Charisma 100: My Academy Life As A Heartbreaking Commoner Chapter 5: Welcome to the Academy 2

Aegis gazed at the slip indicating her dorm assignment. Room 237, situated in the East Wing. At the very least, it wasn't in the basement.

[No Scarlett as a roommate. Darn. It would have been rather enjoyable to awaken each morning to the sight of those abs.]

She made her way up the grand marble staircase. The new uniform still felt stiff and somewhat awkward against her skin. The corridors were alive with the chatter of students hauling trunks and engaging in disputes over their assigned rooms. The majority of the noble students had their servants manage the heavier tasks. For Aegis, all she had was her single suitcase and her own sharp intellect.

The door to Room 237 was left slightly ajar. From within, a faint, off-key humming could be heard.

Aegis nudged the door further open and stopped dead in her tracks.

A girl was seated in a cross-legged position on one of the beds, meticulously applying paint to a canvas that rested against the wall. Her dark hair cascableaded down, reaching the floor and resembling a cape more than mere hair. As she lifted her head, her pink eyes met Aegis's own purple ones. She was dressed in the standard academy uniform, though it was evident she had already personalized it, perhaps unintentionally. Patches of paint dotted the sleeves, her tie was loosened, and the top button of her shirt remained undone.

[Who on earth is this? I don't recall any painter girl from the game.]

"Oh. You're my roommate." The girl glanced up from her artwork, her expression remarkably neutral. "I'm Lune. Lune Solana."

She extended a hand covered in paint, hesitated, then quickly wiped it on her skirt before offering it once more.

Aegis took her hand, her mind rapidly processing this unexpected encounter. The Solana name belonged to a minor noble house recognized for its aptitude in illusion magic. However, she had no recollection of a character named Lune from any of her previous game playthroughs.

"Aegis Starcaller. A commoner."

"A scholarship recipient." Lune's voice was devoid of inflection. "I barely scraped through the entrance exams. My illusions occasionally glitch."

She gestured towards her painting – a landscape that seemed to shimmer and shift, with trees swaying as if caught in an unseen breeze.

"Does your magic seep into your art?"

"It's quite inconvenient." Lune returned her attention to the canvas, her gaze unwavering. "Just last week, I inadvertently made the breakfast appear to be swarming with spiders. My mother was not pleased."

[Unstable magic. A minor noble. I feel like I would remember someone like her from the game. This is... worrying.]

"Which bed would you prefer?" Lune inquired, her tone still monotonous. "I've claimed the one on the left."

"The right is perfectly fine." Aegis dropped her bag onto the designated bed. "Are you heading to dinner?"

"I suppose so." Lune set down her paintbrush. "I'm unsure of the dining hall's location."

"I have a general idea of the way." Aegis pushed the door open wider. "Shall we?"

As they stepped out into the corridor, they immediately encountered an obstacle.

Four students were positioned against the opposite wall, waiting. Three of them presented the typical appearance of mid-tier nobles – affluent enough to exude arrogance, but not significant enough to warrant private chambers. However, Aegis instantly recognized their leader.

Varyn Duskbane possessed black hair, piercing violet eyes, and a pallor that suggested he rarely saw the sun. Within the game, he had served as a recurring antagonist during the initial stages, the kind of character who would offer a compliment on your attire while simultaneously contemplating poisoning your tea.

Aegis found herself perplexed by this encounter.

[But... typically, he targets male players. What is he doing here? Or,] she suppressed a giggle, [does he just bother anyone with a penis?]

"Well, well." Varyn pushed himself off the wall, a smirk playing on his lips. "The renowned commoner graces us with her presence. And she's sharing a room with a Solana. How... quaint."

His companions let out snickers. Lune remained impassive.

"Lord Duskbane." Aegis offered a shallow bow. Varyn flinched slightly, taken aback by her apparent awareness of his identity. "Starting the hazing early this year, are we?"

"Harassment? I am merely extending greetings to my fellow academy members." He took a step closer, his voice dripping with condescension. "Though I must admit, your scholarship has certainly become a topic of widespread discussion. A nobody from obscurity, suddenly admitted to Rosevale? Some might find that rather suspicious."

