Volume 11 : INTERLUDE – IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY

Last night had been nothing short of cruel.

Even now, as I touched my cheeks, I could still feel the lingering tension—faint aches left behind by Mother’s odd nightly ritual. She claimed it was essential for my healthy growth, insisting, "A good mother must always fondle—well, massage—their child’s cheeks."

Mother didn’t fall asleep until she was satisfied, pulling and stretching my cheeks like they were stress balls. It was her strange way of bonding… or relaxing. Probably both.

Yet despite the discomfort, something warmed me from within. Because that morning, Father looked more refreshed than he had in weeks. His smile, however small, was enough to make the entire ordeal of finding the cursed grimoire worth it.

That very morning, I finally made up my mind.

“Maybe Mom’s right,” I muttered to myself as I gathered my things. “If I don’t give it a try… I’ll never know.”

And the first task to tick off on my list?

Pick up Regis.

After saying my goodbyes to mom, dad, and Flora, I teleported directly to Regis’s room in the Royal Palace of Ascalon kingdom. A faint shimmer of light pulsed around me as the teleportation circle faded, leaving behind nothing but stillness in the air.

Regis wasn’t here yet, but I knew she would be soon.

“I’m sure it’s about time she returns from her training,” I said aloud, mostly to reassure myself.

Al confirmed it too—his voice echoing in my mind with a confident hum. So I couldn’t be that far off.

Her room hadn’t changed. The soft, fresh scent of elven tulips from the vase by the window still lingered in the air, delicate and nostalgic. Everything was neatly arranged, just as she’d left it. Even her old training bow still hung on the wall, its string slightly frayed, yet standing like a silent reminder of the girl who once called this space her world.

Just a few seconds later, I heard the door creak open.

Strangely… it was slow. Suspiciously slow.

The door didn’t swing open like it usually did. Instead, it inched open little by little… hesitantly.

Like a child sneaking into a room, they weren’t supposed to enter.

I tilted my head. Why would Regis sneak into her own room?

A moment of silence.

Then I grinned.

Must be part of some stealth training she’s doing. Always trying new combat forms, that one.

Has our friendship finally reached the point where I can actually predict anything about my first friend I made in this world?

Determined to surprise her, I called out with a bright smile, “Good morning, Regis!”

I didn’t even wear my mask today. I knew she liked it that way—when I let her see my real face. Every time I did, her long elven ears would perk up, a faint pink brushing the tips.

But the moment Regis saw me, she stood there, eyes wide like saucers, frozen mid-step.

For a heartbeat, she looked like a startled kitten caught in a thunderstorm.

But before I could even chuckle at her reaction, she charged straight at me. Her boots thudded softly against the carpet as she sprinted with all her might.

“She’s running,” My heart skipped.

Was she… that happy to see me?

That’s got to be it. She missed me that much? My heart pounded with anticipation.

If this is what I think it is…

Overwhelmed by the thought, I smiled tenderly, spreading my arms wide, ready to catch her in a warm, long-awaited hug.

Thwack—

—KRRRCK!

CRAAACK… CRAACK… CRACK…!

I didn’t even have time to blink.

Regis did raise her hands—but not in greeting. Only her right hand moved, curling sharply around my neck mid-sprint.

“—Gkh!” My breath cut short.

The impact was brutal. A loud, bone-grinding crack echoed through the room. My body stiffened. My spine screamed, and for a second, everything went white.

And in that painful instant, I realized—too late—that I had misread Regis’s expression completely, judging her by her actions alone and missing the terror in her eyes.

Before I could react, Regis tightened her grip, hoisting me slightly off the ground by my neck. And then—without hesitation—she leapt.

CRASH!

Glass shattered around us.

We crashed straight through the window, diving out from the fifth floor of the castle. The air roared in my ears, wind slapping against my face as we plummeted like falling stars.

I caught a glimpse of the palace grounds spinning beneath us before we hit the ground. But somehow, she landed gracefully, knees bending to absorb the shock as if she'd done it a thousand times.

Me? I was flailing like a ragdoll caught in a headlock.

Regis didn’t stop there. She ran with supernatural speed.

