The classroom chatter quickly died down as the door swung open again, revealing a broad-shouldered man with neatly combed black hair and square-framed glasses.
His expression was sharp, no-nonsense, and exuded the kind of authority that made students sit up straighter on instinct. He carried a thick book under one arm and strode to the front of the classroom with deliberate steps.
Everything about him—from his crisp uniform to the measured way he adjusted his glasses—screamed strict discipline.
The protagonist, still slightly dazed from the earlier attention, snapped out of it as the teacher reached the podium. Emilia, ever composed, folded her hands on her desk, ready to listen.
I also turned my attention forward.
He surveyed the class for a brief moment before finally speaking, his deep, steady voice carrying effortlessly across the room.
"For those who don't know me, I am Professor Calder, and I will be teaching Imperial History. Our subject will focus on the rise and evolution of the Ardentis Empire, its major conflicts, and the figures who shaped its destiny."
He placed the heavy book onto the podium with a dull thud before adjusting his glasses once more.
"Now, turn to page 27. Today's theme—The War of the Silver Thrones."
Empire, huh. Am I stuck in some kind of medieval romcom?
"The War of the Silver Thrones was a defining conflict in the history of the Ardentis Empire. A war spanning decades, marked by betrayal, political upheaval, and bloodshed between rival factions, it ultimately led to the unification of the scattered kingdoms under one banner..."
I stared at the lines in the textbook—dense paragraphs, unfamiliar names, and a complicated timeline that looked like it belonged in a university thesis. My eyes traced the words, but my brain refused to process them.
I tried reading the same paragraph again, hoping repetition would make things click, maybe I would remember something.
Nope. Still gibberish.
It was one thing to not understand advanced magic theories or weird fantasy concepts, but history? That was supposed to be simple. Stories of the past, dates, key figures, wars—it was just like a game's lore dump. But the problem was...
I didn't have the memory of them.
My grip tightened on the textbook as I fought the urge to sigh. If this was a proper fantasy setting—full of swords, magic, dungeons, and adventure—at least I'd have something cool to look forward to. But no, I was stuck in an academy-based setting, and judging by the tropes running wild, it had a heavy romcom influence too.
What was I supposed to do in a place ? Learn? Graduate? Get roped into unnecessary drama?
I glanced to my right.
As expected, the main characters were at it again.
Emilia and the protagonist—whose name I still didn't know—sat next to each other.
She had subtly shifted her chair just a little closer, while the protagonist, bless his soul, remained blissfully unaware or was pretending to. Every now and then, their shoulders would almost brush, and she'd steal a glance at him.
The cliche slow-burn romantic setup.
I nearly rolled my eyes.
Turning my gaze forward, I tried to focus on the lesson. I might not get anything, but learning at least one thing was better than nothing.
Professor Calder continued.
"The turning point of the war came when the youngest prince, betrayed by his own half-brother, gathered the remnants of his forces and launched a final counterattack at the Battle of Hollow Vale..."
Right. So, someone betrayed someone. Some prince led an army.
What I did understand, however, was that this empire—the Ardentis Empire—was a big deal. The academy we were in was directly supported by the empire, meaning it had prestige, influence, and probably a strict curriculum.
So this was where I was stuck.
I will eventually leave this place.
Meanwhile, the lecture dragged on. I had long since given up trying to make sense of it, opting instead to listen to bits and pieces, storing away what sounded remotely important.
"That concludes today's class."
Professor Calder shut his book with a thud.
For a brief moment, relief washed over me.
"Before you leave, your assignment: a detailed essay on the impact of the War of the Silver Thrones on today's governance. Due by the end of the week. Minimum five pages."
A collective groan swept through the classroom.
I also nearly choked.
Five pages? On a war I barely understood?
This school was brutal. No, the professor was.
As students grumbled and started closing their books, I took a moment to listen.
"...Ugh, why do we need to write so much?"
"Five pages? I don't even write that much for literature!"
"We have other classes too! Does he think history is the only thing that matters?"
I exhaled slowly. Good. I survived the day. a part of it.
Quickly, I packed my things, eager to leave before anything happened.
"Miss Emilia, would you like to tour the academy with us?"
I paused, fingers tightening around my bag's strap.
I didn't need to turn to know it was a group of girls—the same ones who had crowded around her earlier.
"Thank you for the offer," Emilia said gracefully, "but I've already promised Aeron that he would show me around."
For the first time, I finally got the protagonist's name.
At that exact moment, I turned my head—just in time to catch Aeron's stunned expression.
His face screamed: When did I do that?
I nodded subtly, acknowledging his suffering, before looking away and speed-running my packing.
A bad feeling crept up my spine.
I needed to leave. Now.
The classroom was slowly clearing out, the disappointed students filing out one by one. Soon, the doorway was clear.
I stood up, ready to bolt—
But then, a hand landed on my shoulder.
I turned to face Aeron, suppressing the urge to sigh.
"...What's the matter?" I asked.
Aeron hesitated for a second before flashing an easygoing smile.
"Why don't you join us?"
My brow twitched slightly.
"You also transferred this year, right? You haven't had the time to tour the academy properly either. Why not use the chance? Come on, let's do it together."
He looked at me with a subtle help me out expression.
I stared at him, my brain restarting for a sec.
I'm also a transfer student?!