Chapter 15
“Until the 2 o’clock entrance ceremony, you have free time. Lunch is available in the school cafeteria, so spend your time freely and come to the auditorium by 2. Th-then, that’s all from me…”
After giving the final instructions, Ben quickly disappeared, probably worried someone might stop him.
Watching him vanish at the speed of light, Mie stared blankly at the clock tower. Fifteen minutes later, it would be exactly 1 o’clock.
“The timing’s a bit awkward. What should we do?”
“Shall we eat first? I’m starting to get hungry.”
“Yeah! Let’s do that!”
The two headed straight for the cafeteria. The grounds were so vast it was hard to find their way, but thanks to the signs placed everywhere, they managed without much trouble.
“Uh…”
When they arrived at the cafeteria, the two stared in dismay. The place was already packed with students.
“Oh no, there are so many people!”
“We’ll probably have to wait at least an hour, right?”
“Yeah… what should we do?”
Although they were very hungry, they didn’t want to wait in that long line.
Just as they were pondering, they noticed a few students carrying boxed lunches around.
“Waiting in line sounds annoying, and I’m hungry… should we just get that?”
“Let’s do it. It’s not like we don’t have money.”
They changed course and headed for the food stalls. Luckily, there weren’t many people, so they bought sandwiches and a few skewers and walked to an empty bench.
Selina placed the lightly salted skewers one by one on thick paper and gave them to Luna in her cage.
From inside the white cloth came a meow and the small sounds one makes when enjoying delicious food.
“Oh! We didn’t buy any drinks.”
After settling down and spreading out the food, Selina realized they hadn’t gotten anything to drink.
“I’ll get some quickly. Wait a moment.”
Mie hurried off with her wallet to the food stall. Selina waited and checked that Luna was eating well in the cage.
Luna devoured the meat hungrily, leaving little bits around her mouth. Selina watched contentedly until a strange voice pricked her ears.
“Hey… that girl over there…”
“Am I seeing things? That’s definitely…”
Someone whispered nearby. Looking around, Selina noticed two unfamiliar girls glancing at her from a bench not far away.
“Red hair like that isn’t common. I’m sure of it.”
“But what if she’s a noble? They said some nobles have red hair too.”
“A witch has red hair and purple eyes, so just look at her eyes.”
They were speaking quietly—or so they thought—but the surrounding quiet made every word audible.
Selina had expected someone to know she was a witch, but she hadn’t imagined it would be so quick.
“Hey, can you see it? What color are her eyes?”
“Shh! Quiet! Everyone will hear!”
The whispering became so obvious that it was almost disruptive. Sighing, Selina realized there was no point hiding.
She turned fully around to face them. Instantly, the two girls’ expressions shifted from surprise to horror and disdain when they saw her deep purple eyes.
However, after a moment of staring silently at them, they blushed, realizing they had been caught eavesdropping.
“Did… they hear everything?”
“W-what do we do?”
The two quickly left once they understood their mistake. Once they were out of sight, Mie approached Selina.
“What were you doing? Who was that?”
“Nothing, it’s nothing.”
“Oh, really? I got orange juice for us. They squeezed fresh oranges right there.”
“Sounds delicious.”
Selina returned to her usual self and acted naturally.
“Hmm! Really tasty. What’s inside this?”
Mie bit into her sandwich with delight, inspecting the filling. Selina watched her quietly.
Even if rumors spread that Selina was a witch, and even if her peers bullied her, Mie had always stayed by her side, defending her.
Though Mie sometimes teased or annoyed her, she was truly the most precious friend Selina had.
Selina worried that the Academy life might become hard for Mie because of her. When they were young, Mie had been teased alongside her just for being friends.
Back then, Mie had stood up and fought against them.
“A witch is a demon? Don’t be ridiculous! You’re the ones tormenting Selina! You little brats!”