Still holding me tightly with one arm and half-dragging me like I was a sack of flour, Regis sprinted across the royal courtyard.

In seconds, she dove into the edge of a thick garden, burying us both in the dense, shadowy bushes before finally releasing me.

“Khh… KHO—KHO…!” I coughed violently, clutching my throat as I healed the damage and realigned my neck bones with a faint blue glow.

Air—finally—rushed back into my lungs.

Still wheezing, I looked at her. “What… what in the world is going on, Regis?!”

She didn’t answer immediately. Her hands trembled as she clutched the fabric of my dress, and her breathing was ragged.

“It’s… It’s Big Sister—”

But I pressed a finger to her lips before she could finish.

“Hush. Say no more.”

If even half of what I was imagining was true, we were in far deeper trouble than I’d thought.

I raised my hand, energy pooling around it—ready to teleport us across the continent to ensure our highest safety.

But then—

A hand slowly crept through the leaves and latched onto Regis’s wrist.

Regis and I froze.

“You should already know by now, Regis,” came a teasing, singsong voice. “Even if you like playing hide and seek with me. I will always win.”

The bushes rustled. Then, with the poise of a predator stalking its prey, she emerged.

“Because I can smell you from anywhere, little sister.”

Big Sister Edith stood in the shadows, her emerald eyes gleaming as she sniffed the air—slow, deliberate, like a wolf savoring the scent of its food.

And just like that, our cover was blown.

“Oh wow. Alicia is here too?” Big Sister Edith’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she tilted her head, long golden hair catching the sunlight. “How perfect! I was just waiting for you both.”

Regis stiffened. I instinctively stepped back.

I didn’t like that smile. That was the danger smile.

There was just no way. After spending the entire night being squished, squeezed, and treated like a teddy bear, I was now expected to suffer through the fresh trauma of being dressed up like a doll?

“Big Sister Edith,” I managed, my voice dry and hopeful. “We were just about to leave. I, uh, suddenly remembered some very urgent business I need to attend to.”

“Oh, come on,” she beamed. “What could possibly be more important than you two trying on your new magic school uniforms?”

“HUH?!” we both blurted in sync.

“Don’t ‘huh’ me,” Edith huffed, seizing both our wrists like an overexcited theme park guide. “Let’s go!”

Before I could react, we were being manhandled—again—dragged down the halls of the castle to the most torturous room in all of Ascalon:

Edith’s Personal Wardrobe Chamber, a.k.a. the Little Sister Dress-Up Dungeon.

Rows upon rows of clothes lined the walls—from the most extravagantly enigmatic to the utterly unvirtuous, unholy, and undeniably sadistic.

“Ahhhh! This ‘Bunny Witch’ costume would look so good on you!” Edith squealed, holding up a glittery red outfit. “Don’t you agree, girls?”

The elven maids who’d been quietly dressing us nodded in eerie unison. Their glowing eyes almost sparkled with a sort of… unholy glee.

“Coming right next up.”

“Bubblegum Oni Princess.”

“Frost Demon Butler Vest.”

“Phoenix Maid Armor.”

“And this one’s my favorite Magical Nurse Assassin!”

“Enough!!” Regis finally snapped, tearing off a fuzzy pink tiara someone had managed to sneak onto her head.

“What are you talking about. See Alicia is enjoying this.” Edith and the maid’s eyes shifted to me.

“Stop playing with that assassin’s knife!” Regis shouted at me—right as I was imagining how cool it would be to have a hidden garter knife strapped under my school uniform.

“Wasn’t this supposed to be about trying out our school uniforms?!” Regis snapped back at Edith.

Edith’s bottom lip quivered. Her eyes widened, full of exaggerated sorrow.

“I was just trying! My sweet baby sister is going far, far away across the sea to study alone… You’ll be in a whole new world… without your big sister. I just wanted to dote on my little sister a little longer.” Her voice softened as she pouted, curling up in exaggerated sadness.

Regis melted.

“Ohh! Big sister...!” Regis gave a reluctant sigh. “Fine. One last outfit. But this is the last one.”

