Chapter 2: Unplanned Alliances
The aftermath of my "grand entrance" was a whirlwind of reactions. Whispers buzzed like angry hornets, weaving through the crowd. Some stared in awe, others in confusion, and a few still with disdain. But one thing was clear—Kaelion Asher had caught their attention.
I adjusted my coat, letting the smirk linger on my face just long enough to look intentional. Inside, I was still recovering from the shock of actually pulling off that ridiculous stunt without blowing myself to pieces.
"Well played, Host," the System chimed, its tone as smug as a cat that had just stolen a fish. "You exceeded expectations."
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "Yeah, thanks for the pep talk. Any chance I can get a warning next time before you shove me into chaos?"
[Villains thrive in chaos. Warning you would defeat the purpose.]
Great. My System had the personality of an unhelpful fortune cookie.
Claude, ever the unflappable butler, stepped up beside me, his face a mask of professionalism. "Master Kaelion," he said in a low voice, "might I suggest we proceed to the registration desk before your… theatrics draw more attention?"
He didn't say it outright, but I could hear the unspoken before you embarrass yourself further.
"Good idea," I replied, keeping my tone breezy as if I hadn't just orchestrated a borderline ridiculous spectacle.
---
The registration area was a sprawling marble hall, lined with intricately carved pillars and bustling with activity. Rows of students stood in line, each one carrying an air of nervous excitement or, in the case of the nobles, smug entitlement.
I joined the line, painfully aware of the occasional side-eye glances being thrown my way. Some recognized me as Kaelion Asher, others probably just remembered the walking light show from a few minutes ago.
As the line inched forward, my gaze wandered, taking in the sheer variety of students. Nobles in tailored uniforms, commoners with determined expressions, and even a few non-human students with unique features—a girl with shimmering scales on her neck, a boy with pointed ears and glowing eyes.
I felt a pang of inadequacy. These were people who belonged here, who'd worked hard to earn their place. And then there was me, fumbling my way through this world with a System that had questionable ethics.
[Villain systems don't do ethics, Host. Focus on results.]
"Stop reading my thoughts," I hissed under my breath, earning a curious glance from the student in front of me. I flashed an awkward smile, and he quickly turned back around.
---
By the time I reached the registration desk, my nerves were frayed. The clerk, a middle-aged woman with sharp eyes and a quill that moved faster than humanly possible, looked up at me.
"Name?" she asked briskly.
"Kaelion Asher," I replied, doing my best to sound confident.
Her quill paused mid-scratch. She glanced at me over her spectacles, her expression unreadable. "The Asher family?"
"Yes," I said, straightening my posture.
The quill resumed its furious scribbling. "You'll be placed in the preliminary assessment group. Your exam begins tomorrow. Don't be late."
"Understood," I said, stepping aside to let the next student approach.
Claude was waiting for me near the exit. "Everything in order?" he asked.
"Yeah," I said. "Just need to survive the exam tomorrow."
"That would be advisable," he said dryly.
---
The walk to my temporary lodgings was uneventful, save for the occasional student whispering behind my back. The dormitory assigned to me was a modest building on the outskirts of the academy grounds, far from the grander lodgings reserved for higher-ranking nobles.
The room itself was small but functional—a single bed, a desk, and a window that offered a view of the training fields. I tossed my bag onto the bed and flopped down beside it, exhaling heavily.
The System's interface blinked to life again, filling the room with its faint golden glow.
[Daily Quest: Prepare for Tomorrow's Assessment.
Objective: Learn one spell from your current skill set.
Reward: +5 Villain Points. Penalty: None.]
"Learn a spell?" I muttered, sitting up. "I don't even know where to start."
[Starting tutorial… Loading your current skill set.]
A new screen appeared, listing what little magical aptitude Kaelion had been blessed—or cursed—with.
[Skill Set:
1. Fireball (Incomplete)
2. Shadow Veil (Locked)
3. Basic Telekinesis (Unstable)]
"Unstable?" I groaned. "Of course it is."
[Recommendation: Begin with Fireball. Simple, destructive, and perfectly villainous.]
"Right," I said, dragging myself off the bed. "Let's hope I don't set the room on fire."
---
The next hour was spent in trial and error, emphasis on error. Fireball, as it turned out, was less of a spell and more of a temperamental explosion waiting to happen. My first attempt fizzled out before it even left my hand. The second shot singed my sleeve.
"Maybe this is why Kaelion was a joke," I muttered, shaking out my burnt hand.
[Host must persevere. Great villains are not born; they are forged in fire.]
"Literally, at this rate," I snapped.
By the time I managed to produce a proper fireball—a small, flickering orb of orange light—I was drenched in sweat and more exhausted than I cared to admit. But I couldn't deny the flicker of pride as the System's notification chimed.
[Quest Completed. +5 Villain Points.]
I collapsed onto the bed, staring at the ceiling as my eyelids grew heavy. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for now, I allowed myself a moment of rest.
In the back of my mind, I couldn't help but wonder: If this was just the beginning, what kind of chaos was the System planning next?
.