'Fuck. Not this again.' I wasn't able to sleep for the entire course of the night for one irritating particular reason.
'You guessed it, first day jitters.'
This shit was a curse we're all too aware of due to our shared experience of the acclimated societal norms of attending educational institutes.
'Damn that was an unnecessary mouthful Orph.' My mind as going a mile a minute much to my dismay. When I looked over to Dirius the bitch was out cold. I was tempted to prank him but I maturely resisted the urge to do so. Resigning to my faith I continued to toss and turn till the sun finally came up.
I was never an early sleeper but in this world I had to be getting more rest to keep up.
***
"Ready to do this sis?"
"Guess so. Let's just hope these twins didn't mess up too much."
"How overly optimistic of you, don't hold your breath."
As we approached the large structure we gave our admission letter to the guards to enter the compound. It was an enormous split section estate. The building were designed with a more European architectural blue print with subtle variations that included more Egyptian like hieroglyphs and detailing with eastern landscaping styles.
The courtyard featured large waterfronts, a side stable with winged horses, a large coliseum like arena to the left and walking to the front and back of us other students.
I knew there had to be a lot of nobles but there should at least be a few gifted commoners or merchants kids right? Perhaps foreign nobles as well. I didn't know the relationship between Alther and the other countries aside from Renza which was a neutral empire.
I hadn't gotten much time to read the text books thoroughly.
I was never one for studying much but thus was different, the sheer intrigue, my curiosity and desire to learn more trumped my usual procrastination. To escape my own thoughts for a while I decided to talk to Dirius.
"Dirius, is this shit like real life?"
"Yes so act natural."
'Asshole.' Can't he just have light conversation with me for a while? His "I'm in the zone" mood was annoying as hell.
We continued walking toward to what we believed was the main hall where orientation would be held. This was our second year, so that meant that the original inhabitants of our bodies had ample time to fuck up majorly. 'Just great.'
"Lady Orphelia that you? Oh- shouldn't it be just Orphelia since the Marquis disowned your sorry ass for being such a disgrace and sorry excuse for a noble."
'The fuck?' I turned around to see the source of the irritating voice calling to me. Dirius' nonchalance was already getting to me so this was the perfect opportune to let some of my frustration out. Though not too much, my reputation was already in shambles so I had to do enough clean up as is.
"Listen Lady I don't care what your thoughts on me are, however I respect you had the gall to say all that shit to my face. You're clearly a stuck up conceited bitch with a superiority complex. If I offended you in some way, sorry I forgot but I don't care enough to remember and I don't give a fuck about earning your approval or whatever. Enjoy trying to get under my skin for the rest of the semester."
I walked off without sparing another glance, Dirius laughing under his breath softly. 'Finally an emotion aside from indifference.' The girl at the back of us standing dead in her tracks obviously fuming, lucky for her there weren't many people there.
***
We were ushered into a large room, there were many people already lined up in organized lines separating the male and female students. Scoping out the seen like the master reconnaissance I am I noticed quite a bit of attractive looking guys. 'Great eye candy.'
Like everywhere else so far there a lot of various races mixed in the school's populace. Curiously some of the lines however had gaps. I whispered to Dirius.
"Think it's alphabetical order, numbers or rank?"
"Don't know. We'll figure it out. Go on chicken, you can't cling to me now."
He began to lightly push me away with a subtle smirk on his face to dig at me like usual. I pinched him hard on his shoulder before walking away to the girls section.
'Someone friendly, someone friendly.' I was scanning the rows, most people engulfed in their own conversation or completely detached. 'Her.' I walked to the closest approachable looking girl.
"Hello. Would you mind helping me out?"
"Yeah sure, no problem. What do you need?"
She greeted me with a warm smile, her body language seemed light and welcoming. She seemed nice enough.
"Do you know where am I supposed to stand in line?"
"Oh that, just check your badge it tells you where."
"Wait really?"
I looked down reading the number on it just below the crest.
"It tells you where."
I blushed shyly at how simple it was. 'Well that's embarrassing.'
"Oh thanks for helping me Lady?"
"Oh it's Tera Finres, I just transferred here, I'm in second year."
I reached out to shake her hand. She had long blonde hair styled half up, half down with bangs scarlet red eyes.
"My name is Orphelia Hendrix, this is also my second year."
"Wait sorry Orphelia!?"
Her face a mixture of shock and nerves. 'Shit. There goes potential friend one.' Even though she was new her the tales of my infamy were already widespread.