The sight of Mie boldly standing up left a lasting impression on Selina. Even ten years later, the image of Mie confidently confronting them was unforgettable. That day, Selina realized Mie was one of the few truly sincere people in her life. From then on, Mie became very precious to her.
If rumors about a witch spread at the Academy and Mie got hurt because of it…
“Melts in my mouth!”
Mie, smudging sauce on her lips, savored the food with a blissful expression. Seeing that smile, Selina silently vowed she wouldn’t let anyone take it away.
With a faint smile, Selina handed a skewer to her friend.
“Hmm, that was a satisfying meal.”
“I think we’ll come here often.”
Mie and Selina finished their short meal, rubbed their full stomachs, and walked leisurely.
“There’s the auditorium, I guess.”
Following Mie’s finger, they saw a massive building reminiscent of a temple. The entrance ceremony was approaching, and many people had already gathered.
“Let’s get inside quickly and find seats.”
“Yeah, let’s go.”
Hurrying, they almost missed the chance to get good seats. By the entrance, a group of students had gathered.
“What are they doing instead of going in?”
“Must be looking at something.”
Two boys emerged from the crowd, chatting, and headed to the auditorium.
“Looks like they posted the class assignments?”
“I was wondering which class I’d be in. Perfect timing.”
They pushed through the crowd to check their class numbers.
“Excuse me!”
“Coming through, sorry!”
Selina hugged the cage tightly and slowly made her way through the crowd, peeking at the wall where names were listed.
Each name had a student number. Selina took out her admission letter and confirmed hers.
Student number: 322001. Name: Selina.
Muttering the two words, she found the matching entry with ease.
“Class 1…”
As she nodded among the crowd, a piercing gaze poked at her left cheek. Looking up, a boy stared at her in astonishment.
They were so close that if someone nudged them, their lips might touch. Selina had stuck her face just above his shoulder.
She froze at his pale blue eyes. Surprised, she quickly stepped back, and the boy was equally taken aback.
He looked familiar and striking. His platinum hair shimmered like silver in the sunlight, and his sky-blue eyes were sharp and bright.
In that instant, Selina noticed his red tie and realized he was a fellow first-year student.
Their brief gaze met. In that moment, it felt as if the crowd didn’t exist—just the two of them remained.
“Selina! Where are you?”
Mie called from behind, breaking her trance. Realizing this, Selina turned away. She had found her class and had no reason to linger.
“Sorry.”
The boy frowned faintly but nodded reluctantly. Selina pushed through the crowd again. She felt his gaze, but ignored it.
“Selina! Did you find your class? I’m in Class 5!”
“I’m in Class 1.”
“Ugh! Class 1 and 5 are so far apart. I wanted a nearby class.”
Mie pouted, unwilling to be separated from Selina. While indulging her, Selina remembered the boy she’d just seen.
“Ah, that’s him.”
“Huh? Who?”
“Nothing, never mind.”
Selina quickly erased the thought of the boy from her mind. He was someone she had seen while shopping two weeks ago—a noble girl she had helped seemed to know him.
‘Well, it doesn’t concern me.’
Whatever the strange connection, they wouldn’t cross paths again. Selina let go of the memory.
“What was that just now?”
Sylvester stared at the receding red hair of a girl—bright as blood.
Suddenly, a weight settled on his shoulder. Someone rested her face there. Normally, he would have reacted angrily, but the bold girl didn’t even seem aware.
“Come to think of it… her eyes were purple.”
He had met countless people, but never someone with such mysterious eyes.
“Big brother, did you find your class?”
Startled by the delicate, bell-like voice, Sylvester snapped out of his thoughts. His previously cold expression softened as he stroked his sister Silvia’s head.
“You and I are in the same class—Class 1.”
“Wow! I’m so glad! To be in the same class as you, big brother!”
Silvia’s radiant smile drew everyone’s attention.
“Please take care of me this year, big brother.”
Her crescent-shaped eyes glowed as she tightly held the cage she carried. Inside was a pristine white cat, its fur untouched and pure as snow.
