Survival was grueling, but I had to accept it as part of my fate. My family supported my decision to come here, though they were deeply worried I might fail—and disappear to who knows where. Pollus Academy has always been shrouded in mystery, particularly regarding the fate of examinees who don't make it. Rumors swirl, yet no one knows the truth. Some say the academy silences anyone who dares reveal information about the entrance exam, along with anyone they've confided in.
Well... I'm not one to dig too deeply into secrets like that. After all, I'm just the daughter of a baron.
I am Althia Grimford, the eldest daughter of Baron Grimford—a loving husband and a caring father. My father was adamantly against me entering this academy, but after countless days of pleading and reasoning, he finally relented. My mother, on the other hand, supported me from the start, offering her unwavering encouragement. Now, I've made it this far.
"To think I actually survived... This is amazing," I said, unable to contain my excitement.
My body felt alive with anticipation. I couldn't help but wonder how the academy would teach us. Would it be like other schools? Or something entirely different? Either way, I couldn't wait to find out.
I turned to the mirror, studying my reflection. My green hair—rare even among nobility—and my striking golden eyes made me stand out in any crowd. My father often worried about my appearance. "You're too beautiful," he would say.
At first, his words embarrassed me. But once I arrived at the academy, I understood what he meant. Many boys my age stared at me, their eyes filled with lust. Even some of the seniors weren't much better. It was then that I began to see most men as little more than beasts driven by their desires—my father being the rare exception.
Yet, one boy stood out to me. He was my age, but unlike the others, he didn't look at me at all. His gaze seemed distant, as though he was lost in thought or planning something far beyond the here and now.
Though I was intrigued, there were more pressing matters to focus on. The entrance exam wasn't over yet.
When I finished, I was the 40th examinee to complete the task. The accomplishment filled me with pride. Around me, most of the other students seemed serious, their expressions hard to read. None showed signs of fear—at least, not yet.
Things changed when the examinees who passed after the 100th arrived. Many of them looked terrified, their faces pale and trembling as though they'd seen nightmares come to life. It was clear they had been pushed to their breaking points by the demons. The academy wasted no time sending those students to top psychiatrists to prevent any unfortunate incidents.
I assumed that was it—that we had all made it through. But just as the timer hit zero, someone else appeared. It was him—the boy who had ignored me earlier.
He looked different now. His expression wasn't like the other terrified examinees who'd barely made it. Instead, his face showed a mix of stress and relief, as though he'd narrowly escaped death itself.
I couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity about him. Who was he? What had he faced? What drove him?
We were both freshmen now, which meant I was bound to cross paths with him eventually. And when I did, I was determined to learn more about the boy who stood apart from everyone else.
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In the same observatory where Professor Jun had once been seen, a circular table stood at the center of the grand chamber. Five individuals, each possessing the highest status within Pollus Academy, were seated around it.
Among them was a familiar figure: Headmistress Estrella. Her presence was commanding, yet her expression carried a weight of concern. Seated near her were Professor Jun and the elderly man he had previously spoken with while observing the examinees.
"You saw it, didn't you?" Headmistress Estrella's voice broke the silence, addressing both Professor Jun and the older man.
Their faces were grim—a stark contrast to Jun's usual demeanor.
"Yes," the old man replied, his tone heavy with apprehension. "It seems they are returning... again."
Professor Jun sighed, his fingers drumming lightly on the table. "We nearly lost someone with significant potential. Luck was on his side, but we can't rely on chance moving forward."
Headmistress Estrella's worry deepened. The unease in the room was palpable, a harbinger of the challenges looming over the academy.
Turning her gaze to another of the council members, Estrella addressed the woman clad in ethereal garments, her blindfold and staff radiating an air of divinity. "What do you think, Saintess Ava?"
Saintess Ava tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable beneath the blindfold. "I cannot say for certain, Headmistress. If the demons begin their attacks anew as they did 500 years ago, we will need aid from the Holy Land Xavier. There is no alternative."
"Tsk." The Headmistress clicked her tongue, visibly displeased. The thought of negotiating with Xavier, a notoriously unyielding and self-serving nation, grated on her.
"Could you continue monitoring the demons' movements, Amon?" Estrella asked, her tone resolute.
Amon, a shadowy figure seated silently until now, nodded. "Of course, Headmistress. I'll report any changes—whether the situation worsens or remains contained." His form dissolved into the shadows, vanishing without a trace.
Estrella's gaze swept over the remaining council members. "We can't let this information spread. Not a word of it, understood?"
Each of them nodded in solemn agreement.
"Good. You're dismissed."
As the others departed, returning to their respective duties, Headmistress Estrella remained seated. Her eyes were fixed on a glowing projection at the center of the table—a haunting image of the grinning Demonic Shaman that had pursued Arthas during the exam.
"Why now?" she murmured to herself. "Why are you demons returning at this time?"
Though she knew no answer would come, the question lingered, heavy and unanswered, as the chamber fell into silence once more.