"Is there something wrong?"
Trying to play it off and make light of the situation, I asked this but I obviously knew it was the fault of previous me.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't trust rumors."
She shook her head swiftly as though she was trying to erase her previous conceptions. 'Oh you poor thing, you should've really trusted those rumors if it was the other me.'
"Just out of curiosity what are they? The rumors I mean."
I gulped softly waiting for the answer to the question I had awaited the past week since arriving here for.
"Oh just that you flirted with a priest from Renza during a lesson on the Odra religion-"
'Okay I know that one, just not that it was during class.'
"You snuck into the crown prince's room, stole a magical horse from the stables to go on a joy ride to the forbidden forest, blew up a portion of the library reading a cursed tome...."
The list just kept on going for another minute, I couldn't believe they were even allowed to come back. I know some of these things could be made up or a stretch but I had no choice but to take this information as fact despite wanting at least a grain of salt.
"My reputation truly precedes me."
I laughed nervously scratching my head slightly.
"It's okay Orphy, I learn about people on my own."
This girl really was friendlier than I thought, too trusting and even a little gullible. 'You shall receive bestie number one status.' Her calling me a nickname so soon was honestly cute but threw me for a loop a little.
'I shall protect as much or your innocence possible.'
"Thanks Tera. I'll see you around I should get going before assembly starts."
"Hope we're in the same class!"
"Me too."
***
I was in the third row and directly in front of me was the bitch from earlier. She had long curly brown hair, golden brown doe eyes and looked like an innocent girl next doe type. A snark contrast to her stuck up aura. 'Don't like her one bit!'
Glancing around it didn't seem like anyone was going to outright disrespect me, for now at least.
Overall there were roughly two thousand students in the auditorium, indicating all five years of students were here. Suddenly there was a loud bell ring causing all the chattering to cease immediately and an old man with a long white who looked like Dumbledor.
'Typical.'
"Welcome students to Laertes Academy. All of you are here for various reasons but ultimately converging to this institution because you knew this was the best place to work toward achieving your goals. I'm not a man to lecture on the first day so I'll just leave you with these final words to move things along methodically."
There was a sudden shift in his demeanor as his voice darkened and his face became stern and enigmatic whereas before he was more relaxed and inviting.
"Life is a gift and death is the dissolution of it's span. Use it wisely and just to your own cause, whether good or evil you'll be rewarded with the same thing; nothingness. Decide when best to receive it based on your own choices not the by the ephemeral hands or whims of faith nor the desires of the divine. I extend the sentiment once again. Welcome to Laertes."
He then vanished and I had to admit his words really stuck with me more than any hour long lecture could. 'Bro cooked I fear', some shit Dirius would say no doubt but I'd have no choice to agree.
Another man came out and began assigning classes starting with the first years obviously so I zoned out until he got to the second years.
"Orphelia Hendrix class 2A."
'Alright I can turn back off my brain again.' I yawned again, the lack of sleep from last night really not helping me stay more awake with how boring this entire thing was right now.
"Class 2A proceed to the third building to the right courtside, the guards will show you exactly where."
Lucky for me Tera and I got assigned to the same class , and I suppose Dirius as well. This was going to be so awkward, I was so used to being ahead of him.
"Sister."
"Drop it."
We walked to class in silence and once we made it in the stares we'd been getting had become more direct. Likely I had just become more aware because there weren't as many people in here.
Dirius was obviously going to sit next to the hottest girl in class. I sighed softly defeated as I began making my way to the side of the class where there were two empty seats by a window. I felt someone pull my sleeve slightly so I turned back.
"Sit together Orphy?"
'My guardian angel.' Lowkey wanted to tear up, my new bestie was just too adorable.
"Yeah sure Tera."
As we sat an attractive woman who had long black hair with red ends, silvery eyes and an agitated look on her face walked to the front desk. I could hardly make out the words from her mouth I could hear her cursing under her breath.
"Good morning ya little shi- I mean students."
'She was going to call us shits wasn't she?' I knew Dirius was going to be simping hard for this lady.
"My name is Solaris Rien and I'm your class home room teacher for the next year. You may address me as Miss Rien understood. Welcome to Laertes Academy, of all the instructors I accept bad behavior the least. Respect me, follow the rules and we'll be fine. That being said I know that isn't possible for a few of you."
'Subtle shade already? Great.' Mixed day so far, I hope it does go completely south.