Stay Cool

Ah, the illustrious Arcanis Academy, the pinnacle of magical education and society's grand stage for the next generation of power players. A place where the brightest young nobles and promising commoners gathered to hone their magical skills, forge alliances, and secure their futures. For most students, it was the ultimate dream—a glittering opportunity to rise above their peers.

For me? It was a disaster waiting to happen.

I sighed as the carriage rumbled down the cobblestone path leading to the academy's grand gates. The towering spires and intricately detailed stonework loomed ahead, framed by an enchanted sky that sparkled faintly with residual magic. It was a breathtaking sight, sure, but all I could think about was how much trouble this place promised.

This was where I'd be trapped in the orbit of the heroines—five brilliant, beautiful, and utterly terrifying young women whose destinies were intertwined with my own. Camille, Diana, Tessa, Claire, and Lillian. Each one a shining star in the novel, each destined to loathe and destroy the villainess, Sera Vandren.

And now that villainess was me.

I shifted uneasily in my seat, my fingers gripping the hem of my pristine academy uniform. "Avoid them," I muttered under my breath. "Stay low, keep quiet, blend in. That's the plan."

Of course, that plan was borderline impossible. As the daughter of the Vandren family, one of the most prominent noble houses, I wasn't just expected to attend Arcanis Academy—I was expected to command attention. That meant making an impression. And by "impression," they meant drama, spectacle, and likely another scandal to add to Sera's already infamous reputation.

The carriage slowed to a stop, and the driver opened the door for me with a slight bow. I took a deep breath and stepped out onto the polished courtyard. The air buzzed with excitement as students, dressed in tailored uniforms, gathered in groups, chatting and laughing. Most of them spared me a glance, their reactions varying from awe to suspicion. I could already hear the whispers.

"Sera Vandren…"

"That's her? She looks… different."

"I heard she—"

I straightened my posture, schooling my features into a mask of aloofness. If I couldn't avoid attention, I could at least control the narrative—or pretend to. Step one of the survival plan: act like I belonged here, unbothered by the chatter.

The academy itself was breathtaking, with its sprawling grounds, enchanted gardens, and towering lecture halls. It would've been easy to lose myself in the beauty of it all if I wasn't hyperaware of what lay ahead: the heroines. They weren't just the stars of the novel; they were my biggest obstacle. Their fiery confrontations with Sera were iconic in the story, the moments readers lived for.

But I wasn't here to entertain readers. I was here to survive. I'd have to stay far away from them, no matter what. But here I was, already feeling a headache coming for what was to come in the future. Now that I thought about it, the professors in the novel also played a pretty significant role in the story. Being the positive influence and all.

After entering the classroom, I made a beeline for the farthest corner seat, tucked away in the shadows like a safe haven for introverts and villainesses alike. The perfect spot. With any luck, no one would bother sitting beside me. If this academy's students operated like any other group of judgmental nobles, they'd avoid me like the plague. That was my plan—minimal interaction, minimal attention, minimal chance of disastrous plot deviations.

The teacher hadn't arrived yet, but if memory served, her name was Evelyn Sinclair. A name that carried weight even among the esteemed staff of Arcanis Academy. Evelyn Sinclair wasn't just a noble but an embodiment of scholarly grace, the kind of person who could lecture on ancient magic theory while charming the entire room with her poise.

She was stunning, of course—because apparently, every single teacher at this academy was designed to look like they'd stepped out of a fantasy fashion magazine. Her auburn hair was rich and glossy, styled in elegant waves that framed her face, and her light blue eyes sparkled with an intellectual sharpness. And those glasses. Ugh, those perfectly round glasses that gave her the aesthetic of a modern intellectual mixed with vintage sophistication. She was so my type. If only I weren't stuck as the doomed villainess of this story.

I slumped into my chair, shaking off the thought. No distractions. No crushes. Just survival.

The bell rang, snapping me out of my reverie, and students began pouring into the classroom like a tide of tailored uniforms and sparkling jewelry. Arriving early had been a calculated move on my part—an unoccupied classroom meant I could claim my corner before anyone else. Now, all I had to do was maintain the original Sera's icy demeanor, and the rest would take care of itself.

I straightened my posture, fixed a sharp, intimidating expression on my face, and waited. As expected, the other students glanced at me, their eyes widening briefly before they quickly averted their gazes. They shuffled to seats as far away from me as possible. Perfect. Everything was going according to plan.

Until it wasn't.

The air seemed to shift as a girl entered the room. Her luminous platinum-white hair caught the light, shimmering like moonlight on fresh snow. Her icy blue eyes scanned the classroom, radiating an unapproachable elegance that made the other students practically part the way for her.

Oh no.

Camille Winters.

The first heroine of the novel.

Panic clawed at my chest as she walked directly toward me, her every step purposeful and graceful. I gripped the edge of my desk, willing her to veer off, to sit anywhere else. But no, of course not. She stopped right beside me, gave me a soft smile, and sat down as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Internally, I was screaming. My nightmare had officially begun. Of all the people that could've sat next to me, that could've saved my life of the first day of class, it just had to be the one person I wanted to avoid. 

Whispers rippled through the room.

"Camille Winters is sitting with her?"

"Why would she choose Sera Vandren of all people?"

"She's so lucky. Camille's like… an angel."

Lucky? Were they insane? And what do you mean of all people?!

"Hello," Camille said, her voice gentle and melodic, like the first snowfall of winter. "I'm Camille Winters. Nice to meet you."

I forced a smile, trying to ignore the knot in my stomach. "Hey, I'm Sera Vandren. Nice to meet you too. I hope we get along."

What? No! That wasn't the plan! I wasn't supposed to encourage interaction! I mentally smacked myself and slumped onto the desk, burying my face in my arms. This was a disaster. Just dig me a hole and throw me in it.

"Sera?" Camille's voice was tinged with concern. "Are you okay?"

I sat up abruptly, pasting on a calm expression. "Yes, everything is fine."

She frowned slightly, her brows knitting together. "Are you sure? You don't look well."

"I'm fine," I insisted.

"I can take you to the infirmary," she offered, her tone genuinely caring.

"No, really, I'm okay," I said, waving her off.

"It's okay. I'm sure the teacher will understand," she persisted, leaning closer.

Why was she so persistent? (ಥ﹏ಥ) Why were her icy blue eyes sparkling like that? Why did she have to look so—so cute? Focus, Sera! Survival first, avoid cute heroines later!

"I'm fine," I snapped, perhaps a bit too harshly. "Now shut up."

A hush fell over our corner of the classroom. I winced inwardly, realizing I might've crossed a line. But when I dared a glance at Camille, she wasn't offended. In fact, she was smiling—an amused, almost curious smile—as if she found my response endearing.

"Alright," she said simply, turning her attention to the front of the room as Evelyn Sinclair entered.

I sank lower into my chair, relief washing over me. Maybe I'd gotten away with it this time. But as I glanced at Camille's serene expression, a nagging thought tugged at the back of my mind.

Why did she sit next to me in the first place?

The day had barely begun, and I was already in over my head. God help me.