Rewriting The Villainess

Six

Months had passed since Seraphina's debut, and the day of the entrance exams had finally arrived. Seraphina stood outside the grand gates of the prestigious Arcanis Academy, the institution renowned for shaping the future leaders of Elyndria. The academy's towering spires and intricate carvings exuded an aura of ancient wisdom and power.

The entrance exams consisted of three components: mana assessment, academic prowess, and athletic capability. Seraphina felt a mixture of anticipation and confidence, knowing her preparation and innate talents would serve her well.

As she adjusted her academy robes, she noticed familiar faces gathering around the entrance. Lucian stood tall and composed, his presence as regal as ever. Jade, beside him, chatted animatedly, her black hair catching the sunlight. Caspian, with his ever-present calm demeanor, exchanged a few words with Adrian, whose playful smirk was directed at Seraphina as soon as he spotted her.

"Seraphina! Darling!" Adrian called out, making his way over to her. His blond hair gleamed in the light, and his green eyes sparkled with mischief. "Ready to show everyone what you've got?"

Seraphina smiled, a mix of nervousness and excitement bubbling within her. "As ready as I'll ever be, Adrian."

Adrian chuckled, giving her a playful nudge. "I have no doubt you'll be the star of the exams, after all, my dear fianceé is very talented. Just remember to save some of that brilliance for the rest of us."

Caspian approached, his silver eyes filled with quiet confidence. "You've worked hard, Lady Seraphina. I'm certain you'll excel in all three components. We've trained extensively for this."

Seraphina nodded, feeling reassured by Caspian's words. Their countless hours spent practicing magic had honed her skills, and she felt more prepared than ever for the mana assessment, even with his position as one of her family's butlers, he was a pleasure to have and Seraphina was happy her father agreed to give Caspian a recommendation into the academy, despite his rank as a servant.

"Thank you, Caspian. Your guidance has been invaluable," she said, her voice sincere.

Before Caspian could respond, Jade bounded over, her enthusiasm infectious. "Seraphina! This is it! I can't wait to see how we all do. And don't worry, if you stumble, I'll be right there to catch you."

Seraphina laughed, grateful for Jade's unwavering support. "I'll keep that in mind, Lady Jade. Let's do our best."
"Wah! Seraphina! Drop the Lady, we are friends! No need for formalities!" Jade whined, pouting slightly, this caused Seraphina to let out a soft laugh.

As they continued to chat, Seraphina's gaze wandered, landing on a figure she hadn't seen before. A young man with light white hair and striking red eyes stood at the edge of the crowd, observing the scene with a calm, almost detached demeanor. His appearance was unusual, hinting at albinism, though it wasn't explicitly mentioned. This had to be Alaric, the knight from the neighboring empire—a character she knew from the game but had yet to meet in this world.

Their eyes met briefly, and Seraphina felt a shiver of intrigue. She quickly looked away, focusing back on her friends. There would be time to understand Alaric's role in this story later.

Lucian approached their group, his expression as composed as ever. "Lady Seraphina, Lord Adrian, Caspian, Lady Jade," he greeted them, his voice formal but warm. "I trust you are all prepared for today's challenges."

Seraphina nodded. "Yes, Prince Lucian. We're ready."

Lucian's eyes lingered on her for a moment, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I have no doubt you'll excel, Seraphina. You've always been diligent in your pursuits."