Edith's eyes sparkled. “Then… may I dress you myself, my lady~?” Edith gave a courtly bow, already reaching forward like a devious seamstress.

“No, you may not.” Regis slapped her hand away with the grace of a martial artist slapping a mosquito.

Every time Edith lunged with a ribbon, a button, or a hairclip—Regis dodged with deadly precision.

“Agh—hold still! Just one brooch—!”

“No!”

“Okay, just the boots—”

“No boots!”

“Let me just breathe near you—”

“NO.”

Edith finally raised both arms. “Alright! Alright! I give up!” She let out a theatrical sigh and snapped her fingers. “Ladies, bring out their magic school uniforms.”

The maids glided in—still looking far too happy—each carrying a pristine uniform set. Simple. Elegant. Practical.

“Wait… these are actually decent,” Edith admitted, even as her horrified expression screamed treason against her usual fanatical standards.

“They better be,” Regis muttered, fixing her hair.

“Finally.” I exhaled as I too was looking forward to this.

A few minutes later, the maid stepped out from behind the curtain—and right behind her emerged a tall elf girl with hair like a river of fire, cascading freely down her back in vibrant crimson waves.

Regis.

She wore the official archery uniform of the academy—a sleek, emerald-green jacket that buttoned neatly at the front, cinched subtly at the waist. Thin silver lines flowed along the sleeves and collar in elegant patterns—signifying her status as a first-year in the Archery School.

Beneath the jacket, a short black skirt layered over fitted shorts allowed for ease of movement, speed, and stealth. A finely tooled leather belt circled her hips, holding a quiver that glimmered faintly with enchantment.

Her dark thigh-high stockings shimmered with tiny, embroidered green magic circles near the knees—crafted specifically to enhance balance and agility. The lightweight, matte-black boots rising just above her ankles were clearly built for silent steps and swift maneuvers.

Lastly, on her chest, a soft green emblem of a bow and arrow stood out—stitched carefully over her pocket, glowing faintly with stored mana.

I’d heard that every branch at the academy had its own distinct color scheme, easily identifying each student’s specialisation at the magic academy:

Blue — Mages, with colored accents based on their elemental affinity: red for fire, azure for water, and so on.

Black — Magical Swordsmen.

Amber — Enchanters and Alchemists.

Pink — Beast Tamers and Summoners.

Green — Archery and Marksman.

…and so on.

And then... it was my turn.

As the curtain swayed behind me, I stepped forward—and for a moment, the entire room seemed to hold its breath.

My silvery-white hair flowed softly down my back. I wore the healer’s ceremonial uniform—in shades of white and lavender.

The ensemble began with a pristine, snow-white jacket that fit close to my figure, its fabric finely ribbed down the front to accentuate its military elegance. Thin navy-blue lines traced sharp angles across the sleeves and waist.

Over my chest, a graceful emblem of outstretched angel wings—stitched in shimmering white and threaded with hints of gold—glowed faintly above my pocket, pulsing with a gentle aura of stored healing mana.

The skirt fell to my knees in the front, flaring dramatically behind me like a soft waterfall. It revealed just a glimpse of toned thighs wrapped in sheer lace stockings.

There were no excessive frills or flowing capes—just a sleek finish, completed with elegant silver-heeled shoes.

“…How do I look?” The words slipped from my lips softer than I intended—quiet, almost hesitant.

I wasn’t even sure why I asked. Maybe I just needed reassurance. Maybe a part of me wanted to believe I could stand next to a beautiful elf like Regis and not look completely ridiculous.

Regis blinked.

Then, with a slight twitch of her long ears, a faint flush of pink colored her cheeks.“You… You look good,” she said, a little too quickly.

I smiled, but a pit began to settle in my stomach.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed the maids had turned around, hands covering their mouths, their shoulders trembling slightly.

Were they trying not to laugh?

Do I really look that bad?

Maybe Regis was just being polite. Maybe this magic school uniform was a little too much for me to pull off. From my previous life, I’d already learned the hard truth: appearances could shape everything—reputation, respect, even the way people spoke to you.

