about to say no, but then, I saw Pula's sleeping body on the bed with a bandage wrapped around her own. My brows knitted together as I averted gaze feeling guilty in my heart.
I sighed in resignation. "Alright," I said.
"Good, I will teach you how to hunt down this person who tried to…"
"No, professor, I think you're mistaken," I said, turning my head to look at her.
"What do you mean?" Alexandra said as her brows knitted.
"I will fight, but I'm not going to thrust a sword on someone's heart or anything of the sort that involves killing, that's my bottom line," I said strongly, staring at the red haired woman's deep dark eyes.
Alexandra clicked her tongue. "Still stubborn as ever, huh. Even after almost dying, you still refuse to budge, tsk tsk…"
I didn't respond as I stared at Alexandra firmly.
Alexandra shook her head helplessly. "Fine," she muttered. "But, I assure you lass, one day, you'll die because of that attitude."
I didn't respond as I stared at Pula. I only want to learn how to fight for Pula. Pula would not have been hurt, if only I defended myself better. I won't end up almost dying, and I won't end up drinking Adarna's saliva. I won't end up losing control of myself, and I won't end up hurting Pula.
As long as I'm here, I have the responsibility to take care of those who care for this body. However, I have a bottom line as well.
I would rather die than change to someone like that. Anyway, I'm sure I could find a way to settle things with words.
What is the use of brains if people would only use brute and violent force, right?
I believe that everything can be settled with peaceful words. As long as I don't harm anyone, I'm sure no one would harm me.
However, just to be safe, I will learn how to fight. Still, I will use words to reason with people. While fighting that is.
I smiled to myself as I sorted things out in my head.
"So when do we start this training?" I said, staring at Alexandra expectantly.
Alexandra gazes at me with knitted brows. "You're a handful," she commented.
I gave her a wry smile as I grabbed the back of my neck.
"Why even insist on this path?" Alexandra inquired, looking at me intently.
Why?
I smiled at her. "I simply don't want to change," I answered.
"Why not?" Alexandra replied.
"I don't want to," I said, shrugging my shoulders slightly.
Alexandra rolled her eyes, sighing. "At least give me a good reason," she insisted. "Tell me, what's stopping you from changing?"
My brows knitted as I averted my gaze.
"You're keeping something," Alexandra commented.
My heart skips a beat as I gulp nervously.
"Even if you don't tell me, I could tell with your face that whatever you're keeping is something that is stopping you from changing," Alexandra said. "No matter how much you avert your gaze, your face is still the easiest to read in this world, lass."
My brows furrowed as I started fidgeting with my fingers.
Alexandra furrowed her brows. "I bet you over-complicate simple things in your mind," she stated, shaking her head.
I sighed. "I wish it was simple…" I mumbled faintly.
"Then tell me, what is it that is hindering you from changing?" Alexandra inquired probingly.
My brows knitted together hearing her question. It sounded like an insult to my ears.
That hindrance is the only thing that is keeping me moving in this world. The only thing that is keeping me together. The only thing that describes the person and the soul in this body. The only thing I have here from earth after being transmigrated in this world without a choice.
If I lose that…
If I threw that away…
Nothing will be left of me. I'm going to become someone I no longer know. Someone who isn't me.
I turn to look at her with narrowed eyes. "It's not a hindrance," I stated firmly. "Do you understand?"
Taken aback by my attitude, Alexandra widened her eyes slightly, but soon, it changed to an evil grin.
My brows furrowed as I stared back at her.
"I see," she said, nodding her head with an evil grin.
"Do you?" I retorted.
The grin on her face deepened as she chuckled to herself. "Of course," Alexandra said, squinting her eyes as she smiled even more evilly.
My heart pounded in my chest feeling an unprecedented danger.
I thought Penelope is the scariest person I've met so far in this world. That was what I thought until Alexandra showed me this expression. Her eyes squinted like a crescent moon. Her lips curved showing her teeth like a devil's grin. I felt the little hairs all over my skin standing up feeling terrified in my heart.