Aegis arched an eyebrow in response.

[He's just probing for information. Trying to gather evidence to use against me later.] Aegis narrowed her eyes. [I won't allow him to succeed.]

"Some might suggest it stems from jealousy that a commoner outperformed them on the entrance examination." Aegis maintained a light tone. "However, I am quite certain that is not the case with you, Lord Duskbane. Your esteemed house is, after all, known for rising above such trivial matters."

His eyes narrowed dangerously. A blonde girl adorned with an excessive amount of jewelry stepped forward.

"How dare you—"

Varyn raised a hand, silencing her.

"Clever. Employing my house's reputation as a defensive barrier. But astuteness can only carry you so far in this place, commoner."

"I have no doubt I will manage." Aegis offered a playful wink. "Now, if you'll kindly excuse us, we are rather famished. I hear the kitchen has prepared something special this evening."

She took Lune's arm and steered her past the group. Varyn let out a low chuckle.

"This will hardly be our final exchange, Miss Starcaller."

"I shall look forward to it," Aegis called back over her shoulder.

They turned the corner, and Lune let out a relieved sigh.

"You actually spoke back to Varyn Duskbane."

"He's merely another arrogant noble with far too much leisure time."

"He is from one of the prominent Great Houses, Aegis. His family actually controls a significant portion of Valdria's spy networks." Lune's expression remained unchanged. "My mother advised me to avoid all Duskbanes. They are known for collecting blackmail material."

[Mom has good instincts. It's a shame her daughter is now on his radar because of me. I'll apologize profusely later.]

"Then, we shall simply have to be uninteresting enough for him to lose interest," Aegis stated, guiding them down another corridor. "Besides, displaying weakness to bullies only encourages them to intensify their efforts."

"I suppose that's true." Lune gazed forward. "Are you brave, or perhaps foolish?"

"Who can truly say?"

The grand doors of the dining hall appeared before them, intricately carved oak reinforced with iron. Sounds emanated from within – the chatter of hundreds of voices, the clatter of dishes, and the scraping of chairs.

"A rather large room," Lune commented. "And so many people."

"You don't say."

Aegis placed a hand on the door. She paused for a moment. This was one of the memorable moments from the game, entering this very hall. She was so excited that she wanted to properly savor the experience.

[Showtime.]

She pushed the doors open.

The hall was immense. Five long tables stretched across the space, each occupied by different factions. House banners were proudly displayed, hanging from the high ceiling. Servants moved efficiently between the tables as students dined and engaged in their schemes.

[Just like in the game, but louder. And the food is actual food.]

"AEGIS! COUNTRY MOUSE! OVER HERE!"

Scarlett was perched on a bench, waving both her arms enthusiastically. A few nobles nearby shot her annoyed glances.

"Is that typical behavior?" Lune inquired.

"I've known her for merely two hours, and yes, absolutely."

They made their way towards Scarlett's table, which was clearly designated for scholarship students. Scarlett eagerly embraced Aegis in a one-armed hug, lifting her slightly off the ground.

"You managed to survive the dorm assignments! And you brought a friend along!" Scarlett beamed at Lune. "I'm Scarlett Lionheart. I'm going to be the greatest knight in Valdria!"

"Lune Solana. I'm an artist."

"Wonderful! Come sit, sit! The food is exceptionally good here!"

They squeezed onto the bench. Scarlett immediately launched into an animated story about her roommate fainting when Scarlett performed push-ups as a warm-up for dinner.

Aegis listened with half an ear, her gaze sweeping across the room. The factions had formed precisely as depicted in the game.

At the central table, Princess Talia held court. Her black hair was styled immaculately, and her yellow eyes surveyed her domain with regal authority. Nobles hung on her every word. When she let out a short, sharp laugh, it felt as though the entire table had won a significant prize.

[The 'Ice Princess' indeed.]

The table on the left was occupied by the combat students. These were the individuals aiming to become knights and similar martial figures. Their uniforms were often modified, and they were seen comparing bruises and engaging in arm-wrestling matches between courses. Several futanari girls caught Aegis's attention. They carried themselves with confident postures, possessed athletic builds, and, naturally, displayed prominent bulges beneath their tight-fitting pants.