My mind spiraled into the familiar pit of self-deprecating panic until—

“ALICIA!”

Big Sister Edith suddenly zoomed in like a glittering comet and grabbed both my shoulders.

“Whatever you do, never show your real face at school!” she declared dramatically. “Always wear your mask!”

I blinked. “W-What? Why?”

Edith clapped her hands together, eyes sparkling with theatrical intensity.

“These days, the world’s crawling with villains—bad men, and hormonal teenagers. You must mask yourself, my dear, lest someone tries to kidnap you away from your poor, emotionally fragile older sister!”

“Wait, what…” I asked, completely lost.

Edith ignored me.

She clasped her hands in front of her chest, tears shimmering in her eyes.

“My babies are growing up so beautifully! You’re both dressed like the spirits of spring and starlight. I am so happy I can barely contain my invisible tears.”

Regis groaned, dragging a hand across her face.

“If anyone sees me like this before we even join school,” she muttered, “I swear I’ll vanish into a tree and never come out again.”

“Too late,” I said dryly, nodding toward the nearby maids.

They were already scribbling frantically into small leather notebooks, occasionally whispering and pointing at our boots, sleeves, and flowing hems like fashion curators struck by divine inspiration.

“She really does look like a celestial maiden…” one murmured, biting her lip thoughtfully.

“Crimson-Moonlight power couple,” another added with a dreamy sigh.

Just what in the world are they imagining? Regis looked like she was about to ascend into the spirit realm out of pure secondhand embarrassment.

Then—a knock.

A soft, melodious triple-tap on the chamber door.

The room fell still.

The doors opened, and into the room stepped the Queen of Ascalon—Regis’s mother.

Her presence was like a calming breeze laced with lightning. Regal, poised, with eyes that missed nothing. The moment she saw the maids’ sketch-filled notebooks, she clasped her hands gracefully, eyes gleaming with excitement.

Her lips curved upward—into that smile.

The kind of smile men would throw their hearts away to see. The kind of smile poets could write entire tragedies about.

But to us—

It was the beginning of yet another nightmare.

◇◇◇

“Ahhh! There’s so much work piled up while I was gone for just three days!”

Miss Fillia Arcaviel, one of the most senior and respected instructors at Grindelwald Magic Academy, groaned as she shuffled through the endless stack of papers cluttering her desk.

Her normally tidy office was swamped with stacks of parchment—magical reports, homework assignments waiting to be graded, club budgets needing approval, and magical theses awaiting review.

She rubbed her temples, her fingers tangled in her soft, candyfloss-pink hair, and sighed.

This is what I get for trying to take a break with my family...

Still, her eyes softened at the thought.

“I’m glad I got to see them all again… even if it was complete chaos down there,” she muttered, a fond smile briefly touching her lips. “I can’t believe my youngest already found a partner, and I heard Lilliana is also doing her best to find a date. And here I am—still single, buried in paperwork.”

She slumped forward over her desk and thudded her forehead against a stack of magical entrance forms. With a reluctant sigh, she grabbed the top few sheets, trying to make some headway through the never-ending tide of work.

As she flipped through the documents, the new student applicants caught her eye.

“Wait… three new applicants? At this time of year?”

“Two princesses? An elf princess from Ascalon?” she murmured, skimming quickly now. “They’re going to cause quite a stir…”

Her fingers paused on the third file.

“…And now one noble girl. With her attendant. From… the Hart Kingdom. Hm. Let’s see who this one is.”

Her eyes darted down further. The name at the top of the page made her pause.

“Alicia,” she read aloud. “That name sounds oddly familiar…”

A flicker of déjà vu crawled up her spine, cold and electric.

She turned to the next page in the file—the student profile and identification photograph.

Her breath caught.

“What in the—why a mask? Why would they submit a masked photo for academy records?” she muttered, her brows furrowing.

It was a plain white mask. Elegant, minimal. But something about it struck her like lightning. Her heart skipped a beat. Her fingers trembled.

“No… It can’t be.”

Fillia closed the file. Took a breath. Then opened it again.

The mask stared back at her.

She did it again.

Still there.

Once more.

Still.

