"I hope you guys would appreciate maintaining silence," spoke the old woman with whitish hair, wiping her spectacles. Seated across the enormous hall on a chair adorned with embedded crystals, she emanated an air of strictness. Her formal name was "Harley," but among the children, she was known as the "moody bitch." Though too inappropriate for newcomers, they would soon understand the reason behind the nickname given to her behind her back.

"I don't like our principal, Jesus," Eun shuddered and nudged my shoulder, diverting my attention from the old lady. "Actually, me neither," I responded, sharing her sentiment.

"Girl, I thought a magic academy was supposed to have chill teachers. I can't help but notice the complete opposite happening here," I chuckled and replied, pushing back my bangs, "I didn't have high expectations from this academy in the first place. I just need to complete the first-semester levitation course real quick."

Eun rolled her eyes at me and asked, "For the ballerina academy, right?" I gave her a simple smile and nodded. "God, why do I have to be a verified levitator to enroll there? I wish they had levitation classes in their beginner course too."

"Hey, aren't you Kim Doshin's daughter?" a blonde girl stood in front of us, accompanied by another girl. I paused for a moment but replied with a hesitant "yes." "That's my mother's assistant," she explained to the other girl, while I stared at her, feeling a bit perplexed.

"You want to get into the top ballerina academy, don't you?" she snickered, and her friend smirked alongside her. I couldn't shake off the negative vibes emanating from them. "Yeah," I muttered, and the girl continued to scrutinize me with a judgmental look on her face.

"Well, you don't know their fee structure, do you?" she inquired. Seriously, what did she need? Couldn't people mind their own business? "She does," Eun interjected, speaking up for me this time. I mentally smirked, proud that my friend was learning a thing or two from me.

"And who's talking to you, my dear double-chinned friend?" Eun retaliated, clearly infuriated. "What do you expect to hear? You can't be so straightforward walking around here!" I exclaimed, possibly drawing everyone's attention.

"Kim Chaeng!" I looked up, startled, as Ms. Harley towered above me. I could feel her glare penetrating my soul. "I thought I just told you all to maintain silence?" My soul momentarily escaped my body as I immediately lowered my head and offered an apology. "I'll let it slide this time. Be more careful from now on," she taunted, walking off towards the stage. "Well, that was like a near-death experience, wasn't it?" Eun remarked quietly. I nodded, still shaken by the encounter. My eyes involuntarily glanced at the two girls who were giggling in secret. Ew.

"A very warm welcome to the Academy of Sylvania!" boomed a deep voice, capturing the attention of the entire hall. An old man, likely in his 70s, with a massive white beard, stood on the stage, holding a microphone. "I am the vice principal here, and you may call me 'Phantom Colombus'," he declared before taking his seat and engaging in a conversation with Ms. Harley.

"Hey, I've read a lot about this gentleman," Eun whispered to me, her curiosity piqued. "Obviously you would. He's the man who invented Sikora," a voice chimed in from behind. We turned around to find a red-headed girl, exuding an air of confidence and beauty.

"Oh my god," Eun muttered, her mouth agape. "That's just how the freshers react," the girl chuckled, passing Eun a sweet look. She seemed nice and appeared slightly older than us.

"What is Sikora?" I frowned, curiosity getting the better of me. Eun clicked her tongue and facepalmed, disappointed by my lack of knowledge. "How come you joined Sylvania without even knowing the general history?" the girl inquired before continuing, "Sikora is the most precious and heavily guarded invention of the Sylvania Kingdom. It's a potion, but one that is highly sought after. Just a sip of Sikora can grant you access to all the dark powers."

Her words carried an intensity that drew me in, and I found myself genuinely interested. "Like what?" I asked, my curiosity brimming. "The possibilities are countless," she paused, sighing, "you can choose to be invisible, halt death, control a particular person—basically, you can do anything after consuming it."

Eun jumped in with a question of her own, "But what was it made for? Phantom Colombus doesn't strike me as the type who would seek such powers." The girl nodded, acknowledging Eun's observation. "You're right. He created Sikora to protect Sylvania from any dark forces. He vowed to entrust it only to the right hands."

"So where is it now?" I inquired, my intrigue growing. "Currently, there's no darkness looming over Sylvania, and Sikora is locked away in the stomach of a giant monster residing in the darkest dungeon of Criga Tower."

"Wait, what? That sounds ridiculous," I replied, unable to contain my disbelief. A giant monster's stomach? That was hard to fathom. "Well, you'll get used to the dramatics around here; it's your first year, after all," she said with a smile.

She extended her hand towards us, introducing herself, "I'm Rosé Park, a senior by a year." We shook hands, forming an instant connection. "I'm Kim Chaeng," I smiled, introducing myself, while Eun added, "And I'm Chang Eun."

"It's a pleasure to make friends with some first-year students. I hope I can be of great help to you both," Rosé expressed warmly. Our conversation was interrupted by the resumption of the event, as Mr. Colombus took the stage once again.

"To all the first-years, the Sylvania Academy hopes you will find comfort here very soon. To check your assigned timetables, rooms, and roommates, please head to the common room," he announced, pointing towards a guy in a red cloak standing beside him. With wavy blonde hair and a captivating smile, he caught our attention.

"This man here is a third-year student, awarded as the most outstanding student of Sylvania. He goes by the name Robin D'Souza. He will guide you all to the common room. Please follow him quietly."

Robin offered us a welcoming smile and gestured for us to follow him. As a crowd formed behind him, we joined in, embarking on the journey. "You guys go on ahead. I'll head back to our room. Let's meet for lunch," Rosé said, bidding us farewell. "I like her. She's sweet," I commented to Eun, who agreed, saying, "I never expected to encounter such a humble senior here."

