Ding, ding, ding.
As the bell signaling the end of the final class of the day rang out, students poured into the hallway as if they had been waiting for it.
On the second floor of the First Magic Department, two first-year students were briskly making their escape from the classroom.
The two girls grumbled, clearly exasperated.
“Is it really okay to cover this much material when exams are just around the corner in two weeks? It’s already hard enough to understand. How are they even planning to test us on all this?”
“I should’ve just followed everyone else and taken a general education course. I heard the theology department classes are super easy.”
“Don’t they say you can even sleep through those classes and no one cares?”
“Compared to that, our class is a nightmare. I can’t even understand what the professor’s saying, and all the other students are upperclassmen…”
“Well, there is one other first-year.”
“You mean that one who sits right in front?”
Speak of the devil.
A girl emerged from the back door of Room 206 a bit later than the others.
She had fine, flowing blonde hair and wore a cozy cardigan over her petite shoulders.
It was Shannon, the international student who was already something of a celebrity at the magic university.
The two girls cast curious glances in her direction, but didn’t approach. Instead, they whispered.
“She’s the one studying abroad from Karaf, right? Why is someone like her even taking classes with us at the academy?”
“She probably just wants attention. Sitting in the front row every day….her intentions couldn’t be more obvious. Didn’t you see how all the upperclassmen in that class are desperate just to talk to her?”
Just as the girls said, Shannon had become the center of attention among the older students in the course.
At first, it was her mysterious aura and pretty looks that drew people in. But later, it was her magical talent, which even the professor couldn’t stop praising.
Of course, it went without saying that most of the ones drawn to her were male students.
“Do you have a moment? I had something I wanted to ask you…”
“No. I’m busy.”
“Then could you at least tell me your dorm room number? I’ll write you a letter.”
“My family has a strict rule against any contact with the opposite sex.”
“Well… how about a meal sometime—”
“Sorry. I’m not very good at eating.”
“……”
Shannon’s stone-cold rejections were also well-known. Her responses were so blunt they bordered on mockery. Yet ironically, that only boosted her popularity.
Apparently, her aloofness was considered attractive.
Now it had even reached the point where people were making bets on who could get that haughty freshman to say yes first. Naturally, not everyone was thrilled about this state of affairs.
Though even in the eyes of those people, Shannon wasn’t exactly the “victim”.
“Ugh, acting all high and mighty again today.”
“She’s just doing it for more attention, obviously.”
Shannon let out a sigh.
More people talking about her without her permission.
Whether it was those fawning over her or those jealous of her, it was all exhausting.
She had originally chosen the “Multi-Layer Magic Circle Design” course because the lecture hall was close to her locker, but now she regretted that decision.
Getting caught by people trying to talk to her only delayed her even more.
Shannon clutched her textbook and notebook tightly to her chest and pushed through the crowd with her shoulder to make her way down the hallway.
Someone called out her name from behind, but she ignored it and kept walking.
Her locker was located on the landing between the second and third floors of the First Magic Department.
Jacqueline and Rita aren’t here yet.
The three of them had made a habit of meeting there after class.
Just as Shannon opened her locker to put her things away—
Flap, flap.
A single sheet of thin paper fluttered down through the air.
Another letter, huh?
She sighed, thinking what a waste of paper.
She bent down to pick it up only so she could throw it in the trash.
She used to toss those letters aside carelessly, but once someone picked one up and spread its contents around, things got even more annoying.
There’s a reason trash belongs in the trash can.
But in the next moment, Shannon froze in place, still bent over to pick up the letter.
It was because of a glimpse of the text on the page:
It took her a long moment to realize she was dizzy and gasping for breath.
She had unknowingly stopped breathing.
Over a single letter.
Karaf? Why would something from Karaf… Don’t tell me…it’s from my family? Have they found out I’m here?
Countless thoughts raced through her mind, flickering and vanishing one after another.
Her heart started to pound violently.
Pick it up. Hide it.
Her instincts kicked in, and Shannon tried to stuff the letter into her pocket as discreetly as she could.
But just then—
“Shannon! What are you doing?”
A voice came from above her head.
It was Jacqueline.
Startled, Shannon jumped, and the top of her head collided with Jacqueline’s chin.
“What are you staring at so—Ack!”
“Urgh.”
Just arriving at the locker, Rita looked at the two of them with concern.
“Are you guys okay?”
“Bit my tongue…”
Jacqueline stuck out her tongue with tears welling in her eyes, and Shannon groaned quietly while holding her head.
“Seriously, I told you not to sneak up on people like that.”
“Sorry, Shannon…”
“I’m fine now.”
Shannon took Jacqueline’s outstretched hand and stood up.
But unfortunately, the crumpled letter was now in that very hand.
Jacqueline saw it and asked,
“Oh, you got one too?”
“What?”
“A letter from Karaf.”
Shannon’s brows furrowed.
It really was a letter from Karaf.
It would’ve made sense if they were looking for her, the runaway from the Magic Tower. But why would Jacqueline be getting a letter too?