Beads of cold sweat gathered at her brow. Her heart pounded faster with every glance.

“This… this can’t be a coincidence.”

Suddenly, with a loud smack, she slammed the report shut and stood up in one sharp motion, her chair skidding backward with a squeal. Without bothering to tidy anything, Fillia rushed out of her office, climbing the spiral stone steps four at a time.

She reached the headmaster’s office and burst through the door, breathless.

“Headmaster,” she said, holding up the file with shaking hands. “She’s the one I told you about.”

“Miss Fillia, where are your manners? Disturbing an old man this late at night…”A lazy, almost amused voice drifted through the cluttered chamber, filled with scrolls, documents, and paper stacks that shifted and sorted themselves in the air like slow-moving birds.

Miss Fillia Arcaviel slammed the door behind her, utterly unfazed.

“Oh, don’t act like you care. You were probably napping again—planning to dump all this paperwork on me before sunrise,” she huffed. “And stop playing with it! It’s a nightmare to reorganize them once they get scrambled.”

“Alright, alright. There,” the Headmaster said, flicking his fingers. The flying documents fluttered down and landed messy across the floor.

“Honestly, my father was right about you. Exploiting young talent really is your specialty. Maybe I should’ve stayed longer at the Mage Tower.”

The Headmaster chuckled. His long navy-blue robe shimmered faintly in the candlelight, giving him the air of a very sleepy—yet undeniably dangerous—scholar.

“Now now, Miss Fillia, you are misunderstanding me. Please, don’t be so cold. You’re one of the most valuable assets this academy has. We simply can’t let the Fire Emperor have you back.” He gave her a placid smile and casually changed the subject. “You mentioned a student…?”

“Enough with the flattery,” she snapped. “Back to the point—I found her. The girl with the rare light magic who saved us that day. Her name is Alicia.”

Without warning, Fillia slammed the file down in front of him and pointed at the photo.

The headmaster blinked. “You do realize I can see just fine,” he muttered, calmly picking up the portrait and examining it through a pair of enchanted binoculars.

He blinked.

“…She’s wearing a mask.”

Fillia looked like she was going to scream.

“Yes, I noticed! Were you even listening when I told you about her?! Her entire appearance is likely cloaked with illusion magic. But I’d recognize that mask anywhere.”

“I see.” The headmaster went silent.

“Yes, she has ashen-white hair,” Fillia added, her voice lowering. “And she has the appearance of an angel when she uses her magic.”

“You say ash like white hair…” he repeated quietly, his eyes narrowing as if lost in distant memory. Something—someone—was echoing in his mind.

“Headmaster? Hello?” Fillia waved her hand in front of his face.

The old man blinked, snapping out of it. “Ah, right. You already know we don’t accept students mid-year. Though, on rare occasions, we make exceptions for royalty or high nobles—they have their own obligations, after all. But this request… was unusual.”

“So? Who requested her admission?”

“It came from someone very unexpected—someone we’ve invited to teach in the Governance and Statecraft Department for years, but they always refused.”

“And now suddenly they agreed?”

He nodded. “Exactly. They not only requested Alicia’s admission, but also vouched for her personally. Since her magical assessment results were beyond exceptional. And with staffing short as it is, I approved the admission.”

Fillia exhaled slowly, absorbing the news. “Wait… so we’re finally getting a new teacher too?”

A wide grin spread across her face. “That’s it! workload! Maybe I can offload half my workload and actually get some sleep. Maybe even… find the love of my life!”

The Headmaster didn’t even look up. “You do realize workplace harassment is—”

“Shut it. I don’t need a lecture from you,” Fillia snapped. “And I definitely don’t want to die single like you in your dusty old office.”

The Headmaster clutched his chest theatrically. “That’s so cruel, Fillia. You wound me. Right in the heart.”

Fillia ignored the headmaster’s complaints and happily walked out of his office, bearing the good news.

◇◇◇

“Forgive us, my liege. We have… sullied your honor.” The third apostle bowed low, his forehead scraping the blood-smeared obsidian floor.

Behind him, the few apostles who remained intact followed suit—those fortunate enough to still have heads to lower or knees to kneel on.

