Each departnt at Irasios Academy had its own difficulty curve when it ca to the entrance exam.
But out of all of them, the Warden Departnt was the most brutal, so tough that it barely accepted anyone.
Contrary to what people might expect, the exams weren't long and drawn-out trials.
They were quick. Efficient. Ruthless.
After thousands of years, the academy had streamlined the process, making it easy to sort the worthy from the hopeless. Especially because of the amount of aspiring applicants.
Even so, the acceptance rate remained a brutal one percent. Being a noble didn't guarantee a spot.
...Okay, maybe it did.
In most cases, nobles dominated admissions, not because of status alone, but because they had been trained from birth.
Wealth ant better tutors, better resources, better everything. The playing field was never really fair.
When Verena looked around, it was all nobles, nobles, and more nobles.
They stood at a distance, their gazes wary like she was so kind of celestial plague.
Not a single commoner in sight. And the worse part was that no one would co near her.
[System Notification!]
[Warning! You have triggered a major plot shift.]
[Since you have successfully disrupted fate and introduced a new driving force to the story, death flags have increased!]
Fate really just won't give the option to give up instead?
She felt like crying.
"What is the aning of this, Professor Sirius?!"
At the top of the twin staircases stood a group of robed n, their garnts embroidered with golden constellations that shimred like breathing light.
Sirius sighed dramatically. "Ah, if it isn't Professor Perasius." He sounded like he'd rather be anywhere else. "I'm just accepting an applicant into my departnt."
Perasius' face twisted in disgust. "We do not accept the Conduitor of the Thirteenth Constellation—just as the Zodiacs do not accept Ophiuchus."
The surroundings felt heavy and uncomfortable.
The Thirteenth Constellation. The one no one talked about. The one that had been erased.
But, here she was.
"The Thirteenth Constellation was erased for a reason! We cannot allow a disruptor into the academy, let alone the Eclipsor Departnt!"
"Oh? And what reason was that, exactly?"
Perasius opened his mouth. Paused. Closed it. His eyes darted to his fellow scholars, searching for support.
Sirius smirked. "Ah, I see. You don't actually know, do you?" He leaned back, folding his arms. "You're just parroting tradition. 'Ooh, scary number thirteen! Bad things happen! The Zodiacs disapprove!' But no one's got an actual explanation."
A low murmur spread through the room. So of the other robed scholars exchanged uncertain glances.
Perasius turned red. "T-That's irrelevant! The traditions—"
"—Are based on nothing," Sirius finished smoothly. "If anything, we should be studying the Thirteenth Constellation, not pretending it never existed."
For soone who looked quite serious, Professor Sirius didn't sound so "sirius".
In fact, he sounded like a professional instigator. An internet troll in academic robes.
It was like seeing a liberal and conservative fight.
Professor Perasius was the Head of the Astramancer Departnt.
A background antagonist, a staunch traditionalist who acts as a gatekeeper of fate. He was never a major villain but was a constant thorn in the protagonist's side, always arguing that "destiny should not be tampered with."
Verena's eyes flickered to the white-haired heroine, who looked like she was dying to step in and defend her. But she couldn't. Not with the second male lead standing right beside her.
"Ah, to hell with fate..." she muttered under her breath.
This whole situation was peak humiliation. Her ears were burning from all the attention, and she swore she could hear a chorus of death flags waving in the distance.
Past Verena must've had it rough.
"Pardon ..."
Anastasia.
Oh, great. That's it. She was done for. They were all about to turn her away, exile her, maybe even shoot her. Who knew anymore?
But instead, Anastasia walked forward, her voice smooth and commanding.
"You need not worry, Professor Perasius," She tilted her head slightly. "She can stay here."
A stunned silence.
Perasius practically choked on air. "M-My girl, what are you saying?"
"Must I repeat myself?"
...Was this woman bipolar? Why was she defending her?
"Besides, I'm a Conduitor. If necessary, I can kill her myself."
Anastasia's voice was calm, but her glare was lethal.
The weight of her aura pressed down on the room, making spines stiffen and knees weak.
Yeah. Still the sa Anastasia.
"V-Very well..." Perasius coughed, clearly rethinking his life choices.
To be fair, there were plenty of students in this academy who could probably kill her if they really wanted to. But sohow, hearing Anastasia say it made everyone relax.
Verena gulped. On the outside, she looked appropriately terrified. On the inside...
OH MY GOD! SHE'S SO COOL!
I LOVE HER SO MUCH! JUST LIKE FR!
LOOK AT THOSE COLD, RCILESS EYES TRYING TO KILL !
She had a weakness for cool heroines—not in a romantic way.
Sothing about that detached, emotionally unavailable energy really did it for her.
After all the chaos, everything was finally set in stone. The entrance exam was over, the accepted applicants were gathered, congratulated, and handed their uniforms.
As Verena walked through the hallways, she could feel the weight of every stare drilling into her. Heavy. Unrelenting. Judgntal.
"Guess I have no choice but to get used to this..." she muttered, bracing herself.
"HEY! WAIT UP!"
Before she could react, soone grabbed onto her.
Verena nearly jumped out of her skin before locking eyes with Beatrice.
What the hell does this girl want? I really do not like her...
"And... who might you be?" Verena asked, already exhausted.
"Beatrice Faulkenridge! Nice to et you! So you're the Conduitor of Ophiuchus?! Oh my god, so like—"
And then she just kept going.
At lightning speed.
About a hundred words per second.
The thing about Miss Forr Ugly Duckling was that she was an absolute nerd when it ca to anything forbidden or related to the dark arts. And right now, she was thriving.
"Wanna be friends?!" Beatrice asked eagerly, practically vibrating with excitent.
"Oh, uh—"
"Wait, sorry, I know I talked a lot..."
A lot was an understatent.
"M-My bad..." she continued, suddenly gripping her own arm. "That probably looked so unattractive, huh? I—I know I'm weird and all..."
You are! Verena scread internally.
"Lady Verena... who is that girl?"
Verena turned to see Evelyn, her voice practically a whimper.
H-Huh?
"Oh, hello Evelyn!"
[Warning!]
[Your Affection Points with Evelyn Has Lowered to 6!]
...
Without hesitation, Verena grabbed Beatrice's hands off her.
"Sorry, will you please let go?..." She asked sternly.
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