And then—creak.
Next to her, Rita opened her locker with a sigh and pulled out a letter of her own.
“Huh. They put one in mine too. Jacqueline, you didn’t send these, did you?”
“What? Of course not! I haven’t sent anything yet. I did write something, though…”
“You wrote one? Oh, Jacqueline, don’t fall for stuff like this. It’s obviously just a nasty prank.”
“I know that! But I couldn’t stop thinking… what if I ignored it and totally failed the exam? I’d regret it forever…”
“You’re only having those thoughts because you haven’t studied enough. That’s it, Jacqueline. You’re studying with me until 2 AM tonight. If you were really confident in your skills, you wouldn’t be shaken by a dumb prank.”
“Nooo! I only slept four hours last night!”
“I’ll let you sleep five tonight.”
“Sob…”
Listening to their silly banter, Shannon finally felt her mind clearing.
The fog that had dulled her focus lifted, and her usual cool-headedness began to return.
“A prank letter, huh?”
She uncrumpled the paper and read its contents.
There was no summons from her family. No order to return home. Nothing she had feared.
<This letter originated in Karaf and has traveled across the continent, bringing good luck to its recipients. You must write 7 letters with the same content and send them to 7 people within 7 days. If you do, you will enjoy 7 years of good fortune. However, if you ignore this letter and fail to send it on…>
“Ha.”
A hollow sigh escaped her lips.
She felt foolish for having been so thrown off by something so ridiculous.
“What a pathetic prank.”
The three of them gathered their study materials and left the locker area.
They’d decided to study for their exams at a café near the Magic Department today, rather than at the library.
That decision had come at Jacqueline’s insistence. She wanted to be nearby in the evening to get free snacks handed out by the student council in front of the faculty building.
And Shannon and Rita had agreed, since it was hard to ask questions out loud in the library.
Just as they were about to leave the building, a strange sound came from above their heads.
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
Three short whistling tones.
It was the chime from the speaker system on the ceiling. An alert signaling an announcement.
[Ahem. Shannon Quinlivan. Would student Shannon Quinlivan please come to the Dean’s Office on the third floor of the Magic Department immediately. I repeat, student Shannon Quinlivan…]
Jacqueline turned to Shannon with wide eyes.
“They’re calling you?”
“Seems like it.”
“Did you do something wrong?”
“Nothing I can think of…”
Rita chimed in.
“Want us to come with you and wait outside?”
“It’s fine. You two go on ahead to the café.”
“Alright, see you in a bit.”
Parting from her friends, Shannon climbed the stairs alone.
The third-floor hallway of the Magic Department was quiet.
Partly because most students had already left the building for the day, but mostly because this floor never saw much foot traffic to begin with.
Offices belonging to high-ranking academy officials, like the Dean’s Office, were intentionally located in low-traffic areas to allow for better focus and security.
Shannon spotted the Dean’s Office in the center of the hall and headed for the adjacent secretary’s office.
She knew from a previous visit that the main door to the Dean’s Office was usually locked.
Back then, she had come to request a formal duel with Professor Winslet.
Just as she raised her hand to knock on the door to the secretary’s office—
Click.
The door opened first, from the inside, and someone appeared.
A man with neatly parted light brown hair and a warm, handsome face. It was the Karaf ambassador and the mage who had recognized Shannon during the First Class graduation ceremony.
Camille Sapin.
His eyes widened in surprise when he saw her.
But it was Shannon who was more shocked.
“Miss Quinlivan, it’s been a while.”
“……”
Instead of answering, Shannon instinctively stepped back.
Camille gave a wry smile.
“There’s no need to be so wary. In fact, I was just about to speak to you about something that concerns you. Would you spare me a moment?”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
Shannon fled into the Dean’s Office to avoid him, pushing the door closed with her back.
“Phew.”
Today just wasn’t her day.
First, the chilling prank letter. Then, running into the last person she wanted to see, right at the door.
It all felt like a bad omen, and Shannon’s mood sank even further.
And he said it was about me?
She tried to forget what he’d said.
Better to take care of her business quickly and get back to her friends.
Then, her usual, uneventful routine would be waiting for her.
“You’re Shannon Quinlivan, correct? Go right in. The Dean is expecting you.”
The secretary, sharp-eyed and stern, gave her a nod.
Shannon took a deep breath, smoothed the wrinkles from her skirt, and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
As she opened the door and stepped inside, she was greeted by a lavishly decorated room that seemed far too expensive for its purpose.
The air was heavy. Maybe from poor ventilation.
Dean Kingfisher was seated behind his desk with a thick stack of documents spread out in front of him.
Shannon had a knack for reading upside-down text, and what she saw hit her like a blow to the head.
“Miss Quinlivan, the Karaf ambassador was just here. He left these documents for us.”
“This is…”
“It’s an official protest from Karaf. They’re requesting that your illegal admission to the academy be annulled and that you be deported back to your home country.”
Shannon felt as if the cruel joke that had started with the prank letter still wasn’t over.
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