The same could not be said for the fourth apostle, now nothing more than a splattered blotch on the ground. Another’s head had been devoured, the twisted remnants of his spinal cord still twitching on the black marble.

One lay in pieces, his limbs torn and flung across the chamber like discarded puppets. Another twitched on the ground, caught in a haze of unconscious agony—if he could even still be called alive.

A thick silence hung in the throne hall, heavy with the stench of failure and rotting devil’s blood and flesh.

“Pathetic.”

“Weaklings.”

The first and second apostles stood beside their master like twin shadows, their voices like metal dragged over stone. Their tone held no sympathy—only scorn.

Their glowing eyes bore into the wreckage of their brethren with soulless judgment.

At the center of the dark space, on a throne carved from the skulls of angels, sat Zero.

He did not speak.

With a simple motion—a flick of his wrist through the air—a ripple of black haze burst outward from his hand like smoke given life. It slithered and twisted across the floor, wrapping around the wounded apostles.

Their bodies jerked and reformed, bones snapping into place, skin knitting over torn muscles. The haze reconstructed them, returning them to their original bodies.

All—except the fourth apostle.

His remains refused to regenerate, the black haze recoiling as though repelled by something far deeper than death.

Zero’s gaze flicked to the stain.

And then—

“RAAAAAHHHHH!”

His howl shook the pillars of the throne chamber, and the very air turned heavy with dread.

The apostles dropped to their knees. Their limbs trembled, their heads bowed low into the stone as if gravity itself had bent around their lord’s fury.

Zero’s voice cut through the silence like a blade.

“Who did this?”

The third apostle raised his head slightly. “We only have one clue, master… a girl with white hair.”

“That was the only information the fourth apostle was able to obtain for us. But now we also know that she was the one who killed both the eighth and the tenth apostles.”

The first apostle stepped forward, voice low and devoid of warmth.

“There is only one individual known to match that description and whose power level we haven’t been able to ascertain. The one who interfered with our operations before. The humans call her… the White Queen. But we do not know where she resides or what her motives are.”

Zero narrowed his glowing crimson eyes. “The reincarnates told me the same thing,” he muttered. “Useless worms.”

He leaned forward, fingers tapping against the armrest of his throne.“Contact them. Work together with them to gain more information, if you must. We need to know who they are and end them.”

The second apostle bowed deeply. “As you command, Master Zero.”

A long silence followed—before Zero’s voice echoed again, dark and cold. “Now. I summoned you for a far more important task.”

He stood, and at once the room dimmed—as though the shadows themselves bowed to him.

“We have located the second key.”

The apostles stirred, murmuring.

“It lies beyond any realm's reach,” the second apostle warned. “Even the gods made it so—it rests trapped between the World Barrier itself.”

“They can hide it wherever they want,” Zero said, voice sharp. “It changes nothing. Even if the key is lodged between the boundaries of worlds, I will rip existence itself in half to get it.”

“My lord…” the First Apostle said cautiously, “according to the scriptures, the World Barrier is a two-sided pathway. That means it cannot be broken by the energy of just one world. Pinpointing the key’s location within it is nearly impossible. And the energy required to tear through it… might be impossible—even for the gods.”

Zero’s grin was inhuman.

“That is exactly why we use the reincarnates. And one of them has already established a connection to someone who can help us. And another reincarnate has the ability to predict the key’s location, and we can plan accordingly to take control.”

“Impressive, master.” All the Apostles were in awe of their master’s genius.

“And by the end of this year…” Zero continued, his voice like thunder, “We will gather enough energy to shatter the World Barrier itself and take hold of the key, and for fun, I will set the worlds on fire.”

A silence followed, cold and reverent.

And then a single, unified whisper echoed from the apostles—

“As you will it, master.”

◇◇◇

Regis and I reappeared in a flash of soft light, the teleportation magic fading like dust in the air as we landed—wobbly and drained—right back in my bedroom at the Oakhart Mansion in the Hart Kingdom.

No sooner had the light vanished than the door burst open with a loud clatter.