We walked behind Robin, following him through the twists and turns of the academy. It didn't take long before we arrived at the common room, a spacious and inviting space filled with comfortable couches scattered around and a crackling fireplace that cast a warm glow. Our attention was immediately drawn to a large notice board hanging on one of the walls, and Robin guided us towards it.

"You guys can take a quick look one by one, just make sure not to make a mess over here or else Miss Harley will not be very pleased," Robin warned us as we entered the common room, ensuring that the line was maintained.

A mischievous grin spread across the face of a first-year student who stood nearby. "Well, she wouldn't know since she's not here," he snickered, and his friends joined in the laughter.

Robin's expression remained composed as he calmly replied, "That's where you're mistaken. Miss Harley's third eye watches the common room whenever she feels like it. So you better not get started with your mischief, especially here."

I followed Robin's gaze and noticed a peculiar sight. A blue-colored bat hung upside down from the ceiling, its beady eyes fixed upon the crowd. It was Miss Harley's third eye, a mysterious presence that ensured discipline even when she wasn't physically present.

"Good lord, this is hideous," I muttered, unable to tear my eyes away from the unsettling bat. However, Eun seemed to have a different opinion.

"No, why? I think it's kinda cute," she giggled, waving at the creature. Her fondness for peculiar things never ceased to surprise me.

I sighed, realizing that Eun's eccentricities were here to stay. "Well, let's not make it angry then," I remarked, half-jokingly.

Eun playfully stuck her tongue out at me before turning her attention to the notice board. Dramatically gripping the thin piece of coffee-colored parchment that displayed our names, she scanned it carefully. "Well, it says we have been given the same room," she announced, her eyes widening in excitement. "Room 23, second floor!"

Robin approached us, offering each of us booklets with a pleasant smile. "Here, you will find your timetables, exam planner, a map of the kingdom, and a guide to answer any basic queries you might have about this place."

I glanced through the booklet, appreciating the organized layout and helpful information it provided. Just as I was about to ask Robin about any lingering doubts, Eun pinched my ear, reminding me of our earlier agreement not to bother people with silly questions.

Robin chuckled, seemingly understanding the unspoken message. "Well then, if you have any further queries or need assistance, feel free to visit me in room number 12, first floor. I'm always available to help."

We expressed our gratitude to Robin before following the map towards our shared room. The excitement in the air was palpable as we navigated the hallways, passing fellow students who were busy exploring and getting settled in.

Entering our room, we found it neat and inviting. Two single beds were positioned in opposite corners, with study tables and wardrobes completing the setup. It felt like our own little sanctuary within the vast academy.

"I told Mom not to pack this skirt," Eun groaned, shoving the unwanted item into a drawer of her wardrobe. "If you don't like it, give it to me. I would rock a pink mini skirt," I joked, grabbing the skirt playfully.

Eun smiled and shook her head. "Keep it. I can't imagine you wearing something like that anyway." We both laughed, our camaraderie providing a sense of comfort in this new environment.

Just as we finished unpacking and settling in, a voice boomed through the loudspeakers. "The lunch is ready to be served! Every student is requested to head to the serving hall."

Eun's eyes lit up with excitement. "Come on, let's head down fast. I don't want to miss out on any good starters." She practically dragged me out of the room, her eagerness infectious.

I sighed, unable to resist her enthusiasm. "How do you even know if they're good?" I asked, amused by her relentless pursuit of food-related information.

"I just happened to hear it earlier. There were some girls talking about grabbing the cream pies before anyone else does," she replied, her excitement building with each passing step.

As we made our way to the staircase, I remembered our conversation with Rosé earlier. "Oh, that girl from earlier is going to be there too. We have to meet her," I reminded Eun, hoping to continue forging new friendships in this magical realm.

Our steps quickened as the aroma of freshly prepared food filled the air, leading us towards the serving hall. The bustling crowd, the sound of chatter and laughter, added to the lively ambiance of the academy.

I was too slow to react when a guy came sprinting past us, his speed causing a collision that brought our little march to an abrupt halt. "Watch where you're going." I hissed, slightly annoyed as I adjusted my balance. The impact had caught me off guard.

The guy, who had dusted his shoulder as if it had been dirtied by the contact with me, chuckled. His mischievous grin revealed two bunny teeth, adding a hint of charm to his otherwise cocky demeanor. "Sir, shouldn't you be looking where you're running towards?" Eun confronted him, her voice carrying a stern tone as she eyed him up and down.

He seemed momentarily taken aback by Eun's boldness. "Now a fresher is going to teach me where I'm supposed to look?"

"Being a fresher doesn't negate the fact that you need to learn some basic manners and respect," Eun retorted, her tiny finger pointing directly at his forehead, causing his eyebrows to furrow.

Confusion and anger mixed on his face. "Little girl, I basically own this place. If you ever try to act all bold and shit again, I'll gladly have you kicked out of this school," he threatened, leaning down to Eun's level and flicking her forehead with his index finger.

Eun gasped, her eyes widening as she stared up at the towering figure before her. His size and authority seemed to momentarily silence her.

He straightened his posture, shifting his gaze to me. "And you," he smirked, starting to walk away. "Good thing you didn't talk back, cutie."

My heart raced, a mix of confusion and irritation flooding my senses. Who did he think he was? And why did his words have an unexpected effect on me? It was as if my heart skipped a beat, leaving me momentarily flustered.

"What the hell was that?" I murmured, trying to regain my composure. Eun, still processing the encounter, looked up at me with wide eyes. "I have no idea, but that guy is something else."

But why did I blush?