[The straightforward, muscle-oriented faction. Scarlett will fit in perfectly here.]

To the right, the academic elites were engrossed in their studies, with books open even during dinner. They wore badges indicating their magical specializations – blue for water, red for fire, and silver for mental arts. One table over, social butterflies were actively networking while enjoying their wine.

"—and then her entire face turned a shade of purple!" Scarlett concluded her story. "Like an agitated eggplant!"

Lune showed no outward reaction. Aegis offered a subtle smile.

"Your roommate sounds like a truly delightful person."

"Doesn't she? Much better than getting stuck with some—oh, watch out, trouble is approaching."

Three imposing combat students loomed over their table. Their leader was built like a fortress.

"We heard there's some scholarship brat who thinks she's quite something."

Scarlett responded with a grin.

"And we heard there's a noble brat who peaked in talent at the age of twelve. It seems we both heard correctly."

[Day one and they're already starting altercations? This usually doesn't happen until day two.]

The boy's face flushed crimson.

"Do you wish to settle this on the dueling grounds?"

"I'd love to, but I don't typically engage in beating up children on the very first day." Scarlett nonchalantly examined her fingernails. "I maintain certain standards."

"Why you—"

"Is there an issue here?"

A woman clad in a professor's robes materialized. Aegis's heart leaped into her throat.

[Professor Nazraya. Oh, hell no.]

She had striking black hair, piercing red eyes, and curves that her robes struggled to conceal. And yes, that unmistakable bulge marked her as futanari, just like Scarlett.

The combat students immediately straightened up.

"No problem at all, Professor. We were merely introducing ourselves."

"How neighborly of you." The sarcasm was palpable. "Now, run along before I'm forced to assign you remedial manners lessons."

They quickly retreated. Professor Nazraya's gaze swept over their table, lingering for a moment on Aegis.

"Scholarship students. Do try your best not to get expelled before classes even begin."

She departed, leaving behind the lingering scent of expensive perfume.

"She is absolutely incredible," Aegis whispered in awe.

"I suppose she is," Lune replied dismissively.

Scarlett glanced between the two of them.

"She's nothing but trouble. That's Professor Nazraya. She instructs advanced magical theory. Rumor has it she consumes students who fail her course."

[Not exactly, but she certainly does other things to her favored students.]

The remainder of the evening became a blur. Amidst the chatter, the discreet observation of alliances, and the outlining of strategies, Aegis found her game knowledge to be helpful, yet the complexities of real individuals far surpassed any programmed script.

Across the expanse of the hall, Aegis's gaze landed upon Liora. The familiar cascade of blonde curls, the scattering of freckles across her nose, and the worn notebook clutched tightly in her hand were unmistakable. She occupied a solitary seat at the periphery of the scholarship table. Their eyes met, and Liora offered a hesitant, small smile.

[There's the cinnamon roll.]

Before Aegis could make a move towards her, Princess Talia rose from her seat. A hush immediately fell over the hall as she gracefully proceeded towards the exit, her retinue scrambling to follow. As she passed their table, her striking yellow eyes briefly met Aegis's.

A subtle, almost imperceptible quirk touched the princess's lips.

Then, she was gone, leaving behind the lingering scent of roses and the unspoken promise of future entanglements.

[Two main targets spotted. Time to plan.]

As they exited the dining hall, a hand suddenly landed on Aegis's shoulder. She spun around quickly to find a prefect standing there. He was tall, with a severe expression, and sported a senior staff badge.

"Aegis Starcaller?"

"That's me," Aegis confirmed.

The prefect's smile was sharp and knowing.

"The Headmistress requires your presence. Immediately."

Scarlett's eyes widened in disbelief.

"But classes haven't even—"

"Immediately," the prefect reiterated, his tone leaving no room for argument.

[Well, fuck.]

Aegis swallowed hard, a knot forming in her stomach. Being summoned to the Headmistress's office on the very first night? This situation was entirely absent from the game's known scenarios.

This was not part of the game at all.