Hana, panting, stood in the doorway. Right behind her came Lucia, wide-eyed, and then Athena.

“Master—!” Hana cried—Then stopped mid-step.

“…Big Sister?” Lucia blinked rapidly, struggling to hide her shock.

“Master, were you attacked by monsters?!” Hana’s voice was tinged with alarm.

Regis and I stood leaning against each other like half-dead scarecrows—faces pale, limbs limp, leaning heavily on each other just to remain upright.

It was a tragic, silent pose that spoke volumes.

“Yeah… you could say that,” Regis muttered darkly, completely unashamed of inwardly betraying her own family.

Hana tilted her head, visibly confused. “Were they that strong?” She’d always believed I was near invincible.

I let out a weak breath and gently patted her head with my trembling hand. “We barely escaped with our lives…”

“Master…!” Hana’s eyes filled with emotion. “I promise I’ll get stronger. Next time, I’ll protect you. Even if I have to give my life!”

“Me too,” Lucia added, stepping forward firmly. “I’ll stand with you, no matter what.”

Lucia’s melancholy from before had faded. There was determination in her voice. Seeing that alone brought me a flicker of warmth.

“Sure, we will take you up on that offer.” Regis didn’t think twice about betraying her friends this time.

“Glad to see you both back in time.” Athena’s calm voice brought us back to the present. “I’ve finished all preparations. We’ll be departing for Grindelwald Magic Academy tomorrow morning.”

She then noticed the two bags we carried, still cradled in our weary arms. Her eyes flicked over the familiar fabric. “Oh? I see you've already tried on your school uniforms. I hope they fit well.”

Regis and I both nodded in sync.

“Yes. Yes, we did,” I said hollowly.

“Yup. Totally,” Regis echoed, eyes blank.

Then—

“HAHAHAHAHAA…”

We both burst into hollow laughter, minds still fractured and bodies zombified from everything we’d endured. It was a haunted, wheezing sound—the laugh of those who had seen things and lived to tell the tale.

The room went quiet, everyone visibly alarmed by our haunted expressions and broken souls.

Everyone in the room froze. Hana took a step back. Lucia looked visibly concerned. Even Athena, for once, looked unsettled.

“…Are you both… okay?” she asked cautiously.

After collapsing into bed for a long, blessed afternoon nap, we woke up mostly back to normal—though Regis mumbled something about never trusting older sisters again.

Once rested, we gathered the household staff and the villagers to announce our departure for the academy.

That evening, the entire mansion came alive with celebration.

A surprise farewell party had been arranged—unofficially, yet somehow perfectly executed. The air was filled with the delicious aroma of roasted meats, baked pies, fresh bread, and sweets stacked in towers. The golden courtyard lanterns flickered as people danced, laughed, and gathered under the warm twilight.

Hana, Lucia, and the maids had worked tirelessly in the kitchen to prepare the feast. Izek and his team decorated the grounds and arranged the tables, while Athena oversaw the entire event’s management.

All the villagers of Oakhart were in attendance, their eyes wide with pride and joy.

No one from Oakhart had ever attended a prestigious magic academy before.

Regis and I were to be the first.

And they celebrated us as if we were heroes. Sharing our excitement and joy.

One by one, they offered us their blessings and well-wishes.

“Make us proud!”

“Show those nobles what Oakhart’s made of!”

“You’re already legends to us!”

Regis stood tall, smiling with pride. I smiled and thanked them too, though I tried to hide it behind my cup —no one had ever thrown a party or congratulated me before.

***

The next morning, I woke up early.

There was still a soft mist hanging over Oakhart, the sky painted with the first blush of dawn. It would be months before I returned, so I wanted to make sure all the final preparations were in place.

Lucia approached me at the front gate, her eyes calm, her voice steady.

“Big Sister, I’ll do my best to look after the mansion while you’re away… and help everyone in the town. I really like this place.”

She said it with such quiet determination, it caught me off guard. As if she was no longer clinging to me, but had found her own ground to stand on.

“I know you will,” I said, gently patting her head.

She smiled—small, but genuine.

Izek stood tall in his gleaming armor. “You can leave the safety of this place to us.”