"You see lass, I feel responsible for you here in this academy, I admitted you here because I felt your strong determination and your potential, but I guess that same determination is hindering you from waking up from the lies and seeing the truth to the dark reality," Alexandra started.
I opened my mouth to refute but Alexandra cut me off.
"Hush, I'm not finished yet," Alexandra said, shutting me up with a squinted glare. It almost looked similar to Penelope except Alexandra had an evil grin, which made her look more scary.
"You must understand lass, I am obligated to teach you about how things work here in this academy," Alexandra said solemnly, then she grabbed her chin pondering to herself as she continued, "I will not let you start taking classes not until I deem you qualified."
My eyes widened as I hurriedly opposed, "professor, you can't do this…"
"Hush, child," Alexandra cut me off, glaring at me with her evil grin.
I gulped nervously as I shut my mouth, feeling scared shitless at Alexandra.
The red haired woman softened her eyes seeing how obedient I was, but she still had an evil grin plastered on her face. Alexandra clasped her hands together, while her elbows rested on the arm chair, as she looked at me with an evil grin.
"Believe me or not, it's far better to suffer in my hands," Alexandra started.
My brows creased as my eyes narrowed dubiously.
But Alexandra ignored the expression on my face as she continued. "Once you start taking classes with the other students here in this academy, they will learn how weak you are, and they will not care whether you're from a noble family or from a rich family."
Alexandra then said in a warning tone. "No, they won't care a damn thing about that, people here only care how to use the weakness of others for their benefit, lass."
I swallowed anxiously, feeling that something is wrong with Alexandra. Or perhaps, this is her true nature?
"You haven't seen the worst in this academy yet, because classes haven't started yet," Alexandra paused.
The red haired woman squinted her eyes. "Senior students are just waiting for the classes to start before they make their move," Alexandra stated.
"And…what does that have to do with…me?" I asked in a faint voice, extremely puzzled.
Alexandra glanced at me blankly then she rolled her eyes, sighing to herself. "Well, I don't know about other first year students, but I can't let you take classes seeing how ignorant and naive you are. I feel responsible for admitting you here lass, you leave me no choice." Alexandra finished resolutely.
The red haired woman then grabbed her chin again as she pondered to herself. "Take Lilith Salvador for example, despite being in the same academy, you should have noticed how she didn't hesitate to kill you, heck, she didn't even care that she's fighting with one of the instructors in the academy, do you know why?"
My brows knitted at her as I shook my head.
"It's because this academy is a damn jungle on its own, the rules state that everyone is equal right?"
I nodded slowly as I felt more puzzled and frightened in my heart. 'What's wrong with professor?'
"That would appear noble to outsiders, and everyone wants to enter the academy because they want to be treated equally! But once you get inside, you will slowly learn the truth, do you know what that is?"
My furrowed brows deepened as I became more bewildered with Alexandra. "I…don't know," I mumbled faintly, looking confused.
"The truth is this academy does indeed treat everyone equally," Alexandra started in a calm tone.
But Alexandra's brows knitted together as her eyes narrowed. "From students to higher ups, everyone can be this or that, and that's why everyone here has all ambitions," she said with venom. "Commoners want to be this, omegas want that, betas want those, everyone has their own agendas."
I blink my eyes, feeling perplexed.
'Isn't that normal?' I thought to myself.
After all, why else would anyone enter an academy if they don't have a goal, right?
But Alexandra makes it sound…bad. Like it was something wrong to have a dream.
Alexandra then glanced at me. "The rules set this academy like a battlefield, you can't let your guard down even for a second, or else they will use your weakness against you, and you will regret ever setting foot in this academy again without knowing a damn thing about anything," Alexandra ranted.
I gulp, feeling my loud thumping heart in my chest. 'Something is really wrong with professor.'