I could always trust Izek. He was strong, loyal—and thanks to my network of spiders, even if something did happen, I would know before it reached the gates.

“I’ll count on you then,” I said.

He nodded firmly. “And don’t forget—you can summon us any time. If you ever need us, we’ll be there. Your knight order is at your command, Lady Alicia!”

He bowed. His unit followed, kneeling in synchronized motion.

The gesture caught me by surprise, and a faint blush crept onto my cheeks. I still wasn’t used to the idea of them being Oakhart’s official knight order—my knight order.

After bidding farewell to the maids, villagers, guards, and hugging Lucia one last time, and waving to the villagers who had come to see us off, we boarded the carriage waiting at the gates.

Athena, Regis, Hana, and I.

The journey to the Grindelwald Kingdom, and ultimately, the Grindelwald Magic Academy—the largest magic academy in the human continent—had officially begun.

The road stretched before us, sunbeams filtering through the trees as the carriage rumbled along.

As the cart rolled forward and Oakhart began to fade behind us, Athena broke the silence.

“Regis, what are your plans for school?” she asked, her tone curious.

Regis sat up straight, a confident grin on her face.

“Simple. I’ll become the best archer in the entire academy. No one will outshoot me—not even the instructors.”

Athena chuckled lightly, then turned to Hana.

“And you, Hana?”

Hana blushed, but held her chin high with pride.

“Me, me. I will learn all the skills to become the greatest maid who will serve master with absolute perfection and fulfill all her wishes!”

Athena gently patted her head, but she was absolutely serious.

Then Athena turned to me. Her gaze was different now—steady, thoughtful.

“And what do you want to do, Alicia?”

Her voice was calm, but there was an edge of focus in her eyes, as if she had been building to this question all along.

The others turned to look at me too—Regis, with curiosity, and Hana with adoration.

All of them… were waiting for my answer.

I stared out at the winding road ahead as quiet thoughts poured in.

What do I want to do?

Then, with a calm but determined smile, I said:

“I’ve decided I want to live the most normal school life any girl could wish for.”

That’s right. After becoming a normal girl and then an everyday adventurer healer. The next step in my quest for having the best life in this new world was to experience a perfectly ordinary school life.

Athena raised a brow in momentary surprise, then smiled softly, as if pleased with my answer.

Regis, who had been holding back her curiosity until now, finally asked, “Alice, what about your kingdom? Won’t it be a problem, coming all this way just to drop us off at the academy?”

Athena’s eyes gleamed mischievously as she spoke up.

“Oh! Didn’t I mention? I’ll be at the academy too.”

Regis blinked at her, stunned. “Wait—what? You’re going to be a student?”

I turned to Athena, just as surprised. This was news to me, too.

She smiled. “No. I’ll be teaching.”◇◇◇

Note for readers:

I have started releasing the rewrites of Volume 1 chapters on discord and 3 chapters are already out along with new illustrations.

Right now, the release schedule alternates weekly: one week for Volume 1 rewrites, and the next for ongoing Volume 11 chapters.

It would mean a lot if you could share your feedback on the rewrites—and of course, I hope you enjoy reading them too.

Happy reading and Have a nice day.

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To everyone who is reading my novel and loves Alicia on her exciting adventures in this new fantasy world.

Thanks a lot for all your support! It really means a lot to me.

Till now I have published from volume one to volume ten for free and I hope to continue to do so even today. I have put a lot of time and effort into creating a story that I always hope you will enjoy reading and have something to think about.

Keeping the text error free takes a lot of revisions and consumes time, but no work is ever perfect. With your support and reviews I know that I have improved a lot in my writing. I know the initial volumes sometimes could be a mess in my disastrous writing and the current writing still leaves a lot to be desired as the story proceeds and new characters keeps popping up. And I intend to take this challenge head on and improve everyday in this year as well.

You can support my writing by leaving a good review on my book on the platform you are reading.

And even now I am asking for a bit more that if you want to voluntarily support my writing then you can do it now.

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I hope that you keep enjoying my work and the next chapter too proves to be to your liking!

Happy Reading Everyone!!!